“Reardon was beating her because he thought she wasn’t trying hard enough. It was crazy. But Davidow said he always does it when he gets it into his head that he’s not getting his money’s worth from a horse.” She shook her head, her voice breaking. “But Nightshade was a champion when he bought her two years ago. He had to know she was giving everything she had in every race.” The tears were running down her cheeks. “Evidently he didn’t want to believe it. She’s so gentle…It’s no wonder she’s so quiet and well behaved. She wouldn’t have dared be anything else. I couldn’t stand it, Alisa.”

“I know you couldn’t.” Alisa’s voice was low. “So you fought Reardon and he savaged you. You must have put up a good fight.”

“Not good enough. If I had, I would have been able to take a whip to him. I wanted him to hurt.”

“And he will.”

“And I’ll never let him hurt Nightshade or Chaos or any other horse.”

“I believe you.”

She laughed shakily. “Are you just saying what I want to hear?”

“No.” Alisa’s tone was suddenly passionate with feeling. “We’ll make everything you want come true. After what you’ve gone through, I just wish I could give it to you right now.” She kissed her forehead. “But I admit I was hoping you would answer a few of those same boring questions Gilroy was asking. Are you in much pain?”

She tried to decide. She was feeling less numb now, and Alisa wanted to know. “My back throbs but I don’t think the lash broke the skin.”

Alisa flinched. “How kind of Reardon. I must remember that. Gilroy said you don’t have any broken bones, either.”

She nodded. “That’s what Masenak said. He was yelling at Reardon when he came and made him stop. He was accusing him of trying to ruin his chances of winning the race if I couldn’t sit a horse.”

“So he helped you?”

“He looked at my back and checked for broken bones. He wouldn’t let Reardon beat me any longer. I guess that was a help.”

Alisa said bitterly, “And then tossed you on the floor of that stable and left you.”

She frowned. “That didn’t matter. It’s where I wanted to be. After they left, I knew I’d have to check Nightshade and make sure she was okay. And Chaos was upset and trying to get out of his stall. I had to stop him.”

“Which you did, and then just curled up by Nightshade’s stall where Gilroy found you.”

She made a face. “And wouldn’t let me rest.”

“He wouldn’t let me rest, either, but I might give him a medal for it.”