Page 3 of Whiskey and Wildfire

“Don’t worry about that. I didn’t expect us to start makin’ this thing go right now. We gotta help Daddy with the drive and that’ll leave us the winter to get things sorted before next spring.” She grinned at me, a wild sparkle in her eye. “Maybe we’ll even have our own rodeo. Can you imagine it? Caroline’s Ropin’ School presents the Sagebrush Annual Rodeo.”

“Ropin’ school sounds like a place where you train Dominatrixes…”

Caroline reached out, smacking me on the shoulder. “Maybe I am, little brother. The world needs more women who know how to tie men up that don’t behave! Might teach ‘em a thing or two.”

“Daddy will love that.”

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” she grinned with a wink.

We spent the next hour on that roof, brainstorming ideas for the event. By the time we finally crawled back through our respective windows, I felt a small spark of something I hadn’t felt in a long time - hope.

Now I just had to survive a grueling week long cattle drive.

Chapter 2

Dakota

The rattlesnake and I were eye to eye, and I didn’t dare to even breathe. All around me was endless Texas prairie, the tall grass blocking me from anyone’s view. My horse had run off already after she threw me, spooked by the snake in the first place. Something about that rattle filling my ears and that black forked tongue made my blood run cold. The snake was pissed, and rightfully so, after nearly being trampled by my horse. I just hoped it didn’t try to take out its anger on my face.

I slowly inched my hand toward the knife at my belt, praying the snake wouldn’t strike. Maybe if I tossed it, the snake would strike at it instead of my face. My fingers trembled as they grasped the handle, and I fought to keep my breathing steady. The rattler’s eyes never left mine, its coiled body tensed and ready to deliver a fatal blow.

Suddenly, a gust of wind rippled through the grass, and the snake’s attention flickered for just a moment. I seized my chance, lunging backward and scrambling to my feet. The rattler struck, but I was already moving. Its fangs caught nothing but air as I stumbled through the grass, my heart pounding in my ears.

I ran blindly, pushing through the sea of green, desperate to put distance between myself and those venomous fangs. The sun beat down mercilessly and sweat stung my eyes as I searched for any sign of my horse or civilization. But all around me stretched nothing but endless Texas prairie. Sighing to myself, I accepted my fate.

I’d have to walk back to the farmhouse. Hell, my horse was probably already halfway there, anyway. Cursing under my breath, I tipped my cowboy hat low to keep the sun out of my eyes as I began to trudge home. Except this time, I kept a close eye on my boots, not wanting to come face to face with another rattler.

The walk back was grueling. The sun beat down relentlessly, and my clothes were soon drenched in sweat. Every rustle in the grass made me jump, my nerves still on edge from the encounter with the rattlesnake. I tried to orient myself using the distant hills, but the rolling landscape all looked the same. After five years on the same ranch, I still had a hard time finding my way back sometimes. It looked so different from the ground instead of the back of a horse.

As the afternoon wore on, my throat grew parched and my legs ached. I started to worry I’d taken a wrong turn somewhere in the endless sea of grass. I was the only hand working on the ranch, so nobody was coming to search for me. Hell, they probably didn’t even know I was missing yet. Just as panic began to set in, I spotted a familiar windmill on the horizon. Relief flooded through me — I was on the right track after all.

I quickened my pace, eager to reach the farmhouse. As I crested a small hill, I finally caught sight of it in the distance. My horse was there too, grazing peacefully in the front paddock as if nothing had happened. I shook my head. That old mare was getting on my last nerve, throwing me and running off like that. Icouldn’t blame her for being scared, but why did she have to run all the way home and leave me stranded?

Lifting my hat, I ran a hand through my dark hair, drenched in sweat, before replacing it once more. I reminded myself that my horse was only acting on instinct. At least she had the good sense to run home instead of out into the frontier and get lost. She didn’t move as I approached her. Grabbing her bridle, I lifted her head, forcing her to look me in the eye.

“Sogwili,” I said, getting close. “I wish I could explain to you how close you just came to being turned into glue.”

She just munched peacefully, hardly paying any attention to me. I let out a long sigh, shaking my head.

“Come on. Let’s get out of this sun.”

I led Sogwili to the barn, her hooves clopping lazily against the hard-packed earth. The shade inside was a blessed relief after hours in the scorching sun. As I began to remove her tack, I noticed a small scratch on her flank, likely from her mad dash through the prairie. I’d have to tend to that later.

“You know, girl,” I muttered as I worked, “one of these days, you’re gonna have to learn to keep your head. Can’t be throwing me every time you see a snake.”

Sogwili just blinked at me, her big brown eyes vacant as ever. Sometimes I wondered if there was anything going on in that head of hers besides hay and oats. I just shook my head again. At least she was easy to talk to. It was people that were the problem for me.

With the saddle off, I gave her a good brush down, working out the sweat and dust from her chestnut coat. As I ran the brush over her white blaze, I couldn’t help but smile. For all her faults, Sogwili was still a beautiful horse. And she was mine. She was the only thing I kept when I left home.

As I finished grooming her, I heard footsteps approaching the barn. The ranch owner, Mr. Baker, appeared in the doorway, his weathered face creased with concern.

“There you are, boy,” he said, relief evident in his voice. “When I saw Sogwili come back without you, I feared the worst.”

I nodded, grateful for his concern. He always treated me well, despite the fact that I was an outsider. “Just a close call with a rattler, sir. Sogwili here decided she’d rather not stick around for introductions.”

Mr. Baker chuckled, shaking his head. “That mare’s got more skittish than sense, I swear. You alright though? No bites or anything?”

“No sir, I’m fine. Just a little hot and hungry.”

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