Authors: Fern Michaels
Kentucky Rich (32 page)
“Afraid to have sex,” Nealy said, finishing his sentence. “That's understandable. Tell me something. Is it your intention to hole up here for the rest of your life? Do you plan to read your life away? Television can kill you.”
Ken laughed. “That's exactly what Metaxas said. When she was the sickest and undergoing her chemo, Ruby still made an effort to do things. He pointed that out to me daily. I feel like a slug, and I know it's something I have to work through. Until you stare at death you can't understand the fear. I know the cardiologist is right. I feel wonderful. I'm just afraid if I start doing things I won't feel this wonderful. I'll react to every little ache and pain with panic. I guess that's more than you wanted to know.”
“We can work on that together starting tomorrow. You have two dogs now that will need to be walked. I love walking in the crisp, cold air. Doing it together will be good for both of us. Think how nice it will be when we get back. We'll have big cups of mulled cider while we curl up with the dogs and look at this beautiful tree. It really doesn't get much better than that, Ken. When you do things together it makes all the difference. Whatever will be will be. Do you remember when we first met, I told you I wanted us to be friends. I still do. This is our jumping-off place.”
“Friends it is,” Ken said, squeezing her shoulder.
“Did I ever tell you about my first experience cutting down a Christmas tree? Actually we now refer to it as our Christmas bush.”
“No, tell me about it.”
They talked of the past, the present, and what the future might hold for hours and hours. They walked down their respective Memory Lanes, sharing and laughing.
“So you got married for all the wrong reasons, eh? At least you got married. I could never bring myself to take that step.”
“It stopped working for us early on, but it was obvious neither one of us wanted to do anything about it. Hunt looked elsewhere. I pretended not to know. I had the kids and the horses. To this day I'm not sure if we loved each other.”
“Too bad. One good thing came out of it, your son. He seems like a great young man.”
“He is. He practically runs the farm. Emmie is a driving force, and so is Buddy. I find myself with time on my hands, but that will change next month with the court case and Misty Blue giving birth. This foal is for Ruby, so the next three years of my life are mapped out for me. To tell you the truth, Ken, I don't know if I have it in me at this point in time. I did promise Ruby, though. It's something she desperately wants for Metaxas, and I can't deny her that.”
“Is there anything I can do to help out?”
“Oh, you bet. We can always use an extra hand. It might be good for you, Ken. You could see what my world is like. What it takes to train a winner. It's like no other feeling in the world. It's not something I can explain; it's something you have to be part of, something you have to experience. You're more than welcome to go back with me. Hell, I'll even pay you.”
“An honest-to-God salary?” Ken said in pretended amazement.
“Yep.”
“Are you worried about the lawsuit?”
“I'm not worried for myself, but I am worried about my brothers. I did a dumb stupid thing. Of course it didn't seem dumb or stupid at the time. I went back to fix up the house for them. It was drab and dingy, and they needed things to be warm and bright. At least I thought they did. I told myself I was letting the sunshine back into their lives. The courts could decide to rip the farm right out from under them. That hateful old man forged his brother's name to a document. The whole thing is just one damn big mess. It looks like the Colemans have a legitimate claim to SunStar Farms. We, on the other hand, have a claim on the whole ball of wax where they're concerned. Unfortunately, their holdings at the moment are worth zip. We had to give our samples for DNA. The Coleman lawyer laughed her head off when Clem told her we wanted DNA samples from Seth Coleman. Then the craziest thing happened a few weeks ago. It was a fluke to end all flukes. Ruby gave me a locket that Fanny Thornton had given to her a long time ago. For no reason other than she wanted Ruby to have it. When I told Ruby about the DNA she told me about the locket. In it was a lock of Seth Coleman's hair on one side and on the other side was a lock of Sallie's hair. Ruby said Sallie Thornton never gave up the search to find her siblings, and the one time Seth and his family went to her mountain in Las Vegas, she took a snip of it while he was sleeping. I don't know why she would do something like that, but I'm glad she did. I just don't know what's going to happen. It's a real mess. If I dwell on it, I make myself crazy.”
“And the search for your other relatives, how's that going?”
“It isn't. Nick said the detective just took my money and didn't do anything. I'm beginning to think he's right. I have two choices. I either do the search myself, or I find another detective agency. I'd kind of like to do it myself. Once Misty Blue gives birth, I could take a few months to work on finding our people. Nick and Emmie can handle the foal for a little while. For the most part, it's just watching him to make sure he doesn't hurt himself. They're just so frisky at that age. Kind of like those two guys sleeping over there,” Nealy said, pointing to the two sleeping puppies. “By the way, their names are Gracie and Slick. I forgot, I already told you that.”
Ken roared with laughter. “Gracie and Slick. Perfect! For whatever good I'll be to you, I'd like to help, Nealy. Two heads are better than one.”
“Do you mean that, Ken?”
“To coin a phrase from my good friend Nealy Clay, I never say anything I don't mean.”
“I think we're going to have quite a few things to toast when we usher in the new year next week. I'm so glad I came up here.”
“So am I.” Ken sighed. “So am I. Our time will come, Nealy. I promise.”
Nealy snuggled deeper into the crook of his arm. She smiled contentedly.
“I'm going to hold you to that promise, Ken.”
“I never make promises I have no intention of honoring, Nealy.”
Dear Reader,Â
I hope you enjoyed meeting Nealy Coleman Diamond between the pages of this first book in my new trilogy. I had a lot of fun developing Nealy and watching her grow so she could get ready to move into the second and third booksâ
Kentucky Heat
and
Kentucky Sunrise
. I believe she's every bit as wonderful and enticing as Billie Coleman and Fanny Thornton.
Kentucky Heat
and
Kentucky Sunrise
. I believe she's every bit as wonderful and enticing as Billie Coleman and Fanny Thornton.
I don't know about you but I'm always sad when I turn the last page of a book. Inevitably, I want more. For that reason, I've included the first chapter of
Kentucky Heat
for your enjoyment.
Kentucky Heat
for your enjoyment.
I think all, or, at least, most of you know I love writing about women who become strong because they persevere and prevail. To me there is no greater entity than family. For that reason, I would like to share two poems, written by good friends about the meaning of family. On my best day I could never write a poem. Perhaps that's why I treasure these two, and want to share them with you.
There is something else I want to share with you. I'm taking cooking lessons! I have to tell you, it's hard giving up the pinch, the dab, just pour, don't measure, method of cooking. I don't know if I'll ever become a gourmet cook or not, but I'm enjoying the classes. Cooking kind of reminds me in a way of writing a book. You start with nothing and create something from that nothing. From me to you, I share this, my first culinary endeavor. I got an A on the dish.
Enjoy.
P.S. You can reach me through e-mail:
[email protected]
and you can also drop by my web page:
www.fernmichaels.com
.
. As always, I welcome your comments.
and you can also drop by my web page:
www.fernmichaels.com
.
. As always, I welcome your comments.
Family
The first breath of a newborn child a wonder of life to be shared Proud parents hold tight their creation blessed by heaven this day Tiny pure miracle of life from love, tenderness, passion and care Souls bond joyously as family with the humbling of life to pray
Â
Precious gentle and tender, a new generation miraculously formed The wonderful gift of life bestowed to a pure and innocent heart New beginnings welcomed and sweetly kissed by sacred dawn Bonds of love bind tightly ensuring kith and kin not to easily part
Â
Memories of childhood passing by momentarily without due cares Children enveloped snugly within the protection of family womb Together nurturing each moment thankful in unison with prayers The harsh pendulum of time threatening adolescence all too soon
Â
Teenage years beckon confusion presenting countless self-doubts Self-discovery and unexplained emotions clambering each to sort Young hearts impatiently seeking what the puzzle of life is about Experiencing first love and firmly in the net of passion be caught
Â
Loves found and loves lost each leaving incomprehensible pain Finding emotions being repeated with lessons in life ever harsh Comfort and protection from family bosom heals again and again Until love finds a nest in the adult two lives sharing the same path
Â
The gift of love to and from our family is nestled deep in all of us Umbilical safe haven of sanctity, wherein secrets kept safe forever Strong bonds impregnable knowingly secure in each other's trust Our family, learns, laughs, cries, loves and happily lives together
Â
Lee Minshull
FAMILY
Years ago
in some century past
one woman stepped forward
to take up the quest!
of creating the outlines of our family crest
one man joined her
in this holy deed
thus beginning the pages
of our family creed
two ribbons entwined
in this tapestry
forming the pattern
of our destiny
the fabric still unfolds
with each alteration
its design particular
to each generation
our family lives on
through struggle and strife
a tribute to those
who brought it
to life
in some century past
one woman stepped forward
to take up the quest!
of creating the outlines of our family crest
one man joined her
in this holy deed
thus beginning the pages
of our family creed
two ribbons entwined
in this tapestry
forming the pattern
of our destiny
the fabric still unfolds
with each alteration
its design particular
to each generation
our family lives on
through struggle and strife
a tribute to those
who brought it
to life
Â
Diane Daniels
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