Page 12 of The Past

I gave him the side-eye.“You just want me outta your hair for the summer.”

Dad chuckled, shaking his head.“Nah.I’d rather have you here.But sometimes, the best lessons ain’t learned where you’re comfortable.”

I let that sit for a moment, still resisting, still wanting to hold on to my frustration, but it was hard when he wasn’t lecturing me—he was just telling me how it was.

“You’ll be fine,” he added, tapping the wheel with his fingers.“And who knows, you might even love it.”

I snorted skeptically.“Yeah, I wouldn’t bet on that.”

“Always stubborn,” he murmured.“I expect you to do me proud over there.”

I stared at the road ahead.

“Glenhaven is a dynasty just like Blackburn.They do things different, yeah, but that’s why you need to see it.One day, when you’re running this place, you’ll understand that knowledge is power.”

I stayed quiet.

He continued to drum his fingers on the steering wheel.“Besides, if you’re lucky, you’ll find something worth your time over there.”

I snorted.“Like what?A woman with an accent?”

Dad chuckled.“A pretty girl with a cute accent?There could be worse things.”

When we pulled up to the airport, I felt the first pang of reality settle in.This was happening.

Dad threw the truck into park and turned to me, his expression unreadable.

“Last chance to tell me you’re excited about this.”

I gave him a flat look.

He grinned.“Figured as much.”

I grabbed my suitcase and stepped out.The air smelled different here—too sterile, too far removed from the pastures of home.

Dad got out too, and for a second, we just stood there.

Then, in a rare show of something deeper than words, he clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder.

“You’re a Blackburn,” he said, his voice steady.“Remember that.”

I swallowed, nodding.

And with one last glance at the life I was leaving behind, I turned and walked into the airport.

Not knowing that the summer ahead would change my life forever.

CHAPTER 5

Fiona

Saturday mornings atGlenhaven always followed the same rhythm.Mam cooked a huge Irish breakfast complete with eggs, rashers, black pudding, fried tomatoes, beans and soda bread.She moved between the stove and the table, trying to get us all fed, while Paddy and Siobhan traded barbs, their laughter bouncing off the stone walls.

I sat at my usual place, absentmindedly picking at my toast slathered in jam, lost in my own world.Tomorrow, I’d be at Kildare, riding Brannagh on a real steeplechase course, and the thought filled me with a rare and secret excitement.I could already feel the rush of wind against my face, the thunder of hooves beneath me, the exhilarating freedom of soaring over fences and most importantly, the competition against other riders.I tried to run our own steeplechase course at Glenhaven as much as I could without Da knowing, but to actually train against others was beyond my wildest dreams.

My da’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.“What time is Brian picking ye up this evening?”

I blinked, looked up to find him glaring at me over the top of his newspaper, his dark gaze expectant.For a second, I struggled to pull myself from my daydream and into the cold reality of my situation.

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