"Mama mama look!" Henry yanked his mother's arm and bounced. For a two year old he was dense. He almost knocked Regina off her feet. "Look at the hoseys!" Five trailers rumbled past them, horses poked their heads out into the brisk spring air to check out their new digs.
Regina patted her son's head, "Yes Henry, I see them. Now don't knock mama down or I can't take you to Granny's."
He gasped, his jaw hitting the collar of his jacket, "Granny's? I can has Hot Coclate?"
His mother crouched down and adjusted his scarf. "Can I have hot chocolate."
He flailed at her hands with a flurry of giggles warm enough to melt any frozen heart, "Mama I say dat aleady."
The Mayor smiled and kissed his rosy cheek, "What am I going to do with you?" He smashed his mitten clad hands together and pouted up at her with his eyes glistening with the threat of tears. She tickled his sides until the pout disappeared and he started to flail and giggle again. "I guess I'll have to feed you some hot chocolate!"
"YAY! I beat you there!" He toddled off, running as fast as his coordination and pillow-like attire allowed him.
Regina threw out an arm, "Oh Henry be careful!"
Emma Swan is not a woman to be trifled with. She's tamed more broncos than a dyed in the wool cowboy could ever hope. Her animals are almost all Mustangs of the finest breeding, and not a single one of her stable hands was under any delusions about her being a lady.
"Headless horseman ranch and stables." Emma spat on the ground by her truck's tire. "We're going to change that as soon as possible. If that weren't the hokiest name in the world I don't know what is."
"Isn't." Her right hand man corrected.
She ignored his attempt. "Isn't what? Isn't it a damn shame this place is vacant? You know I think so too, so how about we get our asses in there so you can start shoveling out those trailers."
He sighed, "Yes ma'am."
Anyone else would have called her crazy for only bringing two hands to help her handle eight horses and two monsters. Well, the only one brave enough to call them monsters is Killian Jones, but he's taken Emma's wrath long enough to be comfortable insulting her personal animals. Regal, and Tisiphone are the nastiest horses this side of the Mason-Dixon line. So has sworn any horseman to look the damn things in the eyes.
The other eight are plenty tamed and obedient, some of the best trained animals in the east to be honest. No one but Emma ever deals with the other two though, and that suits them fine. Emma climbed back into her truck and patted the roof to get the attentions of the other drivers before pulling into the ranch. "Welcome home." She mumbled.
"So did you see that caravan pulling into town?" Ruby asked Sheriff Graham, "The Mayor didn't mention anything about it to you right?"
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from Ruby's cleavage bulging out of her too-tight shirt. "You know I can't talk about official town business without the Mayor's permission Rubes." He took a quick gulp of his coffee, praying the mayor didn't catch him talking to the town gossip. The only person the town that the Mayor disapproves of more than Ruby Lucas is Mary Margaret Blanchard.
"Oh come on Graham, who's it going to hurt?" Ruby pleaded. She gave him a moment to think, and when he didn't cave to her looks or justifications, she leaned back down and whispered, "Fine. Breakfast for a week."
He shook his head and finished his coffee in one scalding gulp. "I'll see you later Miss Lucas."
Ruby grabbed at his hand. From the kitchen a grim voice called. "Ruby, unless you're planning on proposing to the boy, let him get to work!" She sighed and left for the counter to grab more orders. Graham got out as fast as he could. He wasn't going to tempt fate by lingering any longer than necessary.
In the process of skedaddling, he ran right into the one person he did not want to upset. "Graham Humbert! Watch where you're going!" Regina snapped. The Sheriff turned a dark red, mumbled his apologies and dodged around her before anyone could recognize the Mayor's use of his last name. No one ever mentioned his last name. No one except Regina Mills.
Henry hugged Regina's leg, "Momma okay?"
The mayor patted his head, "Yes I'm fine Henry. Come on, let's get you something to eat."
"Hey, hey easy boy. Calm down." Emma pressed her hand to Regal's head and gently nudged him back. The headstrong stallion tossed his head and stamped his way backwards into his new stall. "I know it's not as nice, but this is your new home. We're gonna spend a lot of time out and about now. You, me and Tisi."
Regal tossed his black head once more and his mane flew into Emma's face. She laughed, "I'll take that as agreement." She kissed the bright white star on his head and stepped back. "I'll be back after I get the others settled."
He whinnied and stamped his disapproval. Obviously she should be spending more time with him. Only a fool would be more interested in geldings and nags. Emma laughed, "Oh come on, they aren't that bad."
He snorted.
"Snob." She teased.
Regal nodded, and if a horse could smirk, he would have been doing it.
"I swear that thing can talk." Killian commented from the entrance to the stables.
Emma swung around with a hard look. The moment she recognized him, she relaxed just a tad. More than she relaxed around most people anyway. "Oh, Jones. What in the name of everything holy makes you think he can't talk?"
He quirked an eyebrow, "Is it Jones now?" He sauntered over, "Is that really how you're gonna talk to your lover darling? Doesn't seem exactly right now does it?" His hands rested on her hips. "What are you playing at love?"
She kissed him warmly. "I am playing at a new start Jones. Now get your damn ass back to those trailers before my precious horses get antsy and hurt themselves."
He put a hand over his heart, ""I'm injured. I think you like those horses more than you like me."
She laughed, "They're a damn sight prettier than your sorry face. And far more expensive. So get your ass out there." She shoved his shoulder, "I have some shit to put away. If you get things cleaned up quick enough maybe I'll invite you out to lunch."
Killian winked, "Anything for you darling."
"Go on!" She laughed, "Get out of here you piece of shit!" She kicked the dust after him and Regal behind her stamped his feet. Emma shook her head, "What am I going to do with that fool." She mumbled, going back to her trailer for Tisiphone.
This mustang had nothing to offer in the way of advice. She just followed behind Emma, placidly bobbing that white head of hers like she was the calmest mare you ever set eyes on. Everyone focuses on Regal with his big black head, and his stubborn nature. He makes an entrance, but he's a big softy if you respect him.
Tisiphone is a whole other story. She's a real bitch if ever a horse could be described as that. Tisi will follow you anywhere. She obeys, takes her saddle, bridle, halter, everything in place. Right up until you get the idea into your head that you have the right to tell her what to do. You sit yourself in that saddle without her permission and you are in for the ride of your life. Emma owes her first broken leg to that ride, but now she knows.
Never tell a horse what to do until they trust you with their lives. "Here you go baby girl, right next to your sweetheart." Emma set Tisiphone in the stall next to Regal and shut the gate. Immediately the two of them bumped heads over the divider and started checking for bumps and bruises. The horse tamer left them to their examinations. They would find any damage long before she could and their calls would be summons enough.
They may be condescending, but something about the caring relationship spoke to Emma. A harder woman would have sent the beasts to a knacker. They're far more stubborn than even an experienced rider should be mounting. But Emma didn't let go. She never would. Emma doesn't just let go of a family because it's a little dysfunctional.
"Mama I have 'nother one?" Henry looked up at Regina with those big brown eyes of his. Melted chocolate ice cream was splattered over his lips and his hands were ever so slightly tacky from eating his ice cream. His mother knew it was a bad idea to give him even that much sugar, but he had been such a good boy in day care that she couldn't resist giving into his desires. Now she's paying for it.
The Mayor dabbed his cheeks clean and wiped his hands. "No my darling. You've had enough for now. Maybe if you're good we can come back soon." His face fell, but the glimmer of future hope made her regret even that much of a concession. "You're going to be an excellent businessman some day Henry."
He peered up at her in awe. "Wuzzat mama?"
The mayor chuckled. Always the curious one, her boy. "It's nothing my love. You'll know when you're older."
Henry pouted and cuddled up into her side. "Why not now?" He whined.
The Mayor's answer was interrupted with the tinkling of a bell. Two sweaty leather clad individuals stepped into the diner and sat down at one of the tables. "See Jones? What did I tell you? This place is the shi-" The blonde, Regina realized she was a woman, saw Henry and clammed up. "Sorry ma'am. This place is great." She nodded her head to Henry and flipped her chair around backwards before sitting down. Perhaps the tacky red leather wasn't as indicative of her taste as Regina originally thought.
The rather greasy looking man raised an eyebrow at the woman's actions and sat down across from her. "I take it we're to follow your lead on this one love?"
The woman gritted her teeth, "Da-ng straight you will. Nose clean Killian."
He thumbed his nose and grinned broadly, "Clean nose it is." He looked up to his right and found Ruby listening eagerly instead of asking their order as was her duty. Honestly the woman has no propriety. She's nothing but a flirt. The man's next action stunned Regina and she felt the urge to cover Henry's eyes and ears.
He looked up Ruby's body with such hunger in his eyes that even Ms. Lucas turned pink. "Well hello there darling, I take it you're not on the menu?"
The woman kicked his leg. "I said clean nose Jones." She looked up at Ruby with the kindest expression, "I'm sorry about him. He's an asss-tronomical pain in the- butt. I'll make sure he's under a tighter leash in the future ma'am. We'll both take cheese burgers and fries."
"Oh we've moved on to leashes now have we?" Killian grinned.
Regina's mouth fell open at the spectacle. She began to stand. There are children present and this man is being a pig. The blonde beat her to it. "That is enough Killian." She grabbed him by the ear and yanked him to his feet.
Killian jumped up exclaiming, "Ah ah ah ah-ow!"
A few bills were slapped on the table. "I am ever so sorry ma'am. We won't come back until he's learned his manners." The blonde then dragged the man out of the diner with the stares of every person in town following her.
Henry tugged his mother's arm, still to spellbound to even look at her, "Momma what was that?"
Regina shook her head, equally entranced. "I don't know darling. I don't know."
