Now, after a lifetime of struggle, and five years of concentrated effort, it was nearly within reach. Maybe it would be empty when he finally grasped it, but he had to know.

"The colt's got to run, Jamie. If you can't work with him, I'll pass him to Duke." Duke Boyd, the assistant trainer, was competent. They both knew it. But he didn't have that extra flair Jamison had been born with. "One way or another, he'll be ready for Churchill Downs."

"I'll do my job," Jamison said, and rubbed his tired eyes.

"I need your heart in it."

Jamison dropped his hands. "You'll have it, goddammit. And my soul as well."

He turned away and stalked back to the barn.

Kelsey knew she wasn't supposed to fall in love with the horse. But intellect had nothing to do with it.

She was as fascinated with the new wobbly-legged foal as she was with the older colts-and had been kicked only once in return for her affection.

Perhaps because she'd taken that philosophically, and had hauled herself up and brushed herself off, Moses began to increase her training.

He liked her style, the way she responded to the horses. And what was more important, he liked the way they responded to her.

Still, he was pleased when he saw she was as much nerves as eagerness when he took her to the yearling stable. He'd consulted with the yearling manager, and between them, they'd culled out this particular filly, a bold little chestnut, weighing in at a trim seven hundred and fifty pounds.

The light was gold, almost liquid with dawn. It poured onto the filly's coat, inflamed it. Eyes dazzled, Kelsey stood just inside the box. She was sure she'd never seen anything quite so beautiful in her life.

"She's got spirit," Moses said as he worked with a handler to calm her as she was saddled. "And she's got heart. That's why Naomi called her Honor. Naomi's Honor."

As if responding to her name, the filly butted Moses, hard. The vibration sang up his shoulder. He gave a firm jerk on the shortened reins, and continued.

"You'll be the first weight she's had on her back. Now, don't go thinking she's sweet and eager to please. She's used to having her freedom. We can't know what to expect. She's a lot stronger than you." He glanced back at Kelsey, as if dismissing her slight frame in the padded jacket and hat. "So you have to be smarter." He stroked a hand over the yearling, neck to withers. "And kinder."

That was why he'd chosen Kelsey. No one could work successfully with yearlings without kindness.

The stall was quiet. Moses spoke so softly they might have been in church. He clucked to the yearling, then to Kelsey, signaling her to move in and make her connection.

Her heart was thudding, so loud and hard in her throat she was sure it would spook the yearling. But her hands were gentle, her movements slow. She spoke barely above a whisper, watching Honor's ears prick to the sound of her voice.

"You're so pretty. So pretty, Honor. I can't wait to ride you. We're going to be friends, you and I."

The yearling snorted, reserving judgment. Her ears laid back when Moses slipped the bridle over her head.

"Easy now," Kelsey murmured. "Nobody's going to hurt you. Before long, you'll be a queen around here. I bet that feels strange, doesn't it?" She continued to soothe while Moses tightened the saddle.

"You should try panty hose. I'll lay odds they're more uncomfortable than this little saddle."

The light changed subtly, warmed.

"I'm going to give you a leg up," Moses told her. "Remember what I said to do?"

"Yes." She had to take a deep, clearing breath. "I don't sit in the saddle yet. The bellying comes first."

"That's right. Remember, it's an announcement. You're telling her this is what she's here for. Slow now.

And remember where the door is if you need to get out quick."

The idea of that had Kelsey taking one more breath before she put her knee, and her welfare, in Moses's hands.

The yearling shied, surprised, annoyed as Kelsey draped herself over the saddle. Kelsey felt the agitated movement under her and refused to think about being sprawled over several hundred pounds of irritated horse. She followed Moses's instructions and her own instincts, easing herself up and around, shifting her weight to saddle and stirrups.

Honor danced, kicking out with a hind leg, trying to shift to get a good clean shot at Moses. Instinctively, Kelsey leaned forward, spoke softly, firmly in the yearling's ear.

"Stop that. You don't want everyone to think you're common."

It wasn't magic. The voice and the tone didn't immediately calm her. But after a few more arrogant maneuvers, the yearling settled.

"She likes me," Kelsey announced.

"She's thinking about how to shake you off her back."

"No." Kelsey grinned down at Moses. "She likes me."

"We'll see." He made Kelsey sit until he was satisfied. "All right. Let's get to work."

This, as Moses explained, was kindergarten. Kelsey would simply sit in the saddle while the handler walked Honor on the yearling track, the high walls preventing both of them from being distracted from the job at hand.

Once the yearling had become accustomed to a rider's weight, she would be turned loose by the handler. And Kelsey would guide her.

They'd learn together.

"How did she do?" Naomi asked when she joined him.

"Like you'd expect. She's got plenty of Chadwick in her." Moses put a hand over hers, squeezed briefly in one of his rare displays of public affection. "I thought you'd come down and watch for yourself."

"I was too nervous." She watched Kelsey control the yearling with a light tug on the reins. "She's been here a month, Moses. She hasn't said anything about leaving." Naomi hooked her thumbs in her front pockets. "With everything that's happened in the past couple of weeks, I keep waiting for her to pack up and go."

"You're not looking close enough, Naomi." He smiled a little when Kelsey forgot the training and leaned forward to press her face into the yearling's mane. "She's not going anywhere."

At Moses's signal, Kelsey straightened, then walked the yearling sedately over. "She's gorgeous, isn't she?"

"Yes." The pride that welled up in Naomi was almost frightening. She lifted a hand to stroke the yearling, and let her fingertips brush against Kelsey's. "You look wonderful together."

"I feel wonderful." After Moses had fed Honor a carrot as a reward, Kelsey held out a hand. "Don't I deserve one?"

"I guess you do, at that."

She accepted one and bit in. "Now that I've stopped being terrified, I can enjoy it." After patting Honor on the neck, she tried not to gloat. "Can I work her tomorrow, Moses?"

"And the day after," he said. "She's your responsibility now."

"Really?" She wanted to leap off and kiss him, but settled for beaming at him. "I won't let you down."

"You do, and I'll dock your pay."

Now she grinned. "I'm not getting paid."

"You've been on the payroll for two weeks." He had the satisfaction of seeing her jaw drop. "You get your first check on Friday."

"But it isn't necessary. I'm just-"

"You do the work, you get the pay." He said it firmly. He was, after all, in charge of this particular matter. "Of course, you're starting at the bottom. That's about where you started, isn't it, Naomi?"

"Rock bottom," she replied with a grimace. "My father insisted I earn every penny of my salary, paltry as it was. The idea was, when it all came to be mine, I'd appreciate it more. He was right."

Kelsey considered. It was probably best, more of a business arrangement. "How paltry?"

"You should probably clear about two hundred a week," Moses told her.

She lifted a brow. "When do I get a raise?"

With a laugh, Naomi stepped closer. "He'd have appreciated you." Gently, she skimmed her fingertips over the yearling's throat. "She likes you."

Kelsey sent Moses a smug smile. "That's what I said."

"I missed twenty-three birthdays." Naomi's tone shifted Kelsey's attention back. And now her eyes were wary. "Twenty-three Christmases. A lot to make up for." Steadying herself, she looked up and met her daughter's eyes. "I'd like to start, if you'll let me. Will you take her?"

"Take her?" Staggered, Kelsey stared. "Honor? You want to give her to me?"

"I'd like you to accept her. No strings. I realize it might be a bit awkward to keep a horse in an apartment"-she struggled to keep her voice light-"but she can stay here as long as you like. Moses can work with her, if that's what you want. But she'd be yours, if you'll take her."

Swamped with emotion, Kelsey dismounted, slowly. Her palms grew damp on the reins, and she felt the warm breath of the yearling across the nape of her neck.

"I'd love to take her. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I have to get back. I have a lunch meeting."

Kelsey took a step forward, then stopped, suddenly pushing the reins into Moses's hand. She had to dash to catch up with Naomi's long strides. She laid a tentative hand on Naomi's shoulder, and did what came more simply, more naturally than she'd imagined. She kissed her.

"Thank you," she said again, but the rest of the words slid down her throat when Naomi embraced her, held her hard.

And where, Kelsey thought as she felt the urgency, the need pulse from her mother, had this passion come from? How could it have been there all along and never showed?

"I'm sorry," Naomi murmured, and stepped back quickly. "I'll have the ownership papers drawn up right away. I'm late," she managed, and hurried away.

Conflicting emotions battered her. Kelsey stood helplessly, wishing she understood herself, much less the woman who'd given birth to her.

"I don't know what to do."

"You're doing fine." Moses handed her back the reins. "Now go groom your horse."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

DAYS PASSED QUICKLY. KELSEY HAD A HORSE OF HER OWN, AN intriguing romance with a fascinating and frustrating man, and a fresh curiosity about the mother she was beginning to love.

She hadn't expected to love Naomi. To wonder about her, certainly. Perhaps to come to respect her.

But it was impossible to live in such close proximity with a woman of Naomi's breed and not have emotions become tangled.

There wasn't much time to dwell on it. As the Bluegrass Stakes approached, the gateway for the all-important Derby, both Three Willows and Longshot were hives of activity.

Kelsey wasn't ready to admit it, but she was already visualizing Honor covered in a blanket of red roses a couple of Derbies down the road.

Today, she was taking an important step toward that goal.

A starting gate was set up outside the practice oval at Three Willows. Though there was no longer any bite of winter, the air was still cool. Kelsey tugged nervously at her jacket, hoping she wasn't transmitting any of her tension to Honor.

A Thoroughbred was born to run, she reminded herself. This was just a lesson in format. No amount of champion blood could carry a horse over the finish line if it didn't learn how to go through a steel cage and come out running.

"Heard you think you've got a contender here." Gabe sauntered over and rubbed a hand over the yearling's nose. Honor laid her ears back and eyed Gabe, then, approving of scent and touch, perked them up again and sidled closer.

"I know I've got one." Kelsey put a proprietary hand on Honor's halter. "I haven't seen you around in a couple of days."

"Miss me?"

"Not particularly." Kelsey could be grateful she hadn't fallen into that humiliating habit of waiting by the phone. Yet. "We're all pretty busy these days."

"We've got Double back in full training."

She dropped all pretense and caught his hand. "Oh, that's wonderful! I'm so glad."

He pleased himself by taking a nip at her knuckles. "Remember you said that after he wins the Derby."

"My money's on Pride." And so was her heart. "Though I might set some aside for Double to place."

"We're sending him out to Keeneland for a race. Jamie wants him to have a solid test before the Bluegrass Stakes."

"Are you going?" she said casually.

"I'm going everywhere the colt goes, including the winner's circle at Churchill Downs." He stroked a hand down her hair, in much the same way he had caressed the horse. "Want to keep me company?"

She turned to check the cinches on Honor's saddle. "I'm planning on joining Naomi in the winner's circle."