Chapter 2

A few days later it was Millie's turn to be waiting for the train to arrive at the Stockton station. Jarrod was expected on the morning train from San Francisco and with both Nick and Heath being preoccupied with the Spring round up, Millie had volunteered to ride into town and pick him up from the station. As she waited, she stood beside Tomahawk where he and Jingo had been tied at the hitching post, rubbing her stallion's forehead. The mustang was slightly on edge and a little nervous about what was going on around him but he was trying his best and Millie, by her presence and reassurance, was helping him remain calm.

She'd only brought the stallion into town a handful of times so far but if they were going to enter that race, he had to get used to the noise and the chaos of his surroundings. He certainly was no worse than that stick of dynamite about to explode that Nick had purchased; he'd only had the horse for five days at this point but she was liking him less every time she saw him. That Thoroughbred was trouble, he truly had a mean streak in him that she didn't like and honestly, she wondered what Nick was even thinking by purchasing a horse like that. When Nick had gone to ride him the first time at the ranch, that horse fought him for a good two hours before Nick finally got him settled down enough to mount up.

When he'd finally gotten the horse out and let him run, Millie could understand a little better why Nick had brought him. Granted, yes, that horse could run like the wind but his attitude was less than desirable. If Nick was going to ride him in that race, he was going to have a fight on his hands with that stallion the whole time. And for what? Just to prove to the Morton's that the Barkley's were better? She'd heard about the rivalry between the two ranches and it made her shake her head. No race was worth getting one's self killed over.

The horse had been appropriately named Tempest, and his name described his temperament perfectly. The stallion could appear perfectly content one moment and then snap the next. Nick had already been nearly bitten twice by him, once during grooming and the other while he had been tacking him up. With an attitude like his, only Nick dared go near him, the ranch hands being more than happy to give the stallion a wide berth. Even Heath didn't want anything to do with him. He was a good looking horse, standing at an impressive seventeen hands and with great conformation but it was his attitude that really let him down. Stallions could be a bit of a handful sometimes but he was over the top and she honestly wondered why he hadn't been gelded yet.

At the sound of the train whistle in the distance, Tomahawks' head shot up and the stallion snorted, looking in the direction of the sound. "Easy boy. You're alright." Millie soothed, rubbing his neck as the train appeared on the horizon. "I know it's scary but it won't hurt you."

Tomahawk flicked an ear back to listen to her, his attention focused on the iron horse as it approached the station. Every muscle in his body quivered but he stood solidly beside her, Millie speaking to him in soothing tones. "It's alright. Look, Jingo isn't bothered by the train." Jarrod's gelding was asleep on the other side of the stallion, his head lowered with a hind leg cocked as he dozed. "You're alright."

The train pulled into the station with a hiss and the mustang snorted loudly as he continued to watch the locomotive. As passengers began to disembark and baggage was unloaded, the stallion calmed a little. "See? It's alright. It won't hurt you." She kept rubbing his neck and after a little longer, Tomahawk relaxed. "There. That's a good boy." Millie smiled, producing a sugar cube from her pocket to give him. "See? Nothing to worry about."

With her stallion standing calmly once more, Millie began looking amongst the crowd of travelers for Jarrod. She couldn't quite see him yet and after ensuring that Tomahawk was tied, she ducked under the hitching rail and headed onto the platform. Navigating her way through the crowd she found a good vantage point and waited for him to disembark the train.

As a few more people exited the carriages, Millie spotted the lawyer and waved. He saw her and she smiled as he made his way over to her. "Jarrod!" She ran the last couple of paces towards him and threw her arms around him. "Oh I'm so glad you're back!"

He chuckled, smiling as he placed his luggage down and hugged her back. "I can see that. How have you been, Millie?"

"I've been good, Sir." She replied, letting go and taking a step back from him. "Nick and Heath are busy with Spring round up so I've been sent to pick you up. I've got Jingo tied up out front."

Jarrod picked up his luggage again. "I'll drop these off at the office and then we'll head home."

Millie nodded and the two of them made their way off the platform and back to the waiting horses. Untying the pair, Millie led them down the street to Jarrod's office and waited out front while he dropped off the luggage. Tomahawk looked around with interest at the people and other horses surrounding him and she patted his shoulder encouragingly. She'd need to work on him being in town a bit more before the race.

"Alright Millie, ready to go?" Jarrod questioned, joining her in the street again.

"Yes sir." She replied and she passed him the reins of his gelding. "It's good to have you home."

"Mother?"

"Jarrod!" Victoria came out of the study to the foyer, greeting her son as he came in. "Oh it's good to see you." She exclaimed as she gave her son a warm embrace. "How was San Francisco?"

"Busy." He replied, hugging her back. "That case took longer than I expected it to but we won in the end."

"Oh that's marvelous Jarrod." She let him go, looking up at her son with pride in her eyes. "Marvelous."

"I hope I didn't trouble you with Millie in my absence. I honestly didn't expect it to drag on as long as it did."

"Oh she hasn't been any trouble at all."

"I'm sure glad to hear that Mother."

"Jarrod?" Audra questioned as she appeared on the balcony above then when she saw her older brother at the door, her face beamed. "Jarrod! I thought I heard you."

He chuckled as his little sister hurried downstairs to greet him. "Hello Audra."

"Oh I missed you." The two of them exchanged a hug, Jarrod kissing her on the cheek. "How long are you staying for?" She questioned as she stepped back.

"Well, my next case in San Francisco isn't scheduled for a few more weeks, so I'll be home until then."

"That's great. You'll be here for the Spring dance then. I'm so looking forward to it."

Jarrod chuckled. "I'm sure you are."

"Has Millie asked you yet?"

"Asked me about what."

"Oh…" It quickly dawned on her that she hadn't spoken to him yet about wanting to enter the race. "She hasn't yet."

"Asked me about what, Audra?"

Audra shook her head. "It's Millie's news, not mine."

"Mother-" He turned to Victoria. "Do you know?"

Victoria held up her hands. "I'm not getting involved. It's between you and Millie. I'm sure she'll speak to you soon enough about it."

"I see… Well, in that case then, I guess I'll just have to wait to see what she wants to talk to me about. I'd better go change. I'll see you both at supper tonight."

Later that afternoon, Jarrod, Heath and Millie stood at the corral fence, watching Nick working with his new racehorse. Tempest was proving to be a slight handful but not as bad as he had been the previous day and Nick soon had him saddled up and moving around the corral. When he'd felt he'd shown him off enough, Nick brought him to a halt and turned to his audience.

"Just you wait till you see him run, Jarrod." Nick exclaimed proudly, Tempest snorting as he side-stepped. "Nothing on this ranch would even come close to him."

"I can see that." He agreed. The stallion was a well built horse, he could grant him that, but he didn't like the attitude that accompanied his good looks. Jarrod had picked up on it instantly when Nick had led him out of the barn, there was something about that horse that just didn't sit well with him. "And just what did you pay for this magnificent animal?"

"Would you believe it if I told you he only cost me two thousand dollars?"

"Two thousand?" Jarrod's eyebrows had raised. At that price, that horse would want to be able to run. "He'd want to win the race and even if he does, you'll still be out five hundred of his purchase price."

"Ah, but that's not counting the five thousand from the bet I have with the Morton's when we win."

"Five thousand?... Nick." Jarrod just shook his head. "You remember what happened last year?"

"Uh huh I do and that's why this year, I've gotten myself a real racehorse. We're going to win this race."

"Well, I sure hope you do. What's his lineage?"

"He's by Lexington out of a mare called Millie J."

"Lexington?" His eyebrows raised. "Nick, that stallion was a good racehorse but he was vicious. I think you'll find Tempest takes after him in more ways than one."

Nick rolled his eyes. "I can handle him, Jarrod."

Jarrod wasn't convinced. "I sure hope you can."

Later that night, as Jarrod helped Millie with her reading lesson, she hoped that he would agree to her entering in the race. Even though she'd been in touch with him over the previous month, she hadn't mentioned to him that she was conditioning Tomahawk for the race or asked yet if he would allow her to ride. She really hoped that he would give his permission but the more she thought about it, the more she was beginning to think he'd say no and only for one reason; she was a woman and not based on her riding capability. She felt she was more than experienced enough to race, she'd been riding horses since she was six and was admittedly a better rider than some of the hands they employed.

Yes, she could agree wholeheartedly that the race was dangerous; she'd overheard some of the other ranch hands talking about accidents that had happened in previous years but if they were being honest, what she was doing around the ranch could be considered equally as dangerous.

What would Jarrod say though when she told him she wanted to enter?

"You don't seem to be paying much attention tonight." Jarrod said as Millie for the fifth time, started staring off into the distance and he closed the book. "What's on your mind?"

Realizing that Jarrod was speaking to her, she turned to him. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

"I was saying you didn't seem to be paying much attention tonight."

She sighed, nodding. "Yes, I've been distracted this evening. I'm sorry. I'll do better. Where were we?"

"No, I think we'll finish with your reading for today." Jarrod placed the book aside. "Do you want to share what you're thinking about?"

"The Stockton Sweepstakes."

"The horse race?" He questioned, not having expected that to be her answer.

Millie nodded. "Well I-I've been working Tomahawk the past month and he's been making great progress. He's coming along really good and it would be a shame not to give him the chance to-"

"Millie." He interrupted as the girl began to babble on and she stopped. "You want my permission to enter and ride in the race."

"Yes."

Jarrod let out a long breath, resting back in his chair. "Millie, the Stockton Sweepstakes is set over a course of five miles, going over some pretty rough terrain. It's a tough race. It's long, it's dangerous and men have been killed in past years."

"I know." She replied. "I know it's dangerous but I want to enter. Tomahawk and I, we're a great team. We've been training for over a month already. I know we can do it, and I think we might even have a chance of winning the race."

He shook his head. "It's too dangerous, Millie."

"But I'm already doing stuff that's just as dangerous. You've seen me ride, Jarrod. You have to admit that I'm a good rider and better than most of the men that work for your family."

"Even good riders get hurt."

"Yes, I know." Millie countered. "And that's a risk that I'm willing to take."

Jarrod sighed. How could he make her understand that her riding in the race wasn't a good idea? "Millie, I don't want to see you get hurt. Or worse. Last year, two horses fell during the race. One rolled on its rider and killed him. That boy was a good rider too, one of the best. He was only seventeen."

"I know," That did sober her but didn't make her any less determined to ride. "and I understand that and I get that you being my custodian means you're responsible for me, but Jarrod, you know you can't stop me. I want to ride. I don't think it's unreasonable for me to ride. Now, if I was a boy, you wouldn't have the same hesitation, would you?"

He thought about it for a long moment then shook his head. "No. No, I probably wouldn't."

"And I think that's hardly a fair argument, Jarrod. There's nothing in the race rules excluding me from riding. You aren't judging me on how capable I am, you're judging it based on the fact I'm a girl."

"Yes, I suppose I am." Jarrod agreed. "If Audra wanted to race, the answer would be no."

"But I'm not Audra." Millie pointed out. "You're only my custodian Jarrod, it's not like we're family. Who cares if I get killed racing? Really. Who would care?"

"Millie, I would care." He replied softly. "Believe it or not, I care a great deal about what happens to you. If I didn't, you wouldn't still be here."

She nodded. He was right there. If he didn't care about her, he'd have sent her packing to the orphanage a long time ago. "I know. I'm sorry. I just… I just would really like to ride Tomahawk in that race."

"I'm sorry Millie, I'm going to have to say no."

"Just give us a chance to prove to you we can do it." She begged. "Please? Every morning after breakfast I've been taking Tomahawk on a two and a half mile gallop, Audra usually times for me. Come and watch us run and then make a decision. Please?"

Jarrod sighed. "Alright. I guess that can't hurt."

"Good." She smiled a little. "Once you've seen us, you'll change your mind. We can do this and we are gonna win."

"So, I had an interesting talk with Millie earlier." Jarrod mentioned as he, Nick and Heath played a game of billiards after the women had retired for the night. "She wants me to give her permission to enter Tomahawk and herself in the Sweepstakes."

"And what do you think, Jarrod?" Heath questioned, lining up to take his shot. "You gonna let her ride?"

"I don't know. I haven't fully decided yet." Heath missed and Jarrod got into position for his turn. "On one hand, I don't want her to get hurt but on the other, she made a good point-" He landed the ball he'd been aiming at into the hole and moved around the table to take another shot. "that my hesitation is more about her being a young woman than anything else. I know she can ride and better than most, she's proved that."

"But you just don't want her takin' that risk?'

He nodded as he missed, stepping back to allow Nick in.

Nick went for his turn. "What's the worst that could happen Jarrod? We both know she doesn't stand a chance on that pony of hers. She'll end up at the back of the pack, safely outta harm's way and when she loses, she won't bother wantin' to race again."

"Somehow, I don't think it's quite like that, Nick."

"I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss her either, Nick." Heath added as Nick took his shot. "Haven't you taken notice of Tomahawk lately? I've never seen a horse in better condition. Millie's got him lookin' even better than that fancy new racehorse of yours."

"Tempest just needs a little more work and some extra food and he'll be just fine." Nick stood back, allowing Heath to take his turn. "But that mustang doesn't stand a chance against the horses that are runnin' this year. The Morton's apparently both are ridin' what they consider winners, I hear that the King ranch has brought up a couple of their own to run and the word around the bunkhouse is there's a number of riders from outta town comin' to ride."

"Well, you both have spent a decent amount of time with her lately-" Heath sunk his ball and went for another turn. "what would you say if it was your decision?"

"I'd let her ride." Nick replied to Jarrod's question. "Yes there's some risk involved but no more than what she's been doin' around here. Girl's got guts, I'll give her that. Saved the new kid Jack from bein' gored by a bull this week when he took a fall. Rode her horse in-between the two and held him off till he got back on his horse. None of us were close enough to help but she got in and kept him from bein' hurt."

Jarrod raised his eyebrows. "And you're okay with her doing that?"

"Course not. I try to keep her out of harm's way when I can but I'm just sayin' she's capable of takin' care of herself. " It was Jarrod's go again and Nick waited for his turn at the table. "Kid hasn't had it easy, growin' up. She's not your average young woman, Jarrod. She's no Audra. She's Mother all over."

"Just because she's had to do these things before doesn't mean she has to keep doing them now. She should be in finishing school, learning how to become a lady, not out working day in and day out on the range."

"You got to remember Jarrod, that's not who she is." Heath replied as it became Nick's turn once more. "This life, workin' with horses and cattle, that's all she's ever known. You take that away from her now and force her to become she's not, you'll do her more harm than good."

"You're soundin' like a worried father." Nick added, lining up his next shot.

At that, Jarrod chuckled a little. "I guess, in a way, I am." He turned to Heath. "What do you think about Millie riding?"

"I'm with Nick. Millie knows what she's doing. Can't hurt to let her try and if she gets hurt-" He shrugged. "well then these things happen. You can't protect her forever. She's fifteen Jarrod, she's a young woman; she's not a little girl."

It was Jarrod's turn again and as he went to line up his shot, he glanced back up at his brothers with an amused smile. "I'll be sure to remind you both of this conversation when you have children."

As Millie had been for weeks now, as soon as she had finished breakfast, she and Audra rode out to work Tomahawk. However, today was slightly different; Jarrod was riding with them. Though he hadn't said anything else yet on the issue, Millie truly hoped that Jarrod would realize she was capable of riding in the race and would let her enter. He just had to. If he didn't… Well, it would be hard to swallow but she'd obey his wishes even if she didn't agree with them. Despite how desperately she wanted to ride, she wouldn't go behind his back to do so. That just wasn't who she was.

When they reached the meadow, Millie began warming the stallion up properly in preparation for his run. Audra and Jarrod kept back, the two of them seated on their horses to watch her work with the mustang. "What do you think, Audra?" Jarrod questioned his sister softly after they had been there for a little while. "Do you think she should ride in the race?"

"I think you should let them. Millie's been working so hard these past few weeks getting Tomahawk in condition and he's really improved. When we first started, his time at a two and a half mile run was five minutes and ten seconds. His best time so far has been three minutes and fifty seven seconds."

"Has she started running him over five miles yet?"

Audra shook her head. "Not exactly but she has been working on building his stamina. I think she mentioned she'd start doing five mile runs with him this coming week. He's been getting ridden in the mornings before breakfast, exercising with a two and a half mile run now and then a couple more hours of working cattle a day. He's fit."

"Whatever she's been doing must be working, he's looking good."

"Well, if I was to place a bet, my money would be on them to win. Nick might have himself a genuine proven race horse but Millie and Tomahawk have one thing they don't have; a bond. Tomahawk will run his heart out for her. They'll win."

Jarrod glanced at his sister for a moment before looking back at Millie riding. "You seem pretty confident in them."

"I've watched them improve, Millie has had me time her pretty much every day." She turned to her brother. "Did you ask Mother what she thought?"

"I did."

"What did she say?"

"The exact same thing as your brothers and you; let Millie ride."

"Are you going to?"

"Well, let's just see first if she's as good as you all think she is. Then I'll give a verdict."

Riding over to Jarrod and Audra, Millie halted Tomahawk, the stallion playing with his bit as he stood still. "Alright, he's warmed up now. Are you ready to time me, Audra?"

Audra showed her the stopwatch. "Ready."

"Jarrod, you ready to start us?"

He nodded as he drew his pistol from his holster, having loaded in a couple blanks to use for this specific purpose. "I'm ready."

"Here we go then." With the touch of her heel, Tomahawk turned and she rode him over to the starting line. Realizing that he was about to be allowed to run, the stallion began to grow restless, dancing in place. "Easy, easy boy." Millie held him back then looked over at Jarrod and nodded. She was ready.

At the sound of the pistol firing, Tomahawk leapt forward and was off. Millie held his speed in check, not allowing him to exhaust himself so early into the run. The stallion wanted to run but didn't argue with her and kept to the pace she set. "Good boy." She praised as they came into the first turn, allowing him to speed up a little. "Steady now. Steady."

Jarrod watched closely and as Millie rode Tomahawk around the makeshift track in the meadow, he had to admit that she was good. Good enough to win, he didn't know, but she was good. She had the stallion moving steadily at a good pace, fast enough to maintain a reasonable speed but not fast enough to tire him early. She knew what she was doing. She was holding his speed back for the final sprint.

Coming into the second turn, Millie began letting the stallion speed up. They still had another lap to complete yet but now, she was ready to start letting him run. At the touch of her heels, Tomahawk sped up and she held him back again when he'd come to the pace she wanted. "Soon boy. Soon." An ear flicked back to listen to her and as they sped past Jarrod and Audra, she let him speed up just a little more.

"How's she doing for time?" Jarrod questioned, glancing over at Audra.

"Two minutes ten seconds so far." She looked back up at Millie as they came into the corner again. "They'll start moving soon. Once they get halfway around, that's when she really lets him run. She'll hold him back a little but then on the final straight, they really fly."

As Audra had predicted, as soon as they came halfway around the track, Tomahawk began speeding up again. Coming around the corner into the final straight, Millie lent down low over his neck and kissed at him. Hearing her cue, Tomahawk didn't hold back now and sprinted as fast as he could, Millie encouraging him on to the finish.

"Three fifty-two." Audra exclaimed, stopping the watch as they thundered across the finish line. "They've taken another five seconds off their time from a couple days ago."

Jarrod was impressed. "Not a bad run at all then."

"See? What have we been telling you? Millie's a good rider." After crossing the finish line, Millie had slowed Tomahawk down to a canter then turned him around, coming back to join them. "Three minutes and fifty-two seconds today." Audra reported as the younger woman halted her horse a few paces back from them. "Not bad."

"Not bad at all." Millie agreed, patting Tomahawk's neck. "We're really making progress now." After a moment of praising her stallion for doing a good job, she looked back up at Jarrod. "So… What's the verdict? Do I get to race or not?"

"Well, my dear. You've convinced me." He replied. "You two make quite a team."

"I can ride then?"

"You can ride."

Millie beamed and punched the air in her excitement. "Yes! We did it boy. " She patted her stallion's shoulder vigorously. "We're gonna get to run in the race!"

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Jarrod questioned with a chuckle as he turned Jingo around towards home. "Let's go to town and get you entered."