“You got a girlfriend, Capp? I noticed a girl sitting next to you last night. She seemed… well, a little miffed I was there.”
“Maizie? No she ain’t a girlfriend. She works for Mrs. Glidewell. I just know her from around the ranch.”
“I see. Seems she likes you, Capp.” Capp looked surprised that she would surmise such a thing.
“No, Maizie is just a kid.”
“I see.” Matilda looked down and adjusted the loose-fitting robe. “It’s getting late. Let’s get this party started. I’ll finish getting ready. So we can celebrate, you know. We need to talk about you and your racing.”
“Did you see what happened today?”
“Yep. The blinders worked. I knew they would.” Putting out the cigarette in the ashtray, she slid to the edge of her chair and reached for Capp. He grabbed her hand and helped her to a standing position. “I’ll be just a few minutes. Sit down. Make yourself at home.” Capp took a seat on the bed. She waited for a minute, looking in Capp’s direction. “I like you, Capp. I’ll be just a minute.”
Capp watched as she walked to the bathroom. There was a dress hanging on the outside of the door. She lifted the hanger off the hook and closed the door behind her. Capp was taken with her appearance, her self-assurance. All that beauty and sophistication and horse sense had him thinking.
“Capp, see my shoes by the bed?” she yelled through the door. “Could you hand them to me?” Red high heels were neatly positioned at the end of the bed. He stood and bent to pick them up.
“Never did know how women could wear these things.”
She cracked the door, reached through the opening, and grabbed the heels. “Takes practice is all. Just like anything else,” she said and then looked into his eyes, her eyebrows raised, and closed the door. Capp retreated to the edge of the bed.
A few minutes later she made her entrance, dressed in a simple yellow dress with a fitted low-cut bodice and gathered skirt. She smiled at Capp and turned her back to him. Swooping up her hair off her back and neck, she said, “Zip me up, please.” He rose from the bed and did as he was asked. She turned to him and reached for his collar and straightened it. She kissed him lightly on the mouth. Again, he noticed the smell of cigarettes, and this time, a hint of spearmint.
“That’s a thank-you for coming,” she said. Looking at his chest, she slowly unbuttoned the top button on his shirt. “There, that’s better. It’s warm tonight.”
“You are right about that,” Capp agreed and pulled her closer. Pulling away, she walked to the side table by the bed and picked up her hairbrush. Brushing her hair in long even strokes, she put her head down to her knees and let her hair fall towards the floor. She gathered her mane into a ponytail and secured it with an elastic band. “Let’s go to the bar, cowboy.” Reaching into her handbag, she pulled out a silver flask. “Whiskey will break the ice.”
“I could sure use one,” Capp admitted. “I want to celebrate. Today was a great day. Wild took to those blinders fast. Made a world of difference. What else you know about horses and racing?”
“I know you looked good on that horse. You ran the challenge race perfectly. Maybe you’re the one who knows all about racing.”
“You think so?”
Matilda waited to respond. “Honestly, I don’t think you know much about racing a thoroughbred. Been around guys like you my whole life. I know more than any of them. My daddy taught me since I was old enough to walk.”
“I’m eager to learn from a thoroughbred expert. Especially one as pretty as you.” Capp offered her his arm. She was a confident lady and undeniably charming, but she refused his arm and took his hand and turned it palm up. Opening her palm, she studied both hands carefully. With the index finger of her free hand, she gently rubbed the calluses on both their hands.
“You know, Capp. A person can’t work with horses and not have their hands tell the story. Hard work shows not only on the hands but also in the tone of the body.” She looked him in the eyes and rubbed his upper arms, feeling his biceps. “I can see and feel you work hard, like me.”
“Thank you.”
The look on her face went from one of enjoyment to one of disbelief. “’Thank you’? You think I’m paying you a compliment?”
“Weren’t you?”
“No, I am saying that we are both callused and toned. We are both hardworking. I was making a point. And I know more about horses than you do.”
“Okay.” Capp laughed, enjoying her spunk.
“I have something for you. It’s for winning your race.” She opened a small satchel and pulled out a faded blue bandana. She folded it into a triangle. Placing the cloth around Capp’s neck, she tied it in a loose knot. Looking into Capp’s eyes she said, “This was my daddy’s. I want you to have it. Now you look like a real cowboy.” Capp smiled slowly and then kissed her; she reciprocated.
“Let’s go have that drink. They have ice and mixers available down there. I have my flask right here.” She quickly tapped her left pocket and grabbed his hand. They walked slowly down the stairs, side by side, to the lobby. The bar was empty except for the bellman Capp had met earlier. The attendant motioned to a booth near the bar. Matilda slid in on the old leather and Capp took a seat next to her.
Matilda told Capp about her daddy’s thoroughbred farm. How she worked on the farm doing man’s work. How the farm had fallen on hard times. She told him how the economy was forcing her father to consider selling. And if he couldn’t sell, he might lose it, all of it. She talked about her dream of running the farm herself.
