by astrophile. » Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:33 am
The sun was still young in the sky when the silhouette of a man atop a stocky-looking horse could be seen riding back to an old but well maintained barn. The man dropped his stirrups and slid out of the saddle, his boots crunching on the dirt and gravel below. "Alright, let's get you in your stall big guy, what do you say about that?" he asked the big bay gelding, known around here as Pinecone. He was a draft cross Dustin's family had picked up at a local horse auction about three years ago, and he now served as his main ranch horse. Pinecone's age was not known, nor was his history before he belonged to the Hayes, although Dustin estimated he had to be around ten or eleven. Dustin lifted the reins over his head and led him over to the hitching post that stood outside of the barn. He slid the bosal off his head and replaced it with a light blue rope halter, before he got to work unsaddling him. The gelding stood faithfully, letting Dustin brush his bay coat out. The two had just returned from checking the herd. It was one of the busiest times for a ranch, calving season. He had counted two new calves that had hit the ground, two young heifers. It was still early, but calving season seemed to be going well so far for the twenty-three year old.
Once Dustin was content with his brushing job of Pinecone, he untied him from the post and led him into the barn and turned him into his stall. The gelding instantly went over to the freshly-pitched Alfalfa hay and began munching away. "That's all you do is eat, you big lazy thing," Dustin teased with a chuckle, hanging up the halter on its respective hook. His other horses had finished their breakfast, and most were standing out in their runs. He walked from Pinecone's stall to the stall across from it, and poked his head in. Inside the stall was his gray roping prospect, Okie. Okie had been bred and born on his parents' ranch, and had been given as a yearling to Dustin on his twentieth birthday. The colt was now four, and Dustin had just begun to train him. He had the frame to make a great rope horse. Okie walked over and stuck his head out, nosing Dustin for any treats. "Sorry, I ain't got anything for you bud," he said, running his hand up and down the white blaze on Okie's face, and he made a mental note to train Okie later today. He left the barn and walked down the driveway, to the mailbox. Mail tucked under his arm, he was about to head back up when an unfamiliar voice stopped him. He turned around a spotted a young woman, maybe a year or so younger than him, standing behind him. She must've been new around here, as he didn't recognize her, and him being the social guy he was, he knew almost everyone. His guess was confirmed when she began to speak again. "Uh, there's a diner in town just a little ways away from here," he responded. Now where are your manners? "I'm Dustin," he said, tipping his Cactus Rope ball cap to her.
