At Long Odds (A Racing Romance)
Page 32
‘Don’t you worry they’ll hurt each other?’ Pippa asked.
‘They’re only playing. The bully on the far left is Astolat,’ Jack said, pointing at a big dark bay horse who was snapping his teeth at his companion. ‘And that at the back is Peace Offering.’
Pippa detected the slight resignation in his voice as he identified the smaller, slighter-looking bay happily bringing up the rear. An odd sense of excitement stole over her as the stampede halted before the fence and she was introduced to her new horses. Her horses. It did feel terribly grand, especially as they were racehorses.
And this year’s Derby winner is Peace Offering, owned by Pippa Taylor.
It had a certain ring to it, although she was a bit hazy about race names. Her uncle had been a fan of jump racing or National Hunt racing, and as far as she could recall, the Derby didn’t have any jumps in it.
And this year’s Grand National winner is Peace Offering, owned by Pippa Taylor.
That sounded better.
Jack frowned at her smug smile and reached forward to stroke Peace Offering’s nose. Pippa hung back, pushing her hair behind her ear with a nervous hand. Jack’s furrowed brow softened.
‘Come pat Peace Offering. He won’t bite.’
Pippa remembered those snapping yellow teeth as they’d galloped towards them and hesitated further.
‘I can see them okay from here, thanks,’ she said with a small anxious smile.
‘He’s an old softie. Come on.’ Taking her hand, he guided her forward and placed her palm beneath his onto the horse’s long bony nose. ‘See?’
For a moment, Pippa was only aware of the heat radiating from his hand as it engulfed hers. Then her attention became engrossed by the horse. She looked in wonder at the big kind eyes fringed with sweeping lashes and the white blaze that spilled down from his forehead to his nostrils. It made him so pretty. As if he had been a plain-coloured horse who’d had his make-up done.
‘He’s beautiful,’ she murmured.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have shown them to you,’ he said, releasing her hand. ‘You don’t want to get attached when you’re about to sell them.’
Pippa let her fingers trace the delicate contours of the horse’s nose, between his velveteen nostrils, smiling as his whiskers tickled her palm. She let her hand drop and nodded.
‘I know,’ she sighed. ‘He’s so pretty though, I’m sure he’ll sell well.’
‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that.’
‘Why? Isn’t he very fast?’
‘Quite simply, no. Astolat is half-decent at least.’
‘That’s a pity. Never mind, I know someone will see that he’s a sweetheart.’
Jack gave a snort of derision.
‘I’ve got to get a move on. Are you travelling back up to London tonight?’
‘No, I’ve got to go see a house – or a cottage, I’m not sure which yet, that used to be Uncle Dave’s.’
‘More inheritance?’
‘Something like that. Although they told me not to expect too much. Apparently, it’s a bit of a shambles. I’m sure it can’t be as bad as all that though.’
‘Good luck,’ Jack said with more doubt than sincerity.
‘Thank you,’ Pippa replied sweetly. ‘Nice to meet you Peace Offering. Nice to meet you Astolat.’
Jack rolled his eyes and began to walk away. Pippa skipped after him back onto the main path.
‘Thank you for showing them to me.’
‘My pleasure,’ he said, sounding like it was anything but. ‘I’ll have Gemma send you the details of the sale next month.’
‘Who’s Gemma?’
‘My secretary.’
Poor girl, Pippa thought, having to put up with his moodiness. She shot a rueful glance at the horses still milling by the fence behind them and sighed. ‘It’s such a pity.’
‘What is?’ Jack looked at her suspiciously.
‘Having to sell them.’
His blue eyes narrowed.
‘You having second thoughts?’
Pippa shrugged.
‘Can’t afford to have second thoughts. But wouldn’t it have been fun?’
‘You’re better off without them.’
Half a stride behind, Pippa frowned at the negative attitude radiating from the unyielding set to his shoulders.
‘Don’t you train horses for a living?’
Jack looked at her sharply.
‘Yes. Why?’
‘Well, you don’t sound like their biggest fan.’
‘I’m just being realistic. You could never afford two racehorses on a waitress’ salary.’
Despite having said much the same thing less than a minute before, Pippa raised her chin involuntarily in a stubborn stance.
Is that right sunshine, she challenged silently.
Keeping the Peace is available to buy at www.amazon.com and all affiliate sites.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter One
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter One
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