by Lita Lawson
They walked to the track, Foolish Gamble following behind them. Cassi and Austin took a seat on a wood bench at the makeshift finish line. After Billy Joe offered the jockey a foot up, he joined them at the bench.
Cassi twisted her hands nervously in her lap, excited, yet dreading the initial run. She still believed she was the most qualified to race him. Due to Austin’s experience in these areas, she felt it best to defer to his decision. After all, she’d never trained or raced a horse to victory as Austin had done so many times before.
Beside her, Austin pulled out a stopwatch to time the run. The jockey sat atop Foolish Gamble, ready to go at the makeshift starting line.
“On your mark,” Billy Joe cried out, “get set. Go.”
Off in a cloud of dust, Cassi’s heart jumped into her throat. When she heard the sound of the whip over Foolish Gamble’s pounding hooves, her heart sank. Garrison was using too much stick. Rarely did she ever have to whip Foolish Gamble to get speed out of him. Running was in his heart, in his blood. He raced naturally, with enthusiasm. Cassi could see he wasn’t at his best form, on the verge of balking at the jockey riding him. She knew the time would be bad; it should have been a minute, but Cassi knew it was much longer than that.
With the course nearly completed and approaching the finish line, Cassi cringed when she again heard the whine of the whip in the air.
“Damn,” Austin cursed beside her. “Nearly two minutes.”
Disappointment and anger welled within her and Cassi scowled. She didn’t care how many wins and champion horses this jockey had raced, he didn’t work well with Foolish Gamble. Cassi snapped angrily, “Well, what do you expect? He’s whipping him too much. He doesn’t need that.”
“He’s a good jockey, Cassi. I think he knows what he’s doing.”
“Well, if he’s so good, how come the bad time?” Jamming her hands on her hips, she glared at Austin.
“It’s their first time racing together,” Austin bristled.
She could hear the irritation in his voice. He probably thought she didn’t know shit about racing horses. But Cassi knew Foolish Gamble like she knew herself. He didn’t need the whip to run fast.
The jockey walked toward them, and Billy Joe got up and led Foolish Gamble around the track to cool him down.
“Garrison,” Austin acknowledged the man.
“Austin,” the man replied. He glanced toward Cassi, tilting his head in mute arrogance.
“Cassi believes you’re giving Foolish Gamble too much whip.” Austin informed him.
Garrison looked up at her and said, “You think I don’t know how to race a horse?”
His cocky and condescending manner irritated her. “I think you know how to race a horse all right, when they’re a champion horse with a splendid lineage from a wealthy farm. Would you be so free to whip Skeeter or any of the other champion horses Austin owns?”
The jockey turned toward Austin and laughed coldly and fixed his gaze on Cassi. “So you think the reason your horse isn’t running well is because of the way I handle him?”
“That’s what I’m saying,” Cassi said. It didn’t matter he had raced numerous horses to the winners circle.
“That’s absurd,” Garrison quipped. “I’ve ridden to the winner’s circle dozens of times. Maybe your horse isn’t good enough to win at a county fair.” A red flush spotted Garrison’s face. “You’re lucky I agreed to do Austin this favor.”
Lucky? Lucky! Lucky to have a pompous jockey whip her horse and break his spirit? Cassi’s anger rose to the boiling point. She didn’t care if she lost her farm; no jockey would ruin Foolish Gamble by whipping him too much.
Before Cassi voiced her feelings, Austin intervened between the two of them.
“Look. Let’s everyone calm down here. This is the first time Garrison met with Foolish Gamble. We can’t expect their riding style to mesh automatically. Sometimes these things take time.”
Cassi paced back and forth, walking off her anger. She might be expecting too much, too good a time, but the jockey didn’t need to use so much stick on Foolish Gamble. That she was sure of.
Forcing her voice to remain calm, Cassi countered. “Okay, Austin. Why don’t we try it my way next time—where he doesn’t whip him so much?” Cassi moved her gaze to glare at Garrison.
“No problem,” the jockey agreed.
“Okay then. Billy Joe,” Austin called, “bring Foolish Gamble back here. Let’s get him ready to race one more time.”
Cassi went over to Foolish Gamble, talked to him, and reassured herself that no permanent damage had been done. Between being moved to a new stall and this jockey, he was probably confused.
After ten minutes, Garrison had Foolish Gamble back on the racetrack. This time the jockey didn’t use much of the whip as he raced Foolish Gamble. The time was better, a minute and a half. Cassi knew he could do much better, but attributed it to adjusting to a new rider.
“Better?” Austin asked her.
“Yes,” she agreed reluctantly. “But if they don’t mesh well, I’m going to ride him.”
“I understand how you feel. If it turns out he’s not winning, then you can try riding him,” Austin corrected her.
“Whatever,” Cassi stomped off to greet Foolish Gamble as he came off the racetrack. She walked him to the barn herself and cooled him down. She needed to cool herself down as well. After smoothing a blanket across his back, she went to leave.
Austin leaned against her truck, blocking her exit. “You going so soon?”
His sultry smile taunted her but she refused to let it bait her. “Yes,” Cassi answered matter-of-factly.
“How about we get lunch?” His finger traced the bottom of her jaw.
Cassi turned her head sideways, letting him know she didn’t want him touching her.
“Oh,” he drawled, “I see you still insist on keeping things business only?”
She heard the mocking in his tone, but ignored it. “We agreed to keep it that way.”
A smile turned the corners of his lips up.
“You agreed to keep it that way, Cassi,” his finger traced a line from her cheek to the underside of her chin. He tipped her face up to look at him. “I never agreed to that.”
His touch sent shivers down her spine and Cassi cursed her body for reacting to him—wanting him to touch her.
“Go on home, Cassi.”
His teasing tone snaked around her. Glaring at him, she couldn’t help but see the amusement in his eyes. She got into the truck, slammed the door and peeled out of the gravel driveway.
“Damn him,” she muttered to herself. And damn herself for being attracted to him.
CHAPTER NINE
The weeks flew by quickly as Cassi worked with Austin training Foolish Gamble. His rapport with horses was evident. She still had her misgivings regarding the jockey, Garrison.
During that time, Cassi managed to remain outside Austin’s ring of temptation. It was torture, being so close to him. During their time training Foolish Gamble, he’d been a perfect gentleman and kept his charms to himself.
Driving to Keller Farms, she anticipated the first race they would be running this afternoon. They were driving up to Cincinnati, Ohio, for Foolish Gamble’s maiden race. Her stomach had been queasy all morning from worrying about how things would go. Not only was it Foolish Gamble’s first time to race, it was Cassi’s first race as an owner.
The fact that she and Austin would be driving there together made her even edgier. Billy Joe, Garrison, and the other jockey’s were driving separately. That meant she would spend several hours alone, with Austin, in a confined area. A very small area. Just the two of them. Since she had managed to successfully evade Austin the last several weeks, thinking about their drive to Cincinnati together made her nervous, and at the same time, made her pulse leap erratically in anticipation.
Waving at the guard, she drove past the gates to meet Austin. Pulling up by the barn, she saw Austin waiting for her. He had a larg
e black four-door double-axle pick-up truck with an expensive looking horse trailer attached to it. It appeared even the Keller Farm horses’ rode in style.
Jumping out of her truck, Cassi walked over to him. His gaze followed her advance, and she tried to keep her equilibrium.
“Morning,” Austin said.
“Morning,” Cassi answered lightly, trying to keep things normal, with no hint of her hidden desire.
“I got a cup of coffee here for you,” he offered.
Cassi’s stomach churned at the suggestion. “No thanks, I brought bottled water with me for the trip.”
“Got a case of the nerves?”
“A little bit,” she confessed.
“It’s natural for the first time and all.”
Silence fell between them.
“Well, I’m going to visit Foolish Gamble before we load him in the trailer.” Austin only nodded at her. She heard his footsteps following behind her. She had hoped to visit with Foolish Gamble alone. Apparently that wouldn’t be the case.
“Hey, big guy,” Cassi cooed to the horse as she stroked his nose. “I know we don’t travel much, but you’re going to like it. You need to travel so you can race and beat all those other horses. You gotta show them you’re someone to watch.”
Foolish Gamble let out a soft snort of agreement.
“Yeah, that’s my boy,” Cassi wished she could give him a treat, but they had him on the racing diet, and didn’t want to upset that. She sensed Austin behind her before he spoke.
“Come on, Cassi, we need to get him in the trailer.”
She watched while Austin led Foolish Gamble out of the stall. A tail guard had already been placed on Foolish Gamble for protection during the trip, and traveling boots had been placed on his hooves. Austin continued to impress her with how well he could ease Foolish Gamble into the trailer. He charmed the horses like he charmed the ladies.
Austin locked the back door of the trailer and then opened Cassi’s door for her. The truck stood high off the ground, so Austin held out his hand to help her into the truck. Grudgingly, Cassi accepted his offer, and regretted it immediately. His touch reminded her of the time they had kissed so passionately in the barn office, and her pulse quickened. Touching him was the last thing she should have done before their trip alone together.
“Thanks,” she mumbled as he shut the door for her. Like a child waiting for the sound of thunder after the flash of lightning, she counted the seconds it took him to get around to his side of the truck and get in.
“All set?” he glanced over at her.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
As they drove out the long driveway to the township road, Cassi surveyed the cabin of the truck. Much to her delight, a large fold-down armrest separated them, with two cup-holders and a place for CD’s. The seats were large and comfortable. The combined cost of the truck and horse trailer would probably pay off all her debts.
“Why don’t you pick out a CD to play,” Austin suggested.
Surveying the limited selection, Cassi looked for the one that would be the least romantic. She chose a classical hits selection.
“That’s nice,” Austin complimented her choice.
Except for the music, they rode in silence. Cassi noticed a newspaper tucked in between the front seats. “Mind if I read this?” Cassi needed a distraction from Austin.
“Go ahead.”
Cassi stole a glance at him as she claimed the newspaper. His square jaw, strong nose and broad lips enticed her. Forbidden fruit. She wanted him, all right, but knew it would be a huge mistake on her part to taste the temptation. Instead, she opened the newspaper and tried to concentrate on it, not the man beside her.
They made a turn onto the main highway heading North and Cassi kept reading. Turning the paper to the lifestyle section, she gasped aloud.
“Something wrong?” Austin asked as he glanced toward her.
“Uhm, yes.” Cassi didn’t know if she should tell him or not. “Have you read the paper this morning?”
“No. Didn’t have time.”
“Well, apparently, we’re now an item.” She met his gaze as he turned toward her.
“You don’t say,” he drawled while keeping his attention on the road.
Cassi read the excerpt aloud. “An unknown source confirmed reports that Austin Keller is seeing Cassandra Whitaker of Whitaker Farms.” An unknown source, more like Mikey, Cassi thought.
“Austin Keller and Annie Mae Ashworth had a falling out and he is not only dating Ms. Whitaker, but also has a partnership in regard to racing a horse Ms. Whitaker has been training.” Cassi glanced over at Austin and continued, “Dating a business partner is a new twist for Mr. Keller and we look forward to seeing how long it lasts.” The newspaper crinkled under her hands as she dropped it onto her lap.
“Even the ‘source’ for the article says we’re more than partners.” His voice was low and seductive. His hand found hers and held it.
The move caught her off guard, but she didn’t pull away. Warmth penetrated her skin from his large, strong hand. Eventually she gave in and relaxed, even leaning slightly into the armrest that separated them. Her awareness of him, his body, nearly overwhelmed her.
Austin tried to keep his eyes focused on the road ahead, but he couldn’t resist the urge to steal glances at Cassi every now and then. An honest to God natural beauty. He’d never met a woman who seemed so honest, pure, and untouched by the greed of money. Even though he knew her to be in dire financial straits, she didn’t seem to be conniving and maneuvering to get the money without working for it.
Perhaps his initial take on her business proposition to him was wrong. Perhaps she had asked him about it because he’d kept badgering her about how could he repay her for handing Bella Donna back over to him. She would have kept the horse and never given it back to him if she was truly manipulative. Then she would have been able to make enough money to keep her farm. She wouldn’t have had to resort to getting into a partnership with him.
A partnership, he reminded himself, that he had entered into with every intention of taking everything she wanted away from her. Who was the manipulative one? He had become like the other vultures around him, cynical, and conniving. He wanted his own farm to make his own mark, but he shouldn’t do it by stealing Cassi’s from her.
He wondered what she would think of him if she knew. She had been doing a good job of avoiding him as much as possible. He couldn’t help but notice she kept her distance from him. Could she be afraid of him? He knew she had no clue about his plans. But he knew she had every reason to worry, as he had done many times himself when he first started racing horses, and he berated himself for being such a devil.
Looking again at her profile, her auburn hair in the usual braid, she looked so petite and fragile in the large leather seat. But he knew her to be otherwise. Strong and proud, she hadn’t given up trying to save her farm when others would have done so long ago. He admired that. Hell, he was doing the same thing, but not as nobly. Gritting his teeth, he knew he needed to call off Garrison throwing the race—call off this whole devious scheme he’d concocted to get her farm. He should simply let the horse run and share in the winnings, whatever they might be.
But what would he do, without a farm to belong to, without horses to train and race? A larger fear, a long unspoken one, loomed in his mind. What would he be without Keller Farms to define him? What would his life be like? He feared the answer to that question.
If he continued with his plan, he’d have to keep aloof from Cassi. He didn’t want to hurt her any more than he would when she lost her farm and horse to him. Plus, he couldn’t keep losing control anytime he was around her. She had an effect on him he had never experienced. He couldn’t be anywhere near her without wanting to press her against him and rain kisses down on her tempting lips.
The skies had turned a bleak gray and Austin knew it would rain soon. Hopefully it would hold off until after Foolish Gamble’s race. He didn’t k
now why he worried about the track conditions since he had arranged for the jockey to throw the race. He already knew the outcome. Racing was in his blood and the anticipation still flowed through him.
Austin turned off the freeway exit. Luckily, Foolish Gamble was the third race of the afternoon, so Cassi wouldn’t have to worry for long. Austin knew she’d be nervous and wanted to keep her distracted. Hopefully, she wouldn’t distract him at the same time, but he knew she would. Being in the same proximity with her always did that.
Pulling up to the racetrack, Austin slowly maneuvered the trailer around others already unloading their precious cargo. Finding their assigned stall where Foolish Gamble would stay during the afternoon of racing, Austin pulled the truck to a stop. Together with Cassi, they made quick work of getting Foolish Gamble unloaded and settled. He moved the truck to the parking lot.
Austin walked back to the stables and found Cassi running Foolish Gamble on the practice track. Taking a moment, he watched her and the horse flying around the track. Maybe she was right. No one could race the horse better than her. Mixed emotions warred within him. He wanted the horse to win, for Cassi, so she could know the thrill of her horse winning a race. The other emotion was one of disgust at himself for the trap he had set for her. Jamming his hands into his jean pockets, he stomped off toward the track kitchen. He’d at least get her something to eat before she’d be disappointed with her horse’s first dismal showing. Carrying a tray of hot dogs, fries and cokes, Austin watched Cassi wiping Foolish Gamble down. Walking next to her, he asked, “How’d he do?”
“Just fine,” she beamed up at him.
Looking at her face filled with the flush of the ride and the excitement of the race to come, guilt nagged at his conscience.
“Have you seen Garrison yet?” he asked.
“No. I haven’t,” Cassi answered coolly.
Austin watched as she lovingly patted her horse. He walked alongside her as she took Foolish Gamble back to his stall. Once she had secured him, Austin offered her the food.
