Clint went to the stables to check on Eclipse. The big Darley was standing easy. He’d been properly brushed and fed. Clint inspected his legs, just to be sure.
While he was looking over the horse, somebody walked into the stable carrying a couple of buckets. When the person put the buckets down and then straightened up, Clint saw that it was a woman.
“Oh,” she said, surprised, “I didn’t see you there.”
“You surprised me, too.”
“That big boy yours?” she asked, indicating Eclipse.
“He is.”
“He’s magnificent.”
“He is that,” Clint said. “I’ve met a bunch of people today, but not you.”
“I’m Alicia,” she said. “I’m a groom.”
“I thought I met the groom.”
“No,” she said, “I’m the groom. Whirlwind’s groom.”
“Then who was the man I met?”
“Must have been Frank.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“He thinks he’s Whirlwind’s groom.”
“Well, so does Ben, then, because that was how he introduced Frank to me.”
“I take care of him,” she insisted. “Who are you?”
“I’m a friend of Ben’s,” he said. “My name’s Clint Adams.”
“Oh, yeah ,” she said, “the Gunsmith. He talks about you.”
She took her hat off, and suddenly a tangle of black hair fell to her shoulders. Clint saw that she was probably just this side of thirty, fairly tall, and sturdily built. She used one hand to shake out her hair, then tossed her hat aside.
“Well, I can look after your horse, too, while you’re here,” she said. “He deserves the best.”
“Did you rub him down?” Clint asked.
“I did,” she said. “Eddie started, but then I came in and took over. Eddie’s the manager around here—he’s no groom.”
“He let you touch him?” Clint asked. “He doesn’t take to a lot of people.”
“Watch,” she said. She walked to the stall, went inside, and spoke softly to Eclipse. When she touched his nose, he didn’t pull away, and then she stroked his neck.
“See?” she asked. “We get along.”
“That’s good,” Clint said. “I appreciate it.”
“I’m gonna see to Whirlwind now,” she said, coming out of Eclipse’s stall.
“Ben told me he’s going to work him tomorrow.”
“I know,” she said, “in the morning.”
“Eclipse is going go run with him.”
“What?”
“That’s right,” Clint said. “Ben wants to show off his three-year-old to me, so I thought I’d be able to see better if I was riding alongside him.”
“But . . . your horse will run him into the ground,” she complained.
“I’m not going to do that,” Clint said. “We’re just going to run alongside him. I want to get a close-up look.”
“Well, if that’s all you’re gonna do . . .”
“I promise,” Clint said. “I’m not going to do anything to hurt Whirlwind’s chances in the Derby.”
“Well,” she said, “I’ll take good care of both of them.”
“I believe you will,” Clint said. “I didn’t see you at lunch. Will I be seeing you at supper?”
“You probably will,” she said.
“Good,” he said. “We can talk more then.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Clint left the barn, feeling fairly sure Eclipse was in good hands.