Page 29 of Trickster King

“Any other miracles you’ve been working I should know about?”

“The mare is from a clean line that hasn’t been bred much. The last instance of inbreeding with that line was seven generations ago, and he had a DNA test done because the inbreeding was closer than any of us would appreciate. There is no evidence of genetic issues with the mare.”

“Why didn’t Micky mention that pair?”

“I assume he’s embarrassed he bought horses he ended up not being able to handle or breed. They’ve had minimal training.”

I loved when I got my filthy hands on horses with minimal training. It got me out of my office and to the palace arena, where I spent several hours of my day, with my children, teaching my new horses their manners and how to properly behave. “Do I even have enough money for all this?”

“Twilight Rose alone is covering all your acquisitions, and you’ll have money left over. Your budget is fine.”

Damn. “I feel I sold too many of my rescues.”

“They’re all going to good homes for premium dollar. Now your rescue stalls have room for new rescues. Would it make you feel better if we find a horse to rescue on the way home?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“I’ll see what we can do. Technically, the Akhal-Tekes count as rescues.”

“They might be rescues, but they’re needed to save a breed, so I can’t just unload those. I’ll have to find suitable buyers for the ones we won’t use for breeding.” I drummed my fingers on the wheel and eyed the line of trucks and trailers lining up behind me. “I did not bring shame to myself moving my truck this time.”

“You get top marks for backing your trailer, and you didn’t need any coaching from me. In fact, it appeared like you have been putting in some significant practice driving trailers. Now, how did that happen, precisely?”

“Remember how I told Charlie I wanted to drive the fastest car the RPS had for training?”

“With unfortunate clarity.”

“I translated that to mean truck and trailer, and we stole one of my wife’s for lessons. I made him teach me every maneuver in them until he was confident I would not bring shame to the RPS or myself. I also made him promise not to tattle on me about my lessons. I wanted to be able to make off with a trailer whenever I wanted, especially if I found a horse to surprise my wife with.”

“How is it you always manage to find new ways to shave years off my life, Your Majesty?”

“It probably has something to do with my wife’s tendency to call me the Trickster King.”

“We should get that officiated,” Geoff muttered.

“Just because I find ways to do things I want in unexpected fashions doesn’t mean we should officiate that as my title.”

“Anyone who has met you knows.”

“So?”

Geoff sighed, and he gestured to the truck and trailer in front of us, which had its trailer lights on. “Just get us to Senator Padrino’s ranch alive and well.”

“And with no new gray hairs?”

“I’m trying not to ask for miracles today.”

I snickered.

SEVEN

“Are you upset from selling your horses?”

Chaos surrounded me, and I basked in everyone’s utter lack of care we’d gone overboard in the effort to move my cattle and transform the pastures into something a great deal safer for me and my animals. I went with my quick barbecue, and I delighted in ruling over the hungry ranchers with my tongs.

Until every single head of cattle was nestled in their new home for the night, nobody would get fed—and that nobody included my wife. I hadn’t expected her to show up with Senator Padrino via helicopter with Deidre in tow, but it worked out.

Deidre pounced Eddie, Eddie glowed, and the pair went off to court trouble somewhere, likely with Bullmanchu, who had no idea why he was being held in a small paddock near the field he’d be set loose in. As soon as all the cows were appropriately marked with a tag showcasing who would be servicing her, he’d be set free to earn his keep and begin the next phase of my breeding program.

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