Part One
Tadhg woke up early as a rule, before the horses he always went for a run. He’d run on beaches, in mountains and when he was at the height of his career he’d spent his mornings Running on horse tracks with the jockeys as they tried to stay in shape. He didn’t really have a workout routine and running for him was a kind of meditation. This morning his giant Irish Wolfhound galloped at his side as he ran the hills behind Ivy’s farm.
He’d found an overgrown game trail to run today and was excited to be in a new place with new sights. Spring was his favorite season, still mellow in temperatures with the budding new growth on the trees and he knew that all over Kentucky leggy foals were arriving. He’d miss that part, the yearly parade of foals. He was glad winter was over, as he hated to run indoors.
Romeo, his dog, was all the protection he needed from wildlife. He was huge with his shoulders coming to Tadhg’s hip. The entire family bred Wolfhounds and his mother carted them around to shows and was known as a breeder.
Romeo was his newest in a long line of the breed. He was just over a year old and had been given him by his sister Lily, clandestinely from Evelyn’s bitch’s last litter. His older sister would never have given him the pup, maybe someday she’d trust him again.
When he’d walked away, she was old enough that the onus of heir and the anger of their parents had been directed at her. In her own way, she’d rebelled too. Maybe one day she’d see that, but he doubted it. She was always Daddy’s Girl.
The trail he’d taken dumped out into a wide expanse of an unkempt yard and in the center of the clearing sat a beautiful craftsman home. Lord, he’d stumbled into someone’s living room!
He called Romeo to heel and skirted the edge of the yard. On closer inspection, you could see that the house was unoccupied. The paint was peeling in places and some of the windows were boarded.
Curiosity got the best of him because he loved a Craftsman house. I figured this place couldn’t be more than a mile from the barn at Ivy’s place. Odd that it would be so close. He wandered up onto the wide front porch to peek in the front window. Inside all the furniture was covered with white linen and upon inspection, the boards covered pieces of old stained glass.
He cataloged what he could about the home, noting the outbuildings in various shades of repair and decay, and then went back to his run, this time down the gravel driveway. He noted at the end that the house was for sale and picked a brochure out of the container folded it to tuck into the pocket he had his cell in. He’d always been interested in old homes and Craftsman architecture specifically. This house could be a real find if the price was right.
Reading people and situations was one of his greatest strengths. He was an excellent judge of character, you had to be in an industry with a seedy underbelly. He really hoped that the budding relationship with Ivy went where he wanted it to. The previous night had been nothing short of magical, even had the afternoon started with drama and upheaval.
“What do you think Romeo?” he asked the dog as he picked his pace back up, turning back in the direction he’d come and staying on the road made his way back.
Before he’d left for his run he’d called his barn manager to be sure he altered the schedule to accommodate his not being home. Nowadays, instead of watching the horses breeze and then running, he ran and then spent the morning schooling and training. He only had 6 horses in his string now; Trip, Falene, Conner, Berry, Howie, and Turk. Of them, Falene and Connor were for sale. He’d decided to keep Berry, she showed promise in the Jumping arena. Not his typical type but she was decent at Dressage and brave enough on the cross country. She lacked stamina but that could be worked into a horse to a certain extent.
His mind went back to the flashy filly. She was sitting in quarantine right now, and he’d be able to pick her up next week. She was young but had all the earmarks of his ideal mount. Flashy with big gaits, kind eye, and willing nature. Rafiq had said she could jump, and he was waiting to find out for himself. With any luck, she’d have wings and be able to get out of her own way by the time he wanted to campaign her through the international levels. Provided she had that much talent, but he had a practiced eye and he thought she would.
Part Two
He’d made the call to the relator at 9 am after he’d gotten out of the shower. Ivy was long gone to work her horses and as much as he liked he couldn’t stay for the entire day. It was a long drive home. The relator, Sandy, had made time for him to look at the house at 10, and he’d said he would meet her there.
The brochure had said the property was called Cold Water, for it had on it a cavern that led to a natural spring. Once upon a time, she’d said, the property and Ivy’s place had been a local resort. He’d have to try to find the ruins one day.
After a long goodbye with Ivy, he got in the Audi and took off to his meeting. Sandy was waiting for him next to her Suburban.
“Good morning, thanks for showing the house to me on such short notice,” He said as he offered his hand.
“No problem, I just happened to have the morning open. Shall we?” She gestured with her hand. “The door is open. I’ll let you wander through first and then we can talk.”
He appreciated being able to take the house in on his own. First impressions were important. The house was spectacular and he could picture it with the furniture uncovered.
“How long since someone has lived here?” he finally asked Sandy, after he spend some time in the side yard that he discovered had a standing pool and pond.
“About a three years. The couple that lived here before passed away and the property was in probate before that. Kids argued over who got it until they finally decided to just sell. Family drama, you understand” She said, leaving it at that. “I have to disclose both of them passed in the house, first her and then the husband shortly after that.”
“Oh, maybe it’s haunted,” He said in jest but something in her face made him wonder.
“Maybe,” she said weakly, and that’s when he noticed she hadn’t actually gone into the house. They were talking on the porch.
“I like it. Let’s get an inspector in and start some paperwork.” He said and Sandy beamed.
“You can follow me to the office if you’ve got time today.” She offered “I’m wide open until this afternoon.”
“Sounds great, Lead on.” He said as he descended the steps.