see that her conformation is a little different than the others. That's the Russian influence. They prefer strong, athletic horses. She's in foal to our straight Egyptian stallion, and due in January."
Liz assessed the dark gray mare. The horse's features were heavier than Liz preferred, but the conformation was excellent and the animal had a regal, almost distant bearing.
"Why are you selling her?"
Eve closed the stall door. "Actually, I just don't like her very much." She shrugged. "Her personality isn't as friendly as the rest of my mares."
Liz nodded, but said nothing. You're not exactly out-going yourself. Horses are very tuned-in to human body language.
Following Eve down the aisle, Liz seriously considered the gray mare. A real possibility...introduce some diversified blood into my herd. Plus, the foal she's carrying could be really outstanding.
Eve stopped beside another stall door and waited for Liz's reaction. Inside the twelve-by-twelve enclosure filled with mounds of straw, a magnificent white mare watched the two women. Her large, dark eyes held a soft luminosity. Her statuesque body was strong, yet delicate, with superb bone structure and faultless conformation. The horse had a magical effect on Liz. All she needs is a unicorn horn.
"Fair Lady's a ten-year-old Polish-Egyptian cross. I've had six beautiful foals out of her."
As if summoned, a tiny head peeked around Fair Lady's chest. The foal was an exquisite replica of her mother. Fair Lady lowered her head and, chuckling in her throat, nudged the little one back.
Eve laughed. "As you can see, she's a very good mother."
They moved on down the aisle, and Liz looked at other horses, but couldn't shake the image of the white mare.
Abruptly, Eve turned, brushing past Liz. "Well, it's about time you showed up!"
She walked rapidly toward a tall silhouette in the open barn door. Liz turned her thoughts to how she could manage to buy the gray mare and Fair Lady.
7
Well, well. If it isn't Doctor Barnett!"
Liz's heart froze at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. What's he doing here? Hayloft fantasies rushed into her head, but she quickly pushed them aside. She turned, and met Kurt's gaze.
"Hi...I'm sorry, what was your name again?"
The flicker of a smile beneath his moustache implied that her impudence had been wasted.
Confused, Eve stared at Liz. "This is my trainer, Kurt DeVallio. Have you two met?"
Liz struggled to keep her expression neutral. "Yes, we were introduced at the Sacramento show." If you could call it an introduction.
Kurt cleared his throat. "I'll go unload my gear and let you two get on with whatever you're doing." He threw Liz a veiled look. "Nice to see you again."
She nodded, but said nothing as he sauntered away. Unbelievable! Of all the bad luck.
Eve's voice brought Liz back to the business at hand.
"Did you see any mares you're interested in?"
"Actually, I'm considering the gray Russian, and I love that white mare with the foal. Would you consider a package price?"
Eve grinned. "I'm in the horse business. Anything's possible."
On the drive home, Liz pondered the sticky turn of events. I suppose Mr. Cowboy would have something to say about a lady vet working at Aliqua. His attitude concerning women had come across loud and clear at the show, but there'd been no hint of it there in the barn. He might have his opinions, but probably wouldn't buck the boss. Eve didn't appear to be a woman who would put up with chauvinistic behavior. Following that thought, Liz decided her own biggest challenge would be to keep Kurt from influencing her.
A minute later, the prospect of new horses at Legacy sent a jolt of excitement through her. Muscala, the Russian mare, had never been shown. Eve had acquired her strictly for bloodlines. Fair Lady had been retired from showing years before, and enjoyed the pampered life of a top-producing broodmare. The only negative aspect of the deal was that Fair Lady's beautiful
Liz assessed the dark gray mare. The horse's features were heavier than Liz preferred, but the conformation was excellent and the animal had a regal, almost distant bearing.
"Why are you selling her?"
Eve closed the stall door. "Actually, I just don't like her very much." She shrugged. "Her personality isn't as friendly as the rest of my mares."
Liz nodded, but said nothing. You're not exactly out-going yourself. Horses are very tuned-in to human body language.
Following Eve down the aisle, Liz seriously considered the gray mare. A real possibility...introduce some diversified blood into my herd. Plus, the foal she's carrying could be really outstanding.
Eve stopped beside another stall door and waited for Liz's reaction. Inside the twelve-by-twelve enclosure filled with mounds of straw, a magnificent white mare watched the two women. Her large, dark eyes held a soft luminosity. Her statuesque body was strong, yet delicate, with superb bone structure and faultless conformation. The horse had a magical effect on Liz. All she needs is a unicorn horn.
"Fair Lady's a ten-year-old Polish-Egyptian cross. I've had six beautiful foals out of her."
As if summoned, a tiny head peeked around Fair Lady's chest. The foal was an exquisite replica of her mother. Fair Lady lowered her head and, chuckling in her throat, nudged the little one back.
Eve laughed. "As you can see, she's a very good mother."
They moved on down the aisle, and Liz looked at other horses, but couldn't shake the image of the white mare.
Abruptly, Eve turned, brushing past Liz. "Well, it's about time you showed up!"
She walked rapidly toward a tall silhouette in the open barn door. Liz turned her thoughts to how she could manage to buy the gray mare and Fair Lady.
7
Well, well. If it isn't Doctor Barnett!"
Liz's heart froze at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. What's he doing here? Hayloft fantasies rushed into her head, but she quickly pushed them aside. She turned, and met Kurt's gaze.
"Hi...I'm sorry, what was your name again?"
The flicker of a smile beneath his moustache implied that her impudence had been wasted.
Confused, Eve stared at Liz. "This is my trainer, Kurt DeVallio. Have you two met?"
Liz struggled to keep her expression neutral. "Yes, we were introduced at the Sacramento show." If you could call it an introduction.
Kurt cleared his throat. "I'll go unload my gear and let you two get on with whatever you're doing." He threw Liz a veiled look. "Nice to see you again."
She nodded, but said nothing as he sauntered away. Unbelievable! Of all the bad luck.
Eve's voice brought Liz back to the business at hand.
"Did you see any mares you're interested in?"
"Actually, I'm considering the gray Russian, and I love that white mare with the foal. Would you consider a package price?"
Eve grinned. "I'm in the horse business. Anything's possible."
On the drive home, Liz pondered the sticky turn of events. I suppose Mr. Cowboy would have something to say about a lady vet working at Aliqua. His attitude concerning women had come across loud and clear at the show, but there'd been no hint of it there in the barn. He might have his opinions, but probably wouldn't buck the boss. Eve didn't appear to be a woman who would put up with chauvinistic behavior. Following that thought, Liz decided her own biggest challenge would be to keep Kurt from influencing her.
A minute later, the prospect of new horses at Legacy sent a jolt of excitement through her. Muscala, the Russian mare, had never been shown. Eve had acquired her strictly for bloodlines. Fair Lady had been retired from showing years before, and enjoyed the pampered life of a top-producing broodmare. The only negative aspect of the deal was that Fair Lady's beautiful
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