Microsoft Word - DeadHeat_wrp356.doc (24 page)

they chewed at the bit. They were racing tight.

Jenna had second thoughts. Should she have had a

pony bring them out?
Stop it.
Dani and Miguel were pros.

They could handle the two colts.

“Worried?” Rye questioned.

“No. Not worried. First time jitters.”

Rye reached out and curled his long fingers around

the nape of her neck and massaged the telltale knots. Her

head drooped forward, giving him better access.

151

Pam Champagne

“Magic fingers,” she murmured.

“I want to talk to you tonight,” he said softly.

Jenna's head snapped back fast enough to give

herself whiplash. “Sorry. Not tonight. I've got plans. Dani

and I are going out.” Now she had to inform Dani of that

fact. Casey's arrival effectively cut off any response from

Rye. “Hey, where are Tsunami and Rising Sun?”

“I'm working them out of the gate this morning.”

“Why wasn't I told?”

Jenna drew a sharp breath at Casey’s anger. She

shrugged. “Guess I forgot in all the confusion yesterday.”

The ugliness that spread across the groom's face gave

Jenna a chill, even though the air was warm. Rye

stiffened beside her. She touched his arm in warning.

“Chill out, Casey,” she told him, keeping her tone

light, yet with a hint of warning.

Casey spun away, grabbed a pitchfork and ducked

into one of the empty stalls.
Interesting. Casey wasn't the

happy-go-lucky person he'd pretended to be.

“Ready, Jenna?” Rye asked. “Time to get out there.”

Jenna nodded and walked next to him, checking her

pocket to make sure she had her stopwatch.

“What was that all about? Why didn't you let me tell

him he was out of line?”

She shook her head. She wished she knew. “No idea.

Maybe he had a bad night or got out of bed on the wrong

side this morning. I'm his immediate supervisor. It's my

job to set him straight. And I will. In my own time. In my

own way.”

Dani had arranged for the gate to be strategically

placed so Jenna and Rye could watch the horses break,

then hurry a short distance down the track to where the

workout would end.

The track's surface wouldn't be an excuse for either

horse. There'd been no rain for a few days, so the track

was fast.

Dani and Miguel circled the horses behind the gate

when she and Rye arrived. The horses were under muscle,

but neither acted stupid or lathered up. Jenna smiled and

waved a signal to load them in the gate. Miguel gave her

a thumbs-up.

152

Dead Heat

Rising Sun walked in like a pro. Tsunami balked on

the first attempt. Dani patted his neck, circled him once

and tried again. Second time was golden.

The instant Tsunami loaded, the starter opened the

gate. Rising Sun shot out like a thousand pound

cannonball. Tsunami left the gate slow with a ‘what the

hell was that’ look on his face. After a sluggish start he

quickly recovered and settled into running.

Jenna hadn't mentioned to Rye that Rising Sun

carried an extra twelve pounds. Dani was a lightweight

compared to Miguel. That could be an important factor in

the outcome.

Rising Sun increased his lead length by length. The

colt was having none of Miguel's attempt to pace him.

Rye and Jenna ran side-by-side to where the horses

would finish. After three furlongs, the halfway mark of

the workout, Rising Sun led by six lengths.

At the half-mile post, Dani asked Tsunami to make

his move. The game horse didn't hesitate to accelerate,

quickly closing the six length lead until he ran head to

head with his opponent.

Jenna's heart filled with pride when Rising Sun

pinned his ears and kept the lead. Miguel gave him a

strictly hand ride. Neither rider carried a whip. These

magnificent animals were doing what they were bred to

do, running to win.

Jenna broke out in goosebumps as she witnessed the

battle between the equine athletes in the last two

furlongs. Rising Sun was a nose ahead, then a nose

behind. Dani rode like a pro, her small body close and

high on Tsunami's neck. Rye's colt hung. He needed

blinkers.

Once both riders had stood in the stirrups, Jenna

released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. If

this were a real race, a photo might declare one of them a

winner. Without a photo, Jenna decided it was a dead

heat. Her heart pounded so fast, so hard, she thought she

might vomit or faint. Or both.

When Miguel and Dani galloped past Jenna and Rye,

both horses were breathing like freight trains. Neither

wanted to stop running.

153

Pam Champagne

“Dead heat,” Rye said, lowering his binoculars. “I'm

impressed. Your colt could have kept on running, and I

wouldn't bet my hard earned money that Tsunami would

have beat him in a longer distance. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Don't go betting against Tsunami. He needs

blinkers,” Jenna replied, falling in step beside Rye. The

adrenaline had drained away, leaving her body limp as an

overcooked piece of pasta.

“You think he's hanging?”

She nodded. “Tsunami had great fun running beside

Rising Sun. If he couldn't see another horse, he might

blow right by.”

“Interesting.”

Rye appeared to mull over the idea, and they made

the rest of the walk back to the barn in silence.

Two grooms bathed the horses when they arrived.

Dani and Miguel argued good-naturedly about who’d won

the pseudo race.

“Congratulations,” Jenna said. “Great rides. Both of

you.”

Miguel grinned ear to ear, his dark Spanish eyes

sparkling. “Man, Jenna, that horse, he fly. I never even

push him.”

“Tsunami was just playing with your horse, Miguel,”

Dani joked.

“What was the time?” Miguel asked.

Jenna pulled the stopwatch from her pocket. “A

minute fourteen seconds.” She leaned against a post and

waited for everyone's reaction.

Rye's eyes widened. “Holy shit. Are you sure?”

Miguel's grin grew even wider. “Man, I knew it. Felt

it in my toes.”

“It'll be plastered all over the front page of the Racing

Form tomorrow morning,” Dani said.

“That's for sure.” Rye shook his head. “Been a long

time since any two-year-old has run that fast. And we've a

pair of 'em in the same barn.”

“Three swallows of water a turn,” Jenna told the hot

walkers. “Yank their heads out of the bucket if you have

to.” “This calls for a celebration,” Dani could hardly stand

still.

154

Dead Heat

“What are you celebrating?”

Jenna's good humor vanished at the familiar voice.

“Mornin' Brett,” Rye greeted his brother.

“Don't you have criminals to catch?” Dani challenged.

Brett gave Dani what Jenna now called 'The Look'.

Dani sure had a funny way of showing a man she was

interested.

Rye stepped between the two combatants. “Tsunami

and Rising Sun just worked together out of the gate.

We're all riding a bit high right now.”

“I've got to run, Jenna,” Dani said. “Catch you

tomorrow.”

Rye spoke, stopping Dani in her tracks. “I thought

you and Jenna were going out on the town tonight.”

Jenna stood behind Rye and Brett. Dani gave her a

quizzical glance. Jenna nodded her head, hoping her

friend would catch on.

Bingo.

Dani slapped her forehead. “That's right. In all the

excitement, it totally slipped my mind. What time should

I pick you up?” Her gaze focused on Jenna.

“How about three o'clock? We can go back to your

place and share some girl time.”

“Sounds great.” Dani smiled gamely.

“Where are you going?” Brett asked.

Jesus. The man was a pit bull.

“The OK Corral,” Jenna blurted out the first place

that popped into her head, then stifled a groan. A favorite

hangout for racetrack people, the OK Corral was rowdy

and well known for fights.

Dani coughed, a twinkle in her eyes.

“Impressive place.” Brett grinned. “I'm not surprised

at your choice.”

Rye's mouth tightened.

Before any more could be said, Jenna busied herself

with the morning's schedule. From the corner of her eye,

she watched Brett and Rye walk toward the tack room.

At ten-thirty, Jenna finished her work. She had no

horses running that day. Rising Sun and Tsunami both

came out of the workout in great shape. No swelling, no

heat in their ankles, knees or feet. Life was good.

By the time she wandered into the tack room, Rye

155

Pam Champagne

was gone. Jenna yawned. Maybe she'd grab a nap. In the

back bedroom, she shut the door and sank on the

mattress, asleep before her head touched the pillow.

Rising Sun came into the final turn and barreled

down the stretch ten lengths ahead of the closest horse. The

crowds roared. He stumbled, going to his knees. The jockey

slipped off to the side and managed to roll out of the way

of the oncoming field of horses. Rising Sun didn't move.

Jenna bolted upright, her breathing erratic, her

heart thudding.
A dream. It's only a dream.
The

realization didn't lessen her fear. She brushed away the

urge to run out to see if Rising Sun was okay.
It was only

a dream.
Jenna silently chanted the words, waiting for

her fear to subside.

“Jenna?” Rye knocked and opened the door. “Are you

all right? You cried out.” Jenna sat in the middle of the

narrow bed, hair tousled, her face hot. She lowered her

lashes to hide the pounding fear triggered by her

nightmare.

“I had a bad dream.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“No. It doesn't matter. It's only a dream.”

“What does matter to you, Jenna?”

She drew her knees to her chest and still refused to

meet his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Rye moved to the bed. The mattress sagged when he

sat beside her. “I guess the workout today means you'll be

pulling up stakes and heading west.”

“Looks that way,” she murmured. She flinched when

his arm went around her shoulders.

“You don't have to go. I want you to stay.”

I just bet you would. You get a trainer and a bed

partner all in one.

Jenna shook her head. “It's time to move on.”

“I meant what I said this morning. Running away

never solves anything.”

Jenna pulled back and glared at him. “I'm not

running.”

“So you say.”

Her patience crashed and her temper burned hot.

Scrambling to her knees, she put her face close to his. “I'm

sick and tired of your insinuations. I'm twenty-seven

156

Dead Heat

years old. I want to train horses. Just because I'd rather

do it in California than in Kentucky doesn't mean I'm

running from anything, especially you.” She paused for a

deep breath. “Why don't you just say what you really

think? That I'm leaving because I've fallen in love with

you.” Jenna poked her finger at his chest. “You're the

most egotistical...”

Rye's lips swooped and captured her mouth. Damn

the man. He kissed her with an expertise that rocked her

world. Hungrily, she kissed him back, grabbing handfuls

of his hair. His breath smelled of the mints he was always

popping in his mouth.

“God, Jenna, you drive me crazy,” he murmured and

kissed her again. He pressed against her, forcing her onto

the mattress until he lay across her body.

Fiery heat seared her belly. She was lost.

Rye cupped her face and broke the embrace. His eyes

were dark with passion. “We can't do this. Someone might

walk in.”

Shame flooded her. She rolled and faced the wall.

“Please go away.”

“Jenna...” He released a loud breath. The bed creaked

when he got up. His boots tapped on the wooden floor as

he walked away. The soft click of the door sounded loud

and final.

Tears seeped from beneath her lashes. She buried

her face in the pillow. Dani would be here soon.
Time to

get your act together, Jenna. Life goes on.

157

Pam Champagne

Rye's foot tapped as he leaned against the rail

waiting for Dani and Jenna to come out of the tack room.

What could they be doing? They'd been in there for fifteen

minutes for God's sake. Was Jenna crying on her friend's

shoulder? Telling Dani what a bastard he was?

Jenna had refused to listen to him. Never gave him a

chance to tell her he loved her. He sighed. Not that he

blamed her. Hell, he'd been a jerk since day one. As soon

as she walked through the door tonight, he'd make her

listen.

What if she didn't love him? The thought sobered

him, but he pushed it away. He couldn't be mistaken

about her feelings. When they were intimate, she radiated

love. “What're you up to little brother? You're a million

miles away.”