Free Kentucky Rain by Jan Scarbrough

have to go through all this.”
    “Nobody ever said life was fair.”
    How often had she heard her father say that? Why couldn’t she get it through her hard head?
    “I know. It’s just that I want so much for my daughter.”
    “I did, too, honey,” he said in agreement. “Life didn’t deal me no favors when your mother left us.”
    “I know, Dad.” She shouldn’t have brought this up. She shouldn’t have made him remember his own disappointments and heartaches.
    “But all you can do is your best. Children are forgiving, especially if they know they are loved. Believe me, Reagan is well-loved, and she knows it.”
    “Oh, Dad.” Kate crumpled into his arms as she had done so many times growing up. He hugged her tight and kissed the top of her head, ruffling her hair.
    “It’s okay, Katy,” he whispered. “It will all be okay. Trust me.”
    * * * *
    Reagan came home that afternoon excited because she’d trotted and posted in the aisle between the stalls, and tomorrow she would ride in the arena.
    “Georgia says I’m good for a beginner,” Reagan told her mother as she put the silverware on the table for supper.
    “That’s terrific!” Kate had pulled herself together from her earlier meltdown. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
    “There’s a barbeque picnic Saturday night after camp is over, but I guess I can’t go.”
    Kate placed a tuna casserole on a hot plate in the middle of the table. “Why not?”
    “I have to go to Daddy’s house.”
    Her daughter’s words sounded strange. Daddy’s house used to be their house. She turned her back on Reagan and ground her teeth. Hurt cut deep.
    Cut it out! Don’t cave again!
    “Hey, wait a minute.” Kate whirled around, suddenly remembering. “You’re not going to Louisville this weekend.”
    “Oh, that’s right. Daddy’s getting married.”
    The finality of the whole damn divorce hit Kate at that moment. Coming from Reagan’s lips, her daughter’s words held a stark truth that Kate couldn’t ignore.
    She straightened her shoulders and made the tone of her voice light. “We can go to the picnic.”
    “Hey, yeah! I can show you Buster, the horse I ride.”
    “Great.” Kate enjoyed the return of happiness to Rea’s face. “I’d love to meet Buster.”
    They sat down to eat just as the doorbell chimed. “I’ll get it!” Reagan sprang from her chair and ran into the living room. She came back with another girl in tow, the long-legged teenager Kate had seen at horse camp.
    “This is my friend, Georgia,” Reagan announced. She wore a look of pride—the kind younger girls often wear when older girls pay attention to them.
    This was Dr. Sullivan’s adopted daughter. “Hello, Georgia.”
    “Hi, Mrs. Lawrence, I brought Reagan some of my old jodhpurs.” Georgia held up a large canvas bag as proof.
    Supper was immediately forgotten while Reagan tried on the riding pants. Georgia had even brought several pair of short, black riding boots—well-worn, but if they saved money, what did Kate care?
    “What are these elastic straps?” Kate asked, pulling out a handful from the bottom of the bag.
    “They’re keepers, Mom,” Reagan said with disgust as if Kate should know.
    “Okay,” Kate said slowly, perplexed.
    Georgia filled in the puzzle pieces. “Keepers are buttoned to your jodhpurs and go under your boots. They ‘keep’ your pants down when you ride.”
    The light went on, and Kate nodded. “Oh, ‘keepers’. Of course!”
    Fifteen minutes later, they settled on a pair of boots that fit Reagan and two pair of jodhpurs—one navy polyester that Georgia said Reagan could wear at competitions, and the other made from blue jean material which would be perfect for practice.
    Dressed in the jodhpurs and boots, her daughter looked like a real equestrian. Warmth flooding her heart, Kate smiled at her little girl. “Well, I think you look terrific,” she said then turned to Georgia. “Thank you for letting us borrow the