16
Ianto had been asleep in the back seat, the dog sitting on his legs like she was calming him and her gaze straight ahead, between the seats as she seemed to know where they were going.
Jack was in the front passenger seat, trying not to duck as the huge shadow came overhead again. Myfanwy was following them to the new site. And what a site. It was a horse ranch. Well, probably not called that here but that's what Jack knew one as. A livery? He was not sure and knew Ianto would know, if he would just wake up.
"Right. This is a stud farm" Mickey said, answering the question "we have family here on my mum's side and there are staff cabins out back. The one we are going to is one used by us when we visit, usually in the summer so they do not know about it."
"Like they don't know about the last one" Jack asked.
Mickey laughed softly "Yeah."
"So, what now?" Jack asked.
"We have to make room for Myf" Ianto sighed as he sat up and rubbed his eyes "and I need to sleep this off fully. I feel like I am drunk, not in a good way."
"Horses, shit. Would she eat them?" Jack asked with horror.
"Nah, sheep in the low pasture" Mickey assured him.
"And the old barn" Ianto added, leaning back to let out his breath "Right. There. Go see what crap is inside it, clear it out any way you can and leave the large doors open. She will see it and know it is a good roost spot. A sheep or two might end up in the rafters but… it's our best shot at keeping her happy."
"She does make for one hell of a guard dog" Jack agreed, reaching out to touch Ianto's face "Are you sure you will be OK?"
"Go… help clear things out. Be useful, you know you want to" Ianto smiled wanly "I will go crash upstairs in the bedroom for a while, Janet will keep me safe."
The large dog gave a soft chuff as she headed for the stairs like she understood exactly what Ianto was saying and Jack grinned, marveling at how clever she was.
He had no idea did he!
.
.
Jack stood with some of the others staring into the barn at the old hay thresher, the antique tractor that probably hadn't gone in years and a trailer covered in spare parts.
"Well damn. How the hell do we move all of this shit out for the leather bird?" Mickey asked, turning to screw his face up.
Jack pointed to some things hanging on the far wall "Horses. You never used horses to pull anything? Those large collars are for them."
"How the hell do they work?"
Jack snorted as he slapped at him "Come on. Finally, something I am good at."
They worked for the next two hours clearing out the barn and finding old things that Jack explained the uses of, and then in no time they were spreading the leftover hay.
By the time they got back up to the homestead the smell of cheese scones were wafting out of the kitchen window and Jack quickened his pace, his favorite thing Ianto made for an afternoon snack. Jack rushed inside and wrenched open the oven only to find it empty and Ianto stood by the sink with a look of amusement as Jack sniffed the air, lead by his nose to the table where the scones were on a cooling rack.
"Ah, Ianto you are too good to me" he chortled, snatching one up and yelping, juggling it.
"Yeah, they are still hot Cariad."
"Better for the butter" Jack said as he broke it open and let the steam blow into his face, breathing it in like it was crack cocaine. "Ahhhhhh."
"Holy shit… is that what they call food porn?" Mickey asked as he entered, followed by Timothy.
Timothy. One of the stable hands. He nodded "Hi ya Ianto."
"Timmy."
"Oh man, are those the cheese ones?" Timothy was also heading for the table.
Jack went to speak and froze, his hand held out and devoid of scone as Janet landed, the leap past not only securing the scone in his hand but her tail had slapped his face quite effectively too.
"Holy hell… mugged in broad daylight" Jack said softly "By a broad."
Janet snapped her jaws contentedly, padding off with her tail swinging like she was deliberately sashaying away. Ianto's' laughter boomed out and Jack felt things settling around him, like a reset. Things were OK
Ianto was OK.
Jack felt himself breathe again.
Gods, he had fallen hard and fast for this man, more so than he ever had before and although he did not fully understand the pull this man had over him… he liked it.
"Marmite my lover?" Jack asked as he sat and reached for another scone.
Ianto placed the jar down as Mickey spluttered "Oh yuck… you have marmite on scones? You re fucking weird"
"Cheese scones" Jack corrected him, flicking the knife at him so a glob of butter flew across the table.
Ianto caught it with a paper napkin with a flick of his hand that was epic.
Jack grinned as he opened the jar or marmite.
Lovely.