Page 37 of Forever C*cky

I looked at both horses and recognized Falcon’s, because I’d seen him on it, but the huge mahogany beast next to his horse caused my breath to catch. It’d just stared at me and I’d stared back.

Falcon took the reins for both from the ranch hand and thanked him, then he turned to me and said, “Eliza, this is Jasmine. Jasmine be nice to Eliza.” The horse leaned her head down to bump Falcon and then she turned to me and sneezed!

She sneezed on me, covering me with horse snot! I gagged and screeched as she pranced and bumped Falcon again. I glared at him as he tried so hard not to laugh. “Jasmine, that was not very nice.”

The ranch hand appeared from nowhere and handed me a handkerchief and I glared at Falcon and the horse. After wiping my face, I threw the dirty handkerchief at Falcon and the ranch hand laughed. He muttered, “I told you she would do something like this. She’s jealous.”

My brow arched as I looked from Falcon to the jealous horse, who was still nuzzling him. I thought, really, a horse even gets his damn appeal.

He shrugged. “What can I say?”

I rolled my eyes and made it a point to ride that bitch horse.

I giggle again as I remember and then mutter, “She loves me now though. That’s my sweet girl!”

Today, I’ll be going with Falcon as we once again try to redirect a few wayward cattle back to the herd.

There’s a storm that is supposed to be coming in and Falcon wants to find the breakaways before the weather hits.

I hum as I finish dressing and then grab my hat to meet him in the front room so we can head out.

Falcon

I’m pacing thefloor as I listen to the weather report over the radio and wait for Eliza to come on down. She needs to hurry so I can tell her that she isn’t coming with me after all. The reports are that the storm is intensifying and summer storms are already dangerous out here. The heat makes every storm unpredictable, but this one now has a couple of confirmed tornados.

I want to tell her myself because if I just leave her, she’s going to be spitting mad, but I can’t wait much longer. I need to find those cattle and get them back to the protection of the herd as soon as possible and I can’t wait anymore.

She’s going to be some pissed when she comes down and realizes you left without her.

She’ll get over it and understand. Things happen out here sometimes and waiting around just isn’t possible.

She may not understand, Falcon.

This isn’t her life.

Shit, I keep forgetting that.

I can’t think about that right now. My priority is those cattle.

“Rowdy… You in here?” I yell out.

He yells back from the office, “Yeah, I’m in my office. You’re still here? I thought you left already?” His voice gets closer. “You better get a move on, you’re going to be lucky to find them and get them back before this shit hits.” He walks into the front room, accompanied by Eliza’s assistant, Natalee.

I nod, “I know. Good, you’re here, too.” I look at Natalee, “Eliza was supposed to come with me today, but I can’t take her and I need to go… now. I can’t wait for her to tell her that I’m leaving. I need you to tell her that it’s too dangerous for her to come with me now and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Rowdy’s yes widen and I see the look he shoots me. His eyes are saying, “You should have just left already!” I read them clearly and nod. His narrow and I shake my head.

I know. Don’t give me any shit!

Natalee says, “Ok, I’ll tell her.”

Eliza’s voice says, “Tell who what? Her who?”

Turning, I see her standing at the doorway. I mutter, “Um, you. Tell you. I have to go. The weather is getting worse and I need to get out there if I want to find them before the skies open up.”

She looks cockily at me and says, “I’m here. Let’s go.”

No, you can’t come.

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