The course lived up to the event’s reputation.
Maybe even pushed the damn envelope, A.J. thought, staring ahead.
She and Devlin walked the course twice, discussing the strides and the angles, where the dangerous spots were. The water jump wasn’t her biggest concern, oddly enough. By dumb luck, it was configured in a way they’d been practicing recently. Sabbath would be familiar with the straight-on approach and the tight turn that immediately followed it. What she was worried about was how the stallion would handle the demands of the course’s turns in the midst of the spectators.
By the time she and Devlin returned to the trailer, the crowd had grown to its full size and A.J. saw the first of the socialites. The sight of haute couture made her think about her stepmother and she wondered where her family was. Scanning the grounds, she located the Sutherland trailer easily. She could see people milling around its exterior, unloading horses she knew well. Out of a field of some thirty registered competitors, three, including Philippe Marceau, were from the Sutherland Stables, a good showing by anyone’s estimation. Squinting against the direct sunlight, she could see Marceau’s roan mare being groomed by one of the staff.
Shifting her gaze to Sabbath, she was thinking their time had finally come. Chester was winding wraps around the stallion’s legs and she assessed the horse’s mood. He seemed upbeat and not particularly aggressive. She hoped it would last.
Going over to the trailer’s cab, A.J. grabbed her bag and her show clothes and went to the back, changing in the unused stall as she’d done before. When she emerged, Devlin was leaning against the back door.
“You all set?” he asked tightly, watching as her hand went to her throat and then fell back down to her side.
“I am.”
“How’re the nerves?”
“Calmer now that I’m in my show clothes.”
“Anything you need?”
She asked him a few questions about course strategy and then they reflected on the field of competitors and Sabbath’s good behavior thus far. As he spoke with her, Devlin thought once more that she would always be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and likely the only one he would ever truly love. As they stood in the sunshine, beneath a crystal blue sky that once again reminded him of the color of her eyes, he wished things were different between them. That the distance wasn’t there.
When they heard over the loudspeaker that the practice ring was open for competitors, A.J. gathered up her hat and crop. “Let’s see if his mood holds.”
“Wait,” Devlin said. “I have something for you, for luck.”
He buried a hand into the pocket of his coat and took out a small velvet bag. “Close your eyes.”
When she did, he emptied the satchel and then reached behind her neck.
“You shouldn’t have to open them to know what it is,” he said, next to her ear.
When her fingertips went exploring, they found home.
Her eyes flew open and she looked down at her mother’s diamond.
“How did you—”
“I have ways.”
“But this was to pay off my debt.”
“I thought you’d want it today. We can argue about the finances later.”
A.J. stared down at the stone, seeing light sparkle in the familiar facets. “This was my mother’s.”
“I knew it must have been significant. You don’t wear jewelry, not even a watch, and this you never took off. I can’t imagine why you sold it to pay the debt.”
“It was the only thing I had that was really mine.”
“Well, it’s yours again now. And I understand how important it is for you to cover your own expenses. We’ll work something out.”
“Thank you,” A.J. said, tucking the stone inside her shirt. The words didn’t go far enough. She hoped the love shining in her eyes went the rest of the way.
“You’re welcome.” He hesitated and then stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. In a voice that was rough with emotion, he said, “Take it easy over those fences, will you?”
A.J. grabbed on to his palm. “I promise.”
Chester interrupted. “What number are we in the field?”
“Sixteen out of seventeen,” Devlin responded, reluctantly looking away. “Course will be chewed up but at least we’ll be clear on where the bomb zones are.”
“Saddle him up?”
He nodded to Chester.
Just then, Garrett and Regina approached through the crowd. A.J. noted that her father looked at home around the horses. He was dressed in his club pullover and a pair of dark wool slacks and had a pipe gripped between his teeth. Fragrant smoke billowed behind him in cloudy puffs. Her stepmother, on the other hand, was wearing a frown and a tangerine Ungaro ensemble. Her silk shoes, dyed to match, were already dirty. She looked like someone who’d gotten lost and didn’t like where the misdirection had taken her.
A.J. went forward to greet them, forcing a smile for their benefit.
“Good morning, all,” Garrett said, looking only at A.J.
She went into his arms and kissed his cheek. “Hi, Papa.”
“Are you ready for this?” he whispered in her ear.
“I think so.”
“Is he?” He nodded over at Sabbath.
“The stallion’s in great physical shape and his heart belongs to me. We’re going to do the best we can.”
“I’ll love you no matter what.”
“I know.”
Behind him, Regina said, “Darling, we really should get to our seats.” She looked ready to drag her husband off but then she caught sight of something that interested her. “Oh, look! There’s Winnie and Curt Thorndyke—she’s chair of the Borealis Christmas Ball for the second year in a row. Winnie!”
She tore off into the crowd as fast as her high heels could cover the ground. Her target, assuming an expression of abject terror, bolted into a tack room.
Garrett shook his head. “She wishes you the very best, as well.”
“Thanks.”
“Arlington, I know you have to start warming up. I just wanted to make sure you knew I’d be rooting for you in the stands. I hope you win this, if it’s what you want.”
He embraced her again and she was struck by how much he loved her. As her father went over and shook Devlin’s hand, she felt grateful. It was a sensation that continued as Sabbath was presented to her, tacked and ready to go. She felt lucky to have made it as far as they had. After all, they were at the Qualifier. She was going into the ring on the stallion.