Read Online Maybe Baby by Andrea Smith - Free Book Online Page B

Derringer. Have fun Luke.”
    I smiled and nodded in the direction of Jenna’s cottage as I half turned away to continue down the path.
    “Be careful,” he warned.
    “You too.”
    Derringer was pleased with my visit. Someone had been taking good care of him. His stall was clean and he'd been brushed to a glossy sheen. I spent several minutes talking with him and rubbing his neck. I felt content having visited him.
    Once back at my cottage, I made some microwave popcorn and sat down to watch Jezebel’s race DVD. My cell phone rang. I snatched it off the kitchen counter, noting the same phone number as the previous night.
    “Yes?” I answered in a clipped tone.
    “Bad time?”
    His soft, silky voice always unnerved me. I could handle his ‘mad’ voice and his ‘attorney’ voice, but this one made me melt.
    “No, not really,” I responded coolly. “I was just popping some corn, getting ready to watch a DVD.”
    “What did you do today, Tylar? Did you rest like you were supposed to?"
    “If you're asking me if I sat tight as ordered, then the answer's no, I didn't. I spoke with Ray, got my assignment for next week. Let’s see, I did a couple of loads of laundry and cleaned the cottage. Oh and I took some carrots down to Derringer. There, satisfied?”
    “Do you have enough food to last in your fridge until I get back?” he questioned.
    “Oh, that was you? Yes, thanks, Trey,” I replied. I could feel his smile over the phone. I was betting that his dimple was showing. He liked it when I used his first name.
    "Are you still there?” smooth and silky asked. “Our connection seems much better tonight, don’t you agree?”
    “Hmm. Yeah…I mean, yes.”
    “Is there anything you need?”
    “I’m good, for now.”
    “Well, all right then. Please get your rest. And I'll see you soon.”
    I spent the next three hours studying last season’s races with Jezebel. I had her moves down to a science by the time I finally collapsed into bed.
    The following day was full of preparations for opening day at La Vie Belle racetrack. I worked out with Jezebel early in the morning. Her time was improving steadily..
    Since most of the jockeys were men, I dressed in the ladies’ restroom over in the paddock area. Most of them were riding in a couple of the races this evening on different horses; I only had to focus on Jezebel in the fourth. Andy had given me the jockey silks for Jezebel; the Sinclair Stable colors were purple and gold. I changed my cap cover to purple to match the silks. I made my way into the paddock area where Andy was tacking Jezebel. The post positions were in, we drew number eight.
    “Yes!” I screamed, hugging Andy as he spun me around. Jezebel would race one spot in from far outside, ideal for this horse.
    “Tylar?” someone called out behind me.
    Holy horse shit!
    I was afraid to turn until he repeated my name. It was Clint's voice and he sounded pissed.
    “Hey, Clint,” I said going over to him and giving him a hug.
    “What the hell are you doing?” he asked, his voice now having more than just an edge to it.
    I stated the obvious, “Riding Jezebel in the fourth.”
    “Are you nuts?” he yelled at me. “Do you know how much more trouble I'll be in with him if I allow you to do this?”
    “Seriously, Clint? I'm on personal time which is my own, and I don't think you or anyone else for that matter can decide what I'm allowed or not allowed to do.”
    Clint was fuming. At any moment I fully expected smoke to curl out of his ears; they were beet red. Andy had walked away from our argument and for that I was grateful.
    “He sure as hell does if you’re riding a Sinclair horse.”
    I tried another approach. “Clint, look,” I said quietly to him, “nobody has to know that you saw me, right? And hey, they have me listed under a different variation of my name, so it'll be easy enough to say that you didn’t recognize it on the roster if you have to, right?"
    Clint pulled a program from his