I take one last look in the mirror. My eyes are bloodshot from the lack of sleep. The media is going to have a field day when they see me. I can see the headlines now, Lucky Seven Ranch Trainer, Colby Hensley, on Drugs! My fingers pull the handle and wait for the water to turn warm. I wash my face and rinse my mouth out before shutting the tap off. My reflection doesn’t look any different and there isn’t anything I can do about it now. I had no idea I would be this nervous. I’ve been here before. I’ve sat in the box with my dad many times and I’ve been down on the field when the roses were draped over an Armstrong horse, but I’ve always been in the background. Today, I’m in the spotlight. All through media week, I’ve been able to dodge interviews. It’s not uncommon to forgo any interviews. Some trainers don’t want the limelight while others embrace it. As of right now, I have no intentions of being front and center. I’ll leave that job to Baker and Kendrick.
When I open the door, my friends are standing there, all adorned in navy blue and gold—Lucky Seven Ranch’s colors. Brielle is in our colors, with a matching hat. The sight of her makes my heart do a somersault. She chose me, over her father, and over the money and prestige that comes with being an Armstrong.
Brielle steps forward and clasps her hands with mine, looking right into my eyes. “You’ve got this, Colby. You’ve been here before. You know how everything works.”
I nod. “I know. I have to keep reminding myself.”
Baker steps forward and puts a reaffirming hand on my shoulder. “I have all the faith in you, Colby. If I didn’t think you’d get Lucky Seven back into the winner’s circle, I would’ve had you apprentice with another trainer. You have what it takes to be one of the top trainers in the business, and the youngest. I can only hope you don’t decide the leave the ranch for someone bigger.”
“Not a chance, Baker. Lucky Seven is my home.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll see you in the box.”
“Wait up, Baker. I’ll come with you.” Brielle places her hands on my cheeks and gives me a kiss before leaving with Baker.
Kendrick places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m not going to let you down. We got this.”
I take a deep breath. “Yes, we do.”
I nod and we start toward the jockey room where he’ll get checked. We had our last session with Maximus this morning before derby officials took over. I hated leaving him and wished I could be the one walking him out to the gates today, but it doesn’t work that way. I’m with Kendrick until he turns for the locker room and now wishing I had gone with Baker and Brielle to our box.
Every few feet, someone taps me on my back or shoulder and wishes me good luck, and each time I thank them or wish them the same. I’m almost to the Lucky Seven Ranch section when Dad steps in front of me. He’s dressed in a linen colored suit with a yellow tie—the color Armstrong Acres uses.
“Hey,” I say as I stuff my hands into my pockets. There are people brushing past us. They’re laughing, talking, and hugging. My dad stands there, looking at me. I don’t know if he’s waiting for me to apologize or ask him how he’s doing.
“After the Belmont Stakes, I’m leaving Armstrong Acres.”
My mouth drops open, but I quickly close it when someone walks by and says hi. “Why?” I ask my dad.
“Brielle came to visit me and told me I needed to ask you some questions, but I thought I’d ask Butch first, find out what he knows about my son leaving a job his family has worked at for generations. Do you know what he told me?”
I shake my head.
“He said he tried to make a deal on Maximus, you didn’t like it and left.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Here’s the thing, Colby. His reasoning was weak, so I paid a visit to Mr. Kelly and I asked him how he acquired Maximus, and he told me everything. As he told me the story, I started thinking back to the day you came to me, to tell me about the colt and how I brushed you aside. As I reflect on that day and everything that has happened since, I wish I could go back and change things because first and foremost I should’ve never put my employer in front of my son. I should’ve been man enough to stand up for you. I’m sorry I let the job and the family’s dedication to Armstrong get in between us.”
My dad pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly. I’m doing everything I can to fight back my tears. He’s uprooting his life because of me and as much as I applicate it, I don’t want my mom to suffer. When we part, we both dab our eyes.