Road to the Regalia (Nadia and Winny Book 2)

by Rachael Eliker

  Mike and Winny pulled up on a golf cart shortly after. Mike wore his unmistakable I’m-so-happy-to-be-with-you-Nadia grin, unaware he was spending the morning with my disembodied horse. Winny, on the other hand, looked deflated, which caused the distinct feeling of a boulder settling in the pit of my gut.

  “I’m going to take Winny for a quick walk,” Winny announced. “Let her stretch her legs before we go for the vet check.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Mike offered.

  “Nah. Go grab something to eat. It’ll just be a minute. I’ll need your help getting ready.” Mike nodded and followed his nose down the hill toward the food vendors.

  Winny grabbed my halter and fumbled putting it on, muttering something about how hooves were so much easier to navigate than fingers. She led me out and I did my best to keep up with her pace, though all I wanted to do was drop my head and nosh on the fresh grass underfoot.

  The Regalia Horse Park population had swelled enormously overnight. The fan base had doubled to come watch the vet check, meet some of their favorite riders and mounts and to socialize and shop in a place tailored for horse lovers. A few of the press spied Winny in my gown, leading her horse out of the barn and couldn’t resist snapping a few shots. Winny smiled weakly and waved, but her heart wasn’t in it.

  When we were sufficiently separated from the boon of people, she slackened the lead line and let me graze. I greedily ripped up patches of grass and barely finished chewing before swallowing and diving down for more.

  Resting her hand on my shoulder, she began, “I was going to tell you that last night, someone suspicious was in the barn. The wind was blowing the scent away from me and from what I could see within my stall, they were wearing a ski mask. They didn’t want anyone to know who they were.” I lifted my head and perked my ears toward her.

  My heart flopped in my chest. Someone was cheating?

  “Don’t know what they were up to though. They mostly just rummaged around before a security guard scared them off.”

  I glanced back over my shoulder and stared at the barn, wondering what someone wanting to hide in the stables would be doing.

  “And that cross country course,” she groaned, “is a monster. I have no doubt we could do it if we weren’t having another one of these out-of-body experiences but…”

  I knew what her trailing off meant, though I didn’t want her to say it.

  She took a deep breath and confessed, “I think we need to withdraw from the show.”

  Chapter Ten

  “No!” I screeched and reared away from her. Winny clenched onto the lead rope and flew a foot in the air as I jerked back.

  “Nadia! Calm down!” she growled, yanking a few times on the lead line to get my attention. “This certainly isn’t making me want to get on your back.”

  She was right. I checked my emotions and planted my feet back on the ground. “We can’t quit,” I pled, though I knew perfectly well she couldn’t understand. “We’ve worked so long to get here.” I stamped anxiously and pawed, trying to get my point across.

  “I take that as a no,” Winny pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She exhaled through clenched teeth and said, “I’m willing to give it a shot. We’ll only have two actual days of practice before the show starts, most of which won’t include jumping. There’s no way we’re going to be able to sneak out and practice in the middle of the night like we did at Gallant Meadows. Even though the cross country course is marked the entire distance between ropes, so we’re unlikely to get lost, there are jumps out there that are wider and drop further down than your body is tall. It’s going to be a real challenge.”

  “I’m up for it,” I snorted.

  “And, of course, I don’t have to remind you what happens if we have a fall. I don’t want to return your body to you all battered and bruised. It’s worse for a horse too. A broken bone is pretty much the kiss of death.”

  We stood silently. Was I really willing to risk that just to win a show? Still, I trusted Winny. We knew each other’s quirks and had the advantage of both seeing the cross county course. There were a handful of people who’d help Winny be successful and I mostly remembered how to handle this equine body from the last time we swapped places. I wasn’t one to give up—withdrawing from this show would be the first time ever—and Winny wasn’t either.

  “Let’s do it,” I nickered softly.

  Winny looked at me and seemed to understand. “What was that Ms. Diederich said? Do difficult things regardless of our fears?” A broad smile crept across Winny’s face. “Let’s do it,” she said resolutely. “First, we’d better get you tidied up for the vet check and I need to change.”

  We marched back to the barn, this time Winny laughed genuinely as the cameras flashed and waved to a few people who pointed and exclaimed, “There goes Nadia Wells and her horse, Winny!” My ego swelled a bit.

  Coming into the barn, Winny slammed right into Harvey and tumbled onto her backside. “I see you didn’t make it to your hotel last night. Maybe I should have waited to walk you back,” Harvey said with a one-sided smirk and a hand to help her up.

  I glanced at Mike, who’d already gotten back from breakfast and was talking with Kally, and watched the blood drain from his face. Once his wits returned, he stepped forward and wrapped his arm around what should have been my shoulders and interrupted Harvey, “Hi, I’m Mike. Nice to meet you.”

  Harvey hesitated shaking his hand. “Harvey Freeman.” He looked at Winny and asked, “How do you know Nadia?”

  “She’s my girlfriend,” Mike tightened his grip.

  “Huh,” Harvey half-laughed. “I don’t remember her saying anything about you last night when we were chatting. You must’ve been the one she was expecting.”

  Winny looked at me desperately. If I could have blushed, my face would have been on fire. What kind of predicament had I left her in?

  “Is that true?” Isis piped up from where Kally was putting the finishing touches on her in the crossties. “You didn’t talk about Mike at all?”

  “I’m sure I mentioned him,” I said, exasperated. “We just mostly talked about riding, not about our love lives.”

  “Harvey’s another rider,” Winny guided the conversation away from unknown and tense territory. “His horse is three stalls down from Nadia.”

  “Nadia?” Harvey and Mike said in unison.

  Winny rubbed her temples and chuckled, “Winny. Three stalls down from Winny.”

  There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between the trio, then Winny grabbed Mike by the hand. “If you’ll excuse us, Harvey, I need to get this mare braided.”

  “Sure,” Harvey nodded and went to grab Stoney, handsome and spotlessly clean, from his groom.

  Skylar sauntered into the barn with her hands on her hips, obviously having overheard the exchange with Harvey. “Mike?” she asked, beaming. “Don’t tell me your girlfriend forgot to mention you to Harvey. You’d never do something like that, would you?” She giggled flirtatiously.

  “Skylar? I, uh, didn’t know you were going to be grooming here.” This time, Mike’s face flushed, my heart stopped and Winny looked up at me, concerned.

  “So,” Skylar continued to tease, her eyes keenly focused, “have I ever come up in conversation with your new girlfriend?”

  “I, uh, well—“

  “I’m sure he’s mentioned you,” Winny interrupted curtly but holding a patronizing smile on her face. “Could’ve been years ago for all I know. Would you excuse us? We’d better get this horse ready. Kally? Could you braid her now?”

  Skylar winked at Mike, ignoring Nadia’s dig at her unimportance and went to Chaos. I gritted my teeth, seeing the extra spring in her step now that Mike was back in her life. “What was that all about? Have you ever told me about Skylar?” Winny hissed as we entered my stall, vocalizing my thoughts precisely.

  “I don’t know. We went on a date. She was before I’d met you and our date wasn�
��t really significant to me.”

  Winny raised an eyebrow and tilted her head ever so slightly. “A date? So she wasn’t ever your girlfriend?”

  “No,” Mike whispered forcefully to make his point but prevent Skylar from overhearing. “She was never anything official. I’m not trying to keep secrets. Honest.”

  Winny pursed her lips and eyed him carefully. After only a moment, she said, “Okay. I believe you.” I blinked at her level-headedness and lack of drama. I was sure I would have had a few other choice words for Mike if I were able.

  Mike, who’d been holding his breath, released it and said, “Good. I was afraid you were about to unleash a tirade on me. Forgive me?”

  “Of course,” Winny grinned, and pinched his cheek.

  “Sorry to interrupt you two, sorting out your love life and all, but we’ve only got an hour to get Winny ready. And you’ve still got to change,” Kally took charge, barging into the stall.

  “Right,” Winny said. “Did Gretchen leave some clothes for me?”

  “The bag’s in the trailer. Go get ready and Mike and I’ll start on Winny.”

  In a flurry of activity, Kally spritzed and combed and braided my mane until thirteen snug little knobs lined my neck. Winny came back, sporting a preppy ensemble that made my body look mature and sophisticated but still youthful.

  “Love the outfit, but we’ve got to do something with the hair,” Gretchen declared as she entered the barn, hand-in-hand with Pete, who had a half-eaten bear claw donut in the other.

  “Got it!” Madeline called, raising her hand.

  Madeline wasn’t gentle as she undid her handiwork from the night before. “Ow!” Winny complained. “My scalp’s so sensitive!”

  I laughed, thinking it had to be a new sensation for sure. I could relate—as a horse, there were hardly any nerves along my mane and though Kally occasionally grabbed a few strands and yanked them out to thin my hair, I barely noticed.

  “Oh, stop whining. I’m almost done,” Madeline said with a devilish grin. “There,” she shoved in one final bobby pin.

  Madeline handed Winny a pocket mirror. “I like it,” Winny said, trying to see the simple, low-set bun on the back of her head. “Thanks.”

  “No problem,” Madeline shooed away Winny’s compliment with a wave of her hand. “If a ballerina knows how to do anything, it’s a bun.”

  Danika and Ms. Diederich pulled up in a golf cart and Danika questioned, “Are we all set?” Our group nodded the affirmative. “Good. Let’s load up some extra brushes, rags and hoof polish onto the cart and head out.”

  Ms. Diederich commanded everyone with military precision, and in two minutes, our procession was on the way to the vet check. Gray clouds had gathered overhead, subduing the anxious anticipation of what was coming over the next few days, but the electric feel of the atmosphere was undeniable. Though the noise level was much more toned down than at other points in the competition, I could hear every excited whisper from the audience.

  I nearly jumped when the announcer blared over the intercom, “Next up is Harvey Freeman and Keystone Special. You may remember this horse from his previous two wins in the last three years. He’s a beautiful gelding with colors we don’t normally see in the upper levels of eventing. Harvey lovingly describes his horse, nicknamed Stoney, as a mutt.”

  Harvey smiled and waved to the crowd, eliciting more than a few grins and catcalls from onlookers. In front of clicking cameras, Harvey and Stoney slowly jogged up and down a lane, their feet crunching along the pebbles. The vet pressed his stethoscope to Stoney’s ribcage and girth, poked, prodded and inspected, then gave an approving pass.

  Winny turned to Danika and breathed, “Are any of the bigwigs here yet? We’re being scouted for the Olympics, right?”

  Danika’s face scrunched into a half-amused, half-mortified expression. “Yes, you requested to be considered for the Olympic team so the selectors will be watching.” She gazed over the crowd and discreetly pointed out a few people unblinkingly watching the horses, scribbling notes after they were cleared.

  “Ms. Wells?” said the short haired women who’d checked us in when we arrived at the showgrounds. “You’re five horses away.”

  “Thanks,” murmured Winny, focused on studying the other horses.

  A lanky, coppery thoroughbred named Bronze Prince stepped nervously in front of the veterinarian. “I don’t want to do this. Don’t make me do this,” the horse pleaded fruitlessly while tugging against the bit.

  The vet politely requested, “Please trot your horse down around the flower pot and back.”

  “Yes, sir,” said the thoroughbred’s rider. “C’mon, Prince.” He clicked the horse into a steady trot and from the first step, I could tell he was lame. Each step Prince limped almost imperceptibly except to those with a trained eye.

  “Oh, no,” Danika breathed. “Poor guy.”

  “He’s not fit to compete,” Ms. Diederich said frankly.

  As predicted, the vet blew his whistle and signaled for the horse to be led to the ten-minute box where he would be allowed to rest then rechecked by a secondary vet. The thoroughbred’s rider was a short yet athletic man with silver creeping into his sideburns. At the shrill warbling of the whistle, his skin paled and he looked like he might pass out. Defeated, he led Prince off the track.

  Gretchen and Isis were next. “Good luck,” I grunted softly. They didn’t need it though. Gretchen still knew just how to flirt and smile and Isis was statuesque while the veterinarian poked the most ticklish spots. They trotted down and back, Gretchen stifling a smirk when Pete whistled loudly from the crowd. They passed the vet check without a second thought.

  The other horses, all groomed perfectly and guided back and forth by equally stylish riders, all passed without issue. “Ms. Wells. You’re up,” the steward ushered us to the gate and checked us off her list.

  Ms. Diederich quickly gave us the onceover, licking her thumb and wiping it across the noseband of my bridle. “Better,” she muttered.

  “Ready?” Winny said confidently and together we stepped up in front of the vet. “Hello,” Winny greeted him cheerfully. “I’m Nadia Wells.”

  “Hmm? What?” the vet asked, already deeply concentrated on my physical examination. “Oh, yes. Dr. Herriot.”

  Winny shook his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Herriot.”

  As hard as I tried, I couldn’t keep my skin from twitching each time the vet lay his hands on my sides. “She’s a touchy one, eh?” asked Dr. Herriot.

  “Ticklish, I think,” Winny smiled, downplaying my reaction.

  “Please trot her back and forth,” Dr. Herriot requested in a soothing baritone voice.

  Winny nodded and turned towards the track. Suddenly, her body tensed and she began to tremble. I could smell sweat and pheromones trickling from her pores and hear her breathing become shallow. “What?” I asked, growing nervous. “What is it?”

  Talking to herself more than me, she whispered, “Gloria. Gloria’s looking right at us.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Gloria watched us with a chilling menace, fists resting on her hip, dark eyes glimmering with mischief. Chuck held Chaos’ reins and stroked the mare’s face calmly while observing Winny and me. I could see why Chuck was attracted to her with her high cheekbones, glossy hair and impeccably straight nose. Still, it shocked me that he couldn’t see her for who she really was.

  “Let’s go, Winny. Just ignore her,” I jerked the reins. Winny remained planted, quivering with fear. I gave her shoulder a hard shove with my nose. She didn’t budge.

  Dr. Herriot cleared his throat and repeated, “You may trot your horse now, young lady.” Winny didn’t seem to hear him either.

  “Why isn’t she going?” I flicked an ear towards Danika’s familiar voice. Her face was twisted up with concern while Ms. Diederich’s stared hard, willing us to do something.

  Before the crowd at large suspected anything was am
iss, I took charge. With Winny clinging to the reins, I trotted off boldly. Winny didn’t protest. She moved her feet numbly, keeping Gloria in her sight.

  We rounded the pot of wave petunias at the end of the path and I got my feet tangled. Tripping slightly, it pulled Winny back to the here and now.

  Sorry,” Winny muttered. “I wasn’t expecting having to see her like this so soon.”

  We slowed back to a halt and after a final once-over, Dr. Herriot gave us the all clear. Winny beamed and I received a congratulatory smack on the neck while letting loose a sigh of relief. So far, we’d been able to fool everyone. Prince and his rider weren’t as fortunate. The standby vet dismissed the team as unfit to compete and the very declaration sent a shiver down my spine. Being eliminated before even stepping foot in the arena was horrifying. All the years of hard work and nothing to show for it.

  Mike jogged to our side and took the reins from Winny in exchange for her hand. “You feeling okay?” he asked, tilting his head slightly so he could see her downturned eyes.

  “Yeah, it’s just that Gloria lady. She makes me uncomfortable.”

  We turned and watched her run Chaos on the gravel lane in a flowing dress with a loud print and matching red boots. Either she’d forgotten her outfit for the vet check or she was extremely presumptuous and attention seeking. I presumed the latter.

  “Isn’t she Gretchen’s dad’s girlfriend? What’s so bad about her?”

  Winny looked up into Mike’s sapphire eyes. “She owned Winny before me and abused her terribly. That’s where she got that scar,” she pointed to the white slash of hairs across my left hip.

  Mike incredulously raised an eyebrow. “How do you know that? I thought Chuck bought Winny from an auction.”

  Winny shook her head, knowing she could never prove it to anyone. “I just know.”

  Isis was back in her stall at the barn, already covered with flecks of hay. “You pass?”

  “Yep,” I replied.

  “Well, that’s a start.”