“Forest, nice to meet you,” he said enthusiastically. “What brings you out to our neck of the woods?”
Forest looked around like he might be looking for someone.
“He’s here for a job,” Theo said.
“A job?” Forest raised his brow. “The rodeo ain't cutting it for you no more?”
“Uh, it’s doing just fine for me, but I like to do some work before the season gets started to get my mind cleared and there’s nothing like ranch work to keep you in shape,” I said, hoping this sounded believable.
“You’re in the rodeo?!” The little girl came up to me.
“Uh, yes ma’am,” I said.
“What do you do?” she said, bouncing on her feet.
“I compete in bronc riding,” I said, squatting down to her level since it felt weird talking down to her.
“I wanna be a barrel racer,” she grinned. “Theo and Colt said I could do it if I practice, but momma is worried I’m gonna get hurt.”
“Well, your mom is right to worry. You have to be a great rider and find a horse to work with to build a relationship with that way you both can be great barrel racers,” I said, feeling self-conscious, glancing at the woman by the fire pit who I assumed was her mom. The little girl was her carbon copy and her mom looked like she was studying me with wariness. “It’s hard work; study, be good in school and practice horse riding if you want to succeed. If you put the work in, I have no doubt you can be the best.”
“Are you the best?” Her big brown eyes looked at me with so much hope.
“Almost, kid. I’ve had lots of ups and downs, but I think this might be my year,” I said confidently.
“I believe in you and I think it is going to be your year,” she said, giving me a hug before running back to her mom who eyed me with suspicion.
I swallowed back the rush of emotions that came from nowhere. She was just a kid, but the vote of confidence from her was nice, not something I was used to.
“Thanks,” I said, getting up.
“I don’t have much work; it’s calf season and?—”
“I’ll take it,” I said, knowing it was dumb of me not to let him finish explaining the job. “I’m no stranger to the hard labor of a ranch, kind of prefer it to that of a farm and I’m good with horses.”
Another man came and stood next to Theo.
“Farm work is awful,” he said, holding out his hand. “Colt, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, shaking his hand, noticing he put his arm around Theo’s waist.
“How long are you thinking of working?" Theo asked.
“A month or two?” I asked cautiously. “I know it’s only a little time, but the ranch I usually work at can't take me on this spring. I usually work there for a few months, but I've just been driving around trying to find work.”
“A lot of ranches and farms out here haven’t been doing well, especially with the fires we had last year,” Colt said. “We’ve been lucky.”
“We start at five-thirty tomorrow,” Theo said, studying me. “We can do a working interview tomorrow and if you survive, you can come to family dinner.”
“Great,” I smiled, thinking this might be better than I could imagine. “I’ve missed a good home-cooked meal. Those are scarce when you’re on the road.”
“Well, I guess you better hope you survive tomorrow,” Colt chuckled.
“We gotta move the herd so be prepared for a long day,” Theo said, holding out his hand.
“I’ll be ready,” I said, shaking his hand.
This was my way in, and I wasn’t about to fuck it up.
