The Black and Sugar

CH6: Proposition

A couple weeks passed, nothing changed, but the weather. The warm heat from the sun began getting colder, and the lavish green leaves began changing to orange shades. The sky became seemingly more cloudy, the air cooler, whispering with the wind. Horses worked daily around the sandy track, building up a wind in their lungs, and rippling muscles as hooves kissed the deep sand. They were of all builds and colors, but all of a common descendance, going back to the dark stallion who danced in his own paddock everyday. Except for one, the potential filled grey, whose silver tail whispered in the wind like the leaves.

The alarm clock went off in Alec's room, same time as it did every morning, and he rolled over on his bare chest to turn off the annoyance. He stood, and pulled on a t-shirt as he meandered to the window. The sun was peeking over the horizon, still below the high trees that graced it. A grey mist had settled over the farm, hiding one of the three barns from the view. Finally, he turned away to venture his way down to the closest of the three.

He pattered down the stairs, and through the front door of his house into the chilly air. The crisp rush of air that greeted him made him wish he'd brought out a jacket with him, but he didn't. He walked to the track, where every morning he went for a jog, preparing for the coming days. At least, when he was racing he would. The rest of the year his weight wasn't a priority, but with the coming season and the plan to take three of the horses to Florida for the winter, he decided to start running again.

About half an hour later, he stopped, putting his hands over his head, his chest heaving. He'd ran longer than usual, he'd had more to think about. Him and his racing team were supposed to leave tomorrow for Belmont, then two weeks after that, Florida. It would be busy, and full.

After he caught his breath, he walked to the large pasture near the barn. Only one horse ran through its domain, and with a strong wolf whistle, he came running. He thundered across the grass, his lush mane flowing behind him. His tail swished high in the air, his neck arched as he flowed across to the fence Alec stood at. He smiled watching the stallion, and hooked the leadline to his halter when he got close. Through the gate they went, into the big barn that held three other horses.

Alec opened the stall door and led him through, shutting it behind him, and walking along the alley, to the tall stairs that led to the apartment above the stalls. He didn't knock on the door, knowing Hope inside would be sleeping still.

He was right, she was lying quietly in the bed in the dark room. The shades over the window were black, he knew she hated any light shining through. "It's hard to sleep," she'd told him. "All that light. It's not right to sleep in a not dark room." It made him laugh, and he remembered the day they'd spent together yesterday, laying on the roof of the barn, watching the sun go down.

He sat in the chair in the corner, looking around the room he'd become so familiar with. On one wall, the picture of the grey stallion running through a field rested, the only thing gracing the wall. On the other two, numerous horses in numerous frames running barrels hung through the walls. He liked looking through them, seeing the many Quarter Horses she'd ran through her years of training. He chuckled to himself, thinking about last week, when she showed up to the farm with a yearling.

"I'm sorry, I saw an ad for him and couldn't help myself. I'm always looking to add new blood to my line of horses," she'd told him and Henry. The only person who liked Hope more than him was Henry, the old trainer loved hearing her many stories. He also shared her passion to wake up late also.

Alec felt himself dozing off in the chair when he heard her rustling in the sheets, waking up. She rolled over her side, looking at him with groggy eyes, and smiled. She shut her eyes again, as Alec walked over and sat down on the side of the bed. She had the sheets pulled up to her chin like always. She finally took a deep breath, and sat up, leaning her head against my shoulder.

"Hi..." she whispered, her blankets still wrapped around her shoulders. She burrowed her head in my shoulder, not quite awake yet. "You smell bad, again..." she groaned into my shoulder. I smiled, leaning my head against hers momentarily, then stood up, smiling as she sighed and rolled out the other side of the bed.

"Henry wanted to have breakfast with us, but I need a shower, as you can tell," I started, her chuckling lightly.

"I'll get ready," she said, stretching. I smiled, and walked out the door, and down the stairs. I went back to the house, took a shower, and put on a new set of clothes. By the time I was walking down the stairs again, the air was filled with the aroma of cooking food. I went to the kitchen to see Henry sitting at the table, and Hope at the stove, music wafting through the air.

"Ah Alec! Good to finally see you! Did you know Hope makes some extremely grand French Toast?" Henry said, looking over the top of the newspaper he was reading. I rolled my eyes, walking over to Hope as she flipped a sausage patty over.

She turned to me, looking more awake, and smiled. "No, go wait with Henry! It'll be just a minute, then he can indulge us with whatever big announcement he had for us." I nodded, turning around and sitting down at the small table. Within minutes, there was a plate in front of me, and the three of us sat together, talking and laughing.

After our plates were empty, Henry finally found the minute to tell us his big annoucement. "So, you both know we're leaving for Belmont tomorrow, but I'm thinking of a detour before we head to Florida. You see, I got this letter," he started, reaching in his back pocket and pulling out an envelope. "It's from Thomas Grant. He's putting himself a race together, and he says it's going to be the biggest one of the decade. There's two hundred thousand guaranteed to the winner, invitation only. The only kicker is the entry fee is five thousand dollars, which is a lot more than I would ever like to pay. But I think we can win it." I nodded, looking at Hope from the corner of my eye. She looked bored with the news, like it wasn't all she was hoping for.

"So we're taking the Black with us as well, no big deal," I said. Henry nodded, continuing.

"Yes, I want him to come with us, but I don't think I want him to be the one running in the race, even though that's who they want us to run. No, I think this is Sugar's race calling." Hope's face changed, now to excitement.

"So you want to run Sugar in a race against the best of the best horses in the world? You really think he's that good?" Hope seemed entirely surprised, and entirely elated at this news. Henry gruffly nodded.

"I do. We'll give him an out in a small race in Belmont while we're there, then we'll decide for sure. But that's why we're bringing along the Black, in case Sugar doesn't show me he's got what it takes to be great." So it was decided, Sugar, the Black, and two colts would leave with them in the morning for Belmont.