ABC/DISNEY owns GH. No copyright infringement is intended.
I know almost nothing about horses. So the info is from the Internet.
Chapter 23
They were the last ones to reach the barn. "Did I miss it?" Elizabeth asked breathless from the dash to the stall.
"No. Not yet." Johnny told his young friend. "Lass's water hasn't even broken yet, but we expect it to happen shortly." As if on cue a large amount of fluid covered the section of hay the horse was standing over.
"Shouldn't be long now." Harry said from inside the stall. He was standing far enough away to not upset the horse. While she was in labor Lass might not want anyone too close. The same went for right after the foal was birthed. Harry was just hanging around in case something went wrong.
"You're recording the birth?" Elizabeth asked as she moved closer to the stall.
"For the registry." Chloe told her. "They will want proof the wee one is a pure Irish thoroughbred. Johnny will also have to present the stud papers and blood work."
"That's a lot." Elizabeth said surprised.
"It's pretty standard." Johnny said grinning. Lass had laid down and gotten back up several times. She was having contractions and feeling uncomfortable but so far everything was happening in text book style. "Sometime in the next twenty minutes the baby should come." He explained.
Elizabeth just nodded intently focused on the horse. She'd never seen a birth before and she was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She was biting her lower lip as Lass seemed to search for the right spot to have her foal. Jason came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked up at him and smiled before once again watching Lass.
Finally the horse laid down and while she got ready, Harry quickly cleaned the other side of the stall. He handed over the wet hay and his stable boy handed back bales of clean hay. Lass would want to move to this area when she was done foaling. If she was agreeable they would clean the rest of the stall. If not it would wait until the morning.
"I'm surprised you didn't bring your camera." Johnny said to his young friend.
"It seemed intrusive somehow." Elizabeth said in a hushed tone. Her hands where gripping the stall as the birth progressed.
"Look between Lass's legs. The sack is emerging. Soon you'll see a leg." Chloe pointed.
When the foal's leg finally emerged Elizabeth gasped softly. Another leg came out followed by the head. When the baby's head went back inside the mother she turned to Johnny. "What's wrong?" She asked worried.
"Nothing." He assured her. "That will happen a few times as Lass has contractions. With each squeeze the baby emerges a bit more." The front half was out and then finally the hips and rear legs.
"Do you have to help the baby?" It was still in the sac.
"No." Johnny said shaking his head. "If we try to get near the baby now Lass may attack us. The baby doesn't need help just yet."
Jason wrapped his arms tighter around Elizabeth as if to keep her from leaping over the stall wall. "Look." She said softly as the baby broke from the sack and within ten minutes shakily gained its feet. "It's so beautiful." She said as tears fell down her cheeks. "Is the baby a boy or a girl?"
Johnny handed both her and Chloe tissues. He just grinned at Jason. "It's a girl. Look between her rear legs."
"I don't see anything." Then she got it.
Johnny watched as Elizabeth blushed slightly and tried not to laugh.
"So what will you name her?" Harry came over to stand near the group. He was looking at Elizabeth and smiling.
"Me?" She said looking around at everyone. "You want me to name her?"
"It's a bit of a tradition. This is your first birth, so yeah you get to name her." Johnny watched as more tears pooled in her eyes.
"I've never named a horse before. What if I screw it up?" She said watching as the horse tried to walk and then fell only to rise up on shaky hooves once more.
"You can't. My Grandfather named his horse George." Chloe said laughing. "He named another Fred."
"Um, okay." Elizabeth thought those were odd names for a horse. "She needs something strong. Something befitting her beauty." She wanted to get this right. It was a big honor she was being handed. "What will she do?"
"Whatever her owner wants." Johnny said shrugging.
"Is she going to a good home?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"She hasn't been sold yet, but all my horses go to good homes." Johnny told her. "We have to get her registered and have a look at her first. Find out what her temperament and gait is like. I don't sell a horse before they are one. That's when the occupational training begins. They train for a minimum of three months, but for some jobs closer to six."
"She's beautiful." Elizabeth said grinning as the baby was still trying to get the hang of the whole walking thing. "What did you name your first horse?" Elizabeth asked Chloe.
"The first horse I owned or saw birthed?" Chloe asked her friend.
"Both." Elizabeth was looking for inspiration.
"The first horse I owned was named Honey, she was a beaut." Chloe had loved that horse. "She was a beautiful golden color. The first horse I saw born I named him Dusty."
"Look at her, she's got spunk and spirit already, plus a bit of twinkle in her eyes." The baby was already over by its momma.
"You can tell all that already?" Johnny said grinning.
"I can, just look at her." Elizabeth was already in love. "How about Willow? Is that alright?"
"I think that's a fine name. Willows are incredibly strong. They bend without breaking." Harry gave his approval.
"I like it." Johnny said smiling and just like that it was official.
"Well done Elle." Chloe liked the name for her friend even if it wasn't her real one. "Now we'll go to the house and have a whiskey to toast the new babe."
"Can I stay for a little bit longer?" She just wanted to watch the baby a bit more.
"Sure thing." Johnny had no problem with that. "Tomorrow bring your camera and take some pictures. I'd like one of them together for the wall." There was a picture of every horse that ever came through the stables. The older ones were in albums but the more recent were on the wall of the office.
"I will." The filly was nursing now as Lass nuzzled her. Elizabeth just stood there and watched.
"You guys go ahead, leave a rig and I'll bring Elle back." Chloe knew they had business to discuss.
"Alright." Jason gave his girl a quick kiss and followed Johnny out. They would take his car. Once they were inside the vehicle Jason turned to his friend. "I want to buy Willow."
Johnny just laughed. "I know. Liz can come visit her everyday but she can't go home with you until she's fully trained. I'll have Harry tell you what you need to do to get the stable on your grounds up to code." Johnny wouldn't let a horse live in substandard conditions. "Can Liz even ride?"
"It's been a while." He told his friend as they headed up to the house.
"We'll have her start taking lessons this week. Harry will do them. Willow will need to be ridden, a horse that fine isn't for staying in the barn." Johnny explained. "We can get you a horse too."
"I don't ride." Jason said as he parked and they got out.
"You need to. It's dangerous to ride alone. A smart horseperson doesn't do it." Johnny said as they stripped off their boots. "How does the new house look?"
"Good." Jason said as Johnny got out the whiskey and shot glasses.
"I hope you were more enthusiastic than that when Liz asked." Johnny said laughing.
"I was." Jason wasn't that dumb. "She did an outstanding job. I guess this is where I invite you to dinner." He said grinning.
"Only if you aren't cooking." Johnny knew Jason was a disaster in the kitchen.
"No, I don't want to kill anyone. Elizabeth will cook." She was better in the kitchen than he was.
"Then we accept. Check with your girl and tell me when. Let's go find Jesse. With any luck we'll be done before the ladies come back." Johnny said heading off to his office, with Jason following.
At seven p.m. on the dot Francis knocked on Diane's door. He was happy to find that they were only about fifteen minutes in heavy traffic from one another. He was in Dublin 2 while Diane was in Dublin 4. He was in a penthouse and so was she. Her view was of the city while Francis had a view of the water. He had no idea what he was going to do with three bedrooms but he'd find something.
Diane opened the door and smiled. "I love a man who is punctual."
"I love a woman who dresses for the occasion. You look stunning." Francis said grinning.
"Why thank you Mr. Corelli, do come in. Can I get you something to drink or do we need to leave?" She was in a pair of wide legged blank pants and a cream silk blouse. Her hair was curled giving it a bit of lift. Her lips were pale but her eyes were smoky.
"We don't need to rush." He had no problem spending the rest of the night in her place. "You have a lovely home."
"Thank you. Are you settling in okay?" Diane liked that he was looking at her like he was starving. She worked hard to keep her body tight and she liked for that effort to be appreciated.
"I am, I've been to Dublin before so I'm not a complete novice. I had no problem finding your building." Francis wondered if he was drooling. You could bounce a quarter off her ass. He was truly loving those pants. "Are those from Chloe's line?"
"They are. Spring a few years back, but quality styling and workmanship never goes out of style." She said reaching for a wrap. "Do you mind that I wore pants?"
"I think it will be a crime for you not to wear pants." Francis was smiling wider. He liked confidence on a woman, it was incredibly sexy. "I made reservations at Thornton's. Johnny recommended it."
"It's one of my favorite restaurants." Diane knew the head chef so they were sure to dine well. "Would you like to drive or shall I?"
"I'll drive." Francis placed a hand on the small of Diane's back as they walked to the elevator. "I'm trying to figure out what to do with all the space in my apartment. Any suggestions?"
"I turned an entire bedroom into a closet." Diane said grinning. "I like to be able to see all my options when I'm deciding what to wear. I like to make the right statement." She said as they reached the lobby level.
"What were you going for tonight? I'd be happy to let you know if you succeeded." Francis said as they walked to his car. He scanned the area just out of habit.
''I was going for flat out sexy." Diane smiled as he held open the door.
Francis stepped closer, invading her personal space something she didn't seem to mind. He looked her up and down, then repeated it because it was too much to take in at once. "It's not the clothes that made me damned near swallow my tongue when you opened the door. It was the woman inside them." He gave her a grin as she smiled and glowed with his praise.
Having no response to that, which was rare for Diane, she got in the car and prepared to enjoy the night ahead.
Siobhan looked at the pool table and tried to figure out where she wanted to take her next shot. Taking a pull from her beer she decided to go for the five ball, lining up she effortlessly made the shot. Grinning at the man across the table she looked for her shot. "Don't worry, I have every intention of letting you play. Eventually." She said smugly.
"Enjoy your turn, once I get mine you'll be taking a nice long rest." Cody responded taking a draw from his beer as well. Bumping into Siobhan had been a pleasant surprise. He was just out trying to figure out how to pass the night. She suggested a game of pool. Not billiards but actual pool. He couldn't resist.
"I'm surprised you haven't said that I play well for a girl yet." Siobhan got that one a lot.
"Gender doesn't have anything to do with pool." Cody was just enjoying the fact that she was a girl. She had a body that was made to wear denim. "You can either play or you can't. Would you like another beer?" His limit was two so after another he was done.
"I would, thanks. That's my cap though." Siobhan lined up her shot and missed. "Damn."
Cody stood and prepared to shoot. "So where did you learn to play?"
"My father. He taught my brothers and since I wouldn't leave him be, he taught me as well. None of my brothers will play my anymore." She said laughing.
"As long as I'm here then I wouldn't mind a game." Cody sank his intended target and moved around the table.
"Where did you learn to play?" She asked turning the question back to him.
"The Marines. During down time you have to do something. I'm not a big basketball fan so I learned to play pool. I got good pretty quick because I became sick of buying rounds." He sank another ball. "Jason likes to play so whenever we crossed paths we shot some games. He's very good."
"I'll remember that." Siobhan watched as he cleared the table. He was better than her but didn't rub that fact in. "Where's your partner?"
"Cooper is back at the flat." Cody wondered if he should bring up Jesse and decided to help his friend out. "I think he liked meeting your friend."
"Jesse?" Siobhan said smiling. If Cody was about to test the waters for Cooper her respect for the former solider would soar. Women had a hard time in this field. Gay men had it even harder. It was not something that bothered Johnny nor apparently Jason.
"Yeah. Cooper's kind of shy." Cody wanted his friend happy.
"Jesse's not. He'll speak up." Siobhan assured her new friend.
"Good. I'm not sure how long we'll be here and I'd hate for Coop to be stuck inside the whole time. Will it be a problem here?" He meant in general. Cody had to kick a few asses of people who were disrespectful.
"There are assholes everywhere, but for the most part not." Siobhan stated and Cody nodded. "I have a feeling that they can handle any trouble that might come their way." Jesse was very capable.
"Maybe we should all go out as a group, that way there's no pressure." Cody said smiling.
"That was very smooth." Siobhan had to laugh. "I think that just might work. I'll have to check with Elle to see what her schedule is, but Jason said she's pretty much a homebody."
"You let me know." Cody was going to enjoy his time here. "Would you like to break?"
"You won." Siobhan reminded him.
"I like the way you look leaning over the table." He said giving her a wicked grin.
"Well, in that case." Siobhan picked up her cue and lined up her shot grinning the entire time.
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