We've Lost It's a Fluke; and 'Overboard'

First is a sad update on It's a Fluke.

Then a story, and then an update on Book 6 in my Meg Sheppard Mystery Series.

It's a Fluke was claimed when he raced on July 21st.

We were surprised and unhappy that we lost him.

Some of you may not know what claiming races are.

Claiming races are set up so that high-level horses won't be entered into races where they would be expected to win every (or almost every) time.

Those horses enter 'allowance' races or stakes races.

It's a Fluke hasn't raced in the big races, but we love him and enjoyed having him in our lives.

To claim a horse the trainer representing the owner puts in a claim shortly before the race. If more than one claim form is completed, then there is a draw.

The horse belongs to the successful trainer immediately after the race.

A new rule now allows the new trainer/owner to have the horse inspected by an official veterinarian immediately after the race.

We didn't expect It's a Fluke to be claimed because his performance this year has been disappointing. So, it was a nasty shock for us all.

(In case you're wondering how Fluke did in that race, he didn't 'break' well out of the gate (he usually does), didn't get the lead right away- and he hates that! He gave up and came last.)

On a happier note, we still have part-ownership of two two-year-olds. Audi's World has just returned to Woodbine after a pleasant vacation to allow him to rest mentally and physically. Prized Spirit is showing some spirit (living up to her name) and is, so far, doing well in her training.

We remain optimistic that both of them will race this year which will be very exciting.

This is a story that I wrote recently for the Uxbridge Writers' Circle. As usual, the words I had to incorporate are in italics.

Overboard

Gerald had been looking forward to his wedding to Millie, but that had changed. In his naivete, he’d assumed he wouldn’t have to be involved in the endless decision-making that comprised the organization of the enormous and elaborate event. But Millie told him he should be part of the planning team, so, despite his reluctance, he dutifully attended all the meetings, outings, and viewings. He was even present when she tried on nineteen wedding outfits.

But, as far as he was concerned, she was going overboard.

She wanted the marriage ceremony to be held on the boat. She wouldn’t consider other suggestions. She believed Gerald’s boat was the most apt and beautiful setting for their marriage and the celebrations afterwards. This decision sent Gerald’s yacht crew into a tailspin. They’d been used to an easy life of occasional cruises with Gerald and no more than forty guests. But the wedding party could be as many as three hundred and fifty if everyone came. And Millie wanted the boat to cruise along the South Devon coast. The captain pulled himself up to his full height of five feet two and mentioned sea mist could come down, the action of the boat could make the guests seasick, and people would have to sit in various places since no one part of the yacht could accommodate everyone, and chairs and tables would have to be rented. He also added that the galley was small and would limit food preparation.  Millie wasn’t deterred by any of this. At that moment, she was busy selecting the style of calligraphy she wanted used for the menus and place names. The wedding planner had recommended a local artist to handwrite each one.

Millie wanted her wedding to catch attention and she needed Gerald to be seen at her side throughout all the preparations. This wedding was to be her triumph. She’d been married before, but never to such a wealthy well-known businessman.

Although Gerald was included in the planning, he felt superfluous. And everywhere they went, the press turned up. They had obviously been given the schedule of meetings, outings, and viewings. Gerald was no stranger to cameras, but was uncomfortable with that level of intrusion.

Millie was selecting flowers with the help of the wedding planner. Gerald was shocked by the quantity of flowers needed to decorate and adorn both people and things. Millie was turning the glossy pages of a manual that was about six inches thick. Her eyes fell on a large pink blossom, and she indicated she wanted some in her bouquet. She was told they’d have to be flown from Israel—that delighted her, and the press lapped it up.  

It was at that moment that Gerald saw through the whole charade. It was all about Millie, and he was irrelevant except as a media magnet. Once that dawned on him, he saw everything differently. He was being used—he thought darkly—and he stood up and walked away.

He needed to think.

He told Millie he had urgent business to attend to and didn’t hang around to hear the objections. There’d be no more photo ops that day for Millie.

He walked into his penthouse suite and Neville followed him, waiting for instructions. Gerald told him that he was to research Mildred Blaine. He wanted every little detail by noon.

A trace of a smile touched Neville’s lips. He’d already started digging and was close to telling Gerald that he had suspicions about Millie.

By noon, Gerald knew what he had to do. He made a call, sat in his office and waited. He and Millie were scheduled to meet the planner and the wedding supplies rental company on the boat to make decisions about chairs and tables. He was relieved not to be part of it.

The news broke the next day. There’d been a tragic accident. Mildred Blaine had fallen overboard. There were no witnesses. It was reported that she was alone on the lower deck of Gerald Wilson’s yacht when it happened. The waves had suddenly become large rollers and a heavy sea mist had reduced visibility—the body has not been found to this day. Gerald refused all interviews.

From what Neville told him, she’d had four previous marriages, and all four husbands were dead. Neville guessed correctly that marrying Gerald would have been the icing on the cake of Millie’s life. She was fifty and her striking beauty and her lithe figure were fading. She’d squandered the money she’d gained from her marriages, but catching Gerald would put her in a different class. His wealth was known to be in the billions, and he had no children. She would never have to give a moment’s thought to money ever again, and she would be able to do and have anything and everything. 

But she didn’t realize that Gerald’s development business, although hugely successful, acted as a front for his even more profitable businesses.

His real name was Ivan Zabowski. He had strong connections with Russian oligarchs and was an excellent leader. He was known for his good business sense and astute mind. So, those in his circle were shocked that he’d fallen for Millie and disturbed that photographs of the couple were regularly showing up in the tabloids.

What Ivan didn’t know was that Millie’s death meant he was allowed to live. He came close to following her into the sea.

Ivan now lives as a recluse in a penthouse in London. He gave his yacht to Neville.

Vicky Earle Copyright 2024

Book 6!

The working title remains as 'Love and Death'.

I'm about to start my fifth edit.

I would like to launch it in October which is when Blue Heron Books probably has a time slot for me.

But I'll need to finish editing soon!

Wish me luck.

Thank you for reading my post.

Please share.

Vicky