Page 66 of Winning Her Duke

She was amazed by how quickly she could shift from deep sleep to being wide awake.

She didn’t know what was wrong with Hera, but the lack of details in Hale’s summons didn’t bode well.

She was taken directly to the mews and led into the stables where over a dozen lamps blazed in the small space. The sweet scents of horses and leather welcomed her.

Glancing around she counted seven men including Hale. Hera was standing which was a good sign, but she was agitated. Gia could feel it hovering around the horse.

“Thank you for coming,” Hale said, his eyes a bit frantic. “I didn’t know who else might be able to help. The foal isn’t coming. Her water broke over an hour ago.”

“Of course. I’ll do what I can,” Gia promised. “Let me check her over.”

She didn’t miss the sniff of dismissal from one of the men as she passed between Hera and the group to get to the horse’s head.

It wasn’t the first occasion men had underestimated her abilities when it came to horses. They most likely wouldn’t think much of her techniques. She didn’t care. Hale had called for her, and she would do her best to help the mare deliver.

“What’s wrong lass?” she whispered to the horse.

Hera put her head under Gia’s chin and breathed out. A gesture Gia liked to think was the horse’s way of saying, “Thank you for coming.”

One of the men laughed and she felt Hera shift slightly away from the loud group. Four men stood in a huddle discussing the option of tying a rope to the hoof they could reach and tugging until it came out.

A deplorable idea if the foal was breech. They could end up killing both the foal and the mare that way.

But she could tell by Hera’s unease it wouldn’t be the first time someone in that group had hurt this horse.

On the other side, two boys—brothers, she guessed—stood eager for instructions. The fact that Hera had no issues moving closer to the boys spoke volumes in regard to who she trusted and who she did not.

Gia only had to convince Hale to do what needed to be done. With a flick of her head, he came over from where he watched her perform the evaluation.

“Do you trust me?” she asked quietly.

“With my very life. What is it?”

“One of these men have hurt this horse. We don’t have time to figure out which of them it was. They all need to leave. Immediately.”

“I’ll see it done,” he said without hesitation.

While he handled that, Gia called to the two boys. “My name is Gia. What are yours?”

“I’m Robbie, and this is my little brother Sam.”

They looked to be around fourteen and ten. Slight of build, but strong enough for what she needed.

“Very good. I need Sam to run to the kitchens and have them bring several buckets of hot water and towels. Be quick about it.”

Sam nodded and ran off toward the house.

“Robbie, I need you to move Hera around so she is facing the opposite way. It will make her more comfortable.”

Gia had sensed the horse didn’t like having her head in the corner. She was skittish with the men at her back as anyone would be.

Hale was still arguing with the men. She heard the larger man blustering.

“You think this chit is going to deliver that foal. She’s no bigger than Robbie.”

“What I think is no longer your concern. I asked you to leave the premises. I’ll call for you if I need you.”

“And I might not be available when you call.”