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Kirk hadn’t intended to drag Spock and McCoy to a horse ranch during shore leave. It had happened more or less naturally. He loved horses, and as Spock and McCoy both loved him, they’d agreed to go along.
McCoy had been around horses more than Spock had, and seemed to be dredging up old memories to explain how the tack worked. Spock, curious as always, listened attentively. The two of them also bickered, of course, especially when Spock corrected McCoy on Earth history.
The sound of their bickering was as familiar to Kirk as the hum of the Enterprise engines. He half listened to it while he tended to the horse he’d be riding.
She was a beautiful palomino, nearly as gold as his command tunic, and as he brushed her neck, her coat brightened even more. She turned, gently nosing at his hand, and he moved to stroke his fingers against her soft pink snip.
The sound of McCoy’s laughter broke in, and Kirk turned to see Spock’s black horse investigating his pointed ears. Spock raised an eyebrow at this, but didn’t object.
Smiling, Kirk returned to preparing his horse. This was a good way to spend shore leave.