“That asshole? He’s not here is he?” Faith was passionate in her response. “I’ll tell you right now, if he’s here, I’m out of here. This interview can stop right now, and I’ll leave. You won’t have to waste your time.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He was the one that got me fired from my last job. He tried to tell the owner of the horse that I was stealing money from him, Biggins, and that I was in debt to him.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because Percy Biggins came to me to throw the race. He said he could line my pockets if I didn’t win. He bet against the horse I was racing, so did the owner, based on Biggins’s say.”
“Oh, shit, that’s bad.”
“Yeah, and the bitch of it was that he did it to other jockeys, and they took him up on his offer. I’m not blacklisted, but I not being offered any jobs. I’m thirty-eight, and we both know that racehorsing is still a man’s world, but I’ve been doing this for twenty years, and I’m not dead yet, so I have experience, knowledge, guts, and gumption under my belt. Please, tell me Percy Biggins isn’t involved with anything here.”
“He isn’t. He’s in jail, and has been for a year. This is over in Wyoming, oh, and my father is sitting beside him. There is a lawyer that is working a case for Erin, it’s complicated, but connected to my case against The Big Pig, and Bensen. If you can answer any questions he has for you, I would appreciate it.”
“Would it help keep him in jail?”
“Yes, at least we hope so.”
“I’ll talk with him.”
“Good. Anyway, that’s it with the ranches. Erin’s Way, The Broken Wheel, New Double, and like I said, the rodeo ranch will be starting to be built this spring.”
“Question.”
“Shoot.”
“Why don’t you have any more room at this Broken Wheel?”
“Oh, sorry, the horses we were able to save, were broken. The people hired to work with them were at first all women, all former military women, who had been released from service because they too were broken. PTSD, a missing limb, TBI. Eventually, the men from Clark’s former SEAL team unit joined us here when they were discharged, and they were just as broken as the women and horses. Gradually, humans and equines healed, and Erin turned Broken Wheel into a horse rehabilitation center for people of all ages. We have the young ones in late spring to early fall. This way, they can still use our services and not interrupt their schooling. While adults it doesn’t matter what time they can come.”
“How many people work at New Double?”
“Currently, five.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m not proud of it, but when the guys from Broken have the chance, they go over and help as much as they can. There are currently five permanent members, and that includes my manager and barn boss. A man just started last week, and he’s working out well so far.” She slowly stood, then nodded. “Let me take you over there, and you can see what I’m talking about.”
Faith stood and put her jacket back on, then looked at Naomi with a frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“Are we riding together, or do you want me to follow?”
“Could you follow? I’ll explain when I get there, but in the long run, it will work out.” She paused when Duane returned with something and laid it out on his desk. “What’s that?”
“Erin’s map.”
“Oh, Faith, come here, this will explain things.” She and Duane lifted all the layers, and she told Faith about the original ranch, then how Broken was added, along with Broken Two, as well as New Double. When she finished, she looked at Faith with a smile. “Trust me, it’s not as confusing as it seems. However,” she said as she lifted the top layer so everything was laid out. “This is all Erin’s Way. The three things are connected. You can drive through the property to get to each section. You can’t access New Double from this property.” She lowered the film she’d raised, and pointed to the boundary. “The only way to access New Double is from the road. It’s roughly a good twenty-minute drive from here. We have to go around.”
“Got it.” Faith didn’t know what else to say, so she only nodded. “Before we go, is there a hotel in town? After this interview, I won’t be able to make it all the way home tonight.”
“Where is home?” Duane asked as he rolled up the map to return to Erin’s office.
“East Kentucky.”
“Okay, I don’t know if Naomi told you this yet, but we do background checks on any potential employee.” He held up his hand at her shock. “Precautionary measure. Katherine, Naomi’s assistant, gave me your application. You passed with flying colors. Nothing was flagged as bothersome.”
