Page 88 of Rainbow Rodeo

“Nice. What’s up?”

“Sierra cracked a hoof. I been working on it, and the farrier has been out, but I want to make sure you don’t think it needs the vet.”

“Well, shit. I’ll give it a look.” A sniff too. He didn’t take chances with his babies.

“Thanks. I just know how much she means to you.”

“They all do, huh?” He started talking to her before opening the stall door. She came right to him, her big head bobbing. Sierra had been with him since his first adult roping championship when he was seventeen. She wasn’t competing anymore, but she was still his favorite pleasure horse. “Hey, baby. You got a bad hoof? You going to let me look?”

She huffed at him, which told him she felt a little ill-used, but she let him lift just fine, and he was pretty pleased with what he saw. “Oh, you’re gonna be fine, lady love. Aaron’s been treating you good.”

“How’s she look, boss?”

“Great. I think unless she takes a turn the other way, we don’t need Doc. You’re doing an amazing job, buddy.”

“Rock on. Thanks, man. I’m trying to do you proud.”

Dalton grinned. Aaron was a good kid, solid to the core, and the family adored him. “You’re doing great.”

The scrape of boots over barn floor made them both glance up, and there was Tank, grinning at them over the stall door. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Sure. You want to turn on the water in the trough?”

“You got it.” Tank headed off, and he heard whistling and water running.

“Hey, Tank. Dee. Good morning. I parked your trailer and plugged you in. Don’t forget to clean out your fridge.” Dustin leaned against the stall door. “Hey, Miss Sierra. You want a carrot?”

She damn near knocked Dalton down to get her treat. Looked like she was feeling fine.

“You trying to get me trampled?”

“You know it.” Dustin grinned over at him. “Mornin’. You want to go to the diner?”

“Yep. We need to go to the store, so I figured we’d take Tank.”

“Course. I’m ready for some migas.”

“Uhn.” He wanted huevos Mexicanos, and he would bet Tank got an omelet with pancakes on the side….

“I know, right? We eat out all the time, but it’s our diner.”

“Exactly.” Dustin gave him a grin, and Aaron snorted.

“Y’all are scary.”

“Always.” He loved when they did that, managed to speak their minds as one.

“Full up. Hey, Dustin.” Tank came back to them, bouncing on his toes like he was getting ready to work the arena. He looked happy as a lark.

“Morning, Mister. We’re talking about going to get breakfast and groceries. Wanna?”

“I do.” Tank beamed, but the look Tank turned on Dalton was hotter. Just for him.

He never doubted that Tank knew which twin he was. This one man would never mistake them.

“Bring me back some loaded hash browns?” Aaron asked. He pulled out his wallet and offered Dalton a five.

He waved the money away. “Will do.”

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