Heywood Equestrian Stables

Onyx

"What do you mean?" Sidney asked, sitting up in the bed and staring at me with questioning eyes. "I thought you were dead set against him racing?"

I sat up next to him and sighed. "I was. But I can't help but think about how wonderful it would be for him to win. To put the Heywood name back on everyone's minds. Even if he doesn't win, at least he'd be seen as an asset to the ranch. If he's any good, he could potentially become a breeding stud. He could potentially bring recognition to you as being the great trainer I already know you to be. We would have people lining up to have their horses trained by you."

"How do you suppose we will get him to race? He won't let anyone ride him but you. I'm not about to let you race him."

"You're not about to let me race him?" I asked angrily. "Since when do you get to tell me what to do?"

"Charlotte, you don't know a thing about racing. It's far too dangerous. Jockey's get hurt constantly, some even become paralyzed or even lose their life. You can't possibly ask me to train a horse with an inexperienced racer and be perfectly fine with it, especially when that rider is you."

"I'm not saying I want to be the one to ride him in the race," I clarified. "But I don't want you to tell me what I can and can't do either. If I want to race him, I will."

He clenched his jaw and his nostrils flared. "Fine. If you want to ride him, by all means do so. I won't be a part of it though. Don't ask me to train him or even be there when you race. I won't be able to watch."

I sighed and took his hands in mine. "Let's come to a truce. If I can get Onyx to let a trained jockey ride him, will you train him?"

"As long as you aren't racing, I will train whoever you want me to," he agreed. "Please understand how much your riding him terrifies me. If you fell off of him, I'd never be able to forgive myself. I can't be responsible for anything happening to you."

I curled up in his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I won't ride him in any race, but here on the ranch, I don't see what it could hurt."

"Here on the ranch is one thing, but not in a race," he said.

I smiled and kissed his lips. "Not in a race," I agreed.

The next day, I called up Mr. Babington and talked with him about my change of heart. He was thrilled with the news and wanted to send out a couple of his experts as well as his best jockeys to see if we could get Onyx to let them ride him. I had my doubts, but if anyone could make it happen it was Sidney.

During the next week, I watched as Sidney spent nearly every waking moment trying to get Onyx to let him ride him. Every time Onyx would buck him off or bolt away so Sidney couldn't even get on him. With every failed attempt, Sidney got more and more frustrated. I knew most of his frustration came from being out of control. Sidney was a very skillful horse trainer and wasn't used to a horse not yielding to him. Onyx was stubborn and had no interest in Sidney or anyone else.

With every day that went by and Sidney was unable to ride him, my doubts Onyx would let anyone ride him only grew. I think that was Sidney's fear as well. If he couldn't ride him, no jockey would be able to either, which would ultimately mean either he doesn't race at all, or I race him. I knew it wasn't an option for me to race him, even if I believed I could.

Poor Sidney came in night after night sorer and more bruised than the day before. He was constantly worried about my safety but gave no mind to his own. I had to put my own fears aside and constantly remind myself he knew what he was doing. I had to eventually stop watching. Every time Sidney was thrown to the ground, my heart would stop for a moment. It became an obsession for Sidney. He wasn't going to stop until he could master the horse and prove to not only the world, but mostly himself that he could do it.