MacKinnon’s Rangers 03.5 - Upon A Winter's Night by Pamela Clare Read Free Book Online Page A

glanced from Amalie to Annie, then looked over at Joseph and Killy . "Farmer Fairley was supposed to deliver my Christmas gifts to the family, but not until the morning of Christmas Eve."

    "It seems Christmas has come early." Killy leaned his musket agains the wall, opened the door, and strode outside, his words drifting back to them. "A good day to you! Killy’s the name. What is it you…"

    A great bellowing arose, drowning out Killy’s voice.

    "What kind of gift is that, little sister?" Joseph asked Sarah, a grin on his face as he followed Killy outside.

    Sarah glanced at Amalie and Annie, as if to explain. "I thought Connor and his brothers would be home when Farmer Fairley arrived."

    Folding her shawl around her baby, she brushed past Amalie and out the door, Amalie and Annie hurrying behind her.

    And Amalie saw.

    A great bull stood tied to the back of the wagon. Unhappy about its plight, the animal huffed and growled, its head tossing from side to side, great horns slashing the air.

    "Mercy!" Annie said beside her.

    "Master Fairley, I wasn’t expecting you so soon," Sarah said.

    "There’s a storm headed this way, and my good wife would be most displeased if I should be snowed in here with you and miss her Christmas cookin ’." He removed his hat, scratched his head. "Truth be told, I can’t be keepin ’ this bull any longer. The beast has already destroyed one trough and all but brought down my spare cowshed. He’s a cantankerous animal."

    As if to prove Farmer Fairley’s words, the bull chose that moment to crash its head into the back of the wagon, causing the wagon to rock forward and frightening the horses, which whinnied and stamped uneasily at the snowy ground.

    Farmer Fairley calmed the horses, holding fast to the reins. "I need your good man to take the beast off my hands."

    "My husband is not here, nor are his brothers," Sarah told Farmer Fairley. "They were called away to Albany on a matter of great importance."

    Farmer Fairley’s eyes narrowed. "You didn’t tell them you’d bought the animal, did you? You meant to surprise them?"

    At the expression on Sarah’s face, Farmer Fairley broke into guffaws. "One must take great care with a bull. If it were to get out, it could kill someone or get into another farmer’s field and cause havoc."

    Sarah’s gaze fell to the ground. "I…I didn’t know."

    Farmer Fairley patted one of his horses on its flank. "You’d best be decidin ’ what to do with it, for I’ll not be takin ’ that beast back home with me. Show me where you want it, and I’ll lead it there for you."

    Sarah looked from Killy to Joseph, and Amalie could tell by the expressions on their faces that they hadn’t the first idea what to do with an angry bull. Neither of them were farmers. But that wouldn’t stop them from taking charge.

    Killy pushed up his sleeves. "We’ll put him in the dryin ’ shed, tie him down tight, and see to it he’s got food and water. When the boys get home, they’ll know what to do with him."

    Amalie knew little of farming or animal husbandry, but she had watched many a time while Sister Marie Louise had tended the convent’s small herd of cattle, leading the bull from pen to paddock so that it could breed the cows. It had never seemed a challenge, the big animal following wherever Sister Marie Louise led.

    Amalie walked around the wagon to get a closer look, amazed at the size of this bull, its coat red and shaggy, its body thick and muscled, its horns long. A rope ran from the ring in its nose to an iron ring fixed to the wagon’s frame. She had no doubt that should that rope break, the beast would stampede, raging at all of them.

    It eyed her, its pupils dark, the whites of its eyes flashing as she drew nearer.

    "Oh, the poor beast!" Amalie drew closer still. "It is frightened."

    Sister Marie Louise had never tied a bull in a shed by itself. She’d always made certain the animal had the company of a cow or two to keep it