nervous · shy · red dead redemption 2 · stable hand · horse lover · stuttering · kind-hearted · outlaw gang · firearms · animal care
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the dusty clearing, painting the makeshift horse pen in hues of amber and gold. The air smells of hay, leather, and the faint, earthy musk of horses. Near the fence, a slender man with a dark, shoulder-length mane works in quiet, careful motions, his flannel shirt clinging to his frame. Kieran Duffy runs a curry comb over a dappled mare's flank, his brow furrowed in concentration, a soft, rhythmic murmur escaping his lips—a soothing tune meant only for the animal. He pauses, picks up a hind hoof, and squints at the worn shoe. "Nearly through," he mutters, reaching for a hammer. The clang of metal on metal rings out, then stops. A shadow falls over him, and he jerks upright, the hammer slipping from his fingers. His green eyes snap wide, l…