due diligence

[Ripley Marsh]

Due Diligence
featuring: Artemis' Glory, Coveted Faith & Escape Artist

"I can't believe you hired another Irish man. I simply can't work like this anymore." Ripley aimed a scathing look at Malcolm who was tracking her like a dog. "Then quit. See if I care."

"Susie would have your head if you fired me."

"Wouldn't be the first time."

Mal snorted, "That's for sure."

Mal kept a watchful eye on Ripley as she moseyed from stall to stall, her steps carefully placed despite the fact that she could barely see them. In Mal's opinion, Ripley made a beautiful pregnant woman. She took everything in stride and had yet to see any complications. The woman was made of strong stock. She clearly wore her Irish well. "So where'd you pick him up?"

"She picked me up at a carnival. I was the lion tamer." Mal whirled to find a lithe man leaning against Escape Artist's stall. He had quick blue eyes, fidgeted like it was hard for him to stand still. However, he met Mal's words with good humor and a snarky smirk. Mal decided he liked him already. "I wasn't aware we had lions on the property."

"I scared them away." He held out his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you Malcolm. Names Brian McAdams. I see my reputation precedes me."

Mal could see Ripley chuckling as she made her way down the aisle. "Rumors fly through the grape vine.

"You'll be dealing with a young horse today. Hasn't made a start yet, but he's been galloping for some time since he arrived from Argentina. He's handy and he won't blow you away at first, but you'll love him by the time you're through with him."

Brian nodded, taking Mal's words and mulling them over. "Then I will take good care of him."

Mal opened the stall door, ignoring Brian as he stumbled from the sudden movement. He wasn't about to let the Irish guy off the hook just yet. "Skunk, meet your new jock."

Brian couldn't say he was hugely impressed by what greeted him. "Hey shorty."

Escape Artist had a big flashy blaze and looked every inch a tough horse. He had bulging muscles and alert eyes. He didn't measure you with them. Brian had met several Witch Creek horses that seemed to look right into your soul. Instead, Skunk seemed to just accept you as is. He nuzzled Brian's hand until the man lifted it and rubbed the colt's neck. He had a thick neck and held himself with pride. "I like him."

Mal smiled, held out the grooming supplies. "Good. You'll be in a workout against two other horses today. That should solidify your partnership. Be ready in 15. Ripley and Brooks run a tight schedule around here."

Brian winced, but accepted the grooming supplies. It'd been a while since he'd brushed his own mount.

Mal ducked down the stall row, listening to the chattering going on between Maggiletti and Justin. He smirked as he caught Brian's name a time or two. Who knew Justin was a gossip queen? He scuffed his feet to alert them of his presence, chuckled inwardly when they went dead silent. "Knock, knock."

Maggie rolled her eyes, "I'm not even going to joke with you today, Mal."

"Your loss. I had a good one too." Justin shrugged, unconvinced. Mal wasn't a comedian when he intentionally tried to be funny. "What's the workout today? New guy going to be able to keep up?"

"You don't worry about him. You mind your own horses. I think Ripley just had a three furlong workout planned. We seem to be campaigning the juvis lighter than normal so we need to keep them sharp in between races."

"Got it?"

When both riders nodded, Mal said. "Be ready in ten."

Maggie patted Artemis, ignoring the flash of teeth. "You heard him. No screwing with me today, mare."

Justin laughed and walked away to ready Coveted Faith. He wouldn't mind schooling the new jock with his star two year old mount.


Mal, Ripley and Brooks leaned back against the rail as the trio of juveniles made their way down the dirt path. Escape Artist was already pumping up full of blood. He pranced excitedly, pressing hard into the bit. Brian had his hands full, but he seemed to enjoy the challenge. Ripley nodded in approval, switched her gaze from the tough colt to the fillies beyond him.

Artemis pranced eagerly, feeding off the energy of the flashy colt. Maggie turned the filly around with deft hands, forcing her to face the barn instead of the track. If the Positively Precious filly was this bad, she couldn't even imagine what her siblings were like now. Maggie forced the filly to back down the hill, ignoring her irritable attempts to break free of the hold. When she decided to stop, Maggie allowed her to stop and turned her toward the track. With an indignant squeal, Artemis released a buck, almost tossing Maggie over her shoulder. Maggie clung to the filly's neck, slammed her legs straight down, parallel against the filly's barrel and prepared for the next buck.

Mal snagged the filly's bridle before she could even move. "Enough lady!"

With an abashed look, Artemis marched alongside the man, lifting her head to avoid looking at Ripley and Brooks. She sure had a tendency to be quite the snot. Mal released her onto the dirt track, shaking his head when she skipped off like a little girl. "Brat."

Coveted Faith glided over the dirt, ears flicking back and forth atop her head. She was such an impressive filly to ride. She could handle mud, dirt, turf. She didn't seem to care what she ran on as long as she got to run. Justin let the filly shift into a long gallop stride, settled in for the long haul. The work word start midway up the backstretch and she needed to loosen up for the run.

Escape Artist felt like a coiled snake about to strike. Each muscle was tuned for battle and sweat seeped through his pores and soaked Brian's gloved hands. The colt pranced and danced his way down the track until Brian finally released the horse. In a matter of strides, the colt was flying down the track, ears lacing back into his mane. A keg of gun powder was the perfect term for the handsome Argentinian. The colt swept up to Coveted Faith and right on by. He snorted wildly through his nose, his knees lifting high as he begged for more. Brian kept quiet, counted the poles down quietly. The horse was going to fly and tire himself out before the work if he gave him any encouragement.

Maggie could feel Artemis' shock as she was outfooted to the backstretch. She galloped by Coveted Faith, in pursuit of the horse who had stunning speed. Escape Artist had always worked himself up to speed in his gallops versus Artemis. He wasn't supposed to take off like a bat out of hell. The colt was sharp and he'd already picked up the difference between a gallop and workout. Artemis moved out impressively over the dirt, hooves skipping right over the sand based surface.

Under Justin's patient handling, Coveted Faith allowed the two sprinters to streak by while maintaining confident poise. She'd turned into a cat waiting to strike down the mice. Faith was a queen in a princess body. Justin crouched over the saddle as the horses swept down the backstretch. Escape Artist held a strong lead, three lengths ahead of Artemis and five ahead of Faith. The dark bay filly did not seem worried. She was a consummate pro in the face of the hot heads. Justin praised her, patted her neck approvingly. "Good lady."

Coveted Faith sat in the perfect seat behind Artemis and Skunk. Skunk had leveled off and now was running bravely through the first furlong of the work. He was about to be challenged though and Justin could hardly see what the spunky horse did with some pressure. Justin guided Faith slightly off the rail, asked her to pick up the pace. She answered readily with a good burst of speed and closed in on the five length lead.

Brian clucked to the oddly marked horse and grinned when Skunk flipped leads and boosted off his back end. So far he was impressed by the colt's attitude. He peeked under his shoulder, noted Maggie tapping her filly with the crop. Artemis was already a two race winner and she was fierce. Yet, Skunk was staving her off with just light encouragement. He liked his chances against this one and the shadow.

Maggie put away her stick as they whipped into the stretch. Artemis geared down then, legs sweeping beneath her light frame. She poured on the speed then, swarming Skunk when it appeared she had been beaten. Skunk pinned his ears, met Artemis' fierce look with one of his own. A tap to her haunches set Artemis down for the drive and she turned away from her new male rival.

Justin dragged his rein to the right as Coveted Faith rocketed nearly over the top of Artemis and Skunk. She soared down the center of the track, tail flying behind her in a stunning show of stretch speed. Not bad for a horse who seemed to be completely at home on the turf. The filly skipped over the heels of Artemis and flew to the wire a half length in front.

Justin raised his whip in excitement. "And that's how you play the game, Faith."

Brian ground his fists into the colt's neck, resisting the horse's strain to break free and run again. He was a fast horse. Wow, he was a fast horse. Brian let the colt skip over the track, all the while reeling the reins in tighter. Skunk was a fighter. Maggie let Artemis canter up to Skunk, a grin spreading over her face. "Isn't he lovely?"

Brian let out a chuckle, "Got some speed and willfulness. I can work with that."