Read Fallen Angel for Free Online

told her to. She could see the foal gradually being pushed out, despite the horse’s agitation so she tried to prepare herself. Finally the foal was more out than in and gravity helped. The foal fell into her arms, it was heavier than she expected but she held tight to it and sank down into the straw holding it on her lap. She looked into the tiny horse’s eyes and was startled to find that they were blue. They were pale and reminded her of Luke’s. Instinctively she grabbed a handful of straw and began rubbing it over the foal in an effort to both clean it off and warm it.
    A loud screech from the horse made her jump and she looked up only to see t hat she had begun gushing blood.  The blood was running down the horses legs and beginning to pool on the floor. She wasn’t as agitated now she seemed to be weakening.
    “Luke.” She said as loudly as she dared. He looked at her and she pointed at the pool of blood. He looked at the blood then back at the horse, she saw resignation in his eyes. The horse went down on her front legs and Luke walked from the stall. Angelica scrambled back from the horse as much as she could with the foal on her lap. She didn’t look at the struggling horse as tears filled her eyes, instead she turned her attention to vigorously rubbing down the foal.
    The sound of a gun shot in the small space caused her jump and nearly scream. She managed to cut off the sound so it sounded more like a squeak but her heart continued to pound in a wild rhythm. Luke was kneeling beside the horses head, his pistol still in his hand. She saw him draw a deep breath before he turned and looked at her.  She met his gaze evenly, but she didn’t know what to say.  There were no words that could follow all that had happened in such a short time, but as she looked into his eyes he saw him look from her to the foal and back again and it dawned on her what he was preparing to do.
    “No!” She tightened her arms around the foal.
    “Angie,” His voice was quiet as if he were trying to sooth her now. “It won’t survive without its mother.”
    “Yes, it can. You don’t know, you at least have to give it a chance.” Her eyes filled with tears she knew she couldn’t let him put the foal down, she had a fierce desire to protect it.
    “How will it eat, how will it stay warm?” His voice still had a soothing tone but she wasn’t going to be swayed.
    “I will bottle feed it and I will keep it warm.” She said stubbornly. He looked into her eyes for a long moment and she met his gaze unblinking.  He sighed and stood once again walking from the stall. Angelica turned her attention back to the foal, once again rubbing it down. Luke returned a few minutes later with a few blankets and a bottle.
    “Got a cow that just calved so he gets cow milk in a calf bottle because that’s all we’ve got.”  She looked into his eyes, he was much closer now than he had been before.
    “Thank you.” She said softly.
    “Try not to get too attached OK, this probably isn’t going to work and I won’t see him suffer.” His voice was soft but she knew he meant it. She nodded her understanding. “Let’s see if we can get him on his feet.  Luke let him smell the milk and then backed awa y, the hungry foal stretched its neck toward the bottle and Luke backed away a little more.  Angelica held her breath as the foal placed one shaky leg on the floor followed by another one soon he was off her lap and fully standing. She grinned.
    “Well it seems he is a she.” Luke said matter of factly. Angelica looked automatically.
    “I guess she is.”
    “Well come here.” She quickly got to her feet and went to wh ere he was standing he gave her the bottle and she held it out and the foal approached on shaky legs. He found the nipple and began to suckle greedily. She felt herself smile again. They sat there quietly until the foal drank his fill and lay back down again. 
    “Let’s move her to another stall.” Luke said easily