Riding the Storm

by Heather Graves

  ‘Sorry, darl,’ he whispered in Ondine’s ear. ‘Might have to leave for a while. Need to go to Melbourne to clean up some business.’

  ‘I come with you.’ She smiled brightly. ‘I love Melbourne. It ’as the best shops.’

  ‘No, you won’t.’ He pinched her bottom hard, making her squeak.

  Keeping Ondine was expensive enough without letting her loose around the shops. ‘You’ll be a good girl and wait for me here.’

  ‘Maybe I don’ like to wait.’ She pouted, giving a Gallic shrug. ‘Maybe I get new boyfriend.’

  ‘Then I get new girlfriend. Suit yourself.’ Without any warning he tipped her off, letting her fall awkwardly onto the sands. ‘See you later, girl. Hop it now. I need to make some phone calls.’

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  HAVING MADE UP his mind to take back the mantle of power, Robert lost no time in giving orders and throwing his weight about in the stables. He found Jim Wolfe and Val looking at Tommy in his stall and making plans. Inwardly, he bristled. He’d teach them to try and exclude him; they needed to recognize that Rob Lanigan was back – he’d show them who was in charge.

  Aware of the boss’s scarcely concealed resentment, Jim Wolfe brought him up to speed, informing him that now Hunter’s Moon was settled in Melbourne, he was to start racing again. Lightly, at this time of year, in the hope of securing him a place in some of the races leading up to the Spring Carnival. Jim and Val intended him to start slowly, allowing him to prove himself in the country before bringing him up to one of the major racecourses in town. Robert was quick to override this decision.

  ‘Tommy doesn’t need to waste time doing that. He’s a city runner who’s already won major races in Sydney. Why waste his energy by letting him race in the country? No. We’ll have him racing at Flemington at the end of the month.’

  Jim and Val exchanged worried glances but it was Val who spoke. ‘Tommy’s new to Melbourne and unused to racing here. Besides, he’s been living quietly for some time. Put him in front of a city crowd and he might get spooked.’

  ‘Nonsense. It isn’t as if he’s an untried colt – he’s a champion. Cancel the entry for the local meeting. Who did you have down to ride him, anyway?’

  ‘Mac Wesley.’

  Robert almost snorted in disgust. ‘Wesley? That burnt-out old has-been? He’ll take Tommy round as though it’s a walk in the park. No. I want somebody hungry – someone with fire in the belly.’

  ‘Tommy doesn’t respond well to rough handling,’ Val said, grateful that Ryan had made himself scarce and wasn’t around to hear Robert’s words. ‘Who would you suggest?’

  ‘Someone up and coming – young but not too young. A talented rider – Fancy Patterson maybe. She’s tough enough and I can overlook the fact that she is a girl.’

  ‘That’s debatable.’ Jim gave a wry smile. ‘Some people say she’s more man than most of the boys.’

  ‘Like I said – doesn’t worry me.’

  Jim’s smile faded. ‘Rob, with all due respect, you’ve been out of touch for some time. Fancy Patterson has a bit of a reputation—’

  ‘Yes. For bringing in city winners.’

  ‘And she’s been suspended more than once for careless riding and unnecessary use of the whip.’

  ‘So what? All jockeys get suspended from time to time.’ He glared at them. ‘What’s wrong with everyone, all of a sudden? The racing industry used to be about men with some backbone. These days it seems to be run by a bunch of old women.’ He cast a disparaging look at Val.

  ‘It’s not just about winning, Rob.’ Val was seething inside that he should dismiss her in front of Jim, but she kept her voice reasonable and low. ‘It’s about getting round safely; making sure everyone arrives back at the winning post in one piece.’

  ‘What are you talking about? It’s a sport, you numbskull. There has to be some element of risk, some excitement. You’d play it like women’s afternoon tennis.’

  ‘All right, I’ll meet you halfway,’ she said. ‘We’ll race Tommy at Flemington if that’s what you want but we’re sticking with Mac, who’s already worked with the horse. I don’t want to hire Fancy Patterson.’

  ‘OK. OK. Whatever you say.’ Robert closed his eyes in exasperation.

  He wasn’t about to tell her that he’d already arranged for Hunter’s Moon to compete in a listed race and that Fancy Patterson had agreed to take the ride.

  Val didn’t find this out until they were all there at the track, watching Ryan parade the horse. Chrissie was there, too, wearing a sharp black suit she had expected to wear for court appearances but that wasn’t going to happen now. She had also treated herself to a cute hat in hot pink and black; it perched on the back of her head and somehow brought out the beauty of her eyes. Covertly, Ryan watched her with admiration, feeling drawn to her until an unwelcome thought popped into his head. His friend Mike would make short work of Chrissie if he saw her looking so sharply dressed, although he wouldn’t give her a second glance in the old T-shirts and denims she usually wore at home. Ryan had been in touch several times to tell Mike he was living in Cranbourne although he was in no hurry to tell his friend why he had left Canesville so precipitately. Glen would fill him in on the details soon enough and Mike would have to decide whose side he was on. So far, Mike had been too busy with work and study to drive out to Cranbourne and Ryan was no longer so keen to see him; not on his uncle’s property, anyway. He decided that if Mike could overlook what had happened in Queensland and was genuine about wanting to keep up a friendship, he’d meet him in Melbourne, avoiding the risk of his meeting Chrissie. Talk around the stables was that she had one broken romance behind her already. She didn’t need to get mixed up with a woman-chaser like Mike, who was bad news for any girl.

  But he set these disquieting thoughts aside as the jockeys arrived on course, ready to take their rides, and he looked around for Mac Wesley, unable to spot him. Where was he? Surely, the old guy hadn’t forgotten? He’d been looking forward to taking this ride. Instead, he saw a sharp-featured little woman walking purposefully towards his horse.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Ryan said as the woman grabbed Tommy’s reins, preparing to mount. ‘We’re waiting for Mac Wesley. I think you’ve made a mistake.’

  ‘You’re the one who’s made the mistake, sonny.’ Without his assistance, Fancy Patterson jumped expertly into the saddle. ‘Mr Lanigan booked me for this ride today. The ole fella – Wesley – got put out to grass.’

  ‘What’s happening, Ryan?’ Val had seen Fancy take the horse and was quick to catch up with them, breathless from running across the mounting yard. ‘Where’s Mac?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Ryan said, still holding on to Tommy, who was clearly ill at ease with this new rider. ‘This lady says Mr Lanigan dumped Wesley and booked her instead.’

  ‘Did he, indeed?’ Val muttered, casting a narrow-eyed look at her husband, who was sitting high up in the front of the stands in his wheelchair, smiling down at them. Rob gave her a mocking salute and she sighed. ‘Nothing I can do about it now.’ But she held on to the reins for a moment before allowing Fancy to ride away, speaking clearly to make her point. ‘For your own safety, Ms Patterson, I’d advise you to limit the use of your whip. Tommy’s good-natured and willing but he’s a big, strong boy and won’t take kindly to any ill-treatment.’

  ‘Are you trying to teach me my job, Mrs Lanigan?’ Fancy jerked the reins out of Val’s hands, making Tommy flatten his ears and shake his head. ‘A colt needs firm handling – he has to be shown who’s the boss.’ So saying, she dug in her heels and gave Tommy a sharp slap on the rump, making him leap forward and take off at speed.

  Val bit her lip and shook her head, exchanging a glance with Ryan, who folded his arms, watching the erratic progress of horse and rider as they made their way to the starting gate.

  ‘Don’t worry.’ He tried to reassure Val. ‘Tommy won’t put up with her nonsense for long. She’ll be the one to come off worst.’

  ‘But
we need him to win,’ Val groaned. ‘With Mac at least we might have stood a chance.’

  Hunter’s Moon wasn’t used to being treated with so little respect and went through his range of tricks in the hope of unsettling the girl. It didn’t work. In less than five minutes, she had him in his appointed stall, waiting for the start of the race.

  If Fancy Patterson had only trusted her mount and been less arrogant, all might have been well. But as soon as the starter gave the order and the field made that first leap from the stalls, Fancy tried to get his attention by giving him a sharp crack of the whip. Infuriated by her ongoing lack of respect, Tommy changed gait and sidestepped, dumping his unwanted cargo on the ground. Then, finally free of his burden, he put his head up and set about the task of winning the race.

  For the crowd, the rest of the race was uneventful. When Tommy had passed the post ahead of the field, dismissed as ‘that unruly horse from Queensland’, the race was won by the short-priced favourite. Ryan quickly caught up with his charge, who was being restrained by the Clerk of the Course.

  ‘You’re a very naughty boy,’ Ryan said, rubbing the horse’s nose and giving the lie to his words as he tried not to laugh. Tommy flicked his ears at him and tossed his head in a ‘don’t care’ gesture.

  Fancy Patterson was bruised from landing on her bottom on the hard ground but, once she had decided she was unhurt, she was vociferous in her complaints. ‘Rob Lanigan told me that horse was a champion,’ she raged at Val. Wisely, Robert had not come down from his perch in the stands. ‘He shouldn’t be on a racetrack at all. He’s barely trained. And you can tell Mr Lanigan not to call me again. Mac Wesley can have his ride back and good luck to him.’ Having said her piece, she left them, bruised and limping, showing her temper by whacking her whip against her boot. Watching her leave, Ryan laughed.

  ‘It’s not funny, Ryan,’ Val said. ‘I’ve known Robert to sell a horse on for doing a lot less.’

  Ryan sobered immediately but it wasn’t just Val’s words that were wiping the smile from his face. He had caught sight of Chrissie in the members’ enclosure, accosted by a good-looking guy who was attempting to have a serious conversation with her. Unfortunately, he couldn’t wait to see the outcome as he had to take Tommy back to the holding stables and rub him down. Val came with him.

  ‘I’ll look after Tommy for a while, Ryan. You go and have a drink – have a bit of fun for a change. You never take any time off.’

  ‘Don’t you need to get back to Mr Lanigan?’

  ‘Mr Lanigan can look after himself for once. He’s done enough damage for one day, hiring that wretched Patterson girl. Poor Tommy.’

  ‘Tommy’s all right, he’s a tough one. I tried to tell her she’d come off worse.’

  ‘And a wasted race. All because Rob wouldn’t take my advice.’ Val sighed. ‘Go on. Come back in half an hour or so and we’ll pack Tommy into the float and take him home.’

  ‘You weren’t serious when you said Mr Lanigan might sell him?’

  ‘No, no.’ Val was quick with her reassurance, sounding more confident than she felt. ‘He has too much invested in him.’

  ‘What are you doing here, Tony? How did you get in?’ Chrissie’s heart was beating wildly, feeling as if it would burst right out of her chest. Until this moment she had thought herself cured of her passion for her erstwhile fiancé but his sudden reappearance in her life was unnerving her. She couldn’t help but remember the familiarity of his face as it used to loom over her when they were lying naked in her bed. She recalled his solemn expression and the sleepy, helpless look of lust in his eyes that she had mistaken for love. Hastily, she returned to the present, forcing these visions from her mind. ‘This part of the course is reserved for owners and trainers. You have no business coming here.’

  ‘I know that.’ He waved her objections away. ‘But I needed to see you. I still have that card you gave me.’ He shrugged, venturing the mischievous smile that had always undone her before. ‘So I held on to it, thinking it might be useful some day and it was.’

  ‘Well, you can give it back to me now. And then you can leave,’ she said, refusing to meet his gaze and hoping he wouldn’t see how his sudden appearance upset her.

  ‘Aw, Chrissie, don’t be like that. Not after all we were to each other.’

  ‘Until you met that blonde you liked better.’

  ‘Oh, she’s long gone. I can scarcely remember her name.’ Tony waved his hand as if batting away a fly. ‘But I needed to see you, Chrissie. To tell you what a terrible mistake I’d made.’

  ‘No, Tony, you did the right thing for both of us. You were honest, for once. Until then, I never realized you thought of me as no more than an unpaid servant; the idiot who did all your work for you when we were at college – a convenient doormat.’

  ‘No, no. I never thought of you in that way. I’ve always loved you and I know you loved me.’ He put his head on one side, assessing her. ‘And you’re looking fabulous today. Love the hat. Lost some weight, as well, haven’t you?’

  ‘No business of yours if I have.’

  ‘Oh, Chrissie, I put you through hell, didn’t I? I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Easy for you to say now.’

  ‘No, it’s not easy at all. I have to live with myself. Chrissie, why don’t you answer my calls? I need to talk to you – to explain what happened to me.’

  ‘You just don’t get it, do you, Tony? I don’t pick up because I have nothing to say to you. I just don’t care any more.’

  ‘I don’t believe you. Love doesn’t die that easily.’

  ‘Yes, it does. If it’s poisoned by betrayal.’

  ‘Please, Chrissie. I’ve been a complete ass – I admit it freely – but even a fool deserves a second chance. I need you to forgive me, Chrissie.’

  ‘Tony, you were my first love; you will always be special for that reason alone. We had our time together and I’ll never forget it. Fool that I was, I adored you. But I can’t take you back. I won’t put my life in the hands of a man I can’t trust. It would be like trying to build a house on quicksands.’

  ‘You can’t mean this. I’m devastated. Please let me hope that one day you’ll come around?’

  ‘Tony, listen and believe me. It’s over between us.’ Slowly, she shook her head. ‘And I won’t reconsider. This time it’s for good.’

  ‘Oh. Well …’ He took a deep breath and looked over her shoulder into the distance as if searching for something to say; what new argument he could use to persuade her. He dropped his voice and moved in closer so that she would be the only person to hear what he had to say. ‘I had to see you cos I’m in a bit of jam. I’ve no one else to turn to or I wouldn’t ask. But … I know you always bring a few hundred to the races, for a meal perhaps or to have a bit of a punt. Don’t suppose you could see your way clear to lending me some?’

  ‘So that’s it. You want money from me,’ Chrissie muttered as her heart gave a painful lurch. This was the same old Tony, going from one crisis to the next, expecting other people to bail him out. He hadn’t changed at all. ‘How much do you need?’

  ‘Only a couple of hundred.’ He scrubbed his hands through his hair, gabbling in his eagerness to make her understand his predicament. ‘Three maybe, if you can spare it.’ His eyes glittered, sure he had her now; that she would come to his rescue. ‘Promise I’ll get it back to you soon as I can—’ He stopped in mid-sentence as she took a step away from him, wide-eyed and shaking her head. ‘Whassamatter, Chrissie? What?’

  ‘I don’t believe this. After all that’s happened between us, you have the nerve to come here, asking me to give you money.’

  ‘No, no, not give. Lend.’

  ‘Give. Lend. It makes no difference with you. I’ll never see it again. I don’t have much money, anyway. You do know I lost my job?’

  ‘Yeah, but your daddy’s well off.’ He dismissed it with a shrug. ‘He wouldn’t see you go short.’

  ‘You have no idea, have you?’ She closed her eye
s briefly to stop herself from screaming. ‘Tony, just go. Now. Before I talk to some officials and have you thrown out.’ She looked at him, seeing for perhaps the first time what a pathetic opportunist, what a cringing little person he really was. How could she ever have thought she was in love with him? ‘And please, do me a favour and stay out of my life.’

  ‘Right.’ He dropped the mask at last, narrowing his eyes in spite. ‘I can see how much I was mistaken in you. I’ve had a lucky escape.’ Determined to have the last word, he tore the card she had given him into tiny pieces and scattered them. ‘All that time we were together and I never knew what a bitch you can be. You don’t even care that I could be beaten up and left for dead in some alley.’ And, head high, he strode away from her.

  ‘It won’t be my fault if you are,’ she called after him, equally determined to have the last word, and watched his angry, retreating back until it disappeared from view. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone taking multiple photos of him with a mobile phone but thought nothing of it at the time. Whatever trouble Tony had brought on himself, it was no longer her affair. It was only when she was quite sure he was gone that she gave way to gasping sobs and the tears came.

  Ryan, who had been watching them discreetly from a distance, waited until he was quite sure Tony was gone, before hurrying to her side, shielding her from public view while she regained her composure. He was still wearing his blue strapper’s vest with Tommy’s race number on it.

  ‘What’s happened, Chrissie? What did that bastard say to upset you? I’ll catch up with him and thump him into the middle of next week, I’ll—’

  ‘Ryan,’ she laughed weakly. ‘He’s not worth it. There’s no need for you to play the white knight.’ She fished a tissue out of her handbag and blew her nose heartily. ‘Really, these are tears of relief because he’s finally gone.’