Almost Home Part 17

She was so lost in his eyes, she could barely follow his words. Fortunately for her, he had to look back at the road and the connection was broken. She took a deep breath, wondering how this one man could have such an effect on her. She closed her notebook and set it back in her purse. "Are we almost there?"

"Almost. I have to warn you that while Churchill Downs is one of the prettiest tracks in the country, the surrounding neighborhood is fairly run-down. Horse racing may be the sport of kings, but only inside the gates."

Katherine nodded, glancing out the windows as he turned off the highway. As he'd said, the neighborhoods deteriorated as they got closer to the track, an urban sprawl of small houses and faded lawns that reminded her of some parts of Los Angeles.

"If you like flowers, you should definitely stick around to see the Derby," Zach said, drawing her attention back to him.

"Why?"

"The Downs has its own greenhouses, and the week before the Derby, they begin bringing out the flowers to set up in the paddock and the infield. I think the winner's circle is made up of something like eight hundred red and white begonias. I don't know the exact number, but when you see the track on Derby day, it's like seeing someone in their Sunday best. It's spectacular."

"I wouldn't have thought you noticed anything but the horses," she teased.

He tipped his head. "Well, the flowers I'm most interested in are the roses that will be draped around Rogue's neck when he wins the Derby."

"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"

"I know what I've got."

"Isn't the Derby the biggest race of the year? Couldn't you have picked a smaller dream?"

"Only the big ones count."

"I've always admired people who go for broke. Like those little gymnasts in the Olympics who train every second of every day for years and years and then it's all over in one vault, one floor exercise, one mistake, one moment of brilliance. I can't imagine investing myself in anything like that."

"Can't you?" Zach asked. "Isn't that what you're doing right now? You've set a pretty high bar in trying to find your father. There's a good chance you won't make it over, but that hasn't stopped you from trying. I'd say that takes some guts. I'm not sure what it says about your brain, but folks think I'm crazy, too."

Katherine sat up straighter in her seat, feeling inordinately pleased by his a.s.sessment. She'd never thought of herself as a risk taker. She was a list maker, a rule follower, not a reckless daredevil-at least, not until now. "So you're saying we're alike?"

"h.e.l.l no. I'm saying you're as nutty as a fruitcake, but..."

"But what?"

"I admire your spirit. And I think any man would be proud to call you his daughter."

She felt a mist cover her eyes. "I think that might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you."

"You're not going to cry, are you?"

"Absolutely not," she said, turning her head toward the window so she could blink away the tears.

A few minutes later Zach turned in to the parking lot of the most famous racetrack in the country. It was still dark, but the sky had begun to grow lighter and Katherine could make out the enormous grandstand, the twin spires arising from the roof adding a sense of magnificence, importance, glory. She couldn't wait to see the inside, the track, the infield, the luxury boxes, but Zach bypa.s.sed the main parking lot and drove in as close as he could to the stable gates.

"We'll walk it from here," he said.

Katherine hopped out of the truck, shivering as the cold air hit her skin. The weather wasn't quite as clear as it had been in Paradise. There was a heavy mist, almost a faint drizzle at times. She couldn't imagine what her hair was going to look like by ten o'clock.

Judging by Zach's purposeful stride toward the security gate, he wasn't at all concerned about the rain or his hair. He wanted to get to his horse as fast as humanly possible. The security guard waved them through, and Katherine had to hurry to keep up with Zach's long-legged strides.

She'd never been behind the scenes at a racetrack and was once again amazed by the number of people working so early in the morning. There were horses everywhere she looked, being walked, bathed, and bridled. Young girls who looked to be barely out of their teens sat astride tall horses, seemingly unaware of how frail they were compared to the enormous beasts they were about to ride.

"Watch out," Zach warned, grabbing her hand before she stepped into a pile of dung. "You've got to look where you're going."

"I'm trying. There's so much to see."

"And it only gets busier the closer we get to the Derby. Then there will be reporters and camera crews and trainers holding press conferences. It's a zoo."

"Will you be holding a press conference?"

"I let Rogue do my talking for me."

He turned her toward barn number 41. "This is Colin's barn. My trainer," he added at her look of confusion. "Let's go find my big ugly baby."

Zach walked down the row of stalls, not stopping until they got to the second stall from the end. A large black horse had its back to them, but immediately lifted his head as if catching the scent of his owner.

"Hey there," Zach said softly.

Rogue turned around and came over to the doorway with a whinny of pleasure. Zach patted his nose. "How you doing? They treating you all right?" He stroked Rogue's neck. "Not much longer now. We're almost to the stretch." He turned to Katherine. "Come meet my baby."

Katherine smiled at the excitement in his voice, the joy in his eyes. The way to Zach's heart was obviously through his horse. She stepped closer, getting a better look at the enormous black colt. He held his head high in the air, his black eyes compelling and somewhat frightening. He stood on long, slender legs, his muscled body as well honed as any runner's. But it was his stance, his proud, arrogant presence, that made her stay safely behind Zach's broad shoulders.

"Say h.e.l.lo, Katherine," Zach encouraged, looking back at her.

"h.e.l.lo."

"Come closer, he won't bite. Will you, boy?"

Just as he spoke, Rogue tossed Zach's hand off his nose, obviously irritated about something.

Katherine took another step back. She couldn't help it. Zach's big, ugly baby was somewhat frightening to a city girl whose only pet was a spoiled house cat.

"No treats until you show Katherine how fast you can run," Zach said.

Rogue snorted and stomped his foot.

"I don't think he's happy with your decision about the treats."

Zach looked at her and laughed. "He's just playing with me." His eyes narrowed. "You look a little nervous."

"That's because I am nervous. He's big."

"But not mean. I've been around mean horses, but Rogue's a marshmallow at heart."

"He doesn't look too soft to me."

"You have to get to know him, that's all."

"He is awesome-looking."

"Ugly as sin," Zach said with a laugh. "You don't have to pretend he's a beauty. But he can run when he wants to, and he'll run for me. We understand each other. Don't we, boy?" He stroked Rogue's nose, and this time the horse submitted to his touch. "His mother was the daughter of Irish Queen. His father was the son of Canon Shot and grandson of Bold Ruler. Although Rogue's mother never won a stakes race, his father won several and his grandfather won the Preakness. Unfortunately, none of the other horses sired by Canon Shot have lived up to their father's reputation."

"And that's important?" Katherine asked, not quite able to keep up with the family tree.

"Very. Thoroughbreds are all about breeding. That's what we do at the farm, we match our winning stallions with mares around the country and around the world, trying to produce the perfect genetic mix. The more races a horse has won, the more his value and the bigger the breeding fee. Triple Crown winners are being syndicated for millions of dollars these days."

"So you planned Rogue's birth by matching up bloodlines?"

Zach looked a little embarra.s.sed by her question. "No, I picked him up at a yearling sale for a song. His bloodlines are decent but not stellar. His legs are too long. He got a reputation early on for being unpredictable, a troublemaker, and all the other buyers stayed away from him."

"But not you."

"Not me."

"I don't understand, Zach. You just said you breed horses for a living. Why didn't you buy one of your own foals?"

Zach slid his arm around her waist and brought her closer to the stall, a little too close for her comfort, but she was rea.s.sured by the strength of his body next to hers.

"Rogue reminded me of myself," he said. "Sounds stupid, I know. But when I saw him, I knew he was the one. And I'll admit that his lack of breeding would only make a Derby win that much sweeter."

"You believe in breeding, yet you stick your nose up at it at the same time," Katherine commented. "But then, it's not really about the horses, it's about you, where you come from."

"Maybe."

"You want everyone to know they were wrong about Rogue and wrong about you."

"If that happens, fine. If it doesn't, whatever."

"You've invested everything you have for 'whatever'? Sorry, I don't buy it." She turned her head so she could look him in the eye. "I think this horse, this race, means more to you than anything else in the world."

Zach's eyes darkened. "You're right. Rogue's the only thing that's ever been mine, all mine." His hand tightened on her waist. "Yeah, he means a lot to me."

Katherine caught her breath as Rogue decided to investigate her presence a little more closely. His big nose brushed her chest, and she had to force herself not to flinch.

"Did I tell you Rogue can be a little fresh?" Zach asked, a teasing note returning to his voice.

"Like someone else I know."

"You can touch him if you want to."

Katherine licked her lips, sensing that Zach's casual comment was far more of a big deal than he was making it out to be. This was his horse, his love, his life. And she had a feeling if she wanted to have any part in Zach's life, she had to somehow forge a relationship with this horse.

So she pushed all of her misgivings aside, all of the reasons she had mentally listed for why she should not get near to a horse that could crush her, kick her, and probably kill her. Because on the other side of the list was Zach, and what he wanted was somehow becoming very important to her.

She reached out her hand and touched Rogue's nose with tentative fingers, pleased when the horse didn't immediately snap at her. In fact, Rogue seemed to like her. She became bolder, stroking him with her hand.

It was all going so well until a fly landed on Rogue's nose and he shook his head with an impatient, irritated snort. Katherine couldn't help letting out a little cry. She jumped backward, causing the startled horse to back up in his stall and rear up on his hind legs.

Before Katherine could say she was sorry, Zach was in the stall, calming Rogue with soothing muted words.

Katherine walked a few feet away, getting the distinct feeling her presence was no longer welcome.

When Zach stepped out of the stall, he looked nowhere near as gentle.

"He spooks easily, Katherine," he said in a cold voice.

She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry. He scared me a little."

"You scared him."

"I didn't expect him to jump like that."

He shook his head as if he wanted to say something but was stopping himself.

"Go on, you can say it. I'm a city girl and I don't belong here." She looked at him through miserable, hopeless eyes, feeling like she'd flunked a very important test. "I'll wait in the truck for you."

He sighed. "You can stay. The reason Rogue needs to be here is to get used to folks like you acting unpredictably."

"Are you sure?"

"Where you're concerned-I'm not sure about anything," Zach said heavily, putting his hands on her shoulders. "You make me want..." He gazed down at her mouth, settling in there as if he didn't intend to leave any time soon.

"What-what are you doing?" she asked, her nerves still on edge.

"I have no idea."

"You're not going to kiss me, are you?"

"I don't know. Am I?"

Chapter 11.

"Zach, there are people around," she said weakly, because in that moment she didn't much care if the entire world saw him kiss her. She wanted to regain the closeness, the trust between them.

"Are there? I can't see anyone but you." She felt a shiver run down her spine at the look of desire in his eyes. The early morning air crackled between them. Katherine felt herself leaning forward. What would be the harm in a small kiss, a brief caress?

The moment was shattered when a man called out Zach's name.

Zach immediately turned. "Colin." Katherine watched as a man walked over to join them. Dressed in jeans and a black leather bomber jacket, he had light brown hair that was thinning on the top and the sides, a brown beard that wasn't quite grown in, a ruddy complexion, and smiling green eyes.

"I figured you'd be in for the workout," Colin said with a light Irish tilt to his voice.

Zach shook the man's hand. "It's not that I don't trust you."