She lifted one hand. Wheeled the horse, though she didn't gallop away like he'd expected.
"Adam!"
He doffed his hat to her.
"Thank you!"
Her voice carried on the wind, and then she was gone. They were beauty in motion, like he'd known they would be. They were a match in temperament and will.
She was going to win.
She hadn't brought up his silly wager. It had been a long shot for him anyway. He'd gotten this far in the race only because of Breanna.
It'll work out, he'd told her in the livery. She'd been soft and warm in his arms, and he'd dared to hope.
But he didn't know how to make it work.
He only knew that she had to win, and he'd made it happen for her. It would have to be enough.
The stallion loped away,his stride eating up the grassy plain, leaving Adam behind with Buster.
She couldn't explain the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.
Maybe it was the sheer majesty of his horse. Each stride was smooth, each beat of hooves against the ground like war drums, thrumming through her entire body.
Domino was meant to race. Even with what they'd endured so far, he had a reserve of strength that hadn't been tapped.
Maybe she couldn't have beaten Adam after all, not with this magnificent horse.
But it wasn't the communion of woman and animal that was making her emotional.
It was Adam, sacrificing his chance to win for her.
None of her brothers would've done it. Not even Matty. They'd have waved goodbye and not looked back.
She didn't understand Adam, hadn't from the beginning.
But she was learning that perhaps that wasn't a bad thing. Learning Adam was an adventure in itself.
Was it one that she could enjoy for the rest of her life?
14
Breanna did lash herself to the saddle in those darkest hours of the night. The Lord had coordinated a half moon to light their way, but after six days of hard riding and now riding overnight, Breanna had no strength to keep her eyes open.
She dozed, sometimes coming to in order to make sure Domino was still on the right heading.
The stallion was incredible. Tired, of course, as they walked part of the way.
But he was giving her everything he had.
She had passed by two of the other riders. Knew at least three others were behind her.
How many were ahead? Or was she in first place?
She dozed again, momentarily forgetting her worries about winning.
She dreamed. Of being in Adam's arms in some fancy ballroom, of enough eyes on them to make her uncomfortable. And then pointing fingers from faceless bodies, laughs and jeers. And then Adam let her go, stepped back and joined the crowd, a sneer on his handsome face.
