She wished that she could deny with a straight face that her boyfriend wasn't as much of a redneck as he was.
But right now, she really, really couldn't.
Tiny had come in, looking anxious and fearful. She and Otis were sitting on the couch, snuggled up to one another, watching T.V.
"What's wrong, Tiny?" Otis asked.
"Let the door open...cows are out..." He muttered.
"Aw, fuck." He let his head fall back against the couch in exasperation.
"Sorry...Sorry, Otis...Sorry."
"Nah, no big deal, buddy. C'mon. Let's get 'em wrangled."
"What are you gonna do?" She asked.
"What do you mean? I'm gonna go get 'em."
"How?"
He seemed puzzled that she didn't understand what he was going to do. "I'm...I'm gonna get on the horse and go herd 'em."
"You know how to horseback ride?"
"...Yes?"
"How did I not know this?"
"You never asked." He stood, pulling his boots on and grabbing that god forsaken cowboy hat.
She knew the Firefly family kept a few horses for pleasure purposes. Baby mainly fooled around with them, Otis sometimes. Otis did have a soft spot for animals, but the cows were mainly R.J. and Tiny's ordeal.
"Baby! I'm gonna take Pepper and wrangle the cows! You won't have to walk her!"
"Alright." She hollered back down stairs.
"I...I need to see this." She hurried after him. He brought Pepper out of the stall and took a running start, hopping onto her back. "What? No saddle?"
"Nah. Just bareback. You ever ride?"
"Not...really."
"I'll teach you later. YA!" He and Pepper took off, thundering out of the barn and into the field, circling the small herd of Firefly cattle. One hand planting his hat on his head, and one hand holding the reigns, he looked like a real cowboy. His flannel shirt blew back in the wind with his hair, whipping as he turned on the animal. "Mama! When they're all in there I need you to close that gate!"
"I got it!" She slammed the gate as he thundered by on the horse.
He slowed Pepper to a walk and dismounted, stumbling on his landing.
"That was...not something I ever expected to see."
He shrugged. "I'm a southern boy. Of course I know how to ride a horse."
"Bareback?"
"Easier than foolin' with the tack."
R.J. finally returned, hurrying out to the yard. "You got everything?"
"Yeah, we got 'em."
"Thanks. None of 'em hurt?"
"No. Tiny just left the gate open."
R.J. broke eye contact with Otis. "Uhhh...you might wanna get Pepper.
The horse was trotting away from them. Otis had inadvertently left go of the reins.
"Shit fuck shit fuck!" He tore after the animal, diving on the rope just before it got away from him. Agitated, the animal took off at full gallop, dragging Otis with it. He screamed in alarm as he struggled to gain control.
She could only stand in amazement at what she had just witnessed. Rufus just laughed at her.
"Bet you didn't wake up today expectin' to see that."
"No...no, I did not...That actually just happened, right?"
"Yes, it did."
"Is he alright?"
Rufus shrugged. "He'll be fine. At least he has a hold of her."
About a half an hour later, Otis returned on the back of a very exhausted, sweaty horse. He was covered in dirt and dust, and he was extremely out of breath. When he got close enough to them, he dismounted and handed the reigns to R.J.
"Here. You take this crazy bitch inside." He collapsed on the ground, still panting. Rufus laughed before taking the reigns and leading her in.
"You okay, Baby?"
"I'll be fine...Just...need a minute."
"Okay. Guess you're not teachin' me how to ride today, huh?"
"Hell no."