February Snow

Chapter 2

The next day was a complete drag.

When I woke up at 5:30 to go feed, the ranch hands were getting ready to go get cattle from the high pastures. And guess who didn't bring his own horse? Trent.

I saddled up the old team roping horse. He was a bucker, so we should see how much of a 'ranch hand' this kid really is.

When the hands were headed out, Tim was walking out to the barn.

"Morning Timmy."

"Morning. Will you go out with them? You're the only one who knows where the cattle usually are out there, and some of those guys might need some help."

"Yea, I guess." I saddled up my roping mare and headed out to catch up with the rest of the group.

When I caught up finally, they were almost to the mouth of the fence that lead to the mountains.

I rode up to point to show where the cattle would be.

"Well, looks like the cowgirl finally decided to show up." I rolled my eyes and headed off the old trailer to one of the pastures where the cattle usually are.

"Why don't we stay on the trail? Cattle don't usually wonder off of it." He asked again. One more remark out of him and I'm backing up my statement.

He stayed on the path with a few of the other younger guys who obviously took to him as their new ring leader. A few of the older guys who trusted what I said stayed with me without question.

A few miles and trees across the face later, we finally reached the pasture and the cattle were exactly where I thought they would be.

I rode point again. The other guys made sure they stayed close as we headed back down the mountain towards the working pens.

When we got back, the child and his followers were talking to my step dad. Tim was PISSED. They came back without the cattle.

I shook my head. I curled back around to tell the rest of the guys to make sure they stayed going towards the pens.

I then took off towards the others at the bottom.

When I reached them, the child and his followers all pointed at me like I had done something to them.

Tim look at me expectantly. "Eli, care to explain?"

"Explain what? That these goons don't want to listen to a word I say and go do their own thing? Yeah sure." I gave him the death stare.

"Eli, they said you told them to stay on the trail to make sure that the cattle weren't in the other pasture."

I was beginning to hate these new hands and the way they thought. I hopped off my horse and walked over to Tim and the child.

"IF you think for one second, that I won't leave this place and never come back, you're wrong. They chose to stay on the trail because, and I quote 'Why don't we stay on the trail? Cattle don't usually wonder off of it.' He's scared of doing what's asked of him, because its coming from me." With that I got on my horse and started to ride off.

"I told you what I'd do timothy. And I'll stick to it. Good luck with the branding with these idiots."

I rode back to the barn and unsaddled my horse. I got on my barrel horse and did some light pattern work in the arena.

When I was done, I went back in the barn and started washing horses and cleaning stalls.

I went in the house after I finished everything and started making myself some food.