Page 69 of Wildest Forever

“So, we know the plan yeah?” I ask as I reach for the saddle off the stand.

“Yup,” he nods and gives Barley one final stroke.

“Cool, let's start moving the heifers, then just before lunch I'll go grab Pacey's horse, then we can have lunch before tagging the calves.”

“Okay boss,” he salutes me off the tip of his cowboy hat before he walks down the stables to his own horse.

A bay American Quarterback called Soldier.

We rescued him a few years back. I wanted him for myself at first, but he and Dusty bonded and I didn't want to take him away from him, so, he became his horse.

Tightening the saddle, I reach for her bridle and slip it on, making sure her mane is out and over the brow strap.

“You're so pretty,” I beam, lowering my lips and giving her nose another kiss.

Footing her stirrups, I pull myself up and settle myself into the saddle.Kicking her on, I move her forward and wait for Dusty to join me.

Whilst I am waiting, I look over the land that is ours, and pride blooms in my chest.

Me and my pops built this.Changed so much to make it work.But doubt settles and I am unsure if cow farming is the right path for us now.

We're a small ranch compared to Rivera Ranch who do most of the work around here, they're always first choice.

Sure, having Pacey here would help but I think we need to move back to what we did before or go into something completely different.

Once pops goes, I have no idea if I would be able to keep doing what I do without him.

Shaking my head softly, I try and push my thoughts away.

I couldn't think about that now.

I had to focus on just working towards the end goal which is to keep the ranch turning over money so we're not at a loss and to stop the suits from bullying us out.

Without Pacey I would have fought them off for a while, but I would have crumbled and given in.

I knew I would have.

Then I would have beat myself up for the rest of my life that I rolled over and gave in.

Would have let them take everything from me, from my pops.

It's our legacy.

Sighing, I watch as the sun rises a little higher in the clear morning sky when I hear the sound of Soldier's hooves crunching.

“You ready ma'am,” he asks, the reins loose in his hands.

I give a heavy nod and kick on as we move into the paddock. Dusty closes the gate behind us and we walk slowly up towards the top field.

“Do you think we need another cowboy?” I ask, glancing over at him and he shrugs a shoulder up.

“I mean, it wouldn't hurt. It's long days for just the two of us. But if we're going to move some of the heifers off....” he turns his head to look at me and I know where he is going with this conversation.

We have both aired our concerns, both spoken about what we think should happen once pops passes on... and now we're here and neither of us want to let go.

“I know,” I say quietly as I swallow down the lump that is in my throat.

“We will work something out, there is so much we can do here,” I can hear the optimism in his voice.

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