Darque Wants (14 page)

Geoffrey’s attention was also drawn to the young man on his horse. “How about a side wager,” he challenged Dustin, “A thousand says my rider will beat yours.”

“I gave up on wagers with you.”

“Only, because you always lost.” Geoffrey loudly proclaimed.

“No. Because you can’t beat a cheater,” Dustin said, firmly, conclusively. His gaze remained fixed on the horse and rider in the arena, not even bothering to check for a reaction, while those around him fell silent.

A heavy silence hung between the two men, However knew Geoffrey was too much of a coward to do anything else, and there was little enough he could say to counter the implied accusation.  

Gareth started his run, Dustin knew the boy was nervous. It was his first show outside their home range, with all the riders and horses unknown. He was as much a dark horse to them as they were to him. Their spins were as close to perfect as he could get them, with the horse really planting his inner hind leg before starting its spin, they would have gained points there, the sliding stop could have been longer, and more in line, but the backing was good. It was a good first run for them, not too many penalties, and a respectable score of sixty-nine. A good enough score to place him forth overall, two under Geoffrey’s rider, not that Dustin was keeping score.

Later that afternoon, Dustin calmly rode the horse into the arena, tipped his hat to the judge before setting out on the trail course. Hawkley was weary but willing. The poles, cones and various movements posed no problem, the horse was good at trail work, lowering his head to first look at things before stepping over them. That was until they approached the gate. It differed considerably from the one they had at home, both in color and design. Dustin ran his hand along the horse’s neck, knowing he would have points deducted for the action, however a steady performance was more his concern.

The horse hesitated and again he stroked the horse’s neck, allowing it to have a good look at the gate before again approaching it. This time they opened and closed it without incident and completed the rest of the course.

As he left the arena the announcer read his score, adding “And that folks is how you take a baby through a course. Good show Dustin.”

Dustin tipped his hat in acknowledgement, although he knew he didn’t take the class.

As it were, several horses took a dislike to the strange gate, many losing the full five points for the obstacle, eventually leaving Dustin in third position.

He willingly took his place in the lineup, and thanked the judges as they came to hand out the prizes.  

The following morning he and Calico were drawn first in the Open Cutting, the first qualifying leg for the grand final, with a purse of eight grand to the winner.

As he rode into the arena a heavy sensation settled over him, one he was well familiar with, because even knowing that Calico could do the work on his own, there was always this sense of expectation that they had to deliver just that much more. That people expected them to.  

He looked over the cattle, and then turned his gaze to the two herdsmen on duty, inclining his head in greeting to them. Before again assessing the steers. Cutting two was the norm, three, a guaranteed high score.

He settled on a deep cut first, to feel out the heard.  He decided on the one with a white face. Calico seemed to sense his decision. And after the lengthy announcements were made the announcer finally conclude with, “Ladies and gent I give you the third time National Cutting Champion, Calico, and owner-rider Dustin Breen. Sit back and watch the best show you how it is done.” 

The bell went, and Dustin guided Calico into the herd, and even before the heard broke away, the white faced steer put up a fight. Calico countered, pushing it out and separating it from the group. Just then, Dustin felt it his horse lower to the ground, indication enough that he could lower his hand to the stallions wither, and sit it out.

The steer was still fresh and put in a good effort, while Calico countered and Dustin kept count, only picking up the reins when they had to cut the next one.

Dustin heart raced, the adrenaline flowed through his body, it was one of the greatest sensations he knew, next to, no he caught himself, that would only cause trouble. That was what had happened last time.

They again made a deep cut, this time singling out a steer with dark points. Again he allowed his horse to do the work, although the second steer gave less of a show, but still enough for a decent mark. Dustin knew they were close to the time limit when he pulled Calico away from the steer, setting out for one more cut. This time he picked one off the side, let Calico decide which.

  Calico picked the feistiest of the lot, the steer at first bolted a short distance from the others, then did an about turn, lowering its head threateningly as he ran for the herd, running right a them. Calico spread his front legs and lowered his head, snorting loudly. The steer hesitated for a step made to step past them only to have Calico counter him watching the steer, countering it as it tried to maneuver past them. The siren went, and with it a loud cheer went up. Dustin patted Calico’s neck and turned the horse for the gate, knowing they’d set a good score, one that would really challenge the others if they were to chase it.

He took the class, and Calico did his usual fancy step as the entered the arena for the lineup. It was not lost to him that Marcella had placed third, only nine points under him, enough to set people talking.

Later that afternoon, Dustin was cleaning his tack, while sitting on an upturned bucket outside his horse’s stall, more to keep the stallion’s admiring public from stuffing Calico full of carrots and apples, when the show veterinarian and his assistant approached him. 

“Doc?” he questioned, rising from his seat.

“He’s been drawn for the random drug screen.” The vet said pointing to Calico. It was not the first time the stallion had been drawn for a random screening, and it was not something that concerned Dustin, there was no reason why the horse would test positive.

What did concern him was the sudden, impromptu, screening. He lifted the horse’s headstall from the bridle hook and asked, “Where you want him?”

“Just hold him, he’s not a problem.”

Dustin watched as the vet pulled out the vials from his case, labeled them, before entering the horse’s stall.

“So how many was drawn?” Dustin asked when the vet inserted the needle into the horse’s jugular.

“Ten.”

“Only ten?” He asked surprised, knowing there were well over three hundred horses competing.

We weren’t actually planning on any, most folks here might give them bute or something to hide a low level lameness. But then we had not foreseen the upset.”

“Anderson.”

“Yes, too many question that one rider’s success.  She’s so far placed in every class. While she may be a good rider, people are starting to have questions. So screen it is. But I cannot call for their horses to be screened unless I test yours as well, would look too obvious if I overlooked the winner.”

“No problem,” Dustin said, unwilling to reveal the reason as to why Marcella could be winning. He knew it had to be draining on her.  Instead he said, “I don’t know if anything could cause such an about face in a horse.”

“In a horse I could accept, but she’s riding four, and word is Anderson is bragging that she’s unstoppable. There are also some sizable bets on the sideline.” The vet finished, gently tilting the tubes a few times.  

Dustin had heard of one or two, none of them to the scale his had been, but enough to cause some concern. “Another reason why you suspect foul play?” Dustin asked loosening the stallion’s headstall. 

“Let’s just say the stewards have been put on the alert. The folks around here may not know him all that well, but the association does. That man does nothing, unless there is some financial gain in it for him.”

Dustin made a point of avoiding Geoffrey, and all of his riders, as the show progressed. None of the selected horses had tested positive for any banned substances, and the speculation increased as the show approached the final day. Marcella had in fact proven to be the challenge Geoffrey had professed she would be, with a lot of the ringside talk centered around her.  Her focus appeared to be on sorting, reining and pure handiness of the horses she rode. It was well known that two of the horses were up for sale

Their paths again crossed on the eve of the finals, in the most auspicious manner when he’d approached Calico’s stable, hearing soft murmurs.

At first he thought he was hearing things, for one of the voices he identified as Gareth’s, it was only as he looked over the door that he identified the second person, causing his blood to run cold.

“What are you doing here?” he harshly demanded, causing both of them to jump. Gareth looked suitably chided, although Dustin was not bothered by the young man’s presence in his horse’s stable, he was however concerned about
hers
.

“I… we .. were just.” Gareth hesitantly started. 

“In my horse’s stable.” Dustin firmly said, “Doing what exactly?” Fixing Gareth with a hard glare.

“Um …she… eh… She wanted to see him.”

“She can look at him when he’s in the arena, just like every other person.” Dustin was well familiar with the uncertainty some youngsters experienced around girls, and how they would do foolish things, dangerous things even, in an attempt to curry favor with a girl. However the woman in question was more of a concern to him than the transgression. “What did she offer you as payment?”

At his demand, Marcella looked suitably angered, bordering on livid.

“Eh…” the boy looked from her to him, seeming uncertain as to how best he could answer the question.

Dustin pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “Trailer, now. We’ll talk later, when I’ve dealt with her.”

Gareth nodded his head and moved from the stable. When Marcella made to follow him, only Dustin caught her arm. A thousand tingles raced up his arm. Warming, tingling, making him overly aware of her proximity to him. Bringing far too many memories to the fore. He let go of her arm as she turned to look at him.

“You’re staying, I’m not done with you.” He said and waited until Gareth was out of earshot before continuing,

“If only that were true,” She challenged him, but he knew better than to rise to the bait.

“Just what did you offer him?” Dustin demanded once it seemed as it they were alone. 

“What? you hoping to cash in on it.” She threw back, challengingly.

He felt his anger rise as he fixed her with a hard stare. They had not parted on the best of grounds, and she possibly knew what her presence could do to him, although he would not allow it, could not. One simply did not make the same mistake twice, no matter how pleasurable the mistake may be. “What did you swing as bait?” he demanded.

“I didn’t…” she started only for him to interrupt.

“I don’t buy that!”

“I didn’t,” She insisted, her voice almost pleading.

“Look, there are stories enough floating around about your willingness to engage in wild bets. I should know…” He started, but caught himself, knowing he’d said too much and was likely to regret it. He remained silent for several moments, she too seemed to wait for him to say something.

He looked her over, making a big scene of checking out her body, although he quickly regretted when his mind filled in what it knew lay beneath the clothes she wore. His focus rested on her breasts, remembering their softness as he watched them rise and fall under his gaze, a little faster than the moment or situation called for. It was good to know that he affected her as well, it gave him the boost he needed to push her away.

“I’m well familiar with how you use your body as a bargaining tool, have heard the rumor…” He had not even finished the sentence before she stepped forward, a sharp stinging sensation burned his cheek.

“Just who do you think you are,” She demanded, angrily, stepping back again, farther this time.

Anger was good, he thought. Anger, especially hers, gave him the upper hand, would get him through this without revealing how much her deception had hurt him. 

“It’s not who I think I am, it’s the company you keep.” He calmly, possibly too calmly, replied.

He saw her eyes flair, even in the dim light of the stable their color deepened, almost to the same shade, again h blocked his wandering thoughts, knowing that if he allowed them to intervene, he would be the one to suffer the consequences.

“How dare you?” She demanded.

“I don’t trust him, so by association I don’t trust you – especially not in my horse’s stable the night before the finals. So. Own up and I may consider letting you go.” Within moments of the words leaving his mouth he regretted them. He knew how playful she could be, how easily she picked up a challenge, and she would in all likelihood interpret his words as such.

“Well as I remember that was a problem we both shared… once.”

He fixed her with a stern glare.

In response she reached out to Calico. Dustin caught her hand before it reached his horse, “Hands off,” He firmly commanded, “I know what those hands can do, and the power they yield, so paws off.”