Devils And Unicorns

Chapter 14

The Courage Stakes triumph had done much to improve the atmosphere in the yard. Florence felt much more peaceful about proceedings, even on the days when Last Unicorn's temperament was at its worst. Zac, seemingly more positive about the strength of his relationship with the horse, was working him with more confidence and a willingness to listen to the instructions he was given – even by Charlie. Charlie himself was noticeably more relaxed, and now leaned casually on the fence when he watched the horses work on the gallops rather than gripping it with white-knuckled fists as he had done on many occasions before.

Last Unicorn ran four more times in the following weeks, winning three of those races. His rise to the top level of competition was dizzying as his confidence grew. Eventually, he issued a field of nine with a contemptuous thrashing in the Sir Garnet Stakes at Ramnock, before running a very close second behind Jersey Devil's old rival Tierney in the Ostborough Stakes.

The results were encouraging. Until she watched him battle Tierney within a nostril of victory in the Ostborough, Florence had harboured no realistic hopes of Last Unicorn ever being a Gold Cup horse. She truly had no idea whether or not Charlie had; it was so difficult to say with him. Every time she thought she was beginning to understand him, or knew him a little better, he would do or say something to baffle her completely.

Last Unicorn, a Perchborn Gold Cup contender?

There were three issues to consider before such a prospect could be addressed.

First, as promising as he had become, Last Unicorn was currently unqualified to compete in the Perchborn Gold Cup; it was open only to horses who had previously won at the top level. His failure to pass Tierney in the dying strides of the Ostborough Stakes had seen his only chance so far ruined, and only the Reek Marsh Stakes at Bailey's Point was left to run before the big race itself.

Second, there was the little matter of the Gold Cup entry fee. The proceeds of Janeysheart's sale had long gone, whittled away by the daily grind of bills and taxes. Florence was nearly behind on several payments. If they wanted to run a horse in the Gold Cup, they would have to use up all of Last Unicorn's winnings to date and anything he earned between now and then. Whichever way they played it, they were at risk of cash flow problems later on.

Third, there was the matter of Jersey Devil. The mare was capable, already qualified and in good form. Surely she had just as much of a claim to a spot in the race, if not more?

Florence could not make these decisions by herself.

At first, in passing, she had tried to talk to Martha about it. But her friend was typically misguided in her suggestions, suggesting the entry of both Jersey Devil and Last Unicorn with Dissent as a pacemaker, but falling into deafening silence when reminded that they did not have nearly enough money to enter three horses into the race and that Last Unicorn was still not qualified.

In the end, Florence felt like she had little choice than to speak to Charlie about it. She was not too downhearted about having to seek his assistance again; after all, she had suspected all along that this was what she would end up doing eventually.

"Charlie, can I speak to you?" She leant around the frame of his open stable door one balmy evening. He was sat on his bed, leaning back against the wall with his nose buried in some unidentified book. When she spoke, he looked up at her with a glance that suggested mild annoyance at being disturbed.

"Yeah..." He coughed, tossing the book down and stretching his arms once towards the roof before he leapt up from the bed.

Outside, Florence waited for him to appear beside her at the fence overlooking the empty ménage. Only rays of moonlight occupied it now, casting silvery shadows off the tiny contours impressed in the sand by a thousand hoof prints. The ocean on the horizon was dark, but scored with a white band of the same reflected moonlight. It was a beautiful night; the cloudless sky was painted with stars and the warm sea breeze carried with it the scent of the wild herbs growing on the other side of the school. She took a deep breath. At first, she felt invigorated for it; within seconds, as she heard Charlie's footsteps behind her, she suddenly became aware of a fluttering sensation in her stomach that verged on unpleasant.