"It's still snowing." Carla sighed as they trudged back from Hestia, "When do you think it will stop?"
"It probably won't for a while. Might keep it up through the night. It has done in the past. We once had a mega snow storm that stretched for three days. In the middle of March as well." Kat told her as they stomped up the hill, their boots getting increasingly heavy with snow.
"Blimey, that must have been hard work."
"It was before we had the all weather as well, we couldn't train for three days and suffered the setback for the rest of the season.That was the year my mother died, her horse was unfit you see. Tired sideways into another one and she was a goner." Carla was silent at this outburst, she'd never heard anyone talk about the accident that killed Athena Forest.
"But that is a risk of racing and we are all aware of it. We're a lot more careful about how fit the horse is now." The sentence seemed to amuse Kat a little, "I was going to go and see Dove, do you want to come? You were a little sweet on her, weren't you?"
"She was beyond beautiful. Do you really think she can make a comeback?" Carla asked, a small smiled found it's way to Kat's lips.
"Yes."
Dappled Dove was as beautiful as she had been the first time that Carla saw her. Her head was swinging from side to side over the stable door, she saw Kat and gave a throaty whicker.
"Hello gorgeous, how are you?" Kat asked the filly immediately, slipping a hand betwen the filly's skin and her rug, checking that she wasn't too warm. Dove started to nibbled at her shoulders and Kat shook her off.
"Stop that." She ordered as she stepped inside the stall to continue a meticulous once over of the filly. Dove, knowing that Kat was in no mood for play, turned her attentions to Carla. Her charcoal ears flicked up and she froze in place, eyes flickering over Carla. It struck Carla how tall the filly was, she was nearing eighteen hands and you could really feel it when you stood next to her.
"Big, isn't she?" Kat commented from inside, she was crouching and out of view but Carla guessed she knew fairly well how people first responded to the filly.
"It must of hurt to fall off her back." Carla replied. Kat laughed.
"Very true." She appeared in view again, "I think we'll trot her up."
"Like this? What if she slips?"
"We'll trot her up inside the warm up arena, it's undercover, but it's better to get her out before it ices over then it'll be really dangerous."
"Oh." Carla agreed with every word she heard, "Do you want me to get anything?"
"Go into the tack room and grab her bridle, it's under Dappled Dove, and grab a lunge rein. No scrap that," Kat slipped through the stable door and nudged the kick bolt with her foot, "I'll come with you. She'll need bandages anyway."
Half an hour later the sky was drawing in but Dove was ready to led out. Her legs had been neatly, and expertly, bandaged by Kat in spotless black wrap and her bridle was in place, the bridle that Kat claimed would 'fit a small shire horse'. The filly was eager to get out and was beginning to stamp and dance behind the wooden door.
"Open it up then." Kat nodded. She had the lunge rein looped neatly in one hand with a schooling whip to keep the filly in line. Such a big filly and such a small girl rarely made a good combination. Carla opened the door and Dove all but stampeded out. She gave an excited whinny, her breath frosting in the air, and swung her quarters in delight.
"Stop it." Kat ordered the filly, clicking her tongue. The filly stepped forward almost immediately, eager to move. They walked slowly out of the yard, taking their time and across the snow covered ground that led to the warm up arena. Dove looked gorgeous. Her rug was off and snow slowly settled then melted on her dappled back. They came to the entrance of the warm up arena and Dove stopped, grinding her front feet into the sand.
"Come on." Kat said, clicking her tongue and tugging gently. Dove remained completely still. Kat tapped the filly lightly with school whip in her other hand, hidden out of sight. Carla jumped out of the way just in time before Dove whistled past, loosing the lunge line as she went. Kat was completely unperturbed.
"No Dove." She said without a pause, "Stop that now." Dove was still prancing, trotting an eager circle which was getting smaller as Kat patiently wound the lunge line up again. Dove was enjoying herself though. Her uncut mane and tail were floating in the light breeze her steady trot was creating and her head was high, her eyes bright and alive.
"Easy." Kat finally called and Dove gave a disgruntled snort as she was forced to a walk.
"Looks like you need a lunging pen, not an arena." Carla commented.
"Evidently." Kat agreed, "She looks pretty sound to me, what did you think?" Carla felt a flush of pleasure that a practiced horsewoman such as Kat would ask her that.
"You'd never know she'd been injured." Carla replied. Kat nodded.
"Good. That's all you're getting Dove, if it isn't too icy tomorrow I'll let you lunge." She headed back for the door and Dove dug her heels in.
"Dove, now." Kat's voice was firm and clearly Dove knew not to cross her jockey. With a snort that said 'f-i-ine' she jogged to join her handler and walk back to the yard.
"Half the staff have gone home early!" Brooke was panicked when they entered the yard, "We've got half the staff we need and barely any of the horses are fed! James is down at Hera discussing the final options for Willow with your grandmother and Adano is nowhere to be seen. It's just me, Terry and Richie left."
"Why are they talking about Willow?" Kat's face was a mask of calm but there was an edge in her voice.
"They reckon it's gonna happen tonight. What a night as well! We're going to be lucky if the vet can get here!" Brooke looked frazzled.
"Right, I'm afraid I need to join them then. Carla is at your disposal though." Kat turned without a second look and led Dove to her stall.
"I think I might need to go home actually." Carla told Brooke, "The roads aren't that great really."
"Try impassable." Brooke replied, "You'll be staying in the house with the rest of us. No one is getting in or out."
"Oh." Carla felt a streak of something between disappointment and delight. She might be here for the foalings.
"So help us grab some buckets. Actually, go to the colts yard. Terry is the only one over there.
"At last, some help!" Terry didn't look half as stressed as Brooke, actually he was grinning, "Grab a couple of buckets young lady. They've got numbers on so you know where each one goes. Step inside, tip the food on the floor and you're done."
"Okay." Carla smiled and grab the first bucket. Practically every horse had their head out of their stall.
"We feed them on the floor because it's like grazing for them, much better for them really." Terry told her as they made steady progress around the yard. There were about forty horses on the yard and they were all hungry. Carla made her way along the row of three year olds, making a note of each name as she went.
"Watch out for Rebel, he's horrible!" Terry called as she came to Raging Rebel's stable. The colt curled his lips back at her when she got to the door. She went to open the door and it jumped back at her as Rebel kicked it three times.
"Actually, I'll do him. He's clearly in a mood." Terry added. Carla smiled and grabbed the next bucket for the next stall. It appeared empty, there was no horse leaning over the top , whinnying eagerly for food.
"Hello there?" she called as she headed for the stall but no head appeared. She glanced at the name plate, Tooth and Claw.
So this was the wonderboy, Carla was surprised that he wasn't eagerly clamouring for food like the others.
"Hey there Tooth and Claw?" She called aloud as she flicked the stall door open. There was a welcoming nicker and a horse emerged from the back of the stall. Suddenly, she knew Mr Hart meant about the colt. He took her breath away. He was perfect, just perfect. Classical and beautiful with fearless but gentle eyes. One white star between his eyes and a gorgeous coffee brown, he was stunning.
"Hello there." Carla held out her hand and Tooth and Claw sniffed it daintily. He was in racing shape pretty much, hard muscle everywhere and he'd probably rippled if he walked.
"I've brought your dinner." Carla showed the bucket to the colt. He gave it a sniff then turned back to her, nuzzling her pockets and drinking in her smell.
"Don't you want it?" Carla felt a spark of concern, horses shouldn't be off their food, "It's cold out, you'll need the energy." The colt gave a snort and Carla began scratching along the crest of his neck, the colt liked it, nibbling her back in a sort of mutual grooming.
"He's a nice boy, isn't he?" Terry appeared at the door, "He won't be interested in his food but give it half an hour and it'll be gone." Terry disappeared and shortly afterwards came a squeal, "Get back you 'orrible 'orse!" Terry yelled next door to the badly behaved Raging Rebel.
"I'll leave you then." Carla told Tooth and Claw, he didn't seem bothered by the kicks through the wall at all. He nuzzled her hair briefly as she left then stood, head over the door, watching her leave.
"Good evening everyone, how are we all?" Lady Elizabeth Forest greeted the twenty odd people around the table, the staff who had been unable to get home. There was a murmured reply, everybody was freezing cold and digging into their food with gusto.
"Good. I'm afraid three of the mares have decided that tonight's the night by the looks of it so I'll need a few of us down there to see to them. Mr Hart is, of course, there but any volunteers to help would be welcome." Kat lifted her hand without hesitation and Carla followed suit, not wanting to miss out on seeing her first ever foal born. A couple of others, Terry and one of the broodmare men, also offered.
"Excellent, as soon as you've eaten you could join them. Luckily it's only the mares in Hera at the moment although I daresay the watchmen will be calling up to say all the mares are dropping down at Hestia." Lady Eliza pulled a face, clasping her hands together wryly.
"How's Willow?" Brooke asked from the far end of the table. There was a pause, everyone went silent. Willow was one of the sweetest mares, no one wanted to see her go.
"She's very well." Lady Eliza replied stiffly, "Could be any day."
"Normally when you give out death sentences you're a little more precise though." Kat replaced her fork by the side of her plate and stood up, "Excuse me." She left the room quickly and quietly. Carla, completely isolated, followed suit.
Kat was pulling on a coat that was imprinted with the name Acropolis. It looked warm, mildly fluffy and waterproof.
"Grab one." Kat pointed to the rows hung up on the pegs beside the door, "You're going to need it out there." She picked up a wooly hat and pulled it down over her ears. Carla grabbed a jacket and pulled it on.
"What did you mean by a death sentence?" She asked as she zipped it up.
"I shouldn't have said it." Kat replied regretfully.
"Why not?"
"It'll upset the people in there. My grandmother could have swung a story that they couldn't save her but instead they know that the decision was already made."
"What decision?" Carla asked anxiously, her eyebrows furrowed.
"When these foals arrive, a colt and a filly I think they said, they will probably come at a cost. Typically in dual births it's a case of the mother or the foals. This afternoon my grandmother made the decision, alongside fine, fabulous Fiona," The words were heavily sarcastic, "That should the cost have to be paid then Willow will pay it. They would rather have a pair of foals that could be completely useless than a great mare which is-" Kat cut herself off, "I apologise, I got carried away."
"It's fine." Carla felt a strange pang inside her. She barely knew the mare, she'd just seen her flying through the snow this morning, and yet the thought that the mare could be dead less than twenty four hours later was terrifying and too real.
"Do you think she will foal tonight?"
"I don't know. This is her first time so we don't really know her habits yet but there is at least one mare there who will be foaling," Kat glanced at her watch, "Within the hour I'd imagine."
"Really?" Carla felt a breath of excitement. Kat nodded
"Yes, really."
It was Volcanic Equation. The mare was pacing and lying down and standing up and pacing and lying down and standing up. Kat and Carla stood watching her from the door next to Mr Hart.
"She's well on her way. Waters have already broken." Mr Hart told them, "Hopefully it'll be short and straightforward. TC was and she's been doing fine according to the vet."
"Good." Kat smiled and watched as Volcanic Equation settled down again, "She's gone down for good this time."
"Yes she has." Mr Hart nodded and stepped inside. He was in foaling overalls and he crouched down by the mare's tail, "Nice, strong contractions. Feet first as well." Mr Hart sat patiently next to the mare as she gave a grunt. Her chestnut sides were smattered with sweat and she lifted her head in pain as another contraction tensed her body.
"It's not all cute foals, I'm afraid." Mr Hart saw the sympathetic expression on Carla's face, "It's bluming hard work, even for a strong, young mare like this one." He patted the chestnut hindquarters and pulled on his gloves.
"Give it all you've got girl, you've got a baby on the way." He told the mare as she gave another push. A pair of feet had emerged and Carla felt her hands clench in excitment.
"She's doing it nicely." Kat commented as the slowly, but surely, the legs emerged with a small head sandwiched between the knees.
"She's a good foaler. She did it all herself last time, as we all know." Minutes later the foal was out, sprawled on the straw still half covered in a wet membrane.
"Breathing." Mr Hart nodded, tearing the sack further back until it was nearly all off the tiny body, "very good girl V, nicely done." The chestnut mare, exhausted, was still sprawled on her side seemingly uninterested.
"Is she not going to say hello?" Carla asked.
"Give her a minute to catch her breath, you would want a breather after that." Mr Hart said with a smile.
"Colt or filly?" Asked Kat.
"Filly." Mr Hart announced, "Tooth and Claw has a little sister." He rubbed the filly's neck and she lifted her head awkwardly.
"She's got a star like her brother." Kat grinned, "Maybe she's a star too."
"Maybe, we'll see. Hand me the iodine." Kat did so and as the mare and foal broke apart Mr Hart rubbed the umbilical stub, trying to prevent infection.
"What do you think then?" Kat asked Carla as the mare turned to look at her new foal.
"Amazing." Carla replied, "I've never seen anything like it."
"It is amazing."
"You decided on her name yet Kat?" Mr Hart asked and Kat gave a small smile.
"Impulse, I think."
"I like that, good name for her." Mr Hart nodded, "Impulse it is for now then, we just got to hope the Jockey Club approve but do they ever not? You're good with name-"
"Hart!" A shout interrupted them.
"Yes?" Mr Hart replied, a sudden frown on his face.
"Willow's down, the twins are happening tonight."