This story follows Bonds of Blood, some aspects of this story will not make much sense without the first part.
Disclaimer: I write for fun,no copyright infringement intended.
Family Ties- Chapter One
Georgie hurried after Lisa, helmet tucked under her arm as they headed down to Fairfield's stalls. Dad had finally convinced Lou to let her start working at the track, Lisa kept it limited as she had a lot to do at the barn. They were easing into it, she knew Lisa didn't really need another jockey but was willing to let her try.
Georgie knew her focus had to be Diamond and the young horses she exercised, but today she was helping with a sale. Lisa stopped, greeting the client who wanted to see Fairfield's Double or Nothing go against his own young hotshot. There was supposed to be another horse running too, but Lisa was the only one standing with the client.
Georgie warmed Dubs up and guided the young horse towards the gates. The other jockey took his place but no one else showed as the two owners spoke by the fence. She knew that Lisa had already given the man Dubs' paperwork, Georgie had seen that process a few times now.
"Are we waiting for Dan?" Lisa asked, glancing towards the stalls.
"No. I won't be going that route." The man shook his head and there was something about his tone that made her frown; he sounded disgusted with the question. Lisa looked slightly concerned. Georgie guided the horse into the gate and took a steadying breath; waiting for the start.
"Ready for this?" The other jockey asked.
"I guess." She was new, but experience was all that she needed.
Dubs was fast, he loved to run, and he didn't mind being ridden; she had helped get him ready for the track this spring. When the gates clanged open the horses sprang forward, and they flew down the track. Around one corner, Dubs edged ahead, giving it all he had, he was green; but he had potential.
Racing for the finish Georgie leaned into his neck, she knew they were ahead but didn't dare to glance back and see how far. They crossed the line and Dubs eased down, slowing him down before coming around to cool him out.
Dubs had won, and that had been what the client wanted to see, hopefully that meant the sale would go through. As she brushed the horse Lisa came to lean on the side of the stall. "So, did he buy Dubs?"
"Yes, he did." Lisa confirmed, holding the gate so she could step out of the stall; Lisa didn't look happy. "I need to make a stop before we head home."
Georgie nodded, figuring they would head for Fairfield, but they pulled in at Brookland instead. Lisa didn't say anything as she got out of the truck and headed for the office. The yard was quiet, and Georgie got out, slipping into the barn she paused; Dan and Lisa stood in the foyer.
"What did you intend to do with them?" Lisa's voice rose, and Georgie eased back, feeling a little guilty for eavesdropping. The man shrugged, and she saw Lisa rub her brow, looking annoyed. "Let me see them."
"Lisa I'll get rid of them." Dan Hartfield reached out to touch her arm and Lisa turned away, heading down towards the stalls; Georgie followed a few steps behind Dan.
They went back through the stalls of sleek thoroughbreds and out to the back field; a foal skittered away from the fence as they approached. It bumped into a stocky bay and watched them from the safety of the mare's side. A second mare watched them curiously over a mouthful of grass.
"It was a stupid plan from the start, Summer just had to rescue them, nothing but a money pit." Dan muttered as they eyed the horses. "One of the idiots put a stud back here…"
…
She only glared at her ex husband, she knew exactly what he meant when he said he intended to get rid of them. It wasn't a mistake, it was pure carelessness in a breeding operation, but not enough to tank a sale. Dan had only taken in the rescues to impress his latest ditz, he'd moved on to richer and dumber after Val didn't pan out.
"The one was pregnant when she got here, the other is now." Dan admitted. "Summer had her heart set on…"
"Right." Lisa did not want to hear about his girlfriend, she didn't want to get involved at all; but Ian Resnic's reaction had tipped her to the fact that something was off.
The young colt had decided to give them a second chance and came closer to sniff at Georgie, a solid little foal. Both mares were solidly built and eyed them quietly, but they were certainly not Dan's type of horse. What stupid stunt had Dan already tried to offload the horses?
It weighed on her mind as she drove home, Georgie headed straight for the barn and Lisa walked up to the house. Lou had taken Katie up to a get together with some other kids and families she had met at the hospital; everyone would be home soon, and they would be hungry.
By the time Jack got home dinner was in the oven and she had Lyndy on her hip; the toddler was fussy, and her parents needed to get caught up on paperwork. Her husband pressed a kiss to her temple before crossing to wash up, he looked tired and stiff.
But he came back to the kitchen and shifted Lyndy into his arms. "How did your sale go?"
"It was straight forward thanks to Dan." With her hands free she started a salad, she saw him tense up; it didn't take much when it came to Dan and Jack. "He bungled his side of it, and he has a new girlfriend."
"Lis." Jack sighed.
"Summer rescued a couple of horses, one was pregnant; the other is now. And somehow at least one of Dan's clients found out." She still wasn't exactly sure how that worked. "He didn't waste any time when Val…"
"Lisa." Her husband cut her off, and she nodded; he did not want to hear about her ex.
"Fine." She paused as Katie came in ahead of Lou. "Dinner is almost ready."
"Lisa, Dr. Siddal called for you this morning." Lou dropped her purse and came into the kitchen, lifting the lid on a pot as she frowned; she hadn't heard from the doctor in several months. "She just wants a call back, nothing urgent."
"Okay." The doctor had her cell number, if it had been urgent she would have called that rather than the house. "Did Katie have a good time this afternoon?"
"Well, we found out she won't be the only one going to camp for the first time." Lou murmured, lifting another lid; she sounded worried. "A few of her friends will be going too."
"She's going to have a good time." Lisa said reassuringly, it was Lou who was nervous, Katie was excited to go on an adventure.
Lisa agreed with her husband and Peter, Katie would benefit from spending time with other kids who had been through similar experiences. Back at school and dance, the young girl was with her friends, but they did not understand what she had been through.
At camp Katie would fit in, each child would have their own story, but they would all know of long hospital stays, doctors and tests; many would take daily medications just as Katie did. Lou was planning to spend a few of the days that Katie was away in New York and she had a feeling that would be good for the mother who had put everything on hold to tend her daughter.
She could admit that she was looking forward to everyone taking off for a week, the house would be quiet, and she might be able to steal a few days with her husband. Between the stable, the ranch and the kids everything had been so busy.
It wasn't that they hadn't traveled, but usually it was for competitions with Georgie in the truck; and the teenager had her heart set on learning the horse business. The girl was a quick study but exhausting at times, by sheer will the teen had worn Lou and Peter down until they agreed to let her jockey. As though exercising the horses, training and competing with Diamond wasn't enough Lisa had to find opportunities for her on the track.
The girls chattered throughout dinner and when the dishes were done, she took the glass of wine that Jack offered; letting him nudge her towards the couch. Finding her spot, nestled against his side as the evening wound down.
"When will you call the doctor?" Jack asked, his hand resting on her knee; she knew he would have been thinking about that.
"In the morning. We know it isn't urgent; and we know it isn't Katie." She reassured him, it had been several months since treatment ended, she was fine and so was Katie.