Bluegrass State of Mind(93)

Will held out his hand to shake Mo’s. “How about this. I give you the first breeding free. If one of us likes the foal, we’ll have first right of refusal. However, if we both like it, we become co-owners.”

“That sounds like a deal to me,” Mo said as he shook Will’s hand.

Turning to Kenna, Will slipped his hand into hers and gave it a little squeeze. “Let’s lead our boy to the track.”

“Boots, no. I'm not doing it.” Kenna tried to turn away, but her heels kept sinking into the soft track.

“Come on. Just once, for luck. You don’t want to jinx us,” Art pleaded.

She looked at Will who nodded in all seriousness and to Rodrigo who pleaded in Portuguese to her.

“Aw, come on, guys. The jumbo screen is on us,” Kenna complained.

Boots grabbed her hat with his teeth and yanked it off her head.

“Boots!” said Kenna as she reached for her hat.

One hundred and fifty thousand people roared with laughter, and her face felt like it was on fire.

“Boots, give it back,” she hissed.

Boots just whinnied and tossed his head in the air, all while her beautiful hat dangled from his lips.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

“You hear that, bud? She’ll do it,” Rodrigo purred to him as he nudged Boots closer to Kenna.

Boots brought his head down and nuzzled into her so that she could place a bright red kiss on his nose. The lipstick stood out against the white surrounding his nose and perfectly matched the similar stain about a foot up on his forehead. The crowd cheered and Boots bucked. Apparently it was a good sign since both Will and Art let out a breath as if safe from all jinxes.





* * *





Art led the way to the box as the horses warmed up on the track. They passed Mo’s box where Ahmed was absent and descended into their box seat. William and Betsy stood to give everyone handshakes and hugs.

“He looks good out there, son. Of course, any man getting a kiss in front of millions of people puts a little extra kick to his step,” William said as he shook Will’s hand.

Kenna flushed red again and was now paranoid about her face appearing on the jumbo screen. But as soon as the call to post sounded, she forgot all about the cameras.

That little guy had wormed his way into her heart and his owner's, too. She felt like it was her horse out there and wished him a safe journey to the finish line.

She gripped Will’s hand when Boots was led into the starting gate. She feared she had broken his finger when the bell sounded and the horses charged out.

“Oh no, I jinxed him. Look at him, he’s in the back,” Kenna cried as she watched the horses pass the first quarter mile.

“No, it’s okay. That’s the best spot for him. Rodrigo is holding him back. It frustrates Boots. When he's finally given his head, he flies. It also wears out the leaders while Boots isn’t being pushed.”

She looked at the jumbo screen to see that Boots, the number fourteen horse, was in sixteenth place out of the twenty-horse field. She had nearly admitted defeat as Boots stayed in position past the half-mile marker. A little over one-half-mile and about a minute to go and the race would be over.

“And there he goes,” Will said smugly.

Kenna looked up and saw Boots tearing down the field.

“And here comes Naked Boot Leg! He’s coming on strong! He’s in tenth, ninth, eighth, and gaining ground,” the announcer screamed.

“Go, Boots!” Betsy screamed and she grabbed Kenna’s left hand. Kenna grabbed back and held onto Will with her right.

“Come on, Boots, come on. You can do it, boy!” she shouted, hoping her cheers would be heard by him.

“As they reach the last quarter-mile, it’s still Devil’s Own Fun out in front and All That Jazz gaining ground on the outside in second. But it’s Naked Boot Leg flying up the rail in third,” the announcer relayed. “Naked Boot Leg passes All That Jazz. Devil’s Own Fun is still out front by a length, but Naked Boot Leg is closing the gap. Devil’s Own Fun out front by a half, by a neck, by a nose. It’s nose to nose! It’s Devil’s Own Fun and Naked Boot Leg racing side by side!”

“GO, BOOTS! GO, BOOTS!” Betsy and Kenna screamed as they clung to each other.

“Back and forth between Naked Boot Leg and Devil’s Own Fun as they come down to the wire and it’s...Naked Boot Leg by a nose!”

The screams from the crowd and celebration that erupted in the box drowned out the rest of the announcer's call. Will grabbed Kenna and kissed her hard and fast. He released her to grasp his dad in fierce hug. Betsy turned to Kenna and hugged her, tears running down her face, before turning to embrace Art.