Learning the Ropes by Shanna Hatfield

Author:Shanna Hatfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love, romantic comedy, western, cowboy, clean romance, oregon, sweet romance, cowboy romance, funny dog, wholesome romance
Publisher: Shanna Hatfield

Lesson Eleven

Don’t Tempt Mother Nature

“A little rain can’t hurt ya,

but only an idiot stays out in a storm.”

By the third day of branding, the process ran like a well-functioning machine with everyone doing their part to keep things moving smoothly.

The morning flew by and they only had seventy-five head of cattle left to work when the crew stopped for lunch.

Most of the neighbors decided to head for home following the meal. While the women helped clean up the dishes and set the kitchen to rights, the men loaded horses, swapped stories and made plans for their own brandings.

Ty was flattered to receive several invitations to work as wrestler at various brandings. He assumed he’d be working them all since Swede said they went to help anyone that helped them.

Lexi offered warm hugs to Bertie and Linc as they prepared to leave. The lived south of Pendleton near the little community of Pilot Rock in northeastern Oregon and were anxious to get back to their own place.

“Come visit us for a few days, girlie,” Bertie said, giving Lexi another motherly hug. “Bring that gorgeous mechanic of yours along, too. It’s no hardship to have to look at him. Not at all.”

“Aunt Bertie!” Lexi giggled as they said goodbye. “I might take you up on that when things settle down a bit.”

“See that you do,” Bertie said as she climbed in the pickup. “And get yourself a housekeeper. You don’t have time to run a ranch and scrub toilets. Get your priorities straightened out!”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lexi waved as Linc pulled into the line of vehicles heading down the driveway. “Love you guys!”

“Love you, baby!”

The dog barked and wagged her tail, thinking Bertie spoke to her.

The remaining crew headed back out to finish the work. Swede kept one eye on the branding and one on the sky.

“What’s wrong, Swede?” Ty finally asked, noticing the foreman’s preoccupation with the clouds overhead.

“A storm’s rollin’ in,” Swede said, rubbing his knee.

“Are you kidding?” Ty wiped sweat off his brow and stared up at the sunny, blue sky. “It practically feels like summer.”

“Yeah, well, practically ain’t the same as the real deal. Ya mark my words. Rain will hit the ground before the day is over.”

Since Swede probably knew something he didn’t, Ty refrained from making any further comment as he wrestled another calf.

About two dozen calves were left to work when the air dropped in temperature and the sky suddenly turned dark.

As the working crew took stock of the upcoming storm, Swede yelled to the neighbors who stayed behind to finish up and get on the road.

“Go on and get home while you can,” he said, waving his hat as they hurried back toward the house. Swede cackled, and shook a finger to those who remained. “Let’s see if we can beat the storm, boys.”

Ty thought they’d been working fast and furious the last two days but it was nothing compared to what they did in the next thirty minutes. Despite the sense of urgency to

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