07 Last Man Standing by David Baldacci

Author:David Baldacci [Baldacci, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Gwen rejoined Web and showed him through the equestrian center. There were eleven buildings in total.

The foaling stalls were their first stop and Gwen showed Web how they were equipped with closed-circuit television to monitor the expectant mares. The floors were rubber-matted and had a covering of straw to keep the dust down.

“We have really high hopes for some of the foals coming next year. We had several mares bred out in Kentucky by stallions with remarkable bloodlines.”

“How much does that stuff run?”

“It can run six figures a pop.”

“That’s expensive sex.”

“There are a lot of conditions attached to that payment, of course, the most important being that the foal is actually born alive and can also stand and nurse. But a great-looking yearling sired by a successful racehorse can bring enormous amounts of money. It’s a very picky business, though. You have to think of every contingency, and yet simple bad luck can still ruin your chances.”

Web thought that sounded very much like being an HRT man. “Yeah, the way Billy described it to us, it doesn’t sound like a business for the faint of heart.”

“Well, the money is nice, Web, but that’s not why I do it. It’s the rush you get from seeing a horse you raised, nurtured and trained thundering around that track; the most beautiful, the most perfect racing machine every created. And seeing the finish line, watching this truly noble animal prance into the winner’s circle, knowing that for at least a few minutes everything in your life is absolutely perfect. Well, there’s no other feeling quite like that.”

Web wondered if the nurturing of horses had replaced the lost son. If it had, he was glad that Gwen Canfield had found something in her life she could feel good about.

“I guess you probably feel the same way about your work.”

“Maybe I used to,” he replied.

“I didn’t put two and two together before,” she said. “I didn’t know you were part of what happened to those men in Washington. I’m very sorry.”

“Thanks. It’s a pretty sorry situation all around, actually.”

“I never really understood how men could do that sort of job.”

“Well, I guess the easiest way to look at it, Gwen, is that we do that job because there are people in the world who make us do it.”

“People like Ernest Free?”

“People just like him.”

As they finished at the center, Gwen asked him what Strait had wanted.

“Just some friendly neighborly advice. By the way, did he come with the farm or did you hire him?”

“Billy did. He and his crew came with good references.” She looked around. “So what now?”

“How about the main house?”

As they drove up to the mansion in an open Jeep, Web heard a roaring overhead and looked up. A small chopper was coming in low and fast. It flew past and disappeared over the treetops.

Web looked over Gwen. “Where is that going?”

She frowned. “The neighboring farm. Southern Belle. In addition to the chopper pad, they also have an airstrip. When their jet comes over, it scares the horses to death.

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