4. Dakota
Chapter 4
Dakota
T he first couple of days of the cattle drive went by in silence. After their initial bickering, Logan and Beau decided to no longer speak to one another unless it was related to the task at hand. Dinner was a mostly silent affair around the campfire each night before everyone headed off to bed. Beau would chat with me now and then, but Logan pretty much kept to himself. Not that it stopped him from stealing glances at me every chance he got.
If I was being honest, I kinda liked it. But that’s what worried me. I tried to keep my mind on the job, focusing on the cattle and the dusty trail ahead. But every now and then, I’d catch Logan’s green eyes on me, and my stomach would do a little flip. I’d quickly look away, pretending to be engrossed in adjusting my saddle or checking on a nearby steer.
As we were finishing up dinner that night, Beau approached me with a concerned look on his face. “Hey,” he said quietly, his drawl more pronounced than mine or Logan’s. “You noticed anything off about the herd?”
I furrowed my brow, thinking back on the day’s ride. “Can’t say that I have. Why? What’s on your mind?”
Beau scratched at his stubbled chin, his blue eyes scanning the horizon. “Just got a feeling, is all. Seem a bit restless, almost like there’s bad weather on the way or somethin’.”
I followed Beau’s gaze, squinting into the darkening sky. The air did feel heavier, somehow, though I couldn’t see any storm clouds brewing. “You think we’re in for some trouble?”
Beau shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling beneath his worn denim shirt. “Can’t say for sure. Just a hunch. Might be nothin’.”
But I knew better than to ignore Beau’s hunches. He had an uncanny ability to sense danger before it struck, a skill honed by years on the ranch. I’d heard about it from other ranch hands several times, but this was the first time seeing it myself.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” I promised.
As if on cue, a low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Logan’s head snapped up from where he’d been cleaning his plate, his green eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before darting away.
“Looks like we might need to batten down the hatches,” I called, knowing full well he wouldn’t listen to Beau even if it was meant with good intentions. “We might be gettin’ wet tonight.”
“Great,” Logan huffed, throwing his plate down on the ground. “Not a cloud in the sky for a fucking month and now we’re gonna get dumped on. Awesome.”
I watched as Logan stomped off to his tent, muttering under his breath. Part of me wanted to follow him, to try to smooth things over, but I knew better. When Logan got like this, it was best to give him some space. He’d been quick to anger the entire trip and was acting like a child to be honest. But he’d figure it out himself in time.
Beau and I started securing the camp, making sure everything was tied down and protected as best we could. The distant rumble of thunder grew louder, clouds breaking over the mountains and flashes of lightning illuminating the horizon. The cattle were getting antsy, their low moos of distress carrying across the darkening plain.
“We might need to keep watch tonight,” Beau said, his voice barely audible over the rising wind. “If this storm hits hard, we could have a stampede on our hands.”
I nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety form in my stomach. “I’ll take first shift,” I offered. “You get some rest, and I’ll wake you in a few hours.”
“What about Logan?”
“He’ll pull his weight,” I sighed, staring toward his tent. “Whether he likes it or not.”
As the night wore on, the storm intensified. Rain lashed against my face as I rode along the perimeter of the herd, my horse skittish beneath me. The cattle were restless, their eyes wide with fear as lightning split the sky. I could barely make out our tent’s silhouette on the other side of the herd, all embers from the fire long dead in the rain.
A particularly loud crack of thunder sent a ripple of panic through the cattle. I tensed, ready for the worst, but by no small amount of luck, they stayed put. I let out a sigh of relief, reaching up to wipe the rain from my eyes. My clothes were soaked through, clinging to my skin as I shivered in the saddle.
Just as I was about to head back to camp to wake Logan for his shift, I heard a commotion from the far side of the herd. A flash of lightning illuminated the scene - a group of cattle breaking away, spooked by the thunder. With a kick and a yell, I sent Sogwili into a full gallop. We thundered past the camp, nearly bowling down one of the tents in the process in an attempt to cut the cattle off.
Rounding them on the far side, I managed to steer them back toward the herd. However, I miscalculated slightly and one of steers collided with a tent, tearing right through it in a heartbeat. They were dehorned thankfully, so nobody was getting gored. But that didn’t mean they were safe from the hooves of a nearly one-ton animal.
“Shit!” I heard Logan’s voice cry out from the collapsed tent. My heart leapt into my throat as I saw him scramble out from under the canvas, narrowly avoiding being trampled by another cow that decided to take the same route.
“Logan!” I shouted over the storm, steering Sogwili towards him. “You alright?”
He stumbled to his feet wearing only his underwear. He was soaked and muddy from head to toe, but seemingly unharmed. “What the hell is going on?” he yelled back, his eyes wide with panic.
“Storm’s spookin’ the cattle,” I explained quickly, extending my hand to him. “We need to get them under control before we lose the whole herd. Come on!”
For once, Logan didn’t argue. He grabbed my hand and I hauled him up behind me onto Sogwili. I could feel him shivering against my back as we galloped over to the other two horses tied up under a tree a ways off. As soon as we were there, Logan was already out of the saddle and swinging himself up onto his own horse bareback.
The rain pelted us mercilessly as Logan and I raced to contain the panicked cattle. Lightning flashed, illuminating the chaos before us. Cows bellowed in fear, their eyes wild as they scattered in all directions.
“Head them off to the left!” I shouted over the howling wind, gesturing wildly. Logan nodded, his wet hair plastered to his forehead as he urged his horse forward.
We worked in tandem, weaving back and forth to guide the frightened animals back towards the main herd. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Despite the dire situation, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of admiration for Logan. He rode with skill and determination, all traces of his earlier sullenness gone.
A flash of movement caught my eye. Beau had joined us, materializing out of the darkness on Willow.
Beau’s presence was a welcome sight. He expertly maneuvered Willow, cutting off a group of strays and herding them back towards the main group. His hat was pulled low over his eyes, shielding them from the driving rain as he worked.
“We need to get them to lower ground!” Beau shouted over the storm. “There’s a small valley about half a mile east. It’ll provide some shelter!”
I nodded, relaying the information to Logan with a series of hand signals we’d learned as kids. He understood immediately, changing course to help guide the herd in the right direction.
The next hour was a blur of rain, mud, and frightened cattle. We pushed ourselves and our horses to the limit, working tirelessly to keep the herd together and moving towards safety. My muscles ached, and I could feel Sogwili’s labored breathing beneath me.
As we neared the valley Beau had mentioned, the storm began to ease at last. The rain softened to a steady drizzle, and the thunder rumbled more distantly. The cattle, sensing the relative calm, began to settle.
We guided them into the shallow depression, where the surrounding hills offered some protection from the wind. Exhausted but relieved, we circled the herd one last time to ensure they were all accounted for.
“That was too close,” I panted, wiping rain from my face as we regrouped.
Logan nodded, his chest heaving. “Yeah,” he agreed, surprising me with the lack of sarcasm in his voice. “Good call on the valley, Beau.”
Beau tipped his hat in acknowledgment, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Just doin’ my job.”
As the adrenaline wore off, I finally had a chance to realize that Logan was not only still riding without a saddle, but without any clothing except his underwear. The rain had washed away most of the mud, but now he was wet, his chest hair running in rivulets down to his soaked boxer briefs. And they, thanks to the rain, clung to his body in the most sensual way, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Despite the cold rain soaking through my clothes, I suddenly felt very warm.
I quickly averted my eyes, feeling a blush creep up my neck. He was the boss’s son, and this was not the time or place for those kinds of thoughts. We still had work to do.
“We should set up a watch rotation,” I said, keeping my gaze fixed on the herd. “Make sure none of them try to wander off again.”
“Agreed,” Beau nodded. “I’ll take first watch. You two go get some rest.”
Logan opened his mouth as if to argue but then closed it again. He looked exhausted, the adrenaline clearly wearing off. “Fine,” he muttered, sliding off his horse with a wince.
As we made our way back to what remained of our camp, I couldn’t help but sneak glances at Logan. His skin glistened in the moonlight that now peeked through the dispersing clouds. I forced myself to look away more than once, but my eyes kept coming back to him despite myself.
We trudged back to camp in silence, the squelch of our boots in the mud and the occasional distant rumble of thunder the only sounds. As we approached the remains of our campsite, the full extent of the damage became clear. Two of our three tents were completely flattened, their contents strewn about and soaked through. Logan’s tent, the first to get hit, wasn’t only flattened, but in pieces.
Logan let out a long, weary sigh. “Well, this is just perfect,” he grumbled, kicking at the shredded remains of his tent. “I never should’ve come on this stupid cattle drive.”
I bit back a retort, reminding myself that we were all exhausted and on edge. Instead, I focused on salvaging what I could. “Let’s see if we can get Beau’s tent back up for him,” I suggested, already moving towards the least damaged structure. “And you can bunk with me. At least you’ll have somewhere dry to sleep.”
Logan stared at me for a long moment before he nodded, following my lead without complaint for once. We worked together, our fingers fumbling with wet ropes and sodden canvas. Despite our exhaustion, we managed to get Beau’s tent upright again, though it was a bit lopsided.
“That’ll have to do,” I said, wiping my muddy hands on my equally muddy jeans. “Come on, let’s get you some dry clothes.”
We trudged over to my tent, which had miraculously survived the stampede. Inside, it was a bit damp from rain seeping through the seams, but it was still a welcome shelter from the elements. I rummaged through my pack, pulling out a spare shirt and pair of jeans.
“Here,” I said, tossing them to Logan. “They might be a bit big on you, but they’re dry.”
Logan caught the clothes, looking at them for a moment before meeting my eyes. “Thanks,” he said quietly, a hint of genuine gratitude in his voice. Then he glanced down at his soaked underwear, knowing they needed to come off.
“I’ll give you a second,” I said, starting to open the tent flap once more.
“It’s fine,” he said, turning around.
And before I could say anything in reply, he hooked his thumbs in his waistband and dropped the wet fabric to the floor. I knew I should turn away, but the moment my eyes landed on that firm, muscular ass of his, all my willpower flew out the window.
I stared as he bent down, lifting his legs one at a time to slip my jeans on. His muscles flexed and worked as he tried to shimmy the denim on over his damp skin, his ass jiggling slightly as he did so. It was a mesmerizing sight, and I had to resist the urge to reach out and touch him. I knew I liked men, but Logan was a special case. Something about him put me under a spell and I found myself suddenly wanting to do all sorts of things with him despite the rain, mud, and my exhaustion from the drive.
“Thanks again,” Logan said softly once he was dressed. “For the clothes I mean. I, uh... I know I’ve been a real ass lately.”
I turned to face him, surprised by the admission. “It’s alright,” I replied. “This drive hasn’t been easy on any of us.”
Logan nodded, running a hand through his damp hair. “Still, I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Beau isn’t my favorite person, but I guess I need to work with him anyway. You were right, this cattle drive needs a functioning team.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. “Well, we certainly were that tonight. You handled yourself well out there.”
“Thanks,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “I guess I remember a few things from growing up on the ranch still.” He turned away, his eyes going to the floor. “Even though everyone thinks I’m a useless city boy now.”
My heart lurched, and I found myself wanting to console him, to reach out and hug him and tell him I didn’t think that of him. But I stopped myself, forcing my hand back in my pocket.
“Well, city boy or not, you handled yourself well.”
He looked up at me again, a small smile on his face that made my pulse quicken. “Thanks.”
I nodded. “Well, I’m gonna change real quick and then we need to get some sleep. Rain or not, these cattle need to move come sun up.”
“Right.” Logan glanced down at the single sleeping bag on the ground. “Do you want me to go get mine?”
I hadn’t thought of that. Logan’s sleeping bag was outside, trampled into the mud, and soaked through with rain. There was no way he was going to sleep in it and definitely no way he was gonna bring that dirty thing into my tent.
“We can share,” I said, starting to strip off my wet clothes. “It’ll be warmer that way, anyway.”
“Right.”
Logan, it seemed, had more self-control than I did. He plopped down on the ground, his back to me as I undressed. I almost hoped he’d sneak a glance as I slipped off my jeans and underwear. But, despite my secret hopes, he stayed where he was. In fact, he didn’t turn around when I sat down beside him and we both laid down. He kept his back to me the entire time, staying at the extreme edge of the sleeping bag. I could hear his teeth chattering as he shivered. Over and hour in the pouring rain with no clothes… he must’ve been nearly freezing to death.
“Lean against me,” I said softly. “It’ll help you warm up.”
“Th-Thanks.”
Logan hesitated for a moment before slowly shifting closer, his back pressing against my chest. I could feel the chill radiating off his skin, and instinctively, I wrapped an arm around him, pulling him closer. He tensed at first, but then gradually relaxed into my embrace.
“Better?” I murmured, my breath ghosting over the nape of his neck.
“Y-Yeah,” Logan replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks.”
We lay there in silence, the only sounds were the gentle patter of rain on the tent and our synchronized breathing. Gradually, I felt Logan’s shivering subside as warmth began to build between us. My body was hyper-aware of every point of contact - his back against my chest, my arm draped over his side, our legs tangled together.
I tried to keep my thoughts neutral, to focus on the practicality of the situation. But that didn’t stop my dick from having a mind of its own as usual. Slowly I felt myself thicken and pulse in my jeans, the thin denim the only thing keeping Logan from realizing what I secretly wanted from him. I got so lost in trying to make my boner go away that I didn’t notice Logan’s breathing had slowed until he began to snore softly.
With a sigh I pulled him in closer, still keeping my pelvis away from his ass. I breathed in the lingering scent of cologne and body wash that was days old now. I tried to memorize it, knowing that this proximity would only last for a couple more days. Once the cattle drive was over, Logan would go back to his life and I to mine. He was off limits, and I wasn’t interested in being tied down, anyway. If I gave in and things went south, I’d have to find a new ranch to work at and I didn’t want to start over.
Not again.