On a Sunday afternoon at the end of September, Ashleigh Griffin stopped at the McLean�s cottage. Ian McLean answered the door.
�Why hello, Ashleigh.� He shook her hand. �If you�re looking for Samantha, she�s not here.�
Ashleigh wiped her suddenly sweaty palms on her jeans, feeling more than a little nervous. �Actually, I need to talk to you. Mr. McLean. About Sammy.�
Ian looked puzzled for a moment, then led Ashleigh to the living room. �Would you like something to drink?�
Ashleigh shook her head as she perched on the edge of the sofa. �No, thank you.�
The experienced trainer regarded Ashleigh carefully as he sat down. She was nervous. And he had a feeling he wasn�t going to like what she was here to say.
Taking a deep breath first to calm herself, Ashleigh began speaking. �As you know, Sammy has been helping me a lot with Pride. In fact, he wouldn�t have made this much progress so soon without her help.�
Ian nodded his agreement. Pride had taken to Sammy as he had to no other person on the farm. Whenever she was around, he was more content, happy, and a pleasure to work with.
�Pride is now at the point where he really needs to be ridden every day. The problem is that I just can�t squeeze it in with my class schedule and racing Goddess.� Ashleigh looked straight at the man sitting across from her. �I�d like for Samantha to ride him on the trails.�
Ian�s first thought was to scream �No!� and throw Ashleigh out. But something wouldn�t let him. Flashes of the many arguments and fights he�d had with Samantha about riding passed through his memory.
�What does Clay Townsend have to say about Samantha riding Pride?� he found himself asking.
Ashleigh almost wilted with relief at how calm Ian was. Sammy had warned her that he might fly completely off the handle. �He said he wants someone on Pride�s back that Pride trusts. That person is your daughter.�
Ian sighed softly. He�d known this day would come, but that didn�t make it any easier or mean that he was prepared for it. �I need to think about it, Ashleigh.�
The young woman stood. �I understand. Thank you.�
When Samantha came home later that afternoon, she found her father still sitting in his recliner, his hands steepled under his chin. She dropped her purse on the coffee table and sat down on the arm of his chair.
�I know how you feel about me riding racehorses, Dad.� She put a hand on his arm. �This is really important to me.�
Ian sighed and looked up at his daughter. She looked so much like her mother. �I know, sweetheart. That�s why I�m going to let you do it.�
Samantha threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. �Thank you, Dad!�
The next day after school, Sam rushed straight to the barn. Ashleigh wanted a two-mile ride just to see how Pride reacted. For the first one, she had skipped a class and was going to accompany Sammy and Pride on Goddess. Ashleigh already had the horses tacked up and ready to go, so Samantha mounted up and the two girls headed out.
Ashleigh led them towards the back trails to keep them away from other horses. She smiled to herself as she remembered the weeks she�d spent out here, her and Charlie working with Wonder. Her and Charlie turning Wonder into a champion. He would be so disappointed if he knew how things were going right now.
�How does he feel?� Ashleigh glanced over at Samantha.
The younger girl was all smiles. �He feels great!� Pride was trotting easily, his ears pricked and his head held high. �I�d almost forgotten how wonderful it is to be on a racehorse. You are so lucky, Ash.�
Ashleigh tightened her grip on Goddess� reins for a moment as the filly shied away from a falling leaf. �How am I lucky?�
Pride stopped short to sniff the air, and swing his head from side to side. Sammy stroked his neck to assure him nothing was wrong, then put him back in a trot. �You get to ride Thoroughbreds in training all the time! And you�re a jockey.�
Ashleigh smiled. �Being a jockey isn�t all it�s cracked up to be, you know. It�s not easy.�
�I know. But still, the thrill of riding in a real race.� Samantha looked over to find Ashleigh grinning.
�Yeah, it is pretty addictive.�
They reached the crest of a hill and stopped. Samantha drank in the scenery before her. The leaves were starting to turn, and the hint of chill in the air had the weanlings kicking up their heels as they romped across the paddocks. As far as Samantha was concerned, Kentucky horse country was the closest thing one could get to heaven on earth.
�Let�s canter,� Ashleigh said, urging Goddess into the faster gait.
Samantha felt Pride to into it on his own as Goddess pulled away from him. In seconds, the two horses were perfectly matched, stride for stride, as they cantered back towards the barns.
�You�re going to be a racehorse yet, Pride,� she murmured. �You just wait and see.�
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
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