HORSES AND HEROIN (Romantic Mystery) (19 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Megan stared at the whiteboard, her chest pounding with a mixture of delight and anxiety. Megan - Jake. Finally, her name was posted with the other exercise riders. And Ramon had assigned her a wonderful horse. There couldn’t be a better horse than Jake.

“Glad you’re here, slowpoke.” A grinning Peter nudged her in the ribs. “They can laugh at you today, instead of me. All the exercise riders are flunking gate training. The jocks think we’re hilarious.”

“What’s Ramon like?” She adjusted her safety vest, tightening it another notch.

“I haven’t decided yet.” The smile faded from Peter’s face. “Sometimes when I’m spitting dirt, I’d prefer to be back with Lydia. Come on. Get your horse. Ramon gets mean if we’re late.”

Megan saddled and bridled Jake and led him into the aisle where Ramon was boosting up riders. “At the track, you’ll always mount inside,” he said, glancing at Megan. “And no cowboying up. You can hurt a horse’s back that way.”

She kept her face impassive but enjoyed a burst of confidence. Thank you, Scott. He’d already taught her so much.

“We’re doing gate work today,” Ramon added, his gaze narrowing on Jake, “and that horse breaks like a rocket. You’ll have to hang on.”

She nodded, but her bubble of confidence deflated. Scott had warned Jake would break hard too, and she’d never ridden from the gate before. There wouldn’t be a practice walk-through either. Maybe she should have stayed with Scott for another day.

But there was no time to worry. Ramon legged her into the saddle and Jake rushed from the barn, head bent and keen to get to work. The horse’s confidence was infectious. Besides, this was different, almost liberating. No Lydia scowled, sniping at her every step.

The eager horses pranced toward the track, the experienced jock students in front, led by Miguel. Megan fell into line, relishing the positive energy.

Tami edged up beside her on a narrow-chested bay with a leather breastcollar. “You’ll finally be able to see Miguel ride. He’s awesome,” she whispered, gesturing toward the front of the line. “Sometimes Ramon lets the jocks work from the gate and they blister around the track. It’s like a real race.”

Tami’s nose wrinkled with concern as she eyed Megan’s horse. “I’m surprised you’re on such an experienced racehorse. Ramon should switch you for gate work. Eve rode Jake last week and he sizzles.”

“Yes. Scott already warned me that Jake would come out fast.” Megan checked the trail from the cowshed, but no horse and rider appeared on the ridge. She straightened in the saddle, fighting a stab of disappointment. “I guess Ramon knows how to assign horses,” she added, trying to reassure Tami. And herself.

“I don’t know.” Tami shrugged, her brow still furrowed. “Miguel said the school is short since two horses pulled up lame last week. And Ramon needs four racehorses to send to the Baja Tinda, but they only have three.”

“Didn’t they just send some last month?” Megan asked. “How many do they give them?”

“Don’t know. I only know the school is short of horses.” Tami straightened in the saddle, her attention shifting. “Look at that girl flirting with Miguel. She’s such a skank.”

Megan glanced at the line of riders in front of them. The exercise riders were familiar but other than Eve and Miguel, she only knew the jock students by sight. Everyone looked different beneath helmets too, especially from the rear. However, if anyone was flirting, it was probably Miguel.

“They’re just talking,” Megan said. “I doubt he gave her a new phone.”

“Guess you’re right,” Tami said. “Besides, Miguel owes me.”

“Why’s that?”

Tami raised her hand, fiddling with the buckle on her helmet. “What I meant is that he wants to get in my pants, so he has to be nice.” Her voice carried a touch of regret, and she yanked on her chinstrap. “I want a new boyfriend,” she added, “but I’ll be the first to admit you can’t always trust them.”

“You can’t trust anyone,” Megan said. “Only yourself.” Friends vanished at the first hint of trouble. And dates and sex were fine, but why would anyone want to invite heartache with a boyfriend?

Tami still stared at Miguel, silent and pensive. Megan shifted uncomfortably in the saddle, hating to see her roommate so sad. It was a relief when they reached the gap and Ramon began calling instructions. Even Tami had to forget her love interest and pay attention.

“Okay, everyone,” Ramon said, his critical gaze sweeping over each horse and rider. “I want you to warm up by trotting in pairs on the outside rail. Jocks pair up with the green riders. Watch for any runaways. Miguel, you go first.”

Tami urged her horse to the front of the line, grabbing the chance to pair up with Miguel. Jake pawed, eager to move onto the track. Megan turned him in a circle as eager riders called out names. Pairs quickly formed and stepped onto the track. No one looked her way.

She sat taller, trying to pretend it didn’t matter. No big deal. She was used to being alone. She could understand why no one wanted to be stuck with the new rider. Even Peter had chosen the red-haired girl who never wore deodorant. At least, he had made eye contact, shooting her a sheepish grin before turning away.

“Hey, let’s go, partner.”

Megan blinked, then smiled. Eve called to her from the back of a dark bay. Jake shot forward, seeming as relieved as Megan to finally have a partner, and the two horses trotted in tandem onto the track.

“Loosen the reins, Peter.” Ramon’s voice sounded behind them. “You’re cranked up way too tight. Eyes up, Justin.”

He shot out a rapid fire of comments but didn’t mention Megan’s name, and her tension eased as they escaped the congestion of horses. They followed the three pairs of riders already cleared to trot along the rail. Eve’s bay was a big striding gelding who matched Jake perfectly, and Megan gave a grateful smile.

“Thanks for buddying up with me,” she said. “I felt like I was back in school.”

Eve tilted her head. “Did you go to juvie too?”

“No, but word got out I might be a bad influence. I lost a lot of friends.” Megan shrugged. It hadn’t mattered. Small towns were tough but she’d learned to like her own company. “You look ready for the real track,” she added, admiring Eve’s relaxed seat and natural balance.

“I’m talking to a couple trainers at Santa Anita,” Eve said. “One guy is really supportive with apprentices. But I need a reference from Ramon and Garrett, and so far I haven’t been able to get it.”

It was hard to imagine Eve having trouble obtaining a reference. She looked like an extension of her horse, her ability far beyond that of the other students. Megan adjusted her legs, trying to mirror Eve. Scott had given good tips, but it was easier to follow his instructions with a jockey to copy. She felt comfortable too, at least at a trot, and Jake strode out beautifully, not fighting her hold.

“Your horse will be a lot tougher when we go the other way,” Eve warned, as they slowed to a walk and turned around. “All the track horses wake up when they run to the left, especially if they get close to the rail.”

Megan nodded, remembering how Scott had carefully kept Jake to his outside. He really had been looking out for her—and he was the sole reason she’d escaped Lydia’s clutches. She checked the ridge again. Nothing moved except a rolling tumbleweed.

“Jake only left the track six months ago,” Eve added, pulling back Megan’s attention. “Everyone loves him because he’s so honest. But be careful in the gate. He tends to think it’s a real race.”

“Everyone warns to be careful in the gate,” Megan said. “But how exactly do you do that?”

“Grab mane and pray.” Eve’s teeth flashed whitely in the sun. “It’s like jumping—when your horse stops, then gives that crazy leap and your heart jams in your throat. A real adrenaline rush.”

Megan nodded, although she’d never jumped anything but logs and streams. However, she knew the heart-in-her-throat feeling very well, and it usually came with pain, just before she hit the dirt.

“If we gallop well, Ramon might let us run from the gate to the finish line. But I can find another partner to race,” Eve added.

Race? Megan gulped. Of course, she couldn’t expect Jake to break from the gate and then immediately slow to a sedate canter. After all, he’d been a racehorse. But now that she’d made it into Ramon’s class, she questioned if she really belonged. Her stomach flipped in crazy circles. It had been years since she’d chased after cattle, and this would be an entirely different dimension of fast.

She sucked in big gulps of air, trying to steady her breathing. She could do this. She’d always loved speed, and thanks to Scott, she could now balance in an exercise saddle. Besides, Jake was a sweetie.

She reached forward and scratched his neck, silently promising more alfalfa if he managed to keep her safe in the saddle. Not that she believed in sucking up, but it never hurt if a horse liked its rider. She caught another of Eve’s odd smiles.

“You ride like Joey,” Eve said. “In fact, when you’re in the saddle, you remind me of him. He was always communicating with his horse. Why is your last name different?”

“After my father split, I took Mom’s maiden name,” Megan said. “Joey was six years younger, and more forgiving.”

“He never said much about his dad.”

“Not much to say.” Megan shrugged. Her father wasn’t much of a man. He’d given her a hug and said he’d met another woman. But she knew the truth—he hadn’t wanted the hassle of teenagers and police and problems. The last she heard he was living in New Zealand. She’d made many tearful phone calls in the middle of the night promising to behave, sent countless emails pleading for him to come home. Now she no longer cared.

“It wasn’t a big deal,” she added. “Mom missed him and money was tight. But Joey and I hardly noticed he was gone.”

“But didn’t his leaving cause all your problems? Oh, never mind.” Eve paused and looked uncomfortable.

“Scott said I should make the knot higher,” Megan said quickly, pointing at her reins. “What do you think?”

“Yes, that’ll help. But shorten them now. It’s our turn to gallop next. Ramon will signal and then we pick it up at the quarter pole. If we look good, we go to the gate.”

The pair in front of them broke away and Megan quickly knotted her reins several inches higher, trying not to stress about the next few minutes. Already Jake pranced and pushed at the bit, aware of what was coming next. She wished she could share his excitement, but her hands felt sticky against the rubber-backed reins.

“Great. Our turn now,” Eve said, clearly not sharing Megan’s apprehension. They moved off together. Jake gave a happy buck and then he was galloping. Megan clamped her mouth shut and automatically balanced on his back. Eve stayed on the inner rail, Jake to the outside.

Wind stung her eyes, and she had no idea where the quarter pole was. There were a bunch of black and white poles, but the other riders had seemed to start at the red and white post in the backstretch. Jake rammed at the bit, trying to stretch out but she kept a tight hold and simply maintained Eve’s speed. It was actually kind of fun.

They rounded the turn and shot down the backstretch, and Megan couldn’t stop her whoop of delight. This was definitely exhilarating, far better than any thrill ride.

Jake loved it too and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop him, but Eve veered out slightly, floating her to the middle of the track. Jake shook his head in protest but immediately tucked his head and slowed.

“You did really well,” Eve called, her voice splintering as they slowed to a bouncy trot. “Jake ran off with Miguel just last week.”

“But you helped slow us down.” Megan’s words came out ragged but happy. “If he’d been on the rail, I would have been cooked.”

“Nah, you’re a natural, just like your brother. Look at Miguel’s face.” Eve’s laugh was slightly malicious. “He never likes to be upstaged.”

Miguel twisted in the saddle, sneering at Eve as they trotted past. “You gallop like an old lady,” he yelled. “Can’t even beat an exercise rider. My dad has a donkey that can run faster.”

“That explains why you can’t ride horses,” Eve called back. “Better go home and ride Daddy’s donkeys.”

Miguel’s face darkened. “
Puta
.”

Eve flipped him the bird, then turned to Megan, still grinning. “He hates to have his riding ability questioned. I don’t know what everyone sees in that jerk. Even Ramon thinks he walks on water.”

Not Scott though. Megan glanced again at the lonely ridge. Scott was tough and shrewd and had certainly been quick to question Tami about Miguel’s whereabouts. She turned back to Eve. “What did we do to set Miguel off?”

“He’s always a prick,” Eve said. “Acts like he owns the school and is jealous of any good rider. That’s why he hated Joey.”

“Hated?”

“Yeah, and by extension hates me.”

“I see.” Megan studied Eve’s face, the fiery glint in her eyes. It was clear she was a fighter. She would have been good for Joey. And while Megan knew she should make nice to Miguel, it suddenly was more important to support Eve. “Then let’s blast out of the gate today,” she added. “And really piss him off.”

“Really? Are you ready for that?” Eve’s gaze shot back to Miguel. “He thinks he’s number one student now that Joey’s gone. I’d love to fire it up, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’ll be fine,” Megan said, shoving away her fear.

They approached the gate, but had to wait, circling their horses while an assistant led an ashen-faced rider through the open doors. The horse looked half-asleep but even so, the rider leaned forward, gripping the reins in a stranglehold.

“Stop him there,” Ramon said to his assistant. “Let them both stand.”

Megan kept Jake twenty feet behind the gate and watched the action. This was the closest she’d ever been to a starting gate. This gate only had four slots, but now that she’d soon be in it, she realized how narrow the openings were. No wonder some horses were fearful.

Some riders were fearful too.

“That guy, Skip, slammed his knee against the frame coming out last week,” Eve whispered. “He’s just been walking through, with both doors open, for the last five days but it hasn’t helped. He’s not a great rider either. I think Ramon wants him to quit before he kills himself—or someone else.”