Page 47 of Willow Vale

Travis

Dust flew allover the place as one of the hands got bucked off a new colt we just got in today, clearing up enough for me to level him and the rest of the men gathered along the round pen with a flat stare.

“Didn’t you just say you’d be able to break him in, Ty?” Finn asked from across the fence with a grin on his face. He sat atop the fence readjusting the baseball cap he always wore.

I got here a little after the guys did, just in time to spot Finn getting one of the colts started by running laps. When it came to riding, we liked to ease the young stirs into it by getting them used to not only being tacked up but also being around the rider.

My dad always taught us that building a bond with a horse was just as important as training it.

Finn switched with Toby and hopped into the pen. I was watching him reach for the reins and calming the colt when I heard footsteps approaching behind me.

“How long have those cowboys been getting their asseshanded to them?” Dad asked as he came up to the railing, resting his arm between the bars.

“Long enough that they should be embarrassed to call themselves cowboys,” I snorted.

“Sounds like you need to invest in an actual trainer,” Wren teased as she sidled up to my right. My sister had been staying on the ranch for a week now, getting ready for the rodeo coming up that weekend like she did every year. She had been riding her mare on the ranch every day along with Dad, enjoying her time on Silver Hill before heading back to Montana for work.

Her long hair was braided over one shoulder and there was a big, dimpled smile on her lips.

“You’re awfully happy today. Who did you torture to get that look on your face?” I teased her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a side hug.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Ha. Ha. No torture, just a job offer.”

“What job offer?” I frowned.

She shrugged before exchanging a look with Dad.

“You want to tell him, or should I?” Wren asked.

“Seeing as we need some extra help around the ranch, I mentioned to Wren that I might have to start looking for a few additional hands. Then she came up with an even better solution.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Wren’s smile widened. “It means that you’re looking at Silver Hill Ranch’s new trainer, big brother.”

The sound of Finn getting bucked off the colt went ignored as I stared at my little sister with a slow grin. “Are you serious? What about Montana?”

“I didn’t want to say anything until Dad and I got things sorted but I was already thinking about coming back. Besides,Montana will always be there whenever I want to go back. For now, I think I’d like to be home for a little while. That okay with you?”

“Is that okay with me?” I ruffled her hair, making her grunt. Dad watched us with a smile on his weathered face, and I knew just how happy he was to finally have my baby sister back home. “Do you even have to ask, you troublemaker?”

Wren laughed, loud and bright. “You’re callingmethe troublemaker? You sure you’re not mistaking me for that idiot over there?”

She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder toward Finn as he bent down to pick up his cap off the ground that must have fallen off when he fell from the colt. “Hey, I may act like an idiot but at least I look good doing it. Will you get in here already? I’m getting tired of eating dust.”

Wren climbed over the fence and hopped into the pen with ease. She clapped her hands together, getting everyone’s attention. “All right, boys. Buckle in for a lesson you’ll never forget.”

And just like that, my sister proceeded to not only train the colt, but the cowboys watching her as well.

After herdinga few heifers out to a new pasture with my dad, we made our way back to the main house a few hours later.

It was around this hour that Mom usually had something prepared for all of us to scarf down before heading back out to do some more work before the day ended. I took Sable back to the stables before making my way over to the main house down the gravel path. It was when I reached the stepsof the back porch that I noticed a little boy with dark curls sitting on the rocking chair to my left.

By the looks of it, River was very concentrated in the book he had on his lap.

“Hey, River,” I greeted as I approached him.

He looked up and his eyes lit up when he spotted me. “Travis!”

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