Chapter Text
Sarah’s eyes flew open when she heard the door to the motel room bang open and closed. She slowly shifted, wincing as she did so. That fall in the fourth race yesterday had left her pretty banged up. It would be a tough day on the track today.
“Morning, sunshine.” Alec sat down on the bed, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “I brought food and coffee. That is, if you’re not too mad to share some with me.”
“Hard to be mad at the man who brings me food and coffee.” Sarah answered, slowly sitting up.
A worried frown flashed across Alec’s face. “Are you okay?”
Sarah let out an irritated huff as she pushed herself off the bed. “I’ll be fine once I get moving. You know how it goes.”
Alec made a little noise, but said nothing. “Don’t fuss. You know better.” Sarah told him sharply.
“Wasn’t fussing.” Alec answered calmly.
They sat at the table, and Alec opened the bag containing their breakfast sandwiches. He handed her an egg and cheese before settling in to check over the local paper and the Daily Racing Form.
“How’s the weather?” Sarah asked between bites.
“Rain and 45 degrees.” Alec answered. “Your favorite riding weather.”
“Ugh.” Sarah couldn’t help but let out a little laugh. “Another miserable day.”
“The track’s a mess.”
“Probably no worse than yesterday.”
Alec looked worried again. “Hard to say. You don’t have to ride, you know. You probably shouldn’t after yesterday.”
“I’m fine.” Sarah told him firmly.
A long silence stretched out between them until Alec broke it again. “Christ, this meet has been miserable.”
Sarah hated seeing Alec so defeated. Hopeful Farm’s string had performed poorly this time around, and Sarah herself wasn’t having such a successful meet. Usually they both managed to bring home some money, but this time around they might both end up losing money.
She rose to stand behind him, dropping her arms over his shoulders. “It’s just one meet. Ain’t the end of the world. You know that.”
Alec sighed and placed a hand over hers. “I’ve been a miserable bastard this week. No wonder you were so mad at me last night.”
“I was hurting.” Sarah responded gently. “I wasn’t exactly in a fine mood myself.”
Alec let out a little laugh. “Hell of a team, aren’t we?”
“Nine years and counting.” Sarah dropped a kiss on top of Alec’s head. His hair was just starting to thin a little, though it was still as vibrant a red as when they had first met all those years ago.
“We do have an anniversary coming up.” Alec commented casually. “Maybe we should take some time off after this meet.”
“I’d like that.”
“How do you feel about California?” Alec asked as Sarah sat down again.
“Depends.” Sarah answered. “Is this a working vacation or a real vacation?”
“Both?” Alec gave her a questioning look.
“Alec.”
Alec let out a little huff. “You know Mac is talking about retiring at the end of the year, and that he wants me to come out and take over West coast training operations.”
“Yep, we’ve talked a little bit about that.”
“I thought maybe we could check things out and take some time off for us.” Alec offered. “Maybe it would help us make a decision one way or the other.”
Sarah nodded. They had been discussing this move since the beginning of the fall, and still hadn’t come to a decision. For her part, she had never ridden on the California circuit, and wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of moving. Alec was more reluctant. New York had been home his entire life, and leaving his parents behind would be hard for him.
“You know I’m already on board with this, right?” Sarah pointed out. “You’re the one dragging your feet.”
“I just don’t want to uproot our lives to go all the way to the other side of the country.” Alec argued. “We already barely see our families as it is.”
“My family’s used to it.” Sarah replied. “Yours will get used to it, too.”
Alec looked thoughtful, staring out the window. “Weather would be a hell of a lot better.”
“Exactly.” Sarah finished her sandwich and rose from the table. “I’ve gotta go.”
That worried look crossed Alec’s face again, and Sarah bit her tongue to keep from snapping at him. Arguing with him would do no good and would only mess with her focus. She needed all the focus she had to get through today.
“I love you.” she told him, giving him a quick kiss.
“I love you, too.” Alec replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Come back in one piece, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.”
With that Sarah left the motel room, standing out on the balcony with a heavy sigh before starting down the stairs to her car. Maybe the rain would let up and the track would dry out a little before the day’s races began. Sarah knew it was too much to hope for. She would tough it out, just as she always did.
Perhaps today would be her day. There was only one way to find out.
Alec let out a heavy sigh of frustration as Sarah left. She was hurting far more than she let on, he knew that. She’d taken a hell of a fall in the fourth race, and Alec’s heart had been in his throat as the pack thundered by her after the fall. Sarah had gotten clear, of course, as she had a hundred times before. It didn’t make this time any easier to witness.
They’d both had a tough meet this time around. Even before the fall, Sarah hadn’t been riding well, finishing out of the money more often than not. Alec knew she was getting frustrated. It wasn’t normal for her, and even she had started to talk about retiring.
It wouldn’t be such a bad thing if she did. At least she and Alec would have a chance at a more normal marriage.
Not that Alec was unhappy with the way things were. Far from it. He was proud of his wife, always. She was a trailblazer in their sport, though she didn’t see herself that way. Sarah rarely missed an opportunity to encourage other women to ride, and was outspoken about the sexism she and other female riders had experienced. As a result, she always rode with a target on her back, but she was used to it.
It gave Alec heartburn, though. He really wished she had just called off today. Surely there were plenty of others willing to ride in this slop today.
But as always, it was useless to argue with Sarah. Alec had learned that years ago.
He finished his coffee and his sandwich, studying the Daily Racing Form. Thank goodness, the meet was nearly over, and he and Sarah could go home for a while before going to California. Henry had moved out there with his daughter the previous year, and being right between Del Mar and Santa Anita made him as happy as a clam. It would be good to visit Henry. He and Alec talked frequently, but he hadn’t actually seen Henry since just before the move. Alec missed the old man.
Alec checked his watch. There was plenty of time before the first races started, and he wasn’t so sure he wanted to watch Sarah ride after yesterday. He didn’t have any entries today anyway. Seemed like a good day to stay here and do some other work.
After calling to check in at the farm, he called Henry.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, Henry.” Alec replied. “I didn’t wake you up, did I?”
“Nah. You know I’m still an early bird. Old habits die hard.” Henry answered cheerfully. “It’s good to hear from you. When are you and Sarah going to come out here?”
“After the fall meet.” Alec told him. “We’re going to go home for a couple weeks and then come out there. Thought I’d make it an anniversary trip for us.”
“Ah, that’ll be nice.” Henry replied. “Ten years, right?”
“Yeah.” Alec was still surprised at how quickly the time had passed.
“Seems like yesterday I brought her and Storm Front up from Florida.” Henry told him. “How is that old beast doing, anyway?”
“Doing great.” Alec answered. “He’s turned out to be one of our most productive stallions.”
“Ain’t that something?” Henry chuckled. “And you thought I was crazy for picking him up. Look what you turned him into.”
Alec couldn’t help laughing himself. What had started as a project to get him over Pam’s death had become a champion handicap runner and prized stallion. “I’m grateful to have him since the Black died.”
“Indeed.” Henry’s tone turned more somber. “I know that was a tough one, Alec.”
“Yeah, it was.” Alec answered softly. The Black’s sudden death that summer had been heartbreaking, and walking by that empty stall every time he came home still hurt.
He shook off the thought. His mood was dark enough without bringing the Black’s death into it.
“So, um, anyway...I’m still thinking about taking over West coast operations.” Alec told Henry.
“Still?” Henry asked him, sounding baffled. “Hell, Alec, what’s to think about?”
Alec huffed and rolled his eyes. “I’ve lived in New York my whole life. Leaving it all to start over in California isn’t easy. What if I don’t like it there?”
“Then find someone else to do the job and go back.” Henry sounded exasperated. “You and Sarah are still pretty young, you don’t have kids. You could go back and forth if you wanted. Doesn’t she usually ride on the East coast anyway?”
“She said she wouldn’t mind trying out the West coast.” Alec answered. “Can you believe that she’s never been to California?”
“As far as that girl’s wandered, I am surprised.” Henry replied. “So, Sarah’s on board.”
Alec sighed. “Yeah, Sarah’s on board.”
Henry chuckled. “What’s the weather like there today?”
Alec looked out the window. “Cold and raining. And there?”
“It’s mid-50s and the sun’s coming out here. Probably going to hit 72 degrees or so by the end of the day.” Henry commented casually. “You sure you want to stay there?”
Alec laughed and shook his head. “I’ll decide after we come visit. See you in a couple weeks.”
“Can’t wait.”
Alec hung up the phone and stared out the window. Sure, the weather was miserable today, but it wasn’t always like this. Just last week, as he and Sarah had driven down from the farm, the trees were exploding in full color under a bright blue sky. It was Sarah’s favorite time of year.
Still, maybe a change of scenery wouldn’t be so bad. He and Sarah could at least give it a chance. If nothing else, it would be a nice way to spend their tenth anniversary. They could make a final decision later on.
Sarah entered the jockeys’ locker room, shivering as she found her cubby. Her silks were already arranged.
Five races planned today. It was going to be a tough one.
“Buenos dias, Sarah.”
“Morning, Luis.” Luis was one of her biggest rivals on the track, but one of her best friends off the track.
“You are doing okay today?” Luis asked. “That was quite a fall yesterday.”
Sarah sighed, pulling down her jeans to reveal the bruise on her hip. Luis let out a low whistle. “Ai, you should not be riding in that condition.”
“Now you sound like my husband.”
Luis laughed. “He loves you, amiga. No man likes to see his woman hurt.”
Sarah simply shrugged, turning to change for her first race, listening to the chatter in the locker room. She had long since gotten over changing in front of these guys, and mostly they didn’t bother her anymore, not since she had knocked one guy’s front teeth out after he had slapped her ass.
Word had gotten around, and she made sure to look out for any other female riders. Becky had looked out for her when she had first come to Belmont, and Sarah figured the best way to make sure more women stuck around was to look out for them, too.
“Hey, what say we get together after the races tonight?” Luis suggested as he batted Sarah’s arm with his crop. “Anita wants to see you. She has news.”
Sarah knew what that meant. “You and Anita have another one coming?”
Luis beamed and nodded. “Maybe a girl this time. We shall see.”
“Oh, Luis, that’s wonderful.” Sarah immediately hugged her friend.
Luis hugged her in response. “You know, you and Alec would make beautiful little babies.”
The thought that she couldn’t still pained her. “Oh, you know. It just never really worked out for us.”
“Ah, a shame.” Luis shook his head. “I will see you tonight...after I beat you.”
“Good luck with that!” Sarah called out as he left. She could hear Luis chuckling all the way out of the locker room.
Sarah was buckling her helmet when she spotted one of the new apprentice riders enter. “How’s it going?”
The young woman turned her head as if she was startled. “Oh! Uh, good. Fine.”
“Melanie, right?”
Melanie nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Sarah let out a laugh. “Name’s Sarah. We ain’t much on formality around here.”
Melanie managed a nervous smile, and Sarah tilted her head at her. “First ride?”
“Yeah.”
“Nervous?”
Melanie nodded vigorously. “Yeah.”
“You should be.” Sarah took on a more serious tone. “It’s nasty out there.”
Sarah thought she saw the young woman go a little pale, and she sat on the bench next to her, gently touching her shoulder. “I was scared my first ride, too. I was the only girl riding with a bunch of old men who didn’t much want me there. You just worry about you. Don’t worry about anyone else. They’re all gonna talk tough to throw you off your game. Don’t let ‘em.”
Melanie seemed to straighten up, a determined expression on her face. “If they didn’t trust me, I wouldn’t be up there.”
“That’s right.” Sarah smiled. “You want me to walk out with you?”
“That’d be great.”
“Alright, let’s go. Let’s show these boys what we’re made of.”
Sarah left Melanie at the paddock and made her way to her own mount. She hoped she had given the new apprentice a bit of confidence. Her own first ride had been plenty scary, she recalled. She had gotten bumped around so much she thought she was going to fly right out of the saddle. But she had stuck with it, and from that day on, Sarah was hooked. She couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Well, on a day like today, she could imagine doing plenty of other things. But that could wait.
“Hey, Joe.” Sarah greeted the trainer that held her mount. “What’s the word?”
“He’s acting up a little today.” Joe told her. “Nothing seems wrong with him, he’s just keyed up.”
Sarah nodded as Joe gave her instructions, and he boosted her into the saddle. The rain was relentless, and she let out a brief sigh as she wiped off her goggles and adjusted them on her face before checking her helmet.
Everything was secure. She was ready.
She heard the familiar bugle calling riders to the post, and she fell in with her escort, chatting idly with the rider. Soon her mount was loaded into the gate, and she readied herself for the start.
The bell rang and the gate clanged open. In a flash, Sarah knew things had gone horribly wrong. Her mount stumbled out of the gate, bumping into Luis’s right next to her. She tried to straighten her mount out, but it was too late. Her mount was going down, and there was nothing she could do. She could only hope she didn’t take anyone else down with her.
Alec spent the morning looking over training notes for the claimer he had picked up earlier in the week, a radio playing in the background. It was still tuned to the country station Sarah preferred, and while it would never be Alec’s favorite, it seemed to suit his mood today.
Some of his fellow horsemen thought Alec was crazy for still combing the claiming ranks. Hopeful Farm was among the elites, they had no need to pick up claimers. But Alec still found the occasional diamond in the rough, and he was still willing to take the time some of these horses needed to unlock their potential.
Sarah called him a big old softie, and she was right.
He glanced at his watch. Sarah’s first race should be finishing by now. Alec hoped it had gone well. Most likely he wouldn’t hear from her until she had a good long break, and at that point she would call him.
The phone rang, pulling Alec out of his thoughts. Maybe that was her now.
“Hello?”
“Alec?” It was the track physician.
Alec hated getting these calls. It meant that Sarah was hurt badly enough that she couldn’t contact him herself. “What happened?”
“There was a pileup in the first race.” the track physician told him. “Three riders going to the hospital.”
“And one of them is Sarah.” Alec let out a sigh. “How bad?”
There was a long pause. “You should get down there.”
Alec froze, a million possibilities already running through his head. “I’m on my way.”