Duchess Beware (Secrets & Scandals Book 2) by Tiffany Green Read Free Book Online Page B

laughter lit her eyes.  Gone was the somber girl of yesterday, replaced by the stunning spitfire who took his breath away.  He fisted his hands, wondering if his jovial friend had anything to do with improving her mood?  That thought sure as hell didn’t improve his.
    Daniel cleared his throat and looked away.  What in God’s name was happening to him?  Garrett was like a brother to him.  He had no right to—
    An agitated whinny drew his attention.  There, it came from the fenced enclosure beside the stables.  The enormous black stallion snorted then pawed the ground before it paced back and forth along the wooden barrier.  It halted to sniff the air, then grew enraged.
    Discerning the reason behind the stallion’s behavior, he snapped his gaze back to Silver and Garrett.  They were around the corner of the stables unable to see the stallion.  He opened his mouth to yell a warning, but heard a terrible crash.  His heart nearly quit when the crazed animal smashed through the wooden fence and surged in Silver’s direction. 
    Daniel ran straight to the stallion as it started to turn the corner, his heart in his throat.
    Thank God the beast wore a halter.  He grabbed the side strap just as it lifted its front legs to crush Silver, who stood paralyzed in fear.  He pulled with all his might until the brute lowered back to the ground.
    The muscles in his arms ached like the devil.  He didn’t have much time, watching the beast flatten its ears and roll its dark eyes as it snorted through flared nostrils.  Without taking his attention from the livid stallion, Daniel spoke calmly to Garrett.  “The mare is in season.  Return her to the stables at once.”  He gritted his teeth, his arms trembling from exertion.
    As Garrett moved away, the stallion grew more enraged.  It bucked and kicked, and Daniel swore.  He would not be able to restrain the brute much longer.  Just as he started to command Silver to return to the house, the leather strap tore from his grip.  The horse reared, stretching above him like Satan’s own steed and surged back down.  In the quarter-second before the sharp pain exploded within his skull, Daniel prayed Silver would not get hurt.
    Then the world went black.
     
    Silver’s heart twisted as she watched the large beast knock the duke to the ground and stomp on him.  “No!” she screamed and looked around, but couldn’t think of anything that would drive the mad horse away.  “Get away from him,” she screeched, waving her arms.  But that only enraged him more.  Daniel would die unless she did something. 
    The horse paused and reared up to pounce again.
    Seeing her opportunity, Silver threw herself over the duke to shield him from the deadly attack.  Stabbing pain tore the breath from her lungs.  Her left shoulder seared as if on fire.  Nausea toiled in her stomach.  She couldn’t breathe and tried gasping for air.  Voices sounded, but the hissing in her ears prevented her from understanding them.  Someone lifted her away, and the shooting pain made the world spin.  She tried to speak, to tell them to save the duke, but her mouth refused the commands of her brain.
    Then her lungs opened.  Silver sucked in several deep breaths and recovered her wits.  Her vision cleared.  She hardly noticed the terrible ache pounding her left shoulder and right ankle as her brothers lifted Daniel from the ground.  Her eyes misted over when she saw his swollen face covered in blood and dirt.  Realizing Garrett still held her, Silver buried her face against his shoulder.  She couldn’t watch anymore.  But the tears stinging her eyes would not fall.
    They never did.
    ****
    Silver drew in a shaky breath and retrieved a clean square of linen from the supply the housekeeper, Mrs. Burns, had brought in earlier.  A chair and small table had been placed by the bed to make it easier to administer to Daniel’s wounds.  The doctor’s prognosis rang in her ears, making her hands