Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3) - Kahlen Aymes (old books to read .TXT) 📗

“Not everything. I only argue when I know I’m right.” I laughed.

“Oh, is that it?” Ben was close enough so that I could see the dimples in his cheeks when he grinned.

I cocked my head to one side. “Yeah.”

“We’ll see.” He took my free hand and bent to kiss me on the forehead, sending a shiver right through me. I couldn’t help wishing he’d kissed me on the mouth. This first kiss would be life changing. I was so hungry for him, though I knew I shouldn’t be. “Night, Marin. I’ll put the wine away.”

“Night.” I took my half full glass and moved away toward the stairs, feeling Ben’s eyes on me the entire way until I disappeared into my room.

***

“Marin!”

Ben’s voice broke through the haze of sleep.

“Marin, wake up! Siri’s in labor. At least… she’s laying on the ground, then getting up, and then down over and over. She’s sweating and looks miserable. There is a white sack starting to come out. I don’t know how to help her.” Ben’s words were frantic.

My eyes opened and I blinked to see Ben looming over me. When his words sank in, I was instantly awake and pushing out of the bed and going over to my dresser. “Okay, give me a minute to throw on some shorts and I’ll be right out. She’s up and down to get the foal into position. It’ll be okay.” I’d seen foaling at least twenty times and all that stuff he described was normal. It was sort of cute that he was acting like an anxious father.

“I’m going back out there. Poor thing,” Ben said and rushed from the room.

It was barely dawn. The sun had not yet risen, but the sky glowed orange and purple through my still open window. I threw on some old shorts and quickly pulled my arms from the sleeves of my T-shirt to quickly throw on a bra and then shoved them back through as I ran down the stairs and shoved my feet into my old work shoes that waited by the backdoor. Soon I was running at full speed across the yard toward the barn.

Ben was inside the stall, softly speaking to Siri and patting her flank.

“It doesn’t look like her water has broken. You might want to step out or run the risk of getting a warm shower.”

He looked at me with a look of horror on his face, his eyes wide and his brow crinkled. “Really?”

I burst out laughing. It was hilarious. This man, who ran fearlessly into raging fires, was cringing at a little amniotic fluid. “Yes!”

“Oh, gross,” he said, moving with lightning speed on his tiptoes to get out of the stall.

I couldn’t stop laughing. “Are you sure you’re the superhero who runs into burning buildings? There isn’t anything on the floor yet, Ben.”

“That’s because I already took out two huge piles of shit before I woke you up,” he said emphatically. He looked like a little boy with his flushed cheeks and exuberant grin.

“I see,” I said, smiling. I felt myself drowning in his blue eyes. He really was striking. “Well, Siri and I thank you.” I held open the stall gate that Ben had just come through and went inside. The mare was clearly in distress. I put a hand on her neck and moved it over her shoulder toward her stomach. I could see the foal moving inside her, as well as her side heave with the effort of her contractions. Siri stomped and snorted “There we go, baby,” I cooed to her. “You’re going to be okay.”

“Is she? She looks miserable,” Ben noted.

“Labor is no fun, that’s for sure. I imagine it’s akin to passing a watermelon.” I continued to drag my hand over the Siri’s side. I wanted to get a good look at her vulva and the white sack starting to extrude. I hoped to see a hoof and nose of the foal soon.

“Holy shit!” Ben exclaimed. “I’m glad I’m not a girl.”

I smiled to myself. I was glad, too.

Siri moved away from me and laid down on her side. It was painful watching her drop to her knees in front. That alone had to hurt. Thank goodness for the thick layer of bedding Ben had laid down early this morning when we’d arrived back at the ranch. Siri kicked her back legs out stiff behind her. It was clear she was pushing.

“What can I do?” Ben asked anxiously.

“Go to that old cupboard where I got the flashlight last night and grab the stack of clean towels, the squeegee thing, and those long rubber gloves and tall rubber boots. There are two sets. My uncle’s should fit you. The squeegee looks like one of those things used to clean out a baby’s nose, only much bigger.”

“Got it.” He disappeared from the stall and I crouched near Siri’s haunches. “Come on, baby. You’re okay, Siri. I’m right here. I’ll help as soon as your little one makes an appearance.”

I had to be sure the foal was face first. Two weeks earlier, I’d wrapped the first twelve inches of Siri’s tail in a bandage to keep it away from the birthing foal; it could contain bacteria that might cause infection. It also helped me see what was going on with the baby.

“I found two pairs of gloves and boots. I have them.”

I glanced up at Ben who was still outside the stall. “Okay.” I stood up and walked the few feet across the smallish stall toward him. The birthing stalls were a little smaller than the others with heat lamps hanging from the ceiling. I wouldn’t turn them on until right before the foal was born. “Thank you for getting them.” I reached out to take the stack of towels from him.

“Aren’t you worried about getting doused?” Ben asked.

“Not really.”

“Here are the boots.” Ben handed them over and I stepped into them.

“As soon as I see the