Page 20 of Roping Reba

“You mean you’ll let me into the back pasture without a suit of armor?”

“Ha. Ha. Come on, the girls will be happy to see you. Especially Onex. She looks past me every time I walk out there looking for you. Working with her just proves she’s only tolerating me, but I’m kind of used to women acting that way.”

She smiled and finished drying the cupcake pan before heading to the backdoor and pulling her boots on. I loved seeing her move without pain, but whenever I did, a bit of fear set in that she would insist on leaving me soon.

We made our way out to the back pasture on four wheelers. My hope that my second one wouldn’t start and she would have to ride out with me died a quick death when the fickle machine fired right up for her.

“They have really settled in well,” she said as we approached the gate.

“They have. It will be a while before they can be saddled and ridden, but the trust is already building.”

Onex, the fearless leader of the bunch, looked up. Her eyes twitched and her nose wiggled toward the two of us before she made her way straight to Reba, who held her arms out welcoming her.

“Hey, pretty girl, how’s your little family?”

Reba stroked Onex’s strong neck, murmuring soft words as the mare pressed her nose against her shoulder. Reba had named the mare, correcting me when I first spelled it with a “y”in place of the “e” while questioning her choice as the mare was brown and not black.

With Reba’s explanation that the name had nothing to do with the color of the mare’s coat but had been chosen because the name represented strength and leadership among their peers, I’d instantly stood corrected.

Onex had proven time and time again that she was both as the other horses hung back a few feet, watching, their ears flicking in our direction. They were still cautious, but every day, they warmed up more.

“She’s really taken to you,” I said, stepping up beside Reba.

“Of course she has. She’s got good taste,” she quipped, flashing me a small smile before turning her attention back to the horse.

Before I could come up with a comeback, the crunch of tires over gravel caught my attention. I turned toward the tree line just as Mac’s truck rolled up, kicking up dust in its wake. Reba must have heard it too, because she let out a quiet sigh, straightening up.

“You think he’s here to check on me or the horses?”

“Probably both,” I admitted, watching as Mac climbed out of the cab, his sharp eyes already sweeping over the pasture, taking everything in like he always did.

Mac shut the door and ambled toward us, hands in his pockets. “They’re looking good,” he said as he reached the gate, nodding toward the horses. “Didn’t think they’d settle this fast.”

“They still have a long way to go, but they’re getting there.”

“And you? You still thinkin’ about running off as soon as you’re back to a hundred percent?”

I stiffened at his bluntness, but Reba didn’t flinch. She crossed her arms and met his stare head-on. “Haven’t decided yet.”

Mac let out a slow breath and glanced at me. “She always this stubborn?”

“You have no idea.”

Mac grunted, shaking his head. “Well, you’re doin’ good work out here, both of you. I’d sure hate to see that wasted. You got a minute, Reba? I want to talk to you about something.”

Reba narrowed her eyes but headed in his direction. I couldn’t hear shit, but I could tell from her stance that she wasn’t a fan of what he had to say. Before long, she headed back in my direction.

“I’ll be around later to check on things. Try not to let her boss you around too much, Johnny,” Mac said before he turned back toward his truck.

I chuckled as he climbed back into his truck. Reba rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, which I took as a small victory.

As Mac’s truck disappeared down the dirt road, I turned back to her. “What did he have to say?”

“Nothing important.”

“Right, then, why did you look so annoyed?”

“I haven’t decided if I’m leaving yet because I don’t know where to go next. Mac wants me to stay, but I’m not sure if that’s the right move.”

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