Page 102 of Wildest Dreams

The younger one looks guilt ridden, the eldest can't hold my gaze for more than three seconds max before looking away.

“Did you fuck up?” I ask as Betsy starts to get antsy beneath me, my eyes searching for Riggs and the younger one shuffles uncomfortably in the saddle of his horse. “Shit,” I groan as I kickBetsy on and she finds her gallop as my hands move up her neck, my body leaning down, and my heart is thrashing in my chest.

I finally catch up with Riggs and he is seething.

“What can I do to help?” I ask, feeling like a spare part as Betsy circles around.

“Just try and keep the herd away from these two,” he nods his head and anxiety swarms my stomach. How the hell am I meant to do that. I turn Betsy around and trot towards the cows, and they move down towards the two cowboys. I wave my hand in the air, whistling and they gallop up.

“Keep the herd away, can you do that?” I ask a little more condescending than I wanted too, but I heard the urgency in Riggs voice and for some reason, I didn't want to disappoint him.

Pulling on Betsy's rein, I open it up and move towards Riggs who is reaching for his rope.

“Stay close,” he says softly as he loops the rope and begins to swing it above his head, “we're going to rope the heifers and lead them back to the ranch.”

I nod, swallowing the nerves down and the cows must sense what is coming because they begin to move, calling out for their lost calves and my heart aches heavily in my chest. Riggs moves along the side of them, throwing his rope and catching one of them just as he slows his horse down and pulls the cow towards him.

I watch in awe, somewhat mesmerised with what I am witnessing. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the two young cowboys herding the cows further down the field and relief swarms me.

“Hold onto her,” Riggs orders as he trots over to me, pulling the cow behind him.

“What?”

“You heard me, hold onto her... don't let her escape,” he passes me the rope that is wrapped around the cow’s neck, and I look up at Riggs. “Can you do that for me Dixie?” he asks, clearly out of breath, hand resting on his thigh as he waits for my answer.

I nod, fingers tightening around the rope like my life depended on it.

Riggs returns my nod and kicks on his horse down the field as he goes to hunt down the other heifer.

The cow pulls against me, and I panic. Moving Betsy forward, I begin to lead her down the fence line as I wait for Riggs to catch up with me, and I feel relieved when I see him trotting over the hill with the missing heifer as he slows and begins to walk beside me.

“Ready to get these girls home?” He asks, tilting his cowboy hat towards me.

“Sure thing, boss.” I beam as we make our way back towards the ranch in a comfortable silence.

Once we're back, Hudson greets us as he walks out of the bunkhouse.

“All okay?” Riggs asks, but Hudson's eyes move to the two heifers behind us. Riggs follows his gaze, hands resting on the horn of the saddle before he is back turned towards his cowboy.

“Lost their calves,” he answers the unspoken question.

Hudson gives a solemn nod, then takes another step towards Riggs.

“Bulls are good, all health checked and hopefully we will get another good breed from them.”

“Good,” Riggs grunts.

“What do you want me to do with the girls?” he rubs Travis' neck, giving him a soft pat as he waits for Riggs to answer.

“Call around, see if we have any calves that need moms, if not... well…”

“Not a problem,” Hudson bobs his head in a knowing nod as Riggs begins to move forward, leading his cow into the pasture, I follow his lead as Hudson steps aside and watches us.

“Where will they go if they don't get a calf?” I ask.

“Slaughterhouse maybe, might keep them for another breeding cycle... but I'm not sure.”

“Why?”

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