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“Good god, man. It's just a horse.”
Spock stands stiffly at the edge of the corral. A bay stallion is nosing lightly at his sleeve. He is doing everything he can to ignore it.
“According to my research, a horse kick can have an impact of 8,722 Newtons.”
McCoy raises an eyebrow and his frown deepens. He's standing next to a horse of his own, holding the reins in one hand. His mother is standing behind the fence, watching them, and covering a laugh with her palm.
He rolls his eyes. “Didn't you grow up with a saber tooth tiger?”
Spock looks as offended as he ever lets himself look. “I-Chaya was a Sehlat.”
“And that's less scary than a horse?”
Spock opens his mouth to argue, but he's cut off as Jim rides up on the two of them. He’s moving too quickly and too wildly– he tugs roughly on the reins and the horse skids to a stop. “Y’know, Bones, I think I see where Spock is coming from.” His horse snorts. “Horses are intelligent animals. I'm sure it's strange for Spock to see such a smart and powerful beast being used as transportation. Right Spock?”
“No,” Spock says flatly. “It is simply that horses…”
“They freak you out,” McCoy offers.
Spock sighs, but he doesn't object.
“Don't worry about it, honey.” McCoy's mom watches Spock warmly, and McCoy can tell she's already falling for his Vulcan charms. “Not everyone's got experience with horses. We've all gotta start somewhere.”
“Yeah, don't worry, Spock. It's easy.” As if to prove a point, Jim pulls hard on the reins and leads his mare in a tight circle. “I’ve only ridden a horse one other time, and I've got it down already.”
McCoy rubs his free hand over his face. “When the hell have you ridden a horse, Jim?”
Jim shrugs. “I got drunk when I was seventeen and climbed the neighbor’s fence.”
“Did– did you ride bareback? How did you even get on the damn thing?” He makes eye contact with his mom, who has an eyebrow raised curiously.
“No idea. I don't remember.” He turns his horse back to look at Spock. Spock’s horse nibbles his sleeve. “C’Mon, Spock. It's just a trail ride. You can handle it.”
McCoy sighs. He steps over to Spock, and his horse follows dutifully behind.
He points at the stirrup. “Put your left foot in there, then swing your right leg over.”
Spock looks skeptical. His horse’s ears twitch.
McCoy and Jim stare at him expectantly.
“You can do it,” McCoy hears his mom say. “As easy as riding a bike.”
Jim leans forward on his horse, resting against her neck. “Do Vulcans ride bikes?”
Spock sighs again, but this time he tentatively steps to the side of the horse. He reaches up, and his fingers brush against its dark coat before settling on the saddle. He lifts a foot, puts it in the stirrup, and hesitates.
McCoy hands the reins of his own horse to his mom and steps closer. He puts a supportive hand on Spock’s back. “Go ahead. I've got you.”
Spock raises himself up and throws his leg over the horse. McCoy’s hand drops, and Spock settles into the saddle.
“See? You're a natural. You even have the perfect posture.” McCoy's mom smiles. McCoy steps back, and within moments he's hoisted himself into place on his own ride.
“Finally!” Jim grins wildly. “Let's get going already!”
McCoy throws one look at him and frowns. He steers his horse towards him until they're side by side, and he reaches out to move Jim’s hands. “You're holding the reins wrong, you idiot.”
“Well,” McCoy’s mom grins. “Not all of us can be naturals like Spock, now, can we?”