Chase cut to the left. “I’ll take the far side and push them toward the herd.” He tucked his legs tight around Coral’s ribs, and they splashed across the creek. Water dappled his jeans and covered Coral’s legs. She picked her way across the loose river rock and heaved them up the shallow bank on the other side.
Her ears swiveled forward, and her excited dancing brought joy threading through him. His horses loved to work. Coral more than most. “Go get ‘em.” He aimed her at the first cow, a four-year old with a calf at her side, and the known leader of the rebellion.
The cow tossed her head, slinging a stream of snot in a wide arc.
“We’re not afraid of you, mama. Go on. Take that baby and hit the road.” He raised his hand and slapped it to his thigh, making ashh-shhsound to get her turned and moving.
The remaining cows lumbered to their hooves, lowing and shuffling around as they turned.
Don cut his horse into the middle of the river to keep the cows from trying to break that way. Most of the time, they took the easy way, but there was always that one time when they decided to be troublesome.
This was where he belonged. He’d always known that. When Michelle left, he didn’t fight to go with her. He’d never survive in the city. They’d both known that, and she hadn’t even asked him to try. He needed space to breathe, a horse to ride, and a job that kept him busy.
Letting her go hadn’t been easy, but it had been necessary for them to both find joy.
“She’s going to charge.” Don’s warning almost came too late.
Coral reacted with the instinct and training she’d been bred for. In a flash, she threw her head out and nipped the cow in the flank just as the cow lowered her head and pawed the ground.
Blowing, the cow turned and kicked, sending Coral into a quick sidestep. She snaked her head out and nipped again, ears flat to her skull.Thatwas why he picked her anytime he could. She knew her job and never backed down.
“Sometimes I’d like to pin my ears back and bite whatever’s bothering me.” Chuck snorted a laugh.
Chase smacked his thigh again and pushed the cattle toward the river. “You’d end up biting yourself since you’re the problem.”
“Har har.” Chuck pretended to be annoyed, but he never stopped smiling.
Don followed alongside the cows, keeping them in a line while Chase pushed from the back. Once they started moving, they didn’t put up much of a fight, but he kept an eye on the lead cow in case she changed her mind.
The calves bellowed and trotted to keep up. They’d all slow down once the stragglers joined the main herd.
“Ride on ahead and get the rest on their feet.” Chase waved them on. “We want this bunch moving slow but we don’t want them to stop and lay down again.”
Slow and steady always worked best. He applied the same philosophy to Michelle. If they were going to pursue a relationship this time, it had to be with a cautious approach. He’d gone all in last time with no thought or preparation and she left.
He didn’t dare make that same mistake again.
Coral crow-hopped sideways, cutting off a cow trying to break back toward the river. Only his years of riding kept him in the saddle.
“I saw that.” Chuck wagged a finger at him.
He flushed beneath his hat but kept his expression innocent. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not the one who fell in a cow patty last month.”
“One, that wasn’t my fault. My horse slipped.” He pushed his hat back and squinted up at the sun. “And two, it was funny. Which means it was worth it.”
“Well, I’m not falling out of my saddle to make you laugh.” He guided Coral to the right, pushing the stragglers until they mingled with the herd.
Two hundred head of cattle pressed tight together.
“Keep ‘em going.” Don whirled his arm in the air in a circular motion and called out that sameshh-shhsound the cattle recognized as a signal to get moving.
Chase fell in beside Chuck.
Don took the left side, Brian the right. Tom stayed toward the front, ready to run ahead and open gates when they needed him to.
“Like clockwork.” Chuck scratched his palm on the saddle horn.
Chase sighed. “Well, you’ve done it now.”
