OOM: In the Stables with Brisco

[ikissdhimbck]

It's a nice day at the end of the universe. Kate's been letting some of the stock out to graze, so the stable itself is fairly quiet.

She's moving between stalls, getting them mucked and freshening up the troughs. Beaut's whickering at her as she moseys to and fro, occasionally pinning her ears at the new stallion across the way.

The stallion who, as of a few minutes ago, has enjoyed his second green apple of the day.

Comments

[ikissdhimbck]

At that, she laughs outright.

"Only if you're inclined. The treats come off my tab."

Otherwise, there'd be a whole lot of stock owners with Questions about their elevated bar tabs.

"You're a lawman, ain't you?"

[harvard_bounty]

It's been a while since he's done stable chores, but he knows his way around. He makes sure the stalls Kate's cleaned have a fresh layer of straw bedding as they continue chatting.

"I'm a bounty hunter."

He still makes the distinction, even though to him it's still all about justice. He knows plenty of his fellow bounty hunters don't have such noble ambitions.

[ikissdhimbck]

Her body language tightens. It's brief, but noticeable from the rigid skew of her shoulders down to the pole-straight line of her spine.

"Tack room's there on the left, feed on the right. There's extra shovels an' rakes, if y'want 'em."

For one heart stopping second she wonders if Dixie ever talks about her. She tries to remember if she's ever told her anything truly defamatory, anything about the price on her head, and even as she reminds herself Milliways has rules she still feels the slam of iron hit her back, her thigh, and her arm. The memory as fresh as if it were yesterday.

[harvard_bounty]

He doesn't say anything for a while, continuing the chores. Judging by her sudden tenseness there's some bad memories there, and he certainly doesn't want to upset her any further. He couldn't do anything bounty-related here even if he wanted to, which he doesn't.

"That your horse across the aisle?" he asks after a time.

(Yes, Comet, he noticed your interest.)

[ikissdhimbck]

The silence isn't exactly comfortable, but it's familiar. She slips on a smile, just as sweet as you please, and nods.

"That's my Beaut. She's been with me through some good times an' bad times as well."

The mare pins her ears forward, as if acknowledging that, yes, she knows you're all talking about her and that's just as it should be anyhow.

[harvard_bounty]

"Beaut, huh? She lives up to her name."

Comet whinnies an agreement.

[ikissdhimbck]

There's a low whicker, followed by Beaut turning her head away.

Coquettishness? In a horse? Stranger things have happened.

"Thank you. I think so myself. She's got a bit of spirit in her, too. But don't worry, Comet, she'll come around."

(Yes, Kate has noticed his interest as well.)

[harvard_bounty]

Brisco laughs at that, as Comet looks slightly affronted.

"Hey, you know the right lady's worth the effort," he reminds his equine companion.

[ikissdhimbck]

Beaut swings her head around and snorts, ears rotating back. If horses could talk, no doubt she'd be saying something along the lines of, 'you could at least offer to buy me dinner first.'

"Speakin' of the right lady  —  Miss Dixie's very dear t'me. An' she seems t'like you an awful lot."

There's a pointed question in there somewhere.

[harvard_bounty]

"I like her a lot too. We're both trying to do right by each other."

If only they could get their timing together....

[ikissdhimbck]

"Good. She's been through hell an' high water, an' she deserves somebody who treats her right."

She goes about her work calmly.

(The way a shark calmly circles its prey.)

"I want her t'be happy."

[harvard_bounty]

He nods, grasping the seriousness of the matter.

"I'm doing the best I can to make that happen."

[ikissdhimbck]

She's reassured by the gravity he gives his answers.

"See to it that it stays that way?"

She didn't intend to trap him out here, or give him the third degree. So her tone stays light — serious, but sweet. He seems like a good fella, and that's good enough for Kate.

But if he breaks Dixie's heart, he'll see the whirlwind.

"You, ah. You two travel together? Miss Dixie with her showbiz, an' you with your ... bounty huntin'?"

[harvard_bounty]

"Well, we travel. We don't meet up as much as we'd like, but we're working on that."

Milliways is sort of a godsend in that regard.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Ah, I see."

She ducks into a stall to do some work, letting silence settle for a moment.

"You haven't settled down yet?"

[harvard_bounty]

The question catches him off-guard, and he laughs shortly.

"No, not yet. Hopefully someday, though."

[ikissdhimbck]

The laugh restores her smile.

Now she sees why Dixie likes him.

(Two peas in a pod.)

"Jus' be sure you ain't ready t'settle down before she is. I think Miss Dixie's got some gypsy blood in her. Might be why your arrangement works so well, always crossin' paths."

[harvard_bounty]

He nods again.

"I've got some work to do before any settling down happens. We'll have to see how thing's go from there."

He's quiet for a few moments, as Comet noses him every time he gets close enough.

"What? I don't have anything in my pockets for you."

[ikissdhimbck]

"One last big score?"

She cuts a look at him.

The only sounds in the stables are those of Comet and Beaut.

(Beaut still isn't impressed.)

[harvard_bounty]

"Rounding up the outlaws who killed my father."

His voice is steady. It's really not about vengeance, regardless of what anyone thinks.

[ikissdhimbck]

Well.




She hadn't been expecting that.

"Oh."

She eases back, letting the weight settle on her.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

[harvard_bounty]

"It's okay."

He's used to talking about it.

"My dad and I didn't always understand each other, but when he died I promised myself I'd finish what he started."

[ikissdhimbck]

She looks down.





"My daddy passed away a few years back as well."

Given the pinched expression on her face, he might be able to gather that it wasn't by natural causes.

"Yours was a bounty hunter?"

[harvard_bounty]

"He was a lawman."

He's always careful to make the distinction. He cares about justice, but he knows plenty of bounty hunters who don't have such noble aims.

[ikissdhimbck]

She notices the distinction.

Her brow furrows, confusion creeping into her eyes.

"I don't understand. Bounty huntin' — well, that makes you more of a vigilante than a lawman. If that."