Baby I'm In (Honky Tonk Angels #3) (3 page)

Had it not been for Landing, he would have just stood there staring at her. But Landing nearly jerked him off his feet as he started for the woman, whinnying loudly.

The woman’s eyes were on Landing and Kyle could have sworn he saw tears gathering. He also noticed the way her body started to go into forward motion toward the horse. She apparently caught herself and halted, her body tense as she cut her eyes at Wes.

Wes looked from the woman to Kyle. “Kyle, meet Liz Redgate.  She’s trying for the jockey position. Liz, this is my co-trainer, Kyle Stadler.”

Kyle was surprised that Wes would consider a woman.  Not that Wes had ever displayed sexist tendencies, but most of the top jockeys were men and he knew Wes was in the game to win.

“Ms. Redgate.” He nodded.  “Landing’s ready when you are.”

“I’m ready, but I need to get my horse out of the trailer.  Is there somewhere I could feed and water him and let him stretch his legs?”

“I’ll do that for you.”  Kyle offered. 

“I’ll get one of the grooms to do it.” Wes said and pulled out his phone.

“No.” Liz put her hand on his arm.  “Traveler is – spirited. Best if I do it.”

“I’ll walk Landing.”  Kyle said.  “Give you time.”

Liz looked at Wes and he shrugged.  “Fine.  Unload him and we’ll put him in that paddock.”   He pointed across the graveled road from the track.

“Thanks.”  Liz hurried to the trailer.

Wes looked over at Kyle. “What?”

“Didn’t say anything.”

“But you’re thinking something.”

“Just curious to see how she rides.”

“Me too.”

“Best get this boy walking.”  Kyle turned Landing and walked along beside him.

Landing seemed worked up, more eager than normal and it took more to control him as they walked. Kyle turned his gaze toward Liz Redgate’s truck.  The animal she unloaded was a beauty, and definitely an Arabian.  One of good breeding if his eye was right.  That piqued his curiosity.  What would a woman be doing riding around with an expensive horse?  Furthermore, what qualifications did she have as a jockey?  He’d never heard of her and he kept up with the racing world.

Keeping abreast of things was more important now than ever.  Kyle had worked with several of the Pursell’s race horses, but had never been offered the chance to be co-trainer. If Landing turned out to be a winner, he could make more this year than in multiple years doing his normal work.  And if Landing ended up in the roses, he’d have helped train a champion.

It was a very big deal and he took it seriously.  He thought Wes did as well, and yet here he was, letting an unknown, a woman, try for the jockey position.  Kyle shook his head and cut a look again at Liz Redgate. 

She knew Landing.  He was sure of it.  Especially after the way Landing acted.  What was up there?  It was a mystery and that added an extra layer of interest.  Interest that wouldn’t profit him at all. He told himself to forget about her and focus on the task at hand.

After all, chances were, she’d be loading that horse of hers back into the trailer within the hour and headed back to wherever she came from.  He didn’t think there was a chance in hell she’d land the job.

In a way that was a shame.  He’d kind of like a chance to figure out what she was all about.  On and off the track.

*****

Liz moved slower than normal getting Traveler settled.  Seeing King’s Landing had affected her more than she’d expected. It had taken every bit of self-control she possessed not to rush over to him when he whinnied and tried to come to her.

However, she couldn’t let anyone know her relationship with Landing. That wouldn’t bode well for her getting the job and she was determined to be hired. Finally, when she couldn’t stall anymore, she headed out of the paddock.

Wes was leaning against his truck, tinkering with his phone.  He’d definitely matured to be very handsome. And still single from what she’d heard. Funny, but as hot as he was, she didn’t feel any real attraction.  Guess that childhood crush was long gone.

The trainer, on the other hand, was one hot piece of man.  She kept her eyes on him as she went to her truck.  Her gear was stowed behind the seat.  Liz put on her chaps, watching the trainer with Landing. Landing was eager to move; she could tell from the way the muscles along the back of his neck twitched.  He’d always gotten twitchy when he wanted to run.

I wonder if the trainer knows that?
She sat down to change into riding boots. It took a while to become familiar with a horse and Wes hadn’t owned Landing that long.  Was the trainer good?  She’d never heard of him.  Why would Wes hire an unknown to work with a horse of Landing’s caliber?  Just who was this Kyle guy?

Tall and lean, he filled out his jeans nicely, was definitely a looker and had something in his eyes, some kind of knowing that slightly intimidated her.  Liz shook off the thought. He couldn’t know anything about her.  She’d not given anything that could be traced back to Quinlan Racing.  She had taken care not to leave a trail. 

She couldn’t trust anyone with her plan, not even her brother. The only way for her to get out from under her father’s thumb was on her own.

That’s exactly what she was going to do. A wave of dizziness had her grabbing onto the door of the truck when she stood. It took only a few seconds to pass but in its wake came a wave of queasiness. So much for being awake for over a day and a half.  With luck this wouldn’t take long and she could tend to Traveler and then find somewhere to pass out.  She felt like she could sleep for an entire day.

Liz grabbed her helmet and headed for the gate where Wes was watching the horse.

He turned to look at her.“You ready?”

“Yep.”  She put on her helmet.

“Kyle!”  Wes shouted for the trainer.

Kyle waved and turned Landing.  Liz hopped the fence and waited.  When Kyle and Landing stopped beside her she immediately reached for Landing, rubbing his face and head.  “Hey big guy.  How’re you doing?  You wanna run?”

Landing snorted and shook his head up and down.  Liz laughed and turned her attention to the trainer, Kyle. When his gaze locked with hers she felt the mental equivalent of a punch to the gut. 
Whoa. What was that?  Let it go, Liz.  Focus.

“What do you want from me, Mr. Stadler?”

“It’s not me you have to please, Ms. Redgate.”

“You’re the trainer.”

“Co-trainer, but not the owner.  Mr. Pursell does the hiring.”

“Right you are.”  She rubbed Landing’s neck.  “But I need to know how you work with him, so you want me to warm him up a bit?”

“Yeah, take him around a couple of times slow.”

“You got it.”

Kyle gave her a leg up and adjusted her stirrups.  He then moved to the other side of the fence beside Wes as Liz walked Landing half way around the track.  Once she’d made a full circuit, she upped to a trot, completed the lap and moved on at a canter.

He watched as Landing speeded to a canter.  “She has good form.”

“Indeed.”  Wes commented without taking his eyes off the horse and rider.

Kyle wondered if Wes was appreciating Liz’s skill on the horse or her appealing appearance.  He watched as well, his focus on Liz’s form and the way she handled the horse.  When she completed the lap and stopped beside them, he instructed her to make the same ride, but let Landing have his head.

“Say when.”

“Now.”  Kyle pressed the start on his stopwatch.

“Holy shit.”  Wes, who had been leaning on the fence, stood up straight.

Kyle understood what the words meant. Liz rode as if she and Landing were connected. She was bent forward, her butt not touching the saddle, with all her weight on her feet.  Her head nearly touched Landing’s neck and her motion matched his perfectly.

It was, in some ways, the visual equivalent of a concert.  Perfect harmony and timing.  He was so caught up in the sight that he forgot about the stopwatch until horse and rider made the turn and headed toward him.

As they flew by he hit the stop button.  Wes looked over and Kyle showed him the time.

“Holy shit.”

Kyle nodded. Liz had done what world-class riders could not.  “That gal can ride.”

“That she can, my friend.”  Wes clapped Kyle on the shoulder.  “I think I’m gonna hire her.”

“You’ve got two prominent jockeys due in the next couple of weeks.”

“Yep, and I’ll talk with them.  She might not ride Landing for the money, but she’ll make a hell of an exercise rider.”

Kyle found it shocking that Wes’s statement annoyed him. Was it because he figured Liz was counting on the jockey position or the way Wes looked at her.  He shoved those thoughts away.  His job was as a trainer.  Wes was the boss and if he wanted to hire Liz as an exercise rider that was his business.

Liz reined Landing to a stop in front of them.  “Well?”

Wes smiled at her. “I’m going to be straight with you.  I like what I saw and I’m willing to offer you a position.”

“That’s—”

“But—” he interrupted.  “I have two experience riders coming in later this week and I owe it to them to give them a shot.”

“Oh.”

“That’s not saying you won’t end up with the job.  Right now, I’ll offer you a place as an exercise rider.  Once I’ve finished all the interviews and made my decision – we’ll know how we’re going to move forward.”

She looked at him for a long time.  “I’m willing to take the offer.  On one condition.”

“You’re giving me a condition?”  Wes seemed genuinely surprised and Kyle admired her spunk.

“Yep.”

“And what might that be?”

“First, does the job come with room and board?”

“Normally.  But we have three bunkhouses and not one female.”

“So that’s a no?”

“Well, I guess that depends on you.  Each house has six bedrooms, two bathrooms and a common living area and kitchen.  I have two empty beds.  You think you can bunk in with five men?”

“Long as I have a bed to myself I’m good.”

“Well, it’s either that, or I can give you housing expenses. There are places in town who rent rooms.”

“I’m not keen on that idea. I need a place to board my horse.  If you’ll board him, you can take the fee out of my pay.”

“I could do that.”

“Sounds fair.  Well, depending. What’s the salary?”

“You want to talk money in front of Kyle?”

“Sure why not?”

“All right then.  Seven-fifty a week.”

Liz threw her right leg over the saddle and hopped to the ground.  She stuck out her hand to Wes. “When do I start?”

He smiled as he shook her hand.  “You tell me?”

“You’re the boss.”  She glanced at Kyle. “Or you.  So one of you make the call.”

Kyle looked at Wes.  “You want me to stick around any longer today?”

“Long enough to give Landing a workout and go over his feed schedule with the grooms. I’m leaving this afternoon and won’t be back until Thursday so I’ll need you to be here in the morning for his workouts and the vet is coming on Wednesday.”

“No problem.”

“Great, then I’ll leave you to it.  Oh and Ms. Redgate?”

“Liz.”

“Liz, I guess you can start today. Might as well get used to working with Kyle on Landing’s exercise regimen.”

“Sounds good.”

“Excellent.  Then I will see you both on Thursday.  Kyle, you’ll handle Liz’s schedule?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh and I’ll make sure the men know she’s bunking in house three.  Can you show her where it is?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.  Then I’ll see you Thursday.”

Kyle watched him leave and turned to see Liz watching him. He got the impression she was sizing him up.  “You ready to get started?”

“Do you think I could get a drink of water first?”

“Sure, there’s bottled water in the refrigerator in the office.  Walk with me.”

She turned to take Landing’s reins and stumbled.  Kyle caught her, and she turned in his arms. Her gaze connected with his and he was amazed at the feeling that seized him.  Lust, yes, and a gracious plenty, but something more.

Liz blinked, blushed and pushed away.  “Thanks.”  She took hold of Landing’s reins and together they left the track and walked to a large barn nearby.

Kyle led her to a door over which a sign with the words Racing Office was mounted. “Wait here and I’ll grab you something to drink.”

“Thanks.”

He went inside and got a couple of bottles of water from the refrigerator.  When he walked back outside, Liz had her arms around Landing’s neck, leaning in on him.

“Your water.”

“Oh thanks.”  She accepted the bottle, chugged down half of it and then looked at him.  He got the impression she had something to say.

“Questions?”

She nodded. “A couple.”

“Shoot.”

“First, what do I call you?”