by James, Sandy
“Who’d have thought?” Chris asked as he walked up the aisle pulling Brian’s race bike behind him.
“What?” Katie asked.
Chris gave her a haughty smile. “You two can spend more than one minute together without shouting at each other. I hope it’s a trend.” It clearly pleased him to see her a bit contrite. Seth’s face bore what had to be a similar expression.
Katie suddenly felt foolish. Chris was right. They’d been squabbling like a couple of bratty kids. She turned to Seth. “Truce?”
Seth nodded and extended his hand. “Truce.”
Katie grasped his outstretched hand and gave it a shake. Much to her chagrin, she could feel the heat of his skin as if it was still pressed against hers after they no longer touched. Her own body had become her worst enemy. Every nerve, every fiber wanted Seth, and nothing she could do would put a damper on how she reacted to him whenever he was near.
The qualifiers progressed rapidly, and Gold’s moment of trial by race arrived. Both Seth and Katie worked quietly around the horse to check equipment one last time before attaching Brian’s race bike to the harness. Seth led the colt to the chute as Katie took a place along the fence and said a silent prayer. One never knew what could happen with two-year-olds. A prayer sure couldn’t hurt.
“I’m worried about the start,” Seth said as he walked up to stand by Katie’s side and rest his elbows on the fence. “I should’ve schooled him behind the gate more.”
“No, you schooled him plenty. He knows what the gate is for. Seth, you did great with Gold, as well as I could’ve done training him.” The smile he gave her in response was so unguarded, so genuine, it made Katie’s heart skip a quick beat. God, how she wanted to kiss him right there in front of everyone, gossip be damned. She shook her head and turned her attention back to the start of the race.
They watched helplessly as the field set into motion. Spun Gold’s fate now rested in Brian’s hands.
Following Seth’s instructions, Brian urged the colt to the front of the pack with apparent ease. “Twenty-nine seconds for the first quarter,” Katie said as she reached over to place her hand over Seth’s where it rested on the fence. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to reassure him or bolster herself. “So far, so good.”
As the field began to move on the backstretch, a horse challenged Gold’s dominance by charging fast on the outside. Just before the half-mile pole, the horses raced neck and neck, eye to eye.
“No!” Katie let out a frightened shriek as she watched her colt suddenly take a bad step and fall. Gold’s tumble threw Brian’s bike toward the infield grass, and Brian flew for several feet before landing in a motionless heap. The only good part of the horrible spill was that the horse, bike, and driver were flung to their left and away from the other sulkies. If they had veered right, there would have been a major pileup.
People all over the track sprang into motion. The remaining racers had moved on toward the finish as the track workers ran to help the injured driver.
Katie saw Gold back on four hooves and dragging the still attached but now twisted race bike toward the paddock at a quick pace. Seth ran out onto the track. He whistled as he tried to capture the wayward colt. Katie followed at his heels and was relieved when Gold slowed and then ground to a stop next to Seth. At least they wouldn’t have to chase the frightened horse.
As soon as she caught up with Seth, Katie struggled to remove the tangled bike from the horse’s harness while Seth held the bridle and ran his hand over Gold’s bleeding front legs. “Take him to the vet,” she ordered. “He’s over in the test barn. Let him look Gold over. I’m going to see about Brian and see if he has horses that still need to race.”
“They won’t cancel the rest of the qualifiers?” Seth asked.
Katie shook her head. “An accident only slows the races down, doesn’t stop ‘em.”
Seth nodded and led Gold toward the test barn.
By the time Katie had dragged the deformed sulky off the track, she could see Brian had regained his feet. Samantha had run to his side, and Brian now leaned heavily on her shoulders as he walked on unsteady legs. The ambulance entered the track, and Katie watched Sam intently saying something to Brian and trying to lead him to the vehicle. She was obviously insisting that he be put inside. Brian didn’t seem horribly cooperative as he shook his head. Sam must have won the argument because Katie watched Brian finally step up into the rig. His wife crawled in beside him.
Katie decided the best thing she could do was get the Mitchell’s horse ready for the upcoming qualifier. She checked the posted races and then turned to jog up one of the long rows of the paddock.
Several minutes later, Sam joined Katie in the horse’s stall. “Thanks, Katie. I needed to see Brian.”
“Since you’re here, I hope that means he’s fine.” Katie finished tightening the cinch on the leather harness.
“Yeah, he’s fine.” Sam gave a small, odd laugh. “He needs to change his tighty-whities, but he’s only a little scraped up. God, I hate this. I wish to hell he’d stop driving and just train.” She grabbed a tendon boot, crouched next to her horse, and began to wrap it around the animal’s lower leg even though it was upside down. Sam’s hands were shaking.
“But he’s one of the best. He loves it.”
“I know he loves it. Hell, he lives for it. I just wish he didn’t.” Sam stood up and threw the tendon boot down in disgust. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry,” she said even as the tears fell on her cheeks. She turned and gave the wall a solid kick.
Katie moved to her friend, spun her around, and pulled her into a hug. “He’s okay, Sam. He’s fine.”
“What about next time? Huh?” She sniffled against Katie’s shoulder. “We’re going to have a baby. He needs to be more careful.”
Katie patted her friend’s back. “He’s just as likely to get hurt crossing the street.”
Sam snorted a laugh then pushed herself away from Katie. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. But thanks anyway.” Sam wiped her tears on the sleeve of her shirt. “Damn, I hate crying. Must be the hormones.” She reached down and retrieved the tendon boot. “At least he used the old race bike. I’d kill him if he trashed the new one. Let’s get this horse on the track.” Sam stomped her foot. “Oh, hell. I’ve gotta get another driver.”
Seth came back to the paddock, leading an uncharacteristically subdued Gold and hauling the harness over his shoulder. The colt now sported long streaks of silver disinfectant spray down both of his front legs and across his chest. Katie walked over to take a look at the damage.
“Just some cuts and scrapes. Nothing major. He should be good by next week’s qualifiers,” Seth informed her.
Katie patted the horse’s neck, relieved the accident had caused no serious damage to Brian, Gold, or anyone else on the track.
“How’s Brian?” Seth asked. “I didn’t see the ambulance leave.”
“He’s all right. He didn’t have to go to the hospital, but I’ll bet he’ll feel it tomorrow. Let’s get Gold back to the farm.”
“I’ll get him in the trailer for you, but would you mind if I stayed here?”
Katie shook her head. “No. Stay. Get a nap. We’ve got two in tonight. I’ll bring them in.”
Seth helped her gather the equipment and load Spun Gold into the trailer, and then he watched her drive away.
The instant he saw Katie’s taillights pass the guard post, Seth beat a path straight to the race office.
Chapter 16
“You did what?” Katie shouted, startling the horse she had led into a stall.
Seth had known she wouldn’t like what he had to say, and he promised himself he’d keep his own temper in check. “You heard me. I got my Q-license yesterday so I can drive. I’m going to race Gold in the next qualifier.”
“The hell you are! What do you want to do, get yourself killed?”
“Thanks for that vote of confidence, Boss.” He let an arrogant smile form on his lips. “I mi
ght start to believe you really care.”
Katie was in one of her huffs, and Seth knew she wasn’t about to be charmed out of it. “Seth, you might think you’re a groom, and you can make believe you’re a trainer. But you’re not pretending you’re a driver. Are you insane?”
“I am a groom, and I sure as hell have been doing a pretty good job pretending to be a trainer.” Seth took an angry step toward her. “And if I want to drive, why should you care? I’ll get him qualified. Gold wouldn’t have fallen if I’d been the one driving him.”
Putting her hands on her hips, Katie threw him an incredulous scowl. “And how could you possibly know that?”
“I just do,” was his cocky response as he glared down at her. As if the woman could ever be intimidated.
“You honestly believe that?”
“Absolutely.”
Katie rolled her eyes in clear exasperation. “Well, excuse me. I didn’t realize all-knowing, all-powerful Seth Remington could see the future.” A sarcastic chuckle came from her lips. “Remind me to ask you before I ever bet again. It would help to know the winners before the race.”
Seth watched her run through a gamut of emotions, her face full of expression, her eyes full of worry. His announcement had obviously affected her deeply.
After a few moments, she stomped her foot. “I won’t let you do it. He’s my colt, and I won’t let you do it.” Whirling around, Katie took long, angry strides getting back to her office. “It’s ridiculous. It’s dangerous. It’s entirely out of the question,” she muttered along the way.
Seth worked quietly around the barn to give Katie time to cool down. Her anger wasn’t going to change his mind, but it did give him some insight into her thoughts. Could it be Katie cared about him more than she let on?
No. She’s just thinking about Spun Gold.
Besides, it was becoming pretty clear she belonged to Ross. That thought tore through Seth, making his stomach churn. No matter how hard he fought them, his feelings for Katie couldn’t be shaken. She remained in his thoughts almost every waking moment, and the little time his mind drifted elsewhere, it focused on racing. This world had become his life; Katie had become his passion.
Several minutes later, he knocked softly on her door and stuck his head inside. “Katie?”
“Yeah.”
“Will you give me a chance? I know Gold. I can drive him. C’mon, Boss. It’s just a qualifier.”
Katie’s heavy sigh was enough to let Seth know he had succeeded. “Get Mascot ready. We need to leave soon.”
“Thanks, Boss.” He ran to do her biding.
* * * *
Ross grabbed Katie as soon as she crawled out of the van and planted a kiss on her lips. From the corner of his eye, Ross saw Seth scowl as he moved out to the track to grab College Mascot’s bridle before leading the horse into the winner’s circle.
They all made nice for the picture before the three of them piled back into the van to head for the paddock as Brian drove the gelding in the same direction.
After the horse exited the track, Seth and Katie worked to remove Brian’s race bike. Ross moved aside to wait for some time alone with Katie, watching Seth glare at Katie over the horse’s back.
“I’ll take Mascot to the test barn. That way you can spend more time with Romeo over there.” Seth inclined his head toward Ross.
Katie glared right back at him. “What’s it matter to you anyway?”
He snorted a small laugh. “It doesn’t.”
Ross waited patiently, watching their exchange and feeling like an outsider. No matter what he did to try to win Katie’s favor, she remained aloof. He’d never courted a woman as hard as he had Katie, but then again he’d never wanted a woman as badly, either. Flowers. Candy. Phone calls. He crossed his arms and leaned against the paddock wall, resigned to waiting for Seth and Katie to stop their bickering. Realizing Seth inspired all kinds of emotions in Katie, Ross felt a stab of jealousy. He was relieved when Seth finally led Mascot away.
A brunette sidled up to Ross so silently he barely heard her coming. He had no idea who she was, and when she began to talk, it took him a second to realize she was addressing him. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I said, ‘Hello, Handsome.’ I’m Rachel.” She reached out and let her fingers caress his arm. “What’s a nice guy like you doing in a dump like this? A little out of place in a suit and tie, aren’t you?”
“Look, I don’t know who you are, but I’ve got no intention of—”
A shriek came from behind them. Ross and Rachel both whirled around to the source of the racket.
“You bitch! You can’t keep your hands off anyone’s man, can you?” A tall, muscular woman with long bleached-blond hair marched on Rachel with hate clearly in her eyes. The woman reached out, grabbed a handful of Rachel’s long hair, and gave it a vicious tug.
Rachel squealed, placed both of her hands on her attacker’s chest, and pushed. She succeeded in getting free but lost several strands of hair in the process. “I’ll kick your ass!” Rachel shouted.
“Bring it!” was the blonde’s response as she spread her arms, narrowed her eyes, and crouched in anticipation of a fight.
With a loud snarl, Rachel pounced first, but the blonde was ready. As Rachel reached for her, the blonde used her foot to trip Rachel who ended up with a face full of the bark that lined the paddock’s floor.
The blonde glared down at Rachel. “That’s for sleeping with my boyfriend!”
Rachel rolled to her back as the other woman sat down to straddle Rachel’s stomach and rain blows to Rachel’s face and chest. Rachel held her hands up to ward off the punches, but she was definitely on the losing end of the battle.
Two security guards must have noticed the commotion because they ran from their post at the paddock’s entrance to try to separate the fighting women. The blonde struggled against the guards with the obvious intention of getting in a few last licks, but the men finally pulled the women apart. Rachel was led to the race office while the blonde had an escort to the drivers’ lounge. The crowd of people that had formed quickly dispersed when a black and white city police cruiser pulled up alongside the guard shack a few minutes later.
Katie had come to stand at Ross’s side and observed a good portion of the altercation. She tried not to be pleased to see someone taking a piece out of Rachel. She didn’t want to be that petty. But, damn, it was hard not to thank the blonde.
Ross turned to her, looking extraordinarily confused. “Do you know what that was all about?”
“I’ve got no idea.”
“You know them?”
Katie nodded. “The brunette is Rachel Schaeffer. I don’t know the blonde, but I think she’s dating one of the drivers. I’ve seen her around the paddock a lot lately.”
“Does this happen often? I’d hate to think I’m missing all the fun.”
Katie chuckled. “No, doesn’t happen often. But everyone here knows everyone else’s business. There are no—”
He waved his hand to stop her. “No secrets in the barn. I remember. I see what you mean now.” Ross seemed amused by the whole situation. “I think the brunette was hitting on me, and it pissed off the blonde.”
Katie watched the people around the paddock excitedly spreading word of the fight, scurrying around like squirrels storing nuts for the winter. She hoped the new gossip would give them something to talk about other than her and Ross.
“I don’t doubt she was hitting on you.”
“Why? Because I’m so handsome?” Ross teased as he playfully leaned into her shoulder.
Katie couldn’t help but smile at the man. He really could be charming. She wished again that she could feel about Ross the way she felt about Seth, but time and again, Ross’s kisses seemed nothing more than brotherly. There had been plenty of chances for a spark to ignite, but it never did more than fizzle. But Katie had come to value his friendship, and she needed Ross almost as much as she did Chris and Brian. Admitting it t
o herself came as a relief. Ross was just her friend. “Rachel and I’ve had a few... problems in the past,” she finally answered.
“Want to tell me about it?” He slipped an arm around her shoulder.
Katie had buried the horrible, humiliating story deep in her mind long ago. It was the only way she could function with Rachel always underfoot. Seeing the blonde attack Rachel brought the whole sordid mess bubbling to the surface. “Do you know who Mike Knight is?”
“Isn’t he that hotshot driver from back east? What do they call him? The White Knight?”
“Yeah. That’s him.” She took a steadying breath. “I used to see Mike. Actually, we were engaged for a while.” Katie’s voice took on a hard edge despite her best efforts.
“If you don’t want to talk about it...”
“No. It’s okay. You’re my friend. I can trust you. I thought I knew him, and I thought... I thought he loved me. But the only one Mike ever loved was Mike. Rachel got her hooks in him one night and I was lucky enough to find them screwing around in his truck.”
Ross pulled her a little closer. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah? Well, so was I. I threw the ring at him and...” She gave a small shrug. “That was that. He headed to the Meadowlands a few weeks later. Unfortunately, I still have to see Rachel almost every day.”
“It’s obvious she gets around,” he said in a conciliatory voice. She wondered how often he’d used that tone with his clients.
“She does, but this is more... personal. Rachel’s dad is Jacob Schaeffer. You met him at the farm the day they brought Spun Gold down from Goshen. Remember?” Ross nodded. “Jacob taught me how to train horses. Grandpa wanted me to learn from the best, so when I turned twelve, he kind of apprenticed me to Jacob.”
“I take it Rachel thinks she was neglected, right? Daddy gave you more time than he did her. Way too Freudian. Why didn’t Jacob teach her to train too?”
