An Excerpt from A DANGEROUS DREAM

“Morning, Lambert,” Melissa cooed softly as she quickly emptied the horse’s breakfast into his bucket. Instead of moving toward her as she expected, he shied away from her. Perplexed, Melissa looked past him and down into the corner.

What she saw left a scream lodged in her throat. Help, she had to get help, but she stood rooted to the spot. A scream finally erupted from her, causing Lambert to start kicking wildly, and she clamped her hands over her mouth at the horror on the floor of the stall.

* * *

David headed back through the barn doors after moving the trailer. He’d only gone a few steps when he heard a high-pitched scream. He bolted towards the source of the sound and saw Melissa in Lambert’s stall while the horse kicked wildly at her, hooves flashing. He pulled her out and slammed the door. White as a ghost, she stared up at him.

“ What is it? What’s wrong?” he said, taking her by the shoulders.

“We have to help. He’s in there. Oh, God!” She pointed toward the stall door.

David looked in and felt his heart slam in his chest as he saw Tim slumped against the corner, blood all over the side of his head and down his shirt to where it ended in a dark pool on the floor. David eased the door back open and moved quickly around the still panicky horse, heedless of the gelding’s dancing and pawing. He squatted down beside Tim, feeling his neck for a pulse.

“ I just opened the door to feed Lambert and there he was. I think he’s dead.”

“ Go call 911” he said over his shoulder to Melissa. “Then get some people in here to help me.”

David was only vaguely aware of her sprinting back down the aisle to do his bidding as he continued to feel for a pulse. Finally, he found one. It was a thin fluttering at the side of the neck, very irregular, but it was there. He exhaled strongly and looked more closely at Tim’s chest. He could just discern a faint rise that indicated he was breathing. Maybe not for long, though, judging from the amount of blood and the cold, pasty feel of Tim’s skin.

He heard shouts as several grooms came rushing up the aisle, then their gasps as they looked in.

“First, get the horse out of here. Then get me a blanket and the first aid kit. We can’t risk moving him,” David barked out, eyes still on Tim.

As the grooms herded Lambert out of the stall, Melissa peeked through the bars.

“ So, he’s not . . .,” she obviously couldn’t bring herself to say ‘dead’. “What else can I do to help?”

David looked up at her face, pale but determined, and felt a stab of admiration for her. She looked about to faint, but she was hanging in like a pro.

***

Excerpt 2 from A Dangerous Dream

Her eyes threatened to droop shut for the tenth time in as many minutes. I’m not falling asleep on the job, she told herself, ignoring the sandy feeling behind her lids. It was two in the morning and the pony was much more comfortable. The pain that had lived in Melissa’s heart as she’d watched him hurting began to ease. She rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes, just for a second.

“ Why don’t you go back to the cottage and get some sleep?” David stepped into the stall. “This little guy seems to be on the road to recovery. I can keep an eye on him.”

“ Thanks, but I’ll stay awhile. Are you sure he’s doing better?”

“ He’ll be fine.” They sat together in the corner opposite where the pony stood. “We caught it early. That can make all the difference with colic.”

“ You were so calm, and you knew just what to do. You’re very compassionate, too,” she added, flushing.

“ Thank you,” he said. They sat together, still peripherally aware of the pony now nibbling at the hay in his stall, but aware of each other on a visceral level neither could ignore.

“ Melissa…” He reached a hand out, curling the ends of her hair around his finger.

Her breath caught. Forcing herself to look straight into his eyes, her heart tightened at what she saw there. Desire was blazing in their depths.

“ You have compassion, too. You’re wonderful with horses and with the kids here.”

“ Thank you.” She watched the controlled heat flicker in his eyes. Almost of its own volition her hand came up and closed over his where it stroked her hair.

“ Well…” he said, clearing his throat. She saw him swallow as he touched his finger to her face.

Her lower lip trembled as they continued to stare at each other. His head lowered and he touched her lips tenderly. This was different from the first kiss they’d shared. The heart pounding excitement was still there in the way they explored one another’s mouths, but there was something more that Melissa was afraid to name. Her hands came up to frame his face and he pulled back just a fraction to look down at her.

“ Melissa,” he said hoarsely.

She felt her insides melt at the intensity of his gaze. Brushing the hair back from his face, she lifted her mouth for another kiss. He hesitated, staring down into her face with a look of desperate yearning. Then he was kissing her in a way that spoke of hunger that could not be denied.

Melissa stifled a moan as David’s arms came hard around her and brought her closer against him. His mouth sought hers again and she exhaled as their lips met. She felt a sudden tensing in his muscles as his hands tightened. Fire spread through her system, streaming outward from his touch in a golden hot flow.

They strained toward each other, mouths fused together. Their kisses deepened, going on and on as their hands continued to explore and they grew more impatient at the clothing that separated them. Without conscious thought, David’s weight came to rest on her as they slid down the wall of the stall.