Free Tackling Summer by Kayla Dawn Thomas

rest of the crew, which was busy working on the two calves stretched out at the stations. Maddox wasn’t going to get much sympathy around here. There were no standing ovations when someone heaved himself up from the dirt after being stupid.
    “They’re little kids,” Maddox grumbled as he got to his feet. Several locks of blond hair had escaped the elastic band, and he shoved them back from his face.
    Chanel stepped closer until she was right up against his chest. “They’re younger, but they’ve been doing this stuff since they could walk. We all have. You’re lucky you didn’t get some of those pretty teeth knocked out or worse. You want to get hurt out here and miss next season?” When she stopped for breath, she realized her breasts were brushing against him and took a hasty step backward. Meeting his stormy blue eyes, Chanel saw anger and something else simmering there.
    “You can do better?” Maddox said, his jaw tight.
    Chanel’s nostrils flared, and she handed Vivi’s lead rope to Maddox. “Take her over by the fence and watch.” Pulling the Doumit baseball cap down tighter over her braid, Chanel turned back toward the action in time to see David snag a brockle face calf by the neck. He dallied and pulled it fighting toward the ground crew. The twins stepped forward to take it down, but Chanel waved them back. David drew the calf to the empty station, and Chanel ran forward to grab the rope and work her way down it to the calf. With a quick lunge, she grabbed a front leg, and in the same moment, snatched a back leg, throwing the calf off balance and flipping it onto its back. Ryan was ready with the ground rope for the back feet. Chanel pinned the animal and moved the rope from its neck to its front feet. David backed up his horse stretching the calf into position. It all happened in less than thirty seconds.
    Wiping her arm across her forehead, Chanel stood and looked over at Maddox while the rest of the crew swarmed in to give the calf its shots and brand. She was a heifer, so no need for Theo’s services this time. Maddox’s mouth was slightly ajar, and his blue eyes had darkened even more. Chanel longed to know what was going through his thick skull right now.
    She marched over and took Vivi’s lead rope. “And that’s how it’s done.” She swung up into her saddle and waded back into the herd, her loop at the ready.

    ***

    Tents were pitched at the edge of a stand of trees. Sagebrush and sticker bushes stretched out for several miles on the flat in the other direction, only to be met with a steep outcropping of rock surrounded by aspen trees. The herd had been moved to a new location a couple of miles away, but their voices could still be heard on the evening breeze. A fire crackled in the ring some of the guys had constructed of large rocks. Christine had everyone settled with bowls of beef stew and corn bread. Maddox ached from head to toe from being kicked countless times throughout the day. Taking down a baby cow was more complicated and painful than anything he’d done on the football field. Thick pads, no, armor should be required for this job. His skin was sunburned, and he couldn’t remember when food had tasted so good.
    “Good work out there today,” David said taking a seat on the ground next to him.
    “Thanks,” Maddox replied. “I have dirt in places I didn’t know it could reach.”
    David laughed. “Yeah, that happens. There’s a creek through those trees over there. You can rinse off some, but it’s going to be pretty damn cold. It’s still running snow melt from the high country.”
    Maddox thought they were in the high country. He was still trying to adjust to the chilly mornings.
    “I’ve got some ibuprofen in my saddlebag. You’ll want some, so you can move in the morning. We’re gonna do this all over again tomorrow.” David grinned and tucked into his stew.
    Maddox stifled a groan at the idea just as Christine made her way over to settle beside the