Chapter 3
I canceled the Founder’s Ride.
That irritated three older capos before they knew why.
Useful information.
People reveal their priorities when tradition disappears.
I brought the family into the stable lounge instead.
Milo went upstairs with Daniel and my housekeeper. I promised him there would be no horses near him unless he asked.
Then I placed the cut strap on the table.
No speeches.
“Who knew?”
Nobody raised a hand.
Caleb stared at the floor.
Elise looked angry enough to blame everyone else for being discovered.
Then Arthur Rourke, seventy-six and permanently offended by modern life, cleared his throat.
“Caleb mentioned you were having trouble riding.”
I turned.
“When?”
“Last month.”
Interesting.
“Have I been?”
Arthur looked uncomfortable.
“No.”
Another capo spoke.
“He told me your right leg bothered you after long rides.”
It didn’t.
A third:
“He said you nearly came off near the west fence.”
I hadn’t.
There it was.
The accident had begun before the strap was cut.
Not physically.
Narratively.
Caleb had spent weeks telling selected men that age was catching me.
Slowly.
Casually.
Enough that a fall on the hill would confirm something they already believed they had noticed.
I looked at him.
“You prepared witnesses before you prepared the saddle.”
His face hardened.
“I raised concerns.”
“You manufactured them.”
“I’ve seen you slow down.”
“I’m fifty-six.”
“Exactly.”
I laughed once.
That annoyed him.
Good.
Fifty-six apparently qualified as ancient when a thirty-eight-year-old man wanted my chair closer.
But I knew Caleb.
He was ambitious.
Not stupid.
A single riding fall does not remove a Mafia boss.
“What came after?”
No answer.
I looked around the table.
Arthur would not meet my eyes.
Interesting.
“You know.”
He sighed.
“There was supposed to be a family discussion.”
“About?”
“Reducing your field duties.”
There.
Not retirement.
Smaller first step.
I stop riding inspections.
Stop visiting crews directly.
Someone younger handles physical operations.
Someone like Caleb.
May you like
The fall was not supposed to take my chair.
It was supposed to make the first piece of authority look reasonable to transfer.
