Around six weeks had passed, and no one had worked out my relationship with Ben, not even Georgia. We never dared showed any affection in public. However, there were sneaky kisses around the stables when no one else was near.

He did take me on that date he promised me, though. I had told my parents I was going out with Ben, but they thought it was just to go over what to do in Manny's race tomorrow. I even changed him to Dave in my phone, so that no one would know it was him I was having midnight text sessions with.

Picking me up in his Ute, we headed to a small cafe in town.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Ben asked, sneaking glances at me while trying to keep his eyes on the road.

"A little bit. I hate being favourite, because that always puts more pressure on you," I replied.

We sat in silence for the next few minutes as we headed to the cafe. We were both consumed in our thoughts, yet because we had know each other for so long it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.

Pulling up just outside of the cafe, we jumped out and headed inside.

It was simple and rustic inside with a relaxed atmosphere. We were guided over to a table for two, near the back of the cafe. Ben, being the gentleman that he is, pulled the chair out for me and gestured for me to sit down.

"Why, thank you, sir," I said.

"You are most welcome, madam."

Joking around, we ordered our food, but while we were waiting for it to come Ben's face suddenly changed.

"Don't turn around," he whispered, "but Adam is behind you."

The warning came too late though, as Adam had already spotted us and was heading over.

"What are you doing here, little sis?" He asked.

"Just going over tomorrow's race with Ben," I explained with an answer I had rehearsed just in case I bumped into anyone I knew.

"And you really need to do that over dinner!" He joked. I forced myself to laugh, while I was secretly dying on the inside, hoping he wouldn't find out the real reason why.

"You know, Claire only gives her jockeys the best" Ben chipped in, shooting me a sympathetic smile.

"That's my sister," Adam exclaimed, turning his action to Ben. "Well, if you want to join me later, a few of the jockey boys and I are heading out for some drinks."

"Thanks for the offer," Ben said, "but I have to rest up for tomorrow."

"Alright then, well you two have a good night." Sensing that it was his time to leave, as our food was approaching, Adam took off.

"Sorry about that," I sighed, nodding at the waitress to thank her for the food, "I seriously thought no one would find us here."

"It's fine, Claire," Ben reassured me, grabbing my hand "it could have gone a whole lot worse."

Nodding, I smiled before digging into my food.

The rest of the night went well. We talked about the race tomorrow with Manny and about the other horses in the stable. We also talked about just normal things that you would on a date, like favourite movies and places we'd like to visit.

Once we paid the bill (well, Ben paid, being the gentleman that he is), we headed for home. Pulling up in the driveway, Ben turned the ignition and lights off, so that all that was left was the twinkling stars and the sound of grasshoppers, chirping in the background.

"I've had a really nice night tonight," Ben explained, twisting in his seat so he could face me front on.

"Yeah, I have too." I nodded in agreement.

"Well, it's only right that I kiss you goodnight, then." Leaning over the seat, he kissed me softly, not like the one at the party that was filled with passion, but one that felt like a daydream.

"I think you're right," I whispered, kissing him back. How did I ever get so lucky?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today was Manny's second race, and he was the clear favourite, with the odds at two to one. It was only a small country race, but it had the pressure of a group one race. Well, in my opinion in did. The country races weren't as popular or fancy as the city ones, but they still had good prize money.

Dad and I had arrived earlier than usual, as Manny was in the first race at twelve. I guess that meant that I had less time to get nervous.

I was watching Manny go around the mounting yard with his strapper when Ben arrived for his instructions. Dad had said that I could be in total control today and that was just adding to my nervousness.

"Hey," I said. "Ready for the race?"

"You know, ready as I'll ever be. It's the same for every race," he replied with that smile. "Often, you have to expect the unexpected. Plus, we went over this at dinner." He gave me a cheeky wink!

"You sure do. Ok, for this race just hold him back until the last 200 metres or so and then let him run. Hopefully there will still be enough left in the tank."

"Ok. That sounds good. I'll try my best as always," Ben said, looking into my eyes, the only thing we would do in public to show our love to each other and only each other.

"I know you will."

I placed my hand on his back, just in a way friends would. It felt like my body was tingling all over from one touch, just like on that night.

"Riders mount up, please," someone called out.

I legged Ben up onto Manny and gave him an encouraging pat. Manny replied with a nicker. Sometimes I swear he can understand what I'm saying.

The race started as all races do. I watched Manny leave the mounting yard and went to the fence were Dad and the owners were waiting. All the horses loaded fine into the barrier and everyone jumped fine. It wasn't till the last 300 metres that things went downhill, like a roller-coaster coming down after it reached the top.

The next few seconds felt like they went for a lifetime. Manny clipped the hooves of the horse in front, as Ben began to bring him around to the front. Manny began to fall. You could see the fear in his eyes, as they rolled around in his head. His ears flickered in all directions, trying to know if Ben was going to help him and what was happening. The crowd, who moments before were yelling, seemed to go quite as they watched to see if he would recover.

The problem was that he didn't, he just kept falling. Ben was trying so hard to pull him up, but nothing was helping.

"Dad! Dad!" I yelled with absolute shock. "Manny's falling!"

It wasn't till later that I wondered why I said that. Dad would have been able to see for himself. Maybe it's because I couldn't quite believe what was happening. It just couldn't be happening. This was what my worst nightmares are made of.

Tears were threatening to make an appearance, but I think I was in too much shock to cry. It was like a movie, but a slow, silent, horror movie.

I had to just watch it all happen before my eyes, as I couldn't run onto the field with the race still going, putting other horses and jockeys at risk. By this time, Ben had fallen off completely and it looked like Manny had rolled over him, if not, missing him by millimetres.

There was nothing I could do but watch. Nothing.

The last horses finally passed the finish post and I bolted for the track, just as a horse bolted when they got a fright. I didn't even wait for the other horses to come back to the mounting yard.

As I ran, my mind raced. Would Manny be ok? Please not a broken leg. Would he have to be put down? No Claire, positive thoughts. Is Ben ok? Does he have a spinal injury? The thoughts rushed through my head, over and over, like a cloth in a wash machining.

"Manny! Ben! Manny!" I shouted like a mad woman, alternating between their names.

Tears were now streaming down my face, like a mini waterfall. I no longer cared what I looked like, I just needed to get to both of them.

I wasn't sure exactly who I was crying for, if it was Manny, Ben or both.

Manny was my first horse that I had trained by myself. We had an incredible bond that I don't think I'll ever have with another horse.

Then there was Ben. He was the first person I had ever had feelings for like this and a man who had an amazing way with horses. He was just starting to do really well as a jockey and had his whole life in front of him.

Nothing could prepare me for the scene in front of me.