Mackenzie Legacy, The Read Online Free Page A

them.
    A parade of horses and jockeys came trotting out in pairs, galloping around the track. Caledonia could see the animals were filled with excitement and anticipation, each one vibrating with varying degrees of pent up energy. The jockeys finished a circuit of the large oval track and led their spirited horses to line up inside the starting gate.
    Calvin leaned against the rail, draping his arm around Caledonia. “Which one do you pick to win?”
    She looked them over carefully, and one horse stood out in particular for its singular focus. Glowing a fiery red, the shining animal was bristling with determined anticipation, every muscle tensed and ready.
    “The chestnut.”
    “Chestnut?” he laughed, “Which one is that?”
    “The one in the blue… number three.”
    “I like seven,” he said.
    “The buckskin?”
    He turned to look down at her with a bemused smile, “What are you talking about?”
    “Their colors,” she replied. “Horse’s coats all have different names.”
    “Seriously?” He pointed to a brown one, “What color is that one?”
    “Bay,” she said, pointing out all the different horses, “And that one’s a Red Roan, there’s a Sorrel, a Dun–”
    “Done?” he laughed, “Are you sure you’re not making this up? What’s that black one called?”
    She pressed her lips together with amusement, “Black.”
    He laughed and pulled her close to kiss her forehead, delighted by his strange and beautiful girl.
    “Why do you like seven?” she asked.
    “I dunno… Lucky number?”
    The starting bell rang, the gates lifted, and they were off, hooves thundering on the turf as they passed by. The crowd got louder and louder, roaring from the grandstands behind them. When the throng of horses thundered past the finish line number three had won.
    “How did you know?” he asked her.
    “That one really wanted to win,” she explained. “I could see it.”
    She could feel Calvin’s sudden surge of excitement as he took her hand. “Follow me.”
    They passed through the mob of spectators and down some stairs to a small circular paddock where a group of people waited, flipping through little pamphlets. After a few minutes grooms started leading out more beautiful horses one by one. The high-strung creatures circled the paddock, tossing their handsome heads.
    “Which one do you pick to win the next race?” he asked.
    Caledonia looked them over carefully, finally settling on a gleaming bay mare. Her ears were pricked up, her nostrils flared; her mind was steady and determined. She had the bristling energy of raw power barely held in check. Clearly, this was a horse intent on its mission.
    “That one,” she said with conviction. “Number six.”
    Calvin took her by the hand and led her to a row of windows next to the grandstand. He got in line behind other people, looking at the board that posted the race schedules. She watched him place a bet on the horse she chose, sliding ten dollars across the counter in exchange for a tiny slip of paper.
    “What if I’m wrong?” she fretted. “We shouldn’t waste money.”
    “Don’t worry, I didn’t bet that much.”
    They watched the next race, and their horse won by a length. He grinned and kissed her. “Nice job! We just won twenty bucks.” Then his eyes flew open wide.
    “What?” she asked, watching his colors flare to a bright excited red.
    Calvin grabbed her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes excitedly, “Can you pick one and make it want to win?”
    “I don’t know…” She was taken aback at his sudden intensity. “I guess so.”
    He smiled wide, “Wait here!”
    She watched him run over to the betting window, coming back to take her hand and pull her over to the viewing area. They positioned themselves on the rails just as the first horse was led into the little corral.
    “Number eight,” he said under his breath, “Make that one want to run.”
    Caledonia focused, and when the dappled gray horse passed by her she