› 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚂 : private ( @aquarics ) 𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 : mccullough ranch
〔 ✱ 〕 … " 𝐦𝐢𝐚 — 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 , 𝐢 𝐨𝐰𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 pint for this. " cooper tips his head back with a groan , hand dragging down his face before he leans his arms over the top rail of the paddock fence. his breath fogs just a little in the mountain air. behind him , the lads are fumbling around like it's their first time walking upright , let alone handling a horse. one’s already lost a boot in the mud. another’s somehow tangled a lead rope around his own wrist. " didn’t think they’d be this bloody useless , " he mutters , eyes squinting as one player flinches from a snorty gelding.
he turns to her with a half wince , half grin. “ look — i know we’re a lot. loud , clumsy , smell like the bottom of a gear bag. but they’re good lads under it all. just … raised on skates , not saddles. ” he gestures loosely toward the chaos. “ figured this’d teach ‘em something about trust. groundwork. patience. all that noble shit. ” he pauses , glancing sideways at her. “ didn't mean for you to be the one wrangling 'em all. that’s on me. ” a chuckle breaks through as he tosses a small clump of hay toward one of the players’ heads. “ pay attention , ya fuckin' donkey. this ain’t a bloody rodeo. ” then , back to mia with a softer shrug. “ anyway. thanks for not tossing me in the dirt yet. ”