Kentucky Rich by Fern Michaels

or are you going to fight me on this?”
    Jess turned to leave the barn. “Do what you want. I don’t care.”
    â€œMaud knows! I told her a week ago. She said it was okay. I saw a spark, Jess, when I told her.”
    â€œI’ll never believe that. Maud would never give her blessing to this horse. Never in a million years.”
    â€œShe did, Jess. Emmie was with me when I asked her. She saw Maud’s response. Ask her when she gets off the school bus. Better yet, go up to the house and ask Maud yourself. I think you know I would never lie to you. While you’re up there, how about taking a shower. You smell worse than these horses.”
    â€œSmart-ass girl!” Jess said as he stomped his way from the barn.
    â€œTakes one to know one,” Nealy shouted. Stardancer pawed the ground. “He’s just talking to hear himself. We’ll make it happen. Just you, me, and Emmie. You wait and see. You are going to be the proud papa of a Derby winner, Stardancer!”

7
    From her position on the back porch, Nealy watched Jess leading a bay colt to the yearling barns. She smiled. The colt was the picture of pure excitement. His eyes were wide and his sinews prominent from his recent exertion. Nealy guessed Jess was bringing him in from one of the pastures before going upstairs to see Maud.
    What would Stardancer and Little Lady’s colt be like? Was there really any doubt? He would be a champion, of course, with speed, courage, and heart. Lots of heart. She refused to entertain the idea that Little Lady might deliver a filly. It amazed her that she’d lived and worked around Stardancer for five years and hadn’t realized his potential until a few months ago. How could she have been so blind? She was almost certain it was Jess’s dislike of the horse that caused her to ignore him. If one of the grooms hadn’t mistakenly put Stardancer in the wrong stall, she might never have gotten to know him.
    She wished she didn’t have to wait so long to breed him. March seemed a long time away, but if she wanted the foal to be born in January or February, she would have to be patient. From here on out, she promised herself, she would personally keep a record of Little Lady’s estrous cycle and make it a point to exercise Stardancer herself at least once a week. Now, though, it was time to start thinking of other things and to go indoors.
    The kitchen was fragrant with the smell of spices and cooking. Despite her lack of an appetite, Nealy’s mouth began to water. “Why are you doing all this, Carmela? Who’s going to eat that twenty-five-pound turkey and all those pies?” She eyed the long counter, with its pared vegetables and scrubbed sweet potatoes. She noticed Maud’s fine china and silverware sitting on the opposite counter. Everything had been washed and polished. She’d noticed a huge bowl of fresh flowers in the dining room earlier. The linen tablecloth with twenty-four matching napkins that had been Maud’s grandmother’s rested on the sideboard. “Are we having company I don’t know about?”
    â€œNow, Miss Nealy, you know we do this every year. It’s a tradition. No, we’re not having company, but the employees asked if they could come by to see Miss Maud. We have to have something to offer them. If they eat it, fine; if they don’t, that’s fine, too. It’s the way it is,” she said curtly. “I thought I would bring trays to Miss Maud’s room for all of you. The nurse has to eat, too, you know. It is Thanksgiving, Miss Nealy.”
    â€œI know, Carmela. It’s just that there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot to be thankful for this year. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Of course there is. It’s just that . . .”
    â€œShe’s still here! That means business as usual. This is the way we do things. You know how particular Miss Maud was when it came to the