Kentucky Showdown Read Online Free PDF Page B

he got back to his room and looked out his window, the barn was dark.
    He rose early, washed up, and went downstairs. No breakfast yet. First they had to work the horse.
    When he got out to the corral, Canby was walking Whirlwind around, already saddled.
    â€œI was about to send somebody to wake you,” Canby said.
    â€œI’m ready,” Clint said. “I’ll get Eclipse saddled.”
    â€œYou gonna put that big McClellan saddle on him?”
    â€œWhat else?”
    Clint looked at Whirlwind, who was wearing a racing saddle that looked like a postage stamp.
    â€œWhere’s your jockey?” Clint asked.
    â€œHe’ll be here,” Canby said. “Bring out your horse.”
    Clint went into the barn, paused to look at the hay-filled stall he and Alicia had used the night before. Then he walked to Eclipse’s stall, backed the big gelding out, and saddled him.
    When he came out with the big Darley, there was a smaller man standing by Ben Canby, and Alicia was standing off to one side. She gave Clint a shy glance, then looked away.
    â€œClint,” Canby said, “this is my jockey, Davy Flores.”
    Clint shook hands with the diminutive man, who eyed Eclipse and asked, “Who’s this?”
    â€œThis is Eclipse.”
    â€œWow,” Davy said, “I’ve never ridden a horse this size.”
    â€œThat’s because they don’t race horses this size,” Clint said.
    Davy looked at Canby.
    â€œAm I supposed to outrun this monster?”
    â€œNo,” Canby said, “Clint is just gonna run along with you. He wants a close look at Whirlwind.”
    â€œWell, okay,” Flores said.
    Canby gave Davy a leg up onto Whirlwind, then walked over and mounted his own mare.
    â€œWe’ll ride to the track,” he said.
    â€œSuits me,” Clint said. “Is Alicia coming?”
    â€œShe wants to see this,” Canby said. “She’ll walk.”
    Clint rode over to her and reached his hand down.
    â€œCome on,” he said, “I’ll give you a ride.”
    He hauled her up behind him, and she immediately pressed her breasts into his back and wrapped her arms around him.
    â€œYou should know something,” she whispered into his ear.
    â€œWhat’s that?” he asked quietly.
    â€œDavy Flores is in love with me,” she said. “And he’s mean.”
    â€œI’ll watch out for the little guy,” he said. “What about you?”
    â€œWhat about me?”
    â€œAre you in love with him?”
    â€œNo,” she said. “He’s too . . . small.”
    Clint had met a lot of small men with big chips on their shoulders. Davy Flores hadn’t struck him that way, but then they’d only had time to shake hands.
    They rode over to the training track and Clint lowered Alicia to the ground. Canby rode over to sit beside Clint.
    â€œI only want him to go six furlongs,” the trainer said.
    â€œOkay,” Clint said.
    â€œDon’t press him, Clint,” Canby said, “just ride alongside him.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Clint said, “I won’t hurt your little horse.”
    He rode onto the track, where Davy Flores already had Whirlwind prancing about. When Clint rode up alongside them, the smaller man looked up at him.
    â€œBe careful with that big horse,” Davy said.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Clint said, “we won’t step on you.”
    Davy Flores did not take that as a joke. In fact, his face got red.
    â€œI just meant don’t get in my way,” the jockey said. “Whirlwind is the star. Got it?”
    â€œI got it,” Clint said. “Whirlwind is the star. So where do we start from?”
    â€œFollow me.”
    Whirlwind led the way to the starting point. Canby sat his horse off to one side, holding a stopwatch in his hand.
    â€œThe boss will call it,” Davy said.
    â€œI won’t start ’til you