“Me, how can you even say that? Yesterday you were the one that wanted me in the shower.”
“Yes, I was an innocent cowgirl before you came along and branded me,” Olivia’s battering her eyelashes as if to say that she’s innocent.
“Really, you really think that?”
We’re both smiling at each other, playing and teasing, it’s kind of funny that she thinks that I’m the one that’s been after her. When I’ve wanted to stay as far away from her as possible.
Olivia raises her chin, “Yes, I was respectable before I met you.”
Suddenly, we are both laughing so hard that tears are running down our cheeks.
“I can see getting any work done today with you around is going to be hard,” I say wiping my eyes as we enter the barn.
“Yeah, well you better hold up your end of the drive. I have my doubts you can cowboy up for this one.”
I shake my head. “Cowgirl, you just haven’t seen me and Buckskin working cows. You just hold your hat while you watch, or we will blow it away,” I joke. Then I get a serious. “Be careful, Olivia. With a herd as big as the one we’re moving today anything can happen.”
“Yeah, same goes to you,” she says as she splits off and heads for Autumn’s stall while I go to greet Buckskin.
Minutes later we ride out to join Granddad’s hired hand who seems almost his age. However, I quickly find that Dan and his horse Smokey still have the moves. Of course, he has old Shep nipping at the cows heels helping out. We’ll be driving the cattle down a gravel road with fences on each side, I realize that Dan can probably move the cattle without our help. Maybe it would be a little difficult, but I’m sure that he could do it alone.
Damn is granddad manipulating me again?
Yet, this time I don’t mind. Sure, the work’s dusty, and I’m not used to being in the saddle all day. But, Olivia’s riding at the tail end of the herd with me and I hate to admit that as we get started, I’m enjoying myself.
The herd kicks up such a thick cloud of dust that it’s hard to see their feet in front of our faces. I know this is granddad’s way of getting back at me for not wanting to stay on the ranch and let men better qualified than me run the company. I just regret that Olivia must endure the dust too. But her being here beside me helps me accept riding drag like a new cowboy.
Although Olivia’s Autumn isn’t a cutting horse up to Buckskin’s standards, she’s pretty good. Olivia looks sexy with her boobs bouncing up and down as she rides back and forth hitting her lariat against her saddle. Several times I get a fucking hard on just watching her.
Finally, Dan closes to gate to the South pasture.
“You haven’t lost it yet, Mr. Isaac. You’re a little bit rusty, but you and the horse of yours still got the moves.”
Praise coming from a man that has won more than one calf roping contest made me smile all the way back to the barn.
“I guess we’re finished, right, Dan?” I say smiling at the old, wrinkle-faced cowboy.
Dan shakes his head.
“There’s more?” I ask thinking that I misjudged the situation. I thought that was it, more likely I hoped that was the end of it.
Dan glances at Olivia. “You want to tell him?”
I look at Olivia. “Tell me what?”
“Whenever we put cattle in a new pasture, we’ve got to ride the fence to make sure the barbwire isn’t broken.”
“I guess I forgot about that,” I reply. I glance at the fence that runs across the flat land until it’s lost in the distance horizon. “It’s a huge pasture,” I add with a sigh.
“Roger, that,” Dan says as he tips his hat and rides off to the right, following the fence line.
“That leaves us the left side,” Olivia says.
I know she’s hiding a smile taking pleasure out my discomfort. Still, I can’t get upset at her. At least she’s here rather than I’m just being stuck out here with Dan.
“Time to cowboy up,” Olivia says as she rides off following the fence line.
“I’ll cowboy you up for sure when we get back to the barn!” I say as I ride after her.