Riley’s gaze flicked to Lorelei for half a heartbeat before he answered. “Not sure. He was hoping to.”
He seemed especially reserved as he led them through the camp southward, then around the horses being readied to race. Dragoon stood beside his horse, speaking to two men as they passed. The mare wasn’t saddled yet, so maybe she wouldn’t be running in one of the first few heats.
Riley looked as though he planned to walk past the animal without stopping, but Lorelei veered toward the horse like a compass needle to north. The rest of them paused a few steps behind her.
Dragoon was so engrossed in his conversation, he didn’t even seem to see them. Was Mr. Slim one of the men he spoke with? Both possessed lean forms, but one stood a head above the other.
The taller man slid a glance at them, then nodded at Dragoon and sauntered toward the mare. He stopped at Bessie’s head and stroked her muzzle as he took in Lorelei. He didn’t look lustful, just curious.
For Lorelei’s part, she ignored the man as she stood at the horse’s shoulder, crooning and scratching one of the places horses usually loved best. Juniper stepped nearer her sister, keeping her focus mainly on the man.
Riley came to her side. “Ladies, this is Slim . . .” He paused and looked at the man. “I guess I don’t know your last name.”
The corners of the fellow’s mouth tipped. “Folks just call me Slim.” He took them all in. “You must be the Collins girls.” His chin dipped in greeting, and it was refreshing not to see any hint of lasciviousness in his eyes. Odd that he called themgirlsinstead of ladies, but perhaps that was because they were probably three decades younger than he was. He looked to be around Papa’s age.
Dragoon stepped up beside Mr. Slim and clapped a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I see you ladies have met my secret weapon. Slim here can win on any animal he climbs aboard. He’s been racing Indian ponies out here for nigh on twenty years.”
Slim sent Dragoon a tight smile. “Not quite that long. But I do appreciate good quality horseflesh.”
Dragoon chuckled. “You’ve a good eye, for you win nearly every race you run. You and Bessie together will earn me a heap with all the wagers I have going.”
“That means we’d best find a place to watch.” Riley’s voice held a hint of impatience with his friend.
After giving their best wishes to the men, they turned toward the base of the hills that lined the other side of the raceway.
Riley pointed partway up the slope. “There’s a cluster of rocks that make a nice place to sit and watch. They’re protected enough that not many can see you there.”
It didn’t seem possible to have a clear view of the goings-on without being easily seen themselves, but the boulders allowed enough space in between that Riley proved right. The five of them settled, with Riley at one end, then Faith and Lorelei in the middle, where Lor would have the best view. Juniper and Rosie were positioned on the other end from Riley. Perhaps it was best she gave him space.
It’s what he seemed to want from her. Though she ended up watching him more than the races.
It was also fun to see the pleasure on Lorelei’s face as she kept her eyes glued to the animals. They hadn’t been wrong to stop her from riding in the contests, but perhaps they could find another way for her to experience the pleasure of a race. Maybe once they were on the trail, Mr. Dragoon would allow her to ride his mare. Someone else could ride one of the others horses and allow Lorelei a real race—far away from all these rowdy onlookers.
“There she is. There’s Bessie.” Faith rose up on her knees and leaned forward, making herself far more conspicuous to the spectators below.
Three horses lined up in the starting position, Bessie on the far left. There were no turns on the track, so none of the animals would have the advantage of the inside position.
Watching from so far above gave them the ability to see the start and finish lines equally well, though they couldn’t see expressions on the riders or handlers, nor hear what was being said. Not well enough to decipher words, anyway.
Juniper’s insides bunched as the crowd quieted in expectation of the pistol shot. When the bang sounded, the horses sprinted forward. The one in the center, a dark gray with a black mane and tail, took the early lead. Bessie settled in, with her nose positioned by the lead rider’s leg. The third horse fell a full length behind, and its rider snapped a whip to urge it forward.
This track wasn’t as long as the other raceway her father had taken her and Rosie to when they were younger, but the horses here still had plenty of room to stretch out in a gallop for a strong competition. When only a quarter of the route remained, Slim bent lower over Bessie’s neck. Even from this distance, she could see the way he urged the horse forward.
And Bessie responded. Her stride lengthened. She seemed to flatten to the ground even as she stretched out.
The effort worked, for she gained ground on the leader. By the time they surged over the finish line, she’d pulled half a neck ahead of the gray.
Juniper squealed and clapped as her sisters did, but their sounds were lost in the roar of the crowd below. Even Riley grinned and raised his hat in victory.
After Dragoon led the horse and rider back down the track in the victor’s walk, the spectators finally settled down and another group queued up to race.
Lorelei pointed to a cluster of rocks at the bottom of the hill. “I’m going to move down there where I can see thehorses better. I can’t get a good look in their eyes from up here.”
“Not by yourself.” Rosie straightened. “I guess I can come with you.” She eyed the boulders Lorelei meant with a frown. There were probably still enough rocks to protect the two of them from the ogling eyes of men.
“I’m coming too.” Faith rose to a crouching stand and strode to the path down the slope.
Rosie let out a long-suffering sigh.
