on a steel horse I ride

The tip of Darcy's tongue easily toyed with the sharpened point of one of his fangs. The vampiric cowboy, in that moment, contemplating the rows and rows of red-hided, white faced cattle that grazed on the summer grass around him. Moving the beasts into the forest as a summer pasture had proven to be...fruitful. They liked the shade along with the sweeter, greener grass that grew beneath the canopy with its filtered light. The pasture that existed outside that forest safe heaven had become dry and brittle in the sun's heat. It was edible, of course. Cows were hardly that fussy and yet they grew fatter on better feed. Fatter cattle meant higher prices per beast. This year's steers, especially, were going to be worth their weight in gold. The vampire easily moved to press the reins he held in his right hand to the side of his horse's neck- sending Seth wheeling obediently back the way he had come. The Grullo stallion easily broke into a trot, the moonlight above allowing the steed to easily pick his way between the forest trees as Darcy guided him back toward the main cabin. The boys could watch the cattle tonight. After all, that was what he damn well paid them to do. His own days as a cowhand were well and truly over. The southern cowboy was entirely content to relish in his position as owner of that ranch. A far less...physically demanding role and yet, even after all those years at Risque's side within the darkened halls of Syn- there was still something to be said for that ranch. Darcy entirely inclined to find himself content amongst the forests and pastures and beasts in a way he never truly was within the city.The vampire having spent the better part of several years building that main log cabin by hand. Days off, after all, were few and far between. Risque, in turn, so often equally unwilling to permit his absence from Syn for any length of time. This time, however, he had finally managed to coerce his lover into coming here with him.

Darcy's mismatched gaze glanced upward once more, spying that moon between the trees. Risque was sure to be awake by now, even if she saw little need to rise. His lack of presence, however, had surely already been noted. A subtle click of his tongue prompted Seth to shift into a loping canter. It would be undoubtedly faster to simply run back to that cabin himself and yet Darcy was loath to lessen that time he spent on the back of a horse. Such a thing was a rarity these days. The man was almost inclined to admit he...missed that very thing. Besides- Seth needed the work. No horse of his was about to grow fat and lazy. Almost as if on cue the stallion began to shift, his muscles bunching in a faint trace of anxiety as Darcy's own gaze shifted sideways to eye whatever it was the horse seemed to sense before a snort of irritation left his own nose-his spurs pressing at the grullo's sides.

"Dun be a damn fool, Set. Is jus Prin."

The scent of the Lynx so continually seemed to irritate the stallion. Princess, for her part, seemed as equally unimpressed with horses as she was with cattle. The feline content to remain within the trees, leaping from one branch to the next, effortlessly keeping up with her master without having to sully her paws upon the earth. Maybe she'd gotten too damn soft too. Seth's pace increased that final time, the horse cantering up that final hill before swinging into the clearing and onto the flat that surrounded that main cabin in all its luxury. It had taken months to build, let alone organize power and water and yet it had been damn well worth it. Even if Risque had been....less than thrilled with its decor. Cow skin rugs and ram horns and wooden furniture were hardly his lover's idea of 'high end' and yet even she had been inclined to admit that it was not 'completely uncomfortable'. Darcy willing enough to accept that very praise. The vampire easily lent back within the saddle, Seth sliding to a halt by the stairs the the front door as Darcy easily swung from the saddle, tossing the stallions reins over that hitching post before striding up the stairs in turn- his boots thudding dully on the wood. Princess leapt from the nearest tree, landing on that verandah with a notable thud before rushing ahead of her master to slip through the door as Darcy pushed it open. The lynx content to immediately begin grooming herself- as if the outdoors had tainted her. A soft snort echoed from the vampire's lips once more, Darcy pausing only long enough to kick off his boots, letting them tumble into a pile beside the fifteen pairs of shoes Risque had lined up beside the door. His mate evidently remained hopeful of some chance to wear those almost ridiculously high heels he'd told her several times she wouldn't need- or have any use for on a farm.

Darcy easily strode across that foyer and toward the fireplace, tossing another log onto those flames that instantly rose to surround it, prompting a flow of heat into that space once more. The scent of burning pine entirely...satisfying to the man. The house however was....quiet. The southern cowboy moved toward the staircase then, his socked feet entirely silent as he strode upstairs and toward the expansive main bedroom- Risque's side of that bed entirely absent. The very sight prompted Darcy's eyes to raise slightly. She hadn't...gone outside had she? That was damn well bold of her. A soft sound from that far side of the room prompted his mismatched gaze to shift sideways- only to spy his Mistress beside that large mirror, her slender, feminine figure still clothed in little save her entirely ... .distracting night wear. Darcy's gaze, for several moments, content to linger upon the curve of her ass and the swell of her chest as she examined another pair of shoes. Darcy's figure leaned easily within the doorway, his own attire little more than loose jeans and plaid shirt- the very kind Risque forbade him from wearing within Syn's walls.

"Darlin' tink I told ya already, dem heels is only gonna get stuck in da mud."

The faintest hint of amusement lingered within those drawling lyrics. Darcy entirely aware his mate held no intention of listening to him. Her decisions, as always, were entirely her own.

"Rekon dat yar don't need no more clothin dough. Reckon yar lookin' mighty fine jus like dat...."

Darcy

I'm wanted, Dead or Alive