Microsoft Word - DeadHeat_wrp356.doc (33 page)

cards and flowers she'd received during her recuperation

made her realize how blessed she was in the friend

department. More than friends. These people were family.

“Hey Jenna,” a young hot walker called. “Welcome

back. Rising Sun sure missed you. Each time I walked

him, he stopped to look in the tack room.”

Jenna laughed. Rising Sun nodded his head

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vigorously when he saw her coming. As soon as she got

close enough, he hooked his nose over her shoulder,

pulling her against the webbing. Jenna threw her arms

around his neck and hugged him back. Tears seeped

beneath her lashes.

“Hey, big guy. Nothing to eat for you this morning.

You ready to show the world how fast you can run?”

“Jenna? Mystic's ankle is puffed up again. Wanta'

take a look?”

“Sure,” she waved at the groom two stalls down. “Be

right there.”

Another groom from the other end of the barn called

out. “Tourforsure didn't eat her oats this morning. Should

I put her on the vet list?”

And a third groom. “Born to Run came back lame

from his workout this morning. Want me to ice him?”

Jenna smiled, glad to be back at work.

Before she realized it, the morning had flown by, and

it was time for the afternoon races.

Jenna and Rye headed to the grandstand, trusting

the grooms to attend to the business of prepping Tsunami

and Rising Sun. Neither paid much attention to the early

races. Time dragged, but eventually came the

announcement of the feature race.

Jenna leaned against the fence with her binoculars

and watched the horses walk up from the backside.

Neither Rising Sun nor Tsunami appeared washy or

nervous. Two-year-olds could be either or both, especially

for their first race. This was a new experience. Not only

the race, but the grandstand crowd and noise. Rising Sun

walked with a nonchalance that impressed Jenna. He

looked straight ahead seemingly unimpressed by all the

commotion. Tsunami did his share of gawking at the fans

leaning on the fence who waited to get a glimpse of the

promising two-year-olds.

She touched Rye's arm and they walked to the

paddock to saddle the horses. Rising Sun was so into his

role, he didn't even acknowledge Jenna as she saddled

him and gave Miguel a leg up.

“Let’s go up to the box,” Rye suggested, once all the

horses had been saddled and the ‘rider’s up’ call given.

Jenna's knees were weak. In twenty minutes the

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gates would open. So far both horses behaved like the

thoroughbreds they were. No fractious behavior. Tsunami

remained curious, but once the riders mounted, and the

post parade ended, he turned all business.

Rye’s arm curved around her shoulders. “Relax, baby.

Qué será, será.”

She slid her arm around his waist and squeezed. “I’m

not nervous,” she lied, feeling like a kid on the first day of

school.

Jenna ignored the curious stares from other

horsemen in the clubhouse as she and Rye climbed the

stairs to their private box. Much of the attention of the

racing world centered on them today. It was now public

knowledge they were a couple. Put that together with the

fact they each had a horse competing in the same race,

and people had one juicy story to banter about.

Despite the fact the purse of the race was one

hundred fifty thousand dollars and the winner took sixty

percent of it, Jenna and Rye dressed in their usual jeans.

They’d be either celebrating or commiserating with the

horses after the race at the barn, along with the help.

Jenna loved the many things she and Rye had in common.

Rye didn't like socializing with phony people or attending

fancy parties any more than she did.

The sudden need to touch him came at her out of

nowhere. She sidled closer.

“You okay?” The concern in his voice almost brought

tears to her eyes.

The announcement came from the loud speaker.

“They’re moving into the gate. Tsunami’s the last to load,

and it appears he's having second thoughts.”

Rye swore.

“Calm down. He’ll be fine.”

“Tsunami's in. And they’re off,” the announcer

continued. “Rising Sun catapults to the front for the early

lead. Best Foot Forward’s a distant second, with Armed

Forces coming up on the outside. Speedy Jake’s running

fourth, followed by Kentucky Man and Mount Thor.

Trailing the pack is Tsunami.”

Jenna's binoculars stayed glued on Rising Sun.

Miguel had him under wraps, and he still continued to

gain on the rest of the horses until he'd built a ten length

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lead. She glanced at the quarter-mile time and was hit by

a rush of adrenaline. The horse was smoking.

“Looks like Rising Sun’s the winner here today. A

half mile to go, and he’s left the field fifteen lengths

behind.”

Jenna heard the crowd's collective moans. Tsunami

had gone off the favorite.

“Wait!” The caller's voice took on an edge of

excitement. “Tsunami’s making his run. They’re rounding

the turn heading for home. Look at Tsunami go! They're

coming down the stretch! It’s a two horse race! Tsunami

and Rising Sun battle it out! They’re running head to

head, nose to nose!”

Déjà vu. Jenna couldn’t believe it. Just like the time

the two horses had worked together. She’d put a shadow

roll and blinkers on Tsunami, so he wouldn't hang if he

got this close to Rising Sun. Was it possible these two

horses were that well matched?

The caller's excitement quieted and a murmur of

expectation buzzed through the crowd. “The judges need

to view the photos taken from all angles before declaring

a winner, but from where I'm standing, it looked like a

dead heat. I can confirm that the six furlong time for a

two-year-old on this track has been broken by both these

magnificent horses.”

“How about a bet,” Rye whispered. “Just between you

and me.”

Jenna looked at Rye. “What kind of bet?”

“Who won the race.”

Jenna grinned. “You know I don't gamble. It could be

either one of them by a nose or less, but I agree with the

caller. Dead heat.”

Rye curved his hand under her hair. “Let's get our

butts down to the winner's circle. One of those horses, if

not both of them, will be having his picture taken.”

****

sipped her Heineken. The judges had declared a dead

heat. The jubilant mood in Rye's barn would last into the

late evening. There wasn't a worker on the backside who

didn't have a horse tale or two to tell. Beers went down

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like water, and the congratulations never ceased. Anyone

remotely connected with the two horses got congratulated.

Everyone loved a winner, no more so than on a racetrack.

Dani worked her way down the shed row, accepting

everyone's congratulations. “You gave Tsunami a helluva

ride today, woman,” Jenna said.

“Thanks.” Dani held her beer and used her thumb to

peel off the label. “Tsunami’s got a lot of potential. He just

doesn't seem to grasp the concept of racing like Rising

Sun does. Did you see him gawking at all the fans? I

swear he thought he was on a picnic outing.”

Jenna laughed. “He'll mature. Wait till this time next

year. He’s just a baby. Like people — some horses grow up

faster than others.”

Jenna’s gaze strayed to Rye. He looked her way and

broke away from a group of well wishers who'd been

holding him hostage. He winked as he walked to where

she sat. “Can't thank you enough, Dani.” He shook her

small hand. “Tsunami's got himself a regular rider, if you

want the job.”

Dani laughed, a mischievous look in her eyes. “You'll

have to talk with my agent.”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Agent? I don’t believe it. Man,

those scavengers didn't waste any time.”

“Nope. They swarmed me when I left the shower

room. They're after Miguel, too. We had to make a run for

it.” Pete stood on a bucket and clapped his hands for

attention. “Listen up everyone. Rye just told me some

good news.”

Jenna glanced at Rye. “What's going on?”

He leaned down and kissed her mouth. “It’s a

surprise. Behave yourself.”

Jenna frowned. She hated surprises.

“Two weeks from today Jenna and Rye will tie the

knot. We're all invited to the wedding out at Rye's farm.”

“Ouch.” Rye rubbed his skin where Jenna pinched

him. “What was that for?”

“You could have at least asked me to marry you.”

“Are you going to make a fool out of me in front of all

these people?”

Jenna's stomach somersaulted at the tenderness and

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love on Rye's face.

“Quiet, please,” Pete demanded. The crowd settled

down. “I'd like to propose a toast to the newly engaged

couple. He raised his bottle of beer. “To Jenna and Rye.

May you always have good food on the table, healthy

babies in the cradle and winning horses in the stable.”

Jenna choked on a mouthful of beer. Rye slapped her

on the back and whispered in her ear. “I love you, Jenna. I

don't have a life without you. Will you marry me?”

“You bet, cowboy,” she managed in between

coughing, “but I still wish you'd put the horse before the

cart and asked me before Pete spilled the beans.”

“Maybe I was afraid you'd say no.”

“You? Afraid?” Jenna scoffed, then saw the doubt

clouding the blue of his eyes. “You're serious?”

“I've never been more serious in my life.”

“No, I mean you actually thought I might refuse to

marry you.” Jenna stared, not quite believing that she

could be so lucky.

“Why is that so surprising?” Rye asked, his brows

knit in a frown.

Jenna smiled. “Because you're love 'em and leave 'em

Cameron. You always get the girl. Only this time,” she

jabbed her finger in his chest, “the girl gets you, too. And

don't you forget it. There’ll be no more screwing around.”

She threw herself into his arms to the shouts of

encouragement from the crowd.

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A word about the author…

Pam lives on 25 rural acres in northwestern Maine

with her husband, two Siamese cats and a black Lab. By

day she works in Bangor, Maine as a legal secretary.

Other than writing, Pam enjoys the outdoors, hunting,

and fishing. She tries to maintain perennial and a huge

vegetable garden during the summer. Sometimes, they

get out-of-control.

Pam writes, hot romantic suspense novels and is

currently branching into short stories and novellas.

Vist Pam at www.pamchampagne.net

Contact Pam at [email protected]