Good foaling men were hard to find and Snappy was one of the best. Hopeful Farm needed such a man.

“I want you downstairs,” Alec said finally, holding his temper. “Miz Liz is going to foal.”

“Not right this minute she ain’t. Too much rushin’ and hurryin’ only causes those old mares trouble. Let her be.” The big man smiled, reassured of his position. “Besides, I got this pipeful to finish.”

Alec broke out all over in clammy perspiration and his hands trembled. “With some mares you can wait,” he said, “but not with her. You should know better than I that it’s too dangerous.”

“If you’re worried, go take care of her yourself,” the man answered. “I don’t need this job. I got people wantin’ me back home, lots of people. Plenty of mares in Kentucky but not many foaling men like me.”

“Only because your father was the greatest of all teachers,” Alec said, unable to control himself any longer. “Everybody knows that. But I don’t think you ever listened to him, Snappy. If you had you wouldn’t be sitting here smoking a pipe when Miz Liz is about to foal! So you’re not good enough for our farm any longer. You’re fired, Snappy. Now get out of here and stay out!” He reached for the man’s arm.

Snappy rose and towered above Alec, the pipe smoke curling about his surprised but scornful eyes. Then his big hands tore Alec’s fingers away from his arm and he gave the boy a hard push.

Although Alec braced himself for the backward fall, his head hit the floor with terrific impact. And although he did not lose consciousness, he was barely aware of Snappy’s leaving the apartment.

Alec lay on the floor a short while, waiting for his head to clear. Then, suddenly, he heard a loud snort from below. He struggled to his feet and opened the apartment door, shouting down the stairwell to Miz Liz that she was not alone with her foal! He knew the foal had come, that he had only a few seconds more to reach the stall in time to prevent what he dreaded. Miz Liz always got to her feet soon after foaling. It wouldn’t be any different this time. That’s why Snappy should have been there, waiting.

Running down the stairs, Alec made straight for the end of the corridor, where he flipped on the bright overhead light. The foaling stall came to life with festive brilliance. In the center Miz Liz was climbing to her feet, while beside her deep in the straw lay her newly born colt.

Alec did not stay quietly outside the stall to watch mother and son become acquainted in those wondrous first moments together as he did with other mares. Instead he flung open the door and shouted! Miz Liz moved toward her colt, not to lick his coat dry but to kill him!

Alec reached out and slapped her hindquarters hard, throwing her off balance and distracting her attention. Startled, she hesitated before the sight of his raised hand and the sound of his urgent commands.

The mare’s eyes were wild, matching the viciousness shown by her flattened ears. Yet she fell back a step, giving Alec a chance to gather the wet colt in his arms. She came for them when the boy moved toward the door, her head outstretched and teeth bared.

Alec swung the colt away from her and felt the searing pinch of her teeth as she turned upon him in all her fury and frustration. But she had not taken hold and he jumped through the open door, slamming it behind him.

Gently he placed the newly born foal on the floor, while the stall became suddenly quiet.