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Jesse sat back on his haunches. “We need to splint it.” He looked toward the herd. It had moved too far left but the cowboys Holden had hired were doing a good job bringing them back around.
Holden nodded and looked toward the herd. “Go get Ben and Holt. Bring them both back and tell Isaac what’s happened. Be sure he keeps going. Tell them not to stop.”
Jesse jumped back on his horse, clicking his tongue and giving his horse a gentle nudge to get him moving. He rode toward the herd to do as Holden asked and wondered how the man was going to lead a cattle drive with a broken leg.
Ridingup on the herd to what looked like the beginnings of a stampede didn’t bode well. Alex nudged her horse faster, riding in on the left side of the herd and tried to get them all moving in one direction.
Cowboys on both sides were yelling, the cattle letting them know by loud bellows they weren’t happy with the arrangement.
Riding hellbent half the morning to catch up with the herd had left Alex with time to think of how she was going to join them undetected and had yet to figure it out. Fate was on her side for once and caused a distraction big enough no one would notice an extra rider.
It took half an hour to get the restless cattle to slow their pace. Alex kept her gaze on the other cowboys. So far no one had said a word to her. She smiled. Jumping in and pretending to be one of them was easier than she thought it would be.
Her father was a keen observer and she was sure he would find her within the first hour but with every mile they traveled away from Willow Creek, the less she worried about it. No one seemed to realize they had an extra rider amongst them.
When the next break was called, she eased her horse toward the others. As much as she’d like to keep her own mount, he was tiring. He needed to rest. She slid off his back, stretched out her limbs then removed his saddle. She looked around for another horse and noticed someone guiding one her way.
The wrangler nodded at her when he stopped, handing off the new horse before taking the reins of hers. “I’m bad at names,” he said. “Can’t remember but a few of the fellows that came along and I’m sorry to say you’re not one of them.”
Alex froze. She’d seen the kid around the ranch but didn’t know much about him. She’d heard her father talking to him once. Owen, he’d called him. He kept to himself from what she’d seen. She wasn’t sure of his age but his light brown hair curled around his ears making him appear young.
He was looking at her expectantly. Waiting for her to tell him her name, she was sure. Did she tell him or make something up? She didn’t get a chance to decide. One of the other cowboys rode their way and said, “We don’t have time to gossip ladies. If you want something to eat you better go grab it now. We’ll be heading out again soon.”
Owen rolled his eyes. “That’s Lewis,” he said. “Him, I remember.” He grinned suddenly. “Only ‘cause he’s as cussed as an old mule. I’d stay clear of him if I was you.”
Owen led her tired horse away while she saddled another and got him ready to ride. When she climbed into the worn saddle and grabbed the reins, she headed toward the chuck wagon. She could see Isaac near the back. Her breakfast was all but gone and she had a full canteen and although preserving what she had was probably a good idea, the less she had to talk to the others before her father found her the better.
She steered away from the others, keeping an eye on the herd while trying to see if anyone was paying attention to her. So far no one had. By the time their break was over, she’d started to relax.
The remainder of the afternoon was a cycle of keeping the herd going in one direction, switching out the horses for a rested one and stopping for breaks. By the time the sun started to lower in the sky, she was tired, hungry, and searching the faces of every rider she came near. She’d not seen her father all day. Nor Holt, now that she thought about it.
They made camp near the river. Climbing from her horse, she removed his saddle and found a place away from the others to lay her bedroll. Isaac had ridden ahead of the herd and already had their supper cooking by the time everyone had gathered.
A few of the cowboys were still riding the herd, keeping an eye on them and making sure none of them wandered off. She wasn’t sure of the rotation they had but assumed someone would yell at her to take her turn at some point.
She sat down on her bedroll and checked the water level in her canteen. She’d have to refill it soon. She took a long drink and wiped her mouth when she was done. Recapping it, she looked at the faces of those around her again.
There was still no sign of her father. Should she be worried or relieved? Had something happened she wasn’t aware of? She dismissed the idea the moment she thought it. She would have seen him had he left. She’d ridden the back of the herd all day.
It was possible she’d just missed him when the other cowboys were around. They looked similar as they all sat their mounts but Holt would have been easy to see. He was only twelve.
So where was he?
Eight
If there wasone thing Jesse knew, it was that a change in the chain of command was never easy. Before Holden even told everyone he was going back to Willow Creek and leaving Jesse in charge of the cattle drive, he knew someone would try to test him. He’d been right.
It hadn’t taken but half an hour before Lewis was issuing orders to everyone who crossed his path. So far, Jesse hadn’t said anything, but before the night was out, it would come down to who yelled the loudest.
He settled against the wheel of the chuck wagon, watching as everyone picked spots around the fire for the night. Isaac had a pot of beans on, the scent making his stomach growl. He’d passed hungry two hours ago.
Sweat trickled down the back of his neck to wet the collar of his shirt. Pulling off his hat, he ran his hands through his hair, then fanned his face with his hat, sighing at the slight breeze it brought.
The sound of running water was a constant rumble in the background. The sun glinted off the river’s surface and a few of those not watching the herd had already stripped down and jumped in. He’d thought to do the same but keeping his eye on everyone was his first concern. There would be time for a bath once the sun went down.
Ben settled beside him, propping his hat on his knee as he leaned back. “Think you’ll be able to keep this bunch under control?”
“Probably not.” Jesse lifted his cup, took a sip, and sat it down again. “And I’m still not sure why Holden left me in charge.”
