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. “Wedid, 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.
thirty-five
Killian
“You think this is a good idea?” Lachlan asks.
“Of course he does, he’s not going to get any better than Tessa,” Miles tacks on.
