After the Affair(30)

But everything was not all right. The foal was not turned right in the birth canal, and Cassie needed all of her skill and patience to rectify the matter. By the time she had, Rosie seemed almost exhausted. The horse was old and tiring quickly. Cassie felt helpless, but she kept the growing panic out of her voice and talked to Rosie in calm, reassuring tones. 'You're doing splendidly, old girl. Have a rest for a while.' Cassie cradled the horse's head in her lap, letting her long, stroking hands and soothing words give the mare a much needed respite.

Another contraction started. Rosie stiffened. Her head jerked up in pain before wearily dropping back. Cassie felt like crying, but she didn't. Yet the effort to stay calm and supportive was tremendous.

Time ticked away and Cassie's worry increased. She wished she had her bag with her. An injection to strengthen the contractions might have helped. But there again, maybe not. Rosie was not young. Cassie resumed praying.

'Come on, old love,' she encouraged verbally. 'You can do it. Now here comes another contraction. Push!'

And to her surprise Rosie responded magnificently. She gave a great heave, then another and another. And out popped a slithering mass, the protective bag peeling back to reveal a healthy, though very messy foal.

'Fantastic!' Cassie praised, tears of relief and joy finally gushing over. With the pain gone Rosie was a different horse, scrambling to her feet and immediately attending to her foal. It had been many years since the old mare had given birth, but animals never forgot. Her long motherly tongue began the tedious task of cleaning and drying without any hesitation.

Cassie retreated to the fence, climbing through to wash her hands under the tank tap, then returning to lean against the railings and watch Rosie's meticulous work. The mare did not stop till her baby's coat was dry, after which she began the even slower job of nudging the foal up on to unsteady feet. When finally the filly—Cassie had craned her neck like a rubber man to acquire this knowledge—made it up on to those spindly long limbs, Rosie began directing her gently towards her teat, swinging her rump around every time her wayward charge headed in the wrong direction. It was a slow, frustrating process, but Rosie was patient and kept repeating the manoeuvre. Success was difficult because the foal, being a fraction premature, was frailer than some and kept falling over.

Cassie clapped her hands when the filly finally remained standing long enough to clamp on and suck. Her chest felt like it would burst with pride. For this was her triumph as well as Rosie's. She had single-handedly brought the mare back from certain death to this miraculous moment. More tears poured from her eyes as another well of emotion spilled over.

'So there you are!'

Cassie swung round to see Dan striding angrily towards her. He ground to a halt beside her, his anger disintegrating into exasperation when he looked into her eyes. 'Oh, God, no,' he muttered, 'not tears again.' His head shook from side to side in utter frustration. His sigh was weary. 'Even I can't cope with this.'

Taken aback, Cassie blinked up at him.

'And I certainly can't cope with any more of those goddamned confused innocent looks!' he exploded. 'You agreed to this marriage, Cassie. Admittedly, I forced your hand, but you know it's for Jason's good. You could at least give it a chance instead of... Oh, hell!' He ran an agitated hand through his hair and his eyes mirrored a type of desperation. 'What else could I do?' he cried in anguish.

Cassie was stunned by his tortured outburst, but the implications of the emotional words slowly penetrated. Could this be a ruthless man talking? A man without feeling...cold and callous? Impossible!

'Goddamn it, Cassie,' he burst out again, 'I'm not a saint and my patience is fast drawing to an end. I tried to be a considerate husband last night, didn't I? I put your feelings first, though, damn it all, walking away from you was the hardest thing I have ever done.'

Cassie's heart contracted. He had wanted her. He had!

'And what happens?' he raged on, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. 'I get up this morning, only to find your bed neatly made and you gone! I've been looking for you for over an hour...worrying...not knowing... And when I find you, you're in tears again. What am I supposed to do, dammit? Or don't you care what I do ‑?'

'Oh, Dan,' she broke in breathlessly, 'I'm so sorry... I... Didn't you see my note?'

His hands dropped to his side in surprise. 'Note?'

'I left a message in the kitchen telling you I was walking over to check on Rosie... Obviously you didn't see it. And my crying has nothing to do with you or our marriage. I was crying from happiness.'

She grabbed his arm and turned his stiff, resistant body towards the fence. 'See? Rosie's had her foal. A lovely filly... That's why I was so long. She was in labour when I arrived and she needed some help. .