Page 5 of Fated to the Wolf Cowboy (Cowboys of Collier #1)

Brady

“It’s beautiful,” Kenneth praised as we walked into the greenhouse for the first time and looked around.

It was a nice building, but I didn’t feel the connection or appreciate it the way he did.

I stood back and watched as my brothers excitedly talked and planned out the interior.

Truth was, they were both more capable in this department than I was.

All I really had to do was ensure the work got done in a timely manner.

I was quickly learning that management may not be for me.

It was boring. I’d much rather be actively working.

I was pretty certain I was going to lose my mind if I didn’t get my hands dirty soon. And not the gardening kind of dirty. I needed to fix a fence or wrangle a stray cow. Something that would make my muscles burn.

“The hydroponics system will start going in tomorrow. And Ollie is bringing over the first raised beds this evening,” Tim informed me.

“Great. Sounds like it’s all coming together.”

I wished I could get excited about this project. I knew I needed to change my attitude. I just couldn’t seem to get hyped about plants. No doubt it was a me problem because all of my brothers were thrilled to have the family working together.

“Brady? Are you listening?” Kenneth asked.

“Huh? What?”

He rolled his eyes. “While Ollie and Tim are setting up in here, can I take the rest of the team out to the tomato patch for picking and then to the fields to start plowing? We need to get the seeds in the ground quickly if we’re going to get a later summer and fall harvest this year.”

I scowled. “While I agreed to the tomatoes, we already discussed delaying any further planting, Kenneth. The gardens can be plowed to start preparing the land, for next year’s harvest, but otherwise we’re focusing only on greenhouse foods for the winter and then the outdoor gardens for produce next summer. ”

“But there’s still time for this year,” he argued.

“Kenneth, it’s too much. We have priorities and we missed spring planting already.”

“Spring, yes, but not fall planting. I can do it.”

I sighed, understanding why Thomas thought it was a better idea for me to oversee this project. My baby brother would work himself to death if it were left to him. He’d burn out my crew quickly too.

My crew? Huffing, I let that reality sink in. I’d been wanting an opportunity for leadership for a long time. Now I had it. It may not be what I expected, but if I didn’t get my head out of my ass soon, I may never have the opportunity to lead anyone again.

With that thought and fear fresh in my mind, I clapped my hands and gathered everyone together. In total I have twenty-four men under me for this project. That was significant and I knew I had to make the most of this opportunity.

“Listen up, everyone. I just wanted to let you all know how proud I am of the work you’ve put in.

The greenhouse is complete and ready for us to move in.

” I paused as they all cheered. “Now the real work begins.

Our shelving, planter tables, and raised beds will start arriving this evening.

Anyone willing to stick around and help unload is more than welcome.

“Tomorrow the hydroponic tanks will be set up and piping run. Tim will be overseeing that since that’s more his area of expertise.

While Kenneth has requested we begin plowing the fields as soon as the tomatoes are finished being harvested.

I’ll be splitting everyone up into two groups to assist them.

See me first thing in the morning for your assignments. ”

“And then the fun really begins!” Kenneth announced, excitedly.

“What he said,” I added.

This caused several chuckles. Everyone in the Pack knows this is Kenneth’s passion. Surprisingly the structural and design aspect of it is what Tim became passionate about.

When he left for school, he was pre-med, studying to be a doctor.

He’d started out at a local college so he could still help out at home.

Just like Kenneth, Peyton had picked up Tim to help out in the small greenhouse at Kate’s Diner in town where she works.

The two of them provided fresh produce year-round.

And that is where both of my brothers found their passion in gardening.

So much so, that when Tim mated Jessie, he switched schools to attend Archibald Reynolds, an all-shifter college, with her.

That’s when he decided that being on-call all the time and possibly having to switch Packs to find a need as a Pack physician wasn’t really the life he wanted for them.

So instead he switched his major to agricultural engineering and never looked back.

Seeing the prosperity at Kate’s Diner combined with having Tim back home played a huge role in Thomas’s decision to invest in farming. And I was the one he chose to put it altogether.

I stood in a superman pose, legs spread, fists on my hips, and I puffed my chest out. I should feel proud of this, but it still fell short. I was trying, though I couldn’t help but feel something was missing. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Okay, let’s get to work,” I told my team.

Despite the fact that I had not given them any specific roles for the day, everyone seemed to know what to do. I knew I had my brothers to thank for that. So far it felt like I’d been a pretty shitty boss, but I was determined to change that.

I stepped outside to get a bit of fresh air. Taking a deep breath, a tingle ran down my spine and my wolf awakened.

What is it? I silently asked him.

Mate, I heard in my head and my whole body stiffened.

I wasn’t sure how long I stood there in shock.

A mate?

For me?

I was just coming to terms with my new job and responsibilities. I couldn’t take on a mate. This was quite possibly the worst timing ever in the history of mating.

It would be a lie if I didn’t admit to my curiosity though.

I looked around but I didn’t see anyone in the vicinity.

“Who’s there?” I called out.

There was no response.

Suddenly I heard a whinny that made me jump, not that I’d admit that to anyone. I was just so on edge and didn’t understand why.

My wolf surged but not in a normal aggressive way.

Around the side of the closest barn a horse peeked out her head.

I nearly laughed at myself. Why was my wolf acting weird because of a horse?

Settle down, I told him.

When I realized the horse was outside the fence and it didn’t appear anyone was with her, I walked closer.

“Clementine? Is that you?”

The horse stopped and turned to look at me.

“What are you doing out by yourself, girl?”

I always spoke to the horses like they were real people and who knew, maybe one of them was? I spent part of my life in the form of a wolf, so who was I to judge?

I sniffed the air again.

Mate, my wolf said again.

My head whipped around looking for her—my mate. But still I saw no one. The place was deserted except for Clementine.

My eyes locked with the horse.

Mine, my wolf said with certainty.

I just stood there in shock as she reared up on her hindlegs, snorted on landing, and then took off at a full run right towards town.

Clementine was my mate?

I clearly recognized what my wolf was trying to tell me, but she was a horse. When our eyes had met I felt a strange sort of recognition, but not the life changing, pass out in the middle of the grocery store, kind of moment Oliver had mentioned the first time he locked eyes with Peyton.

I shook my head. Maybe I was losing it, because this could not be happening.

No matter what, there was one thing for certain.

. . we had a horse on the loose. If she wasn’t wrangled in soon, she could seriously hurt herself.

I had to go after her and it had nothing to do with the whole mating thing, or at least that’s what I was telling myself as I saddled up another horse and took off after her.

“Yah!” I yelled as I kicked the horses sides to get him racing after her.

As we reached the edge of the ranch, I slowed and looked both ways. I could just see her as she rounded the bend heading into town.

“Oh no you don’t,” I said aloud as I pressed my horse to catch up for her.

It felt wonderful to be riding again. The wind blowing in my unkempt hair. My heart was light and happy once more.

Most of our cowboys tolerated riding the horses. Many complained it felt unnatural to ride atop another animal. But not me. I loved it as much as I loved speeding down the road on the back of my bike. It was exhilarating.

I kicked his sides with the heal of my boots as we sped up. The chase was on.

In the turn I’d watched her disappear, a car came flying by honking the horn. It was Austin and he flicked me off, then screeched his tires as he made a sharp U-turn coming after me.

I encouraged the horse to go even faster.

Austin continued to honk as he caught up to me.

Rolling his window down, he leaned over and yelled. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Clementine got away,” I yelled back.

He gave a thumbs up and sped ahead.

My gut churned. Of course, I wanted Clementine found safe, but I wanted to be the one to find her.

She’s mine, I thought.

I nearly fell off my horse laughing at the thought.

This had to be a dream. It couldn’t be real.

I could not be mated to a freaking horse!

But I knew what my wolf was telling me, and I’d never heard of a wolf doing that if it wasn’t true.

Clementine was my one true mate.