all roads lead to you

by Probst, Jennifer

  Nerves jumped in her belly, but she savored the precious moment of victory for all of them—making it to the historic Kentucky Derby was an opportunity few horses ever experienced.

  “We got lucky with our post position,” Aidan whispered to her. “The nine slot will give him every opportunity to break clean and get to the front.”

  “Elmo knows what to do,” she whispered back, squeezing his hand in reassurance. “We need to let them both do their jobs.”

  He winked at her and bulbs flashed. Though she hated that their private moment would be splashed all over for the world to assess and judge, there was a new sense of acceptance and ease within. Yes, she’d always protect her privacy, but she didn’t need to hide any longer. She’d fought and claimed her life on her terms, and she wasn’t afraid to let the world see who she was. Phoenix had taught her that.

  So had Aidan.

  She watched Phoenix circle twice, then easily get loaded into the gate. Her skin prickled and her gut clenched, and she said a quick prayer while she waited for the announcement. Down the line they went until each horse was locked and loaded.

  Silence fell upon the packed racetrack.

  The clang of the buzzer shrieked, and the crowd roared.

  “And they’re off!”

  Phoenix broke clean and quickly made his way to the head of the pack, setting the pace. Three horses roared from behind and crowded around him. He let Tom Tom get ahead of him and began to stalk while White Cliff and Sandy’s Son flanked him from both sides. The pace was fast from the onset, and the worry was always that Phoenix would run out of gas before the final push to make way for the closers.

  Holding her breath, she watched the group of horses thunder past the first turn and into the backstretch. Positions shifted. Wicked Wind made a move toward the inside and settled by the rail, taking fifth. Dirt flew and hooves pounded. Tom Tom began to die, falling back, and made way for Sandy’s Son and White Cliff to close in, but Phoenix still held on.

  “He’s waiting for the blowout,” Aidan commented, voice shaky with excitement. “Elmo has the perfect ride so far.”

  And it was. In slow motion, the race ramped up and narrowed to the focus of the final stretch. Tom Tom began to gain ground, and Sandy’s Son faltered, stumbling back. Elmo gave Phoenix the signal, and the horse picked up speed at the same time the closers near the middle kicked it up.

  She held her breath as White Cliff drew near, head to head with Tom Tom and challenging Phoenix.

  The well-known closer, Wicked Wind, exploded in a burst of energy and began passing horses in a blur of speed, nearing the front.

  Harper began screaming her horse’s name, over and over in a war chant as the finish line drew near and Phoenix was three lengths ahead. Wicked Wind came closer in a blistering rush, squeezing Phoenix’s lead to two lengths, one length, and—

  Phoenix crossed the finish line.

  The stadium exploded.

  Throat raw, Harper threw herself into Aidan’s arms, tears leaking from her eyes as the reality rushed over her.

  Phoenix had just won the Kentucky Derby.

  Cameras rolled, mics were pushed in her face, and Aidan held on to her for a few more precious seconds, his hug relating all the emotions that could never be formed into words. When he pulled away, his eyes were damp.

  They pushed their way through the thickening crowds toward the winner’s circle and took their place alongside the memory of the most famous horses of legend.

  It was one of the greatest moments of her life.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  One week later, they sat together in the pasture and watched Phoenix and Captain Hoof laze in the sun.

  Harper’s head lay in Aidan’s lap. He stroked her hair, munching on sunflower seeds, and watched the clouds float by.

  She lifted a hand and pointed to the periwinkle sky. “Look, a turtle.”

  He squinted. “Looks like a naked woman lying on her side.”

  “Really, Irish? You got a boob out of that?”

  “Sorry, guess my head’s not in the right place.” His burgeoning erection under her cheek made her laugh. “Or maybe it’s the other head that’s giving me the problem.”

  “We just had sex this morning.”

  “Hours ago. I’m starved for affection.” He pressed a kiss on her lips, and she sighed with contentment. “How does it feel being a Derby winner?”

  “Ask Phoenix.”

  They grinned and stole a glance at her champion. He lay stretched out on his side, eyes closed in bliss. Captain Hoof squeezed in tight beside him, always needing to touch, with his head resting on top of him. Bolt and Wheezy circled around, barking occasionally, but the two of them refused to budge.

  “I don’t think he cares much,” Aidan commented, lifting strands of hair and combing through them. The motion made her sleepy. “He’s definitely not a diva.”

  “Not his style. Nor mine. How many interview requests have you turned down?”

  “Too many to count.”

  “Did you see the camera crew parked outside the gates, trying to get a glimpse of Phoenix working out?”

  Aidan groaned. “Yeah, Ethan’s buddy has been amazing. Said he’d take care of it. He’ll be at the Preakness viewing party they’re holding at Bea’s Diner. Don’t want the press to overrun the town’s celebration. We have a few more days before we have to leave and dive back into the chaos.”

  “Are we ready?”

  “What do you think?” He grinned, lowering his head, and kissed her. She kissed him back, reaching up to hold on to him, falling into his embrace like a young girl with her first crush. He gave her both the butterflies and the sense of rightness. How had she gotten so lucky to find him? “You’re not nervous, are you?”

  “About the second leg of the most difficult circuit in the world? Nah. Not a bit.”

  “His workouts have been stellar, and he’s had plenty of rest. The Belmont is the one that concerns me the most. It’s the longest, when closers can finally catch up to him, but we’ll worry about that later.”

  “Maybe our horse should be running laps instead of napping.”

  “It’s called a power nap.” His teeth nipped at her bottom lip. “Maybe we should take one. Want to take a stroll in the barn?”

  Her almost giggle still surprised her. She didn’t think it was possible for her to create a giggle. “That’s called a roll in the hay.”

  “Semantics, love. The barn is ours for the taking. John’s on break. Chloe and Owen are in school. Ophelia and Kyle are running the inn, and Ethan and Mia are in town for the next few hours. And I promise Flower won’t tell.”

  “Race you to the barn.”

  He rolled over and chased after her.

  The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness, was run at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, and began just like the other big races had. Phoenix had another good travel trip and was safely installed in his space amid a stall befit for glory. People had sent him gifts—from roses to iced oatmeal cookies to stuffed-goat toys. He was no longer considered a lucky one-hit wonder and had turned into America’s sweetheart. With his rescue backstory and cranky temper with other animals besides a disabled goat, the blinkers he proudly wore, and the way he pranced on the field as a bit of a show-off, the country obsessed and dreamed he’d be the next winner of the Triple Crown. His speed was breaking records, and even critics had a hard time betting him down for the Preakness.

  “The morning line odds are three to one,” Harper announced, throwing the paper on the table. They were eating breakfast in their room, nibbling at fruit, croissants, and a platter of crispy bacon. She’d bitched about the subpar coffee on their last trip, and now he carried coffee beans and a grinder with him so they could make their own brew.

  He grinned, tipping his cup to take another sip of tea while she drank her extra-strong coffee. “Odds will jump all over the place today, especially as we get closer to post time. Don’t get attached.”
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br />   “I think his odds should be two to one. He’s coming in strong.”

  “But was almost beat by Wicked Wind. It was close enough to make the handicappers doubt. Tom Tom made a strong rally also, and got a post by the rail. We pulled an outside position, where it’s not easy for a pacesetter to break and get ahead.”

  She waved her hand in the air and snorted. “Phoenix likes a good challenge. Why are you being a Debbie Downer?”

  He laughed. “I’m just reciting what I heard on TV. I better get dressed and ready.” He stood up, grabbing his phone as it buzzed frantically. He glanced at the number and swiped with his thumb. “Elmo, we’re getting ready and will be over in a bit. I think we should—”

  “Aidan. You need to get over here.”

  He froze at the sound of his jockey’s voice. Instantly, his heartbeat ramped up and a cold, clammy sweat broke out on his skin. “What’s the matter?” he asked calmly.

  “It’s Phoenix. Something’s wrong with his ankle. Call the vet.”

  Aidan closed his eyes and dragged in a breath. He couldn’t lose his shit now—it was too important. For everyone. “I’ll be right over.”

  Harper sensed his unease and stood up from the table. “What is it?” she asked worriedly.

  “We need to get to the track. Elmo noticed something wrong with Phoenix’s ankle. I’m calling the vet now.”

  They shared a glance. His gut clenched at the look on her face, but she quickly got dressed, and they sped over to the track.

  Elmo was waiting for them. “Noticed swelling round the right ankle. No heat, but there’s some stiffness.”

  “Hey, boy,” Harper cooed, rubbing under his chin. “You got some pain?” She knelt down and Aidan joined her. They both ran their hands over the sore spot, probing gently. “Seems like there’s definitely inflammation,” she said. Her teeth tugged at her lower lip. “Let’s see what the vet says.”

  As Aidan looked at Phoenix, a voice whispered from deep within, rising up, the words slithering out with glee.

  He’s not going to run today.

  You lose.

  No. There was nothing wrong with Phoenix. He’d kept his training deliberately light. Been cleared by their own vet right before they traveled. The horse had put in a perfect morning workout, was in high spirits, and seemed on top of his game.

  He had to run.

  When the vet came, there was already a nervous energy buzzing in the air around them. Phoenix tossed his head, trying to buck away from the vet, probably in response to their gloom and doom and tension. Captain Hoof pressed against his legs, and the horse began to calm. Finally, he allowed the examination.

  After what felt like an eternity, the vet straightened and shook his head. “Don’t know.”

  Aidan gritted his teeth. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

  “There’s no fracture or break. He seems to have full movement. There’s a bit of inflammation, which tells me something is going on in the joint, but it may not be serious. Did he have a particularly challenging workout?”

  “Short breeze. No issues,” Elmo said.

  “Walk him around for me,” the doctor advised. “I want to study his gait and reaction.”

  Aidan opened the stall and took him out, walking him slowly back and forth.

  “Okay, there’s definitely minor stiffness, but he doesn’t seem to be in pain.”

  “So he can run?” Aidan asked.

  The vet gave them a shrewd glance, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. “He can probably run, but you’re taking a chance. Unless I give him an X-ray, I can’t completely rule out a bone or cartilage issue. It could be a possible infection, but I can’t rule that out, either, unless I collect synovial fluid and run tests. He could have landed a bit hard on a turn, and it just started bothering him now. Problem with ankle issues is it could be a cocktail of various things, but I don’t have the time to get a diagnosis.”

  Silence descended. The words were like a gathering storm that grew power slowly but built up to a hurricane. Aidan’s mind ticked through a hundred different scenarios, all with different outcomes.

  “If it’s something more serious, and he races, what can happen?” Harper asked.

  “He could damage the leg, maybe permanently.”

  “And if it’s nothing but a minor sore-joint issue?” Aidan asked.

  “I’d suggest ice packs, some stall rest up for a few days, and maybe some inflammatory meds. I’ve seen these issues many times before. I’ve watched horses run with minor injuries and become lame. I’ve also seen horses scratched from a race for what looked like an upcoming infection that turned out to be nothing but a bad mood and temperament. He’s clear to run if you decide to keep him in. I know it’s difficult with the stakes so high, but at this point, it’s truly a personal decision. I’ll be around awhile longer. Here’s my card if you have any further questions.”

  The vet handed Aidan the card and disappeared, leaving them all in shocked silence.

  He stared at Phoenix. They’d come so far. He knew the racing business was full of hard turns and bad breaks. Scratches happened all the time, for various reasons.

  But God help him, he had to think of all the players here.

  “What do you think?” Harper finally asked, searching his gaze. Those sea-green eyes were filled with anguish, hope, and a raw emotion. “My instinct is to scratch, but it may be nothing. If we pull him from the race, there’s no longer a shot at the Triple Crown.”

  Elmo muttered a curse and stroked the horse’s flank. “No demons this time,” he said quietly. “Did I take him too hard round turn?”

  “No, Elmo,” Aidan said quietly. “You did nothing wrong. In fact, you were the one who caught it. All of us could have missed the signs, it was so subtle.”

  “I think he do it,” Elmo said. “I think he win if he runs.”

  Aidan did, too. It was in the horse’s liquid brown eyes, the determination and spirit that drove him forward to give everything he had. Even now, the horse exuded confidence with every toss of his head, the prick of his ears when he heard his name. He’d fought his demons and won. It was an ongoing battle, but they’d done it together, and he deserved the shot at the Crown.

  How could Aidan rip that away?

  Because if something happened to Phoenix out there, he’d never forgive himself.

  And neither would Harper.

  “Aidan? I trust your opinion. What do you think?” she asked.

  Trust.

  That little word meant everything to her. The word he’d once broken by not telling her about his past, then slowly rebuilt each day they spent together. The word that made him vow to always put Phoenix first, no matter the stakes.

  He could scratch him for nothing, and they’d regret it for the rest of his life. There’d be anger in the racing world for not being able to celebrate a possible Triple Crown. History wouldn’t remember Phoenix as a winner but as the horse who’d been scratched, and handicappers would gleefully proclaim he’d never had a chance to win anyway. Aidan would return to Ireland with a mark on his record, questioned and doubted by owners because he was too scared to race against the odds. Colin would win.

  Aidan could let him run and take his chances. If Phoenix won, he’d be one step closer to the Triple Crown, and Aidan would be one step closer to his goal of showing everyone back home he was still a successful trainer and avenging the betrayal of his best friend.

  But if Phoenix ran and became permanently injured, they’d lose everything.

  Aidan closed his eyes and went inward to the part of him that had once whispered he’d found his next champion.

  And found his answer.

  He slowly opened his eyes. Then took Harper’s and Elmo’s hands in his. “We have to scratch. It may be nothing, but if we gamble and lose, I’ll never be able to live with the decision. Can you?”

  A sob choked Harper’s throat, but she nodded. “No.”

  Elmo was stoic, but his other hand closed ar
ound the horse’s mane, as if trying to gather strength. “No.”

  “Then we scratch. We get the X-ray and the tests and take it from there. If it’s minor, we rest him up and see if he can run in the Belmont.”

  Elmo looked to the gathering crowds swarming the barn, ready to pounce when the horses exited. The buzz of gossip had already broken, and everyone was frantic to know if Phoenix would still run. “They believe in him. We break America’s heart.”

  “They’ll still believe in him, Elmo. Whether or not he wins another damn race, he got a taste of the big-league glory. We all did.” He smiled, though underneath, a soul-sucking grief at the loss threatened to overwhelm him. But not now. He needed to lead his team, and the next few hours were crucial. “We’re going to inform them of the news with our heads held high because we already won. Understood?”

  Harper put her arms around Aidan and Elmo as Phoenix moved close. “Understood.”

  He stood with his makeshift family and the horse who had changed him and gathered his strength to face what lay ahead.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  A week later, Harper walked into the barn and found Aidan sitting with Phoenix. The lilting brogue in his voice rose in the air, and she leaned against the door to listen.

  “Don’t get too attached to those cookies, mo chára. Tomorrow, we’ll get you back in action and see how that ankle holds. I should’ve known you’d love to bring a bit of drama to a Crown race. Also should’ve known you wouldn’t make it easy. What fun would that be?”

  His chuckle told her Phoenix had butted his head when Aidan stopped stroking him.

  “Vet cleared you, buddy, so no more lazing around. Let’s get you some fresh air. Come on, Captain, you need some, too.” The gate unlatched and he stepped outside. Her heart broke at the wary glint in his eye when he spotted her. “Hey. Didn’t hear you come in.”