Sitting at the table during brunch was weird, okay, let me rephrase that.  Awkward and a little bit tense.  I didn't quite know why.  I was in a chipper mood when I came through the door, not only having saw that Caleb came, but because I wasn't going to let the day escape me.  

But Luis seemed to be in a sour mood, and Caleb was shooting it back.  What was this?  They meet for the very first time and hate each other?  The chatter was light, but my mother was even eyeing Luis like she knew what was going on and I did.  Lucas though, he was to busy stuffing his face to really care.  I swear he was like a black hole and could eat it all.

"Harper?"  I looked up from the bite about to go into my mouth to the sound of my mothers voice.

"Yes ma?"

"Can you come help me for a moment?"  She had her plate and gestured to the sink.  I was about to protest, but then got her hint while looking at the men at the table.  She wanted to talk to me alone.

"Ya, no problem.  Excuse me."  Nodding to them they waved me off and I stepped around the island with my mother.  In a hushed tone she started to put the dishes that had been made away.

"Luis is going to be a handful today sweetheart.  I thought I'd warn you."

"What? Why?  What is going on?"  I asked back, bending to get the soap. 

"Hm, well, everything was dandy, until I had to open my mouth and say something about last night."  I flushed and swatted her arm.

"Ma!"  It was a little loud and I saw all three men looking over.

"I'm sorry! You know me.  I'm old, I can say what I want too, but I fear that Luis is upset that Caleb caught your gaze before he could."  I moaned and leaned my head on her.  Mumbling into her shoulder how much I hated her she laughed and told me to finish my food.  She went off to do what ever it was she did, and I sat back down no realizing the issue.

Luis liked me.

I knew this, and had for a few years now; but he had never truly made a move other to ask if I wanted to bang.  And just for starters, that was not the best thing he could have done at the time.  We had a long history, and sad to say he used to be a friend of Jimmy's...that didn't help either.  I just didn't like him enough to want to start anything.  No relationship, or any relation, at all.

No denying that he was a okay looking guy, black hair to was cut short and spiked every day, green eyes and dark skin.  He had it, but not my kinda had.  I guess I just liked the blond guys better.

While finishing up I noticed Caleb more in conversation with Guy then anyone else, and I guess that was all fine and dandy.  Jason was more into reading the news on his phone, but Luis was just sulking next to me and it was annoying.  It wasn't like Caleb and I were flaunting anything in front of everyone.  Sure we met eye contact a few times, or traded a smile, but it was nothing serious! We had fun, that was that.

"Ma, can I go get Cowboy ready?"  Being drawn out of my thoughts Lucas's hazel eyes looked bright up at me.

"Ya baby, you can.  I'll be there in a few, okay?"

"Okay!"  Jumping out of his seat he went and put his dishes in the seat and ran back over to give Peyton a little kiss on the cheek. "I get to pamper and ride him all myself today!"  And while saying it, smiled up at Caleb.  His eyes widened a bit and saute me out.

"Your going to let him do that alone?"  I shrugged and leaned back in my chair.

"He will be watched.  After all he will be coming with us.  He's the same age I was when I started to learn."  I could tell it was a little hard for him to fathom, but I guess he got over it and ended up handing little Peyton over to my mother.  She took her little hands and walked her into the living room.

"We'll be waiting for you."  She chimed as we all headed out.

We were all wearing boots, except for Caleb, and I offered him a old pair of my fathers seeing that they were the same size.  He excepted them after a moment of protest, and switched them with his sneakers.  It would be easier that way, and having them still in the barn had turned into a good keep sake...I always like to have my fathers things around...in a way it made it feel like he wasn't gone.

Saddling up Ivory and Rosa we got everything under way.  Cowboy was the biggest and had the most to carry, but Lucas seemed perfectly happy with helping pack him up.  With him on board, while I rod Ivory, Jason on Rosa we made our way out to wear I kept the cattle.  They grazed in the field and were peaceful until it came for branding.  They all seemed to to know when it was coming and started go the opposite way.

When that started to happen Luis got on the back of Rosa with Jason and Caleb got on Cowboy with Lucas.  Luis had wanted to hop on with me, but I suggested it wouldn't be the best for I was about to round some up.  Groups of two at a time.

I had about twenty-five cows, and one bull.  I would have had more, but bulls tended not to like each other.

"You ready for this?"  I was stationed next to Caleb and Lucas, a smile plastered on my face.  Lucas nodded excited, while Caleb kept his face the way he normally did.  Stoic.  He nodded and watched as I rounded the heard with Ivory, pacing and nudging them together.  I took the rope from over my shoulders and lasso it up, necking one and bringing it to Jason.  He took it and I went for the second.  Missing just by a hair I had to circle around again to get her.

Bringing her around I brought her to Caleb and handed him the rope.  He took it firm in his hands while Lucas helped.  He was so excited to be helping me with this this year.

"Okay guys, lets bring them in."  We went to the wooden stocks I had up and tied them down in the field.  The rest of the heard yards away.

We all dismounted and unloaded the irons. I made sure that Lucas was still on Cowboy because we were in the open field, and he was still small. Unlike us, he would have been a perfect target if the bull were to see him alone. 

After what seemed like hours of work and branding I took the time to rain the last one in.  The bull himself.  We were all exhausted from handling the cattle, having a man on each side while one heated the iron; then of coarse me, sticking it to the animal.  They struggled, but who wouldn't?  I would want to get away from something hot being stuck in my butt too!

I laughed to my own thoughts as I rod Ivory back into the field searching for the bull.  They were always the hardest to get.  Aggressive, his horns could hurt us severely if I didn't do it right.  I could be hospitalized, and Ivory...yeah, so I always did this right.

Spotting him and moving in I could hear them all hooting at me, cat calling, and other playful things, but I was in the zone now, and even a playful joke about how I was so dainty I couldn't get it drove me forward.  I was my fathers daughter.  I roped my first bull at the age of thirteen.  I had him.

Breathing in and out with the tempo of Ivory I rose to my heels on her and started the rope.  It took one good shot and I had the bull lassoed and tied.

"Woot woot!  I shouted, and brought him around.  "And who said that a woman couldn't run a damn ranch!  I'm the best!"  I couldn't help but voice my opinion, everyone had doubted me when I took over my fathers Ranch, but I had it down to a T.

Keeping him steady we led him over to the guys and Caleb took one horn prier instruction and Luis took the other.  Things were going good, smooth, and I was happy with how fast we were getting done.  Tying him to the post I had the guys keep hold of his horns.  He was already feisty and agitated, I did need him going for one of them if he had any leverage.

Jason turned on the torch to heat the Iron I held off to the side when I heard Lucas scream to Caleb, "look out!".  It was too late as I turned and saw that Luis had stepped back, and left Caleb to hold both horns.  The blood draining from my face I drop the Iron and rush over to him.  He had one horn in both hands, staring into the animals eyes, while Luis watched with a mock smile on his face.

The bastard.

I shot him a look and took hold of one, trying to draw some attention away from Caleb.  It was pushing us forward into the post, and I could hear Lucas starting to cry.  He was scared.  I was scared.  Luis had abandoned the job he was assigned last minute realizing that the bull was to strong.

Trying to calm him didn't work, Jason covered its eyes even and it didn't work.  We just had to let him go and cool off before trying again, making sure to turn him away from us, and in the end...the rope came loose and he rammed his massive frame into Caleb.