Forever Ventured

by Kathleen Brooks

  Katelyn slapped her hands against her thighs before standing up. “It’s all settled then. Let’s get home and get some rest. Keeneston is going to the races tomorrow afternoon.”

  * * *

  Wyatt slipped quietly into Camila’s room. He pulled off his shoes, stripped his shirt from over his head, and pushed his jeans to the floor before climbing into bed. He reached out and slipped an arm around Camila and pulled her close to him.

  “Is it time to get up?” she mumbled against his chest.

  “Not yet. Get some more rest. I have you.”

  Camila made a cute sound and her breathing instantly slowed. Wyatt was sure he wouldn’t sleep, but as he ran over all facts from the day, his eyes closed and sleep took him.

  16

  “Hurry!” Camila ordered as Wyatt sped toward the track with Blythe and Luke following directly behind them. “Michaela will be racing soon.”

  “You didn’t have to come today. Half the town will be at the races making sure everything is okay.”

  “I refuse to hide. This is my chance to prove myself and I am not going to lose this chance,” Camila said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Prove to who? You’ve already proved it to me. You’ve proved it to Keeneston, to Michaela, and to most of the people at the track.”

  Camila turned her head away from Wyatt and looked out the window. “You wouldn’t understand. You’re proving something for yourself. Your family has always believed in you. I’m not only proving that a woman can be a top-tier trainer to myself, but also to my family and the entire racing community.”

  “I do understand that, Camila. I just want you to know it’s okay to be human and take a day off after you were assaulted and drugged. You’re not alone anymore. You have a whole town wanting to help. You just have to let them,” Wyatt told her as he pulled into the barn lot.

  “What is the saying about the pot and kettle?” Camila snapped. She was at the end of her rope. Last night had pushed her there. She knew it wasn’t Wyatt’s fault but she was angry, and he was right here for her to take out her anger on instead of the man who attacked her.

  Wyatt was quiet for a moment as he turned the truck off. “Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps I shouldn’t try to do it all.”

  “You have me to help now,” Camila said, her heart sinking at hurting the man who had been nothing but supportive of her.

  “And you have me.”

  Wyatt reached out and squeezed her hand before getting out of the truck. Camila didn’t wait for him to open her door and hurried around to stand behind Wyatt while he talked to Luke.

  “What’s the matter?” Blythe whispered as Wyatt continued to discuss the day with Luke.

  “I was a real arse to Wyatt.”

  “Stress will do that.” Blythe looked up and moved to step in front of her as Marco approached.

  “Marco, Leo,” Wyatt said smoothly. “How has your day gone so far?”

  Marco looked around at Wyatt, Blythe, Luke, and finally to Camila. “Been a good race day. My long shot won, and I have my favorite yet to race today. I heard about the attack. Are you hurt, Camila?” Marco asked over the wall of people.

  Camila stepped out from behind them and smiled. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern. I take it everyone knows?”

  Marco nodded. “Sorry. You know race tracks are nothing but a gossiping family.”

  Camila patted his arm. “You’re a good friend.”

  “Are you heading to your box?” Marco asked them all.

  “Yes,” Wyatt answered for her as he slipped his arm around her waist.

  “We’ll walk with you,” Marco said, keeping up a steady stream of chatter as they made their way into the grandstand.

  * * *

  Wyatt sat in Carter’s box with his family. Carter’s parents, Kenna and Will, were both there along with his wife, Reagan. Wyatt and Camila took the last two chairs and anxiously waited to see Michaela trot by, heading toward the starting gates for the turf race.

  Wyatt’s phone vibrated and he looked down at the text message. “Piper has the drugs and has a conference call set up with Sloane’s contact this evening. Let’s hope they can find a way to identify the components and develop a test for it.”

  “Good afternoon,” Veronica said as she passed the Ashton box and entered the Desert Sun box. Marco and Leo were in the box three steps down and slightly to the right of Desert Sun Farms. They turned and introduced themselves. Wyatt saw them whisper to each other as they sat back down and cast a glance at Blythe and Veronica. Two powerful and beautiful woman who were sitting next to each other with Gabe, Sloane, Mo, and Dani filling up the rest of the box.

  The bell went off, the gates were thrown open, and the horses burst forward. Jockeys rode low as the horses battled for position. And when they tore down the homestretch, it was Mike battling for third.

  Camila grabbed Wyatt’s arm as they stood. First was a clear winner, but second through fourth were headed for a photo finish. “If he places or shows, we’re in for a big purse,” Camila said on a gasp as Michaela pushed their horse. They were all nose to nose as they crossed the finish line.

  Wyatt let out a breath as they sat back down. Now all they could do was wait for the photo finish to be examined. Five agonizing minutes later, the scoreboard updated and Camila let out a whoop. They’d gotten second!

  * * *

  Wyatt left Camila in the box with his friends and family. Luke, the newest Keeneston deputy, unbuttoned his suit coat and took the seat Wyatt had vacated. To anyone looking on, Luke was just another friend of the family.

  “Wyatt, hold up,” Marco called. His horse had placed third.

  “Yes?” Wyatt asked, turning to the man who had all the right connections but whom Wyatt didn’t particularly like. Of course, maybe it was because he had been very friendly toward Camila.

  “I was hoping to ask you a rather personal question,” Marco said, falling into line next to him as they walked down the grandstand stairs and headed toward the barns.

  Wyatt didn’t like the idea of sharing anything personal with Marco, who he was sure was after Camila. “What is it?”

  “I know you and Camila are together, but she is available . . .”

  “I think you have the answer to that. We’re together. No, she’s not available, so back off or we’ll have a problem,” Wyatt said, stopping at the base of the stairs as people walked around them.

  “As a trainer?” Marco finished. “I know she’s with you personally. I respect what she’s done with your stable. I have a horse I think would thrive under her training. You must admit, she has a different style from most men. Some horses respond to that better. Yours obviously have.”

  Wyatt felt like an idiot now. This was Camila’s dream, and he about stepped in and mucked it up. “I’m sorry. With the attack last night, I’m overprotective. I’m sure she would love the opportunity to train, but that’s her business and completely up to her.”

  “Do you have the proper facilities to care for a couple more horses?” Marco asked as they began walking through the crowds of cheering men and women dressed in everything from jeans to sundresses.

  “I do,” Wyatt answered. He liked the idea of using his farm as Camila’s home base. He’d have to make sure she knew his land was at her disposal.

  Marco continued. “My cousin Leo has been working with my father. He told me he’s trying to start his own stable as well. He has a couple of horses now. I’ll let him know that Camila is able to take on more horses if she’s interested. He’s going to try to pick up a horse in today’s claiming race. He has his eye on a horse that has shown some promise.”

  “Don’t worry about Wyatt Farm. We’re a large operation.” Maybe not in numbers yet, but in barns and acreage it was. “And we can support any number of horses that Camila may chose to train.”

  Marco held out his hand and Wyatt shook it. “That’s great news. I have one final question. She’s Sean Callahan’s daughter, isn’t she
?”

  Wyatt pasted on a confused look but knew Marco saw through it. “Why do you say that?”

  “She’s Irish, has a natural talent with horses, and she has the Callahan last name. I looked up trainers with the last name Callahan and only found Sean and some who were clearly not her. In an article about him winning the Ascot, I saw a picture of him with his wife and his daughter, Camila.”

  Damn. Camila wouldn’t like that. “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”

  Marco smiled sadly and nodded. “I understand that. I’ve been trying to prove myself to my father my whole life. We’re just two different people. I was surprised when he handed over the racing operation to me five years ago, but I’m happy to show him what I can do.”

  “Is your family close?” Wyatt asked as they flashed their owner’s passes and entered the restricted barn area.

  “Yes. Big old Italian family. My grandparents came over when my dad was just ten years old. But I’ve always been the odd one out. My dad and his brothers are in a family business together. That’s what Leo did until recently. It was my dad who suggested he start his own racing stable since he liked it so much.”

  “What kind of business?” Wyatt asked. It seemed it didn’t matter where you were from, family was family. Just like how his dad and uncles were now in business together with the military and law enforcement training center.

  “They have a string of Italian restaurants across New York City and New Jersey. Each uncle is in charge of a restaurant. My dad runs the one in lower Manhattan. He also is a major investor in a lot of companies. That’s how he met Julius,” Marco explained. “But I didn’t get the cooking gene. Instead, they sent me off to boarding school, college, and then business school.”

  “And now you own a successful racing stable. We seem to have a similar story. I’m not exactly like my cousins either. Except it was vet school instead of business school for me.”

  Bud was helping Mike from the saddle as they laughed and Wyatt turned to Marco. “I’ll talk to Camila and have her meet with you later.”

  “Thank you. You’re a good man, Wyatt. You don’t deserve the rumors going around about you.”

  Marco started to walk away when Wyatt stopped him. “What rumors?”

  Marco turned around slowly, looking conflicted. “I thought you knew. There are rumors going around that you’ve drugged your horses and your clients’ horses so that they win. It’s suggested that you’re doing it to save your farm from financial ruin. I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, most people don’t believe them. I know I don’t.”

  “Thanks for telling me the truth.” Marco gave him a nod of his head and walked toward his own barn. Camila was right about Marco. He was a friend.

  “That’s a twenty-thousand-dollar cut!” Michaela practically screamed as she bounded over to him. Her red hair was plastered to her head but her ponytail was wild from the wind.

  “And it’s because of you and Camila,” Wyatt said, wrapping the small jockey in a hug.

  “It’s because you bred good horses and you weren’t afraid to hire women. You’re letting us shine, Dr. Davies. And for that I will be eternally grateful.”

  Wyatt smiled at the beaming woman. “It’s you who should be thanked. You took a chance on me. I’m just glad I can afford to pay you what you deserve now.”

  “What we deserve is to qualify for the Derby. I’ve been researching it, and for the past five years, thirty points is enough to get you qualified. The winner of the Capitol Stakes gets forty points. That’s enough to get us in. If we get second or third, then we’ll need to rack up more points at other races.” Michaela was practically bouncing with excitement. “But if we win, we can hold Gent back. He’ll be a relatively unknown horse going into the Derby and we can shock the world.”

  “That’s what I hope to do. Everything on paper says he will be a contender. But first we have to see how he does with the crowds. They could spook him.”

  Mike smiled widely. “Nothing will spook him, he’s rock solid. I know what he can do, and he can win it. Did you get him entered?” Mike asked as Bud unsaddled the horse and began to hose him down with cool water.

  “I’ll do it now.”

  Michaela’s smile spread and she pumped her fist in the air. “You won’t regret it.”

  The man cloaked in shadows cocked his head at the camera. “I know exactly who you are.”

  Wyatt was off camera and shot a quick look to Piper. Aiden looked ready to blow a gasket.

  “You’re Dr. Piper Davies Creed. It is an honor to work with you,” the man in shadows said over the computer.

  Piper took off the wig and the large glasses she’d tried to use to conceal her identity. “What should I call you?”

  “Call me Chem. Tell me what you’ve done so far.”

  Wyatt understood most of what Piper said at first, but then she and Chem began talking a language all their own. Aiden’s eyes widened and finally he just shook his head and came to sit down next to him.

  “I don’t know what they’re talking about,” Aiden admitted once he sat down.

  “I followed for a while,” Wyatt answered with a grin. His mind wasn’t on the conversation anymore. It was on Camila. She’d leaped into his arms when he told her he’d entered Gent in the Capitol Stakes race. And it was also on the whispered promises of how they’d celebrate. He’d left Frankfort reluctantly to meet up with Piper and Aiden at her lab.

  “That’s it!” Piper cried happily.

  “You are as brilliant as they say, Dr. Creed,” Wyatt heard Chem say.

  “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your knowledge of drugs.” Piper paused. “What are you going to do with this information?”

  Chem was quiet for a moment. “I’m going to reproduce it cheaper and safer, and then I’m going to take over the market.”

  “You’re obviously extremely talented. Why aren’t you heading up your own lab?” Piper asked.

  “Who says I’m not?”

  “I meant working with things that are legal.”

  Wyatt could hear the amusement in the man’s voice. “Again, who says I’m not?”

  Piper looked to her husband and back at the computer.

  “Dr. Creed, I’m not perfect. I make a lot of money developing new drugs for the cartels. But my drugs are safe. There are no accidental overdoses from my creations.”

  “That doesn’t make you a Good Samaritan,” Piper snapped back. “You’re wasting your talents, Chem. Come work for me.”

  That took the chemist by surprise. He laughed and shook his shadowed head. “Doing what?”

  “Whatever you want . . . that’s legal. You can develop new FDA-approved drugs. You can explore nanotechnology. Someone as bright as you shouldn’t be working for cartels.”

  There was such quiet that you could hear every breath Piper took. “Someday I might take you up on that. Thank you for working with me as an equal today. It was . . . fun.” The computer screen went black as he ended the connection.

  Piper turned to them and let out a breath. “Give me an hour, and I’ll have a test you can run to detect this drug.”

  17

  Wyatt was exhausted. He was getting up at three in the morning and driving to Keeneston to put in a full day’s work as a vet before turning around and driving back to Frankfort to spend as much time with Camila as possible.

  Things had been quiet at the track for the last two weeks, except the rumors about Wyatt were ramping up. Yet no one seemed to know where the rumors were coming from. That didn’t stop Kyle and the racing officials from drawing blood from the horses almost daily.

  Not that it would do any good. Piper had perfected the Popular test but hadn’t handed it over yet. Instead, she was running the testing herself. Wyatt didn’t have the blood from Carter’s horse that died, but he did still have some from Mo’s. And sure enough, Piper found it tested positive for Popular.

  Chem had emailed Piper that he’d formulated a safer drug that had similar
effects as Popular, but he’d yet to be able to find who had developed Popular. What they both determined was it had South American origins.

  Wyatt parked at the long-term motel and walked upstairs toward Camila’s room. The doors on each side of her room opened as Blythe and Cody, the deputy from Keeneston, poked their heads out. Wyatt had no doubt there were guns in each of their hands. While there had been no more threats, the stakes race was in three days and Wyatt had to admit his nerves were frayed.

  “Good evening, you two. Is everything quiet here?” Wyatt asked.

  “Yup,” Cody answered.

  “Did you hear Camila and Mike got a win today?” Blythe excitedly asked.

  Wyatt smiled as he relaxed some. “I did. I brought gifts from the Blossom Café to celebrate.” Wyatt reached into the bag and pulled out two to-go boxes of caramel bourbon bread pudding.

  “I could fall in love with you for this,” Blythe laughed.

  “Shoot, one bite and I’ll marry you myself,” Cody said, eagerly reaching for the bread pudding. “We need to talk, though.”

  Wyatt stepped into Cody’s room. There was a video monitor of the parking lot and the stairwell. “What is it?”

  “That Marco guy and his cousin Leo have been hanging around Camila.”

  “I know. He’s hired her to train some of his horses,” Wyatt said. Camila had told him all about it.

  “But did she tell you Dr. Avery has been lurking around the barn, too?”

  “To collect samples?”

  Cody shook his head. “I caught him in your tack box today.”

  “I’ll talk to him,” Wyatt said as he felt his blood pressure rise. “Who else is around?”

  Cody pulled a fork out of the to-go box. “Just the usual: Carter, his guards, his trainer Arnold, and their jockey. And of course, there’s Mike and Bud.”

  “Thanks for keeping me in the loop.”