Balta even danced, just like Joa would, even if he didn’t bend at the waist so good. It made Raul laugh, and he pumped a fist when Balta glanced at them, dimples carved deep into his cheeks. The scores came in and Balta beamed, heading for the short-go. Joa was so pleased, so proud.
Raul felt his mood fall again, the rush of Balta’s ride leaving him. None of this was really his—he just lived it through Joa and Balta, nice as they were. Maybe he should go back to Brazil. After the American circuit, he would have an easier time there, make more money than he had.
Joaquim touched the scar on his chin, so quickly he could have imagined it. “Balta buys tonight.”
“Yeah.” Blinking, he leaned closer, pretending it was so Joa could hear him. “He’ll be full of smiles and talk,sim?”
“He will. We’ll hear stories.” Joaquim chuckled, winked. “Now, here he comes to tell about his ride.”
Springing up to the end of the steps, Balta waved them down, smiling, hands already going, recounting the ride. Raul stared, not really listening, just admiring.
At the end of the story, Joaquim nodded, patting Balta on the shoulder. “Sim. Sim, I have good news, too. Raul says he’ll come with us, to the ranch.”
Balta’s brows rose, but he didn’t seem angry. No, he seemed very happy, clapping his hands. “Perfieto! I was hoping, huh?”
“You were?” Raul couldn’t help it—his surprise got the better of him. “Obrigado, Balta. It means much to me.”
“See? It is all good. Balta will ride. We will eat. Tomorrow, we will go home.” Joaquim was obviously excited. Tickled.
Nodding, Balta flexed, making Joaquim’s eyes go wide. Raul would give a good deal to see that expression directed at him.
“I’ll look forward to it, seeing your home.” He smiled at Joa. “Where are you taking us for supper, Balta?”
“Oh, I think we’ve earned steak, huh? Even if I ride tomorrow, we won’t want to stay around, so I thought we could go to thatchurrascuriawe saw on the way to the hotel…”
Joaquim hooted, that poor bruised face just shining. “Sim. Sim, we were there last year. Thefeijoadais almost like my mamma’s.”
“Oh, that sounds good…”Feijoada. Raul loved the black bean and meat stew with a passion, and he had not had it since his last trip home. “I’m there.”
They headed back down the hall, Balta laughing, Joaquim jabbering happily, dragging him along.
Raul knew he still had a long way to go before he would ever understand how things worked, both on the tour and with Balta and Joa. With the prospect offeijoadaand a little time off, though, Raul thought he might just live long enough to try.
