Chapter 22 Part 22
Asher
Asher clicked his tongue, and One Star shifted to the left, at the touch of the reins. Asher was at the back of the herd, guiding the cattle into the pen. They’d started early that morning, riding up to the higher pastures, and driving the cattle down to the ranch. They now stood at 600 heads of cattle, not counting the calves that had been born that spring.
“Keep it tight!” he yelled, adjusting his hat. Sweat rolled down his back, but he was in his element. The herd moved steadily, and he guessed it would be another hour before they were all in the stockade, which led to the holding pen.
Theo closed the gate when the last of the cattle entered the stockyard, and Asher rode around to the front of the holding pen. “Morning, Doc.”
Mark Phillips, the town veterinarian, turned and nodded his head at Asher. “Asher. Welcome home.”
Asher leaned his arms on the gate’s railings as the cattle moved through the chute one at a time. The dust swirled around their hooves, the cattle complaining about the tight chute, their bellows, loud. Doc turned back to the cow, and gripped the skin on its neck, he stuck the needle in, and administered the vaccine. The cow bucked against the railings as its eyes widened. Doc pulled the needle out, and the cow was ushered out.
“Cattle’s looking good,” Doc said, and Asher nodded his head.
“Blair’s doing a good job.” Asher took the offered water bottle from Theo, and emptied it in three swallows. “See you later, Doc.”
Asher mounted One Star again, and took off to the other side of the pen, where the cattle were being herded back into a grazing field. They would stay there until the middle of fall before being moved to the field closest to the ranch. He wondered how long it would take before they were supplementing their feed to get them through the winter.
“Rick! Watch that one!” Asher was off his horse in an instant, a lasso already in his hands. The bull was stomping and snorting. Asher knew he was going to start bucking, and make a run for it. He’d left One Star far enough away. A bull could do real damage to a horse when it was being temperamental. He wouldn’t risk it.
The rope went around the bull’s head, and Asher tightened the rope. He dug his heels in and started pulling. He could feel the heat from the rope through his work gloves. The bull was pulling with all his might, and Asher had to relent. He gave some leeway on the rope, and the bull tugged again.
“Rick! Get another rope on his neck!” In another few seconds, Rick had the rope around the bull’s neck, but he bucked again, and turned. Rick let go of his rope, and Asher realized a second too late what the bull was going to do. He’d nearly made it to the railing when the bull slammed into him from the side. By that time, Blair, Theo, and Colt had ropes around the bull’s neck, as well, and were herding him away from Asher.
“Damn, Asher, I’m sorry. I didn’t see him turn,” Rick said.
Asher grunted, and he knew his ribs were cracked, if not broken. It was a lucky break. It could’ve been worse. “Next time, I’ll leave you to tend to that bull by yourself.”
Doc appeared a few seconds later. “Lift your shirt.”
Asher leaned against the railing as Doc probed his ribs. A bruise was already forming there, and he knew he was going to feel it for the next few weeks. Doc grunted something under his breath and lowered Asher’s shirt.
“I’d bet my lucky hat, those ribs are cracked. Take it easy, and wait,” Doc said.
“Thought so,” Asher said.
Blair stalked across the open ground before his hand made contact with the back of Rick’s head. “Imbecile. Go separate the calves into the feeding pen. I don’t want to see you for the rest of the day.” Rick lowered his head, and walked over to the pen.
Doc chuckled, and headed back to the chute. As Asher straightened, his hand went to his side. Blair scowled at him. “Go on home, and rest. You won’t be able to do much anyway.”
“I’ll be fine,” Asher said, but he was already heading in the direction of his house.
“And happy birthday!” Blair yelled.
Asher raised his hand in acknowledgment, and kept walking. He wanted to groan as he took the steps up to his porch. He looked through the living room window and saw Maggie and Eden typing away on their laptops. Melody was in her walker, her smile instantaneous, when she saw him.
As he opened the front door, both women looked up at him. “It’s a bit early for lunch.”
“Not here for lunch. Just taking a breather.” Asher sat down, and closed his eyes, resisting the urge to hiss in pain.
“What happened? You never take a breather, especially not when it’s vaccination day,” Eden said.
Maggie looked worriedly at him. “Did something happen?”
“I’m fine; I just got manhandled by a bull. I’ll live.”
“Show me the bruise,” Eden said, and Asher shook his head. “Asher Fitzgerald. If you don’t show me that bruise so I can get some ointment, there will be no chocolate fudge cake tonight.”
“You’re mean, you know that?” Asher got to his feet and pulled the T-shirt over his head. Maggie gasped loudly. The bruise had now spread over his abdomen, across his side, and to his back.
“That was some manhandling. Are your ribs cracked?”
“Yeah, Doc thinks so, and no, I’m not going to the hospital for an X-ray. It’ll heal on its own,” Asher said, and sat down again.
“Now that you’ve got some time on your hands, would you mind going to the store for me? I made a list,” Eden said, batting her eyelashes at him.
Asher chuckled. “Let me wash this sweat and dust off.” Twenty minutes later, Asher was ready to go. He scooped Melody into his arms and grabbed her diaper bag. “We’ll see you two later.”
“Are you sure you want to take her with you?”
“Yep. We’ll be just fine,” Asher said, as Melody started to babble, and he left the two women to continue their work.