part five.
Ms. Chafey turned and walked to the far end of the barn and through a small hallway. Up a flight of stairs and through a doorway. The foursome finally entered the luxurious office. As luxurious an office can be and still be in the loft of a barn.
“Have a seat,” she gestured to the overstuffed leather couch and several armchairs scattered around the room. Susan sat on the couch with Becca. Ruby perched on the edge of it, while Ms. Chafey sat in an armchair.
“Becca?” Ms. Chafey nodded to the horsewoman. Becca nodded and turned to face Ruby.
“Ruby,” she started. “Ruby, Ruby, where do I begin?” Ruby’s heart was beating incredibly fast. She was surprised she didn’t keel over. Instead, she fidgeted nervously. “Do you know what it’s like to have something rather expensive only to not have it work for you? Then some stranger comes along and poof—it starts working.” Ruby’s eyes darted to her mother and back to Becca.
“Well that’s what it’s like for Southbrook Stables right now. Southbrook Stables—owned by Ms. Chafey here,” Becca nodded to the other woman, giving her a quick smile, “is home to a rather expensive horse.” Ruby felt a cold wave of dread. Becca were talking about Sullivan. Since Sullivan was so expensive and went well for her, they didn’t want her riding him anymore. That didn’t sound logical, but Ruby was still nervous. “Now, his breed isn’t that rare, but it’s not completely common, either. He’s a Hungarian Warmblood with incredible lines and an incredible trainer with an incredible history which includes winning incredible prizes.”
“Becca,” Ms. Chafey interrupted. “Stop using the word ‘incredible’,” she admonished. Becca grinned sheepishly and shrugged apologetically.
“So yes. I am talking about ten million dollars. Sullivan is that horse. And he’s a pain in the—“ Becca cleared her throat. “He tends to be stubborn and has only performed for one person. His old trainer.” Becca’s eyes shifted to Ms. Chafey whose cold gray eyes had softened a bit. “Numerous—and I mean numerous—people have ridden him. He would either not move at all or go completely crazy, bucking, rearing, bolting—you name it, he did it. That’s why I am completely and utterly surprised at how perfect you two went together. Go together.”
Ruby blinked and Becca continued.
“Therefore I have a proposition for you. A huge three day Event is coming up in the middle of June. I know we’re at the end of May now so that only gives you, say, two weeks, but there’s a reason behind this. Reason being Sullivan does us no good around here if no one can ride him, and I’ve never seen a horse and rider belong to each other as much as you two do. Sullivan may be worth ten million, but I would sell him to you for half that—five million. You competing in this show with him will put his name—and Southbrook Stables’—out there. If you win, you get 9.5 million dollars as prize money. The business aspect is that we would have to take 10%, giving you 8.5 million. After state taxes of 6%, you would have a little over eight million dollars. That’s more than enough to buy Sullivan from us—and a bargain for what he’s worth.”
“That’s if you win,” Ms. Chafey put in.
“Now,” Becca said, shooting Ms. Chafey a look. “I watched you two today and I personally believe you can beat everyone at the Event, and I’ve been around this circuit for a while. It’s a top rated show which requires the best of everything. You wouldn’t have to worry about a single thing. We’ll take care of trailering, and we’ll even buy you clothing for the Event. All you have to do is say yes.”
Ruby had been sitting silently while Becca had talked, quietly absorbing everything Becca was saying. To own Sullivan? To compete in a top rated Event? Yes, Ruby had shown before, but never in an Event. Plus with any extra money, she could help her mother out with the financial problems they’ve been having lately. There was every reason to do this, and none not to.
Ruby turned to her mother and silently asked her what she was thinking. Susan’s expression was thoughtful as she, too, absorbed this information.
“Why would you do this?” She asked Becca and Ms. Chafey. Ruby groaned internally, wondering why her mother might mess up this chance.
“I speak the truth when I say Sullivan is sitting around here going to waste. Going to waste and wasting us. He isn’t earning his keep around here and hasn’t been for the past five years. Feed, bedding, vitamins and supplements, any medical problems. We have to pay for all of that,” Becca said.
“I know we look like a well off barn,” Ms. Chafey suddenly put in, unusually quiet. “We’ve had to get quite a bit of loans and owe a good chunk of money. That ten percent of the winnings we’d get would go towards that, as would the five million for selling you Sullivan. Then, if you decide to board Sullivan here, at least everything would be getting paid for. Sadly enough, that’s business. It’s all about money in the end. We can spare enough to clothe you and trailer you there—even put you up in a hotel for the duration of the event if you wanted. We wouldn’t do this for just anybody, mind you,” she paused. “We truly think Ruby and Sullivan will sweep away the field, so to speak. If there was even the slightest chance they wouldn’t, we wouldn’t make this offer.”
Now Ruby was squirming uncomfortably in her seat. That was a lot of pressure on her and Sullivan to do well. To win. In an Event. Still, if they won, the possibilities were endless and brought nothing but good for all involved.
“It’s okay with me if Ruby wants to do this,” Susan finally said. A whoosh of air escaped from Ruby’s lungs. Now that she had her mother’s permission, it was simply up to her. She broke out into a cold sweat just thinking of how the whole of Southbrook Stables were counting on her. How Sullivan was counting on her to help him be the best he can. Ruby would bet even her own mother was counting on her to help them out of their own money troubles.
Ruby’s mind drifted to her lesson. How perfect everything had been. Sure, a bit of a rough start, but then—paradise. Sullivan knew what she wanted before she gave him cues. He knew what she was thinking. To be a partner with a horse like that—to own a horse like that—was something Ruby couldn’t possibly give up.
“I’ll do it.”
