Page 72 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

I nodded and maneuvered to the nearest cows.

“Walk back and forth around them, like you’re prowling,” Brook said. “That should keep them together.”

“Got it.” I probably wouldn’t be dealing with this personally again, so this exercise was mostly futile, but it would still be good to learn.

She pointed at Frank, who sat near the fence. “Stay.”

He whined but sat and started panting.

I did as Brooke had said and walked Betsy back and forth around the herd, drawing toward them a little each time so they’d get closer together.

Brooke was successful in driving her first victim back to the others, despite a lot of mooing and grunting. The second proved to be oblivious to her gentle prodding, and Brooke eventually slapped it on the back side to get it moving.

I watched, amused at this unique clash of an unstoppable force and an immovable object.

Which is why I didn’t notice the beast coming up behind me.

In my defense, the cattle had been snorting and moving around since we’d arrived, so I didn’t think I needed to look over my shoulder. That is until Betsy let out an exasperated whinny.

“What is it, girl?” I rubbed her neck and then looked back…

I’d once been to the running of the bulls in Spain. Not the one you saw on television, but something my father and his friends had put together. Highly illegal. I’d found the whole thing ghastly. The moment I’d seen a man gored by one of the bulls had forever been seared into my brain. Even now, seeing a steer skull with horns made me shudder.

So what was I supposed to do when I found the huge head of a bull mere inches from my back?

There weren’t many things in my life that had made me want to cry out in fear or shock, but I let loose with a shrill noise that would surely get my man card revoked.

The reins pulled in my hands as Betsy tossed her head.

The bull inched toward me. I felt like a little kid, frozen in fear, and unable to do anything but stare. And scream.

The scream turned into a choking gurgle when I realized that not only was the bull’s head up on the back of my horse, but so were its front legs.

And it was…

“Oh, no.” I turned to Betsy and said, “Is this bull defiling you?”

Chapter 19

-Brooke-

“You’re making me look bad in front of the billionaire,” I grumbled at the animal that refused to move. “Get going, you stupid cow.”

The flick of a tail is the only acknowledgement I got from the beast.

One glance at William showed me that he’d done exactly as I had instructed and was slowly patrolling the edge of the herd.

The past few days had been difficult between us, and I’d hoped that riding horses would ease some of the tension.

I didn’t need to be the guy’s best friend, but I wanted to at least be among his affable acquaintances.

Plus, I didn’t want him to remember me as a brat. I was more than that.

I circled the cow. “Why are you grazing in this rocky area?” I asked.

It ignored me.

“I will make sure you’re turned into steaks next week,” I muttered as I reached out and slapped the bovine’s rump.

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