Venom by Nikki Tate

Author:Nikki Tate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2009-04-01T04:00:00+00:00

chapter thirteen

“So, how’d he feel, Stretch?” Em asks as I slide off Lordy and she takes the reins.

“Ha, ha, ha.” Lordy felt like a bomb about to go off. Of course. Today was a walk day for him. Em knows very well the horse is just fine sauntering around the Loop, a two-mile trail that wraps around the outside of the racetrack grounds. It’s great for the horses to have a change of scenery. They seem to enjoy strolling down by the river and alongside the big field just north of the track. Lordy had yesterday off—a quick turn-out in the sand pen for a roll while Em did his stall, and then back inside. He was raring to go and would have charged around the Loop if I’d let him.

“I need a drink,” I say, heading into the tack room. I grab a can of iced tea and sip while Em gets Twitter ready. I double-check the whiteboard to see if Scampy has added anything since I looked earlier this morning. Good thing I do. Beside Breeze quick ¼, he’s added Gate. That’s where we’ll start, with some practice at the starting gate. Twitter hasn’t been with Scampy for long. She was racing in Alberta and only arrived a few weeks ago.

“Hurry up in there,” Em calls. “You know how patient she is!”

Out in the aisle, Twitter tosses her head and paws the ground. “Behave!” Em says, giving the reins a sharp tug. “Come on!”

I refasten my helmet strap and pick up my whip. Em and I spin in place as she gives me a leg up and the filly turns in a tight circle around us.

“Jeez, this horse is a pain!” Em says, holding onto the bridle a moment longer as I pick up the reins and nudge my boots into the stirrups.

Twitter dances all the way down the aisle and out the door at the end of the barn. She walks sideways as we reach the end of the building. She flips her head and lets out a couple of huge snorts.

“Easy, easy...” I draw the words out and keep my voice low and calm. She hardly seems to notice. Her coat glistens with a sheen of sweat as we reach the entrance to the track.

I let her trot and then canter a slow couple of laps. Then we make our way to where the starting gate stands ready at the end of the track. Several other horses walk circles in the area behind the gate, waiting their turns to load.

The starting-gate crew works quickly and calmly to load one horse into the gate. The starter makes notes on a clipboard. Horses that don’t load safely aren’t allowed to race.

When it’s our turn, one of the assistants at the gate slides a length of webbing through the bit ring and leads us forward. Two others link arms behind Twitter. She tosses her head, but doesn’t make too much of a fuss until the padded doors are pushed closed behind her.

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