Page 38 of Irish Rebel
“A fairy must’ve told me.”
Keeley struggled to compose her features as Willy goggled. “Class. Dismount. Cool and water your mounts.”
There was a great deal of chatter and movement now. Though Willy dismounted, he stood, holding the reins and studying Brian. Too cautious a look for one so young, Brian thought. And it tugged at his heart.
Willy took a breath, seemed to hold it. “I have one that’s loose. A tooth.”
“Do you?” Unable to resist, Brian climbed over the fence, hunched down. “Let’s have a look.”
Willy obliged by baring his teeth and poking his tongue against a wobbly incisor. “That’s a good one. You’ll be able to spit through where that was in a day or two.”
“You’re not supposed to spit.” Willy slanted a look up at Brian as he began to walk.
“Who says?”
“Ladies.” Willy added a shrug. “They don’t like you to burp, either.”
“Ladies can be fussy about certain things. It’s best to spit and burp among the men, I suppose.”
“You’re not supposed to run like a wild animal, either.” Peeking around to make certain Keeley wasn’t frowning in his direction, Willy shoved up the sleeve of his shirt. “This is from running like a wild animal on the playground at school. I skidded foreverand scraped lots of skin right off so it got really bloody.”
Understanding his role, Brian pursed his lips, nodded. “That’s very impressive, that is.”
“I’ve got an even better one on my knee. Have you got any?”
“I’ve got a pretty good bruise.” To play the game properly, Brian glanced around first, then tugged his shirt up to display the yellowing bruise on his ribs.
“Wow! That musta really hurt. Did you cry?”
“I couldn’t. Miss Keeley was watching. Here she comes,” he added in a conspirator’s whisper and pulled his shirt down, whistled idly.
“Willy, you need to water Teddy.”
“Yes, ma’am. I had a dream about Teddy last night.”
“You tell me about it when we’re grooming him, okay?”
“Okay. Bye, mister.”
“Now that’s a talking little creature,” Brian murmured as Willy led his horse out to the water trough.
“Yes, he is. What were you talking about?”
“Man business.” Brian hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “I’ve got to get down to the shedrow or I’d help you with the grooming. I could send you up a hand if you like.”
“Thanks, but it’s not necessary.”
“Just ring down if you change your mind.” He needed to go, let them both get on with work. But it was so nice to stand here and smell her. Today, the scent was subtle, just a hint of heat. “They looked good at the canter.”
“They’ll look better in a few weeks.” It was time to get the horses inside, start the grooming session. But... What would another minute hurt? “I heard you took a few pots in the poker game last night.”
“I came away about fifty ahead. Your cousin Burke’s a slick one. I’d say he whistled home with double that.”
“And my father?”
Brian’s grin flashed. “I like thinking that’s where I got the fifty. I told him he’s better off sticking with the horses.”
Keeley’s brow rose. “And his response to that?”
