Page 32 of The Chances We Take

“Ain’t a branding unless someone gets shit on, darlin’.” Jake laughed as I looked down at my pant leg, which was completely covered. “You’re just lucky your leg stopped it.”

I grimaced at the thought of poop spraying up into my face. We moved out of the way as another calf was pulled out and more volunteers rushed to hold it down.

“It’s like a rite of passage, you know?” Reid walked up beside me. I raised my eyebrow, and he continued. “Getting shit on at a branding. You’re basically a real cowgirl now.”

I let a puff of air out through my nose. “Hardly, but thanks.”

“At least you didn’t run off like Mikey did. He’s been doing this with us for years.”

“Yeah, well, I also didn’t get branded,” I scoffed.

“Sure, but you got shit on. And by the looks of it, a lot.” He fanned the air with his hand, as if to drive away the smell.

“It’s fine. Rite of passage, right?” I gave him a half-smile, the corner of my mouth curling up in amusement.

“Exactly. How about this? After this is all over, we go for a ride. I’m sure Colter won’t mind,” he offered.

“I, uh, yeah. That sounds good.” Was it a bad time to tell him I’d never ridden a horse either? I mean, okay,when I was younger I had, but there was someone leading the horse and we weren’t going fast.

“Awesome. I’ll let Colter and Hayden know not to untack Bullet and Trigger. We can take them out for a short ride.”

The branding wrapped up about an hour later. Ms. Carson had made a big lunch for everyone—pulled pork, baked beans, fruit, and rolls—and set everything out on the back of Landon’s tailgate. She had also brought out some lawn chairs so we didn’t all have to stand around or sit on the ground.

Mikey had a bag of ice taped to his leg, despite me telling him you’re not supposed to ice burns. It didn’t matter that I learned it fromGrey’s Anatomy, because it was true.

He was hanging out with Landon and the other guys who came here to help, Ellison was eating with Colter, and Hayden and Jake were hanging out, so that left me and Reid by ourselves.

Reid leaned up against the cab of the truck as I held my plate and moved the dirt around with my boot; the one not covered in dried-up shit. I’d wanted to go change and had even headed in the direction of the house, but was pulled back to hold more calves, and by the time the branding was over, I was already used to the smell.

“What’d you think of your first ever branding?” he asked.

“Besides the obvious? It was fine,” I replied before taking a bite out of mysandwich.

“So, you’ll be back next year? We didn’t scare you away with our rowdiness and chaos?”

I shook my head, not wanting to talk with my mouth full. I finished chewing and said, “No, I think I’m used to all of the Silver Creek boys’ antics by now.”

“Well, good. I—we’d like to keep you around.” He downed his sandwich in two bites and then took a big spoonful of beans. “How about that ride?” he mumbled through his mouthful, which made me roll my eyes in amusement.

“Didn’t your…” I trailed off before I could finish my sentence. I had almost made a joke about his mother and her teaching him manners, but now wasdefinitelynot the time for that, not when we were having a good day. “Yes, I’m ready whenever you are.”

We both discarded our plates, and Reid waved at Colter and Ellison to tell them we were leaving.

“You can ride Trigger, all right? He’ll take good care of you.” Reid led me over to a black horse tied up next to Bullet, who I recognized as the horse Colter roped on. The saddle had been switched out from the one Hayden was using.

“Erm, how do I?” I fumbled awkwardly with the reins in front of me.

“Hold on, I’ll help you.” He walked over to me and unhooked the horse from the trailer. “May I?”

I handed him the reins, and he tossed them over Trigger’s head.

“Put your left boot in the stirrups there, hold onto the saddle horn, and pull yourself up so you can swing your leg to the other side,” he explained and then untied Bullet and demonstrated.

I put my foot in the stirrup like he said and pushed offof the ground while gripping the saddle horn to pull myself up.Holy fuck why is this horse so tall?It took an embarrassingly long amount of time to hoist myself up, and swinging my leg over was another challenge, but I eventually got it.

“Holy shit, I’m on a horse!” I blurted, causing Reid to laugh.

“Hell yeah, you are. Next time try to swing your leg over the back of the horse instead of the saddle. It’ll be easier.” He winked.

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