Cassie's Hope (Riders Up) Read Online Free PDF Page B

prided
himself on not being the jealous type. Still, he hated being bested by this
woman. But then his horse had struggled to finish a badly beaten fourth. Damn,
the woman looked stunning, almost radiant when she was overjoyed. Her crisp
white blouse contrasted with the blue Cubs cap and that damn sexy ponytail
poking out of it. Blue jeans seemed molded to her tight rear. Was he the only
one who noticed? Or did every man there have his tongue hanging out? Most
maddening was the fact that Ms. O’Hanlon seemed totally unaware of him and of
her own sexual allure.
    He’d offer his
congratulations. It was only the polite thing to do. She might think him a
chump, but he didn’t want her to believe he was a sore loser.
     
    - o -
     
    After stopping at
the test barn where winning horses provided a urine sample to be certain no
illegal drugs had been used, bathing Hope, walking her, and placing her back in
the stall for a much deserved rest, Cassie stood back with a smile of
satisfaction watching her father’s dream eat a victory dinner. She couldn’t
wait to get back to Chicago and see how the filly would do against stiffer
competition.
    She sensed his
presence before he spoke.
    “Congratulations,
Ms. O’Hanlon. There was no doubt about that victory. Of course there never was
any doubt.”
    Cassie nodded. She
wasn’t even going to let her nemesis break her festive mood. “I didn’t think
she would win by that much. I just hoped she’d win. For her sake.”
    “Don’t know what
went on back east, but this filly’s got real potential. This lady blew that
California horse away.” There was a trace of awe in his voice. “So what do you
plan to do with her now? Don’t expect you’ll hang around here long.”
    Cassie wasn’t sure
she liked the way her horse nuzzled up against the annoying man.
    “We’ll
enter her in an allowance race,” she volunteered, “two weeks from now. We’ll
keep her here for about a week and then haul her back. Dad wants the altitude
edge.”
    “Clever move. It
should give her an edge, but from what I saw today, she shouldn’t need it.”
    Cassie said
nothing. That was the longest unruffled conversation she’d had with the
ubiquitous trainer.
    Suddenly, he turned
away from Hope and faced Cassie directly, peering sharply into her eyes. She
took a halting step backwards. She hadn’t said anything to earn his ire. Then
she saw his eyes soften as he began to speak.
    “On behalf of the
jockey colony, I want to thank you for donating your portion of the purse to
the local jockey insurance emergency fund…. That was very thoughtful.”
    Cassie’s eyes
misted and she grunted, “Being here was never about money.” Without saying
another word, she stormed off toward her truck.
    Kicking
at the rising dust-devils, Cassie wanted to throttle herself. Why did she feel
so vulnerable when Clint Travers tried to be nice? She’d been more comfortable,
more in control when the galoot angered her.
     
    Back in her hotel
room, Cassie spoke haltingly to her father. “She won, Dad. Just like you said
she would…by ten lengths, going away. Can you believe it? I never saw her look
so good on race day…Thanks. Yeah, now I get to twiddle my thumbs for a week…Yes,
it does feel good to win. I can hardly wait until the next one…No, I said six
months. No more than that. Take care, Dad. Love yah. Bye.” Cassie tapped the
off button on her cell phone, pleased with her father’s glee and unspoken
pride.
    Too keyed up with
winning to sleep, she grabbed her jacket and headed for the rodeo grounds. It
was something to do.
     
    Sitting on a
backless wooden bench with a thin windbreaker tugged snugly about her torso for
warmth, Cassie oohed and aahed with the rest of the fans. It had been years
since she’d been to a rodeo under the stars. It was much more refreshing than
watching in an enclosed arena that a day later would house a rock concert or an
antique show.
    After the last
cowboy was thrown by the final