Befuddled [Ripley + Nick]

[Cavallo]

Nick stretched out his legs after being confined behind the steering wheel of his F-150, it was a pleasure to not be sitting. His last session with Top Admiral had him a bit sore. The black stallion was continually growing cantankerous with every loss that he was suffering. It had taken half the year to grade the stallion up and in his twilight hours Nick was determined to get the stallion up to the snuff of his siblings. He'd be damned if he failed the stallion, even after he unceremoniously dumped him on his ass this morning in pent up frustration. It was, of course, all part of the job description as trainer, owner and jockey and boy was he feeling it this morning. He had checked the clock in the dashboard before exciting, the time reading 7:45am. He was fifteen minutes early to the spur of the moment meeting that Ripley Marsh had called in to schedule, but that was it. That was all she'd said: "Landing we need to meet. 8am this Tuesday. Coffee house? Good. See you then." And that was that. He grinned as he remembered the brusque manner of the woman, but he hardly took her rough exterior to heart anymore, he knew what laid beneath was a heart of gold - it was just rough around the edges.

He felt the warmth of his black Northface as he stepped into the chill autumn air. It was September now and the trees down main street were putting on an impressive display of oranges, reds and yellows, the nip of autumn causing the man to relished the protection of the added layer. He made his way to the coffee shop door in a few strides, his long legs covering the distance effortlessly as he opened the door and stepped into the shop inside. The warmth greeted him like an old friend and the aroma of fresh roasted coffee wafted gently into his face in an alluring aroma. First things first, he needed another cup of coffee before he even attempted to ferret out the reason and meaning for Marsh demanding a meeting. The barista was quick and efficient as he took his black cup of coffee and gazed about the room, looking for a more secluded and private area to hold the impromptu meeting. Both Marsh and Landing were well known figures in the local area and it just simply wouldn't do to have some nosy reporter come along and make this simple meeting World War III.

Finding a booth towards the back left he made his way over and took a seat, blending in seemlessly with the calming environment. He shrugged off the black jacket to reveal a simple blue v-neck and worn work jeans. Just another local having a simple cup of coffee as the lounge music played ahead, but on the inside his mind was anything but calm. What was Ripley Marsh up too? Why the vagueness? If he knew anything about Ripley Marsh it was that there was always a reason to her madness, but for the moment he was simply befuddled as to what her meanings and intentions were for this meeting... Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones talking? He chuckled to himself at the thought and took a simple sip of his cup, but couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't going to be just any ordinary meeting. How could it be when Ripley Marsh was involved?

[Ripley]

The ever put together, moody Ripley Marsh was currently cursing herself and Brookson Wells for the waves of nausea rolling through her system. She was cursing herself for demanding a meeting with Nick Landing at 8 AM on a Tuesday morning. And cursing Brookson Wells... because it was always the man's fault. And while she was on this inner-rant, she could use the same reason for Nick Landing. He could have easily changed the time, darn it. Her green eyes blazed as the nausea subsided and she caught Nick Landing heading into the coffee shop. Coffee... another crappy idea on her part. She couldn't even drink it.

She pushed open the door with an irritable slam, narrowly missing the ritzy car beside her beat up track. Shrugging her sweater on, Ripley headed into the coffee shop. The smell was enough to snap her out of her mood. She glanced around until she spotted Nick at the back of the shop. He was a sneaky little something trying to hide in public. Especially in her public. Malcolm's adopted mom ran this damn coffee shop. With a wide grin on her face, Ripley announced, "Well if it isn't the Canadian Triple Crown winning trainer... Come to slum with the poor non-winning trainers."

"Oh, you shut your mouth, Marsh," snapped a very friendly voice. "You damn well hog everything around these parts. Now come get your hot chocolate and sit with that boy like a good girl." Ripley rolled her eyes, feeling heat in her cheeks. But she smiled warmly as she accepted the thick gray mug. Rolling her eyes and shoulders, Ripley prepared to go to bat with her cohort in crime and good friend.

She smiled at him as she sat, taking in his appearance. He was a good looking guy. She definitely couldn't fault Amber Black on her choice. "Congratulations by the way. I would have said so in person sooner if I'd been able to get away."

"By the way, you looked awfully stiff this morning... You take a nice spill?"

Ripley Marsh was many things, but most of all she was shrewd.

[Cavallo]

Nick's eyes rolled dramatically at the irritable woman's greeting. God. Why had he agreed to meet with an already rough woman, who was now carrying around a blast of irritable pregnancy hormones. He didn't take enough ibuprofen this morning to even think about adding another ache to his already ailing and stiff body. His eyes narrowed as the woman ranted in public. He wasn't one given to blushing and right now wasn't an exception. He simply cocked his head to the right and watched with an amused smirk touching his features as he slowly lifted a cup of his brew to his lips. It was with no lack of amusement on his own part that he heard the matron of the shop give the shrew a lashing of her own tongue, quickly putting her in her place with a cup of comfort to sooth the welts.

He chuckled, a look of victory in his eyes as Marsh blushed and took the cup of hot chocolate to then come and sit by his table. "Well. I was thinking about making you grovel, but I think your mum over there has put you in your place...for now..." He teased as he took another draw from his own mug, the bitter brew bringing energy into his tired body. He smiled warmly as she settled down and sincerely congratulated him on the CTC campaign. "Aw thanks Ripley, though I must say I missed seeing a certain Touch Up colt there in the Breeder's. And he sincerely meant it. In Front had been a great competitor and as the breeder of the colt himself, he had invested interest in the colt's success - placing in almost every leg of the CTC was a great beginning and he was eager to see the colt's progression, but that was another discussion. He winced slightly in his seat as he moved subtly to ease the ache in his back, but of course Marsh missed nothing with her shrewd eyes.

She taunted his pain and at that moment he felt like a grumpy old dog and he suppressed a growl of annoyance. "dang Admiral is as pissed a hive of agitated bees and we didn't exactly see eye to eye this morning, let's just say that. He looked up thoughtfully as if remembering something, "Oh and please remind me later that I have something to give Brooks. It's my copy of the Taming of the Shrew." He taunted the woman across from him and took a casual sip again from his mug. At this rate the cup wouldn't last much longer and he'd be running to the bathroom, so he made the mental note to slow down...or maybe just order another cup...you could never have too much coffee.

Folding his hands in front of him on the table he leaned in, all business. "You look like you're holding up okay there Ripley under this whole pregnancy thing and I know despite the loss of the CTC that your barn is in quite good shape for the end of this year, so that leaves my imagination to run wild and ask, what in the world could this meeting this morning be about?"

[Ripley]

Ripley sent a brazen smile in Landing's direction, not letting the "mum" comment hit too close home. Mal's adopted mom had pretty much become hers. Mal and her were more like sister and brother than employer and employee. She lived at that house when she wasn't secluded in her office or on the back of a horse. She took a sip, felt delighted when the warmth of the chocolate zipped down her throat. It was perfect as always. She wasn't a whipped cream kind of girl, but peppermint mixed in was her favorite. Humming with happiness for the first time in a while, Ripley smiled at Nick.

"He didn't come out of the turf race as nicely as I would have liked. Passion Heart and Samhain were too much for him on that surface. It's like he isn't as confident hurtling his body on the tighter turns and the grass. He's been doing well though. I'm eager to get him back on the dirt." She leaned back against her chair, lifted her brows. "By the way... Did you catch Lethal Dose lately? Or Nirvana? We're making your breeding stock look pretty damn beautiful."

She smirked at him and his sarcasm. This was why she found Nick so funny. He looked like such a preppy jock and beneath was a snarky, cynical guy. Just her kind of company. "Funny. I believe he was looking for something more modern actually."

She laughed at his reference to her pregnancy. "Would you have expected it to get me down?" She definitely wasn't going to be mentioning the morning sickness episode anytime soon. "The CTC wasn't too upsetting. One day we'll win a leg. We've come too close not to. I've got my eyes on other things down the road." She smiled at him as he got right to the point.

"Oh, we're in fine shape for the year. I'm very pleased with how things are going. And we can't just have a cup of coffee and hot chocolate? Or is that too much like a date?" She winked at him, "Sorry 'bout that. I kind of ruined it with a bun in the oven and a devoted boyfriend." She laughed. "And you've got your Amber Black. The couple of the racing world."

Her eyes darkened with seriousness though, shrugging it off. "Business is business. And I've got an idea."

"Everyone knows that I am not as big into breeding as I used to be. Too many people leaving the business to breed my foals too. Especially when I'm particularly attached to their sires and dams. However, I have one group of horses that I am so evidently uninterested in breeding. And you probably know already what that is. The distance horses... I have a ton of them in my next two crops. I love to race them, but breeding them just doesn't intrigue me and I don't want to close my doors to people trying to get those horses.

So I want you to take my distance horses and stud/brood them off for me under your massive Intrepid brand. You're the future home of distance horses and I know if I make them successful on the track, you can breed them successfully. We would co-own, if you will, these distance horses. But I will have zero attachment to the offspring, though I'd still like first joint-dibs with you."

"I am happy with the studs I have currently. But I have a pair of broodmares that will not be bred like they should. They are Dazzling Dame and Midnight Thriller. I love them both dearly, but I have no idea who I'd ever match Dame. Ivory Storms Stable's has her first foal and he is a beaut. Midnight Thriller I plan on breeding down the line. Not sure whom yet. But probably one of my miler stallions and probably not until Year Eighteen or so.

That means you'd have a full sister to Infinite Warcry in your barn and El Sol Del Mar's twin to Eternal Phantom. Are you able to resist that?"

[Cavallo]

Nick nodded in comment to Ripley's assessment of In Front and the turf. He understood where the trainer was coming from and he was more than eager to see the colt's return to the more familiar dirt. He watched in amusement as Ripley's face up as she mentioned the climbing three year old in question. Lethal Dose indeed was on a winning streak and he was eager to see the filly's continued success. He'd been sad that there hadn't been room for the filly, but he was glad that she was finally getting the time and attention that she deserved and it looked like she was doing it in style too. "I'm thinking that if Lethal Dose keeps running like she is Lethal Knack might actually might get some loving here in the near future. Dose has been on quite the streak and as for Nirvana, well... who would have known that the 'lesser' cross in our previous deal would turn out so stunning. What's that filly at now? Three HOTY wins?" He shook his head amazed. Who would have thought that Gold Storm and Quintessential would be such a potent crossing. "I tip my hat to you and Witch Creek for making my horses look so good." She took his teasing well in-hand about the suggested reading for Brooks and he had to admit, as he thought about the man, that he really needed to call him up for a night out. Sometimes guys needed time away from their leading ladies and he made a mental note to give the man a call.

She joked about their meeting as a date and he couldn't help, but laugh at her wily comment. There couldn't have been two people more off the market than Ripley Marsh and Nicholas Landing and they both knew it, buns and ovens excluded. The racing couple of the world did have a nice ring to it though...

But he saw her eyes darken with intent and he was quick to match the woman's intentions as he leaned back in from his laugh and sobered up gradually, a smile only lurking at the corners of his mouth as he prepared himself for the true intentions of this little powwow, but what he heard come out of that woman's mouth was nothing that he had been expecting. He listened with a stone face as Marsh presented her proposition and his mind tried to grapple with what she was truly saying.

"So let me see if I have this straight. You want me, Intrepid, to take in your distance breeding stock, to breed distance babies for you and I to race? And with such proposition Dazzling Dame and Midnight Thriller will take residence with my brood band?" He rubbed a hand on the morning stubble on his chin, the scratchy texture a reminder that this was indeed real life and this was a real conversation. "So be more clear with me here. How does this help you? In the long run? Don't take me the wrong way, you know I love Infinite Warcry and to get my hands on his full-sibling as well as ET's, well I'm not against that, but it doesn't seem like a fair trade to you..." Nick wanted nothing more than to say yes, but he was also a fair man. He understood co-ownership, it wouldn't have been the first time the two stables had done so, but he wanted to be sure that if was to be a partnership that each side was getting equal profits. He was a business man with a mind for profit, but he also was a fair one at that.

[Ripley]

She leaned back, happy to have blown Nick Landing's mind. She'd come to the conclusion weeks ago that she was either A) crazy or becoming insanely sensible in her pregnancy. She'd settled on the latter. Her green eyes flashed with amusement. He was looking for checks and balances. She was all set for equality, but really she didn't mind an uneven balance beam. "Not just you and I. Everyone, but instead of coming to me, they come to you. You'd be the middle man in all of this. I can't do everything and have my baby. Things have to change just a little.

She took a sip of her hot chocolate, eyeing Landing over her mug. "And it's not just my broodmares now. If Valkyrie Stable doesn't return, I'm pondering giving you Amarillo Sky in Year Sixteen when he retires. I'd have breeding rights to all of my horses that are given to you. If I choose to exercise my right to those breedings, then I will. I love racing, Landing. People think I'm a little crazy for giving these distance horses up when they retire... but if I have to breed to them at least once, I'm not really giving them up essentially.

I was never really a distance interested barn. I had El Sol Del Mar, Native Flame, DW Flamekissed and The Devil's Touch when I was lonely Battle Brook. My best horse was an animal that was capable of running sprints to twelve furlongs. She was the epitome and the kind I want to get back to. Frozen Motion, Paranormal Hunter... Others like them. Bloody fast horses with a will to win. If you think you're giving me a disadvantage by taking two broodmares I'd breed to one time, well, you'd be wrong."

"For this moment, the only broods I would give up are Dame and Midtee. Studs, you will never get your hands are In Front, Saintly Touch, Vagabond, Uno or that delightful Gold Rush, when his time comes. I may be interested in concocting a deal surrounding Casualty Of War. He's coming off as a distance horse right now, but God knows, Supernatural was a distance baby at two and now she's a miler. He strikes me as a very marketable horse through his sire."

"I would ultimately like to become the go-to miler, sprinter barn. Just as you, for me at least, are the go-to distance barn."

[Cavallo]

He nodded in agreement and realization. Everything she said was true. Already at this point in time he held the market for a large majority of the distance sires, with SOPS probably being the only real competition in that arena and his business wasn't suffering in the slightest. He was finally at the point where he was reaching his limit. It was nearly impossible to be owner, trainer, jockey and stallion barn manager with requests for seasons coming in at a constant rate. If he said yes to this, which he knew he would be an idiot not to, he was definitely going to need to hire a new face and soon.

He leaned back, a contemplative look on his face as he sipped another swig of his coffee, the warmth of the beverage beginning to fade. There was no cons to this situation for either party and only immeasurable profits to be gained, for both stables that is. "Alright Marsh. You have yourself a deal." He extended a work calloused hand to his longtime friend and partner. "I'm interested to see what results from this little deal."

He smiled, the excitement of the situation beginning to settle in on him with a giddy weight. The possibilities began to rush through his head a mile a minute. There was no doubt about it that this was going to be the beginning of something great and would be a partnership that would quickly become widely respected.

"Looks like I'm gonna need to hire some new help after all...and to somehow break the news of this..." he gestured between the two of them with his right hand, "... with my girlfriend..."

[Ripley]

She took his hand, smiling excitedly. Intrepid and Witch Creek would always be on friendly terms... except on the track. But it would never such a blood feud as it was with Stride of Perfection Stables. She really needed to talk to Amber Black, just because they hadn't spoken in a while. It was good to catch up, make nice and put aside the track for a little bit. Just be girls... Or, as she put her hand on her belly, girls and a little boy, perhaps? She wouldn't know until next year in April.

"Good. We'll test it for Year Fifteen. Perhaps, put them as open book and if no one is interested, we'll breed them and try to sell the resulting foals. People may be able to resist just the mare, but an option with one of your studs may be enough to catch an eye or two." She smiled. "Oh... and speaking of Supernatural. I'm toying with the idea of retiring her and giving her Year Fifteen as her let down year. In Year Sixteen, however, I'm curious if a certain horse named Anodyne will be at stud? I do recall having a reserve to him. A speedy horse capable of getting a mile and a half is exactly what I'm interested in."

She smiled, flicked her hair out of her eyes. "So how do you mention this to Amber? And how do you think she'll react when she hears?" She was curious about the Nick's relationship with Amber. They always seemed like such lovebirds, still in that initial warm fuzzy glow. She wondered if anything had thrown a wrench in it just yet. Brooks and her had faced a year long wrench.

[Cavallo]

Next year. Next year was Y15, that meant that one Night Stalker mare and one Jessie James mare coming into his brood band and both were full-siblings to some of the most successful names in the game, literally the possibilities were endless and he was almost giddy with the dawning realization. He immediately had two stallions already in mind for one mare and was running through a mental list in his head.

He smiled and took the final drag of his coffee and arched an eyebrow as he heard Marsh beginning to being another line of thought. He prepared himself for Marsh's next dangerous business proposition, whatever it may be. When his ears heard the woman beginning to ask questions about when exactly Anodyne was expected to retire and his face was an instant smirk. So it was like that then. He couldn't lie. He saw the Anodyne x Supernatural cross as a very potent one and one that would definitely bring about it's own touch of success.

He looked down distractedly at his empty mug and caught Suzy's eye. The matronly woman held up a pot of coffee and he nodded in acknowledgment. She smiled as she poured him another cup and he returned the gesture. Happy to have another cup of brew he took a sip and looked back up at a waiting Ripley. Anodyne will most likely be retiring after his four year old trip in Y15, so Y16...I don't see why Anodyne won't be available to service your mare..if you're still interested at that time.. That would be a phenomenal distance bred foal and he was already eager to see what might result from the crossing...

She made mention of Amber and he could only shrug his shoulders. "I expect she'll catch wind of this soon when she stops by and sees Midtee and Dame in my barns." He chuckled at the mental image he conjured up of seeing Amber's face when she spotted the mares. "Yes. It will be an interesting conversation to say the least. I just hope she'll see this for what it is, a successful business transaction for both me and you and I'll just have to find a way to endure her initial shock...hopefully it doesn't end with her throwing things at my head." He chuckled at the thought, but there was a touch of unease in his gut. There was no way he was backing out of this arrangement, he'd be foolish too and he was no fool. Hey, Amber and he might have their first big fight, but at least then he might have the making up to look forward too...

[Ripley]

Ripley smirked as Suzy walked up with her coffee and poured Landing some more. Suzy was inadvertently helping her keep Nick around. The woman winked at her, walked away calling for anyone who needed refills. She slapped the coffee pot down and shrugged. "I'll be back out in an hour, so ya'll can get your butts up and come get it yourself." Ripley chuckled, draining her last cup. "Suzy only lets me have one cup a day. I'm a regular here after the morning workout sets. Particularly recently. I have to take my nap or she'll sick Mal on me. He's her adopted son.

And I'm her adopted daughter. He's an orphan by choice and I'm not." She sent him a casual smile, not letting the wistfulness come fully into her gaze. Couldn't change something seven years in the past. "So, Landing, since Suzy is doing me a favor by keeping you around with her delicious coffee. I have another proposal. Call me brash, but I was thinking... Since we have this partnership thing going, I'd like to joint host an open house and sale with you."

She twirled her empty mug around on the table anxiously. "Now who are we selling you might ask? We'll be selling the progeny of Dazzling Dame, Midnight Thriller and two mares of your choice. You can match Midtee and Dame with your distance boys and send me two mares to breed to my milers. We'd make a nice amount of cash and be able to host a celebratory event in Year Fifteen."

[Cavallo]

Immediate excitement filled Nick Landing's eyes. He'd been considering having an open house himself to parade the stallions for Y15 to the public, but in light of this new partnership, this was a prime opportunity introduce the new fruit of their little deal. It would only be an added benefit then that the people of The Wire and Green Horse Fields could mingle, interact and of course fill his and Ripley's pocket books.

"Ripley Marsh, have you been reading my mind? I was already planning an open house, but this, like you said, is a perfect opportunity to show case our new efforts. I plan on parading some of my stallions, you're more than welcome to do the same. So now I definitely need to go hire a new stallion barn manager." He mock grimaced at the idea, but in all reality, he was relieved. That was one less tedious job on his plate and it meant that he could do much more as a trainer and rider. He grabbed his mug and downed it in one gulp, the scalding temperature bringing him to life and alertness.

He cocked an eyebrow, Know anyone looking for a job as a stallion barn manager?" He teased and stood up from the table. "When do you want Beth to send a team out for the mare swap? Oh and which of my ladies will I be sending over pray tell?", he asked as he pushed his chair in casually and stretched out his tall and sore frame.