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They got to work on what was needed, he had plenty of experience, the ranchhand showed up and things felt a little more peaceful. Kemi finally caught one of the people to blame for the trash always falling down. Kel is lucky he's cute, Umber shivered slightly, it felt nice to work and be distracted until he saw Princess running free, the pink reminding him of Kemi. She is younger than him a bit, no doubt about that but she had a comfortable touch the air around her. It was the only way to say it, he knew he needed to work things out with his wife but his mind drifted to how she flirted, the little kiss they shared. Been a long while since he could say he even know what sparks were, between two people anyhow. That shouldn't matter...but it did.
"I'm sorry little guy I forget you're up here sometimes." the fluffball felt a thousand stabs of offense but ate the treat and let her hold him all the same...cause that's what you do.
"Hey Kemi! It's uh....all is well can you come down?" Umber called up the stairs.
"Yeah just a minute!"
He wasn't sure what he was going to ask her as soon as she hit the last step he quickly gave up and moved to pull her in for a hug, she made a noise of surprise but welcomed the hug all the same. She didn't know if she was starting to miss Scarlet or if she was glad she left without a fight and it was just a tiring experience...but it felt nice. Umber knew he was being difficult that he could go home and work on things, sure he missed his wife but not enough, they were normally busy and that was fine so he couldn't be completely sure when a hug developed as much power over him as it had. She smelled like strawberries....naturally that meant he would never see the fruit the same again and he would commit it to memory completely and forever.
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Even as she offered a kiss they were well aware it could never happen, it was warm, relief that hadn't come in a long time even by Kemi's standards, they just weren't going to happen. He didn't have plans to leave his wife, neither did she, in fact she never cared for a man in this way before, he had a nice hold there was a security there she couldn't say she knew. Sure she loved her late parents and they taught her to be kind as they were and that was all they ever wanted of her, her older brother had been the same way, now long gone, any of his closest friends she knew that sort of friendly, innocent comfort. As expected, but this was nice and it wasn't going to get them anywhere, even if they could tell just a bit the other needed the same thing.
Hearing the trash can fall again they pulled away and went out to check and see what happened, some random woman that was upset with Scarlet too had kicked the can this time and taken off when she saw Umber. He sighed, it wasn't a bad place to live difficult were everywhere just in various amounts.
"Want me to chase after her? Get her to clean up..."
"It's okay, I have rocks."
She laughed at his horrified expression.
"Kidding."
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After some more work, they got to talking again, less serious, just about hobbies and she learned he was a big romance guy, the impossible cowboy teddy bear she would call him. Mostly in her mind pretty sure he would rival a tomato if she called him that to his face...why did he have to be cute and sweet? It was a cosmic trick she was sure, but when he asked her to dance even as the music grew lighter with distance..she couldn't help but say yes. While the animals mostly behaved it was a nice time for dancing, just this once.
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Work was never done, it had been nice having him in the house, he would help where he needed though sometimes he would check out almost. She knew he must have a lot of his mind and offered to listen, but she knew she didn't really need to. He would come to her when he needed to it wasn't a one way street she wasn't the type. Though she was well aware sometimes people needed you to care from a distance, the horses already warmed up to him all three of them though she couldn't tell which one liked him more and when the girls weren't darting back and forth like pink cookie blurs Gideon was making his way to the track next to the house almost always seeming ready for training. She was careful with him but he didn't seem to miss his rider at all...in fact she was his now. As she prepared for supper she noticed Princess neighing at him always looking to be hand-fed and pampered but also just as affectionate and he seemed a little off. She left it alone for a little while but couldn't leave him just alone out in the rain for too long.
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He savored the contact almost immediately even with any of the horses trailing behind him there was always something different in just being held. He was glad she didn't hound him though, he tried his best not to bother her he admired how she pulled herself up to get to work no matter what needed to be done it was the right kind of spirit for this place. Now that it was all done, and he registered he was soaked and not getting any drier by messing up her dress, he was just glad she was there.
He was almost afraid for the week to end but wouldn't go there.
"Thank you..."
"Anytime sugar."