Hucking Harkness
Chapter 3
11:30 am Llanmihange Farm, Caerdydd
Ianto stepped out of the black taxicab on the outskirts of Cardiff, raising a hand in greeting at the portly gentleman approaching. He was a cheerful, middle aged gentleman, tufts of grey hair showing to the sides of the tweed cap he wore, matching the coat and complementing his beige breeches. The well dressed look was off-set by the pair of scuffed, black wellington boots the trainer wore.
Ianto smiled, aside from the grey hair and a few more lines on his weathered face, Dafydd Brace looked exactly the same as when Ianto had first met him, many years before. "Ianto, son how are you? You're looking well. Found yourself a normal job in an office somewhere I see. Shame, shame. You know I always said you were too smart for a job mucking out, though how you never seemed to get as mucky as the others I'll never know." Dafydd laughed, continuing to talk, and Ianto relaxed, allowing himself to be led towards the stable blocks.
As Mr Brace spoke, Ianto took in the familiar surroundings, breathing the rich, heady scent of hay and horse manure that permeated the air. It had only been about six years since Ianto had last worked here part time, as a groom and warm-up jockey in his youth, but those years felt like a life time away now. So much had happened since he'd come here, young and fresh faced, eager to work for a meagre wage and enjoy the outdoors. He'd tried to keep up his outdoor excursions with Lisa, taking her hiking in Brecon and camping, but all possible enjoyment he may have once had from the outdoors, came to an abrupt close after his last disastrous experience in the Brecon Beacons. He gave an involuntary shudder at the memory before focussing his attention back on the man beside him who had stopped before a large loose box. "Here he is, Prima Ballerina! Think you could work some of your old magic for me?"
"I'm sorry, what?" Asked Ianto, wondering just how much of the conversation he'd missed.
Jack meanwhile, was driving at his usual expeditious pace, despite the lesser need for haste on this occasion. "Bloody Hell Jack!" cried Owen, gripping to the dashboard for dear life, his knuckles showing white as his boss wove his way recklessly through the late morning traffic, mounting the curb sporadically. "I'd like to get there in one piece if you don't mind and according to Tosh the chemical's not going anywhere!" Jack just grinned, turning his gaze away from the road ahead and meeting Owen's wide eyes for a little too long, before swinging swiftly onto the motorway a horn blaring behind him.
Ianto had no idea how he had been persuaded to do this. He was currently sitting astride the delicately refined Prima Ballerina, while Dafydd and one of the younger grooms watched from the outside perimeter of the enclosure, Dafydd pointing out the natural ease with which Ianto had settled the skittish stallion.
When he'd been riding for about twenty minutes Dafydd finally motioned Ianto over, so his young jockey, Haydn could have a go. Exchanging places with the groom, Ianto gave the lad a leg-up before he joined Dafydd behind the wooden post fencing, chatting idly about the horse in front of them and its potential on the race circuit. Gently, Ianto managed to steer the conversation round to what he really wanted to talk to Brace about, with the ease of someone well practised in controlling conversations.
"Llwelyn? What do you want to know about him for, Ianto? He's bad news that one. I'd steer clear if I were you."
"Bad news- in what way?"
"He was being investigated for horse-doping. Of course they never found any evidence mind, but if you ask me it was obvious. If you're looking for a job..."
"No! No, I…" Ianto paused, not sure what he could get away with saying, but at the same not wanting to lie outright to an old friend. "I'm… in- investigating him," he replied slowly, with measured words. "So- Can you help? What do you know about him?" Dafydd looked at Ianto for a moment, measuring up his words before seemingly accepting the explanation; he shrugged and began telling Ianto what he knew, watching Haydn circle the majestic black stallion.
"I only know what's going round, and what I seen with me own eyes- the horses are just not the same when he gets them on the race track. Saw it at Newmarket yesterday." Mr Brace turned his attention momentarily back on the horse and rider, "That's it Haydn, you've got him well settled now." He turned back to Ianto, without missing a beat, "Let's go inside for lunch and I'll tell you what I know."
Jack and Owen made the rest of the way on foot, having parked the SUV inconspicuously along the fence line before scaling said fence and entering a substantial field. The sensors Tosh had adjusted were picking up the nearest source in the middle of the large field, and so they approached this first, placing gas masks over their faces when they drew nearer. The gas was easily visible, rising in a single, purple-tinted gaseous fountain, out of a small hole in the ground. It was eerie, with what looked like dry ice rising through a water-fountain.
"Looks like it's found a water source." Jack commented over their coms. It was entirely unaffected by the brisk wind which blew across the area, looking very alien.
Owen quickly collected enough for a sample.
Next the pair of them extended the search radii to pick up any more of the gas in the surrounding area, and picked up faint traces of the organic material, in what appeared to be a shed near the stable block, but nowhere else. Tosh's research however, proved correct and there was no way they could get near enough to the building to check out this source without being caught by security. So the pair returned to the SUV and back to Cardiff. On the way, Jack discussed his options with Owen and they decided once Owen had tested and confirmed what this stuff did, they would reconvene in the boardroom to see about getting into the farm.
"I'll drop you off and collect Ianto."
Dafydd and Ianto had just finished a light lunch and were still discussing Llwelyn. "I've got one of his in now, pretty little filly- tendon strain. He won't keep a horse not earning it's keep. He works them too hard too soon, so there's horses I end up taking over. It doesn't do my business much good. Owner's not interested much, just sent Rain Dancer here to recover before he sells her on. Jackson's just started light work on her, you wanna see?"
At Ianto's nod the pair made their way towards a circular corral where a beautiful golden filly with two white socks and a white stocking up her near hind, was just being attached to a lunge line and circling a groom who stood in the centre of the ring. Ianto watched as the groom, Jackson, encouraged the horse to change gaits, walk to canter and down to trot, only for her to go into a canter again. It was fascinating to watch just how responsive she was.
Ianto felt a little envious, wanting to experience that for himself. He started when Dafydd laughed softly beside him, "I know that look well, Ianto." Ianto flushed, he hadn't realised he was being that obvious. "You can have a go if you like- just a short go mind, but she'd do well with you," Dafydd continued.
TBC
Right, so this was gonna be a really, really long chapter by comparison to the others, if I hadn't split it here, (like twice the length...) So I'll post the next bit soon! BTW 'Caerdydd' is Welsh for Cardiff, for those who don't know; )