Cowgirl Up ✔️

Chapter Sixty-Three

- Cover by Mikayala7700 😍

Friday was a good day.
I was determined for it.
The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and I haven't been sick ONCE!
I was ravenous at breakfast time and Uncle Lukas joked that somebody had to measure up and eat Blayze's plate.
Because the farm work I'm 'allowed' to do these days is minimal, I helped Grandma clean up inside before I ventured out into the farm yard to see what I could tackle.
However I nearly tripped over all three dogs when I walked out of the back door.
"Jeez dogs! Give a girl a break!"
I exclaimed, struggling to remain on my feet.
Since Wednesday evening, Azlan and Zeus had been abnormally sooky.
They'd worked out Blayze 'wasn't coming back' and apparently I was the next best thing.
But that left Zuke jealous that the other dogs kept wanting my attention.
And I had seven horses vying for my attention as well.
It's safe to say, Blayze can hurry up and bring his arse home!
Phoenix was pissed off that all these other horses and dogs wanted my attention.
This was obvious, because for the first time since his rise to power in the working horse paddock some year or so ago, he was being cranky and taking his attitude out on the other horses, snaking his nose, biting and even lashing out with his hind feet.
River wouldn't let anybody else look at him, let alone touch him and he'd dared to touch his muzzle to my face this morning when I fed him, inhaling my scent.
Aviator acted as though he was an unhandled Colt if it was anybody other than me who entered their paddock, rearing, bucking and running hot laps, as well as shying away when anybody else attempted to touch him.
Quinton turned his tail to everybody but Lukas and I.
Jackaroo was limping yesterday morning, but when Troy tried to catch him to suss it out, he suddenly found he could perform his traditional Quarter Horse sprint.
I walked into the paddock and Quinton practically pushed his eight year old brother toward me.
Jackaroo allowed me to halter him and find a rock wedged in his front near hoof.
Uncle Lukas helped me to put a bit of a poultice on the hoof, once I'd tentatively phoned Blayze to let him know what was going on.
Rowan pretended that everybody except Uncle Lukas and I were terrifying and ran away in a bucking fit.
Until I was treating Jackaroo's foot that was.
Then Rowan was rubbing his head all over my bent back and my bum.
Bloody annoying!
Plus I had Phoenix sprinting and bucking his way up and down the fence line, cracking the shits because he was the 'only one' not receiving my attention.
I paused just outside the family backyard, contemplating what to do.
With the way the last couple of days have gone down, I was apprehensive to get within sight or hearing range of the working horse paddock, Blayze's horses' paddock or Paint and River's yards.
"Baaaaaaiiiiiilllllleeeeeyyyy."
Argh!
Zeus woofed as Troy walked toward our small group.
Zuke attempted to copy the sound, but his was laughable.
"Hush."
I ordered.
The big, boof headed dog whined and sat down.
Zuke glanced at him and copied.
"Good."
I praised.
Feeling like I was battling sanity, I slowly turned toward Troy.
"What...?"
I wearily asked.
He wore a slight grimace before pointing toward Blayze's horses' paddock.
"We can't catch Roo."
Argh!
Not again!
"Who's we?"
I asked.
If they've got Uncle Lukas they should be able to manage.
Blayze's horses like my Uncle.
"Me, Alex, Jake and Heath..."
I placed my hands on my hips.
"And if four of you can't get him, what exactly is it that you expect I'm going to be able to do?"
Worst case scenario, four men should at the very least be able to corner the Quarter Horse and get a halter on him!
I don't appreciate those methods too much, but even I know that sometimes it's the only option.
Troy smiled hopefully.
"Well you got him yesterday..."
Argh!
I guess none of us want to leave Blayze's horse mid treatment.
Really, he'd been fully weight baring when I'd remover the rock.
But I know that not next weekend, but the weekend after, Blayze would be loading up and heading to the Kingscote Rodeo.
So we had to ensure Jacksroo was as sound as possible, otherwise he'd have to be scratched from his events.
More than that, we owed it to Blayze to make sure his horses were looked after properly.
I gave a resigned sigh.
"Where's his halter?"
"On the gate."
Shaking my head, I headed for the paddock in question.
Phoenix's ringing neigh greeted me as I approached his neighbouring paddock.
Aviator's joyous foal whinny met my ears and the gorgeous youngster came prancing toward the gate, ensuring to give Alex, Jake and Heath a wide berth.
"Everyone out!"
I called to the group of farm hands gathered together not far from the fence line, standing in Blayze's horses' paddock.
Alex, Jake and Heath turned toward me, looking confused.
"Us or the horse's?"
Heath asked.
I rolled my eyes.
What good would it be having four horses roaming around a million acres?
"You guys."
I said, yanking the rope halter off the metal paddock gate.
The Cowboy's dropped their eyes and came toward the gate.
I stepped to the side and waited for them to file out before I took a deep breath and slipped into the paddock.
Heath chained the gate shut behind me and I walked forward, Aviator almost immediately at my side.
"Out of it you."
I whispered as he tugged on the lead rope.
I turned toward the much bigger horses.
"C'mon Roo-Roo."
I urged.
The big dark brown Quarter Horse turned his head to look at Quinton.
Quinton put one black leg forward and dropped his head to rub his eye on his knee.
I couldn't help but smile.
Jackaroo looked toward the cowboys who were now standing outside the paddock.
"C'mon bud."
I urged.
"I just wanna check your foot so I can tell Blayze how it's going."
Really I was surprised I didn't yet have a call or message from Blayze, chasing up the foot scenario.
As he's always said, 'no hoof, no horse'.
Jackaroo dropped his head and licked his lips.
Hallelujah!
Some relaxation.
I held my non halter holding hand out.
"You gonna meet me half way?"
I asked.
Jackaroo blinked.
Rowan stepped out, his head hanging at about chest level and approached me.
He'd only taken about three steps before Jackaroo's jealousy kicked in and the older horse lurched into a trot, pinning his ears at his little (but not actually too much smaller) brother and snaking his muzzle at him as he passed.
I couldn't help but smile.
"You guys are just like kids."
Rowan hung back, heeding his big brother but also second in charge of the paddock member's warning.
Jackaroo stopped in front of me expectantly.
I tried to take the end of the lead rope from Aviator, but the cheeky little monkey wouldn't give it up, still chewing on it.
Deciding to give up on that problem for now, because I still had enough slack to work with, I stepped up to Jackaroo's side to halter him.
"Good man."
I praised, giving him a scratch on his withers (I'd long since learned from Blayze that's Jackaroo's favourite spot), then slipping the light blue rope halter onto his head.