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"Sure, I'll help." Said, nodding. "If you don't want to play cards, we can go for a ride instead? Go down to the lake?" He asked, looking back over at her. "I'll try to win this weekend for you." He murmured, looking over her features. "And I still stand by my claim if your beauty, Cass." He said, playfully leaning on her |
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Cass smiled softly at his suggestion. "We can do whatever you would like to do" She felt at ease in his presence, so it was of no consequence that she threw out that she was happy to do whatever he wanted despite her issues. She felt Caleb's warmth as he leaned into her. She blushed at his words. "Thank you" She playfully leaned back into him. "You'll do great at the rodeo." |
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"We should probably head back. Your brother will be wondering where we are." Caleb said, sighing and going over to Splash, mounting up. He took off at a jog, waiting for Cass to catch up before clicking Splash into a lope. He wasn't in a hurry to get back, but he didn't want to be on any worse terms with Jaxon. When they got back, Caleb turned to Cass. "You lead to the calves we need to tag." He said, smiling at her |
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Cass watched him. Her expression changed at Jaxon's name. She quickly mounted and spurred Salem on angrily. She skids to a stop in front of Splash. "For the record, Jaxon isn't the boss of me" She said, anger lacing her tone, her green eyes flashing at him. "I can do what I want" She stared at him. She gruffly turned Salem towards the cattle. |
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Caleb followed Cass. "That's not what I meant. I don't want him to make something up and get me out of here for just being around you." Caleb explained, catching up to Cass |
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Cass looked back at him "He won't get you kicked out" She said. She was unsure what to say so she stayed quiet until they approached the cattle. Jessop and his grey mare was waiting by the chute and corrals. Jessop greeted them. Cass smiled weakly, as they joined him. She turned to Caleb "Go on then, show us what you got" The edges of her lips turning up into a faint smile. Jessop stood with the tagging equipment. |
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Caleb clicked to Splash, urging her to a lope and herding one of the calves near the chute. He got the calf's back leg with the rope before hopping off of the backing-up Splash. He quickly gestured for Jesop to get the branding iron. Once the calf was branded, he let it loose. "That good enough for ya?" He joked at Cass, mounting up and taking off again. They repeated the process with a few protesting cows, but Splash made sure Caleb and the others could do their job. Caleb sighed as he let go of the last calf, exhausted and sweaty but ready to do anything he was asked. "What else do you need?" He asked Jesop, mounting up onto Splash for what felt the hundreth time today. |
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Cass raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. She watched him work up a sweat. She felt the heat warm to her cheeks as she watched him, his muscles bulging at the heavy work. She watched Jessop cross in front of her and branded each calf. Cass took note of the calves that were branded and their condition. Jessop swung his head round looking at the herd in general. He pointed. "That one there, looks injured" He nodded. Cass swung her head to follow his gaze. Cass swung up into the saddle after she too had mounted and dismounted Salem all day. She panted him for his patience. |
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"Got it." Caleb said, taking off after the herd. He tried to cut the calf from it's mom, but it was stuck to the cow's side and didn't seem to have any plan moving.I'm going for it. Caleb thought, roping the calf's back leg and bringing it down. The cow turned on her heel and tossed her head at Caleb, threatening him. "Calm down, mama." He said, hoisting the calf onto Splash in front of the horn. Splash took off on an easy lope back to Jesop and the setup. Caleb dismounted off of Splash and grabbed the calf who was now screaming for it's mother. "Alright, little one, alright." He said, walking over to Jesop, calf in his arms. He set it down, but didn't let go as he felt down the calf's legs. Caleb turned to Jesop. "A little bit of swelling here, but it's the only spot I can see." He explained, holding the calf's left rer leg gently in his hand. It tried kicking, so Caleb let go of the leg and kept his arms around the calf. |
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Cass and Jessop watched, impressed and nodded at each other. The mother coming this way, Cass intercepted keeping the cow at a distance. Jessop took a closer look. "Yeah, such a random lameness, I think we gonna need to get the vet out for this one" Jessop took his fedora and wiped the sweat from his brow. He grunted, standing and walked over to the corral. "We can keep her in here over night" He opened the gate. "Pop her here and then we can let the mom come in" He said, pointing at where Cass was controlling Salem effortlessly to keep the cow back. |
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Afternoon Storms, then Clearing
