“Good? Good! Have you ever seen ‘Hay Patcher’ that close up? When’s the last time you saw ‘Hay Patcher’ as the second dam? Not for a good long while, I’ll tell ya.”

“What’s a mare like this go for these days?”

“I’m gonna steal her for a ham sandwich. Look who she’s bred to.” My stinging eyes track down the page to a covering sire I’ve never heard of.

“ ‘Traekon’? Who’s ‘Traekon’?”

“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying. Some allowance piece of shit out of Uruguay or something. A pure plodder. Couldn’t beat a fat man uphill.”

“Aren’t you gonna have a hard time selling the foal back then?”

“The foal? I’m not in it for the foal, man! Are you crazy? I’m in it for the long haul. Mares like this are for the stout of heart. The future. The History of the Turf books!”

“I thought you were supposed to be a little short on change these days, Reese.”

“Who told you that? Oh, the exes you mean?”

“Well—”

“Yeah. News is out, I guess. They’ve finally tapped me. I’ve got other resources, though. Kentucky’s full of loopholes. Deals can be made, believe you me. Deals can be made.”

“How many extra kids are you supporting now?”

“Too goddamn many! Half of ’em aren’t even mine to begin with but I haven’t got the funds to fight it.” Now he closes off again; lights another Lucky and burrows into his reference books, blowing smoke across the pages.

“Rena kinda wants to know how long you’re gonna stay up here, Reese.”

“Rena. That’s what I figured. She called you, right?”

“No, she didn’t call me.”

“She called you, all right. I can tell by your demeanor.”

“My demeanor?”

“Yeah. The way you come crawling in here sideways.”

“You weren’t even looking! You had your back to me.”

“I could feel it. I’ve grown very sensitive to that kinda stuff over the years. Treachery and guile. I can feel it.”

“Well, I didn’t crawl. That’s ridiculous.”

“You slithered.”

“Look—all she wants to know is how long. That’s all.”