8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Colt
" A lright guys, we are going to rotate some cattle. Everyone have their pack filled with water and snacks?" I look around to see if everyone is situated and ready.
"Got it." I hear several ranch hands say as they begin to mount their horses.
"C'mon, let's get a move on. We want to be done with the first herd by lunch. Time is wasting."
I take off toward the first area we are going to. The cows are pretty much on a rotating schedule. They spend several months grazing in each pasture. Moving them around can help maintain better land and keeps the cows from getting too comfortable in a certain area. We are starting to move them closer to the main house, so they are all closer before the weather turns too cold.
We ride and herd the cattle for hours from one spot to another. It is a big deal when each herd we have is about 500 head. We continue working, taking water breaks as needed .
"Let's see if we can't get this herd finished up and get to the main house for Momma Ann's lunch. I heard she is making burgers and dogs." I pull out my thermos and take a big swig of cold water.
We stopped at a pond not too long ago and let the horses cool off. They are working animals, but we always make sure they are not getting overheated. This weather has been brutal lately.
We work for about another hour and start to make our descent back to the barn. "Hustle to get washed up and we can break for lunch." I say as we all bring our horses into the barn and out of the sun. I make sure all the water buckets are full before I take off to the main house.
As I walk the path from the barn to the main house, I take in the beauty of the ranch. It really is magnificent. The sky is a beautiful shade of blue. The sun shining over all the land, farmland as far as the eye can see. Rutherford Ranch is probably the biggest operation I have worked for. I appreciate the vast fields and large heads of cattle. The way we raise these cows shows when they go to auction.
My boots kick up gravel as I walk to the main house, my belly already growling and ready to eat a large lunch, then get back to work. I hear tires rolling up the gravel drive coming from the main road. I see Blake's truck kicking up dust as he parks in front of the main house .
George Rutherford is a legend around here, he started this operation with a few acres and a small herd. Made a name for himself in the community and surrounding areas. Everyone knew when he would be going to the stockyards, and everyone always made sure they purchased cattle raised by George.
His work ethic is unmatched; the man is a beast. Or at least he was, he had a recent stroke no one saw coming. I remember the day vividly. We were riding out in the back fields checking fences, and he was talking to me, telling me a tale about his wild days before he became a father. All of a sudden, his speech went slurred, the grip on his reins loosened and he started to lean.
I had never dismounted a horse so fast in my entire life. I radioed to Blake what was happening, and he called 911 and hauled ass to us in the side by side. When Blake got to us, he was so out of sorts with worry that I had to drive us back up to the main house.
The ambulance took him straight to the hospital, where intervention was performed. From what I hear, George is very lucky to not have had any major complications. I watch as Blake exits the driver's side and rounds the hood to open the door for George. I then see the back door on Blake's truck fly open and Brynn is sliding out. She drops her bag, and everything falls to the ground .
I see her head drop back and the slope of her neck and throat are on full display as she curses up a storm to the sky. I can't help thinking of how she would taste if I licked my tongue up the column of her throat.
What the fuck? Where did that come from?
I take a step in the direction of the truck to help, but her eyes meet mine and she stares daggers in my direction. I put up my hands and turn to the front steps.
"Hey, Colt! Think you can help me get dad inside?" Blake calls out. I can't help the smile that crosses my face before I turn around.
I hear Brynn huff. "We don't need his help. I am perfectly capable of lending a hand."
"Take a fucking chill pill, B. Dad is too weak to walk all the way in the house," Blake hisses.
"I am fine. I am anything but weak ," George says as he attempts to get out of the truck by himself.
"Dad, we are just going to help you get into the house to the recliner. No one thinks you are weak," Brynn says softly as she eyes her brother.
Blake runs a hand over his face and looks up to the sky like he is willing himself to calm down. "Let's go," he grumbles as I take one of George's arms and he takes the other side. "Want to sit in the recliner for a while or want to go to your bedroom? "
"I will sit and eat some of Momma Ann's food and then I want to nap. That drive wore me out." George's face scrunches up, as if being tired is a sin.
"Let's get you some food, but only if it is healthy. No more eating like a goddamn twenty-year-old," Brynn says as she comes around us and hurries up the steps to open the front door. I definitely don't have my eyes glued to her ass. Especially not when her father and oldest brother are right next to me.
I advert my eyes away from the perfect globes and whisper to George, "Don't worry, I'll sneak you some bacon."
"The fuck you will, Cowboy !" Brynn hollers from inside the house.
My eyes widen. "How the fuck?"
George just laughs at my expression, and Blake shakes his head. "I warned you."
"I think my balls just shriveled up," I say under my breath, only to find Brynn staring me down, hands on her luscious hips. "Firecracker," I say as we pass. From the corner of my eye, I can see her roll her eyes.
"Baby girl, please don't scare off my foreman," George says as he settles into his recliner.
"Who me?" Brynn asks innocently.
"No one buys that innocent act here, B." Brooks' voice rings out as he comes into the living room to check on his dad .
"I did nothing wrong. If your foreman can't handle a little ball play, that's not my problem."
"Brynn," Brooks chastises. "Don't say shit about balls. What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"You do realize I've seen balls before, right?" Brynn says, making her brother sweat.
"No, you haven't," Brooks says through clenched teeth.
"I've even had sex," she whispers. "Lots of hot, dirty sex," Brynn says with a smirk.
Brooks looks like he is about to die. "Dad, make her stop," he pleads.
"It's okay, Brooksy, I won't hurt your virgin ears anymore," Brynn says as she walks into the kitchen.
"Looks like she hasn't changed one bit," George says with a chuckle. "Still got you all by the balls."
I hear George still laughing as I join the rest of the ranch hands in the kitchen.