Dangerous Turf by D. M. O'Byrne

Author:D. M. O'Byrne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horse racing, cops do not care about hispanics murdered, girl growing up without mother, girl wants to be a jockey, murder on the racetrack, women and hispanics being murdered, women struggling for equality in maledominated world
Publisher: Black Opal Books

***

The next day, Tonya woke late. She got out of bed slowly and struggled to pull her jeans on with one hand. Clive stared at her with concern while Henry jumped down from the bed and meowed at the door, demanding his overdue breakfast.

Tonya limped into the kitchen, poured some milk from the tiny fridge, and sat down at the table, feeling a little dizzy from the exertion. She eyed the bottle of painkillers Royce had left on the counter, wondering whether she should take one now or wait to see if the pain in her shoulder and knee would subside with movement. She was eager to get back to the horses, so she drank the milk, fed the cats, and headed for the barn, grabbing a few carrots from the jar by the door.

The sun was already up, baking the area with its intensity. Waves of heat rose from the parking lot’s black asphalt like belly dancers undulating to the sun’s music. The morning air was heavy with moisture, but breathing it deeply cleared her head.

She moved slowly down the shedrow, and her first stop was Gus’s stall. He nickered when he saw her and nuzzled her cheek as she stood by his door. Then he nosed through her pockets, finding his carrot in the usual place. As he chewed it, she stroked his glossy neck and pulled some pieces of straw out of his mane. “You haven’t had your morning grooming yet, I see,” she said. He gazed at her with his large eyes, then nuzzled her pockets again, knowing there was another carrot there. “Sorry. This one’s for Jake.”

Luis was leading the gray colt into the aisle when he saw Tonya. “Mija. You are well again?”

“Yes, Luis. I am getting better.”

“We were all so worried about you. Your padre, he was very upset.”

“I know. I’m sorry you were all scared. So was I.”

Royce was bringing Sable out of her stall, followed by Chris carrying her saddle. He left the colt with Chris and gently put his arm around Tonya. “Did you sleep okay last night? I tried not to wake you this morning.”

“Not too bad, I guess,” she replied, wincing at his touch on her shoulder.

“Good. You’ll be better in no time.”

He turned back to the horses. “Well, Luis, should we have a race this morning? Your gray against my filly?” He was smiling at Luis.

Tonya had the impression she was missing something. She gave Luis a quizzical look, and he laughed. “Señor Royce, he gave me this colt to train.”

“That’s right, but don’t go stealing my jockeys,” Royce said, winking at Tonya.

“When did this happen?”

“Just this week. Luis has his trainer’s license, and I decided it was time he had his chance to show what he could do on his own. Besides, who knows how long we’ll be here at the track?”

Tonya knew he was referring to the farm. The two men bantered back and forth, both clearly in a very good mood. She felt like

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