“I appreciate that.” I directed her into my office so we could fill out some paperwork. Then, I’d see if I heard back from my contacts and if so, maybe I could learn a bit more about Dean’s magical vitamins and what made my feed test positive.
Jim called the next morning. “Hey, Ettie. I’m so sorry, but there was a mix-up at the lab. Your horse didn’t test positive.”
“What?” Jim’s words shocked me as much as when he’d said just the opposite the first time. “Are you serious?” I stared at the multi-colored carbon copied pile of papers on the corner of my desk. And after I’d almost brought the wrath of a goddess down on the feed store’s head over the lot numbers, now they were coming at me with this information.
“I am. I’m sorry, Ettie. I’m not sure what happened, but the samples were mixed up. We went ahead and did a second test from the retained sample and it’s clear. I’m sorry we put you through that. You don’t deserve it.”
Neither do the other trainers who might have been affected, but I kept my mouth shut. “Thanks for letting me know.” I glanced out the window at Kel leading one of Flora’s new horses out to the hot walker to stretch its legs. The mare moved well.
“You’re welcome. Sorry again.” Jim hung up.
I set my cell on the desk and stared at it. Did Flora have anything to do with this? It seemed unbelievable that Jim would call out of the blue. A mix up at the lab wasn’t unheard of. Too many things seemed coincidental for this to have happened now. Not when I finally had pictures of Dean’s “vitamins” and could dive into them deeper to determine what their components were. I made a few notes, then stood and stretched my legs. Checking on the horses gave me peace of mind that I was doing everything I could and it meant I’d be able to move. I thought best on my feet.
Forti found me leaning against the rail watching some youngsters breeze for the first time. I checked my stop watch. “Great ride, Kel,” I called. I turned to my partner. “There’s a fae war coming to town.”
“I know. And I can’t leave you here. You’re too close to it. But I’ve got to go. Rota’s getting insistent.”
As much as I knew this moment would arrive, I dreaded it. I didn’t ask if she had to go. I knew the answer. Yes, she’d been called. She had to go. The Council didn’t convene for unnecessary reasons and if they required her presence, then it was urgent. “Tonight?”
“At the latest. I’m getting packed now.”
“Let me finish these breezes and then I’ll come to the house. Anything else can wait.” I gave a few instructions to the rider on the rail. I grabbed Forti’s hand. “I don’t want you to go and I know that there’s nothing I can do to convince you to stay. I just…” I bit my lip before continuing. “If I’m going after Dean and going to end up in the middle of a fae war, I need you by my side. But it’s not fair of me to ask and Rota has the prior claim.”
“That it does. You’ll be fine. I’m sure of it. The fae can take care of themselves. And as for Dean, well sooner or later the establishment will catch up to him. As long as your horses keep winning, and they will because you’re an excellent trainer, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Flora can handle herself. And Callen--”
“Can stay the hell away,” I blurted.
“Can stay away,” Forti confirmed. She pulled me into a hug and pressed her cheek against my hair. “I don’t want to go. This isn’t going to be pretty. It’s going to be our biggest battle yet. But I’ve got to. I’ll see you at the house.” She kissed the top of my forehead, then turned and walked away.
I leaned against the rail, missing the time of the young horse that passed by the pole. I blinked, only realizing what I’d done when Kel slowed the horse and circled to stop next to me. “You get the time, boss?” She glanced at my stopwatch with its still moving hands.
I blinked. “Sorry. I completely missed it, but it had to be good. How many more horses do you have to ride?”
“Just a couple. I can do them later. I think we need to talk. You haven’t been quite yourself since the last races, and I know I’m stepping over a line, but we’ve worked together long enough that I want you to know I consider you a friend. Is everything all right?”
“With the farm, yes. Don’t worry about that. It’s personal stuff. I’ll focus better. How do you think he feels? Can we try that again?” I reset my watch. I considered Kel a friend too, a really good one since she’d been a longtime employee. However some things I didn’t quite feel I could confide in her with. I needed to talk to Flora. Good thing she was coming over later to talk about her horses.
Kel frowned for a moment, as if my refusal to talk hurt her feelings, then picked up the reins and squared her shoulders. “We’re ready,” she said before turning the horse and jogging back to the starting gate.
“And go!” I raised my hand over my head, then let it fall. They burst forward. I hit the button on my stop watch, watching the seconds tick by as the horse galloped down the track. When they passed the pole, I clicked it. Great run. I gave a thumb’s up to Kel as she eased the horse down to a jog, then a walk.
“Great time,” I said when she got within talking distance. “Good job.
