O'Brien's Lady (6 page)

Adrenalin pumped through her veins and she became numb with anticipation. Her heart beat against her chest and she hurried to the brood barn which shown with light, guiding her through the darkness like a lighthouse that stands alone.

She entered the barn, slightly out of breath and was immediately surrounded with the smell of fresh hay and heavy sweat.

Graceful Lady was pacing in her stall, her nostrils flared and her shoulders glistening with moistness.

"Steady old gal." Michael's voice was unusually calm and he moved easily. He seemed ready to help while not wanting to intrude on the animal's natural instincts.

Sonny hurried to his side and watched with a mixture of fear and excitement welling up in her.

"I'll need your help," Michael said. His eyes never left the sight of the horse and he continued to stand still.

"Michael…I don't know what to do." Sonny was filled with panic and her feet seemed planted to the ground.

"Get a bucket of water, plastic gloves and some sponges. Quick."

Sonny ran to the far end of the barn where she filled the bucket nearly full with fresh water. Her hands had begun to tremble and the enormity of what was about to happen filled her with apprehension.

Where was Will O'Brien? If she was to be Michael's helper, then what would become of Graceful Lady?

Her mind was filled with unanswered questions and she carried the supplies back to where Michael stood. His jaw had tightened and there was an inner light that seemed to fill his broad face.

"She'll go any minute now," he said quietly as he glanced at his watch. "By eleven we should have ourselves a new champion."

Sonny tugged at Michael's sleeve. "Where's your father?"

"Had to drive to Sacramento. He'll be back tomorrow." Michael glanced over at her and his mouth turned up at the corners. "So, you're all I've got tonight. You'll have to help deliver this one."

Sonny watched, mesmerized, and Michael continued to talk to Graceful Lady. His voice seemed to calm the animal. From the outside Sonny could hear the occasional whinny of the other horses who were bedded down for the night in the main barn. Except for their sounds and the labored breathing of theLady, the night was still.

The wind rustled in the tall pines and Sonny felt a chill that moved up her arms and then down her legs. Although she wasn't sure if it was from the chill of evening or the wonder of what was happening.

Graceful Lady, whose deep chestnut coat was now beaded with sweat, suddenly stopped. She turned slightly, and then lowered her huge body onto the fresh hay. She began to push and then paused, waiting for Michael's encouragement. And then she pushed again.

"Good girl," Michael said. "We're almost finished. Just keep it up."

Lady's large brown eyes seemed wide with effort and then she lay her head back against her bedding. Beads of sweat had formed on Michael's forehead and instinctively, Sonny sensed that something was not right.

"What is it, Michael?" Sonny dropped to a kneeling position next to him.

"I think the foot is curled under," he said with a thick voice. "Have to move it."

Every muscle in Michael's face was taut. He would have to move quickly to save the foal. Sonny was too frightened to speak and she watched in silence as Michael reached inside the animal to correct the position of the foal. Michael worked diligently, his face red and his mouth clenched.

The chill that Sonny had felt earlier was now being replaced with a rush of heat that filled her cheeks.

"What's happening?" Sonny's voice caught in her throat and watched the determination and concern on Michael's face.

"It's got to come feet first, with the head tucked between the legs."

"Can we do it, Michael?"

Sonny watched, helpless, as Michael continued his exploration, the dark hair on his arms now covered with sweat. The gleam in his eyes had been replaced with concern and Sonny held her breath and waited.

"There. It's ready now. Grab the leg and help me cradle the head."

Sonny responded numbly and the beats of her heart came irregularly, causing her to gasp at the air that seemed to thin. As the foot appeared, she reached for it with one hand while guiding it carefully with the other. Michael's large hands were around the other foot and the two of them cradled the head which was now between its legs."Quickly," Michael whispered, "ease em' out."

Sonny's heart was pounding. Carefully, as Graceful Lady tensed every muscle in her large body, she gave one last shove.

It was finally over.

The foal lay on the clean hay and Michael threw a towel to Sonny. "Here, we have to wipe em' down."

She reached for the towel, and followed Michael's lead. His face was still tight and his dark eyes burned with an excitement she had never before seen. She was enthralled with his assurance and the love that he had shown for the baby that now lay at their feet.

After the two of them wiped down the coat of the foal, Michael smiled. "There, that should get the circulation going."

He sat back on his heels and watched with interest and amusement in his eyes. The long, spider-like legs seemed incongruous with the large body and the baby wobbled before he fell again.

Sonny's own legs were unsteady and she wanted to feel the warmth of Michael's arms around her once again.

"We'll have a fine stallion here, Sonny."

"You sound like a proud, bragging father."

"I am. This colt will make racing history.

Just look at his coloring and the lines of his body."

The colt was a deep chestnut color, just like his mother. He had a streak of white just between his eyes and around his left leg. He was distinctive and beautiful. Sonny watched him with an emotion that was somewhere between love and exultation.

She and Michael moved over to the bucket of water, cleaning their hands.

"It's a wonderful thing, isn't it Sonny. Foaling is the new hope that all horsemen thrive on."

Sonny turned to look up into Michael's face. What a marvelously rugged face, she thought, scanning every line with her eyes. If she had felt ill toward him earlier that day, it was over now. All she could see at this moment was the kind and gentle man who had worked so diligently to deliver the baby. And all she could feel were the warm currents of shocks that raced through her body when he touched her.

"Michael, I've never done anything like this before." Her lips trembled.

"I know." He pulled her to him and cradled her in the warmth of his chest. Sonny was beyond thinking and she molded the soft curve of her body into his and her arms went around him, touching his back and drying her tears on the warmth of his shirt.

Michael bent down to kiss her lightly on the forehead. There were no words to be spoken at that moment and they both watched in silcne as the foal, content from his first efforts at nursing, lay down to sleep.

"What shall we name him?" Michael asked.

"It's almost twelve, Michael. Can we call him Midnight?"

He nodded his approval just before his lips touched hers. Moments later they left Lady and her baby and went outside. The night air felt cool against Sonny's warm face. She had walked this path back up to the house many times before, but now there was a spring to her step.

"I feel like dancing, Michael… or maybe singing, shouting. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes, I do. Come on, and I'll walk you up to the house."

Michael strode along beside her and she felt that this night should go on forever. Whatever this wonderful feeling was, she didn't want to lose it. Not now.

"I'm not even tired, Michael. Can you imagine?"

"That's a normal reaction," Michael said smiling. "Especially your first time."

"You were pretty excited too. I could see it in your face," Sonny teased.

"All right, so I did. Every time there's a new life, there's new hope."

"Hope for that Triple Crown you're always talking about?"

"Mostly that, but the breeding of good Thoroughbreds goes on. Without it, they wouldn't be the wonderfully pure animals they are today."

Sonny opened the gate of the white fence that enclosed the Mead house, and took the final few steps up to the back door. What was the feeling that now held her so tightly, she could barely breathe?

Sonny had thought her first photo session with Pierre was the most thrilling day of her life…until now. And recalling that, she could not remember wanting to laugh or cry. There was a distinct difference and she knew it.

"Well, it's been wonderful, Michael. I know it's late but I'm going to call Pierre right away. I can hardly wait to tell him what's happened."

Sonny was busy inserting the key into the lock, and did not feel Michael's body pull away from her side. She was too busy thinking about the handsome colt she had just witnessed and missed the look of disappointment that came into his eyes.

"Be ready early tomorrow," he said gruffly. " We have to begin work with Midnight."

"Michael, why are you being so…" Sonny turned to him and the wonderful aura that had surrounded her until this moment seemed to shatter into a million pieces.

"And get the stars out of your eyes. It was great, it's over and now its back to work."

The warmth and compassion Sonny had witnessed in Michael earlier in the evening was all vanishing and his arrogant personality was coming through. Unfortunately, she had hoped it would last. It would have made their partnership so much more bearable.

"How can you be so callous?" Sonny's blue eyes burned with indignation as she turned to him, her face illuminated by the light of the moon.

"Because walking with your head in the stars won't get the job done. That colt has to be trained and it must start immediately. Which, incidentally, is how we make our living, in case you hadn't noticed."

"Michael, is that all you can think about?

Your precious half in Pinebrook Farm is not going to be threatened because I choose to be terribly moved by that little colt."

"Sentiment is fine, in its place. But while you're up here feeling all warm and wonderful, there's the practical side of the matter. And I'm not going to have it fall squarely on my shoulders. Unless your friend Pierre would like to come and help us."

"You leave Pierre out of this."

"Why? You can't even leave him out."

Michael's words were harsh.

"He has more important things to do," Sonny added mockingly.

Michael loomed before her in the darkness, his face silhouetted against the sky. When he spoke his voice was filled with quiet emphasis. "More important than working with a magnificent animal at the break of dawn, or more enlightening that watching the foaling of a future champion? No, Sonny, Pierre has nothing important to do."

Before she could answer, Michael had turned and walked away. How dare he be so changeable with her?

She deserved this time to be happy and Midnight was now as much a part of her as she was of Pinebrook.She could not understand Michael's constant need to criticize Pierre, whom he hadn't even met. It was unfair and unnecessary and she intended to bring a halt to it. Tomorrow.

Right now, Sonny felt exhausted and she wanted to relax. After soaking in a hot tub, she slipped into her grown and sat cross-legged on her bed. She wanted to call Pierre with the news. He wouldn't mind the early morning interruption when he learned wonderful things had turned out.

When Sonny heard the tired voice at the other end of the line, she wondered if she had done the right thing. But, when she began to tell Pierre about the colt, she was too excited to stop talking.

"Pierre, it was the most wonderful experience. You should have been here."

"No, darling, you should be here!" Pierre's mellow voice was firm and the familiar French accent made her feel as if they were worlds apart.

"We named him Midnight, and he's dark chestnut and has the cutest white mark…"

"I do not wish to offend you, Sondra, but may we discuss this tomorrow?"

Sonny stopped in mid-sentence and. It had all been so wonderfully incredible and Pierre was tired.

After all, she had awakened him and he must have gone to bed quite late.

She felt impatient with herself for always being so impulsive and never thinking things through. She could have waited just a few hours more and then told him her news.

"Pierre, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called."

"I am coming to New York in a few weeks and then on to San Francisco to show my new line. I will telephone you in a week or so to make arrangements."

Sonny's heart skipped a few beats and she caught her breath. "You're coming here?" she half whispered.

"Yes, darling and we will discuss this arrangement of yours." His voice sounded a little strange and Sonny felt an urge to defend herself. But against what? She was bound to stay, by the terms of the will, and she had explained that to Pierre.

Perhaps it was just Michael that he resented.

Sonny could not sleep after talking with Pierre. Her mind kept going back to Michael and the way he had worked with Graceful Lady. The memory of his muscular arms as they had so expertly maneuvered the baby to a safe position still haunted her. She had always imagined him as a hardened man, but the gentleness and kindness she had seen dismayed and confused her.

Sonny looked up at the mirror over her dresser and saw her unkempt reflection staring back at her.

The ends of her hair were split from pulling it back with rubber bands. The nature of her work on the farm did not call for carefully styled hair and she had found the casual dress to be quite comfortable.

She needed a good conditioning and her face was dry from working outdoors so much. Pierre would be expecting to see her in the same condition she had left, and as Sonny looked down at the short nails that were in desperate need of a good manicure, she knew that it would take hard work to be ready for Pierre's visit.

Sonny closed her eyes and tried to visualize the tall, slender body of Pierre and the straight features, the immaculately trimmed hair but her mind kept going back to Michael O'Brien. The full wavy hair, heavy eyebrows and the rough hands that had held her in such a gently way flooded her memory.