| Brian bypassed the drive to the house and went straight on to the stables stopping in front of the large double doors. They exited simultaneously and Moire followed him inside. Upon entering they could hear the mare whinny and almost groan as she paced around the stall. That along with the swish of the straw brushing against the wood floor created a pattern of sound which filled the air. The foaling stall was a bit larger than the others were and Matt and Jake stood beyond the wall and watched as Crimson Love worked through the pain of her labor. �How long?� Brian asked as he came upon to them. �Not sure,� Matt said as they both watched the horse. �Not too though. I was checking her hourly. This last time she was walking in circles and her hind legs were kicking at her abdomen. When I got closer there was a bit of a bloody show.� While he brought Brian up to speed Moire held back watching the mare. She was in pain and her skin was stretched over her heavy load as the contraction peaked. She stepped closer and put her arms on the wall. Matt stopped speaking when he saw her and gave Brian a curious look. Brian followed his gaze. �I�m sorry. Jake, Matt, this is Moire Fitzgerald. Moire, my two best hands, Jake and Matt.� Moire extended her hand in greeting and both men wiped theirs on their jeans before accepting. �She�s never seen a breach before,� Brian explained. Both men nodded in agreement, yet they continued to look perplexed. Moire looked back at the mare as a feeling of discomfort settled around her. This was definitely a bad idea. No matter that she opposed her father and his plan, she was still his daughter and that alone put her at odds with them. The three men continued to talk; however their voices were now muffled so she couldn�t hear them. �All right,� Brian said, �from the way she�s acting she will probably set down soon. Keep an eye on her while I change my clothes. She�s getting close although that will depend on the position of the foal. I�ll be back in a minute.� He gave Moire a quick smile and disappeared behind a closed door. Jake left Matt to handle the horse if need be, and rushed passed her, giving her a piercing look as he followed after Brian. �Brian, what is she doing here?� Jake stormed into the tack room to find Brian standing in his underwear. He yanked the jeans off the hook and stepped into them and drew them up to his waist. �I told you, she�s never seen�� �It�s Moire Fitzgerald Brian,� Jake ran his hands through his hair. �Don�t be a smart ass. I�m sure her father has had a posterior position foaling before.� �I know who she is Jake,� he grinned as he pulled up the zipper. He sat down and put on his boots. �Now where did I leave that tee shirt?� He looked around him. Jake found the shirt on the chair and handed it to him. �Thanks. Shall we go take a look?� He went towards the door when Jake stopped him. �Brian, wait,� Jake took his arm and lowered his voice. �What�s going on?� �I�m going to go check on Crimson Love.� �Brian?� He persisted. �This isn�t smart. This isn�t like you.� �Don�t worry. She�s not a spy.� �How do you know.� �Because she said so.� �And you believe her?� �Yes.� �You�re not sleeping with the enemy are you?� Jake knew his reputation. Brian was honest and loyal but he was no saint when it came to women. But this was one time; he had to be careful. �No, I�m not sleeping with her.� Not that it hadn�t crossed his mind but Jake was right. He needed to keep this totally out of the bedroom. �Look, it�s a foaling. What can happen?� �I don�t know, but you watch your back. She could be more of a threat than Fitzgerald�s goons.� They both turned again towards the door. �I�m not going to let the fact that,� Brian dropped his voice even lower, �she is beautiful, sexy and smart cloud my judgment Jake. Besides it may just work to our advantage. She could let something slip.� He patted Jake�s back. �Come on, it�s a bit too quiet out there.� He left the tack room and Jake followed. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Foaling was usually accomplished unattended. Most mares produced their young alone, in privacy. Like many modern horse farms Brian had a close-circuit camera perched above the stall to permit observation undetected so the process could be monitored in case an emergency occurred. But in the case of Crimson Love, he wasn�t taking any chances. Just like a human delivery, a breach or posterior position could cause problems and there was too much at stake to lose this foal. Upon their return, Jake gave Moire a warning look as he walked by. She had been under Matt�s scrutiny the entire time Brian was gone. There was a chill in the air and it was caused by her presence. Brian seemed oblivious to it but Moire felt eyes constantly watching her every move. Crimson Love had finally settled down and was lying on her side. Her discomfort was extreme and with the vet still not there, Brian decided he needed to check the position of the foal. Matt and Jake went off to get some water and towels and Brian stripped off his shirt and Moire found her pulse race at the sight of his firm body. Brian washed his arms with the disinfectant soap and then applied a lubricant over his right arm to help him reach inside Crimson Love and check the foal. Just as he thought there was no change. The foal was still posterior and the contractions were pushing it against the cervical wall. He stood up and rinsed his arm off in the bucket of warm water and dried off. �Is Maggie on her way?� He asked as he put his shirt back on. �She was finishing up at Tom Wilson�s when I called and said she would be here as soon as possible.� Jake eyed Moire as he related the vet�s message. �Well we need her,� Brian said frustrated at his lack of expertise and confidence. �If we don�t deliver the foal soon we could lose it before it is ever born and possibly Crimson Love too.� There was nothing he could do. He watched as his mare struggled to bring her young into the world and prayed that both would survive the ordeal. Through all this Moire hung back and watched and waited. Her presence was more than unwelcome and she felt helpless. Her foaling experience was really minimal, her father only letting the vet anywhere near his brood mares if there were any problems. She always watched on the sidelines and once the birth was complete would venture into the stable to see the new arrival. Only then would she be allowed to assist the filly or colt in nursing or bottle feed them if necessary as well as monitor the mare during those post delivery hours. Worry lines formed on Brian�s brow as he observed the mare in her agony. It seemed like hours when it had only been barely one since he had returned home. Moire stood off to the side, the climate in the stable worsening by the minute. Every time Matt or Jake made a comment they would look at her before they spoke to Brian. Finally Moire couldn�t take any more. She walked over to the three men. �Brian, I�m going to wait outside.� She turned to leave. The three of them had been in the middle of a discussion on what to do if Maggie didn�t get there in time. Brian turned to the men, �Hold on a minute.� He took Moire�s arm, �Moire?� She pulled away. �They don�t trust me,� she whispered. Her eyes went to the two men. �I�ll go outside and sit so you can work and speak freely.� �I�m sorry they won�t�� �Don�t apologize Brian. It�s not your fault. It�s my father�s.� She patted his arm and walked down the length of the barn. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The sun had lowered in the sky sending the fields into shadow. Moire wandered around the stable area noting how even with so little help the farm was well kept. You could feel the pride about the place. The house set apart stood proud overlooking the out buildings and the land beyond. It would be a shame to see him lose all this to her father. This wasn�t some hobby for Brian, but his life. Moire wondered what it would be like to live quietly here, raising a family and nurturing good stock for the coveted Triple Crown. Even her father didn�t own that prize. Noise from the stable brought her back from her musings and she walked over to the entry. Brian�s words were angry as he cursed at the vet�s delay. She was needed soon or both mare and foal could be lost. Tensions were mounting and she wished there were something she could do. Moire found a small galley just inside the front door of the stable. A coffee maker and all the ingredients sat on a small shelf. A few minutes later she poured four cups and set them along with sugar and cream on a small piece of wood she found on the floor. She was nearly knocked over as she came out the door. �Oh coffee,� Maggie McDonnell said as she took a cup off the makeshift tray. Her flyaway red hair and harried appearance was nothing like the staid vet Moire�s father kept on retainer for Claddagh Farms. �It�s Moire, right?� The vet said as she took a sip. Moire gave her a nod. �I�m a bit surprised to see you here.� �No more than me.� Moire added as they proceeded down the aisle. �I�m glad you are here though, Dr. McDonnell. Brian was beginning to get worried.� Maggie could see the concern on the girl�s face and wondered what her father would think of her being here. �It�s Maggie. My father was Dr. McDonnell.� She chuckled at her remark but her smile faded when she came upon the three men. �Maggie, thank God,� Brian said. He took a cup of the coffee and offered it to Matt. But both he and Jake refused. Brian shrugged as he kept it for himself. �How is she doing?� Maggie asked as she handed her cup to Moire. �Still posterior. I�ve checked twice and there is really very little change.� Maggie nodded as Brian filled her in. �She�s getting close though.� Maggie noted the trickle of fluid escaping. �Under normal circumstances we would not know it was posterior until certain signs are obvious, so we are at least prepared. So I�m going to need your help.� She looked at them all. Moire stepped back to leave the stable. �You too, Moire.� �Me? I�ve never assisted. I don�t� know that I can be of any help.� She gave Brian a wary look but he smiled at her and nodded. He trusted her; she could see it in his eyes. �You just listen to me. You will do fine.� Maggie removed her shirt, revealing a white sleeveless tunic. Fresh water was brought in and like Brian she prepared to check the mare�s progress. It was just as Brian had said only now the foal�s rump was up against the cervical wall. It was crucial that they act quickly to deliver the animal or they could lose it. Maggie gave explicit instructions. Matt and Jake were to keep the mare as still as possible using loose ropes attached to the collar. Moire�s job was to talk to the animal, to keep her calm and if need be apply a soothing motion with her hand on the horse�s side. Moire settled into the straw and began to talk softly to the distraught animal. Brian assisted Maggie and after locating the hind legs of the foal they worked to bring one and then the other through the birth canal. They worked quickly because the foal could suffocate. Once the legs were clear though the rest of the foal emerged. In a matter of minutes the newborn was resting on the clean straw. Maggie cleaned the head and snout of residue mucus and then the colt stood up on wobbly legs. Moire watched in amazement, as the young colt seemed totally unaffected by the ordeal. Never had she experienced anything so beautiful. It left her speechless and in awe of the miracle of birth. With the trauma of her labor and delivery over, Crimson Love stood and expelled the afterbirth. She sought out her colt and all watched as mother and young bonded for the first time. Maggie gave the okay after checking the placenta and Moire saw Brian finally relax and breathe a sigh of relief. They had barely cleaned up when an inebriated Tom Wilson barged into the stable. |