Chapter 33

Love - Peppy

Walt Jr. – First Person POV

Father said, "We can try. If it does not work, we do not want Peppy to suffer."

Daddy called Mr George and asked him if the ointment would work on a horse. He said, "They use it on elephants and water buffalo in Thailand. I am unaware any reason it would not work on animals here. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

George Meadows arrived with the slimy green stinky stuff. He said, "The smell came from a melon called Durian." It reeked equal to rotting garbage. He rubbed the medicine on Peppy's leg. My little horse squealed and collapsed. His leg was burning. He was not breathing. The said, "I am sorry, but ..."

A few seconds later his legs vibrated. Snorts erupted with a wheezing implosion. Peppy gasped for air as he rose to his feet. The bulge on his leg disappeared. The limp faded away. The horse ran to practice track, lapped around the rim returned in two minutes and forty-one seconds. The approximate distance one and a half miles.

My eyes widened and I held my breath. I held on to a stall rail. Daddy's face brightened. Mr. George and Uncle Carl focused on Peppy and repeated, "Come on Peppy, Peppy, Peppy, come on."

The doctor timed it by writing what he assumed was the time of death. It was calculated as we watched the second hand on the clock hanging in the barn. He said, "For an untrained yearling, you have the makings of a champion."

I said, "With Daddy's help, I have been training him with Johnny Mendez, Mrs. Mendez's son, has been his jockey. The vet said, "You raised one fine horse worthy of the Kentucky Derby in two years." There was a glint in the doctor's eyes and a smirk on his face as he spoke.

Mr. Meadows and Daddy were talking about Peppy becoming a candidate for the Triple Crown Championship.

They had the same gleam on their faces comparable to the veterinarian. I grasped it meant something special. Daddy said my horse might be the greatest race horse alive. He was my friend. I could tell when Peppy agreed with me by the way he shook his head up and down. My lips tightened and pointed upwards, and my cheeks heated.

Horse and Man – Bobby – Third Person POV

Was it a quirk? Did Peppy sprint as fast as the good doctor said? Walt, Johnny, Carl and Bobby took the stallion to the training track. The path was one and one quarter mile. He ran it in two minutes and ten seconds unmounted. It was close, but we needed to hold it nearer to two minutes. Carl said, "The pace must be slow. The horse is still growing."

George rubbed in another dose of the balm on the steed's leg. The mount ran the lap in two minutes and one second. We recognized it wasn't a fluke. George believed one more application would assure sustain healing.

The next test run was a half a second under two minutes. The record was beat by a fraction of a second. Bobby said, "We must win a couple races above two minutes to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. However, it embraces a dream. Running him too often or too soon may instigate further damage. Yes, the Thai cure is effective, but we can not predict the long-term effect."

George said, "Let him mature another six months before putting him on a rigorous training schedule.

A census suggested when Peppy starts racing, let him go for the win. However, do not push him for the record. Take one race at a time. Plan the strategy for one race. George told Bobby the same applied to his fighting.

Betzy and Bobby are training together under the supervision of Alice and George. They developed little tricks to sharpen their awareness in the ring They are also learning from each other. Some things are a little different as a result of anatomy and Bobby's left leg. Although, most things are very similar.

The main modification comes in the lethal form of FF not allowed in competitive bouts. The deadly techniques are only used when one's life is threaten or in actual war.

Alice said, "When an ex-husband or ex-boyfriend says he is going to beat you to death, believe him and take the appropriate measures to keep it from happening. The focus is what we train women to do."

George said, "Bobby, you are far enough along to be a guest trainer in one of our self-defense modules. Some women will listen to a man better. Your confidence and encouragement inspires them. We help them understand how to protect themselves from their attackers. It can be the transformation keeping them and their children alive."

Alice added, "At times we may be called on by a law enforcement agency to assist them in training or support in protecting others. Less than two percent of the population has the skill set you two possess. Some of these stints are covert where you will save the lives of those who cannot stick up for themselves. It calls for you to understand and not judge why they get themselves into repulsive situations."

George responded, "Some have no choice. They are abducted in or near war zones and sold as slaves. You may be given large amounts of cash to distribute to those in need through foundations, educational institutions and industry to provide legitimate jobs."

Betzy asked, "Where does the money come from?"

Alice replied, "It is cash recovered from illegal activities. Especially if we are unable to trace it back to its original or rightful owner."

"Why does it not go to the government?

"We found it gets into the hands of those who need it lot faster. The government gets a return from taxes on jobs created and corporate revenues. Local communities get benefit from sales and property levies on individuals."

George said, "Research has proven new income flowing into a community turns over seven to ten times. Every thousand dollars spent will represent seven thousand to retail outlets and additional items and services.