Clint washed his face and hands, but wore the same clothes as he went down for lunch. He found Canby seated at the head of a long table in the dining room, alone.
“Ah, just in time,” Canby said. “Elena is about to come out with lunch.”
Instead of sitting at the other end, Clint pulled up a chair to Canby’s right and sat down.
As he did, the door to the kitchen opened and a woman in her fifties came out, carrying plates of food. She set them down in front of the men without a word, and went back to the kitchen, only to reappear with a bottle of whiskey, and a pitcher of water. Clint noticed there was already a glass for each on the table in front of them.
“Thank you, Elena.”
The woman nodded and left.
Clint looked at his plate. On it was a perfectly prepared half a chicken, with vegetables.
“Don’t worry,” Canby said. “Steak for supper.”
“This is fine,” Clint said. “He picked up a piece and bit into it. “In fact, it’s great.”
“Yeah,” Canby said, picking up his own, “everything Elena cooks is.”
As they ate, Clint asked, “When do I get a chance to see your horse run?”
“I’m gonna work him tomorrow morning,” Canby said. “Just to keep him loose. You’ll see him then.”
“Do you know the trainers of the other undefeated horses?”
“I didn’t know them until they got here. There was a dinner for all the owners and trainers. We met then.”
“What about Whirlwind?” Clint asked. “Does he have an owner?”
“That’d be me,” Canby said. “Owner and trainer.”
“And the others?”
“They all have separate owners and trainers.”
“Where are they all staying?”
“Various hotels and horse farms in the area,” Canby said.
“Are there enough farms to accommodate them all?”
“In Kentucky?” Canby asked with a laugh. “Dozens.”
“Have you watched any of the other horses train?” Clint asked.
“No need.”
“Why not?”
“I have the best horse.”
“How can you be so sure, Ben?”
“Clint,” Canby said, “I’ve been around horses all my life. I know when I’ve got a good one. And I’ve got a great one.”
“How great?” Clint asked.
“I’d put him up against your Eclipse.”
“Whoa.”
“I would,” Canby said, “and I know what your horse can do. I wouldn’t put Whirlwind up against him on the trail, but on the racetrack I’d put my horse up against any other.”
“Well,” Clint said, “that’s impressive.”
“You’ll be even more impressed once you’ve seen him run,” Canby said.
“What are the odds?”
“So far we’re six-to-one.”
“Who’s favored?”
“The other two horses I told you about,” Canby said, “Easy Going and Sunday Song.”
“Why aren’t you favored? You’re local.”
“That might be working against me,” Canby said. “The other two horses have beaten animals from all over the country—the world, even. Whirlwind has only beaten local competition.”
“Why haven’t you traveled with him?”
“I could have taken him east, run against Easy Going, or west and run against Sunday Song, but if he’d beaten them, then what?”
“Then you wouldn’t be six-to-one,” Clint said. “You’d be favored.”
“That’s right.”
“Oh, I see. You’re going to make a bet.”
Canby smiled.
“A very big bet,” he said, “and I’d advise you to do the same.”
“I might,” Clint said. “After I’ve seen him run.”
* * *
After lunch, Canby walked Clint around the grounds, introduced him to a few more employees—a groundskeeper, a groom, a vet.
“You keep your own vet around?” Clint asked.
“Oh yeah,” Canby said, “and I pay him enough that he doesn’t have to have any other patients, just Whirlwind.”
“You must be paying him a lot.”
“It’s worth it, believe me,” Canby said.
“You’ve got other horses.”
“Some,” Canby said. “He looks after them, too, but none of them can hold a candle to Whirlwind. You’ll see, Clint. In the morning, you’ll see.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Clint said.
“What?”
“Let Eclipse run with your horse tomorrow.”
“Are you serious?”
“I just want to see him with another horse at his throatlatch.”
“Your monster will give him a run for his money, that’s for sure. But I don’t want to tire him out.”
“No, no,” Clint said, “I’ll just run with him.”
“You’re gonna ride?”
“Why not?” Clint said. “It’s my horse.”
Canby thought it over, then said, “Okay, but early. Six a.m.”
“I’ll be ready,” Clint said. “I’ll go out to your stable now and check on my horse.”
“Supper will be at seven,” Canby said. “I’ve got some things to do ’til then, so I’ll see you at the table.”
“Okay,” Clint said. “Steak, right?”
“Like I promised,” Canby said, “steak.”