[Bonus Prompt 3] Vices and Virtues

An ear-splitting whinny ripped Dylan from his peaceful slumber. He’d spent the day on the back of a hay wagon stacking heavy bales in the blistering sun, gotten a sunburn on his neck and arms that still stung if he moved them too much or put weight on them, and all the teen had hoped for was a long, deep sleep after. Deputy Pigeon had other plans. 

Groaning loudly when the horse called out again, Dylan cracked one eye open enough to check the time on his phone. It wasn’t even four in the morning yet. 

“I’m gonna make stuffed pigeon for breakfast, I swear to God,” he threatened the horse under his breath like Pigeon could hear him from where he was. Knowing it was partially his fault for not exercising the horse earlier, the teen dragged himself out of bed, yanked on a pair of rumpled sweats, his shirt from the day before, and shoved his feet into his boots before stumbling through the house and outside to go calm the horse before he woke the entire farm up. 

By the time Dylan was outside, the horse had paced a new rut into the dirt along the long side of his paddock. Barely repressing a sigh, Dylan moved to lean on the fence. 

“You know, bud, we have *got* to stop meeting like this,” he greeted the horse. Pigeon barreled over to him, coat dark with sweat, whites of his eyes showing, breath coming in heavy snorts. Guilt gripped the boy. He should have worked the horse after they’d finished with the hay. Even lunging him in the indoor would have helped keep him from getting so worked up. Dylan reached up to stroke the stallion’s palomino neck apologetically. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t come see you today. I was tired and I just… I should have.” Dylan let his head fall forward, resting his forehead against Pigeon’s. “Forgive me?” They stayed that way for several long minutes until Pigeon’s breathing calmed and his muscles began to relax. Even as exhausted as the boy was, he knew he couldn’t leave Pigeon covered in sweat and shaken up like he was. 

“C’mon, bud, let’s hose you off and go for a walk. I owe you that much at least.” Apologizing the only way he knew the horse would understand, Dylan spent the rest of the night with the stallion to make up for acting neglectful like Pigeon’s previous owner had. He wanted to be different, to do better by the horse, and yesterday had not been a great way to show that. As far as they’d come, there was still more to go, and that night proved it. 

Dylan needed to make it so Pigeon could always rely on him not to abandon him for another horse, and Pigeon needed to trust Dylan to come back and accept slight variations in their routine - even if it meant a missed training session or ride. They had spent a year working together and had come leaps and bounds from the start, both in Pigeon’s bad habits and Dylan’s riding ability and level of discipline. Pigeon still hadn’t let go of his previous owner’s neglect, though, and Dylan still sometimes forgot just how important his work with the horse was to Pigeon’s wellbeing. 

“Alright, Pige, I gotta go start feeding. Here’s some hay to keep you busy until it’s your turn, alright? I’ll be back, though. I promise.” Dylan rubbed the horse’s jaw affectionately and tossed him a flake of hay to occupy him as the sun rose slowly over the misty mountains in the distance. “I’ll always come back to you.” With a quick kiss to the horse’s nose, Dylan darted off to the barn to start the 7am chores a little bit early. Pigeon, for once, seemed calm as he watched his boy leave. This time he believed the boy would be back - just like he'd promised.