Rejection Runs Deep (The Canleigh Series, book 1: A chilling psychological family drama) by Carole Williams (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

“I think it’s about to start,” he whispered when the horse lay down in the deep bed of straw and then rose to her feet again, repeating the action a number of times.

He woke Ralph who quickly took a good look through the peep hole and confirmed Philip’s statement.

“Yes, the waters have broken and here it comes,” he said, smiling at Delia’s intense scrutiny, not for a second taking her eyes away from the miracle she was witnessing.  She gasped as the yellowish green caul appeared, inside of which was the foal’s forefeet.

“Stay here,” commanded Ralph, leaving the stall and entering the foaling box very quietly, softly talking to Velvet, giving her encouragement but staying well out of the way.

The nose and head of the foal emerged smoothly and a few minutes later, the shoulders.  Ralph crept forward to support the foal and slit the caul with his fingers, pulling it clear of the foal’s nose and head and having made sure it was breathing, tugged it round to the mare’s head to be lovingly licked and nuzzled.

“Fancy a sandwich now?” chuckled Philip, amused by Delia’s incredulous expression.  “You must be hungry.  You haven’t eaten a thing yet and there’s nothing more to be done.  Grandfather will finish off.”

Delia wanted to cry.  It had all been so beautiful.  Feeling a sudden rush of love and tenderness she wanted to dash in and throw her arms around the foal and tell Velvet what a clever girl she was.

“Wow,” she gasped.  “That was simply fantastic.  Can we go in and say hello?”

“No.  Not today.  Grandfather insists any newborns and their mothers have no visitors for the first day.  He’ll do everything necessary.  We won’t be allowed to go anywhere near them until the day after tomorrow.”

Delia sank her teeth into a sandwich eagerly.  The excitement had made her ravenous and she silently blessed Constance for looking after them so well and couldn’t wait for the morning to arrive so she could tell her all about the momentous occurrence she had just witnessed.  In fact, the entire Kershaw family and anyone else who ventured into earshot of Delia was driven to distraction for days as she marvelled about the wonderment of nature again and again.

As soon as Delia was allowed near the foal she was unable to keep away and every spare moment was taken up with handling and grooming the new arrival.  It was Delia who first put the foaling slip on his head and led him outside to be gently brushed while Velvet stood reassuringly nearby ready for her turn.  Delia did everything possible for the pure black gangly legged animal, establishing a firm bond between them from the start, over the moon when in turn the foal showed his idolatry by sticking close to her whenever she was around, pushing his nose against her in a gesture of affection.

A week later, following an evening practice session over the jumps, Delia, Philip and Ralph looked in on Velvet and her new son before the stables were shut up for the night.  Velvet was munching happily from a hay net while the foal, happy to see visitors, especially Delia, nuzzled her when she entered the stall.

“What’s going to happen to him?” asked Delia.  “Are you going to sell him?”

She was so anxious about the foal’s future, praying the time span would be long enough for her to save the allowance her father gave her every month.  She couldn’t imagine he would buy the foal for her as she already had Star and then there were the two old Shetlands, Samson and Delilah to keep, along with Dolly, whom Richard, although rarely riding her these days, didn’t want to part with.

Delia was becoming desperate and it showed on her face.

“I’m really not sure.  It all depends on how he turns out.  He’s got some nice long legs on him so might be good in the ring but whatever happens, he will be around for quite a while yet as he needs to stay with Velvet for now,” replied Ralph.

Ralph studied Delia’s crestfallen face.  “This young man needs a name.  Why don’t you choose it,” he said kindly, deciding to have a chat with Charles.  Delia was devoted to the foal, as it was to her, and it was obvious the child would be heartbroken if it was sold on.  If Charles didn’t agree for it to go to Canleigh when it was ready to leave Velvet, then it wouldn’t go anywhere.  It could remain at Tangles where Delia could pander to its needs and train it up when the time came.  Ralph was fond of Delia.  She had suffered terribly in the past few weeks and there was no way he wanted to inflict more pain.

Delia had been studying the foal intently as she toyed with various names in her head.  He was a spirited little thing, would need a very firm hand and was going to be extremely handsome.  Without hesitation, she replied firmly.  “Demon.  I definitely think that suits him, don’t you?”

Ralph rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  The child was right.  The foal was already mischievous and flighty.  He was going to be a handful, that was a certainty and if Delia was going to be responsible for him, she would need quite a bit of help, which he was more than willing to provide.

“Yes, my dear.  I think you are quite right.  It’s a good name for the little chap.  Demon.  Yes,” he laughed.  “I like it.”

*   *   *

“Do I have to go to the dentist?” moaned Philip at breakfast on Monday morning.  “I hate having fillings.”

“Philip!  You have had this appointment for weeks and we can’t mess the dentist about.  Anyway, I want to take you to Harrogate … you have absolutely ruined your school trousers …  goodness knows