Kentucky Heat (30 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Kentucky Heat
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“We can take Gabby for whole summers if Emmie allows it. We'll work everything out. Where should we get married? At the farm?”
“In a church. I want to get married in a church. I want to walk down the aisle and I want Gabby to be my flower girl. I want Smitty, Ruby, and Emmie to stand up for me. How about you?”
“Bode, Hank, Nick, and Metaxas,” he responded without hesitation. “We got it covered, Nealy. Just one question, though. Are you as happy as I am?”
“I'm so happy I could just bust wide open. I'll be even happier when this last race is over. I had this dream last night, Hatch. You aren't going to believe it especially the way I've been moaning and groaning about being a senior. In my dream I had stationery printed up that said, Nealy Littletree, Senior Citizen.”
Hatch laughed so hard the truck rocked underneath them. He continued to laugh until tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Wait, there's more,” she said, reaching out to touch his arm. “I wrote a letter to the president and the first lady on that stationery thanking them for the beautiful flowers.” She doubled over, laughing hysterically. Hatch gasped as he wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand.
“When was the last time you laughed like that, Nealy?”
“Probably never.” Nealy wiped at her eyes with a tissue from the glove compartment. “You are so good for me, Hatch.”
“And you're good for me.”
They talked about everything under the sun for the next few hours. She realized suddenly that she knew very little, if anything, about Hatch's childhood. “Tell me what it was like growing up on a reservation, Hatch. You know all about me, and now I want to know all about you.”
“Do you really want to know, Nealy?”
“I do, Hatch. I want to know everything about you. Don't leave anything out either.”
“My earliest memory is running with my friends. I was barefoot and half-naked. . . .”
 
 
“Are you feeling good about this, Nealy?” Metaxas asked as he stroked Shufly's big head. “He knows, Nealy, that today is different, just like he knew the Derby and the Preakness were different. See, he's not going after my buttons. That means something to me. That means he knows. He knows, Nealy.”
“You're babbling, honey,” Ruby said, linking her arm with his.
“They always know,” Nealy said gently. “There's the call for Riders Up. Gotta go. Wish me luck.”
Dover stood next to Shufly, waiting for her. “You pulled gate nine, Nealy. That's good. Just let Shufly find his place. He does love that three-across spread. Bring it home, Nealy,” Dover said, hugging her tightly and then cupping his hands to give her a leg up.
Nealy wiggled down into her seat. “I'll do my best, Dover. You
know
Shufly is going to do his best. See ya, Dover.”
The crowd roared with excitement when Nealy in her purple-and-white silks, rode into view.
“My God,” she whispered, then bent to pat Shufly's mane. “I think they like us. Look at them, Shufly. Turn your head and look at them.” He did just that: turned his head toward the crowd, perked his ears, then rolled back his lips in what Nealy could only describe as a smile. “You are a ham, Shufly.” She started to laugh, catching the attention of the jockey behind her.
“What's so funny?” he called to her.
“Trust me, you wouldn't believe it even if I told you,” she called over her shoulder.
In the gate, Nealy stroked Shufly. She bowed her head and said her prayer. “Please, God, keep all the animals and jockeys safe in this race.”
She snuggled down into her seat and prepared herself. “You back there, Hunt?”
“
I'm hanging on, Nealy. You okay?
”
“I'm very okay, Hunt. How's it look from your vantage point?”
“Tight as a duck's ass. Smoky Joe is the one you have to watch out for. He's got some speed in those legs. Cherokee Charlie can come from behind and into the stretch like greased lightning. Hiz Honor is in gate eight. He's hot spit, Nealy. You're the odds-on favorite, and we both know that can mean squat on the homestretch. This horse can do it. I know he can.”
“Okay, okay. Enough. I need to talk to my horse now. Like me, you're just along for the ride. Remember that. Don't go confusing me.” Putting Hunt out of her mind, Nealy leaned over Shufly's withers.
“
Then why didn't you say so.
”
“I just did.”
“Listen to me, big guy, it's all the mints you want if you do this for Metaxas. All I want is your best. I know you're tired because I'm tired, and I'm just sitting on your back. You win this and it's bluegrass pasture, mares, and the love of the nicest man in the world. Okay, it's time, sweetie. Blast out of this gate and show all those slugs you mean business.”
The bell rang, the gate clanged open. “And they're off in the Belmont Stakes!” The announcer blared over the public address system.
“Smoky Joe broke slowly and breaking on the lead is Cherokee Charlie on the inside, Hiz Honor showing speed on the outside. Next to him is Shufly, the odds-on favorite to bring home a second Triple Crown to the state of Kentucky and ridden by Cornelia Diamond Clay.
“Hiz Honor gets the lead, but Cherokee Charlie is taking over by two lengths. Smoky Joe is moving up and here's Shufly moving up on the inside and has moved to capture the second position. Smoky Joe is dropping back. Bringing up the rear is Bee Bop, followed by Starlite, Secret Sam, and Bell Wether. On the far outside is Silver Streak and Loveboat.”
Nealy allowed herself a quick glance at Cherokee Charlie, whose jockey had a reputation for taking unnecessary risks. Other than that, she felt they were in a solid position. “Keep it up, boy, you're doing just fine,” she shouted.
She could hear the excitement building in the crowd when the announcer blared on the horn. “Bee Bop is starting to nose up as Hiz Honor moves on the outside, and here come Fast Track, Silver Streak, Secret Sam, and Lord April. Moving into the turn it's Cherokee Charlie ahead by half a length with Shufly on the rail right behind him.”
Out of the corner of her eye Nealy saw Cherokee Charlie's jockey rein his mount toward her. She needed to get out of the way before Shufly got pinned to the rail.
“Flying on the inside is Secret Sam, who is three lengths back from third and is now quickly making up ground. Smoky Joe is attempting to get through and is also moving up.
“Moving at breakneck speed is Cherokee Charlie, who moved up as Shufly blazes alongside. Smoky Joe is in third, a gap of two and a half lengths. Here comes Bee Bop, followed by Starlite and Secret Sam and Bell Wether. On the outside is Silver Streak and Loveboat. On the inside is Oscar and moving on to the backstretch is Lord April and on the inside, ahead and in front is Shufly in second and ahead by four lengths. Cherokee Charlie is third and ahead by four and a half lengths. Smoky Joe is in fourth place by a length and a half. Beginning to nose up is Bee Bop. Hiz Honor moves on the outside and here come Fast Track, Silver Streak, Secret Sam, and Lord April. Moving into the turn is Cherokee Charlie, Smoky Joe by half a length.
“Blazing along on the inside is Secret Sam, who is three lengths back from third and is now quickly making up ground and is fourth on the outside. Smoky Joe is attempting to get through along the railing and is also moving up and it's back to the next horse Bell Wether and into the stretch for Shufly, Cherokee Charlie, and Smoky Joe.”
“Now, Shufly, go now! There's enough room,” Nealy screamed, so loud she thought her tongue was falling out. “Get out now before you get pinned in.” She could hear Hunt screaming in her ear as the sound of the racing horses thundered all about her. “Go, baby, go! This is it!”
“It's Shufly and Cherokee Charlie battling it out together and here comes Smoky Joe closing ground fast and moving into third. It's Shufly ahead at the stretch and he is taking over. Shufly is moving away by a length, by two and now it's two and a half lengths. Look at that horse fly! He has wings on his feet, and they aren't made of gossamer.
“Smoky Joe drives up on the outside and into second, Cherokee Charlie closing off on the inside. Going down to the wire is Shufly by four lengths, Cherokee Charlie is in second, and Smoky Joe is third.” Screaming over the thunder of the crowd, the announcer blared, “Shufly straightened out his tail and is heading for the wire and it's Shufly who wins the Belmont Stakes and takes home the Triple Crown to Blue Diamond Farms!”
Nealy lifted up and off the saddle and stood in the irons, waving to the crowd, who, almost as one, shouted her name. When she came back around and in front of the grandstand, she gasped when she heard the announcer say, “Here she is, ladies and gentlemen, the woman of the moment, Nealy Diamond Clay, the first woman to win the Triple Crown not once but twice!”
As one, the crowd rose to their feet to give her a standing ovation.
“
Hell of a race, Nealy. That crowd loves you. Thanks for inviting me!
”
“My pleasure, Hunt. Is this some kind of horse or what?” she gasped, sitting back down into the saddle.
“
He's the kind of horse he is because of you, Nealy, and don't you ever forget it. I'll see you around.
”
“Hunt, wait. What does that mean, you'll see me around?” Nealy asked, struggling with her breathing.
“
I'm saying good-bye. You don't need me anymore. Here comes the big guy. I told you he was your destiny. Be good to him, and be happy, Nealy. You deserve it.
”
Nealy ripped off her goggles and cried into Shufly's mane. Her face streaked with dirt and tears, she trotted into the winner's circle. A lump the size of a golf ball settled in her throat. She watched as Metaxas Parish dropped to his knees and kissed the ground next to Shufly for all the world to see.
“I would have done a cartwheel, but I'm too damn old,” he said getting up and wrapping his arms around Shufly's neck. “Congratulations, Nealy. Two Triple Crowns by father and son. You're going to go down in history.”
“Watch this, Metaxas,” Nealy said. To the roar of the crowd, Nealy swept her hat in front of her in a sitting curtsy, acknowledging their well-wishes. “Your turn, Shufly,” she said, and the Triple Crown Winner bowed to the crowd.
“Is it my turn now?” Hatch said later, when the amenities were over and Shufly was being led away to be cooled down.
“No. It's
our
turn.” Nealy burst out laughing. “I am now going to eat until food pours out of my ears. I am going to drink four bottles of beer and smoke as many cigarettes as I want. I'll quit smoking tomorrow. Can you fill that order for me, Hatch? By the way, Hunt said good-bye to me. He said I didn't need him anymore. He said you were my destiny.”
“Did he now?”
“Yep. And you know what, he's right. Hunt was always right except on the rare occasions when he was wrong.” Nealy smiled at her declaration.
“Nealy, you won two Triple Crowns! No woman in the world has ever done that.”
“Yeah, I know. But I can't ski, snorkel, or ice-skate. Hell, I've never even had on a pair of roller skates. The truth is, the Triple Crowns belong to those magnificent animals I raised and trained. It doesn't seem right that they should be given to me. I understand the process; it just doesn't seem fair.”
“You made Thoroughbred racing history today. You, a senior citizen.”
“Fancy that.” Nealy laughed. “I am now officially yours, Mr. Littletree.”
“Metaxas has some wonderful dinner party planned. We need to get ‘gussied up,' as Ruby put it, for the festivities. It's a celebration and a send-off for Dagmar. She's returning to Sweden tomorrow with, as she put it, her poke filled to the brim.”
“I just want a bath. But first I want to see Shufly.”
“Then let's go.”
In the barn, where Shufly was being catered to like a brand-new father, Nealy walked over to him, hands on hips, and stared at him with unblinking intensity. “You are the marvel in marvelous. There are no words, and if there are, I certainly don't know them, to tell you what a fine horse you are. You are your daddy's son. That's probably the greatest compliment I can give you. I love you with all my heart, but you belong to Metaxas. From this day forward, you're going to have the most wonderful life imaginable. I'll come back to see you from time to time. Just don't forget about me, okay?” Nealy said, wrapping her arms around the horse's neck.
Shufly pawed the ground and snorted as he pushed Nealy to the side to rub his muzzle against her. “What? What do you want?”
“He wants you to get on his back,” Metaxas said quietly. “Here, I'll lift you up. Don't ask me. This horse has a mind of his own. I think he wants to do his parade strut. He knows it's over now. He's doing it for you, Nealy. Go for the ride.”

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