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“Look, let Andy know that I’m within the weight requirement. If he wants to see me practice with Jezebel today have him call me. I want you to call me back one way or another.”
“Oh, all right,” she finally agreed.
I was still in the laundry room folding up my clean laundry when my cell phone rang. It was Jenna.
“Andy said to be at the practice track around two this afternoon. He'll spend no more than an hour with you to see if you and Jezebel can clock some decent times on the quarter. Then he'll decide whether you ride or he scratches her. Best I could do."
“Good enough, Jenna.”
Two o’clock couldn't come fast enough for me. I'd taken my laundry back to the cottage then walked to the market. I bought fresh carrots for Derringer. I planned to keep my date with him later. I went to my cabin and sorted through the small trunk in my bedroom. I pulled several ribbons, a couple of trophies, and some news clippings off the top of the pile. I located a pair of nylon riding pants, patent leather riding boots, safety vest, and my cap and goggles. It had been awhile, but everything was still in good shape. At 108 pounds, everything would fit me just fine. I placed it all into my backpack and made the trek back over to the racetrack.
I spotted Andy in the infield with Jezebel, a three-year-old bay. I'd only been around Andy a few times this summer. He was a personable guy, a little green as a trainer, but that worked to my advantage. We spent an hour going through the paces. It didn’t take long for me to build a rapport with Jezebel. Andy explained her racing history along with her strengths and weaknesses. He handed me a DVD of her races last season to review.
Andy explained that in the Kick-Off Stakes Saturday, a bonus race was scheduled about 45 minutes after the last race concluded. This was a special incentive purse that Sinclair Stables had put up for $75,000. Each winner of the eight previous races would contend for the purse in the bonus race. The jockeys would get a 20% cut of the purse instead of the usual 10%. The purse in the other races was only $10,000 each. If Jezebel won the fourth race, I'd get my $75 riding fee, plus 10% of the purse, or $1,000. If Jezebel went on to win the bonus race—that would be $15,000 in my pocket!
Andy and I worked with Jezebel for another hour, timing her sprints. She was consistently clocking in at 30 to 33 seconds. I let Andy know that I'd work with her again in the morning after I had a chance to review the DVD. He agreed. I'd not been back at my cottage for more than an hour when Ray was tapping at my door.
“Hi Ray,” I smiled opening the door for him.
“How ya feeling, Ty?” he asked, concerned. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to stop by. I know Trey will be pissed when he calls later.”
Then don’t tell him,” I said with a grin. “I’ve been fine. Got my laundry caught up today, cleaned the cottage, and took a walk. Just kind of, hung out, ya know?”
“So you know that you start Monday at the Belle, right?”
“Yeah, so I've been told.”
“Now that’s just a temporary assignment Ty,” he explained.
“I know Ray. Don’t worry about it. I can survive for a couple of weeks over there. Who do I report to and when?”
“Report at 9 a.m. to Mrs. Johnson over in the main office. She'll give you the rundown okay?”
“Sure enough, Ray,” I replied pleasantly.
“Okay, I won’t keep you then. You take it easy ya’hear?”
“You got it. Bye Ray,”
I kept my promise to Derringer, taking some carrots to him at the stables. As I passed Jenna’s cottage, her usual Friday evening lingerie show was in full display on the clothesline on her porch. I could hear some music blasting inside from her stereo. Distracted, I hadn’t noticed someone closing in behind me on the path. Suddenly from behind, a body lunged at me.
“Gotcha!”
I nearly had a coronary right then and there. Instinct took over. I whirled around, my right arm rigid and extended and landed my fist across his broad chest.
“Ummph,” Luke moaned as I knocked the wind out of him.
“Holy shit, Luke!” I yelled, “What were you thinking coming up on me like that?”
“Christ, Tylar! You pack a punch for a little gal,” he laughed. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to catch you off guard like that." He was a grinning fool; I knew why.
“Gonna help Jenna take in her laundry?” I asked nonchalantly.
“Maybe,” he replied with a grin. “Hey, how ya feeling? Hear they got you scheduled over at the Belle with the old ladies next week. Drag, right?”
“I’m feeling back to normal and to answer your second question, ‘yes’ and ‘definitely’ on the third one. I’m hoping to shorten that assignment some when Trey gets back.”
“I wouldn’t count on that too much.”
