Elusive Echoes Read Online Free Page A

the
physical aspect of their attraction. And he wanted more, way more,
with Melanie. She wasn't casual sex material. She mattered. Even if
she didn't think so.
    The clatter of hooves on wood drew his
attention. Domingo wasn't especially happy today. Racing from one
end of his enclosure to the other, he was kicking at the fence with
each stop. The bottom rail by the gate was already split. If he
wasn't stopped, the horse would hurt himself.
    "Hey, buddy, settle down." Sean held out an
apple.
    For the first time since he'd come to the
Cross MC, an apple didn't buy the roan's cooperation. With a toss
of his head, he raced in the other direction, and crashed sidelong
against the fence.
    Sean grabbed a lead. He'd have to put the
colt in his stall, see if that calmed him. He was probably just
spooked by the misty rain moving in. He hoped. It took every trick
Sean knew to get the lead on the horse. Every time he got close,
Domingo skittered away to the far side of the enclosure. Finally,
with two apples and a lot of soft talking, Sean was able to snap
the lead to Domingo's halter.
    "Come on, big fella."
    Domingo pranced sideways as Sean led him
inside. He barely got the lead off before the horse laid his ears
back and snapped his teeth.
    From a safe distance, Sean looked Domingo
over. No visible wounds and he was acting temperamental, not ill.
Sean observed him for a few minutes with a critical eye. Unless he
got worse, they could probably keep a close watch on him for a day
or so before calling the vet to check him out. He set the latch on
the stall and froze.
    "Sandy!"
    His instincts were screaming that something
was horribly wrong. Sean took off for the house at a dead run.
    She stood at the kitchen table and for just
a second Sean thought he must have been wrong. Then a spasm of pure
agony contorted her face.
    "Hey, Sean." She greeted him calmly after
the wave of pain passed. "You'll never guess what just happened. My
water broke all over the kitchen floor."
    He glanced down at the floor, which looked
surprisingly clean.
    She noted the direction of his gaze and
chuckled. "I mopped it up."
    "Oh." Sean began edging back to the door.
"Are you okay, then?"
    Sandy held up a finger and gripped the edge
of the table. She blew out a couple of long breaths, and then began
panting like one of the dogs rounding up the cattle. When she
looked up again, she gave him a weak glare. "Do I look okay? The
baby's coming. Now. I've called for an ambulance but I'm not going
to make it. I probably have about—" Her face contorted again.
    Sean's eyes drifted to her belly and he saw
it ripple beneath her simple white maternity shirt. His breakfast
stirred in his stomach, and suddenly the fried eggs and sausage
he'd eaten didn't seem like such a good idea.
    "Ryan's an hour out—I got him on the
two-way. But he probably won't get here before the ambulance."
    "Why didn't you call me on the radio?" asked
Sean.
    "I tried. I couldn't raise you." Sandy
closed her eyes and rubbed her head.
    That didn't make sense. Sean pulled the
radio off his belt clip and looked at it. The settings were
correct. He pressed the test button. Nothing. Not even a squawk.
"Dead. I'm sorry, Sandy. I grabbed this one off the charger this
morning. It must be broken."
    "I also tried your cell but I heard it going
off upstairs."
    "Sorry," Sean mumbled again. He'd been in a
hurry to get at the day. And it wasn't like his cell routinely
burned up with incoming calls.
    "That's okay. You're here now." She
grimaced. "Oh man, I really want to push here."
    Sean felt his blood drain from his face.
"What? Well, don't!"
    Sandy winced. "Sean, I need your help. Get
some towels and the sterile scissors from a debridement kit. Also I
need the package of new shoelaces from my purse." She pointed to
the giant bag on the kitchen counter.
    Sean's breakfast was really demanding a
repeat showing. He closed his eyes and drew a few deep, slow
breaths.
    "Sean!" Sandy's shout brought him back to
their