A Texas Bond by Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Author:Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-11-26T16:03:10+00:00
* * *
The sound of Staciaâs sander reached Ross before he ever stepped through the open back door of the workshop the next morning.
âThe pregnant jersey didnât come to feed this morning, so Iâm off to go hunt her up,â he hollered.
âI hope sheâs okay.â Stacia didnât turn off her tool or look up from her claw-foot tub project.
âIs this her first calf?â
âYes. She might be protective. Take some range cubes to distract her with and call if you need help.â
âIâve got this. But thanks.â No way would he let her think he couldnât handle a cow. Not with her just beginning to count on him. He hurried toward the barn.
He grabbed a blanket and tack from a stall, and tucked two handfuls of cubes in his pocket.
With a rope on his arm and the saddle against his hip, he opened the gate and clicked his tongue as he approached the buckskin filly assigned to him. She followed him out of the barnyard and stood still, flicking her black tail, as he fastened the gate, then approached her.
âHey girl.â He ran his hand down her golden face. âYouâre ready for another ride, arenât you?â He set the blanket and saddle on her back, tightened it in place and slipped the bridle over her head. The horse had trusted him like this the very first time heâd ridden her.
Unlike Stacia. But over the last several days, theyâd jumped a few hurdles.
He slid his foot into the stirrup and the horse stood stock still as he mounted.
âYah.â He urged her into a canter, searching the edge of the woods as he rode. The jersey cow would blend in with the yellowed grass. Hard to find. He hoped if sheâd had the calf or was in the process, coyotes hadnât found her.
Nothing. He followed the trail into the woods, crossed the river at a shallow point and searched the next field. Over by a cluster of large, round hay bales, he saw something move. Small. Either the calf or a coyote. He squeezed his heels into the buckskinâs sides urging her into a full gallop.
As he neared, he was able to make out the calf with its mother close by, totally blending in with the bales. Still. Wary. He might have to call Maverick to distract her, so he could get to the calf. But no way would he call Stacia. He couldnât take the chance of shaking her burgeoning faith in him.
He led the horse to the farthest hay bale, dismounted and made his way around the maze of bales to the cowâs other side, then gingerly headed in her direction.
She made a gruff, growling soundâuniversally known to ranchers as mad mama moo. Oh boy. âCome on, little mama. Iâm just trying to help. If yâall stay out here tonight, the coyotes will come and neither of us want that.â
She took a few trotting steps toward him and he ducked behind a bale. The calf was no help; it stayed right under her.
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