Page 18 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
Chapter Five
Legend wasn’t quite sure what to make of him.
Kade eyed the mare in her new stall in the stable between Winston and Majestic. He’d wanted her to be flanked by two of his softest ponies, and from the neighing he’d heard, he could tell they were giving the mare a huge welcome.
Lifting his hand gently to let her smell him, he waited. Smell wasn’t the only thing that assured a horse, although it helped.
“We’re going to become good friends,” he told the russet-colored mare.
Fear and longing warred in her brown eyes. Kade had always marveled how two such polar emotions could exist in one being, whether animal or human. The mare had scars, but he didn’t need their origin to heal them. He did that with love, gentleness, and attention.
He’d been doing the same with Red Zephyr, whom he was healing for a client after the stallion had broken his leg in the Dubai World Cup. No, he wouldn’t race professionally again, but his leg was healing nicely. Kade thought he might run again. The horse would wither without it. Roaming the pasture Kade had him in behind the shed wouldn’t be enough for him long term.
“You make yourself comfortable,” he told Legend, stroking the side of her neck gently at last. “You’re among friends.”
Another tremble overtook the mare, and at eighteen hands, it came off as a rumble of thunder.
“She’s a beauty,” Sorcha said, appearing beside him.
The horse stomped her foot in her stall. “You can see her, eh, Legend? Hello, Sorcha.”
“Hello, Kade.”
She seemed to float to the stall door and reached out a hand to Legend. The horse studied her for a moment and then edged back.
“Seems she’s not ready for you either,” Kade said, chuckling as Duke trotted over with aruffand tried to press up against Sorcha’s leg only to shake his head when he met nothing but air. “She’s not real, my friend.”
“I’m more real than some,” Sorcha said with a laugh. “I would caution anyone who can see spirits not to hang around that bog down near the abbey. There are some frightening ghosts down there.”
He snorted. Usually he ignored those who roamed the ruins of Kenmore Abbey. “Why are you here?”
“Good news.” She lifted a finger to her ear as Duke gave a bark and raced out of the shed. “Megan is on her way. There’s progress in the air. I only popped by to tell you not to mess things up. It took a lot of doing to arrange a compelling message for her today with Keegan O’Malley’s cows. They aren’t anything like Carrick’s sheep.”
“I heard about that,” Kade said. “The pictures Jamie sent around were mad.”
“Keegan’s only looking for love like most,” Sorcha said. “Wait until you see what miracle Liam worked with Megan. I inspired him to buy a gift for her. He might not see or hear spirits like his dad or brother—yet—but he senses the energy of things. Enjoy this moment, Kade, but since you are still a man, I thought it best to tell you to mind yourself.”
She disappeared before he could decide if he wanted to shoot off a clever reply. Mind himself? Because he was a man? Oh, death hadn’t changed her.
Then Megan walked into the stable, Duke trotting proudly next to her.
She was wearing a yellow T-shirt. So unlike her. The phraseVisualize Sunshinehad him smiling. “You look beautiful, Megan. Let me guess. Liam bought that for you.”
Her mouth parted. “Yes, he did. How did you know?”
Telling her about Sorcha might be strange this early, so he went with another explanation. “They’re selling those shirts at the yoga studio he sometimes attends. I saw it in the window. It looks lovely on you.”
She ducked her head, looking young and unsure. Both looked good on her.
“I thought we might have that talk,” she said, her voice as soft as her footsteps as she took those first hesitant steps toward him.
“I’d love that,” Kade said, smiling already, waiting until she met his eyes.
Those large brown eyes of hers latched on to his, and her mouth formed a small smile in response. The twin emotions of fear and longing radiated in her gaze, reminding him of Legend. He could all but feel her heart pressing against its old confines, wanting to expand. He’d seen the gentleness and love inside her as well as her exhilaration riding across the fields, something they shared. She had such a huge heart—for him and Ollie and Liam and the people they served, as much as the animals around her. He loved that heart of hers, one she wasn’t sure of yet. He reminded himself to be patient.
“How does a walk on the beach sound?”
“Great.” She was clenching her hands at her sides. “Is that a new horse?”
