The Legend by Shey Stahl Read Free Book Online

you.”
    “Why does
everyone say my parents were dumb? They seem normal to me.”
    “Normal,”
he snorted throwing his head back with deep laughter, “there is nothing normal
about those two. I’m utterly amazed they made it to see twenty-one or managed
to raise three kids without too much disaster. Aside from the time you three
set the race shop on fire.”
    “When did
they fall in love?” I ignored the fire comment, wanting to forget my little
brother’s moronic idea that day and focused on the love story between my
parents. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen and I’ve seen it all around me.
My grandparents have a good marriage and my aunts and uncles always seemed
happy. That’s not to say I didn’t see tension at times. This lifestyle created
tension and a lot of drama.
    My
parents, they were different. Something about them stood out. It was as if
their love formed at first sight and grew with time into a full-fledged
fire.  A fire that burned brighter than the day they promised a vow.
    I wanted
that eventually.
    More and
more I was becoming curious about marriage. I just turned eighteen last month
and to me, it seemed like the right thing to do. More than anything, I wanted
to make Lily West my wife. Some thought I was too young when your average age
that most got married nowadays was thirty. I was never a ‘most my age’ type of
kid.
    “I figured
you would have heard this before,” he said.
    I gave a
dismissive shrug, “I’ve heard some, I guess. I know they met really young and
got pregnant with me before they were married.”
    “Well ... it’s a love story ... that’s for sure.”
    I smiled
and he continued.
    “They met
when they were eleven, nearly twelve. Your dad was racing sprint cars at Grays
Harbor, the same place I met your grandma in 1977. You know, I think Jameson
even won that night, first time in a sprint car and he won,” Grandpa, let out a
wistful snort, “anyhow, your mom and he met in the pits that night after the
race. They seemed to mix instantly and become best friends. Believe me, there
wasn’t a day that went by that those two weren’t either together or calling
each other.
    “Jameson
was not the easiest kid to be around. Racing was literally all he cared ‘bout.
He was convinced by the time he was in the second grade that he was above the
educational system and actually wrote the school board a letter telling them he
would no longer be attending class. In the end, the little shit returned to
school but it was a nuisance to him and, aside from Sway, friends were not in
his plan. Even when they were young, he depended on her and I honestly don’t
know if he could’ve made it without her. His temper nearly ended his career a few
times.”
    I knew
that. My dad had one wicked temper. If it blew, you didn’t want to be anywhere
close him or the objects he was throwing. I’d never seen anything like it but I
understood it as it was a known trait that defined him and eventually became a
trademark.
    “Your
grandpa Charlie and me knew that eventually they’d end up together but it took
Jameson a long time to realize that he could have more than just racing. He
also never understood she felt the same way. He thought for sure she was just a
friend to him.”
    “What made
him see she wasn’t?”
    “Well,
after high school, Jameson left to race the USAC and more importantly, a Triple
Crown title. It’s all he talked about for years but I made him graduate first.
After they left, the first year Sway was with him. Then she left for college.
His first season, without her by his side, was tough. Like I said, he depended
on her, soon that dependability turned on him. When Sway finally graduated, she
came out to see his first Charlotte race ... ”
Grandpa smirked, his voiced faded slightly, “I think you can guess how things
went, after all, you were born out of wedlock,” I let out a small chuckle as he
continued, “but what really changed during that first year was him