A wince inducing creak sounds as he pushes the door of his truck open with his work boot and another item is mentally added to the constantly growing to do list in his brain. He's sure he has some grease in the toolbox in the bed, but he'll have to get to it on his lunch break. It's already nearing 8 am and he wants to get a start on things before the place is inundated with toddlers and strollers and shrieking teenage girls.
Strolling past the ticketing booth he gives a nonchalant wave to the morning's volunteers and a salacious wink to Granny Lucas as she ducks into the back of the concession building with arms full of hot dog and hamburger buns. One week in and he'd found her sweet side, having flirted his way into free burgers (with extra bacon) and a convenient look away whenever the apple cider donuts are fresh out of her oven. No matter where he ends up he can always find his way to pirate what he needs without giving up much of anything in return.
Despite the brisk autumn chill, he rolls the sleeves of his flannel into tight rolls below each elbow in preparation for the work ahead as his boots crunch through crackling leaves and the dew soaked grass. Knowing he might not see this again for a long while, he makes sure to take in the sea of color in the trees around him, mentally snapping a picture full of reds and oranges he's not soon to forget.
"Jones, can you manage the hay on your own this morning? Had to sack Scarlet last night after I caught his hand in the tip box...again."
Anton, the tallest man Killian has ever seen in real life and the owner of the farm, looks even more frazzled than usual as his eyes dart from the mangled hayride seats to the watch cutting off the circulation of his too thick wrist.
"Aye, boss, I can handle it. Will was never much use anyway."
"Thanks, Killian. When you're done here, we need to restock the cornhusks and fill the petting zoo feeders and…"
"Mate, take a breath."
"Sorry, sorry, I am just so ready for this day to be done and I can close up shop. At least with Halloween over we won't be up all night with that damn corn maze. That reminds me, I have something to ask you later, so find me before you head out tonight."
Anton's long legs have him halfway to the pumpkin patch before Killian has a chance to respond. Curiosity as to what the boss wants to ask him keeps Killian's mind occupied as he works to reshape the hay bales into benches, replacing the few that are beyond repair. His shoulders ache by the time he's finished, but it's a good ache, the kind he's come to appreciate after a day of steady, honest work. As he strides over the cornhusk catapult he rakes his hands through his thick, dark hair in hopes of freeing any stray pieces of straw left behind. He may be working on a farm, but he refuses to look like a straggly country bumpkin'. He has a reputation to maintain.
Reputation might be too strong a word as usually a person needs to stay in the same place long enough to garner one. Instead, he's just a travelling stranger, sometimes broody and often sarcastic, but always this side of dashing. The accent obviously helps and he's never been averse to using it to his advantage when the need happens to arise. This persona has served him well so far so he doesn't see any reason to change his ways. His new ways that is…
Three full years have passed since he's found himself in any real trouble. In fact, it was only thanks to the assigned community service from that last criminal act that led him to the seasonal farm circuit to begin with. Petty theft wasn't enough for prison time, but the judge wasn't in the mood for a slap on the wrist. The first three weeks at the local farm raking manure and hauling pumpkins were ordered by the court, but the last two he was paid for, realizing this was an easier way to earn a paycheck than his prior activities that had led him there in the first place. That first season was spent in Massachusetts, the following in Vermont and this year, Maine. The vibe here has been much the same as the previous two farms, but he'd been feeling something in him settle with each passing day. He'd even looked at the local paper once or twice to check the classifieds for job openings and land for sale, but he just chalked that up as a flight of fancy and never followed up on anything he found.
Not for the first time today he has to tamp down the bubbling up of regret that this will, in fact, be his last day at Storybrooke Farms. He was really beginning to like this place.
"Jones, the Sheriff is looking for ya!"
In his old life, a statement like that would have been a cause for alarm. In this one, it's a minor annoyance. Nolan can be a real pain in the arse and he wasn't expecting to have to deal with him today. The niggling feeling that he's actually glad to be able to say his farewell to the man is quickly ignored.
"Where's he at?"
Not one for pleasantries, Leroy just keeps on his path grunting something that sounds like "She's in the barn."
She? He's been here since the first leaf turned red back in September and he's pretty sure he's met every single resident of this sleepy little town. And considering the biggest thief around here is Will bloody Scarlet, why is there a need for more than one Sheriff anyway?
As he turns up the hill leading to the small barn near the back of the farm he's momentarily blinded by the setting sun. After a few blinks he can just make out a silhouette on the horizon, a distinctly feminine one with hands perched in obvious impatience on slightly rounded hips. A few feet from the crest of the hill he has to stop in his tracks as the woman waiting for him comes into clear view. The sun has lit her golden hair aflame behind her like some ethereal goddess come down from the heavens to grant his every desire as the sparkling green of her eyes pierces the very deep and hibernating center of his heart.
Yes, that's a ridiculous flight of fancy, but she's bloody gorgeous and his imagination is running full steam away from itself.
"Are you Killian?"
"Aye, love, Killian Jones, and who do I have the pleasure of...?"
"Emma Swan."
He can't help but be curious to learn the reasoning behind her briskness, be it mere impatience or disinterest or something else altogether. It's unusual for him to have to exert much energy when it comes to the opposite sex, but this Emma Swan poses an interesting challenge.
"And here I thought Nolan was the only Sheriff in town. How is it that I'm only now learning of your lovely existence?"
"Need to know, I guess."
Finally having reached the top of the hill, he plants himself as close to her as he senses she's comfortable with and hooks one thumb into his belt.
"Oh, there are many things I need, love."
Her eyes narrow a bit at that and he braces himself for her retort, but she surprises him, and he thinks maybe even herself when a smile cracks her facade and small laugh escapes her throat. Her amusement should bristle his ego, but he's too dumbstruck. Never has he been so affected by a woman's smile in his life. If this is to be his last remaining hours in this place, he will endeavor to spend as much of it in the presence of Emma Swan.
"So, Romeo...Anton tells me you know a thing or two about horses?"
"I certainly do. What can I help you with?"
"There's a horse at the next farm over that we need to go pick up. I can drive the trailer, but I'll need you to deal with the animal."
Obviously expecting he will follow, she turns on her heel and begins to lead them both to the back of the barn where the truck and horse trailer are parked.
"Why the devil is the man bringing in a new horse on the last day of the season?"
"I asked him the same thing, but he just said 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' or something like that."
That man's body is only as big as it is in order to contain his ginormous heart. He's obviously saving an old mare from being put out to pasture.
"Such a sentimental giant, that Anton."
Having reached the truck already, Emma turns and their eyes meet and he sees a flicker of surprise she quickly hides again behind her well constructed mask.
"Appearances aren't always what they seem."
"Aye, love, that they are not."
He takes his time, walking around the back of the trailer instead of the front of the truck to reach the passenger door so he can make an attempt at gathering his wits. This spitfire of a woman has him feeling energized in ways he hasn't in more years than he wishes to count and it's equally terrifying and liberating at the same time. As the world around him prepares for hibernation, he finds himself faced with an early and unexpected Spring.
"Hurry up, Jones, we're losing the light!"
Twilight is indeed fast approaching and he hastens his strides to his side of the truck. She doesn't turn as he climbs in beside her or when he casually drapes his arm along the back of the bench seat they share. He doesn't touch her, just lets his fingers tap against the leather a few inches from her ear as she navigates the truck down the gravel driveway and onto the dirt road leading out of Storybrooke Farm.
Silence descends as the tires bounce them along the uneven path ahead and he tries to think of a topic of conversation that might give him an in to learn more about the woman by his side.
"So, where did you learn about horses?"
His hand falls onto the seat between them in surprise at her question and he has to scramble quickly to decide just how much he wants to reveal. She's managed to turn the tables on him before he even had a chance to give her a nudge.
"At my last job their stable hand got injured and I was tasked with becoming his apprentice. I soon discovered an unexpected love for the beasts and they seemed to be of similar mind about me."
Hopefully that was enough of an answer to peak her interest without a desire to dig farther back into his history.
"Where was this last job? I'm guessing not around here as I'd imagine I'd have run into you before now"
Well, so much for that.
"No, nowhere around here, Swan. My travels only lead me here at the beginning of the season. I spent the previous year up north. If we're answering questions, though, where have you been these past few weeks? I've seen Nolan practically every night and he's never once mentioned you."
There's a noticeable whitening of her knuckles on the steering wheel and he fully expects her not to answer.
He's pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.
"I'm just filling in as Sheriff for the next few weeks while he's on paternity leave. He's the family guy, so he's managed the farm duties up until tonight. We both agree I'm better with bar fights and traffic stops."
Imagining Emma breaking up a rowdy bunch of drunks shouldn't be a turn on, but bless it, he has to shift in his seat to adjust his tightening jeans. He's so distracted with his body's reaction to her that it takes a moment for her words to really sink in. Perhaps she's like him, another lonely soul just trying to find her place in a world built on connection. He wants to dig deeper, find the stem of that loneliness and explore the many branches, but all too soon the truck pulls to a stop and their destination is reached.
"Let's make this quick. George is a jackass on his nicer days and I'd rather not spend more time with him than necessary."
Nodding his assent, Killian extricates himself from the truck and moves to the trailer to ready it for the horse while Emma deals with the surly looking farmer waiting by the barn. He can't hear what is said, but he he can see the tension coiled tight in her spine and the defiant strength of her stance. She truly is a force to behold. He makes his way to her side just as a fearful looking stable boy emerges from the barn with a slow moving chestnut mare in his wake.
"What's her name?"
George doesn't even look his way as he answers with a gruff, "Compass Rose, and I'm glad to be rid of her."
"I'd venture to say the feeling is mutual."
George puffs up at his chest at that but Killian ignores him and moves forward to take the reigns from the stable boy so he can lead the mare to their trailer. The Lady Rose, as he now thinks of her, huffs a bit through her nose before deciding that Killian can be trusted and alright to follow. He murmurs a few words of encouragement at the foot of the trailer, careful to not get his fingers caught in her dreadfully tangled mahogany colored mane as he coaxes her up the ramp. There's fury in his eyes as he looks back over at George, who in his opinion, should be taken out and shot for how he obviously doesn't care for the animals in his charge.
"Everything good?"
Unable to shake his annoyance before shifting his attention back to Emma, he's thankful to see a similar expression on her face as well.
"It will be once he get her home."
That thing, that flicker, it's back again and this time it's communicating scraps of her story only someone who's shared a similar one would be able to decipher. Silently following his instructions, she looks completely lost in her head as she helps him secure the back of the trailer before climbing back into the driver's seat. He doesn't even waste energy asking George or the stable boy anything about Lady Rose, just climbs in beside Emma so they can get out of this place as quickly as possible.
"I'm thankful Anton sent us on this rescue mission, wouldn't you agree, Swan?"
"Yeah...no one deserves...I mean...you know…"
He gives a quick glance over at her profile and finds her lips pulled tight and a deep furrow set in her brow. As much as he wants to know her story so he can confirm his own suspicions, he knows it wouldn't be right to scale that particular wall when she's still so disarmed.
"Aye, love, unfortunately...I do."
The truck slows slightly as she shifts her gaze to meet his and he thinks for a moment she might actually stop and ask him what he means. But that moment doesn't last and gravel once again kicks up beneath the tires as she drives them in strained silence the rest of the way back to the farm.
Anton is waiting for them as Emma backs the trailer up with perfect precision, not even needing his help to navigate the now night darkened driveway. Leaving her to pass along their interaction with George, he makes quick work of lowering the ramp and leading Lady Rose down and into her new home. The stalls are nothing special, but at least they are clean and have fresh hay. Emma appears again after a few minutes, leaning her hip against the barn door with no obvious intention of coming inside.
"So...Killian, I guess I'll see you around?"
Ignoring the cringe he feels in his gut just isn't possible, but he does his best not to show any outward reaction to her seemingly innocuous farewell. He doesn't know what to do with the feeling that he's lost something he never actually had.
"Actually, you won't, love. I'm on the road again first thing tomorrow."
She's suddenly standing ramrod straight with her hands folded tight across her chest and he knows immediately that he's fucked everything up. But what was there really to fuck up anyway? He's leaving. Tomorrow.
"Well then, safe travels...Jones."
Before he can think of something to say to even attempt to save this disaster she's gone, tiny puffs of dust where her boots dug into gravel the only thing left of her by the time he steps out of the barn to see which direction she went. If he had any faith in second chances he'd go in search, but he's long since given up that kind of thinking. This is the life he's been dealt and no matter how much his gut is telling him to do otherwise, he turns and walks back into the barn and back to Lady Rose.
When Anton comes to find him an hour later, he's soaked from the waist up and exhausted, having combed and washed and brushed Lady Rose until she shone like a new penny. She may be old, but she's a beauty. Anton was right, she's a treasure.
"Killian, you didn't have to do all that…"
"Nonsense. No one else around here knows a lick about horses."
"You're right about that. So...I was wondering what your plans are now that the season is over?"
Running his fingers through the mare's still stubbornly tangled mane, he tries to find an answer that won't sound like sandpaper on his tongue. Bloody hell, he doesn't want to leave.
"Off to find work somewhere, mate."
"So you don't have anything lined up?"
"Not as of yet, no."
"Good, because I've got a proposition for you."