Country Love

There is always one

The next day I got up early, before the sun. I got dressed a pare of miss me jeans, a blue wrangler button down and my year twelve jumper with "Southern Girl" written across the back, I was lucky if it was above 20*C outside. I ran out to the stables and found Denny's stable. I lead him out and saddled up. I used my western saddle and two saddle packs. I saddled up tying my stock whip to one side, a coil of plain fencing wire with my pliers and fencing gear on the other, along with the 410, incase of an emergency.

I planed spending my morning checking the fences and the herd before coming back for lunch then working with that dapple mare.

I set out to the main herd paddock. The sun was ridding as I made it there. As I was ridding I was taking in the paddock. There was nearly no feed in here, they must have been in here a while to eat out a 300 acre paddock. As I rode the fence line I noticed the fence wires were shaking. I looked up the fence and saw the wires were so loose that the cattle were just walking straight through the fence.

"Shit," I cantered over and shooed away those trying to get through before dismounting and getting to work. I pulled out the wire cutters from the saddle bag.

I cut the fence before mounting again and going to get the escaped cattle. It took me a good hour and a half to push them back. A little Charolais heifer kept breaking away, ah but there is always one. She was the only Charolais in a herd of angus, she stuck out like dogs balls. I also noticed a belted galloway cow there. Peppermint.

It didn't take me long to fix the fence, even if it was only a half job, the best I could do with what I had, but the fence had a hell of a lot more tension now, those cattle were not going through that any time soon.

I looked down at my hands, they were covered in deep cuts from the barbed wire. Stupid me for forgetting my gloves.

I continued to ride the fence and check the pasture. I'll have to talk to Joe about moving the herd, I'll bring a bale of silage down later tonight. It was right on lunch when I got back. I walked into the kitchen. I hadn't seen Brooks since yesterday. After that I couldn't stand to look at him so I went to the hospital and spent time with Joe, then when I had to leave I went and annoyed Hayley and Dustin for a few hours.

Brooks was sitting at the table. He looked like he had spent the whole night drinking. I walked past him before making my way to the kitchen. I pulled out two pieces of bread and smothered them in Nutella. I walked towards the door and as I passed Brooks grabbed my wrist.

"Don't," I said in a deathly tone.

"I'm so-" He went but I cut him off.

"We need milk, so if you have nothing better to do go into town."

As I went to walk off he flipped my rist over so he could see all the cuts on my hands. A look of worry covered his face.

"I'm fine, and why do you care?"

"Because Aud I love-" again I cut him off, this time with a strong punch to the face, much like last time I broke up with him.

"Don't," my voice broke, "don't pull that bull shit with me boy," and with that I walked out the door, while he cradled his face.

It took me a while but I got her almost perfect on the halter, including a few tricks like bowing. Then I started lunging her. We worked well into the night, good thing there was arena lights. She seamed to pick up the whole lunging thing and by the time we finished she could lunge a perfect circle with out the rope. Feeling happy with progress I took her to the wash bays for a quick hose down. Well she didn't like that very much and I ended up soaking.

I put her back out in the paddock and went inside. I had seen Brooks ute leave a few hours ago, guessing to get milk and, well go to the pub. But I still hadn't seen him come back. I went inside, made dinner and waited.

It was 2 in the morning when I gave up. I grabbed my keys and went to my truck.

I made it to the pub, and not to my surprise. I walked in a saw Brooks pissed as an it, having a full make out session with some red head. I walked over and grabbed him by the hair and pulled him off.

"Come on we are going home," I said.

"And who do you think you are?" Asked the red head.

"A friend, if he's lucky."

"Let go of him he is my man!" She screeched.

I just laughed, "If you say so girlie," I pulled Brooks behind me, stumbling as he went.

"Come back here bitch," screamed the red head as she ran towards me.

I just turned around and just on time her face collided with with my fist. I didn't even flinch as she fell over clutching her nose.

With that we left.

We made it home by quarter to four. I dumped Brooks on the couch and went to bed. I'll deal with him in the morning.