Taking Chances

Michael Starkis, an equestrian rider, is badly injured in a car crash, needing twelve months off work and riding. His horse, Biscuit, was being looked after by a young woman, Penny Chance, who persuades him to return to riding despite his handicap of one leg being shorter when it was reset. They train together and form a relationship of love, but she is forced to leave to help on her family farm in Wales. He returns to work as an agricultural agent, still aiming to be on the Equestrian Olympic team. Eight years later, his aim fails as his new horse falls and has to be put down. That same day, he receives a call from a seven-year-old boy named Harry Chance, who is trying to save his mother from debt. He realises that Harry is his son, conceived on the only time he had sex with Penny. He returns and marries her, using his wealth to develop businesses together, including two inns, followed later by a brewery. The call to riding this time comes as an amateur steeplechase jockey, aiming to win the world-famous Grand National with a horse named Done Deal. A year before, Michael was asked to take a chance riding Red Royal, his business partner's horse, in the same race. Will this race be his downfall? Mike Hellaby lives in Nottingham, England, home of Robin Hood. At the age of 76, he is completing a bachelor of arts in creative and professional writing at Nottingham University. His first book was titled Deuce-Advantage-Love. Publisher's website: http://sbprabooks.com/MikeHellaby