#wyoming horse rescue

[deancasbigbang]

Reckless Man

Author: Casslesschaps

Artist: Sasanka-27

Rating: Explicit

Pairings: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Eileen Leahy/Sam Winchester, Past Castiel/Kelly Kline, Minor Benny Lafitte/Dean Winchester, John Winchester/Mary Winchester

Length: 29705

Warnings: N/A

Tags: Alternate Universe, Rancher Dean, Ranch Hand Castiel, Fluff, Smut, 90s, Cowboys, Slow burn, horseback riding, openly bisexual Dean Winchester

Summary: Castiel is in the wrong place at the wrong time when a fight breaks out in a dive bar in middle-of-nowhere Wyoming. Sheriff Sam Winchester realizes Cas is a drifter and gets him a job on his family horse rescue run by his brother Dean. The plan was never to stay, but things keep happening to keep him there until eventually, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with the green-eyed cowboy that leads to much more. Neither of them is prepared for the passionate fire that ensues. But, as fires so often do, they're both about to get burnt when it comes to light that Cas is on the run. Dean's always believed in second chances for the horses he rescues, but with Cas, he's not so sure.

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[duckprintspress]

Yeehaw! Queer Western Book Recs!

What’s the occasion? There is no occasion! We just thought it’d be fun to make a list of queer cowboy/girl/enby books and westerns! Say “Howdy, pardner” to our 8 picks. The contributors to this list are: Shadaras, Meera S., hullosweetpea, Nina Waters, boneturtle, and two anonymous contributors.

American Hippo (River of Teeth series) by Sarah Gailey

Years ago, in an America that never was, the United States government introduced herds of hippos to the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This plan failed to take into account some key facts about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two. 

By the 1890s, the vast bayou that was once America’s greatest waterway belongs to feral hippos, and Winslow Houndstooth has been contracted to take it back. To do so, he will gather a crew of the damnedest cons, outlaws, and assassins to ever ride a hippo. American Hippo is the story of their fortunes, their failures, and his revenge.

Done and Dusted (Rebel Blue Ranch series) by Lyla Sage

She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules.

For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape.

Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her.

Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?

Outlawed by Anna North

The day of her wedding, 17 year old Ada’s life looks good; she loves her husband, and she loves working as an apprentice to her mother, a respected midwife. But after a year of marriage and no pregnancy, in a town where barren women are routinely hanged as witches, her survival depends on leaving behind everything she knows.

She joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a band of outlaws led by a preacher-turned-robber known to all as the Kid. Charismatic, grandiose, and mercurial, the Kid is determined to create a safe haven for outcast women. But to make this dream a reality, the Gang hatches a treacherous plan that may get them all killed. And Ada must decide whether she’s willing to risk her life for the possibility of a new kind of future for them all.

Prize Money by Celeste Castro

Eva is saved from impending disaster by a tall, dark, and handsome bullfighter–a woman. Toma Rozene is an equestrian stuntwoman fresh off the set of a blockbuster film when a family emergency calls her home to help run the family business: rescuing fallen rodeo riders before blustering bulls and bucking broncos trample their dreams. Eva and Toma’s shared passions and competitive spirits make friendship easy, but, as their feelings deepen, they must decide if the divergent futures they seek will stand in the way of love.

Wake of Vultures (The Shadow series) by Lila Bowen

Nettie Lonesome lives in a land of hard people and hard ground dusted with sand. She’s a half-breed who dresses like a boy, raised by folks who don’t call her a slave but use her like one. She knows of nothing else. That is, until the day a stranger attacks her. When nothing, not even a sickle to the eye can stop him, Nettie stabs him through the heart with a chunk of wood and he turns to black sand.

And just like that, Nettie can see.

But her newfound sight is a blessing and a curse. Even if she doesn’t understand what’s under her own skin, she can sense what everyone else is hiding—at least physically. The world is full of evil, and now she knows the source of all the sand in the desert. Haunted by the spirits, Nettie has no choice but to set out on a quest that might lead her to find her true kin . . . if the monsters along the way don’t kill her first.

Trigun: Deep Space Planet Future Gun Action!! by Yasuhiro Nightow

Somehow the past has placed a sixty billion double dollar bounty on Vash’s head, and the gunslinging pacifist can’t seem to get away from money grubbing, itchy-trigger-finger citizenry. Find out why Vash is worth so much money dead! Feel the clumsy worry of the unfortunate citizens of the pulverous planet! Follow the follies of an unlikely hero in a forbidding world! Join Vash the Stampede – with his troubled past and an uncanny ability to dodge a gazillion bullets – and a cavalcade of unlucky characters on a dusty, desert planet in the distant future.

Frontera by Julio Anta

As long as he remembers to stay smart and keep his eyes open, Mateo knows that he can survive the trek across the Sonoran Desert that will take him from Mexico to the United States. That is until he’s caught by the Border Patrol only moments after sneaking across the fence in the dead of night.

Escaping their clutches comes at a price, and lost in the desert without a guide or water, Mateo is ill-prepared for the unforgiving heat that is sure to arrive come sunrise. With the odds stacked against him, his one chance at survival may be putting his trust in something, or rather someone, that he isn’t even sure exists.

If you’d asked him if ghosts were real before he found himself face-to-face with one, Mateo wouldn’t have even considered it. But now, confronted with the nearly undeniable presence of Guillermo, he’s having second thoughts. Having spent his afterlife guiding migrants to safety, Guillermo knows things about the Sonoran Desert far beyond what could be explained by a mere hallucination. But even as Mateo forms an uneasy partnership with Guillermo, survival is still uncertain.

The Sonoran Desert, with its hostile temperatures and inhabitants, is teeming with danger as the Border Patrol, rogue militias, and animals prowl its deadly terrain. As his journey stretches on, Mateo will have to decide exactly what and who he’s willing to sacrifice to find home.

Bitter Springs by Laura Stone

In 1870s Texas, Renaldo Valle Santos, the youngest son of a large and traditional family, has been sent to train with Henry “Hank” Burnett, a freed slave and talented mesteñero—or horse-catcher—so he may continue the family horse trade. Bitter Springs is a sweeping epic that takes themes from traditional Mexican literature and Old Westerns to tell the story of a man coming into his own and realizing his destiny lies in the wild open spaces with the man who loves him, far from expectations of society.

Bonus Recs:

Caravan by Whisperforge – audiodrama

First rule of Wound Canyon: No one who gets in, ever gets out. So when a brilliant, ghostly specter flies through the sky amid the rain and lightning, Samir stumbles off a steep cliff and into a hidden world, one in which demons, vampires, and all other manner of paranormal creatures take sanctuary. 

Second rule of Wound Canyon: No one makes it alone. Samir’s decided to tag along with Argeaux’s Caravan, a band of supernatural bounty hunters and vigilante peace-keepers. Together with an ever-expanding train of fantastical tagalongs, Samir and his new friends venture deep into the bowels of the canyon to find a way out of the magical boundary that imprisons all who cross it.

Cowboy Bebop – tv series

A ragtag crew of bounty hunters chases down the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals. They’ll save the world – for the right price.

What are your favorite gay cowboy books?

Want to chat your favorite reads with us? Join our Book Lover’s Discord server!

Love reading queer books? Our Queer Book Challenge is running on Storygraph through the end of 2024. Come join us!

[myemuisemo]

"On the Great Alkali Plain" part 2, from Letters from Watson, arrived in my inbox this morning, bringing with it a predictable cloud of dust from approaching horses (since this isn't a George R.R. Martin novel, so we're not going to introduce characters just to kill them off immediately).

But what a caravan! When the head of it had reached the base of the mountains, the rear was not yet visible on the horizon. Right across the enormous plain stretched the straggling array, waggons and carts, men on horseback, and men on foot. Innumerable women who staggered along under burdens, and children who toddled beside the waggons or peeped out from under the white coverings.

Either we're running late on the Oregon Trail (since Doyle did not have social media to live-blog progress across the dusty waste) or the year 1847 is important, and these are Mormons.

“Shall I go forward and see, Brother Stangerson,” asked one of the band.

These have got to be Mormons.

“Nigh upon ten thousand,” said one of the young men; “we are the persecuted children of God—the chosen of the Angel Merona.”

Tell me you're a Mormon without telling me you're a Mormon.

“We are the Mormons,” answered his companions with one voice.

OMG, they're Mormons.

This makes the geographic names a little dicey -- the Mormon Trail ran through Wyoming, similar but not identical to today's I-80, so the Rio Grande River should be nowhere nearby -- but Doyle didn't have access to Google Maps, and it's not like his readers in the UK would go factcheck. Even with the Transcontinental Railroad completed back in 1869, most places in the Great American Desert were still remote in the 1880s, and California on the far end was still feeling the effects of isolation. Doyle also misspells the Angel Moroni and uses a masculine-ending name on a Sierra, so he's working from popular myth and the memory of things he's read. I wonder how many letters with corrections he received.

(At the time Doyle was writing, "Mormon" was the term used by the group themselves. Since about the 1980s, church leadership started urging the use of "Latter-Day Saints" instead. When I lived in Phoenix, that's near a big LDS population in Mesa, so I wince at using the older term. From here on out, if I'm quoting Doyle, I'll use "Mormon," but if I'm talking, I'll stick to LDS.)

The big reason the LDS wagon train is headed west is because they practiced polygamy at the time, and this was considered both illegal and immoral in larger U.S. society. (That's not a critique of polyamory today, when enthusiastic concept and clear rules are normalized.)

So far Doyle's account of the LDS party is generally positive -- they're organized, efficient, knowledgeable about their surroundings, prepared for danger, and responsible toward people needing rescue, if a bit holier-than-thou -- but I can't believe he's going to handle polygamy with anything other than distaste.

Polygamy is the thing LDS have been known for (to their chagrin after the mainstream LDS church banned it), so at the end of this section, Doyle's original audience is split into two groups:

Readers who have no real idea what a "Mormon" is and accept it as just one more crazy American thing, who now figure Lucy is rescued and wonder what goes wrong later to lead to murder; and

Readers who know about polygamy and are feeling dread for Lucy.

[whywishesarehorses]

Hi, happy January BLM auction season! 😊

I am a former horse-obsessed kid who grew up in the middle of the city without a lot of money. Now I am an adult who still has such a fondness for and interest in horses, still lives in the middle of the city, and still does not have a lot of money.

Do you have any ideas on how to start dipping a toe into the horse world? How I can spend some time with horses and their people, and figure out if it truly is a passion I want to start pursuing?

Thanks for all you put into this blog, as it has helped me remember why I loved horses as a kid, but definitely also shown me more of the reality behind the dream!

Happy auction season! It's a good one this month!

This is a great question! It can be an intimidating world to break into, but I firmly believe that it doesn't actually have to be that hard. A few particular options, depending on what is around you:

Volunteer at a rescue, non-profit, or other barn. Most places need someone to muck or groom or exercise ponies, especially if you will do it for free. Yes, I have some mixed feelings about using people for free labor, but yes, it's a great way to get involved. Examples: I groomed retired OTTBs for a year while I was in college and did not have my horse. It was a 45 minute drive, one way, but it kept me so sane. Second example: a random lady started coming to the barn where I board now and offered to help clean and feed in exchange for time with the horses. She started out just grooming, moved to riding, and now she's leasing a horse there! I think it's all free in exchange for her labor.

Lease! It's a cheaper way to get to ride a bunch, with a horse that is kinda 'yours'. You don't have to deal with as much of the daily care stuff. This is more feasible if you are near a place that has horses, and if you have some experience. You would probably have to be able to catch, tack, and ride on your own.

Lessons! One lesson a month is a great way to develop skills and get to scratch that itch. Prices range a huge amount depending on where you are. No shame in being a beginner adult though! This is also a great way to try different disciplines (although good luck with that if you're in, say, Wyoming or on the East coast. They are pretty discipline locked.)

Visit shows, conventions, clinics! Some of these are free to watch. If you're not a socially anxious person, you can chat with people there and maybe find an inroad.

All of these are great starting places, imo. Welcome to the world of horses! Just like any eclectic, money-driven hobby, there are some elitists and some assholes. If it sucks, hit da bricks and try something else. There are good horse folks out there.

[jamie-rainsong-rrp]

~ I n t r o d u c t i o n ~

Hi! I’m Jamie Rainsong, and I’m an Irish/Jorveigan eventer currently residing in the Harvest Counties. Until I get my own stables (soon, hopefully), I’m living at Sunfield Farm with my parents.

~ Pinkman , ‘Jesse’ ~

Jesse is an 8 year old, 16.4hh Selle Français with some Thoroughbred bloodlines. He was bred by Baroness Silverglade to two Grand National horses, was bought by a stables in Jorvik City, and the Grand National was what his first owners had in mind for him. He never made it to the racetrack, because his owners went bankrupt. He was sent to an auction, and that’s where my parents bought him for me. He was my first horse of my own, and despite him being a handful sometimes - he’s also very sensitive - he’s a total gem of a horse who will jump his heart out. Right now, he specialises in showjumping and cross country, but I’m going to try and get him into endurance riding when he builds up enough muscle and skill.

~ Deer Hunter , ‘Mike’ ~

Mike is a 15 y/o, 17.3hh Dutch Warmblood x Irish Sport Horse. He was born in Ireland, where my dad is from, and he was trained very well in showjumping and dressage. My dad bought him when Mike was two, when we were visiting Ireland and saw Mike at an auction. We knew we had to have him, despite having no intention of buying a horse at all. It was the best decision my dad has ever made. He’s such a sweet old guy, and still competes with no sign of slowing down. He’s been there, done that, having competed in the RDS and the Governer’s Fall Arena.

~ Long Hard Times To Come , ‘Raylan’ ~

Raylan is a 7 y/o, 15.3hh Mustang gelding. Very little is known about him, but I know that he was most likely born in Wyoming over in America, on government-owned land, before being brought to Jorvik. I’m pretty sure he was once part of the Mustang Makeover, as he has good ground manners and knows basic things. But other than that, I know nothing beyond the fact that he was neglected and abused before I adopted him from the South Hoof Rescue. He’s an amazing horse, just very green and a little clueless. But I love him all the same. Plus, he’s very brave for such a green horse. He’s starting his competition career, slowly but surely, and I can’t wait to see how he does.

[chewablepebbles]

One more thing happens and I'm moving back to the horse rescue. Or Wyoming

[ao3feed-destiel-02]

Restless Man

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/wSg4r18 by CasslessChaps (RBBLivvy) Castiel is in the wrong place at the wrong time when a fight breaks out in a dive bar in middle-of-nowhere Wyoming. Sheriff Sam Winchester realizes Cas is a drifter and gets him a job on his family horse rescue run by his brother Dean. The plan was never to stay, but things keep happening to keep him there until eventually, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with the green-eyed cowboy that leads to much more. Neither of them is prepared for the passionate fire that ensues. But, as fires so often do, they're both about to get burnt when it comes to light that Cas is on the run. Dean's always believed in second chances for the horses he rescues, but with Cas, he's not so sure. Words: 29662, Chapters: 10/10, Language: English Fandoms: Supernatural (TV 2005) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Castiel (Supernatural), Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Eileen Leahy, Charlie Bradbury, Jo Harvelle, Mary Winchester, John Winchester, Benny Lafitte Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Eileen Leahy/Sam Winchester, John Winchester/Mary Winchester Additional Tags: Past Castiel/Kelly Kline (Supernatural), Minor Benny Lafitte/Dean Winchester, Alternate Universe, Rancher Dean Winchester, Ranch Hand Castiel, Fluff, Smut, Domestic Fluff, Minor Angst, The 90s, Cowboys, Slow Burn, Horseback Riding, horse rescue, Openly Bisexual Dean Winchester, Bisexual Castiel (Supernatural), Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, Clubbing, Accidental Voyeurism, On the Run, Sheriff Sam Winchester, Ranch Hand Charlie Bradbury, Ranch Hand Jo Harvelle, Alternate Universe - Western, Top Castiel/Bottom Dean Winchester, There Was Only One Bed, Snuggling, Grumpy Dean Winchester, but he's actually, Dean Winchester is a Ray of Sunshine, Dean Winchester Calls Castiel "Sweetheart", Baby is a horse, Dean/Cas Big Bang 2024 (Supernatural) read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/wSg4r18

[mybookplacenet]

Featured Post: Wings of Crystal by Karen Kanouse

About Wings of Crystal: Raising Evandar, a baby dragon, in secret is no easy task, especially with danger crowding in from every direction. In a world where magic and danger intertwine, Zia and her magician companion, Jakari, face a daunting task: raising the only baby dragon in a thousand years—in secret. As they leave their companions to find a sanctuary for Evandar's growth, they plunge into a labyrinth of peril. But safety remains elusive as sinister forces interfere. Hunted by men wielding enchanted blades and believing Jakari dead, Zia is left to find a way into a system of caves where the missing prince is being held. Entrusting Evandar to her winged horse, Starwind, for safekeeping, she strikes a desperate bargain, becoming a servant to a corrupt Squire magician so she can gain entry into his lair. Amidst the echoing tunnels of a mountain range, where she hoped to nurture Evandar in peace, Zia grapples with her newfound servitude while still harboring a desperate mission: to locate and rescue Xavier, the captive prince, and raise the dragon to his full potential. In this gripping tale of loyalty, sacrifice, and the bonds of magic, with adventure, action, magic and epic battles, Zia must summon all her strength and cunning to protect the dragon she loves, save the imprisoned prince, and unravel mysteries that threaten to consume them all. Targeted Age Group: 15+ Written by: Karen Kanouse Buy the ebook: Buy the Book On Amazon Buy the Print Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Author Bio: Karen Kanouse is an award-winning watercolor artist and author whose creativity is matched only by her love for animals and birds. Retiring from family practice medicine in Wyoming, she turned to writing and returned to painting, infusing her narratives and artwork with the charm of her furry and feathered friends. With a love for reading science fiction and fantasy, Karen's writing transports readers to realms of wonder. She’s always had a vivid imagination and now uses that to color her worlds in books and create new worlds for you to explore. In her spare time, Karen enjoys teaching watercolor classes, playing bridge, painting, and having fun since retirement. A lot of her time goes into writing books, keeping her on the couch and at the table, doing author things. Karen is a cat and dog and horse lover and bunnies…and the list goes on. She’s fluffy enough to be a cat but not a cat burglar. Follow the author on social media: Facebook Fan Page Instagram Read the full article

[atlaswilliams]

He'd kicked the shit out of most of his old friends, just as they'd kicked the shit out of him at one point or another. With a smart mouth like his and free flowing sarcasm at the ready, it was inevitable. Sometimes he wished that he and Lucas had gotten into a bit more trouble in that sense — fight it out to get over it. Of course, with age came some version of maturity where fists were no longer thrown and if they were, it was all good, drunken fun around a bonfire while kicking up dust in between rib jabs and headlocks.

"Don't worry about me and those fence posts at your place. If I'm coming over, I'm at least taking up conversation with some of those horses, maybe some cattle. I bet they'd listen to me without talking shit back." He found peace in a saddle, a discovery that had taken him far too long to stumble upon. "If you ever see me out in a field, just leave me be. I'm workin' on myself."

Humor was a sense of deflection, but the reality of his joke had settled into his bones as they rounded around turn and a stalk crunched beneath his boot. Talking, at least in a productive sense, had never been easy for him. Growing up, every emotion he had ever felt had been stifled by his mother and ignored by his father. At least if he worked up the courage to talk to something, it was a step in the right direction.

Wyoming was beautiful, as were many other states. For a passing moment, he wondered where his father had wandered off to. No responsibilities, no place to really call home... would the man ever settle, or would he run from his demons until the end of it all? "You wanna be a mountain man now? Live off the wilderness?" He shot the cowboy a wicked grin, one fueled by whiskey and amusement.

"Sometimes I wonder if it weren't for the rescue... would I even still be here?" He pulled the flask from within his jacket, the question spoken aloud inciting feelings he had tried so hard to swallow down, but if anyone understood, he assumed it would be the ranch heir at his side.

Wolves, while they could surprise him, and most certainly had, were obvious in their danger. At least when walking into the enclosure, he knew what could come, but the corn maze, dimly lit with plenty of places to hide, left far too room for someone to slip through his defenses. "They've got the element of surprise."

The words had no sooner left his mouth when a clown mask popped out from the maze, causing the male to lift his hands, thankful that he hadn't uncapped the flask just yet. "Son of a bitch," he mouthed, heart thudding wildly as turned towards the cowboy with a raised brow and half grin. "Just wait. Your time will come."

@syweston

Friends like Atlas Williams were tough to come by. Most were careful to banter back and forth with the cowboy, the fear his wealth and background instilled in most was often heeded by way not rocking the boat too hard. Which made things rather boring for the bull rider.

As much sarcasm as Silas kicked out to the wolfman, it was volleyed right back and made for an amusing time.

Perhaps that was reason for his propensity to have the other male's company. There was nothing fake or put on when it came to their friendship. Sy Weston may have been the heir to a kingdom but Atlas treated him as though he were just another idiot dumb enough to hop on the back of a raging bull and attempt to hang on for eight seconds.

"Y'know that's a given," the bull rider agreed and took another swig from the flask. Though, most riders would claim that much more went into the sport than just hanging on. "So, you got lots of experience talking to fence posts? Should I be worried 'bout you comin' over? Jus' gonna find you out there in the field..."

It wasn't just his career that had taken him places, nor his music. There were family trips over the years but those were mostly to destinations that were their speed. Most of Sy's ventures into the depths of the world had come by way of his service with the Corps. Which wasn't something he talked on easily. "You know I got lots of land an' this is the patch that holds my home," he said with a careless shrug of his shoulders. "I've always thought I'd retire in Wyoming or up north... jus' retreat into the wilderness."

But now there was something else that had Silas wanting to stick around more.

As they edged closer to the faux danger his levels of amusement were on the rise, especially when considering how much more hesitant the tall man was becoming. "Man, c'mon," he laughed, "you work with wolves an' you're scared of this shit?" The cowboy had seen it all on trails and deep into their lands when hunting. Bears, mountain lions, and wolves. Someone jumping out of the corn in a costume wasn't going to shake im one bit.

"This shit feeds on fear, Williams. They'll bypass me an' come right for ya." / @atlaswilliams

[mserevival]

This handsome man Boone, is our newest addition to the Mountain Shadows Equine Revival team. He was saved at the Centennial Livestock Auction in Fort Collins Colorado, and will be in quarantine for 30 days. He is a two year old stud colt and has a long happy life ahead of him!

[deancasbigbang]

Title: Restless Man

Author: Casslesschaps

Artist: Sasanka-27

Rating: Explicit

Pairings: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Eileen Leahy/Sam Winchester, Past Castiel/Kelly Kline, Minor Benny Lafitte/Dean Winchester, John Winchester/Mary Winchester

Length: 25000

Warnings: N/A

Tags: Alternate Universe, Rancher Dean, Ranch Hand Castiel, Fluff, Smut, ‘90s, Cowboys, Slow burn, horseback riding, openly bisexual Dean Winchester

Posting Date: October 14, 2024

Summary: Castiel is in the wrong place at the wrong time when a fight breaks out in a dive bar in middle-of-nowhere Wyoming. Sheriff Sam Winchester realizes Cas is a drifter and gets him a job on his family horse rescue run by his brother Dean. The plan was never to stay, but things keep happening to keep him there until eventually, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with the green-eyed cowboy that leads to much more. Neither of them is prepared for the passionate fire that ensues. But, as fires so often do, they're both about to get burnt when it comes to light that Cas is on the run. Dean's always believed in second chances for the horses he rescues, but with Cas, he's not so sure.

Excerpt: “But you’re so…” Cas didn’t know how to end that sentence so he just gestured to Dean. “So what?” A mischievous smirk played across Dean’s face, a telltale sign he thought he was going to say something hilarious. “Ruggedly handsome? Strong and extremely masculine?”  Cas rolled his eyes, but he felt his cheeks heat up. He looked away. Dean wasn’t those things. Well, he was, but objectively. You couldn’t look at Dean and not notice those things. Hence Cas’ curiosity about Dean being bullied about not being ‘manly enough.’ “Not what I was going to say, but sure. For argument's sake.” “For argument's sake, what?”  Cas sighed, Dean really thought he was witty. He was not. “We’ll say you are all those things.” Dean locked eyes at Cas and honest-to-god batted his eyelashes. “What things?”  “You know what I’m talking about, I’m not gonna boost your ego.” Cas pushed his chair away from the table and walked to the bottom of the steps, “Are you guys ready yet?” “Stop rushing us, asshole!” Jo yelled back. Cas chuckled and heard Dean laugh too. He turned around and Dean had joined him at the bottom of the stairs.  “So you admit those things are true?”  “Huh?” Cas had forgotten what they were talking about. “You agree that I’m handsome?” Dean winked and then wagged his eyebrows obnoxiously.  “When did I say that?” Cas scoffed and pushed past Dean to go back into the kitchen.  “What, you can’t admit when a guy is objectively handsome?” “Frankly, the fact that you keep calling yourself that is concerning.” Cas snarked back. It was kind of fun bantering with Dean. He was quick, not exactly witty, but still a little funny. “You know, just because you call a man handsome, doesn’t necessarily make you a homosexual,” Dean quipped.  Cas didn’t dare turn back around to face Dean. He didn’t want Dean to notice how much he was blushing. Dean didn’t sound like he was making fun of him or being insensitive. It just really caught Cas by surprise to hear Dean speak so freely about that.  “I never,” Cas let out an awkward cough, “I never said it did.” “I’m just sayin’,” Dean remarked, “I can admit that you’re handsome.”

DCBB 2024 Posting Schedule

[allwaswell16]

This is a fic rec of One Direction fan fics where Harry's character has rugged qualities as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other recs here. Happy reading!

-Larry-

♣️ Let's Fall in Love in a Place You Want to Stay by embro / @harryventura

(NR, 134k, jungle man au, model Louis, Africa, crack, fashion, smut)

A George of the Jungle / Tarzan AU where Louis is a model who meets Wild Man Harry in the Congo. 

♣️ Wild And Unruly by @100percentsassy & gloria_andrews / @gloriaandrews

(E, 123k, farm/ranch au, cowboy Harry, paralegal Louis, Wyoming, small town, cows, angst with a happy ending, fluff, smut)

Harry is a cowboy sitting on the biggest oil reservoir in Wyoming, and Louis is the paralegal assigned to pressure him into selling his land.

♣️ electing strange perfections by @scrunchyharry

(E, 84k, gardner Harry, younger Louis, rich Louis, summer love, coming out, angst, fluff, first time, homophobia, coming of age, smut)

Back for the summer from university, 19-year-old Louis is faced with a massive problem: their new gardener is quite possibly the most gorgeous man he's ever met.

♣️ After Dark, After Light by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird

(E, 71k, historical au, Medieval, Scottish Highlander, Laird Harry, commander Louis, secret relationship, light angst, battle, kidnapping, slow burn, sexual tension, smut)

Harry Styles is the laird of Clan Edwards who is just trying to keep his clan afloat when they get word that the Mackenzies have been cutting a swath through the Midlands and beyond, and their sights are set on the northern Highlands next.

♣️ Until (series) by @allwaswell16

(E, 61k, farm/ranch au, cowboy Harry, former movie star Harry, songwriter Louis, second part Shiall, pop star Niall, cowboy Shawn, Colorado, horses, hate to love, songfic, famous/not famous, smut)

Rural Eagle County, Colorado wasn’t the type of place to find a famous musician or actor. At least not until songwriter Louis Tomlinson showed up with pop star Niall Horan to visit his uncle’s horse ranch, and they just happened to find themselves next door to a reclusive former movie star.

♣️ Now That This Old World Is Ending by daggerinrose / @thetommmoarchives

(E, 49k, Far Cry au, cult, kidnapping, archer Harry, camping, violence, guns, angst with a happy ending, adventure, survival, smut)

Louis soon discovers that the area has been taken over by a cult and teams up with a resentful archer with fire in his eyes and blood on his hands.

♣️ No Hold to Hold Onto by @kingsofeverything

(E, 48k, historical au, farm/ranch, cowboy Louis, cowboy Harry, character injury, horses, rodeo riders, smut)

When Harry goes looking for help learning a new way to rope and ride, the last thing he expects to find is love.

♣️ On the Edge by zanni_scaramouche / @zanniscaramouche

(E, 47k, Olympics au, hockey player Harry, figure skater Louis, Canada, athletes, fluff, angst, edging, masturbation, mentions of eating disorder, references to death, past injuries, smut)

Harry’s too old to be the wonder kid and too young to be taken seriously in the NHL. As an alternate thrown in at the last second, he fights to prove himself on the national team at the largest sporting event known to man. Or he will, once he gets off this flight and can focus on something other than the fussy figure skater and his stunningly blue eyes.

♣️ All That You Are by asphodelknox / @iamasphodelknox

(M, 40k, historical au, Dunkirk, soldier Harry, war, WWII, angst, PTSD, period typical homophobia, letters, character injuries, happy ending)

Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson meet on a civilian boat, taking them home after their rescue from Dunkirk.

♣️ The Pirate and The Piper by jacaranda_bloom / @jacaranda-bloom

(E, 38k, Peter Pan au, pirate Harry, Harry as Captain Hook, Louis as Peter Pan, enemies to friends to lovers, fantasy, magic, supernatural creatures, minor violence, minor character death, hurt/comfort, flirting, smut)

Or the one where Harry is Hook, Louis is Pan, and nothing is what it seems.

♣️ sunflowers, sunshine, and you by @soldouthaz

(E, 28k, small town, sheriff Harry, enemies to lovers, light angst, past abuse, smut)

Sunshine county is small but mighty and Harry takes pride in knowing nearly each and every person that lives inside of it. For nearly eleven years now he’s been sheriff, and not one of them he’s ever regretted settling down here.

♣️ (summer is over) and i wanna leave you satisfied by patdkitten / @babyarcanacasey

(M, 25k, uni au, roommates, one night stand, ballet dancer Louis, hockey player Harry, royalty, miscommunication)

On the very last night of his summer break in London, Louis Tomlinson hooks up with a hot guy. When he gets back home, his roommates tell him that they're going to be getting a new roommate. 

♣️ It's the Climb by @lululawrence

(NR, 25k, Hannah Montana au, famous/not famous, famous Louis, Tennessee, secret identity, songwriting, farm/ranch, horses, secrets, pining, fluff)

The Hannah Montana AU where Louis is a world famous punk rock singer with a stage name of William and Jay drags him back to Tennessee for the summer.

♣️ some evening in springtime by delsicle / @eeveelou

(M, 20k, farm/ranch au, rancher Harry, veterinarian Louis, older Harry, age difference, disabled character, hurt/comfort, sexuality crisis, coming out)

Fresh out of veterinary school, Louis moves to a sleepy small town in Texas to take over the local animal clinic. But his new life is quickly interrupted by a middle aged rancher with a bad leg and a mysterious past, who really needs Louis's yoga skills.

♣️ The Wilds by @jaerie

(E, 13k, a/b/o, alpha Harry, omega Louis, animal instincts, non con, mating, forced bonding, scenting, exhibitionism, knotting, soul bond, public sex)

The creatures that Louis observed every day weren't exactly human, but yet they were. Researchers had plucked some of them from their secluded island and transplanted them into an enclosure against their will like a bunch of zoo animals. 

♣️ Chased the High by crimsontheory / @ireallysawanangel

(E, 12k, firefighter au, firefighter Louis, firefighter Harry, car accident, friends to lovers, pining, smut)

Or the one where Louis and Harry are both fireman and Louis doesn't know how much longer he can go on harboring his feelings for Harry.

♣️ say forever, you'll be mine by dilfrry / @silverfoxrry

(E, 12k, trucker Harry, masseuse Louis, strangers to lovers, first date, older Harry, flirting, smut)

the trucker harry fic i wrote for my own guilty pleasure

♣️ Wild at Heart Ain't Hard to Find by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird

(E, 11k, girl direction, Western, tourists, blacksmith Harry, porn with plot, strangers to lovers, smut)

The town boasts tours, excursions, activities, and the hottest woman Louis has ever seen in the form of the local blacksmith.

♣️ sensitive to pressure by momentofclarity / @gaycousinlarry

(E, 4k, established relationship, secret relationship, closeted characters, hockey player Harry, hockey player Louis, famous/famous, dirty talk, light angst, body worship, pwp, smut)

Harry’s breath stutters on its way up his throat, his cheeks heating more with each step as Louis gets closer and Harry can’t move.

-Rare Pairs-

♣️ I pledge my hands to larger service by yeah_alright / @uhoh-but-yeah-alright

(M, 4k, Harry/Tim Riggins, former football player Harry, Texas, wrestling, friends to lovers, kissing, Friday Night Lights fusion, implied smut)

Harry hasn't seen his high school crush since he graduated over ten years ago. 

[caesarsaladinn]

Got any fun trivia? What has your hell brain latched onto this month?

the American Civil War, which happened against my will when I was stuck in traffic beside a sign for the Chancellorsville battlefield, giving me the overriding urge to download the 2017 Grant audiobook again. I recommend it highly.

I have a bit of of fun trivia, placed under a cut for politeness’s sake.

the S in Ulysses S. Grant doesn’t stand for anything. it was a clerical error made when he enrolled in West Point; his actual name was Hiram Ulysses Grant.

Grant did not want to go to West Point at all, and only did it because his father signed him up without asking.

Grant was what tumblr might call a horse girl, and was famous for riding untameable animals that nobody else could touch.

he once rescued two women from assault by a Union soldier by jumping off his horse, disarming the soldier, and clubbing him unconscious with his own musket.

Grant was a very unassuming man, and a common reaction upon meeting the greatest leader of the Union Army was “really? that’s the guy?” people would often fail to recognize him, or shake the wrong guy’s hand and have to be corrected that nope, I’m just an army surgeon, the real Grant is the dusty one in the corner.

the Confederacy had at least two of their best generals (Jackson and Longstreet) put out of action by friendly fire. lmao.

the oldest reference to a squirt gun comes from General Sherman (“Why, you might as well attempt to put out the flames of a burning house with a squirt-gun”), which bafflingly predates the first squirt gun patent by thirty-one years.

quoth Grant: "Well, with me a musical joke always requires explanation. I know only two tunes: one is "Yankee Doodle,' and the other isn't.”

while on vacation in Wyoming, Grant’s chief of staff once called for his own execution after he disobeyed orders to not hunt grizzly bears and had to be rescued from said enraged and wounded bear. he later displayed the pelt on his wall, so I guess he didn’t bad about it for too long.

a fair number of civil war veterans lived to see World War I, which just doesn’t feel right to me.

one of my ancestors, an Irish immigrant, was apparently a private in a New York Zouave unit, which isn’t really trivia but is pretty cool.

[whywishesarehorses]

Genetic Deep Dive: Can Eton the Mustang be a Friesian? The American Mustang's Ancestry & Composition

May 2021, Etalon Diagnostics

Under a readmore, this one's a long one, about one of Elisa Wallace's horses.

Elisa Wallace is a 5 star three-day event rider, YouTuber, and advocate for American Mustang adoption, off the track thoroughbreds, rider safety, and women in sport. Elisa is passionate about her work with American mustangs, aimed at demonstrating the potential of this misunderstood breed. One Mustang that Elisa rescued captured the hearts of her community from the day he came home on June 7th, 2019 - Eton!

Eton is an 8 year old Mustang gelding from Green Mountain HMA, Wyoming and just 14.1 hands tall. Elisa named Eton after one of the mystical black horses that pulled Pluto’s Chariot and was rendered “swift as an eagle”. Elisa adopted Eton in order to participate in the Mustang Tip Challenge, in which trainers have 90 days to train a mustang for an in-hand competition held in Fairburn, GA.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked, or told, that Eton looks like a Friesian" Elisa said on her Youtube Video "Is my Mustang a Friesian?". Elisa decided to run an Etalon Diagnostics Ancestry & Composition Analysis and MiniPanel PLUS Diagnostic test on Eton to learn more about his genetics. Etalon's ancestry and composition analysis is an in-depth comparison of your horse's genetic make-up and how it is like, or unlike, other horses within various "breeds", disciplines, and populations around the world.

The short answer: Eton is not a Friesian! In fact, when Etalon’s full-time geneticist, Laura Patterson Rosa DVM, PhD looked closely at his results, she noticed that he is genetically very far from a Friesian. Yet, Eton's DNA provides a lot of insight into what makes up the American Mustang. Read on to learn more about how Eton's DNA differs from a Friesian. Let’s look at “breeds” that he is most closely related to, how we interpret this information, and why it matters.

First, let's take a look at a purebred Friesian's Ancestry results…

Meet Zero Gravity, or “Z”. Z is a 1997 Purebred Friesian Stallion. His Etalon Diagnostics ancestry results came back just as expected: Z is 99.9% “European Heavy Horse”. The European Heavy Horse population originated in Europe and includes breeds such as Belgians, Clydesdales, the Fell Pony, Franches Montagnes, and Percherons. Taking an even closer look at Z’s Ancestry and Composition Analysis results, Etalon provided his owner with an Ancestry breakdown to illustrate just how he compares to certain breeds from around the world. Here’s a look at Z’s results:

Z’s DNA was most closely related to a Belgian’s at 84%. Next was the Fell Pony, at 14%. Lastly, Z’s DNA was only slightly related to a Clydesdale’s at 1%.

Take note of Z’s inbreeding coefficient score of 32.59%... we’ll get to that soon and why that’s important!

Now, let’s take a look at our friend, Eton…

Eton’s DNA looks drastically different from Z’s. Eton’s ancestry results prove just how genetically diverse he is as an American Mustang, with his DNA originating from several different populations from around the world. The most prominent population being the European Heavy Horse, at 34.4% similarity. Coming in second, Eton’s DNA was 17.2% related to the “Carriage Horse” population, which includes breeds such as the French Trotter, Morgan, Saddlebred, Standardbred, and Tennessee Walking Horse. The next population Eton is related to is the Iberian, including Andalusians, Lusitanos, and Mangalargas. Next is the North Sea group, including Fjords, Icelandic horses, and Shetlands. Eton has 11.7% Thoroughbred blood, and is slightly related to the Exmoor and Near East horses.

Here is a breakdown of Eton’s Ancestry:

Look at all of those breeds hard at work in Eton! Something interesting to note is that, while Eton is most closely related to the European Heavy Horse population, his related breeds are not the same as Z’s, the purebred Friesian stallion we met earlier. Again, Z was most closely related to the Belgian breed, with Fell Pony a distant second. Within the European Heavy Horse population, Eton is most closely related to the Franches Montagnes, with Belgian as a second, and Clydesdale and Fell Pony arriving third and forth.

So… what breed is Eton most closely related to, if not a Friesian?

“Our Ancestry panel is looking much deeper and farther back than you might realize. We are looking at DNA through the lens of thousands of generations back, trying to assemble the puzzle pieces, so his results make a lot of sense”, said Dr. Patterson Rosa. The American Mustang is so genetically diverse that it’s difficult to analyze and assign him a ‘breed’. ‘Mustang’ simply means that the horse is feral, and the American Mustang has been influenced by many different breeds over the past several generations.”

The first Mustangs descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish, that escaped or were released into the wild. However, many other breeds and types of horses contributed to the modern Mustang, resulting in varying phenotypes. Most contain a greater genetic mixture of ranch stock and more recent breed releases, while a few are relatively unchanged from the original Iberian stock strongly represented in the most isolated populations.

In Eton’s case, he still has strong Iberian bloodlines, with the Iberian group coming in at 15.9% of his DNA. His most prominent population, the European Heavy horse, makes sense when compared to more recent Mustang history. In the United States, “pit ponies” had a large influence on the Mustang herd population. These horses were used underground in mines from the mid-18th until the mid-20th century. Mining horses were often low set, heavy-bodied and heavy-limbed with plenty of bone and substance. European Heavy Horses, such as Belgians, were often used in the mines. A number of these horses are presumed to have been released or escaped, which would explain the large presence of heavy horse “blood” in Eton. The Mustang population was also heavily influenced by Army Remount horses, Western ranchers, and various settlers. Their breed composition is quite genetically diverse, with Mother Nature having a lot to say over which traits survive in these horses and which traits are quickly eliminated.

“Eton’s Ancestry results also tell us a lot about what Mother Nature favors!” said Dr. Patterson Rosa. Eton’s genetic makeup gave him the best capacity to survive in the wild by himself. Taking a look once more at his Etalon Ancestry results, we notice that Eton’s inbreeding coefficient score is quite low: only 4.6%. Inbreeding coefficient is a measure derived from the actual genetic diversity within the individual. By comparison, Zero Gravity (the purebred Friesian stallion) has a very high inbreeding coefficient of 32.59%.

“In domestic animals, to create breeds, people inbreed or ‘linebreed’. Humans want certain traits to be prominent in a population. In doing so, however, we increase the chances that lethal or disease alleles become more present in that population as well. Highly inbred individuals do not tend to survive in harsh conditions. Mother Nature selected Eton as an efficient horse, capable of surviving and adapting to whatever she threw his way while living as a feral horse in Wyoming. Increased levels of heterozygosity are correlated to a better environmental and immune adaptability. Eton is actually so adaptable, that he was capable of being removed from his natural environment in Wyoming, handled by humans for the first time, moved to Florida where the conditions are drastically different, and adapting to all of the new things Elisa taught him. From being handled to ridden to competing in his first horse show, Eton is adaptable.” said Dr. Patterson Rosa.

So, why does all of this information matter?

As a horse owner, understanding your horse’s genetic makeup can help make their lives easier by understanding suitability. Horses are genetically suitable for some careers, disciplines, or even people, over others!

By taking a look at these Ancestry averages from certain disciplines, it’s simple to interpret the findings. For example, the 3-Day eventing horse has significantly more Thoroughbred blood than the Reining horse does. This makes sense because of the difficult nature of cross country and show jumping; requiring horses to be able to run for long distances and display incredible levels of athleticism. Reining horses have more Carriage horse blood, giving them the powerful shoulders and hindquarters to get low to the ground and spring back up quickly.

Comparing your horse’s Ancestry results to different breeds and disciplines from around the world may help you as a horse owner when it comes to decision making, and increase the number of tools in your and your horse’s toolbox. It’s all in their DNA - who these horses are, how they behave, their suitability for one discipline over another, speed, gait - the list goes on. Learn more about Etalon’s affordable equine DNA testing options at www.etalondx.com, and know your horse down to the DNA.

Team Etalon is conducting an ongoing study on the American Mustang's ancestry and composition and other genetic analysis. Email study@etalondx.com or give us a call at 650.380.2995 to order DNA testing and receive personalized genetic counseling on your Mustang.

-Team Etalon

You can watch Elisa's video on this here.

[space-whalesharks]

tell me about raza, rick and grant's search histories pls 👀

Raza

Red scarf outfit ideas

Fencing competitions near me

"World's Best Grandpa" mug

Chew toys strong enough for massiff

How to babysit a Force-sensitive baby

Rick

How to get cougars to leave you alone

Yahoo answers I'm the oldest one in my friend group by 10 years

Stetson hat repair Hope County

FBI can you switch partners

"I wanna be a cowboy baby" origins

Grant

How to help someone cope with a fear of horses

Ex veteran support groups

Keeping the peace when all your friends used to date each other

Dog rescues near me

Wyoming real estate

[12timetraveler]

All my requests involve a chubby female reader because insecurityTM Buuuut if you do want a new fic idea for Hosea fucks Friday~ Hosea takes readers virginity? I was thinking like the reader would be talking with the girls and the topic of sex would come up,and reader would admit to being a virgin and themselves thinking it's because of their size. Cue our charming silver fox coming to the rescue lol. (ignore if you are fed up with the chubby!F!Reader requests) Again love your work V MUCH

I have had this request in my inbox for forever but I loved the idea so much. Finally, FINALLY was able to sit down and finish it.

So, Chapter 54 of Campfire Stories is here. 

For the Dancing and the Dreaming

Hosea overhears reader make a few confessions to the other girls in camp one day and decides to act on his long-time feelings for her.

Below is a preview. Check out the whole story at the link above. 

“How’d y’all lose your virginity?” Karen asked suddenly, breaking you out of your thoughts. 

“Karen,” Abigail laughed, trying and failing to give Karen a disapproving look. 

“I was 16,” Karen started, ignoring Abigail. “His name was... damn what was his name? Bobby or Jimmy or... somethin’ like that. Anyway. He and I were sweet on each other. One afternoon he took me into his barn.” 

“You lost your virginity in a barn?” Jenny asked, scrunching her face up. 

“Didn’t that... you know... hurt?” Mary Beth asked. “All that straw in your...” Mary Beth shuddered. 

“No,” Karen said indignantly. “He lay down a blanket and everything. Like a proper gentleman.” 

“Some gentleman,” Abigail laughed. 

“Well what about you!? You got better stories, then?!” Karen huffed.

“Al, I think his name was.” Mary Beth said after a moment. “I met him in a bar. We chatted all evening, then he took me up to the room he was renting in the saloon.” Mary Beth sighed. “He was very nice... though... He wasn’t very naturally gifted.” She giggled. 

“Uh oh,” Abigail said. 

“It wasn’t that bad. He tried his best. And I suppose it didn’t hurt that much because of it.” Mary Beth shrugged. "Ain’t very romantic but still.” 

“I was 15 I think.” Abigail said. “He wouldn’t have been my first choice but... he wasn’t so bad I suppose. We’d been flirting on and off. I was starving, figured I had to become a working woman if I didn’t want to die in the gutter. Sold him my first time for a mighty fine price.” Abigail shrugged. “Could have been worse, I suppose. He was... kind. Made sure it didn’t hurt too bad.” The others nodded in understanding. 

“How ‘bout you, Tilly?” Karen asked. Tilly glanced up at you all. She paused, thinking for a minute. 

"It was when we were still out west. Can't remember where exactly. Nevada or Wyoming or something. We'd been camped outside this town for a few months and there was this feller. He was... Sweet. Very sweet. Any time he saw me he'd run off and pick me the nearest flower." Tilly grinned, staring at her lap at the memory. "Weren't meant to last. He was too gentle for this life and I'm too wild for his. But it was good while it lasted. When his parents were out he snuck me up to his room and we did it there." 

"His name was James.” Jenny sighed wistfully. “Lived just down the road. He and I went on a wagon ride. Once we were off the road and out of town, he lay down a blanket in the back of the wagon." Jenny giggled. “Thing was rocking something fierce. I’m sure anyone who saw it knew what was happening, but no one bothered us. Horses were pretty irritated with us though.”

“How about you?” Mary Beth asked. Everyone turned to you. You could feel heat rushing to your cheeks. 

“Me? Oh... I uh....” You paused, trying to make something up quickly. 

“You... have done it before, right?” Mary Beth asked slowly. You sighed and shook your head. 

“You’re a virgin?!” Karen exclaimed, far too loudly. You shushed her, looking around to make sure no one was listening in. 

“Yes, alright?! I’m a virgin! I’ve never been with anybody before.” You hissed between clenched teeth. 

“That’s okay,” Abigail assured you. “In society, that’s what you should strive for. It’s okay if you want to wait.”

“It’s not that I want to wait. Men don't wanna be with a girl like me." You said simply, stating a fact of life.

"Why wouldn't they?" Mary Beth asked slowly, not following.

“Why would they?” you scoffed, focusing on the sewing in your hands. "I mean, what do I have to offer them?" 

“Hey, don’t talk like that,” Abigail said. “None of us are exactly catches. Doesn’t mean much in the end.”

“I’m sure you just...”

“Don’t,” You cut them off. “I don’t need to hear any of that. I know damn well why no one will have me.” It was silent for a moment. 

“Why?” Mary Beth asked, sounding genuinely confused. The other girls looked equally lost. 

“Look at me.” You said, gesturing to your body and the way your curves had turned to rolls as you were sitting on the crate. 

“You think no one has slept with you because of your figure?” Abigail said gently. 

“No. I know that’s why nobody’ll sleep with me. Been told as much all my life.” You said simply. You sighed, setting down your sewing. “I mean... I suppose if I tried maybe I could get the really desperate men. But I just... I want my first time to mean something. But no one gives me the time of day, so I’ve never made that connection.” You said. “Sometimes I think I oughta just get it over with. Let Mac or one of them just take it and be done with it. But... I guess I’m still holding out hope.” 

The others were silent for a moment, no one knowing what to say. 

“Horseshit,” Karen said. “Men don’t actually care about that.”

“You don’t get to say that,” You snapped, glaring at her. “Think about the last time we all went to a saloon in town. Did anyone push you out of the way to get a better look at me? No? They pushed me aside for you,” You huffed. “My whole life I’ve just been a figure in the background. Until you experience that, don’t tell me it’s horse shit.” You deflated a bit, feeling the weight of it on your shoulders. Jenny reached out and rubbed your arm gently. You patted the younger girl’s hand reassuringly. 

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped. You didn’t do anything.” You said. You looked over the girls. You were older than any of them by at least a year or two. Hearing that they’d all lost their innocence before they were twenty had you feeling like an old maid. “Let's find a happier topic to discuss.” You suggested. Everyone was quiet for a moment. 

"I think I know who you want to take your first time" Karen finally said, wiggling her eyebrows, trying to lighten the mood. Tilly grinned. 

"She's right. A certain silver-tongued fox we all know you're sweet on." Jenny said, wiggling her eyebrows

"Awww Hosea would be great for your first time." Mary Beth sighed. 

"Do y'all have to talk so loud?" You huffed, glancing around. You weren't sure where Hosea was, but camp was small. You'd be utterly humiliated if he heard them talking. 

"They're right, you know." Abigail said. "They only get better with experience. And Hosea's smart. He'd take care of you." Abigail made a face as she realized she was talking about someone she very obviously saw as a father. 

"Can we please drop the subject?" You hissed. You could feel your cheeks heating up. 

"I remember being kept up a few nights because of him and Bessie." Mrs. Grimshaw's comment made you jump out of your skin. You hadn't heard her walk up behind you, standing with her hands on her hips. "She always liked it." She seemed lost in thought for a moment before turning back to you all. "I'm not certain why you all are discussing what Mr. Matthews would be like between the sheets, but I'm sure you have better things to do with your time. Back to work." She snapped.

~~~~~~~~~