Page 27 of Irish Rebel
She bellied over the saddle, lay still as Betty shied. She knew just what could happen if the filly wasn’t controlled. A wrong move on anyone’s part and she could find herself under several hundred pounds of agitated horse.
But Brian’s voice whispered, soft and dreamy, and the light began to go pale gold. Slowly Keeley eased herself up until she sat, her feet sliding into the stirrups.
The new sensation had Betty fighting to toss her head, dancing back and kicking out. Now Keeley leaned forward, stroking, and added her voice to Brian’s.
“Get used to it,” she ordered in a no-nonsense tone directly opposed to his crooning. “You were born for this.”
“There now,cushla.” His lips twitched at the corners as he soothed Betty. “She’s not so scary now, is she? She’s hardly much of a thing at all up there on your big, beautiful back. She’s only a princess, but you, you’re a queen, aren’t you?”
“So, I’m outranked?” Keeley wasn’t sure if she was amused or insulted.
Gradually the restless movements stilled. Brian took a chunk of apple from his pocket, fed it to Betty with murmured praise and reassurance. “She’s doing well.”
“She’d like to bounce me off the ceiling.”
“Oh, aye, that she would, but she’s not trying it at the moment. You’re doing well, too.” His gaze lifted until his eyes met Keeley’s. “As natural at this as she is. Blue bloods, both of you.”
“Are we making history, Brian?”
“Bet on it,” he told her and kissed Betty just above the nose.
She gave him most of the morning. Dismounting, remounting, sitting quietly while he led them around the stall. Betty gave a couple of bucks, but everyone knew it was only for show.
“Will you try the walking ring with her?”
Keeley started to decline. She had work, and was already behind for the day. But the feel of the young, fresh horse under her was too much of a pleasure, too much of a challenge. She’d put in a few hours on paperwork that night.
“If you think she’s ready.”
“Oh, she’s ready. It’s the rest of us who have to catch up.” He opened the box and led them out.
The walking ring was surrounded by a high wall, to give the student privacy and prevent distractions as she took her first steps under the control of a rider. As Brian led them toward it, several of the hands stopped work to watch. Money changed hands.
“Some of them bet we wouldn’t manage her this morning,” Brian said casually. “You just earned me fifty dollars.”
“If I’d known there was a pool, I’d have bet myself.”
He glanced up. “Which way?”
“I always bet to win.”
He stopped inside the ring, handed Keeley the reins. “She’s yours now.”
Keeley angled her head. “In a manner of speaking,” she said and nudged Betty into a walk.
They made a picture, Brian mused. A stunning one. The long-legged Thoroughbred with her regal head and gleaming coat, and the delicate woman riding her.
If he’d ever wanted one horse for his own—and he didn’t, hadn’t—it would be this one.
If he’d ever wanted one woman for his own...
Well, that was the same. He’d never wanted the responsibilities that came from having. And neither of these could ever be his in any case. But he’d have something of each of them, and that was better all around.
For the horse, he’d have the knowledge that part of what he was went into the making of a champion. And the woman, before long he’d have the pleasure of knowing what it was to have her wrapped around him in the night. Maybe only once, but once would be enough.
Whatever the risks of that were, there was no stopping it. They came a bit closer to it every time they looked at each other. Today, he’d come to understand she knew it, too. Now it was only a matter of the time and place. And that would be up to her.
“They look good.”
