Page 106 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
Chapter Twenty-Seven
St. Stephen’s Day had been one of the best days of Megan’s life. She’d sold most of her pottery, and she’d raced in a bona fide horse race. The center had money for operating expenses for the next term, Kade’s dear donation included, and while they’d need to have another event, Megan was actually looking forward to it.
Like she was racing Breezy again.
Her skin tingled as she remembered the wind racing over her body as they rode down the shoreline. She eyed the clock. It was after seven, but she was wide awake. Kade’s head was nestled into his pillow. She’d stayed over last night because Liam had offered to take Ollie home. Usually Kade was an early riser, but perhaps he was more tired than usual after his big day. He’d snored softly for the first time, which had made her smile in the dark.
Maybe she could get a ride in before he rose. The sun would be rising by the time she reached the shed and fed and watered the horses before saddling Breezy. How fun would that be! She slid out of bed and dressed quietly. He didn’t stir. After grabbing a granola bar, she tugged her new riding boots on—courtesy of Liam, who’d given them to her for Christmas.
When she left the cottage, she took a moment to pause. Mist was all around her, and the skies were the color she would have previously called gloamy gray. But now all she could see was pearly magic. She exhaled slowly, enjoying seeing her breath in the air. The world looked so different than it had months before, and she took a moment to feel grateful for that.
Finished, she nearly skipped to Kade’s red shed. Duke and Pip greeted her as she reached the yard, and she bent down and picked them up, giggling at the double doggie kisses. The horses had their heads out of the stalls already when she entered the shed. A few neighed, including Breezy, while Winston gave a high-pitched call, stomping his foot.
“Who needs attention?” she asked, putting both dogs down and crossing to open his stall and rub his neck.
He nodded his head vigorously in three beats and then let out another high-pitched call. Legend gave an answering nicker.
“Were you missing each other yesterday?”
He stomped again and started to walk toward the stall’s open door.
“Hey! Come back here.”
When she tried to get in front of him, he blew out his nose and ignored her.
She rolled her eyes. “What are you doing? I know Kade lets you hang outside of your stall, so we’ll forget that you ignored me.”
When Winston walked over to Legend’s stall, she wasn’t surprised. The mare lowered her head to reach the smaller pony, and they nickered softly, their affection as obvious as always.
She put on her gloves and pulled some hay from the bale to give to the horses, greeting all of them. Breezy leaned into her hand the moment she raised it, delighting her. “We did great yesterday. You ready to go again? I think we’re both meant for speed.”
Winston gave another high-pitched neigh, which Legend answered. The mare started to pee—something Megan had gotten used to from being around the animals so much, and Winston gave another high-pitched sound. Legend answered, this time knocking against the mare’s stall.
“You must have missed each other something terrible yesterday,” she said as Winston stomped his foot again.
He looked over his shoulder at her, his big eyes almost beseeching. Legend knocked the stall again with a hoof.
“Fine, I’ll open the stall door so you can hang out together, but you’d better not ignore me. I’m only doing this because I believe in friendship.”
It was rather sweet that two animals so different in size had befriended each other.
“Kade told me last night it’s a big day today, Legend. You and Sutter’s Mill are going to get together and make a baby. It looks like you’re in an affectionate mood.”
She edged around Winston and popped the door open. Legend rose up a little on her front hoofs as if delighted and let out another neigh, which Winston answered. Then the mare turned around and lowered herself to the ground.
“Figures,” Megan said, laughing as Winston walked into the stall proudly. “All you two like to do is sit in the pasture and eat grass.”
Legend’s tail flicked back and forth and then the small pony got close to her backside, nuzzling her. Then she realized his penis was out like he was going to pee. Only he climbed on top of Legend and he—
“Oh my God!” He was— “Oh my God! Winston, stop that! No, no, no, no!”
She rushed into the stall and tried to push Winston off. He wouldn’t budge.
“Oh God!” She hadn’t known this could happen. Legend was seventeen hands, and Winston about four feet. He was a pony. She was a thoroughbred.
Megan’s cheeks flamed. She needed help, and she needed it fast. The cottage was too far. She’d find Killian up the way. Running out of the shed, she was trailed by the barking dogs.
“Killian!” she yelled as she reached his part of the yard.
