Two of a Kind

by BA Tortuga

  “Yeah, she’s got a fascination with that whole fire thing.”

  “Didn’t we all at one time or another?”

  “Maybe.” Trey changed his boots on the porch. He had a bad scar from a bottle rocket that had damn near changed him from a rooster to a hen.

  “Well, I did. So did Daniel. He was worse than me. Set the barn on fire twice.”

  “Oh Christ, don’t tell Bella. She’ll take it as a damn challenge.”

  “God no. I would never encourage.” Ap chuckled. “Good thing I wanted to be a firefighter for a while.”

  “She’s definitely a McIntosh, that girl. Court and the boys take after my people, and Ames….” Well, Amelia was her own person, and that was just fine.

  “She’s an alien.” Ap laughed, stretching so long he looked like he was about to dive off the porch into a pool.

  “She’s our alien, though, and smart as a whip.”

  “She is. I like her.” Ap squinted. “Is that smoke?”

  “Fuck-a-doodle-doo.” He took off on a run, rounded the corner of the barn to see Bella carefully forking straw into the trash barrel.

  “Bella! You know you’re not supposed to start a fire without me or Cole!”

  “I was helping! The coyotes might get the baby!” Oh, stubborn-faced girl.

  “I had to eat some breakfast. You got the straw out of the stall. That was all you had to do.” He could be more stubborn. Hell, that was the one thing he had over his kids.

  “Now, Trey….”

  He shot Ap a look. Don’t you dare, man. Don’t you cross me in front of my kids. “No fire without me or Cole.”

  “Cole gets to do everything first!”

  Well, duh. He’s the oldest.

  “I used to say that about your daddy, kiddo,” Ap said. “All the time. But he was older than me.”

  “It’s no fair. I don’t get to be anything. I don’t get to be the oldest. I don’t get to be the baby.”

  “You get the baby yak to train. Just you.” Let her think on that.

  She sighed but nodded. “I was careful. I promise.”

  “Still, for a while longer, let me have my oldest little girl, huh?”

  “Okay, Uncle Daddy.” She handed him the pitchfork.

  “Thank you. So, what have you decided to name him?”

  “Bert.”

  He paused in the shoveling of hay. “Like Bert and Ernie?”

  “Uh-huh. Yark and Bert and Jennifer.”

  Like that just made sense.

  Ap sent him a look, all wide eyes and a half grin.

  He shrugged to Ap. What did he know about twelve-year-old girls? Nada, despite the fact that he’d been the one with the sister.

  He shoveled the rest of the straw on the fire, making sure nothing flew up and out. Bella took Ap’s hand and led him back to the horse barn, chattering away about her barrel horse.

  “She’s so pretty. I love how deep her chest is.” Listen to Ap talk about confirmation.

  He had to wonder what Ap was going to do when he got tired of rodeoing. Would the man want to come here? Where else would he go?

  Trey had joined his land with Tammy and Dan’s, but what if Ap wanted it back?

  God, his head hurt.

  “Hey, you look wore. Why don’t you go nap like Braden? I got this.” Ap nodded toward the house.

  “I think I must have slept myself stupid over the last few days.”

  “You still look tired.” Ap said it low, glancing at Bella, who was singing to her horse.

  “Do I? I didn’t do anything strenuous.” Hell, he’d done precious little that was fun.

  “No, I just think you’re worn-out. Long-term.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a long few years.” He hadn’t asked for these kids. He loved them desperately, but it hadn’t been easy.

  “I see that.” Ap snorted. “We got some shit to talk about, but not now. Go be one with the mattress.”

  “All right. I can do that. That hay is burning pretty easy, but it’s hot deep in the barrel.”

  “Man, I’m not a kid. I know that fire is hot.”

  “Right.” Christ. He headed into the house and went right for his recliner, plopped down. In two seconds, Courtney was in his arms, her thumb in her mouth.

  “Shhh.” He stroked her back, then eased her thumb down. They were working on that. “I got you, baby girl.” He said it low, because Amelia was sound asleep.

  “Love you, Uncle Daddy. Missed you so bad.”

  “Oh, I missed you. Shh. Let’s watch our movie.” He didn’t even care what it was. He was home with his kids. Crazy as it made him, this was where he belonged.

  Chapter Seven

  AP knocked on the door to Trey’s office. The kids were all gone to school, the feeding was done, and he knew Trey was in there paying bills. He’d taken the whole stack of papers from the kitchen counter and disappeared half an hour ago.

  So maybe it was a good time to chat about why paying the bills was so hard.

  “Come on in, man.” Trey had been sleeping on the recliner for two nights, and Ap could see the tired lines written deep in Trey’s tanned face. “I was just trying to get some bills paid before tonight’s game. Cole’s pissing himself with excitement.”

  “I bet he is.” He sat on the edge of the weird old extra chair. Shit, he remembered this from his folks’ house—the ugly orange thing looked like a monster, but it was so comfortable. “You ought to sleep in the bed with me, man. I share a bed nine nights out of ten on the road and manage not to molest anyone.”

  “Not anyone? That seems unfair.”

  “Well, if I’m gonna do that, I make plans ahead of time.” He winked, pleased he and Trey were at least making an effort. It had been easy once upon a time. “Now, don’t get all mad, but I got to ask. Why are you trading and working extra jobs? The money I send home ain’t doing it?”

  “What? That money’s for the kids. I don’t use it.”

  “The kids? So you use it to buy clothes and school supplies?” There was no way that spent all his earnings.

  “College funds. Here.” Trey pushed over a ledger, numbers marching along in neat little rows. Jesus. All that money was just sitting there. He could see the pattern easily. Cole’s account had been filled first in a balloon sort of pattern, with smaller amounts to the younger kids. Then the deposits for Braden had risen, then Bella.

  “Shit, Trey. Some of this could have gone to living expenses.”

  “I wanted to make sure they were taken care of.”

  “While you work into an early grave?”

  “What?” Trey looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

  “You’re exhausted! Any fool can see it.”

  “I’ve been taking care of five kids for six years! It only comes in exhausted!”

  “Don’t you yell at me.” He poked a finger at Trey. “I been living on rice and pintos and sleeping in my truck!”

  “Did I ask you to? Upgrade to burgers and PBR, for fuck’s sake.” Trey rolled his eyes. “Haven’t I been saving it? I ain’t wasted a motherfucking dime in all this time.”

  “I never said you did.” Stubborn fucking cowboy. “I just expected you to use some of it!” Cole was working, and Bella’s boots looked like they came from the Goodwill.

  “I’m saving it for college. They’ll need it!”

  He threw his hands in the air, which he figured he’d never done before. “Of course they will, but you can’t pay bills with ostriches.”

  “I do a fairly good job.”

  “Oh, Trey, I didn’t mean you don’t.” He leaned forward and stared into those blue eyes. “I just couldn’t believe you were having to barter and shit. I can—” What? Maybe he could final this year. He could hit more circuit finals too.

  “You do a lot. I just…. I knew that we had to make do. I know college is hard, and it’s soon. I’m working my ass off to make sure they have the chance I didn’t!”

  That fell between them like a turd in a punchbowl
. Plop. “Well, yeah. I mean, you weren’t like me.” He’d never planned anything but rodeoin’.

  “No. No, I had nothing to offer but… this.”

  Ap frowned. “Stop that. You run this place, and you keep those kids going. I did it for three days and I couldn’t see how you keep it together.” Ap wasn’t gonna let Trey put himself down. “I meant you were going to go to school and all. I was never anything but rodeo trash.”

  “You’re the one that made good, and you know it.”

  He scoffed. “I’m getting long in the tooth. Then what am I gonna do? I mean, I’ll try to hold on and get Courtney through school….”

  “You know she’s got eleven years, right? I mean, seriously.”

  “I know.” He spread his hands. “What else am I gonna do?”

  “I was gonna ask you that.”

  Oh. Well, okay. He chewed his lower lip. “I got nothing. Maybe I could—” Could what? He wasn’t exactly skilled.

  Trey looked at him, just still and quiet and waiting.

  “I’m pretty handy with tack, I guess. I always liked to work leather.”

  “Are you coming back here, you think?”

  “I am.” That much he knew. Home was home.

  Trey nodded once. What did that mean? How could there be no emotion at all?

  “I mean, I could put a trailer in the back forty.” Ap felt his shoulders hunch up around his ears. He had no idea what Trey wanted from him.

  “Do you want your own house? I could work on that, or… I could build on here, if you want.” Trey’s cheeks were bright red. “I mean, I don’t….”

  “You’d do that for me?” Oh. He couldn’t stop the grin that split his face. “I don’t want to intrude. This is your place. I would love to have room, though.”

  “All this is half yours. I’m just… caretaking things.”

  Caretaking. Christ. He shook his head, his denial immediate and instinctive. “No, man, this is all you. I mean, you got a futurity bucking bull. I move back in, I’ll pull my weight, but the ranch is yours.”

  “Have you seen him? My bull?” Trey’s eyes lit up. “He’s a beaut.”

  “I didn’t look too hard. Courtney was with me, so I didn’t get to check him out.”

  “You’ll have to go see. He ranked well at the futurity. I think there’s a chance this one works out.”

  “Have you had more than one?” How did he not know this? How did his relationship with the only family he had left get so… shallow?

  “I lost a calf early on, and I had one that just didn’t buck. He was a hell of a producer, though. He makes some gorgeous calves.”

  “Yeah? So how many bucking stock do you keep?” He knew that would include cows and all.

  Trey lit up and started chattering with him, talking about the livestock, the feed costs, and land use. Some of it made his head spin, but Ap was happy to see Trey look young and engaged again. This was the young man he’d known.

  Biblically.

  God, he’d love to just climb into Trey’s lap and rub like he was polishing silver.

  He swallowed hard. This wasn’t the time. Not now.

  “You okay?” Trey went red and rolled his eyes. “I mean besides me going on and on. Sorry.”

  It was like a trapdoor falling, the animation disappearing from Trey’s face.

  “Hey, no worries. I like to listen.” He did. He’d gotten used to it on the road.

  “I get all excited is all.”

  Trey’s phone started to ring, and he grabbed it, looking at the screen. “It’s Coach Gonzales. I bet they need something for the game.” He answered. “’Lo? Yessir. Sure. Gatorade and sandwiches. I’m on it. I’ll have it at the stadium by five.”

  Ap grinned. “Parent booster, huh?”

  “For every damn thing.” Trey made some notes. “I swear to God, some days I feel like I got four full-time jobs.”

  “You want me to go get sammies and Gatorade, just point me and shoot me.” They had a Subway he could call right near the high school.

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Why would I mind? Cole’s my son too, sorta. I mean….”

  “He is. We’ve talked on it, him and me. About how I ain’t trying to take away from Tammy and Dan, but he’s mine and I wouldn’t give for any of them.”

  “He said something like that. He admires the hell out of you.” No way would he tell Trey that Cole thought they were both boring and Ap was exciting.

  “He thinks I’m an old fuddy-duddy, but he sure counts on me being there.”

  “He loves you.” The kids really did idolize Trey. Hell, Amelia had been terrified without him, though Ap hadn’t realized it.

  “He does.” The surety there was something special. There was no doubt. “He loves you too; they all do. I’m just the one they expect to be home.”

  “I know. They were good for me. They really were.”

  “I wouldn’t expect different. Sorry that the little ones were sick. That makes it hard.”

  “There was some puking, but mostly napping.” Ap chuckled. “I even got to crash a few hours that first day.”

  “Lucky bastard. I just started being able to go to the bathroom by myself every now and again.”

  “No shit?” Ap clapped a hand over his mouth after he said it, because that was bad, but Trey burst out laughing, and he couldn’t help but join in.

  God, that was pretty, watching Trey’s amusement, the way Trey’s eyes sparkled with it.

  He wanted. Now. Ap pulled himself together, though, and winked. “Not that I ever get to go either. Some damn fool is always talking to me.”

  “You’re famous, Denny. It’s a thing.”

  “Nah, cowboys are just dumbasses.” And there were a lot of communal bathrooms in rodeo.

  “True that.” Trey sighed. “Let me pay these bills before I have to wash everyone’s jerseys and two little girls’ cheerleader costumes.”

  “Sure.” He stood. “What time should I get sandwiches?”

  “They need to be there by five, but I’d shoot for four thirty.”

  “You got it.” He pressed a hand to Trey’s shoulder. “Holler if you need me.”

  “I will. You going to meet us at the stadium or here?”

  “I’ll meet you at the stadium.” That way he could sort of sneaky it.

  “We’ll all be there with our red and silver pompoms and our glittery Go Cole signs.”

  “Lord have mercy.” He laughed but left Trey to his bills so he could go call Subway. It was gonna take some finagling to get fifty or so footlong sandwiches in about three hours. He might have to call both Subways in their area.

  Go Cole signs. Christ, he hoped those kids understood how lucky they were.

  He pulled out his phone on the way out to his truck to go buy Gatorade. Time to make some magic.

  Chapter Eight

  “UNCLE! Did you see what all Ap did? He brought sandwiches from Subway!”

  “I did. Great game, son!”

  “Thanks. Did you see me run in that score?”

  “I got it on video. Your girl’s waiting on you. You’d best share a sandwich with her before y’all head out.”

  “I will. There’s spicy Italian. Is that too much for kissing?”

  “If she eats it too.” He handed over a mini tin of Altoids. “If y’all have sex, you use protection, son. I mean it.”

  Cole’s cheeks went red, but he nodded firmly. “I swear. Thanks, Uncle Daddy.” Cole trotted off, only to be replaced by one of the coaches.

  “Hey, where did your brother go? I’d love to thank him for the sandwiches. The guys went nuts over them.”

  “He’s over with the girls. Come on.”

  “Where’s your youngest boy?”

  “Playing pickup with the others.”

  “Well, I hope he’s half as good as Cole.” The coach’s name was Mike, and he wasn’t from around Bernalillo. In fact, Trey thought he was Texan, maybe.

  “He’s got the love for i
t. If I were you, I’d watch Miss Bella. She’s been quarterback for her junior football league, and they’ve won the championship for three years.” He did love his fierce, wild cowgirl.

  “No kidding?” Mike followed him over to say hi to Ap.

  “Not even a little.”

  Ray Griegos came up to him, grabbed his arm. “Hey, man. Can you come over Monday? I got some brick work that I could use a hand with.”

  “I’ll text you tonight. I need to check my calendar, but it should be fine.” He wasn’t sure, but he knew he had a few days’ work booked.

  “Good deal. I know Juan and Hector were going to ask you for some work digging trenches. Save my day first.”

  “Will do.”

  Ap was watching him when they walked up, eyes sharp on his face.

  “Hey, y’all.”

  A couple of players came up, clapped Ap on the back. “Great sangwiches, man!”

  “Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed them.” Ap smiled, but he was still mostly watching Trey.

  “Your uncle’s our hero, Cole dude.”

  That was Ap, hero of the masses. He’d signed autographs tonight, for fuck’s sake.

  “Mr. Trey, can you come put a ceiling fan up in the front room? I can pay you a hundred dollars….” Miz Martinez was the head of the band boosters and one of his mentors in this raise-your-kids thing.

  “You have that fan already, or you need me to run to Home Depot?” If he couldn’t, Cole could.

  “I got it. I just need it put up.”

  “Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow and find a time, okay?”

  “Gracias, mijo.” She smiled for him, and he laughed.

  Ap waited until they were mostly alone again before giving him a sideways look. “You do all the odd jobs in Bernalillo now?”

  “A goodly number of them, yeah.”

  “Huh.” Ap just stared at him a minute, then turned to nod and smile at one of the kids who came to glad-hand him.

  “I’m going to go, Uncle. I’ll be home by eleven, okay?”

  “Good deal. You be careful. Bye, honey. You look awful pretty.” He waved Cole and his girl away, his heart clenching a little. Cole was so damn close to gone.

  “Thank you, Uncle Daddy!” She bounced away, hand in Cole’s.