Page 9 of Whiskey and Wildfire

I opened my mouth to deliver another biting retort but was cut off by Dakota’s deep voice.

“Alright you two, that’s enough,” he said, his voice low and commanding. He pulled on his horse’s reins, slowing her until he was in step with us. “I don’t care if you two hate one another or not. This is a cattle drive. We’re gonna share the work and we’re gonna have each other’s backs. I’ve never had a man seriously injured on a drive with me before and I’m not about to let that record go to waste because you two have beef.”

“But he—” I began.

“I don’t care,” Dakota said, cutting me off. “Out here we’re a team. End of story. If you can’t do that, you should turn around and head home right now.”

I sat there, jaw hanging open. “You know I can’t go back. What would my Daddy say?”

“That’s your problem.” Dakota lowered his gaze, his brown eyes boring a hole right through me. “Now can you do the job or not?”

There was something about his tone that sent a shiver down my spine. I wasn’t afraid or worried about what he might do if I said no. Actually, I was a bit turned on. I didn’t understand why, only that my jeans were suddenly a bit tighter than before.

“Yes, sir,” I said softly with a nod. “I can do the job.”

“Good.” He tipped his hat up and gave his horse a light kick. “Now quit bickering. We’ve got cattle to round up.”

I watched him go, staring at the way his muscular body shifted easily with each movement of his horse. Light was just starting to peek over the edge of the eastern sky, his figure cutting a pleasing shape against the backdrop of pinks and blues. However, when I finally snapped out of it and shook my head, I found Beau staring in my direction with a knowing look. The smug smile on his face pissed me off instantly.

“Go fuck yourself,” I muttered, kicking my own horse put him behind me.

Chapter 4

Dakota

The first couple of days of the cattle drive went by in silence. After their initial bickering, Logan and Beau decided to no longer speak to one another unless it was related to the task at hand. Dinner was a mostly silent affair around the campfire each night before everyone headed off to bed. Beau would chat with me now and then, but Logan pretty much kept to himself. Not that it stopped him from stealing glances at me every chance he got.

If I was being honest, I kinda liked it. But that’s what worried me. I tried to keep my mind on the job, focusing on the cattle and the dusty trail ahead. But every now and then, I’d catch Logan’s green eyes on me, and my stomach would do a little flip. I’d quickly look away, pretending to be engrossed in adjusting my saddle or checking on a nearby steer.

As we were finishing up dinner that night, Beau approached me with a concerned look on his face. “Hey,” he said quietly, his drawl more pronounced than mine or Logan’s. “You noticed anything off about the herd?”

I furrowed my brow, thinking back on the day’s ride. “Can’t say that I have. Why? What’s on your mind?”

Beau scratched at his stubbled chin, his blue eyes scanning the horizon. “Just got a feeling, is all. Seem a bit restless, almost like there’s bad weather on the way or somethin’.”

I followed Beau’s gaze, squinting into the darkening sky. The air did feel heavier, somehow, though I couldn’t see any storm clouds brewing. “You think we’re in for some trouble?”

Beau shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling beneath his worn denim shirt. “Can’t say for sure. Just a hunch. Might be nothin’.”

But I knew better than to ignore Beau’s hunches. He had an uncanny ability to sense danger before it struck, a skill honed by years on the ranch. I’d heard about it from other ranch hands several times, but this was the first time seeing it myself.

“I’ll keep an eye out,” I promised.

As if on cue, a low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Logan’s head snapped up from where he’d been cleaning his plate, his green eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before darting away.

“Looks like we might need to batten down the hatches,” I called, knowing full well he wouldn’t listen to Beau even if it was meant with good intentions. “We might be gettin’ wet tonight.”

“Great,” Logan huffed, throwing his plate down on the ground. “Not a cloud in the sky for a fucking month and now we’re gonna get dumped on. Awesome.”

I watched as Logan stomped off to his tent, muttering under his breath. Part of me wanted to follow him, to try to smooth things over, but I knew better. When Logan got like this, it was best to give him some space. He’d been quick to anger the entire trip and was acting like a child to be honest. But he’d figure it out himself in time.

Beau and I started securing the camp, making sure everything was tied down and protected as best we could. The distant rumble of thunder grew louder, clouds breaking overthe mountains and flashes of lightning illuminating the horizon. The cattle were getting antsy, their low moos of distress carrying across the darkening plain.

“We might need to keep watch tonight,” Beau said, his voice barely audible over the rising wind. “If this storm hits hard, we could have a stampede on our hands.”

I nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety form in my stomach. “I’ll take first shift,” I offered. “You get some rest, and I’ll wake you in a few hours.”

“What about Logan?”

---