Page 15

FOURTEEN

Isla

“You be careful,” Rafe says as I settle into Starlight’s saddle. “I get why you wanna go there so we can honor Gage, but I’m still not sure you should be riding just yet.”

“Leave her be, Rio,” Riptide chides. “She’s a big girl and if her ribs end up hurting, it’ll just give you a reason to massage her later.”

I start giggling at the glare Rafe is throwing at his cousin right now. When he suggested we have a private memorial with just the three of us, I told him I wanted to go to the spot on the back part of the property that we all used to go where we’d fish, hang out, and just enjoy being together. The only problem is, the accessibility is only possible using the horses, because the paths are too narrow for the Ranger.

“Fine, whatever,” Rafe grumbles as he hefts himself onto his stallion’s back. Ochre is a prize champion stud that has made the ranch a lot of money over the years. Still, whenever he’s able, Rafe takes him out for a ride and today’s one of those days. Paps definitely knew what he was doing when he decided what businesses he was going to invest in and create back in the day.

“Let’s go, y’all,” I giddily say, ready to feel the fresh air on my face. Despite Rafe’s concern, I feel better, stronger, and more resilient every single day that passes by. It’s probably a combination of the yoga I’ve been doing, as well as the soaking baths, but whatever it is, I’m ready to start living again.

Riptide and Rafe both have backpacks filled with food in Tupperware tubs that Constance made for us, as well as drinks, although I also have my canteen strapped to my chest. It’s one of those things that’s a habit since I’ve spent a lot of time roaming the property on my own. Dehydration in the Texas heat is most definitely a concern in the midst of the afternoon, so I’m always prepared.

Surprisingly, they allow me to take the lead which I’m more than happy to do. While they stay somewhat back, my mind goes back through the memories of Gage. I hate that I wasn’t able to resolve things between the two of us before he died, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt we would’ve gotten through it. There was too much history between us to push our friendship under the rug and pretend like it didn’t exist. I might not have trusted him in the same way when it was said and done, but he was a friend for a very long time and that’s hard to let go of, at least for me.

It doesn’t take us long to get to the manmade pond where a lot of our childhood memories occurred, which is shaded by a variety of trees including cedar elm, bubba desert willow, and chinkapin oak. I wait for Rafe to help me down from my perch, although I do roll my eyes because I’m more than capable of getting off Starlight. Still, he’s insistent so I let him do it to avoid any arguments.

“Damn, this place brings back memories,” Riptide murmurs as he unpacks his backpack and pulls out a blanket. After it’s spread out, I gratefully and gracefully sit then take the bottle of water he hands me.

“Right? It’s like time stands still here,” I reply, reminiscing. “I mean, the trees are bigger, of course, but I feel as though we’ve stepped back in time through a wormhole when our past life was not so damn hard all the time.”

“No club responsibilities, no businesses to oversee, no adult children to manage,” Rafe teases, grinning at Riptide. At his expression, Rafe laughs and continues. “C’mon, Rip, you know damn well that the brothers we oversee all have a few screws loose sometimes. It’s like herding a group of toddlers who get cranky and tired half the time.”

I snicker at his description of the brothers. I don’t know how much is just their natural personality, and how much is because they know it gets under Rafe’s skin so they’re continuing the charade in order to drive him crazy.

“It’s like trying to baptize a cat,” Rip adds, chuckling. “Shit, there are times I have to remember they’re my brothers because the urge to pull my piece and end their nonsense is overwhelming.”

“Boys, y’all love your brothers,” I remind them. “Y’all are a family, remember? Families sometimes drive each other crazy.”

“Babe, I’m almost certifiable at this point,” Rafe deadpans.

“You look pretty sane to me,” I muse, giving him a once-over.

“When are y’all hosting another rodeo?” Rip suddenly asks.

I look to Rafe for an answer because he’s the one who coordinates those events with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Since the Triple R is a sanctioned site, it’s a huge undertaking for everyone involved. Hopefully, it’s far enough off that I’ll be able to work with Stargazer and have a good showing. I know Starlight will present well in the dressage event. But there’s so much to do in order to prepare, it’s almost overwhelming by the time everything is organized. Still, I’ll pitch in where I can.

“Got a call in to my contact and just waiting to hear back,” Rafe replies. “Y’all wanna eat or just chill for a little bit.”

Rip pats his flat belly and says, “Still full from the spread that Constance put out this morning.”

“I am too, Rafe,” I add.

“Remember when Gage told us he’d never learned how to swim?” Rip suddenly asks. “So, we got the fucking bright idea to teach him in the pond?”

“Nearly had a fucking heart attack when that water moccasin was chasing Issy,” Rafe says, rubbing his chest as if he’s not in the past but reliving that day in real time. “Pulled that trigger so fast, I’m pretty sure I emptied the clip.”

“That was the second time you saved me from a snake,” I murmur, smiling at Rafe, showing him my gratitude. “Seems like you should always carry when we’re together.”

Rafe releases a rigorous cackle that reverberates around us, the slight breeze carrying it in the wind. “Babe, I do carry all the time, but when we’re together, I have more than one on me.”

“You do?” I question, shocked to my core. “I mean, I’m not that bad, am I?”

“Trouble is your middle name, Issy,” Riptide teases. “You’re gonna give your old man a head full of gray hair before much longer.”

“Whatever,” I retort. “I’m a relatively self-sufficient woman, I’ll have you know!”

“Except when venomous snakes are around,” Rip good-naturedly banters. “Because the last situation, you managed to handle by yourself.”

“Fine, snakes are on my no-go list, as a matter of fact, I avoid them at all costs, and I did need help to get home when I wasn’t able to lift myself up off the ground and get onto the back of Starlight.”

“Issy, doubt many could’ve gotten back up on a horse bareback with cracked ribs,” Rip states, reminding me of my physical condition at the time. “So, give yourself some credit. While they’re lower, not many bikers can handle their bikes when they’ve got cracked or broken ribs.”

I feel better with Rip’s words. I’ve been so conditioned over the years to handle as much on my own as possible, that I kind of felt like I let myself down.

“What about when y’all got stuck up in the tree that one day?” I suddenly ask as giggles erupt from my throat. “Y’all were so damn funny!”

“Yeah, if I never said so, thanks, cuz, for catching me,” Rafe says, smacking Rip in the shoulder.

“Fucker. I had a cast from my fingers to my shoulder. In fucking summer!” Rip mock yells. “I still have arthritic pain when there’s a shift in weather. The worst part was how hot it was that year. The itching from the sweat trickling into my cast drove me absolutely insane.”

“Riding back on the horses wasn’t easy either,” I muse. “You and Gage had to get Rip up on the horse, remember?” I ask Rafe.

“Fucker was heavy even then,” Rafe jests.

“What the fuck is this? Pick on Rip day or something?” Rip asks.

“Shit, we always got into shit whenever we were all together. The only difference was who was the one out of the four of us who ended up with stitches, bruises, or casts,” Rafe replies.

I know we all got a little too much sun, but it was nice being with Rafe and Riptide and sharing stories about Gage. I’m pretty sure that once the brothers get over their anger, their more virtuous memories of their time with Gage will surface. Right now, they’re still full of rage, so what the three of us did today wouldn’t have gone over well at the clubhouse since most still view him as a traitor to the Kings. Hopefully, by the time we get Gage’s ashes back from Rip, we can have a memorial for him at the clubhouse. If feathers aren’t still ruffled that is. He might not have been a patched member, but he was close to everyone and did a lot for the club before he got tangled up with the Devils.

As we brush down the horses, Luis comes out of the tack room and says, “Their stalls are cleaned and mucked, and their feed as well as their water troughs are full.”

“Thanks, Luis,” I say with gratitude for his forethought. He always anticipates what the boys and girls will need before we get back to the barn with them. “They got a little workout today.”

Rip snorts back a laugh while Rafe smirks at me. “Yeah, not really since Mr. Worried Britches wouldn’t let Issy go beyond a light trot,” Rip tells Luis. “Still, they did get some exercise outside of their enclosure, so there’s that.”

“I know y’all are probably gonna party since it’s Rip’s last night before he goes home, but I’m in dire need of a soak in the tub,” I say, having finished with Starlight. I even gave her a few apples because she’s a good girl who took her time with me and followed my every lead of her reins. Walking over to Stargazer’s stall, I pet her muzzle then hand her an apple. “I’ll get you out in the corral tomorrow, girl, okay?” She whinnies as though she understands me then nuzzles my neck, making me giggle.

“I’ll walk you up,” Rafe states, briskly moving to my side. Once Stargazer is finished and moves back to her trough, he takes my hand in his, laces our fingers, then walks to the barn door. “You coming, old man?” he asks Rip.

“You’re older than me, fucker,” Rip retorts as he makes his way to us.

“By a week, however, you’re acting like you’re ninety right now,” Rafe jeers.

“Because it’s been a while since I was on the back of a fucking horse, okay?” Rip growls.

I notice he’s walking a bit gingerly and barely hold back my giggles. I remember how I was all those years ago when I first started riding, and even though he grew up doing it too, he spends his time on a bike these days, not a four-legged animal.

“Hit the bar, man, and I’ll be down in a few,” Rafe instructs.