By the time I get back to Silo Springs everyone is ready to go and the herd is all rounded up in the main pen, just waiting for us to drive them out of here.
I throw my truck in park and lock it up. Toby and Brian are leaning over the corral, their backs facing me as I stride toward them to ask who’s staying and who’s going. I holler at them once I get a few yards away.
“Alrighty boys, who’s it gonna be today?”
I look at Toby. “Well, sir, we took volunteers first. But then had toeenie meenie miney mo,and volun-told a few they had to stay.”
I chuckle and turn to Brian who has an eyebrow quirked. “What? You're afraid to tell me something…” He juts his chin toward the opposite side of the corral and I see exactly who he means me to.
“She was adamant, sir. We told her it’s rough up there and we sleep on the ground most of the time. She wouldn’t budge. We agreed she could be one to go up. We’re bringing Ashley and Clancy too. Figured we had to since we don’t want a bunch of new guys watching everything around here while we’re gone.”
I place a hand on each of my supervisors shoulders. “You did good. It’ll be fun to see if she can ride and wrangle as good as they say she does.”
Both men nod and I give them instructions to tell the cowboys it’s time. My cook Sydney is waiting in his pickup truck for the green light. He’s got a lifted chuck-wagon sleeper trailer set up on the back. It’s got everything he needs to refrigerate the food and keep the boys fed. He usually brings about a week's worth of food and water, then drives down to the ranch to stock up, before going back again.
I head to the barn to get my horse, Samson. The boys have already saddled him for me. He’s a dark chocolate brown gelding with the sweetest temperament. I really enjoy riding him since my longtime horse, Fred, has gotten older. I just don’t feel comfortable taking him up the mountain anymore. Chilling at home in retirement is where he’s happiest.
As I swing my leg over the saddle I lift my eyes and see her, standing right in front of Samson. Her wavy golden blonde hair has ribbons of brown running through it in the sunlight. Her hat is on her head, belt buckle showing and spurs on her boots. The only thing distinguishing her from the other cowboys is the obvious factthat she is a woman—one that could burn a man to ash with a single look and a whip of her tongue.
“Boss…” She stares up at me.
I back Samson and turn him sideways so we can see each other better. “Yeah…” I say nonchalantly as I straighten the ball cap on my head. I’ve never been much for felt when it comes to hats.
“I’m comin’ today.”
Does she think I don’t already know that? I chuckle and stare at the barn wall before turning my gaze back to her. “I know.”
“You’re not gonna make me stay because of what I said last night?”
No.I will not make her stay because she threatened me. She has the balls to say what’s on her mind and stand up for herself; she deserves to go if she wants to. Grady… He’s staying to shovel shit all summer.
“Nope.” Is all I say back, before I trot Samson out of the barn and toward the corral.
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 hoursinto 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.
Chapter Seven
Holy shit! What’s shaking my tent?My eyes fly open, I wanna throw the blanket over my head so I can’t see what’s about to get me, but I’m tougher than that. So I grip my gun, still holstered at my hip and try to calm down. The shaking stops and I sit still—I hear nothing except laughter in the distance.
I crawl to where I can get out, pull the zipper down and stand. Hunched over, I dip my head through the opening and tip toe out onto the dirt. There’s a fire a way off with a few cowboys sitting around it. We’re all assigned shifts to watch the herd while the others sleep. I keep my hand on my gun as I quietly move around my tent. I see nothing, but there are branches above me and a slight breeze. Maybe one blew and brushed the outside of my shelter?
