The Forbidden, page 22
“The new training jockey at Silvermare?”
“Yeah.” We both were at Copper Canyon, a new bar that opened up on the main thoroughfare of the town. It’s got a hip, trendy vibe and we both drank too much to make good decisions. We’d Ubered back to my place, and well, I found out she was a screamer. “But it was only a one-time thing.”
I didn’t really need to add that last part on. The minute I gave Wade her name, she was off the list. Like I said, brothers don’t encroach on each other’s territory.
The bell rings at the service counter and Sam yells, “Order up for the Blackburn boys.”
He sets two plates of food on the ledge and Doris is there to nab them. She sets them before us and because she knows us so well, grabs blueberry syrup for me and sriracha for Wade. “Anything else?”
“We’re good, Doris,” I say.
“Just your hand in marriage,” Wade says making a grab for it, but she’s quite spry for her age and scoots back while wagging a chastising finger at him.
We tuck in but without any real rush. We’ve got plenty of time to get to the farm. We talk about some of the day’s tasks—training schedules, upcoming competitions for the riders, a quick check-in on how Ethan, Marcie, and Sylvie are adjusting to their new normal.
“Kat, Gabe and I are going to take Sylvie to Kentucky Kingdom next weekend,” Wade says as he slathers some jelly on his toast. “Want to go with us?”
While I’d love nothing more than to ride all the fun rides with my niece Sylvie, one word in that statement has me declining. “Not if Gabe’s going.”
Wade shakes his head. “You need to get over it.”
“No, I don’t,” I reply firmly. I’m never going to get over disliking that bastard, especially for hurting Kat years ago. True, they’ve made up, and true, he saved her life, and true, they apparently love each other, but I don’t have to socialize with him. Hell, it’s bad enough I have to sit through periodic family dinners because my mom invites him over. Seems like everyone has forgotten the bad blood between our families for almost a 175 years, or the fact that Gabe’s father tried to kill Sylvie not that long ago.
I refuse to give credence to the fact that it was Gabe who uncovered his dad’s crime and turned him into the police. That is the one thing he has going for him that might cause me to actually tolerate the guy one day.
The bell over the door tinkles and I glance over my shoulder to see Joe Carter walk in. A sturdy man in his late sixties with a shock of white hair and skin tanned from years working outdoors, I watch the head trainer for Five Oaks Farm, a generational thoroughbred racing farm here in Shelby County, walk our way.
“Morning, Joe!” Doris calls out as he takes the stool next to Wade. “The usual?”
“Yes, ma’am, and keep the coffee coming.” Joe’s eyes move from Wade to me, and he nods a greeting. “Morning.”
“Hey, Joe,” I say before cutting a bite of pancakes. “What’s new with you?”
“Nothing new with me, but did you boys hear about Lyle Rhodes?” My fork stops halfway to my mouth and Wade’s head whips Joe’s way. “Passed away last night. Heart attack, they reckon. One of his employees found him this morning at his print shop.”
The news lands with a thud. Wade and I exchange a look—Lyle wasn’t exactly a friend, but he was a fixture around town.
“Jesus,” Wade mutters, pushing the food around his plate as it sinks in. “Wonder what’ll happen with the business. Debbie sure as hell doesn’t know how to run it.”
Joe shakes his head, doctoring up his coffee Doris had poured. “Maybe their girl will come back. What’s Holland been up to these days? She doesn’t come around no more.”
I set my fork down, pancakes forgotten because the lead ball feeling in my stomach has quelled my hunger.
“Last I heard, she’s still in Zurich,” Wade says to Joe before stuffing a forkful of omelet in his mouth. He chews and then looks to me. “Right, Trey? I mean… we haven’t seen her in years.”
“Far as I know,” I mutter, sipping at my coffee. Just the mention of her name sends a ripple through me. Old memories—sweet, painful, and everything in between—start to stir, images of Holland laughing, riding, smiling down at me—
I force the reflections away and set my cup down. I pick my fork up, resolute to finish my breakfast. “Kat and Abby have kept in contact with her through Facebook although they say she doesn’t communicate all that often.”
“Once she got out of Shelbyville, she didn’t look back, did she?” Joe muses with a chuckle. “Probably best for her. Wasn’t no future for her here.”
Wade nods. “Yeah… guess she was destined for bigger things. But still, I imagine she’ll be back for the funeral. He was her father, after all.”
I’m not so sure about that. She had zero relationship with her alcoholic father and a not much better one with her doormat of her mother.
But I find myself silently hoping she does. I’m not sure what I’d say, or even if she’d want to see me, but part of me needs to know how she’s been doing. I mean, the entire Blackburn family will gather round her in support. We’ll all be at the funeral, and she’ll be welcomed back with open arms. I’m sure she’ll be glad to see her somewhat adoptive family, given the amount of time she spent on our farm.
Well, she’ll want to see most of us.
I’m sure I’m the exception to that.
The Bluegrass Empires series continues in November 2024 with The Tryst! Trey Blackburn isn’t one to get tied up in a long-term relationship, much preferring the one-night kind of relations. But Trey’s hesitation to commit might be deeper than not wanting to put in the time and effort. His reluctance may have more to do with the blonde beauty who just blew back into town and the things they left in the past that have been neither forgiven nor forgotten. CLICK HERE for details on The Tryst (Bluegrass Empires, Book #3)!
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New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
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Sawyer Bennett, The Forbidden
