Page 101 of Wildest Dreams

That's something right?

CHAPTER THIRTY

DIXIE

Ismile ear to ear as I watch the once heifer's nursing their calves, some are jumping around in the full wildflower fields, others are curled up not too far from their moms as they snooze in the mid-afternoon sun.

“It's something right?”

“Yeah,” I breathe as two younger cowboys sit in the distance, watching. My eyes scan to them before Riggs notices.

“They watch the cows, make sure they don't get into any trouble... they even sing to them of a night,” and a smirk pulls at my lips, thinking that he is pulling my leg but when he doesn't falter, when his lips don't turn up into that boyish grin we all know, I realise that he is being serious.

“What do they sing?” I find myself asking as my eyes pull away from the two cowboys and watch as a young calf leaps through the flowers.

“A little bit of Dean Martin, some Kenny Rogers, bit of Dolly Parton...” and I side eye him and he bursts into laughter. “I have no idea what they sing, Dixie, why don't you trot yourself over there and ask them?” he smirks, eyes glistening in the high noon sun, and I shake my head from side to side.

“Not overly interested... just thought I would ask the question seeing as you were the one that mentioned they sing.”

He scoffs a laugh, sitting relaxed on the back of his horse, shoulders rolled back as he slouches slightly, reins loose in his glove covered hands.

“I can see why you like doing this,” I say quietly as I lift my eyes from him and back out to the stunning views in front of me.

“Yeah, it's peaceful, kind of takes you away from the bullshit of everyday life...” he sighs heavily, “don't get me wrong, it isn't all rainbows and butterflies. This job is hard going too. It has its perks... but it also comes with its downfalls.”

“I can imagine, but isn't that the same with every job?”

“I suppose so,” I hear his deep intake of breath as Travis moves forward slightly, hooves hitting the ground softly. “But I wouldn't want any other job than this,” he smiles at me.

“Not even when Aspen left?”

And he looks at me, head tilting slightly.

“I had my own dreams, but once she left I kind of just fell into this. My dad made it pretty clear I wasn't to leave... made it clear that he wanted me to run this place so my dreams kind of fell on the back burner as such. Everything sort of fell into place and life just continued as normal, whether she was in my life or not.”

Sadness swarms my chest.

“Look at you now though,” I breathe out, trying to change the subject slightly. “You got the girl and the dream job.”

He laughs softly, letting his head fall forward, shaking it from side to side, his worn cowboy hat firmly on his head.

“I am certainly living my dream, but not sure if it's the dream job. But I definitely got the dream girl and that's all I care about,” he smiles a wide toothy grin at me. He averts his gaze behind him when he hears the cries of one of the heifers and I watch as his brows furrow into a scowl, jaw a little tighter than normal. He nods his head for me to follow, kicking his horse on with aclick of the tongue. I nudge Betsy on and trot behind Riggs as we continue down the fields and towards the two cowboys that are sitting watch over the new moms and their babies.

“Boys,” Riggs grunts as he slows Travis down and I slow just as I approach.

“Boss,” the young boys nod at Riggs then move their attention towards me.

“Eyes on me.”

I know they're probably only looking at me because they're wondering who I am and what the fuck I am doing here. I question myself daily.

“Everything been okay?” He asks, Travis circling around before Riggs pulls him to a halt again. Betsy just stands and I loosen the reins slightly.

“Yeah, we lost two calves this morning,” the older one of the two says quietly and I hear Riggs tut before whisperingfuckunder his breath. But by the way he acted when he heard the heifer, he already knew this.

“We tried everything, the vet took too long to get here,” his lips roll into a thin line as he stares down Riggs.

“Where are the heifers now?” Riggs averts his gaze, looking over the field for the crying heifers. It doesn't take him long to notice them in the field again. “Why didn't you call?” he snaps, opening his rein and turning Travis towards the back of the field. He shakes his head in a disapproving manner as he kicks Travis into a canter and I stay put, my eyes volleying between the boys who I am still trying to work out if they made an honest mistake or were just too stupid and reckless to care.

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