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

[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."