Page 38 of Property of Doc

“We’re going to see the horses?” Elodie questions, her attention pulled away from the puzzle she’s doing on a tablet.

“Yes, we are,” Zoey, her mom, says.

Issy leans over and whispers, “They like apples and carrots, so if you’re really good, I’ll let you help me give them out.”

“I’ll besogood, I promise!” Elodie exclaims.

“I honestly never thought horses could move that fast,” I say as Issy runs through the barrels that are permanently set up so she can practice with her rodeo horse, Stargazer. Right now, true to her word, she’s riding Starlight, who has apparently won her quite a lot of ribbons and prize money over the years while competing all over the country.

“I knew but I’ve only ever seen them on tv, never in person,” Van replies. “Gotta say, I’m pretty impressed by all of it, to be honest. It’s obviously a lot of hard work on everyone’s part.”

“It is, but that’s what makes it so rewarding, when you see what your labor has produced,” Luis, one of the ranch hands, states. “When Paps built this ranch, he envisioned a multi-purpose property. The front has the big house and the clubhouse, of course, but every barn that’s out here has a purpose, and when he got the chance to buy more land so he could put in a facility to offer on the rodeo circuit, that opened the doors for them to start breeding both bulls and horses. Issy often offers riding classes to the kids whose moms are staying at Hope House. She’s donea lot of studying on the positive effects of equine therapy, and from what the therapist who works there has shared, it’s really helped.”

I nod along with what he’s saying, having witnessed so many aspects of the ranch since coming here weeks and weeks ago. It’s truly a paradise on earth, and I credit the fresh air and sunshine with helping me regain my strength so quickly. I may not be able to run like I did before I got hurt, but I spend a lot of time walking. Doc added some weight training and up until everyone arrived, we’ve been faithfully working out four times a week.

“I may have to see if Big Daddy is willing to come when you guys hold the next rodeo,” Gwynee says.

Issy, who has moved closer now that she’s done running the barrels, says, “You let us know and we’ll make sure we’ve got you set up.”

“You don’t catch a lot of shit with the fact that it’s owned and operated by the Kings?” Gwynee questions.

Issy shrugs. “I honestly have no clue, but I can say this much. Some of the folks in the community who felt that the brothers here were ‘just bikers’ have had their asses handed to them during various events, up to and including bull riding.”

My eyes grow wide as I wonder who would willingly get on the back of a bull in an attempt to ride it for a mere eight seconds, all while it bucked and jerked around trying to kill them. That’s definitely not the sport for me and I pray it’s not one that Doc indulges in because I might have to put my foot down.

“Really?” I ask.

“Yep. Pretty much every patched brother first came around as a ranch hand, and first Paps, and now Rafe, watched them to see if they would make good brothers or not. Some didn’t make the cut, and they still work the ranch to this day, while others did, but none of them have forgotten their roots and they often take the horses out or even work with Luis and Pancho when they’re moving livestock. It’s a working ranch, plain and simple, and while most of the men have traded in their stirrups and Stetsons for leather and chrome, when there’s a need, it’s all hands on deck,” she explains.

“Constance said it’s family here and I really like that,” I say. “I have no problem pitching in wherever I’m needed, as long as it doesn’t involve the bulls.”

Everyone bursts out laughing at my comment but I’m dead serious. They look like evil incarnate, with their snorts and hooves scratching the ground. “I think you’ll have your hands full once the locals taste what you’re able to make,” Issy replies, grinning at me.

“We’ll see,” I murmur.

Issy’s phone rings and she answers it, a grin on her face. “Uh huh, yeah, we’re out at the barrels. Okay, that’s fine, y’all have fun and keep the shiny side up.” When she hangs up, she looks at us and says, “We’re on our own for dinner, ladies, so let’s go see what we can rustle up out of whatever’s left.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

Doc

When the national president wants to go for a ride with ‘just the brothers’, you do it, which is how I find myself in the middle of the pack as we travel down some back roads until we get to the interstate. Then, the throttles are opened wide, and I can hear quite a few of my brothers’ whoops and hollers as we maneuver through traffic until we’re one huge pack of bikes. With everything that’s happened recently, my rides have been somewhat short, so having my knees in the breeze has the tension in my shoulders easing.

I know Gretchen is a little shy and unsure being around the women from the two other chapters, but she can hold her own. Plus, Issy will keep things from getting too overwhelming; she’s good like that and I know my woman’s in great hands.

Rio motions that we’re getting off at the next exit which is good because we’ve been riding for a bit now and I need to top off my tank and take a piss. I may feel better than most of these assholes thanks to Gretchen hooking up a banana bag while I slept, butall the extra fluids have had me hitting the john more frequently than normal.

When I see where we’re pulling in, I nearly split my cheeks grinning. We’re not in El Paso proper, but we have a lot of unique local places and that’s where we’ve brought our brothers. Uncle Sal’s Salsa and Sombreros sounds hokey as fuck, but next to the spread that Constance and Maria put out the other day, it’s hands down the best fucking food I’ve ever tasted.

“More Tex-Mex?” Big Daddy asks.

“Brother, we could eat it every fucking day and that’s the truth,” Rio replies. “I promise you’ll find something to eat here that’ll blow your mind.”

“Then let’s see what you’re talking about,” Big Daddy says as he walks toward the front door.

During dinner, I find myself sitting next to Mongrel. It’s his first ride in the lineup as a club brother; usually the prospects bring up the rear in a club SUV. He may be a little overwhelmed, but if he is, I can’t tell. “I see you were able to get Constance to hook you up,” I say, pointing at the flash on his cut.