Chapter 27 - Callie
I will forever marvel at the speed with which life can change. Only a few months earlier, I was a young mother with no one to care for her child while she worked or went to school, a father who was on the precipice of death, no house to come home to, and nothing in her foreseeable future that was going to change all that. But it did change, dramatically. It was all due to Michael Shannon.
The house - well, I couldn't even begin to describe how unbelievable it was. Our entire original house could've fit in one room of this mansion. Michael's agent has purchased it in his own name pending the midnight birthday, at which point it reverted to Michael. It had come furnished and staffed, but I was given free rein to change any aspect I didn't like. There were eight bedrooms, each with a bath, and a separate playroom for Josiah with a small adjoining room for his nanny. Downstairs were two kitchens; one for baking and canning and the second for daily meal preparation. There was a formal dining room that could seat twenty-four and a smaller family dining room with windows that overlooked the gardens. Michael had an office and a separate den for entertaining or meeting with his business associates. I also had an office, although mine was furnished in feminine colors and fabrics. The center part of the house had a huge living area banked by walk-in fireplaces and window doors that opened out onto a wrap-around deck that covered the back of the house and overlooked the swimming pool, barns and grounds. Downstairs were quarters for the staff who lived at the house, an in-home theatre that seated twenty-four, billiard tables, a wet bar, an indoor pool with spa furnishings, and an exit that led beneath the ground to the barns and to the garages. There was no need to even get wet if it stormed. It was so large that it made me feel uncomfortable, as though I were living in a hotel. I had to think of my room and the baby's as being my space and not go any further than that.
Michael had, with my permission, gotten rid of most everything we'd brought. I was given a stocked bank account, credit cards and house accounts, and a new baby blue Thunderbird convertible. Dad got a new Silverado pickup. My closets and dressers were filled with clothes for any occasion, along with shoes, jewelry and luggage. It seemed that Michael was keeping a small private jet that accommodated twelve at Standiford Field, so the world was literally ours.
There was so much, and I was so totally fortunate, that I had trouble grasping it. Michael laughed when I protested, telling me that he had more money than I could possibly hope to spend in a lifetime.
Then came the real treasures. As I planned for our wedding, the Keeneland sales approached. Michael had already acquired boxed seats for us, and I was given free rein to buy five horses. Money aside, training them was going to be a huge investment for me, and I wanted Dad's eagle eye along. He was only too happy to accompany me, and the day after the sales, five semi-trucks pulled up to the barn, which Michael had recently remodeled, and out came five of the most beautiful, rambunctious and pure-blooded yearlings our money could buy. Dad was so excited that he asked if his quarters might be moved into the barn so he could be near them.
For a horse breeder, yearlings were like crops yet to be planted. Each had to be carefully groomed for its strengths and weaknesses, just like an athlete. They wouldn't be eligible for the Derby until they were three-year-olds, so plenty of time remained for Dad to groom and perfect each one in turn.
My attention, however, was on a stallion named Jewel who had come with the farm. He was very tall, wild, and his mane covered my face as I let him gallop over the pasture with me atop. He had a brave heart and seemed to take to me immediately - something the farmhands said was unbelievable. They said the previous owner had been ready to geld him to calm him down, but I saw no need for that. I wanted him just as natural as God had made him.
Jewel and I began daily runs, and once the track was complete, we began exercising there. Dad sat on the sideline, his stopwatch in his hand. What with Dad's shouted instructions and careful hoof and leg maintenance, we improved consistently. Michael had a pool put in for the horses in the new barn, and it was here that Jewel was allowed to build his leg strength. He was kept at one end of the barn so the others were encouraged to respect him - and he respected himself and thought of himself as a leader.
I was his jockey. Much to my surprise, Michael had re-named the farm Callie Hill, and our colors were pink and white. While this was hardly masculine, Michael said it might be a psychological advantage, which made me laugh.
"Have you chosen a date for the wedding yet?" he asked me one morning at breakfast.
"I was thinking the Saturday before Easter. It will still be nice and cool for an outdoor ceremony, and I'd like to have it here at the farm."
"Perfect," he agreed. I knew he was becoming anxious because I'd insisted that we not sleep together until we were man and wife. It might have been a little late for such maidenly behavior, but somehow it helped me to salvage my conscience.
"I've hired a wedding planner to take care of all the details. Just tell her how many groomsmen you'd like and she'll round up enough ladies to fill their arms."
Michael laughed at that. "I'll only have a couple, so I hope you don't have too many ladies in waiting."
I grinned and kissed him. "Can we postpone any honeymoon until after the Derby?"
"If you like. Where do you want to go?"
"I was thinking Ireland, Michael. Your roots are there, and I'd like to see the green hills and look over their horses."
"Sounds wonderful. As long as you're with me, I'll be happy. Sure you don't want to break your little rule early?" he asked, hopefully, but I shook my head and waggled a finger at him.