It had been raining for a solid week now, and the farm was practically a lake. David Evans was not at all happy about being cooped up in the house when he had horses to ride. He�d had a hard enough time to convince his mother to even let him ride at all, and he knew if he went out in the rain to exercise his father�s current string, he would lose all the riding privileges he�d fought so hard to get.
But his riding privileges were the one thing that he enjoyed most about homeschooling. It allowed him to ride whenever he pleased, and still get all of his schoolwork done. He didn�t have to worry about getting behind, or being too tired to pay attention and letting his grades slide.
�Why do mothers have to be so overprotective anyway?� he muttered. �Riding is not going to kill me.� Ten years earlier, at the age of 6, David had been hospitalized with a viral heart infection. His mother had never gotten over her fear of losing him if he exerted himself too much or became too excited. David, however, didn�t worry about it at all.
Sixteen-year-old David Evans was an only child, the son of Ben and Emily Evans. Mr. Evans was currently employed as the head trainer at Holleyhock Farms, a very large breeding and training farm just outside Louisville, Kentucky. David�s mother, Emily, loved horses as much as her husband and son, but didn�t want David riding professionally as a jockey.
David also had a secret that he kept from his mother at all costs. He was planning on trying for an apprentice jockey�s license, with his father�s help. His dream was to train, but in the meantime he was content to just ride. But he knew he�d have to tell his mother sooner or later. He sincerely hoped it would be later.
He glanced over at the clock and saw that it was almost 6:30. Dinner was just about ready, and his father would be home any minute. With the bug license papers in hand. David snapped his book closed and placed it back on his nightstand, then made his way downstairs.
Sure enough. Ben Evans had just arrived and David followed him into his office at the back of the house. �Did you get the papers?� David asked excitedly.
Mr. Evans laughed softly at his son�s enthusiasm and nodded. �Yes, I did.� He pulled the papers out of his briefcase and handed them to David. �Fill them out in here, and I�ll take them to the stewards next time I go to the track. I�ll get your ride scheduled after it stops raining.�
David hugged his father tightly as Mrs. Evans announced dinner was ready. David somehow managed to hide his excitement from his mother, knowing that right now was not the right time.
Just as the family was finishing dinner, the phone rang. Mr. Evans went to answer it, and David watched him. Mr. Evans� smile disappeared, replaced by a faint scowl that deepened as the call went on.
Finally he hung up the phone and just stood there.
�What�s wrong, Dad?� David asked.
Mr. Evans shook his head. �Coco just went into labor and is having problems. Jack wants me to come down there.�
David gasped. Coco, or Chocolate Sweets as she was registered, was about to give birth to her first foal. She was also David�s favorite mare on the entire farm. She�d been his first mount when he started exercising riding 4 years earlier. An injury had ended her racing career the year before, and she had been retired as a broodmare. David stood up from the table. �I�m coming with you.�
Mr. Evans nodded. �I know. Let�s go.�
David hurried upstairs to change into warmer clothes and grab his rain slicker, then he followed his father to the broodmare barns. The rain had changed to a light drizzle now, and was just about to stop completely.
The two hurried into the barn, and David ran down to Coco�s stall. He peered over the door, and bit his lip. Coco was lying on her side, obviously in great pain. The vet, Dr. Simmons, was leaning over her. He looked up briefly and motioned for David to come in. David did so, then sat down in the hay and cradled Coco�s head in his lap.
She was panting, and her eyes were rolling. Her light, usually chocolate milk colored coat was now dark with sweat. David stroked her gently, murmuring softly in her ear to help calm her.
�What�s wrong?� he heard his father ask.
�The foal is in the wrong position and we can�t get it turned enough,� Dr. Simmons replied, the worry clearly coming through in his voice. �I�m afraid Coco and the foal might die.�
David�s head shot up. �No!� he cried. �She can�t die!� He could feel the back of his eyes stinging with tears, and he blinked quickly to keep them away. Coco needed him calm and collected, not falling apart. He glanced over at his father. �I�m not leaving here until this foal is born healthy. Coco needs me.�
Mr. Evans nodded. The only way to remove David from that stall would be to knock him out and forcibly remove him. Mr. Evans wasn�t willing to do that. He settled down in the corner to watch the mare and his son, praying that Coco would deliver the foal safely.
6 long hours later, she finally did. Dr. Simmons had been able to get the foal turned after all! David resisted the urge to shout as he saw the foal finally pop out. Coco lay still for a moment, her heaving sides the only indication that she was even still alive. David stroked her soaking wet coat and softly congratulated her on a job well done.
�It�s a colt,� Dr. Simmons announced softly.
�Dad, do you think he�ll be as good as his sire?� David asked.
Mr. Evans shrugged. �Only time will tell.�
Coco had been bred to Riviera Daze, Holleyhock�s champion stallion. The Riv, as he was affectionately called by the farm staff, had put the farm on the map 12 years earlier with a stunning win from behind in the Preakness Stakes. He had also won the Belmont Stakes, but had not run in the Derby. He had later raced in the Travers at Saratoga, the Breeder�s Cup, and finally the Dubai World Cup, winning them all.
Paired with Coco, who had gone for 10 out of 13 starts in her career, Mrs. Davenport, the farm�s owner, hoped to have another champion on her hands.
Then, Coco heaved herself up and turned around to the tiny new foal at her side. David broke into a huge smile as Coco nuzzled the little bundle of legs, then began licking the newborn clean. He resisted the urge to go and help her, as these first few hours of the foal�s life were critical in developing the nurturing bond between mother and foal.
Within 20 minutes, the foal was attempting to stand. David and the others laughed at the comical efforts of the colt. He finally got his legs underneath him and toddled over to Coco to nurse.
Just at that moment, the sun broke through the clouds and shone in the window on the back wall of Coco�s stall. The rays landed on the newborn colt and turned his coat to gold. David couldn�t help but gasp. The foal appeared to be colored like a palamino!
�Oh my,� Mr. Evans breathed. Dr. Simmons and Jack, the breeding manager, gasped as well. In 22 years of existence, Holleyhock Farms had never bred a palamino colored Thoroughbred.
�I hope he stays that color,� David looked over at the others, who nodded in agreement.
�We won�t know for certain for another few months, David. Don�t get your hopes up.� Mr. Evans made eye contact with his son. David nodded as he slowly stood up. His legs were asleep from being down in the hay for so long. He steadied himself on the wall as the pins and needles attacked. David and his father then left the barn, and slowly headed for their house.
�Dad, do you think Mrs. Davenport would let me name him?� David looked up at his father.
Mr. Evans shrugged. �Ask her. What do you have in mind?�
�Riviera Sunshine, if he stays palamino colored.�
Mr. Evans smiled. �That sounds perfect. She knows you�re close to Coco, and The Riv adores you.�
David stifled a yawn. �I�ll ask her next time I see her.�
Mr. Evans nodded his consent, then opened the door and pointed his tired son inside. �Get some sleep,� he instructed.
David started up the stairs. ��K. I�m glad it�s Saturday.�
Mr. Evans didn�t say anything, he just watched David slowly climb the stairs. He was much more tired than he should have been. Ben had been noticing lots of little things like that recently. David tired easily now, and just 2 days earlier had almost lost his balance while out on the oval. He�d hid it well, but he had been exhausted when he�d dismounted. He had even re-arranged the way he did his school work so that he could take a nap in the afternoons. Truthfully, Ben and Emily were getting worried.
Ben quietly went back to his bedroom, took a shower and slipped into bed. Emily roused slightly when he settled down. �Is Coco OK?�
�Yes. It�s a colt. Right now he looks like a palamino.�
Emily smiled. �David is hoping he stays that way, isn�t he?�
Ben chuckled softly. �Of course.� Then he abruptly changed the subject. �David needs to go see a doctor, Em. He almost fell off of Flash the other day. On the oval. When he dismounted, he was exhausted.�
Emily sighed. �I was afraid of that. I hope it�s not something serious.�
�I do too,� Ben agreed. He then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Original Home
Story Corner Main