Troubles Come in Twos:Snake Eyes

Original story by: Ace Gallagher

Story by: me

Chapter 7


Things were beginning to look up for everyone. The ill were somewhat growing stronger, if not for a seemingly stubborn ache that just would not give up. Athena thought it best to enjoy a day of fun instead of keeping the ill cooped up. Sun always brightened her day, perhaps it would brighten them up enough to beat the ache.

“Come on guys, lets do something fun and energetic!” Athena giggled as everyone got prepared for the day.

“Like what?” Dorian asked.

“THE HORSE RACES!” Dawn shouted with joy. Dorian elbowed her, giving her a scolding look. She clapped her hands over her own mouth remembering their special friend in the races.

“ya know, that sounds fun,” Ace smiled.

“Oh you just want in so you can gamble,” Ed chuckled.

“NO! Those days are behind me….” He looked around, no one seemed to believe him. “and….I heard there was this one racer who showed promise,” He confessed.

“And you wanted to bet on him,” Ed laughed. Ace blushed at being caught.

“Well, the races are entertaining. That sounds fun,” Athena answered. Everyone nodded in agreement that the display of speed sounded like just the pick up. It was a bright and beautiful day after all. However, Dorian smacked his head with a groan.

“Sorry,” Dawn whispered. But the event had been marked, they were going now. Dorian hoped that Sampson wouldn’t show. They went to the arena, the smell of the barn making Athena feel nice and warm. Though Ace felt weak at his knees, he too enjoyed the crisp smell of horses and hay. The atmosphere, though agitated with the racers and their hopes of making it big, was soothing and warm the way all barns feel.

The group bought their seats and sat right at the front of the crowd, right by the action. Though the richer seats were far above them, there were no better seats in their opinions.  Vance glanced around at everyone in the crowds, he wondered if Sarafina would be here. After all, she did like horses, considering she road one probably more than she walked anywhere. He sighed when he couldn’t find anyone similar and turned his attention back to the dirt track before him.

Dorian was also glancing around for someone, if only Vance knew that they were searching for the same person. Only Dorian’s gaze was on the horsemen being lead to the opening gate. He watched them carefully, automatically noticing the Valiant and his white stallion. Then he glanced around for the blue and white colors of Sampson. He began to ease when he didn’t see the colors or their rider, then his heart leapt into his throat when he saw the final rider lead out, blue and white, Sampson was present.

Dawn and Dorian glanced at one another and gulped. Ace was admiring the fierceness of the racers. Athena was admiring the beauty of the beasts being ridden. Vance was not particularly interested and was simply counting how many racers their were and how many looked ridiculous in their ranch colors. Ed was also not particularly interested, however he still felt slightly achy and was laying his head on the rail and snoozing.

Dorian began to pray that Sampson was given the farthest  gate away from them, but wouldn’t you know it, Sampson was placed in the gate right next to the their rail. That meant that he would be forced to remain on the outer side of the pack. That meant he would easily be seen by the gang. Dorian groaned with both aggravation and a small sickness growing in his stomach. He wasn’t sure wither he was feeling ill from nerves or it was that flu bug again.

Mioko and Reaya finally arrived beside Vance and Ed. Their new baby giggling in her mother’s arms. Artemis and Leaper had been brought along with them so they wouldn’t have to sit around and be bored while waiting for the race to start.

“hey Vance! You see the horsies yet?” Artemis asked popping his head in between Vane’s arms that were holding him up against the rail. Vance giggled and looked down.

“Yep, they were just put into the gates. They’re about to race,” Vance explained.

“So who’s racing?” Mioko asked.

“Just some local farms, however, if I miss my guess. I see a valiant out there,” Ed growled. “am I right Dorian,” Ed looked over to Dorian, but immediately regretted it. Dorian had a fierce look to him, Ed could see his jaw grinding his teeth.

“You’re correct,” Dorian growled out. Ed scooted away from the obviously agitated young man. Then the announcer came out to begin the race and Ed’s, along with everyone else’s in the arena’s, attention went to the race. The announcer was naming off the racers and came to Sampson.

“AND OUR LAST PLUCKY YOUNG RACER IS THE CROWDS CHOICE FOR THE CROWN! SAMPSON TULET!!!! RACING FOR THE TULET RACING FARM!” The announcer shouted and the crowd went into a frenzy, obviously he was the favorite. However, Vance was now intrigued. Tulet Farms, that had been the mailing address for the flowers.

Dorian glanced to Vance and his thinking face. Dorian’s heartbeat speed up dramatically, Vance was no pigeon, give him one clue and he’s sure to find out. Dorian was thrust back into reality with the clang of the starting gong. The horses lunged forward with rippling muscles that just made Dawn drool over their beauty. These powerful animals showing of their strength in a battle to the finish, she growled at herself for forgetting her sketch pad.

The two in the lead were the Kale the Valiant and Sampson. However Sampson was keeping behind Kale. Ace could see it in the young racer’s face that this was a choice and not any relation to his natural speed. Sampson was holding back, no doubt to save the horse’s strength for the last leg of the race. Ace smiled and enjoyed the site of a player who had just the right poker face. Kale was really believing that he was pulling ahead.
~(^^)~

In the race, Sarafina’s heart pounded. She loved this, playing the leader for a fool. The cocky Valiant would have his justice when she took him on the last lap. Rico seemed to feel her joy for the vengeful maneuver, he snorted and jumped a bit with giddy anticipation. She didn’t even notice that Kale and she were so far ahead that the others were appearing in front of them.

As they both lapped the other horses, Kale began his deceitful tactics. He swerved his horse to spook two young stallions near them. The horses leapt back and tripped over each other sending horses and riders to the dirt track. Three other racers tumbled over those racers, and nearly took her down with them. Rico however was sure his master would win and leapt over the mangled mess of beast and man.
~(^^)~

The crowd gasped in aw as Sampson’s steed leapt over the mangled mess. He had such a beautiful lung that he could just as easily be a professional jumping horse. He landed with barely a grunt and kept on the Valiant’s tail. By now three laps had gone by, one more lap had the race. Sampson smiled a cocky smile as he began he own maneuver.

The whole Spades gang was leaning on the rail at the intensity of the race. They were the few that noticed the valiant ram his horse into the others, and he was beating them! They feared for the Tulet rider. If he would do that to racers who weren’t even a threat, what would he do to the young racer who was about to lap him!? They all watched with worry.

~(^^)~

Sarafina was smiling big. She was about to lap this cocky jerk. She would win, there was no doubt.  Rico met the stride of Kale’s stallion. They were mirrors of one another as they thudded across the dirt.

Kale glanced to her, he flinched a bit as he felt she had the strength to pass him. He would simply not have it. Such a green rider passing  HIM, unspeakable. If his queen were alive, he would be punished for simply allowing the racer to match him, let alone beat him. He had to stop his opponent at all costs.

He took his whip and went to strikes his steed to make him speed up. However, when he brought it down it strike Sarafina’s slender leg on the way down.  Crimson immediately began to stein her white riding pants. She yelped in pain, the same way she did when she fell off Rico right into Vance’s lap. She held back tears and kicked her legs to make Rico pass.

~(^^)~

“HEY! HE JUST HIT HIM!” Shouted Ace. The others saw it too and a few others around them began shouted protest. The officials could do nothing however, it appeared to be an accident. It happened occasionally, a rider would accidentally whip his opponent due to the closeness of rider and steed. That did not keep the audience from disapproving.

The riders kept running, they were so close. Tulet began to pulled ahead and the crowd cheered, at least he would have his revenge over the cheater.

~(^V^)~

Sarafina glanced back to the clearly aggravated Kale. She gave him a wink of shame as she pulled a full horse’s length ahead of him. Kale wouldn’t have this, he whipped his horse until it met Rico’s stride. The finish line was only a few more gallops away. Sarafina was so close.

Kale had no other choice, he lunged his hand out and grabbed the hair that stuck out from under her helmet.

“AH!” She screams. She tumbles backwards off her horse. She is determined, however, to take her assaulted with her. She grabs Kale’s shirt and yanks him back with her. They both fall back onto the harsh ground.
~(^V^)~

Everyone’s breath and chaos stop dead. It’s silent in the whole arena. The horses had crossed dead even  and their riders both tumble backwards. The younger rider slamming back against his neck in a way that could kill him. The valiant went rolling.

Vance’s heart stopped, without even thinking he lunged over the rail and ran to the fallen riders. Sampson lay with his back to Vance, his helmet gone and his hair laying out and about.
“VANCE STOP!” Ed shouted and ran after his brother. The whole gang followed suit like baby ducks. Dorian and Dawn ran faster than the whole back to try and get to Sampson before the others, but Vance had had a head start and beat them.

“Mr. TULET! Mr. TULET! Mr.….” Vance’s voice trailed off as he held the groggy racer in his arms.  The rest of the gang stopped dead cold as well. Dorian and Dawn racing up and skidding to their knees beside Vance. Sampson sat up and rubbed his head. His hair falling very femininely down by his neck.

His vampire blue eyes locked with Vance’s. Before anything can be said Dorian popped his helmet back onto his head as medics ran up along with Sampson’s manager. The hoist Sampson and the Valiant up and wisk them away to medics, leaving the gang in the dirt track. Vance sat there in aw, blinking as if he couldn’t see clearly.

“OH! WHAT A RACE!” Dorian shouted and jumped up.

“oh yea! Whew! That was intense! Ok! Let’s go! I hear the flea market’s in town,!” Dawn giggled as she tried to push the gang away with Dorian. None of them moved. Vance was still in utter shock. Then he spun around to look at the two.

The whole gang encircled the two.

“busted?” Dawn whimpered.

“busted,” Dorian groaned.