by Stacy Hoff
If the rain broke while Ryder was on the track, the risk of injury would dramatically go up. Not only did mud make a lot of horses skittish, it made for slick conditions. Worse, any horse not in the lead would suffer from having mud thrown in its face. The same mud would also be thrown into the jockey’s face, dangerously impairing vision. Goggles often could not withstand the assault for too long and even having back-up goggles could fail, creating a dangerous racetrack filled with jockeys riding some of the fastest, biggest, most powerful animals on earth. Trying desperately to not crash into each other.
If they failed, or a horse simply stumbled on its own, both jockey and horse could be horribly injured or even trampled to death. Exactly like what had happened to Ryder last time she rode.
I can stand suffering a lost race. But I can’t stand losing her.
“Jake?” said a voice from behind him.
Hmm, what? He spun around. “Dina? I told you, I’m through discussing— Hey, are you okay?” He squinted as his sister came closer. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen. He frowned. “Where’s Steven? Does he know you’re upset?”
“Sure he knows. He’s upset, too. Right now he’s yelling at Dad. I left to come find you.”
He shook his head. “No, sorry, I can’t. You’ll need to tell me later. I’ve got to get a message to Ryder. I don’t want her racing in these conditions. Handsome Dancer is already skittish to begin with. The rain is only going to compound the problem.”
“That’s what I came to talk to you about, Handsome Dancer. I overheard Dad fighting with Barney Smythe.” Dina let out a whimper. “Dad assured Barney that Handsome Dancer couldn’t possibly win. Apparently Dad not only bet on Barney’s horse, but he tried to fix this race, too.” Dina let out a strangled cry. “I can’t believe it. Why would Daddy do such a thing?”
“I can’t answer that.”
Dina blinked in surprise. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”
“I found out a few minutes ago. Barney told me. He said if I didn’t give him a cut of Handsome Dancer’s winnings, he’d see to it his horse won. He blamed the whole thing on Dad, calling him a loan shark. Barney said he owed Dad money.”
“I can’t believe it.”
Jake arched a single eyebrow. “Can’t you?”
Dina looked at him soulfully.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. You’ve always bought into all his crap, Dina. I know you’re better than all that stuff of his you spout. Telling me I need to be dating only pedigree people. And that Steven has to work his butt off to afford things like an unnecessary addition to your house. If Dad wasn’t so obsessed by money maybe he wouldn’t be loansharking in the first place. His legit business ventures have generated more than enough cash. I think people who can’t be happy with what they have, have a problem. Don’t you?” He gave her a pointed look.
“Maybe Dad is obsessed with money,” she said. “Maybe I am, too.”
All of a sudden the rain came. From light drops to heavy ones in almost an instant. Quickly turning into hard slats of pummeling rain.
Jake tensed. “Did you need to tell me anything else? Because I’ve got to go.”
Dina seemed not to notice the oncoming downpour. She grabbed ahold of Jake and drew him near her. “I love you, little brother.” Her voice was gravely as if she were going to sob again. “At least we have each other. I heard what you said and promise to be a better sister to you.” Her lips pressed together tightly in a thin line before adding, “Sounds like I need to be a better wife to Steven, too.”
“Steven loves you. I love you. Don’t worry, Dina. We’ll get through whatever issues with Dad. Now you’ve got to go, and so do I.”
“Thanks, Jake. Good luck with the race. And good luck with Ryder, too. If she’s the woman you want, I’m happy to welcome her.” She gave him a timid smile and then sprinted away, hand on her large hat as she fought through the wind and rain to get back to her husband.
As Jake hurried on, the track’s huge digital billboard caught his eye. The new message downgraded the condition from ‘fair’ to ‘poor.’ Soon it would read ‘sloppy.’ With each downgrade, Ryder would be in more danger.
He searched for an official to pull her out. He’d just gotten hold of someone when “sloppy” appeared in large white digital letters.
Shit!
And then Jake heard the sound of the bugle start the race. Oh, God, Ryder. His heart sank and his stomach tensed. Helpless, he walked away to stand in the downpour to watch.
He’d be damned if he admitted it was more than rain causing the water in his eyes.
Chapter 19
Ryder sat in the number one gate, placed approximately six furloughs from the finish line, her jaw set tight. Horses typically hated this gate, the one closest to the inside rail. This gate would get the first horse loaded, leaving that horse antsy while waiting for the rest of the horses to be put into their own gates. A restless horse was one that could thrash about and hurt itself or the jockey. It would also force the horse to start off against the rail, which could sometimes cause it to become trapped. A gate further down would allow better manipulation to get into the lead, and then edge toward the inside for a faster route to the finish line.
Handsome Dancer was agitated today to begin with. Getting stuck with the one gate wasn’t going to help. But which gate a horse got was the luck of the draw. A gamble, like the rest of horseracing. She could only hope the rest of this race would get better.
“Easy, babycakes, take it easy.” She stroked his mane and spoke softly to him. “We’re going to get through this, you and me.”
As if Mother Nature wanted to prove her wrong, the sky opened up with a crack. Then the wind picked up, starting slow but working its way into a howl. A few big heavy drops splashed against her skin. Handsome Dancer’s ears went flat and his flesh twitched. With a rough snort, he pawed at the ground with his front right hoof.
Suddenly more rain came with a strength that pummeled her. It stung her skin as it came in sideways sheets. Lord, it’s my worst nightmare.
And then she wasn’t on Handsome Dancer anymore. No, in her mind she was on Makin’ Waves, the horse of her last race. Her father was not only alive but watching her from the viewing stands. Makin’ Waves’ owner stood by her father’s side. The owner’s face was calm and cool. Her father, however, gripped his hat tightly in his hands, a grimace on his face. No matter how much he believed in her, the risk of injury was too high for a parent to ignore. Her mother, also supportive, couldn’t bear to watch at all. “Maybe I’ll get braver as time goes on,” her mother had said. Ryder had laughed off their concern. Parents worry so much. But at least mine encourage me to do what I was born to do.
Ryder, in her mind’s eye, saw her father’s face as Makin’ Waves bolted from the gate and took off in the lead. Only to fall midway through and crash down onto her.
She closed her eyes as she remembered the feeling of wet earth cutting into her skin. And then the tremendous boom as Makin’ Waves fell on top of her. Then nothing as the world stood still. No noise. No vision. Nothing. Until the world had started up again at a speed high enough to generate cyclones. Everything, sound, vision, crashing down on her at once. Along with the pain. The deep searing pain. It shot through her neck, back, and legs. Then she felt it in the ribs before everything went black.
She hadn’t actually seen her dad’s face when she fell. Even if she had wanted to look for him, he would have been indiscernible in the distance through the crowds. Yet she pictured him now, his face morphing, twisting in an agony that mirrored her own.
Handsome Dancer bucked underneath her, dragging Ryder into the here and now. She felt her chest expand and contract quickly as if struggling to get air. Now is not the time for a panic attack.
“The horses are all loaded,” she heard somebody behind t
he posts shout out. “Get ready!”
Ryder shoved her goggles over her eyes, with more ready to drop down if needed. Then the gate doors opened and Handsome Dancer leapt out. He took off like a thunderbolt, seemingly oblivious to what the other horses were doing.
Ryder kept her position more upright, steering Handsome Dancer through the dangerous crowd. A storm of dark, beautiful bodies thundered along at shockingly high speeds. The mud kicked back from the horses’ hooves, cutting into their skin and blinding them. Within moments, her first pair of goggles became ruined, the lenses scratched and clouded from the sharp mud. She pulled down her second pair. Damn. At this pace, I’ll have gone through my last pair before ever hitting the finish line.
Handsome kept his head low to avoid the muddy onslaught. But if she didn’t bring it up, the weight of his hanging head would slow him down and make them lose. I’ve got to get us out of here.
She started steering Handsome through the throng to bring him closer to the outside, leaving the inside rail far behind. The sound of the horses’ hooves thundered loudly in her ears. Weaving Handsome Dancer though the herd was no easy task. It required spotting the minutest holes to shove through. Too tight a fit could lead to bumping, which would disqualify them. Or ban her from being able to ride. Or worst of all, result in a crash. Am I crazy? Why am I worried about being able to race again when I haven’t even survived this one? Her hands grasped Handsome Dancer’s reins so tightly the skin around her knuckles threatened to crack.
With a final bob and weave, she and Handsome made it all the way to the outside. They were well past the fourth furlough, getting closer to the home stretch. Time for a tactical choice. Should she conserve his energy a little longer or tell Handsome to go for it, hoping he had enough strength to keep up his highest speed until they reached the finish line, two furloughs away? No, I’m through with playing it safe. In racing, and in life. I’m here to win, not just make do.
She grit her teeth, her body tense with resolve. She spurred him on faster, bent her knees until her butt hovered right above the saddle, and then leaned her upper body forward to spur the horse on. As Handsome gained stride she shoved her second pair of ruined goggles down around her neck and reached over her helmet to bring down the last pair.
The eighth pole, marking the fifth furlough, appeared. I’m going to go for broke. It’s show time.
She leaned further forward in the saddle. “Let’s go!”
Handsome bolted. Suddenly, they were flying down the track. He wants this. Handsome Dancer wants to win. And now I know I want this, too.
In seconds they were a full length ahead of the pack. Ryder reached up and held on to Handsome’s neck, dropping the reins completely. “Keep your head up, boy,” she called out. Instantly she felt his head steady once again and his body surge forward.
They were almost two full lengths ahead. Almost there!
The wind howled around them, heightened by their great speed. The rain crashed down in torrents, impossible to see. They surged forward, a single creature going for victory. One heart. One mind. One goal.
Feeling an empty, painful pit in his stomach, Jake cursed as he made his way back toward the viewing stands. I should have stopped her. If anything happens to her, it’s my fault.
Win or lose he was going to be there for her. All that mattered was that she made it back safe to the finish line. I’m the one who pushed her into this dangerous situation. What was I thinking?
The drama of the day had made it clear there was only one person who needed to be the focus of his life. A woman who would forever be in the winner’s circle. At the center of his life. His whole world.
A smile crept up his face. There’s no fighting it. No denying it. I am in love with Ryder.
But with that realization came pain. If anything happens to her . . . Jake clutched at a handkerchief in his pocket, balling it up and kneading it in between his fingers with nervous energy. His face twisted around painfully though he hardly noticed it.
He felt a gentle arm on his shoulder and turned around to see his sister. Dina gave him a warm smile. “She’ll be okay, Jake. She might even win.”
Jake nodded, too focused on the unfolding race to verbally acknowledge his sister’s words.
“Holy crap, bro,” Steven marveled, his attention focused exclusively on the track. “I think she’s going to win.”
It was hard to see in the downpour. “What?” He swallowed and tried to breathe.
The announcer’s voice, crackly and hard to distinguish through the sound of the heavy rain, filled the air.
“Handsome Dancer is in the home stretch, folks. He’s being ridden today by Ryder Hannon, daughter of the legendary late Phil Hannon. This is Ryder Hannon’s first time back in the jockey’s saddle after years of retirement. And riding she is, folks! Handsome Dancer is in the clear lead. He’s more than two lengths ahead of Tex Arkana right now, who’s in second place. Knows No Bounds is in third place, with Baby Be Mine following close behind. Now Baby Be Mine moves up to third place with Tex Arkana still in second place. But Handsome Dancer is staying in the lead. This is it, folks, they are coming to the finish line. Handsome . . .”
And then the voice of the announcer was lost as a crack of lightning filled the air. The loudspeaker glitched, letting out a loud buzz.
And for a split-second, Jake felt his heart glitch out, too.
Ryder didn’t even hear the announcer’s voice proclaiming their victory. Or the shouts and cheers from the few spectators who stuck it out to the end. She only saw her and Handsome Dancer cross the finish line. Felt the two of them slowing down as they passed it. Only then did she feel her heart start beating again. They had done it. They had won. Tears rolled off her cheeks, blending in with the rain.
“Oh my God, my big Handsome babycakes. We did it.” Her voice was so soft no doubt the horse didn’t hear her words. But he understood her anyway, she was sure of it. She patted the horse to slow him down even more and bent forward to kiss his sopping wet neck. “Yup, we did it, boy. You are a real winner. The winner I knew you were all along.”
She went around the track with Handsome Dancer until he cooled down a bit and then rode him to the winner’s circle. When they made it there, she stopped and dismounted, practically blind from the rain. With a firm hand, she pulled the dirty goggles down around her neck and blinked to clear her eyes.
The rain was getting lighter. A small ray of sunlight could be seen in the distance, creeping in through the clouds. Enjoying a minute of perfect happiness, she smiled. Until she saw Jake.
His skin was pale and his clothes soaked, just like hers. In fact, she noticed he was shivering. Whether from cold or nerves she didn’t know. It didn’t matter. Jake’s expression was warm. Without a word, he stepped forward and opened his arms.
She froze. “I thought you were with your fiancée,” she said in a voice barely louder than a whisper.
“I am with my fiancée.”
Ryder’s heart sank. Her eyes stung, more than they had from the mud and the barrage of rain. It didn’t matter if her eyes hurt, she didn’t want to see him and the brunette anyway. She turned around to walk away, but he put an arm around her.
“I thought you’d be more excited about the engagement.”
“Thrilled,” she shot out bitterly. “I hope the two of you will be very happy.”
He blinked in surprise, and then let loose a large grin. “What are you talking about, Ry? I meant you. The two of us. I want you to be my wife, Ryder Hannon. I love you. I want to be with you forever.” He dropped down on one knee, onto the wet concrete floor, in front of a small crowd that now stood in stunned silence. “Will you marry me?”
Speechless, she nodded, until she got her voice back. He was right. I should have learned to trust him. “Yes. I love you, too, Jake Carter. I know I alway
s will.”
What the people around her were saying or doing after that she didn’t know and didn’t care. Until she became aware of the announcer’s voice coming through loud and clear over the racetrack’s loudspeakers, once again working.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Ryder Hannon just said yes to horse owner Jake Carter’s marriage proposal. Looks like she not only won first place but won love, too. It’s a happy day at Belmont Park.”
“I will always love you, Ryder,” Jake whispered in her ear.
Epilogue
Four years later
Ryder walked into the library room of their enormous house as quietly as she could. Should I sneak up on him and declare victory? Or let him think he won? She debated how much she should tease her little son for a moment before caving in. “Okay, okay, I give up,” she called out in a singsong voice. “Where are you, Lenny Philip Carter? Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Her three-year-old boy giggled loudly, giving his “secret” location away. Then he popped out from behind the leather couch. “Here I am!” He grinned broadly at her, his dark hair flopping in his face.
My son may be named after Lenny, but he’s the spitting image of Jake.
Little Lenny put his hands on his hips and stuck his chin out. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to find me. I always know what to do.”
Ah, now that’s more like how Lenny was. Ryder’s eyes welled up with emotion thinking of the old man. He had lived a long, healthy life until his massive heart attack. The only upside was he didn’t suffer a long illness and had had no mental decline. He had left the world as he had lived in it, strong and outspoken. The one milestone change of his life had been his attitude toward Mindy. Lenny had come around to be as fond of her as Ryder was. On most days, anyway, when they weren’t fighting. Mindy hadn’t entirely given up bear baiting the old man. She had insisted her teasing kept him young.