EXCERPT (from Chapter One)

An Echo from a Former Life

"I used to love my children," Rose Wilder Flynn said as she held the mare's bound tail aside so the vet, his gloved and greased arm sunk up to the shoulder inside the horse, could palpate the horns of the uterus for signs of pregnancy. "Sesame Street Band-Aids, scout meetings, classroom cupcakes with the little colored jimmies. Once upon a time, Austin, I did the whole nine yards for them."

Austin Donavan, DVM, rotated his arm inside Miss Winky,. Rose's five-year-old quarter horse. "I believe you. It's easy enough to love them when they're small."

"I should have had a passel of kids instead of stopping at two. Yes, with three or more offspring, my odds would definitely improve."

"How's that?"

"Because at any given time one of them is bound to need a loan, a ride somewhere, or a babysitter."

Austin smiled. "I suppose." A faraway look came over the vet's face as he pressed forward and down, gently palpating and massaging. Miss Winky, who had earned her nickname for advertising her business end when she was in season, tolerated the inspection with dignity, probably because her upper lip was caught in the bind of a humane twitch. The device, which looked like a nutcracker pinching Winky's upper lip, in reality was releasing endorphins so she wasn't in any pain. Rose scratched the mare's neck with her free hand while murmuring words of encouragement. It was not exactly the kind of treatment Rose herself received when she saw the gynecologist, but why not calm the horse down if it made Austin's job easier?

He turned his face toward her. The vet was clean-shaven and unsmiling, and though it appeared he was looking directly at Rose, she knew he was concentrating on the mare. They stood no more than two inches apart, their boot tips touching. Over the healthy scents of alfalfa and nervous horse, Rose could detect the soap Austin had used that morning to wash his face. Nothing fancy, but compared to his usual stink of alcohol, soap smelled like cologne. Then he smiled, and Rose's heart fluttered for a single beat. Oh, let it be! Winky hadn't caught on the first attempt at breeding, back in March. They'd tried again late in May, July, and August. Pregnancy in maiden mares could be detected as soon as thirty days after breeding, if the exam was performed by and experienced vet. Rose crossed her fingers. "Is she?"

"Knocked up like a cheerleader," he said. . . .