on the football team, and following graduation was a third-round draft pick in the NFL as a wide receiver. He attended law school during the off season, married his college sweetheart and once he passed the bar went to work for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Franklin was a part of the team that won a landmark unprecedented 1987 anti-discrimination suit. The SPLC sued a hate group rather than individuals in the lynching death of a Mobile, Alabama, teenager.
Franklin motioned for Nicholas to step outside the tent. “Are you planning to sell off any of your stock this year? My daughter’s birthday is coming up, so I thought maybe I would surprise her with a horse. She was on the equestrian team in high school and college.”
Nicholas studied Franklin when he took off his wire-rimmed glasses and wiped his face with a white handkerchief. It’d been years since he’d played football, yet at the age of fifty-eight his tall lean body was as solid as it had been in his twenties. Those close to the judge still called him Big Red as evidenced by his red-bone complexion and curly red hair now liberally sprinkled with gray.
“I have a one-year-old colt you may be interested in.”
“Here comes Rachel now. Please don’t mention anything about the horse.”
Nicholas’s left eyebrow lifted a fraction with the woman’s approach. Everything from her short black coiffed hair to the distinctive red soles of the designer shoes silently shouted haute couture. Franklin made the introductions, Nicholas mouthing the appropriate responses. He didn’t know why, but he found himself comparing Rachel to Peyton, finding the former physically his type, but underneath her overall perfection he detected a disconcerting insipidness.
* * *
“I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Peyton turned when she heard Ryan’s voice. “What’s wrong?”
His impassive expression revealed nothing. “I have something to tell you. Come with me.”
She prayed it wasn’t bad news. Her heart beat a staccato rhythm against her ribs when he stopped far enough away from the crowd so he wouldn’t have to raise his voice.
Reaching into the pocket of his slacks, he took out his BlackBerry, handing it to Peyton. “One of my professors from Tuskegee just sent me a text. I can’t accept his offer, but you can.”
Peyton pulled her lower lip between her teeth. She quickly scanned the text. Taking emergency medical leave for a year. Can you cover classes: Large Animal Medicine I & II, Introduction to Veterinary Surgery, Large Animal Surgery?
“I...I don’t know,” she stammered.
“You have to let me know now, Peyton. If you’re looking to advance your career, then this is an opportunity you can’t afford to pass up.”
“I’ve never considered teaching full-time.” She’d always wanted to practice veterinary medicine.
“But, weren’t you a graduate teaching assistant?”
Her eyelids fluttered wildly. “Yes.” Not only had she been a GTA, but she’d also enjoyed it. Ryan was right. Teaching would add to her experience and advance her career. “When would he want me to start?”
“Monday.”
“You’re kidding?” Ryan shook his head. Peyton listened intently when he explained if she did accept the position she would be offered a generous salary, free faculty housing and fringe benefits to teach fall and spring courses.
“My mother is sending me my cat.” She’d said the first thing that popped in her head. What was wrong with her? Why didn’t she say if she accepted the teaching position she would miss everyone at the farm, especially all of the children? For a reason she couldn’t fathom she was more concerned about Oreo. And Nicholas did not figure into the equation. They weren’t involved with each other and it would be another year before he would be able to hire her. Timing couldn’t be better.
“I’ll take care of your cat.”
Peyton vacillated, torn by conflicting emotions. She’d come to think of Blackstone
Franklin motioned for Nicholas to step outside the tent. “Are you planning to sell off any of your stock this year? My daughter’s birthday is coming up, so I thought maybe I would surprise her with a horse. She was on the equestrian team in high school and college.”
Nicholas studied Franklin when he took off his wire-rimmed glasses and wiped his face with a white handkerchief. It’d been years since he’d played football, yet at the age of fifty-eight his tall lean body was as solid as it had been in his twenties. Those close to the judge still called him Big Red as evidenced by his red-bone complexion and curly red hair now liberally sprinkled with gray.
“I have a one-year-old colt you may be interested in.”
“Here comes Rachel now. Please don’t mention anything about the horse.”
Nicholas’s left eyebrow lifted a fraction with the woman’s approach. Everything from her short black coiffed hair to the distinctive red soles of the designer shoes silently shouted haute couture. Franklin made the introductions, Nicholas mouthing the appropriate responses. He didn’t know why, but he found himself comparing Rachel to Peyton, finding the former physically his type, but underneath her overall perfection he detected a disconcerting insipidness.
* * *
“I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Peyton turned when she heard Ryan’s voice. “What’s wrong?”
His impassive expression revealed nothing. “I have something to tell you. Come with me.”
She prayed it wasn’t bad news. Her heart beat a staccato rhythm against her ribs when he stopped far enough away from the crowd so he wouldn’t have to raise his voice.
Reaching into the pocket of his slacks, he took out his BlackBerry, handing it to Peyton. “One of my professors from Tuskegee just sent me a text. I can’t accept his offer, but you can.”
Peyton pulled her lower lip between her teeth. She quickly scanned the text. Taking emergency medical leave for a year. Can you cover classes: Large Animal Medicine I & II, Introduction to Veterinary Surgery, Large Animal Surgery?
“I...I don’t know,” she stammered.
“You have to let me know now, Peyton. If you’re looking to advance your career, then this is an opportunity you can’t afford to pass up.”
“I’ve never considered teaching full-time.” She’d always wanted to practice veterinary medicine.
“But, weren’t you a graduate teaching assistant?”
Her eyelids fluttered wildly. “Yes.” Not only had she been a GTA, but she’d also enjoyed it. Ryan was right. Teaching would add to her experience and advance her career. “When would he want me to start?”
“Monday.”
“You’re kidding?” Ryan shook his head. Peyton listened intently when he explained if she did accept the position she would be offered a generous salary, free faculty housing and fringe benefits to teach fall and spring courses.
“My mother is sending me my cat.” She’d said the first thing that popped in her head. What was wrong with her? Why didn’t she say if she accepted the teaching position she would miss everyone at the farm, especially all of the children? For a reason she couldn’t fathom she was more concerned about Oreo. And Nicholas did not figure into the equation. They weren’t involved with each other and it would be another year before he would be able to hire her. Timing couldn’t be better.
“I’ll take care of your cat.”
Peyton vacillated, torn by conflicting emotions. She’d come to think of Blackstone
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