Off to the Races

Vaughn Harding frantically searches through public records for proof that his grandfather Dermot Harding is innocent of fixing races. The late Dermot, who owned the family ranch and raised Vaughn, was accused of fixing horse races immediately following his death. Now, Vaughn struggles with the triple burden of fresh grief, his responsibility to the family legacy, and his desire to restore Dermot’s good name. Vaughn’s brother, Cole Harding, calls to criticize Vaughn for focusing on the ranch and on repairing Dermot’s reputation rather than on his normal job at Gold Rush Resources, the family’s mining business. (Unlike the ranch, Gold Rush Resources is highly successful.)

Vaughn is furious that the rest of his family wants to make his grandfather’s death into a public-relations issue. He contrasts the cold, business-minded focus of Gold Rush Resources with his own happy childhood memories at Gold Rush Ranch. He believes that Cole is hypocritical, given that Cole left the company to join the military when their father died but is now angry with Vaughn for taking a leave of absence following Dermot’s death. Vaughn feels similar frustration at his mother’s attempts to marry him off. She misguidedly believes that her efforts will bring him happiness and ignores Vaughn’s lack of interest in the dates that she sets up without his permission.

In an effort to rebuild his grandfather’s ranch, Vaugh hires Hank Brandt, Dermot’s best friend, who is a retired racehorse trainer. Hank is perpetually cheerful in the face of a challenge. Together, the two men meet to interview a candidate for the position of horse trainer: “some guy named Billy Black,” a “young and cutting-edge” horse trainer (12). When a beautiful woman arrives at the ranch, Vaughn assumes that she is yet another grasping date who wants to secure his wealth for herself. He assumes that his mother sent her and plans to give this woman a piece of his mind.

Arriving at Gold Rush Ranch, Billie is thrilled to behold the wide-open space full of horses, but she is startled when a handsome, angry man rudely orders her to leave. She recognizes Vaughn, and although she knows that she should remain professional, she cannot resist teasing him about his overblown reaction. He is shocked when she introduces herself as Billie Black. Hank arrives, and she greets him warmly.

Embarrassed, Vaughn stalks away, and Hank teases Billie about upsetting Vaughn. Billie reflects on her own awareness that “rich and spoiled men like [Vaughn] never outgrow their arrogant entitlement” (22). Her father exemplifies this type, which has left Billie struggling emotionally; although she still loves her father, she no longer respects him. She refuses to reenter the world of the rich and entitled, which she left behind a decade ago.

Vaughn chastises himself for his impulsive behavior, reflecting that his reaction would have been inappropriate even if he had been correct about Billie’s intention to date him. His qualms about hiring Billie stem from her age, not her gender. Despite Hank’s strong recommendation, Vaughn worries that Billie is too unpredictable for the delicate situation at the ranch, so he suppresses his instinctive attraction to her.

After touring the grounds, Billie and Hank come to Vaughn’s office, and Vaughn mentally reprimands himself for enjoying Billie’s admiration of the stables. Despite Billie’s clear expertise, Vaughn is still reluctant to hire her, but he is swayed by her focus on hard work. Determined to find a reason to reject her, Vaughn gives her an exercise that sets her up to fail: She must choose a winning horse despite having very little information. She astutely recognizes that one of the horses seems too obviously good on paper and therefore must have something else “wrong with him” (35). Still, when pressed to choose a favorite, she chooses that horse: Double Diablo.

Based on her competent assessment, Vaughn offers her a three-month contingency contract; if Double Diablo wins his first race of the season in three months, Billie will have earned a permanent position. If the horse loses, she will be out of a job, though Vaughn promises to give her a good reference. Hank protests this arrangement as unfair, but Billie is eager to prove herself and quickly agrees. She teases him about their initial meeting, and Vaughn laments that between her attitude and his attraction toward her, it will be a struggle to be near her for several months.

Billie reflects that she will have a lot of fun teasing Vaughn, something she only dares do to because she recognizes that they need one another; this dynamic makes their relationship more equal. Even with the new stipulation on her contract, she is excited about the upcoming months. Billie admires the landscape as Hank leads her to meet Double Diablo. Hank explains that “Dermot was a good man who got embroiled in something he shouldn’t have” and that Vaughn’s father was a jockey who “died on the track” when Vaughn was 10 (41). Hank also describes Vaughn’s emotional investment in the ranch, as he and Dermot bonded over their losses.

Billie sees Double Diablo, who is slightly unkempt and has “the most angelic little face” (42). Suddenly, Double Diablo charges at Billie, but when she stands her ground, he grinds to a stop. She ignores his antics, which angers the horse. Billie chuckles, reflecting that Double Diablo reminds her of Vaughn. Hank explains that most of the ranch staff members are afraid of Double Diablo, but he and Billie both recognize the horse’s behavior as a symptom of fear, not cruelty. Still, Hank cautions Billie, fearing for her safety. Billie vows to find a loving way to train the horse.

Vaughn awkwardly shows Billie to her house on the ranch. She is delighted by its beauty and privacy, as she has spent years sharing accommodations with other trainers. Vaughn is visibly anxious, which she finds puzzling, but she puts his behavior aside to focus on work. She spends the rest of the morning purchasing basics and cleaning the house, which has clearly been neglected. She laughs when she imagines her mother’s horror at the thought of Billie cleaning a former tenant’s mess. She then grows annoyed at Vaughn’s lack of kindness, given that he assigned her to a filthy house despite having many staff members on the ranch whose duties include cleaning. She heads out to have a quiet meal among the horses, whose company she prefers vastly to that of humans.

Vaughn struggles to draft a press relief about Dermot. He worries that Billie is a “loose cannon” who will bring more scandal to the ranch. He researches her background and then is startled when she catches him looking at a picture of her with a horse. Billie criticizes Vaughn for the poor state of her house; he doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but he dislikes her confrontational attitude and refuses to apologize on principle.

When she asks for a knife, which she forgot to pack for her picnic, he notes how exhausted she seems and helps her find one. He catches her staring at him and calls her out on it, but she refuses to be embarrassed. Instead, she makes a suggestive comment about his attractiveness. He teases her back and decides that “toying with Billie Black is fun” (62).

Billie storms to Double Diablo’s paddock, annoyed with Vaughn for teasing her and annoyed with herself for finding him attractive. She eats her picnic while Double Diablo, whom she has nicknamed DD, ignores her, but when she throws him a carrot, he hesitantly accepts it. She talks casually to DD about her awareness of having provoked Vaughn. She notes the similarities between the horse and the ranch owner—particularly their abrasive exteriors. When Vaughn arrives nearby, she worries that he might have overheard her talking about him. She gradually lures DD close enough to eat a carrot from her hand, a sign that makes her optimistic about their relationship.