Time Penalties

By Mary Kit Caelsto

Zahra's on top of the world, but her partner's fall at an event has sent her into a tail spin. She thought she had it all. A farm she worked on with the woman she was starting to love, great horses to ride, all the success she could ever want in competition. Suddenly all of that is in danger--or is it?

In this forth installment of the Cardinal Oaks series, Zahra has to face her inner demons, and force her partner to see her own. She needs to be really real with herself, and with Rose, because if she isn't, she really will lose it all.

This story contains mature women learning to love again, great horses, fantastic rides, and some honest truths about life and love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Kit Caelsto
• Release date: Feb 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005502249

Book preview

< Time Penalties >

Cardinal Oaks Book 4

Mary Kit Caelsto

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Also By The Author

Time Penalties

Fox Hunt Inn

Steady On Course Preview

Correction on Course Preview

Spins Are Wild Preview

About the Author

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Permission is granted to make ONE backup copy for archival purposes.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

TIME PENALTIES

Copyright © Mary Kit Caelsto, 2022

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cover Art ® 2022

Cover art by Epona Author Solutions

Book formatting by Epona Author Solutions (http://eponaauthorsolutions.com)

Electronic Publication Date: February 2022

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

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Also By The Author

Equestrian Women’s Fiction

Noble Dreams Series

Steady On Course

Standing On Course

Correction On Course

Walking On Course

Course Perfect

Shadbelly Faults

Husband On Board

Double Clear

Riding Double

Rompers and Rosettes

Crossed Rails

International Obstacles

Baby Green

Mare Stare

Future Courses

Western Star Series

(women’s fiction w/ romantic elements)

Spins Are Wild

Turn And Burn

In The Chute

Back In The Saddle

Winning It All

Cardinal Oaks Series

Flying Changes

Field Obstacles

Water Hazard

Time Penalties

Sweet Equestrian Romance

Shiloh’s Second Chance

Racehorses and Romance

Riding Home

Claiming His Irish Trainer

His Irish Proposition

Roping Paige

Fantasy/Magic Realism

The Musimagium

Hidden

Tonic Chords

Of Songs & Horns

Of Songs & Paperwork

Chasing Neptune’s Cat

Draco Magus

The Pegasus Project

Pegasus In Flight

Tempus Magic

Radio Arcanum

Mythology

Racing Luck

From the Deep

Bad Luck Titan

Tyche’s Trials

Called to Rota

Chapter One

Dark storm clouds rolled on the horizon, thick and dark, promising a gully washer, which wasn’t exactly what Zahra needed at the moment. The parched ground cried out for moisture. The long days of hot, dry late summer days, making the ground crack and grasses wither. Plumes of dust erupted where Sooty’s hooves hit the ground, the steady four-beat gallop even more resonant like faraway drums pounding as they rode toward the finish line. They weren’t jumping today. Catarina agreed with her that jumping was Sooty’s strong suit. He needed conditioning and suppling.

As did she, Zahra thought with a wry smile. Her muscles ached from the long gallop along the course, from the start down to the finish, then back again. They took different routes, rode past various combinations to keep him from anticipating too much on the familiar course. With their next event only three weeks away, she needed to push herself to make sure they were both in top form. Unfit horses and riders had accidents, and on the cross-country course especially, accidents could be dangerous.

She wished Rose were here with her, but her partner attended a conference with the hopes to pick up some new skills and some new contacts. Her business had taken off, the need for an equine-centered attorney in the area a bit of an unknown when she’d first started. Now, as word got out, it seemed several farms, large and small, wanted Rose’s services.

Zahra was happy for her partner; she truly was. And yet, they’d barely seen each other between Zahra hauling her horses to Catarina twice a week for lessons, or like today to condition on the lovely cross-country course. Zahra worked in the barn, and when she wasn’t riding or doing chores, she watched videos and read the blogs of clinicians to make sure she kept up to date. Rose spent most of her time in her office when she was home.

Zahra exhaled and glanced at the storm clouds once more. She swore they grew closer, as if the rain marched ahead, heedless of the plans and days it might wash out. She sensed those same storm clouds on the horizon of her relationship with Rose. If they couldn’t get together, then they couldn’t make their relationship work. And as much as she wanted to wait, and simply ride this one out, with the way Rose’s work had picked up, would she even have that chance?

She reached the starting box, thankful to be making the long loop to gallop back down to the finish line. Thought the gait wasn’t racing fast, Sooty covered the ground with each stride, something she was thankful for as a rumble sounded in the distance. Thunder or a big truck on the highway; it was too far away to be sure. She patted Sooty’s neck. We’ll take the direct route, boy. No more dallying. Her truck and trailer were parked not too far from the finish line, and if she had time to jog him once they reached the end of the course, he’d be cooled off enough to load and take home. If not, they were stuck waiting out the storm inside the trailer.

At least she’d left James home. The big bay would get a lot of trotting and cantering along the trails that ran not too far from her farm and Noble Dreams. Maybe she’d text Sara and see what her plans were. It’d been several weeks since they’d ridden together.

You can do this. I promise, Zahra told her horse when he started to slow. She glanced over her shoulder. The clouds grew closer, but not too fast. She slowed Sooty into a canter, then into a long-strided trot. He stretched out his neck and blew. When she patted his shoulder, her hand came back slick with the gelding’s sweat. Sorry. I may have pushed you a bit too hard. I just want everything to work out. I’m probably more nervous about moving up a level than I’ve admitted to Catarina or Rose.

As if simply saying the word nervous had triggered something in her mount, Sooty lifted his head and snorted. Not quite shying, but not comfortable either. For a moment she thought maybe her body language had translated to the horse, but then thunder rumbled behind them.

We’ve got to get going. She urged him into a canter, hoping that’d be enough to get them to the trailer before it rained. She risked a glance behind her. The storm clouds seemed to be moving faster. Nothing severe looking. Just dark skies with the promise of a heavy downpour. Hang in there. I want to get us back to the trailer before the storm breaks.

Sooty snorted as if he understood her and picked up the pace. His tail swished. He wasn’t happy about the weather either. They passed the pond, and then the jumps marking the halfway point on the course. They were almost to the trailer.

Thunder rumbled again, this time louder.

Are you ready? Let’s get under cover. She cued Sooty for a gallop and the gelding needed no encouragement. He picked up the pace, galloping faster than he had before.

Her heart pounded like the drum beat of Sooty’s hooves hitting the ground. She’d cut some rides close before, but this had to be one of the tighter ones. Her muscles burned, and she could only imagine how Sooty felt. Once they got back to the barn, she’d make sure he got a good rub with liniment and a couple extra flakes of hay. At least she’d had the presence of mind to bring James and the other horses in before she left. That way she wouldn’t have to worry about chasing anyone down in the rain.

The skies darkened. A cool wind whipped at her back as the rain-washed air sped out of the storm. Yeah, this was going to be close. Her phone chimed. She didn’t bother glancing at it. Probably Catarina warning her about the oncoming storm. The blue flags at the end of the course