Free Willow Smoke by Adriana Kraft

Don’t worry about it. Everything will be fine.”
    She pulled her hand out from under his, trying hard not to notice Agnes Underwood’s tiny smile. Daisy frowned. Why was
the woman smiling? What had she made of that little byplay?
     
    Daisy
flinched at the tap on her shoulder.
    “Thought
you were going to join us in the box seats for the post parade,” Nick said.
    “I can’t. I’m too nervous about Rainbow.” Daisy watched RainbowBlaze come on to the track for the seventh race post parade.
    “She looks good out there, up on her toes and alert.”
    Daisy glanced at Nick. “I don’t want to be rude, but I need to be alone right now. Make sure your family comes to the winner’s circle. I should be ready to rejoin you by the tenth. Depends on how long it takes Rainbow in the test barn.”
    Nick grinned. By now he knew that winning horses were
taken directly to the test barn to check them for illegal drugs. “You really think she’ll win.”
    Glancing at the tote board in the infield, she said, “The bettors have her as the eight
to five favorite. They respect her record and the fact that she shipped in from Arlington. She’ll win, barring bad luck.” Daisy grabbed her bare arms and bent over. “I can
hardly wait.”
    “I know the feeling. As
far as my folks are concerned, there’ll be plenty of time with them tomorrow. They’ve got some kind of social function this evening so will probably leave right after this race. I better get back to them so they know about the photo.”
    “Okay.” Daisy gave him a weak smile. “Don’t be late. They don’t wait around long for photos.”
    Her eyes followed Nick until he disappeared in the crowd. Daisy turned around, rested her forehead on the fence rail and closed her eyes. Her anxiety wasn’t just about Rainbow. That morning her skin had finally appeared smooth and normal. This was going to be her day.
     
    Some people preferred watching a race from high up in the stands and some by the rail. Daisy liked the rail because she had an up close and personal view of the horses straining to claim victory, she could hear the pounding of hooves, and at times dirt would even fly up and smack her in the face. At the rail, she wasn’t a bystander; she was a participant.
    “All in,” she heard the announcer declare. And then the bell rang and the gates sprang open and the horses leaped out, each trying to get
the jump on the others.
    Daisy cheered silently when RainbowBlaze came from the seventh hole to settle in fourth position on the rail as the horses entered the clubhouse turn. The mare’s running style was that of a presser, which Daisy thought was the best approach for winning routes. Up the backstretch, RainbowBlaze advanced into second. She held that position, running just off the leader’s flank, until the eighth pole. Then with what appeared to be the easiest of moves, the mare lengthened her stride and raced on, leaving the rest of the field behind and crossing the finish line three lengths ahead of the closest pursuer.
    Daisy clapped quietly. There had been little doubt about the end result. The bettors knew it, and she knew it. The Arlington shipper was the class of the field.
    Smiling broadly, Daisy made her way to the track to collect her horse. She led Rainbow into the winner’s circle. If only Sam and Cassie could have been there, it would have been perfect. Rainbow had won numerous races already, but this was a stakes race, and that made it even more special. Daisy looked up to see Nick rushing his parents and sister into the circle.
    Nick kissed her on the forehead and patted Rainbow’s shoulder. “That was a high. It’s one thing to watch a horse that you’ve bet on
win, but it’s entirely different to see your own horse win. Wow! Well done, partner.” He kissed her again—this time on the cheek.
    Daisy blushed and directed everyone’s attention toward the camera. After the click, Nick’s father stepped forward and shook her hand.