Chapter Text
POV Ryland
It was one of the days, where Colt and I had to bring our cattle to another pasture. The sun was just about to rise and the wind was still a cool breeze. Colt and I were just riding to the pasture our cattle was on, as Colt stopped. "What the hell is that?", he asked. "What do you mean?", I followed his direction of looking and stopped my mare Mary. She was a beautiful grey quarter horse. "There is a cloud of dust." Now I saw it too. "Probably just travelers.", I said and patted Mary. "Hopefully just travelers. They are in the direction of our cattle. Let's go" We both started galloping. As we arrived we checked the surroundings. Nothing. "Maybe the cows just fought.", I guessed while getting ready to herd. Colt was always one to worry bout thief or worse. "Do you always need to play it down?", he asked while still not trusting the peace. "Do you always need to worry so much?", I opposed. "You are a pacifist.", he stated. "Why do you always have to say it like it is an insult." "Maybe it is." "Fuck off. Get the cattle out already." I opened the gate and Colt was riding in on his liver-chestnut quarter horse to herd the cattle out. I took over the left side, later as every cow was out, Colt took the right side. It wasn't a hard job for two, as we only had 20 something cows. Would we have more, we would need more people to help, but we aren't that big of a ranch. It took us five hours to herd the cattle to the other pasture and the sun was burning down already. Carefully I looked up towards the sun. "Must be noon soon...", I stated and he simply gave me a thumbs up as a response. Finally we arrived there and after herding them in and locking the gate, we rode around the fence to check for broken down parts. Suddenly I heard something and stopped Mary to look around. "Did you hear that?", I asked Colt and looked around. "Wha-" "Sh." He looked at me annoyed. I heard a faint help and Colt must have heard it too, because now he also was looking for it. "Back there!", he immediately galloped in a direction and I followed him quickly.
We came up to a broken down carriage and two people. "Amazing, you heard me!", the man exclaimed. His skin was a nice tone of brown, he had black-ish grey hair which were standing in every direction and compared to the other... person he was rather small. "People call me Rocky, and that's my fantastic mate Adrian. The carriage broke down and as we were just trying to fix it, some men were rushing by on horses. Our mule got spooked and ran off. Now we have the carriage somewhat fixed but no mule.", he laughed a bit after explaining everything rather fast. "Not so fast dear, let them introduce themself as well.", Adrian spoke calmly. "Hey yea.. I am Ryland and that is my brother Colt, we just put our cattle in the pasture nearby. Sorry to hear that with your mule. Can we help somehow?" I could clearly feel Colt's eyes rolling without even looking at him, but I didn't care, I wanted to help them. "That would be amazing! How about I jump on and we search him together!", Rocky exclaimed excited. I was a bit surprised by that extrovert behavior but I couldn't think of anything else. "Colt, could you stay here while I make a quick round with him?", I asked while helping Rocky get up on Mary. He glared at me for a while, but then just let out a sigh. "Sure... I will put Thunder in front of the carriage and will head with... Adrian to our ranch. Don't get yourself fucking hurt, I dare you." "Do you always need to use such a foul language?", I asked while watching him dismount Thunder. "Go before I decide otherwise.", he dared and loosened the saddle. "We will meet each other at the ranch, see you soon." "Take care Adrian!" After the goodbyes I started riding back towards the pasture. "Those are his footprints!", Rocky exclaimed loudly and pointed at the floor.
POV Colt
Why does Ryland always need to be so helpful and friendly. I was slightly annoyed and put the saddle and pad careful on their carriage. "I apologize for the abrupt behavior from Rocky, I hope we don't bother you too much.", Adrian said and petted Thunder carefully. "Yea... no worries. Used to it. Rylands the same.", I admitted and patted Thunder a bit, before I put him in front of the carriage. As I got everything done, I swung myself up the carriage and took the reins. "Let's go I'd say.", I said and gave Thunder a signal to go. The ride was quiet for a while, until I broke the silence. "Where are you guys from?", I asked readjusting my hat. "Far away, a village called Eridvalley.", Adrian answered short. Was Adrian a man? A woman? Why am I asking myself that, it's not fucking important. "What ya guys doing so far from home?", I asked looking towards the horizon. "Searching a new home... Eridvalley is getting drier each day... We've got barely animals anymore and water has become worth more than gold could achieve.", Adrian explained and seemed quite depressed. "Sorry to hear..." "It's fine..." The rest of the ride was rather quiet again. "Is it far till your Ranch?", Adrian asked. "A bit... we will arrive around sunset...", I answered and looked up the sky. "I deeply apologize for all the trouble we caused you two. We will repay our depth." "Don't worry bout that. I don't want your money, you guys will need it. Besides... you don't have a place to sleep yet, that true?" "Pretty much..." "We have guest room and a place for your mule, when found of course." "You are too kind, Colt..." "Don't mention it... I will probably not hear the end of it anyway as soon as Ryland gets to know I suggested it." "You have a good heart Colt..." "Yea... thanks."
The sun just started to set as we arrived at the Ranch. "Thank heaven... We arrived." I stopped Thunder and got off the carriage. "ADRIAN!", Rocky seemed to have appeared out of thin air and cling himself to Adrian, "We found Toby!" Ryland came up to me and helped me with my saddle while i brought Thunder in his stall and refreshed his water. "There you go buddy... Thanks for today.", I petted him and noticed Ryland behind me, who probably tried to find a good argument to convince me to let them stay. "Stop thinking so loud... I already invited them.", as I closed off the stall I got surprised by a big and tight hug. "Thank you Colt." "Yea whatever. How about you show them the guestroom?" "Will do." He let go of me and left.
After I cared for the horses and cleaned myself up a bit I started cooking. Or at least I tried. We had potatoes, garlic, some meat, cheese, milk and bread. As I was just cutting the meat I noticed Adrian coming up to me. "Can I help you somehow?", Adrian asked and looked over the ingredients. "Yea... I don't know... It's hard to cook when the one caring for the garden is not good with plants, why we barely have any vegetables.", the second part I said more towards the room. "It's not my fault the plants die!", Ryland opposed and interrupted his talk with Rocky for it. "Yes it is!" Adrian chuckled. "How can I help.", they offered. "If you could, maybe peel and cut the potatoes, would be really nice of you." "Sure, no problem."
I somehow was able to make a potato-meat-stew with garlic-bread. During dinner Rocky excitedly talked about some inventions and crafts he had made, as his job was some sort of craftsman or blacksmith. Ryland was all excited about it and was asking millions of questions. Adrian and I were more of the calmer side and just listened while eating. As Ryland was doing the dishes and Rocky helped him I just sat back and ignored my pain of my spine. "Do you have a mate, Colt?", Adrian spoke calmly. "No... there was someone, yes... but then a lot of bad events happened... now I have this Ranch and my brother." "May I ask what happened?" "Yea.. well... In my early days I did rodeo. I rode for some rat that had some bets going and made money with me doing rodeo. Jody... the woman I was seeing... was never a big fan of it... but she supported me. Then I had a bad accident. I fell off and weren't able to get away immediately. The bull jumped on my spine and broke it in half. How I survived it I still don't know. I wasn't allowed to leave my bed for several months and I didn't want to see anyone. Not my parents, not my brother and especially not Jody. It took me two years to get back up. Another year to be somewhat painless and then an additional year to be okay with what happened. By the time I was somewhat pain free and wasn't a douche to everyone, Jody got married and moved overseas. Both my parents died of old age six years after the accident and four years ago from now. Since then it's my brother and I. And that's okay. I like my life how it is now." Adrian had listened patiently. "Yea, a lot of unlucky events. How is your back now though?", they asked while stirring their tea. "I can feel weather change, Ryland made me a saddle that wasn't hard on my back and was light in general, so I wouldn’t hurt my back by tacking up Thunder, some evenings I feel it, some I don't. It's not very painful when I feel it, it's just there." Adrian nodded. I noticed some tattoos on Adrians arms and decided to ask about them: "What story do they tell?" They smiled and explained each one. A tattoo for their youth, the day they became an adult, the day they met Rocky, one symbolizes their job, which had something to do with animals, the day they mated with Rocky for a lifetime and one to remind them of their home in Eridvalley. "I like it when people use tattoos as art... and not as intimidation." Adrian chuckled a bit. "What is your plan for tomorrow?", Adrian asked and nipped on their tea. "Well... Caring for the horses, letting them out, feeding them, cleaning the boxes... stuff like that... but I also plan on riding to the village to buy some stuff. It's a twenty minute ride, I could lend you horses if you want to come. "That would be very kind of you.", Adrian smiled calmly. "Ah, don't mention it. You guys are good people too. Thank you again for helping me cook." Before Adrian could say something the door opened and one could clearly hear Rocky and Ryland. "I am very sorry, please don't be mad...", Rocky apologized and I got curious. I heard Rylands laugh so it can't be so awful. "Don't worry, it's just water. Hey Colt... could you bring me a towel? I am drenched." Careful I got up and walked outside on the porch. Ryland stood there like a wet cat. "What happened?", I made place after I noticed that Adrian came too. "Rocky wanted to show me a new way to wash dishes more efficient and with less water." "Rocky!", Adrian scolded him. "I am very sorry dear Colt and dear Ryland, apologies." I couldn't hold in a chuckle. "Don't worry, we have a well and a river nearby, we are good. I will get you that towel now Ry." "Thank you." I left to get a towel and came back few minutes later. I gave it to him. "The bathroom is upstairs, you guys can get water from the well, I think Rocky knows now where it is, boil it down here and take a bath upstairs. The toilet is outside, next to the stables, but don't worry, we clean it each morning before it gets hot." "We appreciate it deeply.", Adrian said and I just gave her a little smile. After Ryland was dry enough to come in, we decided to all go to sleep.
As always I got up before the sun rose and went outside after getting dressed. Carefully I stretched myself as I was standing on the porch and headed towards the stable. Most of the horses were still asleep, so I tried to not wake them. I grabbed the hay-fork and started to carry hay from the stable to the pasture, which was five minutes from the main house, for them to eat later. As I was done after a few loads of hay I walked back in the stable and was greeted by Adrian and Rocky. "Good morning you two.", I greeted them surprised, "You are up early." "Always get up short before sunrise.", Rocky explained proudly. I chuckled. "How can we help?", Adrian offered. "You guys are guests, you don't need-" "We want to help!", Rocky said faster than I was with finishing my sentence. I chuckled after Adrian scolded him for interrupting me. "Okay then... All the horses need to be taken out to the pasture. The halters are on each door. Every horse is fine with each other so no stress. As we now had five horses and Rockys and Adrians mule, everyone took two to bring them out. I made sure the gate was closed right, which wasn't that easy. "Why is the gate so over complicated?", Rocky asked while watching me. "Because I have horses which are way too smart, who will get out themselves if it isn't too complicated.", I checked one last time and headed back to the stable. First I brought out every used water bucket together and then I started putting the horseshit in the wheelbarrow. Adrian and Rocky took the water buckets and used them to water the „garden“ we have. As we were done with cleaning up the stable I heard Ryland yell: „Colt! Breakfast‘s ready!“ „Let‘s go eat then.“, I smiled and headed back towards the house. „Good morning brother, the chicken are fed, let out and I took their eggs, also I fed our four cows, milked them and let them out as well.“ „Thanks Ry… Adrian and Rocky helped me with the horses.“ „Really? That‘s very nice. I made breakfast. Hope you guys like omelette.“ „We appreciate every meal.“, Adrian spoke softly and we all sat down to eat.
After we ate and cleaned everything everyone got ready to go to the village. I handed Adrian the chestnut Criollo mare Amanda and handed Rocky the black and white appaloosa gelding Scully. Scully was one of the calmest horses we had, which I thought must be great for Rocky, so they couldn’t hurt each other. Scully was also a bit lazy but that‘s okay, he's a good horse. Amanda has a lot of mood swings. She could walk by a bush 500 times but get spooked by the 501st time. Also she easily reacts to the vibe of the rider, so a nervous person would send her flying off the floor immediately. After making sure everyone had some saddlebags we took off towards the village. Ryland and I was riding in front while Adrian and Rocky rode behind us. Hopefully the village will be uneventful, but my back told me otherwise.