Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Well, I, uh, had plans today. What time were you thinking? And what happened to Christopher?”
Sebastian cleared his throat. “Whatever time you can be here. I’m going to also be doing some exercise runs with them. I just need help getting to them all every day until we hire someone knew. And, uh, Christopher decided to take a job somewhere else.”
I couldn’t imagine that Christopher had found a better-paying job with nicer stables. That was odd. Why would he do that? Most stables paid around twenty to forty dollars to exercise a horse for thirty to forty minutes. Shephard Ranch paid eighty dollars a horse for thirty minutes daily. I’d asked Christopher this once, and he’d said it was the best gig he’d ever had. He was exclusive to the Shephards, and they even covered his health insurance. When I had worked as an exercise rider, I’d gone to two different stables every day and worked. I’d been required to have my own insurance, too, before they hired me.
“I can be there by two if that’s okay. How many horses will I be riding today?”
“Since you’re the jockey, I’m going to leave the ones that will be racing for you. I’ll handle the others. Miller suggested you ride Bloodline, Pharaoh, Nemesis, and Zephyr, and Storm asked if you would take Poseidon out. He isn’t going to be able to get here today.”
I would need a massage after all the riding. Not before. I wondered if I could move my appointment until later and go to the ranch now. If not, I would just cancel and reschedule.
“Okay, I am going to move my appointment and come there now if that’s okay,” I told him.
“Yeah, that’s great if it’s better for you.”
“It is,” I replied.
“All right then. Thanks, Capri. We appreciate it. I know you’re not an exercise rider, but when it comes to our best horses, we require a lot. Hiring just anyone to ride them isn’t an option. We will pay you two hundred a horse a day. Will that work for you?”
Two hundred a horse?! That was entirely too much. I would make a thousand dollars today for a few hours of riding. I couldn’t let them do that. Even if they were filthy rich.
“That’s too much, Sebastian. I appreciate that y’all believe I’m worth that, but I don’t require to be paid that much. I am good with whatever you paid Christopher.”
There was a brief pause, and then he sighed. “All right, if that’s what you want.”
“It is,” I assured him.
I could not in good conscience take that kind of money for getting to ride on champion thoroughbreds. It was good practice for me too. Especially getting to ride Poseidon. That was rare. Normally, Storm was the only one who rode him. Thatcher was the only one I’d seen on Zephyr other than myself. I wondered if he’d be there. Not that I cared. I wasn’t caring about where he was or wasn’t anymore.
“I’ll see you in a bit,” Sebastian said.
“Bye,” I replied before ending the call.
Now, I had to call and reschedule and then let Esther know. She was gonna be pissed, but this was work. With no other stables calling me to ride for them and my future races with the Shephard Ranch in question, I needed to do this. The more valuable I made myself to them, the more likely I’d be riding Zephyr in the Bing Crosby Stakes.
I slowed Zephyr as we came around the track one last time. Sebastian was on the other side of the fence, along with Miller. They’d had me take him to warm up, then go full speed. I know it was faster than anything I’d done on Bloodline, but I didn’t know exactly how much faster. My heart was racing from the thrill of the ride.
Leaning down, I patted the side of Zephyr. “That’s a good boy,” I told him. “You were incredible.”
He raised his head and snorted, as if to agree with me. I smiled as I led him over to the fence in front of the other men.
“Sixty-seven-point-three.” Miller was beaming as I came to a stop.
“Are you serious?” I asked, gaping at him.
“That was fucking fire!” Sebastian said, grinning and shaking his head in disbelief.
I ran my hands over Zephyr’s neck. “Did you hear that? You’re lightning, sweet boy.”
Sebastian chuckled. “Please don’t let my brother hear you call his horse sweet boy.”
I glanced up at him. “Zephyr belongs to Thatcher?” I had assumed he’d been a purchase for the stables.
Sebastian nodded. “Yeah. Dad wanted him, but it took Thatcher going to Blaise and convincing him to sell. Thatcher made the deal, paid the money. Zephyr races under Shephard Ranch, but in races, his owner will be stated as Thatcher Shephard. Just like Poseidon’s owner is Storm.”