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*****
Clay was not prepared for the horse to throw him. Certainly, it wasn't the first time he'd been unsaddled and the bone jarring thump as he hit the ground was all too familiar. However, the sensation of the hoof clipping his chest was a new experience. As he lay on his back gasping for the breath that had just been kicked out of him he was vaguely aware of Lexy's cry.
Dust kicked by the retreating horse was swirling in his vision. He could see Whitcha standing a short distance away looking at him reproachfully as if to say "What made you think I would jump that?" Before Clay could continue the conversation, and perhaps ask, "Why'd you have to do that?" his view of Whitcha was blocked by Lexy's anxious face.
"Clay? Are you alright?"
Wanting to downplay both his pain and his embarrassment Clay tried to push himself up. He didn't get very far before a stabbing bolt of pain shot across his chest. He gasped and decided to stay on his back for a moment more.
"I'm getting Pa," Lexy announced and moved out of Clay's field of vision.
Ned was walking away from the house towards the stables when he heard Lexy calling him. He turned with surprise and some concern as his daughter's tone spelled alarm, not excitement.
"Come quickly!" was all she managed to gasp out as she tugged his arm and pulled him back the way from which she'd come.
Rounding the corner Lexy broke into a run but Ned, taking in the two horses and the jumping course, could not see the urgency. Then his heart leapt to his throat and he jogged after her. Clay was lying in the middle of the course.
Ned's first fear brought the worst possible scenario to his mind. Relief came with the movement of Clay's hands, clenching and unclenching into fists.
"Clay?" Lexy knelt beside him. "I brought Pa." Clay managed a weak smile for his sister before Ned's form came into view.
"What happened?" asked Ned, more to Lexy but it was Clay who answered.
"Horse threw me," he told Ned through clenched teeth. "And then clipped me," he added, wincing.
Ned began doing a check of Clay's limbs, looking for broken bones.
"Where'd he get you?" he asked his son gently.
"Chest," wheezed Clay. "Up, up..."
As his father pressed lightly on his shoulders Clay cried out. He bit his lower lip.
"Yeah, 'bout there."
Ned turned back to Lexy who was watching with wide eyes. He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Go find Isaac, or Sean, and tell him to go for the doctor."
Lexy nodded but hesitated.
"He'll be fine," Ned assured her. "He's just gonna be a little sore for awhile."
*****
Ned reentered Clay's room after seeing the doctor out. Lexy, seeking solace, was standing with an arm around Sean. Alice was fussing over Clay's comfort. It was a needless task and a thankless one since Clay would have none of it. Finally, exasperated by his behaviour, Alice stood back with her hands on her hips. She looked like it was taking all her strength to bite back a lecture.
"Broken collarbone," Ned announced. He had suspected as much. And he knew what it was going to mean for Clay. Ned appreciated that the doctor had confirmed this as he suspected Clay wasn't going to be happy with the recommended treatment.
"So he's going to be ok?" Lexy asked.
Ned took another step into the room.
"He's going to be good as new...in about four weeks or so."
"Four weeks!" exploded Clay, trying to push himself up and instantly regretting it. He winced and swatted away Alice's move to help him.
"The doctor recommends bed rest for at least a week, and depending on how you feel then, maybe some light activity," Ned continued.
"The race is in three weeks," stated Sean. "Will he be able to ride by then?"
"No," Ned said curtly. "No riding for at least four weeks. Now, why don't we clear out of here and let Clay rest." He guided Lexy and Alice towards the door.
Sean looked down at Clay just to be sure his brother didn't want company. But Clay avoided Sean's gaze by glaring up at the ceiling, his mouth set in a grim, angry line. Sean closed the door quietly behind him.
*****
Lexy found Jeremy sitting alone in a corner of the barn. He was flipping an envelope over and over. Although Lexy did not know it, Jeremy hoped with each flip that the words would suddenly make some sense to him. He sighed.
"Pa's looking for you," Lexy told him, making him jump slightly. The envelope fell from his fingers.
"You startled me!" he said, unnecessarily. Lexy retrieved the envelope.
"You got another letter?" Lexy well remembered the excitement of the last letter Jeremy received.
"Will you help me read it?" he asked, sheepishly.
"Sure." Lexy sat next to him.
With some prompting and guidance Jeremy managed to decipher the words. Although a painfully slow process, he felt some pride when they reached the "Yours respectfully" at the bottom of the page.
The proud feeling was quickly overshadowed by a tremendous weight of worry as he somberly reflected on the letter's contents.
"What are you going to do?" asked Lexy after a few moments.
"I don't know," Jeremy confessed. He laughed a little, nervously, and looked away. "I really don't know."
Lexy stood.
"Why don't we go to Pa and ask him if..."
"No!"
The force of Jeremy's negative reaction to her suggestion surprised Lexy. Realizing this he softened his tone.
"No. I want to try to sort through this one on my own first."
"How are you going to get that much money without help?" Lexy asked, with a practical tone.
Jeremy shook his head.
"I'll work something out. But please promise me you won't tell anyone."
Lexy looked skeptical.
"Try to understand," Jeremy continued. "Your family has already done so much for me. I just want to try to handle this without asking for more help."
"But Pa would help you. I know he would!" Lexy urged.
"Please Lexy, promise me you won't talk to him about this."
Lexy couldn't understand his reluctance to seek out Ned's advice, but she could tell he was serious.
"I promise. I won't tell anyone," she vowed.
Jeremy folded up the letter and put it back in the envelope.
"Thanks Lex."
"So this is where you two are hiding!" Ned's voice came from the door of the barn. He spied the envelope in Jeremy's hand. "Another letter?" Ned wondered with amusement what chaos this correspondence might bring.
"Jeremy read it all by himself," Lexy informed Ned proudly. "Well, sort of. I helped a little."
"You helped a lot!" Jeremy said laughing.
Satisfied that they were safe from chaos, for the moment anyway, Ned changed the subject.
"I wanted to talk to you about riding for us in the race," he said to Jeremy.
"But Clay..."started Jeremy.
"Clay isn't in any shape to race and he knows it," Ned interrupted. "Now he's understandably disappointed but that doesn't change the situation."
"Well then." Jeremy didn't know what to say. The last time he'd raced had been tense in the Logan household.
"I think you stand a good chance of ranking high," Ned told him as they walked out of the barn. "I've seen the competition and I've seen what you can do."
Jeremy brushed off the compliment with a short laugh.
"Alright then, let's get to work!" Ned said.
****
Alice carried a tray of clean silver into the dining room. From upstairs she could hear Clay's negative reaction to Lexy's offer to read to him. It was going to be a long week of bed rest for him if he didn't change his attitude.
Setting down the tray Alice peered out the window. She could see Sean and Pa, who were conferring with Isaac. But it was time for supper so she'd better start rounding them up.
"Lexy!" she called up the stairway, hoping to prevent further outbursts from Clay. "Is Jeremy up there?"
"He's outside," was the muffled response.
Alice left Lexy scolding Clay and opened the door to call in her family. Jeremy was sitting on the porch steps.
"Oh! There you are," Alice said and sat next to him.
"Here I am," agreed Jeremy without much interest.
"Everything alright?" Alice asked softly.
"Let's see." Jeremy rolled his eyes upwards as though pondering. "Yup. All's well with the world."
Alice didn't believe him and she falsely attributed his unease to nerves about racing.
"You'll do fine, you know," she tried to reassure him. "Last time you ranked third. And remember how much fun it was?"
"Clay would win," Jeremy said, trying not to sound bitter. He knew it was foolish to compare himself to a man who'd grown up around horses. But Jeremy couldn't forget that he was representing the Logan family and the Logan's family business was horses.
"If I don't rank high, it could reflect badly on..."
"Nonsense!" burst out Alice. "You think Clay's never lost a race?"
"Well, not recently," Jeremy said with a hint of a grin. His expression grew serious again. "I just don't want to disappoint anyone. I'm not..." He hesitated then plunged on. "I'm just not used to people having any expectations of me."
"Ah yes, expectations," Alice repeated with a nod. "Well, since you're not used to it I'll give you a quick and easy lesson about Pa's expectations."
Jeremy gave her a smile to acknowledge her sympathy.
"Pa expects only one thing from you at that race. For you to do your best. How that pans out in the ranking at the end isn't very important to him."
"How can you say that?" protested Jeremy. "Winning isn't important? Of course it's important. Otherwise why do we do it?"
Alice held up a hand to stop his outburst.
"Now I'm not saying he'd be unhappy if you won. I'm not saying he wouldn't be thrilled! But as long as you try hard, give it your all, as long as you do that, then he'll never be disappointed in you."
As Jeremy still looked troubled she added,
"Remember when Lexy said sometimes spirit counts more than speed?" Jeremy nodded. "Well, who do think taught her that?"
Jeremy smiled and nodded again, conceding the point. Lexy walked out the door.
"Where is everyone? I thought it was supper time," she said.
Alice stood.
"It is. Lexy, go and call the others and I'll get the food to the table."
*****
Jeremy had almost made it all the way into Lexington before he stopped. His horse, unbothered by the sudden interruption of their pace, took the opportunity to graze. Jeremy stared glumly at the path.
What was he thinking? Did he think he could just magically conjure up money where none was? What was he going to do? Steal it?
Jeremy remembered the last wallet he'd stolen - for Clay because it was the only way he knew how to fix the situation. Clay had insisted they return it.
Jeremy shook his head with disgust at himself for contemplating trying the same trick. It was one thing to do that with their backs to the wall in a big city where no one knew them. There was no way he could pull it off in a town like Lexington.
And if he couldn't pull it off...if he was caught... He'd promised Ned Logan to leave behind all con games. He'd be on the street for sure if he stole from the Logan's friends and business associates.
Jeremy turned his horse around to head back to the house. Asking for Ned's help was surely preferable to facing his wrath even if he dreaded the conversation.
So intent was Jeremy on rehearsing a speech for Ned that he didn't notice the men until they were nearly beside him. Surprised by their presence and close proximity Jeremy grew cautious. He couldn't remember seeing them around.
"Afternoon, Mr. Bradford," said the one on his right.
"Hello," responded Jeremy slowly.
"I understand you're riding in the race," the one on his left drawled. "For the Logans, I do believe?"
"That's right," replied Jeremy coolly. He was sure now that they meant trouble; he just wasn't certain exactly what kind of trouble.
"We have a proposition for you," the one on his right told him.
Jeremy said nothing to this. He didn't think he was going to like this proposition. He considered trying to make a break for it but rejected the idea. Even if they weren't riding so close, they were undoubtedly carrying weapons.
"We'd appreciate it if you didn't win that race," said the left side man, as though chatting with a neighbour.
Jeremy laughed. Partly, it was from nervousness, and partly from relief. If that was all they wanted it wasn't going too hard giving it to them. Still, it was always best to bluff when you didn't have the cards.
"I'm sure you would," he replied, eyes front.
"In fact," continued the left man with that annoyingly chatty tone. "We'd appreciate it so much we're willing to compensate you for your loss."
Jeremy twisted around to stare at him with amazement.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"I assure you, Mr. Bradford, it is no joke," the man on his right said somberly.
"What say, $250 now, just as a show of our gratitude, and another $250 after the race is over," suggested the man on the left.
"Let me get this right," Jeremy said, astonished. "You're going to pay me to lose the race?"
"Not precisely, Mr. Bradford. We are paying you not to win the race," corrected the man on the right. "You can place anywhere else you like, as long as it isn't first."
Jeremy didn't think he had any chance of doing better than third. Would taking the money be so dishonest since he wasn't going to win anyway? Jeremy pondered this. Faced with asking Ned for money, or taking it for doing nothing more than he was going to do already...
"You've got a deal," he told them.
"But Mr. Bradford," the man on his right warned. "Not a word of this to anyone."
"I'm not stupid!" protested Jeremy.
"Aye and I'm sure you're not at that," agreed the man on his left. "But still we wouldn't want anything to happen to that lovely little Logan lass, now would we?"
"No," Jeremy said, upset at the thought.
"Good. Here you go then." And with that he tossed Jeremy a bundle of bills. "We'll see you after race."
"Good day, Mr. Bradford."
As they rode off Jeremy stopped his horse and examined the bundle. He couldn't believe what had just happened. It was like an answer to a prayer.
Jeremy started back home at a fast gait. He felt vaguely uneasy with a tiny prickling of conscience. He knew what he'd agreed to do was wrong. He also knew Ned Logan would take a very dim view of what had transpired. But more than this he felt overwhelming relief that his problem had been solved.
*****
Jeremy found Lexy working on her lessons in the drawing room. The house was quiet. He had already checked to be sure that Ned wasn't in his study.
"Hey Lex," he said jovially, sitting next to her.
"Hey yourself," she grumbled. "Pa's not happy you missed your lessons."
"Don't worry," Jeremy said. "I'll make up for it tomorrow. Lexy, will you help me with something?"
"I've got work to do," Lexy complained.
"But look!" Jeremy pulled the bundle of money from his pocket. "I've got the money. I just need help sending it."
Lexy's eyes widened at the sight of the bills.
"Where did you get that?" she asked.
"I can't go into details now," Jeremy said hastily. Lexy looked at him suspiciously.
"You didn't take it from people, did you?" she asked, her voice low.
"No." Jeremy shook his head. "No. Absolutely not. It was given, not taken."
Lexy looked down at her page of sums. She wanted to believe that Jeremy hadn't stolen the money but she couldn't believe someone had just given it to him either.
"It's sort of like a loan, see?" Jeremy tried to explain. "Will you help?"
The loan explanation made more sense to Lexy, although she was still perplexed by Jeremy's reluctance to talk to her father. Still, helping him was a lot more interesting than arithmetic.
"Ok, let's go," she agreed.
*****
Ned was standing by the track watching Jeremy practice when Sean approached. They followed Jeremy's progress in silence.
"He's doing well," commented Sean.
"That he is," agreed Ned, with some pride.
"I've just come from the Jockey Club," Sean told his father. "And there was some news about the race."
Jeremy had finished his circuit and now turned around to ride over to where they were standing.
"What news?" Jeremy heard Ned ask.
"It seems both Harry Griffith and Tom Henderson have pulled their horses out."
"Why would they do that?" Jeremy asked with a sinking feeling.
"No riders," Sean said. "Colonel Griffith's was injured yesterday in training and Phil Henderson is in jail."
"In jail!" exclaimed Ned with surprise.
"What for?" questioned Jeremy sharply.
"Being drunk and disorderly, mostly. He instigated a brawl at the saloon. Poor Bob Wilson needed stitches after it was all through."
"That doesn't sound much like Phil," Ned mused.
"From what folks are saying he was goaded into it," Sean added. "Although...no one seems to remember exactly what happened."
Ned shook his head and then looked up at Jeremy who was staring at his hands.
"Well that narrows the competition down a bit," Ned told Jeremy, trying to be cheerful.
"I guess," Jeremy mumbled.
"Go take care of the horse," suggested Ned. "It's almost time for your lessons."
"Yes sir." Jeremy seemed relieved to retreat. Ned watched him go, with a puzzled look.
"Pa?" Sean's voice brought Ned's attention back to his son. "Colonel Griffith said he was going to stop by to see you about something."
*****
Ned ushered Harry into his study. His old friend looked worried.
"I'm sorry to hear you're out of the race," Ned said, offering a cigar. Harry took the cigar but didn't light it.
"Ned, I'm very disturbed about something. Very disturbed." He sat down and fiddled with the cigar.
Ned sat at his desk.
"What's on your mind, Harry?" he asked seriously.
"I was wondering..." Harry paused as though reluctant to proceed. Ned nodded to encourage him. "Clay's accident. Was there...anything about it to make you think it wasn't an accident?"
Ned's eyebrows flew up momentarily and then his forehead creased.
"What on earth would make you ask that?"
"What happened to Clay?" persisted Harry.
Ned made a non-committal gesture.
"He was trying the jumping course with Lexy. Foolish of him but... Anyway, his horse balked at the jump and reared, throwing him. He got a clip to the collarbone in the fall." Ned shrugged. "It was stupid and avoidable if he'd been thinking, but it was an accident."
Harry was silent.
"What happened to your rider?" Ned asked softly.
"Bad fall," Harry said shortly. "His saddle had been...tampered with."
Ned's eyes widened.
"You think someone was trying to hurt him?"
"More than that, Ned," Harry said somberly. "I think someone wanted him out of the race. The same someone who wanted Phil Henderson out of the race. And Clay too, if he weren't already out of it."
Ned sat forward in his chair.
"Harry, do you realize what you're saying?"
"Yes, I do," Harry replied quietly. "I take it you've heard nothing that would make you suspicious?"
Ned shook his head, leaning back in his chair once more.
"This is the first I've heard of the possibility."
"And Jeremy has had no 'accidents'? No trouble that you know of?"
"None," Ned said. "But then, he probably wouldn't be considered a serious threat..." His voice trailed off.
"I don't know about that, Ned." Harry managed a weak smile. "I'd say he's a threat now."
*****
Jeremy paced in his room. Oh what a mess! He couldn't see any clear way out of this. He'd stewed all through the lessons, barely aware of the tutor's words.
He'd taken the money. Not only that but he'd sent it to his mother so he couldn't return it.
He'd agreed not to win. But what hadn't seemed likely at the time was now a possibility.
And he'd promised not to tell anyone. The thinly veiled threat directed at the younger Logan daughter weighed heavily on Jeremy's mind.
How could he tell Ned? What would happen then? But how could he not?
Jeremy sat on his bed with a thump. He thought he'd never been so miserable. Alice's words came back to him. "...as long as you try hard, give it your all, as long as you do that, then he'll never be disappointed in you."
Somehow Jeremy felt certain that Ned would know if he didn't try his best to win. Better to tell Ned now than to try to explain it later.
Feeling a little better, but not that much, for having made a decision, Jeremy left his room in search of the senior Logan.
*****
Clay's eyes followed his father as the older Logan paced the room. He glanced over at Sean who looked uneasy but calm. Pa, well he looked like a cannon about to blow. Ned stopped moving and turned to Clay.
"You're sure there's no way your fall was anything but an accident?" he asked sharply.
Clay opened his mouth but it was Sean who answered.
"Pa," he said reasonably, "it was three weeks ago."
"It was just bad luck," put in Clay. "It was just a stupid..."
"Yes, it was stupid!" interrupted Ned. He resumed his pacing. If Clay still hadn't felt sore he would have slouched in his chair.
"Pa." Sean tried again to be the voice of reason. "We don't know that Colonel Griffith's theory is anything more than just a theory. It could just be a coincidence..."
Ned interrupted again.
"A coincidence? Is it a coincidence that his rider's girth strap was cut? Is that what you'd call a coincidence?"
Sean looked to Clay for support but Clay was silent. It was a change for him to have his father rant about someone else and he didn't want to bring that wrath down upon himself.
"And Phil Henderson?" continued Ned, slightly calmer. "You know Phil. Is he the type to start some kind of bar room brawl?"
"I agree it looks contrived but we don't have any proof," stated Sean.
"You don't suppose William Winters is behind this, do you?" suggested Clay timidly.
Ned swatted the idea away with a hand.
"William's not smart enough to pull something like this off. And Vivian wouldn't let him anyway. The Winters have to do business in this town."
"I don't know, Pa," Clay rushed on with enthusiasm for his idea. "He'll do just about anything to win. Remember how Clancy was attacked before the election? And William once tried to hit my hands with his crop during a race. 'Course I still won but..."
"Clay!" Ned snapped and then sighed. "There's a big difference between trying to throw another rider off stride and trying to fix a race."
"Results the same," mumbled Clay, shifting uncomfortably.
Ned brought his fists down heavily on his desk causing both his sons to jump.
"DAMN this makes me angry! Anyone who'd throw a race is no better than a horse thief! Hanging's too good for them!"
"Perhaps you'd prefer a firing squad?" suggested Sean.
Ned sat in his chair, his anger spent. He ran a tired hand through his hair and looked at his boys.
"What are you going to do?" asked Clay. Ned pondered a moment.
"We are going to carry on, business as usual."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" questioned Sean.
"If we pull out now then they really have fixed it, haven't they," Ned said. He stood, feeling more decisive. "Now Jeremy stands a good chance of winning that race tomorrow and I sincerely hope he does! Not only for his sake, and ours, but to thwart the despicable efforts of those responsible for this mess."
*****
Jeremy ran out of the house blindly, seeking only to get away from the sound of Ned's voice. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop but Ned's anger had made it difficult to miss hearing. No better than a thief.... Hanging too good for him....
Jeremy fled before he could hear more. He couldn't face Ned with the truth now.
*****
Alice approached her father with caution. She had heard most of his outburst even through a closed door. Sean gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder as he left the room. Ned seemed lost in thought.
"Pa?" she called to get his attention. "Can I talk to you about something?"
Ned smiled at her and tried to relax but the furrow of worry didn't quite leave his brow.
"What is it sweetheart?"
Alice marvelled at how quickly Pa could switch from anger to gentleness.
"It's about Jeremy. I saw him leave the house just now and he looked really upset. I think...I think he's worried about the race tomorrow. I think he's worried you'll be disappointed in him for some reason."
Ned stood up and took her hand.
"Well, finally a problem I can do something about!" he said. "Where is he?"
*****
As he walked towards the barn, Ned berated himself for his earlier outburst. If Jeremy had overheard then he would really be feeling the pressure to win now. Not just for the sake of winning, but to foil a bunch of no good thugs... Ned felt his blood begin to boil again so he took a moment to try to calm down before entering the barn.
He could hear Isaac's calm voice recounting a tale of a past race...about Clay being so nervous he'd nearly put the saddle on backwards. Ned smiled with the memory.
Jeremy did look strained, he decided and Ned gave himself more chiding for not being aware of it sooner.
"It's hard to imagine Clay nervous about a race. He's always so confident," Jeremy commented.
"Well he's got a right to that confidence," Isaac said gently. "That boy was practically born on a saddle."
Suddenly Jeremy felt, rather than saw Ned's presence and he stiffened slightly, expecting the axe to fall. Sensing Jeremy's unease, Isaac looked around. Ned came forward.
"It's natural to feel nervous before a race and if you think Clay doesn't feel it it's just because he hides it well. He's had a lot of practice at that," Ned told Jeremy.
"I suppose," agreed Jeremy.
"I don't want you to put unnecessary pressure on yourself by making comparisons with Clay. You're a good rider. You've practiced hard and you've learned a lot. Now just go out there and do your best."
Jeremy felt a little sick to his stomach but smiled wanly.
"That's all I ask," Ned added, gently.
*****
Funny that Jeremy had never before noticed the difference in view one got from a horse. Prior to mounting he hadn't been able to see the two men who'd paid him to lose. But once on his horse almost immediately he spotted them. The chatty one nodded and tipped his hat but otherwise paid him no attention.
Alice handed him his gloves.
"Remember, this is supposed to be fun," she teased.
Jeremy's smile was a little sad.
"I'll try to remember that."
Alice retreated to join the rest of the Logans in the crowd.
While they moved into position Jeremy wondered which of the other riders was the one designated to win. And which of the others had been paid off like him.
Indecision plagued him like an annoying mosquito buzzing in his ear. As they made ready to start Jeremy suddenly realized how much he really wanted to win this race.
Money be damned! He'd deal with the consequences later. He always did.
*****
Even Clay couldn't help feeling a rush of pride as Jeremy crossed the finish line, winning by a length. Lexy jumped up and down and Sean spun Alice around. Ned, with the biggest grin, clapped Clay on the back, causing his son to wince slightly with discomfort.
'Were they this excited when I won?' Clay thought. He had to admit they were and this made him feel better as he moved forward to congratulate Jeremy.
Jeremy's grin was from ear to ear as he accepted hugs from the girls and handshakes from the boys. Ned, in a completely natural show of affection, swept him into a hug and said,
"I'm proud of you, son."
It was a moment Jeremy savored, all the more so because he knew it wouldn't last very long.
While he accepted his trophy, amid smiles and laughter and pats on the back, Jeremy’s eyes darted around the crowd. His smile froze in place when he spotted them. Not only did they seem unhappy, they looked menacing. The memory of their threat towards Lexy made Jeremy reach out to take her hand. She squeezed his fingers and beamed at him.
Jeremy knew that it was only the crowd and the public setting that protected him. Neither would shield him for very long.
*****
Ned knocked lightly on Jeremy’s door and entered. Jeremy was sitting on his bed. He seemed possessed by nervous energy, with his feet tapping and his fingers drumming on his legs. Ned smiled; he well remembered the adrenaline rush a win could give.
"You did well today, Jeremy," Ned said, as he stood in the doorway.
"Thank you," Jeremy replied.
Ned thought about telling him how his win had obstructed the threat of the fix. However, Jeremy already looked so serious Ned decided to save it for morning.
"I know you’re excited, but try to get some sleep," Ned suggested with a smile. He reached to pull the door towards him but stopped as Jeremy made a sound.
"Uh..." The words were sticking so Jeremy cleared his throat. "I wanted to thank you...for...well..."
"You’re welcome," Ned said, saving him. He turned to go once more.
"I’m worried about Lexy!" blurted out Jeremy.
"What about her?" asked Ned, puzzled.
"Just that...I’ve noticed she wanders off by herself a lot and well, ever since Clay was hurt I’ve been kind of worried, you know, that.... I just wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. Ever." Jeremy finished in a rush. He took a deep breath. "I care about her a lot," he added in a low voice.
"I know that," Ned said gently. "Get some sleep."
As he closed the door Ned pondered the conversation. Something wasn’t right and first thing tomorrow he’d talk to Lexy to find out what it was.
*****
As Ned walked into the dining room for breakfast Lexy shouted for him from upstairs.
"Pa! He’s gone! Jeremy’s gone!"
Sean and Alice, both already seated for the meal, stood to follow Ned back into the hall. Clay remained at the table.
"He’s probably already up and out with his horse," Clay suggested, unconcerned.
"Lexy?" Ned called up the stairs. She took a few steps down.
"No, he’s gone!" she insisted. "All of his things are missing, even the picture of his ma he had on his mirror."
Ned took the steps two at a time to join her. Lexy pulled him into Jeremy’s room.
"But I don’t understand," Alice said, confused. "He was so happy yesterday. He won!"
Ned grimly surveyed the room as he thought about the strange conversation he’d had with Jeremy last night.
"It doesn’t make any sense," agreed Sean. "Why would he leave? Where would he go?"
"And why didn’t he say goodbye?" added Lexy.
From the bottom of the stairs Clay called up,
"I’m going out to check the barn."
Ned suddenly realized that his children were all looking at him for some kind of explanation. The problem was he didn’t have one; he was just as perplexed as they were.
"Lexy," he said, guiding her to the bed where they sat. "Can you think of any reason why Jeremy would leave? Did he say anything to you? Anything at all?"
"No," Lexy said with a tone that was less than convincing.
"Lexy!" Alice said impatiently. "If you know something you have to tell us."
"Is Jeremy in some kind of trouble?" put in Sean.
"No," repeated Lexy, still without confidence.
"Sweetheart," began Ned gently.
"I promised him!" Lexy burst out. She stood and pulled away from her father. "You can’t make me break my promise. That’s not right."
"I only want to help Jeremy," Ned told her, as he tried to stay calm. "And I can’t do that unless I know what’s going on. I don’t want you to break your promise. But I want you to think about whether keeping it might hurt Jeremy. You don’t want him to get hurt, do you?"
"What makes you think...?" Sean began but was stopped by Ned’s sharp look.
"All I did was help him send the money," Lexy said quietly, her eyes cast down. "He told me he didn’t steal it. But he didn’t want you to know so I promised not to say anything."
"What money?" urged Ned. His hands grasped her upper arms and turned her towards him. "Where did you send it?"
"We sent it to the hospital for his ma," Lexy explained. "It was $250."
"Where would he get that much money?" Sean asked amazed.
Ned had involuntarily tightened his grip on Lexy’s arms.
"Ow, Pa!" she protested. "I don’t know where he got it. He wouldn’t tell me," she insisted.
Ned stood abruptly and moved out of the room swiftly, calling back to them,
"We have to go after him. We’ve got to organize a search to find him. Alice, get us some food to take...." His instructions disappeared with his voice as he went out the door. Alice and Sean scrambled after him leaving Lexy glumly in Jeremy’s deserted room.
"I’m sorry," she told the empty space softly.
*****
Clay was walking back to the house when Ned overtook him.
"His horse is gone," Clay confirmed. "So the only question is why he would..."
"We know why," Sean interrupted as he caught up to them.
"We do?" asked Alice, just behind Sean.
Ned stopped, with his hands on his hips, and mentally kicked himself for being so completely blind.
"I think Jeremy was bribed to lose that race," he told them. He turned to see their reactions. Clay and Alice had twin expressions of shock on their faces and Sean looked decidedly unhappy.
"But he won the race!" protested Clay. "So then why..." His voice trailed off. "Oh."
"He’s probably headed towards his mother," Sean suggested.
Ned nodded agreement.
"We’ll go in that direction but organize some others to cover the other roads." Sean moved away to gather up some volunteers.
"I’ll get that food for you," Alice said faintly, whirling around to return to the house.
Ned resumed his course to the barn.
"Pa." Clay jogged after him. "I want to come too."
"No," was Ned’s short reply.
"But Pa I can ride!" protested Clay. "Sure I’m still a bit sore but..."
"No riding for four weeks," Ned reminded him. "You’ve got a few days to go on that."
"A few days!" burst out Clay. "But this is an emergency!"
"I need you here," Ned told him as they entered the barn.
"What for?" complained Clay.
Ned stopped to face his angry son. Despite his anxiety, which made him want to snap at Clay, he had to make the younger man understand.
"I think whoever’s behind all this threatened Jeremy. Last night he...expressed concern for Lexy’s safety," he told Clay. "I didn’t know what he meant at the time, but I think I have a pretty good idea now."
Clay’s eyes widened.
"But Pa," he began.
"Clay, please! Please, just stay here with the girls," Ned said with a tone that didn’t invite further discourse on the matter.
"Yes sir," Clay agreed with a nod.
*****
Of all the things John Turner enjoyed about his position with the Winters, and there were many, the Jockey Club had to rank near the top. It offered him undeniably satisfying opportunities to stir up trouble.
"A very interesting outcome yesterday," he said to Harry Griffith.
"Not so surprising though," Harry replied. "Ned Logan has some fine horses."
"Still, his rider wasn’t exactly experienced," continued Turner, as he puffed on a cigar. "It seems unlikely that the would have won had some horses not been scratched. Your horse, for example."
Harry Griffith gave Turner a wry smile but said nothing.
"I know you think someone purposely removed certain competitors in an attempt to fix the race. Given the outcome I’d say we know who that was."
Harry gave a short laugh.
"I know you’re relatively new to these parts, Mr. Turner, but surely you’re not suggesting Ned Logan fixed the race? Don’t be absurd!"
A few of the others who were standing around chuckled in agreement with Harry.
"If there was a fix, as per your theory Colonel, then it is logical to assume the winner was responsible," pointed out Turner. "And I doubt very much that boy, as much as he is a troublemaker, could have orchestrated both your rider’s injury and Henderson’s timely incarceration."
"You can’t be serious," chimed up another club member.
"Are you asking us to believe Logan would injure his own son?" asked another.
"No, that’s nonsense," agreed Turner, trying to not show impatience with such stupidity. "But after Clay’s injury, maybe this was the only way Logan saw clear to winning."
"I do believe you like to make trouble, Mr. Turner," Harry said sadly. "Ned Logan would no sooner fix a horse race than he would disown his children."
"Possibly," murmured Turner, in unconvincing agreement. The seeds were sown. His job was done.
*****
In order to put Lexy where he could keep an eye on her, without unduly causing alarm, Clay suggested a game of cards.
"To practice your arithmetic," he added with forced enthusiasm.
"Yeah, right." Lexy rolled her eyes but got the deck of cards.
Clay was distracted with worry and inactivity. Even knowing Pa was counting on him to keep his sisters safe didn’t help. He felt helpless and waiting around only added to his anxiety. He’d much rather be on the road. At least then he could be doing something.
"I win, again," Lexy announced without much pleasure. She sensed that Clay was allowing her to win and she didn’t appreciate it. Jeremy never played cards like that.
"I hear riders," Alice said suddenly, and she rose to look out the window.
"Are they back already?" asked Lexy, delighted at the prospect. Before Clay could stop her she ran to the door.
"Hey get back here!" bellowed Clay, coming to his feet clumsily. "You – stay here!" he ordered Alice who stared at him with amazement.
"Clay!" she called after him.
Lexy had stopped on the top of the porch steps when she didn’t recognize the approaching riders. Clay barreled out the door and yanked her by the arm.
"Hey!" she protested.
"Get back in the house!" he demanded.
"What is the matter with you?" she asked, annoyed.
"Excuse me," said one of the newcomers. "We’re looking for a Mr. Jeremy Bradford."
‘You’re not the only ones,’ Clay thought.
"He’s not here," Lexy told them.
Clay felt wholly out of control of the situation and wished his father were here to take charge. He stepped down to shield Lexy from these strangers.
"That’s right," he said. "Jeremy’s not here."
"Well that’s mighty inconvenient," the stranger said.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Clay asked when he really hoped they would just leave.
"There might be at that," the man said as he dismounted. His companion remained on his horse, silent.
Clay moved further down the steps.
"You’re Clay Logan, aren’t you?" asked the man.
"That’s right." Clay nodded.
"Well perhaps you can convey a message to Mr. Bradford for us, Mr. Logan?"
"I can try," Clay agreed cautiously. "But I really don’t know when he’ll be back."
"Then I’d better be sure you remember it well," the stranger told him. The man moved so quickly that before Clay was aware of what happened he was knocked off balance by the blow.
Lexy screamed.
"Get inside!" roared Clay, his head ringing. He tried to ward off the next attack but was unable to do much more than lift his arms up to try to protect his face. He landed on the ground heavily and moaned as his still healing collarbone protested the treatment.
"Stop it!" cried Lexy. "Please stop it!"
‘Get off the porch. Get inside,’ Clay begged her silently. Then he gasped for breath as he received a boot to his stomach.
"Please stop! You’re hurting him!"
Unable to strike back, Clay curled up in a defensive posture. Suddenly from out of the kaleidoscope of pain he heard another voice.
"Lexy, get inside the house, now!" Alice commanded, and Clay hoped she was more effective than he had been.
"You! Get away from my brother!" Alice ordered, her voice cold.
At first Clay was only aware that the assault had stopped. Then he could see a blurry vision of Alice on the steps with a shotgun pointed at his assailant.
"Now take it easy," the attacker said. "You might hurt yourself."
"I’m more likely to hurt you if you don’t get off our property," Alice snapped. "Now!" she added, raising her voice.
"Do you really think we believe you know how to use that weapon?" The other stranger spoke for the first time.
"Do you really want to risk finding out if I do?" Alice responded coolly. "Jeremy’s not here. Leave now or only one of you will be going."
For a sickening moment Clay feared they would call her bluff. The he saw the man mount and they rode away.
Alice dropped the shotgun as soon as they were out of sight and ran to Clay.
"Alice!" he cried. "Take it easy with that gun!"
"Don’t worry, it’s not loaded," she told him. "Are you okay?"
Lexy joined them now, her pale face streaked with tears.
"Not loaded?" gasped Clay, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"I didn’t have time to worry about that. They might have killed you."
Alice helped him to a sitting position.
"I don’t feel so good," he murmured and closed his eyes.
"You don’t look so good either," Lexy told him.
"Thanks," he muttered and opened his eyes to look up at her. He tried a smile. Then he turned to Alice. "I can’t believe you chased them away with an unloaded shotgun. What if they hadn’t believed you would shoot?"
Alice shrugged.
"I know how to bluff."
"She learned from a master," chimed Lexy.
"At least we have one thing to thank him for," grumbled Clay.
"Let’s get you inside," suggested Alice, as she helped him to his feet.
Lexy stared down the lane where the men had gone.
"What if they go after Jeremy and find Pa and Sean?" she asked with an anxious frown.
"Don’t worry, Pa and Sean can look after themselves," Alice told her.
"But someone should warn them! Otherwise..."
"Lexy!" interrupted Alice impatiently. "Don’t worry about Pa. He knows what he’s doing. Now, give me a hand with our knight here."
"Some knight," mumbled Clay.
*****
"You’re being a big baby," scolded Alice as she administered aid to Clay.
Clay sulked at her accusation.
"It hurts!" he protested.
Alice frowned as she examined the bruises on his torso.
"I hope you didn’t break any more bones."
"Stop fussing," Clay told her. "You’re worse than a mother hen."
"I can go for the doctor," she said, not sure how he’d react to her suggestion.
"Not necessary," he replied shortly.
"If you say so," Alice agreed. She applied a damp cloth to a cut on his face. Clay winced and hissed but otherwise didn’t complain.
"Lexy?" called Alice. "Could you bring us some more water please?"
"And you, hold still," she directed crossly at Clay who was squirming.
"Yes ma’am."
"Lexy!" Alice yelled again. "Where could she have gone?" she wondered.
"I hope she’s not outside," Clay said, suddenly worried again. "Here give me my shirt."
Ignoring Alice’s protests Clay dressed and went in search of their sister.
*****
As he turned in circles in the yard Clay reviewed the situation. He hurt like the devil and was in no shape to ride. Lexy had vanished. Two angry criminals were pursuing Jeremy and threatening Clay’s family. Things just couldn’t be any worse!
"Clay she left a note." Alice’s voice spun him around. Alice held out a sheet of paper with a trembling hand. Clay took it slowly.
"She said someone had to warn Pa about those men. My God Clay, she’s gone after them! What are we going to do?"
Clay quickly reevaluated the situation. Things were suddenly worse.
He whirled away from Alice and set off for the barn.
"Where are you going?" she cried, picking up her skirts to chase after him. "Clay? We have to decide what to do!"
Clay paid her no attention. There was no way he could ever face his father if anything happened to Lexy. Nor would he ever forgive himself. He brought his horse out of the stall and turned to lift the saddle.
"Clay!" Alice's voice was alarmed when she saw him struggle to hoist the saddle onto the horse's back. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going after her," he replied through clenched teeth. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing the pain to recede. He could do this. He had to do this.
Alice touched his arm gently. Clay, leaning against his horse for support, opened his eyes to see tears in her eyes. She shook her head slowly.
"Clay, you're in no shape to go anywhere," she told him softly.
Clay's hands fumbled with the straps and he cursed his clumsiness.
"I have to go, Alice," he said.
"Clay, listen to me," she begged, the tears falling now. "You can't fix this problem."
"I promised Pa I would look after you and Lexy and instead what happens?" Clay braced himself to mount. Alice laid a hand on his arm again to stop him. She had to think of a way to make him see reason.
"And you think going after Lexy is going to fill that promise? What if those men come back here instead of going after Jeremy?"
Clay gave her a sick grin.
"Then you can scare them away with another unloaded shotgun," he told her. He pulled away and mounted the horse. Immediately, Clay's head began to spin and he found himself leaning slightly over. Alice saw his eyes close and feared he would fall.
"Look at yourself!" Coaxing hadn't worked so she tried a more direct approach. "Clay Logan you'll be lucky to get out of the barn before keeling over!"
"Don't you understand?" he said angrily. "I can't just do NOTHING!"
"I wasn't suggesting that," she said with a quieter tone.
"Well then what are you suggesting?" Clay asked.
Alice had no real plan. She just knew she had to prevent Clay from riding off.
"Let's think about this reasonably," she said. "Pa and Sean will probably catch up to Jeremy before those men do. If we assume that they do, then they'll probably be heading back. Which means they'll probably run into those men before Lexy gets anywhere near them."
"That's a lot of probablys," Clay pointed out.
"What if I go..."
"Absolutely not!" interrupted Clay before she could finish. She flashed him an annoyed look and continued.
"What if I go into town and recruit some others to help. I'm sure the Sheriff would be interested in catching these men. If for no other reason than their attack on you," she added. "And hopefully they will get to Lexy before she gets involved."
*****
Jeremy dismounted and led his horse to the stream. While the horse drank, Jeremy splashed water on his face. It was shockingly cold and stung. He stared at his reflection in the water, blurred slightly by the slow current.
"Boy when you fail, you fail big, Bradford," he muttered to himself with disgust. Some day, he decided, he would write to Ned Logan and apologize for ... well, for everything. He leaned back to stare up at the sky. The easy movement of clouds overhead was mesmerizing. He tried to think of a positive spin on his current situation. He tried to think of a good excuse for his behaviour. He wondered what he would tell his mother. He slept.
*****
For the most part, Ned and Sean rode in silence. Ned was grateful Sean wasn't pushing for conversation, as he didn't feel like talking. Harry had as good as spelled it out for him and he'd still refused to believe the possibility. Ned believed that Jeremy was a good person and under normal circumstances he wouldn't have gotten involved. But then, maybe he was projecting his own values onto Jeremy. Maybe Jeremy would have taken the money regardless.
'Have I had so little influence on him?' Ned wondered.
Sean sensed his father's mood and kept silent more from lack of anything to say that might help than any other reason. But the quiet was unnerving to Sean who wanted some reassurance.
"What if he's taken a train?" Sean asked. Ned stirred out of his thoughts.
"He took a horse," was his short reply.
"Well, yes, but," Sean began.
"If he's gone all the way out West to his mother then that's where we're going too," Ned cut him off curtly. "I want an explanation from him."
Sean decided that the silence wasn't so bad after all.
*****
Still asleep Jeremy swatted away the nudging of his horse. He was feeling fuzzy headed, cold and stiff, but still he thought it odd that the horse would be calling his name.
"Jeremy! Wake up!"
Now human hands were shaking his shoulders and Jeremy's eyes snapped open to look up at Ned Logan's face.
"Ahhh!" he cried startled. Ned straightened up and watched as Jeremy scrambled to his feet and stepped back. Looking around Jeremy saw Sean standing up by the road with the Logan's horses. Jeremy's horse was nowhere to be seen. Jeremy looked back at Ned, trying to gauge the older man's mood.
"I think you have some explaining to do," Ned said quietly. Jeremy wasn't fooled by the tone. Ned was angry.
"I'm sorry," Jeremy blurted. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for things to happen the way they did. I just didn't know what else to do."
"Lexy told us about the money," Ned said.
"They wanted me to lose but I couldn't do it," Jeremy rushed on. "I guess that would have been the easy thing to do but I ... I wanted to win and I wanted, I mean I didn't want you to...well, I mean I know you think hanging's too good for me but I just..." Jeremy brought fists up to his temples with frustration. He was mangling this badly. "I just didn't know what else to do," he repeated with a pleading look.
To Jeremy's surprise Ned didn't look angry anymore; he looked sad.
"And what do you think you should do now?" Ned asked him.
"Get as far away from here as possible?" suggested Jeremy with a nervous grin.
"Running away from your problems doesn't solve anything," Ned said gently. "And it leaves behind a mess for someone else to clean up. Do you want to run all your life?"
"No," answered Jeremy, his voice low.
"Pa," called Sean anxiously. "Someone's coming."
*****
"We have business with Mr. Bradford," the cool one announced.
"I don't think you do," Ned responded icily. His anger at these two men was equally directed at their meddling in the race and taking advantage of Jeremy.
The chatty one pulled out a gun.
"Get over there," he directed at Sean, indicating that he should stand closer to Ned and Jeremy.
"You won't get your money back by shooting him," Ned told the outlaw.
"Maybe not, but it will be very satisfying," the stranger said, dismounting. "Almost as satisfying as what I did to your boy back at the house."
'Oh God, Clay!' Ned thought, swallowing his fear. His jaw clenched.
"Do what you want to me," Jeremy spoke up, "but leave the Logans alone. They had nothing to do with this."
"Oh really?" The man chuckled. "I disagree. It was a Logan horse that won that race, no matter who was riding it."
It was at that moment that Jeremy's horse, which had wandered off while he slept, decided to return. The sound startled the gunman and he twisted anxiously seeking the source of the movement. A fraction of a second was all it took for Ned to rush him. They struggled briefly and the gun went off, discharging harmlessly into the air. Ned brought up a knee, the force of which caused the man to drop his gun. Jeremy scrambled to collect it.
Sean had lunged for the still mounted man, who had not drawn his gun, and pulled him to the ground.
Seeing his accomplice overpowered and his weapon taken, the cocky outlaw gave Ned a shove and took to his heels. Fumbling a moment with the gun, Jeremy fired a shot upwards to try to stop him. It had no effect.
Ned recovered his balance and ran off in pursuit.
"Pa!" called Sean. "Pa, wait!"
*****
Lexy heard the shots ahead and pulled her horse to a stop. She thought she could hear shouts not far away, but there was a bend in the road so she couldn't see who was ahead of her. She looked behind her and pondered what to do. Before reaching any conclusions a man, the same one who'd beaten Clay earlier, came crashing out of the woods on her left.
*****
Ned ran blindly through the woods following the trail made by the hasty retreat of the outlaw. Branches whipped out to lash at his cheeks but he paid them no mind. He had no intention of letting this man go.
Abruptly the trail lead back to the road and Ned came upon his foe. The scene brought Ned up short. Lexy sat rigidly on her horse while the outlaw held the reins. All reason left Ned as he launched himself at the man. There was no way this piece of scum was laying one finger on his daughter.
"Pa!" Lexy cried, anxiously, spotting him.
The man dropped the reins to turn to face Ned. Ned's right fist crashed into the man's cheek, knocking him almost to his knees. Ned then turned to give Lexy's horse a hard smack on the rump to get it moving.
With Lexy out of the way, he was free to throw another punch, this time to the stomach. As the man keeled over, Ned shoved him to the ground roughly and placed a knee on his chest. He leaned over with an arm across the culprit's throat.
"You picked the wrong family to mess with," he growled.
*****
"Then what happened?" asked Clay.
"Then the posse that Alice organized arrived to take the both of them into custody," Sean told him. "Apparently they are wanted in three states for their shenanigans."
"And Pa was the hero!" proclaimed Lexy proudly.
"He certainly was instrumental in bringing them to justice," Sean agreed with a smile.
He decided to leave out of his account Pa's reunion with Lexy afterwards, which had involved both a stern reprimand and a desperate hug.
Alice's gaze wandered from her brother over to her father, who was standing with Jeremy by the corral fence.
"I wonder what they're talking about," she murmured.
*****
In the aftermath of all that happened, Jeremy couldn't believe he still had a home with the Logans.
"Did you think about coming to talk to me?" Ned put to him. "Maybe asking for some help with your problem? Or if you couldn't talk to me, why not Sean? Or Isaac?"
"I wanted to be able to deal with it myself," Jeremy said miserably.
"Jeremy, when you came to live with us you became part of our family," Ned told him. "I know you're not used to having anyone to rely on but yourself, and your ma, but now you've got all of us in your corner. You don't have to solve all your problems alone. Do you understand?"
"I guess," Jeremy responded.
"Good. So the next time I expect you to let me know, instead of running off in the middle of the night."
"Next time?" Jeremy asked weakly.
Ned clapped him on the shoulder and smiled.
"There's always going to be a next time, son. Now, let's get inside. I don't know about you but I'm starving!"
Jeremy laughed along with Ned as the two made their way up to the rest of the family.
The End!
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