Happy Thursday. Enjoy the new chapter, and remember, feedback is welcome and encouraged.

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The track was a hotbed of activity by the time Alec met up with Henry at the barn. Henry fixed him with a long glare. "Where the hell did you take off to last night? Folks were asking about you and Sarah."

Alec held up the bourbon bottle, and Henry huffed with exasperation, shaking his head. "That explains the glasses in the office. Come on, let's get packed up. I'll drive the truck and trailer, you follow in the Jeep."

The two men began their familiar post-race routine, packing tack trunks and getting the horses ready to load. Alec noticed that Henry was moving a little more slowly this morning. Likely he was just hung over from the evening's celebrations, but Alec was still concerned.

"Henry, are you okay?"

Henry grumbled, working his arm. "Arm's sore this morning. Just getting old."

Alec chuckled and continued working. As he was placing the last trunk in the trailer, he spotted Sarah making her way toward the barn. He greeted her with a wave, and she trotted over to the trailer.

"Now I know you weren't just trying to leave without saying goodbye." she teased him, grabbing his hands and giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"You were gone when I got up." Alec told her. "Figured you had already left."

"Not yet." Sarah answered. "I left a few things behind in the locker room."

Alec suddenly had a thought. "Do you want to catch a ride with us?"

"If it's not too much trouble."

"No trouble at all." Alec rounded the trailer to call out to Henry. "Henry, is it okay if Sarah rides along?"

"Sure." Henry growled.

Sarah gave Alec a little frown. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

"Something's not right with him." Alec spoke low enough so Henry wouldn't overhear him. "I don't think he should drive."

"How are you going to get the Jeep and the truck and trailer up to Belmont?"

Alec thought about it for a moment, then had an idea. He dug his keys out of his pocket, finding the Jeep key and holding it out to Sarah. "You take the Jeep and follow us. I'll drive the truck, Henry can ride."

Sarah looked skeptical. "Are you sure?"

"I don't feel right letting him drive. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to him."

Sarah nodded and took the keys. "Good luck convincing him."

Alec chuckled, but didn't feel terribly confident. He took a deep breath and walked over to Henry. "Why don't you let me drive the truck? Sarah can follow in the Jeep."

"Not a chance, son." Henry told him tersely. "Last time you drove a truck and trailer you crashed it."

"And when was the last time I crashed a vehicle before that?"

Henry gave Alec a sharp look, but Alec wasn't backing down. Finally he shook his head and shoved the keys into Alec's hand. "Guess I could stand to sleep a few hours."

Alec gently clasped the older man's shoulder. "Go ahead and get in the truck. I'll get the horses into the trailer, and then we should be ready to go."

Henry nodded silently, slowly climbing into the cab of the truck. Alec was growing increasingly concerned. Even if Henry had just stayed up later than usual celebrating, it didn't exactly explain his current condition.

Alec made his way back to Sarah, nodding firmly. "We're all set. He went along easier than I thought he was going to."

"You want help with the horses?"

Alec nodded, and soon they had Pam's Song and Golden Dancer loaded and tied down in the trailer.

"That's that." Alec told her. "You just follow me. If I need to pull over, I'll turn on the hazards."

Sarah agreed, a worried expression on her face as she climbed up into the Jeep. They pulled away from the barn and started down the road.

Henry was mostly silent, though Alec tried a couple times to start a conversation with him. Clearly Henry was in no mood this morning, so Alec let it pass, turning on the radio.

Henry popped open one eye. "Sounds like that racket Pam used to listen to."

Alec couldn't help smiling a little. "Come on now, it's not that bad."

Henry turned his head toward Alec. "Don't tell me you like this noise, too."

Alec shrugged. "It reminds me of Pam."

Henry shook his head. "You sure were crazy about that girl, weren't ya?"

"Yeah." Alec answered quietly.

"You two used to remind me of me and the missus when we were young. Could hardly keep our hands off each other." Henry sounded a little wistful.

Alec gave him a sideways glance. "Are you okay, Henry?"

"Fine, fine." Henry pointed out the windshield. "You just keep your eyes on the road."

Henry settled into his seat and closed his eyes as Alec continued driving. They were already making good time, and they should make it up to Belmont within a few hours. Even pulling a trailer, Alec enjoyed the drive, always noticing the horses out in the fields as he drove by.

They were a couple hours into the drive when Henry started to shift beside him, muttering in his sleep. Alec kept one eye on Henry and one eye on the road, getting increasingly nervous. He checked the side mirrors to make sure Sarah was still behind him. The Jeep traveled a short distance behind, well in Alec's sight. So far, so good.

Henry suddenly let out a groan, and Alec turned to see Henry's face twisted in a grimace, clutching his arm. This is exactly what Alec had feared. He quickly turned on the hazard lights and pulled over on to the shoulder of the road.

"Henry!" Alec shook him. "Henry!"

Henry's eyes flew open. "Hurts."

"Hang on. I'm going to get help."

Alec hopped down from the truck and trotted back to Sarah. She rolled down the window with a concerned expression. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure. I think he's having a heart attack."

Sarah's eyes went wide. "We passed a farm not too far back. I'll go get him some help."

Before Alec could say anything, Sarah turned the Jeep around and flew down the road toward the direction of the farm. Alec ran back to the truck, hoping Henry was still alive.

Henry glared at him as Alec climbed back in the truck. "Sarah went to find help. Hang in there." Alec tried to assure him.

The only answer was a curt nod as Henry closed his eyes, his breath shallow and fast. Alec had rarely felt so helpless. He took Henry's hand and squeezed it, not knowing what else to do. "Please hold on, Henry." Alec whispered, trying to tamp down the sense of panic he felt. "Just hold on."

Alec heard the sound of the Jeep horn as Sarah came to a screeching halt behind the trailer. She ran up to the truck, a large man trying to keep up behind her. "Ambulance is coming. This is Chuck."

Alec nodded and held his hand out to the man. "Thanks for helping."

"That's what we do out here, son." Chuck answered crisply. "Got to depend on your neighbors. How's he doing?"

"Hanging in there, I think." Alec's voice was shaking.

Sarah had gone to the passenger side of the truck, opening the door and talking quietly to Henry. Henry grumbled in response, but Alec couldn't make out the conversation.

"When the ambulance shows up, I'll take your horses so you can see to your friend."

Alec wasn't sure about trusting these fillies to a stranger. "Are you sure?"

"Sure thing." Chuck nodded firmly. "I know you've got precious cargo back there. That's that Triple Crown filly you're carrying, right?"

"Right." Alec was a little surprised the man knew who they were.

Chuck gestured toward the trailer. "Saw the marking on the trailer. Didn't realize I'd be rescuing a champion."

Alec couldn't help but laugh a little despite the circumstances. "They're precious to us."

"I get it." Chuck answered. "I'll care for them as if they were my own."

Alec heard the wailing siren, breathing a sigh of relief. "I sure appreciate it. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Take all the time you need. Not every day I get to have a champion in my barn."

The truck suddenly became a flurry of activity as the paramedics started tending to Henry. Alec quickly got out of their way, handing the truck keys to Chuck.

Chuck scribbled his address and phone number and handed them to Alec in exchange. "Good luck."

"Thanks."

Alec couldn't believe he was leaving his horses with a complete stranger, but what else was he going to do? He was still standing on the side of the road, watching as the paramedics loaded Henry into the ambulance, when Sarah placed a hand on his arm.

"Come on. We're following the ambulance. I'll drive."

Before Alec knew it, they were flying down the road behind the ambulance. Sarah wore a look of intense concentration, occasionally cursing when she lost track of the ambulance. Soon they arrived at the hospital and Sarah whipped the Jeep into a parking space. They rushed into the entrance for the emergency room.

"Looking for Henry Dailey." Alec managed to get out in between gasps of air. "He was just brought here by ambulance?"

"Wait over there." the desk nurse pointed them toward the waiting area.

He and Sarah found a pair of seats, but Alec was having trouble sitting still. Surely he would have noticed that Henry was having problems before now, wouldn't he? He wondered what signs he possibly missed. Maybe if he hadn't spent so much time stuck inside his own head, he would have noticed that something was wrong with his old friend.

And maybe if I hadn't been spending so much time with Sarah...

Alec hopped up from his chair and started pacing. This was all his fault. If only he hadn't taken off after Pam died. If only he had gone to Florida. If only he had gone to Louisville...

"Alec." Sarah's firm voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Please sit down. You'll worry yourself sick."

"I'm going to find a phone." Alec told her. "I should call home."

He started down a hallway before he heard Sarah respond, finding a pay phone. His hands were shaking as he put in some change and dialed the house.

"Hello?"

"Mom?" Alec hated the way his voice cracked.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Henry." Alec's words came out in a rush. "We were leaving Pimlico to head up to Belmont and...something happened. We're at the hospital."

"Let me get your father."

"Mom, no." Alec told her. "I...I just..."

Alec couldn't speak anymore, his emotions getting the better of him. He could hear his mother's voice reassuring him, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.

"I just know I missed something." Alec finally gathered himself enough to speak again, his voice shaking. "How could I not notice something was wrong with him?"

"Oh, honey." Belle tried to be reassuring. "You know how Henry is. You got him to the hospital, that's all that matters."

"But what if he doesn't make it?"

There was a brief silence at the end of the line. "Let's not think about that right now. You just stay with him, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Mom."

Alec hung up the phone, hearing the change drop into the coin box. He wasn't sure he felt any better after talking to her.

He returned to the waiting room with a heavy heart, sitting down next to Sarah. Sarah handed him a paper cup of coffee, and Alec took a quick drink. It was hot and bitter. "God, that's awful."

Sarah let out a short laugh as she rubbed him across his shoulders. "Best I could do."

Alec sighed and leaned forward, relaxing under her touch. "I should have known something was wrong with him. We never should have left Pimlico. God, how could I have been so stupid?"

"You didn't know." Sarah told him in a soothing tone. "And he wouldn't have told you anything was bothering him anyway. He's even more stubborn than you are."

Alec let out a little snort. "He must have been hurting something fierce for him to say anything. If he doesn't make it..."

"He'll make it." Sarah told him firmly. "Gonna take more than a little old heart attack to take Henry down."

They sat quietly together, occasionally talking, just waiting, waiting, and waiting some more. Finally, Alec couldn't take it anymore. "What the hell are they doing to him back there?"

He brushed off Sarah's hand and strode to the desk. The same desk nurse was there from when they first arrived. "Can I help you?"

"I'm trying to get some information. Henry Dailey?"

"One moment."

The nurse made a couple of phone calls while Alec waited. She hung up the phone and glanced up at Alec. "He's stable. They're doing some tests right now. As soon as they get him assigned to a bed I'll let you know."

"Thank you." Alec felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"What's your name?"

"Ramsey." Alec told her. "Alec Ramsey."

The nurse nodded, writing his name down, and Alec returned to the waiting room. Sarah stood up, a worried expression on her face. "Any word?"

"He's stable." he told her, wrapping his arms around her in a long hug.

"That's a good sign, right?"

"I think so."

They held each other for what seemed like ages before Alec pulled away to look at her. "I'm glad you're here. I don't know how I would have handled this by myself."

"You would have managed."

"But I'm glad I didn't have to."

Sarah gripped him in a tight hug, and Alec felt a little emotionally overwhelmed again. He swallowed hard and kissed her forehead.

"Alec Ramsey?"

Alec pulled away to return to the desk. The nurse handed him a piece of paper. "Room 4210. Follow the yellow line to the elevator, fourth floor. He's just about ready for visitors."

"Thank you."

He rushed back to the waiting room, taking Sarah's hand and following the nurse's directions. The elevator ride was silent as they rode together, holding each other's hands the whole time. Finally, they arrived and found Henry's room. Alec took a deep breath and looked at Sarah. Sarah squeezed his hand and released it, giving him a reassuring smile.

Alec wasn't sure what to expect when he saw Henry. The older man was propped up in bed, an oxygen cannula in his nose, connected to monitors and tubes coming out of every part of his body. He looked so pale that it scared Alec.

Utterly overwhelmed, Alec bent over and gently hugged Henry. It was only then that the dam broke, everything that Alec had been holding back for the last several hours coming out of him.

"Ah hell, Alec." Henry whispered, stroking Alec's head. "It's okay. I'm gonna be okay. Just gonna be laid up for a while, that's all."

But Alec couldn't stop. All he could think about is what might have been, what could have happened had he let Henry drive himself. The truck and trailer might have ended up in a ditch, and both Henry and the fillies could have been injured or killed. Alec never would have forgiven himself had that happened.

"You did the right thing, taking the keys from me." Henry told him roughly. "I was in no condition to drive."

Alec was finally able to collect himself, pulling away and finding a tissue to wipe his nose and eyes. Henry glanced around the room. "Sarah with you?"

"Yeah."

"Send her in here."

Alec left the room and nodded to Sarah. "Henry wants to talk to you."

Sarah looked baffled, but rose from where she sat on the floor to enter Henry's room. Alec could make out a few words, but nothing conclusive. After a while, Sarah exited, closing the door behind her.

"I've got something to tell you."

"Okay?"

Sarah took a deep breath. "You remember when Henry called you from Columbus? Told you everything was fine?"

"Yeah?"

Sarah shook her head. "Everything wasn't fine. He was having...problems then. We pulled over so I could drive us to Louisville."

Alec was in shock. "You drove the truck to Louisville?!"

"Sure did." Sarah nodded.

"But..how...have you ever..."

"Not a truck and a trailer." Sarah told him. "I was scared shitless. Though he was going to have a heart attack right next to me. By the time we got to Louisville he said he was fine and that I was a terrible driver."

Alec was nearly spluttering. "Why didn't you...why didn't he say anything?!"

Sarah gestured at him. "Because he knew damn well this was how you would react. He figured you were having enough problems with him adding to it."

"Goddamnit." Alec smacked the wall with his balled fist.

"He swore me to secrecy, Alec." Sarah told him. "Believe me, I tried to argue with him. You can imagine how that went. He wasn't going to listen to some damn girl."

Alec shoved a hand through his hair. "That man drives me crazy."

"It's only because he cares about you."

Alec sighed heavily. The weight of the day had worn him down, leaving him exhausted. "I guess there's nothing more to be done today. I'll check in with Chuck, make sure the horses are in good shape, then I suppose we'd better find a place to stay for the night."

He went in to Henry's room to get his daughter's phone number and to let him know that they'd be staying in town for the night. "I'll be back in the morning."

"You need to see about getting those fillies up to Belmont." Henry told him. "Pam's Song is losing training time."

"But what about you?"

Henry waved him off. "We'll talk in the morning."

It was a long, quiet drive back to the farm, and it was starting to get dark as Sarah pulled the Jeep into the long driveway. Alec followed Sarah to the front door of the simple farmhouse and waited as she knocked on the door.

The porch light came on and the door opened a crack at first, then swinging all the way open. A short, stocky woman with gray hair pulled back into a ponytail stood in the doorway, greeting Sarah with a wide smile and a hug.

"Hello, dear." she turned to Alec. "And this must be your young man."

Sarah smiled back. "This is Alec."

The woman's face lit up in recognition. "Not Alec Ramsey? You used to race that big black horse, didn't you? My daughter is simply crazy about you. Come in, come in!"

Alec was a little embarrassed, but followed Sarah into the house. The living room reminded Alec of his own house, and he felt the slightest pang of homesickness.

"You know who my daughter simply adores these days?" the woman continued chatting, gesturing toward Sarah. "This young lady right here. She's never seen a woman race horses before, you see. And to race a horse on its way to winning the Triple Crown? She just can't stop talking about it."

"Betty, let those kids rest." Chuck scolded her from behind his newspaper. Alec hadn't even realized he was there. "They've had a tough day."

"Of course, of course." Betty waved off her husband's words. "Are you hungry? There's plenty of food left."

"Actually, I thought I would check in on the horses." Alec ventured.

Betty nodded and led them to the back door, pointing at a small barn on the back of the property. "They're sharing space with our goats, but they don't seem to mind."

Alec was amused at the idea of Hopeful Farm's champion filly living among various farm animals. Henry would blow his top if he knew. "Thank you."

"Here." Betty lit a lantern and handed it to Alec. "It's nearly dark. Be careful."

Alec and Sarah made their way to the barn and shoved open the doors. The goats immediately started bleating, which made the fillies whinny in response.

Sarah couldn't suppress a giggle. "Quite the chorus."

"Yeah, they ought to take that show on the road." Alec commented as he held up the lantern in front of the first stall. Golden Dancer poked her head over the door, nudging Alec. "Hello, girl. Doing okay?"

The filly snorted in response, and so Alec moved on to the other stall, letting out a soft whistle. "Hey, girl." Pam's Song nickered softly in response, but didn't come to the door.

Alec opened the stall door and stepped inside. Pam's Song was standing near the back of the stall, her eyes closed. Alec reached out and scratched her neck. "I know, girl. It's not home. We'll be home soon, don't worry. We just had to take care of Henry."

Sarah leaned on the stall door. "Is she okay?"

"A little disoriented, I think." Alec answered, still scratching her neck. "There's no place like home."

"That's what I hear." Sarah replied with a slight smile. "I've been living out of a suitcase for so long I don't know what home looks like."

Alec hadn't considered that Sarah might not have a home to go to. "Where do you live when you're not riding?"

Sarah let out a short laugh. "Until I left Louisiana, with my husband. Before that, my mom, sometimes with my brother and his wife." She suddenly looked thoughtful, and maybe a little sad. "I guess I haven't really thought about having a home base yet. I suppose I should find a place somewhere. I just haven't really figured out where I want to land."

"You're always welcome up at the farm." Alec suggested.

Sarah frowned slightly. "I appreciate it, but it's so far away from, well, everything."

Alec felt a little deflated. "Yeah, I can see why that's a problem. Forget it."

There was a brief silence before Sarah broke it. "Don't take it personally. It's not because I don't want to be around you. I just need to be where the work is."

"That's good to know, I guess." Alec's feelings were hurt for no good reason. It had been a long day, he was tired, and he was still worried about Henry. He sighed and shook his head as he felt over Pam's Song. "We don't need to talk about this right now."

"Why don't I check Golden Dancer over and then we'll go back up to the house?" Sarah suggested.

Alec nodded, and soon they had the fillies settled in for the night. Sarah shut the barn door, double checking that it was secure before offering Alec her hand. Alec took it, squeezing it before they started back toward the house.

"Alec, look up."

Alec looked up at the darkening sky. It was a clear night, and the stars seemed to explode across the sky. "Wow." he whispered softly. "You'll never see that in the city."

Sarah laughed and squeezed his hand. "It is beautiful."

"Just like you."

"Ooh, romantic."

Alec glanced over at Sarah, not able to tell if she was teasing or not. He tilted his head and gently kissed her.

A long silence stretched out between them before Sarah threaded her fingers with his. "We should head back."

They made the long trek back up to the house, opening the door to a bustle of activity. Betty was reheating dinner on the stove, and she pointed to a pair of plates on the counter. "Help yourselves."

Alec and Sarah filled their plates and sat at the kitchen table while Betty puttered around. Finally she joined them at the table, making idle conversation while they ate, and Alec had never been so grateful for something so mundane. While it didn't entirely take his mind off Henry, it helped.

After the meal was over, Betty busied herself cleaning up the kitchen. "Why don't I help?" Sarah offered.

Betty waved her off. "No need. I'm glad to do it."

"It's no trouble." Sarah insisted. "Seems only fair after everything you and Chuck have done for us today."

"It's nothing we wouldn't have done for anyone." Betty told her firmly. "But I appreciate the thought."

"You're better off letting her be, Sarah." Chuck ambled into the kitchen, kissing Betty on the back of her neck and patting her rear.

"Chuck!" Betty scolded him. "We have company."

Chuck grinned and grabbed two beers from the refrigerator, gesturing to Alec on his way back through. "We'd better leave our women to it."

Alec followed the other man out to the front porch, where he cracked open one of the beers and handed it to Alec. "Nothing better after a hard day than a cold beer."

"Thanks." Alec accepted the bottle and sat on one of the chairs, staring out into the night.

"How's your friend doing?"

"Okay. Better than I thought." Alec took a drink of the beer, trying not to make a face. "He scared the hell out of me."

"I'll bet." Chuck nodded. "Glad he's doing okay. Didn't know what to think when your lady friend came barreling across the yard. Thought she was running from something, but I didn't see anything chasing her."

Alec chuckled at that. "You should have seen her take off in my Jeep."

Chuck let out a little laugh. "You've got a real treasure there."

"Oh, we're not...well, anyway." Alec huffed and took another drink from the bottle. It was going down a little easier now.

"Are you sure about that, son?" Chuck asked, a puzzled look on his face. "Seems like there's something pretty special between you two."

"I mean...we just haven't known each other that long, that's all." Alec finished lamely. "She just came up from Florida with Henry in March."

"That's long enough to get to know someone." Chuck asserted. "I asked Betty to marry me three months after we met. When you know, you know. Thirty-four years and counting."

Alec wanted to explain that things between he and Sarah were far more complicated, but didn't see the point. "There's no rush."

"That's what my daughter says, too." Chuck shook his head. "My sons, they up and married right out of college. My daughter, she keeps telling me she doesn't really want to get married. Says marriage just keeps women down. I keep telling her a college degree isn't going to keep her warm, but...what can you do?"

Alec smiled, thinking how he had heard Henry express similar opinions. "Women are just different now, I guess."

"It's strange to me." Chuck huffed. "At first I told Betty, I didn't want to pay to send that girl to college. Told her it was an expensive way to find a husband. That's when the girl tells me she doesn't even want to find a husband. She wants to be a veterinarian."

Good for her, Alec thought.

Chuck drained the rest of his beer and rose from the chair. "Guess I'll go see what these women are up to."

Alec got up and followed Chuck into the house. He could hear Betty and Sarah chatting away, just as she had with Alec's mom. He finished his beer and headed toward the kitchen, tossing it in the trash can.

"Hey." Sarah flashed him a quick smile.

"Hey."

"We've been having the most delightful little chat." Betty beamed. "Your lady friend here has led quite the life of adventure. Going to take a lot to get her to settle down."

Alec was sure Sarah had left out some details, but that was her business. He turned back to Sarah. "We should get going if we're going to find somewhere to stay."

"Why not just stay here?" Betty offered. "We have plenty of room."

"Oh, we've imposed on you enough." Sarah told her. "It's no trouble for us to stay elsewhere."

"Nonsense!" Betty almost looked offended. "Now that the boys are gone, their rooms are just collecting dust anyway."

"No point arguing with her." Chuck intoned.

Alec and Sarah looked at each other in silent agreement. "Don't worry, we'll be out of your hair first thing in the morning." Alec told them.

"There's no hurry." Betty assured him. "You check in on your friend and then come on back for the horses. They'll be fine."

"You're very kind." Alec replied. "Thank you."

Alec got their bags out of the Jeep while Betty fixed up the rooms. Soon Betty took he and Sarah up to their respective rooms. "If you need anything, just let us know."

"You've already done so much for us." Sarah told her. "We'll see you in the morning."

Betty gave them each a quick hug and made her way downstairs, leaving Alec and Sarah in the hallway. Alec let out a long sigh. "Thanks for everything today."

"Glad to be of some help." Sarah gathered him in a long, tight hug. "I'm just glad Henry's going to be okay."

"Me too." Alec answered roughly. "Me too."

He tried to contain his emotion and failed. The long day had finally caught up with him. If he was exhausted before, he was almost dead on his feet now.

"It's okay." Sarah spoke softly, rubbing his back. "You did good today. Henry's lucky to have you."

"I don't know what I would do without him." Alec answered shakily.

"Well, we don't have to worry about that tonight."

They held each other for what felt like forever. Finally, Alec let her go. "I guess we should get some sleep. Busy day tomorrow."

"Good night."

"Good night."

They went their separate ways, and Alec undressed and pulled the covers over him. In so many ways it felt like being at home, and yet...

No, it wasn't home, but Alec was grateful for Chuck's and Betty's kindness. It had made a difficult day much easier.