Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“What’s going on?”
“A handful of cattle got through a weak spot in the fencing on the west end of their property.” My head flew in the direction of the pond. Right where their ranch butted up against our farm. The area I tried reinforcing during the storm. Goddamn it. “Brad is hoping you’ll help head them off from here.”
I threw the pitchfork down, thankful I hadn’t unsaddled Rocket yet. I hoped he didn’t fuss over having to leave again in such a hurry.
I talked to him in a soothing tone as I untied him and led him outside, and before I knew it, I was galloping toward the northern end of our property. Cattle aimlessly wandering in an unbound area could be an accident waiting to happen. Cows practiced herd mentality, moving in groups and sleeping huddled together. It was their way, so once one of them got going, the rest were quick to follow.
My fear was they’d get close to pedestrians or traffic, where a motorist wouldn’t see them in time. With that thought in mind, I changed course slightly, heading toward the main road, looking east and west, trying to spot them. Rocket was being a sport, responding well to my urgent tone and keeping us at a good pace.
I counted at least six stray cattle in the distance, moving at a decent clip, and just as I suspected, gunning straight for the main road. Once they got going, it could be hard to slow them down or force them in a different direction, and in this case, they needed to turn the fuck around and head the opposite way.
As I approached, I slowed Rocket way down, my instincts kicking in. The most important thing was to keep from charging and poking and ordering them around. I couldn’t say how many times I saw that sort of nervous bravado from newbs on the ranch, trying to move cattle their way or the highway, all to prove they had the chops. Usually it resulted in frustration on both ends.
Instead, I let out a low whistle to get their attention, then came at them in a zigzag pattern, and good old Rocket followed my lead, letting me tug on his reins this way or that to approach them at a pace that didn’t intimidate them. After some initial chaos, I got two of them to turn in a wide arc that eventually led in the opposite direction, and thankfully the dawdlers fell into line.
Soon enough Brad met us on our path, and together we herded them toward the broken fence, where Travis was stationed, keeping the rest of the cattle away until it could be repaired.
Once we drove them back through to their property, we filled Travis in, and they seemed certain there were no other stragglers. Brad high-fived me, and it felt like a little moment between us, like in my own way I was giving him my approval to date Sienna.
Silly maybe, but intense all the same. Even if the trajectory of our future as a family unit was going to change sooner rather than later.
Travis thanked me for my help, and Brad motioned that he’d take it from there. I briefly watched as they drove the stray cattle back to the larger herd out in the pasture just as Hunter approached on a four-wheeler with supplies to repair the fence.
I dismounted Rocket and bent over, trying to catch my breath, because it’d been a minute since I’d ridden that hard, and I was sure Rocket appreciated the reprieve as well. Then I led my horse to the edge of the small pond to get some water in him. The same pond where I’d brought Julian. It was like some déjà vu with Hunter standing just on the other side. I quickly thrust that thought from my brain before I became melodramatic.
I tied Rocket under a shady tree branch, then joined Hunter near the portion of the fence that was always giving us trouble.
“I figured we should replace these two wooden slats and shore up the bracing on each end,” I said, pointing to the damaged areas.
“Was thinking the same thing. Brought some two-by-fours.”
“Cool.” I reached for the hammer and nails while he unloaded the wood, and then we set to work together, reinforcing the fence. This time it would probably hold through a couple of hard winters.
When we finished the task, I sank to the grass and swiped at my sweaty brow with my forearm. Instead of hopping on his vehicle and hightailing it back to the ranch, Hunter took a load off beside me. He seemed contemplative, like he had been that day at the fair, and I again wondered if he was going through something. I wanted to ask, but I also didn’t want to be disappointed if he shut me down.