Chapter Six
Well, that’s a relief. When I saw Grady get grounded for smarting off to the boss, I thought maybe he’d do the same to me. I probably would’ve still fought him on it but, I’m glad I didn’t have to plead my case.
I’ve got my bed roll tied behind my saddle and everything I need in the saddlebags.
The only stupid thing about being a girl on these damn things is that I have to bring extra shit.
I’ve got pills I need to take and my monthly lady products that remind me I am not as invincible as I wanna be.
Oh well, I don’t use the throw away shit, anyway.
I learned about silicon cups and discs a few years ago and they make cowboying a lot easier than it used to be.
No one’ll be the wiser. I pat Blaze on the neck and give her a quick kiss before I climb in the saddle and ride out.
The sun shines up here in Montana, but it’s not like where I’m from.
These cowboys act like they’re roasting over a damn fire pit, and here I am thinking it's a fuckin’ nice day outside.
We’re a handful of hours into our drive and I think they said it takes about three days to get to the pasture.
I’m riding next to Brian and Ash, they’re a good duo to hang with.
The other boys have all been cordial since last night.
Hopefully, I won’t have to rodeo anyone with my spurs.
These mountains are pretty and the temperature really drops the higher we ride.
I brought an extra blanket, but Sydney has the tents in his truck and I’m glad.
Because as much as I love sleeping under the stars, I am not about to be eaten by wolves.
Down in Texas we had rattlesnakes and I know how to avoid those.
Up here, wolves are like ghosts, they tell me.
You never know where they are or when they’ll show up.
The sun hovers, and my boss makes the call to stop for the night.
I tied Blaze with the other horses, fed and watered her—now I’m setting up my tent because again, wolves.
At least there’ll be a barrier between me and the beast if one sneaks up on me.
I’ve been trying to pound this last spike into the ground for who knows how many minutes now.
I think the dirt in these Montana mountains is harder than what I’m used to.
The hair on my neck stands up when I feel someone behind me and I whip around.
My eyes meet a pair of golden brown ones and I relax a little.
He’s broody, but he’s not mean. I think we’d be able to commiserate over a fire together, if it weren’t for what he said last night.
I don’t know why it stung. People have called me that and worse, more than once in my life.
But before, when he threatened everyone in that bunkhouse with a branding iron if they picked a fight with me, I liked it.
“I can help with that…” His voice is deep and confident.
Taking a step back, I let him. I want to goad him and say, “See, I’m not a total hardass…
” but I don’t. It’s the ones like Grady who get the dark side of me.
The side that’ll fight to the death, the side that won’t let bad things happen twice if I have any power to stop it.
I watch as he throws the hammer three times and the spike finally sits solid in the ground.
“I started it, so half of that win is mine.” I say, folding my arms over my chest and lifting my chin high. He lays the hammer on the ground, and I swear I see a tiny smile tug at the corner of his bearded lips.
“Whatever helps you sleep tonight, blondie.” He moves past me to go back to the other cowboys, but his shoulder gently brushes mine.
I feel a ripple run from the top of my head down to my boots, and I can’t tell what it means.
I bristle when men touch me, there's no doubt about it, the trauma still lingers.
But that felt different. The things my body does—it does for reasons only known to me.
I have no girlfriends except my horse, and she knows everything.