{"sf1_id":407384,"sf2_id":"rn69vjzm","title":"New Horse In Town","author":"Claymore","words":2410,"posted_at":"2012-07-25T17:13:00.000Z","tags":["Anthro","Clydesdale","Equine","Horse"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/407384-new-horse-in-town","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/rn69vjzm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/90/39/90392ade-d826-420a-a1bd-c4137485f918","description":"Minor language content and thematic elements give this work a MILD PG rating.","content":"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Picking Up Supplies\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Backing his ancient Chevy into the loading dock of Sam's Feed \u0026 Tack, Claymore Highfield squinted at the rearview mirror.\u0026nbsp; \"I think I'd better get my eyes checked next time I'm at the vet's office,\" he muttered to himself, shutting off the engine and pulling the parking brake lever.\u0026nbsp; He swung out of the cab and checked his list, wondering what the store would be out of this week. \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;There was an ample pile of 100 pound sacks of coal, he noted; big shock, here in the middle of coal country.\u0026nbsp; Grit for the chickens, sack of sweet feed, some Timothy hay, Sam had the usual supplies in stock.\u0026nbsp; Welding rod and hot-rolled mild steel were probably going to be the usual headache, however, since manufacturing had largely shifted to secessionist Western States of America; no wholesaler liked paying the high tariffs to obtain these 'imported' products, which reduced their profits and made supply spotty at best.\u0026nbsp; With a resigned sigh, Crawford Corners' resident Clydesdale blacksmith climbed up the loading dock steps and walked into the store.   \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Almost immediately he snorted, shaking his head in disbelief.\u0026nbsp; He knew he'd seen another equine in his mirror, and that was him right there at the counter!\u0026nbsp; Sam caught Claymore's eye, waving as he laughed and motioned him over.\u0026nbsp; \"Clay!\u0026nbsp; Look at this, another relative of yours dropped into town!\"\u0026nbsp; Starting to explain -- again -- that he was not related to every equine anthro on the planet, Clay shook his head good-naturedly and ambled over to the counter.\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, probably on my Mother's side, Sam, I got a big ol' family tree you know.\"\u0026nbsp; He turned to the bay stallion in front of the register, smiling and holding out his hoof.\u0026nbsp; \"Claymore Highfield,\" he smiled, nodding in a friendly manner.\u0026nbsp; \"Better yet, just call me Clay.\u0026nbsp; It's nice to meet you.\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The stallion grinned, looking at Clay's hoof before taking it, perhaps a little gently, and squeezing it.\u0026nbsp; \"Kimimaro,\" he said, not quite looking back up.\u0026nbsp; \"But I usually go by Kimi, at least to my friends.\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Clay noticed Kimi's ears drooping to the sides of his head and found the younger stallion's apparent shyness immediately endearing.\u0026nbsp; \"Well, it's good to meet you, Kimi, always nice to run into another member of the herd!\u0026nbsp; I'm guessing you're a college horse?\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The young stallion looked mildly surprised but nodded, starting to respond \"Yes, but how did you ...?\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Gotta watch out for Claymore, young man!\" Sam interrupted.\u0026nbsp; \"He's known as the 'Smithin' Magician' around town, and he'll read your mind.\u0026nbsp; You just make sure to hang on to your wallet -- he's got very talented hooves!\"\u0026nbsp; The portly feed store owner had stopped writing the sales slip, waving his pencil for emphasis as he teased.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Well, I certainly like that better than some of the other names I've heard people were calling me,\" Clay snorted with a laugh.\u0026nbsp; He smacked his hoof lightly at the bag of feed Kimi was purchasing, \"But really, mind reading had nothing to do with it.\u0026nbsp; I saw the 'AnthroChow,' you're about the right age, Crawford's Corners is an easy commute to the State College.\u0026nbsp; It was just an educated guess.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The bag of AnthroChow on the counter was a sort of low-grade granola marketed to anthros that had become widely popularly among humans, especially students.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Far less sweet than typical granola, it could actually be served either sweet or savoury.\u0026nbsp; It was nearly as cheap as the ramen soup that formed much of the average college diet, higher in protein, and like ramen it was versatile and easy to prepare.\u0026nbsp; While it had been derisively known as \"College Kibble\" when he was in school, Clay usually had a sack of it in his own pantry.   \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"It was a good guess!\u0026nbsp; My family was hoping I'd stay in Massachusetts, but I really needed a change of scenery.\u0026nbsp; And so far, I'm liking Pennsylvania; little nervous about starting the new semester, still getting to know my way around, you know!\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Clay nodded, smiling as he spoke.\u0026nbsp; \"Few of us use the old name for the state anymore, Kimi.\u0026nbsp; But I'm sure you'll do just fine.\u0026nbsp; Economy's not quite what it should be yet, but you'll find the town is a pretty pleasant place to live, I think.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Sam slid the finished sales slip across the counter at Kimi, \"That's eleven-seventy, young man.\u0026nbsp; And maybe you want to let Clay take a look at your note before I post it on the bulletin board!\"   \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Note?\" Clay snorted, his ears instantly perking forward.\u0026nbsp; Though horses are naturally inquisitive, Claymore had made curiosity into an art form over the years.\u0026nbsp; He was suddenly interested in the file card on the counter near Kimi's right hoof.   \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"No, it's nothing, really.\u0026nbsp; Just came in to get my feed is all, and I saw the bulletin board.\u0026nbsp; I really should get going.\"\u0026nbsp; Kimi seemed a bit flustered as he snatched at the file card, tucking it into his shirt pocket. \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Well, it's nothin' to me then.\u0026nbsp; Sam, I'll go ahead and load what I need in my truck.\u0026nbsp; I hope you got that half-inch bar stock I asked about!\"\u0026nbsp; Clay nodded at the new horse, giving a slight wave as he turned away, \"Good to meet you, Kimi.\u0026nbsp; Hope to see ya around town!\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"I'd like that, and hope so too!\"\u0026nbsp; Kimi smiled, hoping his cheeks weren't quite as red as they felt.\u0026nbsp; When the Clydesdale was out of earshot, Kimi pulled out his wallet to pay for his feed.\u0026nbsp; As he did so, he couldn't help asking a question.\u0026nbsp; \"Sir, why did you think Clay would have been interested in my note on your bulletin board?\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Sam took the twenty Kimi offered, casually responding as he made change.\u0026nbsp; \"He's a got a large house not far out of town, and I know he's taken in roommates previously.\u0026nbsp; There was a horse passing through town last year, car collector or somethin', I know he was rooming with Clay for a while.\u0026nbsp; Although,\" Sam placed some coins and several bills in Kimi's hoof, \"I hear it did not end well.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Kimi took the change, a puzzled expression coming over his muzzle.\u0026nbsp; \"What do you mean?\u0026nbsp; Was there violence involved?\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"No, no,\u0026nbsp; nothing\u0026nbsp; at all.\"\u0026nbsp; Sam tore a carbon copy off the receipt pad, handing it to Kimi.\u0026nbsp; \"Clay's pretty even-tempered, in fact.\u0026nbsp; It's just that I heard he'd gotten pretty attached to this horse -- not sure all the details there, none of my business anyway -- but the guy just up and left one day.\u0026nbsp; Friend of mine over at the diner said Clay seemed pretty mopey for a long while after Brad moved on.\u0026nbsp; I imagine it gets lonely out there in that farmhouse of his, and if you're one of, um, you know, an anthro? Not so many of you guys around, you know.\u0026nbsp; Here in Crawford Corners, at least.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Kimi nodded, taking the receipt and stuffing it in his pocket.\u0026nbsp; He thought about pulling the notecard out and posting it on the feedstore bulletin board, but changed his mind.\u0026nbsp; He was paid up at the hotel through the next week anyway, and that was ample time to find out whether that Clydesdale was interested in a new roommate.\u0026nbsp; \"So, does Clay still visit the diner here in town?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Breakfast At The Crow's Nest  \n  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Pushing the glass door open, Claymore was surprised to find the diner packed so late on a Thursday morning.\u0026nbsp; Until he remembered what day it was.\u0026nbsp; \"Pheasant season, what a gigantic pain in the ass,\" he grumbled silently.\u0026nbsp; What actually bothered him, of course, was that few of the hunters streaming into the area had need of his services; the seasonal population uptick mean virtually no extra income for his shop. \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Clay-MORE!\u0026nbsp; Over here, honey!\"\u0026nbsp; Shirley Merck's shrill voice, as usual, carried above the din and assaulted his ears.\u0026nbsp; He winced slightly, but forced a smile as he turned to the diner's proprietor and head waitress. \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Hay there darlin', how are ya today?\" he neighed, waving as she approached.\u0026nbsp; Whatever his opinion of Shirley, there was simply no denying she was one of the friendliest humans he knew.\u0026nbsp; He gave her a light peck on the cheek as she took him by the arm.   \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Got somebody over here wants to meet you, Clay!\u0026nbsp; Come on and say hi, he's been waitin' for you since seven this mornin'!\"\u0026nbsp; Shirley had that too-eager grin on her face that could only mean she was up to something.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Claymore sighed, giving Shirley 'the look.'\u0026nbsp; She was a very friendly divorcee, and when she wasn't hooking up herself, she was hooking others up.\u0026nbsp; Or trying to, anyway.\u0026nbsp; \"You know, if Brad's back in town, I'm just not... .\"\u0026nbsp; Shirley cut him off in mid sentence.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Oh, now shush!\u0026nbsp; Nobody said nothin' about old Brad, I said somebody!\u0026nbsp; Come on over here and be friendly!\"\u0026nbsp; Shirley was pulling him by the arm, through the crowd to a table in the back corner.\u0026nbsp; There, grinning as sheepishly as he had two days ago at the feed store, sat the young bay stallion.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Hi again, Clay!\u0026nbsp; I hope you don't mind, I thought it would be nice to... .\"\u0026nbsp; Kimi's words trailed off as he slowly began stirring his coffee. \"I thought, maybe it be nice,\" he stammered slightly, clearly not having much of a plan beyond running into Clay at the diner. \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"You thought it would be nice to stalk me?\" Clay laughed, swinging into the booth on the seat opposite Kimi.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"The usual for me, please, Shirley.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I said I hoped to see you again, and I meant it.\u0026nbsp; Now, you ordered yet, Kimi?\"   \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"No, but, just a, I don't know, a cinnamon roll, ma'am?\" Kimi asked.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"You got it hon!\u0026nbsp; Now don't let this old horse snap at you, he's pretty friendly once you get to know him.\u0026nbsp; Aren't you, stud muffin?\"\u0026nbsp; Shirley playfully smacked a menu on Clay's shoulder, causing him to snort in a mock threat.\u0026nbsp; She merely smacked him again, laughing as she walked away from the table.   \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Kimi, it was nice chatting with you briefly the other day, and I hope I didn't seem stand-offish at the feed store. \"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Clay smiled warmly at the younger stallion, dropping some sweetener into the massive mug of coffee a busboy had brought to him.\u0026nbsp; \"You know, after I left Sam's place, I thought maybe I should have asked you out for a bite or something, just didn't occur to me.\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The thought actually had occurred to Claymore, but he'd quickly put it out of his mind; he certainly didn't believe a college-age stallion would have any interest in a friend of his age.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A casual observer could easily have seen that Clay was clearly smitten with shy young horse, but he would\u0026nbsp; have blustered and denied such a thing.\u0026nbsp; Long a favourite subject among town gossips, who assumed that\u0026nbsp; because he was a stallion he was easy and promiscuous, Clay was actually celibate.\u0026nbsp; He had been since Cheryl had left him many years before, in fact, a relationship with a human female that left lasting marks.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"It did occur to me, Clay,\" Kimi grinned, \"in fact, I asked the feed store guy the best time to catch you here.\u0026nbsp; Oh my god!\"\u0026nbsp; He laughed, quickly covering his muzzle.\u0026nbsp; \"I AM stalking you, aren't I?\"\u0026nbsp; There was a bright reddish hue to Kimi's cheeks.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"I know how to treat stalkers, bud.\u0026nbsp; With duct tape and a shovel!\"\u0026nbsp; Clay winked at stallion, whose eyes had suddenly widened.\u0026nbsp; \"Joking!\u0026nbsp; Just kidding!\u0026nbsp; Relax, buddy, I was just yanking your chain!\" he teased.\u0026nbsp; Shirley had walked up, and he whistled as she sat a massive platter down in front of Kimi.\u0026nbsp; \"Oooh, now look at that-THAT'S a cinnamon roll!\"\u0026nbsp; The steaming hot pastry was so huge it spilled over the edges of the plate, dripping with melted butter and sugar creme frosting.\u0026nbsp; Clay caught a whiff of the raisins and cinnamon, and nickered,\u0026nbsp; \"Let me know if you need help with that!\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Claymore! Mind your manners, horse!\" Shirley barked, setting an equally large platter in front of him.\u0026nbsp; \"You've got plenty to eat on your own plate!\"\u0026nbsp; Indeed he did, as there was ample food even for a Clydesdale's appetite; four massive biscuits smothered in milk gravy, surrounded by home fries hot off the grill and cheesy scrambled eggs, all topped with a pile of sliced jalapeno peppers.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It was more than he usually finished at once, and usually made lunch as well as breakfast.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Besides, if your hooves ever need somethin' to grab at, you know where to find me!\"\u0026nbsp; She lingered just a little longer than she needed to, her name tag perched just inches from Clay's muzzle.  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Clay laughed good naturedly, and while he thought about saying, \"Yeah, I know where the line forms, Shirley,\"\u0026nbsp; he refrained and merely nodded.\u0026nbsp; \"I do, Shirley, and you're a fine lookin' lady.\u0026nbsp; But c'mon, a stallion's gotta eat, too!\" \u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"She seems nice,\" Kimi said, picking up his fork and starting on his roll.\u0026nbsp; \"Really seems to like you, too, Clay.\u0026nbsp; She was seriously coming on to you!\"\u0026nbsp; Kimi laughed a little self-consciously, then added, \"Oh my god, that is so not my business!\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Clay waved his hoof a little before picking up his coffee bucket.\u0026nbsp; \"Hay, don't worry about it, I'm uh, pretty much an open book around my friends.\"\u0026nbsp; The smile he gave Kimi was friendly enough, though had someone else asked the question he would have frowned instead of shrugging it off.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Taking a drink of coffee, his tone became just slightly serious.\u0026nbsp; \"She's got a bit of a reputation.\u0026nbsp; Not really my type.\u0026nbsp; How's the roll?\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Nodding his approval, Kimi grinned and cut off another bite of the pastry.\u0026nbsp; \"Oh, it's great!\u0026nbsp; I'm not sure I'll be able to finish the whole thing.\u0026nbsp; Reminds me of my Mom's cooking, actually.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Yeah, they do it up right here at the diner, mostly homemade.\u0026nbsp; Shirley is very talented in the kitchen.\n\n\u0026nbsp;  \n  \n\n"}