Page 15 of Be Still My Racing Heart
Teague eyes his sister. “This is why the two of you shouldnotdate, even in secret. If what Ryder says is true, then Simon Stone still has pull, and no one is untouchable. That includes you, Blake.”
Blake ignores her brother. “Ryder, I’ll talk to Reggie and take care of the apology for you. We’ll just have to up the security around the cars until the situation is resolved. I wish you both good luck in the race. May the best man win.” She gives her brother a hug, then leans in to kiss me on the cheek. She catches herself and extends her hand instead.
“May Teague win,” I say as I wrap my fingers around hers. “I’m withdrawing from the race. If I remain in it, it might give people the impression that I was involved with the sabotage when the rumors begin to circulate. And they will spread. If it’s an overly enthusiastic fan, they’ll quickly realize that if I can’t win fairly, then I won’t compete at all.”
Teague grasps my shoulder firmly. “Are you sure, Ryder? When I win, it won’t have the same degree of satisfaction without you in the race. You also don’t need to give my father another reason to get rid of you.”
“Missing one race shouldn’t be the end of my career, and if this blows back on me, Morrison Motors’ reputation is also at stake. I’m trying to protect the brand as much as I am myself.” As I walk over to deliver the news to Soup, I send up a silent prayer.
“Please let this be the right decision.”
“Your dad will definitely have questions about us once he finds out you flew back to Texas with me,” I tell Blake on the drive to the prison to see my father. We took the first flight home after the race concluded, with Teague finishing in third place.
“I didn’t exactly plan on telling him, Ryder, and I doubt he even knew I was there to begin with. My father might be a bit controlling, but he doesn’t monitor my comings and goings. At least I don’t think he does.” She bites her thumbnail as she second-guesses her statement.
I reach across the console and gently take the hand she’s nibbling on, bringing it to my lips to nip at the tips of her fingers. “Hmm. Tasty. I see the appeal.”
She pulls her hand away with a laugh. “Goofball! You could have just told me to stop worrying.”
I wink. “My way is more fun.”
The smile slips from her face, and her eyes once again fill with worry. “Do you think my dad is tracking me?”
I raise one shoulder half-heartedly. “I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past him. Controlling or not, you and your brother are heirs to billions and could be kidnapped and used for ransom. It’s one of the reasons why I didn’t want you to come with me to the prison to visit my father. Teague is right, if my father was behind the sabotage, then his reach extends beyond the prison walls, and you could be in danger if he sees us together.”
“I didn’t give you much choice. You’re willing to risk your career if my father finds out that we’re seeing each other in secret. If you’re not going to kowtow to my dad, I’m surely not going to run from yours.”
I admire her spunk and fortitude. “Last chance to back out, Blake. We’re here.”
Her eyes light up and scan the parking lot of the prison. “Ooh! Someone visiting is riding in style. Look at the '67 Chevy Chevelle Convertible! It’s in pristine condition!”
I sigh since I know exactly who the car belongs to. “It looks like you’re about to meet more than my father today. You’re about to meet my great-great Aunt Mabel. Knowing her, she’s likely got her two best friends with her, Lettie and Alma.”
Sure enough, the moment the doors on the McLaren whoosh open and we get out, three blindingly-bright heads of hair emerge from the prison. My aunt leads the way, sporting a teal-colored wig and floral dress. Lettie is behind her, donning a pink wig cut in a bob and wearing similar attire. Alma is going bold today with a wig made up of fluorescent orange curls and a dress printed with pictures of various citrus fruits.
Blake grabs my arm and smiles up at me. “They have to be the cutest little ladies I’ve ever seen. They’re adorable!”
“They’re ornery. Don’t let them fool you for a second,” I say with as serious a face as I can muster. “They’re known as the Baggersville Biddies, and they give as good as they get. They may seem sweet, but they don’t sugarcoat their words.”
“Ryder! My boy!” Mabel shouts, shuffling toward me with a speed that rivals anyone on the track. “I thought you were racing this weekend!”
I hug my aunt and the other two Biddies before making introductions. I also explain why I didn’t participate in the race. “I’m here to talk to Simon and find out what role he played in what happened and ask him why he did it.”
“Goodness gracious! Your father had nothin’ to do with that,” Mabel says with a conviction that surprises me. “I’d bet my life on it.”
I gesture towards her beloved baby parked beside us. “Would you wager your car on it?” I jest, anticipating that she’ll renege on her earlier statement if her prize possession is on the line.
“Oh. Well,” she hesitates, but then smiles like the cat who got the cream. “Yes. Yes, I would.”
I step back, her words hitting me with the same impact as if a car had struck me at 150 miles per hour. “You believe in Simon enough that you would risk your car? Why?”
“Boy, I told you I’ve been stoppin’ by to talk to your father after church every Sunday since you told me he was here. I came armed with the Bible and some backup,” she says, holding up the book in her hand and then gesturing toward her partners in crime. “I have faith that the Good Lord has been workin’ on your father’s heart.”
Lettie grins, showing me her perfectly straight dentures. “When it comes to Mabel, it’s more like hammerin’ it home than talkin’, but she’s been penetratin’ the thick ‘Stone’ wall nonetheless. Simon’s been acceptin’ it with an open heart.”
Alma is in her own world as she pinches Blake’s cheeks. “You’re as cute as a button, and I....”
“There’s nothin’ cute about a button,” Mabel interrupts. “I never understood why people say that. They’re purely functional devices used to hold your blouse closed.”
