Page 40 of Property of Rio

Considering the number of times I’ve been face-to-face with a loaded gun, that’s honestly the closest I’ve ever come to meeting my maker. At the distance we were, there’s no fucking way I wouldn’t have been grievously injured or even killed. Gage’s actions saved my sorry ass but gave me the impetus to finally claim Issy.

“What do you think about me allowing StarlightandStargazer to run the barrels?” Issy suddenly asks. “I mean, Starlight still has it and it’s not like she’s truly too old to race, I just retired her so that Stargazer could start running the circuit.”

“Shit, Issy, you trying to win the top two spots at your home rodeo?” Rip teases. “Because unless she’s really slowed down a lot, Starlight used to give everyone a run for their money.”

“I think she misses it,” Issy confesses. “When I was practicing with Stargazer, I decided to let Star run it a few times and she was phenomenal, to be honest.”

Luis, having joined our group which lets me know the horses are now bedded down and two of our prospects are standing watch, interjects and states, “Her times would put her in the top five, at least, based on the racers who competed today.”

Since I wasn’t always with her while she practiced, this shocks me a bit. “Really? Well, babe, you know your girl the best. If you think she can handle it, then let her race.” I make a mental note to have the ranch’s vet thoroughly check both horses out because it would devastate Issy if something happened to either one of her girls.

Seeing the moon is so high in the sky, I realize we need to end our evening since the closing ceremonies will commence around ten in the morning, after the under ten crowd competes in their events. Honestly, seeing the little kids attempting to rope calves and pigs is hysterical and it brings back memories of me and Issy doing the same thing until we were a bit older and could start riding in the competitions, aiming to win buckles for ourselves. Then, I went the way of broncs while she barrel raced, since that’s a female-only sport. A vision hits me right between theeyes of a little girl with Issy’s hair practicing her lassoing on one of the ranch’s animals, and I want that more than anything.

To start the next generation of our family and teach them how to properly care for the animals we have dominion over so that Paps’s legacy lives on.

“I do think she’s capable,” Issy says as we walk toward our RV after bidding everyone goodnight, the chuckles of my brothers following us.

“Me too, babe,” I reply as I unlock the door so we can head inside. “Now, how about we get naked so we can celebrate a little bit more?”

“Damn, Issy,twobuckles? I’m gonna need to adjust the trophy wall,” I tease as we sit beside each other on the bleachers, listening to the various event winners get called to the podium for their award.

This particular rodeo gives buckles out to the first-place winner, while the points also count toward the champion buckle that’s awarded at the end of the year. Issy won on both horses, although in barrel racing? She fucking blew the contenders completely away. Hell, this morning, while the kids were competing, we were dealing with the event organizers asking to have Stargazer’s blood tested. Apparently, one of the other racers, upset because they were knocked out of the top three, accused the ranch of using performance enhancing drugs. Thankfully, Luis was there, as were the three prospects, so they wouldn’t allow them near Gazer until we arrived.

Seeing Issy fired up the way she was had my dick hard, not even gonna lie. She had all the paperwork from Stargazer’s vet and then, she got him on the phone and put it on speaker.

“Dr. Webb, I’m sorry to bother you on a Sunday,” Issy stated. Any bystander could hear how irate she was having to call him up.

“No problem at all, Issy. How did the girls do this weekend?” he asked.

“Well, that’s why I’m calling. The officials are standing right here and are accusing me of using unreputable stuff to make Gazer faster.”

“What? Who exactly is standing there right now, Issy?” Dr. Webb asked, immediately fired up, as well.

“Me, Rafe, Luis, three of the club’s prospects, plus Alden Smith and Arthur Shetfield,” Issy responded.

“So, you didn’t inform them that I drew blood on Friday?” Dr. Webb clarified.

“Nope,” Issy said, popping the p which told me exactly how pissed she was because she always told me she felt like a child when she did that. “But I’m glad I asked you to do so seeing as this is happening again.”

“What bloodwork?” Alden Smith asked.

“Issy had noted that Stargazer seemed to be faster during her practice runs, so knowing how petty some are on the circuit, she reached out to me, and we opted to be preemptive and run a panel of bloodwork on Stargazer. If you’ll give me your phone number, I’ll gladly text you a copy of the results,” Dr. Webb advised.

Alden Smith rattled off his phone number and we all waited until his phone chimed. He and Shetfield stepped away while Issy and Dr. Webb continued talking about how Starlight did in the dressage event. I kept my gaze on the two men as they apparently opened up the document that Dr. Webb sent to Smith, then smirked when they both shrugged before trudging back to us.

“Mr. Rodriguez,” Alden addressed me as the official owner of Stargazer. “We apologize for the insinuation. Everything seems to be in order, and we will advise the complainant accordingly.”

“If it’s the same bitch who always complains about how my horse runs, perhaps she should have some sanctions tossed her way,” Issy sneered at the suggestion. “Because her allegations have gotten ridiculous. We have this happen at every show now thatshe’salso competing at and there’s never any bearing to the complaint.”

“We’ll take it under advisement,” Sheffield stated.

“I’ll be sending in a formal complaint to the association,” I advised. “Because this is damn near approaching slander with respect tomyranch and reputation. Dr. Webb, can you have your office staff put together a portfolio of all our animals, especially Starlight and Stargazer, for me to send in with my complaint?” I asked.

“Absolutely. I’ll also be submitting one. The Triple R Ranch is beyond reproach with their reputation for raising, breeding, and training horses, as well as bulls for prospective rodeo riders. People come from across the country to buy one of their championship livestock”

Both Smith and Shetfield now look like they’re regretting ever getting out of bed this morning, much less listening to a petty loser. “Again, we’re sorry,” Smith mumbled.

“Are you about ready to head home?” I ask, just as some of the other barrel racers walk in front of where we’re standing.

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