Love and Honor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 7 (3 page)

“I waited,” Kit hurried to explain, “but when nothing happened, I reached up inside her and found that the colt is turned wrong. It’s supposed to come out with its nose lying on its forelegs, but this one is lying on its side. I’ve got to turn it. Maybe you should wait outside,” she suggested with an apologetic smile before dipping her hands into the bucket of lard Julio had brought earlier.

By now, Julio and Muego had come inside the stall and were also kneeling beside Kit and the mare, ready to assist if needed. Jade, feeling sick to her stomach, backed away into the shadows. She turned aside, unable to watch.

Several moments passed, then suddenly everyone cried out with delight. Jade forced herself to look, watching in awe, as a tiny, fuzzy, wet newborn colt made his way into the world, struggling to stand on wobbly legs.

“He’s beautiful.” Kit was crying happily. “He’s beautiful, and healthy. I can’t believe we did it, Belle…” She threw her arms around the mare as Belle got to her feet to inspect her new son.

Jade could not deny that she was proud of her daughter, but she found herself suddenly fired with renewed determination to leave the ranch…and Spain. Kit needed the cultural and educational advantages of New York if she were to blossom, and grow, and one day marry someone of refinement and wealth. Maybe, after Colt heard about this unladylike performance, and with so much talk of war in Europe, he might be more easily convinced. Jade had a feeling that maybe he, too, was ready to go home.

For the moment, however, they had to get to the depot. There might still be time to catch their train. “You did a nice job, dear,” Jade began. “And I’m proud of you, but if you hurry, we can—”

“No.” Kit stood, whisking a strand of coppery-golden hair back from her damp forehead with the back of her bloodied hand.

Her voice was soft, but there was no mistaking the look of determination in the steady gaze of her wide lavender eyes. “I have to wait an hour or so, to make sure Belle passes her afterbirth. Then I’ve got to make sure he starts suckling, and that’s not always easy. I may have to—”

Jade suddenly cried out in complete frustration, “Kit, I’m sorry, but I find all of this disgusting and unladylike! When you father hears about it, you can be sure he’ll agree with me that we need to get you back to civilization and teach you how to be a lady. You are young and beautiful, and you should be looking forward to going to Madrid and being the center of attention, having men flock around you, instead of wallowing in blood and straw and filth!”

Kit listened quietly to her mother’s ranting and raving. When Jade had calmed down somewhat, she said contritely, “I’m sorry. I really am. And I promise to be ready on time tomorrow.”

“You see to it!” Jade cried furiously, storming out of the barn.

Kit stared after her and shook her head sadly. Why, she wondered, couldn’t her mother see that she had dreams of her own? It wasn’t fair to be expected to
live
a certain way,
think
a certain way,
act
a certain way just because she was a woman. She wanted to be
herself
. She didn’t mean to be disrespectful or disobedient, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt anybody, but that’s the way she was—the way she
had
to be.

Chapter Two

Jade was able to reserve a private compartment on the next morning train to Madrid, but Kit refused to leave for the station till Dr. Frazier arrived to check both mare and newborn colt. Jade was furious, but Kit said there was just no way she could go away for a week until she heard the veterinarian say that all was well. So, once again, Jade had paced the floor and wrung her hands, worrying that they would miss the train. Finally they’d left with no time to spare, arriving at the depot just as the conductor was calling his last “All aboard.”

Once settled, Jade continued to fume. “It wouldn’t even have mattered to you if we hadn’t got here in time! All you care about is that horse, and—” She shook her head and sighed. “Oh, why do I even bother? You never listen to anything I say. You were told to give that horse back to Dr. Frazier! Sometimes I wonder if they mixed up the babies seventeen years ago, because you are nothing like me! You don’t care anything about the finer things in life—art, theater, fashionable clothes, entertaining, or…or anything I care about,” Jade sputtered in frustration.

Kit stared out at the passing countryside, loving the tranquility of the plains, framed by rocky hills in the distance. Now and then the tracks passed through vineyards and orange and lemon groves. It was a lovely trip to Madrid, and she had been looking forward to it, but now it was being ruined by the tension between her mother and herself. Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn’t her mother understand? Her father didn’t like being in the middle and never took sides, just discreetly made himself scarce when there was any trouble. When Grandma Kitty was around, though, it was another story. Once, after several glasses of wine, she’d told Kit that although she adored her mother, she thought Jade was a bit of a snob because of her aristocratic background.

As Kit tried to concentrate on the beauty of the passing scenery, her mother fussed on and on. When she began to say once more that there was nothing left to do but return to New York and expose Kit to the finer things in life, Kit could remain silent no longer.

“Mother, have you ever stopped to think that maybe
you’re
the one who’s different, and not me?” she pointed out coldly.

Jade glared at Kit, emerald eyes narrowing. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re a Romanov, a princess, and the Czar of Russia is your third cousin. That sets you apart from other people.”

Incredulous, Jade countered, “Well,
my
blood is
your
blood! You are also of Romanov lineage, however distant it may be, and the Czar would be
your
fourth cousin. If I’m different, then so are you, although you certainly inherited none of my royal traits,” she added waspishly. “And besides, royal or not, a girl your age should be looking forward to dancing, and parties, and being courted by men.”

Kit snickered. “I’m not interested in being courted, and I’d rather be out riding than prancing around in a fancy dress with men ogling me. Is that so wrong?”

“Frankly, yes.”

“Well, can’t we just forget about it for now and enjoy the trip?” Kit asked wearily.

Jade looked at her daughter thoughtfully, then leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes in momentary defeat. “We might as well. You never listen, anyway.”

Kit felt a wave of relief, and seized the opportunity to change the subject. She began to talk about how nice it would be to visit Madrid again, how much she enjoyed staying in their apartment there because it was near Retiro Park, with over three hundred acres of bridle paths, and how she loved renting a horse and riding there.

“Bridle paths?” Jade’s eyes flew open. “That’s what I mean, Kit. You have no cultural interests. We’re on our way to the most beautiful city in Spain, and all you can think about is horseback riding in the park. Last time we were there, I had to drag you to the Prado, one of the most superb galleries in the world, and all you did was yawn!”

“That’s not true! I enjoyed it, but I’d rather have been riding. Is that so wrong?”
Here we go again
, she groaned inwardly.

Jade silently cursed herself for picking up the argument again, but she couldn’t help herself. She wanted only the best for her lovely daughter, and it was driving her crazy to see Kit ignore her beauty and femininity in favor of pursuits that were anything but genteel. Why, she wouldn’t even ride a horse with an English saddle, but insisted on straddling like a man! Sadly, Jade conceded that it might have been best if she hadn’t insisted Kit come on the holiday. “You’d probably be happier at home with that horse.”

Kit mumbled woodenly, “No doubt.”

“What do you plan to wear to the embassy ball? I told the seamstress to make anything you wanted, and she had the sketches of the latest Paris designs.”

Kit shrugged. “Carasia packed for me. I really don’t know.”

“Didn’t you have a new gown made?”

“Why should I? I’ve got lots of beautiful dresses, Mother.”

Jade was appalled. “But this is an important occasion—the embassy ball to celebrate Thanksgiving, as well as Mr. Wilson’s being elected the new President. Every gown you have was designed for some past function at the embassy, which means you’ll be wearing a dress you’ve worn before.”

Kit gritted her teeth. She did not want to be insolent, but oh, how she wished she was back at the ranch instead of sitting across from her mother for a two-hundred-mile train ride that suddenly seemed endless. “I’m sorry.” She bit out the words. “But I don’t care. It seems so silly, anyway…and a waste of money as well.”

“We’re fortunate that we don’t have to worry about money, Kit. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re quite wealthy. Your father works only to keep from being bored. If he didn’t work another day in his life, we’d never see any difference in our lifestyle, without even touching
my
money…and you dare to sit there and say we can’t afford for you to have a new gown?”

Frustrated, Kit protested, “No, that’s not what I meant—”

“You are so beautiful,” Jade interrupted her. “Prettier than I was when I was a prima ballerina with the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg. I am proud that you are my daughter, Kit, and I want to show you off. I want every eligible young man in Europe to fall down on his knees and beg you to marry him. Is that too much for a mother to ask?”

Kit wanted to laugh but didn’t. Only her mother could harbor such a wish, much less admit it. Now Kit wished she’d just kept her mouth shut. When her mother was in one of these moods there was no reasoning with her. Her father laughingly said that when the blood of her Irish spirit, her Romanov snobbism, and her Russian obstinacy all ran together, it was best to just leave her alone till the flow separated again.

“First thing tomorrow we’re going shopping. It means I’ll have to miss a morning tea with the wife of the ambassador that I’d looked forward to, but I’ll not have my daughter at the ball wearing a dress that everyone has already seen.”

Kit’s mind raced with schemes of rebellious revenge. So her mother wanted her to be the center of attention, did she? And wanted men to fawn over her? Well, maybe she should just give her what she wanted! Let her see that it just might be better to allow her the innocent pursuit of her own interests instead of playing the role of a femme fatale.

Her lavender eyes sparkling mischievously, Kit said sweetly, “You won’t have to miss the tea, Mother. I can go shopping by myself, and I really want to.”

“Are you sure?” Jade asked suspiciously.

Kit was quick to reassure her. “Oh, yes. Don’t worry.”

“And you’ll choose a nice gown? Something fashionable?”

Kit nodded again, turning her face to the window lest her amusement be detected. What she planned was a harmless prank, but it would make her mother see that it wasn’t always desirable to be the center of attention.

When they arrived at the depot in Madrid, Kit was delighted to see her cousin, Marilee, with her father. That meant that her brother and Grandma Kitty had made the trip from Paris for the festivities.

As Kit hugged her father happily, he asked why they’d missed the train the day before, as they’d sent a telegram with no explanation. Her mother was only too glad to tell him, reaffirming her argument that it was time they left Spain if Kit was to be saved from becoming one of the common bourgeois.

Kit turned away to greet Marilee. She was a pretty girl, with friendly brown eyes and thick, naturally curly chestnut hair. She had a heart-shaped face, a sprinkle of freckles across her upturned nose, and dimpled cheeks. Tall and slender, she had already developed curves that turned men’s heads even though she was not quite fourteen.

“I want to hear what happened,” Marilee protested as Kit drew her away from her mother’s impassioned account of the day before.

“Oh, it’s just the same old thing.” As they walked through the terminal, Kit told Marilee about the birth of the colt. “He’s beautiful. I can’t wait for you to see him. Doc Frazier said since I delivered him I can keep him and Belle till spring, so I can watch him grow. I wish I could buy them both, because I know he’d sell them to me, but…” Her voice trailed away.

“You’re in a lot of trouble, aren’t you?” Marilee asked worriedly. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that her aunt was still talking angrily about Kit’s causing them to arrive a day late.

Kit nodded, then grinned impishly. “But not as much as I’m going to be in. Want to go shopping with me tomorrow morning? I have to buy a dress for the ball tomorrow night.”

“You mean you don’t have one?” Marilee asked incredulously.

“Mother wants me to have a new dress, Marilee,” Kit explained carefully, “and she wants it to be a very special dress. She wants me to be the center of attention, so I’m going to be an obedient daughter and do exactly as she wants.”

Marilee wasn’t fooled. She’d witnessed too many of her cousin’s antics in the past to take her seriously. She warned, “I’ve got a feeling that you’re right—you really
are
going to be in a lot of trouble.”

Kit giggled. “I’m just obeying my mother’s wishes!”