68

The men had worked tirelessly on the red barn and it was soon a lovely stable with pegs and shelving low enough for a child to easily place tack and grooming supplies.

Martha had taken Ianto's list and calmly garnered the riding gear necessary and finally the day before the party a little horse float was rumbling up the drive into the compound and Jack hanging off the running board of the SUV whooping.

"For the love of the gods!" Ianto roared, "This is not a bloody cattle drive Cariad!"

Jack's look of glee let him know he hadn't been heard as Jack took a majestic leap while the vehicle was still moving and there was a momentary stumble then he was off, his coat flying around his ankles.

Rhys calmly exited the SUV and walked back as Jack jiggled from foot to foot trying to undo the back of the float. Rhys pushed a button and the ramp slowly descended as Jack squealed and pranced some more, joined by Mickey who saw the first little horse and went into overdrive as he saw it was a foal, not much larger than their large Doberman.

Jack led the mother out and the foal followed, its little hooves flying as it kicked and pranced. Andy leaned forward in his chair and looked over at Ianto, "Look at that. The baby is channelling Jack."

Ianto laughed softly as he placed a hand on Andy's shoulder, pleased that the chair was being used less as Andy now walked about the house hesitantly, only outside with the dogs and the other wild animals racing about with their coat tails flying did he feel safer in the chair.

"Cariad, don't forget their covers" Ianto reminded and Jack raced off again, into the stable and back again with the horse coats in his arms. Two little horses were preening in their pretty red coats, their little black tails flapping about as the mamma led her baby into the field they had partitioned off.

"He's so cute!" Jack gushed, "All those little black spots on his bum!"

Both horses were greys, the mama almost a pure white apart from the black mane and tail, same for the little son but he had some speckled black freckles on his rump.

"She's still inside?" Rhys asked and Andy turned to call Anwen out knowing Tish would carry the baby.

They watched her melt down as she looked at them, her jazz hands so like Jack's that Ianto even gushed.

"Party tomorrow, but you get them now so they can be at your party too" Rhys said happily as he watched the little girl clasp her hands together in an effort to appear calm.

"You need to make sure they have food and water" Jack was crooning as he led the little girl over and lifted her onto the horse to ride it bareback as they headed to the stable. Ianto looked over at Andy who was now looking at the pad of party requirements.

"OK, the cake is ordered for 10am pick up right?" Ianto asked as he sat in a seat so he and Andy were equal, "cupcakes for Jack?"

"Yeah, chocolate cake for the birthday cake and red velvet cupcakes for the big kid" Andy grinned, "I told them she was getting a horse so they will put a wee horse on the cake for her."

"Awwww, Jack will go mental" Ianto smiled, "He doesn't celebrate his own birthday, had so many. But he does love her so much, he is such a nurturer, a real daddy bear with kids."

"Yeah, still can't believe his daughter was kept for him" Andy frowned, "Like…it's extra cruel knowing how wonderful he is with kids."

"I know my little bug won't be bored" Ianto agreed with a soft snort of laughter, "Look at the Twypsn. I swear to the moon, he is going to want his own horse next. We've started something."

"Rhys was talking to me last night in bed, saying he had always wanted a brother and Jack filled that spot so well" Andy grinned, "Look at the two idiots. I want to see….oh god!"

Andy started to laugh and Ianto turned to see the baby horse with its tail raised as it calmly had a shit. Jack was racing for the shovel, calling out instructions like it was some biological warfare attack and Rhys was snatching his daughter up and racing for the stable, looking back like the shit was about to become the Blob and chase them while Mickey was corralling the horses away like they might be attacked by their own shit.

Ianto started to laugh as Jack approached the plops, his mouth set firmly as he placed down the large bucket and removed the shovel from the bucket to scoop at the mess.

"They do know that if they let it cool and set it is easier to handle, right?" Andy spluttered out, his own time spent near the Heddlu horses helping him understand the delicate exercise know as 'shit patrol' and he looked over at Ianto to find something he didn't expect.

Ianto was writhing with mirth, his face contorting as Jack squealed and danced about shaking his foot, a random hunk of shit had rolled off the shovel and even wet …it bounced.

Ianto took a shuddering breath as tears started to roll down his cheeks and Andy started to laugh as well, Jack's foot now going onto the bucket as he stumbled about and the fact it was already containing one if the plops made Jack yodel all the mode as he windmilled his arms.

Rhys looked back at Jack and called out, "Stop messing about! You'll scare the baby horse!"

Jack went down hard.

At leady he landed on his arse.

In another plop.

Ianto screamed as he slapped at the chair arms and his little baby pointed from Tish's arms as he started to laugh as well.

Jack's scream with a pitch they had never heard before and Ianto was glad the coat was still hanging over the fence where Jack had flicked it before starting the 'shit patrol' madness.

Yes.

Horses are a great addition.