Grace of a Chance. [Amber/Nick]

[Cavallo]

It was like having a second chance! Nick Landing, owner and trainer of Intrepid Racing, Inc. walked out of the court house as though a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He shook hands with the corporately hired attorney and began walking in the downtown area of The Wire.

The judge had court ordered that their funds were to be unfrozen and returned. This meant that Nick's dream could go on. The bad court encounter had really made Nick realize how quickly everything could go. Intrepid had been living on bones, but now life was flooding back into the veins of the stable. The partners had told his to sell off some of the stock to make it by, but he knew that he never could have done that. So he had made the tough call to pull the horses from the public races in order to ensure that they would still have a home with him at Intrepid. The thought of selling the prime stock of Intrepid almost made him throw-up. If the court had gone in the government's favor, they would have seized the stock and Intrepid would have been no more.

The past two months had been like a fight for his life and now walking down the street with this weight lifted...he was truly grateful. He paused at the local steak house and smiled suddenly, remembering the steak dinner he'd had with a certain woman because of loosing a bet. Had it really been almost two years ago? His thoughts drifted to the woman who had captured his heart...

He had been so close to telling her his feelings for her when the disaster had struck...and he had been a coward and hadn't seen her throughout the whole escapade. Would she even understand? Would she forgive him? He couldn't blame her if she didn't, but he couldn't help, but hope.

He walked past the steak house and opted to step into the local coffee shop. The smell of roasting coffee beans warmly greeted him and he scoped out the place. It was quiet, except for the whispers of a couple sitting together cozily on a couch, drinks in hand. He smiled, almost sadly, but continued to walk in and let the quietness envelop him. He ordered himself a coffee and sat as he waited. His tired body sank into an empty couch in the corner...out of the way and hidden when you walked in as he simply waited for the barrister to call his name..

[S u N f r O s T ~]

Amber Black was NOT having a good week. The third week in August had been like a disaster zone for SOPS. Two horses injured, one of them retired and the other knocked out for the rest of the season. Amber had had to practically have a verbal spar with Valencia Andrews about Mercurial Magic's stud career, finally swearing to breed the miler to her own Ventura when the time came. A decision that she thought could actually end up producing a great horse, now that she thought about it. Then she'd had to deal with Ode To Glory's injury, telling Krystal it wouldn't end Ode's career and that he could come back easily in year fourteen with the proper care. Yeah. What a lot of fun that had been. And Henna, who didn't deal with this level of drama, had been out of the barn as much as possible. So Amber had felt pretty alone in there with her problems.

Then the last week in August had rolled on by and Amber had started to feel a lot better. Eternal Phantom had gone on to victory in the Autumn Cup Grade One Dirt. Sugar Jayde had won the Grade One Turf Sprint with all the class in the world. And she herself had ridden Lynara's Kingdom to victory against Mastermind in the Grade One Dirt Sprint. That had been exhilarating. And then she'd come here and placed second by a nose in the Twilight Stakes with Infinite Warcry. She sighed. It was always a close call and to be honest she was getting kind of irritated about it. But overall, a good week for the horses. Now for September Week One and the craziness that would bring. Not to mention a certain stable had reappeared, contributing a lot to her current feelings.

Amber had never been certain about her feelings for Nick Landing - except that they had a pretty strong friendship. So strong that she had felt nothing but fury when Intrepid faded away and Nick didn't even tell her what was going on. She thought they had been better friends than that. And then the news had come out - Intrepid had been having financial woes and was finally cleared to come back. Their horses were in shape and ready to go. Amber knew that herself when she had stormed in two weeks ago to make a sweep of reclaims from the older horses, threatening to come back to grab the yearlings and weanlings too if no progress was made towards Intrepid's return. And even then, no explanation had been given to her. Her green eyes flashed and black hair twitched angrily in the wind as she entered the nearest place she could - a coffee shop. Time to drink something and calm down away from the annoyances that plagued her.

Large Tazo chai tea please she asked politely, though her eyes spoke of a different story. Under the name Amber Black. The receptionist practically fell over herself upon hearing who she was, and Amber sighed. Such came when you were a staple in the racing world. She went over to a seat by a window and sat, still fuming slightly as she gazed out at the world...

[Cavallo]

He saw her as soon as she had walked in. It would be impossible to miss her, but as he sat hidden in his corner he remained unknown to her. An inner battle ensued within him...should he say something and risked, well from what he could see from her appearance, the wrath from a rough day and hurt feelings or....just stay.

Nick Landing? Tall Americano Drip. Order's up. He inwardly groaned. Well it appeared the decision had just been made for him. He unfurled his full 5'11" length from the comfortable brown leather sofa. The warning bells were already going off in his head. He could just see her whipping her head his way and killing him with those flashing green eyes. Nick had never seen Amber mad. Like for real mad. Yes there was the anger over loosing a race, but Nick was fearful that this would be an anger of a different kind....

He suddenly had wished that he'd just been transparent with her...that he'd opened up about the stable's state. There wasn't a person on the tracks, outside of Intrepid, that Nick felt closer to than Amber Black. Sure he was on cordial and friendly terms with Ripley Marsh and Brooks, but he liked to think that their friendship was a little bit more...unique. Well...here I go into the frying pan. He walked smoothly over to the counter with his characteristically relaxed and yet confident gate. He grabbed his coffee and thanked the barista and left a generous tip in the jar.

The staffer smiled and looked subversively over his right shoulder. Nick landing and Amber Black were well known names here at The Wire, but Nick had a feeling that the staffer wasn't in awe at the moment of these two track greats...he had a sneaky suspicion he was getting a look of death or worse over his shoulder. He smiled and stiffened his resolve and turned around to face the woman he had fallen for and who he was now sure he had hurt.

He had to make this right. His smile hadn't changed, it was still as warm and welcoming as ever. Amber Black. I am so happy to see you. He walked towards her and her window seat. He hoped she felt the genuineness in his words...he longed for nothing more than to hug her, but he fought against it.

I've missed you...everyone actually. He stood at the chair and then motioned to the chair. May I?

Here it was the moment of truth. Either she was going to work with him to fix this friendship or he was going to have to work a lot harder to somehow make this woman realize how much he needed her friendship....even if that was all she was willing to offer him. Ever.

[S u N f r O s T ~]

Her head whipped around and her green eyes couldn't help but glare as she replayed what she had just heard in her head. Nick Landing? Tall Americano Drip. Order's up. Could that really be what had just happened? Had she seriously just heard the Nick Landing, the one currently plaguing her thoughts, called up for a drink at her favorite cafe where she was trying to get away from all her problems?! She swallowed her rising fury best as she could, but she knew it showed like piercing green spears from her eyes. She watched Nick get up from his hidey-hole - a shadowy almost hidden corner of the cafe - to get his drink with the same confident swagger she was used to - and kind of liked - from him.

She looked down at the table with the same glare in her eyes, fingered the fork in one hand as though it was a weapon. She could not make eye contact with him...not right now...not with this whirlwind in her head. But at least he would have the dignity to coming over, right? She snuck a glance out of the corner of her eye, saw him almost sheepishly making his way over. She gripped the fork harder, held it as though it was a weapon, a casual dangerousness in the way she held it as he approached. Oh, how nice it could be to attack somebody with a fork. Something that would really get her aggression out. The thought pleased her. She couldn't do lasting damage with a fork. Nothing too bad. What was the harm?

She pushed such violent thoughts out of her head as Nick stopped right at her table. She took a breath, waited, listened. But didn't look at him. Not yet. Not if it would require turning her head to do so. He was apparently happy to see her, and had missed her too. The thought warmed her heart...but even as it warmed her heart, she also thought of the pain that was still there. The pain that came from being a friend of somebody, somebody you cared about, who hadn't confided in you even though he or she could have. At his question, she sighed and said rather stiffly You may as well. And now as he sat she met his blue eyes, her green eyes piercing with muted fury.

Came to make sure I wouldn't break my heart by reclaiming some of your youngstock too? she finally asked, going for her usual Nick Landing attitude. But there was definitely a lot of hurt in just that one sentence, and much as she wished it wouldn't be there...it had been.

[Cavallo]

He flinched inwardly and it was hard to not reveal the small dagger she had just jabbed at him. He deserved it though and he knew it. He saw her clenching and unclenching her fork and for a moment he thought she really might have stabbed him with it, but he exhaled softly and smiled to try to diffuse her raging anger towards him. He sat himself and braced himself for the onslaught and it came in their normal sarcastic banter, but he could tell that there was more to this than their normal teasing. He saw the muted fury in her eyes and dare he say, hurt?

Nick Landing you are the biggest jerk ever. A sadness touched his crystal blue eyes as he let her comment sink in. He tried to muster a witty reply, but he just didn't feel this was the time. Amber was one of his closest friends..he cared for her and it was just time for him to speak plainly to get things back on the right track.

Amber...I am going to speak as plainly as possible and I want to start off first with saying how sorry I am. I promise I wasn't sitting her waiting for you to walk in..in fact...I just got out of the court house. He paused as the court house scene flashed back to him in clear simplicity and with came all of the emotions. He quickly reined those emotions and kept himself to the task at hand, making up with his closest friend. Amber you know me. You know me well and when the government came in with the IRS and said that there was unpaid taxes and seized....everything...literally. I panicked. I had to save my stable, my staff and my horses and to be honest...I was too ashamed and afraid of what you would think of my situation, to even muster up the courage to tell you. I knew that what was happening to us was wrong and so I did what I had to to make sure that Intrepid's funds were released back to us and I felt that I had to do it on my own. He paused and looked at the coffee in his hands.

I should have known better than to just go cold turkey on you. I should have known that you would have understood and that...hell...you probably would have come swinging with me, ready to fight this illegitimate claim on my stables..I messed up and I really really am sorry and I really, really want to still be your good friend. He said the word "friend" with an inward twinge. He still wanted more, but he knew with where they were at that this would not be the time to venture out into new territory in their currently rocky friendship. He looked up with a sincere hopefulness in his eyes.

Will you forgive me for being an idiot? His small smile creeped up onto his face, ...and not take back all of my youngstock? He winked at the last part...Honestly, he was more concerned with solidifying this relationship...She had no idea how much she meant to him and he hoped that one day he would get the chance to show her...

[S u N f r O s T ~]

Amber sighed as Nick sat down - a resigned sigh. She could see the hesitance, the regret all over Nick's countenance and she knew that it was probably taking more effort than she would like to admit for Nick to sit himself down with her fury and with the threat of a fork being stabbed at him. She reminded herself that she wasn't as prone to violence as she appeared to be and calmly placed the fork down. With some regret to be sure, but it was better right now to put Nick at least a little bit at ease by removing the weapon from her clutches. She stared down at the table, ears keenly tuned in to Nick's words.

When he started to talk she tried very hard not to visibly react to his words. But when he apologized and then with obvious effort mentioned the courthouse she couldn't help it. She looked up and nodded, meeting his eyes in sudden understanding and sympathy. She knew how hard it was for him to revisit that scene, and he was doing it so that he could talk plainly with her and make up. In other words...he was truly sorry. She tried to let her gratitude show through her eyes and hoped that Nick got the subtle message. She sympathized with his story, with the scare of losing everything that he had worked so hard for. She understood that. But to not have received any communication about it? That was the only thing she had a problem with.

Damn straight she muttered when he talked of how she probably would have gone marching right into the courthouse with him. It was totally true. She wouldn't have left a friend a need...especially one like Nick Landing. When he finally looked up with something akin to hope in his eyes, she sighed with resignation. And when he smiled with his last sentence, she couldn't help mustering a small smile of her own in return. I forgive you. Just know that you have a listening ear here next time, and some support if you ever go wrestling with the authorities again. She then grinned, almost wickedly. As for the youngstock...well, you're lucky that we're on good terms now. I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to restrain myself from grabbing up our brainchild Lissome. And the rest. She sighed suddenly. I have no idea why I'm so nice to you sometimes. Seriously. Do you have any idea how many people would kill to have the horses you have from my stock? They probably think there's no way you'd be able to get a hand on stock like that unless we were in a relationship or something. She grinned widely at that, just as the person at the counter called up her order.

I'll be right back, expecting a full report on how everybody's doing in your barn. Especially Allure - how's she handling retirement? Eh, don't tell me yet, I'll be right back. And just like that, with a friendship reinstated, she got up to get her Tazo chai and then sat back down after a kind grin at the person at the counter, and a generous tip. She looked forward to a conversation between good friends...and perhaps, one day, more.

[Cavallo]

I have no clue why you are so nice to me. He literally meant that. He knew how he felt about her, but when it came to deciphering where Amber stood, he was at a bit of a loss. As she spoke about people being suspicious of them being in a relationship, he internally almost had a heart attack. If only. She smiled so brightly though after that comment and he couldn't stop the smile that had instantly formed on his features. Gosh he had desperately missed this woman.

He literally felt a weight being lifted as he watched Amber leave him to go grab her tea. She had forgiven him and now they could be the friends that they always had been...and then maybe given some time, he might be able to make this turn into something more.

He was all to eager to talk about the new developments at Intrepid with Amber and he couldn't wait to ask her how SOPS was developing...and to figure out what devious plans she was concocting. Knowing her, she was always up to some sort of crazy scheme that would make him green with jealousy. As she took her seat again, he couldn't stop the smile he had beaming on his face.

Allure hates retirement. He said it frankly and plainly with a twinkling amusement in his eyes. She misses the tracks a lot and her poor little colt is getting the brunt of it. She's always running to kingdom come all over her paddock, but gosh darn it that Worldbreaker colt is hot on her heels. He smiled brightly, he couldn't help it when he talked about his horses and the future horses of Intrepid. This Worldbreaker colt out of Alluring Assault was special. Out of the entire batch of weanlings, this colt has that peaceful confidence of his sire, but he's definitely got that touch of curiosity from Allure. I have a great feeling about Allure's first baby. She doesn't seem to mind being a mother, as long as he keeps up. Nick chuckled, He could just picture the mare now, bolting across the field and turning on a dime to rally her son to her side. The poor colt wouldn't have a truly peaceful moment until he was weaned, but he didn't seem to mind his dam's eagerness and was more than willing to play along in her games.

Enough about Allure though...I want to hear about how Sillenia is settling in? Is she enjoying her retirement yet? Nick was definitely interested to hear how Allure's arch nemesis was doing. He'd heard she'd had her first foal too. He smiled as he thought how amusing it was going to be to have Allure's first foal and Sill's first foal competing against each other. It looked like the Sillenia vs. Allure saga was going to have a continuation...

He was dying to tell her another secret that had cropped up into Intrepid's barn and he was just DYING to tell her, but he would wait for her to answer his question about Sill and her new foal...

[S u N f r O s T ~]

Amber came back to the table feeling on top of the world. Her negative thoughts during the week had all but vanished...all because she had made up with Nick Landing. How could this have such an effect on her? She honestly had no idea, and as she seated herself again she couldn't help responding with a warm smile of her own to the one beaming on Nick's face. He looked...well and truly happy as well. As happy as she felt too. Maybe she wasn't the only one being overly happy and smiley about this situation. It seemed both of them were affected by this one thing.

She listened affectionately as he talked about Allure in retirement and her antics with her colt. She was hungry for information on some of World's first foals and happy to hear that he was doing well. He sounds like a real racehorse already she said, a hint of pride in her tone. She had been so happy to concoct this match with Nick way back when. It seemed like ages ago...and time had flown by, bringing them to this moment. She couldn't wait to watch out for him in the prospect shows next year if Intrepid decided to enter him. By the sound of it, he would be more than ready to go.

Ha. Sillenia acts like a racehorse even in retirement. It's taken some time for her to calm down. I think the turf mares who came before her kind of got together and got her to act like a stately mom. Her filly is such a daredevil! I swear, when this one gets to the track nobody's going to be crazy enough to ride her...she seems like a Valencia type for sure already. Sill's settling in though. She seems to enjoy this motherhood business. Thank goodness for that. She grinned. It wasn't often that a mare at SOPS didn't like her retirement. What could be better than a field full of soft, plush grass, a luxury bath and grooming every day, and the most tender loving care? Well, racing of course, but this was a good way for them to spend the rest of their lives.

So...anything interesting going on at Intrepid that I should be, ah, worried about? She grinned, hoping to catch him off guard and worm a secret out of him. She just knew something was going on at Intrepid. Similarly to her, Nick always seemed to be scheming something up, and she was looking forward to finding out (hopefully) what it was, if anything.

[Cavallo]

He smiled hearing Amber talk about Sil. As much as he had hated loosing to that mare, he had a respect for her and knew she had been worthy competition on the tracks. He was excited to see Sil's breeding career take off, just like Allure's. Besides he had an invested interest in the mare. Intrepid had booked the mare for her Y14 season and he had picked the perfect sire for the mare. The idea was tantalizing to him and he knew Amber would be just as excited. So naturally when she asked what he'd been cooking up...he couldn't hold back a smile. He had been up to a lot, in his time off the tracks. The free time had afforded him the opportunity to do some serious planning, but he knew Amber wasn't really fishing specifically for information about his planned Sillenia breeding.

He never had been very good at keeping secrets, especially when it came to his horses - be it a purchase, a breeding etc. So he was going to ease the door open on his world of secrets.

Well, Amber...what would you like to know?? I mean would you like to know who I've picked to sire my Sillenia baby..or maybe most of my Y14 foal crop concepts...which would lead me to tell you about a recent purchase... His eyes flashed mischievously. He had desperately missed these conversations with Amber and even though technically she was labeled as his competition....she didn't feel like the enemy. She had made him a better owner, a better breeder and he hoped he did the same for her, but what she didn't know is that she was making him a better man.

He couldn't stop smiling at her, he wanted to share these secrets with her and he was going to let her choose where to begin.

So where would you like to start?

[S u N f r O s T ~]

The minute Amber saw that smile she knew that something was up. Something...deep, dark and evil? No, more like cunning in a good way, and very exciting. She was leaning in now, imperceptibly shifting her weight towards Nick, very very curious to hear what he had to say next. Her eyes were lit up with their usual cunning gleam of excitement, green pools of light burning with barely restrained curiosity. Oh how she hated it sometimes when she and Nick got into these conversations where they teased knowledge at each other. But she also kind of...loved it. Huh.

Well, Nick, I'm pretty sure you know exactly what pieces of information I'd like to know. That is to say...anything and everything. That you'd like to tell me, of course. I would love to hear who you've picked for Sillenia...and what your crop concepts are for that year...and about this recent purchase. Her eyes twinkled just as mischievously. She took a sip of her tea, sighed in contentment, and then stretched a bit before settling down again. He was still smiling the entire time, and it warmed her from her head to her toes. What an interesting sensation! If she could just put a label on it...

Where would I like to start? Let's cut to the chase. Who is this recent purchase of yours? I have a feeling that it'll relate to your year fourteen breeding plans. So let's start nice and easy! Her eyes were twinkling and her heart fluttered under Nick's constant smile. Jeez. It was having quite the effect on her. But she found herself truly not minding too much. It felt...nice, to have this much attention directed at her. It felt like recognition not from an enemy but from a close friend. She liked it, a lot.

[Cavallo]

He laughed at her direct approach, it was what he loved about her. He read her body language and saw that she had the same excitement he had and it only pushed him more deeply enraptured with this woman. He loved every minute he spent with her and if his eyes weren't deceiving him, it seemed she was loving every minute too. There was definitely a budding chance here once again for Nick and it seemed that Amber was actually becoming more receptive to the emotions he himself was feeling, but he wasn't going to push this. He was going to first let her identify how she was feeling towards him because he knew exactly how he felt about her...He didn't reveal his secrets to just anyone and he hoped that she knew that.

Oh come on...you have to let me leave you in a little bit if suspense. I can't just cut out the fun part, which of course is seeing you wiggle in your chair in anticipation...I actually think I'll start with Sillena. That seems like a safer subject because I'm not sure exactly how you're going to react to my other news. He grinned devishly at her and continued on with his tirade.

Now. Sillenia. She's a classic distanced mare with the amazing ability to run on either dirt or turf, though we both know she slayed on the turf. Well. It just so happens that I own a fresh sire, who has currently only one foal to his name, but this foal has proven herself to be a great racing contender and I do believe the public knows her as...um...Nightshade...yes that's it. That's the filly's name. Her sire is a classically bred MHS stallion who also just happens to be dual surafaced. So what I am proposing is another foal out of Frontier that will be dual surfaced and will most likely slay in the Canadian Triple Crown.

He had been so pleased with this cross, he'd laughed when he'd written it down in his books for the next breeding season. Oh, but there was so much more. He was just DYING to reveal the rest.

So Y14 will yield me a strong contender for the CTC and give me a superbly bred filly, combining the best of two worlds. The other foals are also looking very promising...

He trailed off and took a sip of his coffee, simply dragging out this moment. He loved to see the fire in those green eyes of hers.

[S u N f r O s T ~]

Amber listened carefully, completely wrapped up in the information she was gleaning from Nick...and the pleasure of his company. Her green eyes shone with amused indignation as he started feeding her gradual bits of information accompanied by his usual teasing. Come on Nick. Are you expecting me to reach across the table and threaten you at forkpoint or something? All your news will be safely reacted to, I assure you! Her words were genuine, but that teasing light never left her eyes. Oh how she needed to encourage this man to spill his secrets to her. She needed to know everything.

She nodded eagerly in response to every sentence out of Nick's mouth, her enthusiasm spilling over into her amiable and interested expression. She snorted as Nick casually mentioned Nightshade, all bringing him to the climax of his tirade. Frontier? That...is...a great idea! Speak about slaying in the CTC and it shall occur! That is, if you can get past any ponies of mine that make it to the CTC that year. Seeing as I don't truly have a candidate in the works unless somebody decides to go against their blood... She mused on that point, then grinned as Nick decided that now, when he was telling her good information, was the time to torture her.

So she decided to fight back and play it cool. She leaned back in her chair, took a sip of her tea with all the nonchalance in the world, and even looked down and began to pick at her nails. She tried to tone down the eagerness to hear more plastered all over her being by continuing to feign her non-caring attitude. Well, that definitely sounds interesting... she said casually, finishing with her nails and taking another sip of her tea. Two could play at this game and she couldn't let Nick feel too satisfied, after all.

[Cavallo]

He was pleased with the way she reacted to his news about Sillenia. The foal was going to be a raging success, of that he had no doubts. He saw the eagerness in her eyes match his own when he talked about the future with her.

The future. He smiled to himself. He could talk about the future forever with this woman. He watched as she suddenly pulled back, trying to play his game. He smiled and knew she was as fully interested in what he was about to share. Her facade didn't fool him, but he played along.

Oh, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to bore you all of a sudden with my plans...We can meet up later and chat if you want...or if you have better places to be... His eyes twinkled and he reclined as though resigned to end the conversation where it was.

It was just burning deep inside of him though and he simply knew he wasn't going to be able to not tell her. He tried to keep a straight face, but it wasn't going to work. He cracked a smile and held his hands up in surrender. It wasn't such a big sacrifice to surrender information to this woman.

Okay, So here it is. I have in my Y14 crop a foal out of Ripley Marsh's The Devil's Touch and sired by... He was getting to excited, the name was right on his tongue and he was desperate to see the way in which she reacted to this information. The sire, will be Anarchi.

He let the stallion's name rest for a bit before continuing. Anarchi had been Impressario's main rival on the GHF tracks back in the day and when Rockstar had gone missing, so had the magnificent Xenophon son, but Nick had worked magic that only he could do. Nick had been extremely close to Rockstar and had long ago entered an agreement, where Augusta progeny were concerned. Nick had sworn to take care of any remaining Augusta lined horses and Anarchi was one such horse that fell under that agreement. He'd delayed bringing the stallion into his barns in the hopes that Rockstar would return to the tracks, but there had been no return.

I'm also pleased to say that this foal will be the first of many Anarchi foals to come....since he's taken up residence in my barns.. His eyebrows raised as he took a sip of coffee, his eyes gleaming with his now revealed excitement.

[S u N f r O s T ~]

Amber's green eyes flicked sharply into Nick's. Oh, he knew perfectly well that she was playing the game, and he was just playing it right back. That was definitely something she liked about him. She could always rely on him for a witty conversation, especially after the bad day she had just had. Seeing him had helped uplift her in a way, made her feel better about all of the other things that were going on. So she responded in kind. While I wouldn't object to meeting up later - you know, to weed out some more information from you - I would have to say that you are simply too smug about these plans to keep them from me for long. So... She trailed off, grinning almost slyly. She had felt the need to innocently defend her claim to not minding another meeting with him. That had been the honest truth, but she wanted to be clear in her intentions...even if she didn't think she knew what they truly were.

She leaned forward as his straight face cracked and his smile burst open on his face like the sun at dawn. He waved the white flag and Amber reveled in it, her own smile breaking across her face and green eyes glittering in muted triumph. But she was entirely not prepared for the next piece of information. True, she had known that The Devil's Touch's last foal was scheduled for next year with Intrepid, but the sire? She dropped her tea on the table with a hard thunk and looked in shock. Anarchi?!

Oh, she knew the stallion well. Had missed him a lot during the latter part of Impressario's career, when Ario had galloped on the tracks lacking his most bitter rival. Well, missed him wasn't entirely true, as Ario got his way on the track more often, but it left a sort of gaping hole in the division that had been keenly felt by the rest of the racing world. She let the stallion's name echo inside her being for a while, and then sprang into analysis mode. Anarchi. The Devil's Touch. The foal...You know, you're breeding a foal from the depths of hell with this crossing. This one won't be affectionate in the least. If said foal turns out otherwise, you'll have to let me know. Both parents were such cold horses that she would be intensely surprised if the result of their crossing didn't turn out the same way.

She had no tea to drop with his next statement, but instead just stared in wide open shock. Taking up residence...at Intrepid... she repeated. Then her eyes twinkled, burned, twinkled again as varying thoughts raced through her mind. She leaned forward, deadly serious. I need a piece of that horse Nick. There is no way I can stay away from that. You can even help me pick the match for this one. It just needs to happen.

[Cavallo]

He chuckled and ducked his head as Amber fairly shrieked the stallion's name. He gave an apologetic glance to the other people in the coffee shop who were looking over at them with some confused looks and some annoyed. He turned back to Amber as she ranted about the foal from hell.

This foal is definitely going to be a monster. I'm actually hoping that the foal will take more after it's sire. he chuckled. He knew Anarchi well. The stallion had never outwardly provoked a fight, in fact, he didn't make any sounds...he was very much like Top Admiral, cold and indifferent, but man was he a great runner and Nick was desperate to have it passed on to this foal.

The next wave of shock that hit Amber, probably gave him the most pleasure. When she heard that the stallion had come to reside at Intrepid, he immediately saw those cunning wheels turning in her head. He knew she wanted a piece of this horse, but there was another horse he also wanted a piece of that was open for Y14. That had to be what he loved about his relationship with Amber, there was always give and take. Each gave so freely to the other and as a result, some of the best bred horses had come into existence because of their cooperation.

She leaned in closer to him, her eyes deadly serious as she voiced her need to have a piece of the Xenophon son. She smelled so sweet, not too flowery...she had a more natural smell and he was acutely aware of it as she drew closer.
I definitely think that we can make that happen. Anarchi is a high caliber stallion and one of his first foals needs to go to a high caliber home. But. If we're talking about horses we need a piece of, I've had my eye on one of your mares...Wild Flower. He smiled and knew what he was doing. This was so exciting and he honestly didn't know if this planning would have been as fun with someone else. He loved doing business with Amber.

I propose a trade. An Anarchi breeding for the year of your choise, for a Wild Flower foal in Y14. And I have the perfect sire already lined up. His eyes twinkled and burned. She was going to die when she heard the boy her had in mind for her mare.