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filled her in on the rest of the happenings at the castle, keeping her entertained until a servant announced dinner was ready.
    Jasper stood and offered his mother his arm and led her to the dining room where the long table was set for two. He seated his mother and took his place at the head of the table.
    They were almost through their meal when Mathew appeared at the door, his face flushed with excitement.
    “My lord, I think it is time,” he said, the words tumbling from his mouth in a rush. “Windamere is sweating and pawing at the ground.”
    “Excuse me, Mother.” Rising from his chair, he threw his napkin on the table and strode from the room.
    Jasper grabbed a torch from beside the kitchen door and ran to the stables. A small group of excited men had gathered outside the horse’s stall. They were taking wagers on the sex of the foal.
    “What do you wish for, Jasper?” Richard asked.
    “I think she will have a filly.”
    “Care for a small wager?” Richard got a dig from one of the other men.
    “How much is everyone putting in?” Jasper asked, keeping an eye on his mare.
    “Just a few coins, Jasper, the men can’t easily afford more than that.”
    “Count me in then. I will collect my winnings later tonight.”
    The men laughed and watched him go in and check on his mare. Mathew joined him and stood back while Jasper tried to soothe her. She pawed at the hay and Jasper rubbed her body gently, keeping his hands on her at all times. His healing energy relaxed and calmed her as the labor progressed.
    Near midnight the mare’s pacing changed. She walked around the stall, dropped to the ground, and strained to give birth. Jasper was behind her, ready to help when the nose and forelegs emerged. He grasped the small hooves and the foal was pushed into the world to land on the clean hay of the stable floor. He dug his fingers into the membrane around the foal’s nose and pulled it away, then he rubbed its body with straw to get it breathing.
    The mare sniffed at her new foal and licked the rest of its face clear. The gathered men watched with wonder as the small, long-legged animal rolled over to sit on its own. The mare pushed at it until it struggled to stand, falling over in its attempts to gain its feet. The crowd laughed nervously. It stumbled before falling, only to struggle to its feet again and again until it managed to remain standing. A cheer rang out once it was stable and moving hesitantly on its own. Its small tail fluttered and it found its way to its mother’s nipple.
    Jasper wiped a hand over his brow. It had been a long but fruitful night.
    “Looks like you owe the men some coin, Jasper,” Richard said laughing. “If I’m any judge of horses, you have a wee man there.”
    Jasper slapped his friend on the back. “I will pay gladly. He is a fine wee thing, is he not?” Jasper smiled. He was proud of his mare and the foal that she had produced. One more fine beast to add to his stable.
    “Will you be keeping him, my lord?” Mathew asked, sidling up to Jasper and leaning comfortably against him.
    “We will have to see lad. Would you be wanting to take care of him till we decide?” Jasper asked.
    “Can I, really?” The boy’s eyes were alive with excitement.
    “Aye, lad, you can.” Jaspers face turned stern. “But take heed Mathew. If I find that you have not been giving her and her foal the care that I would, it will be back to tending the vegetable gardens with your mam. Understand?”
    “I’ll not let you down, my lord,” Mathew said.
    “Home with you now, and be back here early. You have a stable to muck out and two horses to care for and I’ll not have you bleary eyed when you do so.” Jasper pushed the boy from the stables with a quick ruffle of his hair.
    He turned to his men. They were grinning at him. Jasper had grown up with these men, most of them sons of his tenants and his father’s soldiers. Richard and he had been inseparable since they first started to