Karen Michelle Nutt by A Twist of Fate Page A

beast wouldn’t make it unless he helped.
He looked up. "Annabelle, ye need to find, Leighton for me.” His eyes must have betrayed his worry. She didn’t leave.
"I'm here. Let me help you. What do I need to do?"
He quirked his eyebrow up as he considered her offer.
“Don’t turn me away,” she pleaded.
He nodded. He'd take her assistance, but they had to move quickly, if they were going to save mother and calf. "Ye need to hold onto the mother's upper body. She's no’ goin’ to like what I'm aboot to do to her, but it's the only way.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked as she moved into position.
“I plan on turnin’ the wee calf inside her."
Arianna's eyes widened. "You can do that?"
"I'm goin’ to try. Now, hold her steady."
Arianna held on tight to the squirming animal. The strain started to take its toll. Just when Keldon thought it was beyond him to save either animal, the calf suddenly turned, slipping out with its clamoring protests.
The exhausted mother immediately moved out of the way, grateful her burden was finally gone. The newborn calf, still bloody from the after birth went right to Arianna and promptly sat down on her lap. Arianna’s mouth dropped open in surprise, but she recovered quickly, and hugged the calf close to her. Tears sprung to her eyes, causing Keldon to panic.
“Where are ye injured?” He was at her side, his hands roving over her.
She stilled his attention with a touch of her hand. "I'm fine," she said between sniffles. "I’ve never seen something so beautiful.”
The calf finally realized Arianna wasn’t her mother and headed in the opposite direction to find her.
Keldon smiled as the young calf latched onto his mother's udder, sucking furiously. "All births are special," he claimed even though the familiar dull ache crept through him. He remembered their child who had never had the chance to take his first breath. He glanced at his wife and he knew she remembered nothing of her questionable miscarriage.
She watched the calf, her expression serene, a smile touching her lips. He took in her disheveled appearance. Her hair had fallen into disarray, her face was smudged with dirt, and her clothes splattered with blood, but she smiled. What a captivating picture she made. He couldn’t stop himself from pondering. Could he have been mistaken about her ending the pregnancy? He sighed. He may never know and maybe he didn’t want to.
He glanced again at Arianna’s soiled dress. He then looked at himself. What a sight they both made with their clothes and hands a bloody mess. "Yer gown may be ruined," he stated the obvious and braced himself for her to start a temper tantrum, but she just shrugged her shoulders, not seeming to care.
"It doesn't matter," she said with a sigh. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world.”
Her response floored him. He had the temptation to pinch himself, to make sure he hadn’t fallen asleep. She sat there contented, not caring if her clothes were beyond repair. The old Annabelle would have ranted and raved over a speck of dirt on her clothing. He shook his head in disbelief. This must be another affect from her head trauma, if only she would remain the way she was now. He could fall in love with this woman. The thought startled him. He must be careful. He must resist the pull she had on him. The way she was now wouldn’t last. "Come away now. Ye need to clean up."
 
Arianna didn’t want to leave, but she knew Keldon was right. Already the blood had crusted to her skin. She walked toward the stable doors, but noticed Keldon hadn’t followed her. She stood in the doorway and looked back at him. "Aren't you coming?"
"Aye, in a moment. Ye go on ahead now. I willnae be long.”
His voice sounded funny, quiet and withdrawn. She wondered why he looked so gloomy, when they had witnessed a miracle. She opened her mouth, but the way he looked at her, cautioned her not to ask. She chewed on her lower lip uncomfortable with the fact she couldn’t