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“No one will be late,” Spur said.
“You’ll likely have to stand in the middle,” Trey said. “Just start gathering your patience right now.”
“Great,” Spur said, standing up. “Can’t wait for the Classic.”
Trey looked at Lawrence, and Lawrence looked at Trey. “What he means is he can’t wait until this picture is over,” Lawrence said, grinning.
They both laughed, but Trey had to agree. Once the photo had been captured, Trey could stop getting a million reminders from Cayden.
* * *
The photofor the billboard got taken without much fanfare, and the Sweetheart Classic arrived in record time. Trey met Rob and Somebody’s Lady in the row house where she’d been living for a few months. “How’d she do last night?”
“Great,” Rob said. “She’s ready.” He stroked the horse’s neck, a fond smile on his face. “I’m going to miss this horse. She’s got a special spirit.”
Trey looked at Somebody’s Lady, his own fondness moving through him. “She sure does.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a butterscotch candy. Her ears perked right up, and her lips drew back.
“You’re going to spoil her,” Rob said.
“It’s one candy,” Spur said. “The race isn’t for hours.” He gave the treat to Somebody’s Lady and stepped back. “Let’s get going.”
The Classic wasn’t for hours, but they had to get to the track and check in, find their stall, and get used to the grounds. Lady would have track time, where she could practice and run, and Trey had almost paid the overnight fee to be on the grounds last night.
He’d decided he didn’t need to spend the money on that. He’d called Jake Harguss’s office to ask about the plumbing bill at Dixon Dreams, and he’d paid the seventeen hundred dollars for the pipe repair.
If Beth knew about it, she hadn’t texted to say.
Trey didn’t want to think she knew and hadn’t said anything. He also didn’t want to think about watching this race without her at his side.
It was a couples’ race and the whole reason they’d gotten married in the first place. They should be together today. As he helped Rob get the horse in the trailer, along with all the gear they needed, he mentally composed several texts.
Once behind the wheel of his truck, with Rob in the passenger seat, he quickly sent a message to Beth.
You’ll be there today, right? We should at least be seen together.
It wasn’t the message he wanted to send, but Beth had been very clear in her feelings for him and what she thought of their relationship.
I’ll be there, Beth said.
That was all. Trey would have to take it, because he couldn’t force Beth to do anything she didn’t want to do.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Beth sat with her father and TJ for about a half an hour before everyone else showed up. Sally arrived with her children; Kait and Hugh each carried a child in their arms when they joined them only a few minutes after that.
Three rows ahead of her, Trey’s parents sat. TJ had been down to talk to them at least three times, and even now, Julie turned and looked over her shoulder. Thankfully, her family started arriving too, and Beth had a hard time focusing on the early races as Chappell after Chappell arrived.
All seven of Trey’s brothers had come, a few of them with women at their sides. She and TJ knew them—they’d all been at the wedding, of course. Julie had also hosted a family Christmas party that she, Trey, and TJ had attended.
None of them turned around to look at her, but TJ yelled down to Blaine, who turned with a smile. “C’mon down, bud.”
“Can I, Momma?” TJ asked, and Beth couldn’t tell him no. Her nerves were already frayed and tight, and she didn’t need to deal with a cranky five-year-old. To make matters worse, TJ had asked again that very morning if they could invite Trey over for his birthday.
TJ would be turning six in just three weeks, and Beth wasn’t even sure Trey knew. She hadn’t told him, but she wouldn’t be surprised if TJ had. To her knowledge, her son had not gone over to Bluegrass Ranch, and he’d started asking why Trey didn’t pick him up from school anymore.
He’d asked every day this week to go over to Bluegrass, and each time, Beth had been able divert his attention to something else to keep him home.
TJ held the railing as he went down the steps, and Blaine pulled him right onto his lap. Blaine’s fiancée, Tamara Lennox, handed TJ something, and everything seemed light and easy between them.
