Read Online The Stars Shine Bright by Sibella Giorello - Free Book Online Page B

parade of fear and hope. Nobody liked what had happened, but tragedy rarely doused fierce competitive natures.
    The vet mumbled behind me, “My client is the horse.” He said it twice, heading for the door, then glanced over at me. “Just remember that. I work for the horse.”
    Cooper lifted the umbrella’s wooden handle, ready to pass me the baton. But the rhinestones started glinting in Eleanor’s glasses. She shook her head.
    â€œNo, Bill. I want Raleigh to stay with SunTzu.”
    â€œYou—what?”
    â€œRaleigh’s going to stay.”
    â€œShe’s bad luck.” He stopped. “No offense to you.”
    â€œNone taken. But Raleigh was on the track and saw everything.”
    â€œBut she doesn’t know one end of the horse from the other.”
    Eleanor pointed her finger at him. Her emerald ring looked as serious as a papal declaration, and when she wagged her finger, the stone sparked an electric green, as if fueled by the friction between them, the tension between servitude and independence. “Bill Cooper, you told me yourself that horse doesn’t like men. You said that’s why Juan was having trouble with him.”
    â€œBut—Eleanor—I’m the trainer .”
    She raised her chin and I held my breath, preparing for the verbal bomb.
    But the vet interrupted her, turning to look at us. “The horse doesn’t like men?”
    Cooper didn’t reply.
    â€œBill!” Eleanor bellowed. “Speak!”
    â€œYeah, fine. SunTzu doesn’t like men. He rides faster with a female jockey. But there’s only two and they both ride for Manchester.”
    Doc Madison turned, surveying the crowd now gathered around the equine ambulance.
    â€œAshley,” he called out.
    The girl in the pink shirt looked up.
    â€œGet over here,” the vet said.
    She stepped from the crowd, her pale hair dripping wet.
    â€œWait,” Cooper said. His voice sounded incredulous. “Ashley? What is this—amateur hour?”
    Eleanor said, “I believe Doc Madison has made an excellent choice. It’s about time that girl’s infatuation with horses was put to productive use.”
    â€œAshley’s a groom ,” Cooper said. “I’m a trainer .”
    â€œThat’s quite enough complaining for one bad morning,” Eleanor replied.
    When he looked at me, Cooper’s eyes iced over. His face was tight with unspoken resentments. Ashley followed the vet into the clinic, and Cooper handed Eleanor the umbrella handle, pivoted, and walked away. The crowd parted, letting through the bandy-legged man and his bad temper.
    â€œAs for you,” Eleanor said, turning to me. “Don’t miss it.”
    â€œMiss what?”
    â€œThe moment.” She raised her chin. “Life is all memory except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going.”
    I really didn’t have time for this. But. “Blanche?” I guessed. “ Streetcar ?”
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sake,” she said. “It was Mrs. Goforth. Now—go forth!”

    The horse was flying through the clinic upside down.
    Slung into a canvas blanket, legs encircled by padded cuffs, SunTzu was being carried across the open space by a series of heavy chains and pulleys. The contraption ran along the ceiling’s steel I-beams, and the horse’s path was controlled by Brent Roth. He stood against the far wall, depressing a series of levers that carefully maneuvered the passed-out horse to an enormous padded exam table.
    Doc Madison was pulling on latex gloves and a rubber apron. Behind him Ashley stood, her bright pink shirt marred by dark lashes of rain.
    â€œLook out,” the vet said calmly. “I think he’s waking up.”
    The horse’s back touched the table. SunTzu’s eyes fluttered.
    â€œAshley, start talking to him.” The vet turned toward a stainless steel