Prompt 64.5 B: Buffalo Chase Pic/Writers Muses
He'd been out of Carterson prison for close to three months, and while the ranch work was hard, Heath was adjusting to both the work and the demanding hours as if he'd been born to it. Gone was the scrawny teen that had talked his way into a job he'd been barely qualified for. Three solid meals a day, and the physical demands were putting both weight and muscle onto his lanky frame. Because of his young age and inexperience, several of the older wranglers had taken him under their wing, and he often found that at day's end, when most of the hands were ready to relax or head for town one or another were willing to work with him on bettering himself.
Maybe it was his coming from nothing, but hard work didn't bother him, and so when it came his turn to take on the night watch he did so without complaint. Truth was, he didn't mind much about the job so far, and while most nights he was among the first to hit their bedroll, he equally understood the importance of keeping alert on watch. It was with the coming of first light that the herd came into view and he was on his feet quicker than he thought possible.
"Looks like we'll be gettin' more then beans for dinner tonight." Scooping up his rifle, Heath made a run for his horse. As he freed the reins from the tree that it was tied to, he grabbed ahold of the horn and swung into the saddle. With the rifle in one hand, and his reins in the other, he nudged his mount up as close to the edge of the rise as he could so he could estimate the size of the buffalo herd before heading back to camp.
Under any other circumstances Heath would have simply fired off a round to alert those in camp, however, if he did that now they'd risk not just a stampede of the buffalo herd, but, their own herd as well. Instead, as he neared the chuckwagon Heath released a sharp whistle.
"Buffalo!" Pulling tight on the reins, he whirled his horse around and headed back toward the herd as men began to scramble out of their bedrolls. As much as he wanted to head for the buffalo herd, Heath knew that unless there were men on the cattle, as soon as the shooting started they were going to either be dealing with a stampede or a mixing of the herds, and common sense said neither were going to be welcome. He'd no sooner started tightening up the herd then he heard the sound of approaching riders.
"Woah." He drew his horse up as they came up even with him.
"Good eye, kid." Cal gave Heath half a smile as he came up even with him. I want you to stay here with this herd, son, keep an eye on what Rolly and Tanner are doing, once the shootin' starts the cattle are goin' to spook, just keep 'em tight so they don't get away from you. Got it?" He pointed the two older men out to Heath so he knew exactly where they were as he spoke.
"Yes, sir." Heath gave the foreman a nod, and tried not to show his disappointment at not getting to be part of the buffalo hunt.
"Don't worry, there'll be other buffalo hunts, you'll get your turn, now let's ride." The words were barely out of his mouth when the first shot sounded and as predicted the herd took off, anything else that he might have wanted to say would have to wait, all that mattered now was keeping the herd from scattering. Heath nudged his bootheel into his horse's flank, the chase was on.
Muse: Heath Barkley
Fandom: The Big Valley
Words:635
PtV