CHAPTER 22

“Tonya! Tonya! Can you hear me?”

Lexi’s voice echoed somewhere in the darkness of Tonya’s brain. Suddenly she felt pressure on her chest and gulped in air, gasping and choking. Slowly the room came into hazy focus.

She looked up to see Lexi standing over her with the frame of the ugly old mirror in her hand, her eyes wide with terror.

Then there was a pounding on the door and Royce’s voice. “Hey, are you in there? Tonya! Lexi?”

Tonya started to sit up only to find she was covered in glass shards. Then she saw Jeffers lying next to her, his head gashed open and bleeding profusely all over the floor. “Wha--a--a--what--”

“Don’t try to talk, honey. It’s all right. It’s all over now.”

Again the pounding. Was it the door or her head making all that racket?

“Come on in,” Lexi yelled as she kneeled next to Tonya.

Tonya stared around, trying to make sense of the chaos in the room. Royce rushed in, his face white and lips trembling, followed by Adam.

Royce knelt down to Tonya. “Honey, are you okay? What happened? And what’s Jeffers doing here? What happened to him?”

Lexi tossed the mirror’s empty frame aside and it clattered on the tile floor. “I brained him with the mirror. Serves him right. He was trying to strangle Tonya. I hope I killed him.”

Royce stared at her in disbelief. Adam knelt down next to Jeffers and felt his neck for a pulse. “Well, he’s not dead, but he’s going to have quite a headache when he comes to.” He glared at Tonya. “I thought I told you not to be alone. What would have happened if Lexi hadn’t come in?”

“Thank God, I did come in. He killed Alana. And Carlos. And Alfie Gomez, too. I heard him admitting it when I came in looking for Tonya.”

“Then it really was him? Oh my God,” Royce said, hugging Tonya tightly to him.

Tonya’s head was starting to clear. “Dad, you’re crushing me.”

“Oh. Sorry, honey.”

Tonya looked down at Jeffers. “He killed that girl in California, too. He had a thing against women jockeys and Latinos. He was hearing voices telling him who to kill and when. He thought they were sending him messages through the entry sheets.”

Jeffers stirred and moaned. Adam took out his handcuffs and cuffed Jeffers’s hands behind his back. “That should hold him. I’m calling the lieutenant,” he said, pulling out his phone. “And an ambulance for Tonya. She needs to be checked out at the hospital.”

“No,” Tonya said, rising unsteadily to her feet. “No hospital. Jake’s race is in a few minutes.”

Her father looked horrified. “You can’t ride! You can hardly stand up. We can find another jockey.”

“No. I’m going to ride.”

Royce began to protest again. “But, honey--”

She looked wearily at her father. “Don’t you get it, Dad? If I drop out of the race, Jeffers wins. Against me, against Lexi, against Alana, against all of us. We’re not going to let that happen.” She looked at Lexi for backup. “Are we?”

Lexi turned to Royce with fire in her eyes. “No. We’re not.”

Royce ran his hand through his hair. His eyes pleaded with Adam for help, but Adam just shrugged his shoulders.

“You’d better get dressed, Tonya,” Lexi said. “‘Riders up’ will be called in a few minutes. I’ll go make sure Jake is ready. See you in the paddock.”

Royce was resigned. He patted Tonya’s shoulder and headed for the door with Lexi.

Jeffers was awake now, his head still bleeding and his eyes glazed. Adam pulled him to his feet. “Let’s go, Jeffers.”

As they went out, Tonya thought how old and weak he looked, not at all like the monster he was. She walked unsteadily to her locker, took out the racing silks from Kendal Farms, and put them on. She pulled the silk cap over her helmet, added the goggles and settled it on her head. Force of habit had her glance up toward the mirror to see how it looked on her, but she saw only the hook. Sinking unsteadily onto the bench, she sobbed while swells of grief and relief surged over her.

***

In the walking ring, Royce was helping saddle Jake, keeping well away from his teeth, while Lexi chatted with Mr. Kendal, Jake’s owner. Kendal was a well-dressed, important-looking man with dark hair graying at the temples. He had the expression of a man to be reckoned with, and not only because of his money.

As Tonya drew near, Kendal greeted her. “A great ride in the Futurity. Very impressive. Are you ready for another win with my bad boy?”

“Yes, sir, I hope so. Lexi has done a wonderful job getting him ready for this race. He couldn’t be more fit.”

“Well, good luck to you both. Hope to see you in the winner’s circle,” the man said, and, nodding to Lexi, he walked away.

Royce watched Tonya with skepticism and concern etched on his face. “Are you sure you’re all right? The last thing we need is for you to pass out during the race. No race is worth risking your life.”

Tonya stroked Jake’s long, thin neck. “I’m sure, Dad.”

This was a big race with a lot riding on it, for her and for Lexi. But Jake was the easiest horse to ride if you knew how to handle him. She planned to just sit still, let him chill out at the back of the pack, and wait for his usual burst of speed in the stretch. If he was as good as they all thought, he could hold his own, even against the best horses on the track. It was pretty much all up to him now.

Jake was his usual nonchalant self, gazing around disdainfully at the rest of the horses, as though wondering why they had bothered to show up. He doesn’t know he’s up against better horses than he’s ever seen before, she thought. She hoped Mr. Kendal wouldn’t regret paying the extra money to enter him in this race. At the classic distance of a mile and a quarter, this would be Jake’s ultimate test. If he won, Lexi would finally be able to get out of that miserable little stall she slept in and find a decent place to live.

“Riders up!” called the ring steward. Royce boosted Tonya onto Jake’s back and Lexi said, “Good luck.”

As she walked Jake around the paddock, Tonya saw a police car parked near the locker rooms, its lights flashing. A uniformed officer had applied gauze to Jeffers’s head and was helping him into the back seat. Adam and Lieutenant Kubisky stood nearby with their heads together. Adam looked up and smiled at her as she passed by. He gave her a thumbs-up as she guided Jake into line with the rest of the entries heading toward the track. Lexi and Royce headed for the railing together to find a place to watch the race.

Tonya joined the post parade, Jake walking by himself without a lead pony. The people along the railing were consulting their programs, their heads together as they planned their bets. They had no idea of the life-and-death struggle that had just occurred to the jockey on the tall brown horse with the bored expression.

After the warm-up, they approached the gate parked in the chute at the head of the stretch. From there the field would pass the stands and the finish line for the first time, then make one complete lap around the one-mile oval. Compared to the Sprint, Tonya would wait for what seemed an eternity for Jake to start his run entering the homestretch.

The big horse allowed one of the starters to lead him into his stall, but once the back door was closed, the man climbed off the gate and left him to start on his own.

“I guess you have a rep, Jake,” Tonya murmured, stroking his neck.

Jake’s ears flicked back, listening to Tonya’s voice. Then his ears pricked forward and he readied himself for the start. The others were soon loaded and the starter sent them off with a rush.

As usual, Jake loafed out of the gate in last place, and Tonya settled in to run the first mile at the back of the pack. Under the wire the first time and around the turn, Jake lollopped along at his normal leisurely pace.

Coming off the turn, Tonya felt his body suddenly tense and his breathing quicken. Before she knew what was happening, Jake grabbed the bit in his teeth and took off. She was so surprised that it took a second to react. She gathered in the reins and tried to slow him down. With three-quarters of a mile to go, this was much too early in this long race to be charging for the lead. When he felt her try to restrain him, Jake laid his ears back and leaned into the bit.

This is a disaster, she thought. I can’t let him run this fast this early. Especially not against this competition. “Whoa, Jake,” she crooned. “Easy now.”

She sawed lightly on his mouth, but Jake would not be held back. He stretched his neck forward, trying to pull the reins out of Tonya’s hands.

Now they were halfway down the backstretch with more than a half mile to go and Jake was in full stride. They were passing horses like they were immobile, their jockeys gawking at her in amazement. One by one, he passed the entire field on the outside and was in front going into the final turn, his speed astonishing to experience. This is insane, Tonya thought. He’ll have nothing left at the end.

Thoughts of finishing out of the money, Lexi’s career in ruins, and Mr. Kendal furious at the wasted entry fee, horrified her. And all because she couldn’t control her horse.

She pulled gently on the reins again, talking to him quietly, almost pleading with him to ease his pace. But Jake was in charge and he had no intentions of slowing down. Tonya had no choice but to just sit still, hang on, and try not to make a wrong move.

As they straightened out around the turn, Jake was not letting up. He charged down the stretch with another breathtaking burst of speed, his long legs gobbling up the track in huge strides.

Tonya glanced behind her to the right and then to the left, but saw no other horses. She couldn’t even hear the sound of hoof beats. Jake had opened up at least ten lengths on the field. This was unbelievable. He took aim at the finish line like he was possessed. With no slowing of his pace, he flew under the wire, winning by nearly twenty lengths. Just past the finish line, Tonya glanced at the tote board in the infield and saw the time flash--two minutes flat, a new track record for the distance. The clock indicated the splits for each quarter mile. He had run the last quarter faster than each of the previous quarters, an amazing feat considering horses were normally slowing down toward the end of a long race.

The crowd was going wild, the atmosphere electric. Tonya stood in the stirrups and slowed Jake as he rounded the turn. This time he didn’t fight her. He allowed her to stop him on the backstretch and he stood there for a moment, his head high, his ears forward.

She turned Jake around and cantered back to the grandstand where she saw Lexi and Royce hugging. People were pounding Royce on the back and shaking Lexi’s hand. A crowd surrounded Jake and walked with him to the winner’s circle. It seemed everyone wanted to be part of this amazing moment. Those who had bet on Jake at twelve-to-one odds rushed to the windows to cash in their tickets. Even those who had bet against him were thrilled at his performance. This was a race, and a horse, they would never forget.

In the winner’s circle, Jake posed regally for the camera as he usually did, his head up and ears forward. Tonya looked down and saw that his tongue was protruding out of the side of his mouth, as though he was making a statement to those who had doubted him. She planned to have the picture enlarged and framed and hang it on her bedroom wall to remind her of a day filled with joy and danger, triumph and near death.

Tonya slid off Jake’s back and staggered a bit as she hit the ground. She gave him one final pat as Lexi led him away, his head bobbing and his ears flicking back and forth as though acknowledging the cheers of the crowd. She carried her tack to the weight scale and found Mike waiting there with the other jockeys who gathered around and congratulated her, some hugging her.

Mike approached. “Great ride. And the runt really came through for you today, too.”

Tonya was struck by his beautiful smile, something he rarely displayed. He patted her shoulder and walked away.

Tonya stood around for a few minutes, wanting to enjoy the glow of the victory. After a while she returned to the locker room to change and looked around at the chaotic scene. The inner room was still covered in glass shards and Jeffers’s blood was still on the floor. She had a momentary vision of what the scene could have looked like--her lifeless body lying there with the entry sheet next to it, the name Celtic Lass circled. But that wasn’t meant to be and for that, she was incredibly grateful.

***

That evening, their little mobile home was crowded to capacity for the end-of-the-meet party. Everyone was delighted that the race meet had ended so spectacularly, especially for the Callahans. They congratulated Royce and Tonya on their wins, and replayed each of the day’s races from all angles.

Royce couldn’t stop smiling. Between his trainer’s percentage of Gus’s and Sable’s purses, along with Tonya’s ten percent for Gus’s and Jake’s big wins, there was enough money to put a down payment on the farm.

“I just talked to Mr. Warren,” he told Tonya as they sat on the step outside the front door to get away from the crush inside, “and made an offer on the farm. He accepted it right away. He and Joy couldn’t be more delighted that their farm is going to us. He’s calling the real estate agent in the morning. We should be able to move in by November first. No more living like nomads and moving from track to track with the race meets.”

“That’s great, Dad,” Tonya said, squeezing his arm. She glanced around the parking lot, hoping to see Adam, but there was no sign of him so far.

“Just think of it,” Royce was saying, “we can train at the farm and bring horses back here next year for the summer meet. I should be able to get more owners, now that I’ve got a top jockey working for me,” he teased, leaning into her. “And one day we’ll have a breeding stallion and mares and breed our own winners. We’ll be breeder, owner, trainer, and jockey, all in one operation. That is, if you still want to ride.”

Tonya thought of the mares and foals in the pastures at the Warrens’ farm. What fun it would be to raise the little ones and help train them to be great racehorses. She might still want to ride, too. Her future was wide open, the possibilities boundless.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Royce cleared his throat. “Tonya, I want to ask you something. What would you think about Lexi coming with us to the farm?”

“You mean as resident trainer or something?”

“No. As my wife. I’ve asked her to marry me.”

Tonya was silent, too many thoughts and feelings rising up within her to speak.

“I know this is sudden,” he continued, “and I never thought I’d get married again. Not after your mom. But Lexi and I have so much in common. We just seem to fit together.” He paused for a moment. “And I love her.”

Tonya wasn’t sure she liked the idea of sharing Royce’s love with someone else, but Luis was right. Her father had been alone for a long time. Even though he had Tonya, it wasn’t enough. When she didn’t respond, Royce continued. “But we agreed that we won’t do it unless it’s okay with you. You’re the most important person in my life, and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. And neither would Lexi.”

His eyes reminded her of Henry’s when he was begging for a treat, and it almost made her laugh. She put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “I think it’s great, Dad. Go for it. When’s the wedding?”

Royce laughed with relief. “We haven’t gotten that far yet.”

Lexi must have been eavesdropping, because she came out of the trailer and plopped down beside Royce, linking her arm through his. Her eyes were shining and her smile was radiant. The three of them sat close together for a while, and Tonya relived the feeling of belonging to two people, something she had missed all these years. She felt very content. They talked for a while about the future and their plans for the farm. “But what will happen to Gus and Sable and the rest of the horses? Are they coming with us?”

“No. They’re going to Arizona with Luis for the winter meet. Luis is now the head trainer for RC Training Stable. He’ll take the horses, the grooms, the whole operation with him.”

Tonya was delighted for Luis. After all these years, his dream was coming true.

“And Chris will go as his regular jockey. When they come back next summer, if you still want to ride, then you and Chris can fight it out between you.”

Tonya would miss Gus and Chris and Luis, and it also meant that Jake would be going to another trainer. She would never ride him again. For that, she was very sorry.

The party didn’t wind down until after midnight. There were handshakes and hugs, along with a few tears, as everyone said their last goodbyes. Tomorrow the trainers, grooms, exercise riders, and jockeys would pack up and head for the next race meet, some to the track in Arizona, some to southern California, some to Florida. They followed the horses from track to track, living a life of hard and sometimes dangerous work, lonely nights, unreasonable hours and little pay. And they did it for one reason--love of the horses. Tonya was filled with admiration for them. She would miss them all, but hoped that most would be back next summer.

“Didn’t Adam say he would drop by?” Lexi asked.

“Yeah. I guess he got busy or something.” She wasn’t about to let one disappointment ruin the good memories of this day. And she wouldn’t allow thoughts of Alton Jeffers to intrude on the celebration. Whatever happened to him now was not her concern. He was out of her life forever. She said goodnight to her dad and Lexi and went inside.