10. Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Colt
B rynn is a strong woman, but she has a huge chip on her shoulder. Her brothers say she hates this small-town living, but I don't know why. She seems as independent as she can be, and I applaud her for that. But damn, she is cranky.
Maybe I could fix her crankiness and snark with my hands, tongue, or dick. Just one night and I could have her relaxed. I wonder how beautiful she would look spread out on my bed, hands in her hair, cheeks flushed from the many orgasms.
Nope. Not going there. I work for her family. I finally have a job I love and a fat paycheck to go with it. All this extra money will help my sister Callie get whatever she needs. I still don't know the entire story about her nasty divorce. I only know the bits and pieces she has told me. I am guessing because she probably knows if I knew more that I would pay her ex a visit.
I get back to the barn, and the farm hands are ready to go. "Did you guys refill your packs? We may not be back until after dark. Everyone got their head lamps just in case? "
A few of the guys hop off their horses and go back into the barn. We have lockers in the barn to keep stuff we don't normally carry in our packs every day. Once everyone is ready to go, we take off in the direction of the next section of pasture.
Moving cattle may seem boring, but we have a job to do, and you never know what you might run into. We are getting the herd moving along and they all start to spread out. That isn't unusual sometimes if they are trying to test the boundaries. I notice some bellowing and get closer to the middle of the herd to see what is going on.
That is when I see a heifer down on her side; she seems to be bleeding. "Matt, radio this in. We need Brooks out here as soon as possible. I dismount my horse as Matt grabs the reins to keeping Honey from wandering off.
I bend down to get a better look at the heifer. I notice she looks to be in distress, breathing rapidly in short spurts. She is most definitely in pain if her breathing, and bellows are any indication.
"Brooks and Blake are on their way," Matt says while he looks down at the heifer from his horse.
It isn't long before we hear the four-wheelers pulling up. I figured he would bring the wagon just in case. I hate when we have to put an animal down, but he may not have a choice.
"What's going on?" Blake calls as he starts moving in our direction on foot .
"We gotta heifer down. I noticed the herd separating, so I came to check it out."
"Good call man, I love your instincts," Blake says as he bends down to look at the heifer.
"Looks like she has been mauled," Brooks says as he pulls on latex gloves to exam the wound. "I am not sure what type of animal could have done this. Doesn't look like an injury from a fence, definitely wildlife."
"We picked up some bobcats on the trail cams not too long ago. Could be one of them," Blake says as he reaches for his phone. "I am going to call fish and wildlife and see what we need to do about this."
Brooks continues his exam, and by the expression on his face, I would say he has made a decision. "Alright, hang tight." He gets up and heads in Blake's direction.
"I guess it's not good news," Matt says. "If you don't need me anymore boss, I'm gonna go catch up."
"Go catch up with the guys. Tell them as soon as the job is complete head on back and be on the lookout for bobcats."
"Yes sir," Matt says before he rides off toward the rest of the ranch hands.
"Alright, I am going to sedate her, and we are gonna put her on the wagon," Brooks says, looking at Blake and then at me. We both nod and get in position to help him.
Brooks gives the heifer a cocktail of meds and then we use all our strength to get her on the wagon. "I've got it from here, boys." Brooks starts up the four-wheeler.
"See ya back at the house for dinner?" Blake asks me as Brooks leaves down the path they came in.
"Yeah, I'll be there," I say as I get settled on Honey. "I need to get Honey back to the barn and get her situated. The other guys should be just about finished with the herd."
"Alright, thanks again for being on top of this."
"Just doing my job," I say as I steer Honey toward the main barn.
Once I get Honey rinsed off and brushed, I be sure to feed her a treat or two. "Now you be a good girl and rest up for tomorrow. We got another long day ahead of us," I say as she nuzzles my hand.
"You guys really hit it off, didn't ya?"
I turn to see Whitney coming into the barn dressed in jeans and riding boots. "I'd like to think we get along just fine," I say while I stroke my hand down Honey's neck.
"Interesting. That horse has been around for a long time. She is one of the good ones." Whitney reaches up to rub down Honey's neck. "Aren't ya girl? Before you, she hadn't been ridden in years. She wouldn't let anyone else ride her."
"Why did they keep a horse no one could ride?" I ask curiously .
Whitney laughs, "George was hoping her rider would come back."
I can't help myself. "Who was her rider?"
"The guys didn't tell you?"
"Obviously not since I am asking you," I deadpan.
"Don't get smart with me Colt, I have the answer you want."
I nod and put my hands in the pockets of my jeans, suddenly feeling like I am going to crawl out of my skin.
"Honey is Brynn's horse." Whitney watches me closely as I let that information sink in.
"But she is so tame and sweet," I say with a chuckle.
Whitney folds her arms across her chest and lifts an eyebrow. "Are you calling me a liar?"
"No ma'am," I say quickly. "So, George kept Brynn's horse all this time, hoping she would come home and ride?"
"Yes. He has never once stopped hoping for a miracle," Whitney says as she turns to walk out of the barn.
"Why did she stay away for all these years?" I yell out in question.
"That is not my story to tell," Whitney replies, then strolls out of the barn.
I wonder if I will ever get to know the story behind her leaving.