Page 65 of Irish Rebel
“Oh.” Keeley tucked her tongue in her cheek. “Any particular tune? Wait, let me guess. ‘Finnegan’s Wake’?” Brian’s steely-eyed stare had her laughing until she had to lean weakly against the gelding. The horse responded by twisting his head and trying to sniff her pockets for apples.
“It’s a quick tune,” Brian said coolly, “and he likes hearing his name.”
“I know the chorus.” Gamely Keeley struggled to swallow another giggle. “But I’m not sure I know all the words. There are several verses as I recall.”
“Do the best you can,” he muttered and strode off. His lips twitched as he heard her launch into the song about the Dubliner who had a tippling way.
When he reached Betty’s box, he shook his head. “I should’ve known. If there’s not a Grant one place, there’s a Grant in another until you’re tripping over them.”
Travis gave Betty a last pat on the shoulder. “Is that Keeley I hear singing?”
“She’s being sarcastic, but as long as the job’s done. She’s dug in her heels about grooming Finnegan.”
“She comes by it naturally. The hard head as well as the skill.”
“Never had so many owners breathing down my neck. We don’t need them, do we, darling?” Brian laid his hands on Betty’s cheek, and she shook her head, then nibbled his hair.
“Damn horse has a crush on you.”
“She may be your lady, sir, but she’s my own true love. Aren’t you beautiful, my heart?” He stroked, sliding into the Gaelic that had Betty’s ears pricked and her body shifting restlessly.
“She likes being excited before a race,” Brian murmured. “What do you call it—pumped-up like your American football players. Which is a sport that eludes me altogether as they’re gathered into circles discussing things most of the time instead of getting on with it.”
“I heard you won the pool on last Monday night’s game,” Travis commented.
“Betting’s the only thing about your football I do understand.” Brian gathered her reins. “I’ll walk her around a bit before we take her down. She likes to parade. You and your missus will want to stay close to the winner’s circle.”
Travis grinned at him. “We’ll be watching from the rail.”
“Let’s go show off.” Brian led Betty out.
Keeley put the final polish on the saddle irons, rolled her now aching shoulders and decided she had enough time to hunt up a soft drink before giving Finnegan a last-minute pep talk.
She stepped outside and blinked in the sudden whitewash of light. The minute her eyes focused she saw Brian sitting near the stable door on an overturned bucket.
Alarm sprinted into her throat. He had his head in his hands and was still as stone.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” She leaped forward to drop to the ground beside him. “Betty?” Her breath came short. “I thought Betty was racing.”
“She was. She did. She won.”
“God, Brian, I thought something was wrong.”
He dropped his hands and she could see his eyes were dark, swarming with emotion. “Two and a half lengths,” he said. “She won by two and a half lengths, and I swear I don’t think she was half trying. Nothing could touch her, do you see? Nothing. Never in my life did I think to have a horse like that under my hands. She’s a miracle.”
Keeley laid her hands on his knees, sat back on her heels. Passion, she thought. She’d spoken to Brendon of it, but now she was looking at it. “You made her.” Before he could speak, she shook her head. “That’s what you said to me once. ‘I don’t break horses. I make them.’”
“I can’t get my head round it just now. This field was strong. I put her in thinking now and then you need a lesson in humility. Time for her to grow up, you know what I mean. Face real competition.”
Still staggered, he dragged his hands through his hair and laughed. “Well, she’ll never learn a damn thing about humility.”
“Why aren’t you down with her?”
“That’s for your parents. She’s their horse.”
“You’ve a lot to learn yourself.” She got to her feet, brushed off the knees of her jeans. “Well, Finnegan will be going down shortly. Why don’t you come in and look him over?”
Brian blew out a breath, sucked in another, then rose. “I think he’ll place for you,” he told Keeley as he followed her in. “It wouldn’t hurt to wager on it.”
