to the lead and find Rocky to lead them out of here."
Miles nodded and knew the old bull would be eager to get the cows and their calves out of the rectangular shaped pasture. The hard part was done, finding all the cows, now it was all about timing and leading. He went to yell a command to Bill, but Bill had heard Justin and was already pushing the cows toward his barks.
" Y eehaw ! " Miles yelled as he used the rope to deter a cow from turning back. Through the haze he saw Pierce closing up the back of the herd and his father at the head. Rocky's big horns led the way follow ing his dad toward the gate.
Pierce, Cade , and Miles curved along the back of the he rd and waited for them to fall into line as Rocky lumbered forward. Pierce looked the worse for wear of the brothers, having spent the most time closest to the fire.
"How you holding up, Pierce?" Miles shouted.
" Fine. That's one helluva fire. I saw Marshall and Annie working to coordinate the fire trucks from all the surrounding counties and to keep the gawkers at bay," Pierce yelled , wip ing some sweat from his face as the morning light brought a new perspective to the situation.
A quick whistle bl o w from Jake brought the dogs to their feet . Justin led the way , barking to get the cows to move forward in line. His pink bow was now stained black and was close to falling out as he ran from right to left barking at the cows. Bill worked with him to keep the cows in line. As Justin ran to the right, Bill ran to the left. Miles and Cade took their positions about halfway up in line on each side of the herd. It took another forty minutes, but finally they we re out of the pasture and a good way down the dirt r oad leading to Marshall's land.
At the sound of rumbling, Miles turned to see his mom and Katelyn in the pickup truck. "Here you go," Katelyn said as she leaned out the window with a bottle of water. Marshall drank from it thirstily and then toss ed it in the back of the truck.
"Thanks. I needed that. Maybe you should take Bill with you in the truck."
"It looks like y ou got yourself a true farmhand,” Katelyn replied. “ He may be old, but he's in great shape. After the cattle get moved, make sure you give Bill small amounts of water over an hour. He may be sore, but he's not doing anything that will hurt him. He's doing what comes naturally to him. It's amazing to watch hi m and Justin working this herd."
Miles nodded and then they were off to give his father some water. Once on the road and away from the smoke, the cattle moved at a steady pace to the far pasture. They knew the way since they were rotated between the pastures a couple times a year. The dogs worked to push the herd through the gate. Once the cows were in the pasture they instinctually went forward to the pond to drink.
Miles dismounted and led Mach over to where Katelyn was filling up water buckets for the horses. Bill and Justin were laying side by side in the shade of a large maple tree and Miles would’ve sworn they were both smiling.
"Those two were unbelievable . We've never moved a herd so fast before." Cade said as he took off his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat and soot from his face.
"Here you two go." Their mother handed the m wet bandana to clean themselves .
"Thanks, Ma." Pierce grabbed one and sat down with his brothers. "I wonder what happened. Trees just do n’t go up like that. Especially when we've had rain recently."
" I'm sure Marshall is already looking into it," Jake said as he took a seat next to his sons. "After this break, let’s ride back up and make sure we don't have any damage. Then we'll get cleaned up . Y our Mother said she has a big dinner for us."
Miles looked up at t he sky. The early afternoon sun was shining and Claire was undoubtedly wondering where he was. He'd get home, shower, an d get some work in before dinner . The Likens were part of Family Farms, so he'd make sure to check on them. Hopeful ly it was only the front part of the
Miles nodded and knew the old bull would be eager to get the cows and their calves out of the rectangular shaped pasture. The hard part was done, finding all the cows, now it was all about timing and leading. He went to yell a command to Bill, but Bill had heard Justin and was already pushing the cows toward his barks.
" Y eehaw ! " Miles yelled as he used the rope to deter a cow from turning back. Through the haze he saw Pierce closing up the back of the herd and his father at the head. Rocky's big horns led the way follow ing his dad toward the gate.
Pierce, Cade , and Miles curved along the back of the he rd and waited for them to fall into line as Rocky lumbered forward. Pierce looked the worse for wear of the brothers, having spent the most time closest to the fire.
"How you holding up, Pierce?" Miles shouted.
" Fine. That's one helluva fire. I saw Marshall and Annie working to coordinate the fire trucks from all the surrounding counties and to keep the gawkers at bay," Pierce yelled , wip ing some sweat from his face as the morning light brought a new perspective to the situation.
A quick whistle bl o w from Jake brought the dogs to their feet . Justin led the way , barking to get the cows to move forward in line. His pink bow was now stained black and was close to falling out as he ran from right to left barking at the cows. Bill worked with him to keep the cows in line. As Justin ran to the right, Bill ran to the left. Miles and Cade took their positions about halfway up in line on each side of the herd. It took another forty minutes, but finally they we re out of the pasture and a good way down the dirt r oad leading to Marshall's land.
At the sound of rumbling, Miles turned to see his mom and Katelyn in the pickup truck. "Here you go," Katelyn said as she leaned out the window with a bottle of water. Marshall drank from it thirstily and then toss ed it in the back of the truck.
"Thanks. I needed that. Maybe you should take Bill with you in the truck."
"It looks like y ou got yourself a true farmhand,” Katelyn replied. “ He may be old, but he's in great shape. After the cattle get moved, make sure you give Bill small amounts of water over an hour. He may be sore, but he's not doing anything that will hurt him. He's doing what comes naturally to him. It's amazing to watch hi m and Justin working this herd."
Miles nodded and then they were off to give his father some water. Once on the road and away from the smoke, the cattle moved at a steady pace to the far pasture. They knew the way since they were rotated between the pastures a couple times a year. The dogs worked to push the herd through the gate. Once the cows were in the pasture they instinctually went forward to the pond to drink.
Miles dismounted and led Mach over to where Katelyn was filling up water buckets for the horses. Bill and Justin were laying side by side in the shade of a large maple tree and Miles would’ve sworn they were both smiling.
"Those two were unbelievable . We've never moved a herd so fast before." Cade said as he took off his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat and soot from his face.
"Here you two go." Their mother handed the m wet bandana to clean themselves .
"Thanks, Ma." Pierce grabbed one and sat down with his brothers. "I wonder what happened. Trees just do n’t go up like that. Especially when we've had rain recently."
" I'm sure Marshall is already looking into it," Jake said as he took a seat next to his sons. "After this break, let’s ride back up and make sure we don't have any damage. Then we'll get cleaned up . Y our Mother said she has a big dinner for us."
Miles looked up at t he sky. The early afternoon sun was shining and Claire was undoubtedly wondering where he was. He'd get home, shower, an d get some work in before dinner . The Likens were part of Family Farms, so he'd make sure to check on them. Hopeful ly it was only the front part of the
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