10.

Cindy stared out the plane window, anxious to land at the Los Angeles International Airport. The huge 747 jet rumbled as it neared the runway and Cindy gripped the arms of her seat, wincing as her stomach jumped and flipped over in protest of the plane dropping altitude.

"You okay, Cindy?" Mike asked, looking over at her with a concerned look.

"Yeah," she muttered. "Just some motion sickness."

Mike nodded. "I used to get that all the time when I was a kid."

Cindy smiled at him, then winced again as the plane dropped. This time the wheels hit the concrete and the plane bounced up, then back again, gliding down the runway. The jet rolled to a crawl at the end of the stretch of pavement and turned around, heading back to the terminal.

"Welcome to Los Angeles, ladies and gentlemen," the pilot announced through the plane. "The temperature is a warm seventy-two degrees and it looks like clear skies. Please stay seated until we dock at the terminal. Thank you."

Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it to the ground and she was going to see Glory soon. She could hardly wait.

"Glory!" Cindy called, running into the barn as soon as she got out of the cab, leaving Mike to pay the cabby and greet Ashleigh. The gray colt stuck his head over his stall and whinnied shrilly, piercing the calm afternoon.

"Hey," Cindy laughed, skidding to a stop in front of the massive gray colt and throwing her arms around him, rubbing his smooth neck and head. Glory nickered a greeting and nudged Cindy happily, rubbing his head against her stomach.

Cindy glanced into his stall and saw the colt looking fit and trim, with not a sign of stress. "I heard you were clocking some great times, boy," Cindy said to the colt as he stepped back into his stall, checking out his hay net. Glory snorted in response and shook his mane, ripping a mouthful of hay from the net and returned to Cindy, chewing calmly.

"He certainly was putting in some great times," Samantha said from behind Cindy, smiling slightly. "With Ann on him they seem to be going pretty well."

"Hi Sammy," Cindy smiled, rubbing Glory's dark nose as he swallowed the hay. The colt pulled back into his stall and Cindy left him to his hay net, which he seemed quite attached to.

"I'm sorry to hear about Shining," she continued, looking into the red roan mare's stall. Shining looked like she had lost some weight after the race and Cindy scowled critically. "Did she come out of it well?"

"Not really," Samantha sighed. "She's lost forty pounds after the race, but we're working her back up to her normal weight." She shrugged. "I'm wondering if I should keep her entered in the Santa Maria."

Cindy nodded. She knew the Santa Maria was even more competitive than the Santa Monica, and several stakes winners were entered to run against Shining, including Grayson's Delight.

"What do you think went wrong?" She asked, frowning deeply.

"She just didn't throw everything she had into it," Samantha shook her head, walking up to the mare and rubbing Shining's beautiful face. "Kelly tried to get her to pay attention to the race but it was just like she had absolutely no interest in it. Kelly told me afterwards that she had to urge Shining to run all out harder than she's ever had to before. I just don't know, Cindy."

Shining snorted and nudged Samantha's hand affectionately, nibbling at the older girl's palm.

"Well, maybe it's a small slump," Cindy suggested. "All racehorses go through that. At least, that's what Ashleigh has told me. Shining can't be past her peak yet."

"You're right," Samantha nodded, pushing a strand of long, curly red hair from her face. "I think I'll keep her entered in the Santa Maria, but if things don't improve I'm going to have to seriously consider retiring her."

Cindy frowned and shook her head. "Poor Shining."

At that moment, Shadow came up to his stall door and whickered at them, bobbing his jet black head in greeting.

"And this guy," Samantha said, a smile finally spreading across her face. "He's been putting in some great works with Ann since she came back. I think he's going to be a shoe in for the San Antonio in a few days."

"What do you think Glory's chances are in the Strub?" Cindy asked, pulling away attention from the black colt, who was straining his neck toward her, ears pricked and nostrils flared.

"You know Glory is going to be the favorite," Samantha shook her head, looking over at Glory, who was still focused on eating his hay. "On A Whim is going to be second favorite, since he nearly beat Glory in the San Pasqual. But I don't have a doubt about Glory and Ann."

Cindy frowned instinctively, thinking to herself. I have every doubt in the world about Ann riding Glory, she thought to herself, feeling bad that she did.

"Don't worry Cindy," Samantha said, watching the younger girl bite her lip as she watched the gray colt. "Ann has everything under control and you'll see tomorrow how well they are with each other. It's like she was born to ride him."

Cindy jerked her eyes away from Glory to look at Samantha awkwardly.

"Born to ride him?"

"Oh, you know what I mean," Samantha dismissed it with a toss of her hand. "They work well together."

"I work well with Glory," Cindy muttered, scowling fiercely.

"I know, Cindy," Samantha sighed, and Cindy knew her sister regretted touching a nerve. "But the facts are you're too young to ride him."

"If only the rules could be changed," Cindy sighed, then shook her head. "Hopefully things will go well tomorrow."

"They will Cindy," Samantha hugged Cindy to her tightly. "I promise."

I hope she's right, Cindy thought to herself walking with Samantha out of the barn.

"Hey, girls," Ian called, walking up to the rental car that was parked outside the barn. "Are you ready to go sightseeing?"

"Yeah," Cindy said, brightening up as she thought about going into the big city. She had been through Los Angeles before, but his time they were going all the way into Beverly Hills, and Beth had promised Cindy that she would buy her a new outfit. Cindy only wished she could take her mind off Glory to enjoy it.

"Buck up, Cindy," Max advised over the phone that night. "The race is in two days and there really isn't anything you can do with Glory now."

"I know," Cindy grumbled. She was perched on the toilet seat, using the phone in the bathroom of their large hotel suite. There definitely were benefits to owning two Breeder's Cup winners, Cindy mused to herself as she rubbed Lily of the Valley lotion, provided by the hotel, into her feet.

"I just wish..." Cindy sighed. "I don't know what I wish, Max. I just have this overwhelming sense of dread that jumps into my mind whenever I think of Ann and Glory riding in a race. I just think that he's going to freak out or something in the middle of horses and kill himself."

"That's a little dramatic," Max said, laughing on the other end. "Come on, Cin. We all know that isn't going to happen."

"I know," Cindy nodded, twisting the top back on the lotion bottle and placing it back on the silver tray that sat on the edge of the white tub. Curiously, she picked up a bag of bath salts.

"Is this a little jealously going on?" Max asked, sounding sly.

"What!" Cindy exclaimed, dropping the salts back on the tray. "You have got to be ridiculous," she shook her head determinedly. "I know that I'm too young to ride Glory."

"But maybe you're not jealous of that," Max replied, becoming analytical. "Maybe you're just jealous that the person you feel intimidated by gets to ride Glory, and you don't like that."

Cindy groaned. Sometimes Max was just too good at figuring her out, but there was no way she was going to admit to that.

"Right Max. I am so not intimidated by Ann. That's insane."

"Is it?" Max asked, chuckling. "Listen, Cindy, it's getting late. And I know you have to be up early tomorrow."

Cindy glanced at her watch and saw that it was late. Nearly midnight.

"Oh, gosh," Cindy moaned. "I've gotta go."

"I'll talk to you later," Max said. "And I'll definitely be watching the race on TV."

"Okay, Max," Cindy said. "See ya."

She hung up the phone and stood up, stretching.

"Cindy?" Samantha called, knocking on the door quietly. "What are you doing in there?"

Cindy jumped and opened the door, smiling at her older sister. "Sorry, Sammy."

"It's okay," Samantha sighed, pushing her long red hair from her face and moving back to her bed, turning off the light as she went.

Cindy quickly slid into her bed and laid there for a few moments, listening to the busy city move around her. She had never heard so many sirens before. Slowly, she fell asleep thinking about Glory, and hoping that he would do well under Ann, as much as she hated it.

The next morning, Cindy stood just beside the track, watching the first workouts of the day. On A Whim, Glory's competition in the Strub, was easily galloping out around the turn, snorting great misty breaths as he went.

"He's a fine looking colt," a trainer muttered next to her, looking down at his clipboard and marking the papers he was holding with a dark pen.

"The Daily Racing Form seems to think he's the one that can upset March to Glory," a young exercise rider said, pulling her long brown hair into a ponytail at the base of her neck. "With his works, I wouldn't doubt it either."

Cindy frowned at the comments and focused on the chestnut. The colt's fiery long mane was whipping behind him, slapping at his rider's face. His thick neck was proudly arched as the rider slowed him down, pulling the colt down to a controlled canter.

"Hey, Cindy," Ann said, walking up to the gap with Shadow. The black colt snorted and shook his entire body, grunting with pleasure.

"Hey," Cindy answered distantly, watching the chestnut colt critically. Ann turned around and looked also, smiling.

"I see you've taken an interest in Glory's competition," Ann mentioned, turning back to look at Cindy. "He's something."

"He nearly beat Glory in the San Pasqual," Cindy shrugged. "If that means anything."

"He's been putting in some bullet works," Ann replied, shaking her head as the rider stopped the colt at the rail to talk to the trainer. "Some were better than Glory's."

Cindy looked up, shocked. "But..."

"Don't worry, Cindy," Ann shook her head. "Glory's most recent work was a minute flat for five furlongs. It was far faster than On A Whim's work, and even Shadow's."

Cindy frowned, "He worked faster than Shadow? But I thought he put in shattering works here."

"Well, he had one dud a few days ago," Ann shrugged. "A minute and five for the five furlongs. Nothing really to worry about, but Ashleigh had to think the San Antonio field over before she okayed running him."

"Right," Cindy said, frowning still. She was happy that Shadow hadn't done as well as Glory. Maybe she was over thinking everything, she reasoned with herself.

"Okay, Ann," Ashleigh called, walking up to the track with Ian and Mike. "I think it's time to get a light work out of him before we go get Glory out there."

Ann nodded crisply and Ian gave her a leg up. Ann floated professionally into the saddle and settled onto the black colt's back, gathering the reins quickly as Shadow collected himself and began to move out on his own.

"Just a light gallop!" Ashleigh called. "Once around! We don't want to blow a fuse!"

Cindy ducked her head as Ian stood next to her. She had been reprimanded for galloping the horses full out on the muddy trails, but the only punishment she would receive was extra chores in the stable, including more stalls to muck out in the morning and less time with the horses on the training oval. Cindy could deal with that, though, since she still got to ride all her favorite horses, like Storm.

Just as Cindy began to relax as she watched Shadow, a familiar voice jarred her back to anxiety.

"He has beautiful movements," Brad Townsend commented, walking up beside Ashleigh and leaning against the plastic railing. "It's like watching his sire all over again."

"Yes," Ashleigh nodded, tensing up. It was the first meeting between the two since Mr. Wonderful's injury, and Cindy could see Ashleigh's jaw locking. "Every time I look at him I see a little Dominion in him."

"You know we're running in the San Antonio?" Brad asked, running a hand through his well groomed dark hair, looking out at the track. "Lavinia's bought an California-bred and we're going to see what he can do."

"Rough Gold?" Ashleigh asked, and Brad nodded. "I've read that he's been entered. Nice pedigree."

"Hank is going to bring him out after Shadow finishes up," Brad mentioned casually. "I wanted to watch Shadow's work."

"Why?" Ashleigh asked, frowning at Brad.

"Just trying to get a look at the competition," Brad said, backing off. "Seeing what Rough Gold is up against."

"Alright," Ashleigh scowled, turning away. Ann was bringing Shadow up to the gap. The black colt was huffing excitedly, pricking his ears at the familiar faces curiously. Cindy frowned up at the tall colt as Ann dismounted and led him off the track.

"Smooth as silk," Ann smiled, patting the colt's jet black neck. Shadow nudged her with his nose, nickering loudly and finally letting out a loud whinny, which echoed out over the track.

"He seems in good spirits," Ashleigh laughed, walking over and patting her hands up and down his legs. "And sound as usual. I think he's ready for the race," Ashleigh put her hands on her hips as the black colt swung his beautiful head around to nuzzle her hair, lipping at it eagerly.

"Oh, you," Ashleigh gave the colt a playful shove and slapped his flank affectionately.

Another whinny broke out from the barns and Cindy turned to see Len leading Glory to the track. But it wasn't Glory who had been screaming. Cindy turned even further and saw Hank, the Townsend Acres head groom, leading a fiery colt from another barn.

The colt was probably around Shadow's size - big and tall. The only think different about him was his startling color. Hank led the colt to the training oval, the horse squealing and half rearing the entire way, until he came to a trembling halt before Brad, who smiled, obviously pleased with his wife's purchase.

"This is Rough Gold," Brad said. "As you can see, his name fits him."

Cindy nodded to herself and stared at the colt. Rough Gold was the color of a shining new penny, and his mane and tail was a shock of flaxen, the palest blond. A white star graced his forehead and two white socks covered his hind legs. Overall, the colt was one of the most beautiful horses Cindy had ever laid eyes on.

"Just a couple times around at a gallop?" The girl Cindy had heard talking about On A Whim asked Brad. She walked up to the colt and laid a hand on his copper coat.

"Yes," Brad nodded, giving her a leg up into the saddle.

Rough Gold twisted his head around, trying to get a good look at Shadow and Glory. Glory stood calmly by Cindy, nudging her arm repeatedly in an effort to get some attention. Shadow snorted animatedly and pawed at the gravel, flicking his ears back and pinning them to his head.

"Whoa, boy," Ann soothed, running her hands down the colt's arched neck. Shadow squealed as Rough Gold tensed up and whipped his ears back, turning his head to strike. In a flurry of motion, Shadow sprung forward, teeth bared and ready to sink into Rough Gold's copper neck.

Ian pushed Cindy back and yelled at her to get Glory of out range. Glory squealed and reared, swinging around from the agitated colts, practically pulling Cindy with him. He set Cindy back down on the ground and she wheeled him around, dragging the colt out of the way of the fighting colts.

Cindy stared in horror as Shadow pulled Ann into the fight, slashing with his sharp hooves and snapping at the other colt. The girl on Rough Gold's back had fallen off when the golden colt reared up, turning to meet the burly black. She got to her feet quickly and scrambled out from under the colt's hooves.

"Brad, pull him away!" Ashleigh cried, reaching out to grab Shadow's bridle, helping Ann pull the black colt around.

"I am!" Brad shouted back, throwing all his weight against the copper colt, swerving Rough Gold around and away from Shadow, who was allowing Ann to turn him away from the other colt and toward the barn.

Suddenly the fight was over as quickly as it had begun and Ann was left sitting in the gravel by Shadow's feet, where the colt had deposited her.

"Get that horse in the barn!" Brad shouted at Ann angrily. "He's a menace!"

Ann looked up, eyes blazing. "He wasn't the one who lunged first!" She defended, standing up and brushing the gravel dust off her jeans. "If you hadn't had that horse brought up right next to him none of this would've happened!"

Cindy tensed up as she saw Brad's face turn red. "I will not allow you to talk to me in that manner," he said angrily, glaring at Ann. "Ashleigh," he turned to her. "What are you going to do about this?"

Ashleigh groaned and rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand, looking at Cindy, who was holding onto Glory's bridle in a death grip.

"We shouldn't have had the horses so close together, Brad," Ashleigh said, motioning for Ann to lead Shadow further away. The colt was beginning to look agitated. He was breaking out in a sweat and acting jumpy, champing on the bit frantically. "Colts are unpredictable and I shouldn't have allowed them to get so close."

Brad still glowered at Ann and turned Rough Gold around, looking back at the exercise rider, who had moved to the rail. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she muttered, walking up to the cinnamon colt. "I'll take him around now."

Brad gave the girl a leg up into Rough Gold's saddle and let them move out onto the track, watching his colt intently. Nothing appeared wrong with him, since Shadow hadn't come in contact with the colt. Neither were hurt, Cindy noticed in relief. If that had happened she didn't even want to think about what the racing officials would've done.

"Len," Ashleigh asked the old groom. "Can you take Shadow out to the barn for us?"

"Sure thing, Ashleigh," the groom nodded, taking the sweating black colt from Ann's grasp. "It's okay, Ann," he said quietly. "I'll take care of him."

Ann nodded and smiled. "I know."

Len led Shadow off to the barn and Brad stalked off, not even bothering to trade words with Ashleigh any further.

"Let's get Glory's work going," Ashleigh said, sighing.

Cindy haltingly led Glory up to the gap. The gray colt was fidgeting and nervous, his eyes were ringed in white, and Cindy didn't blame him. After witnessing Rough Gold lunge at Shadow her knees were so weak she didn't think she could move.

Ashleigh gave Ann a leg up into the saddle, and the young girl didn't hesitate. She moved Glory out onto the track and heeled him into a trot, taking him down the outside.

Cindy watched nervously, glancing at Rough Gold, who was galloping down the inside of the track, his flaxen mane whipping behind him. Ann urged Glory into a canter and Glory burst forward, fighting Ann for more rein. The girl expertly maneuvered the colt inside and let him slip into a soft, slow gallop.

Glory seemed to go great underneath Ann, Cindy noted, watching as the girl crouch over the gray colt's withers, moving her hands up and down his neck, feeling the colt's movements and shifting with him. Glory seemed to enjoy running with Ann. The colt's ears were pricked back, completely focused on Ann's commands. Cindy frowned suddenly, realizing that she struggled to get Glory to listen to her a lot of the time. Ann must have a lot of talent to ride Glory that well, Cindy admitted to herself grudgingly.

"Get Glory away from Rough Gold, Ann," Cindy heard Ashleigh mutter, watching Glory and Ann with concern. Cindy glanced over at Rough Gold and saw that the flaxen-maned colt was gaining on Glory, eagerly pricking his ears at the gray colt and shaking his head.

Suddenly, Ann glanced behind her and saw Rough Gold coming. She heeled Glory into a faster gallop and easily pulled away, entering the home stretch. Cindy could see Rough Gold galloping slowly behind Glory, but Ann had Glory safely away from the other colt.

Then Rough Gold pulled forward, galloping all out.

"Oh, no," Cindy groaned, gripping the white railing. "This isn't happening."

Rough Gold was pulling up on the inside of Glory. Ann looked over at the colt, surprised, and allowed Glory to lug to the right, veering suddenly to the outside of the track. Rough Gold pinned his ears back and whipped his head out, trying to bite at Glory's neck, but Ann had the colt easily out of range. The rider of Rough Gold was standing in the stirrups, pulling back on the colt's reins hard. The copper colt fell back to a canter and Glory sped away.

"God," Ashleigh muttered to herself. "What a monster."

Cindy nodded, watching Rough Gold rear in frustration with his rider. The girl stayed on the colt's back, pulling him up to a halt.

Cindy moved her attention back to Ann and Glory, who were easily trotting back to the gap. The gray colt passed by her, flicking his black and white tail, snorting hard. He came to a halt by Ashleigh and Ann jumped down, shaking her head.

"That colt is going to be a wreck on the track," she said, patting Glory's neck and watching as Rough Gold was being forced down the track by his rider.

Cindy frowned deeply, watching as Len took Glory's bridle and led him back to the barn. "At least Glory isn't running against him in the Strub," she said absently.

"Right," Ashleigh replied. "But Whitebrook still has to deal with Rough Gold."