Page 111 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
“Does tomorrow suit?” his father asked.
Kade laid the reins in his lap, trying to understand the meaning behind those words. “And if I lose tomorrow, what will you want?”
“To race again…” His father’s mouth tipped up on one side. “Until you win.”
He bit the inside of his cheek as emotion flooded him. He finally understood. His father only wanted him back. Nothing more.
“I love you, Dad,” he said softly.
His father’s earlier tears returned, but he smiled through them. “I love you too, son. You might take a look at that piece of mail I brought down for you when you get back to the shed. I’ll see you later.”
With that, he remounted and took off. Kade sat there for a moment, letting everything sink in. When he finally turned his horse toward Carrick at the finish line, he took in his friend’s somber expression. He looked like they’d be attending a wake tonight given his loss in the race.
Only he told his friend there would be no wake. In fact, there was much cause for rejoicing.
When they went back to the shed, Kade felt the urging to read that piece of mail his father had mentioned. There was no address on the thick envelope. He pulled the papers out, his heart pounding in his chest as the scent of oranges wrapped around him.
“You old codger,” Kade said with affection.
“What is it?” Carrick asked.
Kade held out the papers, not surprised his friend couldn’t smell the oranges.
Carrick swore softly. “But this is the deed for the land he promised you, and it’s dated yesterday.”
“Before today’s race,” Kade said, shaking his head.
Carrick blew out his breath. “He could have said something and saved us all this worry.”
No, he couldn’t have, Kade realized. “We’re both too proud for that.”
“This is where our womenfolk would say we men are eejits sometimes,” Carrick said.
Sorcha appeared in front of Kade. “Mosttimes.”
Then she disappeared.
“I need to find Megan,” Kade said, taking back the papers.
Carrick checked his phone. “Angie tried to call, but I had my phone on silent for the race. She texted to say Megan is in a bad way. Their father said some awful things apparently, so bad that Bets took Patty aside and told her they need to stay elsewhere.”
His heart sank. If there was one person who had the power to bring back the old Megan, it was her father. That woman would think she was a failure and he was better off without her. But Kade anchored himself in positivity. If he could finally find peace inside himself about his own father, she could do the same. He only hoped she would fight bringing that old Megan back.
He didn’t want to lose her over this.
