Holy Scoundrel (38 page)
Authors: Annette Blair
Kenna found the Kranskis on the wraparound porch and walked with them down the stone path lined with daffodils. She slid into the back seat of their white Mercedes sedan.
She looked out the window as they headed toward the "big city" of Lexington. She guessed being from New York City, anything under a couple million people seemed small, but she could understand if you're from the surrounding towns of fewer than twentyfive thousand people, that Lexington with its population of three hundred thousand would be a "big city". As she stared out the window, she felt some comfort come over her as she watched the rolling hills of the farmland dotted with corn, tobacco, soy bean, cows, horses and beautiful manor houses pass by. So open and so green… she had never seen so much green.
Fifteen minutes later they approached Keeneland and turned with a steady stream of traffic into the race track. Kenna observed the beautiful landscaping and how open it seemed while at the same time a huge plane was attempting a landing over the racetrack.
"The airport is right across the street," Julius explained. "That was probably one of the Sheiks or a Royal from somewhere across the pond coming in for the sales. They'll fly into the small airport and just park the plane for a day or two.”
She nodded, showing she had been listening to him. Kenna thought it was safe to bet the owner of that plane was going to inject some cash into the thoroughbred industry.
They drove through fields of green grass, all trimmed and lined with huge old trees, up to a clubhouse. A valet came out and took the keys from Julius and went to park the Mercedes. Julius and June started a constant stream of chatter between themselves and then deftly went through the clubhouse to the paddock area. Pictures of past Derby winners and stakes winners lined the stone walls from the times they had raced at Keeneland. The majesty of the pictures, the feel of the stone building, the sounds of the horses’ hooves, and smelling the scents of cut grass, hay, oats and leather, she could just feel the history of the place and start to understand why horse racing has been such a popular sport for hundreds of years.
They stepped out of a stone walkway and into the paddock where horses were being led around with a number stuck to their hips. Hundreds of people were milling about, looking at each horse or just talking to one another. Some people where wearing Armani suits
while some were in worn cowboy boots and faded jeans. She caught the sight of one man in a simple button-up shirt, faded jeans with some tears in it, and boots that looked like they had stepped in nothing but horse crap. Yet he pulled out a state of the art Smartphone and had the keys for an Audi carelessly dangling out of his pocket. She smiled at the strange scene. Who these people were, what they wore, and the type of car they drove was of no importance. Audi driving cowboys chatted with beat-up Ford truck owners over which horse to bid on.
Taking in another deep breath, Kenna closed her eyes and let the sounds and scents flow over her. Having always been a history buff, she could just see the men and women walking around in 1936 when Keeneland first opened. While she had been daydreaming, the Kranskis had made their way across the paddock and were heading for a string of barns.
"We're heading over to the Spring Creek Barn to check out a yearling. You see that blue and white flag over the third barn down? That's the Ashton Barn. Just make your way down there and ask for your friend. Whenever you're done, just come find us." And with that, June gave Kenna a finger wave and started to walk toward another barn. Find them? How, could she find them in this massive place?
She took a deep breath and turned toward the blue and white flag. As she walked towards it, she passed by a couple of barns proudly displaying certain colors she took to be the farm colors, much like a family crest. She slowed as she approached the Ashton Barn and saw that many people walking horses around were all wearing blue and white polo shirts. It must be a way to identify farm personnel. Some were taking horses up to the paddock while others were putting them in stalls. Still others took them out of stalls and walked them to groups of people who seemed to be examining them. Kenna assumed that they were potential buyers. She looked around and didn't see anyone she guessed to be Will. Of course, the last time she had seen him she was twelve and he wasn't quite sixteen. However, she didn't think she would ever forget those dark, chocolate brown eyes. She looked around, scanning the faces around the barn.
She sighed as she realized she needed help finding him and turned to the closest man in the blue and white uniform, “Excuse me, I'm looking for Mr. Ashton. Is he here today?" she asked the short young man leading a horse from the barn.
"Si. He over there," the blue and white clad man said in broken but understandable English. He pointed to a little hallway in the middle of the barn. It was lined with more horse stalls, and as she approached, she saw a man rubbing the nose of one of the horses. He was tall, at least six feet one inch, and his brown hair had a slight amount of gray in it near his temple. He still looked good though, even if he was a little prematurely gray.
She walked up behind him and stood for a moment staring at his back, trying to figure out how to say, "Hi, I know you haven't seen me in seventeen years, but I was hoping you could help me start a new life here in Kentucky by helping me get a job and maybe find a place to live.”
Before she could make her presence known, Will turned to her and asked, "You here to look at Miss Thing, hon?"
Kenna's mouth opened, but nothing came out. She stood momentarily locked in place taking him in. The graying hair, the brown twinkling eyes, the huge smile that showed one dimple on his left cheek, the wrinkles around his eyes, and the hands gave away his
age. It wasn't Will. She let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, “I'm sorry. I was told Mr. Ashton was in here," Kenna said with a distracted smile on her face. She was fighting off the strange feeling that she knew this man, but couldn't place him.
"Well, then you found him. William Ashton. Nice to meet you, ma'am." Mr. Ashton stepped forward with his hand outstretched. Kenna stared for a second and then reached her hand out to grasp his. He gently, yet firmly shook her hand and gave her an approving nod when she returned the firm handshake.
Annette Blair Bio
A New York Times best selling author for Penguin Books, Annette Blair left her job as a Development Director and Journalism Advisor at a private New England prep school to become a full time writer. At forty books and counting, she added cozy mysteries and bewitching romantic comedies to her award-winning historical romances. She’s also stepped into the amazing world of self-publishing.
Contact Annette:
http://twitter.com/annetteblair
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Awards and Accolades:
1991 A Heart of the Rockies Award
1991 A Dallas Area Romance Authors Award
1997 From the Heart Award Winner as KEEPING FAITH, Georgia Romance Writers
1997 RWA Golden Heart Finalist
2000 A Great Beginnings Contest Winner as SEDUCED BY A ROGUE, Utah RWA
2001 A PASIC Book of Your Heart Award Winner as A PERFECT SCANDAL
2006 A Five Star Editor's Choice: "The Best of the Best" "
2007 A Readers and Booksellers Best Laurie Winner, Smokey Mountain Romance Writers
1996 Hook, Line & Sinker Winner, Hudson Valley RWA
1996 RWA Golden Heart Finalist as Act of Charity
2002 A Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee
2002 Romantic Times K.I.S.S. Award, Knight In Shining Silver, RT
2003 A Laurel Wreath Award Winner
2003 A Holt Medallion Award Finalist
2003 A Barclay Gold Top Ten Favorite
2003 An Aspen Gold Finalist
2003 A Winter Rose Winner
2003 The Lories Best Historical Winner, Best Overall
2003 Booksellers Best Award Winner
2003 Laurel Wreath Award Winner, VCRW
2003 Orange Rose Finalist, Orange County RWA
2003 Aspen Gold Finalist, HODRW
2003 Blue Boa Award of Excellence Winner, The Peninsular Chapter RWA
2003 Most Exciting Start to a Story, Romance Reviews
2004 Booksellers’ Best Award Winner
2004 Readers’ Poll Favorite, Best Regency [Historical], Affaire de Coeur
2004 #1 Top Pick Review, October, ARR
2004 Top Pick Award, RRAH
2005 Aspen Gold Winner, HODRW
2005 Reviewers’ International Org. Award of Excellence Runner Up
2005 Regency Romance of the Year Award Nominee, HRC
2005 Gallant Rogue of the Year Nominee, Reed Gilbride St. Yves, HRC
2005 Bravest Heroine of the Year Award Winner, Larkin McAdams, HRC
2005 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist, S Magic RWA
2005 Top Ten Reads for 2004, Lynda Lukow, MyShelf
Annette Blair Booklist
Tulle Death do us Part
, Vintage Magic Mystery 6, July 2013
FREE
Jewels of Historical Romance
, Excerpt Anthology, Jan 2013
Holy Scoundrel, Jan 2013
Moving Pictures,
Sisters of Sprit Anthology
, Jan 2013
The Rogues Club
, A Four Book Boxed Set, Dec 2012
A Winter Heart Novella
, Aug 2012
Cloaked in Malice
, July 2012, New York Times Bestseller
Proper Scoundrel
, May 2012
Captive Scoundrel
, May 2012
FREE
Sea Scoundrel
, May 2012
Butterfly Garden Audio Book, August 2012
Jacob’s Return Audio Book, March 2012
Untamable Rogue
, January 2012
Unmistakable Rogue
, January 2012
Unforgettable Rogue
, January 2012
FREE
Undeniable Rogue
, January 2012
Butterfly Garden
, Oct 2011
Skirting the Grave
, July 2011
Jacob's Return
, May 2011
Vampire Dragon, April 2011
Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer, February 2011
Naked Dragon, January 2010
Death by Diamonds
, July 2010
Bedeviled Angel, August 2010
You Can't Steal First, Hot Ticket Anthology, Sept 2009
Larceny and Lace
, Aug 2009
A Veiled Deception
, January 2009
Never Been Witched, Feb 2009
Gone with the Witch, May 2008
Sex and the Psychic Witch, August 2007
The Scot, the Witch & the Wardrobe, Dec 2006
You Can't Steal First, Hot Ticket Anthology, May 2006
Scoundrel in Disguise, May 2006
My Favorite Witch, January 2006
The Butterfly Garden, April 2005
The Kitchen Witch, Oct 2004
A Christmas Baby, Oct 2004
An Unmistakable Rogue, Oct 2003
An Unforgettable Rogue, Oct 2002
An Undeniable Rogue, Mar 2002
Thee I love, Oct 1999
Lady Patience, Sept 1999
Lady Faith, March 1999
http://twitter.com/annetteblair
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