Page 118 of Beside Golden Irish Fields
She dropped the reins, and he only fitted her hands around them again. “Here at the farm?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I need a helper. I have more people coming for rides than ever before. It would be a joy to have you around, and I know Duke especially would love it. He likes to think he’s my helper too, and honestly, I couldn’t do without him. I’d pay you a fair wage, of course, and this way, you could stay here longer, under a different visa. I looked into it. How does that sound?”
Tears filled her eyes, and she had to look away.
“Are you crying, love?”
Megan knew Irishmen called peopleloveall the time, and she thought it was dear. But every time Kade used that endearment, her heart seemed to swell in her chest.
“Yes, I’m sorry. It’s only. Your kindness is sometimes…”
He touched her hand for a moment. “Kindness is part of the reason we’re here. We’re here for each other. I’m glad you’re starting to accept more of it.”
She wiped away the tears and turned her head. There he was, waiting for her like always. “I’d love to be your helper.”
“Good.” He sent her a delighted wink. “Now, how about we trot a little?”
Her hands gripped the reins. “Trot? Oh, I don’t know.”
“Do you trust me?” he asked again.
His smile was as bright as the sun above.With my life. “Let’s try it.”
Her shoulders tensed as Kade started to run, Majestic picking up his gait. She bounced against the saddle a few times until the gray pony seemed to settle under her. She got the rhythm. Then she was moving in tune with Majestic, smiling as Kade ran on. Oh, it was a good name for the pony.
“How is it?” he asked, looking over his shoulder.
A surge of happiness rose up inside her. She welcomed it, drawing it close to herself. Had she ever felt this free?
“I love it.”
Thank God she’d come to Ireland.
Chapter Forty
Bets was running down the driveway, yelling, Liam thundering behind her on his motorbike.
Angie and Megan stood up from the settee as Ollie rushed to the door and opened it.
“Are you okay, Cousin Bets?”
Their cousin breezed in, breathing hard. “Ollie, I’m grand, as the Irish say. In shock. But grand. Oh, Angie! Donal just called me. The news is all over the village.”
“What is it?” she asked as Liam came in and plucked Ollie up off the ground.
“He’s done it!” Liam spun Ollie around. “We all hoped he’d find his way out, and he did, by God! The pub’s going to be madness tonight.”
Angie looked at Megan, who made a face. “What are you talking about?”
Bets crossed and grabbed her shoulders. “Prepare yourself. It’s the grandest gesture I’ve ever heard of.”
Her entire body went still.“Carrick.”
“Yes! He donated his new house to the village.”
She was glad her cousin was holding her in place because she rocked back. “Why would he do that?”
“As an arts center!” Bets exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “Oh, he’s a clever one. Told them he wanted it to be called the Sorcha Fitzgerald Community Arts Center. The village was always proud of Sorcha. Named me as the executive director and negotiated hard to ensure the art school could teach any form of art—nudes included. Donal said the gossip was that he shamed them a little, asking if they would have told Yeats and other poets not to write love poems or Christy Brown himself not to draw something. Were they Irish in their very hearts or not?”
