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Chapter 18
Jason indulged himself as he walked through the Harley Davidson dealership. Nothing made him happier than being surrounded by chrome and leather. His bike back home was not an option right now. To have it shipped would be to give away their location. When it was safe he would have it sent to Italy. For Ireland he would buy another custom built bike.
After thirty minutes of him browsing an attendant came over. Jason asked to see their custom Fat Bobs. Of all the styles of Harley there were this was his personal favorite. It was a no frills powerful machine. Just what liked. He followed the clerk into another showroom.
Jason appreciated that the man didn't talk his ear off. He just let him walk around and get a feel for the workmanship. Three bikes caught his attention and he got up close and personal with each one. Looking at how the bike was built to make sure it was sturdy. His girl was going to be on the back and he needed to know the machine was safe.
In the end he found one that met his standards. He picked up a helmet for Elizabeth and drove the bike out into Dublin traffic. His next destination was only three blocks from the dealership but Jason didn't head there instead he took a tour of the city getting familiar with his bike. On clear days, which depending on the time of year could be far and few between, they would go on long rides. Jason did need to find something to do, but the main priority was that it left him time to be with Elle.
Satisfied with his purchase he hit the computer store and got them each one. Then he headed back to Kildare. He wanted to see what the crew working on his house was up to.
Elizabeth was very much enjoying the Japanese Gardens. She took a lot of pictures but also took the time to enjoy the area as well. Siobhan explained it was still early in tourist season so it wouldn't be overly crowded. Elizabeth imagined that even on a busy day the sense of tranquility she was feeling would be present.
They spent a good amount of time at the rock waterfall. The sound of running water was one that Elizabeth very much enjoyed. She did take some pictures but they mainly just sat in silence and listened. She wanted to bring Jason back to this very spot. To just sit and hold his hand. He would love it.
They also took a tour of the Horse Museum. Ireland had a long and storied history where the large animals were concerned. Elizabeth was delighted to see the O'Brien family mentioned in one of the exhibits. Not only did Johnny's family raise quality work horses, several national champions had been sired on the ranch. How proud must her friend be?
They stopped and saw some of the resident mares grazing in the field. Elizabeth didn't take any photos wanting to save that for Johnny's horses. "Can we head back to the house?" His trainer should be arriving soon.
"Sure thing." Siobhan said and they left talking about other things to do in the area.
As they approached the house they heard loud music coming from inside. Stepping into the foyer Siobhan just grinned. She knew what that meant. Elizabeth stepped forward a bit uncertain. In the living room a stunning blonde woman sat on the couch with a sketch pad in her hand.
"Chloe!" Siobhan yelled over the bass.
"Hey." The woman jumped up and turned off the music. "What brings you out this way?" She liked Vonnie and had been sad to see her go.
"I'm with my new charge." Siobhan would be happy to make the introductions if it was necessary.
"You must be Elle." Chloe smiled wide. "I called Sean earlier and he told me your name."
"Hi." Elizabeth was trying not to be star struck.
"Come in and sit down." Chloe made room on the couch. "Tell me what you've done with yourselves today."
Despite drooling over her fashions and reading her interviews in magazines Elizabeth hadn't ever heard Chloe speak. She had a very posh British accent that was wonderful. "Siobhan showed me some of Kildare."
"Did you go to the Stud & Gardens? I love it there. I designed my entire spring line last year while sitting by the waterfall." Chloe told her guest.
"That was one of my favorite spots as well." Elizabeth said grinning. She wasn't the least bit nervous. It figured that Johnny's girlfriend would be down to earth and friendly.
"I see you did some shopping as well." Chloe spied the bags at the bottom of the stairs. "I can spend hours at the Village. I thought Sean was going to cry once." She said laughing.
"I've seen that look on his face too. He went shopping with Emily and me on a couple of occasions." Elizabeth told the older woman.
"My cousin Emily, right?" Chloe cleared up.
"Yes." Elizabeth tried to not let the personal drama they were embroiled in color Chloe's impression of Emily. That would not be fair.
"You are here with Jason?" Sean had explained a bit of what was happening. That his friends were over from the states and were here to escape some drama. Elle had dimmed a bit with the mention of Emily, so Chloe changed the subject.
"Yes." Elizabeth brightened at the mention of her boyfriend. "I have no idea where he is at the moment. But since we are staying here he'll be back for dinner. You don't mind us staying do you?"
"Are you kidding, it will be lovely to have another woman about." Chloe was liking her new American friend. "What are your plans for the afternoon?"
"I was going to photograph the horses and the trainer." Elizabeth blushed a bit. "I'm exploring the medium."
"Sean said you are very talented. I'd love to see some of your photos." Chloe appreciated talent in all forms.
"Well I just started taking pictures so I don't even know if they are what you're used to seeing." Chloe worked with big name photographers. Honestly taking pictures of models didn't interest Elizabeth but fashion photographers needed to have skill. The designer was used to people who knew how to coax the best image from their equipment.
"I'd still like to see them." Chloe smiled. She believed in encouraging up and coming talent. If the photos were any good, and something told her they were, she'd be happy to drop a word to some of her friends who owned galleries. "Is that your sketch pad?" She pointed across the room. Coming into the room she had spied the book and since it wasn't hers she was curious.
"It is. I've only done a few sketches since we arrived. I filled up the another one so Jason got me that one." Elizabeth explained.
"I've been eyeing it up since I arrived. I didn't peek. I hate it when folks look at my work without permission, but now that you're here I'd like to see." Chloe could be a bit pushy at times, and with her being a well-known person was used to getting her way. She knew the book had been used because it no longer laid flat.
"Sure." Elizabeth was more confident in her sketches. Getting up she retrieved the pad and brought it over. There were only five pieces of art inside but she'd love to have Chloe's opinion.
"Let's see." Chloe flipped open the lid. "It the Duncan fabric shop." She exclaimed delighted. "Elle, this is amazing."
"Look, she's even got the cat in the window." Siobhan was looking over Chloe's shoulder.
"I swear that beast hasn't moved in years." The designer said laughing. "When I first moved to Dublin for school, I used to buy my swatches and such from Duncan's. You've captured it beautifully." For someone so young Elle was very talented.
"We were sitting in a pub across the street and the shop just called to me." Elizabeth had been delighted by the entire section of Main Street that she could see.
Chloe flipped the page. "Has Sean seen this one?" It's was a sketch of her boyfriend's Tesla. The bright orange leapt from the page making the car seem like it would drive off the paper.
"No, I did it the first night we arrived." Elizabeth didn't think he would be interested.
The next page had one of the horses on the paddock. "I damned near hear him sighing. How do you achieve such animation with pencils?"
"Shading." Elizabeth explained. "I've been experimenting with layering the pencil over charcoal."
"That's bloody brilliant." Chloe would frame any one of these. Picture number four was a rendering of the barn, but it was number five that made Chloe hum low. "Who is this?"
"He is a sexy beast." Siobhan laughed when Elizabeth blushed a bit. The guard had thought so this morning.
"I think that's a great description." Chloe said nodding.
Elizabeth laughed as well. "That's Jason." He had been sleeping.
"True to life?" Chloe asked the guard.
"Yeah. Jason is not at all bad to look at, neither is Johnny. The other one annoyed me so I don't remember him so fondly." Siobhan would let that go eventually.
"Francis is over protective, he didn't mean any harm." Elizabeth defended her friend. She wanted everyone to get along.
"Vonnie will get over it." Chloe assured Elle. "I would love to get Jason in some of my clothes and in front of the camera."
That made Elizabeth laugh really hard. "I don't think so. Jason very much likes his blue jeans and he's not going to put up with someone slathering him with make up to take his picture." But she would pay good money to see that.
"Sounds like Sean. When we first met I tried to get him to model for me. The man is gorgeous." Chloe said fanning herself. She missed simple girl talk.
"That he is, and he knows it too." Elizabeth said giving Chloe a knowing look that her new friend returned. "They all know it."
"I am aware of that fact. Sean seemed shocked when I didn't fall at his feet." Chloe smiled to remember it. "I made him work at bit."
"I'm sure that you are worth it." Elizabeth grinned. Yes, Chloe was just what Johnny needed.
"I like you Elle McCarthy. Let's put on our wellies and go see the horses." Chloe said rising. "After we will come back for tea and see what's for supper."
"If you ladies are staying on the grounds I'll make myself scarce." Siobhan wasn't needed.
"You are welcome to come along." Elizabeth didn't want the guard to feel left out. "I'm not going to be leaving the property, but there's no need for you to rush off."
"I'm not a big fan of horses." Siobhan admitted. They scared her to death. "That's why I hung back a bit at the Stud."
"Oh. I can take pictures another time." Elizabeth wanted to be a good host.
"Its fine, I've got some things I need to take care of." Siobhan wanted to see if she could learn anything about Jason's guys since they would be working together. If they had worked for more than a few years, and she guessed they had, they would have reputations. She was guessing that they were good, Morgan wouldn't put anything less on his girlfriend. His reputation preceded him. In fact she had been surprised that he was so young.
"So I'll see you tomorrow? I promise we can make it into Dublin this time." Elizabeth said poking fun at herself.
"Unless something else catches your eye." Siobhan said laughing.
"Maybe you should blind fold me." Elizabeth figured the odds of her getting distracted were pretty high.
"Dublin's not going anywhere, we'll get there." The guard chuckled.
"I will sweeten the pot." Chloe said as they shrugged into their jackets. "Come to Dublin and I'll show you my workroom then we'll go to lunch."
"Deal." Elizabeth wasn't going to pass that opportunity up.
"I'm not going in for a few days." Chloe explained. She wanted to relax some. "So that will give you time to explore the area."
"Like I said earlier. I take you where you want to go. Just let me know." Siobhan waved and walked to her car as the other two ladies headed over to one of the rigs.
Chloe visited with horses while Elizabeth snapped her photographs. Being an artist herself Chloe enjoyed watching her new friend immerse herself in her craft. She had entered that zone where it was just her and the subject of her attention.
The trainer didn't pay much attention to his audience but was focused on putting the horse through its paces.
When she was finished Elizabeth wandered off to find Chloe. She found the older woman in the second barn to visiting with the colts and fillies.
"Is there anything cuter than a baby horse?" Chloe asked as Elizabeth approached.
"Puppies are pretty darn cute." Elizabeth said coming closer. "But yeah baby horses are irresistible." They were standing in front of one of the yearling. Looking up she read the name and saw that Chloe was petting Grace, and the eight month old was lapping up the attention.
"You would think that from the way the horses reacted that they never got any attention." Harry Silver, the head groom said as he walked in. "It time for their treats want to hand them out."
"Sure." Elizabeth would love nothing more.
"Here you go. One each ladies." The older man said grinning. He figured they ladies would like spoiling the horses. He knew Chloe often snuck them sugar cubes.
Elizabeth took the bucket filled with apples and they moved from stall to stall. Harry told her each horses name, age, and a little about their heritage. He also told her what they were earmarked for. While most had already begun training for their future jobs some like Grace were still enjoying being young.
"Thanks Harry." Chloe said when they reached the last horse.
"Yes, thank you." Elizabeth echoed. "How is Lass doing?"
"Good, the vet was out this morning. I'm thinking before the end of the week she'll birth us a new colt or filly." He told the ladies as he walked them to the rig.
"Johnny said I can come watch." Elizabeth didn't want to be in the way.
"I'll call up to house." Harry promised. "Watching a new life come into the world is one of the most amazing things you'll ever see."
"I can vouch for that. I've seen it countless times and it still makes me cry." Chloe told Elizabeth. "Let's get back to the house. I'm guessing our guys are waiting."
"Sounds good." Elizabeth said hopping into the passenger seat. She was looking forward to hearing how Jason spent his day.
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