"It's his legacy. He's lived here his 'ol life." She walked into her father's house. "Pa? It's me, Corraline. I'm home!"
An older pony came down a set of stairs. This man was obviously Cora's father, same coat color, same mane color, even the same eye color. "Corraline? Oh my sweet girl, what are you doing home? And who is this fellow?" The old pony gestures at Sarge. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Daddy, that's Sarge. We're just here to check up on you. There's been some trouble with a gang lately, and we wanted to make sure you were doing alright." Cora hugged her father then settled back into a regular standing position.
"Only a slight bit." The old pony huffed and walked into the kitchen of his house. "What's your line of work?" ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Cora followed her father, grabbing a few plates from the cupboard as he sat in a chair. She worked around the kitchen like she had never left the house.
"That's why I know you. Are you the same man who took down Rigger's group a few years ago?" _____________________________________________________________________________________ Cora set a plate of grits and apples before both of the ponies before taking her seat and listening.
Cora snorted involuntarily, getting a look from her dad. "Riggers wouldn't have crossed you if my Pa had let me go after him." _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ The old pony's face settled into an expression that looked as if he wore it all his life. "Corraline, you know well that you would have been deader than a doornail if I let you go." He took a few bites of the food on his plate. "That's why you're staying here."
"She's a pretty tough mare, mister," Sarge said in Cora's defense, "She'll be just fine out there, especially if she's with a gun slinger like myself."
Cora looked hopeful. _________________________________________ "Gunslingers such as yourself tend to have trouble follow them. Besides, what does a little filly like Corraline need to do out in the plains?" _________________________________________ "I'm not a filly, Pa. And I can take care of myself." She didn't bring up the trouble she'd gotten into herself. "I'm goin', and you have no say."
Corraline excused herself from the table and walked to the front door, giving ample time for Sarge to excuse himself as well.
"I love my Pa, but he's so stubborn." She let out a huff. "Let's be on our way before he starts something out here."
"Alright," Sarge said, starting to get moving, "I don't think we'll make it to Pen Peak before dark, we may have to set up camp."
"There's a lil' place away from the ranch...It's a lil' shanty..but it'll do. At least it won't be the ground, eh?" Cora said as they walked out of the ranch, away from her stubborn father, and the comfort of the ranch house.
