Break away || Wyatt

[Finn Keagan]

Last night hadn't gone as well as Finn had hoped it would. He hadn't been expecting much because it was a new place with new people, and he never did well in those types of situations. He knew he had given Wyatt a tough time, but he was trying. He wasn't trying very hard, but he was giving a little effort. Some of the time. Finn just didn't care at the moment. No one else had ever cared in his life recently, so why should he? Wyatt said he was going to help him, that that was what he was here for, but Finn had a hard tim believing him. He didn't trust people, and Wyatt was no exception. He felt attached to the man however, and it made him extremely nervous. He didn't know if it was part of Wyatt's grand master plan, but he was having trouble with the entire idea. He never believed he would even begin to fathom the idea of feeling comfortable around people for a while, especially a grown man like Wyatt. Wyatt was exactly his father's body type and everything. It didn't make sense.

Maybe it was because Wyatt hadn't really yelled, and he hadn't shown that he was going to hit him or hurt him in anyway. He had raised his voice a few times, but Finn had been feeling difficult and wasn't helping with the situation. So he didn't blame Wyatt in the least. Well...he didn't want to anyway, but a part of him did. The young man shook his head a little and then remained where he was. Wyatt had made sure that he was settled into the bunkhouse, but Finn hadn't stayed there for very long. After only an hour, Finn had repacked his things, and was soon in the barn. It didn't take him long to find the ladder of the hayloft, and he was soon getting himself comfortable above the stall of a chestnut mustang. The stall belonged to Lily's old mustang Beau, and the horse was making Finn feel comfortable. So he settled down, putting his pillow and his sleeping bag down first. He grabbed the blanket he had gotten from the bunkhouse, and was soon curled up into his sleeping bag. This was where he could sleep, and he would sleep. BUt he was mistaken. The pain in his wrist and the thoughts in his head kept him up all night long, and the young kid was seeing his father in every single shadow. This was not a place that he wanted to be. He was about to move, when he really did hear something rustling through the hay. Finn had readied himself for something then, but to his large surprise, the creator of the sound was a dog.

It was Lily's dog Noah to be precise, and the young canine had taught himself to climb up the ladder. Finn smiled happily, and was soon laying beside the australian shepherd. He felt safe with Noah by his side, and he soon drifted off into an undisturbed sleep. Noah kept the boy safe, and when morning came, Finn was up early. The young kid changed his clothes to his only other pair of clean clothes, and was soon heading down the ladder. Noah went down directly behind him, and Finn made sure that the dog could get down safely. He would have helped him. Once he reached the bottom, Finn brushed the hay out of his hair and off of his clothes, and was soon walking through the barn. He came across Beau and stroked the horse's face with his good hand, but then became aware of the noise from the round pen. Remembering Flyer from yesterday, slight excitement and slight fear swept through him. Seeing him this close up was something he hadn't expected. Hurrying from the barn, he came across the round pen, and the stallion was standing quietly in the center of it. Flyer was staring into the open distance, his heart and his mind wishing he could be running free once more. Once he took notice of a human close to him though, he started a charge right towards him. Finn didn't move however, for he had the fence between them both. What he didn't realize was that Fly had a habit of ramming it with his shoulder. As the stallion did that, Finn jumped back in surprise, and was soon stumbling back into the barn. The roan stallion was something to look at, but he was absolutely nuts. They had a lot of nerve training that one. Finn shook his head and was soon wondering when his day was going to start now.

[Wyatt Parker]

Word Count: 666 o.o
Status: Complete

Wyatt looked up, the sudden change in his horses gait throwing him off balance. He had been relaxed and with the sudden commotion, found himself falling pretty damn hard onto the ground, and the sight of hooves in front of him didn't help the situation either.

Let's rewind.

Wyatt pulled the saddle off of the stall door, hauling it onto his stallions back. The stallion was prancing around like a colt, dodging his owners hand and excitedly snorting like he was breathless. The mustang had been freshly combed and well-groomed to the point where his coat shone. It was a bit thicker what with the cold seasons coming around, but it was still fairly sleek. Wyatt stroked Hero's neck, patting the stallions shoulder then taking the two-piece reins from their tie on the wall. They were standing in the aisle and the rest of the horses had already been fed. They were now peering over their stall doors, watching as their companion was groomed and saddled. Leading Hero out into the yard, Wyatt mounted after pushing his foot through the stirrup, getting into the saddle with one practiced movement. He slipped the stirrup onto the balls of his feet, keeping a good grip around the slim barrel of the black mustang. He avoided walking around the other stallions pen, especially if his horse was excited already. The two of them went out into the open range, checking on the cattle since the ranch hands had taken care of it the week before. Plus, he felt like a long ride to take his mind off of things and to relax. To be alone.

Riding back into the yard, Wyatt felt fresh and cold, if you wanted him to be honest. The cold came through even the jacket that he was wearing. He pulled the collar up, having only one hand on the reins when Hero halted, throwing his head back and nearly hitting Wyatt.

What the hell was that for?

He muttered, looking up and seeing Flyer watching the two of them.

Oh crap...

Hero bit at the reins, his testosterone levels shooting through the roof as he felt natural instincts take over consideration for his owner on his back. Hero reared and Wyatt stayed on, even when Hero bucked wildly. He was used to riding the broncs and bulls back from his rodeo days. But he was a bit out of practice. He was thrown off balance and he lost his grip on the reins first, then losing his stirrups. Wyatt was thrown out of the saddle, landing on his shoulder and rolling a few times before he caught himself. He was crouching on the crowd, holding his shoulder first as he looked up at the stallion. He had seen those sharp hooves in front of him as he stopped rolling, but Hero hadn't gone near him. The stallion charged the fence, squealing and rearing up against the fencing, threatening the strength of the fence, but it held steadfast against those deadly hooves.

Wyatt was still on the ground but he stood up, groaning a bit as he did so. He caught sight something out of the corner of his eye and he looked to the side. Finn had been standing by the pen but was no where near the commotion. Wyatt signaled for him to stay back, walking towards Hero. Wyatt looked ticked, let's put it that way, but he also looked calm. It wasn't the first time he'd been thrown off a raucous horse. He whistled.

Hero!

Hero snorted, prancing around in front of the fence. Wyatt approached him, but Hero would hear none of it. He escaped his owners hand, racing off towards the barn with his reins dangling. He disappeared through the open doors before Wyatt had any say in it. Flyer was probably going ballistic over the outcry.

Finn, you okay?

He called, showing more concern for someone who might have real reason to fear the ferocity of the two stallions.

[Finn Keagan]

Finn had heard the sounds below him while he was enjoying his stay in the spacious hayloft. Figuring it was one of the hands, or even Wyatt, he had chanced a look over the edge. Seeing the familiar man from yesterday, he relaxed and then leaned back to his bed in the hay. Sinking down into his sleeping bag, he closed his eyes, suddenly feeling at peace now that Wyatt was there. For some reason, the man gave him a sense of calm and safety, even though he was usually terrified of men. And since Wyatt resembled his father in size and stature, he was surprised that he didn't fear him more than he did. It didn't make any sense, but maybe it was a sign. Maybe it was sign that he was going to be alright here. Nodding to himself, Finn closed his eyes and started drifting off to sleep. He hadn't realized how tired he really was until he tried going back to sleep. He didn't wake up until he heard the sound of Hero's hollow hooves on the stable floor. Opening his eyes that hour later gave him a lot of help. He felt that much more rested in all honesty.

Finn sat still for a moment, and then he climbed down from the hayloft. The stable was quiet, except for the sounds of the horses moving in their stalls. Finn stopped at each of the horses to give them a solid pat, and then made sure that he was growing comfortable with being around the animals again. Beau was really calling out to him, so he stayed with the chestnut a little longer. Also, the mare named Martha was a sweetheart, so he felt at ease around her as well. Once he had given the stable horses their needed attention, he moved outside. That was when he came across Flyer. He didn't know that Wyatt's wife was working on the horse, or at least supposed to be working on him. Now it was going to be a lot harder with the cancer that she had been diagnosed with. Finn watched the blue roan for a moment, reveling in the wild spirit the horse seemed to possess, even while he was just standing. Finn furrowed his brow and studied him, wondering what had made him so angry. Were all the horses like this here? It didn't seem like it because of the ones in the barn. Finn shook his head a little, but then suddenly jumped back as Flyer took notice of him and charged the fence. That horse was crazy, and Finn respected anyone who would want to go near that monster. Fly just shook his head and pranced away, going to look at what he had been focusing on in the first place. Hero. The blue roan's eyes stared straight at the black stallion directly across from him, and he struck out at the earth with a deadly front hoof.

Finn jumped slightly at the sudden deadly movement, and then tried to figure out what made the stallion tick. It was then that he became aware of the movement outside the round pen, and over to the right. Finn craned his neck to stare around the pen,and saw Wyatt struggling with the black stallion he had seen before. Furrowing his brow, he stayed quiet, and then looked to the very upset Flyer. The roan didn't like the fact that he was trapped in the pen while that stallion was given free range of the place with that strange human on his back. It was madness to allow those creatures on your back, and Flyer had been taught that at a young age. Seeing another stallion who thought he was bigger and better than him just infuriated him. He thought that while he was allowing that thing on his back. Flyer snorted indignantly, and then tossed his head, hearing Hero's challenging cry. As Hero charged the pen, after dumping his rider, Finn's eyes widened. Flyer went at the fence as well, not backing down from the challenge. He paced back and forth once he reached the wall, and it was obvious that he was irritated. While Hero reared and carried on, Flyer stared at him in silent fury. It wasn't fair. He wanted to be out there to give a fair fight. Lashing out at the fence with his teeth, he squealed and then watched as Hero took off for the barn. Seeing the human come close, Fly danced away from the fence, and stood right in the middle again, his ears pinned flat against his dial. He started pawing at the groun in his irrtitation, trying his best to keep himself calm. Tossing his head in frustration, he screamed loudly and reared slightly. Landing once more, he gave Wyatt a challenging look. Finn just stared at Wyatt, not believing this. "Is it really safe...to have them both here when they do things like that?" It was an honest question.

[Wyatt Parker]

Word Count: 332
Status: Complete

Wyatt held his shoulder then released the pressure with a grimace. It wasn't hurting to an extent that it was disabling him, it was just uncomfortable. He rolled his shoulder around, his eyes fixed on Finn who was watching the wild Nokota. The roan was standing in the middle of the pen, which had been specifically built for any wild horse that might come across Silver Stag. Originally it had been a bit tatty but the fences had held firmly against the wild horses that his grandfather trained. The very same horses were the ancestors of the horses in the barn. Beauford, Martha, Wildcat, Dee Boy and all the other lovable mustangs. Wyatt rubbed the back of his neck, hearing Finn speaking. Finn seemed a lot more willing to speak to him today, and a little bit more relaxed too.

Uh..

He sounded exasperated, looking up at Flyer.

Not really.

Wyatt realized that he wasn't wearing his stetson and he looked around, looking slightly disgruntled but overall he was glad to be one piece.

But I ain't gonna give up either of those stallions, so they're gonna have to get used to each other sooner or later.

Wyatt shrugged, as if it was the only thing he could do. He could send Flyer back to the BLM, away from Lily and a home that would treat him right, but it was against everything that Wyatt stood for. Plus, if he had to look into Lily's big doe eyes, he'd never be able to do it. There were a few whinnies from the barn and Wyatt immediately looked towards it. He could bet that Hero was hanging around the mares and upsetting the geldings. He loved the black mustang but honestly, he was a pain in his behind.

Let's get started. Plenty to do.

He said, dusting his hands off and starting his walk towards the barn, which was pretty far off on foot.

Thought about which horse you wanna pair up with?

[Finn Keagan]

Just as Flyer seemed to settle down and grow comfortable once more, the Nokota seemed to have a problem with the new situation. As Wyatt stood outside the round pen, Flyer kept his eyes on the man. It seemed that the wild horse was too smart for his own good, for he knew exactly what was going on. And as Wyatt spoke about keeping both the stallions around and had to get used to one another, Flyer exploded. For a moment he stood frozen, and then all of his muscle and strength was shown as he reared up to his full height for the first time since being on the ranch. The wild had taught him never to use all of his energy or stamina in the first few moments of the fight. Showing off wasn't what he was going to do when there was a fight. Unlike most wild stallions who paraded around to show who was stronger, Flyer wasn't like that. He charged right in without a second to spare, and soon was on top of his opponent. Flyer was bigger than most Nokota's, so he was able to use that to his advantage.

Right now, his only opponent was Wyatt. The stallion knew that the fence would prevent him from actually getting at the human, but he at least wanted the man to know that he wasn't happy with him. As he landed with a hollow smack, he tossed his head angrily and then was suddenly a blur of color. He stampeded the fence, his teeth bared and his ears pinned straight against his head. Snaking his neck forward, he snapped furiously in Wyatt's direction, letting the man have an answer to his first set of words. Flyer wasn't going to submit to anyone, unless that someone was a young, blonde headed woman named Lily. There was something between those two, and that much was obvious because Fly had only approached her. They were making progress, and it seemed strange that a big stallion like him would have a soft spot in his heart for a woman like her. But that was besides the point. Now he was showing how dangerous he really was, and Finn even stepped back a step for Wyatt's sake. If he were him, Finn would definitely be afraid, even if the fence was right there. It was something in the horse's eye that actually filled him with concern, for the stallion looked ready and willing to harm anyone who got too close. Shaking his head, Finn looked to Wyatt as the man spoke. "Are you going to be able to do anything with him though? He doesn't seem very safe..or friendly. How can you make progress with him?" He questioned, obviously interested in the horses here.

And that would be Wyatt's way in with Finn. His love and compassion for horses was apparent even now, for he turned a worried eye to Wyatt. The man wouldn't send him back to wherever he came from, would he? He wouldn't abandon him when no one else wanted him, right? He didn't say those things, but it was easy to see he was worried about them. Finn took a step back from the pen and watched as Wyatt held his shoulder with a grimace of pain. He had taken a pretty hard fall, and Finn felt for him for a moment. "You alright?" It wasn't that he cared that much...well that was a lie. He was starting to like Wyatt, even if he didn't want to admit it. He was worried that if Wyatt got hurt though, he'd be sent away again. He was tired of being sent away. Sighing quietly to himself, he looked to the man as he started around the pen and towards the barn. Following after him, he still kept his distance, but he was willing to follow. And that was a start. There was no hesitation there like there had been yesterday. It was a sign that he was beginning to trust Wyatt. It was fragile and small trust, but it was there. "Uh, plenty to do?" He questioned, having to pick up the pace to keep an even distance between him and Wyatt. As he was questioned about a horse, he knew which gelding instantly came to mind. But how could he tell that to Wyatt. The man hadn't even been able to get through to the horse, so how could he? It was worth a try, wasn't it? "I don't know if I can help the one I want though. I was thinking about Sweet all night, but if you can't do, then how can I?"

[Wyatt Parker]

Word Count: 501
Status: Complete

Wyatt had watched Flyer without moving his body. His eyes had been fixated on the roan as he made his statement. He had reared up to his full height and instead of fearing the raw majesty of such a beast, he just admired it. A rare Nokota, and larger than most might I add, with a fierce spirit of the wild. That was how he was meant to be. But he had seen the way the stallion took to Lily. He had nearly walked towards her. This ferocious testosterone-wild stallion had taken a soft spot to his wife. He couldn't tell Lily to send her horse packing back into the wild. Lily wanted this, so best he just keep his mouth shut, even if the drama of the days to come had not yet softened him towards his wife. Eventually the stallion became just a blur and Wyatt didn't react much, besides a little smirk and shake of his head in disbelief. Then he realized that Finn was speaking to him.

I ain't gettin' in there with 'im. My wife..., er, Lily'll be the one ridin' him.

Wyatt rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, but whether it was about Flyer or Lily was indecipherable. Maybe both. Probably. That was about when Wyatt started massaging his shoulder, rolling it back. He looked at Finn rather strangely when he asked if he was okay. Showing some concern now, eh? Well, he wouldn't make a fuss of it and call it progress in the kids face. When he was ready to say or do something, then he was ready.

Had worse.

Which was true. Like any other hard-working man on a ranch, he'd had his fair amount of breaks, sprains, bruises, cuts and goodness knows what else. Not to mention his short rodeo days. Now those were quite a story on their own. He had started walking, looking back at Finn when he repeated what Wyatt had just said.

Horses ain't gonna get themselves out into the paddocks by themselves. And those stalls sure as heck ain't gonna pick up a fork an' clean 'emselves out.

He smiled, wondering what Finn would make of it. Sure, he could do much with only one arm, but he could do something at least. Wyatt worked his ranch hands well, and no amount of begging had ever made him let up before. He'd gone through it himself, so watching the grown men groan and complain was a heck of a funny thing for him. Finn said something that surprised him, but then again, could he really find it surprising? Finn had smiled, looking out at those horses and he had asked about Sweet specifically. It had been coming.

I've only been with 'im a few days. You'll be workin' with 'im for a couple weeks. So it's up to you.

Wyatt shrugged, regretting it immediately as his shoulder pinched.

But like I said, if you give 'im the time of day, he's gonna return the favour.

[Finn Keagan]

Just as Flyer was about to turn and give Wyatt another rush, something caught his attention. The blue roan stopped mid stride, sliding and sent up dust and dirt from his quick stop. There was a reason for that stop, and when the young blonde was seen, it was a bit surprising. It was strange and actually quite a mystery. How could one woman send the large blue stallion spinning like he was? Flyer completely ignored Wyatt as Lily appeared from the ranch house. She had been inside, trying to get more rest, but it wasn't turning out very well. She was awake, and even though she was weak, she was tired of bed rest already. The woman was paler than she should be, and because of her tanned skin, she didn't look that well. Her eyes held dark circles beneath them, but her face was bright. It was lit with a smile as she saw Wyatt and the boy from the TTI program. She gave a small wave, not wanting to disturb them from whatever they were doing.

Lily just made her way quietly to Flyer's pen, and Finn had to look on in disbelief as the horse instantly gentled. Flyer gave her the deep throated nicker that many horses give their owners in greeting, and he arched his neck as he stepped forward cautiously. Finn had never seen anything like it. The raw wild spirit the stallion had just been showing was completely erased. It was as if he was some old cow pony, greeting his owner as if he had been doing it all of his life. Finn turned his wide eyes to Wyatt, and spoke his question aloud. "Why's he doing that now? He was just going crazy." He said incredulously, trying to figure out how in the world he could do a complete turn around like that. Finn looked back to the petite blonde woman, and the massive, wild blue roan Nokota. That was an odd pairing if he'd ever seen one. The woman didn't look that healthy though, and as she lowered herself to the ground, he saw her sway slightly. Finn turned an eye to Wyatt once more. "Is she alright?" Finn was going to have bad memories come back to him if he ever figured out Lily had cancer. His mother died from it, but since no one in the court system really knew about his mother, that was a fact that wasn't known to many adults in Finn's life. He wanted to keep it that way. He looked worriedly at her as she sat upon the ground, and he realized that she had a bag of carrots by her side. She was tossing them to the Nokota's feet, and Flyer was gobbling them up as if he was starving. That was strange. It was like a completely different horse, and Finn didn't think he'd ever understand. Shaking his head, he looked after Wyatt and stepped off to catch up with him, while still keeping his distance.

Finn had only nodded at the words Wyatt spoke before about his wife and his shoulder, but the man caught the kid's attention as he spoke about the work that needed to be done. Now, Finn was no stranger to work, but he didn't know how he was supposed to do it with one hand. He looked down to his wrist for a moment, staring at the wrapped appendage. Now, he wasn't so certain about this. He wanted it to heal, and even though he was breaking the rules already, he didn't think stressing it with all that work would help that much. But he wasn't going to show weakness. He was tired of looking like he couldn't handle things. After a moment, he realized he was being really nice. For Finn anyway, and that wasn't like him at all. Getting annoyed with himself, he shook his head and looked away from Wyatt. He was letting his guard down, and that was not something he wanted to be doing right now. So instead of replying like he was going to do, he shut himself down all over again. He refused to let himself get hurt anymore, and he of all people should know better. Biting his bottom lip, he looked to the ground as he walked, and soon shoved his hands into his pockets of his jeans. He needed to be more careful. The bruises still apparent on his body and his face should be a reminder to that fact. Sighing a little, he just followed after the man who seemed to be power walking in front of him, not saying a word any longer. Then he began talking about Love Me Sweet, and Finn was trying his best not to get excited. Biting back those emotions, he just shrugged his shoulders. "If you say so. What do I have to do first?" He questioned, looking apprehensive and unsure of himself all over again, and this early in the game. Finn was going to be a lot of work for poor Wyatt.

[Wyatt Parker]

Word Count: 461
Status: Complete

'scuse me?

Wyatt hadn't been paying attention when Finn had first spoken and he stopped, looking at Flyer again when Finn called the stallion a "she". What the heck was he on about? That's when he realized that Lily was by Flyer's pen. He stared, sighing and shaking his head. She was pale and he hadn't expected her to stay in bed for long. She was an active woman and she had damn ants in her pants.

No, she's not.

He stood there, as if considering what to do, then seeing how Flyer reacted to her, he thought the better of it. The dust wasn't helping her at all, nor was the cold, but if she wanted to spend a little time with her horse, then Wyatt wouldn't be the one to stop her. It was careless and he kept going back on his decision but then he smiled.

Lil'll be okay.

So Wyatt kept on walking. She was so busy with Flyer that he wouldn't bother her. Then again, he hadn't even seen her this morning. Well, in bed he had, but he had crept out quietly so that she wouldn't see. Still, seeing her so weak and pale wasn't right. It pulled at his chest, with his heart beat quickening. Nerves. That was all.

I do say so.

Wyatt replied, sensing a sudden hostility in Finn. He was keeping back again and hadn't been speaking. He had come around at least, for as short a time as it had been.

Help me lead the horses out to the paddocks. We're gonna have to take most of the ranch horses too.

Wyatt realized that he hadn't seen Billy or Carl. He looked around, spotting Carl stepping out of the bunker. He raised his hand, looking ahead again. Billy was going to turn up sooner or later.

Hope ya didn't have to go through Billy's snorin'.

Wyatt had and man, it was nasty. He didn't know how Carl could sleep in the same bunk house as Billy when that rodeo was going on in his nose. Of course, Wyatt hadn't known that Finn hadn't been in the bunk house at all. He looked up when he heard a few shouts from the barn and then out came Hero, trotting at a leisurely pace with his reins still dangling. Billy came soon after, hopping one foot whilst he held the other in both hands.

"I'm gonna get ya back! Ya bloody bronc!"

He shouted, collapsing onto his rear end after slipping on the loose dirt. Wyatt burst out laughing, whistling to his horse who strangely seemed to have grown some manners, as he came walking along, his ears perched up on his head as he looked at Billy lying on the floor.

[Finn Keagan]

Finn's heart skipped a beat when Wyatt first spoke up. That was something that his father had always said right before the beatings had started. And that simple sentence brought Finn right back into the memories that he was trying so hard to forget. The truth was, Finn really needed to see someone to help him get over what he was going through, but he simply refused to go. He didn't want to. What was the point anymore? And now that he was in the presence of this very big man, he didn't stand a chance. Wyatt didn't have an ounce of fat on him, which was a trait that Finn took in immediately. He had studied him to see how good his chances of escape were. Since Wyatt was only muscled, and not fat, Finn didn't know how good his chances of running were. Wyatt could probably take him down without much effort, and that was not comforting when you were someone like Finn. The young boy swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat, and then tried his best to focus on what he was supposed to do.

As Wyatt seemed to get over his shock or anger, or whatever it was that he felt at Finn's remark, the kid let himself relax slightly. He still kept his guard up, but he was now focused on who they were supposed to be talking about. He supposed that was Lily, or Wyatt's wife. He had just been talking about her moments ago, and it seemed strange that she had appeared out of no where like that. Finn furrowed his brow as he watched her interact with her new horse, and then something amazing happened. Flyer went right up to the fence that Lily was sitting against, and rested his muzzle on one of the railings. Lily froze immediately, not sure what the horse wanted her to do. She timidly reached out with her hand, making her movements slow and deliberate so that Fly would know what she was doing. After a moment, her gentle fingers made contact with the Nokota stallion's soft muzzle. Finn's eyes widened immediately, and he looked to Wyatt in disbelief. Lily was actually touching that horse. Finn never thought he'd see the day. Lily's smile grew immediately, and there was one thing that she didn't realize. Flyer sensed the sickness within her, and his once hard heart went out to her. She was his only companion..she was the only one that had ever shown his kindess. The horse didn't want her to leave when they were just starting this journey together. Flyer would be a main component in Lily's recovery, as well as Wyatt and Katy. Flyer finally pulled his nose away from her, but Lily was ecstatic. She slowly inched backwards and stood, and her eyes found Wyatt's immediately. Her face was still pale, but her cheeks were flushed from her excitement, and the smile lit her hollow features. She couldn't believe it, and that much was obvious. She gestured to Wyatt, pointing to Flyer and then trying to see if he had seen what had just happened. She wanted to go and throw her arms around him, but she didn't think she'd make it. She didn't have enough energy, and right now even just pointing at the now gentle Nokota was taking a lot out of her.

Finn just shook his head and took a step backwards. He didn't understand this place. The woman looked sick, and that was making him nervous. Lily looked like his mother had before she had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He didn't know if he could take someone else having cancer. Even though he didn't know Lily, it didn't matter. He couldn't face that now. Biting his bottom lip, he just stepped backwards, until he became aware of Wyatt talking to him. She wasn't alright? "Well, what's wrong with her then?" He questioned quietly, the worry obvious in his eyes. He didn't want to hear what the man had to say, but at the same time he did. He wanted to prepare himself for what was to come. If the woman was going to die, he wanted to be ready, as bad as that sounded. Sighing once more, he just nodded with Wyatt's words, and lost sight of Lily once more. He didn't know where she had gone, but he was just trying to keep track of the males on the ranch. They were more threatening to him right now, for he felt no apprehensiveness towards Lily. What he didn't realize was that she was out her helping out as well, even though she wasn't supposed to. Lily had gone into the barn on the other side, grabbing Beau from his stall. It was then that Finn started to get nervous. First Carl appeared from the bunkhouse, and Wyatt spoke about Billy's snoring. "It..it was fine." He stuttered out, showing his fear as Billy appeared shouting from the barn. Finn stumbled back so quickly that he lost his balance, and fell straight back on his rear. But he wasn't even embarrassed. The fear that was taking over him was blinding him from all other emotions, and he didn't even care what other people thought about him now.

Finn flinched visibly as Billy raised his voice to yell after Hero. It brought him straight back to the nights were he had been shouted at and beaten around because of something he didn't do. If he didn't get the dishes done because he had to work late to support his bum of a father, he would get hit. If he didn't get his dad's beer or other alcohol when he was first called, he would face the consequences. And now he was afraid it was going to happen all over again. Now there were three of them, and he didn't know if he could handle it. It was overwhelming, and frightening, and his heart was racing a mile a minute. If he was a horse, the whites of his eyes would be showing, and he'd be taking off without a moment's hesitation. He remained on the ground for another moment, hyperventilating, and then struggled to his feet. He had taught himself to never stay on the ground for very long because he'd just get kicks sent his way. As he scrambled up, he shouted as he ran straight into a smaller form. Lily wasn't very strong at this point in time, and she had to struggle with both of their weight as she caught him in her arms. She had been witness to his first frightening predicament, and she had brought Beau over to help intercept the boy.

She knew that look...she had had it herself. He was getting ready to run, and she couldn't let that happen. Lily's face contorted in a grimace of agony as she caught him, but she ignored that, gasping past the wave of pain. "Hey, hey. Easy there Finn. You're alright, you're okay. They aren't going to hurt you, alright? I'm right here too." She spoke, and suddenly the boy was shaking in her arms. Her eyes turned up to find Wyatt, and she couldn't believe what she was going through right now. This poor kid. "Why don't you take Beau? He needs to go in that pasture right there, okay?" She offered, and Finn finally got himself together. He nodded with a thanks, and took the gentle mustang's lead. He brought him over to the paddock he belonged in and turned him out, but Beau didn't run off. The mustang stayed by Finn's side, nuzzling his quietly as the boy worked out his fear. Lily looked to Wyatt, and let one arm clutch her stomach. He had hit her good, but it wasn't going to cause any more damage. Lily couldn't believe what Wyatt was dealing with in this young boy. "He's worse than I thought Wyatt. But good with the horse." She pointed out, ignoring her sickness and her weakened state, and focusing on Finn bonding with Beau. She hoped the ranch hands and Wyatt weren't going to treat her like glass now. They needed to focus on Finnegan, and the horses that needed help now.

[Wyatt Parker]

Word Count: 706
Status: Complete

Uh..

Wyatt scuffed the dirt, not sure how to tell Finn that his wife had cancer. But he didn't have to answer because Lily started pointing at Flyer, showing him what she had just accomplished.

Flyer was not the same horse around Lily. And you had to wonder just how long she had been working with him a the BLM, which was pretty close to Westin itself. Just out of town in fact. Frequent Flyer. He certainly would fly if horses were capable of it. Hundreds of kilograms of pure power. All muscle and all brain too. Being a wild horse, he had all the traits of one, especially the spirit. Worst thing about it was that he was young and he did not use his power to do any good. Instead, he was protecting himself against the people he thought were going to harm him. All except Lily, who was now able to touch him and pointing excitedly. Lily really had connected with him. She really had.

Billy had just burst out of the barn with Hero trotting in front of him, then returning to Wyatt once he whistled. With Billy on the floor, clutching his foot, Wyatt didn't have much time to go check on the ranch hand. Instead, he was listening to stumbling foot steps behind him. Hero raised his head, snorting and backing up. Wyatt turned, seeing Finn lying on the ground. He had laughed at Billy, but he hadn't thought of how Finn would react. Inwardly he was kicking himself. He had to get used to this. Any large noises or boastful activity was hurting the kid. Why had he been so careless?

Finn.

But the kid was off, shouting and Wyatt's eyes widened as he ran straight into Lily. She caught him but he could see how she strained to keep up both of their weights. He started walking towards them but held back a little. She was calming him down. Finn was most afraid of men and now Lily was calming him down. Still, he didn't want Finn putting any stress on Lily when she didn't need it. He was torn. She sent Finn off with Beauford and the gentle gelding started to nuzzle the boy, fussing at his hair for any treats. Spoilt brat. He remembered how Lily used to sneak him treats and now he was trying to rip some off of a stranger too.

Wyatt ignored what Lily had said, instead taking her up in his arms. Maybe he was treating her like she was glass, but he was relieved that she was okay.

He's more than I expected.

Running his fingers through his hair, Wyatt looked after Finn. Hero came up behind the two, nudging Wyatt on his back before lowering his head and nibbling at a patch of grass.

He smiled yesterday. And he's keen on Love Me Sweet - the palomino.

Billy, who had gotten himself off of the ground, was dusting himself off after landing in the dirt. He didn't seem to favour his foot, seeing as he was standing square on both feet. Carl had come up to meet him and the two were talking. After a minute or so Carl had burst out laughing, pointing at Billy who flicked his friends nose. Carl, in surprise, held his nose and pulled Billy's stetson off his head. Wyatt looked over his shoulder, watching the two goofing around. It wasn't often that any of the three men were too serious around each other. They always ended up in one rumble or the other, shooting off insults at each other. Then Wyatt watched Finn and Beau.

Lil, I don't think you should be standin' around outside.

He finally said, studying Lily's expression for any hints that she might feel insulted. Wyatt had been fussing, he'd admit it, but he planned on loosening up. Not wanting to smother her, he would let up a little and stop acting like some kind of mother hen. Hero snorted, shaking his head. One of the loose reins caught the back of Wyatt's legs.

Don't push it.

He warned and the stallion raised his head, looking at the man as if he'd done nothing but behave like an angel.

[Finn Keagan]

Finn was beside himself with fear. He had never felt like this before, even with his father. That was because even though his father represented sheer terror, there had only been one of him. Now there were three very large, and very strong grown men hovering around him. He felt surrounded and trapped, and that was something that was never good for Finn. So after he had stumbled straight into the ground, he had clutched at his wrist for only a moment before scrambling upwards. Even though Finn was older than most of the kids in the TTI program, it didn't matter. His father had done something horrible to him, and he was traumatized. It wasn't just the beatings and the torture however. It was the fact that his mother had died in his own arms, right in front of his eyes. He hadn't been able to save her, even though he had promised he would keep her safe. Worry had fled through him when he had first seen Lily because he knew that look. Being here wasn't a good idea at all. It was bringing back all of his old memories that he was trying his best to forget.

Which is exactly what his care givers wanted. They knew that for far too long Finnegan had been hiding his emotions and his memories inside of him. He needed to let them loose, and he needed to let them go. If he was ever going to get better, he needed to accept the fact that he had been beaten more often than not, and that he had lost the only person who had ever cared about him. He needed to learn and grow from his experiences, even though that was asking a lot of a kid. That was asking him to be mature beyond his years when he had already achieved a small part of that goal. Finn really was mature for his age because of all that he went through, and all that he had to do at home because his dad was too drunk and too depressed to do anything else but drink even more and hit his son around. Finn hated that life, but he had loved it before it had all fallen apart. What had made it all go wrong? The fact that his mother had cancer, and she hadn't made it through. What if this woman didn't make it through her illness? Would her family fall apart like his had too? Would that little girl be witness to the treatments he had gone through? It was a crazy idea, but Finn couldn't help it. His family had been perfect once like this one was, but it had all turned around in the blink of an eye. Most days he couldn't take it, and disappeared for long hours. When he returned, and if his father caught him, he was in for it. But if he got in safely, he would have just had the best day of his life.

This was not one of his best days. This had to be one of his worst in all actuality. He was so afraid that he didn't even pay attention to where he was running. So when he collided with Lily, he had shouted in surprise and fear. What if it was one of the men? But when he felt the softness of her hug, and the calm, soft voice, he knew it wasn't. She had appeared out of no where, and Finn was falling right into her arms. He hadn't been hugged or embraced since his mother died because he never let anyone get close enough. This woman was pushing it, but Finn didn't know what else to do. Lily just held him close for as long as he would let her and stand there, and when he pulled away, she let him go. Her eyes found Finn's immediately, and she spoke gently. "You're going to be okay here, Finn. I promise you. I know promises don't go very far in your book, and trust is something else all together, but we're hoping you'll learn it here. Wyatt isn't as bad as he seems Finn. He has a soft side, I swear it. You just have to let people in sometimes, and stop running from your problems. You have to want to let us help you though, or nothing's going to get better hun. You'll see. You'll learn from all of this Finnegan, I promise you that. And I never break a promise." She said honestly, and then watched as the boy went to lead Beauford into his pasture. Beauford went willingly, and Lily saw the small smile appear on Finn's face as the horse nuzzled and nipped at his blonde hair. She heard Finn's muffled voice as she went to stand beside her husband. "I don't have anything for you Beauford!" He said in exasperation, but it was obvious that he was delighted the horse was staying near him, and showing obvious interest. Now if only Love Me Sweet would trust him like that, then they'd be all set.

Lily watched the pair for a moment, and then looked to Wyatt as he took her in his arms. She stayed there until he pulled away, but she didn't want it to end there. She wanted to stay in his arms for always, even though that was pushing it a little. Sighing slightly, she rubbed her stomach for a moment, still feeling a slight pain from Finn's collision. "That boy needs to learn how to stop a little beforehand." She said with her familiar innocent grin, and then did her best to hide her pain. Ignoring it, she looked to Wyatt as he told her about Finnegan. "I'll say he is. This is going to take a long time, isn't it?" She questioned, and then looked to Finn and Beau once more. The chesnut mustang was still standing dutifully by Finn's side, refusing to leave until he was certain that the boy was going to be alright. Lily shook her head, and then looked to Wyatt again. "Well...horses seem to be the only way you can reach him Wyatt. Why don't you take him out for a ride?" She offered, not being witness to Wyatt's earlier predicament. She did look to Hero however, who was saddled and causing trouble, but Wyatt spoke up first. She sighed and nodded, knowing he was right. "Yeah, but fresh air is so much better than the air in the house. Besides, I've got to keep an eye on them while you take Finn out for a ride. Someone's got to keep those two in line." She said with a reckless smile, showing him she wasn't going to take it easy until she absolutely had to. Stepping backwards, she stepped away from him with an adoring smile on her face, and was soon heading straight for Billy and Carl. She'd make them behave..someway or another.

[Wyatt Parker]

Word Count: 458
Status: Complete
Lyrics: White Horse by Taylor Swift

Wyatt looked after Finn with a pensive look. He was listening to Lily, smiling a bit when she spoke about him having to learn to stop a little beforehand. You can say that again, he thought. At the mention of taking Finn out on one of the horses, Wyatt looked a bit apprehensive.

With that hand of his?

He asked her, although he began to consider it. He could ride Linda or even Martha. Both were sweet mares and practically bulletproof, in the meaning that they didn't spook at much. If they did spook, it was hardly anything at all. Maybe a little dancing on the tips of their toes or stepping to the side but it wasn't much of a reaction compared to what some of the horses would do. At the mention of keeping Billy and Carl in line, Wyatt had to laugh. It was true. The two of them would bring the house down if they were left alone. It was like looking after two five year olds. Just when she stepped away from him, Wyatt turned on his heel, his hand taking hers and he stepped towards her with a cheeky smile.

Don't get up to too much mischief.

With that he kissed her, his hand gently stroking her jaw and moving down her neck before he separated himself from her. Still wearing his cheeky smile, he turned around and started walking towards the pastures were Finn was releasing Beauford into one of the paddocks. It was the right one, so Wyatt guessed that the kid must have seen the ranch hands doing it the day before.

Say you're sorry
That face of an angel
Comes out just when you need it to
As I paced back and forth all this time
Cause I honestly believed in you
Holding on
The days drag on
Stupid girl,
I should have known, I should have known

I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet,
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town,
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you
And your white horse, to come around

Uh, you doin' a'right?

Wyatt wasn't quite sure how to approach Finn or how loud he should be speaking. He didn't want the young man to start flinching all over again. Sure, it would be expecting a bit much, but seeing it really reminded Wyatt of what Finn had been through. It wasn't the kind of life that Wyatt would have liked to go through himself. He might have turned to anger to suffocate the emotions brought on by his own father beating him. The only thing his father had ever done to him was slap him across the back of the head, which was just how his father was, and Wyatt could take it. A baseball bat had never been brought into the equation. Not once.

Lil suggested we go out on a ride. Up for it?

Wyatt pointedly looked down at Finnegan's hand, which was all wound up in a cast. He had had a broken arm before and it was put in a cast, then he still got back into Hero's saddle of all horses. But he had experience. He didn't know if Finn did.

[Finn Keagan]

Lily didn't know what to really think of Finn when it all came down to it. She had just learned of the boy's history, and she felt for him. Her life had been nothing compared to what the kid had gone through, and he hadn't been alive nearly as long as her. The poor kid wasn't even out of high school yet and he was growing up a lot faster than any boy his age should. Lily wanted to help him out, but she didn't know if she was capable of doing that. Not now anyway. She barely had the energy to help herself and her family, let alone him as well. But she was going to try. She knew exactly how to connect with Finn, and that was through horses. An idea already began forming in her mind, and a small smile worked its way onto her features. Working with Finn and Flyer at the same time could be beneficial to them all. It would make Flyer used to another person, and Finn would know how to care for a traumarized horse. Love Me Sweet was as traumatized as they came. It seemed like a win win situation. Besides, Finn would be interacting with another person, which is exactly what was needed and wanted.

It might not be with an adult male, but it was with an adult, and that was a step in the right direction. Baby steps, small steps...but steps nonetheless. She knew that Finn wouldn't be pushed here, and he wouldn't be subjected to abuse. Silver Stag Ranch was the perfect place for trouble kids to go to, and she was glad that Wyatt had signed up to become a part of the program. She had a feeling that it was because of her leaving that got him interested in starting it here, but she wasn't quite sure. She didn't want to suspect that, so she just kept her mouth shut, until Wyatt spoke out. With that hand of his. Lily nodded her head, sending Wyatt a look that was playful despite the subject and the way she was feeling. She was going to have to sit down soon. "Yes, with his hand. The only way you're going to get through to that boy right now is a horse. He's too afraid and jumpy to be around you on the ground, even with them around. Put him on a horse and his trust, and his confidence needs to be with the horse. He'll open up to you because he'll feel safe. Just look at him...he's comfortable around them." She said and pointed out with a shrug of her shoulders. It seemed simple enough to her, and as she looked to Wyatt, she saw him turn her way after considering the proposal. Maybe it would really help him connect with the kid. They really needed it in all honesty. Finn needed to find a common ground with one of the adult males around here, and Wyatt seemed to be the perfect candidate. Finn could be that candidate, and besides, Wyatt needed a young kid to teach around here other than his darling daughter. He needed some guy time in all honesty. Lily smiled slightly, but then was taken aback by what her husband did next.

He took her hand in his, and she saw that familiar smile of his. It brought out the smile onto her face, and soon she was lost in the kiss that he had bestowed upon her. Lily closed her eyes and leaned in, feeling his hand trail down her cheek and her neck. In that moment, she knew that this was possible. She knew that she could fight this cancer and this sickness, and live to care and help her family. Most of all, she would live to love them. A smile creased her features as they parted, and her big eyes looked up into his. Hearing his words, a small laugh escaped her. "Yeah, you too Wy. Don't get into any trouble out there. I'll make sure these two behave." She finished with a wink and turned around to go to Carl and Billy. Her love for Wyatt was back and stronger than ever. It had never left, but for a while she told herself not to love him any longer because there was no way that he'd return those emotions. But she was wrong, and she couldn't be happier. Lily just shook her head and made her way over to the boys. "Don't make me kick your butts." She warned playfully, wondering how her cousin and Carl would respond. Out in Beau's paddock, Finn jumped slightly when he heard Wyatt's voice, but neither the horse nor the kid moved away. Finn let his fingers work through the chestnut's mane, and he glanced towards Wyatt with concern in his features. "I'm fine." The answer was short and to the point, but it was what the man asked for. He couldn't get mad for Finn answering the question, could he? Finn kept the distance now, but when he heard the next question, hope and slight excitement filled his eyes. He couldn't hide his love for horses. "Do you mean it? I'm up for it, but do you really mean right now?" He questioned, watching him in disbelief. He had never been given this kind of reward before, and he didn't understand it. But he couldn't wait. He wouldn't be surprised if it was a lie though, for it had happened before. He was used to disappointment, but he hoped that this time it would be different. Forgetting his fears and defenses for a moment, he took a step towards Wyatt, and then another, his eyes bright and filled with hope. It was a shame those emotions had been crushed and dimished before. Now it was different though. This place was breeding life into his once more, and that was exactly what he needed. Now he just needed to open up to Wyatt, and things might get better.

[Wyatt Parker]

Word Count: 625
Status: Complete

"Yes, with his hand. The only way you're going to get through to that boy right now is a horse. He's too afraid and jumpy to be around you on the ground, even with them around. Put him on a horse and his trust, and his confidence needs to be with the horse. He'll open up to you because he'll feel safe. Just look at him...he's comfortable around them". Wyatt looked back at Finn, tilting his head a bit. He honestly hadn't thought of it that way. It was so simple. Two were two things that a man couldn't understand about women. One, their intuition. It made things so simple when they were the most complex beings to ever exist, in a mans mind. And two, how the heck they multi-tasked with more than three things at one time. It baffled him. So he looked at his wife, giving in. Then the kiss, with his cheeky smile. They both parted ways, headed in opposite directions to two lots of trouble. With Lily, it involved her cousin and Carl. The most unlikely pair and complete opposites too. Where Billy was loud, Carl was quiet. Where Carl was conservative, Billy was boastful.

Billy was walking past Carl whilst the younger ranch hand was retrieving a brush, smacking his hand across the guys rear end. Carl was sent forwards, falling awkwardly on the ground with an "oof". Billy doubled over with his hands on his knees, laughing at the ridiculousness of the predicament Carl found himself in.

"Ha ha freaking ha."

He stood up, dusting himself off.

"Hick."

He shot Billy a look. Billy stood up straight, still grinning. The two were nearly the same, but Billy was bulkier.

"Gettin' a bit feisty, eh?"

"You wise ass."

"Chicken."

"Where the hell did ya get chicken from?"

The two had started a bit of a quarrel when Carl looked to the side, his face becoming an expression of sudden panic. He tapped Billy on the shoulder, swallowing. Billy turned and his eyes widened a bit before he smiled his charming smile. Lily was talking about having to kick their butts. Billy immediately pointed at Carl.

"He started the whole darned thang. I ain't done nothin' wrong."

Carl looked at Billy in disbelief.

"Ya yeller belly hick!"

On the other side of the ranch...

Wyatt held Hero's reins firmly in his hand. The stallion was walking placidly alongside him as if he hadn't done a thing earlier to throw his rider out of the saddle. He looked neat and trim, with all the polished finishes. The kiger mustang was a proud stallion, his ears perking forwards as Wyatt led him towards Finn and Beau.

Finn's eyes had brightened up and he was stepping towards Wyatt, showing his obvious excitement at the proposal of going out for a ride. Wyatt even leaned away, not sure if the teen was going to pounce on him or what. He had to smile though.

I ain't waitin' for the cows to come home. Yes, now.

He said, his voice holding a bit of laughter as he pointed at Beau.

I ain't sure if you'd wanna ride 'im, but Hawk an' Buck need a bit of exercise.

Buck Ryder was a dun paint, with duotone eyes. Hawk was his companion. A young but sturdy liver chestnut, who had high promise as a cowhorse. She had more of a square build than Buck, but the two still went together just fine. They were still in their stalls so it wouldn't have been possible to see them then. Wyatt just waited on Finn to decide if that's who he wanted to ride. They were gentle at least. They were safe. Especially for someone with a broken wrist.

[Finn Keagan]

Lily looked to her husband as he went through what she had proposed to him. When the look of obvious realization washed over his handsome features, Lily had to laugh slightly. Hiding it to the best of her ability, she just shook her head and stared at Wyatt. She didn't know how she had been so lucky to have him when they were in high school, and even now. She didn't know where their relationship stood right now, but it was obvious that they were working on it. She didn't deserve him in all honesty, but she wasn't going to complain. She wanted to be with him again. She wanted them to be the happy married couple that they had once been. Sighing, she felt lost when he had kissed her, for her emotions were going all over the place. But he had swept her off her feet once more, and she was left with a pounding heart and a breathless sigh. Shaking her head, she reached for his hand and gave it a small squeeze before they parted once again. Lily had rambunctious ranch hands to deal with, but Wyatt had the real challenge.

She honestly wished and hoped that Wyatt would get through to Finn. Maybe today was the day that the young boy would open up to the man about what had truly happened to him. Maybe then they could understand better the way they needed to act around him. Sure, they knew the basics, but it was nothing like hearing it from the victim. She sighed softly and then eyed what was going on in front of her. She couldn't help but laugh as Carl dumped forward after being hit in the rear, and she covered her mouth with her hand after a moment to hide her laughter. Once she became more serious, she fixed her face with her stern look, even though everyone knew that it wasn't true at all. Lily had the hardest time being serious, and she wasn't one to get mad very easily. When she did, it was best to keep your distance, but Lily wasn't concerned about that now. She wasn't mad, she was just enjoying this. As she neared them, she sent Billy a punch to the shoulder. It wasn't as her punches were normally, but it would leave a mark. "And why do I have a hard time believing that one Billy?" She questioned with a laugh, and winked across at Carl. "I think you might be in trouble." She said honestly, and then looked at the bucket that had just been filled earlier. She moved fast even though she was sick, and sent the water flying towards her cousin, and then waited for the consequences.

Finn didn't believe what Wyatt was telling him. His eyes were finally bright and full of life though, even though there was pain and some fear hidden behind them. He was apprehensive, but it wasn't anything too serious. Forgetting his defenses, he stepped closer to Wyatt, and was soon only a foot from him. He had never gotten this close to him before, and it was a sign that he was improving slightly, even if he was only excited about going for a ride. Before, he wouldn't have gotten close at all, even if he was excited. As Wyatt spoke out, Finn just smiled, and he nodded slightly. "Okay. Thanks." He said honestly and then hoped that he would be able to ride the horse he was with now. Beau made him feel safe and comfortable, and he felt like he could do really well on the chestnut mustang. As Wyatt volunteered the gelding, as well as two others, Finn didn't have to think long for his choice. "I'd really like to ride Beau..." He said, and once everything was settled, Finn started leading Beau into the barn. It didn't take him long to get him cleaned up and brushed rather thoroughly, but quickly as well. His experience was shown through his movements and his actions, and it was easy to see that he knew what to do around them. He needed some help when it came to the western saddle, but soon enough he had that settled as well, and was leading Beau out of the barn, ready to get on. Once Wyatt gave the go ahead, Finn lifted himself up into the saddle effortlessly, and sat comfortably, waiting for Wyatt's next instructions.