All The King's Horses: A Tale Of Eternal Love by Alethea Downs Page A

himself, “No that’s not it. Money well spent…, he looked to Christy for support.
    “Kent, Daddy.”
    “That’s the one.”
    “I was until very recently a charter boat skipper. But the bank recalled my loan is in the process of taking my boat off me.”
    “The lousy pack of money grubbing wolves,” Jack commiserated. “They made my life a living hell when I was a young feller too. It’s a miracle I ever got anywhere.”
    “Well, I haven’t got anywhere I’m afraid, Jack.”
    “Never mind, you can’t keep a good man done I always like to say, and I’m betting you’re a good man.”
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I guess something will come along sooner or later to put me back on track.”
    “That’s the spirit.” He turned to Christy. “When’s dinner ready, Sweetheart, I starving? And I bet …ah…he is too,” he said, nodding in Kent’s direction.
    “I’m just about to serve it,” she said, getting up and making a move towards the kitchen. “And it’s Kent,” she whispered as she brushed past him.
    “You must be very proud of your daughter, Jack” Kent said, after Christy had left the room.
    “Yes…yes I am,” Jack answered. “She’s a tough little cookie that one, been through a lot these past few years but keeps battling on.”
    “I think it’s only right to tell you that I’m very taken with her,” Kent admitted. “I haven’t felt this way about a woman in a very long time.”
    “Her mother had that very same effect on me,” Jack confided. “Christy is very much like her mum in a lot of ways. She has the same sweet caring nature.”
    “Any tips on how I should proceed?”
    “Gently, Lad, very gently, she’s fragile and getting more so with each passing month.”
    Kent wondered what he meant. Christy didn’t appear to be fragile to him. But possibly he meant emotionally. After all, she had lost her mother and husband in pretty short order. “Yes, I can promise you I’ll be gentle with her,” Kent assured him.
    “Good man. I must say I admire you for taking her on in her state. Most men wouldn’t.”
    Now that was an odd thing to say. Her emotional state hadn’t seemed to be that finely balanced. And why wouldn’t most men take on a beauty like her who had suffered a string of misfortunes?
    “Dinner’s ready,” Christy said, poking her head through the door.
    Kent made his way to the dining table and sat down. If the smells assaulting his nostrils were to be trusted then this lady could cook too.
    “We don’t stand on ceremony around here,” Jack informed Kent. “Just dig into whatever takes your fancy and dump it on your plate.”
    “You don’t stand on ceremony you mean, Daddy. The rest of us are a little more cultured.”
    Jack waved the comment away. “Life’s too short for all that la de da stuff. Two, four, six, eight, dig in don’t wait, I always say.”
    Christy shook her head. “He’s impossible,” she said, directing her comment to Kent.
    Kent grinned. “Don’t knock him; I’m pretty sure he’s the one you got your sense of humor from.”
    She feigned shock. “I’ll have you know my sense of humor is way more refined thank you very much.”
    As they ate and talked well into the night Kent lost all track of the time until he happened to glance up at the clock on the wall. “Wow, is that the time? I really must be going, I’m off job hunting tomorrow.”
    They walked him to the door.
    “Well goodnight,” Jack said amiably, “and it was a pleasure to meet you…ah…”
    “Kent, Daddy. You really are terrible.”
    “Sorry,” Jack said to Kent, “but I really am bad at names.”
    “There’s nothing to apologize for, Jake.”
    Jack’s eyes flicked up to make contact with Kent’s grin. “Ah, you got me again you young scoundrel.”
    Kent chuckled. “I hope we see each other again, Jack.” He gripped the older man’s hand tightly.
    “Likewise,” Jack looked at his daughter. “In fact I’m sure we will.” He