like them the way they are.”
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Christmas With the Stallions
9
Shelly grinned. “Yes, but I like to play with all of your toys, darling.”
Catching the underlying insinuation, Haley shook her head and hurriedly walked outside toward the pick-up truck. Colt opened the door, and she slid across the leather seat.
Haley waved goodbye to her curious friend. Later, she’d have to tell her while she settled for looking at the Old Workshop Christmas Village, she enjoyed the luxury of a hot and spicy ride, sandwiched in between two of the sexiest cowboys alive.
Studying Seth beside her, she resisted the sudden urge to run her hands through his unkempt, long blond hair, but she might have if he hadn’t startled her by his expression and then a warning. “It’s bad, Haley,” he said, his brown eyes full of concern. “You need to prepare for the worst.”
* * * *
Out in the field, Haley knelt beside the mare. “We’re gonna have to get Doc Thomas out here,” she declared, petting the gentle horse’s head.
“I’ve already called him,” Seth told her, glancing up for just a second.
“And?” Haley asked impatiently.
“He’s out of town and won’t be back until late tonight,” Seth replied. “Haley, I think someone may have poisoned her.”
“What?” Haley asked in an elevated pitch. “Why the hell would you think such a thing?”
Colt spoke up. “We worked for one of the largest Walking Horse barns in Shelbyville a few summers ago. This mare is showing signs of a poisoned animal.”
“That’s insane,” Haley said, scrubbing her hands together and blowing hot air over her cold fingers. “I don’t have enemies and everyone around here knows Daisy was the last horse my…my…”
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10
Addison Avery
She swallowed hard and finished her sentence. “Daisy was the last horse my husband bought prior to his car accident.”
Seth and Colt swapped a quick glance.
“Enemy or not, this horse has been poisoned,” Colt persisted, his dark eyes piercing through hers as he squatted next to the animal.
Daisy released a tortured breath, one where her nostrils flared and her sides swelled to an enormous size. Her eyes opened and closed as she continued her struggle to breathe.
“It’s okay, girl, just take it easy,” Haley said, trying to comfort her.
Helpless, Colt stood again and rushed to the truck for horse blankets. Pulling them from the back, something in the distance held his gaze and he made a quick inquiry. “Haley, what the hell is that over there?” he asked, pointing.
Haley studied the fence line and the dead remains of the Oleanders she tried to grow soon after her husband’s death. She revisited the memory and shook her head. Tears came to her eyes and she responded, “I don’t have a green thumb but tried to grow Oleanders this past year. I guess you could say I—”
“Shit!” Seth fell to the animal and Colt followed suit, quickly propping the horse’s head on his thick legs.
“What is it?” Haley screeched.
“Oleanders are deadly. They’re very toxic and horses, the few that can’t leave them alone, die from Oleander.”
“No,” she cried out. “There’s no way. You don’t understand.
Daisy wouldn’t have eaten that plant. Daisy doesn’t eat anything outside of a little grass, hay, and sweet feed.”
Clearly agitated, Colt pointed toward the scattered branches of the Oleanders. “She must’ve developed a taste for dead plants, too.
Horses can’t read all about Oleanders like humans can. She didn’t know she’d die if she ate the damn things.”
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to [email protected].
Christmas With the Stallions
11
Seth studied poor old Daisy. Then he raised a question. “Why the hell
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to [email protected].
Christmas With the Stallions
9
Shelly grinned. “Yes, but I like to play with all of your toys, darling.”
Catching the underlying insinuation, Haley shook her head and hurriedly walked outside toward the pick-up truck. Colt opened the door, and she slid across the leather seat.
Haley waved goodbye to her curious friend. Later, she’d have to tell her while she settled for looking at the Old Workshop Christmas Village, she enjoyed the luxury of a hot and spicy ride, sandwiched in between two of the sexiest cowboys alive.
Studying Seth beside her, she resisted the sudden urge to run her hands through his unkempt, long blond hair, but she might have if he hadn’t startled her by his expression and then a warning. “It’s bad, Haley,” he said, his brown eyes full of concern. “You need to prepare for the worst.”
* * * *
Out in the field, Haley knelt beside the mare. “We’re gonna have to get Doc Thomas out here,” she declared, petting the gentle horse’s head.
“I’ve already called him,” Seth told her, glancing up for just a second.
“And?” Haley asked impatiently.
“He’s out of town and won’t be back until late tonight,” Seth replied. “Haley, I think someone may have poisoned her.”
“What?” Haley asked in an elevated pitch. “Why the hell would you think such a thing?”
Colt spoke up. “We worked for one of the largest Walking Horse barns in Shelbyville a few summers ago. This mare is showing signs of a poisoned animal.”
“That’s insane,” Haley said, scrubbing her hands together and blowing hot air over her cold fingers. “I don’t have enemies and everyone around here knows Daisy was the last horse my…my…”
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to [email protected].
10
Addison Avery
She swallowed hard and finished her sentence. “Daisy was the last horse my husband bought prior to his car accident.”
Seth and Colt swapped a quick glance.
“Enemy or not, this horse has been poisoned,” Colt persisted, his dark eyes piercing through hers as he squatted next to the animal.
Daisy released a tortured breath, one where her nostrils flared and her sides swelled to an enormous size. Her eyes opened and closed as she continued her struggle to breathe.
“It’s okay, girl, just take it easy,” Haley said, trying to comfort her.
Helpless, Colt stood again and rushed to the truck for horse blankets. Pulling them from the back, something in the distance held his gaze and he made a quick inquiry. “Haley, what the hell is that over there?” he asked, pointing.
Haley studied the fence line and the dead remains of the Oleanders she tried to grow soon after her husband’s death. She revisited the memory and shook her head. Tears came to her eyes and she responded, “I don’t have a green thumb but tried to grow Oleanders this past year. I guess you could say I—”
“Shit!” Seth fell to the animal and Colt followed suit, quickly propping the horse’s head on his thick legs.
“What is it?” Haley screeched.
“Oleanders are deadly. They’re very toxic and horses, the few that can’t leave them alone, die from Oleander.”
“No,” she cried out. “There’s no way. You don’t understand.
Daisy wouldn’t have eaten that plant. Daisy doesn’t eat anything outside of a little grass, hay, and sweet feed.”
Clearly agitated, Colt pointed toward the scattered branches of the Oleanders. “She must’ve developed a taste for dead plants, too.
Horses can’t read all about Oleanders like humans can. She didn’t know she’d die if she ate the damn things.”
Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
Report ebook piracy to [email protected].
Christmas With the Stallions
11
Seth studied poor old Daisy. Then he raised a question. “Why the hell
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