Page 6 of Dragon Her Heels

I whispered my magic to life, willing the wind to stay out of my eyes for the ride. While without a saddle, my magic would either keep me on her back or ensure I landed safe and sound should I take a fall.

The thoroughbred’s ears turned back and she surged down the track. The first few times I’d ridden her, I’d been concerned about her ear position, but I’d learned the error of my ways early on.

I had a thinker, and when she decided it was time to give her best, she concentrated. Until she had pushed as hard as she could, her ears would stay plastered back. The instant she decided she had done her job, she’d prick them forward and wait for praise.

Win or lose, she got what she wanted.

When I’d purchased her, I’d wanted to save her from the fast lane to a slaughterhouse. In reality, I’d bought a racer with a heart of gold, and I hadn’t anticipated the left turn my life had taken the minute her trailer had arrived.

She’d had a few starts, but the previous owner had given up on her, selling her off for less than a thousand dollars so he wouldn’t keep wasting his money on a horse who’d placed last in all her races.

Sometimes, I wondered if Alligator Bait understood I’d spared her from an early death; she gave me her all every time I saddled her.

I spied my guests, which consisted of two men and a woman, who stayed out of the way and observed me thunder around the track. As Alligator Bait would need at least a mile and a half to be happy with her breeze, I didn’t even bother with trying to slow her down. I clicked my tongue to both encourage her and remind her she could do what she wanted, and she gave me a burst of speed.

Building the half mile track had cost me a pretty penny, but the horses loved their twenty-five acre pasture in the center, I loved being able to race my horses at my whim, and I didn’t mind the work keeping the dirt groomed.

Magic helped with that.

After the third round around, Alligator Bait slowed, easing back to a walk to cool off. I guided her with my legs, bringing her up to the folks waiting to meet with me. Rather than protest being asked to stop, the thoroughbred stood still for me, her ears pricked forward.

I patted her neck and praised her for her effort.

“Are you aware she gave you forty-six miles per hour?” the taller of the gentleman asked.

With a start, I realized he sported a pair of horns, a clear advertisement I dealt with some form of devil or demon. Otherwise, he reminded me of Isaac, falling into the tall, dark in a pleasantly tanned way, and handsome category.

I gave Alligator Bait another round of affection, leaned against her neck, and snuggled with my big bundle of chestnut joy. “I took her to a race once after I got her, and we brought home ten thousand dollars. She had a few starts with a professional jockey, but she’d always come in last place. I plucked her off the market for a pittance. I knew she was fast, but it’s nice to know how fast. I’m Crystal. What can I do for you?”

The man pointed in the direction of Lake Hancock. “Do you know what’s out there?”

“A dragon, apparently. Since the day I moved in, I’ve been warned I’ll be eaten by a dragon should it decide to ever come out of the lake.” I laughed. “Honestly, I’m more worried about my neighbors. The incubus is the safest one of the lot, and the rest try so hard to bake, but all they do is poison each other—and me—at least once a week. I don’t know how nobody has died. Worse, I keep providing them with fruit.”

The woman, with dark curly hair and a darker complexion, stared at me as though I were the crazy one. “And you let them?”

“I’m too nice, and they’re trying so hard. I prefer to think they’re grateful I don’t bother them, give them fruit from my trees, and drop off eggs on their doorstep most days.” I scratched Alligator Bait’s neck until the mare flapped her lips in equine pleasure. “I’m going to give Isaac my extra pecans; he’s the only one on the street who hasn’t gotten me sick at least once so far.”

The tall, dark, and handsome stared at the woman and sighed.

“We are not bothering Isaac for pecan pie,” she replied.

“But I want pecan pie.”

“Just don’t ask for any pecan pie from Susie Marie. She’ll make it for you, and you will suffer. How you will suffer is the only thing in doubt. This is a woman who gave me salmonella from an apple pie.”

The whole lot of them stared at me.

“Excuse me, but did you say she gave you salmonella from an apple pie?” the driver asked, who was tall, probably Scottish, handsome, and athletic enough he’d turn every head on the street walking by.

Why had a bunch of pretty people come calling? Rather than ask, I nodded. “Don’t ask about the meatloaf. That was just bad from top to bottom.” I turned on Alligator Bait’s back to check on my carcasses, determined they’d be down and out for a while longer, and got down from my horse, heading towards the fence. Fortunately for my sanity, the filly followed along without protest, waiting for me to open the gate before bounding through. She went a safe distance before bucking and taking off to work out even more energy. “Sorry about that. I haven’t breezed her in almost a week, and after doing light work on the track most days, she needs a breeze more than she needs her next breath. My other thoroughbred runs whenever she wants and doesn’t miss the track at all.”

“Are you going to race the one you were riding?” the tall, dark, and handsome asked.

I shrugged. “Maybe. I have to review the races coming up and see if I can take her all the way. I’m the right weight to ride her myself, and it turns out I have a knack for it, so I play at being a jockey. She’s won me one purse so far, and if she’s interested, I’ll take her as far as she wants to go. With me? She wants to go.”

The tall, dark, and handsome nodded. “Excellent. I’m Lucifer, this is my daughter, Kanika, and this is Malcolm, my son-in-law. As I noticed this estate is no longer owned by those who built it, I thought I’d come and have a talk with you.”

Well, the horns made a great deal of sense with the names he tossed around; I didn’t deal with a demon or a devil.