Okay, after much time away (I apologize), I managed an update. Inspiration has been sparse and time has been almost impossible to find, however, I'm not giving up on this story. It will be finished, no matter what. So, I hope everyone has hung in there with me. Without further a do…
Oaks day passed in it's normal fashion. The parade, the hoards of people, the overly busy trackside. Liss and I dressed fancy, I didn't have a mount, therefore my day was free. Tiny took a jog on the main track early in the morning. My mind flashed to Dimitri and his attempt to talk to me after the post position draw yesterday. My heart had longed for him, but my mind reminded me that I needed to focus. We had drawn seventeen, the position no horse had won from.
The sky was overcast, giving me some hesitation as to what the weather would be like tomorrow. I hefted a sigh, trying to set my mind in any direction besides the race tomorrow. That, and the fact that I was the only Mazur left.
The shedrow was quiet as I walked carefully in my heels down the dirt hall. The weather had turned misty, making rain a very likely possibility overnight. I whistled low, a head popping over the door just as I arrived in front of it. Tiny bobbed his head in excitement. He knew he was going to have a fun day tomorrow. I cuddled him thoroughly, handing him his peppermints just as he expected.
I rode back to our room in silence, mind wandering slightly. Dimitri had stayed all night Tuesday night. But I hadn't seen nor heard from him since I shut him down after the drawing on Wednesday. To say I wasn't disappointed would be a lie. But I had also told him to talk to me after the race. I blew out of my nose, calming my nerves. Both about the race and my impending talk with Dimitri.
"The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home…" The song rang through park, everyone singing along. Dimitri had just hoisted me onto Tiny's back and we were being led under the tunnel. Tiny started his dance, lurching me forward as normal. I smiled. That meant he was feeling like himself today. That we had a chance at this. We proceeded onto the track, mud immediately smacked under Tiny's feet. The rain had poured overnight and no amount of working it today between races seemed to help.
The post parade took seemingly forever. The buzzing in my stomach became smaller as the starting gates advanced in my view. Tiny was walked in circles, to keep his mind off things, as the others were loaded. Finally, it was our turn. Tiny walked in the gate like a champ, not flinching a bit as they slammed the gates behind him. The entire crowd's breath was held as number twenty was loaded. The announcer made the call. And the bell rang.
If you were to ask me later, the race lasted a total of thirty seconds. We started by getting rattled around on the first run down the stretch. Tiny settled five off the lead, three wide. I can tell you the colors of the three jocks in my view. Black and red, yellow and blue, pink and white. The one directly in front of me had twelve stripes on each arm. I used three pairs of goggles.
His stride was even. Stretch, blow. Land, stretch, launch. When we rounded the back turn, he started pulling through the bit, picking up speed. It felt like you were shovelling coal into the furnace of a barrelling freight train. Steam seemed to billow behind us. Rounding onto the stretch, Tiny lurched in front of the leader, leaving no cares behind. By the 3/16ths I glanced back, seeing the filly break through the crowd, trying to run us down. I finally flicked my whip, letting Tiny see it was getting serious. His stride lengthened, and chaos ensued.
"Little Jubilee takes the 143rd Run for the Roses"
I couldn't catch my breath as I gently slowed Tiny to a gallop. He could tell, he knew he had done something impressive, even for him. My face was split with a smile. Liss met us on the backside, clipping Tiny's lead. Her face said it all, and I knew mine mirrored hers. High fives ensued, the crowd getting louder the closer to the grandstand we got. Liss handed me to Eddie, another high five. He led us towards the winner's circle, that's when it hit me.
"Holy shit." Eddie glanced upwards, smiling.
"Why so teary eyed Rosie?" He winked, causing me to smile through my tears.
I glanced back upwards, swiping my eyes. Once cleared, they locked with chocolate orbs. Happiness danced in them. His smile shone through the overcast sky. The pride poured from his eyes, erupting butterflies in my stomach. My focus was broken when the roses landed in my lap. Tiny bobbed his head, clearly proud of himself. We were assembled, pictures were taken, and I gracefully hopped from Tiny's back. Eddie led him towards the stables, the crowd erupting. I smiled before turning towards the jocks room. Reporters swarmed each of Tiny's connections, I was no different.
"Will you win the Triple Crown?"
"Did he feel solid?"
Are you worried about the close proximity of the races?"
"The Belmont has been the graveyard of prospects, can Little Jubilee concur it?"
"Will he be the next Pharoah?"
I answered each question willingly enough, refrained from rolling my eyes, and made my way inside the lockers. A shower was much needed after the mud bath we had received. My mind reeled. No way.
The morning was brisk as I trudged down to the stallion barn. The boys were all worked up, breeding season had already seen it's peak of the year. Mazur Farms tinged with life, the mares grazed in their large pastures. Yearlings played and kicked their heels up amongst one another. So why did I feel like something was missing? Because, a certain horse and his owner weren't there. Yet, anyway. Dimitri had brought me aside and told me his plans for Tiny. He would race through the Triple Crown, and then take his place among the studs here at the farm. He trusted no one else with furthering the care of his beloved three year old. Tiny was being jogged across the track in Pimlico regularly. The race was in a week, so my journey North was pending. Now that I own and am responsible for a breeding and training facility, prioritizing was a job.
My mind flashed to the night we won the derby:
The after party was seemingly endless, lasting forever. Finally, after making my appearances, talking to enough people, getting pats on the back, and congratulations, I made my way to the hotel I was staying.
The key card slide effortlessly through the door, revealing the darkened suite. I closed the door behind me. I kicked my heels off, moving to the bedroom.
I froze upon finding him in the chair next to the bed. He sat, finely dressed. A sign that he, too, had just left the party. However, his tie hung loosely from either side of his neck, shirt unbuttoned halfway and wrinkled. He was beautiful, in every sense of the word. His head raised, eyes meeting mine. The pain and longing there struck me breathless.
"Rose.." I moved towards him, slowly as if he were an animal that would spook. Perhaps he was. His sad eyes followed my movements, cataloging the way I moved. The apology that slipped from his lips stole my breath.
"I…" He clenched his eyes. When he reopened them, they gleamed. "I can't live without you." I simply gazed at him, unsure of what to say.
"I know, I left with no good reasoning. But I'm ready, ready to move forward and ready to tell you why, if you'll let me." I simply nodded, not trusting my voice. His voice was shaky when he spoke.
"When I was younger, my father would… beat my mother." I flinched. "I felt so hopeless, like I couldn't help in anyway." My heart cracked, thinking of what his family had been through. "Until one day…" His voice caught. "I stepped in, took the focus from my mother."
"To yourself." His eyes snapped to mine, nodding.
"I fought back, several times doing damage." He shrugged. "It didn't matter, he came back. Over and over again."
I dropped to my knees in front of him, pulling his head into the crook of my neck. I ran my fingers through his hair, soothing him as his jaw clenched against my throat.
"I thought, that leaving you would help. That it would get me past the nightmares, not having someone that I cared about." His voice shook. "They got worse. And I was coming back. I couldn't handle not having you.. And now.." I stopped him.
My hands cupped either side of his face, pulling his lips down to mine. I granted him access immediately. My tongue tangled with his, his hands snaking around my waist. By the time we pulled back, our pants filled the still dark bedroom. Dimitri pulled me close, one hand cradling my head to him. He tilted his head against mine.
"I can't lose you Roza."