Rodeo grins at the mention of the horse shoe, setting down his knife on top of the half-finished carving to turn to her fully. He takes the bottle back, gulps down a generous swig, and then passes it over to Zhenya once more. He knows his Red Wolf can hold her liquor, and he's glad for someone to share his bourbon with. Being alone with his thoughts is agonizing lately. "I got one right here," he tells her, lifting up the hem of his shirt and patting his stomach. There's a horse shoe inked there, just under his navel, and she can see it poking out from beneath the bulletproof vest he wears even here in the Park. "But I guess I could use all the luck I can get, right?"
Rodeo glances away when she mentions the obvious burden that shows in his smile and his demeanor. He looks down at Sweet Melissa, who perks up and meets his gaze with her knowing gold eyes. She shifts, sitting up and nuzzling against his knee for a head rub. He lets his hand drop to her head, scratching behind her ears. "How about both?" he asks, cracking a sad little smile as he looks back to Zhenya. "You seen that girl I came back with last week? Little red-headed one all polished up with a look like she was born queen o' the universe?" Rodeo sighs, lifting his hand from Sweet Melissa's head to ruffle it through his own hair. "That's my sister."