The cows drew closer, and Jack stood up.
The cows came right up to the back of the truck. A black one let out a moo, Jack barked in return.
“They are looking for food. In the wintertime, we put hay out,” Dennis explained to Elana and Grandma Cecilia. He lifted a hand and waved the cowboys over. “I want y’all to meet our guests for the night. This is Elana Taylor and Cecilia Taylor. They’re going to camp out in their VW by the barn tonight. They had a flat, and it won’t get fixed until late. So one of you needs to run to town this afternoon and pick it up. We’ll get it back on the van so they can continue their road trip.”
Jack felt Elana stiffen beside him. Jack sniffed the air but didn’t sense danger. He wished Elana wouldn’t worry so much.
One tall cowboy in a red shirt tipped his hat. “Nice to meet you both. I’m Sweeney.” He then rattled off the names of the other six cowboys with him.
A smile broke across Grandma Cecilia’s face. “Howdy, boys.”
Elana just smiled.
“That’s a nice dog you have there. Border collie?” Sweeney rode his horse up to the bed of the truck and held out his hand.
“Border collie mix,” Elana offered.
Jack sniffed Sweeney’s hand and gave his knuckles a lick.
The cowboy tasted like beef jerky, so he gave him a second lick.
Sweeney laughed and scratched him behind the ears.
The horse looked down in the bed of the truck. Jack lifted his nose.
“Easy, Jack,” Elana warned.
“It’s okay, ma’am,” Sweeney assured her. “They are just introducing themselves.”
The horse snorted and rubbed her head against Jack’s ears.
“Look at that. How sweet,” Grandma Cecilia cooed.
“Anything to report?” Dennis asked Sweeney.
“We saw some wolf prints near the river. We’ll keep an eye out to make sure the cattle are safe.” Sweeney wiped his brow with the back of his arm.
Dennis nodded slowly. “Might have to start moving the cattle closer to the ranch where we can watch them. Let’s put some of the newer cowboys on night patrol. Sleeping out under the stars builds character.” He looked at Jack. “Isn’t that right, boy?”
Jack let out a gleeful howl.
Everyone laughed.
He stopped to watch everyone’s reaction and then wagged his tail.
“We’ll head back to the ranch. We are cooking barbeque tonight. Hope you ladies like barbeque?” Dennis looked at them.
Jack could feel his mouth water at the mention of the word. The old man always liked to share his BBQ sandwich with him. They would sit on the back porch listening to the sound of the wildlife and eating in silence.
He missed the old man.
“Honey, we are from South Carolina. We love our BBQ,” Grandma Cecilia crowed.
Dennis had let the tailgate down on the truck, and Elana was resting against it. Jack lay down and put his head near her. She reached over and rubbed his head.
Jack sighed. He knew this was peace. And it was something he hadn’t felt in a while.
CHAPTER19
