Arthur Kane

Archer glanced at Harrow with a curious gaze. "You rehabilitate horses? Does that mean you catch wild ones and tame 'em?" Archer asked curiously. He had always been interested in that sort of work even if he was only a boy. He'd seen Arthur do it a couple of times, but never had the chance to try it himself.

"Do you have other kinds of animals?" Mikey asked curiously, finally feeling brave enough to speak with Arthur close by again.

"Oh yeah, you wouldn't believe," Harrow replied with a dry little laugh. If only Arthur knew just how many animals that were there and the kind of creatures they were, perhaps he wouldn't want to stay there. Then again, maybe he would knowing that there were unicorns and now even baby dragons found refuge here.

Upon hearing the question, Nafud gave his head a shake. "No no, the only way we'd take in a wild horse is if it's in danger and even then we only hold onto it until the vet can take care of it."

Harrow nodded at Archer. "Although some of the animals we get in might as well just have been yanked into captivity."

Nafud chuckled and pulled his hat down. They were both thinking of the same miniature horse that resided at their ranch named Tornado. Harrow said, "Yeah perhaps it's best not to get too close to the mini horses we've got."

Harrow replied, "Oh yeah! We've got some rabbits right now that are going to be rehomed. Some chickens and a trio of goats. Two sheep. You'll probably hear them as we get close to the ranch since we had to keep them in the shed all afternoon…"

Mikey was the most intrigued. He liked animals. "Miniature horses? How do you ride a teeny tiny horse?" Mikey asked with a giggle.

Archer held Rodeo's reins a little tighter. Adults were a touchy subject for the older of the two boys, he had been walked all over by adults who were supposed to help him and guide him. Arthur had been the first one to show any form of kindness in his own gruff way.

"You'll have to tell us what kind of snacks you guys like so we can pick you up something at the store tonight. Nafud and I were going to do it sooner but well," Harrow nodded at the cows still plodding along towards their home. "Life had other ideas. This won't take too long though. Nice little adventure."

He looked ahead to where he saw Nafud and Checkers and was grateful to see him discussing the cow situation with one of the ranch hands rather than the ranch owner himself. Nafud soon rode over to Harrow and to Arthur, though he kept his distance from the dogs and gave Checkers plenty of reassuring pets along the neck.

"Nafud is my husband. He does most of the work with rehabilitation at the ranch with the horses, though we have other animals that need rehoming."

Archer glanced at Harrow with a curious gaze. "You rehabilitate horses? Does that mean you catch wild ones and tame 'em?" Archer asked curiously. He had always been interested in that sort of work even if he was only a boy. He'd seen Arthur do it a couple of times, but never had the chance to try it himself.

"Do you have other kinds of animals?" Mikey asked curiously, finally feeling brave enough to speak with Arthur close by again.

Arthur Kane had been alive for a rather long time. He had watched things around him change and shift and now he was watching a shift once again.

The year was 1899 and the world of outlaw gangs and reckless cowboys was slowly coming to close. It was the world Arthur had once been involved in, but he managed to slip away from it and become a wanderer. He went were he pleased with his horse and pack of strays at his heels.

His current travels had taken him to a small livestock town. He had set up camp a little ways outside of town and had decided to venture into town to see what sort of money he could conjure for himself. At his side were his most loyal dogs, two large wolf crossbreeds. One with a coat as white as snow whilst the other had a coat as dark as night. Most people stared, occasionally a child would wander up to pet the dogs before running off.

Arthur had been passing the saloon when he spotted a little commotion between two buildings. Two men as wide as walls had cornered what Arthur assumed was an older teen boy. Arthur slowly and casually wandered down towards them. "There a problem here, fellas?"

He steadies himself and tries not to hold onto the man in front too much as they start to move. The horse was strong and it reminded Steve of when he and Bucky would ride around together when they were younger.

They came across a little cabin with two boys on the porch. They were sitting on the floor of the porch, playing a game with random bits and pieces they had found before the sound of the horse coming towards them peeked their interest. "Arthur!" The younger of the boys, Mikey, enthused upon seeing him.

His head glanced up when asked how long they'd be staying. "I have a little experience. Imma good shot mostly, and the boys know how to pull their weight." Arthur answered, hearing the sound of horseshoes clip-clopping behind him as the boys slowly approached them. "Speaking of." Arthur mumbled to himself, glancing over his shoulder at the boys and the horses.

There was always danger present in many forms, but most of what they had to protect against likely kept the native creatures away from Sunnyside and the surrounding ranches. Harrow gave a nod at both of them. "No need to pressure anyone into talking when they don't want to."

It was easy getting the cows moving back towards the ranch once they actually got going. The closer they were to the Sunnyside Ranch house the better the grass was, and more of it. Further down the road it was just back to that plain ol' grass that the cows could get perfectly well at home. And with a lot less pushing from the horses. Up ahead, Nafud and Checkers kept their own small group going and soon got them turned onto the other ranch.

Back with the others, Harrow said to Arthur, "The one bunker we have hasn't been dusted in a while, so there might be a little cleaning involved. It'll be a good, safe place for the three of you to stay until you're ready to move on."

Archer held Rodeo's reins a little tighter. Adults were a touchy subject for the older of the two boys, he had been walked all over by adults who were supposed to help him and guide him. Arthur had been the first one to show any form of kindness in his own gruff way.

Remy didn't open them at first. "Ain't wha' mos' people t'ink. Le diable blanc." He spat the name out, hate and disgust lacing his voice. "Dem de reason why Remy.. why I's go' left."

He lifted Remy over his shoulder and tickled his sides, just messing around as he carried him to his side of the room. Remy's new plush toys neatly sat by his pillow.

There was a long, heavy pause. "Remy always been targeted, his eyes don't exactly make him fit in. Le diable blanc, folks like t'call him. De white devil. Who's it dis time? Dose boys he tries to play wit' in de bayou? Somebody who t'inks he's de key t' whatever ritual dey wanna do?"

Rex took a couple of paces, just circling the hallway a little. "These people are called The Cloaked. They are a lot darker than some kids runnin' around amongst the alligators." Rex stated. "So, either you and I can talk man to man or you can continue to send your boys to come try take the boy." He added firmly.

"The Cloaked want him for their own gain. They see a power source, but I suppose you already know how that feels cause that's what you see." Rex spat angrily, a heat behind his words. "The boy stays with me." He said with a finality before hanging up.

The oldest of the boys was 12 year old Archer. He had come from a bad home, a daddy who preferred to drink and a mother who laid in everyone else's bed but her own. The younger of the boys was 11 year old Mikey. He was the adventurous sort, an orphan who wanted more than what the system could offer him.

Arthur was also known for his love of dogs and horses. Big dogs in particular, of which he had two that were trailing behind his and Archer's horses. Mikey was sitting in front of Arthur, secured between the cowboy's arms as he rode his large, dark brown horse he had named Callahan whilst Archer's horse was a red dun colour with a thick light blonde mane. The boy had called the horse Rodeo due to him being a little wild.

Nafud focused entirely on the dogs though and he tried to keep his nerves calm. "But, they've got dogs."

Harrow immediately looked to his husband, worried not only for him but for Checkers as well. "Hey, just look at the dogs, Nafud. They're around the horses and don't seem bothered by them or the cows. Which means that they're used to horses."

Nafud drew in a breath and gave Checker's neck a gentle pat. "Yeah boy, you see that? We're going to be all right."

Harrow and Nafud gently rode through the cows, calling to them and trying to get them to turn away from Arthur and the boys. The moment they saw the boys they knew that they had to do things carefully as there was no telling what kind of experience any of them had.

Nafud tipped his hat at Arthur and nodded at him, "Afternoon there! Got any experience herding some cows? They're not ours but we're trying to wrangle up the stragglers and get them back over to Stoker's. Haven't seen you around here though, so if the horses are nervous around cattle, our ranch house is just up ahead there and cow free."

Harrow kept trying to redirect the cows away from the newcomers and get them going again but several had found just how delicious the grass was here at Sunnyside and were quite content to just sit there and graze.

"Uhg, c'mon cows…" Harrow sighed.

He twisted to look over his shoulder at his horses, dogs, and boys before looking back at Nafud. "I'll help you shuffle these cows along, but I'd appreciate it if you had a place to stay. For the boys." Arthur bargained. He had gotten tired of staying in seedy hotels in small towns with all manner of characters lingering around. Arthur knew he could keep the boys safe, but it wasn't good for them.

Naufd watched the two dogs and gave Checkers a few more reassuring pats to his neck and gentle mane swishing. "It's okay boy. See? They're not going to hurt you."

Unfortunately for the both of them, memories of one encounter with strange dogs still haunted them and though Checkers was standing still, his mouth was pressed shut and his ears were off to the side. Nafud scritched Checkers' neck, offering him a few more reassurances and praises before looking to Harrow and to Arthur.

"I'm going to try and get these ones moving along."

Harrow nodded, fully understanding what was troubling his husband. He watched as Nafud redirected Checkers' attention back to the cows and with a few meaningful swats of the rope towards the cows, he got five to move along down the road. Harrow held Arthur back a bit to give them space.

The white dog hunkered down on the left side of the more stubborn cows whilst the black dog hunkered down on the right side. They nipped gently at the heels of the cattle, trying to motivate them forward and eventually a few of them moved along the road. Arthur watched his dogs, whistling every so often to get the dogs to change directions when the cows attempted to stray away.

"So, how'd these cows get loose in the first place? A fence go down or somethin'?" Arthur asked curiously. "Not everyday you come across a herd this size squeezing out." He added before whistling again for the dogs. Arthur turned back to Archer and Mikey, waving them forward but wanting them to move slowly as not to spook the cows.

The oldest of the boys was 12 year old Archer. He had come from a bad home, a daddy who preferred to drink and a mother who laid in everyone else's bed but her own. The younger of the boys was 11 year old Mikey. He was the adventurous sort, an orphan who wanted more than what the system could offer him.

Arthur was also known for his love of dogs and horses. Big dogs in particular, of which he had two that were trailing behind his and Archer's horses. Mikey was sitting in front of Arthur, secured between the cowboy's arms as he rode his large, dark brown horse he had named Callahan whilst Archer's horse was a red dun colour with a thick light blonde mane. The boy had called the horse Rodeo due to him being a little wild.

Nafud focused entirely on the dogs though and he tried to keep his nerves calm. "But, they've got dogs."

Harrow immediately looked to his husband, worried not only for him but for Checkers as well. "Hey, just look at the dogs, Nafud. They're around the horses and don't seem bothered by them or the cows. Which means that they're used to horses."

Nafud drew in a breath and gave Checker's neck a gentle pat. "Yeah boy, you see that? We're going to be all right."

Harrow and Nafud gently rode through the cows, calling to them and trying to get them to turn away from Arthur and the boys. The moment they saw the boys they knew that they had to do things carefully as there was no telling what kind of experience any of them had.

Nafud tipped his hat at Arthur and nodded at him, "Afternoon there! Got any experience herding some cows? They're not ours but we're trying to wrangle up the stragglers and get them back over to Stoker's. Haven't seen you around here though, so if the horses are nervous around cattle, our ranch house is just up ahead there and cow free."

Harrow kept trying to redirect the cows away from the newcomers and get them going again but several had found just how delicious the grass was here at Sunnyside and were quite content to just sit there and graze.

"Uhg, c'mon cows…" Harrow sighed.

He twisted to look over his shoulder at his horses, dogs, and boys before looking back at Nafud. "I'll help you shuffle these cows along, but I'd appreciate it if you had a place to stay. For the boys." Arthur bargained. He had gotten tired of staying in seedy hotels in small towns with all manner of characters lingering around. Arthur knew he could keep the boys safe, but it wasn't good for them.

Arthur Kane had been alive for a rather long time. He had watched things around him change and shift and now he was watching a shift once again.

The year was 1899 and the world of outlaw gangs and reckless cowboys was slowly coming to close. It was the world Arthur had once been involved in, but he managed to slip away from it and become a wanderer. He went were he pleased with his horse and pack of strays at his heels.

His current travels had taken him to a small livestock town. He had set up camp a little ways outside of town and had decided to venture into town to see what sort of money he could conjure for himself. At his side were his most loyal dogs, two large wolf crossbreeds. One with a coat as white as snow whilst the other had a coat as dark as night. Most people stared, occasionally a child would wander up to pet the dogs before running off.

Arthur had been passing the saloon when he spotted a little commotion between two buildings. Two men as wide as walls had cornered what Arthur assumed was an older teen boy. Arthur slowly and casually wandered down towards them. "There a problem here, fellas?"

"It concerns me now. Pickin' on a kid half your size, ain't you fools got better things to do with your time?" Arthur spat as his dogs began to circle the group. They were slow, hunkering down with ears pinned back. "Now, you got my boys ready to lunge and I'll warn you, when they bite? They don't let go." Arthur warned.

One of them looks ready to argue but the second notices the gun and lets go of Steve, nudging his friend, "Lets get outta here," he mumbles, gesturing to the holster on Arthur's hip. They both eye him up and then the dogs before running up the alley to get away.

The dogs returned to their relaxed stance. They trotted back to Arthur's side, the black furred one resting on his haunches at Arthur's leg whilst the white furred one padded across the dirt to Steve. A big pair of amber eyes stared up at the young man, his fluffy white tail swaying side to side whilst sniffing at Steve's pants.

He glances to the stranger with more caution than he showed the dog, clearly more comfortable with animals now that he was sure they wouldn't attack him.

Arthur listened to Steve's explanation of how everything had gone down. He nodded slowly. "You got a name? Or people you belong to?" Arthur asked. "Or do you prefer being a stranger? Either works for me. Met plenty of fellas who like to keep things ambiguous." The older man added.

Arthur Kane had been alive for a rather long time. He had watched things around him change and shift and now he was watching a shift once again.

The year was 1899 and the world of outlaw gangs and reckless cowboys was slowly coming to close. It was the world Arthur had once been involved in, but he managed to slip away from it and become a wanderer. He went were he pleased with his horse and pack of strays at his heels.

His current travels had taken him to a small livestock town. He had set up camp a little ways outside of town and had decided to venture into town to see what sort of money he could conjure for himself. At his side were his most loyal dogs, two large wolf crossbreeds. One with a coat as white as snow whilst the other had a coat as dark as night. Most people stared, occasionally a child would wander up to pet the dogs before running off.

Arthur had been passing the saloon when he spotted a little commotion between two buildings. Two men as wide as walls had cornered what Arthur assumed was an older teen boy. Arthur slowly and casually wandered down towards them. "There a problem here, fellas?"

"It concerns me now. Pickin' on a kid half your size, ain't you fools got better things to do with your time?" Arthur spat as his dogs began to circle the group. They were slow, hunkering down with ears pinned back. "Now, you got my boys ready to lunge and I'll warn you, when they bite? They don't let go." Arthur warned.

One of them looks ready to argue but the second notices the gun and lets go of Steve, nudging his friend, "Lets get outta here," he mumbles, gesturing to the holster on Arthur's hip. They both eye him up and then the dogs before running up the alley to get away.

The dogs returned to their relaxed stance. They trotted back to Arthur's side, the black furred one resting on his haunches at Arthur's leg whilst the white furred one padded across the dirt to Steve. A big pair of amber eyes stared up at the young man, his fluffy white tail swaying side to side whilst sniffing at Steve's pants.

He glances to the stranger with more caution than he showed the dog, clearly more comfortable with animals now that he was sure they wouldn't attack him.

Arthur listened to Steve's explanation of how everything had gone down. He nodded slowly. "You got a name? Or people you belong to?" Arthur asked. "Or do you prefer being a stranger? Either works for me. Met plenty of fellas who like to keep things ambiguous." The older man added.

Arthur Kane had been alive for a rather long time. He had watched things around him change and shift and now he was watching a shift once again.

The year was 1899 and the world of outlaw gangs and reckless cowboys was slowly coming to close. It was the world Arthur had once been involved in, but he managed to slip away from it and become a wanderer. He went were he pleased with his horse and pack of strays at his heels.

His current travels had taken him to a small livestock town. He had set up camp a little ways outside of town and had decided to venture into town to see what sort of money he could conjure for himself. At his side were his most loyal dogs, two large wolf crossbreeds. One with a coat as white as snow whilst the other had a coat as dark as night. Most people stared, occasionally a child would wander up to pet the dogs before running off.

Arthur had been passing the saloon when he spotted a little commotion between two buildings. Two men as wide as walls had cornered what Arthur assumed was an older teen boy. Arthur slowly and casually wandered down towards them. "There a problem here, fellas?"

"It concerns me now. Pickin' on a kid half your size, ain't you fools got better things to do with your time?" Arthur spat as his dogs began to circle the group. They were slow, hunkering down with ears pinned back. "Now, you got my boys ready to lunge and I'll warn you, when they bite? They don't let go." Arthur warned.

One of them looks ready to argue but the second notices the gun and lets go of Steve, nudging his friend, "Lets get outta here," he mumbles, gesturing to the holster on Arthur's hip. They both eye him up and then the dogs before running up the alley to get away.

The dogs returned to their relaxed stance. They trotted back to Arthur's side, the black furred one resting on his haunches at Arthur's leg whilst the white furred one padded across the dirt to Steve. A big pair of amber eyes stared up at the young man, his fluffy white tail swaying side to side whilst sniffing at Steve's pants.

Arthur Kane had been alive for a rather long time. He had watched things around him change and shift and now he was watching a shift once again.

The year was 1899 and the world of outlaw gangs and reckless cowboys was slowly coming to close. It was the world Arthur had once been involved in, but he managed to slip away from it and become a wanderer. He went were he pleased with his horse and pack of strays at his heels.

His current travels had taken him to a small livestock town. He had set up camp a little ways outside of town and had decided to venture into town to see what sort of money he could conjure for himself. At his side were his most loyal dogs, two large wolf crossbreeds. One with a coat as white as snow whilst the other had a coat as dark as night. Most people stared, occasionally a child would wander up to pet the dogs before running off.

Arthur had been passing the saloon when he spotted a little commotion between two buildings. Two men as wide as walls had cornered what Arthur assumed was an older teen boy. Arthur slowly and casually wandered down towards them. "There a problem here, fellas?"

"It concerns me now. Pickin' on a kid half your size, ain't you fools got better things to do with your time?" Arthur spat as his dogs began to circle the group. They were slow, hunkering down with ears pinned back. "Now, you got my boys ready to lunge and I'll warn you, when they bite? They don't let go." Arthur warned.

Stoker's Farm was renowned for having one of the largest acreage in the area along with a large herd of cattle. It was also known for its main cowboy, John Wyatt, who kept an eye on the herd and controlled others around him like a drill sergeant in the military. He was not someone that Nafud or Harrow liked to be around much less help, but with so many cattle having stampeded through the fencing and now were scattered out on the road, they had to help.

"Well I was wanting to get in some roping practice today," said Nafud with a little laugh as he urged his pinto along.

"Yeah well I would have just as easily gone for a nice relaxing rest on the porch with a cold glass of lemonade watching over our ranch, not out here doing this," Harrow replied in a rather grumpy tone. Nafud just smiled. "It's okay. We can still do that. Just after we do this."

Harrow focused on something down the road. "Oh, there's some people up ahead. I hope they can hear the cattle behind them and have enough smarts not to run away. These are just white-faced cows, but still."

The oldest of the boys was 12 year old Archer. He had come from a bad home, a daddy who preferred to drink and a mother who laid in everyone else's bed but her own. The younger of the boys was 11 year old Mikey. He was the adventurous sort, an orphan who wanted more than what the system could offer him.

Arthur was also known for his love of dogs and horses. Big dogs in particular, of which he had two that were trailing behind his and Archer's horses. Mikey was sitting in front of Arthur, secured between the cowboy's arms as he rode his large, dark brown horse he had named Callahan whilst Archer's horse was a red dun colour with a thick light blonde mane. The boy had called the horse Rodeo due to him being a little wild.