Waiting hurt. He did it anyway.
His phone shrilled a merry tune that pulled him away from Michelle.
She sighed and spun the ring around on her finger, letting it catch the sunlight and sparkle in her face.
“What’s up, Chuck?”
“Well.” Chuck’s laughter drifted through the phone, and across the vast field behind them. “The boys and I were wondering if you two were going to stand there all day or if you wanted to help us push these cattle back to the pens?”
“Just because you interrupted, I think he should have to do all the work himself.” Michelle spoke loud enough for her voice to carry, and Chuck laughed outright into Chase’s ear.
“In that case, guess I’ll let you get back to it.” He ended the call with a snort.
Michelle narrowed her eyes and stared into the distance. “He’s a menace.”
“Yep.” No need in disagreeing. “He’ll make it his daily job to annoy you if you give him any kind of ammunition.”
“Really?” The challenge lit her up. She pecked him on the cheek. “Then let’s show him what happens when he messes with the best.”
“Not sure you want to do that.” He tried to warn her, but she’d already climbed into the saddle and turned her maretoward the cowboys riding hard on their way to gather one of the last herds of the season.
They’d separate the mamas from the calves and turn them back out in separate fields for the winter. It was hot, grueling work that he had a deep love/hate relationship with.
Michelle tapped her heels to her horse’s sides and waved at him. “Come on, cowboy. I’m not afraid of Chuck. He won’t know what’s coming for him.”
“That’s the truth.” Chase hopped into the saddle and urged his mount to catch up. “You really want to help cut cattle?”
“I want to learn as much as I can about the ranch, so I know what I’m good at and where I’ll be the most help. If I’m not cut out for it, I’ll stick with what I know I can do.” she grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. “See what I did there?”
“I see it.” Worry started in and forced him to speak. “You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone.”
“I know.” Resolve cut into her eyes and firmed her jaw. She glanced up at the sky, then over at him. “It’s not about proving myself. I skated by for years. It wasn’t easy to stay in the city when I knew I belonged here. Now that I’m back, I want to experience all the things I missed. And that includes cutting cattle. Which you never let me do.”
“I didn’t think you’d want to.” He shrugged when she scoffed. “I never once told you no. And I never tried to talk you out of it.”
“No, you just found fun things for us to do that day instead. It’s a wonder your dad didn’t ground you every other week for skipping out on your work.”
He’d made Chase work extra to make up for it, but it had been worth it to spend that quality time with Michelle.
“Did you think I couldn’t do the job?”
He snapped a look at her, his neck popping in the process. “I know better than that.” He snorted and pushed his gelding intoa lope. “You’re probably better at it than I am. You were almost always better than me at cowboy stuff.”
“I was?” Her mare shot forward again. “I never thought that.”
“Dad called you a natural.”
“You are too.”
They merged with the cowboys. Chuck stayed behind to close the gate, and he whistled at them when they rode past.
“I never had a choice.” Chase slowed as the cattle came into view. “Dad started teaching me before I could even ride by myself. You showed up one summer and it was like you’d been born in a saddle. Even the horses preferred you over me.”
“Did not.” She grinned even as she denied it. “You told me that once. I thought you were mad at me.”
“Not mad.” He could never be mad at her for being better than him. “Impressed.”
Her strength always amazed him.
