The Valentine Legacy Read Online Free PDF Page A

It’s just a natural part of her, a talent she has that everyone takes for granted—at least they do now.”
    â€œJust the way my Jessie is talented with horses,” Oliver said. “A lot of folk just take her talent for granted.” He shoved James back into his office. “We’ve still got a bit more of your claret to drink.”
    â€œNo, there’s just a sip left in my glass,” James said sadly. “What earthly good could cucumbers do?”
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    Sober John covered Sweet Susie two mornings later. Oslow oversaw the lads in their handling of both the stallion and the mare, who’d been in heat now for a good week.
    â€œAye, it’s time,” Oslow had said. “I’ve checked her over and it’s time. Sober John’s ready.”
    The breeding shed was large, clean, and attached to the stable. Each of the five lads knew what he was to do. They wrapped Sober John’s hooves in soft cotton to protect Sweet Susie. As for her, she was held gently while Oslow guided Sober John to his task. Sober John was excited at her scent and nipped her hard on her rump. For a moment there was chaos, but just for a moment. One of the lads wasn’t all that experienced, and Sweet Susie got away from him. Then the lads got Sober John to focus on his duty, which he proceeded to perform with great enthusiasm.
    Oslow himself led a trembling Sober John back to his stall, telling him what a grand fellow he was, how he would have an extra share of oats to go with his hay. Keeping weight on the stallions was a problem during mating. Sober John would also have an extra tub of alfalfa.
    As for Sweet Susie, James patted her sweating neck as he slowly led her to the paddock to cool down in the shade of three massive oak trees. She was blowing hard and still a bit unsteady on her hooves. He gave her three buckets of fresh water, brushed her down until she blew complacently into his palm. Allen Belmonde had brought her finally, grudgingly paying James the stud fee. Allen had bought a small racing stable just south of Baltimore after he’d married Alice. He’d wanted to marry Ursula at one time, but she hadn’t been interested in him. James suspected her dowry wasn’t big enough for Allen, anyway. Their mother had been interested, though, in having Allen Belmonde for ason-in-law and that had led to arguments that had led to neighbors giving James impudent grins during the following days.
    He hoped that Sweet Susie would foal a winner for Belmonde. It would build Sober John’s reputation and that of Marathon. James gave Sweet Susie a carrot, patted her rump, and said, “This is your second time with Sober John. I just know it in my gut that you’re in foal. Eleven months, my girl,” he said, going to the paddock gate, “then you’ll be a mother.” Since it would be her first foal, James knew they’d have to watch her closely as her time drew near early the next year.
    He walked back toward the house, a big red-brick Georgian surrounded by apple, plum, and cherry trees coming into full bloom in the front and a once-beautiful rose garden on the west side. Thomas, his butler, tended a huge vegetable garden in the back of the house.
    James had bought the house three years previously from Boomer Bankes, who’d been caught embezzling from a public water fund. Included in the deal were two dozen slaves whom James had promptly freed. All of them had stayed on with him. He’d spent his money building new cabins for all his married people and had added a large dormitory at the top of the stable for all the stable lads. He provided seed for gardens and good lumber for furniture. After he’d finished, he’d had no money left. The putrid green wallpaper in the drawing room of his home still made him bilious, the floors were ugly and scarred, and the horsehair wadding was poking out of several of the settees and chairs. The kitchen was older than