Page 59 of The Cowboy Takes A Bride

“Yeah, me neither. I’ve come across a few before, and it’s worked out. This will, too.” He reached for the bell on her horse's neck and took the dong stopper off, then tucked it in his pocket. He did the same to his bell. She really hoped the noise would be enough of a deterrent.

Enough with the talk. It was time to get moving and get home. “What’s the plan? We try and get these animals headed toward the ranch?”

“Yeah.” Jace leaned toward her and slid an arm around her waist. “I know this is scary, but it’s something we face often. You’ll get used to it.”

Trouble was she didn’t want to get used to it. Getting used to it meant getting complacent. Like her father had gotten used to using her, manipulating her, forgetting how to see her. If they got used to bears, didn’t that mean their guard was down?

Meredith pressed herself into him, pulled in by his warmth and musky scent, the shower still fresh on him. “Tell me what to do so we can hurry this up and get home.”

Jace laughed, the deep rumbling sound vibrating through her. His lips pressed to the back of her neck. “We should go down a few more miles. I think Beasley has a small herd there. We can drive them toward this one and get both closer to home.”

A few more miles. She could do that. Wanting something more substantial from him, like his lips on hers, she nodded and tilted her face up. Jace was quick to comply.

“If the situation weren’t what it is, I’d try and talk you into a little fun in the tall grass.”

Meredith punched him lightly in the chest. “Not going to happen until you get me home and in our bed.”

Jace pushed her away, but righted her to keep her on the horse, and tossed her the reins. “Jesus, woman. What are you sitting around for? Let’s go up and get that other herd. We got things to tend to at home.” He spurred his horse on and galloped away.

Laughing, Meredith followed suit, catching up and passing him. They took turns playing follow the leader for a while, each trying to keep the lead, laughing and pretending to attempt to shove the other off their horse when one passed the other.

They made it to the herd in no time, a small collection hugging the tree line and grazing on the high grass, green tags in their ears.

“Circle around and push them that way.” He pointed in the direction from which they came.

Meredith nodded and rode behind the herd.

“Come on,” she called and leaned to slap the hindquarters of a brown cow.

It took coaxing, but between the two of them, they managed to get the beasts going forward at a sloth’s pace.

“Switch places with me. They’ll want to go back from where they came, but we have to convince them it’s not a good idea.”

Meredith snorted. A big ol’ bear might be able to do that. Too bad a person couldn’t reason with a cow. Meredith considered swearing off beef if they’d hurry, but hesitated. Her husband was a cattle rancher; it wouldn’t do for the man’s wife to be a vegetarian.

Meredith rode to the side of the herd, Jace taking the back, cracking his whip to get the herd moving. It was then she noticed a small calf limping along, slowing the works. She pointed the cute baby out to Jace.

“Cut them off at the top so I can get a look,” he called.

Meredith rode to the front and, without doing anything other than being in their way, got the cows to stop. It was too easy, but a perk to their frustratingly slow pace.

Jace was off his mount and walking through the herd with swift purpose. Meredith scanned the area, though they’d made so much noise she doubted any bear would want anything to do with them.

“Grab the rope, will you, Mer? I’m gonna have to lug this one home on my horse. Looks like he got caught in some barbed wire.”

Meredith rode to his horse, but had to get off to manage the rope. It didn't help that Moses shied or that her fingers fumbled on the knots. She considered remounting Coco, but then Jace would know she was too afraid to be off her horse. Some of the online stuff said that to outrun a grizzly, a person needed incredible speed and the capacity not to be winded. That was not her. That wasn't anyone. She hoped it was her horse, though.

“Wait here, girl,” she told Coco and stroked her muzzle with one hand, the rope hanging from the other. Coco snorted, and her ears shot forward in warning.

Meredith swiveled to Jace, searching for him in the cluster of cows. Something at the corner of the herd, about thirty feet to Jace's side, caught her eye. Whereas the cows were brown, some light, some dark, this one had a rust tint to it and was far furrier. It crept slowly along the flanks of the herd along the tree line.

Coco snorted again. Meredith’s heart slammed into her chest. “Jace,” she croaked and dropped the rope. She reached for her horse.

Jace continued to investigate the calf.

“Jace,” she said softly a second time.

From the corner of her eye, she saw him glance at her then jerk his attention to where she was staring.

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