Page 43 of When I Forgot Us
The older cowboy snorted at Chase. “Going to take more than that to slow me down, boy.”
Chase laughed so hard he almost fell out of the saddle. “Two.”
More hooves shifting, horses prancing as they anticipated the race.
“Three.” Chuck dropped his arm, and they all bolted forward in a mad dash of horseflesh.
Chase dropped his hands close to the mare’s neck and let her stretch out her head. She pinned her ears back at her neighbors and lunged into the lead.
Laughter caught in the wind and tore around them, mingling with the pounding hooves. His spine rattled with the impact, the rush of exhilaration drawing out a smile and a laugh. Worry slipped away in those few minutes it took for them to barrel across the field.
His mare stretched further and added a last-ditch burst of speed that propelled them through the open gate ahead of everyone else. He let her keep running several seconds before gradually working her down to a walk. She chomped on the bit, anxious to run again.
The cowboys split into a series of circles until they had their horses slowed enough to bring them together again.
“Nothing like a good tear across the field to wake your heart up.” Chuck patted his chest. “Thought I had you for a minute.”
“No way.” Chase thumped his hand on the mare’s neck. “You’re never getting ahead of Coral.”
“There’s always that one time when I might.” He held up one finger and grinned.
“Let’s go work some cows.” Don had joined them in the race, but his no-nonsense attitude that matched Chase’s always kicked back into gear.
He joined the others and rode through the gate, hooking around to the west and the waiting herd.
All five horses spotted the herd at the same time. Excited stamps and snorts sent them all rocking in the saddles and tightening their grips on the reins.
“Raring to go.” Don grinned, causing his leathery cheeks to crease until they looked like they might break. “Half and half?”
“How many missing?” He was pretty sure he remembered Chuck telling him a dozen, but he didn’t trust that he’d heard correctly when his mind stayed so tangled up with Michelle.
“Thirteen,” Chuck answered. “Thought it was twelve, but the confirming headcount brought it up to thirteen.”
“I’d rather we gather up the stragglers then push the whole herd at the same time.” Five cowboys could get both jobs done, but he hesitated to ask three men to move two hundred head. “We must cross the road today, and I don’t want to push the stragglers to catch up. We need all hands for the crossing.”
They only crossed the road twice a year, this being the first of two for this season. He preferred not to have to deal with the threat of traffic, even though they lived in a rural community and everyone around knew to anticipate the possibility of a cattle crossing.
“To the valley.” Chuck fist-pumped the air and rode alongside Chase. “Been kind of quiet out here without you. I think the boys are afraid you’re going to stop riding.”
“No way.” He loved every minute of being in the saddle.
Chuck clapped him on the shoulder. “Good. They always work better when you’re around. Being the boss and all.”
“I heard that,” Don called back. “If anyone’s slacking, it’s you.”
“Hey. I resent that.” Chuck twisted his face into a contrite expression.
Don harrumphed and slapped a hand to his thigh. “Don’t let him fool you. Kid’s mouth never stops moving.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Chuck shrugged and grinned. “But I can still ride circles around you, old man.”
“Call me old one more time.” A thick, twisted finger pointed at the impudent young cowboy. “I’ve told you what’s going to happen.”
Their banter put Chase at ease. They always snapped and barked at each other. Most newcomers worried the cowboys hated each other because they never stopped launching verbal pot shots at each other.
They’d all probably explode if they didn’t harass each other. Most other days, he’d be right in the middle, picking fights and calling Chuck names.
“Coming up on the cattle.” Don’s attention shifted from play to work mode quicker than a lightning strike.
