He just laughed. “There is none when it comes to breeding thoroughbreds.”
My head fell back against the chair, my eyes screwed shut to brace for the blow. “How much is all this gonna cost me?”
“Millions.” He said it like that was chump change.
“Jesus Christ,” I hissed and drained my bourbon. I got up to pour another, needing to settle my nerves.
“We could make it smaller, like twenty stalls. We can spin it as a more one-on-one facility. But even then…it’s gonna cost you a pretty penny, brother.”
I knew it’d be a lot, but millions? I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was riskier than I expected, far riskier. I wasn’t just messing with my inheritance at that point; it was Anna and Colt’s, too. Henry and the baby’s.
I planted my hands on the bar cart, leaning against it. Claire’s knowing grin flashed behind my eyelids, telling me that I had no business getting involved in something I didn’t understand while gambling my family’s financial security to do it.
“You can do this, Beau,” Joseph said as if he could read my mind. “This isn’t some far-fetched idea. You have the space. You have the money. You have the reputation.”
My heart was pounding like I was standing at the edge of a cliff. And once I jumped, there’d be no turning back. This is what I wanted for years, what my family wanted in the seventies, so why was I choking now that the opportunity was here?
The couch rustled, and Joseph came beside me. “Anna and I talked about it, and I want to be more than just a consultant in this.” My head whipped towards him.
“I’ve got the reputation, knowledge, and connections you need. We’ve set aside some money so I can open my own place one day, but we’d rather keep it all in the family. It’s not a lot in the grand scheme, but my connections can make up for it. I want to be a full partner in this, Beau. You can keep the cattle all yours, but horses? I want in. What do you say?”
I couldn’t breathe.
Nobody had ever put themselves on the line for me like Joseph just had, and all the uncertainty that Claire had placed this morning vanished. “You’re fuckin’ insane, brother,” I whispered, but couldn’t stop my smile. “Deal.”
We shook hands, grinning.
We were really doing this then. Which only meant one thing: Claire Hayes needed to watch her back.
5
Claire
“Mama, you’ve got to take this,” I urged her, but she swatted my hand away again. I’d been fighting with her for the last thirty minutes to take a Tylenol so her fever would go down. Her water was now lukewarm, and my patience was wearing thin.
She was fine this morning, if not a little more lethargic than usual, but Emmett came outside about three hours ago, looking clueless, to tell me she was pale and clammy. When I came inside to check on her, she was burning up.
“Let me rest,” she whined, turning her face away from me.
“I will if you take this pill. It’ll help you feel better.”
“Leave me alone!” Her voice hit harder than any slap could. My hands fell to my lap, nearly spilling the water all over the floor.
My mother had never yelled at me. Even when she scolded us as kids, her reprimands were full of love. Never sharp. Never cruel. Not like how she just spoke. The doctors told me she might become irritable towards the end, especially at night, but I hadn’t believed them because that just wasn’t who she was.
Apparently, I was wrong.
I turned over my shoulder, finding Emmett hovering in the doorway. The look on his face was one of pure heartbreak and devastation, mixed with rage. I knew that feeling all too well, but didn’t have the luxury of showing it like he could. It was my job as the oldest to hold down the fort, to make sure everyone was okay, to keep things smooth sailing.
Nothing about watching your mother die was okay or smooth sailing.
Emmett stormed off, slamming the back door behind him, and I was left shouldering this burden alone once again. I swallowed back my frustration, knowing it’d do nothing beneficial.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered all the strength I had, which was practically none, and faced my mother again. “No. Now take this pill,” I demanded, my voice firmer than it had ever been with her.
Mama looked up at me, her brown eyes that used to be so full of warmth and joy were now dull and flat. She opened her mouth, surrendering. It reminded me of when she would argue with us to take our medicine as kids, and we’d cave when she promised we’d get chocolate after.
Man, how the tables had turned.
