Chapter 21 #2
Butcher didn’t have a chance to respond because as soon as he gave the horse his head, Baloo was off like a shot.
I couldn’t help but laugh at Butcher bellowing out threats as my horse chased down the rebellious cow.
I wasn’t sure if the threats spewing out of Butcher were for me or my gelding, but I figured Baloo would get him set straight by the time we got to the new pasture.
My eyes scanned over men on horseback and I laughed out loud this time.
“What’s so funny?”
I glanced over as Toxic and Irene trotted up on my right. “Raggediest bunch of cowboys I’ve ever seen.”
Toxic chuckled as he watched his brothers trying to figure out how to ride the horses. Thankfully, my animals were well-trained and knew exactly what was expected of them. I always provided the horses for my crew, because then I knew I at least had one dependable being out there chasing my cows.
“That’s because they’re used to riding motorcycles, not horses,” Toxic replied. “I can’t believe you found a horse for Hellfire.”
We both looked over and my eyes softened. “That’s Moose.”
“Fitting,” Toxic said with a laugh. “I’ve been feeding him for almost two weeks, but I never took him for a cutting horse.”
“Right?” Moose was a draft cross and most cutting horses were quarter horses, but Moose had always had a fondness for cows.
I often wondered if it was because he could almost be confused for one.
His brown coat blended in with the red cows surrounding him as he and Hell moved in front of the herd.
“Dad bought him for me on a whim. He’s earned his keep every year since.
I usually have a couple of cowboys who are a bit too big for my quarter horses to haul around safely. ”
We both glanced over as Lockout rode up. He was in complete control of Durotan. It didn’t surprise me. He had an air of authority that even horses seemed to listen to.
“Going alright, Prez?” Toxic asked.
“I see why you enjoy this,” Lock said with a chuckle. “There’s something addictive about sweating your ass off while commanding thousand pound animals to go where you want.”
“Speak for yourself,” Idaho, Lockout’s identical twin, said as he rode up. He winced. “How do I keep from crushing my fucking balls?”
I bit back a laugh. “You don’t.”
“What?” he asked me, looking at me as if I’d grown another head.
“You just get used to it,” Toxic told him.
A barked curse caught our attention. Smokehouse stood up in his stirrups and rearranged his crotch. I bit back a laugh. I’d worked around men on horseback for so long, I’d pretty much seen everything. Though I made sure that he didn’t catch me staring.
“Quit fucking playing with it,” Static told him, riding up from behind him. “You’re letting the cattle veer off.”
“This is so fucking uncomfortable. How are you just sitting there like that?” Smoke grumbled.
“Because while most of us are proud as fuck of our cocks, we don’t have a massive anaconda in our jeans,” Ricochet said as he moved Dilly into position to cut off the cows trying to get away from the riders.
I clapped a hand over my mouth, but the laughter escaped anyway. My eyes met Toxic’s and I raised a brow.
“He’s not fucking kidding,” Toxic said in a wry tone.
“Why do you all know how…big…he is?” I teased.
“When you’re slinging a log like that, you make it a point to show the world,” Lock said with a chuckle. “It’s just how it is.”
Idaho let out another curse and shifted in the saddle again. “I’m going to walk with the dog.”
We all glanced over to where Eris was trotting along, her intelligent brown eyes watching the cattle like she couldn’t wait for one to get belligerent so she could correct it.
She was a cattle dog through and through.
She snapped at a hoof, then darted out of the way when the cow kicked toward her, its eyes rolling in its head as it watched her.
“Keep your hands lighter on the reins,” I told Idaho, leaning over and tapping on his hand nearest me. “And stop gripping Arwen’s sides with your legs so hard. That’s why she keeps going into a trot for you.”
“Okay,” Idaho muttered, trying visibly to relax all his limbs. “Hard not to want to hold on for your fucking life.”
“What happens if you manhandle a pistol?” Toxic asked, his eyes scanning the herd.
“You throw the round off to the side away from the target,” Idaho answered.
“Same with the horse. Let her do the work,” Toxic told him. He glanced over at Lock and shook his head. “Looks like you’ve been riding your whole life, Lock.”
The man grinned then squeezed his legs against Durotan’s sides and took off like a shot toward the front of the group.
“At least he’s enjoying this,” Idaho grumbled as he shifted in the saddle, discomfort written all over his face.
“He needs a goddamn break,” Butcher said as he and Baloo merged back up with the group. The cow they’d chased back gave a hoarse bellow and integrated back in with the herd.
“He needs to get fucking laid,” Toxic muttered.
I looked over at him and rolled my eyes. “Having sex doesn’t fix everything,” I told him.
Toxic gave me a heated look and I had to look away because I could all but see the filthy thoughts happening behind those gorgeous brown eyes. I knew he was thinking about me. “Trust me, it’d fix what’s going on with him,” he finally said.
“What’s going on with him?” I challenged. The men laughed and as a group moved ahead of me without answering. Shaking my head, I urged Hank forward. Hellfire was off Moose up ahead and had opened up the gates we’d need to drive the cattle through.
My expression turned grim as I watched some of the cattle stream through the gates like they should while others shot off left and right, trying to avoid the fencing.
This was the fun part. I could put away my worries for my ranch and just meld with my horse as we chased down cantankerous cows. It was pure freedom.