Nealy leaned down. “Just wish me luck, Hatch. You can still make a bet.” She jerked her head sideways. “Bet it all on the kid, okay?”
“You got it. How about two bucks on you. You okay, honey?”
“I'm okay, Hatch. If you get a minute, call the hospital and see how Lee is. What
is
he doing?” she said, pointing to Jake.
“This is just a guess on my part, but I think he's pinning those gold wings he carries with him all the time on Hifly's tail.”
The call came for Riders Up.
“You okay, Jake?”
“I'm okay.”
“Then let's do it!”
When she rode out into the sunshine, Nealy looked up at the crowd, who roared and chanted her name over and over. She smiled from ear to ear. She suddenly felt like she'd come home again after a long absence. Almost sixty years old, almost, and she was riding in the Kentucky Derby. It was the stuff dreams were made of.
She half turned to see Jake ride into the sunshine. The crowd went silent for five full seconds as they tried to absorb what they were seeing. A pity that they couldn't see that Hifly's heart was as big as he was. Then they stood and roared their approval. Maybe they did see it after all.
Her mind raced as she listened to the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home.” When the last note sounded, she drew a deep breath and blessed herself.
“Room for one more, Nealy?”
“Hunt? God, yes. Hop on. You sure you're up for this?”
“Yep. The kid's looking good.”
“He could use a friendly spirit to spur him on.”
“He's got one, Nealy. His grandfather is his wingman.”
“You mean he's riding on Hifly's tail?”
“In the Navy they call it his six, but yep, that's where he is.”
“That makes me feel a lot better. Does Jake know he's there?”
“I don't think so. It doesn't matter, Nealy, he'll keep him safe. Trust me on that.”
“I do, Hunt. I do.”
“Nealy, good luck,” Ricky Vee shouted from her right. “Feels like old-home week.”
“Yeah, it does. Same to you, Ricky.”
The gates clanged open.
“And they're off in the Kentucky Derby!” the announcer blared.
“Alpha Omega comes out in stride from the outside and on the inside it's Gadfly and not two strides behind is Hifly ridden by first-time jockey Jake Thornton. Matrix is there and not far behind is Furlong Freddie and here comes Small Change on the far outside. Dark Star for the first time moves up and it is Gadfly who leads the way as Alpha Omega drops one length behind but Hifly moves up and is right there with Gadfly. Furlong Freddie is along the outside and is running in third place. Alpha Omega is there right behind but in fourth position now. Small Change is fifth. It's Furlong Freddie on the outside heading for the clubhouse turn and racing into position. Sundown has moved up and is racing between horses now while Gumbo is closing in on Small Change and five lengths behind. Up front it is Gadfly and Hifly five lengths in the lead while Down and Dirty is ninth and on the outside, Kid Flash is tenth and Lord Dallas is lumbering behind in position twelve. Then it's a break to Wild Boy and Dark Star followed by Mandola on the inside and here comes Temptation also on the inside and then a break of six to the running long shots, but they are twenty lengths from the lead.
“This opening half mile, ladies and gentlemen, is the fastest in Derby history,” the announcer screamed. “We're at forty-four and four-fifths seconds. Gadfly's pace is blistering down the backstretch, but Hifly's pace is scorching with four and one-half furlongs remaining. Gadfly is leading by two lengths over Hifly, but what's this!” the announcer shouted to be heard over the roar of the crowd. “Look at that horse! He's got wings on his feet and what's that shining off his tail! I don't know, but he's up a length and now he's running neck and neck with his barn buddy Gadfly, who is burning up that track. I can see the smoke from here.
“Alpha Omega is now third and on the inside, but Matrix is in striking position as Hifly continues to fly down this red-hot track and is now neck and neck with Gadfly. Furlong Freddie is five lengths behind, and he's smoking, but he can't make up the time. Alpha Omega is starting to advance and Matrix is right there with him at the field's far turn. Thundering along on the outside is Furlong Freddie, who's now in striking position. They're all surging now, belching fire and moving at the speed of light as they reach the top of the stretch. Gadfly takes the lead but look out, there goes Hifly to match it, and on the outside is Alpha Omega at the top of the stretch.
“Those horses are flying, not running, and it's Gadfly and Hifly and Alpha Omega in second or is it third. It's Gadfly and Hifly and they're running neck and neck in a dead-even heat. Listen to that crowd!” he shouted.
“It's Gadfly and Hifly and Alpha Omega with four furlongs to go. It's a dead heat at three, at two and there they go, straight across the finish line in a dead heat with Alpha Omega coming in third. It looks to me like a double win in the Kentucky Derby! What we call a photo finish.” The crowd roared and chanted, drowning out the announcer's words.
“Photo finish! Photo finish!” they chanted.
Down on the track, Jake looked over at Nealy. “Who won?”
Nealy gasped for breath. “I think you did! Looked like it to me.”
“It wasn't me, that's for sure.” Ricky Vee laughed. “Great race, Nealy. I should have known I couldn't win against you. Good race, kid. See you around.”
“I think I'm gonna be sick!” Jake said.
“No, you are not going to be sick. Not in front of the whole world. Just sit there and wait for the judge's call. Your mom must be so proud! Give her a high sign, Jake.”
Jake turned in his seat, waved both his arms, and whistled between his teeth, two sharp, shrill sounds that ripped through the air. “Mom used to whistle like that for me when it was time to come in for supper.” He cocked his head and listened when two more sharp, shrill whistles blasted through the air. “Good, she heard me. What's taking so long?”
“They're going to announce it now, Jake. Remember, be gracious and humble.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please. We have here today, for the first time in Kentucky Derby history, a tie. It was a photo finish all the way, stride for stride, nose to nose. The winners of the Kentucky Derby are Gadfly and Hifly. Once again Cornelia Diamond Clay Littletree takes home not one but two wins to Blue Diamond Farms. You have just witnessed history being made, ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer roared, his voice hoarse.
Stunned, Nealy could only stare at Jake as half the blanket of roses was placed over Gadfly's back, the other half on Hifly's.
“If you faint now, Jake, I'll fire you,” Nealy hissed.
Jake sat up straighter. “We won! We both won! We did it, Aunt Nealy! We did it! I felt like I was flying. I felt like my grandfather was in front of me the whole way.”
“Wrong, Jake. He was on your six all the way.”
“Yeah, yeah, I think he was. I felt like he was there. That's where I pinned his wings.”
And then it was over, the speeches, the comments, the handshaking, and the purse, double this race. She'd made history.
She smiled when she saw her family descend on her and Jake. In her life she'd never seen such happiness. She stared into the gaggle of people, looking for her daughter, who was nowhere to be seen.
“I aged ten years watching that race,” Hatch said.
“That kid is good. He was right there with you on that little runt. Man, can that horse run. Emmie was right, he's all heart.”
“Have you seen her, Hatch?”
“No. She didn't come to the box. I haven't seen Dillon either. I'm sure she's here somewhere. Nealy, could she have run the race Jake did?”
“No, Hatch. I hate to say that, but no. She's good, don't get me wrong. In fact, she's real good. She was fearless and determined in the beginning. Jake was fearful and unsure. Isn't it strange how things turned around? I'm just glad I was able to help him find his way.”
“What about Emmie?”
“I don't know, Hatch. I just don't know. All I want to do is get these guys settled so we can head back home. I'm going to ask Ricky Vee if he'll ride Gadfly in the Preakness and the Belmont if he gets that far. Jake's okay if Emmie agrees to let him run. I'm thinking that she's thinking a win would be secondhand. This is just a guess on my part, but I don't think she'll run Hifly again. It's a shame, too. He's a great horse. I didn't think so in the beginning until I saw what he could do. When I'm wrong, I admit it. Boy am I hungry.”
“We're all going out to dinner so we can hash, rehash, and talk this race to death.”
“Oh, good. That means I get to wear all those fancy duds Maggie brought for me. I'll see you in a bit, Hatch. I have things to do right now.”
In the barn, Nealy held up her hand, palm out. Jake smacked it. “You're the man, Jake! Enjoy every single minute of it. You deserve it!”
Jake held his grandfather's wings in his hand. A lone tear gathered in the corner of his eye. “I hope you were proud of me, Grandpa,” he whispered.
“How touching,” Emmie snapped. “If you don't mind, I'd like my horse back.”
Jake nodded. He walked away, knowing Emmie's eyes were boring into his back. He stopped a moment when he heard his aunt's voice. “Grow up and get over it, Emmie. Who are you going to blame for this? Life goes on.
“Hey, Jake, wait up!” she called to her nephew.
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The sun was just creeping over the horizon on a hot, sultry day in late June when Nealy walked out onto the front porch, coffee cup in hand, the way she'd done thousands of times before. Today was different. Today was her last day at Blue Diamond Farms. Sitting near the top step were four suitcases. A slim envelope lay on top of the bags.
She waited until the eighteen-wheeler carrying the remains of StarDancer, Flyby, and her first husband Hunt passed out of her sight. She smiled. “I'm taking you guys home with me.”
She finished the coffee and walked back into the house. “I'm ready, Hatch.”
“Me, too. Let's get this show on the road then.”
“I have to go down to the barn to see Emmie before we leave. You can come if you like.”
“No, I think I'll wait here.”
Nealy walked slowly, her gaze taking in everything. She didn't feel sad at all, only a sense of relief.
In the barn she called out to her daughter.
“I'm over here, Mom. What is it? I'm kind of busy right now.”
“I know that. This will just take a moment. I have something to give you. It's the deed to my half of Blue Diamond Farms. It's all yours now. I was never meant to have this place. Maud and Jess wanted me to build it up so you would have a safe haven. I did that. They wanted you to have it. I hope you have a wonderful life here. Give Gabby my love.”
“Where . . . where are you going?”
“Back to the beginning. I'm going back the same way I came here, with that old blue truck and my bucket of dirt in the back. I'm going back where I belong.” She stepped forward to hug her daughter, but Emmie stepped back. Nealy's arms dropped to her side. She would not cry. She absolutely would not cry. She turned to walk away. She was halfway down the breezeway when Jake called out to her.
“Hey, Aunt Nealy, you got room for one more?” He stood in the sunlight, his bags at his feet.
“Absolutely.” Nealy smiled.
“Is there room for me, too?” Lee Liu asked.
“There will always be room for you, Lee.”
“Do ya suppose there's room for this cranky, old curmudgeon?” Cordell Lancer bellowed as he trotted up the breezeway.
“For sure there's room for you, Cordell.”
Nealy felt like the Pied Piper as she led the way out into the early-morning sunshine, where her husband waited for her. The old blue truck was parked behind Hatch's Range Rover. She itched to sit in it and then drive it. All the way back to Virginia.
Hatch led the way as far as the gate. He stopped, and Nealy stopped behind him to watch the driver of the eighteen-wheeler dismantle the two bronze statues standing guard over Blue Diamond Farms. They belonged with her because she loved them.
The minute the eighteen-wheeler pulled onto the highway, Nealy scooted back to the blue truck. She turned on the ignition and followed Hatch.
She didn't look back.