Megan smiled her reassurance. “I’m so proud of you for continuing with your PTSD therapy. You’re making great progress.” She paused to search her memory. “In fact, I think it has been weeks since your last nightmare.”
“Your right. I had a nightmare the night after we lost that kidnapped child. The loss hit me pretty hard. We had tracked the kidnappers, but when we stormed their hideout, the child was killed before we could reach him.”
Megan reached out and clasped Ian’s hand in her own. “I’m so sorry that happened, Ian, but you know his death wasn’t your fault. Just like Neil’s death wasn’t your fault.”
He took her hand and brought it to his lips for a feather-light kiss. “I know, sweetheart. I’m so grateful you’re there when I wake to provide comfort and support. I’m also grateful that you wait until I’m awake before touching me. I never want to take the chance that I might hurt you again.”
Michael and Jessica had been listening without comment to Ian and Megan’s conversation, while casually scanning the morning newspaper. Michael resumed reading the sports section of the newspaper. “Look at this, Jess,” he said, indicating an article he had just been reading. “The Scottish Grand Prix jumping rider, Monty Campbell, has just won the CHIO Aachen. It’s one of the most prestigious jumping championships in Europe.”
“That’s fantastic!” Jessica exclaimed. “His horse, Gideon’s Rainbow, is one of Lionel’s rehabilitated race horses, isn’t he?”
“The very one,” Michael replied. “I wonder if Lionel is involved with Gideon’s training?”
“Gideon’s Rainbow?” Megan interrupted. “I remember him when he raced. As a stallion, he was a handful and not very successful. If I recall correctly, he was constantly jumping his owner’s fences to get to the mares. The man finally gave up and sold him.”
“That’s him,” Michael replied. “Lionel got him for a song, gelded him, and polished his jumping technique. It turned out that gelding the stallion calmed him and gave him more focus. It appears he sold him to a syndicate that’s sponsoring Campbell, who’s doing great with him.”
“Look, Michael.” Jessica pointed to a photo on the same page. “There’s Lionel on the sidelines watching him. I wonder if there’s more going on there than just horse training?” She winked at Michael.
“If there is, it would be about time,” Michael replied. “Lionel has been grieving Nigel’s death for over a year. It’s time he found someone else he can care for.”
“I hope you’re right, Michael,” Jessica said with concern. “I agree that Lionel deserves to be happy.”
Ian ate his breakfast and reviewed the morning headlines. Looking over at Michael and Jessica, he commented on an article detailing Quinn’s conviction in the United States. “It looks like we’ve seen the last of the O’Reillys,” he said. “The entire enterprise is dead, and the only remaining family members are behind bars. It’s a just ending if you ask me.”
Megan looked at Ian with concern. “I’m afraid I have to disagree with you, Ian. Seamus O’Reilly may be behind bars, but he’s hardly helpless. I fear we haven’t seen the last of him.”
Ian scoffed. “I’m certain the authorities have already made sure his contacts with the outside world are limited and monitored. They’re determined to ensure his empire can’t operate in the vacuum created by his absence.”
Megan was still skeptical. “I for one won’t be able to relax until the man is dead. Even then, I might still be looking over my shoulder.” She shuddered with apprehension.
Ian reached over the table and grasped Megan’s hand, squeezing it in an attempt to reassure her. “If it makes you happy, I’ll ask Roger to have someone monitor O’Reilly’s activities and visitors, so you have more peace of mind.”
Megan smiled. “That would be wonderful, Ian. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, love.”
~ ~ ~
Seamus O’Reilly paced his ten-foot by ten-foot cell restlessly, his mind completely focused on his plot to exact revenge against Ian Stafford and Megan Brady for killing his youngest son and for putting him behind bars for the rest of his life. He also owed the Brady family for imprisoning his eldest son in America, far away from his influence. He smiled grimly to himself. The plan he was hatching was brilliant, if he did say so himself. His enemies would never expect him to attack where they were most vulnerable—their families and friends. Yesterday, he had directed Michael Collins, who had thankfully escaped notice from the authorities, to start events in motion. He chuckled to himself. Now, all he had to do was watch what happened.
Author’s Note
If any of my readers has shipped a horse overseas, you know that I have taken some liberties with the customs rules in both the U.S. and U.K. when it comes to transporting stallions overseas. Please forgive me – it was necessary to allow Biscuit to travel between the two countries in a few days, not a few weeks’ time. The normal waiting period for a stallion to remain in quarantine in the U.S. is 30 days. That was just too much time. My choice as an author was to geld him (not an option) or to make the rules fit my story. I chose the latter, of course.
About the Author
Ever since she can remember, Kimberly Beckett has loved horses. She wore out 4 rocking horses before she was 5 years old, and as she got older, she read every horse story in print, from Black Beauty to My Friend Flicka. It wasn't until she got her first job as an attorney for the federal government, however, that could afford to buy her first horse, and she hasn't been without at least one ever since. She has been riding dressage for several years and has earned her United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medal. When she wasn't reading about horses, she was reading romance novels, and her favorites always involve an alpha male Hero riding a magnificent horse. Kimberly has now found a way to combine her love of horses with her love of romance by writing her own version of equine-facilitated happily ever afters. She truly believes that Horses Heal Hearts. She lives in southwest Ohio with her two adopted greyhounds, and two warmblood horses.
If you loved Racing Toward Love, please read the first book in Kimberly’s Horses Heal Hearts Series, Dressage Dreaming, where readers are first introduced to Ian Stafford, his brother, Michael, and Michael’s love, Jessica Warren.
To find out more about Kimberly, and to keep up with her next release, please visit her website, www.kimberlybeckett.com and sign up for her periodic email updates.
Also from Kimberly Beckett and Soul Mate Publishing:
DRESSAGE DREAMING
Michael Stafford was on top of the world. A proud member of the British Olympic Dressage Team and Olympic gold medalist, his life was perfect. Then, he lost his mount, his fiancée left him for another man, and now his brother has been arrested for manslaughter. He believes his luck has turned when he learns that a beautiful and talented stallion is available in Germany, just in time to compete in the next World Cup competition. The horse’s name is Tempest.
Jessica Warren is an up and coming American dressage prodigy with a brilliant future. Orphaned at the age of 21 when her parents were tragically killed in a car accident and the legal guardian of her younger sister, Jessica has lost her competition mount to injury and needs a new horse if she wants to compete in next year’s World Cup. She learns of a spectacular horse available in Germany named Tempest, but when Jessica arrives in Germany with her trainer, she discovers she will have to compete with the extremely handsome and talented Michael Stafford for the right to ride Tempest. Jessica has nothing but respect for Michael, but sparks fly when they’re thrown together in a competition that both must win. Who will win Tempest? Will Michael be able to trust another woman with his heart? Will Jessica allow herself to be loved, or will her personal demons keep them apart?
Available on Amazon: DRESSAGE DREAMING
e (Horses Heal Hearts Book 2)
Racing Toward Love (Horses Heal Hearts Book 2) Page 22
