“I know.” My voice choked with sobs. “I will. I promise.”
I registered the movie’s credits were rolling, and I reached over and turned off the television before setting the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. I cupped her cheek and kissed her, pouring all my affection into the press of our lips together. Rota’s pull on her became stronger with every passing moment. I’d be surprised if she could hold out for a month, let alone two weeks. Then, my partner would be gone and I’d have to figure this out on my own. I wasn’t a goddess of luck, and yet, my work was so inextricably bound with it I had to take action. The trainer winning when others far more qualified weren’t smacked of someone manipulating things they shouldn’t. And with Forti leaving, it was left up to me to find an answer.
Chapter 2
In the pre-dawn hours, the backside of a track became completely different world. Horses softly nickered to their grooms, who told them good morning, before petting them and refilling hay nets. I leaned against the stall as Kel replaced Paulie’s hay net. He’d be running today. “I know you want to watch Paulie race, but I have a job for you if you want.”
She stepped out of the stall; Paulie was known for biting those he cared for, and he liked Kel—a lot. “What is it?”
I paused, checking to make sure no one else remained within earshot. “Just see what you can see over at Dale’s aisle. Something isn’t right. I think it’s up to us to find out what it is.”
“Shouldn’t we report it to the stewards?”
I shook my head. “That’s been done and nothing’s happened. The horses’ drug tests come up clean. No outward signs of abuse. There’s nothing the officials can do.”
“So what can we do?” She frowned. “We’re not the cops.”
“No, we’re not.” We’re something better, though I wouldn’t tell her that. “And that may be to our advantage.”
“Alright. I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll keep an eye out.” She shrugged. “Anything else?”
“Keep up the good work,” I said louder, just in case anyone was around. A trainer talking to an exercise rider was nothing new. “Thanks.”
I checked the six horses we’d brought to this meet, two youngsters looking to break their maidens, a couple of older horses who still campaigned well, Paulie and Macho, who were entered in the last two races on the card and both had excellent chances of winning. Each of them rested comfortably in their stalls. I sat on a folding chair and made notes about races and timing. By the time the sun came up, work had been done, and I’d sent a member of my staff to get us some breakfast.
Even without being a goddess, the aurora of a stable row told me a lot about the trainer and the horses who ran there. From defeated and determined to excited and ready to go, the horses knew, as did the people working with them, just what might happen in any given race. I strolled down the aisle of Casper Donovan’s horses. Called “the Ghost” by most of us, it was with pitying affection since many of his horses never quite made the finish line in time. Like Flame, they were good horses, bred to run and Casper trained well. I sensed the quiet determination of his workers, and when he nodded to me, I wished him well. If my guess were true, men like Casper lost just as much as Flame did.
Forti’s words to me last night echoed in my mind. “The Council has been called because it’s time to right the wrongs humans do to each other. Even if we all gave as much luck as possible, there’s a good chance we couldn’t tip the scales back into balance. So it’s time that we act.” She’d hugged me and buried her face against my shoulder, while I held her and tried not to notice her tears dampened my oversized t-shirt. The time of great battles rushed upon us once more. Only this time, instead of soldiers, trained and willing to go to war, it’d be innocent people who would get hurt and there was nothing any of us could do about it. Men like Casper who’d toiled too long without benefit at their trade. Horses like Flame who would enjoy his new career in evening, though he also would have made one heck of a racehorse. I drew a steadying breath and returned to my row just as breakfast arrived.
The vet came and went from Dale’s row, one that I recognized but never did business with. I shook my head. On the backstretch, everyone knew where the vet had been and often, what’d been treated. I noticed Kel walking, muffin in hand, to the end of the row, presumably to see if she could find out why. I nodded to her as she passed.
“Okay, we’re going to have a good meet today. Our horses are ready. We’re ready. And now we just have to see how they run.” I finished my pep talk. “You have your schedule?” I asked Shel, as she’d be responsible, along with Kel, for making sure the horses got to the saddling area. I’d accompany her and the jockey would meet us in the paddock.
She patted her pocket. “Right here, boss. We’ve done this a million times.”
That we had. “Just checking. I trust you.” I clasped her shoulder as Kel returned. She inclined her head and we went toward a stall, as if to study one of our horses.
“Vitamins. Yeah right.”
I didn’t have to ask what she was talking about, and I didn’t believe the story either.
“Got it. Thanks.”
“When they all go to race, maybe I can get a picture of the bottle?”
“Don’t do anything that’s too risky. I don’t want you to get hurt or get in trouble.” Riders and grooms messing about in other trainer’s aisles
