Read Online Heat Wave (Riders Up) by Adriana Kraft - Free Book Online Page A

and her eyelids flew open. She stared at Harrington, who paid no
attention to her. Again, Maggie shuttered her eyes. No. She was his boss. You’re
good for him and he’s good for you. Those were Cassie’s words. How good? Maggie
drifted off to sleep before she could form a response.
     
     “So do you think
your new boss has the guts to stick with racing?” Clint asked, placing two
leaves of hay in a hay net. A bay mare stepped forward from the back of the
stall to sample this new food offering.
    Ed chuckled. “Oh,
she’s got the guts all right. I don’t know if she’ll have the sense to duck.”
     As the two men
walked from stall to stall, several broodmares greeted them. Ed’s attention was
caught by a regal black head with luminous dark eyes poking out over the end
stall door. The mare arched her neck and raised her head high. Her haughtiness
drew a breath from Ed as he appraised the animal. He knew he was looking at
something special. Real special. Good legs. Deep chest. Strong lines. And a
pride bespeaking champions. “Well,” he muttered, “you’re a classy thing aren’t
you? Bet all the guys think you’re as sexy as sin.”
    The mare rapidly
raised and lowered her head as if in agreement.
    This one could be
the foundation mare they were looking for. “I’ll want to know more about this
one come fall,” he said noncommittally.
    “Not sure Midnight
Dancer will still be here by then,” countered Travers, a sly frown working
across his face.
    “Okay, hotshot
horse trader,” Ed retorted, shooting Clint a knowing look. The man was in the
business of selling horses; he couldn’t just hold onto a horse until the time
was right for a potential buyer, even for a friend. “So tell me about her.”
    Grabbing the halter
hanging on the box stall door latch, Clint began to lay out the mare’s racing
history. “We didn’t start her as a two year old. Wanted her to mature more
before getting out on the track. Between her three year old and five year old
seasons she ran twenty-eight races and was in the money all but four. She has
twelve allowance and stakes wins, including one Grade Two victory. We matched
her with a sire out of Seattle Slew’s lineage.”
    Ed whistled softly.
    “Why not take her
out to a paddock so you can see her in action?” Clint suggested, moving to
halter the eager animal.
    A few minutes
later, the mare was prancing as if she was leading a parade.
    “Yeah, she’s all
you said she would be.” Ed folded his arms, knowing that he could not let this
one get away. She was a thousand pounds of thoroughbred promise. One couldn’t
expect to find much better, unless there was an unlimited bankroll. “So, what
will it take to hold the mare until we make a final decision in October?”
    Clint scratched his
chin thoughtfully. “Considering feed, care and risk—five thousand, ten percent,
would guarantee that no one comes along and buys her out from under you.”
    “And if we take her
the money goes toward the purchase price?”
    “Of course.”
    “And if we decide
not to buy, you pocket the money?”
    “Naturally.” Clint
folded his arms and smiled broadly.
    Ed nodded. “I’ll
talk to Maggie about it, but expect you’ve got a deal.” Turing to the ebony
mare, he added, “You, young woman, take care of yourself and that baby you’re
carrying. That’s all you have to do. No racing. No showing off. Just take care
not to hurt yourself or the little one.”
    As they retraced
their steps back to the barn, Ed said, “Appreciate all you’re doing to help us
find some good horses.”
    “That’s what I do
for a living.” Clint shuddered. “Besides, I owe you a few.”
    “Don’t even go
there again!” Ed’s voice rose. “If I hadn’t been there, someone else would have
taken Cass to the hospital. Let’s forget it, okay?”
    Clint shrugged and looked
away.
    “I think it will be
pretty easy to decide on buying your Midnight Dancer,” Ed said, turning the
conversation back