Saratoga Sunrise (6 page)

 "Ready, Miss Sara?"

"Yes, Johnson. To Clara's house."

"Yes, Miss Sara."

A half-hour later when they arrived at Clara's, Johnson found that Clara wasn't home. Sara's disappointment knew no bounds. Clara's mother walked over to the carriage and explained to Sara that she was working at the United States Hotel this very minute, filling in for someone who had taken ill, and wouldn't be home until quite late.

"Shall I drive you back to the hotel, Miss Sara?"

"I suppose so."

Sara settled herself in the carriage. Her gaze wandered to the picnic basket that Chef Morris prepared. She had such a wonderful day planned, and now she couldn't go.

Could she?

"Johnson, take me to the stables, please."

"Umm...ah...I shouldn't, Miss Sara. Please now Miss Sara, don't ask me to take you there without Miss Clara or Miss Beatrix. Them stables is no place for a young lady like yourself. No, miss. Not at all."

"Johnson, I'll be fine. I am meeting someone there, and you will be waiting for me, so what can happen? I desperately need to check on Seawind."

His brown eyes grew wide, and he shook his head. "I don't know, Miss Sara. If somethin' happened, Mr. Bond would have my head. He surely would."

"I'll tell him that I ordered you do take me there. Now, hurry, Johnson. The sun is getting hot in this open carriage." She opened her parasol and held it over her head, waving her hand for him to drive on. She normally wasn't impatient with Johnson, but she just had to insist.

Johnson shrugged his shoulders, and drove toward the stables. "If you say so, Miss Sara. If you say so."

Even though her father would be furious if he ever found out that Clara didn't accompany her to the stables, she was proud of herself and her small victory. She was doing what she wanted, not what her father wanted her to do – or what society expected her to do.

As the carriage rolled down Union Ave, Sara's heart began to do small flips in her chest. She would see Jack Summers in a short time. What was it about the man that intruded on her thoughts every minute since she had met him? She wished that he hadn't run off last night when Clara appeared, so she could have introduced him and they could have gotten acquainted. She could always count on Clara to give her an honest opinion.

She was also hoping to see first hand how he was doing with Seawind. Seawind was a good judge of character, too.

She needn't have wondered, because as the carriage turned near her father's stables, she saw Seawind following Jack around like a big puppy. The tall thoroughbred was nudging Jack's back with his nose, and Jack was laughing as he walked.

"Get away, Seawind, I have work to do. Get back in your stall or I'll put you in front of one of those fancy carriages and you can drag society folk around for the rest of your life."

Sara laughed, content in the knowledge that Seawind adored Jack.

And she was beginning to suspect that she did, too.

# # #

The horse whinnied and pushed him again, shoving Jack forward. He tripped and landed face down in the dirt, not far from a pile of horse droppings.

"Why you buzzard bait, I'll–"

The sound of a woman's laughter stopped him from uttering the litany of profanities he was ready to unleash. He looked up and saw a pale green satin hem with just a flash of white lace underneath. Tiny black shoes were level with his eyes.

He pushed himself up easily and stood. "Miss Peterson, I didn't expect you this early."

He wiped his hands on his trousers, then brushed the dirt from the front of his shirt. "Your horse is full of vinegar today. He needs a good run to get rid of some of his energy."

"Is that true, Seawind?" Sara laughed as the horse nodded.

She pulled a carrot out of her reticule, and held it out. "It's from Chef Morris. He said he's betting his last dollar on you."

The horse walked over, smelled the carrot, and took it in his big yellow teeth. It was gone in a flash.

Jack grinned. "Now get back to your stall, Seawind. I'll saddle you up, and you can show those other horses what you can do." He turned to Sara, and offered her his arm.

She put her hand in the crook of his arm, then turned back to Johnson. "Johnson, why don't you leave and come back for me after noon?"

"Humph," he uttered with his nose in the air. "I don't mind stayin' and waitin', Miss Sara."

"Nonsense, Johnson. You go ahead. Enjoy the day. I insist."

"I'll take good care of her, Johnson. You can be sure of that," Jack said.

Johnson scrutinized Jack from the top of his unruly, shiny brown hair to the top of his dirty, dusty work boots. Then he peered into Jack's deep blue eyes for what seemed like an hour. He must have liked what he saw, for he nodded and grinned.

"See that you do," he ordered.

Jack smiled in amusement. He liked it that the man took good care of Sara. Sara had a way of bringing out the protective nature in him, too. She was so fragile, so tiny and delicate. But he had to put his feelings for her aside. He had a mission to accomplish and he needed to gain her trust. He intended to do that by letting her ride Seawind in secret.

He turned back to Seawind with Sara still clutching his arm. "C'mon, you big ox."

The horse stood his ground as they walked away. Jack stopped, ready to go back and get him, but Sara looked over her shoulder, clicked her tongue, and the horse trotted to her side.

"Are you ready to give him his workout?" Jack asked.

"Indeed I am."

"I borrowed some clothes for you from Toady."

"Thank you so very much, Jack."

"Are you sure you can ride?"

"Of course, I'm sure."

"You'll have to change in Seawind's stall. It wouldn't do for you to be seen going into the grooms' quarters. I'll stand guard."

When they reached the stall, Jack tied Seawind to a wooden post, and put a bucket of water at his feet. Seawind bent over to drink.

He handed Sara a burlap bag and looked around. "Go ahead and change. There's no one in sight. I'll stay out here." He connected the two half-doors, and shut it after she entered.

Watching the sleek horse drink, he waited, thinking that he was crazy to let her ride. But it was her horse, and she had looked so sad, so forlorn, when she said that she was forbidden to ride at the Springs. He knew what it was like to want something so bad, and have it just out of reach.

If they were caught, he would be fired, and that wouldn't do. He had plans that needed to be carried out.

He heard the door squeak open and Sara emerged. He couldn't believe his eyes. She stood before him dressed in green and white jockey silks and knee high black glossy boots. Her pale blonde hair was stuffed inside a cap, and her violet eyes sparkled with excitement. The silks defined her slim figure, and the slight roundness of her breasts. She was breathtaking.

He gulped, fighting back a sudden rush of desire. "I-I think you need a jacket,"

"Whatever for? It's much too hot out."

"Um...ah..."

Her eyes followed his, and suddenly she understood. Her face flamed. "I understand, Mr. Summers."

He looked around, then pulled Toady's jacket off the hook. Toady was just slightly larger than Sara, but it would have to do. As Sara slipped into the jacket, Jack saddled Seawind. He helped her into the saddle–a mere wisp of leather with stirrups attached.

"All right?" He looked up at her radiant face, and felt a tinge of guilt. He shrugged it off. They were both getting what they wanted, weren't they? He was gaining her trust, and she was riding her horse.

"I'm fine. Just fine, Mr. Summers."

"Jack."

He held the reins and led Seawind to the practice track. He saw that Sara sat a good seat, and he felt a little more confident of her ability. No matter what, he didn't want her to fall and get hurt. That wasn't part of his plan.

Two horses were working out on the practice track, and Bravo Joe, Fordice's horse, was waiting his turn. Sara must have tensed, because Seawind started to fuss.

Jack petted the glossy neck of the horse. "Easy boy. Easy now." Looking up at Sara, he saw her eyes widen in panic.

"Something wrong?"

"Monty isn't here, is he?"

Jack quickly skimmed the men at the railing. "Don't see him."

"Good." She sat back and relaxed.

The other horses left the track, but Bravo Joe pranced on. The horse fussed until the starter, staring at his stopwatch, discharged a pistol in the air. The jockey struck Bravo Joe on the rump with his whip. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack could see Sara flinch at the sound. Bravo Joe was off and running.

Jack noticed that the two biggest bookies, Irish John Cavanaugh and Boy Plunger, were surrounded by other bookies along the rail. They all clutched stopwatches and were intently absorbed in Bravo Joe's run. When the horse finished, the watches all clicked at once. They didn't cheer, but only nodded and made notations on pieces of paper.

Then it was Seawind's turn.

Jack looked at Sara. She smiled down at him.

"I can do it, Jack. I've done it before."

"All right, Sara. He's all yours, but please be careful. I don't want your father coming after me. Or that carriage driver of yours either." Jack chuckled as he unhooked the lead rope. He held the crop out to her.

"Never."

"But..."

"No. Our horses are never to be whipped. If you are working for my father, you ought to know that," she said firmly.

His eyes twinkled, obviously amused at her declaration. "I understand," he said.

Sara nudged Seawind onto the dirt track and took her place at the starting line. She mumbled to the horse, "Just like home, boy. It's just like the track at home. Don't be nervous. You can do it."

She didn't know who she was trying to convince, her horse or herself. She took a deep breath just as the starter's pistol went off. Seawind lunged forward.

The horse's powerful body moved like lightning under her. The blowing of the animal's air and the pounding of his hooves blended into a drumming rhythm. She counted. One...thump... two...thump...three...thump. Seawind was faster than usual. He wanted to run.

The track and the trees melded into a vivid mass of blurred color as she sped by. Oh, it was thrilling. Pure freedom! She forced herself to focus between Seawind’s red-brown ears on the track, but he didn't need her to help him. He knew what to do.

He was her legs, and he was running for her!

# # #

Jack watched from the rail as Sara and Seawind flew around the track. He checked his watch. Seawind was beating Bravo Joe's time by about fifteen seconds. At the halfway mark, they slipped a little, and by the finish line, they lagged behind Bravo Joe's time by the same fifteen seconds.

Jack glanced over at the bookies and the other spectators as he walked Seawind to cool him. The bookies were again making notes on their papers.

"Where's Toady?" A familiar voice boomed through the air. Jack turned to see Montague Fordice walking toward him, yelling. "Who's riding Seawind, Summers?"

"What concern is it of yours, Fordice?"

"I make it my business to know what's going on at the track."

Jack decided to quiet him with a lie. "I still say that it's none of your business, but the jockey's a local kid. He's just someone I hired to work out the horse. Happy now?"

Montague growled. "Stay out of my way, Summers."

Jack looked with amusement at the red-faced dandy and laughed. "It was you who walked over here, Fordice. I wasn't anywhere near you." Jack's continuous laughter must have made Fordice steam even more, for he turned abruptly and stomped away, kicking out a cloud of dust, just as Sara approached.

She pulled her cap lower as she dismounted from Seawind. Jack caught her in mid-air and helped her to the ground. She clung to his arm no doubt to steady herself.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I just need to stand a while before I can walk."

He looked at the tiny woman standing so shakily with her head held high. Pride shot through him. In spite of her disability, she was doing what she wanted to do.

"There is nothing to apologize for, Sara. I'm glad to be of assistance." Actually, he liked how she held on to him, how she smelled faintly of gardenia.

"I can't thank you enough for letting me ride Seawind."

"You were a delight to watch. You certainly can ride, and I really mean that."

Judging by the look of pure rapture that was evident on her face, Sara was thrilled at his statement. Good heaven above, she was a beautiful creature. If he wasn't careful, he could easily fall in love with Sara Peterson.

No. Not that.

Jack steeled himself and remembered what he was here to do. No. He must never fall in love with the daughter of his enemy.

“You held him back, didn’t you?” Jack asked.

“Yes. I saw all those bookies there, and I wanted them to think Seawind wasn’t that fast. You know, to increase the odds.”

“Why Sara Peterson, you are a tricky woman, aren’t you.”

She smiled and her eyes twinkled. He lost himself in their purple depths.

"I think you'd better get back on Seawind. Someone could recognize...the way you walk." Jack saw the happy expression leave her face. For a brief moment, she had probably forgotten her handicap, and then he had to go and remind her of it again. He didn't want to hurt her feelings. He just wanted information that might help clear his father.

He helped her up on Seawind, clipped on the lead rope, and headed back toward the stable.

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Would you be interested in some lunch after we rub down Seawind? I brought a picnic basket that Chef Morris made."

He could hear her nervousness as she voiced the question. He looked up at her, and she avoided his eyes. "I would be delighted to share a picnic with you. But do you think it's proper for a young lady such as yourself to be unchaperoned?"

"But I trust you, Jack."

Trust.

That was exactly what he wanted her to do–trust him.

So why then did he feel so miserable?

CHAPTER 4

"You can come out now. No one's in sight," Jack whispered.