Chapter 14
Hadley
The wire tenses around the pliers, running the line tight. I twist it back ‘round itself and clamp it down. The sun beats down, sweat trickling down my neck and forearms, and my grip falters on the tool in my hand.
The pliers drop into the dirt.
“Fuck.”
Chester sways on his feet, tail swishing side to side as he chews on the bit, utterly bored at having to wait on me. I had to get out of the house. Besides the heat that crept in early this morning, I was restless. Levi mentioned the scouts had been in contact.
No news, in this case, is not good news. I don’t know if I can stomach another setback this rodeo season.
Fencing always helps.
Anything with my hands, really. I’m happiest when I’m busy. In the thick of it, Mom always says.
Honestly, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t busy.
Chester sighs, and I huff at the impatient gelding, straining the next wire down. The tools are hot underhand, the sun blistering down. I readjust my hat, swiping sweat from my brow.The second the wire is taut and secure, I shove the tools back in the saddle pack and swing up into the saddle.
One man and his horse is not enough manpower for five thousand acres. My never-ending list of jobs, cattle work excluded, has me up before sunrise and working well into the dark most days.
We trot along the fence line until we come across another worn-out, sagging stretch. I dismount and have it fixed before pushing back up into the saddle and moving on.
This much country is a lot to cover on horseback, but the overdraft and farm mortgage didn’t extend far enough to purchase a tractor. So, the hard, slow way it is for this cowboy.
Besides, being in the saddle is my preference. But I wish I had help. Maybe if I’m drafted, I could hire a part-time ranch hand—other than my sisters, that is.
That would help clear the list of overdue tasks a little. Settling in, I sit back and squeeze Chester into a lope. He gives one playful shallow buck before lowering his head and picking up the pace.
“I got it...” I run a hand through my hair, taking a step back from the phone sitting on my tiny kitchen table in my old hut of a house.
“Fuck me, I’m in!”
“Congrats, bud.” Levi chuckles over speaker phone.
“Was it the Terminator ride?”
“Something like that. But hey, well done, Jones. You deserve to be part of a team. The Bravos are lucky to have you, man.”
I don’t know what to say. It’s what I’ve been hoping for now for months. Part of me thought it would never happen. Hell, this is a huge win. The paycheck could pull us out of this hole we’ve been in for years. And receiving the training and support of a team and a coach... Priceless.
“Enjoy the win, Jonesy. I’ll see you at the next one.”
Levi hangs up, and I sink onto the rickety wooden chair at the table. The list of things this makes good for us is a damn long one.
I can finally fix up this old farmhouse of mine.
Add those curtains in Mom’s room. Fix the rotted front porch on the main homestead.
Pay Kayley back and . . .
Fix my truck.
My phone buzzes across the table.
Maggie.
