Willow Smoke (20 page)

“I know the feeling. As
far as my folks
are
concerned,
there’ll
be
plenty
of
time
with
them
tomorrow.
They’ve
got
some
kind
of
social
function
this
evening
so
will
probably leave right after this race. I
better
get back to them so they know about
the
photo.”

“Okay.”
Daisy
gave
him
a
weak
smile.
“Don’t
be
late.
They
don’t
wait
around
long
for photos.”

Her
eyes
followed
Nick
until
he
disappeared
in
the
crowd.
Daisy
turned
around,
rested
her
forehead
on
the
fence
rail
and
closed
her
eyes.
Her
anxiety
wasn’t
just
about
Rainbow.
That
morning
her
skin
had
finally
appeared
smooth
and
normal.
This
was
going
to
be
her
day.

Some
people
preferred
watching
a
race
from
high
up
in
the
stands
and
some
by
the
rail.
Daisy
liked
the
rail
because
she
had
an
up
close
and
personal
view
of
the
horses
straining
to
claim
victory,
she
could
hear
the
pounding
of
hooves,
and
at
times
dirt
would
even
fly
up
and
smack
her
in
the
face.
At
the
rail,
she
wasn’t
a
bystander;
she
was
a
participant.

“All
in,”
she
heard
the
announcer
declare.
And
then
the
bell
rang
and
the
gates
sprang
open
and
the
horses
leaped
out,
each
trying
to get
the jump on the others.

Daisy
cheered
silently
when
RainbowBlaze
came
from
the
seventh
hole
to
settle
in
fourth
position
on
the
rail
as
the
horses
entered
the
clubhouse
turn.
The
mare’s
running
style
was
that
of
a
presser,
which
Daisy
thought
was
the
best
approach
for
winning
routes.
Up
the
backstretch,
RainbowBlaze
advanced
into
second.
She
held
that
position,
running
just
off
the
leader’s
flank,
until
the
eighth
pole.
Then
with
what
appeared
to
be
the
easiest
of
moves,
the
mare
lengthened
her
stride
and
raced
on,
leaving
the
rest
of
the
field
behind
and
crossing
the
finish
line
three
lengths
ahead
of
the
closest
pursuer.

Daisy
clapped
quietly.
There
had
been
little
doubt
about
the
end
result.
The
bettors
knew
it,
and
she
knew
it.
The
Arlington
shipper
was
the
class
of
the
field.

Smiling
broadly,
Daisy
made
her
way
to
the
track
to
collect
her
horse.
She
led
Rainbow
into
the
winner’s
circle.
If
only
Sam
and
Cassie
could
have
been
there,
it
would
have
been
perfect.
Rainbow
had
won
numerous
races
already,
but
this
was
a
stakes
race,
and
that
made
it
even
more
special.
Daisy
looked
up
to
see
Nick
rushing
his
parents
and
sister
into
the
circle.

Nick
kissed
her
on
the
forehead
and
patted
Rainbow’s
shoulder.
“That
was
a
high.
It’s
one
thing
to
watch
a
horse
that
you’ve
bet on
win, but it’s entirely different to
see
your
own
horse
win.
Wow!
Well
done,
partner.”
He
kissed
her
again—this
time
on
the
cheek.

Daisy
blushed
and
directed
everyone’s
attention
toward
the
camera.
After
the click,
Nick’s
father
stepped
forward
and
shook
her
hand.
“Congratulations.
I’m
glad
we
could
see
that.”

Next,
his
mother
squeezed
her
hand.
“Congratulations.
You’ve
really
got
Nick
hooked.
All
he
can
talk
about
is
you
and
the
horses.”

And
then
his
sister.
“Congratulations,
Daisy.
I’m
really
looking
forward
to
spending
time
with
you
tomorrow.
This
is
so
exciting.
It’s hard to believe that you’ve
accomplished
so
much
with
my
brother.”

Daisy
frowned.
RainbowBlaze
bobbed
her
head
up
and
down
and
began
to
prance,
displaying
her
eagerness
to
leave
the
crowd.

“I’ll
catch
up
with
you
at
the
barn
after
I
see
my
folks
off.”
Nick
looked
like
he
couldn’t
stop
smiling
even
if
he
tried. “This
has
got
to
be
one
of
life’s
top
experiences,
kid.
We
definitely
have
to
celebrate
tonight.”

Feeling
slightly
queasy,
Daisy
smiled.
“You
bet.”

She
led
RainbowBlaze
toward
the
test
barn.
Did
Specs
have
any
inkling
of
the
kind
of
celebration
she
had
planned
for
them?

Daisy
gulped
three
deep
breaths
to
clear
her
head.
Seduction
must
be
like
swimming
in
the
cold
water
of
Lake
Michigan.
You
had
to
dive
in
quickly,
or
you’d
lose
your
nerve.
She
rapped
on
the
door
between
their
suites
and
turned
the
knob
without
waiting
for
a
response.

“Hey
kid,”
Nick
said,
his
eyes
widening.
He
sat
propped
up
on
the
king
size
bed
with
a
folder
on
his
lap.
He
wore
pajama
bottoms
and
nothing
else.
“I
thought
you
went
to
bed
an
hour
ago.
I’ve
been
going
over
some
dull
reports.”