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She kept a tight hold on the reins until she reached the main road, the grass turned up where the herd was pushed toward the valley away from Willow Creek.
Alex smiled and gave the horse his head, leaning over his back when he took off at a fast gallop, the wind blowing past her face filled with the scent of dirt and livestock. She didn’t know how long it would take to catch up to them but before lunch, she’d be free of her responsibility of the teaching job she didn’t want, free of Hugh Jacobs and the disastrous proposal, and free of Jesse Samuels and thoughts about him she shouldn’t be having.
For the next two months she was free to choose her own way and no one was going to stop her.
They wereon their second rest of the day and Jesse wished they’d left Owen back at the ranch. The kid was young, barely sixteen if he had to guess, and talked more than a gaggle of women gossiping about the latest scandal to pique their interest.
Those not keeping watch on the cattle were gathered in small groups. The new cowboys Holden hired on were proving to be more clueless than previously thought. They needed direction at every turn and it was grating on his nerves to have to repeat what should be obvious to them.
Thoughts of Alex kept popping into his mind too, and no matter how much he told himself that leaving with Holden and traveling to Kansas was the best thing he could have done, the desire to steal Alex away from Hugh Jacobs was still strong.
He’d tried his best not to look at her as he rode past the house that morning. It had worked until he watched Holden heading toward the house. As if possessed, he’d turned his head despite his vow not to do so, his gaze drinking in every curve of her frame, every wave of her hair. Her arms had been crossed under her breasts, that arrogant chin tilted up just a notch and he knew he’d never find another woman like her.
A small voice in the back of his head kept whispering that he’d given up. That all the dreams he’d ever had about her were for nothing now. He’d let his pride stand in the way of what he wanted and left without even trying to win her heart. One mention of Hugh asking Alex to marry him and he’d just walked away.
He wasn’t sure what galled him more. The fact Alex had said yes to the proposal or the fact he didn’t try and sway her decision.
A noise to his left caught his attention. Holden, followed closely by Holt, rode over to where he sat. “Can I have a word with you?”
The look on Holden's face gave no indication as to what he wanted to talk about but something in his eyes said he was worried. Jesse nodded his head and said, “sure,” before standing and climbing back into the saddle. He’d ride through a mess of rattlesnakes to have an excuse to get away from Owen for a few minutes so he followed Holden to the back of the herd without a word.
“I think hiring on half of these men was a mistake I’m going to live to regret.”
Jesse thumbed up the front of his hat and nodded. “I was thinking the same thing before you rode up.”
Holden sighed and gripped the pommel on his saddle while looking out across the herd. “I hate to ask more of you than you signed on for Jesse, but I could use your help.” He pointed toward a few of the cowboys to the right of the herd. “That bunch there look as if they barely know their right from their left and with no one guiding them, I’m afraid they’d drive this herd clean to Texas before they realized they were going the wrong direction.”
Jesse nodded. As much as he admired Holden, it was obvious the man hadn’t thought things through. He needed experienced men for a drive of this size. There was roughly seven hundred head of cattle in this herd and he’d ridden with as many as three-thousand but regardless of the size, you needed men who knew what they were doing.
“I’ll take the right.” Jesse shifted in the saddle and glanced to the mass of cowboys lingering to one side of the herd. “Is there anyone else who seems to know what they’re doing?”
“Lewis and Harland. They’ve both been on a few cattle drives.”
“Then have one of them ride point on the left and the other work drag here in the back. Once I’m sure the right side is going to stay put, I’ll ride around and check on the others.”
With the new plan in place, Holden gave the signal to get the herd moving again. They had another six miles of ground to cover before they could call it a day and the sun was nearing its highest point in the sky.
Jesse rode the right side of the herd and took position near the front, keeping his eye on what was going on behind him.
They’d only moved a short distance from the trees when he noticed Holden’s horse started dancing underneath him. Jesse wasn’t sure what happened. The horse reared suddenly, sending Holden flying toward the ground.
He’d known Holden the majority of his life and could count on one hand the number of times he’d heard the man yell. Today was one of them.
The cattle closest to them were startled by the commotion, the noise they were making growing in volume as they started shifting and moving further to the left.
Jesse rode in front of the herd toward Ben, pointing back toward the herd. “Grab Owen and try to get them slowed down. They’re going to run if you don’t get them to calm down.”
Ben nodded, turning his horse in Owen’s direction. The last thing they needed was the herd getting scared enough to take off on their own. A stampede this soon out of Willow Creek wouldn’t bode well for the trip.
Jesse grabbed the reins with both hands, getting the animal pointed back in the direction the herd had scattered. Holden’s horse ran riderless alongside the herd. Holt proved he deserved to be there by catching up to the animal and grabbing his reins, slowing him down.
Searching the brush, Jesse saw Holden. He was on the ground trying to sit up. He rode to where he lay and jumped from his horse. When he reached Holden’s side, he knew without asking what happened.
“Damn thing is broke,” Holden said. “I don’t even have to look to know.” He was sweating, thick trickles of perspiration rolling down his face. “Horse bucked me off and kept running.”
“I saw him.” Jesse hit his knees and tried to look at the leg.
“Don’t touch it. Damn thing hurts enough without you poking at it.”
