Captured & Seduced (29 page)

The sharp thud of a fist rattled the stable door next to them. Ry released Camryn and stepped away.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“We’ve discussed the race. This is the only way.”

Ry pinched the bridge of his nose and gave a sharp nod. “Do you have your protective hat?”

“Yes. And the protective vest should help if I have trouble.” She handed the hat to him, and he pushed the stall door open. Camryn blinked at the brighter light and amplified noise.

Mogens stood outside and for once his skin edged closer to white than black. He smiled, but the crease between his eyes told of his concern. Instead of trying to talk her out of riding, he strapped on Luke’s halter. Before leading the foal off to the finish line, Mogens fumbled in the pocket of his trews and pulled out a colorful collection of twigs and flowers and a bright yellow feather bound together with strong red grasses. He tied the charm in Gabby’s black mane and Camryn heard a series of rhythmical clicks when he whispered a chant. With a final pat on Gabby’s glossy neck, he bowed to Camryn.

“Stay safe.” Mogens led Luke away.

To Camryn’s relief Gabby remained calm, unworried by the separation from her foal. Ry and Camryn led her through the crowds of people lining the railings from the stable into the arena. A security man objected to two handlers entering the track, but a higher-ranked official waved them through the fortified gate. A loud cheer echoed in the stands. Gabby danced on tiptoe and tossed her head.

“Steady, girl,” Camryn whispered, stroking her hand across the mare’s neck. “Steady.”

A herd of butterflies took flight inside Camryn’s stomach, and it felt as if they bumped and crashed into each other.

You can do this, Camryn. The crew has confidence in you. They’ve placed a heavy bet on Gabby to win.

Camryn snorted
.
Up the pressure, why don’t you?

They glanced at each other and she laughed. “What if we fail? What if we don’t win?”

“I have faith in you.”

A hell-horse snarled. Another yelped. The barrier gates rattled and the waiting horses stirred in restless reaction.

Camryn swallowed. “I want to go home.” Tears shaded her voice and she blinked hard to stop them spilling free.

“Everything will turn out all right.” He kissed her quickly and drew away. “You’ll have to get on now.”

“Don’t forget to take the bucket of treats to the finish post.” Camryn secured her protective hat on her head.

“I won’t.” He gave Camryn a leg up and she landed astride Gabby’s back.

The roar of the crowd died an abrupt death. Gabby flinched at the pulsing silence while the butterflies inside Camryn’s stomach stirred, knocking into each other in panic.

“What are they doing this time?” the announcer demanded. “Are we looking at something extraordinary here today? You’ll remember last time this hell-horse named Gabby ran straight to the finish line without stopping to fight. She ran a record time.”

The crowd burst into excited chatter. This time Gabby remained calm. She walked into the starting barrier and stood quietly despite the increased noise.

Camryn sighed in relief at the ease of this maneuver, pleased they’d practiced so many times in training. The rancid smell of the other hell-horses permeated every breath she took. Camryn started to breathe through her mouth, her eyes watering.

Another horse loaded beside them, growling low and mean even though the creature couldn’t see Gabby. The gates rattled again.

“Three more,” a rough voice said.

Camryn tensed, fear and anticipation colliding in the pit of her stomach. So much rode on this race.

They loaded the other horses with efficiency, but to Camryn a lifetime passed, one slow sec at a time. She wiped clammy palms on her black trews. The final horse entered the gate, creating more racket than all the other horses combined, kicking and lashing at the barrier.

“Another hell-horse with a rider,” the commentator shouted with excitement. “This race will go down in history.”

Another rider? What the hell? Camryn craned her neck, attempting to look over the barrier. Unfortunately the design meant she couldn’t see the other hell-horses. She couldn’t see a damn thing.

Ry? What’s going on?

Camryn, you okay?

Yes. What’s happening? Who is the other rider?

He didn’t answer and apprehension seared her. Gabby caught her unease and started to stomp restlessly while Camryn bit her lip, her mind racing with reasons as to why Ry hadn’t answered.

The gate rattled, and suddenly Camryn could see the track stretching out before them, the finish line like a welcoming beacon.

“And they’re off!”

Gabby hesitated. The other horses sprang from the gates. Camryn nudged Gabby, squeezing the barrel of her body with her thighs. The mare jumped from the starting gate. Camryn leaned low, urging her on with hands and heels. Over to their left a horse squealed and reared in the gates. Camryn heard a man shout.

A hell-horse appeared beside them, neck extended and teeth bared. Gabby frog-hopped out of the way, the abrupt sideway move throwing Camryn off balance. Only instinct, honed from years of experience, allowed her to stay on Gabby. She kicked her mount hard, surprising a grunt from the mare. Gabby wasn’t used to vigorous kicks. She leaped forward, thankfully heading in the right direction.

“Run, girl. Run. Come on. Please. We need to find Luke.”

Something crashed into Gabby, knocking her offstride. Again, experience allowed Camryn to keep her seat. Gabby whirled to attack the hell-horse behind. Bigger than she, it was an aggressive male with a scar-covered hide. Terror gripped Camryn as she hauled on Gabby’s head and wished they’d been able to work out some sort of a bit and bridle to give her more control. This halter wasn’t the best.

“Gabby. Turn!” Camryn applied the signal she’d taught the mare, squeezing her thighs tightly and leaning her weight forward. Too late. The mare had caught the bloodlust of the others. She charged the stallion without a shred of fear or hesitation. The clash almost unseated Camryn. She lurched sideways. With desperation, she grasped Gabby’s mane and clung. If she fell… God!

“Look at the rider,” the commentator shrieked. “I’ve never witnessed the like before. Watch out! Hell and Back is returning for another go!”

The stallion reared before charging. Gabby spun and kicked out with her rear feet.

“Gabby!” Hell! The finish line looked so far away. Her spine jarred from the series of quick rabbit hops Gabby completed before she lashed out at the stallion again. With an indignant yelp, the stallion backed away to concentrate his attack on another hell-horse.

“Yeah! Score one for the girl’s team.” At least Gabby faced the right direction now. She dug her in the ribs and urged the mare on with both heels and voice.

“Go, Gabby. Run! Don’t you want to see Luke?”
Please, please want to see your foal.

Another hell-horse jostled her. Gabby yelped and spun to face the danger, her ears flat against her head.

“Food, Gabby!” Camryn leaned forward to holler in the mare’s ear. “Food.” Damn, she’d known this wouldn’t be easy but she hadn’t expected this much trouble either. She had to exert control instead of letting Gabby do whatever she wanted. Camryn jerked hard on the halter and gave the signal for run. She almost cried when Gabby obeyed her command, even though the mare ran in the wrong direction.

“Gabriel is running the wrong way,” the commentator shrieked. “This is history in the making. Look at the hell-horse move.”

Camryn noticed the other rider appeared terrified. He rode on Talor Coppersmith’s mount Dante, and he had his arms wrapped around the hell-horse’s neck. It bucked and zigged, trying to throw the rider off, but without success. The rider’s shrieks of fear were audible even above the thunder of hooves and the yapping, snarling and loud whinnies from the other hell-horses. Not her problem. He screamed when another hell-horse attacked and bit his leg. The crowd roared then a deathly hush fell.

Camryn let Gabby canter in a circular pattern until she faced the right way and applied her hands and heels, urging her to gallop straight past the fighting hell-horses. When they came abreast of the stallion, Gabby hesitated. Camryn was ready for her refusal. She kicked with her heels, a sharp dig, mentally apologizing but determined. To her relief Gabby responded. Camryn leaned forward, balancing to take account of the uneven gait of the mare.

The crowd cheered, a change from the jeers of the last race. Camryn heard the thunder of hooves behind but didn’t look back. The finish line beckoned. They rounded the bend and the finish post came into their view. Beyond the finish, Mogens and Ry stood with Luke. She knew the exact moment Gabby spotted her foal and the white bucket of treats held by Ry. Gabby sped up, her attention on the end of the track. The thunder of hooves continued behind her, if anything becoming louder. The crowd roared encouragement.

“And Gabby is leading. Dante has tossed his rider and is hot on her tail. Little Diablo is gaining, placed handy on the rails. Hot as Hades is down. Black Hell is stopping to take a look.”

Camryn urged Gabby on, concentrating on finishing rather than the fate of Dante’s rider. Dante galloped behind, gaining. She heard the snap of teeth, smelled the fetid breath.

“Keep going, Gabby. Keep going.”

The hell-horse kept gaining. Frantically, she drove the mare toward the finish post. Gabby stretched her neck and they were over, winning by half a body length.

“And the winner of the Dowry Derby is Gabriel, owned by Ryman Coppersmith. Second is Dante.”

Exhilarated, Camryn let Gabby slow. They’d done it! They’d beaten Talor Coppersmith.

“Watch out, Camryn,” Ry roared, starting to run.

Before she had a chance to react, the hell-horse clamped its teeth on Gabby’s rump. Then Dante let go and lunged at Camryn.

Attendants scurried from hiding, hesitating to get too close.

Ry grabbed up the bucket of treats and started to toss them at the horses. He barked orders at Mogens while he tossed the smelly treats at the over-excited horses. “Take Luke and get Gabby to follow.”

Dante snapped at Camryn’s leg again and ripped away part of her trews, slashing her leg before getting the scent of the treats. Ry chucked more at him and sprinted toward Gabby with the open bucket.

To Camryn’s relief Gabby trotted after him. Her glance behind confirmed the other hell-horses were busy scrambling for treats and squabbling amongst each other.

Her leg didn’t seem too bad. A bit of blood but not bad enough to cause the other horses to attack. Up ahead, Mogens opened the stall and stood aside after Luke entered. Ry placed the bucket in the stall and jumped back out to give Gabby plenty of room. When she ran into the stall, he reached over and dragged Camryn free.

“Are you all right?” he demanded. His heart pounded beneath her touch and he held her so tight she had trouble drawing a breath.

“We won.”

He pushed away to glower at her. “Blast it! I thought I’d lost you.” Then a slow grin bloomed on his handsome face. “But yeah, you won the race for us.”

“I can go home.”

His smile faded, his expression growing impassive. “You don’t need to go straightaway. We must attend to formalities first.”

“Let me treat your leg.” Mogens pulled out his satchel and moved closer to Camryn. “Ah, it doesn’t look bad. A mere scratch, although with the carrion some of these hell-horses eat it might become infected.” He busied himself with a mixing a smelly paste of green herbs and soothed them on the jagged scratch.

Now that the adrenaline rush had faded, her leg started to throb. With a drooping head, she sat on the ground, letting Mogens tend her injury. Inside the stall, Gabby and Luke grunted and yelped while they ate the last of the treats.

Camryn noticed Ry’s scrutiny. The instant he caught her glance he turned away, but a flutter of fear hit her. She wanted to go home and yet she didn’t. Unhappily, she concentrated on Mogens and tried not to think about never seeing Ry again.

* * * * *

Later that night, The Celebration Ball, Ornum.

The governor insisted Camryn honor them with her presence at the celebration ball. And she had to wear a dress. She’d tried telling the man who arrived with the engraved invitation she had nothing to wear. Heck, she wasn’t a circus chimp the governor could trot out to entertain the locals. Camryn scowled down at the elegant white dress and snorted in derision. This garment exposed a great deal of her chest.

Yeah, a circus chimp in a dress.

A novelty to entertain the guests.

From the moment she walked into the ballroom at Ry’s side, people mobbed her, wanting to bask in her spotlight of sudden fame.

A tall, wiry man halted her progress. He swallowed and tugged at his starched cravat. “How did you do it? How did you manage to ride your hell-horse without getting eaten?”

Others crowded around, separating her from Ry. Camryn forced a smile.
Ry? Where are you?
She couldn’t sense him behind her any longer.

Over the other side of the room.
His thoughts held clear disgust.
These bloody women are like forest leeches.

Camryn’s smile became more natural.
I’m sure you’ll cope.

Oh hell. I’m heading outside to the gardens.
Ry blocked his thoughts and when she turned to check, she caught a flash of his dark hair before he disappeared outdoors. She wished she could vanish.

“I want to know the answer to his question,” an elegant man said and pressed a kiss to her hand with practiced ease.

Camryn tugged when his mouth lingered. What was wrong with the men here?

An elderly gent held up his quizzing glass and peered at her. “Yes, it’s becoming difficult to obtain replacement hell-horses when they are killed during a race. Please give us a few hints. It’s an expensive business.”

Camryn took a step backward, their zealous expectation making her nervous, and promptly bumped into yet another eager hell-horse owner. This must be how a goldfish felt. She loathed the commotion. Where were the others? Maybe she could make a run for it and hide out with Mogens or Kaya. Or Jannike.