Page 59 of Barbed Wire Hearts

“No!” Wiley hisses. “You stop that, heathen!”

Naomi looks over with a smile. “What’s up?”

Wiley’s eyes go round in terror, and I grin. “Wiley says he loves your moonshine and wants you to keep making it.”

Naomi’s smile brightens. “Aww, thanks, Wiley! I’ve been working on a cherry batch I think you’ll like if you like that one.”

Wiley smiles, his eyes tight. “I can’t wait,” he says, tipping his mason jar to her. To me, he scowls. “You devil.”

He pinches me on the ass, and I giggle. “Cool it, cowboy.”

I’m thoroughly enjoying myself, the way everyone just laughs and talks. They take turns telling stories about previous cattle drives, the antics that Wiley got up to before. Apparently, he once threw a rattlesnake into the camp just to see how everyone would react. Luckily, no one was bitten, but they tell the story fondly now despite how scared they must have been.

This is it. This is what I’ve been searching for my whole life. These people are a family, and when someone brings me a plate of food, I realize I’m a part of it. They accepted me in without hesitation, include me in all the talks, and make me feel like I belong here.

A city girl in the mountains. Out of place, and yet perfectly at home.

I take a deep breath, letting the stress fall away, and smile.

ChapterThirty-Eight

Kate

And immediately become just as stressed the next morning when we all start saddling up our horses. Christ, I wish my metabolism worked as fast as my anxiety. There are so many moving parts to this, I don’t even know where to begin. Luckily, Wiley takes pity on me and gets me to work saddling up what’ll be my mare. When he tells me her name is Maple Stirrup, I nearly lose my mind at the cuteness of it. She’s a sweet horse, all gentle and soft. I much prefer her to Dakota’s mustang. He has the worst temper. I watch as the black horse bites at Dakota’s hand when he goes to put the bit in and laugh as he scowls.

“Cut it out, Chuck,” Dakota growls. “Don’t be such an asshole.”

“Chuck?” I ask, tilting my head.

“Chuck Horris,” Wiley answers with a grin. “Once, a rattlesnake bit Chuck Horris’ leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the rattlesnake died. True story.”

I snort out a laugh and watch as Dakota bops Chuck on the nose before the stallion finally lets him saddle him up. He happily prances for him once he decides their game is on hold.

Despite the fact that the sun hasn’t even started rising as we get ready, there’s an excited air around us. Levi preps his side-by-side, loading it up with coolers and gear that we’ll need on the ride. Wiley, Dakota, and I prep our horses, but we’re not the only ones. During the day, there will be eight other cow wranglers on horses, helping us drive the cattle, plus the cattle dogs. I count roughly eight dogs, each of them as excited as I am, each of them ones I’ve petted every single day. This is what they’ve been trained for. For a few of the younger dogs, this is their first drive. When Dakota whistles at them, they each stand at attention and wait for instructions. They’re well-trained, and spoiled beyond compare. I’ve never seen someone so loving and firm with their dogs as I’ve seen Dakota be with them.

“Thirteen days,” Wiley says from beside me. “You ready for this, witchy woman?”

I bite my lip and meet his eyes. “As best as I can be.”

“Don’t look so worried,” Dakota says with a grin. “You’re gonna do fine.”

But how do I tell him that it’s not that I’m worried about how I’ll do. I’m still worried about The Crows and now we won’t have the gates of the ranch to protect us. We’re going to be out in the open. And though the Drift weaves through pastures, private land, and rivers, there are at least some points where we cross highways and main roads. Despite the fact that Naomi and the others will be coming out at the end of each day with trailers, supplies, and a camper for us to clean up, I still worry that this isn’t as safe as Dakota hopes, guns or not.

Before I climb into my own saddle, I hold up my hand and rush off back to my cabin. When I return with William under my arm, his harness and leash on, Dakota’s face darkens.

“Kate, what are you doin’?”

“What do you mean what am I doing?” I ask, frowning. “William is coming with us.”

“No,” he replies. “Absolutely not.”

“Absolutely yes. I’m not leaving him behind,” I argue before setting William on the front of the saddle. I pull myself up after him and get comfortable.

“Naomi can watch him,” Dakota says. “It’s too dangerous to bring your damn cat on the cattle drive!”

I glance over at Wiley. “You think it’s too dangerous?”

Wiley grimaces. “William is the best trained cat I’ve ever seen, Dakota. I think it’ll be alrig?—”

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