Carolyn McSparren - Mr. Miracle

“Somehow everyone’s problems turn into yours.” “Somehow everyone’s problems turn into yours.” Jamey’s voice was gentle, but Victoria narrowed her eyes at him anyway. “Why do I get the feeling you think that’s my fault?” He smiled at her blandly. “Would I imply such a thing? Still, you do spend a great deal of time smoothing out other people’s difficulties. Making sure there’s no time to deal with your own.” “I beg your pardon. I thought dealing with my problem was what we’ve been doing every evening the minute we’re alone.” “Oh, you’re making great strides. But that’s riding. Not life. Life is something entirely different.” “And generally painful, from my experience.” “But there’s joy, as well. And happiness, and even...love if you’re lucky.” “Love? That lucky I’m definitely not.” She thrust her hands into her pockets and strode away from him. “Don’t be too sure,” he whispered to her retreating back. Letter to Reader Dear Reader, How many times have you heard that old saying, “People don’t change”? Same old job. Same old hang-ups. Our family and friends all laugh and roll their eyes when we say we want to change, try new things, experience personal growth. Change is scary, yet we want to believe that all the possibilities still exist for us—greater love, deeper passion, bigger success, a more exciting career, a finer dream—if only we’re willing to fight for them. In Mr. Miracle, Victoria Jamerson and Jamey McLachlan long to grow and change. Both have been hurt in the past and must face their personal demons before they can acknowledge and accept the feelings that are developing between them. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I did writing it. Carolyn McSparren Title Page Mr. Miracle Carolyn McSparren www.millsandboon.co.uk Dedication For Bobby Billingley, who got me back into the saddle after years on the ground, and who continues to teach me about stallions. Any mistakes are mine, not his. In memory of Stone Cool Fox, a great Thoroughbred and a great sire. CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY EPILOGUE Copyright

“Somehow everyone’s problems turn into yours.”

Jamey’s voice was gentle, but Victoria narrowed her eyes at him anyway. “Why do I get the feeling you think that’s my fault?”

He smiled at her blandly. “Would I imply such a thing? Still, you do spend a great deal of time smoothing out other people’s difficulties. Making sure there’s no time to deal with your own.”

“I beg your pardon. I thought dealing with my problem was what we’ve been doing every evening the minute we’re alone.”

“Oh, you’re making great strides. But that’s riding. Not life. Life is something entirely different.”

“And generally painful, from my experience.”

“But there’s joy, as well. And happiness, and even...love if you’re lucky.”

“Love? That lucky I’m definitely not.” She thrust her hands into her pockets and strode away from him.

“Don’t be too sure,” he whispered to her retreating back.

Dear Reader,

How many times have you heard that old saying, “People don’t change”? Same old job. Same old hang-ups. Our family and friends all laugh and roll their eyes when we say we want to change, try new things, experience personal growth.

Change is scary, yet we want to believe that all the possibilities still exist for us—greater love, deeper passion, bigger success, a more exciting career, a finer dream—if only we’re willing to fight for them.

In Mr. Miracle, Victoria Jamerson and Jamey McLachlan long to grow and change. Both have been hurt in the past and must face their personal demons before they can acknowledge and accept the feelings that are developing between them.

I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I did writing it.

Carolyn McSparren

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For Bobby Billingley, who got me back into the saddle after

years on the ground, and who continues to teach me about

stallions. Any mistakes are mine, not his.

In memory of Stone Cool Fox, a great Thoroughbred

and a great sire.

CHAPTER ONE

JAMEY MCLACHLAN was fairly certain they didn’t hang horse thieves in Tennessee any more.

But stealing a stallion would certainly be considered grand theft. So if he did become a thief, he’d better be a successful one if he didn’t fancy spending time in an American prison.

As he slowed his BMW motorcycle to read the sign at the entrance to the long gravel driveway, Jamey considered his options. Obviously the best way to get the horse back would be to buy it honestly, but he probably wouldn’t be able to raise enough capital. And, of course, the new owner might refuse to sell at any price. Jamey had learned that Michael Whitten had bought the horse in Belgium as a gift for his new bride. He’d probably paid a fair sum for the animal and would have had no way of knowing he was buying stolen goods.

Just in case Jamey had to resort to horse stealing, he already had a plan in place to smuggle the horse across the border into Mexico. From there he could ship Roman—once he was certain the horse was Roman—home to Scotland where he belonged. To McLachlan Yard outside Oban—the place he’d been stolen from as a yearling. Jamey had been searching for the horse the past two years, only to miss the sale in Belgium by a single day.

The stallion had officially turned four on New Year’s Day, just one month ago now. He was ready to fulfill the destiny that Jamey’s stepfather, Jock McLachlan, had envisioned for him: to be the foundation stallion for a great line of Scottish sport horses. Jamey only wished that Jock were still alive to see the culmination of his dream.

Jamey had made a vow to Jock’s memory that, by the year 2000, the first of Roman’s foals would be galloping through the paddocks at McLachlan Yard. He would keep that vow, even if he had to resort to deceit and theft to do it.

He’d find some way to make amends to the present owners once the stallion was safely back on his farm in Oban. Maybe he’d offer the Whittens that first foal. If the stallion was as fine as he hoped, the first foal would be worth a bundle. He’d been told Whitten had a young daughter. By the time the foal was big enough to ride, the girl should be looking for a large horse to see her through her teen years of showing.

Jamey studied the sign carefully. ValleyCrest Stables and Training Facility. Hunter/Jumper Horses. Board. Lessons. Victoria Jamerson, Trainer.

He’d been annoyed to discover that the horse had been shipped to this small out-of-the-way stable outside Memphis just before he’d arrived in Kentucky, where the horse had been in quarantine. Now he felt it might actually be a stroke of good luck in the long run. Probably little or no security here.

He could take his time, assess the stallion, perhaps work him a bit. He absolutely had to see another rider on the horse. No other way to judge his movements properly.

Whitten’s new wife, Liz, was purported to be an excellent rider, more than capable of handling a feisty young stallion. She was probably already exercising him every day. Jamey might be able to see enough of him to make an educated decision in a few days.

All he had to do was worm himself into the good graces of her aunt, Victoria Jamerson, who owned ValleyCrest. She’d had an international reputation as a rider at one time, but she’d suddenly dropped out of competition years ago.