Foals in the Field Chapter 1 page 1-2

Mandy Hope sat at the kitchen table at Animal Ark, watching the sun gleaming off her mother's row of shin brass pans. The warn spring air the blew in the open window ruffing the red checkered curtains. Mandy could hear father talking on the telephone in the hall. Mandy's parents were both vets in the town of Welford. Animal Ark was their home as well as their office. I wonder who that is she said, dreamily. Mandy was always interested in the patients her mother and father took care of. Emily Hope put a bowl of fluffy scrambled eggs on the kitchen table and smiled. Whoever it is, I hope they don't keep your dad much longer, she said. Otherwise those eggs I will get cold. Mmm can I start Mandy asked. Go ahead said Dr. Emily. She cocked her head. I hear him coming. Mandy scooped a pile of scrambled eggs onto her plate as her father came into the kitchen. That was Nick Summers on the phone, he said to his wife as he sat down at the table. Mandy looked at her dad with concern. Bessie is all right isn't she asked.   Bessie was Nick's brood mare at Drysdale Farm. She  was in foal and due to give  birth in a few weeks. And even in more exciting she was expecting twins.