North Oak 2- Yearling

by Ann Hunter

Alex bounced her foot against the lower locker, and softly bumped her head against the upper one. "Why would I be nervous?" She let her head roll toward Carol's locker.

  Carol shouldered her duffel bag and shut her locker. "No reason. Just the five hour drive ahead leading up to the sale of your favorite pony."

  Alex bit her lip. "Gee thanks."

  Carol smiled and tugged at Alex's sleeve. "Come on. Let's go find Laura and your mom."

  Alex shuffled behind her, grumbling, "She's not my mom."

  They filed through the colony of students milling about. "She's the closest thing you've got one one, right?"

  Alex started looking for Laura. They found her pinned against her locker with Johnathan North going in for the kill… kiss, Alex corrected herself. She wrinkled her nose as they connected.

  When Alex and Carol got up to them unnoticed, Alex cleared her throat as obnoxiously as she could. "Do you two need to be alone, or can we get this thing over with?"

  Laura blushed and Johnathan flashed a perfect, if not for my mission is compromised, grin. Carol's cheeks went extra rosy when he made brief eye contact with her and winked.

  Alex pretended not to notice, but she couldn't help it, and a biting jealousy blinked through her. Is he flirting with her? Why was he flirting with her?

  She turned her awkward feeling to Laura and motioned to the door where she hoped Hillary was already waiting for them. "Let's go, sunshine."

  Laura gave Johnathan a peck on the cheek and squeaked out from between him and her locker. "I'll call you."

  "No." He waved. "I'll call you."

  They blew sloppy, lovey-dovey kisses at each other and Alex rolled her eyes. "You guys are gross."

  She pushed through the front doors of the school and breathed in relief when she saw the Showmans' blue sedan waiting by the curb. Hillary leaned against the back door, soaking in a little sunlight. She popped the trunk with the button on her car key and started taking bags from the girls.

  "Ready?"

  Alex tossed her bag into the trunk by herself and took up a seat in the back. I'll never be ready.

  Hillary started the car once everyone was buckled, but she didn't pull forward. She turned on her hip and pulled something from her pocket. "I almost forgot."

  It was long and slim, and wrapped in paper printed with colorful balloons. She passed it to Alex.

  "I know you're not really a fan of singing along when we listen to the radio, so I thought I might get you a little early birthday present."

  Birthday present. Alex had forgotten about her birthday in a few days, right after the sale. She held the gift in her hands, not sure what to do with it. It wasn't something she was really used to receiving.

  Laura turned to look over her seat with a big grin. "Go ahead. Open it."

  Alex slowly tore back the paper and opened to a red and silver ipod.

  "We all added music we'd thought you'd like," Laura said. "Even Brooke and Carol."

  A set of earbuds wrapped around the screen and plugged into the device. Alex put one of the ear pieces in her ear and started scrolling through the songs. She doubted they knew what she liked— she wasn't even sure what she liked— but it wasn't until Carol plucked it from her hands that she knew for certain.

  "This one's mine," Carol said, as she set a track to play. "It's from the grove."

  Alex glanced at her, not fully understanding, until she heard the trickle of a stream, horses grazing, and the whistle of a breeze through tree tops.

  Carol leaned in toward Alex. "I thought you might just want some quiet time."

  Every time the track ended, Alex made it play again. For four hours. Carol had been right. It was the best song Alex had heard in a good long while.

  She started nodding off when someone nudged her knee. Alex pulled the earbud out.

  "We were wondering if we should stop for burgers," Laura said.

  Alex put the earbud back in. "I just wanna get to the track, check on Promenade."

  "Drive-thru it is," Hillary said loud enough to be heard over Carol's song.

  They found a chain restaurant, ordered food, and kept on going.

  Carol slid her bun toward Alex. "Y'want it?"

  Alex turned the sound down on her ipod. "I thought you weren't going to diet anymore?"

  Carol squeezed ketchup into her wrapper. "I'm not. I just want the meat."

  Alex looked at her bun, and the one sitting between them in the back seat. Just wanting the meat. Someone after her own heart. She got rid of her own bun and growled as she bit into it. Carol giggled.

  "What's so funny?" Laura asked, trying to see them in her front seat mirror.

  "Alex is embracing her keen animal instincts," Carol answered.

  Alex couldn't resist a glance in Carol's direction as she chewed. I kinda heart you, kid.

  Not long after they finished their meals, they pulled up to the backside of Keeneland where the sales were being held, and parked by the barn North Oak had reserved.

  Moths fluttered around floodlights hanging over the ends of the stables, giving just enough light to see around the edges of the building.

  Alex opened the car door to crickets singing.

  "Let's not spend too long, though," Hillary said. "We still need to check into the hotel."

  Alex looked for a light inside the barn. When she flicked it on, a few of the yearlings startled. Brooke peeked out from a tack room down a ways.

  "Oh, it's just you guys."

  "Just us guys." Laura rolled her eyes. "Thanks. Love you too."

  Brooke slipped out from the room. "Pop and I thought we'd settle here to keep an eye on the kids."

  "Where's Pro?" Alex asked.

  Brooke motioned with her head. "Right across from our cots. Just like the star of the show should be— front and center."

  Alex moved to the center stall across from the tack room. Promenade was trying to get a good look around of what was going on. He stood by the stall door with his ears pricked.

  Alex reached through the bars to him. "Hey, boy. New digs, huh?"

  As she rubbed the soft spot behind his nostrils, she wondered if he felt the way she had when she'd ridden the bus for the first time. Never having left North Oak before and entering a whole new world.

  She blew on his nose, and his nostrils widened and narrowed as he took in her scent. He whickered softly, then tilted his head to try and nip her hand.

  Alex smirked.

  Hillary came up beside her and folded her arms. "We should get going."

  "Can't I sleep here tonight?" Alex asked Hillary. "One last time."

  "Maybe tomorrow night before the sale. Right now you both need to get rest. He's got to run in the morning, and you've got to help get him ready for the ring."

  Promenade lifted his lip and wiggled it through the bars. Alex grabbed it between her knuckles and wiggled it back playfully.

  "I guess I'll see you in the morning, Pro."

  Alex, Carol, Hillary, and Laura settled into their hotel room. Alex sat on the edge of one of the beds, flipping through the tv stations while the others took showers and got ready for bed.

  Alex shook her head at how long the showers took them. Why couldn't anyone be done in five minutes like she was taught at Haven? How hard was it, really? Get yourself wet, soap yourself up, rinse off, and get the hell out.

  She let it annoy her until she found a sports channel broadcasting some Standardbred sulky races from Australia. Apparently the cable was awesome here.

  Carol sat behind her, toweling off her hair. "Know much about them?"

  "Nope," Alex answered. She lifted the remote, not sure if she wanted to turn the sound up or change the channel. She lowered it again after a moment. "But I like how their legs move. It's pretty funny."

  "Bilaterally," Carol said. "That's kinda cool."

  Alex finally changed the channel. "It's weird."

  She shut it off when she couldn't find much else on besides the news or some dumb movie she had no int
erest in.

  "Which bed are you sleeping in?" Carol asked.

  Alex looked over her shoulder at her. "I'm gonna crash on the couch."

  Hillary and Laura came out of the bathroom from brushing their teeth. "Don't be silly," Hillary said. "You can share with Carol."

  "Sure you can." Carol smiled.

  Alex glared at Hillary with a desperate please don't make this weird face.

  Hillary gave her a stern look in return. "Alex, we have two perfectly good beds here. Laura is sharing with me. You can share with Carol. It's not a big deal."

  Alex crossed the room and flopped on to the couch, turning her back to them. "Someone give me a sheet. I'm good."

  After a minute, someone flung a pillow that socked her square in the head. Alex leaned up and looked over at them. Carol pointed to Hillary, Hillary pointed to Laura, and Laura pointed at the both of them.

  Alex settled back down, scowling. "I'm going to sleep before the weirdos get weirder."

  "Goodnight Alex," they laughed in unison.

  When Alex heard nothing but snores and was sure they were asleep, she sat up carefully and looked around the room. Hillary had said she could spend the night with Promenade tomorrow, but there was no way she was going to make it that long.

  She thought of what Laura said the first time they went to the grove together. Some people are meant to spend their lives with you. Others have only a moment

  Alex wasn't going to miss any time with Promenade. Wasn't going to lose those last few moments. She tiptoed across the room, grabbed her chucks, and slipped out the door.

  It was eerie to be on the streets again at night. She had forgotten how many people still ran around at this late hour. Cars still honked as they passed by, sirens wailed in the distance. For all of her time at North Oak, the world outside of it had remained surprisingly unchanged.

  Alex had paid special attention on the way from the barn to the hotel, so she could find her way back to Keeneland. It was only a mile or two. She didn't dare grab her jacket or anything else for fear of making too much noise and waking everyone up. So she hugged her shoulders and rubbed her arms, trying to ignore the chill.

  She kept her eyes down so as not to attract the attention of any unwanted passerby. To her it was all old hat, but not having to have survived in this environment for a year made it seem new all over again.

  The hairs on her arm stood on end and she quickened her pace, turning at the corner with a sign that pointed the direction to Keeneland.

  She was able to skirt the night guard box and sneak into North Oak's barn where Promenade was. A soft silver glow came from the tack room and voices spoke lowly.

  Alex bit her lip, fearing Brooke and Joe were still up. She dared to peek in only to find them both sacked out on their cots with the tv on in the background.

  Alex pressed her back to one of the stalls and exhaled in relief. She crept over to Promenade's stall and grabbed the halter and lead line hanging there, making a super soft kissy noise.

  Promenade's head bobbed, somewhat startled from sleep. He looked over his shoulder at her and crossed to the door.

  She slid it open as quietly as she could and slipped the halter on him, clipping the lead to one side, rather than underneath.

  She winced with each step he took, fearing the clip clop of his hooves would wake Brooke and Joe. However, the relief she expected to feel once outside never came.

  She swung the lead over his neck and tied the other end to the other side of his halter, forming a makeshift bridle. They walked in silence towards the track.

  Alex paused to look around, trying to figure out how to get on his back. She jumped when she saw someone standing near the gap in the outside rail.

  "What do you think you're doing?" Carol asked.

  Alex struggled to keep hold of Promenade as he skirted around, startled by her reaction. "What the hell are you doing here?"

  "I saw you leave and I had to make sure you were okay."

  "You tailed me here?" Alex clung to both sides of the rope, tugging them anxiously. Promenade threw his head.

  Carol stepped forward, making herself more visible from the shadows. She rubbed her arms and shivered. "Well, yes."

  "You could have gotten hurt."

  "So could you."

  Alex stroked the bridge of Promenade's nose, still calming him down. "I could, but I didn't. I know how to take care of myself out there. If you got… If something…." Alex bit her lip. "Dammit."

  Carol closed the distance between them and rubbed Promenade's shoulder. He craned his head and bumped her.

  "You still didn't answer my question," Carol said.

  Alex lifted the makeshift reins. "What does it look like?"

  Beneath the glow of lights, Alex saw Carol's eyes widen. "I'm not going to let him go to someone else without knowing what it's like to really be with him," Alex said. She pulled the colt forward, looking for a rock or something to hop up on. "Brooke can't have all the fun."

  "Alex you're crazy."

  "What's your point?"

  "I can't let you do this. You could get hurt."

  "I won't get hurt, Carol."

  Carol moaned. "This is a terrible idea."

  "Gimme a leg up."

  "No."

  Alex turned to face her, begging, "Carol please."

  "You could hurt him, Alex. He could hurt you. Could you live with yourself if that happened?"

  "There are lots of things I can barely live with myself for. This won't be one of them."

  Carol rolled her eyes and made the same cavegirl "Ugh!" Alex often did to Hillary.

  Alex, not having found anywhere to mount up from, moved to Promenade's side and offered her leg. She leaned her head against his warm shoulder, hoping Carol would give in. Please. I need this.

  Carol was silent and Alex was starting to feel pretty ridiculous after a minute or so. She was about to give up when Carol cupped her ankle.

  "You're killin' me smalls, y'know that?"

  Alex bounced hard and swung on to Promenade's back, a thrill of intoxicating energy shooting through her. The hairs on her arms stood on end, her heart quickened, tingling from head to toe. She patted the colt's neck and looked down at Carol. "Everything's going to be okay."

  Promenade moved to the track. Alex kept him calm by stroking his mane and neck. "Just like at home, boy. Okay?"

  She pulled him toward the inside rail and urged him into a jog. The track was eerie and dark except for some strategically placed pole lights, flooding tiny sections of the course. There was barely enough to see by ‘til the next one.

  Alex told herself they were just going to trot. Totally harmless. She leaned forward on him, keeping her voice low. "And it's Alexandra Anderson and Promenade. They've done it. They've won the Triple Crown. The crowd is going nuts. Ahhhhh."

  But it wasn't the soft roar of the crowd Alex made, because Promenade bolted.

  Alex lost her balance. "Whoa!" she cried.

  Promenade pulled on the fake reins, begging her to go faster. She wrapped her fingers in his mane, trying to keep hold of something. Her leg slung half way over his back. She struggled to pull herself up.

  The dirt below whizzed by, pummeled by his fleet hooves. Churning, churning. Alex’s head dangled only a foot or so from the rail. Grunting with effort, she desperately pulled her body against him, trying to right herself. Fighting to get back up there. His breaths roared in her ears.

  Inch by inch, she reclaimed her seat and then crouched lower over him, tightening her grip with her legs so she wouldn’t fall again.

  Promenade turned on another gear.

  Swallowed by darkness, Alex felt blinded by the wind licking past them, the dizzying shock of adrenaline. Just trust him.

  She realized he wasn't just running away with her. His back met her body, he moved in an easy rhythm, he was carrying her along.

  "Holy Hell!" Alex broke into a grin. “Yeahhhh!”

  Promenade dug in deep, racing away bene
ath the shadows of Keeneland. He drove around the turn and it was everything Alex ever dreamed it would be. Him and her doing what they loved.

  Running.

  Alex stood at the back of the sale auditorium, ready to sink against the wall as Promenade was led in. The auctioneer's voice sounded hollow.

  "Next up with have a proud son of Battle Born. From the dam of multiple stakes winners Adagio and Grand Hailing. A finer colt I've not seen this session. He ran a quarter mile in a blinding twenty-three. Bred by North Oak Farms here in Kentucky. We'll start the bidding at twenty-five thousand."

  Alex held her breath as the auctioneer began his sing song of lyrical numbers, a jumble of words she could scarcely follow.

  Promenade held his head high, eye whites nearly blending into his blaze with that haughty look he often gave people. The light on his coat made him shine like fresh oil paint as he jigged and circled at the end of the lead rope. He swished his tail and bugled, igniting a bidding war.

  "Who'll gimme fifty, fifty-five, fifty-five? Now sixty, seventy. Eighty over there. Raise me ninety, a hundred, a hundred and five."

  Alex squeezed her eyes shut. This wasn't really happening. It can't be happening.

  She clung to the memory of her midnight ride on him. The wind whipping through her hair while thunder filled her ears. It made her forget briefly how well he had run for those interested in buying him, and the way Brooke commented Promenade already felt warmed up when she got on him. Lots of buyers had come to his stall to inspect him after that.

  The sensation of skin brushing against the heel of her hand, and fingers slipping between hers, forced her to open her eyes. She looked down at her hand, linked with another, and followed the arm upwards where Carol's eyes met hers. She squeezed Alex’s hand and offered a smile that said it all. I'm here. It's going to be okay.

  Alex gulped. For a solitary moment the room faded away, and there was only Carol and her smile, and the reassurance that no matter what happened when the auctioneer smacked his gavel, that it would all be okay. Probably painful. Potentially life-changing. But okay.

  She wasn’t alone anymore.

  The world came crashing back to Alex, and Promenade's price had soared.