when animals were loose, there was a chance they would be in the road. Unwary drivers could hit them, with the possibility of killing both animal and driver. Not only was it a stupid loss of life, it was a terrible liability for the ranches.
Trav had them in the truck before he got his boots on, and they were moving, looking for any sign of horses.
“Is Momma okay?” Dougie asked, his shoulders all hunched up around his ears.
“I think so, buddy. Your Uncle Logic called.”
“Oh. I’ll watch for horses. Which ones got out?”
“I’m not sure, but some of my cows are out too, okay? Keep an eye out for anyone not in a fence.” His heart was racing. He hated it when animals got out. Always.
“Yes, sir.”
It was a three-minute drive to Bailey’s, but a minute in, Dougie hollered. “There’s Sugarbaby! Mr. Koko! There!” He pointed off to the right side of the road.
Sure as shit, one of the mares was toodling along the fence line, her head bobbing, ears twitching.
“Okay. Travis?”
“I got it, Dad.” Travis hopped out once he pulled over, and grabbed a clip lead out of the back of the truck. “Sugar! Come here, girl. Come on, baby.” Good thing Travis knew those horses well. He might be a nerd, but he loved animals.
Sugar lifted her head, nodding happily. Someone wanted to go home as bad as Bailey wanted them there. Travis got her clipped and loved on. “I’ll head in with her, Dad!”
“Okay. Be careful, and call if you see anything weird at all.” Travis could do this.
“Yes, sir. I have my phone.”
“Mr. Koko, that’s Momma’s good mare!” Dougie sounded utterly horrified.
“I know, kiddo. Travis is good with the horses. He’ll get her to the barn. Do you know how to text?” He waited for two trucks to pass before he could pull back on the road.
“A little. I know emojis.”
“Okay. Can you open my phone? My code is 0408.” His kids’ birth months. “Then push the big button and ask Siri to text Bailey.”
“Yessir.” He heard beeping, then “Text Momma.”
He barked out a laugh. “No, honey. You have to say text Bailey. She’s not my Momma.”
“Oh!” Dougie snort-laughed. “Okay.”
He’d slowed down, looking hard. Where there was one horse, there might be another.
“Text Bailey.”
“What would you like to say?”
“We found Sugar. Travis is walking her in. I’m there in two, but I don’t have a trailer.”
“Are you ready to send it?”
“Yes.”
“That’s so cool,” Dougie said, staring at his phone.
“Right? When you’re old enough for a phone, I bet it’s even cooler.”
“I have to wait six whole more years.” Poor baby sounded abused.
“You’ll get there before you know it. Enjoy not being chained to it right now.” He knew that meant nothing to Doug, but it would. Like everything else. Eventually.
“Yes, sir. How old does Ellie have to be?”
Anderson went riding by on horseback, curls bouncing, waving to him. Impressive. He looked like he knew what he was doing.
“Same as you.” He might get her a simple phone at ten, because he wanted her to be able to call for help, but a smartphone would wait.
“Oh. Well, I guess I’ll hafta wait. Bum—There! There, Koko, look! Spark!”
“Okay!” He pulled over again. “Careful. Stay out of the road and see if you can get him.” He grabbed his phone to call Anderson, who could double back and lead the gelding home while he drove Doug in. He didn’t want Doug trying to lead in that hazer. He was too spirited.
“’Kay!” Doug hopped out, the little boy vibrating with excitement at his big job. “Sparky! Sparky-Doodle! Come here, Sparky!”
He got out of the truck too, ready to cut Spark off and keep the horse and Doug out of the road. He dialed Anderson quickly, knowing what he was doing was right; Doug was familiar to Spark. He still felt guilty.
“Sparky!”
Three more of the horses appeared out of the field with the stallion, and he groaned. “Motherfucker.”
“Hey, guys!” Dougie bounced. “You need to go home to Momma!”
“Go on, now.” He waved his arms and advanced too, driving them away from the road.
“What?” Anderson’s voice came from the phone.
“We got five horses right back up where you just passed. Dougie and I are holding them off, but you’re way more mobile.”
“Coming. Jesus fucking Christ!” Anderson wheeled around and headed toward them, a litany of curses turning the air blue.
He hung up, not wanting Doug to get distracted. The kid almost had a loop on Spark. Doug always said he wanted to