Irish Hearts Read Online Free Page B

chimed in, eyes wide and curious.
    "That means I have strange, secret powers," Adelia claimed with a dramatic sweep of her hand. The two boys looked at each other and back at Adelia, suitably impressed.
    "Mark, Mike." A woman entered the stables and shook her head in despair. "I should have know the pair of you would be here."
    Adelia stared at the newcomer, stunned by her beauty and elegance. She was tall and slender, clad in a simple but, to Adelia's untrained eye, overwhelmingly beautiful outfit of dark blue slacks and white silk blouse. Black, silky hair curled back from her face. Soft, rose-tinted lips and a classic straight nose led to a pair of heavily lashed deep blue eyes that Adelia identified as Travis's.
    "I hope they haven't been bothering you." The woman peered down in indulgent exasperation. "They're impossible to keep track of."
    "No, missus," Adelia said, wondering if there had ever been a lovelier woman. "They're fine lads. We've just been getting acquainted."
    "You must be Paddy's niece, Adelia." The generous mouth curved in a smile.
    "Aye, missus." Adelia managed a smile of her own and wondered what it would be like to be as graceful as a willow limb.
    "I'm Trish Collins, Travis's sister." She extended her hand, and Adelia gaped at it in horror. After Travis's words of the previous night she was self-conscious about the state of her hands, and her mind began to work swiftly.
    How could she put her hard, rough hand into such a lovely soft one! Yet there was no way out without being pointedly rude, so, wiping her palm on her jeans, she joined it with the one Trish offered. The other woman had noted Adelia's hesitation and concluded the reason for it when their hands met, but she made no comment.
    At that moment, Travis entered the building, along with Paddy and a small, spare man Adelia did not recognize.
    "Paddy!" The twins launched themselves at the stocky figure.
    "Well, if it isn't Tweedledee and Tweedledum. And what mischief have you been up to this fine day?"
    "We came to meet Dee," Mark announced. "She guessed which one of us was which."
    "She's fey," Mike added soberly.
    Paddy nodded, equally grave, his eyes twinkling as they met Adelia's over the two small heads. "Aye, that's a fact. There's been many a Cunnane who's had the sight."
    "Adelia Cunnane"-Travis made introductions, a light smile playing over his mouth-"Dr. Robert Loman, our vet."
    "Pleased to meet you, Doctor," Adelia greeted him, strategically keeping her hands behind her back.
    "Rob's come to look over Solomy," Paddy explained. "She'll be foaling soon."
    The pixie face lit with pleasure, and, looking down at her, Travis raised his brows. "Would you like to see her, Adelia?"
    "Very much." She beamed him a smile, previous animosity forgotten.
    "She's foaling quite late," Travis commented as the group walked down the long length of stalls. "A Thoroughbred's official birthday is January the first, and normally we breed with that in mind. We just acquired Solomy six months ago, and of course she was already in foal. She's from a good line, and the stud she was bred to is by the same sire as Majesty."
    "Then you must have big hopes for the foal," Adelia returned, thinking of Majesty's style and speed.
    "I think," he said with a smile, "you could safely say we had hopes for this foal." Placing a hand on her shoulder, he turned her toward an enclosure. "Adelia," Travis said with amused formality, "meet Solomy."
    She sighed with delight at the animal, a dark, gleaming bay mare with a mane of flowing black silk. Running her hand down the stark flash of white on the forehead, she looked into dark, intelligent eyes.
    "You're a fine, beautiful lady." The caressing of the smooth hide was met with a whinny of approval.
    "I suppose you'd like a closer look," Travis observed, opening the stall door and gesturing for her to enter.
    She preceded him and the vet into the stall, carrying on a low conversation with Solomy as she explored the swollen belly,