8.

"Oh, do I miss that California weather!" Cindy chattered, shivering into her thick winter coat as she and Heather walked to the school from the rumbling bus.

"Are you kidding?" Heather grinned. "It actually warmed up here!"

Cindy shook her head and rubbed her hands together as Heather opened up the heavy doors to the school, letting them both in. "Well, I guess I just got used to that sixty degree heat at Santa Anita. It was so nice."

The two girls walked up the stairs to their lockers. Cindy beat the new snow off her boots as they went.

"So, I heard Shadow won his stakes and Ashleigh can't ride until April, at the earliest," Heather began, opening up her locker.

Cindy sighed and nodded dismally. "That's right. And, to make matters worse, Felipe isn't going to ride Glory."

"What?!" Heather cried. "But, he's the only one who can!"

Cindy shrugged and opened up her locker, throwing a few books in and exchanging them with others. "He called last night to talk with Mike. Apparently he's given his word to On A Whim's trainer. He'd like to ride Glory, but the facts are he just can't."

"Well, what's going to happen?" Heather asked, putting her sack lunch in her locker and pulling out a binder.

"Ann is going to try him," Cindy said, shaking her head. "As though they think she can handle him. We all know Glory is very particular about his riders."

"You're kidding me!" Heather exclaimed, staring at Cindy with wide eyes. "Ashleigh is being replaced with Ann?"

"If Ann can ride him. She's going back up there with Mike in a few days to try Glory out on the track," Cindy closed her locker and leaned her head against it. "I just wish I wasn't so young. I turn thirteen in March, but I still have to be sixteen to ride."

"You'll get your chance," Heather said, smiling reassuringly. "And Ann knows what she's doing. Look at the bright side. She's working great with Shadow, and he's pretty high strung."

Cindy nodded and shrugged. "That's true. Ann is a very talented rider."

"I bet she and Glory will work great together," Heather smiled, nodding and turning with Cindy, walking to their first class. "And Glory will go on to win another great stakes race and set a record."

"You're probably right," Cindy sighed, becoming quiet. She and Heather walked into their English room, sitting down at their desks. What Cindy didn't want to admit to Heather was that she didn't even want Ann up on Glory. Glory was hers, she told herself firmly, and she didn't want Ann riding him. Secretly, even if it meant Glory losing a race, she wanted Ann to do horribly on Glory, just to show that she could do something the older girl couldn't.

But Glory has to have a rider, Cindy thought, and he has to be the best. Maybe having Ann ride him wouldn't be so bad, Cindy conceded. And with Ann on Glory's back, hopefully there would be no way Glory and Shadow could run against each other in the Big Cap. One person can't ride two horses at once, she reasoned.

Cindy smiled to herself, finally feeling a little better. She was sure nothing could keep Glory from the winner's circle.

It was just before dawn at Whitebrook Farm, and the moon was still up, shining its reflected light onto the silver snow, glinting shady whiteness all over the farm. Cindy stood on the porch of her family's modest cottage, looking out at the farm and smiling proudly. The large, red barns were a dark maroon shade in the light, and Ashleigh and Mike's 200-year-old farmhouse looked like dark in shades of gray. It was all so beautiful, Cindy sighed, blowing a puff of steam from her lips.

"Time to get down to the barns!" Ann called, waving Cindy over to her as she walked down the drive to the stables. Cindy's smile immediately disappeared as she joined the other girl, walking through the powdery snow.

Ann and Cindy had come back to Lexington for school, leaving Samantha at Santa Anita with Shining. Cindy knew that Ann was seventeen, and was in her last semester of high school. She didn't know where Ann had applied to school, since the older girl had moved around so much, but she did know that once she graduated she would have more time to be at tracks around the country, like Samantha did.

"I'd like to ask you something," Ann said, huddling up in her coat and walking briskly to the barn. It was easy for Cindy to keep up, since both girls were fairly short.

"Shoot," Cindy replied casually, jamming her gloved hands in her pockets.

"Ashleigh asked me to ride Glory, and I'm going up to Santa Anita this weekend to try him out," Ann began. "I was wondering if you could give me some pointers when I'm working with him. I'd like to give him the best chances as I can."

Cindy frowned, thinking that Glory would be better off if Ashleigh were riding him, but she quickly nodded. "Well, Ashleigh always talked to him. Keep a light hand on his mouth, but don't let him get away from you. He likes to have his way."

"Like Shadow," Ann nodded, "I know the type of horse."

The girls made their way to the training barn and Cindy pulled the door open, slipping inside, Ann directly after her.

"Who are you up on today?" Ann asked, immediately going to Mr. Wonderful, giving him a kiss on the nose.

"Storm," Cindy answered. "We're going to work him a little today, I think. He hasn't had a good run since last December."

Ann turned around and looked at the slate gray two-year-old. The colt was burying his head in Cindy's arms and pawing at his shavings, nickering sleepily.

"He's going to be a sprinter," Cindy explained to Ann. "And he's mine to train and ride."

"Yours to train?" Ann asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, not exactly," Cindy shrugged. "Mike is his official trainer, but I'm sort of his assistant."

Ann nodded and went back to Mr. Wonderful, leading the sweet honey chestnut colt out of his stall. Cindy did the same with Storm, taking him over to the sets of crossties and clipping them onto his halter.

Once both horses were tacked up, Ann and Cindy set out for the training oval, walking the colts down to the gap. Mike was already there, huddling in his thick jacket, a frown on his mouth.

"Where's Ashleigh?" Cindy asked, immediately noticing that the older woman wasn't there to watch the works.

"With Christina," Mike said. "Beth is at the doctor and Ashleigh decided it was too cold for Christina to be out and about so soon."

"Why's mom at the doctor?" Cindy frowned, furrowing her eyebrows. "I thought she was just at the doctor a few weeks ago."

Mike shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure, Cin. I'd ask her when she gets back."

Just then, the familiar roar of Brad's Ferrari echoed out around the farm and Cindy groaned. "He just never goes away, does he?"

"We're working Mr. Wonderful again," Mike shrugged and sighed, breathing out a white cloud. "Brad keeps tight tabs on that."

"I'll go ahead and warm him up," Ann suggested, mounting up and collecting Mr. Wonderful's reins.

Mike nodded and looked over to Cindy. "You to," he said, pointing to Storm. "Warm them up together, and I'll deal with Brad as best I can."

Cindy glanced nervously over at the Ferrari. Brad was stepping out of it, alone this time. Cindy mounted up onto Storm's back and frowned, wondering where Lavinia was. The Townsends just weren't complete without her.

"Come on, boy," Cindy whispered to Storm, urging him out onto the track. The charcoal gray colt huffed and arched his neck, prancing out to greet Mr. Wonderful, whom Ann had stopped to wait up for Cindy.

"Brad looks a little peeved," Ann muttered as she turned Mr. Wonderful and urged him into a trot, standing up in the saddle, coasting over the colt's powerful shoulders.

"Brad always looks peeved," Cindy agreed, looking at the tall man as he approached the training oval, frown firmly set. "I've never actually seen him smile."

Ann grinned and urged Mr. Wonderful into a canter. The chestnut colt snorted eagerly and broke into the faster gate, arching his neck proudly and flicking his ears. Cindy didn't even have to ask Storm for the faster gait. The two-year-old was already pacing next to Mr. Wonderful, asking for more speed.

"Whoa," Cindy commanded, slowing Storm down as he instinctively went for the lead. "We're not looking for speed yet, boy."

Storm snorted and shook his head, leaping into the air and kicking out with his hind legs, showing just how energetic he was this morning.

Mr. Wonderful squealed happily and kicked into full gear, surging ahead of Storm easily, Ann lowering in the saddle to cut the wind resistance. The colt was galloping easily into the turn, snorting enthusiastically with each stride.

"Okay, boy," Cindy murmured into Storm's ear. "Let's go after them!"

Storm plowed forward, pewter gray mane whipping back into Cindy's face as the colt overtook Mr. Wonderful in a few leaping bounds. Storm didn't seem to understand that Cindy was trying to rate him, control him around the turn. The gray colt left Mr. Wonderful behind and began to eat up ground.

Cindy glanced under her arm at Mr. Wonderful and Ann. The other girl had the chestnut galloping out easily, as Mike had instructed.

Cindy pulled Storm's speed down a notch, tightening her hold on the reins. She didn't want Storm to overdo it completely. He was still young, and had a lot of growing to finish. Running all out wasn't going to help him.

The gray colt plunged by the finish pole and Cindy stood up in the stirrups, pulling Storm back to a canter and then a trot. The colt snorted and shook his mane, turning back to the gap at Cindy's urging.

"Looks good," Brad muttered as Cindy rode Storm back to Mike. The gray colt swiveled an ear at Brad and shook his head, snorting. "Sprinter material."

Mike nodded and called Cindy to stop the colt. Cindy brought Storm to a halt and jumped off, pulled the reins over the colt's steal gray neck. Mike kneeled down and ran his hands over the colt's legs, nodding his head to himself. Finally, he patted his hands against Storm's off hind leg and stood up.

"Perfect," he announced, slapping the colt affectionately on the rump and walking around to take a look at Storm's head. "What a gentleman. We've done some good work here, Cindy."

Cindy smiled, her heart filling with pride. Storm really had turned out well, she thought to herself. The gray colt had blossomed at Whitebrook, and Cindy was sure he would turn out to be their next champion.

"What's Mr. Wonderful's schedule?" Brad asked, watching Ann walk the chestnut colt slowly back to the gap, a frown of concentration on her face.

"Five furlongs," Mike said. "Ashleigh wanted to take him to Gulfstream a few days ago for the Hutcheson, but the complications with her not riding have gotten in the way."

Brad nodded. "That's a brisk pace. He'll be sharp for that prep."

"Do you think we'll have a Kentucky Derby hopeful?" Cindy asked, turning around to look at Mr. Wonderful. The beautiful chestnut colt was nearing the gap.

"Possibly," Mike answered. "If that injury of his doesn't flare up again."

Storm whickered and nudged Cindy hard in the side, as if trying to get some attention back. Cindy turned around and laughed at the gray colt, who looked down at her with sweet brown eyes.

"I'll take him, Cindy," Len said, walking up and taking the colt's reins. "He and I haven't had a lot of time together lately."

Storm nickered and trotted by Len, prancing back up to the barn with his head craned back so he could see Cindy. Cindy smiled and waved at him, then turned to focus on Mr. Wonderful.

"What's the plan?" Ann asked, halting Mr. Wonderful at the gap. The chestnut colt was chewing at the bit, shaking his mane, and prancing in place. He knew what was up, Cindy noticed.

"Five furlongs," Mike said, "the Hutcheson is only a week away now and this is going to be his last work between now and then."

Ann nodded smartly and clipped her hard hat in place, then turned Mr. Wonderful around. The chestnut was so excited he actually reared and came down cantering, loping off down the first turn.

"I've never seen him that out of hand," Mike murmured, pulling his stop watch out of his coat pocket.

"Could just be the weather," Brad commented, huddling into his expensive trench coat. "The horses like the tangy air."

Cindy nodded, the first time she had ever agreed with Brad Townsend, she mused to herself.

Ann had Mr. Wonderful going at a good clip now down the backstretch. The chestnut was galloping firmly toward the marker, where Cindy knew the breeze would begin.

"Almost there," Mike said, watching the duo like a hawk.

Just then, Mr. Wonderful flew by the marker and Ann flattened out, crouching over the saddle and gave the chestnut rein. Mr. Wonderful grabbed the slack and barreled forward, slamming on the gas.

Cindy frowned, watching Ann's ride for anything she might be able the criticize. She found nothing. Ann was doing a superb job handling the athletic young colt. She urged him for more speed and he gave it to her, sailing around the turn, heading for the homestretch. Mr. Wonderful looked like he was in championship form. The chestnut had perfect control of the situation as he pounded over the track.

Just then, the sound of a backfiring truck boomed from the road just beyond the track. Cindy jumped in surprise and then turned to see Mr. Wonderful.

The chestnut colt jerked his head up at the sound and missed a stride, ducking into the inside railing, pulling apart the plastic fence, and ducked out again.

"Oh my God," Brad said just loud enough, gripping onto the fence in horror. Ann had managed to stay on and was doing all she could to steady the colt, but it was no good. A piece of the railing got caught between the colt's legs.

"Bail, Ann!" Mike screamed, running out to the track. "Jump off!"

Ann did as she was instructed and launched herself out of the saddle, landing on her shoulder and rolling away from the colt as he tripped over the piece of white railing. Then Mr. Wonderful fell hard, toppling head over heels and landed on his side, thrashing dirt everywhere.

Cindy was numb. She couldn't believe what had just happened as Brad and Mike were running out to the colt. Mr. Wonderful was already twisting, trying to get his legs under his body to rise up. The colt's eyes were ringed in white and his nostrils were rimmed with red as Brad reached the colt, grabbing onto Mr. Wonderful's reins and pulling him up.

Cindy finally was able to move her feet and she jogged out onto the track, avoiding the colt as the two men tried to get him up. Instead she went for Ann, who was sitting on the ground, rubbing her forehead. The older girl had dirt smeared all over her face, clothes and long brown hair.

"Are you hurt?" Cindy asked, skidding to a stop and kneeling down in front of Ann.

"I'm okay," Ann nodded, shaking her head and then rolling her shoulder back and forth. "Oh, God," she whispered as she watched Brad and Mike urge Mr. Wonderful to his feet.

Cindy turned around and saw that the men had gotten Mr. Wonderful up. "Is he okay?" She called over to Mike, who was running his hands all over the colt's body.

"I don't know yet," Mike called back, frowning deeply with concern. Brad led the colt forward and Mr. Wonderful snorted, eyeing him as he took a few unwilling steps. Cindy and Ann both groaned when they saw the colt limp toward Brad.

"Damn," Mike shook his head, running his hands over Mr. Wonderful's legs. He stood up and sighed, cursing again.

"The same one?" Brad asked, looking at Mike with a grim face.

Mike only nodded and stepped back, turning to Ann. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ann said, looking at Mr. Wonderful. "He's not though."

"It's the same leg he's been having problems with," Mike said, running his hands through his blond hair. "Damn it."

Mr. Wonderful finally stood still, hanging his head quietly. Brad scowled deeply at the colt and sighed. "Let's get him back to the barn, then," he grumbled, turning the colt and walking with him slowly to the gap.

Cindy stared after him as she helped Ann up, who also had eyes only for the colt and Brad.

"That's something you don't see every day," Cindy murmured, shaking her head. "Poor Mr. Wonderful."

"I suppose this means he's out for the year," Brad said, sitting back in the recliner at Mike and Ashleigh's house.

"I wish I could've done something for him," Ann murmured, shaking her head wearily.

"There's nothing you could've done," Ashleigh said. "A backfiring car has scared a horse more than once, I'll assure you. We're just lucky it's only a sprain."

Mike nodded, leaning into the sofa and sighing. "We'll get Dr. Smith down here this afternoon."

"I don't want him worked until he's fully recovered," Brad demanded, taking on the leadership role he commonly did. "I don't want another incident like this with him."

"Brad, he was working just fine until this point," Ashleigh said, sighing and sitting up, nudging a baby toy out of the way of her feet. "We'll have to wait to see what Dr. Smith says before I do any big decision making about his training."

"You seem to forget that my father owns half of that horse also," Brad said suddenly, scowling angrily. "Half the time I think these horses we co own would be better off training at Townsend Acres."

"Please don't start this, Brad," Ashleigh frowned, sighing. "We all know Mr. Wonderful has had soundness problems."

Cindy and Ann sat on the sofa next to Mike in silence, watching the beginning of another fight break out. Cindy sighed to herself, wondering when it would all end.

"We'll see what my father has to say about all this," Brad said threateningly, standing up. "The way these horses are worked around here appalls me. If Mr. Wonderful had been trained at Townsend Acres in the beginning none of this would've happened and he would have been a major contender for the Triple Crown by now."

"You can't say that, Brad," Ashleigh began, sitting up in her chair. "We all know what happened to Princess while she was at Townsend Acres. If Mr. Wonderful had been sent there he would be lame by now!"

Cindy flinched as Ashleigh ended her angry speech with a rising voice. Seeing Brad's face didn't make her feel better.

"Like I said," Brad said, face contorted in an arrogant sneer. "I'll be talking to my father about this." With that he spun on his heel and headed for the door. Everyone sat in silence, listening to the door open and slam shut.

"I'm sorry," Ashleigh sighed, leaning forward and dropping her head in her hands. "I just can't deal with him much more."

Cindy frowned and stood up, as did Ann. "I think we're going to get going, Ash," Cindy said quietly. "I've got to get to some homework."

"I understand," Ashleigh smiled, rubbing her forehead absently. "And Ann, we're headed to Santa Anita in a couple of days. Be ready."

Cindy walked outdoors and immediately headed for the barn, migrating to Storm's stall. The big gray colt was there, munching on his hay diligently. When the colt saw her he left his hay net and stuck his head over the door, nudging her curiously.

"Oh, Storm," Cindy sighed, running her hands through the colt's thick gray mane. "I'm so glad the Townsends don't own part of you. I don't think I could stand it if they did."

Cindy rested her forehead on the colt's neck and sighed, thinking about Glory and wishing she were with him at Santa Anita.