Page 77 of Leading the Blind
“Ace smells things on the air,” Balta said. “Like a hound dog. I will always help if I can.”
“I appreciate it. How’s Joao, man?”
“He is in therapy. The riding, it is done for him, I think. For me too. Raul can ride for all of us.”
“Damn.” Joao had been like Sammy—great if he rode, hurt as hell if he didn’t.
“He’s sad, but he will do well raising horses, I think.” Raul’s English was probably as good as it would get now, but Jason was pretty proud of him for trying so hard.
“Did you hear we bought a house in Corpus? On the water. Y’all should come.”
“Oh, we should! Did you get a hot tub?” Balta did love anything that soothed his poor back.
Jason chuckled, and there was Bax, the smell of Stetson and Irish Spring like home. “We did. Seats six. And there’s a little suite with a sitting area and a kitchenette deal for visitors.”
“Well, then, you tell us when we can come, and we will.”
Bax chuckled, a hand on Jason’s back. “We even got one of them adjustable medical beds, man. How about after Billings? We got two weeks between there and KC.”
“We’ll come. We will makefeijoadaand laugh together.” Balta sounded tickled.
“I’m in,” Jason said. “As long as Raul makes that salad with the hearts of whatever.”
“Palm,” Raul said, laughter in his voice. “Thank you for inviting us, amigo.”
“You know it. I’ll text you all the address and stuff, so y’all have it. We’ll have fun.”
Shit, the Brazilians were a hoot and a half, and Joao could translate.
“We will. Doc is coming, huh? Run.”
Jason laughed, but he did just that, Bax guiding him toward the exit.
“One more event down. We did it.”
“We did. That was a good ride, babe, just like Balta said. You were way more solid.” Bax sounded proud and a tiny bit relieved.
“Yeah. I’m feeling less like I got trampled now.” Handy, given that he had been less stepped on this week.
“Imagine that. Your balance was way better.”
“Cool.” He took out his earpiece once they got to the truck. No sense in Dillon hearing everything they said in private. “I stink. I swear to God, Bax. I didn’t used to stink so bad after work.”
“I think you just notice shit more, Mini. I think you smell fine.” Bax took his hand for a moment.
“Oh, maybe. I don’t know.” He guessed it had to be at least a little real, right? That idea that other senses got all sharper and shit? He sure felt like he could hear every damn noise at the new house, and he had to put on the TV sometimes to drown it out. Thank God Bax could sleep through any damn thing.
“You handled Ace okay?”
Jason nodded. He thought so. He hoped so. “I had help from the guys.”
The story of his fucking life. He would do his best to return the favor. He’d already made a donation to the rider help fund in Joao’s name…
“Where’d you go?” Bax asked. “You here with me?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m here. I was thinking about how the guys help me out.”
“They’re good friends.” Bax paused, and Jason heard a jaw-cracking yawn. “And some of them are just returning the favor, mind. Remember when Balta broke his shoulder? Who did he have then?”
