The Tiger Lily Read Online Free Page B

away from him. "I could, you know," she muttered
stubbornly.
     
    Suddenly
remembering that he wanted to keep her at a distance, Brett deliberately spoke
coldly. "No, you couldn't. You're too young, just a child."
     
    Nothing
he could have said could have wounded her more deeply. Throwing him a look of
positive dislike, she tossed her red head and angrily flounced away. She would
show him . . . and then maybe he would like her again?
     
    Sabrina's
opportunity came sooner than expected, the very next morning in fact. Arising
early, she discovered to her surprise that she was up before anyone else. After
she had been put to bed the previous evening, there had been several toasts to
Brett's good health, and with one thing and another, it had been extremely late
when everyone had retired. Consequently, dressed and eager for the day, Sabrina
found herself the only one of the family up. There were servants moving about,
but they were busy with their tasks, and no one thought to demand that she stay
indoors.
     
    Hopping
down the curving staircase of the house, Sabrina glanced wistfully in the
direction of the stables, the brown roof of one of the buildings barely
discernible through the trees. She was drawn irresistibly by the lure of
Brett's stallion and soon found herself leaning against the paddock fence
watching with open pleasure as Flame haughtily trotted over in her direction.
     
    Cautiously
they inspected one another, the big, untamed flame-red stallion and the little
girl with the flame-colored hair. Eager to make friends, Sabrina hastily yanked
up some clover growing near one of the posts of the paddock and lovingly held
it out to the stallion. When Flame condescendingly nibbled the offering, Sabrina
thought her heart would burst with excitement. Gingerly reaching up to touch
his soft nose, she sighed blissfully when he blew softly and made no move to
jerk away from her caress.
     
    Wanting
something more worthy of him than clover, she dashed into the stables and
quickly found the bin of oat and grain that were regularly fed to the
Dangermond thoroughbreds. She dumped several handfuls into a nearby bucket and
then offered them up to her new friend.
     
    She
still hadn't really thought about riding the stallion, but as time passed and
he seemed to accept her presence, she grew bolder and climbed to the top rail
of the white paddock fence. Flame seemed unperturbed by this action, and
Sabrina was delighted, even going so far as to gently pet his strong, straight
back while he searched the ground for the last few kernels of corn that had
fallen there.
     
    It
was too tempting to resist. Flame was standing right next to the fence, barely
a handspan away from where Sabrina sat on the top rail, and before she had time
to think, she leaned over and slipped onto the stallion's back.
     
    Despite
the late night, Brett had awakened not too long after Sabrina had skipped out
of the house. And like Sabrina, he was drawn to the stables, wanting to
reassure himself that Flame hadn't been only a wonderful dream. He arrived just
in time to see Sabrina slide onto the stallion.
     
    Flame
was startled by the unaccustomed weight on his back, and he arched his neck
uneasily, snorting loudly and dancing nervously. Having practically been born astride
a horse, at his first movements, Sabrina instinctively clamped her legs to his
sides and tightened her hold on his mane.
     
    Brett
froze. Aware of what could happen if the stallion decided to turn ugly, he
forced himself to walk slowly toward the paddock, his heart beating with thick,
painful strokes, his gaze locked on Sabrina's little figure. She looked so
small, so defenseless, so incapable of controlling the stallion, that Brett
felt a trickle of fright slide down his spine. Dear God, he pray fervently,
dear God, don't let her be harmed.
     
    The
stallion was growing agitated about the creature on his back, and restlessly he
pawed the ground, tossing his head and making little, uneasy