Page 103 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
He winked. “You’ll have bragging rights, and your older brother will buy you a pint.”
Their father only grumbled. “Your mother won’t be pleased by any of this.”
“Yes, she will. See you at the track, Kade. Dad.” Shannon waved and rushed off.
His father only stared him down for a few more moments before nodding and strolling away.
He suffered through more conversation, congratulations, and meddling by Cormac. By the time they closed the pony rides, he was awash in as much irritation as excitement. When he finally found Megan, she was cleaning her mostly clear tables. Only a few pieces remained. “A good day then,” he said.
She lifted her face. “You’re racing to win, I hear. Did my dad insult you?”
No, he insulted you, he almost said. “’Twas Ryan who helped me see my way to it. Carrick will be riding with you. I hope that’s all right. I realize I promised you—”
“I want you to race,” she said, taking his hand. “And I very much want you to win. For you. If I weren’t racing, I’d be waiting at the finish line for you.”
He kissed her full on the mouth. “I’ll be waiting for you, and that’s the way of it, love. Thank you for understating.”
“We understand each other,” she said, squeezing his hand. “That’s why we work. Come on. Let’s go saddle our horses.”
“I need to go for Carrick’s and my own horse,” Kade said. “I’ll meet you at the shed.”
As he walked to his father’s part of the farm, he briefly considered having Carrick ride Legend. They needed a horse who wouldn’t mind being held back, if necessary, who wouldn’t mind racing neck and neck with Megan’s mare. Legend would ride well, he knew, and she loved Megan, so she’d stay close, but she was in heat. It was a risk he couldn’t take.
He strode into his father’s stables, eyeing the stallions. He selected one of the more peaceable ones—a chestnut stallion named Sunset’s Brew—to ensure the animal would hold back when they needed him to.
As for the stallion he would race, there was no question. He and Red Zephyr would do grand together.
“I thought I’d find you here,” his mother said, coming inside the shed.
“Hi, Mom,” he said, leading the stallion out of its stall. “When was the last time you were here?”
Her mouth twitched with mischief. “You likely wouldn’t want to know the particulars, but your father didn’t mind me interrupting his work, I can surely tell you.”
He chuckled. “You’re right. Best keep that to yourself.”
“I’m glad you’re finally racing, is all,” his mother said, wandering over to one of the stallions and petting his mane. “What you’re doing today will have a profound impact on your father, but don’t let that stop you. It’s needed, and it’s time. For you both.”
His throat thickened. “It couldn’t have been easy to let us fight it out all these years.”
“No, but it wasn’t my fight,” she said, crossing and touching his arm. “I can’t tell you both how to be men. I can only love you.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “And you taught me how to love others.”
She tugged on his chin playfully before saying, “You did that yourself. Your sister is still learning, like your father. But they know how to race and fight and win. You do it your way today, and you’ll come out just fine.”
When he and Megan finally reached the course with the horses, Carrick was waiting alongside Angie.
“I suppose I should have told Carrick to run this by you,” Kade said.
Angie only shook her head. “It was a good idea. But I do like the idea of him not going as fast as I expect you will. I even put twenty euros on you, so don’t lose my money.”
Red Zephyr nudged him as they all laughed.
Then it was time for the race. Ollie hugged all of them, and so did Kade’s mother. He only nodded to his father, who was riding Sutter’s Mill, and Shannon, who’d finagled a ride on Hunter’s Bounty. After helping Megan into her saddle, he pulled her head down and kissed her softly.
“See you at the finish line, love.”
She shook her hair out before pulling on her helmet, looking as free as he’d ever seen her.
