-- home

[Ranger]

___________________________
J U S T I N

So far away, I wish you were here,
Before its too late, this could all disappear
_______________________________

It had been months since Justin had been at the stud, and now, with a weary sigh, he stepped out of his truck and onto the familiar worn dirt. It was a sigh of relief, a sigh of happiness.. this was where he belonged, not in the city, not working out funeral arrangements.. not being chased by silly city women wanting his families money. No, he belonged here.. where the people wanted only friendship and help with their own lives, their horses lives. A high, excited whinny made Justin grin, head turning to the familiar pen where Jeremiah, his beloved stud horse pranced and made a fuss - excited to see his owner and friend home after months of wondering where he had gone.

Justin dropped his bag on the dirt, adjusted his jacket and then strode over to the fence, hand outstretched. Another sigh left his lips as the well known feeling of a certain someones grey nose touched his calloused hand. "I've missed you boy... You wouldn't believe how much". Justin closed his green eyes, enjoying the feeling of his stallions velvet nose. He leaned forward, eyes opening as he gave the stud a quick kiss on the nose before turning back to his back, leaving the stallion watching with warm brown eyes as he ducked down to grab his bag from the dirt.

Justin headed toward the house door, eager to get back into his real home. As he opened the door, the smell of his house swept out to embrace him - a warm, woody smell, mixed with the faint tingle of his cologne that seemed to spread through the whole house. He grinned, striding in and dropping his bag on the couch, taking his jacket off swiftly as he slipped into the couch, snuggling down happily. That didn't last long though, Justin wasn't one to sit around when there was work to be done. He had had a friend from the Army come up and look after the horses while he was gone, but it was his job again now. He jumped up, sweeping a hand through his hair happily, heading outside to look after his beloved horses.

[vampy ]]

it was weird. going to someone else to ask for work. possibly a place to stay. but sam was going to lose her house since she was too young and her parents were ever so steadily cutting off her access to money. ace's lope made it easy to think as he pulled them closer and closer to seperation stud. she knew she could've gotten a job in town but she wouldn't be with horses and that's what she wanted. so sam prayed that the owner of seperation stud would need a worker or two.

nausea swept through her and she shook her head. was it from the sun? or the fact that she was two months pregnant? she coughed a little and slowed ace down to a trot to wipe her face with her hands.

she wasn't dirty like so many saw her. she actually prepared herself for this. sorta. her faded tan boots had just been cleaned. her faded jeans looked fairly nice and her gray tank top informed the possible informer that it was indeed summer and she had no access to a car. them her tan hat lay on her long, braided, brown hair. her skin was a tan, letting anyone know that she obviously worked outside. her hands, looking small and feminine, were calloused and scarred from work. her wrist was covered in horse hair bracelets, made with the hair of each horse she gentled.

ace let out a small snort, capturing sam's attention. a man was walking out of the house, looking quite happy. sam froze. maybe she wasn't ready for this. maybe he wasn't looking for an employee. anxiety filled her and she slowed ace to a walk and wondered if she should just turn around and get the hell out of there.

[Ranger]

___________________________
J U S T I N

So far away, I wish you were here,
Before its too late, this could all disappear
_______________________________

He was met with a chorus of excited and happy neighs, those horses who were boarding at the stud had grown to know the kind man who looked after them, and were happy to see him home again. And he was happy to see them. A familiar brown yearling colt pranced up to him, nosing his chest over the fence. This colt had made quite an impression on Justin, and he had considered keeping this one for himself - after all, there had been many horses bred to his stud, and customers often only wanted the best to take home. Justin chuckled at the eager colt and stroked his nose before striding into the feed shed to grab him some oats. His green eyes studied the young horse, noticing signs of his aging with pleasure as the oats were demolished. The sound of hooves made Justin look up in surprise.

A young girl.. a young woman really, was riding up toward the stud. She looked like a real country girl - her wrists adorned with horse hair bracelets and her hair plaited into two long plaits. Justin watched her approach with curiosity - she looked pale.. well, her face did. The rest of her was tanned, from working in the sun, he presumed. Her horse looked well cared for and well trained, a handsome beast. The young colt nibbled his hand, breaking Justin out of his wondering and bringing him back to the present. He turned, grabbing a rag hanging from the fence and wiping his hands and striding forward.

As he drew closer, Justin noticed a look of.. nerves? On the girls face. She was vaguely familiar - but Justin didn't recall a name to the face. He paused in front of her horse, touching its soft nose with a well practiced hand as he looked up at her. "Can I help you?" He asked, green eyes curious.

[vampy ]]

was it weird to watch a guy feed a yearling oats? probably. was it weird she found it a little attractive? probably since she had no idea who this guy was. yet, her she was about to beg for a job and a place to stay. she could easily stay in a stall. she wouldn't have to go near his house. well... for food and a bathroom but that's the only reasons.

he must've realized she was here because he looked towards her and ace with a look of surprise. obviously he wasn't really expecting anyone. damnit. why didn't she call first? what if he wasn't hiring? would she have to mention the bun in the oven? probably. she swallowed as she dismounted. she saw him from the corner of her eye, wiping off his hands.

when he grew closer, she leaned slightly on ace, hoping to draw comfort. she watched as ace's ears swiveled to the man who paused before him and touched his velvety nose. ace leaned into the touch and arched his neck softly, as if showing off his conformation.

his green eyes were curious when they looked at her, asking her if he could help. she pulled her hat off, figuring it would be some form of respect. i hope so she stated, her two different hued eyes looking at his. i'm wondering if you need any help... like stable hands or anything she stated, then figured to just tell him everything. i'm nineteen. my parents got me a ranch called open arms but since i'm too young and because my parents have cut me off, i can't keep it. i need work and a place to stay. obviously i could work in town at some diner but that's just not me. i'm a horsewoman, not a waitress she explained, then embedding her fingers in the black mane.

ace here can help out, too. he could be like a babysitter of some sorts for weanlings. i know you usually use older mares but he's quite gentle with little ones and could entertain them. plus, he'd help me out. i could easily sleep in his stall or a hayloft. honestly, the only money i'd ask for was stuff for food and essentials. and baby stuff. she mentally added.

she figured she should probably say something of comic relief but couldn't think of anything. but her horse obviously had an idea because his lips were lipping at the guy's shirt and she nearly died of embarrassment. he didn't even know ace! sorry. ace is a little... odd. i'm samantha ride, sam, by the way.

[Ranger]

___________________________
J U S T I N

So far away, I wish you were here,
Before its too late, this could all disappear
_______________________________

Justin noticed that the girl looked slightly nervous, but dismissed this - he was friendly, and wasn't everybody nervous before meeting new people? Or.. vaguely familiar people. Her horse bent his neck, and Justin, being the horsemaster he was, examined the stallions conformation. It was pleasing to the eye, that was for sure. Justin had a soft spot for bays, and this one was no exception - gorgeous with his soft brown colors and silky black mane. A small smile lifted the corners of Justins lips as he stroked the stallions velvet nose absentmindedly.

He looked again to the girl whom had removed her hat, noticing with interest the different colors of her two eyes. It was pretty, he mused, especially combined with her long brown hair and tanned skin. He mentally scolded himself - not a good thing to be thinking about when he had just met the girl. He listened, quietly, still stroking her horses nose, as she explained what she wanted, and why. I'm a horsewoman, not a waitress. Well, he could see that. His eyes flicked to her feminine hands, twining into the black mane of her stallion.

Justin chuckled, looking up once more as she spoke about ace.. he assumed that was her fine stallion.. could help with the young horses. It wasn't a bad idea, and Justin could imagine the large, friendly horse prancing around entertaining his favorite young colt. His eyes twinkled as she spoke of sleeping in his stall - he certainly would not allow that, but he let her continue, smiling. He didn't really need help - he could manage the studs affairs alone, and had been for a while now.. but then again, it would be nice to have someone else around the farm. Helping when the colts were naughty, raising the foals to be good, kind, hardworking horses... Yes, he would very much enjoy the extra hand.. the extra face.. especially hers.

Once again, he had to scold himself - she was nineteen, he was twenty five now.. but surely that age gap was not too much? Again! He was brought back from the disaster of his mind by Ace lipping his shirt, making Justin grin. He looked from Ace to Sam, as she introduced herself. He chuckled again, speaking happily "Oh, Ace is fine - very handsome and charming. Very nice to meet you, Sam. I'm Justin Welling, owner of this fine establishment." He smiled, continuing "Listen, I would be happy to have you here working on one condition -" a pause for suspense, he thought, would be rather appropriate "You sleep in the spare bedroom, not the stalls. I can't have my employee freezing in the cold winter nights! And there is no way I am not paying you for hard work. Ace is welcome to stay here, but we'll have to separate him from the brood mares."

Justin offered a hand to help Sam down from Ace, telling himself that it was just a helping hand.. he wasn't looking forward to feeling her skin on his.. He cleared his throat "Also, my cooking skills leave much to be desired.. I manage to feed myself, but I don't know if your stomach could handle it" He laughed, continuing "And you'll have to watch out for old Mud over there" Justin gestured toward a brown donkey that stood sullenly by the fence "He's got quite the personality.. But stroke his ears in the right spot and he'll adore you. And he won't admit it, but he likes company." He shut his mouth, feeling that he was rambling.

"Would you perhaps like to come inside and discuss your terms further? My skills extend to making tea and coffee, and I think I have some biscuits. Ace is welcome to pen up with Jeremiah - he's friendly enough. If you're not comfortable with that, pop him in the stalls and we'll work it out later."

[vampy ]]

samantha ride
i went to bed i was thinking about you
and how it felt when i finally found you
it's like a movie playing in my head
don't wanna look 'cause i know how it ends

staring at the man from on top of ace made her feel... odd. she was above him. yet, there was no doubt, that whenever she would dismount he'd probably tower over her five, six frame. ace flicked his tail, pleased when the man seemed to appreciate the way he looked. because of his "dirty mustang blood" (a phrase he heard quite often from sam's enemies), not many seemed to actually admire the lean, muscled bay body. even his well-groomed appearance was stellar but how many times had he been called "broomtail" or "good for nothing"?

she set her beloved tan hat on the horn of the brown saddle. scratching under her gelding's mane, she smiled softly at his sigh of obvious contentment. when she started on her little tangent, she watched as he either studied her or ace. what was he thinking? that it was weird for strangers to just trot up to owners and beg for work? how stupid of her to just do this. she should've sent some warning. obviously, he had been about to head out to work and she interrupted him.

his chuckle about her babysitter comment eased her nerves. then she went about living arrangements and she could swear those green eyes twinkled with something like amusement. the kind, friendly smile was still on his face, making her wonder exactly what was going on in that mind of his. perhaps if she got that job and they grew to be friends, she could ask him about what goes on in his mind 'cause it seemed like he was going back and forth with himself.

when ace lipped at his shirt, sam could feel her neck turn a little pink. but his grin, made her set aside the ultimate worry that he'd squeam away. studying him curiously, she thought that maybe he really had a connection with horses. she had met breeders who would've scolded at ace or sent her heated looks. ace swiveled his ear back, craving her voice again. his other ear was focused on the man - justin welling's - chuckle and voice.

she, too, was listening to that chuckle and voice. she liked his name. justin welling. he did look like a justin. when he paused, she tensed and when he continued, she stared at him. a grin creeped on her face. he did that on purpose. what a little ass. well i guess i could stay in a room instead of a stall she stated with a hint of playfulness, as if she were weighing the pros and cons. when he spoke of ace and brood mares, she smiled. that should be fine. he probably couldn't much with them though. he's a gelding. they gelded him after bringing him from the range, unfortunately she stated, actually saddened by the thought. she often wished for little aces running around.

his hand was offered to her and she looked at it. it looked tough, like someone who actually worked. hadn't geoffrey's been smooth? and jamie's rough? then nico's were, also, smooth. probably wrong to think of exs, at the moment. she smiled and put her hand in his before swinging off ace. they were indeed filled with stories of hardwork. was it bad that she wanted to just kinda keep in there? regrettably, she took it out. didn't she need a break from guys? isn't that what she told amy? even though it would be pretty awesome... no, no. for godssake she was pregnant. surely that would be the ender right there.

he spoke of cooking skills, causing her to laugh. she knew how to cook. nothing fancy but she knew how to make some things. looking to where he gestured, she smiled brightly. a donkey! how fantastic was that?! the urge to go to the donkey was over bearing. he was right there. why not just stroke those long ears? ace watched his mistress with eyes of amusement. he knew of her donkey weakness. it would have to wait. after the discussed terms, she'd come to bathe the donkey in affection.

that sounds great. all of it she stated with a smile. she was about to lead him but she hesitated. not only did she not know where she was going but she figured she should come clean. uh. i'm... pregnant, which is why my parents have just about disowned me. if that changes your mind... she stated with a small frown. she'd still work hard, no doubt. she'd be able to balance a child and work, easily.

ooc; i <3 donkeys