Seducing the Professor (6 page)

Her shriek followed him as he ran down the stairs leaving her to follow at a more sedated pace, realizing the truth of what he said.  His family awaited their reappearance with interest upon hearing her cry.

They just finished dinner when Samuel came running up the patio stairs.  He took a moment to catch his breath and Alexandra jumped up in concern.

“What’s wrong, Samuel?”

“It’s Yellow Blossom.  She’s gone into labor.”

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no!  It’s too soon!”

She tore down the stairs and started running towards the stable where the carrying mares where
housed, shouting at the stable master trying to keep up with her.

“Samuel, get boiling water ready and ask David to bring my kit from the lab.  And phone Brett!  Tell him to get here fast!”

Paul’s mouth was compressed as he made the call to Brett, not happy about the familiarity with which his name left Alexandra’s lips.  He excused himself and jogged after her with the phone to his ear.  The rest of the family looked at each other and then trailed after them.  The desperation in Alexandra’s eyes a clear indication of what to expect.

Between Alexandra and Brett they did not leave Yellow Blossom for a second.  Alexandra drew new samples from both the mare and the fetus and started running tests.  When she did not find what she was looking for, she took new samples and ran more tests.   Hours later she slumped in the chair in front of her laptop, dropping her head on her arms.

“Why can’t I find it?   What am I missing?  Please help me!”

Paul listened to her hoarse, tired voice where he stood just inside the stall where the lab was set up.  She has been at it for hours and would not let up.
  He walked closer and kneeled next to her.  He pulled her in his arms and held her tight.

“Enough Alexandra.  You have done all
you could.  I don’t expect miracles, Angel.”

She lifted her head and glared at him.

“No!  I am not losing this foal or the mare!  Do you hear me!  I will find something!  I have to!”

She turned away from him and opened
another program to run analysis on one of the chromosomes of the fetus she managed to segregate as defective.  She came across it by chance a week ago and the moment she identified it she would know if one of her suspicions had merit.

She entered the relevant information into the test unit, inserted the strip with the chromosome, flipped the lid closed and flipped the switch.  She sat waiting and watching the screen as the analysis started
running with the dissection process.  She straightened and screamed excitedly.

“Brett!    Come see here!  Paul, hold thumbs! I might have found something!”

Brett came running into the stall with Samuel close on his heels.  Alexandra made some notes and added a few entries into the system and laughed when the results flashed on the screen.

“What is it?  What did you find?”

“When I ran the DNA analysis of the stallions against the foals, I found inconsistencies, especially with the ones mated over the past month. Look at this.  See these green speckles on the DNA strand?  It should not be there.  Those type of anomalies you only find in …” she glanced at Paul, “clones.”

“CLONES!  What the hell do you mean clones?”  Paul glowered at the screen.

“When DNA is generated to create a clone, it has to be done in a specific order and range.  If you do not follow the exact order, it causes defects, deaths.  Obvious failure.  I’ll need help to find the exact strain and how to eliminate them, but I have a suspicion a number of the stallions have been, or rather their DNA has been altered.”

Paul frowned and read the numbers on the screen.

“How would altering the stallions DNA effect the foals and the mares?”

“The DNA is defective and not compatible with
a living being, animal or otherwise.  Through the breeding process this DNA is transferred by way of the Chromosomes which in this specific ones’ case attacks the nerve system.  This will result in either defects or stillborn foals.  The mares are effected by way of the fetus in her body trying to eliminate toxins.  These strands I believe were altered to generate a specific toxin that effect mares only and that is why they die as soon as the foal is born. Through the release of the toxins in the cord during birth.”

“And the Stallions?  I’ve had no deaths on any of my Stallions.”

“I don’t know yet.  But I suspect that it does not affect them, only their offspring.  The aim here, Paul is to destroy your stable.  If all your Stallions DNA have been altered, you would never have another successful birth.  Not until we find a way to eliminate them.”

He sat down with his head in his hands.  The whole family was gathered around the stall, everyone in a state of shock.

“I don’t understand, Paulie?  Who hates you so much that they would be so cruel?”

“Race horses have become one of the most competitive trades in the States.  Anyone that can achieve more than Silver Star Ranch would sh
oot to the top.”

Alexandra spoke to Brett
aside and she rapped a number of ingredients off.  He nodded and shot out the door.   She turned to Paul.

“I am concerned though.  You suspected those that did the research before and
your Stallions were most probably altered then already.  Yellow Blossom according to Samuel was covered by Black Hawk.”

“
I only brought Black Hawk to the Ranch after he covered her.  It was part of the sale agreement that he first cover another mare of the previous owner.”

“Do yo
u … I’m sorry to ask this, but is there any new staff on the Ranch?  Anyone that was employed over the past eighteen months.”

“Why eighteen months?”

“Winning your trust.  Knowing all the aspects of how you manage, the controls.”

“You suspect someone that still works here is involved.”

She took his hand in hers and raised it to her lips without realizing what she was doing, but everyone else, including Paul, did.  His eyes flared at her unconscious action.

“I pray I am wrong.  But it is better to cover all the possibilities.”

David screamed for Alexandra and she ran towards the birthing room.  Yellow Blossom was writhing and her eyes were bulging.

Alexandra approached
her carefully, but Paul drew her back.

“No, she is in pain and could kick out.”

“Paul … I know what I am doing.”

“Yeah … and so do I.  Just stand back for now.  Please,
Angel.”

She nodded and waited.  He spoke to her in a soothing voice, approaching her slowly, tenderly touching her flank and rubbing her straining tummy.

“How are you feeling, my girl? Your little one impatient is he?  We are going to take care of you, little Blossom.  You know you’re my heart’s point.”

Up until then Alexandra did not realize just how much his horses meant to him.  His voice
became thick and the pain was eminent in his voice.  Yellow Blossom was one of the first mares he chose himself to breed with.  He could not stand to see her die.

Brett arrived
with everything Alexandra asked for and she ran to the Lab to prepare the medication, praying she would be in time. 

“Try and stay the birth as long as you can.  We need to get this injected before any
toxins are released.  I refuse to let her die.  Do you hear me, Brett?  She will live!”

He nodded and went to assist Paul.  Alexandra worked as fast as she could with Samuel assisting her where he could.  An hour later she winced when she heard the terrifying whinny of the horse and cursed.   She prepared a
progressive emulsion as well as an intense antibiotic which she prayed would be effective and administered in time.

She filled the syringes with the medication and Samuel carried it to the delivery room.  Paul was examining the birthing canal and cursed.

“The foal has turned.  We might have a breached birth.”

He was covered in a sheen of sweat and Brett did not fare any better.  They both looked up when she walked in.  She looked at Paul and explained to him what she did.

“I cannot guarantee that it is going to work.  It might be too late already, but there is another alternative if you want to save Yellow Blossom.”

He nodded.  “I know and I considered it, but I think it is too late.  She is already very weak and … just give it to her.”

Alexandra nodded and kneeled next to the horse, cooing to her in a soft voice.

“Hi there, beautiful lady.  Relax now … there
you go.”

She searched
for the artery and Paul gasped.  Alexandra hesitated and looked at him.

“It has to be administered into her main artery … it is the only way it will be
immediately effective.”

She waited for his nod and then efficiently and accurately found the artery and slowly administered the emulsion.  It was a slow process and had to be done evenly.  She sighed when the last bit pressed through the needle.  She took the antibiotic immediately and injected it in her flank.

She leaned back and stroked her neck, praying silently.  Samuel handed her the thin needled syringe with a similar emulsion.  She probed and searched and then quickly inserted the needle as deep as it would go, emptying it as slowly as she did the other. This time into the foal.

“We’ll administer the antibiotic as soon as the foal is borne.”

She rose and looked at Paul.

“Would you allow me to try and turn the foal?  She is too weak for a breach birth.”

He nodded and barely moved to make space for her in front of him.  He closed his hands around her hips, offering her his strength.  Samuel assisted with the arm length gloves and she slowly reached into the birthing canal, soothingly talking to the panting horse.

It was
an extremely slow process and within minutes she was drenched in sweat.  Paul took his shirt off and kept wiping her dry.

“No, no, no!  Blossom relax darling!  Just a little more!”

Alexandra’s arms were killing her and she panted with exertion.  She felt Blossom’s need to push the foal out and worked faster.  The moment she slipped the foal into place, Blossom started straining and the foal came with as Alexandra pulled her hands from the birthing canal.

Paul drew her quickly back and out of the way and Brett immediately took over. He pulled the gloves from her
arms and wiped her brow with his shirt.  She was so tired she did not even try and resist.  He pulled her in his arms and watched as Brett and Samuel literally tried to lift Yellow Blossom to her feet.  She shook her head irritably and rose gracefully to her feet.  She nuzzled the foal and started licking him clean. He seemed very weak and everyone held their breaths.  Eventually he wiggled and tried to push to his feet.  He got to his knees and then plopped back over on the floor.  Blossom nuzzled him again and he pushed to his knees and then he rose on wobbly legs.  Everyone held their breaths.  He stood unmoving, his knees wobbling, then he took a small step and then another until he stood next to Blossom.

Everyone cheered and Alexandra felt the tears running down her cheeks.

“Good boy!”

Paul’s arms tightened around her and he pulled her back against him. His
breath was warm against her cheek.

“You did
well, my love.  You did real well!”

She smiled and turned her head to look at him.  It was natural that his head lower
ed and their lips met in a devastatingly tender kiss.

Amy clasped her hands over her mouth and literally jumped up and down witnessing the kiss.  Even Mandy was elated.  Slade rolled his eyes and Mandy slapped him on the arm.

She pulled him outside and immediately started talking about marriage with Amy.

“You two are literally pulling the rug from under their feet.  They just met!”

“Yes, but we all know Paul.  He never ever pursues women!  He has never ever kissed a woman in front of any of us!  Be honest Slade, the way he treats her … he has taken possession of her already!  It is only a matter of time!”

She winked at him and they disappeared into the kitchen to prepare a large breakfast as the sun was already peeking over the horizon.

Everyone was still having breakfast when Paul realized Alexandra had disappeared.  He found her in Yellow Blossoms stall, examining her carefully and keeping a monitoring tab on her.  She was pale and signs of strain visible on her face.

“Blondie, enough already.  You are dead on your feet.  Go and take a bath
and a nap.  I’ll stay with her.”

“No
and I already took a bath.  The first twenty four hours are critical.  I have to stay with her.  I have to make sure she is fine.”

His heart clamped at her passionate insistence and he made himself believe it
had more to do with him than just Blossom.  He took her in his arms and looked deep into her eyes.

“
Angel, you are dead on your feet.  You have already done more than any of us expected at this early stage.  I will stay with her.  Just to put your mind to rest … I am also a qualified Equine Vet.”

“Please, Honey. I need to stay with her!”

His heart missed a beat at the endearment.  He shook his head and found a chair that he hauled into the stall.  He drew her on his lap and folded his arms around her.  They kept a conversation going with the colt and Blossom.

“What are you going to name him?”

“Figurado.  It’s Spanish for survivor.”

She nodded.  There were no signs of an
y defects, and if the emulsion worked he would not develop any either.  He would be the first survivor in months.  It was a very appropriate name.

Alexandra fell asleep on Paul’s lap around noon.  He rose carefully and carried her to the house.  Amy saw them coming and led the way to her room.  She was halfway down the hall when she realized her brother was not following her.  She spun around and ran after him.

“Paul, where are you going?  Her room is this way.”

“No, it’s not.  Go away, sis.  I am also going to take a nap.”