A Highlander's Obsession (Highlander's Beloved) by Vonnie Davis Read Free Book Online

labored.
    Creighton wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her steady as she worked.
    “If all goes well, the head will deliver with the next contraction. I may need to help get the shoulders out. And you may need to help pull me backward.”
    His arm tightened fractionally. “I’m here for ye.”
    As she’d predicted, the foal’s head surged into the world with Heather Mist’s next groan of pain. Paisley gently pulled out its shoulders and hips. She stood and reached for the towel draped over the gate. “Both mother and child need to rest now. It’s crucial to allow nature to dictate the time they need to finish the process.” The new mother tended to her newborn intypical instinctive behavior, licking away the protective sac.
    Creighton shook the plaid blanket over a bale of straw in the corner of the stall. “Ye also need to rest. ’Tis a fine job ye’ve done this blustery night.” Now would be a good time to question her about the reasons behind her and her grandmother’s trip to Scotland. What did she know about Effie’s plans for Mathe Bay? He didn’t want her to know anything. He wanted her innocent. Surely a soul as sweet as hers wouldna contain conceit or greed.
    She swiped her clean arm over her forehead and plopped onto the plaid. “I hope the second one births easier.” She accepted the cup of coffee he handed her and exhaled a sigh. “Look at them.” She motioned with her cup. “Love at first sight. A bonding time for mother and child. No matter the species, it’s always a beautiful thing to watch.” Her voice was soft and reverent, full of childhood wonder. Did the woman have any clue how beautiful she was to watch?
    “Ye love what ye do, then.”
    “Yes.” Her voice was a whisper of sunshine across his skin, and he stepped into its warmth.
    He sat next to her. “How many years have ye done this?” The desire to know all about her took hold and rooted in his heart.
    “I hung out at a local veterinarian’s office when I was in high school. I made copies of forms and did filing. Cleaned cages and mopped floors.” She sipped her coffee. “Walked dogs and held kittens. Read manuals on veterinary care.”
    He poured more coffee into his cup and settled the thermos between his thighs. “What did ye do for fun?”
    A deep, sexy laugh erupted from her and stirred his loins. “That
was
my fun.” She glanced away and shifted her shoulders. “I wasn’t very popular. If I wasn’t at home with Gram or my nose wasn’t buried in a book, I was at the vet’s office. So, when it came time to think about careers, it was pretty much a no-brainer.” Blue eyes settled on his. “What about you? College? Sports? I bet you were popular.”
    “Popular? To a degree. I ran cross-country and threw shot put.” God, how the bear in him loved to run. “I went to university in Inverness and studied business and hotel management. Came home every chance I got. Hated the close confines of the city. Missed me brothers, heathens that they are. Graduation couldn’t come fast enough.”
    Paisley nodded and drank more coffee. “I know exactly what you mean. Home is important. It’s a safe zone.”
    What did she mean by that? Had someone tried to hurt her? The bear within growled and stood on its hind legs. Possessiveness and the urge to protect this young woman grew.
    “Have ye always lived with yer grandmother?” Maybe her parents were deceased.
    She shifted and clasped her hands. “Since I was almost thirteen, yes.” Her gaze shifted away for a beat while she exhaled a long breath. “Tell me about Angus, my grandmother’s uncle.” Was she changing the topic? Or fishing for information?
    “He was a good man. Intelligent. Always one to voice his opinion. And so cheap his arse squeaked when he walked.”
    Her laughter was a beautiful sound that made him smile in return. “I’ve always heard Scots are cheap, but I”—her eyes twinkled in the stable’s dim lighting and her smile