Free Finding Kate by Julie Pollitt

called and said to watch for you. He was right, that is a shiny red car. Nice.”
    “Thanks.” Kate tried to stifle her nerves and appear calm.
    “I can show you to your horse and give you a rundown of how everything works on a cattle drive.”
    Kate slung her camera strap over her shoulder. “I hope you’re going to tell me how I can watch the drive from the sidelines.” Kate chuckled at her own joke.
    “Not a chance. You have to experience this firsthand. Besides, what good would a story be if you’re not in the thick of it?” She tucked a strand of blonde hair back into the ponytail poking out from under her cowboy hat.
    At this point, Kate’s knees could signal an SOS in Morse Code as they knocked together.
    “We’ve got a horse saddled for you. Follow me.” Nancy zigzagged between parked pickup trucks and walked toward the pasture. At least ten horses were hitched in a line along the fencepost. A grouping of cowboys holding mugs and chatting stood close to a food cart. They stopped talking long enough to watch her walk by.
    “This one’s yours.” Nancy ran her hand along the flank of a short, chubby brown horse like it was a fine leather jacket. “I figured this might be your first time. Mabel will take good care of you.”
    “Mabel?” Kate laughed. “With a name like that, she shouldn’t buck too much, right?” She inched up to the horse, half expecting her racing heart to leap from her chest and splat onto the ground.
    Mabel whinnied and rocked her head up and down. Kate muffled a scream and pulled her hands close to her chest.
    “She’s harmless. I promise.” Nancy scratched Mabel’s mane.
    “Let me help.” Will’s deep voice boomed behind her. She turned and saw him and Trevor both walking toward her. Her stomach settled at bit, but she wasn’t sure which man’s presence dispelled her fears more.
    “I’ll do it,” Trevor said, budging past Will. “I know how she feels about this.”
    Will stepped in front of Trevor. “Maybe, but I’ve got a lot more experience than you do.”
    “I’m the one who talked her into this, so I feel responsible for her. Besides, she knows me better.” Trevor jokingly elbowed past Will.
    Will placed his hand on Trevor’s shoulder. “I said I’d help her.” He smiled and winked at Trevor.
    Feeling flattered these two men were arguing over her, Kate crossed her arms and leaned back. As she did, she felt the warmth of the horse behind her. While the men continued arguing, she hiked up her leg, slipped her foot into the stirrup, and grasped the saddle horn. Nancy leaned down and helped boost Kate upright in the saddle.
    “Kevin Costner makes this look a lot easier than it is,” Kate giggled. She raised her hands above her head and wiggled her arms like a champion. Mabel moved beneath her and she threw her hands back on the horn, gripping it tight.
    She looked down at the two men staring at her. “Let’s get going. We have a cattle drive to do.”
    “I’m proud of you,” Will said. He patted the horse’s shoulder and walked toward his own mount.
    “See, Kate? I knew you could do it.” Trevor looked up and smiled. “You’re capable of a lot more than you think.”
    ***
    The sun scorched Kate’s skin, sending prickles of pain to her exposed neck. She hadn’t covered it with a bandana or wide-brimmed hat as the others had. Her backbone ached from the movement of the horse, and her sore legs hung loose over the saddle, in spite of Nancy’s warning to keep her feet in the stirrups. She now understood why cowboys ended up walking bowlegged.
    But her heart felt surprisingly free as she sat atop the horse. The hum of the cattle mooing actually soothed her. The deep green Wintervale valley stretched for miles in every direction.
    The wranglers moved in constant motion, corralling cattle whenever they shifted directions, steering them back to the assigned path with a surprising amount of help from cattle dogs.
    Dust stirred in the dry air, casting