Her Billionaire Secret Romance Read online

  The stable housed ten thoroughbred horses. Some, the family trained specifically for the Kentucky Derby. Eliza wondered if her parents would ever let her ride some of those horses. “Well, Tandy, I’ll be seeing you much more often as we up our training routines.” She kissed Tandy’s nose and went back to the house.

  Chapter 2

  Charles rode home in the truck that was pulling the horse trailer. He didn’t want to hear all the blistering remarks about the Stanton family and how the race had gone to the locals because Eliza couldn’t stay on her horse. Then his father would go on a tirade about all the Harringtons’ offenses going back generations. Because the two families lived in the same community, they often found themselves competing with each other. Any time they were in competition, the hatred of the feud was rekindled.

  He heard his father complaining as they walked back to the stables. “Charles was certainly going to win before that chit fell off her horse.” He didn’t want to listen to his father. What he wanted to do was think about Eliza’s violet eyes and the way her hair fell all over her shoulders as she lay on the track.

  He could only imagine what his father would think about that. Well, he could admire her from far away, nothing wrong with that. He might never see her again, unless she rode in the race again next year.

  Charles had once tried to smooth things over, and everyone had attacked him, accusing him of standing up for the Stantons. Since that time, he just stayed out of it and left the room any time the conversation became unpleasant. Now that he had spent so much time away at college, it was abrasive to hear the bickering again.

  He frowned as he considered Eliza. Charles had felt awful when he saw her fall. He had been pushing his horse hard when she passed him, and he worried he might have had something to do with the accident. When he knelt down by her side and she looked up into his eyes, he was so stunned he couldn’t think of anything to say, besides the normal. Before he could stop himself, his gaze lowered to her full lips and was shocked when he found himself wondering what it would be like to kiss her. That would have gone over well. Charles raised his eyebrows and smirked. Deep violet-blue eyes with green flecks. He’d never seen eyes that color; maybe the Stantons were aliens after all. He chuckled.

  She looked beautiful even with a dark, dusty face. He’d tried not to laugh, but when she spit mud on his pants, he couldn’t help himself. He knew it hadn’t won him any points. Well it’s not like there can be any future there anyway.

  The truck stopped at the stables, and Charles helped Sparks out of the trailer. ”Well, boy, we would have won today, but our gentlemanly duties took precedence.” He rubbed him down and added some oats to the stall. “We will get her next year if she races again.”

  Darrel Bridge, the riding coach his family hired, walked over to the stall. “You let her get the jump on you, Charles. I noticed you were busy talking when the gun went off.”

  Charles shook his head, trying to remember. “Yes, I was telling her it would be so much nicer to win if there was actually some competition.”

  Darrel laughed. “How to win friends and influence people, I see. I wouldn’t burn any bridges with that girl. She is already a beauty, and if her mother is any indication of how she will turn out, you might want to go gently with your insults.”

  Charles wondered why Darrel was always offering him advice about every aspect of his life. Does he not realize I have parents who do that regularly?

  “Darrel, the Stantons are untouchables here.” Charles would never admit it to Darrel, but just thinking about Eliza’s violet eyes caused his heart to pound.

  “Oh, that old feud is dwindling these days. Did you know your sister, Dr. Harrington, saw a Stanton on the sly for a couple years?”

  That was news he had never heard before. She was coming to dinner tonight, so Charles decided to attend and see what he could find out. “I didn’t. Thanks for the info.”

  Darrel shut the stall gate. “Let’s set up a practice schedule for next year’s race.”

  Charles wasn’t sure he was even going to register for next year’s county race. He remembered his older brother actually getting into a fist fight with Eliza’s older brother at a track meet. These incidents opened old wounds that continued to fester over the years.

  “I don’t know, Darrel, how much do I need to practice to beat her?”

  “Probably not much. You’re a good horseman, and you definitely have the advantage. But I wouldn’t take it too easy. Eliza looked determined.” Darrel headed for the truck. “Sparks has a cut on his front left leg. I’m taking him to the vet first thing tomorrow, but I will see you early the day after.”

  Charles walked back over to the stall to see Sparks. “Let me take a look at it.” He scraped the blood and dirt off so he could see the cut better. “Darrel, will you get that first aid bucket in the tack room?”

  It didn’t look too deep. “It’s okay, boy. How did you get this? It looks fresh.” He patted Sparks and cleaned the cut and put some triple antibiotic cream over the top. Then he carefully wrapped the wound with gauze and secured it with tape.

  Darrel watched him. “Well, looks like we won’t need the vet after all. I’ll see you tomorrow, early.”

  “Okay, thanks.” As Charles walked back into the house to shower, the face of Eliza popped up in his mind once again. He couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her.

  Thank heavens the third floor suite was his when he was home. He could avoid the family uproar as they discussed today’s race. He missed having his brothers there, but the suite was a nice tradeoff. There was a convenience kitchen fully stocked and a sitting room with large screen TV and surround sound for his music. The bedroom was through a door off to the side of the sitting room and he had a balcony that overlooked the back pastures. Charles smiled as he pictured his balcony study sessions. There was something peaceful about doing calculus on the deck. It had a way of making up for the grind of it all. He came home at least once a week to get away from the dorm and all the noise and disruption. No one can study in a place like that. A large oak tree provided shade to his balcony and a way to climb to the ground without going through the house if he wanted. He could actually go for days without seeing anyone in his family. Sometimes he could be home all weekend and then surprise his parents for Sunday dinner. He had to laugh about that one.

  That evening, Charles dressed carefully for dinner. His parents would be amazed at what they all wore at school. Cut-offs, jeans, and sweats were the choice most often. At least he didn’t attend class in his pajamas. That was becoming more popular. He hoped to have a private word with Rachael tonight at dinner. Now that she was a department chair at the university medical center, he had not been able to see her as often as he would’ve liked. He missed her. She was fun and funny, and even though she was much older, he preferred talking to her than to his older brothers.

  “Mom, have you seen my tie?” Charles called down the stairs.

  “Charles, use the intercom.” His mother abhorred yelling. One must not yell, unless of course there was a fire. He had heard this a number of times. Over the intercom, Charles said, “Mom, where are my ties?”

  “Come down and borrow one of your father’s. Why are you dressing for dinner?”

  “Rachael is coming, and I want to look nice. It will be fun to spend some time with her.”

  “That’s great, Charles.” His mother sounded happy.

  Charles found Rachael going through some books in the library. “Hey, Rach.” He gave her a big hug.

  “Hi there, champ. Well, I suppose you’re not technically the champ this year—unless you listen to Dad.” She laughed. “It was an exciting day nevertheless.”

  “Yes, I’m sure I could have beaten her; I mean, she’s really a pint-size kid.” Charles loved talking with Rachael. He always valued her opinion.

  “Charles, she is only one year younger than you. She’s just not very tall.”

  Charles laughed. He was very tall for his age and tall
er than his brothers.

  “I like Eliza—she’s fun to talk to.” Rachael picked up the three books she had been looking for.

  Charles carried them for her as they left the library. “Did you know she has violet eyes?” he asked.

  “Well, her brother Devon has violet eyes as well, but he won’t admit it.” Rachael looked down and sighed. He wondered if Devon was the one she had been seeing. He was dying to ask but didn’t want to impose on her privacy.

  “I guess that would be kind of weird for a guy.” Charles laughed. “Oh, I love those violet eyes, Devon,” Charles said dramatically, and he and Rachael burst out laughing. They both walked into the dining room and sat down with their parents.

  “Thanks for the dinner invite; it’s nice to get away from the hospital for a day.” Rachael winked at Charles.

  “And dorm food,” Charles added. He was hoping to keep the conversation away from the Stanton fiasco, as he was sure it would come to be known.

  After dinner, Bell, Charles’s mother, passed the fruit plate around. “I don’t think the Stanton family is thinking too much about this race. At the girls’ luncheon last week, my friend Mary told me that Devon is getting a divorce.”

  “Did they say why?” Rachael asked as she put some fruit on her plate.

  Bell took a drink. “Apparently his wife ran away with a European celebrity.”

  Rachael chuckled. “That’s exactly what Devon said would happen.”

  Charles was even more intrigued with his sister’s possible relationship with Devon Stanton. Could it be true? If it was, then was it also possible that Charles could have a relationship with Eliza? The thought brought a blush to his face.

  Bell seemed appalled. “Why is that funny? It’s a failure and very sad.”

  Rachael stiffened. “Mother, he was forced into that marriage by his family. There was no love in it. I hope they at least got their business goals met, or it was all for nothing.”

  After dinner, Charles walked his sister out to her car, carrying her books for her. Finally he got up the courage to ask her about Devon. “Sis, what is it between you and Devon?”

  She put her arm around Charles’s waist. “Well, Charlie, that’s a long story. Why don’t you come down to the hospital tomorrow afternoon and take my break with me?”

  Charles smiled and opened the car door for her. “I would love to do that. I want to see where you work and exactly what you do. I’m finished with classes at three o’clock, is that okay?”

  “That’s my break; we can get something to eat in the physician’s lounge.”

  Charles wanted to check out the hospital. The truth was the medical field fascinated him. Which was a fact he dared not reveal to his father. “We have plans for you, Charles,” was the mantra he had heard over and over since he was 10. Charles was the designated son to take over for his father when he retired.

  “I will see you tomorrow, Rach, love you.” He waved as she drove down the long driveway to the gate house where old Topper now lived. When Charles was little, they’d been pals. He’d always slipped him candy when his parents weren’t looking.

  Charles went inside. “Hey, Mom, I want to take a plate down to Topper.”

  “Sure, check with Becky first so she doesn’t take down a second plate.” Charles got the dinner plate and walked down to the gatehouse.

  He knocked and heard Topper yell, “Come on in, Becky.”

  “It’s just me. Charlie.” Charles opened the door and went into the dining room.

  “Well, I’ll be. How are you doing there, Charlie? How’s college treating you?”

  Charles missed this old man. He really needed to visit more often. “I’m fine and getting the grades, but how are you doing? Are you still having that back pain?” It didn’t matter when Charles saw Topper, he always had a smile and a happy demeanor.

  “Oh, that back pain is getting as old as I am. It’s not bad. I‘ve been doing some physical therapy Rachael set me up with.”

  Charles set the dinner plate on the dining room table and left so Topper could eat his meal before it got cold.

  “Thank you,” Topper said, “don’t be a stranger.”

  “Good night, Topper. I won’t. You listen to Rach; she knows what she’s doing.” Topper wasn’t much of a guard these days, but the security system his father had installed basically made Topper’s job obsolete anyway. Nevertheless, it had been a comfort to Charles, just knowing he was there all these years.

  The next day, Charles took a cab to the hospital from the university. Rachael was waiting for him in the lobby. “Hey, Charlie, over here. You know, you’re the first in the family to visit me at work.”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t had Mom and Dad down here, at least. Your paper on childhood diseases got national attention, and now that you are head of pediatrics that’s pretty impressive.”

  “Where did you hear all of that?” Rachael stopped and looked at him.

  “I found it on the internet.” Charles smiled.

  “Well, if they ignore the fact that I actually have a profession, maybe it will all go away.” She laughed and led the way down the hall to the elevators. “The cafeteria is on the second floor.”

  “You know, Rach, I am interested in medicine.” Charles put that out there to see her response.

  “You can be sure that if Dad finds out you came to visit me, he will blame me for your current interests. So if you don’t mind, let’s both keep this visit to ourselves.”

  Charles sighed. “I am afraid to tell Dad that I have other interests besides the family businesses. I fixed a cut on Spark’s leg after the race, and I loved being able to help him.”

  “There are a lot of things in your life that are not yours to decide if you go along with family tradition and obligations.” Rachael’s bitter tone saddened Charles.

  The elevator doors slid open and they headed into the cafeteria. “The food here looks good.” Charles tried to lift her spirits.

  They sat at a corner booth. “I don’t have very long for my break—there are a couple patients I want to see before I get back to it.” She took a breath and let it out slowly. “Devon and I were in love, Charles. We had to keep it secret from our families. Devon’s parents needed him to marry someone who would bring funds to their business enterprises, and after they threatened to take away his inheritance, he agreed to marry someone else.”

  “Woah. That’s low.” Charles was angry that his sister had been hurt by that family.

  “I was devastated. I had refused to marry for business or prestige, refused to be a pawn of my parents, but Devon couldn’t withstand the pressure.”

  “He’s divorced now, though. Maybe there’s a chance still?” Charles offered.

  “No. If he didn’t have the strength to choose us then, he isn’t who I thought he was.”

  “I am sorry.”

  Rachael smiled and patted his shoulder. “Why don’t you come on rounds with me, Charlie. It will give you firsthand experience.”

  Eliza went to her room after dinner-- on the second floor with French doors opening to a small deck facing the back of her family’s property. She loved to sit out there and watch the horses and cattle graze in the pasture to the side of the stable. There was a large oak tree sitting just outside her window. She often thought about the ways she could climb down the branches on that tree from her deck. The problem was the last 15 feet required a drop. The lower branches had been pruned, and she wondered if it was because her brothers had made a habit of climbing up the tree to sneak in after a late party.

  She snuggled down among the many pillows on her large bed and opened up a new book about a heroine fighting British imperialism. She was particularly attracted to the women who took steps to make their futures happen. She liked the women who had goals they were determined to accomplish in spite of the stumbling blocks put in their way. She sighed and put her book down in her lap as she remembered Charles holding her hand and looking into her eyes.

  Earl
y the next morning, Eliza was out in the stables, saddling Tandy and waiting for her coach to arrive. She hoped to get at least an hour of training in before she left for school.

  Dee Laskin arrived on time. “You are up early this morning. Let’s get started.”

  Eliza brought Tandy over to the track. “I guess my first lesson is how to breathe when racing.” She laughed and looked over to her coach.

  He smiled. “Well, yes that is important, but I want you to concentrate on communicating with your horse for speed. Come around the track cantering, and when I raise my arm, signal the horse to take off at full speed.”

  She liked this idea. She rode around the track, enjoying the beautiful flower beds along the fencing. When her coach signaled her, she visualized Charles’s snide smile as he passed her. She leaned forward and yelled. “Go, Tandy!” She kicked her heels in, and off they went. Tandy was running hard but not as hard as Liza wanted. As she came around the track, she stopped in frustration.

  “Okay, let’s do this again. Only this time, I will ride one of the stable horses.” Once Coach Laskin had saddled up, they both went back to the track. This time they started off fast. Eliza was excited. When she signaled Tandy to go faster, she really put on the speed. But her coach was in the lead and kept his horse just out of reach.

  After they had gone around the track once, the coach stopped to talk. “How did that feel?”

  “Tandy wanted to be in the lead. Did you see that?” Eliza was thrilled.

  Her coach smiled. “Not only that, you wanted to be in the lead. You were more excited, and Tandy felt that. You need to learn how to signal to your horse how much you want to be in the lead. This is over and above the way you sit or use your thighs to signal.”