Chapter Text
Leonard McCoy stood for a moment on the front porch and looked out over the Enterprise ranch. A small noise came from by his feet. He didn’t need to look to know it was Jaylah’s pet cat Franklin. The little cat had decided from the start that he was McCoy’s shadow. Anywhere he went on the ranch Franklin followed.
At first McCoy had found it extremely annoying, but one day the little cat had given him warning before he had stuck his hand next to a rattlesnake. McCoy had become reconciled to the cat then and accepted it as his fate to always be tailed by the ‘wee beastie’ as Scotty referred to him.
Scotty was in the house behind him helping his brother pack. Robbie would start in town at the post office the next day and would be staying in town.
“C’mon then,” McCoy said to Franklin and stepped off the porch to head for the barn. He’d get the wagon ready for the brothers. Franklin purred at his feet, but made sure not to get in McCoy’s way as he walked.
At the barn pasture he found the ranch’s owner, James Kirk standing with Pavel Chekov and Jaylah.
“Hey Bones!” Jim called.
“Hey kid,” McCoy replied.
“Need help hitching up?” Jim asked.
“Sure, if you’re offering.”
“Come on Jaylah, let’s see what you can do,” Jim grinned at the young woman. She had been on the ranch just over a year and had been working hard learning to be a ranch hand.
“Let’s go!” she replied.
McCoy followed behind them with Chekov.
“So,” McCoy began slyly. “You two seem to be getting along real well lately.” He glanced at Chekov from the corner of his eye. The young man had blushed.
“We have always gotten along,” he replied quickly.
“Yes,” McCoy said. “You have. But lately—”
“We all get along Doctor!”
McCoy smothered a chuckle. Ok, Chekov didn’t want to talk about himself and Jaylah.
“Well, whatever you two have going on, I’m glad for you both.”
Chekov made a choked noise and McCoy saw his color turn more red.
“Da.”
McCoy drove the horses as Scotty and Robbie chatted away behind him. He felt a touch alone up front by himself, but he couldn’t grudge the brothers their time together. They had been apart for years, until McCoy had secretly reached out to the brother still in Scotland. In the end it had turned out that there was no need for the brothers to still remain no contact. The people who had threatened them were long dead.
“Well, where are ya going to stay?” McCoy asked as they came to the edge of town. “The hotel? Or did you sort out somewhere else while we were gone?”
“The hotel for now,” Robbie said. “Miss Gaila had rooms cheaper, but Mr. Farrell said it would look better to be at the hotel.”
McCoy chuckled.
“There’s nothing wrong with Gaila’s,” Scotty protested. “But I ken what he means.”
“We could stop in before heading back,” McCoy said over his shoulder. He drove the wagon up the street, and straight into the yard next to the hotel.
“Of course!” Scotty exclaimed. “We’ve got to celebrate!”
“You alright?” McCoy asked as he and Scotty drove home as the sun began to set.
“Aye,” Scotty said and slid a little closer to McCoy. “He’s just a quick trip to town away now. I’d have loved if he’d stayed on the ranch, but I understand.”
McCoy smiled.
“I’m just glad he’s back,” Scotty continued. “I know I’ve said it many times already, but thank ye so much for writing to him love.”
“Your welcome darlin’,” McCoy said and moved the reins to one hand. He put the other arm around Scotty. “I’m happy you’re happy.”