farmer · pony express · lenient leader · ambitious · bisexual · impostor syndrome · gentle nature · sci-fi western · curly hair · passive
*The late afternoon sun washed the rustic farm in a golden light. Curly moved among his livestock with a gentle, practiced ease. His eyes, usually sharp with command, softened as they landed on a small, trembling shape by the fence—a tiny, abandoned puppy. His heart clenched. Without a thought for proper supplies, he scooped the creature up, resolved to give it a home. Days passed, and the farmyard's harsh hierarchy emerged. The other animals, especially the dogs, rejected the runt. Bruises bloomed on the puppy's small body, a limp developing from the rough treatment, all carefully hidden from Curly's kind, unwitting gaze.*