"Margherita," the Chief called to his daughter, "our coffees are now cold." He turned back to Giorgio. "Only one thing is in our favor. You see...."
There was a pause as the coffees came and he liberally spooned sugar into both cups. "Because all the contradas think her nervous, unpredictable, none will ask for agreement from you to help another horse to win."
Giorgio sighed in deep relief. "Of that I am glad. When I am on Gaudenzia I am simpatico only to her. But why is it no one has ever come to me to make the secret agreement?"
The Chief could not help chuckling. "'The runt of Monticello', they say, 'is young and green like new spear of wheat. We do not make agreements with a boy so little he has to have double lining in his helmet to keep it on.'"
The man suddenly went silent. What if Giorgio were not asked to ride Gaudenzia in the Palio? He held his tongue. The boy had had enough worries for one night.
