Author's Note: The title is a song by Johnny Cash, cause the chorus made me think of Dean. So this is my first attempt at an AU and I'm a little anxious about it. Got the idea for it while I was working my horses the other day and it wouldn't leave me alone. I know I used a lot of horse terms while writing, so I'm going to add a "dictionary" of sorts at the end of the chapter for the terms I think will be the most confusing. Since this story deals with horses, let me know if I'm using too many horse terms. I've been informed by friends that I start speaking "Horse-ease" when I talk about horses.
And if you know anything about the Morgan show world, you might catch some references to real life things dealing with that. I'll shut-up now. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, which is sad cause all the boys would look super sexy in breeches and polos…
Warning: Un-beat'd, all mistakes are my own and I apologize in advance.
Dean Winchester drove his classic '67 Chevy Impala up the long driveway leading to Singer Stables. The path was bordered by White fencing and he could make out the shapes of several horses grazing at the back of the pastures. Pulling up behind the barn, he parked the car and rested the back of his head against the top of the seat. As much as he loved his job, he still hated having to come into work on his days off. Damn clients coming in from out of town, even if one of them was his brother. With a sigh, he grabbed his coffee thermos and opened the door to haul himself out of the car.
Walking into the training office, he stopped to check the morning charts. He sipped at his coffee while noting that one of his English horses had thrown a shoe in his stall the night before.
"Great, just great." He muttered to himself, throwing the charts down on the table. Glancing at the notice board, he was relieved to see that the farrier was scheduled to come this morning. He jotted down a note for him to come see him first. He refilled his mug with some of the coffee one of the grooms had made. Fresh coffee in hand, he walked into the barn and down the main aisle. He smiled as he walked up to a stall halfway down the row. The brass name plate read Celtic Knot Tom Foolery in bold print, with "Tommy" in a smaller print under it. An added plaque declared that the horse in the stall was the 2010 3 Yr Old Western Pleasure World Champion.
A small, refined head peeked out from the open top of the French door. The horse watched Dean approach with large and expressive eyes through the long forelock that was spread over his face.
"Morning Tommy boy, how's my favorite boy today?" Dean asked, holding his hand up for the young stallion to sniff. Tom was the colt Dean had picked out for Sam and Jessica after Jess convinced her lawyer husband to let her have a horse. Dean loved the horse to death, and as someone who bought and sold horses for clients all the time, it wasn't often that he bonded this closely with one. He was ecstatic when Sam and Jess presented him with Tom's registry papers stating he was now a part owner of the horse as an early Christmas present.
The horse whickered at him, trying to wrap his lips around Dean's fingers.
"No. No treats yet buddy, you gotta work first. You're mommy and uncle are coming to visit today, so you're bound to get spoiled. I bet Jess made you those molasses treats you love so much." He patted him on the neck fondly before heading down to the tack room. Opening the door, he almost ran into one of the grooms.
"Whoa, watch it Chuck!" He said, stepping back so the other man could step out.
"Oh hey Dean! Sorry. What are you doing here?" Chuck asked as he closed the door and faced Dean.
"I got a couple clients coming out today to watch horses work. Forgot Gabe was coming out today too, I need to talk to him about shoeing Zep up differently, he keeps throwing those damn shoes."
"Maybe we should start keeping bell boots on him at all times." The smaller man suggested before his face lit up, "Hey, you'll get to meet the new guy today at least."
"New guy?" Dean asked, confused.
"Yeah, the new riding instructor. He's actually Gabe and Jimmy's brother, at least that's what Ellen said."
"The one who was at Peeper Ranch*? Wow, I watched some of his riders at the World show, they were really good. I remember Ellen saying something about trying to hire him. Wonder how she managed to convince him to come out here."
"Did I just hear my favorite assistant trainer talking about me?" A light drawl came from behind Dean. Turning, he saw Ellen standing there, a sly smirk on her face and her arms crossed. There was a dark haired man standing behind her.
"Of course I'm your favorite; I'm your only assistant trainer. But yeah, you caught me. Can't help that you're the best boss ever." Dean gave her a cheeky grin.
"What did you do now? Brown nosing doesn't suit you Dean, and you only ever suck up to me when you've broken something." She playfully punched him in the arm.
"Didn't break anything. I was just trying to sweeten you up before I asked you to deal with Zachariah when he shows up. I'm already going to be dealing with Bela. And you kinda owe me, you've been pushing him off on me the last couple times he's been here."
"That's cause I'm the head trainer, you're supposed to deal with the stuff I don't want to, sweetie." She joked as she stepped aside and motioned to the man behind her, "This is Castiel Novak, he's our new riding instructor."
Dean had to stop himself from gawking. The man's was absolutely gorgeous, and looked extremely familiar. His face was strong yet soft at the same time, framed by short, messy dark hair. His eyes are what had Dean going coocoo for Cocoa Puffs however. They were such an intense shade of blue it was like looking into tropical waters. He recovered enough to reach forward and shake the man's offered hand.
"Dean Winchester, I'm the assistant trainer as you probably already figured out. If you need any help with anything, let me know." He introduced himself, giving his signature 'lady-killer' grin. Castiel smiled back shyly, nodding his head.
"Well, come on Castiel, I'll show you were the lesson tack room and ready area are." Ellen chirped, waving to the two men as she led Castiel away. Dean's eyes followed them, taking in how the new instructor's ass looked perfect in the jod pants he was wearing.
"Since when are you gay, again?" Chuck asked jokingly, "I thought you were into women lately."
Dean cuffed him upside the head lightly. "Since neither Anna nor Lisa worked out and Bela hasn't given up her crusade to get in my pants in all the wrong ways. Women are scary dude, I'm done with 'em." He said as he entered the tack room to grab his grooming supplies. Emerging, he walked with Chuck down the aisle to the grooming area.
"So who do you want first?" The groom asked, looking at the white board with all of Dean's training horses listed on it.
"Well, it's almost nine now, so Gabe should be here soon. Why don't you take Ruby out and lunge* the crap out of her so she doesn't try to kill him when he trims her hooves. And remind me to tranq her this time too."
"That is an excellent idea, Dean-O" A cheerful voice accompanied the opening of the garage door next to the groom stalls. A short man with light brown hair and honey colored eyes stood there smiling.
"Well check this smug bastard out." Dean greeted the man, "What's new Gabriel?"
"Not much, oddly enough. So I hear little Cas starts work today. I haven't seen him since you lot dragged me down to Oklahoma for the World show." Gabriel conversed as he opened his farrier trailer and started bringing equipment in. After strapping on his farrier chaps, he clapped his hands together, "Alright, who's my first victim of the day?"
Dean shook his head at the strange fellow, "Zep first, he keeps throwing his shoes so I'm thinking you should work your mojo and make it so he doesn't do that anymore. And try to make it quick, Bela is supposed to be here around two which means she'll be here before noon."
"On it Boss man, but I'm not a groom, so go fetch me thine steed."
Rolling his eyes, Dean turned and headed down the aisle. As he approached the stallion's stall, he saw a small group of people gathered in front of a stall across the aisle. Smiling he walked up to them.
"So what, is there a family reunion going on here today or something?" He joked as the Novak family turned to greet him.
"Dean!" Their daughter Claire exclaimed gleefully, rushing up and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Hey there Calamity, here for a lesson I take it?" He asked, wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulders and squeezing.
"Yeah, and Uncle Cas is going to be doing them from now on! It's so cool!" The girl released Dean and went back to halter her mare, Fancy. Her parents smiled at him as he moved to grab Zep.
"Damn Jimmy, I didn't realize you were a twin." He addressed the dark haired man as Claire and his wife, Amelia, took the mare out of her stall and led her down the aisle. Jimmy smiled broadly at him.
"Yeah, doesn't come up that often anymore since Cas has been living on the other side of the country for awhile now. Oh, and if he says anything about being the eldest of us, that's a load of bull."
"Huh. Well, sorry to say, but he's definitely the better looking of you two, by far. So what was he doing west side before he was at Peeper?" Dean opened the stall door with the name plate stating the horse's name was Talbot's Led Zeppelin. He slowly approached the tall stallion inside.
"He went to the University of Oregon for a bit, something to do with political science or something. He started working in some local barns to earn a bit of extra cash. One of the trainers out there from an 'A' circuit barn hired him after watching some of this students ride at an open show*. He made his way through a couple Arabian and Saddlebred barns over the years before ending up at Peeper Ranch."
"Wow." Dean grunted as he wrestled the stallion's head into the halter, "Knock it off!" He sternly ordered the horse, who stood still long enough for him to slip a lead shank over his nose.
"Somebody's feisty today." Jimmy commented, getting out of the way as Dean lead the prancing stallion out. Dean stopped him and set him up so he could inspect his hooves quickly.
"Zep, dude, you're damn lucky you didn't take any foot off with those shoes." He told the horse before he started walking again and addressed Jimmy, "Bastard threw a front shoe working the other day, So I haven't been able to get him out. Threw the other one in his stall at some point last night too."
"What a dick." Jimmy chuckled.
"Yeah, he's just lucky he's a freaking cool horse, otherwise I'd have him gelded in a hot minute."
"Do mine ears deceive me or am I hearing little brother Jimmy?" Gabriel asked as the two men and horse approached. The brothers embraced each other quickly as Dean put Zep in the cross-ties.
"Hurry up and fix this horse up and I'll let you go watch your niece get her first lesson from her other uncle." Dean said as he put a Chifney bit* in the horse's mouth and attached it to the halter.
"Yes, Masta'. Right away, Masta'." Gabe joked as he grabbed his hoof stand and walked up to the horse.
"Dude, that is not funny." Dean tried not to laugh as he watched the horse chomp on the bit.
"Aw, C'mon. It's a little funny." Gabriel grunted as he picked up a hoof and inspected it before slipping it through his legs, gripping it with his knees, and cleaning out the underside with his hoof knife, "You want the same length of foot, right?"
"Yeah, he's been doing good with the weight of the shoe too. You just need to make it so he doesn't get them off every other week."
"I'll just put some bands on the ones he's got. That work for you?"
"Sounds good. You need any help with this beast, get Jo to help you, she's around here somewhere." Dean told the farrier as he started walking away.
"What? You're leaving me? But I thought we had something special!" Gabe called after him.
"Eh, I'm more interested in your other brother now. I'm going to make the one next to you ride his horse right now, however. He hasn't done that in a couple weeks." Dean answered as he walked backwards down the aisle. He heard Jimmy groan while Gabe chuckled. There was an indignant huff from behind him and he spun around quickly. Jo was standing face-to-face with him.
"Mind watching where you're going at all?" She asked irritably. Dean's eyes widened slightly, his eyebrows arching.
"There's good coffee in the office you know, go grab a mug before you bite any client's heads off by accident."
She rolled her eyes and smiled, "That's where I was headed. What are you doing here today anyways?"
"couple of the clients are dropping by. And Gabe's here, he might need some help with Zep when he goes to nail his shoes back on."
"Why aren't you doing it, he's your training horse." She pouted, crossing her arms in a creepily similar fashion as her mother.
"I'm gonna make Jimmy ride since he's here." Dean smirked as he continued walking.
"Let me know when you're ready, I haven't seen Jimmy ride in forever!" Jo laughed as she returned to her quest for caffeine.
Dean made his way to the part of the barn reserved for horses in partial-training*. He approached the stall with a name plate that informed him that the horse inside was named Scooter. The horse was standing at the back of the stall with his butt towards the door. When the door opened, he turned his head to look back at Dean.
"Well come on, Mr. Grumpy Pants. Your Grandpa is going to ride you today." Dean told the horse, who slowly turned around and walked up to the trainer. After slipping on the halter and attaching the leadrope to the bottom, he led the old gelding out of the stall and down to the grooming area. Jimmy helped him attach the cross-ties to the halter before picking up a brush and grooming the horse. Dean left to go grab the horse's bridle and Jimmy's saddle from the client tack room. When he returned, Zep was gone and Gabe was inspecting Scooter's feet.
"Jo took Zep back to his stall." Gave said before Dean could ask. Nodding, Dean hung the bridle up before throwing the saddle pad over Scooter's back and setting the cutback saddle*on him.
"What the hell am I doing? Jimmy, tack your own damn horse up." He said, moving to stand next to Gabriel.
"Damn, so close." Jimmy joked in a mournful tone before putting the rest of the tack on the gelding. Grabbing the reins, he started leading the horse towards the arena while Dean, Gabe and Jo followed him out. They passed the grooming area where the lesson horses got ready. Claire was there, finishing tacking up Fancy while Amelia and Castiel were off to the side talking.
"Dad, you riding too?" The girl asked excitedly.
"Nah. I'm just practicing my groom skills for show season. Dean said something about showing Scooty in the open park saddle division* this year." He joked, stopping in front of her.
"Dad! Scooty can't trot that high!"
"He will after I'm finished with him." Gabriel boasted before turning to Castiel and Amelia, "Hey Ames, what's up? Cas, get over here and give your big bros a hug!"
Castiel laughed softly before walking up and getting smothered by Gabe. Dean took a hold of Scooter so Jimmy could say hello properly.
"It's good to see you Jimmy." Castiel greeted his twin. Dean noted that his voice was lower and a lot gruffer than Jimmy's.
"Good to see you too Cas, It's been awhile. Don't know if Ames said anything yet, but we're kidnapping you and Gabe tomorrow night for a family diner." Jimmy informed him as he pulled out of their embrace.
"Yes, Amelia mentioned it. Though she didn't use those exact terms."
"Hate to be a party pooper, cause you know how much I love parties," Dean interrupted, glancing at his watch, "But unless you want your brother giving you a lesson, we need to start riding. I've got a schedule to keep."
"You? Schedule? Now that's funny." Jo teased. Dean made a face at her, which she returned.
"Let's see which Novak is the better rider." He called over his shoulder as he led Scooter to the arena.
"Oh it's on, little girl!" He heard Jimmy tell Claire, to which the young girl replied with, "Bring it, old man!"
Well, how was it? Good? Bad? Confusing? Let me know if you want more or if I should stop.
Dictionary
Peeper Ranch: Is a real-life multi-million dollar farm that has really good horses. Google it, it's insane.
Lunge: Exercising a horse on a long rope. The horse runs in a circle while the person holding the rope stands in the center.
Shows: There are varying levels of competition when showing a horse. Fun and open shows are the lowest level and are open to all breeds. 'A' circuit shows are sanctioned by a breed's organization, and is the division you compete in if you plan on showing at the World Championship show.
Chifney bit: A ring with a flat side that goes in the horse's mouth and is used to occupy the mouth and can be used to discourage rearing.
Partial-training: Full time training horses are typically worked 5-6 days a week by the trainers, when in partial-training, the trainers will only work with the horse 2-3 times a week and the owner is responsible for working the horse the rest of the time.
Cutback Saddle: A type of English saddle that has a completely flat skirt. You might want to Google it to get a better idea of what one looks like.
