Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
I decided if the minister told you to lie, God was good with it.
• Twenty •
The sick, painful tightening in my stomach and chest weren’t pleasant.
Capri
Present Day
The two calls I’d received from two different trainers, asking me to come to the stables where they worked and meet with them and the owners about racing one or more of their horses in some upcoming smaller races, didn’t help the fact that I’d not heard from anyone at Shephard Ranch in two weeks.
When I had first gotten home after a silent flight alone with no Thatcher in sight, Stellan had called me to congratulate me and said he looked forward to future races with me on a Shephard horse. That was it. Nothing else. No Miller, King, or Sebastian, and no Thatcher. Which was what was bothering me the most.
I had put off scheduling a meeting with the other two trainers as long as I could. Allowing Shephard Ranch to affect my career negatively was foolish. I needed to capitalize on my win with them and go get more jobs.
After my morning run, I showered, dressed, then sat down to call both of the trainers back with my calendar in front of me so I could write down dates and make sure I wasn’t double booking myself.
My phone ringing surprised me, and King Salazar’s name lighting up the screen made hope spring in my chest. I pressed Accept and moved my calendar away from me, hoping I wouldn’t need to make those calls after all. Well, no, maybe I should. I could ride for more than one stable. It wasn’t like I was exclusive to Shephard Ranch.
“Hello?” I said, trying not to sound too thrilled to hear from someone there.
“Capri,” King said into the line. “Are you available to come in today and take Zephyr out? We decided to enter him in the Bing Crosby Stakes in a couple of weeks. We need to see you on him before we make a decision on the jockey.”
Another Grade I race and on the back of Zephyr.
“Yes! I can be there whenever you need,” I blurted out.
“Great. Let’s do two. We’ll have him do some warm-ups and prep him before you get here.”
I nodded, then remembered I was on the phone. “Okay,” I said. “That’s perfect. I mean, I can come early and watch the warm-ups, too, if you want.”
“Sure. Anytime after one will be fine. I am going to try and be there earlier, but Sebastian and Miller will be there if I’m not.”
“Okay, thanks,” I replied.
When the call ended, I stared at my phone for several minutes, trying to wrap my head around this. I had raced many Grade III and Grade II stakes, but Grade I was a level I strived for. Now, I was getting two back-to-back in the same month. Pausing, I let some of the excitement ease out of me, remembering he had said he wanted to see me on Zephyr first. As in they were probably testing out other jockeys. I wasn’t exclusive.
I might not get this job. I had to prepare for that. If I didn’t get it though, would they want me on Zephyr at the Breeders’ Cup? My chest tightened, and I had to take a deep breath and calm down. Letting my anxiety get the best of me would not help me here. I could do this.
Glancing over at my calendar, I decided I’d wait on calling the other trainers. I had to focus right now. No use in getting my head in other places until after I rode Zephyr today.
King hadn’t mentioned Thatcher at all. Perhaps his not being there would be to my advantage. He was the only distraction that truly worried me. I’d not seen him since that embarrassing night in the hotel suite. I knew I was going to have to face him eventually, but before I rode Zephyr wouldn’t be beneficial.
The stables were active when I pulled up beside a large black truck that I knew belonged to King. He’d made it here early. I was barely out of my car when Sebastian pulled up beside me in a much newer, fancier truck than the one King drove. Relieved he was here since he was the one that I felt more relaxed around, I waited until he climbed out of his truck.
“You ready to do this?” he asked, grinning at me.
I nodded. “Yep.”
He motioned out to the track, where Miller stood with Zephyr. He was talking to King, but there was no Christopher or any other exercise rider with them.
“Go on and get ready, then meet us out there,” he said before heading out toward the others.
I hurried to the stables to go get my helmet, riding crop, and boots that were kept in the tact room. They were mine, but only when I rode for one of their horses. My personal gear wasn’t as high-end as the equipment they supplied. I waved to Jim, who nodded but kept walking as I passed him.