“I’m expecting her any time, and I’m sure she’ll join us.”
“How about Cheyenne?”
“The same. Anytime. And she wants to ride too.”
At the range, they separated and ran their horses through different warm ups until Molly saw a woman riding toward them. Molly went over to greet her. The woman rode directly to her, stopped, and slid off her horse. Molly did the same.
It was Kitty, a shorter version of her mother. They did self-introductions and shared a hug.
“Oh, my God. Your place is so beautiful.” She was gesturing toward the mountains.
“I’m guessing it’s a lot like your ranch.”
This time Kitty responded. “Some definite similarities. Both places are western and beautiful.” She paused. “How’s Ginger?”
“Oh, my God. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Ruby. I understand you have the full story.”
“Yes, for sure. Later, over drinks.” She chuckled. “Cheyenne was just pulling in. She’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Perfect.”
They mounted up. Molly said, “I was thinking we’d practice for the race in the morning. I didn’t realize we’d all be riding this afternoon. The relay race is all about the baton pass, so we’ll want to do some drills.”
Kitty said, “For sure. We’ve done some relays, and I assume you have too. I don’t think it will take too much to get it down. Any chance we can take a ride someplace this afternoon? It’s just so beautiful. I want to see the country. I mean, do we have to get back to prepare dinner or anything?”
“Dinner is under control, and Bart is on it. He has to pour barbeque sauce on the ribs and put them in the oven for a couple hours. I think he can handle it. There’s plenty of beer to keep the men busy. We could make a fast trip up to Lookout Ridge?”
“What’s the record?”
Molly chuckled. “A girlfriend and I used to make it up there in forty two minutes.”
Kitty said, “Game on. Here comes Cheyenne.”
Molly looked at her phone. “Okay, we’ll give you and Cheyenne ten minutes to warm up then we’ll set the clock and go.”
In ten minutes, they gathered. Molly pulled out her phone and set the timer, yelling, “Game on!” as she kicked Ginger into a full gallop toward Lookout Ridge, three cowgirls at her side.
They rode hard on the range for fifteen minutes. Molly felt like she was in a western movie about four cowgirls seeking vengeance against the bad guys who done them some injustice. Molly lived for moments like this: galloping with friends on a hot summer day on four beautiful horses. Ginger was running like a dream next to her older sibling.
Eventually, the way turned into the trail that allowed a side by side fast trot for another fifteen minutes, then it was single file up the beautiful forested trail to the ridge, where they were able to lope the final minutes to the lookout.
Molly pulled Ginger up and checked her phone. “Forty one minutes. A new record.”
They tied-off horses and Molly led the ladies up to the point where she and Bart had made love. They stood and admired the amazing view.
Cassie asked, “So what are we looking at?”
“The mountains and valleys in the short term, say fifty to seventy five miles, are the North Cascades, and part of the Pasayten Wilderness. The Pasayten is a federally designated wilderness area. It runs all the way to the Canadian border. In the far distance are the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia.”
Cassie asked, “So where does Bart live?”
“Out there.” Molly pointed generally into the wilderness.
Cheyenne asked, “Have you been there?”
“No one has been there except for Bart, but he’s promised to take me in October. I’m dealing with ten German Shepherd pups until then.”
Cassie asked, “What do you know about it?”
