Chapter 34 #2
I stare at him, wishing the door was open and I didn’t hear that last part, but I dip my head and exhale. “I’m sorry too, but I don’t think it’s for the same reasons.”
The door buzzes and then slides open, but I walk out, putting him and everything behind me so I can have the life with the woman who is waiting outside for me.
~Nine months later~
“This is so exciting!” Tessa says as she grabs my hand.
“It will be if we win.”
This is one of the last races that will award the points Midnight Valor needs to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
When I entered him into the first prep race, I really didn’t think much of it.
He’s a great horse, and when I decided to breed his father with Midnight, I had no idea that this would be what came.
Midnight Valor has speed, agility, and I thought if I could get him to win a few races, when we went to breed him, it would yield higher returns and make it so my sister’s horse could live on forever.
We won the first race. Came in fourth for the second, and we’ve had really consistent results each race.
This is the last one, and we need a high finish in order to qualify, which…is beyond my expectations.
“Either way, this is great for the ranch.”
She’s not wrong about that. When Midnight Valor started to gain traction, we sold every horse we had available.
Now our breeding program is back on track, and we are already being asked about when he’ll be entered into the rotation.
“I wish my sister was alive to see this,” I say, squeezing Tessa’s hand. “She would’ve loved that Midnight helped create a winner.”
Tessa smiles. “I think Alicia is with us. I think her heart, her spirit, and her tenacity live inside that horse. It’s why he’s a winner.”
I lean in and kiss her softly. “He didn’t start winning until you came into my life.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re ridiculous, but I love you.”
“I love you more.”
I love her so much it fucking makes my chest ache.
“Killian! Tessa!” Meredith calls our names as she heads over.
That’s another thing Tessa brought into my life: my daughter. We have dinner with Jake and Meredith once a month, either at their place or ours. While we ours is definitely not a father/daughter relationship, it’s more than I could’ve hoped for.
Jake is a great guy, and he’s even helping me manage the contractors who are currently building the new barn, which will become the main meeting space for the camp Tessa dreamed of.
“Hey, guys,” Tessa says, giving them each a hug and kiss on the cheek.
Meredith comes to me, and we hug then I shake hands with Jake. “I’m glad you guys could make it.”
“We wouldn’t miss this for the world. This is freaking cool,” Meredith says, looking around.
I’ve never seen a crowd this large for this race, but it makes sense since so many are hoping to see their favorite pull through and qualify to run in the Kentucky Derby.
“My nerves are stretched so thin,” Tessa says. “I just want Midnight Valor to make it.”
“He’ll make it,” I say, willing it into the world. “You told him to.”
She laughs. “I tell him a lot of things, but he doesn’t always listen.”
Tessa and Midnight Valor bonded when she moved back. He was always a bit of a loose cannon and I didn’t think he’d ever be able to race. Yeah, he had all the right markers, but he wasn’t disciplined, and the jockey and Travis always had issues.
Then, one day, I came out to see her in his stall, petting his neck and telling him how great he was.
“You say it was me, but I think it’s Gary,” Tessa says with a shrug. “He’s the one who got him to do what we knew he could.”
Gary has become my right hand in all things, and he’s an incredible trainer. Apparently, Travis taught him a lot and he soaked it all in.
The parade begins and we stand at the entrance where the spectators come to watch the horses leave their stalls and strut. A few minutes later Midnight Valor’s name is called and he walks tall and proud. Tessa grips my arm, squealing a little when she sees him. “He’s ready.”
“He looks it.”
“He is,” she says with conviction.
I hope so.
“We should get to our seats,” I tell the group.
The four of us head to the owners’ section where we have seats reserved. A few of the other men I’ve met over the last few races and I exchange handshakes and waves. It’s tense up here, but Tessa seems completely at ease.
She turns to me. “Take a second and soak this in.”
“What?”
“Look at where we are, Killian. You have a horse in the running for the Kentucky Derby. Ivy Thorn is thriving. Buck Wild has become a sensation, and even though it’s not what you wanted, it saved the ranch. We’re here at this race, together, with Meredith and Jake. You did all this.”
I lean in, resting my forehead to hers for the briefest moment.
“We did, Tessa. We did. You made me a better man. You gave me the hope to save the ranch. You gave me the strength to fight when it felt like everything was caving in. I’m only here because you’re beside me, baby.
No matter what happens, I’ve already won. ”
She kisses me softly and then we watch Midnight Valor leave the gates and cross the finish line in second place, which means we’re going to the derby.