by Joan Wolf
“I think he's carrying this big brother thing a little far myself.”
“I'm not paying any attention to him, Kevin. I hope he didn't upset you.”
“Upset me? Of course he didn't upset me. It's just like Liam, though. The minute I have something, he wants it for himself.”
This was not how I had read their relationship.
“You and Liam have always been in competition,” I said to him lightly. “A lot of brothers are like that.”
Kevin's face looked suddenly white, his eyes hard. “Liam and I are not brothers.” On the surface his tone was pleasant but the undercurrent was not.
“You were brought up as brothers.”
“No. We weren't. Liam was always the son of the owner; I was merely a cousin.”
“Kevin, that's not true!”
“Yes it is. Granted I got along better with Uncle Lawrence, but I still wasn't his son, and everyone else on the farm favored Liam.”
“That's not true,” I repeated, but less certainly than before.
“Liam's mother favored him, your father favored him, you favored him. True or not?”
“Daddy spent more time with Liam, but that was because Liam was horse crazy. You weren't.”
“I liked horses well enough.”
“Of course you did. And you were great on a hunt. But you didn't live for horses, the way Liam and I did. That's the bond that drew us together, Kevin. Not the fact that Liam was the owner's son.”
“I'm not accusing you or your father of sucking up to him, Anne.”
“I understand that.”
And I did understand—suddenly I understood a lot of things. Kevin was so beautiful and so self possessed that you forgot he had been abandoned by his parents and left with an aunt who drank and an uncle whose life was his political career. Evidently his childhood had left some scars.
He gave me a wry smile. “How did we ever get on this depressing topic?”
“I don't know. Let's talk about something else.”
“I had an interesting discussion with my agent the other day. He wants me to do a different kind of movie.”
I expressed interest and he spent the rest of the dinner telling me about it. We drove home and Kevin walked me to my door.
“This was very nice,” I said to him. “Thank you for the dinner.”
“It's like a breath of fresh air, being with you,” he said. “You don't have any issues.”
I took this to mean that he appreciated my not trying to talk about myself instead of about him. But I didn't want to think unkind thoughts about Kevin. He was what his childhood had made him. I patted him on the arm. “Goodnight.”
“Don't I even get a kiss?”
“Sure,” I said and put my hands on his shoulders and tilted my face toward his.
He was a very good kisser, but I didn't have that hungry reaction to him that I had had to Liam. Kevin's kiss was pleasant, and I wasn't a bit disappointed when he broke it off.
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” he said.
“Goodnight.” And I walked into the house.
Mom was watching the news and I talked to her for a few minutes, then I went upstairs to bed.
CHAPTER 17
Jacko and I had started to teach our young pupils to stand in the starting gate and to run straight once they left it. A horse's inclination is to swerve and turn and in general have a good time while running. The young horse has to be taught to run straight. To do this we had three of Liam's grooms, as well as Jacko, riding as we put the horses into sets of four each and had them go down the track.
It was always amusing to watch the youngsters as they tried to master the trick of staying out of each other's way. I was watching four of them coming down the track when Liam appeared beside me. Together we watched as one of the horses swerved in and another veered out, their shoulders colliding as both jockeys used their reins, waved their whips and tried to steer a straight line. Then they all ran in a bunch, bumping into each other, until one of the horses pulled away. He got so excited to be by himself that he started curving left and then right, tacking like a sailboat. The other horses caught up to him of course and then passed him and he bucked and ran after them.
“Don't you just love them?” Liam said.
“When you think of what they have to learn in so short a time, it's amazing,” I replied.
“Your father was so fabulous with the young horses. He could be endlessly patient, but he could also be firm. He always seemed to know which he needed to be, too.”’
“Have you found anyone for the job yet?”
I couldn't say “to replace Daddy.” No one could replace Daddy.
“I'm having second thoughts about filling the job,” Liam said. “If the farm is going to go bust, it won't be fair to have just hired someone.”
I frowned. “You're really taking this seriously, aren't you?”
“I am. One of the big dot-com companies that collapsed? Telecom? Dad had tons of their stock. It's a total wipe-out.”
“When did you discover this?”
“He told me before we went out to dinner on the night of the Preakness. He said he was glad I owned Someday Soon because he didn't know what was going to become of the horse farm.”
“That doesn't sound good.”
“No, it doesn't. Apparently he took a lot of money out of the blue chips and put it in this company.”
“That's the one that Congress is investigating, isn't it? The one that left all of those people without any pensions?”
“That's the one. Dad knew the CEO—who made a fortune, by the way.”
“How could he have been so foolish?”
“People were racking up fortunes on that stock, Annie. Dad just wanted to get in on the fun. He's paying for it now, though.”
“Does he have any money left, Liam?”
“He cashed in some more good stocks to help pay for his last campaign.”
I was appalled. “Will he have to sell the farm?”
“He might have to sell some of the property. He can sell off five hundred acres and still have the house and two hundred acres—a nice little estate.”
“This is awful.”
“It is.”
“What will you do if he sells the farm out from under you?”
He looked at me somberly. “I was thinking of leasing a farm in Kentucky and standing Someday Soon there.”
“Kentucky?”
“That's where the mares are, Annie. If you're standing a stallion you want to be where the mares are. I could charge much more for Someday Soon in Kentucky than I can in Virginia.”
“I can't imagine you not being here, at Wellington.”
There was a white line around his mouth. “I have a hard time imagining it too. But it might happen.”
“Would you have the money to lease a farm in Kentucky?”
He looked at me soberly. “If I win the Triple Crown, and the five million-dollar Visa Triple Crown match prize, I can buy a farm in Kentucky.”
“Wow. That's right.”
“In the meantime, though, because of all of this, I don't think I should hire anyone for Pete's job.”
“No, you're right. It wouldn't be fair.”
“Do you think you could possibly squeeze two more weeks’ leave out of your practice so you can continue to prepare the horses for the Keeneland sale?”
“I'd hate to leave here before the Belmont,” I said. “I'll see if I can arrange something.”
He put an arm around me and hugged me to his side. “Thanks, Annie.”
I leaned against him for a moment, letting my right breast press against his chest. Then I pulled away.
Jacko came up to us. “Do these horses get sillier every year, or is it just me?” he asked.
I looked into his weathered face and smiled.
Liam said, “They didn't look all that bad, Jacko.”
Jacko nodded his gray head. “The Going West colt is going to be real good, Liam.”
&
nbsp; “That's what Annie's told me too. I guess I'll keep him.”
“I would if I were you.”
“So tell me, Jacko,” Liam said. “How much money did you make on Buster?”
Jacko's face split into a giant grin. “A bundle, lad. I made a bundle.”
“I don't think you'll get the same odds for the Belmont.”
“That won't stop me from betting him,” Jacko said loyally.
“I can't believe that I forgot to put down a bet,” I said.
Both Liam and Jacko regarded me indulgently. You could almost hear them thinking “women.”
I said briskly. “Okay Jacko, time to return this bunch to the barn and bring out the next set.”
As Jacko moved off, I turned to Liam. “Do you want to come to dinner at Mom's tonight?”
He gave an exaggerated start. “Don't tell me you're free for dinner? Where are all the boyfriends?”
I smiled innocently. “No one's asked me out yet.”
“Well then let me take you up on your invitation fast, before someone steps in and beats me out.”
I laughed.
“I understand you went out with Kevin last night.”
I said enthusiastically, “We went into Washington. I must say, it's fun going out with Kevin, Liam. He gets the star treatment wherever he goes.”
He scowled. “I never thought I would hear such a shallow statement from you, Annie.”
I shrugged. “It may be shallow, but it's a lot of fun.”
The white line came back around his mouth. “What time do you want me?”
“Six-thirty? Seven?”
“Six-thirty will be fine.” He turned away from me. “I have to go. Savannah Road has an appointment.”
Savannah Road was the other stallion besides Thun-derhead that Liam stood.
I watched him walk back to the truck, followed by the two coonhounds. He walked with all the lithe grace of a cat. Every move he made was so beautiful to me. I loved him so much.
Jacko's voice said, “Which set do you want next, Anne?”
I turned to go back to work.
When I got home, I called Michael Bates and got him in.
“Hi,” I said. “I'm returning your call. Mom said you rang while I was away.”
“I did. I watched the Preakness on television, though. We had it on at the station. Man, was that exciting.”
“I know. I screamed so loud I almost lost my voice.”
“I called to ask you out to dinner and a movie.”
“How nice of you.”
“Yeah, I'm a real prince. Are you available?”
“I could go out tomorrow night.”
“I'm on duty tomorrow. What about the next day?”
“Wednesday would be great.”
“Wonderful. I'll pick you up at seven. You can tell me all about the Preakness.”
“I will. See you in a few days.”
I rang off.
“I'm going out with Michael on Wednesday,” I told my mother. “Can you be sure to mention it to Liam tonight? You know, casually, the way you did the other night.”
“I think I can manage to do that.”
There was a look in my mother's eyes that made me feel that I had to justify myself. “I know this seems underhanded,” I said. “But I'm fighting for my life, Mom. What's that old saying? ‘All's fair in love and war’ ?”
She smiled ruefully. “I'm not judging you, honey.”
“Are you praying for me?”
“I'm praying that whatever will be best for you will happen.”
“That's okay,” I said. “Liam is best for me. I've known that all my life.”
“What are you and Michael doing on Wednesday?”
“Just dinner and a movie. Why don't you come with us, Mom?”
My mother laughed. “I can just see poor Michael's face if I showed up.
“He wouldn't mind.”
“He most certainly would. Please don't feel as if you have to be with me all the time, Anne. I'm all right by myself. Honestly, I am.”
“You cry when you're by yourself.”
“I have to cry. I'm sad. It's good for me to cry.”
I hadn't thought of it like that.
“I guess you can't hide from grieving,” I said.
“No, you can't. I just have to go through it.”
“But I don't want you to go through it alone.”
“It's been wonderful having you here, honey. But you don't have to have me tag along on your dates.”
“Okay, Mom. I hear you.”
“You and Liam should go out together this evening. Your purposes are not served by inviting him to a cozy family dinner.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he needs to see you in different surroundings, Anne. Go out on a date with him. If you stay home you fall back into your old comfortable relationship and that doesn't help.”
I thought about what she had said and came to the conclusion that she was right. “But how do I get out of eating at home?”
“I will have a convenient headache and you two will go out to eat on your own.”
I said, “Mom, you're a great conspirator.”
She smiled. “Thank you, honey.”
“With the two of us plotting against him, Liam doesn't have a chance.”
My mother laughed. “I hope you're right.”
“So do I.”
So when Liam came to dinner carrying a bottle of wine, my mother was absent from the scene.
“I'm so sorry, Liam,” I said, “but Mom has a rotten headache and is lying down.”
I couldn't believe how easily the lie slipped off my tongue. I had always prided myself on my truthfulness. I had always thought it would be hard to lie. Hah.
Liam looked concerned. “I'm sorry, Annie. We'll make it another time.”
I said, “We still have to eat. Do you want to try the Coach Stop?”
“Sure,” he said. “That's a good idea.”
We parked a block away from the restaurant and walked to the front door. I was wearing black pants, black boots and a pink sweater set. Liam wore khakis and a pullover sweater with loafers.
There were several empty tables when we walked in. The waitress who came to take our order was a girl I had gone to school with.
“Hi Jen,” I said. “How are you?”
“Anne! How nice to see you. I didn't know you were still in town.”
“I'm staying with my mother for a little while. My father died, you know.”
“I know. Everyone in town was so sorry.”
Liam said, “You're new here, aren't you?”
I said, “Oh Liam, this is Jen Gayta. We went to school together.”
Jen looked a little embarrassed. “I just took this job. My husband got laid off and we need to have some kind of an income.”
I said, “I'm sorry. There's a lot of that going around these days.”
“Yes, there is. Now, can I get you something to drink before you order?”
I had my usual White Zinfandel and Liam ordered a beer. As Jen moved away Liam said, “Dad isn't the only one who is feeling the bite of this economy.”
“No, people are really hurting. Thank God Mom has a real pension coming and not a 401K.”
“Your father had a 401K.”
“I know, and it's not worth much right now. But Mom can afford to let it ride because she has a job.”
“How about you, Annie? What kind of benefits do you have with your job?”
“I have a 401K too.”
“Do you have health benefits?”
“Yes. That's part of the package.”
“That's good.”
“How do you get paid, Liam?” I asked curiously. It was a question I had never thought about before. The Wellingtons had always seemed to me to have a bottomless pool of money.
“I take a salary from the horse business. That's something else your father advised me to do.”
“It's a good thing you had D
addy to look out for you.”
“Tell me about it.”
“So the horse business is making money?”
“It's making money. But I haven't had to pay anything for the use of the land. If I have to lease or buy a farm, I'll have monthly payments to make. I've never had that at Wellington. My father just handed the property over to me and let me do as I liked. I never realized before this how easy he made it for me to succeed.”
“He wasn't interested in the farm.”
“I've been thinking about this, Annie. I was able to buy Pennyroyal and my two other mares with the money I saved from my salary. I saved my salary because I wasn't paying rent anywhere. I've really been living a privileged life, even though I didn't know it. I just thought it was something that was due to me because I was a Wellington.”
“How did you get Thunderhead?”
“I bred Thunderhead, but the stud fee came out of farm income and the mare was a farm mare. Thunderhead belongs to the farm. Damn.”
“So if you go out on your own all you'll have is Someday Soon, his mother, two other mares and three foals.”
His jaw looked grim. “That's it. Obviously, I will need to buy more horses.”
“Why don't you buy the Going West colt? Don't keep him; send him to auction at Keeneland, then buy him back with your own money. I think he's going to be a good one.”
“What a devious mind you have.”
“I amaze myself,” I confessed.
“It's a great idea, though. In fact, I might buy one of the fillies back too.”
“It would all be on the up and up if you did it that way, wouldn't it?”
“Yes, because other people will have a chance to bid. If the price goes too high, I'll have to back off.”
“Okay, then. It would be a shame if you lost all of the breeding lines you were so careful to get.”
“I've been feeling sick about it,” he confessed. “I love all my mares. It will break my heart to part with them.”
“Could you send some of the mares to the auction and buy them back?”
“I think if I try to do that, I'll be investigated. It will look like a scam. In fact, it may very well be a scam.”
“Well, it all may come out okay in the end, Liam,” I said comfortingly. “Your father won't sell the horses unless he has to.”
“I don't think he would. He likes to think of himself as a horse breeder.”
