Two of a Kind Read online

  “Yeah? Good deal. I’m hoping for Texas Tornado for my first pull on the broncs. She kicks damn fine.” He always talked names, while Dean always did numbers.

  “She’ll get you some good numbers, that’s for sure.”

  “That’s what I need.” He grinned sheepishly. “I really want a good Christmas for the kids this year. I want to win a go-round.”

  “How many are there again? Three? Four?”

  “Kids? Five. And Cole is almost old enough to not be around as much at the holidays, so I need to make it count.”

  “Man, it’s not every guy that would take on their brother’s kids.”

  “Trey is the one who’s done all the work.” Trey made him feel humble. Not small or anything, but humble.

  “You work your ass off, though. That’s got to be hard.”

  “I’m good. I mean, I try.” He shook his head. “How’s your momma? Is her hand healing?”

  “You know it. It would be better if she’d actually rest it, you know?”

  “I bet.” His mom had always been that way. Cut her fingertip off making carne adovada? Superglue. It was like magic. Gross magic sometimes, but magic nonetheless.

  “Yeah. Moms.”

  “I miss mine every day.” He whacked Dean’s arm. “Let’s go check out the stock for today.”

  “Works for me, cowboy.”

  The thing to focus on between now and the end of a week and a half of rodeo shows was sitting up, not getting down in the well, and riding his best. Then he could go home and have his holiday with his kids and his lover.

  Oh, he did love the sound of that.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “UNCLE Daddy! My jeans tore!” Courtney came running up, holding her backside.

  “How on earth…?”

  “I did the splits! My pants didn’t.”

  “Why were you doing the splits in jeans?” He was trying not to laugh. “You have special pants for gymnastics.”

  “I was showing Braden!” Like that was perfectly logical.

  “Well, let me see.” He needed to know if the jeans were salvageable.

  She turned around and bent over, the seat split right down the middle.

  “Whoops. Okay, go change.” Hopefully, she wasn’t attached to this pair and it could disappear. “Hurry now, we have to pick Amelia and Bella up.”

  “Okay!” Court pattered off, holding her butt again. As soon as she was out of earshot, he laughed hard. Good Lord and butter, they kept him on his toes.

  “Uncle Daddy, do I have to come?” Braden popped up, damn near scaring him to death.

  “Uh, I guess not. You sure you don’t want to?”

  “I want to get my homework done so I can watch movies tonight.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thanks. Tacos tonight?”

  He nodded. He could do that. He’d pick some up in town.

  “Thanks, Uncle Daddy.”

  “Anytime. Tell Cole when he gets home to stay, okay? Court? Come on!”

  “Sure.” Braden sounded so cheerful that Trey had to figure Cole had plans. Too bad he hadn’t cleared them with Trey.

  His oldest was feeling his wild oats these days, chafing at having to help out so much. Ap being there had spoiled them all more than a little. If Bella asked why he never did x, y, or z like Ap one more time….

  “Court? Are you ready?”

  “I am!” She ran out wearing a tutu and a coconut bra from Halloween.

  Fuck.

  “It’s cold for the coconuts, Court. A shirt? Please?”

  “Uncle Daddy!” She wailed it, and he clenched his teeth and counted to ten.

  “Now.”

  “Uncle Ap let me wear it!”

  “It was Halloween.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared. No more words. He hadn’t lasted this long as a parent by giving in.

  “Okay. I’ll get a shirt.” She could pout with the best of them.

  “Fast.” He didn’t want to leave Ames standing out in the cold. Could be Ap leaving, but she’d been sniffly for a day or two.

  He didn’t need them all sick.

  She came drooping back out wearing her rainbow unicorn shirt, which was nice and thick. “Good deal. Come on.”

  “I’m coming! I’m not bad!”

  “I know that, kiddo. I just don’t want Amelia to catch a cold. I told Braden we could have tacos.” Lord, she was in a mood and a half.

  “Can I have chicken?”

  “Sure.” He scooped her up and nuzzled her; his stubble was long enough after a few days of not shaving that it would tickle and not burn.

  Courtney squealed and wiggled, but then she threw her arms around his neck. “I hate when it’s cold and we can’t play outside.”

  “I know, right? It stinks to be cooped up. Maybe this summer we’ll build a play casita, just for you and Ames.”

  “Yeah?” She gave him big eyes when he carried her out to the van. “Oh! I can help with the adobe!”

  He chuckled at how she automatically assumed it would look like the house. “No Victorian cottage?”

  “That would get hot in the summer and cold in the winter,” she scoffed.

  “That’s my desert baby.” He helped her into the van, and she buckled herself in.

  “Where else would I be?”

  He laughed, heading out to pick up the middle sprogs. There was a lot of driving involved in kids. He whistled along with the Moana soundtrack as he drove, and Courtney sang loud. She did love that song by the Rock.

  His phone rang and he hit the hands-free. “’Lo?”

  “Hey, you.” Oh. Ap.

  “Hey, stranger. How were the practice bulls?”

  “Uncle Ap!” Courtney squealed. “We’re going to make a casita for me and Amelia!”

  “Looks like we got our work cut out, kiddo. You two on the road?”

  “We’re picking up Amelia and Bella from dance class! Oh, Uncle Ap, we miss you.”

  Courtney had that right.

  “I miss you guys too. So much.” Ap didn’t sound… down, exactly. More homesick.

  “How’s Vegas? Send pictures, huh?” He wanted to go. He wanted to go and see… anything.

  “I will. I’ve got an autograph signing today, of all things. My sponsor sprung it on me this morning. The practice bulls were good. I ate at the biggest buffet last night, Court. They had lobster.”

  “Losbers? Were they yummy? Did they taste like bugs? Bella says that they told her in school they were just big bugs.”

  “Not one bit. They taste like really sweet trout.”

  Go Ap for picking a fish Court liked.

  “Uncle Daddy, can you make me losbers?”

  “Uh… maybe?” What did he know about that?

  “I can do a big boil when I get home, honey. I talked all about it to the chef.”

  “Did you hear? Uncle Ap’s making me losbers!”

  “I did! How lucky!” Magical Uncle Ap.

  “When are you coming home, Uncle Ap?”

  “A week and a half or so, kiddo. I’ll call later tonight, Trey?”

  “Sure, Ap. We can chat.”

  “Cool. I love you guys so.”

  “Love you, Uncle Ap!”

  “Love you, man. I’ll talk at you tonight.”

  Courtney waited until Ap hung up. “Are you gonna marry Uncle Ap?”

  Like Ap would marry a man. “Why do you ask, honey?”

  “Because you sleep in the same room and he kisses you and he says I love you. Cole says Mom and Dad did that.” So serious.

  “Well, we’ll have to see. Right now, we’re just….” What? Dating? Fucking? What were they doing?

  “Okay!” She turned up the radio to shout about how she was Moana, so he let it go.

  He had kids to pick up and tacos to fetch.

  Chapter Fifteen

  AP bounced from foot to foot, warming up. God, he wanted to talk to Trey before he rode today, but it was too late, really. He was up for bareback broncs in ten.<
br />
  He grabbed the top rail and squatted, feeling it in his quads and glutes.

  The noise from the crowd and the buzz of the announcer were actually comforting, if he was honest. This was his world and had been since he was old enough to get his card. He could smell manure, popcorn, and beer.

  Jorge Martinez warmed up alongside him. “You feeling lucky, Ap?”

  “I’m feeling determined, man. How about you?”

  “Ready to ride this bitch into the ground.”

  Yeah, assuming Jorge remembered to mark out. The man was disqualified more often for that.

  He grinned, rolling his head back and forth on his neck. The big gray mare was stamping and pushing at the gate already, promising to be a ride and a half. He loved this old lady; she’d been horse of the year twice. She could be his ticket to big money, and if she wasn’t, he had saddle broncs and bulls this week.

  Whatever it was, he needed one to hit and hit big so he could hang with his family for a few months.

  He took a deep breath. Okay, his rigging was on her. All he had to do was tie in and not get bucked off. Bareback was harder on the body than saddle bronc, but Ap found it easier to stay aboard.

  Ap always felt pressure, but this time? Christ, this time he needed these rides. They were the ability to go home.

  He blew out his breath, then nodded to Oscar, who was pulling gate. Time to climb on. He didn’t have to be as careful to let the mare know he was coming as he did with a bull, but he did talk to her, watching her ears swivel.

  “Up and down, right, lady? Let’s do this.”

  She snorted, bobbing her head, and he knew she was ready. He gripped his rigging, raised his free arm, and rested his spurs above her shoulders.

  The eight seconds went like owl shit, the mare bucking like that was what she was born for. He held on, confident he had marked out, and waited for the buzzer while he spurred and grunted.

  The buzzer went, James was right there to grab him, and it was over. He grabbed that safetyman by the waist, dropped to the ground, and ran a few steps to keep his equilibrium. Then he found the mare’s circle and ran the other way. He climbed the fence and looked to the scoreboard.

  He heard the announcer the same time as he saw the board. “Eighty-three points, folks! That might win the round!”

  Fuck yeah!

  He pumped his arm, then took his rope and ran for the back to text Trey.

  His phone was in his bag back in the locker room. Eighty-three! he texted.

  It took a few minutes, but the answer buzzed back: Rock on!

  Man, he wanted to just go to the truck and call Trey, but he needed to hang out and see if he was getting a check. Three more riders after him.

  He just needed one to fall short or not mark out—thank you, Jorge—to make a check. Now, if he could win the whole go-round that would be better than second or third….

  The next two riders hit around seventy, and he watched his name, sitting there at the top of the leaderboard. Herme would have to get an eighty-two to topple him. He loved the little Cajun to death, but Ap prayed he came in under eighty.

  This was his time, goddamn it. His.

  His heart pounded, sweat beading up under his hat. “Come on, come on!”

  Herme made the eight, and he stared, willing his name to stay on the top.

  “Herme Bonchamps with an eighty-one point five.”

  “Hell yeah!” He pumped his fist, then waved his hat in the air when he was announced as the round winner. He was gonna get a victory lap.

  He couldn’t wait to tell the kids. Bella would be so excited.

  He texted Trey again, just to let him know he had to take his lap and get his check.

  He damn near fell over when he did get his check—twenty-six thousand dollars.

  Fuck yes. Yes! That was enough to take a few months off, for sure.

  He wanted to dance, so he shook it on the way out to his truck. Boom.

  He called the house, hearing, “… beat you until you cannot breathe, do you understand me?” when Trey answered.

  Uh-oh.

  “Who’s gonna die?”

  “Tonight? Braden. I think they’ve decided to take turns. He chose not to do his homework yesterday and forged my name on the paperwork.”

  “Oh shit. Well, I don’t blame you if you beat him.”

  “Yeah. Hold on.” There was a breath, then, “Amelia, bath. Courtney, get into bed. Bella, read your chapters. Braden? You sit there at the table and start copying pages for being a shit. Cole….”

  “Cole’s at work,” Bella piped up.

  “Right. Sorry. Tell me everything.”

  “Cole got a job?” When had that happened? They could go into it later. “I won the go-round in bareback today. I got the check, baby.”

  “Fucking A.” Trey whooped, the sound happy and proud. “Oh, good on you. What was your score that took it?”

  “Eighty-three. Closest was an eighty-one. I knew that mare would make me money.”

  “You did good. Lord, Ap. I bet you’re on top of the world.”

  “I’m feeling pretty good.” He couldn’t stop grinning. “I mean, I could win every go-round and not catch up with Tremblay or Carter, but this was damn fine.”

  “Are you going to go do something fun?”

  “Hell yes. I’m gonna come home early. If I don’t make any more money, I won’t stay for the short go, because I don’t stand a chance. I have saddle bronc tomorrow and bulls the day after that.”

  “I wouldn’t say no to that.”

  “Good.” He climbed into the truck. He had a discount hotel this time around, because sleeping in his truck in downtown Vegas was downright dangerous, and there were no close KOAs where he could pitch a tent. Maybe he would order a pizza. “I miss you.”

  “I miss your face. Seriously. I didn’t know how much until you left.”

  “Well, you got spoiled like I did.” Ap laughed, the sound low and happy. Intimate.

  “We all did.” Trey sighed softly. “One day I’ll come out and see.”

  “You will.” He would love that, for Trey to see what he was good at.

  “I want to talk to Uncle Ap, please? I read my chapter.”

  “Do you have time to talk to Bella?”

  “Sure. I’m just heading back to the hotel.”

  “Uncle Ap! Uncle Ap, when are you coming home? We need you to be at the parties.”

  “I promise I will be there in time for parties, baby girl.” He hooked into the speaker so he could be hands-free before starting out of the parking lot. “I love to take my hijos around and show them off.”

  “All the animals are good. The ostrich bit Uncle Daddy and tore up his shoulder.”

  “Oh, did he? When was Uncle Daddy gonna tell me that?”

  “He only told us ’cause Cole had to superglue it shut.”

  “Oh. Ew.” He chuckled to make her laugh with him, but God knew he’d done that more than once. “I love you, baby girl. Can I talk to Uncle Daddy again?”

  “Uh-huh. I love you. Uncle Daddy! He wants to talk to you!”

  “Thanks, kiddo. I’m fine, you know.”

  “Superglue?”

  “Yep. Works like a charm.” Trey sounded so nonchalant.

  “You didn’t mention it.”

  That got him a laugh. “If I told you every time someone around here got hurt, that would be all we ever spoke about.”

  “Well, I know that, baby. I just worry.” It wasn’t a new thing for him to worry about Trey, but it did seem… way more specific now.

  “Thanks. I’m just a little tender now. That old bitch is mean.”

  “She is. We should sell her, Trey. She’s just costing you output with no gain.”

  “Talk to Cole. They’re his.”

  “Oh.” He had a vague memory of Courtney telling him that Cole sold the eggs, but that was it. “Well, then he needs to take care of her, baby.”

  “Logic. Tell me about Vegas.”

  He h
ad never realized how hungry Trey was for experience. “Have I sent pictures yet?”

  “A couple. It doesn’t look real. It looks like a television set.”

  “It kinda feels that way. Vegas is always sparkle on top and grit beneath.” It wasn’t his favorite city, but the hotels were cheap off strip, and food was plentiful.

  “Huh. Sort of like here, without the sparkle.”

  He chuckled. “Bernalillo has more neon these days. Think of the Denny’s, man.”

  “Mmm… grits. I may have to take the kids on Saturday.”

  “You can get grits here, can you believe it? The Excalibur buffet.”

  “Crazy. Is that the one shaped like a castle?” Trey sounded a little wistful.

  “It used to be way more kitschy, but everything is about classy kinda now.” All those new hotels, dripping with crystals and thirty-dollar waffles.

  “Ah. I’ll stick to the casino. There’s always the Tamaya if I want to get my fancy on.”

  “Yeah. That’s where you went, right? When you had your time off?” He still wondered what Trey had gotten up to.

  “Yeah. I ordered a lot of room service and drank beer in the bathtub.”

  “Oh, decadent.” He chuckled. He got that. Ap figured he was taken now. He would do a lot of hotel stuff alone.

  “Yeah.” Trey’s voice got soft, low. “It would have been all decadent if you’d been there.”

  “Oh, now.” That gave him thoughts. “We really need to make more friends who could babysit the kids overnight.”

  “Yeah, wouldn’t that be something?”

  His whole body tightened. “Yes, it would. We might be able to convince Cole and Julianne to do it for enough cash.”

  “I could handle that. You and me, dinner in the room.”

  “A big bathtub for two.” Uh-huh. He was so texting Cole tonight and bribing him.

  “Mmm. I never did that before….”

  “Me either. I showered with a couple of guys once, but that was water conservation. Nothing sexy about it.” Some campgrounds charged extra for showers. A lot extra.

  “Yeah, but this would be… on purpose.”

  “It would. I have an agenda here.” He was gonna drive off the road, he wasn’t careful.

  Trey’s chuckle sent peace right into him. He liked that, knowing he’d made it better.