Bullet Work by Steve O'Brien Page B

still believed. They were dreamers. They were
God’s gift to the racehorse.
    Jake stepped out of his office, stretched,
and yawned. Then he glanced Dan’s way and quickly snapped into
character. “Dan, how are you? Didn’t know you were coming by.”
    “Just killing time before I head to the
office. Only have the carnival in town for three months. I need to
make sure I get value for the e-ticket I bought.”
    Jake walked over and started talking quietly.
There was enough background noise at the time. He didn’t need to be
secretive. “I been meaning to call you. That filly is turning into
something. We’re gonna work her from the gate tomorrow morning
right after the break. You’re gonna wanna be here.”
    “That’s great. I need a runner with Hero’s
Echo on the shelf for a few more weeks.”
    Jake shrugged like he’d been insulted. Dan
was just being honest.
    “We’ll have Hero running before the month’s
out,” Jake said. “But this little filly’s got fight and a good turn
of foot. She’s passing all her lessons.”
    “Who you going to ride?”
    “Got Kyle Jonas up on her tomorrow. Kid’s a
little green, but he sits well on a horse, and she really moves for
him. If she does what I think she can do,” Jake said, under his
breath.
    Dan nodded and sat silently. This is what
owners hoped for. The reason they got in the game, to get a good
one. He did his best to keep emotions in check. As was often quoted
at the racetrack, being too close to the game would break your
heart. Dan had experienced the broken heart part and planned to be
close to the sport as long as he could, but he’d learned to temper
his feelings. It was okay to dream; it was deadly to expect.
    “Kid’s got soft hands?” Dan asked.
    Jake looked puzzled, then smiled. “Yep, soft
hands.”
    Dan decided it was time to turn serious.
“Jake, I think you’ve got to pay the money. There’s too much to
lose and not enough to gain.”
    Jake spit on the ground in front of him. “I
don’t give in to punks. Never started, never will.”
    “Jake, it’s about keeping the horses safe.
It’s about keeping your business. They’ll catch whoever is doing
this, and it’ll probably be real soon. It just doesn’t make sense
to take the risk.”
    Jake glanced off into the distance, like he’d
ended the conversation, then continued.“When I was a kid in middle
school, we had some bullies from the nearby high school who would
shake down my friends on the way home. They demanded money, tennis
shoes, anything of value. Had some kids so scared they were
stealing money and stuff from their parents to pay them off.” He
spit again. “Anyway, they came after me one time, and I said I
wasn’t going to pay.”
    “What happened?”
    “They beat the crap out of me.”
    “Inspirational story, Jake.”
    “Well, the next day, I came by. I looked like
I’d been in a cage match with a grizzly. They ask me if I’m gonna
pay up. I said ‘nope.’”
    “Don’t tell me.”
    “Yep, they beat the living crap out of me
again. But you know what? They never bothered me after that, ’cause
I beat them at their own game.”
    “How do you figure?” Dan asked.
    “It was a shakedown, and I wouldn’t give in.
So their only recourse was to beat the shit out of me. When they
saw that it didn’t work, it just wasn’t worth it to them. They went
after the easy targets and just left me alone.”
    “This is different,” said Dan.
    “No, it’s not. If I give in, it’s like giving
in to those bastards from the high school. Not then. Not now.”
    “But this time it involves other people’s
property. Mine, for example. Don’t let your pride cost you your
business. It’s only twenty bucks a head. That’s nothing compared to
what you’ve got invested in your business—and to make yourself a
target as everyone else opts out?”
    “Everyone else hasn’t opted out.”
    “Enough of them have and more will. If you
don’t, the odds go up dramatically.