Rodney spent the entire day in his room with Vanessa. After that ungrateful Caroline decided to feed him burnt pancakes after he left her painkillers, he decided it was best to at least have some 'fun' with Nessy.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo was out in his way to the stables. He had to exercise the horses and then feed them afterwards. Just as he stepped out of the Casimero Ranch house, he saw a strange looking boy looking around frantically. The boy was standing with his legs wide apart and a button on his shirt undone. His face was scrunched up against the scorchy sun. But what caught Rigo's attention was his mullet.
Was he new in town?. Did he miss a turn and find himself lost?. Rodrigo wondered. He looked like he'd had a rough day. Rodney did not take too kindly to strangers onis property. That boy would be dead if Rodney found him on the premises. Of course Rigo decided to take it upon himself to save the poor lost boy's life instead of minding his own business.
"Hey, can I help you?", he shouted to the stranger and began to approach him.
The man turned towards person walking towards him and took in his features. Tall, athletic, handsome
"Hey, Handsome"
Rodrigo smiled at the compliment.
"I was just wondering what a fine man like you would be doing here on such a fine day", he said to the little boy.
The boy, Guillermo smiled "I am here to free my woman"
Rodrigo raised his brow at that.
"Your woman?. A wee little thing like you surely isn't old enough to have a woman", he replied
The boy puffed up his chest in defiance and looked him squarely in the eyes
"It's a god thing I'm 18 then"
Rodrigo huffed at the statement, feeling slightly amused
"Listen boy, I admire the bravery but you're on very chartered territory. And my brother does not take too kindly to other people or intruders on his property"
Guillermo snickered.
"Well, too bad I'm not leaving without freeing her. What man would I be going back home while my woman is scared and alone in another man's house?"
Rodrigo huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Fine, come with me. I'll hide you in the stables and then once you tell me who this woman that has you in a chokehold is, I'll go get her so you can leave and never come back"
At this point in the interaction, Rodrigo was expecting a statement of gratitude considering the amount of inconvenience this would cause for him. The arrogant boy was obviously thinking the complete opposite.
"What?, he asked, "what kind of man waits around like an idle coward while another man rescues his woman?", he asked with an insanely innocent voice even though he clearly put in effort to sound manly.
It made Rigo feel like a protector. Like the way a lover wanted to protected his partner.
Weird. Weird. Weird, geez get it together Rigo. That's a boy!
That said, Rigo dragged Guillermo through the protests, insults and then silence he and dumped him on a pile of hay in one of the horse pens.
"Really? Horse shit?"
"You're lucky I didn't leave you with the pigs. Now stay here and remain quiet before we all get in trouble for this sacrilege"
Letting one last sigh of protest, the boy went quiet before Rigo left.
As Rigo made his way up the stairs, he met Vanessa. And then the realization hit, who exactly was the boy's woman?
Vanessa or Caroline?.
Surely it had to be Vanessa. She was rude, snobbish and a perfect match for the crazy boy in the pen. Again, Rodney had barely introduced her as his guest. It made sense that she was the one.
Then there was Caroline. Clearly a better individual compared to his brother and the idiot in the pen. It seemed unfathomable that she would have intimate relations with such a boy considering her witty and sophisticated demeanor. Again, she was also Rodney's guest although it didn't seem like he willingly invited her.
By the time he could run through all his thoughts, Vanessa had already disappeared from sight.
Rodrigo made his way up to his brother's room. Perhaps he could dig for some information before dragging the wrong woman to the barn. When he finally made it inside, he found his brother neck deep into files. He had his glasses on, brow furrowed and fingers tapping lightly on the desk as he did some math for ranch expenses.
He looked up briefly at the sound of approaching footsteps and nodded
"Good that you're here. You could learn a thing or two about the book keeping and inventory for the business"
"Rod, you know I hate math. Besides, I think I'm fine with the more arduous tasks", he said in response. Still, Rodney looked at him with unconvinced eyes and then forced me to do math for the next hour.
Or more. It definitely felt like at least 4hours. Rigo was completely exhausted by the time his brother got up from his desk. He was definitely feeling like a modern slave, assuming that was worse than a medieval one. Whichever one was worst.
"So Rod, tell me, are you intending on keeping a mistress and a wife?"
He looked at me weirdly before answering.
"That's what every man does in town. It's practically our way of life. A man cannot be tied down by one woman. We require adventure"
Rodrigo nodded sheepishly, at the eotistical point he made. Honestly it sounded stupid but he would never dare to say it out loud. Especially not to his brother.
"And I presume one of those women would be Vanessa?"
He huffed.
"Why are you suddenly interested in my business?"
"Oh…nothing. I've just heard crazy stories about having two women under the same roof", I replied in a desperate attempt to divert his attention.
He raised a brow and then shook his head in confusion
"Are you still interested in the stubborn one?", he asked instead.
Rigo nodded
"Yes, I like Caroline"
"You can't have her"
Just then Vanessa walked in with a disapproving look plastered solidly on her face.