Rancho Estancia was like heaven on earth for Tucker. Small by Argentina standards, the 950 acre place was big enough to maintain a small herd of Brahman cattle. The Zebu cows were well suited to the tropical climate. Tucker saw an opportunity to crossbreed them with an English breed -most likely Angus, maybe Hereford- to capitalize on the trend in South America to finish cattle on grain to satisfy the hearty beef loving country's evolving palate. Oh how Tucker wished the meat loving sentiment were still true in the United States. Somehow Americans had lost their way and meat consumption suffered under constant attack of whacked out vegans and corrupt lobbying groups like PETA and the fundraising factory at the Humane Society of the United States.
If you listen to the press and the leftist animal rights freaks you would think Tucker and his ilk in the cattle business were scum of the earth. Selfish bastards who don't care about their cows and even less about the environment. Science and evidence have demonstrated the myths in the zealots' charges, but few seem to want the truth. Tucker does what he can to shed light on his beef production, but at times he thinks, "screw it, I got cows to feed."
That is what he loves about Argentina. He can escape the bullshit, enjoy a good steak guilt-free, drink a fine Cab and occasionally share his bed with Congetta Menendez. The firey hot Congetta, is the news anchor for Cablevison which is owned by Grupo Clarin, the largest newspaper in Argentina, and his pleasant distraction on his trips south. She was also a former beauty queen with a voluptuous set of assets that were required of South American women on television.
The two of them met in '99 when she was a young reporter starting out at the Buenos Aires cable channel run by Multicanal. Tucker had bought Rancho Estancia a year earlier. To call her a reporter was to stretch the truth, she was Portuguese eye-candy with a set of killer hips, big brown eyes and a mane of shiney brown hair past her shoulders. She spoke Spanish, but was bi-lingual in several ways. She also hosted a cheesy afternoon game show that resembled "The Price is Right." She was no Bob Barker, she oozed sexy fun. It was a highly rated show.
She had been assigned to do a story on the American cowboy who was making a splash in Magdalena. Tucker didn't mind and thought it would help endear him to the locals. He was used to doing interviews back in the States. Her accent, flawless olive skin and television smile caught Tucker off guard. They connected almost immediately. He could not wait for the interview to be over and she stumbled on her words trying to be professional. She too felt something stirring. In an afternoon of passion, Tucker felt a release he hadn't felt in the past year. For a second he thought of Kaci. He always thought of Kaci when he was uncertain. She was his safe place. At this moment, Congetta was anything but safe and Tucker's uncertainty passed quickly as their afternoon smoldered into the evening.
It was to be this way for years. Congetta held on to her beauty with ease and continued to anchor the news even as Multicanel merged with Cablevision. She enjoyed the wealthy American cowboy when he was at Rancho Estancia. She did not sit alone at home when he was gone.
Tucker understood. He too had his share of company in his travels. On this trip, there would be no Congetta. He has too much on his mind.
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