The Transplant
Copyright© 2026 by A Bad Attitude
Chapter 5: Learning about the O’Sheas.
Morning comes early on the farm. Someone was knocking on my door telling me breakfast was ready. I hurried and finished in the bathroom, dressed and went downstairs.
Mangas got up and kissed me on the cheek. I hugged him, maybe a little too long. I noticed JJ staring at me again. A cup of coffee was sat in front of me as Captain Jack walked in the back door.
“All is fine with the mare and her foal.” That was good news and all around the table smiled and agreed. After a breakfast of homemade biscuits, milk gravy, eggs and bacon, we all enjoyed a second cup of coffee.
Captain Jack laid out the plans for today. He and John were going to a cattle auction today along with Dove. Peg would be working here at the farm with Grandma Ginger on some type of trust, whatever that is, and he wanted Mike and JJ to ride fence in some pasture and check on the cows there. Mangas volunteered us to ride along with them.
JJ looks at me and asks if I have cowboy boots.
“Why would I need cowboy boots?”
“We’ll be riding HORSES, that’s why.”
“I have never been on a horse in my life!”
“Don’t worry I’ll teach you. I was the same way when I moved here and now I am a regular cowboy. You are about my size so I’ll lend you a pair of my boots.”
The boots fit perfectly and they were nice. This girl may be a cowboy but she is a clothes horse. I had the pick of six pairs of boots. All different colors and skins. I picked the ones that matched Mangas’ boots. I was told they were Ostrich skin and were very expensive. There must be big money in raising cows!
At the barn I watched the foal nursing her mother as Mangas, JJ, and Mike saddled our horses. As they led the horses out of the barn I noticed everyone was armed. JJ, Mike and Mangas all carried pistols on their belts along with big knives. The men had long guns in scabbards on the right side of their saddles.
JJ helped me up and adjusted my stirrups. She touched my butt then my legs in doing this. I felt a tingle both times. I am going to have to get Mangas in my bed or thinking of JJ is going to drive me crazy!
JJ talked to me as we started off. She told me my horse was very gentle and he would not let me fall off. As she talked the tension went out of my body and I started to relax. Everyone was laughing and having a good time as we rode along a dirt road to the pasture. I felt at home. No one said anything about my past or mentioned the tattoos that I knew they all had seen the evening before at the pool.
As we rode the fence JJ noticed a wire down and dismounted. She got her gloves and a fencing tool out of her saddlebags and went to work. You could tell she knew what she was doing. Mike helped her but she did most of the work. Then they were back up in the saddles and off we went. There was a bunch of cows with calves under some trees in the shade. We rode over trying not to disturb them. A couple of the mommas got up. They were all fat and had heavy milk bags under them.
“I count 35 mommas and 35 calves. Is that right?”
“My count also,” replied JJ to Mike. “How about you Debbie how many do you count?”
She wants me to count! She is including me in this! I quickly count and say there are 35 cows and 35 calves. We continue around the fence and by the third time I watch JJ and Mike repair a piece of downed fence, I ask JJ if I can help her. I dismount and Mike hands me his gloves. In no time we have a new piece of wire stretched and tied off. Mangas is smiling as I mount the horse by myself. I had watched JJ so I copied her technique. We finished and went back to the gate. We went down the road a little ways and turned into another pasture. When we found the cows I counted first and said there are 50 cows and calves.
“Exactly right,” said JJ. “Let’s finish riding the fence and get back to the house. The hospital might have called.” We made about 4 stops to repair down or loose wire, then we were back on the road to the house.
“This is a big farm and you have almost 100 momma cows along with their calves.”
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