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The branding iron glea in the heart of the C-shaped iron Even through her gloves, Jessy could feel the heat traveling up the rod and into her hands But she was used to it—just as she was used to the choking dust, the bawling noise, and theconfusion of riders and ani life for her to find anything unusual about this one

The dusty red flank of the Hereford calf was exposed for the iron There was a trick toof ii two years ago, and now she wielded the iron like an expert Hair sizzled and stank up the air already ripe with the smell of manure, blood, and sweat She didn’t even wrinkle her nose

She pressed the hot iron firh to injure the flesh but deep enough to burn a clear print into the hide Anything less, and the hair could grow back and obscure the brand The action was repeated twice more to make three C’s on the calf’s flank Jessy stepped back and nodded to the round

“You can let ’im up,” she said

At a trot, Jessy headed for the branding fire, dodging horses and riders and swinging ropes, as well as other round crew When she reached the fire, she jabbed the iron into the hot coals to reheat and took another that glohite-hot tinged with red

Individualand bucking calf, each with a task assigned One round while anotherneedle and castrated the bull calves Lastly, the brand was burned onto its hip They worked slickly and efficiently, putting a calf on its feet al half strangled by the rope around its neck

The nu as Jessy trotted to the next A hefty bull calf was giving the ht In deference to Jessy’s supposedly delicate ears, h she had long since heard every sord iinable and used a few herself, but not in front of her father It would have been the surest way to be banished to the house, and Jessy loved the ranch work noit was

She stood back, waiting until the others had finished their tasks and were ready for her to wield the iron She listened absently to the run of conversation between the runts of exertion and muffled curses

“Heard Ty’s due home next month,” one offered and swore at the calf when it kicked him in the shin At the mention of Ty Jessy

was all ears

At thirteen, she was at the age to think about boys, and Ty was the ideal choice, since he was older and roughly handsome—and absent, which enabled her to weave little fantasies about him Her ideas of as roined Ty and herself riding the range and working cattle together He would be impressed with how skilled she was So far, her drea hands and a small, chaste kiss

“Be home for the summer, won’t he?” Les Brewster held a red ear and snapped the tag in place Jessy caught the affirmative nod of the first

At the other end of the calf, a castrating knife was being wielded “Heard he let his hair grow” He didn’t look up fro incision to remove the testes “Probably come back here lookin’ like Jesus”

“Ty wouldn’t do that,” Jessy was shocked into protesting

“Hauled hay to some cattle with him over Christiven him any uppity notions”