Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Their cottage wasn’t fancy, but it was lived in, with scuffed floors and pictures on the walls of Fiona and her siblings, prized horses Rory had trained and photos of him and Kathleen. The man was obviously very much in love. He beamed with pride when he talked about how he respected that she was her own woman with a thriving business in town. I think that might’ve been why it was so important to him to be Fiona’s champion. Why he supported Fiona in pursuing her dreams because he knew that some women weren’t meant to have their wings clipped.
The scent of roasted lamb and fresh bread lingered in the air, mixing with the faint bite of whiskey from Rory’s glass. I had declined the offer, wanting to showcase that I could be responsible and wasn’t all about the party. I had no clue what my father told Rory about the reasons for sending me here, but I didn’t want him to think I’d be a bad influence on his niece.
The fire in the hearth crackled, throwing flickering shadows along the walls.
I felt comfortable here.
Welcome.
Fiona sat across from me, still wearing the smile she’d had all day after her run on the course at Kildare. I expected she’d be riding that high for a long while. She listened to Rory talk about the horses, nodding at the right times, but I caught her sneaking glances at me. Her eyes would meet mine, I’d let mine drop to her lips, and she’d scowl before taking a bite of her meal. I liked getting under her skin, a challenge that had never really interested me before in my female pursuits.
Kathleen, a woman with keen observational skills and a wicked sense of humor, sat at one end of the table.
“So, Tommy,” she said, reaching for the salt. “Tell me all about Kentucky. I don’t know much about it, ’cept they do good bourbon and fine horses.”
“That about sums it up,” I said with a grin. “Hot summers, cold winters, and the best damn thoroughbreds and saddlebreds you’ll ever see.” I cut a sheepish look at Rory. “No offense to your horses.”
Rory snorted. “Careful, lad. Ye’re in true thoroughbred country now.”
“I can appreciate that,” I said easily. “But we all know Kentucky’s got the best.”
The table erupted in good-natured teasing, and Kathleen asked about my family and our farm. I kept it simple, talking about how we bred and trained saddlebreds, how my parents had sent me here for the summer to, as my mother put it, “Get my head on straight.”
“They think ye’re a troublemaker, then?” Kathleen asked. “I can appreciate that, for I was a big one meself growing up.”
I glanced at Fiona, who was suddenly very interested in her glass of water. “I suppose that depends on who you ask.”
Rory chuckled, shaking his head. “He’s been puttin’ in the work. Knows his way around a horse, I’ll give him that.”
Kathleen turned her attention to Fiona. “And ye, my dear girl… how was the ride today?” She leaned forward, crossed her arms. “And don’t spare a single detail so I can live it with ye.”
Before Fiona answered, I couldn’t help myself. “She was incredible. Held her own against all those men, rode like a damn champion. She was fearless.”
Fiona blushed, stabbing at her potatoes with unnecessary force. “It wasn’t all that.”
I grinned. “It was that and more.”
Rory watched us, his expression unreadable. I didn’t know what he thought about this thing between me and his niece, but he hadn’t kicked my ass yet, so I took that as a good sign.
Fiona looked to her uncle. “When can we do that again?”
His smile was genuine but guarded. “Well, have to figure out when yer da will be otherwise occupied and compare it to the schedule.”
“I want to enter a real race,” Fiona said, and I was surprised by the vehemence in her voice. “And I don’t care if Da finds out.”
The table went silent and Rory and Kathleen exchanged a look before he focused his regard on his niece. “Fi, love… I get yer facing some confusing times with yer da right now, but just have a care how far ye push him. I think ye have battles ahead and I don’t want ye spreading yerself thin.”
Fiona huffed out a breath of frustration. “I know. I just…” She glanced around the table, lingering on me a second longer than the others. “I just don’t want my life decided for me. I want choices.”
She tried to hide it, but I heard the misery laced with fear in every syllable. It made me want to pick her up, sweep out the door with her in my arms, then take her to the airport and back to Blackburn Farms with me where she could be who she wanted to be.