Page 60 of Barbed Wire Hearts

“You know damn well we don’t need to worry about a fucking cat on this drive!” Dakota snarls. “Kate, William is a good cat, but?—”

“I’m not leaving him behind,” I say, cutting him off. “He’s my responsibility so I’m not asking you to watch him or feed him or even worry about him.”

“Not all the animals are going to be okay with a fucking cat near them,” he hisses. “And at night, he’s gonna get eaten!”

I grin. “Actually, I’ve spent the last month or so getting every animal on this drive used to William’s presence. Sure, there may be a cow or two that doesn’t know, but there won’t be a panic. I’ve worked with William when Wiley takes me riding to get him used to riding on the saddle, and he won’t stray far from me. He can sleep in my tent with me or worst case, he can sleep in the camper at night if he prefers. He does enjoy the air conditioning a bit more than the heat.”

Dakota opens his mouth and closes it before looking over at Wiley. “You’ve been riding with the damn cat?”

Wiley nods. “He does well. Never seen anything like it.”

Levi only shrugs when Dakota looks at him so he turns back to me. “Goddamn it, Kate.”

I grin. “It’ll be fine. I promise. And if it’s not, I’ll send him back home with Naomi. No problems.”

“Fine,” he grumbles with a sigh. “Ridiculous bringing a whole ass cat on a cattle drive, but here we are.”

He gives me no other trouble and William happily sits in front of me on Maple’s saddle, as excited for this adventure as I am.

“How many ranches are a part of this again?” I ask as the sun starts to rise higher in the sky, looking out over the herd before us. We’ll be herding about three thousand cattle which is why we have so many of us on horses and so many dogs. Other ranchers will join in along the way, adding to the large herd, but I can’t remember just how many of them there are.

“Eleven,” Dakota answers. “We’re the furthest so it’ll be an hour or so before the first one joins up with us.”

“We’re also the largest,” Wiley points out. “But there are a few who get close as well as a handful of smaller ones.”

I take a deep breath and nod. “Okay. So we’ll follow the Green River for most of the trip, right? That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Not too bad at all,” Wiley laughs. “But thirteen days’ll have you wishing you never answered that help wanted ad.”

“I doubt that,” I reply. I don’t think there’s much of anything that can make me regret taking this job. I’ve learned so much, and I’ve never felt like I’ve had a family so much as I do here. Plus, I got to meet Levi, Wiley, and Dakota. That more than makes up for any hardship. Even if I’m worried about The Crows. Even if I’m still thinking leaving may be a viable option.

“So, thirteen days,” I muse. “What exactly do we do to pass the time as we ride?” I ask.

“Sing like a canary,” Wiley exclaims.

“Don’t,” Levi growls. “Unless you can sing. I have no desire to hear the sounds of a dying cat again.”

“Again?” I ask.

Levi meets my eyes. “Wiley can’t sing.”

“Hey!” Wiley grunts. “I’ll have you know that chicks dig my singing voice!”

“Only the drunk ones,” Levi mumbles, but I catch his words and laugh.

“I’m definitely not a singer, so I’ll spare your ears,” I laugh, grinning at their antics.

“Levi’s a singer, though. I bet if you ask nicely, he’ll sing real pretty—” Wiley’s voice cuts off abruptly when Levi throws his gloves at him and smacks him right in the face. “Hey man! This is what the ladies love! Watch it!”

My giggles are what has Dakota turning his horse to our group with a stern expression. “You kids ready? We ain’t got time for horseplay.” His eyes fall to where William sits proudly before me. “Or cats.”

“Aye, aye, captain!” Wiley says, giving a mocking salute that still looks proper somehow. It’s a reminder again that Wiley once served in the military, even if he doesn’t talk about it. I’ve asked a few times now, but he just dismisses the conversation and changes the subject. I don’t think I’ll get much more information from him if I push. Whatever happened during his time, he doesn’t want to talk about it, so I let things be.

“Here we go!” Dakota shouts and directs his horse forward as Naomi and Wyatt pull open the gates at the end of the pasture.

Three thousand head of cattle in one large pasture is a sight to see. This right here is a picture someone needs. The cowboys all on their mounts, the cattle all pressed together, the dogs crouched into position, waiting for their signal. Never have I wished I still had my phone than I do right now.

“Levi, can I have you phone for a second?” I ask.

---