way through an open gate and between two white board fences. He pointed out the other four stallions and a field of mares and foals. While Red asked questions, Trish grew more quiet, savoring each moment. She listened with one ear, and planted each tree and fence post in her memory so she could visualize Spitfire being worked on this track. Spitfire’s stall, his paddock, his barn, the smell of the grass, the song of the birds.
How could she leave him here? It was too much to ask.
Chapter
06
W hat was left of Trish’s heart felt twisted and torn.
“Y’all come back now,” Mrs. Shipson said, giving Trish a warm hug. “As Donald said, our home is yours—any time.” She stepped back and shook hands with Patrick and Adam Finley. “Y’all take care now.”
Trish waved as she stepped up into the truck. Her blurry vision made her stub her toe on the step.
Red caught her and helped her into the cab. “You okay?”
Trish just nodded. She fought the tears, teeth clamped so hard her jaw ached. As they drove down the fence-lined drive, she stared at the clock on the dashboard. Hands tucked under her arms, she shivered once. Red laid his arm across the back of the seat and massaged her neck.
All Trish could see on the back of her eyelids was Spitfire galloping across his new paddock. She could hear his whinny, feel his last whiskery whuffle. A lone tear squeezed past her iron control gate and meandered down her cheek.
Red brushed it away with one gentle finger.
“I meant it, Trish, about coming to California and racing for me this summer,” Adam Finley said just before he boarded his plane in Lexington. “I know it’s going to be rough for you in the days ahead, and new scenery might make your summer easier.”
“I—I have to finish my finals, and then I promised my mom I’d take chemistry at Clark College. She’ll never let me out of that.”
“Well, just remember we have colleges in California too. I’m sure you could find a class in the evening.” He reached as if to hug her then drew back. “I know how hard you are fighting this, Trish. Martha and I would love to be able to help you, and you would be helping us too. Your dad’s passing has left a mighty big hole—in many lives.”
“Ahhh…” Trish nodded instead of trying to finish her thought. “Thanks for all you’ve done for us.” She looked up to see tears glistening in Adam’s eyes.
“Crying isn’t a sin, my dear.” Finley sniffed and blinked a couple of times. “No matter how hard you fight it, letting the tears come will help you get better.”
Trish shook her head. Her strangled “I can’t” carried from over her shoulder as she headed for the exit.
She had her armor back in place by the time she joined Red and Patrick at the cargo dock.
Loading Sarah’s Pride on the plane proved surprisingly easy. Patrick had come prepared with a tranquilizer shot, but the filly walked up the ramp with only a snort and a toss of her head. Once inside, she trembled and broke into a sweat while the men erected the stall around her, but she stood still. With Red doing the same on the other side of the horse, Trish rubbed the filly’s neck and ears. At the same time she whispered her soothing monologue, the song she’d learned from her father.
“I’ll call you soon.” Red ducked under the horse’s neck after she’d lipped a bit of hay from the sling. He put one arm around Trish and brushed a strand of hair off her cheek with his other hand.
“Okay.” One word was all Trish could manage.
“You’ll write or call? You can always get in touch with me through my mom and dad.”
Trish nodded. Red raised her chin and brushed her lips with his. She turned her head before he could kiss her again and shatter her control. Leaving hurt so bad. How much more could she stand?
Red squeezed her shoulder. “Take care.” He levered himself over the stall.
Trish heard him say good-bye to Patrick. If she started to cry now, she knew she’d
How could she leave him here? It was too much to ask.
Chapter
06
W hat was left of Trish’s heart felt twisted and torn.
“Y’all come back now,” Mrs. Shipson said, giving Trish a warm hug. “As Donald said, our home is yours—any time.” She stepped back and shook hands with Patrick and Adam Finley. “Y’all take care now.”
Trish waved as she stepped up into the truck. Her blurry vision made her stub her toe on the step.
Red caught her and helped her into the cab. “You okay?”
Trish just nodded. She fought the tears, teeth clamped so hard her jaw ached. As they drove down the fence-lined drive, she stared at the clock on the dashboard. Hands tucked under her arms, she shivered once. Red laid his arm across the back of the seat and massaged her neck.
All Trish could see on the back of her eyelids was Spitfire galloping across his new paddock. She could hear his whinny, feel his last whiskery whuffle. A lone tear squeezed past her iron control gate and meandered down her cheek.
Red brushed it away with one gentle finger.
“I meant it, Trish, about coming to California and racing for me this summer,” Adam Finley said just before he boarded his plane in Lexington. “I know it’s going to be rough for you in the days ahead, and new scenery might make your summer easier.”
“I—I have to finish my finals, and then I promised my mom I’d take chemistry at Clark College. She’ll never let me out of that.”
“Well, just remember we have colleges in California too. I’m sure you could find a class in the evening.” He reached as if to hug her then drew back. “I know how hard you are fighting this, Trish. Martha and I would love to be able to help you, and you would be helping us too. Your dad’s passing has left a mighty big hole—in many lives.”
“Ahhh…” Trish nodded instead of trying to finish her thought. “Thanks for all you’ve done for us.” She looked up to see tears glistening in Adam’s eyes.
“Crying isn’t a sin, my dear.” Finley sniffed and blinked a couple of times. “No matter how hard you fight it, letting the tears come will help you get better.”
Trish shook her head. Her strangled “I can’t” carried from over her shoulder as she headed for the exit.
She had her armor back in place by the time she joined Red and Patrick at the cargo dock.
Loading Sarah’s Pride on the plane proved surprisingly easy. Patrick had come prepared with a tranquilizer shot, but the filly walked up the ramp with only a snort and a toss of her head. Once inside, she trembled and broke into a sweat while the men erected the stall around her, but she stood still. With Red doing the same on the other side of the horse, Trish rubbed the filly’s neck and ears. At the same time she whispered her soothing monologue, the song she’d learned from her father.
“I’ll call you soon.” Red ducked under the horse’s neck after she’d lipped a bit of hay from the sling. He put one arm around Trish and brushed a strand of hair off her cheek with his other hand.
“Okay.” One word was all Trish could manage.
“You’ll write or call? You can always get in touch with me through my mom and dad.”
Trish nodded. Red raised her chin and brushed her lips with his. She turned her head before he could kiss her again and shatter her control. Leaving hurt so bad. How much more could she stand?
Red squeezed her shoulder. “Take care.” He levered himself over the stall.
Trish heard him say good-bye to Patrick. If she started to cry now, she knew she’d
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