Come Moonrise Read Online Free PDF Page A

stall with a beautiful little brown mare in it. "This
is Circe."
    Frankie extended her hand to the horse’s
muzzle, letting the animal get her scent before she started
scratching the mare’s head and talking softly to it. "You’re a
beauty. I bet your baby is going to be just as pretty."
    The horse responded to the soft words with a
gentle neighing and butted her head against Frankie’s shoulder.
After that, Frankie insisted on meeting the rest of the animals in
the barn.
    She stopped at Circe’s stall again on her
way out and asked if she could examine the horse, just to get her
used to having her around. But the truth was, she wasn’t sure
Olivia was right. Frankie sensed the horse was ready to foal, even
though she wasn’t showing a lot of outward signs.
    This affinity she had for pregnant animals
had surprised her family at first, especially considering what a
city girl she’d been when she came to live with them. However, her
uncle had learned to listen when Frankie said a female was ready to
give birth.
    The more she touched the horse, the more
certain she became. "She’s going to drop her foal tonight."
    Olivia stared at her and Ty swore.
    "Are you sure?" he asked.
    "Yes, and I don’t think she should be left
alone. She’s scared and new at this."
    "You’re not pack," Olivia said, her voice
laced with disbelief.
    "Pack?" she asked.
    Ty shook his. "Never mind. If she says it,
it’s true."
    Olivia’s shapely brow rose and the look she
gave Ty was nothing short of mocking. "Oh speaks the great Oracle
again."
    Frankie laughed. "You two fight like brother
and sister." And the relief she felt at that was huge.
    Ty glared at her, but Olivia nodded. "He’s
every bit as annoying as any little brother could be."
    "Are you older?" Frankie asked.
    "Less than a year," Ty groused.
    "Sometimes it feels like a decade," Olivia
said with an obvious bid at yanking his chain.
    It worked and Ty glared at her.
    "Well, this time you can believe him,"
Frankie said before the argument could escalate. "I can’t explain
how I know things about pregnant animals, but I do. It’s one of the
reasons I became a vet."
    But she’d helped with a total of only six
births in the two years she’d practiced in the city. Domestic
animals usually had their babies at home without the assistance of
a vet.
    Olivia frowned, biting her
lip, her agitation apparent. "I’ve got to go somewhere. Tonight. I
should have left hours ago. I can’t be here , not ever for her."
    "Where are you going?" Ty asked sharply.
    "None of your
business, little
brother ."
    Ty’s jaw twitched. "Rocking M land is the
safest for running."
    "That’s not what you told me when I rode my
horse across it today," Frankie said with a frown.
    Ty looked like he couldn’t decide what to
say and Olivia just shook her head, her expression obdurate.
    "Look, I don’t mind staying with the horse
if Ty has other animals he needs to tend to," she offered.
    The life a rural vet was a busy one, if
extremely satisfying.
    "No. Nothing, but I don’t understand why
you’re leaving your mare right now, Olivia." Though something in
his tone said he knew exactly why the other woman had to go and it
made him mad.
    "I must leave," Olivia repeated, a stubborn
edge to her voice. "And I think you understand very well why I
might find it necessary."
    "Fine, then I’ll stay." Ty
accepted the inevitable with bad grace. "Will you drop Frankie off
on your way to wherever it is you’re
going? " he asked with sarcastic
emphasis.
    "Certainly."
    "No."
    They spoke at the same time.
    Frankie crossed her arms over her chest. "I
want to be here for the foaling. Do you mind Olivia?"
    "Not at all. I am very glad my mare will
have you to comfort her. I sense things too...about people. And I
think you are kind."
    Frankie’s smile at the compliment faded with
Ty’s next words.
    "Well, I mind."
    "Why?" she asked.
    "I’m Circe’s vet. I’m here now and I don’t
need your assistance."
    "Stop being so