Mark jerked forward so abruptly his boots slammed the floor. A greenie! Just what his barn needed. “Not a good idea.” He forced his fingers to loosen around the phone. “The backside is a different world. Hard, physical…even dangerous.”
“Oh, I don’t expect her to last longer than a week. Don’t want her to.” But Boone’s chuckle lacked humor, and Mark understood now why the man was reputed to be a cutthroat negotiator. “I just want her eyes opened. Want her to see the opportunities she’s passing up. She’ll quit and be working for me long before Breeders’ Cup rolls around.”
The wily bastard. Just the mention of Breeders’ Cup made Mark’s stomach kick. Finally he trained a horse fast enough to compete—Boone’s colt, Ambling Assets, was his big hope. Good enough to run. Good enough to win.
But owners could move their horses to different trainers at any time, and Boone’s reference to Breeders’ Cup wasn’t an accident. It was a threat. A girl for a horse. A no brainer. Mark paused but knew what his decision was long before he spoke.
“Sure,” he said. “Send her by Monday morning.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Early readers: Jan Pettersen, Becky Mason, Elaine Pettersen, Barb Snarby and Anne MacFarlane. Your faith and support inspired at a critical time.
Farrier Leon Hebb who knows all about feet and helped plot the best place to hide stones.
Former RCMP officers Martina Thornton and Archie Mason who gave invaluable expertise and patiently answered all questions about guns and procedures. Any mistakes are mine.
Ron Carlyon, who taught me to love racing, back when a two-thousand dollar claimer was a pretty fast horse.
My son, Hans, who was content with frozen dinners when I was too busy to cook.
Authors Julianne MacLean, Judith James, and Pamela Callow who give so generously of their time and knowledge, even when immersed in their own deadlines.
Dr. Homer Noble for assigning numerous five thousand word essays at Liverpool Regional High School; he made writing fun.
Lucinda Campbell who formatted so efficiently and cheerfully, over and over again.
Fabulous editors Pat Thomas and Rhonda Stapleton for their insights and suggestions. They made this book much better.
Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, Pixie Chicks and the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood; your encouragement and camaraderie is priceless.
And lastly to my daughter, Brenna who was beside me every inch of the way and knows a good horse when she sees one. Thanks for everything, honey. Those early mornings at the track are cherished.
About The Author
Bev Pettersen is an award-winning writer and two-time finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Contest. She competed for five years on the Alberta Thoroughbred race circuit and is an Equine Canada certified coach. Presently, she lives in Nova Scotia with her husband and two teenagers. When she’s not writing novels, she’s riding. Visit her at http://www.bevpettersen.com
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
COLOR MY HORSE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
About The Author
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
COLOR MY HORSE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
About The Author