MAN OF THE SOUTH

“Yeah, I said ‘again,’ don’t judge me. I know for a face that you get around plenty so keep your opinions to yourself.” Lou’s mouth popped open at Jack’s correction, her hand reaching out to smack his arm. “Nobody asked you, twerp.” Jack had a point, in a sense, but Lou hadn’t done the dating thing in ages, and she’d done plenty of the hooking up thing since. “I don’t really think sleeping together comes after dating, Jack, at least not for me. Fine, I’ll give it a shot and try not to spaz too much, lot of help you are…” Lou turned away from him and popped the last bit of Twizzler into her mouth as she held up a finger in his direction. “Uh uh, you’re not gettin’ that outta me this easy.” 

Jack gasped, placing a hand to his chest as Lou so boldly accused him of getting around. “How dare you,” he said with a sniff, turning away from her for a moment. “I would do no such thing as ‘getting around’,” Jack insisted with a straight face. “I am saving myself, Lou, for the right girl. For marriage.” The straight face almost immediately failed and he began to laugh. “I mean, it could come after dating,” He said with a shrug. It wasn’t like either of them would know, really. “I prefer to test drive before I buy,” Jack continued with another shrug, “Y’know, what if they’re awful in bed? How long do I gotta deal with that?” He couldn’t help but roll his eyes as she tutted him, refusing to divulge who it was that she was seeing. “Do I at least know him?” He inquired with a lifted brow, “You gotta throw me something, okay! Look, could I take him in a fight if he starts mouthing off about you? These are important details, Lou.”

And there it was. Arms folded upon her hips as she looked back at him with a shake of her head. “What do you want from me, Jack? Do you want me to apologize?” She had been an asshole when it came to ending their relationship but going about making up for that was foreign ground for her. Her eyes rolled when he mentioned how they could go out in the woods now just to prove her theory wrong. Stepping closer to him, light hues lifted to meet his gaze then. “You don’t have to admit it. I know it’s the truth.” She smiles softly as she toys with the hem of his shirt. “I was an asshole to you. Is that what you want? Admittance, payback? Me on my knees apologizing?”

“Apologize for what?” He asked, annoyed. There was nothing for her to really apologize for and Jack was in no position to ask for an apology while Shiloh was married. Anyway, any apology from her would be sarcastic and forced so it was a little too late for that by now. “What is your fucking problem?” He snapped, shooing her hand away from his shirt and taking a step backwards. Huffing, he turned around and rubbed his face slowly, attempting to take a moment to breathe. “Isn’t it getting late?” Jack shot at her, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Adrienne watched the male that she knew so much. The one who’d uprooted his life for her and given it a try without much in return. Adri was well aware that she hadn’t been fair in her relationship with Jack as she was so consumed by her dreams that she didn’t want to sacrifice for him. She could only imagine the slap in the face that it would be now to find her here. In the town she was so adamant on never moving to. “Say it,” she told him with a shrug of her shoulder. It had been years but he was right to feel angry or hurt. At the mention of horses, she parted her lips and let them close for a moment. “I’ll come with you.” It was the least she could do. Certainly she wasn’t dressed for that sort of task but she’d ruin a nice pair of shoes for him.

Jack wasn’t necessarily one who sought out any type of fight unless it was totally necessary and this wasn’t a necessary situation. While he was definitely irritated by the situation, he continued to remind himself that people were allowed to change their minds on things and that there were indeed reasons that surpassed importance of relationships. “You don’t have to,” he said monotonously and turned and began to walk away from her, slinging the lead ropes over his shoulder as he walked. A few of the horses in the barn popping their heads over the stall doors to greet the people walking by, seeking a treat. “How is the kid managing?” He asked quietly, steering away from any discussion that really meant they had to catch up. 

“…That’s too logical Jack, but it was my first day! Give me a day to wallow in my little sulk that my day didn’t go as planned.” she grinned, “Nope, definitely the operators lack of prep and not the technology failing. Though I repel that sometimes,” she admitted, the only technology that she didn’t manage to break was her iPad. “I need to come by, I haven’t since I left I missed it. How’d the shows go?”

“You should definitely come by,” Jack urged with a grin. “The show was interesting,” he admitted cautiously. The show was indeed interesting. Of course, lots of good things but there was always some sort of dramatic ordeal that was going on. He assumed that was what he got for working with teenage girls who were chasing teenage guys. “Some of the girls were in a tiff over one of the guys outta Savannah,” Jack laughed and rolled his eyes at the drama that had ensued over it. “Just normal teenage things. Couldn’t believe he was talkin’ to one of the girls running barrels, getting off focus and tense. Dad’s starting to get testy because of ‘all the money I spend for you to do this shit’ and she’s in the in-gate crying over some boy. Just the usual.” 

There were unthinkable things going through her mind. All of which were things she could do with this damned horse and Jack. They’d both regret it. There was no question in whether this was intentional or not. Jack knew how much this damned animal hated her and how little patience Shiloh had in turn. It was evident that this was some payback and while he could have his laugh right now, he’d sure as hell regret fucking with her when she got off of it and the tourist were out of earshot. “You good cowgirl,” the brunette echoed his question in a childish whine as she gave him a grimace. “Just go, Jack.” She hissed at him, though her features twisted into a forced smile when the pair of tourist turned back to look at her. God, she was going to kill Jack. She could already feel the animal tense. “We’re going for a short ride. Our lovely tourists have already had a long day.”

He would be sure to get an earful of Shiloh’s charming rage after the ride, but for now he could put it off for at least an hour. Meanwhile, he would gleefully ignore all of her pissed off looks and insulting commentary that could’ve been blown off as “witty banter” between the two of them. It would be insanely unpleasant afterward, but for the time being while she had to behave herself Jack would be sure to enjoy every moment of her suffering. 

The ride, for everyone excluding Shiloh, had gone very well. As the couple waved goodbye and got into their vehicle and left, Jack prepared himself for the immediate lashing Shiloh was sure to give him. “Held on pretty good, champ,” he said then, taking Lena’s reins from Shiloh so she couldn’t strangle him with them. “Should get you a hat,” He continued on, taking his from his head and plopping it on her before quickly putting the distance of Lena between them before Shiloh could start swinging at him.

Adrienne wasn’t entirely sure what she expected from this. She hadn’t allowed herself to imagine a reaction out of the male or even hoped for one. If he spoke to her, she would call that a win. After all, what she wanted was to merely tell him that she was in town so he wouldn’t meet her in line at the grocery store and they’d have to go through this uncomfortable conversation in public. “You look good,” she told him, letting the words tumble out of her mouth rapidly. Blinking in his direction, she couldn’t help but snort slightly. “It almost sounds as if you’re… telling me to go.” She laughed as she stepped forward and let her brow furrow. “I thought that maybe we could catch up. It’s been.. forever and I understand that you’re surprised. I am too, I never wanted to be here but I don’t have much of a choice. It’s nice to see a familiar face.”

“I didn’t say that,” Jack stated firmly watching as she took a step forward. He was uncertain of whether or not he really wanted to catch up with Adrienne at this point. They had split under somewhat amicable conditions, but her being here had him questioning. Of course, he understood that it had been years between then and now and of course her moving here was for much different and very serious reasons. Though, he couldn’t help but be somewhat off-put by the idea that their relationship, at that time, hadn’t been serious enough for any sort of agreement that could keep both parties happy. “Isn’t that what we’re doing now?” He questioned monotonously, “I mean, you’re free to stay if you’d like. I have to go bring horses in, though.” Jack turned his back to her for a moment, pulling lead ropes off the wall, “It’s your call.”

LOCATION: booze barn WITH: open | @madison-starters​

A change is as good as a holiday. Her mom had always said that, and she never got the meaning particularly until her week in Savannah, having taken a photography job and managed to grab some new bookings in the coming weeks. It was exciting, and she felt that she needed a new refreshing change as well. Her hair now back to its natural brunette tones, the bangs frames her face as she line danced alongside the regulars she had been serving all night. There were enough bartenders for her to join quickly, something she’d been unable to resist as she had whipped around collecting glasses. When the song came to an end she was breathless, about to pick up her tray when she spotted someone watching. 

“Thank you, thank you, I’m here all night.”

Since coming back to Madison, from his month-long show tour, Jack had been frequently found at a bar after work as a way to officially relax. It wasn’t like he was getting out of hand or anything, but he was becoming a little more regular than usual which was fine with him (for now). Tonight’s visit was to the Booze Barn where he perched himself on one of the barstools with a drink in one hand and his phone in the other. The atmosphere was good, lighthearted fun with music and dancing - who could ask for anything more when unwinding? He turned on the stool as some of the other regulars in town found themselves line-dancing to the upbeat tune. One of the individuals also out there was one of the bartenders and her joy was nothing short of contagious. “I had no idea that they were hirin’ big talents out here,” Jack said jokingly, “We gonna see you on stage during the Super Bowl next year?”

“Not specific, just a random hypothetical I pulled out of thin air,” she said as she waved the Twizzler in her hand in a circle. Lou knew better than to try and lie to Jack, though, and so after a second of trying to hold a straight face complete with nonchalance, she sighed and let her feelings show a little. “Okay, so it’s extremely specific. I didn’t mean to, Jack, I swear. It just happened one night, and then it happened again and now I think I’m feelin’ some kind of way.” Chewing on the candy rope, she nodded at what her brother had said. “Yeah, so he might want to see if it can be more than just sleepin’ together. Like, maybe we’re goin’ to start dating or something. That’s fine, people date. I dated once…” Lou paused, doing some quick math in her head. “Like, a decade ago. Oh hell, I’m screwed, Jack.” 

Lou’s little fib caused Jack to narrow his eyes at his sister. As if he didn’t know when she was spouting bullshit, yeah right. As she sighed he rose his brows in a way to silently say “yeah, out with it” and tilted his head as she said that it had happened again. “Again?!” He exclaimed and sighed dramatically at her as she continued to explain her not-so-vague-and-hypothetical situation. “More than a decade ago,” he said quietly and glanced away from her to avoid whatever look he was guaranteed for even bringing up a number correction like that. “Alright, look - if you’re screwin’ aren’t you already one step ahead of datin’? Just be normal or something, I know that’s tough for you, but try.” He stifled his amusement for a moment, “No, but really... I mean, just see where it goes, I guess. What do you got to lose? I mean who is this guy anyway?”

Wyatt watched the ripples that cascaded in the placid river from his bait. There wasn’t much time left for any good fishing this season. He just needed to get away from town for a little bit. Who better than waste the day with than his good ole pal, Jack. Blowing out a low hiss of air, he rolled his eyes and took a quick swig from his flash.

“I ain’t wanna it from ya, Jack. No form of I told you so or the damn ‘D’ word. I have come here to drink some beers and catch some fish.” Ironically, the two intersected in more ways than one. Lou and Shiloh. Fate brought people together in the oddest of ways.  

@jacksdunnit​

Jack’s relationship to Wyatt was rather odd. Of course, there was his sister who was all about taking in anyone who made her feel the slightest bit sad for any reason. Hence the growing herd of rescued animals living at Oakdale. Then there was the matter of Jack sleeping with Wyatt’s wife, Shiloh. The way it brought them together was... amusing, though. Both seemed to be easily offended by Shiloh’s general presence but for much different reasons. Today wasn’t a day to chat about all of that, though. “Alright, alright,” he said lifting his hands in an a gesture of good-will. “So outside of all that, what the hell else have you been doin’ to raise hell in town? Catch me up on the bullshit, I’ve been in and out of town for a month.”

“I’ve pulled up the specs on patch of land just west of the Knopp Branch Farm. It’s everything you were looking for but, and the but is huge, the owner isn’t going to bite at your offer. I’ve got a few friends who have been showing it and there’s a couple of out of towners looking to live their some parody of The Simple Life and Little House on the Prairie with hefty offer.” Arielle hummed. She flipped through the paperwork before rounding the other side of her desk .”We can go down there today and maybe butter them up a little, if you’re game.” 

@jacksdunnit​

The minute the term “out-of-towners” fell from Arielle’s mouth Jack already knew his offer would never stand, even though it was substantial for the piece of land that had piqued his interest. The man couldn’t hide his eye roll, though. “I’m not gonna tell those people who to spend their money,” he said and lifted his hands in innocence. “But really? I mean, I guess you look at Pinterest and watch a little too much HGTV and this is what we get.” He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as she flipped through the folder of paperwork she had. “Before we waste time on that - how hefty?” He cocked a brow at her, “I mean, ballpark me. Am I fightin’ a couple who is about to be on House Hunters? She’s a hamster groomer and he’s an acorn gatherer with a budget of $12.5 million?”

“Still….really sorry…and uh no no. Wasn’t expecting that.” Kat mumbled grabbing a few napkins as well and placing them on the floor to move them with her shoe before bending down and retrieving them. Wasn’t expecting to be so clumsy this evening either, she wanted to admit. Holding the dirty napkins in her hands, Katrina looked for a trashcan but was thankfully saved by an employee behind the bar who took it off her hands. Giving them an apologetic smile and a soft ‘thank you,’ the raven haired woman turned back to look at Jack. Glancing down at his boots which had gotten wet-an item she wasn’t quite familiar with but saw a lot of in this place-Kat asked, “Did they get ruined? I’ll pay for the damages if thats the case?” She, on the other hand, had arrived with plain black flats; high heels were something she wasn’t in the mood for tonight and the only “boots” she owned were not even boots but called “bootie boots.”

“What?” It took him a moment to understand what she was asking about and he also glanced down to look at his boots that now had spots of a drink on them. “Oh, those?” He couldn’t help but laugh at the idea that any of the boots in this place could be close to ruined by a bit of booze on them. “Nah, I wouldn’t worry about these. I didn’t really bother dressin’ up to come out here tonight,” he admitted with a shrug. It was true, though. He could’ve probably looked a little more well kept than he did. If one of his sisters saw him he was sure to undergo some light name-calling, but when was that not the case with the Dunn children? “No need to be payin’ for anything,” Jack insisted. “What were you drinkin’?” 

Shiloh couldn’t help but groan as she looked at the horse that had caused her enough problems in the past. It had done almost everything except kick her, and that was most likely because she had stepped out of the way in time. “Are you serious, Jack?” The blonde hissed at him, watching as he left her alone. “Okay, let’s both play nice.” She warned the horse who immediately tried to make a run for it. Thankfully, she’d held onto him enough that she could halt his escape. It took twice the time it should have to climb the damn horse, but she’d successfully managed. With much trouble, she coaxed the horse forward. Her eyes fell upon the male who had helped the couple, sending him daggers. “I’m ready whenever you guys are.” God, this was going to be hell.

Jack, as against Shiloh’s wishes, granted her with the catch ride of Lena. Lena was a little red quarter horse who, for lack of a better word, hated Shiloh and would probably attempt to chase her across any field if given the opportunity. The stark difference between Lena’s relationship with Shiloh and then with Jack was stunning and really went to show that animals did indeed remember people and also had hefty opinions on them as well. By the time that Jack had three horses ready to go, two people with signed paperwork, and everyone up and on, Shiloh was just about managing to get her dirty looks in to which Jack happily ignored. “We all good to go?” He asked and was acknowledged with excited nods from the couple who followed behind him as he turned his horse to go. “You good, cowgirl?” He asked, turning to look at Shiloh who would, at the end of this ride, most likely be suffering immensely. 

@jacksdunnit​

Getting ready to ask Lou to be his girlfriend was as quite up to par with him asking Nicola to marry him. He hadn’t really been serious with anyone in about five years. Since he was left standing in his freshly pressed suit and a perfectly neat tie, in front of all of his friends and his family. Since he was humiliated in front of practically the whole town. He hadn’t seen Jack in quite some time but he figured it was high time and all that jazz to let his good friend know that he was sleeping with his sister. And well, that he was damn serious about the brunette. “Hey stranger,” he grinned, clasping he man on the shoulder a moment before he slid in to the barstool, “you get locked in a horse trailer for a month or somethin’? I haven’t seen you around at all.”

The last month had been nothing short of hectic. Attempting to wrangle both horses and students was not much easier than breaking in stubborn colts on a cold day. So when he and Nick finally decided to make plans it was a relief. Shows would finally settle down and so would the students since a handful of them were returning to school. He turned his head as Nick’s hand landed on his shoulder and couldn’t help but laugh. “Feels that way,” he admitted with a shrug as Nick slid onto the barstool beside him. “Nothin’ like trying to get a bunch of insane people and animals together and on a schedule,” Jack continued and shook his head. “But enough about all that bullshit, what have you been up to, man? Bein’ a good samaritan, right?”

—

The abrupt sound filling the air caused Delilah to jump. Her gaze darted to the direction of the unfamiliar voice while her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. Most distracted by the accelerate heartbeat within her chest, the man’s words took a moment for the blonde to register. 

“Uh, I’d hope not. I mean, it almost seems as if everyone knows everyone in this town, and I’ve always heard about people in small towns bonding over scandalous rumors,” she attempted to joke back.

“Scandalous rumors?” He questioned with a lifted brow, processing the idea of rumors running rampant in Madison. It wasn’t as if that concept was all that wild and out there. No, rumors ran rampant in every social circle... especially if the circle was the entire town with a population smaller than a community college. “You worried one of yours is gonna get out into town square?” Jack joked, “Nah, I wouldn’t worry too much about it... Like I said, this one isn’t gonna tell a single soul ‘bout your business. I won’t even charge ya for the free therapy.” 

AESTHETIC BOARD (2/?)

Oakdale’s Lena Bit of Diesel // “LENA” // Lena is a 14 year old American Quarter Horse that is owned by the Oakdale Ranch. This 15.3HH chestnut mare is one of the few horses that reside at Oakdale who was born and bred to live at the ranch. Given as a gift to Jack Dunn at graduation from the University of Kentucky, Lena was moved cross country from Georgia to California to stay with Jack after school. Jack and Lena began their partnership in training when Lena turned two years old and began to compete two years later. The two competed successfully in many National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) sanctioned events and Lena was the horse that Jack showed when he declared his professional status. “Lena Bit of Diesel” still lives at the Oakdale Ranch and is still in competitive shape; however, she mostly is used for lessons on students who are ready to move up into more competitive training. 

FUN FACTS:

Lena hates Shiloh ( @shilohdobbs ), there is no real reason for this but the two fight like two enemies at high school lunch 

“Because, Jack I was living my moment! Trust the process!” the other exclaimed, looking at him in disbelief. “It’s all in the same clicker button thing, and I am buying a jumbo pack of batteries first thing in the morning.” she admitted, sighing a little as she propped her hand on her chin. “Tell me your day was better.”

“Why don’t you get one of those pointers that is on the back of a pen or something?” He insisted, shaking his head. “So it was not having batteries for the controller then,” Jack began, “Not the ancient technology at the school?” Jack laughed as she insisted that his day be better than hers. It wasn’t all that much better. “Well, I certainly didn’t have a bunch of kids watchin’ me walk back and forth between my desk and the projector screen,” he joked casually before shrugging. “It was okay, all the horses  are gettin’ some time off after the shows so it’s been kind of nice.” 

location: oakdale ranch barn with: @jacksdunnit​ | closed

Lou wasn’t necessarily frantic, but she absolutely had busted into the emergency bag of Twizzlers in her desk when she’d been upstairs and gotten a text from Nick about coming over. It wasn’t entirely unrealistic for him to text her, considering they’d been spending more and more time together lately. If she didn’t have Huck and Clem taking up space in her bed at home, she probably would’ve been more bothered by spending the night at home without him. 

The thing about Lou was that she was very laid back, and that worked in her favor almost all of the time, but something about Nick had the wheels in her head spinning. So being invited over for dinner was the sort of thing that really just made her wonder. Were they dating? Were they merely friends with benefits? Lou needed to break this down with someone, and her first thought was her brother, Jack. Jack was a guy, he would understand what the texts meant, what inviting a woman over for dinner was supposed to mean. “Okay,” she said as she finished chewing on the Twizzler rope she’d just bit off. “Say you’re hookin’ up with this girl, and you and her are pretty casual people but you’re friends. Like, old friends. If you invite her over for dinner one night, specifically dinner and not just a ‘hey come bone me’ kinda thing, what does that imply?” 

Jack’s schedule for the past month had been hectic, stressful, and inflexible. Horses didn’t trailer themselves to shows nor did they get themselves prepped and ready to get in the ring. Students also didn’t get themselves warmed up, on, and in the ring by themselves either. The payoff had been outstanding, though. His students had placed in all of their classes, some even rising to the top to take home some larger earnings for themselves and their mounts. Jack had also brought home quite a haul of ribbons and awards that would put points towards finals. So while it had all been a stressful season it had also been successful. 

However, when he returned home and got to sit down with his sister things felt a bit more normal and less hectic. However, her little hypothetical had him raise his eyebrows at her. “That seems specific,” he said, watching as she gnawed on a Twizzler. “It implies that he likes you, I guess,” he offered in the least helpful manner. Jack’s typical play was never having dinner if you were just hooking up unless you wanted it to be something else. “Why are you screwin’ your friends?” He asked then with a sigh before leaning forward, “You know I don’t screw my friends,” Jack followed up quickly and shook his head at her. While that wasn’t totally true, it was at least 87.3% true. “But, I mean.. If y’all are just screwin’ and doing that friends-with-benefits shit and he actually invites you for dinner... I mean, I guess maybe he’s seein’ if you want it to go further.” Jack shrugged, “I know that I would never invite someone over for dinner who I was just screwin’ unless I actually liked ‘em.”