Unbitten by Valerie du Sange Read Free Book Online Page A

gets delivered,” said Jo.
    “It is no problem,” said Thierry. “Now,
     Drogo. Let me say that I believe he is a magnificent horse.
     Tremendously strong, athletic.”
    Jo clasped the strap under her chin and waited. She could
     feel the
but
coming.
    “And yet,” said Thierry, “he is perhaps a
     bit over-sensitive. He scares rather easily. We think he
     has terrific potential and could be a big winner–but
     we need you to calm him down a little. Develop some trust.
     You understand?”
    Jo nodded. She was impatient with talking and wanted to
     mount up and go.
    They walked out and Jo could see a muzzle sticking out of a
     stall halfway down, then the big noble head swung out to
     take a look at who was coming.
    Drogo stepped back as they approached and tossed his head.
     He was Arabian, about fifteen hands, a glossy chestnut
     stallion.
    “Who has been riding him?” Jo asked.
     “David? Or the Marquis?”
    “Oh no,” answered Thierry. “Henri and his
     brother do not come to the stable.”
    Jo stared at Thierry for a moment, trying to take in what
     he had said.
    “What do you mean, they don’t come? I thought
     they–or at least David–I thought
     horses–?” Jo was having trouble getting the
     words out.
    “Well, yes, they want the horses to win ribbons and
     be a credit to the Château,” said Thierry.
     “But they do not ride,” he said with a shrug.
    This made no sense. Jo absent-mindedly reached out and
     stroked Drogo’s neck. She tried to grab onto any wisp
     of understanding of why she had been hired, why anyone
     would bother with the expense and trouble of horses if they
     did not ride or even come to the stable to see them, but
     could find no explanation at all. Show ribbons? Sorry, that
     was not enough.
    She felt as though David had lied to her, had
     misrepresented himself. She felt as though the bond they
     had, the connection made from a shared love, had evaporated
     in the blink of an eye. Part of what made her upset is that
     she hadn’t doubted him for a minute. Her gullibility
     made her mad. She felt her face flush with anger and that
     made her even angrier.
    “Unless there is anything else, I would like to be
     alone with Drogo,” said Jo.
    Thierry nodded. “Of course.”
    “Oh–is there anyplace that is off-limits to
     ride?” she asked. “I don’t even know what
     the borders of the property are.”
    “If you head to the right after leaving the stable,
     you will see a trail that goes into the woods,”
     Thierry said. “It is unlikely that you will ride far
     enough to leave the Château property, but even if you
     do, all of the property owners allow riding on trails
     through their land. We are not shooting trespassers like
     you do in America.”
    Jo laughed, wondering what TV show Thierry was getting his
     information from. But that conversation was going to have
     to happen later. She said goodbye as Thierry went off, and
     let herself into Drogo’s stall.
    He backed up again, lifting his head, uncertain of her.
    “Hey now,” Jo said, in a soft murmur.
     “Hey now, boy.” She held out her hand, flat,
     with a handful of grass she had picked just before reaching
     the stable.
    Drogo eyed the grass. He eyed Jo. Slowly, he reached his
     muzzle towards her hand.
    “That’s it, boy. Eat up.”
    His big horse lips reached out and snatched up a mouthful.
     Jo felt the skin of his muzzle, so soft and bristly; she
     inhaled the lovely barn smell of manure and hay and horse.
     She pushed her confusion about David out of her
     mind–she was ready to
gallop
on this big
     boy, and she could barely wait to saddle him up.

7

    Ah, the TGV , thought Tristan
     Durant. French technology at its finest. The train is so
     fast I will be in Paris before lunch. And thinking of
     lunch, he smiled a broad smile of expectation. Yes, he was
     there to meet with the head of the slayer organization, and
     that meeting was taking up most of his thoughts. But that
     did not