Girl
"She's in bed," Jean announced, quietly closing the bedroom door behind him. "And probably asleep."
Ed looked up from the alchemy book he was trying to read. "Seems like a sweet girl," he commented.
"Don't even think about it, kid," Jean said, plopping down onto the couch. "She's taken. Mike's been keeping his eye on her for a good few years now..."
"Mike?"
"Stablehand and our stud master. Invaluable guy. He's sweet as can be and he's already like family. He and Emily have been running the farm since Dad got sick, and they'll probably keep doing it until I manage to get away from Central."
"Stud master?"
"He keeps records of the bloodlines we have going and knows which stallion's been mated to which mare." Jean pulled a blanket around his shoulders and snugged down into the couch. "It'd only make sense that our head stablehand marries our best jockey."
"Emily's a jockey? You wouldn't think it because she's so... well..."
"Fluff-brained?" Jean said wryly. "That she may be, but once she gets into the saddle, she's ruthless. She's won more races on Eastfold horses than most other jockeys have in their careers." He sighed. "Besides, it'd be good that they have children. That way the stables stay in family hands since it looks like I'm not getting married any time soon."
"Why not?"
Jean's blue eyes twinkled cheerily. "Don't wanna."
