Chapter 11

Jamie turned in her saddle and saw that the big lodge was about a half-mile behind them. “So, I didn’t want to sound like a ... ummm... greenhorn or something in front of everybody. But ... why are we bringing donkeys?” Three donkeys were tied together like a pack train to Jake’s horse as they headed down the trail.

Jake smiled at her. “Damn, but you look good!” After bringing Daisy back to the ranch they’d had some time before heading down to the lower 40, and Jamie had snuck in a quick shower. She was dressed in standard jeans and boots, but she wore her white cowboy shirt with the front shirttails tied together. That accentuated her breasts, and Jake kept sneaking looks at her.

“Eyes on the trail, cowboy. I don’t want you crashing the horse like you almost crashed the truck.”

“Hey, that ditch came outta nowhere. So, what did you ask me?”

“Keep up, old man, sheesh. Donkeys. What are we doing with them?”

“Well, it’s a little-known fact that donkeys are quite territorial and very protective of themselves. They are quite fierce, actually, and are known to kill coyotes. The first Jack here behind me, Arnold, has killed two.”

“What’s a ‘Jack’?”

“That’s a male that has been gelded ... ummm ... balls cut off. The ladies are called Jennies. Anyway, they are much better than guard dogs. Dogs have to be fed, they run off, or they can even get intimidated by coyotes and wolves. Donkeys will fight, and the predators know that. Plus they don’t need to be fed because they eat grass in the field.”

“Part of me thinks you’re pulling my leg, but I can’t think of any other reason to be bringing donkeys.”

“Jamie.”

“Yeah?” she looked over at him. She really didn’t know if he was kidding or not; he was always saying funny little things.

“I’m actually being serious. I’m ... going to make you a promise.”

“You do sound serious. Go ahead.”

“I won’t ever lie to you, Jamie. I may tease you and such, but I won’t lie.”

She looked at him for several long moments. She wondered how often Chad lied to her. Probably a few times a day. “You swear on the Cowboy Code?”

“On my honor as a cowboy relic, I promise not to lie to you.”

They rode on in silence for a piece, the occasional chuffing of the animals and their constant hoofbeats being the only sounds. “I’m going to hold you to that, cowboy. I mean it. And stop calling yourself a relic.”

“I am a relic, I can’t lie about that.” He winked at her as they continued down the trail.

I hope you keep your promise, Jamie thought.

There were a few moments of comfortable silence as they watched the herd lazily graze on the pasture grass, their horses tied to the fence in a nice shady spot. She felt so comfortable with him, so relaxed, yet, something he’d said earlier that morning was eating at her, and she couldn’t forget about it and let it go. “Can I ask you about something?” she said.