“You still sleep in here?
“Since I was a baby. This was the nursery and I felt safe here. Never wanted to leave.” Capp looked more closely at the light pink walls. On one was a primitive drawing of a horse. The horse or pony was standing on very straight legs, a few sprigs of grass drawn around his hooves. Puffy little clouds floated above it on the rose-colored wall. “You draw that?”
“I did. I was just a girl. I drew and painted it without permission.” Tilly said proudly.
“You get in trouble?”
“Me? No. My parents pretty much let me do whatever I wanted. I knew way back then I would raise horses. At night in the glow of my nightlight I still pray to God to make my dreams come true.” Tilly’s voice grew soft. “It’s all I’ve ever asked from God. But now I’m scared ’cause my daddy thinks—” She stopped short and sighed.
Capp stepped forward, sat on the edge of the bed, and put his arm around her, like a parent would do for a hurt child.
“Things are bad, Capp. Like I said, I’m afraid what will happen to me.”
“Let’s go see the rest.” Capp offered his elbow and Tilly took it. As they walked outside, Capp patted her hand.
Capp could see the place needed repair. Dry rot made the back porch springy, and the kitchen garden was full of weeds. An apple tree loaded with bird-pecked fruit and a mangy cat sharpening its claws on the tree trunk added to the feeling of neglect.
A barn, such as it was, wasn’t too far from the house and appeared to be in use. Tilly led Capp inside, and to his surprise there wasn’t one horse in any of the stalls. “Where are the horses?”
“They’re in the pasture.”
“How many you got?”
“Not many now. But we have room for twelve thoroughbreds.”
“Only twelve?”
“Right now we have four broodmares and a borrowed stallion. We are rebuilding. We are hoping for four healthy foals in a few months.”
“Who loaned you a stallion?”
“Some guy from Churchill Downs. He and my dad bartered. He’ll get one of our foals for the stud fee. The stud is a fine stallion.”
Tilly guided Capp through the barn to the pasture. It was a small area, maybe an acre. Only four horses were there, older mares.
“How old are these gals?”
“They are all between ten and fifteen years old. Daddy didn’t sell them off ’cause they were proven and have given us good horses.”
“Where’s the stallion?”
“He’s gone now. Went back home.”
“So you have only four horses here, not five?”
“Like I said, we are rebuilding. We are expecting foals, a new pedigree line.”
Capp sympathized with Tilly. This was not what he had expected. A run-down property, run-down horses and not one shred of evidence that this farm would ever recover from its economic problems. “Parkway ever have a champion?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean it won’t.”
Capp looked back toward the barn and saw a small flock of red hens pecking and scratching in the healthy weeds that grew around the grounds.
“What else you want to show me?”
“There isn’t much else, only a paddock. We can’t use it because the gate hinges need replacing. It’s been a while since a horse has been in there.”
“How come things so run-down?”
“Daddy don’t have time anymore and he can’t hire anyone.”
“Where you ride? On the road? And what you ride? These mares?”
“Daddy sold my quarter horse. I borrow a ride from our neighbors. Through the pasture, there’s a gate to their property. Great horse trails all over the hills. They don’t mind if I ride there and they like their horses being exercised. In fact, the place is for sale. James Glidewell could buy it and make this place bigger.”
“Tilly, I don’t see how he could help you save this place. The property isn’t big enough, all the outbuildings and even the house are run-down. He’s a prideful man. He’d want his own track and there isn’t one, nor is there room for one.”
“Capp, don’t you see? This is Louisville, Kentucky. Horse racing is what makes this town click. He could make the ranch whatever he wanted and we could run it for him. He could lease a barn at the track. Why, with what you’re learnin’ and all that I know, tongues will flap when we get the place rollin’. My parents can retire in town. They’ve been talking about it. Oh Capp, we could raise our kids here. Please, Capp.”
“Wait a minute. Now we’re getting married and raisin’ a family?”
“Well I thought we would. It’s something I think about.”
“Workin’ with someone is one thing, but getting married? My God, girl. That’s a whole different story. Not sure I’m the marrying kind. You better forget that.”
“But what about all the fun we’ve had? We have so much in common. We both love music, bars, horses, and you know what else.” Tilly moved closer and put her hands on his chest. “Please, Capp. Think about it. I’m begging you.”
Capp looked at her sympathetically, but he couldn’t help her. He was smart enough to know that. It made no sense for James or any serious horse breeder to lease or buy this property.
“Tilly, I’m leaving for Arkansas soon. We’re taking some horses to train and compete. Will be gone most of the winter. You knew that, right?”
Capp watched as her face
