Chapter 5

The rest of the week flew by and before they knew it, Saturday, the day of the race, was upon them. True to his word, Nick had helped Millie keep up with Tomahawk's training, taking care of the things that she couldn't manage on her own. Tomahawk really had never looked better. Millie had expertly brought him into peak condition and he was as fit and ready to race as he'd ever be.

With her arm in a sling for the past few days, Millie hadn't been able to continue working with the young horses she was breaking in and their training had been put on hold until she could start with them again. Unable to work, Millie had put her time and effort into showing Audra how to properly start training her new foal. Firefly and Willow were both thriving, the spindly filly as rambunctious and full of mischief as could be. Training her now would help down the track when she was to be properly broken in and Audra was grateful for Millie's knowledge and guidance.

Millie's way of starting a foal's training had been learnt where she'd learned everything else; Hosea. Growing up, a few of the more valuable foals would have their training started a couple days after they were born. The training wasn't anything too hard either, it was really only teaching them the skills they'd need later on when training started for real. Things like lifting hooves, having saddle pads placed on them and leading. It was all valuable things for them to learn that would make the breaking process so much easier when they were old enough to be started.

Between helping Audra with her foal and doing studies with Jarrod, Millie's week had been busy. Her reading and writing was starting to improve with leaps and bounds, she'd moved into the third grade readers now and could read them properly with a little help. Jarrod was proud of her progress and told her so, something which delighted Millie to no end. Not having received many affirmations of encouragement in her life, receiving them from Jarrod made her want to work all the more harder to earn more. In her mind, she was starting to believe that she had to earn their affection. The better she could do things, then perhaps they might care about her more. Maybe even love her one day.

And maybe, just maybe, if she proved she was good enough, she wouldn't get sent to an orphanage after all.

Millie kicked back the covers as Saturday dawned, her nerves kicking in as she got out of bed and began to dress for the day. As ready as she and Tomahawk were, she was still nervous about the race, especially given it would be her first time participating in an event like this. Folks were coming from all over to Stockton for the race, some to ride but most of them to place bets and watch. After the Stockton Rodeo, the annual race was the next biggest event of the year.

Thirty-seven riders were competing this year, the largest number of entrants the race had ever seen. When Millie had gone into town with Victoria and Audra the day before, she'd snuck away from them and into one of the saloons to see what the bookie there reckoned the odds of her winning were. She was the long-shot, with odds of a hundred to one. While she'd been there, she'd heard that Zack Morton used to be the favorite to win but with word of Nick's new racehorse having been spread around the community by the Barkley ranch hands, Nick was now the favorite. Heath was further down the board, Millie not certain what his odds were but she'd seen enough and had quickly exited before she got caught.

Thinking about her odds, she chuckled a little as she did up the buttons on her blouse. Wouldn't they all get a shock if she did win? It wasn't just about how fast your horse was, it also had to do with how you rode them too, another thing Hosea had taught her. Slipping into her riding skirt, she realized what she was feeling now was the same as when she'd used to watch Hosea race. It was anticipation, the excitement and thrill of hoping and praying that they would win.

And today, she was going to get to ride instead of having to watch on from the sidelines.

With her riding outfit on, Millie grabbed her sling off the bedpost and slipped her arm back through it. The wound was healing nicely but given that she was going to race today, she didn't want to take any chances. The sling would stay on until she was ready to ride. Giving Miracle one last pat goodbye, she headed out of her room and into the hallway.

"Rise and shining, Nick." She exclaimed loudly as she knocked on his door. Jarrod, Nick and Heath had all gone into town for the evening the night before and hadn't arrived back until late. "I can't wait all morning for you to get out of bed. Day's a wastin'!"

"I'm comin'!"

She chuckled at his grumpy reply. "Just make sure you do!" Getting Nick out of bed in the morning after spending a night on the town was like tussling with a mother bear; it was a dangerous activity for only the brave to undertake. "I'll be in the kitchen."

Something hitting the back of the door heavily was her reply (which she guessed was probably one of Nick's boots) and she rolled her eyes as she left. Nick could be such a diva when he wanted to be and men thought that women were the hard ones to live with. Making her way downstairs in the dimly lit house, the sun just starting to rise outside, Millie went into the kitchen and began working on putting together breakfast for the two of them. It was Silas's day off, the servant getting to have every second Saturday off which meant that they had to fend for themselves this morning.

Putting the kettle of coffee on to boil after stoking the fire, Millie set to work on preparing batter to make flapjacks. As she stirred the flour in with the milk, she smiled a little. It had been quite awhile since she'd had these and she couldn't wait to sink her teeth into them. Growing up, flapjacks had been her favorite breakfast meal. In fact, flapjacks had been the first thing she'd learnt to cook as a child. Ruth had shown her how to prepare her own meals shortly after she'd gone to live with them, saying that it was important she knew how to do things for herself; they weren't going to do everything for her and wanted her to care for herself.

The more Millie came to know the Barkleys, the more she realized just how much she had missed out on all those years. Her life had been turned completely upside down when her Uncle and Aunt had given her to the Williams and while she didn't remember much from before, she did know that the mother and brother she'd been taken from had loved her. One thing she did remember was her mother's hugs. Her mother had always been affectionate towards her and in her arms, she'd found a sense of security.
Whisking the batter thoroughly, it dawned on her that all the time she'd lived with Hosea and Ruth, she'd missed out on all that. They'd provided for her, given her a roof over her head, food in her stomach and taught her everything she knew but that was the extent of their care. She couldn't ever remember them showing any kind of love or affection towards her; they were indifferent to her needs. They hadn't wanted a child to love and cherish and treat as their own. They'd wanted free help and she'd been it.

Coming to live with the Barkleys had been quite an adjustment for her. The conversation she'd had with Jarrod when she'd presented her request to ride in the race was still fresh in her mind. He actually had said they cared about her. It was a different feeling knowing that someone did care about her; it made her feel wanted, like she actually belonged. Something she'd never felt all these years since being taken from her mother.

What though, if after this next period of temporary custody, the Judge deemed it best for her to be placed in an orphanage?

How would she cope with losing all she had gained?

Hearing the sound of footsteps mixed with the jingle of spurs, she looked up at Nick as he joined her in the kitchen. "Good mornin', glad to see your finally out of bed. Coffee's on and breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."

Nick groaned, still shaking off the after effects of having a little too much to drink the night before. "How come your so chipper this mornin'?" He questioned as he took a seat at the table and placed his face in his hands.

Glancing over at him, Millie giggled. "Had a hard night on the town, Nick?"

"You might say that."

"See, that's something that'll never make sense to me. I'll never get why anyone thinks that drinking is fun." With the pan heated up she spooned in some batter then poured Nick a cup of coffee and brought it over to him. "But hey, at least when you've had too much to drink, you don't find the nearest woman to take it out on."

Nick looked up at her as she placed the cup in front of him. "What?"

Realizing she'd said more then she'd intended to, she shook her head as she returned to the stove. "Forget I said that."

"No, Millie. What do you mean?"

"Folks I used to live with… He'd get pretty rough after a few drinks."

"He hit you?"

Millie nodded, flipping the flapjack in the pan. "But it's in the past now so… Let's talk about something else. I bet everyone in town is getting excited over the race."

"You might say that." He sipped his coffee, still pondering what Millie had said. They'd had a hunch that Millie had come from a bad situation but it was the first time she'd mentioned anything to him about her past.

"Placed a bet on me and Tomahawk?"

"Nope. I don't intend on loosin' any more money on the race this year."

"Who says you're gonna lose money if you bet on us? Nick, at a hundred to one, when I win, you'd make a small fortune."

"If. If you one and that's one hell of a big 'if' Millie girl. I'm 'fraid the chance of you winnin' is slim to none."

"It's cause I'm a girl, isn't it?"

"No-"

"It is. You think just cause I'm a girl, I don't stand a chance in this race. Well," She turned around, shaking her spatula at him. "when you see the tail end of my horse crossing the finish line in front of you, you just remember that."

Nick chuckled. She had spirit, he'd give her that and if spirit could win a race, she was already way out front. "If it's any consolation to you, I did put a couple dollars on ya to win."

Millie smiled a little as she flipped the flapjack onto the growing stack. "You're lucky Nick. I was about to make you get your own breakfast." Pouring more batter into the pan she left it to cook and brought over the plate to the table, placing it down in front of him. "Dig in."

"Aren't you eatin'?"

"I'm cooking mine now. We need to get a move on, I want to give Tomahawk a little exercise this morning before we start for town."

Cooking her flapjacks quickly, breakfast was soon eaten and cleared away. With the morning meal over, Millie started out to the barn, breathing in deep of the morning air to calm her nerves. You're alright. You can do this. You're gonna do this.

"Millie. Millie, wait up."

The young woman stopped and turned back, Nick jogging to catch up with her. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to give you these 'fore I forgot." He said as he offered her a pair of spurs with their boot straps. "Father gave them to me on my twelfth birthday, said they'd bring me luck. I'd like you to wear them today." He handed them to her. "For good luck."

She smiled as looked down at the spurs and turned them over in her hand. "Thank you Nick." She looked back up at him, touched by his gesture. "I'll wear 'em with pride."

"Good luck out there today."

"And to you."

"And be careful. Alright?"

Millie smiled again, chuckling. "I will be. Promise. I'll be very careful as I win."

At that, Nick laughed. "Oh, you're gonna find that I'll be winnin'. That's why I'm givin' you the spurs. You're gonna need luck on your side." He replied, carrying on their earlier banter at the kitchen table.

"Oh really?" She went to hand them back to him. "In that case then, you'd better wear them. I don't need luck. I know Tomahawk and I are gonna win."

Shaking his head with amusement, Nick placed his arm around her shoulders and they continued to the barn. "May the best horse and rider win."

"Which will be me."

"Millie…"

She laughed. "Care to make a little bet, Nick?..."

Stockton was abuzz as the Barkleys and Millie arrived in town later that morning, folks from all around gathered together to watch the race. Amongst the crowd gathered, horses tied up to hitching posts lined the street, Millie wondering which of them she'd be racing against as she held Tomahawk in pace beside Heath and Charger. Ahead of them, Nick rode Tempest, the thoroughbred stallion having proved a handful for him all morning. His antics would have unseated a better rider but Nick was proving he was capable of handling the horse the rest of them had christened as 'The Red Devil'. Bringing up the rear, Jarrod drove the buggy with Victoria and Audra, both ladies dressed in their best for the occasion.

"Nick reserved us stalls at Harrison's Livery." Heath said to Millie, turning his stallion down the street to the usual place they stabled their horses when they came to town. "We'll give the horses a rub down and a quick drink then leave them while we go meet with the others for the rule reading."

"But isn't leaving them before a race dangerous? Someone might nobble the horses."

"Jarrod will keep an eye on them while we're at the meeting. He won't let anyone touch them."

Reassured by that, Millie nodded. "Alright. If you say so."

Arriving at the livery stable, the old man Harrison came out to meet them and upon seeing Nick's thoroughbred, let out a whistle. "Well now, that's the fanciest piece of horse flesh I've ever seen." He said as Nick halted him in front of the barn.

"Fast too." Nick replied as he dismounted.

"I can see that."

"He's got the temper to match his speed." Millie added, halting Tomahawk a distance back from the sorrel menace. Tempest had been trying to have a go at her mustang all morning. "I've got the stitches to prove it."

"None of that will matter when I win the race. Come on boy."

Nick led his horse into the stable, Heath and Millie both dismounting also. Harrison looked over both their horses. "You plannin' on runnin' too Miss?"

Millie nodded. "That's what we're here for." She rubbed Tomahawk's neck. "Nick's thoroughbred might be fast but I reckon we're gonna be the ones taking home the purse."

Harrison turned to Heath. "Sounds like there's a little rivalry going on 'tween these two."

"You wouldn't know." He replied with a chuckle. "They've been going for it all morning."

"Tomahawk's better then any blooded Thoroughbred. You'll see."

"Well, he's got a better temperament, I can say that." Heath gave the stallion a pat.

Jarrod drove by, having dropped off Victoria and Audra in town. "I'll take care of the buggy horse and see you both shortly." He told them as he went by heading to the pasture out back that was reserved for the buggy horses. "Mother and Audra give their best and Audra says to show them Millie."

Millie chuckled. "That's what we're planning to do."

As another rider came up, Harrison left and Heath and Millie led their horses into the barn. Nick already had his horse unsaddled and groomed, returning with fresh water to give the thoroughbred a drink. "Need a hand Millie?"

"That'd be appreciated. Thanks Nick."

In short order, Nick had Tomahawk settled in with Heath having finished with Charger a little while later. They waited for Jarrod, Millie spending her time talking to Tomahawk and promising him sugar cubes once the race was over. Upon their older brother's return, Nick and Heath with Millie tagging along headed across to the saloon where the meeting was being held.

Arriving in the saloon, Millie looked around at the group of men gathered inside and swallowed. As expected, she was the only woman riding in the race and as she walked in with Nick and Heath, she could feel the curious stares that some of the men were shooting in her direction.

"Aye, women ain't allowed." A guy called out. "Only riders entered in the race can be in here."

"Which is exactly what she is, or can't you read?" Nick questioned, stepping up to him. "Name's on the board over there-" He pointed to the board of entrants. "Millie Anders."

Under Nick's gaze, the man backed off and the group continued in without further issue. Millie kept close to Nick and Heath, feeling uncomfortable being in this environment. Heath noticed and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We're right here Millie."

She nodded, looking back out into the crowd. Thankfully, she didn't spot Cade amongst the other riders gathered in the room. Then, anyway, Cade was better at poker then he was at horse racing and given the fact that Stockton was over a hundred miles from Alder where he lived, it was a bit far for him to come just for a race. Not seeing him, she breathed a little easier. Would she ever be able to stop looking over her shoulder when she came to town?

As they waited for the Sheriff to come and give the race debrief, Nick rolled his eyes a little as he saw Zack and Jeb making tracks in their direction. "Zack. Jeb."

"Glad to see you've made it Nick." Zack replied, joining them. "Thought you might have pulled out."

Nick folded his arms across his chest as he looked at his rival. "Not a chance."

"What's the girl doin' here?' Jeb questioned. "I'd heard tell Jarrod's ward was ridin'. Didn't expect she'd follow through though."

"Well," Millie exclaimed with a toss of her head. "here I am."

"You do realize it's a tough race, Miss Anders. Toughest in the state."

"Then that'll make the winning of it so much more enjoyable."

"Win?" Zack laughed. "You haven't got a chance."

"Everyone keeps saying that. Gives me more of an incentive to prove you all wrong."

Heath chuckled. "I think she might end up surprising you boys, she's got a good horse."

"That's what Nick thought last year too." Jeb said with a teasing grin. "We had the better horse then and we're gonna have the better one this year too."

"How about you consider puttin' your money where your mouth is boy?" Nick was getting sick of their smugness. They needed bringing down a peg and he was just the Barkley to do it. "We'll up the bet to seven thousand."

"Nick, are you out of your mind-" Heath started, getting cut off by the Morton brothers.

"Easiest money we'll make all year." Jeb declared. "You Barkley's really like to throw your money around."

"If you don't mind…" Millie interrupted. "Just to clarify, the bet you both have going doesn't specify that Nick has to win, does it? It just has to be a Barkley? Regardless of which one it is?"

"That's right. Same as Jeb and me. Doesn't matter which one of us wins, just that we do."

"So in that case then, if I win the race, Nick still wins the bet, doesn't he? Considering that at the moment, Jarrod Barkley is my guardian."

"Kid, you ain't gonna win."

"But if I do-"

"If you do, yes."

"Good." She looked up at Nick. "In that case then your money might be safe after all."

Nick just chuckled. "Keep dreamin' kiddo."

"Alright, if I can have your attention please!" Fred Madden shouted above the noise, the saloon falling quiet after a moment. "Thank you. Welcome gentlemen and ah… young lady, to the running of the twelfth annual Stockton Sweepstakes. Now, I'm sure that you all are acquainted with the rules but we'll go over them once more. The race is run over a clearly marked five mile course. Each rider must stay on the marked route, anyone taking shortcuts will be disqualified. All riders must pass each of the checkpoints…"

As the Sheriff went over the rules, Millie's anxiety grew. Was she and Tomahawk really good enough to have a shot at winning? Jarrod, Heath, Victoria and Audra all seemed to think so but now, the more she thought about it, the more she doubted they'd stand a chance. No. She chastised herself. Tomahawk and I have prepared the best we could. All that matters is we go out there, do our best and if we win then…. Well, if we win then I'll be fifteen-hundred dollars closer to owning my own ranch one day.

Once the race briefing had finished, as the start time of the race neared, the entrants went out to prepare their horses to ride. True to his word, Jarrod had stayed with their horses and kept a close eye on them. No one was nobbling them when he was on duty. As Nick gave Tomahawk one final groom and began to tack the stallion up, Millie watched her competition closely as the other riders in the livery barn also prepared their mounts to ride. To her trained eye, none of them seemed to pose any real threat to them and if the rest of the other horses were like what she saw here, Tomahawk would have an easy win.

"Here you are Millie, he's ready."

"Thank you Nick." She replied as she took the reins and began to rub the stallion's forehead. Tomahawk nudged her with his muzzle, searching for treats and she gently pushed him away. "You made sure both cinches are good and tight?"

"Double checked and triple checked."

"Breastplate?"

"Adjusted."

"Tack had the final once over?"

"Looked everythin' over twice. All in perfect workin' condition."

Millie nodded. "Alright. I'd say we're ready then." She turned to Nick. "Good luck. I'll see you at the finish line."

"Be careful." He cautioned.

"Promise." She said with a smile, leading Tomahawk out through the back door where Jarrod was waiting for her. "We're ready."