Camila was in a flat-out run, but she wasn’t going to make it. The man she recognized turned and saw her as he held out his hand for Gent. But Bud was faster than she thought. Bud crashed into trainer Arnold Cushions. As Bud and Arnold went down, the sugar cube he was about to give to Gent rolled from his hand.
Bud, much younger and in shape, quickly wrestled Arnold until Bud had position to pull back his arm and slam his fist into Arnold’s face. Cody pushed his way out from inside Daisy’s stall as everyone stared in shock at the now one-sided fight.
Camila slid to a stop next to them. She didn’t stop Bud from landing one more punch as she bent over and carefully picked up the sugar cube.
“Bud,” Cody said softly as he placed his hand on Bud’s raised fisted hand. “I’ll take it from here.”
“What’s going on?” Wyatt yelled as he and Luke sprinted toward them. Behind them, Mike was hot on their heels.
“Gent!” Mike called out, pushing past Wyatt and running straight for the horse. “How’s my boy?” Mike placed her hand on his nose and Gent snorted in reply before shaking his head with irritation.
“A guy attacked Mike in the restroom,” Camila began as she spit out the whole story in under ten seconds. Her heart wouldn’t slow down even as she tried to take deep breaths.
* * *
“Call Carter,” Wyatt told Luke who had finished assisting Cody in placing Arnold in handcuffs. His heart was beating hard, and he struggled to rein in his anger. He was slightly jealous that Bud got some punches in on Arnold and Blythe got to taser the stable hand who had attacked both him and Mike.
DeAndre, Blythe, and Veronica joined them with the man from the restroom in handcuffs. “We have another one for you,” Cody told DeAndre as he and Luke hauled Arnold up to his feet.
* * *
“What’s going on?” the commissioner asked as he, the stewards, and the track president arrived in a golf cart. Wyatt had sent an emergency text to them as soon as DeAndre went running by about five minutes earlier. Wyatt and Luke thought he was headed for the barn but had run instead to the women’s restroom.
Camila and Mike told their story a little slower this time. Phone calls were made, texts were sent, and soon the entire teams from Ashton Farm and Desert Sun Farm arrived as Julio was being dragged toward them.
“Here’s the evidence,” the man said to the commissioner while keeping a tight hold on a spitting-mad Julio.
The commissioner looked at the phone, then looked at Julio, and then at the man DeAndre was holding. “Arrest them all for rigging races.”
Mo’s mouth tightened as he not so casually looked over the shoulder of the commissioner at the phone the video was playing showing the jockey taking a bribe. “I can assure you Desert Sun Farm had nothing to do with this and will cooperate fully.”
“So will Ashton Farm,” Carter said with his father, Will, standing by his side as Arnold was placed under arrest by DeAndre.
“You can’t prove I did anything!” Arnold argued as the crowd gathering now included stable hands, trainers, a few owners, and a couple jockeys.
“What is going on here?” Kyle demanded as he joined in the fray.
“Please draw blood on Mr. Ashton’s, Prince Ali Rahman’s, and Dr. Davies’s horses for us.”
Kyle looked liked he wanted to know more, but the commissioner snapped out, “Now!” and Kyle went with the commissioner’s vet and a steward to draw the blood.
As the group talked, Wyatt watched Camila head to the tack box to get a piece of plastic. She placed a sugar cube on it and brought it back to the commissioner as Arnold was arguing for his freedom.
“This was what was in Arnold’s hand. He dropped it when Bud hit him.”
“You can’t prove that was mine. You planted it there.”
“Excuse me, but I can help with that,” Blythe said as she came forward with her phone. “I put up cameras.”
The commissioner watched the tape and then nodded. “It’s all right here, Arnold.”
Kyle joined them and held up a small cooler. “I have the samples. I’ll go run them now.”
“No, call in Dr. Creed. Have her test them now so we can clear the horses for the race. Also, have her test the sugar cube,” the commissioner ordered the president of the track as he held out his hand for the cooler.
“Dr. Creed?” Kyle asked angrily as he handed them over. “You’re having a third-party vet test the blood?”
“Not a vet. She’s a scientist who has developed new testing for us,” the commissioner told Kyle as he stared at Arnold.
“A new test for what?” Kyle asked.
“For an array of illegal drugs that we weren’t previously able to test for. But we are now.” Wyatt watched Arnold’s face drain of blood as he looked around at those gathered.
Camila came up to Wyatt then and slipped her hand in his. Her hand was shaking slightly as they stood and watched Cody and Luke help DeAndre load Arnold, the still-unknown stable hand, and Julio into three state trooper cruisers.
“It’s over,” she said with a sigh of relief.
Wyatt pulled her against his side and wrapped his arm around her back, anchoring her to him with his hand on her hip. He didn’t want to let her go as Piper arrived, being driven on another track golf cart.
Kyle sputtered in anger but his bruised feelings didn’t seem to matter to anyone as Piper promised to let them know the results immediately. And then the waiting began.
“Are you sure Arnold didn’t give Gent anything?” Wyatt asked when Bud, Blythe, Mike, Cody, and Luke joined them in a tight circle.
“I’ve reviewed the video,” Blythe told them. “He didn’t get to Gent. He did throw something into Daisy’s stall, though. I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.”
“It was a snake,” Cody told her. “I killed it and got it out of the stall. Bud kept her calm because we didn’t know what had happened.”
Bud’s lips thinned in anger and his face reddened as he told them what had happened. “Cody and I were sitting outside Gent’s stall when Arnold walked over to us. We didn’t pay much attention because it was Arnold. He’s always around. Well, suddenly Daisy freaked out. I was trying to calm her, and Cody went into the stall to see if she was injured. Everyone came running to help. Then I heard Camila yelling and saw Arnold trying to feed Gent a sugar cube.”
“I found the snake in the hay and killed it with my knife. I was carrying it out of the stall when I saw Bud punching Arnold. The snake is probably still over there. I tossed it in a bucket before helping Bud,” Cody said.
They headed over to the bucket Cody was pointing at and then handed it over to DeAndre while making sure the commissioner and the track president saw it as well. Photographs were taken and finally the remains of the snake were disposed of.
“Mr. Ashton, Dr. Davies, and Prince Ali Rahman, the results are in,” the commissioner called out. Wyatt slid his hand over Camila’s and pulled her along with him as he went to meet with the commissioner and president.
Wyatt glanced at his cousin who looked determined in his innocence, but unsure of what Arnold may have done. Mo seemed to appear the same. It seemed as if no one was breathing as they waited for the commissioner to give the results.
“All your horses are clear of any drugs and may race in the stakes race. Unfortunately, Prince Ali Rahman, Julio will not be able to race and we are also suspending your jockey, Mr. Ashton, because of his ties to Arnold and Julio. He’s now under investigation with a few others.”
“Do you have a list of available jockeys?” Carter asked.
“I’ve contacted the jockey agents. I am sure they will be here shortly to try to get the remaining jockeys a ride. I understand if you want to scratch, though, and I apologize as I know it’s not your fault.”
“Thank you. Joel will let you know if we decide to go that route,” Mo said, signaling his trainer to join them as the commissioner walked away. “We have ten minutes to find a new jockey or we need to scratch.”
Camila pulled her hand free and called Mike over to them. “Bud and I have to get Gent warmed up. They both lost their jockeys. Can you give them the scoop on any of the jockeys that might be available?” Camila asked Mike who nodded.
Wyatt listened as Mike gave an honest rundown of the best jockeys left. And in the end, they had the same agent. They were two green as can be jockeys who had a ton of practical experience and a natural hand, according to Mike. But they did lack experience in a race this big. It was a leap of faith for Mo and Carter to trust Mike’s opinion, and it showed her knowledge and ability was being taken seriously.
24
Wyatt watched as Mike, Bud, and Camila got Gent ready in the paddock. The placed was packed as television crews filmed owners, their families, the trainers, and everyone else associated with the farms represented in the graded stakes race that could land one of them at the Derby.
The paddock was covered with rubber bricks for the horses to walk on. The center of the paddock was perfectly manicured grass where the families stood. Old trees and vibrant flowers surrounded the entire paddock.
Carter and Will worked with their new jockey, who wasn’t more than nineteen years old, to get him ready for their horse, Blitz, while Joel walked with his new jockey.
“Wyatt, I think we’re almost ready,” Camila called out to him. Wyatt stepped away from where he was standing with Mo and Carter to join her.
“There’s one more thing,” Wyatt said, looking over at Gent.
“What is it?” Camila asked. Wyatt saw the worry on her face as if she hadn’t done a great job.
Wyatt reached into his pocket and pulled out a tube of his Nana Ruth’s bright red lipstick. “For luck,” he said as he pulled off to top and did his best to put on the lipstick with no mirror.
Bud shook his head, Mike’s eyes were wide, and Camila couldn’t stop laughing. Gent, on the other hand, tossed his head and pawed at the ground with excitement.
“You’re a good horse, Gent, and we’re very proud of you.” Wyatt puckered up and Gent lowered his head and stood respectfully still. Wyatt placed a big kiss right on his nose.
“Riders up!”
Wyatt wiped the red lipstick from his mouth and presented his hands for Mike. She took a deep breath and then was boosted atop Gent. She looked down at Wyatt, Bud, and Camila and smiled. “I’m going to win this. I’ll see you in the winner’s circle.”
Gent tossed his head in agreement before Bud took hold of Gent’s lead rope to take him to the track with Wyatt and Camila walking beside them. The horses left the paddock in the order of the starting gate with Gent bringing up the rear. They walked through the gate and into the tunnel leading under the grandstand and out onto the track. The sound of the hooves and clicking of women’s high heels echoed off the brick tunnel walls. The darkness gave way to the sunlit track.
Wyatt looked up at the determined face of his jockey and patted Mike’s leg. “You’ve got this.”
Mike gave one curt nod of her chin in reply as Wyatt ran his hand down Gent’s neck and patted him. Bud, Camila, and he stood watching Gent as the other owners made their way back into the tunnel. Carter and Mo joined them and together they all began their walk back toward the tunnel.
Wyatt stepped into the tunnel. His mind wandered to the race, to what had just happened, and to how he was going to move on. A shadow along the wall moved and Kyle pushed himself from the wall where he’d been waiting for them.
“Can I have a moment?” Kyle asked.
“I’ll escort Camila to the box,” Carter told him as Camila shot Wyatt a worried look.
“Thank you. I’ll be there in just a minute.” Wyatt waited a moment before turning to Kyle. “What did you need, Kyle?”
“How could you show a complete lack of trust in me? You completely undermined my entire reputation,” Kyle hissed at him.
“How?” Wyatt asked, feeling anger rising to the surface.
“You brought in someone else to do the testing, and you didn’t tell me. That’s the definition of undermining.” Kyle’s hands fisted as they stood in the darkened shadows of the tunnel. They were surrounded by tens of thousands of people yet they were in a world of their own.
Wyatt paused. He wanted to lay into Kyle, but Kyle was right. He deserved the truth. “I didn’t trust you. I didn’t know how bad things had gotten or who might be involved. I’m sorry, but the fewer people who knew, the better.”
“Knew what? No one has told me anything. What are they testing for?”
“A new illegal substance,” Wyatt told Kyle, expecting to see him relax. Instead Kyle stiffened.
“What substance? I haven’t heard anything about a new substance.” Kyle’s voice sounded strangled as his body went rigid. He looked as if a deep breath would shatter him.
“A new street drug that was developed for horses but then adapted to use on humans. It’s called Popular.”
Kyle shook his head. “There’s no way you could develop a test that quickly for a new drug.”
“My cousin is very smart. She and her team developed it, tested it, and the track is using it today. They are taking samples from every horse that has raced.” Kyle’s mouth hung open and his eyes weren’t focused anymore. Then it hit Wyatt like a ton of bricks. “You knew about the drug and now you’re busted. Busted by a drug you thought wouldn’t show up in a blood test.”
Kyle sputtered, trying to deny it, but Wyatt already knew the truth. “How could you, Kyle?” Wyatt’s anger bubbled to the surface.
Kyle’s eyes snapped into focus and riveted on Wyatt. “How could I? How could I not? You would never understand. I was cut off, and my dad stopped paying my student loans. I needed money.”
“Did you make Popular?” Wyatt asked as he barely suppressed his anger. Wyatt had worked twenty hours a day for over a year to keep the farm on track, and Kyle was complaining because he had to pay his own way for the first time. Yes, Wyatt’s family was wealthy. No, Wyatt was not. He fought against asking them for money because of pride, and when faced with the dilemma of lean times, Kyle had chosen crime over hard work.
“No. I was approached about running the drug tests and making sure it didn’t show as positive. Now that it is, I’m screwed. All because of you. Because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut. Because you had to be the freaking hero.”
Kyle sucker-punched Wyatt out of nowhere. His fist connected with Wyatt’s jaw, sending his head snapping to the side. Wyatt stumbled back, his hands already lifting to defend himself. If Kyle thought Wyatt was a pushover because he was nice, he had another think coming. Wyatt had trained his whole life in boxing, takedowns, and other hand-to-hand combat tactics, all because of who his family was. Just because he didn’t go into that profession didn’t mean he didn’t learn about it.
Wyatt dodged the next punch and heard it tearing through the air directly above his head. Wyatt shot up and hit Kyle with a one-two combo of a jab and then a cross. Kyle grunted as Wyatt grabbed his shoulders, brought his knee up, and pulled Kyle down, slamming his knee into the man’s midsection.
Kyle dropped to the ground, gasping. Security came running. Wyatt wanted answers. “Who paid you?”
Kyle groaned and Wyatt put the heel of his cowboy boot onto Kyle’s hand and applied pressure. “Who?”
“He’ll kill me. I’d rather go to jail.”
“Track security! What’s going on here?”
Wyatt tried to explain, but in the end the security guard held them both until Wyatt sent a text to the commissioner and president of the track. With two minutes to post time, Danny and Ned showed up. They released Wyatt and took Kyle into custody. Wyatt straightened his tie, brushed off his suit jacket and calmly made his way to the box. He’d thought the whole thing was over, but it wasn’t. He still needed answers.
25
“What took you so long? You almost missed the race.” Camila said as Wyatt walked quickly into the box. “What happened to your face?”
“Kyle and I had
a little talk. He knew about Popular. Said someone was paying him to make sure it didn’t show up in the tests.”
Camila slipped her hand into his, and Wyatt felt his heartbeat slow back down to normal. “Don’t worry. With this many people caught, it’s only a matter of time before someone talks.”
Wyatt saw that his father and mother were looking at him questioningly, but he smiled and they relaxed. “Good luck, son,” his dad said as they began to load the horses into the gate.
For a moment, the whole grandstand fell silent as the last horse was loaded. It was as if the crowd was holding its collective breath until the bell sounded and the gates were flung open. Then the whole place erupted.
Camila’s hand tightened on his as Gent fell into the middle of the pack. Wyatt held his breath as they raced past the grandstand. He heard his friends and family cheering for all three Keeneston horses, but his eyes were glued to Mike and Gent. Her red hair flew out the back of her helmet as she leaned low over Gent’s neck. They rode as one fluid unit. No whip and no noticeable signals. Somehow Gent knew exactly what Mike wanted from him.
“There,” Camila gasped. A hole opened along the rail and before she’d even finished talking, Mike and Gent were making their move.
Mo smiled as his horse, Sandstorm, the favorite, moved into the lead. Carter and Reagan were screaming for Blitz as he moved into third. Still Wyatt couldn’t drag his eyes from Michaela and Gent. They approached the final turn and the pack had broken into two groups. The pack was led by Sandstorm and Blitz had moved into second. Gent was holding onto the fifth as they came around the final turn.
Camila gasped and squeezed tight to Wyatt’s hand. She’d seen what he had. The rail was now closed. Gent only had one way to go to get to the lead. “Now!” Camila yelled, but it wasn’t necessary. Mike and Gent were making the move to the outside. Gent broke free in an instant.
“And here comes Ruth’s Gentleman from the outside!” the announcer said as Sandstorm and Blitz battled for the lead. “He’s in fifth, in fourth, in third!”
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