Live and Let Growl by Laurien Berenson Read Free Book Online Page B

pose and hold it.”
    â€œHorses, too.” Erin laughed. “At least ones that go through the sales ring often enough.”
    That was the second time that day someone had mentioned Thoroughbred sales. As Aunt Peg walked around the mare to take a look at her from all sides, I asked Erin how often they were held.
    â€œAll the time,” she told me. “Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton are the two big sales companies in Lexington. In the spring, we have two-year-old in-training sales. In the summer and early fall, people buy and sell yearlings. In the winter, breeding stock changes hands. It’s not unusual for one horse to be bought and sold several times throughout the course of its life. There’s serious money to be made at the sales. Sometimes even more than you might make by racing.”
    â€œShe has a lovely shoulder, doesn’t she?” Aunt Peg asked.
    Erin nodded in agreement. “Good bone, too. Lucky Luna is a beautifully balanced mare. You can really see her sire in her. If she has a foal that looks anything like she does, I’m sure you’ll be very pleased with it.”
    â€œI’m pleased already,” said Aunt Peg, stepping in closer. “May I touch her?”
    â€œOf course,” Erin replied. “She’s yours. And she’s a very friendly mare. They aren’t all like that, but Lucky Luna is a pleasure to work around. Right, Sergio?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    As Peg approached Lucky Luna, Sergio slid his hand up the lead rope and tightened his hold. The precaution proved unnecessary. When Aunt Peg stroked the mare’s soft neck, Lucky Luna simply flicked an interested ear in her direction, but didn’t move otherwise.
    â€œI think I’m in love,” Aunt Peg said after a minute. She laughed in happy surprise. “I can’t say that I expected that.”
    Erin just smiled. “As soon as you told me you had dogs, I knew it would happen. Horse people and dog people are all the same.”
    â€œLucky Luna certainly looks as though she’s been very well cared for,” Aunt Peg said as she stepped back again. “I’m sure there are questions I should be asking, but right now I am perfectly content just to stand here and enjoy looking at her.”
    â€œThat’s the good thing about having your mare under the management of a farm like Six Oaks,” Erin told her. “We have all the experts you need right here. Vet care, bloodstock advice, day-to-day care, and monitoring; we take care of everything for you. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the fun of owning a very nice mare. When we’re finished, I’ll take you back to the office and you can sit down with Ben to go over any remaining details.”
    â€œAunt Peg was told that she might need to find a stallion to breed Lucky Luna to this year?” I asked. “Do you know anything about that?”
    â€œI do, actually, and it’s already been taken care of. The previous owner booked Lucky Luna last fall to a stallion at Lane’s End named Candy Ride. We have the signed contract on file in the office. I assume that meets with your approval?”
    â€œShould it?” asked Aunt Peg. She clearly had no more idea who Lucky Luna’s potential suitor was than I did.
    â€œAbsolutely,” said Erin. “Candy Ride is a very good horse and a super choice for your mare.”
    â€œExcellent,” Aunt Peg declared. “One less thing to worry about.”
    I stared at her in surprise. Usually Aunt Peg wasn’t happy unless she was micromanaging everything and everyone. So this was a change, and a pleasant one at that. Maybe this trip to Kentucky would be good for her. Maybe it would be good for both of us.
    After all, it was spring break. One could only hope.

Chapter 5
    â€œI ’m a little disappointed,” I said when Sergio had taken Lucky Luna back to her stall and the three of us were walking back to