Free The Last Heiress by Bertrice Small Page B
Authors: Bertrice Small
Friar,” he said.
“We’ll take him with us today,” Elizabeth said. “Come on! The horses should be waiting by now. I gave instructions before I came to the kennels.”
“He’s too little to run with the horses,” Baen protested.
“I know,” Elizabeth said. “You can lay him across your saddle. He has to get used to you, your scent, and the sound of your voice. Tam will continue his training, and when Friar has learned the basics you will join them. He’s going to be your dog, and should obey you first and foremost.”
They rode out, and he again thought how perfectly in tune with her lands and her animals she was. The horses picked their way carefully through the thawing meadows where the ground could be muddy and soft or hard and icy, depending on the angle of the sun. The sheepfolds near the outlying barns were filled with bleating, woolly creatures. Baen decided that he did indeed like the Shropshires and the cheviots best. They were hardy beasts who could easily survive a Highland winter.
The puppy lying across his saddle before him had at first protested being removed from his mother and his siblings. But he quickly quieted down, and after a few miles closed his warm brown eyes and fell asleep, snoring softly, to Baen’s amusement. In one meadow a small herd of sheep had been allowed to roam free. He and Elizabeth stopped, dismounted, and went to inspect the animals. Friar romped noisily, yapping at their feet, and then suddenly he began to nip at the heels of a ewe, instinctively herding the creature.
“Oh,” Elizabeth said, “he’s going to be very good. He has hardly begun his lessons yet, and look at him.” She laughed as the ewe protested noisily at being forced to move along by the young pup.
Kneeling next to the sheep, Elizabeth pushed her fingers into the wool. “See,” she invited him, “how thick her coat is, Baen. When she is sheared, you will gain a nice harvest of wool from a sheep like this.”
He knelt by her side and inspected the sheep’s wool. Their hands touched briefly, and then Elizabeth stood up. “Aye,” he said softly, “I can see she’s a fine beastie.” Then he stood again and, reaching out, picked up the noisy puppy, cradling it in his arms. “Hush, laddie, I can see you will do your duty, and do it well.” He stroked Friar’s head.
Elizabeth turned away, walking to her horse. Her hand seemed to burn where his had touched it. She felt almost faint, and shook her head to clear it as she pulled herself into the saddle again. “It’s growing late, Baen. We have a long ride back to the house,” she told him.
Together they rode back, and when they reached the stables Elizabeth dismounted, and immediately crossed the stable yard towards the house. Baen took the puppy back to the kennels and settled it in with its mother for a good supper. Then he followed after her, but she was already inside and nowhere to be seen when he came into the hall. He found that he was disappointed.
“Dear boy!” Lord Cambridge waved at him. William Smythe was by his side. “How did the sheep viewing go? And have you a dog of your own now?”
“Aye, a fine young fellow I’ve named Friar. Elizabeth says Tam will teach him the basics, and then we will learn to work together, Friar and I.” He smiled at the older man, and at his gesturing hand joined him. “And was your day productive, my lord?”
“It was long, and it was dull,” Thomas Bolton complained. “Elizabeth’s wardrobe is finished. She has jewelry and shoes. We but await the month of April to depart.”
“You will not return to your own holding before?” Baen asked.
“Nay. I am having another wing added to Otterly. It will not be completed until sometime this summer. My heiress’s brood is both large and noisy. Friarsgate may not offer me the amenities that Otterly has, but its hall is delightfully peaceful. I shall not see Otterly until I return. Dear William, however, will have to come back ahead
“We’ll take him with us today,” Elizabeth said. “Come on! The horses should be waiting by now. I gave instructions before I came to the kennels.”
“He’s too little to run with the horses,” Baen protested.
“I know,” Elizabeth said. “You can lay him across your saddle. He has to get used to you, your scent, and the sound of your voice. Tam will continue his training, and when Friar has learned the basics you will join them. He’s going to be your dog, and should obey you first and foremost.”
They rode out, and he again thought how perfectly in tune with her lands and her animals she was. The horses picked their way carefully through the thawing meadows where the ground could be muddy and soft or hard and icy, depending on the angle of the sun. The sheepfolds near the outlying barns were filled with bleating, woolly creatures. Baen decided that he did indeed like the Shropshires and the cheviots best. They were hardy beasts who could easily survive a Highland winter.
The puppy lying across his saddle before him had at first protested being removed from his mother and his siblings. But he quickly quieted down, and after a few miles closed his warm brown eyes and fell asleep, snoring softly, to Baen’s amusement. In one meadow a small herd of sheep had been allowed to roam free. He and Elizabeth stopped, dismounted, and went to inspect the animals. Friar romped noisily, yapping at their feet, and then suddenly he began to nip at the heels of a ewe, instinctively herding the creature.
“Oh,” Elizabeth said, “he’s going to be very good. He has hardly begun his lessons yet, and look at him.” She laughed as the ewe protested noisily at being forced to move along by the young pup.
Kneeling next to the sheep, Elizabeth pushed her fingers into the wool. “See,” she invited him, “how thick her coat is, Baen. When she is sheared, you will gain a nice harvest of wool from a sheep like this.”
He knelt by her side and inspected the sheep’s wool. Their hands touched briefly, and then Elizabeth stood up. “Aye,” he said softly, “I can see she’s a fine beastie.” Then he stood again and, reaching out, picked up the noisy puppy, cradling it in his arms. “Hush, laddie, I can see you will do your duty, and do it well.” He stroked Friar’s head.
Elizabeth turned away, walking to her horse. Her hand seemed to burn where his had touched it. She felt almost faint, and shook her head to clear it as she pulled herself into the saddle again. “It’s growing late, Baen. We have a long ride back to the house,” she told him.
Together they rode back, and when they reached the stables Elizabeth dismounted, and immediately crossed the stable yard towards the house. Baen took the puppy back to the kennels and settled it in with its mother for a good supper. Then he followed after her, but she was already inside and nowhere to be seen when he came into the hall. He found that he was disappointed.
“Dear boy!” Lord Cambridge waved at him. William Smythe was by his side. “How did the sheep viewing go? And have you a dog of your own now?”
“Aye, a fine young fellow I’ve named Friar. Elizabeth says Tam will teach him the basics, and then we will learn to work together, Friar and I.” He smiled at the older man, and at his gesturing hand joined him. “And was your day productive, my lord?”
“It was long, and it was dull,” Thomas Bolton complained. “Elizabeth’s wardrobe is finished. She has jewelry and shoes. We but await the month of April to depart.”
“You will not return to your own holding before?” Baen asked.
“Nay. I am having another wing added to Otterly. It will not be completed until sometime this summer. My heiress’s brood is both large and noisy. Friarsgate may not offer me the amenities that Otterly has, but its hall is delightfully peaceful. I shall not see Otterly until I return. Dear William, however, will have to come back ahead