Chapter 9
After an unexpectedly good sleep considering all four girls slept sardined together in the trailer, Frankie awoke fresh and focused for what lay ahead. No one was more surprised than her at this since two of them snored so badly Frankie was surprised they didn’t receive any noise complaints.
She had drawn number 216 in the run order for her first go round. The benefit was she didn’t have too early a run. The bad thing was also that she didn’t have too early a run. She spent the morning feeding up Delila and cleaning her stall before heading to the canteen to grab some breakfast. Afterwards, she took her mare for a walk around the grounds to give her a chance to stretch her legs.
Frankie watched as earlier competitors warmed up prior to entering the arena and witnessed their jubilation or dejection depending on how they went around the barrels. The steady pressure of nerves began to build up.
She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. In her mind’s eye, she pictured Delila, her muscles rippling under her gleaming wheat-yellow coat, dancing in readiness to enter the ring. Her steadying herself in the saddle before urging the mare forward in the chute and Delila leaping willingly forward.
“Hey, too early for a snooze.” Deb’s voice broke through her vision.
“I was just trying something a friend told me about.” The image vanished, lost to the fog of the far reaches of Frankie’s mind.
“How are you feeling, mate?” Deb looked at her nervously.
“Actually, I’m good. In fact, I’m more than good. I’m ready to go kick some butt.” Frankie was surprised to find it was true. The nerves she’d been battling had vanished as surely as her earlier daydream.
Relief washed over Deb’s face. “That’s good to hear. We were starting to worry that the pressure was getting to you.”
Frankie smiled, her eyes glowing with excitement. “It was. Now I just want to go in there and show these Yanks exactly what an Aussie can do.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I got this shirt made for you.” Gabi held out an arena shirt. Brazilian green faded midway down into a navy blue. At the top of the design, the five stars of the Southern Cross sat beneath and slightly to one side of a blue globe sprinkled with twenty-seven white stars. “I wanted to show that we are in this together with you.”
“Thank you, I love it.” Frankie was genuinely moved. Gabi and her family had not only given her the opportunity to ride their precious mare, but had welcomed her and supported her in the weeks leading up to the event. “I came here to ride. I never knew I would make such a good friend as well.” Her voice caught. “Ah, come here.” She pulled Gabi into a quick hug.
“You’ll make me cry! Now, go get changed, and let’s do this.”
Frankie quickly changed into the shirt. “How do I look?”
Gabi stepped forward and adjusted the collar. “Like a champion. Deb and Megan are already waiting inside. Delila is tacked up and ready. I think that is everything?” Her hands fluttered anxiously.
Frankie smiled at the other girl. “I thought I was the one that was meant to be nervous.”
“Oh.” Gabi’s eyes lit up in remembrance. “I have a message for you.” She handed Frankie her phone.
Last night, I kept up my end of the bargain and won. Breathe and ride like the champ you are. Good Luck. X
She smiled. So many people had faith in her, and it was time to start having a little herself. She walked to Delila and checked the cinch. “I’ll see you on the flipside,” she said, mounting smoothly.
The mare felt electric underneath her as she made her way to warm up. Although she loved Mac, Delila was next level in her ability and experience. She had been to big arenas and competed and it showed in her ready acceptance of the atmosphere that hummed around them. Before long, the steward called the next five girls to enter the chute, herself included.
One after the other, the girls in front of her went. Sometimes, the crowd roared their approval. Other times, they commiserated with the heartbroken cowgirl.
Before long, Frankie was at the head of the chute, the noise and everything around her fading into the background. She could feel the tension rise in Delila as she waited for her cue to run, her steps quickening in excitement.
With one final breath, she leaned forward. “We got this, girl.”
The mare eagerly sprung away, the rails lining the chute blurring as she charged onto the arena. Somehow, they were no longer two separate beings, but became one harmonious unit until Frankie could no longer tell where she ended and the mare began. She felt Delila straining, looking for the first drum as she lined it up, neat around the first as she sent a shower of sand spraying, her muscles bunching beneath her rippling hide.
The second was taken care of in the exact same businesslike manner, Frankie sitting perfectly balanced, anticipating every movement. The last barrel neared, and she felt Delila lower herself boldly into the turn, her strong hindquarters digging in, tendons straining as they sought traction. Straightening, she flew toward the finish line, every ounce of horse and rider taut as they chased it down.
And then, as quickly as it began, it was done. The hollering and whooping of the crowd cascaded back into Frankie’s awareness.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would be very surprised if we don’t see the Aussie Cowgirl back in the short go round later this evening.” The announcer’s strident voice crackled over the loudspeaker as Delila pounded down the chute, her momentum gradually slowing till she broke into a walk.
“Good girl. You’re bloody marvelous. Good girl,” praised Frankie, throwing both arms around her neck.
“Frankie!” Her friends waved excitedly as they jumped up and down. She happily waved back.
“That was an amazing round.” Gabi hugged Delila as Frankie dismounted and loosened the cinch. “No matter what, you are guaranteed to be a finalist at Need for Speed.”
“That’s an awesome feeling. But you know what would be better? Wearing the championship buckle for Need for Speed,” she shouted.
Deb raised her eyebrows as she looked to Megan and Gabi. “We might have created a monster here.” She clapped Frankie on the shoulder. “But hey, personally, I’m all for an Aussie for the Champ.”
Frankie ran her hand over Delila’s legs, seeking signs of any heat or swelling. “Megan, I’m just going to trot her out. Can you have a quick check for any soreness?” The mare moved freely beside her as she jogged.
“Fit as a fiddle from where I’m standing,” Megan said confidently.
“Excellent. Can’t be too careful.” Frankie let the mare pick at some grass. In an hour’s time, the short go round would begin, drawn in order of time. Those with the slowest times ran first and the fastest times were last. Frankie was the third last to go, which meant she had an extra hour before the mare needed to get ready.
Gabi strode over, talking on the phone as she walked. “Yes, I’ll get her. But I swear to the Almighty you need to get her number. Fine send her a Facebook request or something. Here, Frankie, it’s lover boy.” She thrust the phone into Frankie’s hand.
Frankie went a brilliant shade of scarlet. “Um, hi.”
“I have just gotten into Greensboro. Gabi tells me you are in the finals?” Luciano’s rich voice filled her ear.
“Yep. Luciano, I think I can actually do this.” She surprised herself with the confidence that rang out in her voice.
“You are there. First you think you’re champion, then you become champ.”
“In Australia, we call that faking it till you make it.”
Luciano laughed. “I like that. I need to collect my gear bag. I just wanted to wish you luck. But maybe you don’t need luck.”
“Thanks. Good luck too, Luc.” She hung up the phone and looked at three pairs of mirth-filled eyes staring at her. “What?”
“Good luck, Luc, we love you, Luc, mah, mah, mah!” All three replied at the same time in sing-song voices, making gooey eyes and kissy faces.
“Are you done?” she said dr
ily.
“Nope, not even a little.” Deb turned to her comrades in mischief making. “What about you guys?”
Gabi gave Frankie a teasingly speculative look before taking pity on her. “Maybe we should wait till after tonight. But I may never be able to look Luc in the face again,” she spluttered as the laughter exploded from her.
Delila’s run in the final go round was as close to a carbon copy as you could get, with one important point of difference. Somehow, the wily mare managed an even faster time. Frankie’s heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes on the clock to see her time was almost a second faster than the previous competitors. She handed Delila over to Gabi to cool down, quickly heading back to the holding pen to watch the last two girls run.
The girl from Argentina had made it into the finals and looked to be putting in a fast time till she knocked the last drum, putting Frankie into guaranteed second place and securing the buckle for best placed overseas rider on a loan horse. The final girl to run was American, and she would be tough competition riding her own horse and on home soil. All Frankie could do was pray the time she had posted would be fast enough and the other girl couldn’t get near it.
The American flew into the arena, intent on the first can, around it clean. Her horse ate up the distance to the second around and left it standing. As they came into the last, her horse appeared to bog down in the sand, stalling for a moment before collecting himself again and heading for home.
But that was all it took for Frankie’s time to stand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this year’s Need for Speed buckle winner is Frankie Smith from Australia. She also takes home the championship buckle for best placed overseas rider on a loan horse. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together and make some noise for the champ.”
The rest of the evening flew by as if it was a surreal dream. By the completion of the awards ceremony, Frankie still had not fully processed that she had actually done it. Even with the very tangible evidence of her two trophy buckles as well as a trophy saddle, she could not comprehend that, after all of her hard work, she had done it. It was as if she was simply a spectator in her own body, locked in a stunned robotic stupor as she smiled and posed for photographs.
Gabi, Megan and Deb worked their way through the packed room toward her as she was being congratulated by a handsome, well-dressed gentleman in cowboy boots and a Stetson.
“I was just saying to Frankie that we would be interested in having some meetings with her once she decided what her next move is. Given how she rode here, we feel like her getting her Pro Card would be the next step for her.”
Before Frankie could reply, Gabi stepped forward and offered her hand. “I’m Gabriella Cabrera, the owner of Affinity Ranch Stud and Frankie’s business partner. The short-term plan is for Frankie to wrap up a few things back in Australia before she relocates permanently to the States to help train and compete our horses.”
Frankie’s eyes widened in surprise at Gabi’s presumptuous statement. But if she was being totally honest, she found herself disinclined to correct the statement.
“Well, Gabriella and Frankie, this is my card. Once you are back and have set yourself up, give my secretary a call to arrange a meeting. I think we will be able to work well together.” Giving each of the girls a firm handshake, he took his leave.
“What the heck just happened?” Deb looked between Gabi and Frankie in confusion.
“I’m kinda wondering that myself.” Frankie arched a questioning eyebrow at Gabi.
Gabi had the grace to look embarrassed—if only slightly. A ruddy flush crept along her tanned cheeks before she raised her chin defiantly. “You weren’t just going to go back home, back to whatever you all were doing, after all this,” she cried, waving her hands to take in everything around them. “I can’t believe that I’m the only one that thinks we could do something amazing together. With the horseflesh I’m breeding and you training and competing them, we could have a world class breeding and training ranch.” Passion radiated from her.
Her passion resonated with Frankie as realization dawned on her. “You’re offering me a job?” she asked incredulously.
“No. I’m offering you an equal partnership. Actually, I’m offering all of you an equal partnership,” she corrected, drawing surprised gasps from Megan and Deb. “You’re one of the best—if not the best—horsewoman I have ever seen. Even without being on the rodeo circuit, people would want horses trained by you. In all honesty, at some stage, with the right support and horseflesh, you will wear a gold NFR buckle. I can run the business side and match the bloodlines, and I was hoping to be on the road with you some of the time. That leaves the day-to-day running of the stud ranch, keeping horses in work and some of the time traveling with Frankie when I can’t be there. I know she trusts you guys, so I was hoping you would fill those roles.” She looked at each of the girls hopefully.
“Bloody heck,” said Deb in amazement. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Well that’s worth something. She normally doesn’t shut up.” Frankie grinned at her friend. “What do you think, Megan?”
“There are some cute guys over here.” Megan winked at Deb.
“The food’s good, but they don’t have lamingtons or vegemite,” replied Deb.
“They drive on the wrong side of the road, which Frankie can’t seem to remember,” countered Megan.
“That’s true.” Deb looked over at Gabi. “Would we get danger money for getting in the car with Frankie?”
Gabi looked at the Australian girls. “So, does that mean what I think it does?”
Frankie put her arms around her grinning friends, her own face split by a beaming smile. “Like a bindii in your sock.” Laughing at Gabi’s blank look, she tried again. “Looks like you’re stuck with us.”
Chapter 10
The friends had returned to Australia and thrown themselves into what could only be described as controlled pandemonium. Both Deb and Megan had handed in their notice at their respective horse studs and would soon have the free time to finish packing. For Frankie, she had spent her day meeting with clients to give training notes and programs so they could transition over to new trainers. It was a draining process, as each visit ended in tears, hugs, and promises to come and visit.
Now she had only one visit left before she could head home and have a much longed-for beer to help her de-stress from her emotional day. Earlier, she had heard a promising young, up-and-coming cowgirl had lost her beloved horse, Snow. Frankie had known her family since she started in the Little Drummers class at local rodeos and had mentored her since.
“Frankie!” The teenage girl ran up, her arms open wide. Frankie wrapped her arms around her and lifted her off the ground.
“I won’t be able to do that much longer, Chloe. You’re growing like a weed. Aren’t you meant to stop once you’re eighteen?” she said, laughing as she jostled her.
“Might have to put a brick on her head to stop her getting any taller.” The older woman who had followed her out laughed. “I was so happy to hear that you won, Frankie. It’s all Chloe talked about till—” She stopped, swallowing hard as she looked sadly at her daughter.
“Snow died.” Chloe tried to appear grown up in her quiet acceptance of her horse’s death. “Snakebite.” Her voice trembled.
“Oh, honey.” Frankie wrapped her arm around Chloe’s shoulders. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was horrible, Frankie. I found him, and there was blood coming from his nose. I didn’t know what to do. But it didn’t matter. He was already dead.” The teenage girl sobbed.
“It’s never easy to lose our horses. They’re our best friends and know all of our secrets. So much more dependable than boys,” Frankie consoled. “I have a favor I need to ask, Chloe.”
“Anything, Frankie.” Chloe sniffled.
Frankie laughed. “Maybe you should ask what it is first. I might need a hand with cleaning all the stalls before I go.”
Chloe’s mother jo
ined the laughter, looking fondly at her daughter. “She would do it if you asked, Frankie. Now, if I asked, it would be a different story.”
“Mum!”
“Well, good thing that’s not the favor. I can’t take Mac with me. He just isn’t fast enough to run the times over there, and I won’t be able to give him the attention he loves. It just wouldn’t be fair. You know how much he loves to compete.”
“He sure does. I love watching him run the barrels.” Chloe’s eyes glowed at the mental image of Mac flying around the arena.
“I don’t want him sitting in a paddock waiting for me, either, ‘cause I don’t know when I’ll be back. He’s my best friend, and now it’s time for him to be someone else’s best friend. Maybe someone that needs one about now.” Frankie looked intently at Chloe.
“Whoever gets him is going to be one lucky cowgirl, Frankie.”
“You goose. She’s talking about you, Chloe,” said her mother.
“Me? Really, Frankie? You trust me with Mac?” And then Chloe cried, her slim shoulders shaking as she buried her face in her mother’s shoulder. Losing her horse and gratitude for the unexpected gift crashed in on her.
From over her sobbing daughter’s head, her mother mouthed a thank you.
“I need to get going, but I can drop him over tomorrow and show you how Mac likes everything run. You will need to know that if you will be his new servant. Oops, I mean owner,” she said.
It was only as Frankie was driving home that she, too, began to cry. The tears flowed as the realization hit her. It was real. Tomorrow she would say goodbye to her horse, the only consolation being knowing how much Chloe would love him. She had never anticipated the high cost of chasing her dream.
The beer slid down her throat, icy cold as it took away the dryness her crying had left. Megan and Deb still weren’t home, and Frankie spent time with Mac as he ate his feed. She tried not to fixate on it being the last time she would be privileged to do so. Bittersweet memories flooded her, making her throat thick with emotion. The awkward young gelding who had trouble moving all his hooves in the same direction and resembled a moose more than a horse as a two-year-old. When she had first started training him to race, getting around the drum had felt more like steering a cruise ship. The one positive had been that he took them so broad, there was no chance he would hit them!
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