“Think they can?” Considering what he’d seen today, Travis had his doubts.
“If anyone can, it would be Rachel and her gang.”
With a rough laugh, Udall strode away to saddle up, his denim jeans and shirt emphasizing his lean, hard frame.
Travis saddled Dusty, a chore he’d done thousands of times before. This was where he belonged, with horses and ranchers. Running his hand along the horse’s neck, he murmured, “You survive the trip okay, boy?”
He rode out with his new boss onto land as pretty as any he’d ever seen. He’d been raised in Arizona, a state with its own brand of stark beauty, but often arid. He liked the colors of Montana.
“Monday morning, we’ll get you out trailing,” Udall said. “One of the hands spotted a dozen cattle holed up in the gully at the south edge of the property.”
Travis followed him out onto the range.
“In his reference letter, Lester Green said you’re one of the best he’s ever seen at flushing cattle out of tough spots and bringing them home. Said you did real good up in Wyoming last fall.”
“Yeah. Lester was a good boss.” Travis loved trailing, one of his favorite jobs. “It’s late to be finishing up gathering cattle for the winter, isn’t it?”
“Yep. Had a couple of the hands out sick. Some kind of flu goin’ ’round.”
They spotted a sheep caught on a piece of damaged fence on the far side of a field of dormant alfalfa.
“You keep sheep?” Travis asked.
“My neighbor raises them and spins her own yarn.”
Together, they got the distressed animal off the fence, but not before it kicked Travis in his ribs.
He hissed.
“That hurt, I bet.” Udall said.
Travis rubbed the injury. “Part of the job.”
Udall set the animal loose on its own side of the fence. “I’ll come back with tools tomorrow and fix this.”
“Let me.”
Udall shot him a surprised look. “You sure? You only just got here.”
“I’m sure. Just spent too many days on the road. I’m itchy to get out on the land.”
Udall smiled approvingly. They mounted and rode on.
So darned glad to be back in the country, Travis breathed deeply of fresh air purer than anything he’d ever found in any city.
His worries fell away, leaving only the wind in his ears, the sun on the prairie and the warmth of the animal beneath him.
Copyright © 2017 by Mary Sullivan
ISBN: 978-1-474-06575-7
The Bull Rider’s Cowgirl
© 2017 April Arrington
Published in Great Britain 2017
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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