"Oh, that's so nice, Mo. We'd love to, but I had promised a friend of ours I'd bring Kenna back to Keeneston for dinner tonight,” June quickly inserted.
Kenna shot a questioning look to June who politely ignored her.
"I would never dream of interfering with your plans. However, I'm so pleased to hear you mention Keeneston as that is where I live. Maybe I can take you to lunch sometime this week."
"Thank you. That would be a lovely study break for me. How about the day after tomorrow?" Kenna noticed that when he smiled, he smiled with both his mouth and his eyes.
"Perfect. I will send a car for you. Where are you staying?"
"At Miss Lily's Bed and Breakfast on Maple Street. It was such a pleasure to meet you." Kenna and June said their good-byes and watched Mo walk off with a confidence she figured was bred into royalty.
"Well, that doesn't happen every day." June was still watching Mo walk toward the sales arena.
Kenna just laughed. "True. And I didn't think royalty would be so nice." Kenna smiled again.
In all her life there had only been real sparks with Will. Life was playing one hell of a joke on her by placing a nice, handsome, wealthy man in front of her and then giving off the friend vibe. "Let's go find your husband," Kenna said to avoid thinking about it any longer.
June and Kenna finished walking past the paddock and headed toward one of the barns. Kenna heard a sharp whistle, the kind she made when hailing a cab. Reflexively she looked around for the source and saw William Ashton walking toward her with a beautiful woman on his arm.
"Oh, it's William and Betsy!" June squealed as she raised her arms in a wave to make sure they were heading her way.
Kenna was instantly impressed with Betsy upon introduction. She was about Kenna's height. Her once-dark blonde hair was now starting to lighten with age. She had it pushed back with a headband, and it ended at her shoulders with a neat flip. She was dressed in a gorgeous, pale blue pantsuit accented by diamond earrings that were outshone by her sincere smile.
Betsy placed her hand on top of Kenna's. "I've heard so much about you over the years, my dear. I feel as I'm seeing a long-lost friend again. Granny would talk about you constantly." She patted Kenna's hand and then let go. "You simply must join us for dinner soon. Mustn't she, William?"
"Of course, my dear. Any time our new assistant D.A. has to spare, we'd love to have you." William winked at her.
"Everyone is tuned into the grapevine then. I probably don't even need to have cards made up! Of course, I won't jinx myself by doing that before I take the bar exam in two weeks. June is being nice enough to give me my last day of freedom before I lose myself in the study guides and textbooks."
Betsy gently took her hand again and the warmth made Kenna want to hug her. When she met William for the first time, it struck her how much of a father figure he instantly took on. Now, she found it was the same with Betsy.
Betsy opened her mouth to speak when Kenna noticed her eyes dart to over her shoulder, and she felt Betsy’s hand tighten on her own. "Damn! Double damn!" Betsy cursed. Everyone turned to see what elicited such a response from Betsy when Kenna felt her right shoulder being knocked forward by a large Coach bag.
"So, you're the one trying to replace me. Moving on to the parents already? Boy, do you move fast." Kenna turned and encountered the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen. She was everything Kenna wasn't. She was tall, and her platinum blonde hair fell in perfect waves down her back to her shoulder blades. Her make-up was perfect, and she had a body straight off the catwalk. Suddenly, self-conscious of her curvier figure, Kenna didn't know what to say. She just took in the perfect nails, the designer miniskirt with lace-up boots, and the light tank that left nothing to the imagination. "I can't believe you had the nerve to show up here and then move in on William and Betsy. He won't give you a dime, you squatty little tramp."
Kenna's mouth fell open, shocked by being attacked by someone she had never seen before.
"That's enough, Whitney. Will's expecting you down at the barn," William roared.
So, that was Whitney Amber Bruce Ashton. Kenna knew there was no way she'd ever compare to her physically. But June was right. She was a witch. Whitney's nose went up in the air as she floated past Kenna and strutted to the Ashton barn. Kenna closed her mouth and watched Whitney as she disappeared into the barn. Guilt for flirting with Will hit her, causing her cheeks to turn bright red.
"Don't worry, dear. You did nothing wrong. She's just, well, she's just not a nice person." Kenna knew Betsy had mistaken her red cheeks for embarrassment, but she still felt bad. "I know there's that cliché about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law not getting along, but in this case it was true. We clashed on everything from turkey or ham for Christmas to her continual whining about my son. She was so mad when he stopped playing football. She enjoyed the photos of her in the wife box and the fame she got through Will. Her daddy is in D.C., too, Senator Bruce. She got to hobnob with sports figures, politicians, and celebrities on a daily basis. Then Will wanted to retire and move to the middle of nowhere. At least that is what Whitney considers Kentucky. But that doesn't stop her from coming here a couple of times a year to annoy us," Betsy sighed and looked to the barn. "Oh, here comes Will. I thought for sure she'd have him by the ear by now."