Happy Wednesday, all. Yesterday got away from me, so this is posted a little late. Feedback always welcome!

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Derby Day started much like any other day at the farm. If one looked around, one wouldn't know it was Derby Day at all. But later that afternoon, the majority of the farm crew would crowd into the living room to watch Pam's Song in the Derby.

Alec's mom was happy as could be, insisting on preparing a variety of snacks for the coming crowd. It wasn't often that Belle got to celebrate with Alec on race day, so she was making the most of it.

As the crew started to gather in the living room, Belle took a seat next to Alec and patted his leg. "This is so exciting. I'm so glad you're home for the Derby this year."

Alec knew his mother meant well, but her comment was painful. Instead he just smiled at her and pointed toward the TV. "Post parade's starting."

Belle settled back in her chair, beaming and chatting with Alec's father. Alec had to admit that it wasn't the same watching it on TV, but he knew he had done the right thing by staying home.

A loud cheer went up when Pam's Song's name was called, and Alec could just make out Sarah perched on the filly's back. Sarah looked even smaller than usual, and Alec felt the slightest tinge of concern. This was a full field of twenty today, and it would be a crowded start.

He shook off his concern with a sigh. Of course, Sarah would be fine. It wasn't as if this was her first start.

Soon the horses were loaded in the gate, Pam's Song in the third position. She would be fine anywhere, Alec knew, and if Sarah could keep her close to the leaders, the filly would have a good shot at winning.

The bell clanged and the gates flew open, sending the field out on to the track. Pam's Song broke well, and Alec could tell that Sarah was keeping her well under wraps. No sense chasing a rabbit so early on when the filly needed the speed later on.

Alec could hear the conversation around him, but was more focused on the action on the screen. He could see the quick shifting of positions as the early leaders fell back. Pam's Song was still solidly in the middle of the pack, waiting to make her move.

As the field moved toward the ¾ mile pole, Alec started getting nervous. Pam's Song didn't seem to be moving any faster, and the filly was running out of time. "Come on, girl. Get moving." he murmured to himself.

"Is she okay?" Belle asked him quietly.

Alec nodded, still focused on the screen. "I think so."

"She doesn't have much time, does she?"

Alec couldn't help but smile a little. "No, not much time at all."

Almost as soon as the words were out of Alec's mouth, the field changed again. Pam's Song was either gaining ground, or the leaders were losing ground. She briefly got jammed up, but Sarah quickly shifted and took her to the outside. It wasn't ideal, but it got her out of traffic and gave her a clear path.

The field passed the one mile pole, Pam's Song inching up on the remaining leader. Soon she was nose to nose with the colt. It looked like it was going to go right down to the wire.

Alec could see Sarah working on Pam's Song, encouraging her. The filly seemed to find that final gear, her ears flat against her head, her neck stretched out. She really did seem as if she were flying.

"She's going to do it, Alec!" Belle clutched Alec's knee excitedly.

"And the filly Pam's Song takes the Derby by a neck!" the TV announcer shouted as the room erupted into whoops and cheers. "This is the second Hopeful Farm filly to win the Derby, preceded by Black Minx..."

Alec thought his heart might burst out of his chest. Watching Pam's Song win was almost as good as being there himself. He could barely wait for Henry to call.

The cameras moved to the winner's circle, where the roses were draped around the filly's neck. Henry looked like Alec felt, talking excitedly to the reporters that surrounded them. The focus shifted to Sarah, still sitting on Pam's Song, her face dotted with mud, wearing a wide, tired smile.

Alec felt a brief pang at the sight. He barely heard her answer the questions the reporters asked. Something about how grateful she had been to Henry for taking a chance on her, how she hoped to continue on, how she had piloted the filly around the fading field.

"So is it on to the Preakness, Henry?" a reporter asked.

Henry pushed his hat back on his head, looking contemplative. "We'll see how she cools out. We've got a few days before we make that decision."

Alec knew Henry was all talk. If Henry thought Pam's Song had even the slightest chance of moving on to the Preakness, he would enter her as soon as possible. Alec was sure they would discuss it when they next spoke.

He was startled when a glass was suddenly shoved in his face. It was Mike, a wide grin crossing his face. "Congratulations. She had a great run."

Alec accepted the glass and clinked it with Mike's before taking a drink. The bourbon burned all the way down, and he coughed a little. Mike thumped him on the back with a chuckle, and Alec couldn't help but feel a little foolish.

"Just as well." Mike commented. "You're better off staying away from that stuff. It's ruined a lot of lives."

Alec took another sip, rolling the liquid around in his mouth before swallowing. It was good, but hardly worth making a habit of.

Before long the group began breaking up, and soon it was just Alec and his parents again. Alec helped his mother clean up, and the two were side by side at the sink in an easy silence.

Belle was the first to break the silence. "Do you think Pam's Song could take the Triple Crown?"

Alec smiled a little. "Henry seems to think so."

"I didn't ask what Henry thought, dear." Belle answered sweetly. "I asked you."

Alec glanced down at the glass in his hand. "I'd like to think she could, but the Belmont is the one I'm worried about."

"That's the long one, right?"

"A mile and a half, yeah." Alec nodded. "It's a long distance for any three-year-old, never mind a filly. Not to say she couldn't do it but..."

Belle nodded. "I suppose there's a reason a filly has never won the Triple Crown."

"We'll see how she does in the Preakness."

"You think Henry will enter her?"

"Pretty sure, if I know Henry."

They fell back into silence as they worked until Belle spoke again. "I suppose it's going to be a while before you see Sarah again."

Alec let out a brief sigh. "I suppose. They might not be back until the Belmont."

Belle studied Alec, and Alec knew there was something more coming. He wasn't sure if he was ready. "I must admit, I've been worried about you ever since Henry called. You haven't quite been yourself."

"What do you mean?" Alec tried to affect a light tone.

Belle gave him an almost scolding look. Alec was far too familiar with that look. He knew better than to get anything past his mother, but there was too much that he didn't want to share with her.

Alec shook his head. "I swear, everything's fine."

Belle let out a little laugh. "Alexander Ramsey, you have always worn your heart on your sleeve. You think I don't know when something's wrong?"

Alec leaned over and gave his mother a quick peck on her temple. He wasn't going to burden her with his problems. They were his, and his alone, and he would figure them out, one way or another. "I promise that everything's fine. You don't need to worry."

"But I will. I always do."

They finished cleaning the kitchen, and the two went their separate ways. Belle joined Alec's father in the living while Alec made his way upstairs to bed. He didn't expect to hear from either Henry or Sarah tonight. Chances were good that Henry was out celebrating, and for that matter, Sarah might be as well.

Alec didn't want to think too much about that.

It was a long night for Alec, brief stretches of sleep punctuated with bits of half-formed nightmares. He got up feeling more exhausted than when he had gone to bed. No matter, he had a full day's work ahead of him and it was time to get moving.

He spent the morning making the rounds of the barns, going over training logs and studying race schedules. Night Sky, he had already decided, wouldn't race again until fall. Storm Front was just starting to get back to the training track after a few days recovery after the spring meet, and Alec was already looking ahead to schedules at both Belmont and Aqueduct. He thought he might have Storm Front ready to take on some allowance company, provided he performed well in some optional claiming races. If nothing else, it would give the colt some more seasoning, and Alec would get a better idea of what he was actually capable of.

The ringing phone jolted Alec out of his thoughts. As he picked up, he could already hear Henry on the other end of the line. "Alec!"

"Hi, Henry. That was some run yesterday."

Henry let out a long chuckle. "Wasn't sure our girl was going to pull it off. But Sarah knew just what to do. Did you see how she got her out of traffic?"

"Yeah, pretty amazing."

"Amazing, hell!" Henry exclaimed. "That was some of the best riding I've ever seen!"

Alec was alternately amused and hurt. "So I guess girls have a place on the track after all, huh?"

"Well now, I won't go saying that." Henry's tone turned sharp. "But Sarah's special."

Alec simply rolled his eyes. "I assume you're sending Pam's Song up to Pimlico?"

"Don't see why I wouldn't. We'll decide after that if we're going to try for the whole thing."

"I see there's a few horses going to the Preakness that didn't go to the Derby."

"Bah, I'm not worried." Henry answered cavalierly. "Hell, if they were that good, they'd have been at the Derby."

Alec wished he shared Henry's confidence. The Preakness was slightly shorter than the Derby, and he knew some trainers preferred the distance for their horses. He didn't discount the spoiler aspect of some of these entries, either.

He heard Henry sigh at the other end. "Alec, we've been here before. We know what we're up against. You trust me, right?"

"Of course." Alec replied firmly.

"Good, good." Henry seemed relieved. "I'd like you to come up to Pimlico. Talk to your dad, see if there's some extra money we can use to check out a few claimers. Might be able to pick up another good one on the cheap, seeing as you've done so well with Storm Front."

Alec let out a short laugh. "Not every horse is going to be a Storm Front. I'm not even sure what he's fully capable of yet."

"Just something to think about."

Alec turned the idea over in his mind. It wouldn't be a bad way to start a training career. He didn't like the way the claiming ranks worked, as he thought too many of these horses got dropped before they ever got a real chance. "Okay, I'll come up there early next week. This place can get by without me for a few days."

"That's the spirit." Henry seemed pleased. "And besides, I think Sarah misses you, too."

A chill went through Alec at the mention of her name. "I doubt that."

Henry let out a long huff. "I don't know exactly what's going on with you two, but you won't work it out staying at the farm."

"I told you I was coming." Alec told him firmly. "Just to watch the Preakness and check out some horses, though."

"Sure, sure."

They chatted idly for a few minutes before they hung up. Alec wondered if Sarah had been around, but ultimately decided that it didn't matter. He still wasn't sure how he wanted to proceed should he see her again. And if Jeff should show up, that could cause even more problems.

"This is ridiculous." Alec said aloud to himself. He took a sip of the cold coffee on his desk and just as quickly set it aside to continue his work. If only Storm Front was ready to race, he would take the colt down to Pimlico. But that could wait for another time.

He finally made his way back to the house, hoping to talk to his father. The Derby win had made for a nice pay day, but Alec was pretty sure the money was already spent, at least on paper. Still, it couldn't hurt to see if he could get a bit of extra funds approved just in case he found a horse he was interested in at Pimlico.

Alec knocked on the open office door, and his father waved him in. He took a seat at the desk, thinking about how he wanted to approach this.

"Henry tells me you're going to Pimlico next week."

Alec felt a little deflated. He had hoped to do this on his own without Henry's interference. "Did Henry say anything else?"

"No? Should he have?"

Alec took a deep breath. "I was thinking about checking out the claiming races to see what's available. Is there any way you can authorize some funds just in case I find something?"

Alec's father pulled out the accounting journal and opened it, running his finger down a column of numbers. "Not much, but I can authorize enough for you to claim a decent horse."

He nearly reached across the desk to hug the man. Instead, he rose from the chair and stuck out his hand. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

His father took Alec's outstretched hand and shook it with a slight smile. "This is still your farm, too. You have as much right as anyone to decide where the money goes. I know you won't spend it foolishly."

"I might not even find anything."

"And that's okay, too." Alec's father commented. "It looks like we have a fair number of youngsters coming along, and they should be ready for training next spring."

"It'd be nice to have some ready now, though." Alec responded.

"Of course." Alec's father nodded. "Does this mean you're done riding for good?"

Alec sat down again with a sigh. "Kind of looks that way."

"You don't seem happy about it."

Alec shrugged. "Maybe I'm better off training horses instead of riding them."

"It would be a good use of that education we paid for."

"True." Alec let out a sharp laugh. "Anyway, thanks."

"I hope you find what you're looking for."

Alec rose from the chair. "I hope so too."