Forever Ventured

by Kathleen Brooks

  “You’re welcome. I told Blythe, too. She was with Camila the whole time so they didn’t see it.”

  Wyatt nodded. “Goodnight. Thanks again.”

  Wyatt closed the door and then used his key to enter Camila’s room. “I smelled that bag from the time you entered the parking lot. Tell me you have something for me in there.”

  Wyatt smiled and pulled out three boxes. With each one he opened, she got more excited. “All my favorites!” Camila said as she clapped her hands in excitement.

  “I need to keep my winning trainer happy,” Wyatt joked as he handed her a fork.

  “Blythe told you! I wanted to tell you.”

  Wyatt leaned forward and kissed her lips. “I’m so proud of you. The second I heard your determined voice on my voicemail, I knew you were going to do great things.”

  “I wouldn’t have been able to do them without your support. Or the bread pudding,” Camila laughed as she dug into her desert making the cutest little moans as she ate. “Did you see the interview Arnold did?”

  Wyatt shook his head as he snuck a bite of apple pie. “No, what interview?”

  Camila pulled it up on her phone and tossed it on the bed. Wyatt looked down at Arnold standing in front of Carter’s horse who was already being talked about as a potential winner of the stakes race. “What’s it like coming off a record year? Any pressure for this year to be even better?” a perky blonde reporter asked.

  Arnold looked humbled as he thanked everyone for making last year such a success. “Of course there’s always pressure to win. There is every race with every horse. The pressure increases after a big year, but I have a great team around me and Ashton Farm is a dream client.”

  “Speaking of Ashton Farm, the horse you’re training goes back to the Derby winning horse, Naked Boot Leg. Do you think he has a chance to be as great as his father?”

  Arnold smiled then. “Even better. Blitz is going to dominate the stakes race on Saturday.”

  “I am hearing reports of a long shot from Carter Ashton’s own best friend, Wyatt Davies. Do you have a comment on that?” the reporter asked.

  “I’ve seen what the Wyatt stables have, and while they’re solid horses, there’s no competition for Blitz.”

  Wyatt turned off the interview and took another bite of his pie.

  “Aren’t you mad?” Camila asked. “I’m ready to give him a piece of my mind tomorrow.”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Arnold doesn’t know about Gent. Nobody does, really, and we’ve worked hard to keep it that way. What I find more interesting is that the reporter is asking about Gent even though he is a long shot.”

  “Anyone who knows how to read a pedigree would know he’s a contender.” Camila bit into her bread pudding angrily, and Wyatt loved her for her defense of his horses.

  “You’re so cute when you’re mad. Like a Celtic warrior goddess.” Wyatt grinned as he picked up the boxes and placed them on the table before crawling toward her on the bed.

  “I don’t like anyone talking bad about my boys,” Camila grumbled even as her lips tilted up into a smile.

  “Boy? Is that what I am?”

  And like that, the warrior was replaced with a mischievous imp as Camila’s eyes gave away her thoughts. “Unless you prove me otherwise.”

  Wyatt started at her ankle. He placed kisses up her calf, behind her knee, and up to her thigh. “Still a boy?” he asked huskily as he pulled her shorts down her legs.

  “You’re growing up before my eyes,” Camila said, her eyes cast down his body as he lifted her shirt from her body. His hands cupped her breasts as he continued kissing his way up her leg. Her fingers speared his hair, pulling him closer. Of all the names she yelled as he loved her, boy wasn’t one of them.

  Camila woke up in Wyatt’s arms early the next morning. The early morning light was still two hours away as she slipped from bed. She knew she’d have to wake Wyatt soon so that he could drive back to Keeneston, but she hated doing it. He had been working nonstop and spending every second he could with her. But she was meeting Mike at the track in thirty minutes to train Gent. They were training him harder, pushing him more, but making sure it was never at the same time of day. Sometimes it was ten at night. Other times it was four thirty in the morning. They had even met at two a.m. to practice. Any time between ten and five was up for grabs and they never repeated a workout time. It was intentionally random so that there was a better chance they wouldn’t be seen.

  Camila was also taking Gent out herself during peak training times and running him at a slow pace so he could get used to the starting gate, the grandstand during the day, and the sounds of horses around him. She, Mike, and Bud had also been working with him with their other horses so that Gent was used to the bumping and close racing that was bound to occur during the very full stakes race.

  “Heading to the track?” she heard Wyatt ask from bed.

  “Yes. We’re doing a hard workout with Gent and Daisy this morning.”

  “Be safe. Take Blythe and Cody with you.” Wyatt rose up onto his elbow and Camila took in the sight of him naked in her bed. How had she gotten so lucky? And it wasn’t just the godlike body. It was how he treated her with utmost respect and care. Wyatt wanted to know what she thought, what her opinions were, and why she held them. He listened to her with equal interest and respect about everything from horse training down to small conversations she’d had with Mike or Blythe that she’d thought were funny. He was her best friend, her lover, her biggest supporter, and the first person she wanted to share news with. She was madly in love with him.

  “Is everything okay? You have this weird look on your face,” Wyatt said with a cock of his head.

  “I’m f-fine,” she stuttered with a fake smile. There was too much going on right now to go down that road. And for once, Camila Callahan tucked tail and ran.

  * * *

  Wyatt shoved the sheets from his body and swung his legs out of bed. He walked to the window and saw Camila, Blythe, and Cody heading out of the parking lot. It was time for him to get back to Keeneston.

  He looked at his phone. Today was Thursday. Friday was a huge race day for the fillies with The Bourbon Cup, and Saturday was the Capitol Stakes. In fact, Daisy was running in one of the large-purse races Friday after her great start. Wyatt had made enough purse money to enter her last minute. One more day of work and then he’d be up in Frankfort for the rest of the races.

  Wyatt kept the lights off in the main room as he showered and dressed in the bathroom. Dressed in his scrubs and carrying his medical bag, Wyatt headed into the living room of the extended stay room. He opened the door and then froze. Someone was in the parking lot. It was only five in the morning and the sun had not risen yet, but he saw a man creeping around his truck trying to open the door. Wyatt set his bag down and eased himself quietly from the room.

  Sticking to the shadows, Wyatt watched as the man used a device to break into the front door of his truck. When the man’s head went into the cab, Wyatt made his move. He tiptoed down the stairs before breaking out into a run. He lowered his shoulder and slammed the door closed on the man.

  “Shit!” the man yelled from where he was pinned. Wyatt used his weight to keep the man trapped with the door as he texted DeAndre for help.

  “What are you doing to my truck?” Wyatt demanded to know.

  The man didn’t reply. Instead, he used his arms to shove against the door. It was a battle over keeping the door closed, but then Wyatt’s foot slipped on some loose gravel covering the worn down pavement of the parking lot.

  Wyatt dropped down to one knee and the man shoved the door open, sending Wyatt falling backward to avoid being hit. He scrambled to his feet and took off running. The man was ahead of him, but Wyatt was able to catch up to him when he jumped into a grassy area separating the hotel from a fast-food chain. Truck lights flashed on an SUV that roared to life in the parking lot.

  Wyatt leaped, grabbing the man’s shoulders from behind, and dragg
ed him down. They came crashing down in a heap on the dew-covered grass. Wyatt rolled on top of the man. He had dark hair and Wyatt had never seen him before. He pulled back his fist and slammed it into the man’s face.

  “Who are you?”

  The man responded by trying to wrap his fingers around Wyatt’s neck.

  Wyatt leaned back out of reach and slammed his fist into the man’s side. The man cursed in a different language. Wyatt looked up as the SUV door opened and another man came running toward them. Friend or foe, Wyatt had no idea. Wyatt got two more punches in before he found out: foe.

  Wyatt was tackled to the ground and one solid punch to the jaw had him sprawled out, looking at the barely glowing lights. He struggled to get up and fight but took a boot to the chest that sent him back down again.

  Wyatt dragged in a breath and this time when he sat up, he saw the two men jump into their SUV and drive out of the parking lot. He took a deep breath and decided his ribs weren’t broken, but he knew he’d be sore.

  He pushed up off the ground and groaned as sirens could be heard in the distance. The first police car pulled into the lot as he slowly walked toward them.

  “Hands up!” an officer yelled.

  “I’m Wyatt Davies. I called you.”

  The cop walked closer and asked to see Wyatt’s ID. Wyatt grimaced as he pulled it out. “You okay?” the officer asked.

  “Two against one. I’ll be fine, though.”

  “Did they take anything, Mr. Davies?” the cop asked as he handed Wyatt back his wallet.

  “I don’t know. I surprised one of them in my car and scared him off. I chased and took him down over there. But then he had a buddy waiting in the parking lot who came to help. They took off shortly before you arrived.”

  A second siren sounded, but these lights were just blue. It was a state trooper vehicle. The cop turned and saw two men get out. “Hey, Ned. Hey, Danny. What are you doing here?”

  “Dr. Davies is helping us with a case. When DeAndre called in the suspect, we thought we better get over here,” Ned said as he flashed his light at Wyatt and grimaced. “You look like crap.”

  “Feel like it. Took a chin shot and a kick to the chest. At least one of the other guys looks worse.”

  “What did they take?” Danny asked.

  Wyatt looked to his truck. “I don’t know.”

  18

  Danny and Ned opened the front doors of Wyatt’s truck. They slipped gloves onto their hands and began to look around.

  “He was leaning in the driver’s side door,” Wyatt told Danny as he stood back and waited to see what they found.

  “Do you have any drugs in the truck?” Ned asked.

  Wyatt shook his head. “No. I had them all in my bag inside. I never leave any medication in the truck.”

  Danny straightened and turned to Wyatt. He held a blank prescription bottle in his hand. “Do you know what this is?”

  “No. I have never seen it before.”

  “It’s not one of your bottles?” Danny asked again as he opened it.

  “No. Any that I transport are labeled with my clinic’s information on it along with the name of the medication inside.”

  “It’s a liquid,” Danny said, confused.

  “Popular,” Wyatt said as if a curse. “They were planting the same drug on me that is being used on the horses.”

  “How do you know it’s planted?” the cop asked from where he’d been standing quietly by, letting the troopers take the lead.

  “Because Dr. Davies is helping us with this problem. He’s not a dealer,” Ned answered as he walked around the truck. “But we’ll run your prints against any on the bottle just to rule you out.”

  “That’s fine. My prints won’t be on it.” Wyatt paused and then snapped his head toward Danny and Ned. “Camila!”

  “I’ll stay here and process the scene,” Danny said. “Take Dr. Davies and check on her.”

  “Let’s go, doc,” Ned called as they raced to the cruiser.

  * * *

  It was only a couple minutes to the track but Wyatt was sure he didn’t draw a breath the entire way. Instead, he texted Blythe and Cody and waited as he stared at his phone.

  All Clear.

  The text from Cody was first followed quickly by one from Blythe. Wyatt felt some relief, but he’d only be able to relax once he saw that Camila was safe.

  Ned didn’t bother him with small talk as he sped toward the track. Soon enough, he was pulling up to the barn. Bud was there to meet him before Wyatt even got out of the cruiser.

  “What happened?” Bud asked.

  “Someone planted Popular in my truck. I caught him and there was a fight. He had a partner and got away,” Wyatt told him as he looked around for Camila.

  “She’s on the track. Mike is with her,” Bud told him as they looked in the direction of the track. Wyatt could hear the thundering of hooves and began to jog toward the track.

  Cody was the first person he saw. He stood alert and Wyatt could tell Cody had already seen him and had turned his attention back to scanning the track.

  “Where’s Blythe?” Wyatt asked as he stopped at the rail.

  “She’s on the other side of the track. We have constant line of sight on Camila and Mike. By the way, Gent just raced one hell of a mile. I know what bet I’m making on Saturday.”

  “Saturday is your day off. I’m sure you’ll be sleeping,” Wyatt teased as he saw Camila ride by as she cooled off Daisy while Mike worked on some sprints with Gent.

  “Are you kidding? Keeneston is closing down and we’re all coming up here to cheer you all on. You, Ashton Farms, and Desert Sun all have horses in the Capitol Stakes.”

  Wyatt smiled in the early morning light. Growing up in Keeneston, the constant attention could be smothering. The entire population was at every football game, graduation, and just about any date you went on. But now he appreciated the support.

  “Tell me that was as fast as it felt?” Camila called out as she pulled Daisy to a stop at the rail. “Wyatt? What are you doing here?”

  “Daisy ran her fastest one yet and Gent,” Cody let out a whistle and showed her the stopwatch.

  Camila beamed and pumped her fist in the air. But suddenly her smile fell and she dropped her hand. “You didn’t answer. I thought you were going home?”

  “There was a break-in. Someone planted Popular in my truck.”

  Camila squinted and leaned over in the saddle. “Your face!”

  “I tried to catch them. Had one, but didn’t know he had a friend. I had to check on you. I am going to have Mom cover for me today. I want to stay with you.”

  “I have Cody and Blythe. Besides, I was going to surprise you by coming into Keeneston. I need to get something to wear for the Bourbon Cup and the Capitol Stakes. I thought we could grab lunch before I go into Lexington.”

  “You don’t need to go shopping in Lexington for a dress.”

  Camila smiled again and Wyatt felt himself relax. She was safe. She was happy. And that was all that mattered to him.

  “Wyatt, even I know there’s not a mall in Keeneston.”

  “Yes, but don’t forget who my sister is. She has more clothes at her house than she has room for. Deacon would appreciate you taking some.”

  “Syd, Inc. clothes?” Camila laughed. “In my dreams.”

  Wyatt was already typing a text. It might be early but little Van, as they were all calling Donovan, would already be up. His phone buzzed almost immediately.

  “My sister is claiming you and Blythe after breakfast today for girl time. Have fun.”

  “Wyatt, I can’t afford those clothes.”

  “My sister owes me. I never told dad about the time she snuck out of the house when she was sixteen and Deputy Noodle caught her making out with her boyfriend in the backseat of her car.”

  Camila laughed and Mike slowed Gent to a stop. “What’s going on?”

  “Want to go shopping?” Camila asked her.

  “S
ure. I don’t get to do that much. I could use some new jeans.”

  “I don’t think there will be many pairs of jeans, but I bet we’ll find something nice anyway.”

  “Nice?” Mike asked with an expression on her face that told her exactly what she thought of nice clothes.

  Wyatt leaned forward and rubbed each horse’s head. “Come on, ladies. Let me take you to Keeneston and treat you to breakfast.”

  * * *

  Camila and Mike talked the entire way back to Keeneston. She kept glancing over at Wyatt who seemed happy to just listen as he drove to the Blossom Café.

  “Wow,” Michaela said, taking in the rolling hills and thousands of acres of horse land. “It’s so much like home yet so different, too.”

  “Have you told your dad you’re racing in the stakes race yet?” Camila asked, thinking of her own father.

  “Not yet,” Mike said as she shook her head. “He’ll see it in the program. Won’t your father see your name in the program?”

  “I used C.C. as my name. My middle name doesn’t start with a C. Instead it stands for my mother’s maiden name. I’m hoping that will throw him enough when he sees it.”

  “If he asks, are you going to tell him?” Wyatt finally asked.

  Camila shook her head. “No. I want nothing more than for Gent to qualify and for Gent to race with Michaela at the Derby. Then I’ll tell him.”

  Camila looked out at the window as they entered the small town. It was early in the morning but there were already cars parked in front of the café.

  “Smells good,” Mike said as they got out of the truck.

  They marched into the café and Camila heard Wyatt call out, “Jackson!”

  “Hot damn,” Mike murmured reverently.

  All black hair, a tad of scruff, and silver eyes came into view along with two humungous men.

  “Camila,” Jackson said, wrapping her up in a hug. “How is the training going?”

  “Great,” Camila said with a smile as he lowered her back to the ground. “This is our jockey, Michaela Donahue.”