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With only a few yards between them, the beast's wounded elbow gave way, damaged beyond use by the spreading acid. The beast collapsed to the ground and Jack sprinted forward, swinging the wide blade of the Sonic down onto the beast's uninjured forearm. The blade cut deep, and Jack leapt back again, barely dodging a flailing swipe from the beast's now useless second limb. Jack went back into a defensive stance, but the beast did not rise up again. Thrashing and rolling, the creature floundered in the bracken, unable to attack as the internal damage caused by the bullets quickly bled away its life.

Jack stood at a safe distance, watching for signs of a final charge until he was satisfied the beast was mortally wounded. Minutes passed. The creature laid panting and whining on the forest floor as the acid seeped throughout its body. It sounded cruel but a single one of these vicious creatures could take out the entire ranch overnight.

Jack allowed himself the time to reload and fire two more into the beast's neck. At last, the forest was silent once again.

The beast was slain.

Jack sank to the ground.

He offered a silent prayer of thanks for protection and success before backtracking to his travelling pack. Returning, he knelt next to the still beast and began cutting off its serrated horns with a small saw. The saw was sharp and the work went quickly as he whistled tunelessly to himself.

A Fifty Gold Credit bounty for both horns had been the mayor's offer. He calculated. Five to the general store for their winter bill, fifteen sent to town for Owen and Toshiko with that new Hover part he needed for the winter and with their own little ones, he wanted to know that family was safe. Another ten to replace his ammunition and supplies, and fifteen more to Henry and Miss Mae for the newling coming. That left him a profit of five credits for the little ones to spend. He tucked the two horns under one arm, rested his rifle on his other shoulder, and began the trek back to the Hover. As he walked, he smiled and continued whistling, musing to himself what he might spend his extra bounty money on.

The little ones were getting quite enthused with their schooling lately and Ianto was such a great teacher.

Maybe some more school supplies?

Jack was happy with his day.

Even if he had not found any bear scat. With this monster gone they would soon be back.

.

.

"Charlie! Cut that out!" the voice in the barn was unmistakably Ianto and the booming was Thumper's hooves as he fought in the stall.

Jack dropped his saddlebags on the ground, running in to find Charlie trying to get the halter on the now two year old beast of a pig. The stallion was in a fine mood, swinging his huge head back and the painted handprint on his arse really called for a good smack.

"Charlie! What the hell… that's the wrong one. It stinks of the Black and you know they hate one another!" Jack said as he yanked the child back by his braces, the boy yelping.

Dickie started to giggle as Jack turned to face the boys "The red one. Your halter is red. Are you colour blind?"

"No Dad" Charlie sighed "I didn't look, I just grabbed."

"I swear son, sometimes I think you Are my child… if not by my DNA then you definitely have learned my stupid-brain somehow." Jack sighed as well and Charlie grinned as he knew he was forgiven.

"What is that?" Ianto asked as he left the stall, pointing at Jack's pocket where the tail of the monster was now peeking out.

Jack grinned as he pulled it out and handed it to Ianto, his lovely husband's eyes widening as he stared at it with wonder "Holy shit… is this…."

"Yep. The horns alone are fifty gold credits! I think I can get another eighty silvers for the rest of it" Jack said with delight "And now I bagged it, the Blues will start to show themselves instead of the night raids we could not pin down."

"Well… that is brilliant. I need…"

"I have it all sorted. Owen and Tosh, Miss Mae… and our winter feed… all sorted. Even five gold credits left for fun, I am thinking the boys can have one each for their future" Jack said and Ianto blinked as both boys whooped … the Gold Credits he was sharing were worth a good hundred silvers each.

Ianto looked at Jack and nodded, handing back the tail and Jack knew that he had somehow stepped on something as per usual. Ianto needed something. What did he need? "What did you want to say love?"

Ianto shrugged and Jack knew he had missed his chance. This man was as squirrely as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, I swear to the Gods. Jack knew he might never know what item Ianto had been about to politely request like he might ever be told no. Damn it. Jack really wanted to know now. He NEVER asked for anything for himself, each gift a surprise as he genuinely did not think of his own needs, only these kids. And Jack. Oh yes, Jack knew he was up there on that pedestal.

He just wished Ianto could see he was on Jack's pedestal all day long.

Damn

.

.

Jack had parked the Hover unloaded and sent word that he had the horns knowing the Mayor would demand to come see them for himself. Art, the local Sherriff was also Ianto's ex-brother-in-law and he would come too, if only to see the kids. Thank the stars they no longer stirred the pot there, happy to be part of the children's lives without all the fussing. Especially since Art had finally wed that girl from the General Store. It did beg the question of what might happen to the sister though. Jack had not got around to asking what would happen there as she has lived with her brother her entire life, as had Ruby before marrying Ianto and finally getting out of there.

Shit.

That's it, isn't it? Ianto had been talking about that just last night.