"Rachel."
"I know."
"No. Listen."
Hoofbeats. Outside. Rachel froze.
Lillian's eyes widened. "Pa?"
The hoofbeats stopped near the barn. A moment later, the door opened and wind blew snow across the floor. Matthew Hail stepped inside.
He held the door against the gust and shut it behind him. Rachel stared. "What are you doing here?"
He looked from her to the mare. "Saw the lantern from the ridge."
"You ride around looking for lanterns at night?"
"I was coming back from the Wilkins place."
He removed his gloves. "What's wrong?"
Rachel did not waste time questioning luck. "Foal's turned. One foreleg back. Head angled."
Matthew came closer but stopped at the stall gate. "You need me?"
Rachel looked at his hands. At his shoulders. At the mare. "Yes."
He opened the gate. Lillian stepped aside. Rachel pointed.
"You do exactly what I tell you."
Matthew nodded.
"No guessing."
"Understood."
"No pulling because you think stronger is better."
"I understand."
Rachel met his eyes. "If I say stop, you stop."
"I stop."
The mare went down again. Rachel knelt. Matthew lowered himself beside her, the stall suddenly seeming much smaller with him in it.
Rachel worked to reposition the foal. "Hold her steady."
Matthew placed one hand at the mare's shoulder and another along her neck. Not forcing. Just giving the animal something solid to push against.
Rachel could hear his breathing. Slow. Controlled. The mare strained.
"Now," Matthew said.
"Not yet."
He stopped instantly. Rachel reached farther. "There. The second leg. Almost."
"Give me your hand."
Matthew did. His fingers were so large around hers that for half a second, Rachel lost track of what she meant to do. She placed his hand where she needed it. "Here."
He followed her direction. "Feel that?"
"Yes."
"That's the leg. Ease it forward slowly."
Matthew moved. The mare jerked. "Stop."
He froze.
"Not another inch."
Rachel looked at him. Most men would have kept moving once strength and momentum had begun. Matthew waited. Rachel nodded again.
They worked by inches. Outside, the storm thickened. Inside, the lantern flame trembled every time the wind found a crack in the boards. Lillian fetched more hot water, then more towels.