Chapter Text
The sunlight streamed into the barn through the windows high up the walls, illuminating the floating dust motes with soft golden light. It was quiet, and warm, and felt like home. The sounds of animals existing peacefully drifted through the air, horses chewing hay and chickens scratching through the dust, the occasional crow from a rooster or the low-pitched call of an ewe summoning her lamb drifting across the sunny pastures.
Early summer at the ABC Ranch was Jehan’s favorite time of year, with the baby animals and new growth everywhere. He also rather appreciated the ability to feel his hands without sticking them in a cow’s armpit for warmth. The cattle did not like dealing with Jehan in the winter.
Courfeyrac loved the winter, right up until the moment he had to walk through the mud to tend to the animals. Every time the snow melted even a bit, the ground, churned up by hooves and feet of all sizes, turned treacherous, many a brush or tool never to be seen again, until an animal inevitably injured a foot on it years later.
The ABC Ranch was home to many humans and animals throughout each year, serving as a rescue and rehabilitation center for people and animals alike. They also took training jobs, boarding various animals, usually horses, for a few months at a time. The humans of the ranch called themselves “les amis de l’ABC”, or “the friends of the ABC” in English. Someone had decided it sounded cooler in French, and the rest just rolled with it. Les amis were known for their gentle but practical approach with animals and willingness to help anyone in need, regardless of limb count or type. They did their best to keep the ranch accessible to as many sorts of folks as possible. Every building had ramps, and all of the amis knew how to sign at least basic important things like “hello”, “thank you”, “cow need help”, “emergency”, “bastard”, and “murder”. They kept around extras of any mobility aid they could afford and were quite good at adapting if they needed something they didn’t have. They also had ear defenders, sunglasses, and fidgets available for anyone who needed them, residents and visitors alike. They supported local farmers and businesses to feed themselves, and tried to accommodate as many dietary restrictions as possible. Joly had gone through stages of believing he had every allergy or intolerance under the sun, Feuilly generally kept Kosher, and at least half the amis had some strong feelings about food regardless. The ABC Ranch centered itself around supporting its community, and if that meant three weeks straight of tortellini for Gavroche, the resident middle schooler, then so be it.
As well as rescue and training, the ranch offered riding lessons and sometimes visits, to make sure that everyone who wanted to could learn about horses and livestock. The visits stressed out Joly, who was in charge of biosecurity, so they didn’t do full facility tours very often.
The ABC Ranch did, however, host cuddle sessions. One of the pastures near the ranch entrance held several of the friendliest, most laid-back animals, and visitors could schedule a time to come hang out with the animals. Before they could go in, guests were asked to wear a facemask, put covers over their shoes or change into a pair of boots that didn’t leave the property, and sanitize their hands. Cuddle sessions were pay-what-you-can, starting at a dollar an hour, plus an “asshole fee”, as Grantaire called it. Rude visitors would find themselves coerced into giving a significant donation by a very persuasive Enjolras. Cuddle sessions were a hit with the locals, and helped cover feed and medication costs for the animals.
Since there was no time limit on cuddle sessions, many of the local schoolkids came up to the ABC Ranch to do their homework in the company of some sheep, cattle, chickens, dogs, and a mini mule. The teachers in town alternated between frustrated and pleased with this habit: paper homework was often turned in muddy with pieces missing from curious sheep, but more work was turned in complete than before students started doing homework at the ranch. Les amis also did their best to help the students, checking in on them periodically and offering comfort and advice for particularly difficult assignments. They weren’t all particularly helpful, but they tried, except for Grantaire, who was banned from homework help.
On this particular day, Feuilly was drifting through the barns and pastures with a notebook, noting any visible problems with the animals and facility. One of the steers had broken the fence in pasture M again, the pigeons in the blue barn had hatched squabs, and Enjolras’ temperamental mare, Patria, had jumped the fence to go visit other animals again. Feuilly shook his head, wondering why they even bothered trying to fence that horse in. Regardless, he jotted down a quick Taller fence for Patria? before continuing on to see how the poultry were doing. The geese saw him coming first and began raising a ruckus, summoning a hoard of ducks and chickens to bombard him for treats. No one went anywhere on the farm without treats and the animals knew it. Sighing with more amusement than annoyance, Feuilly tossed a mix of dried bug larva and seeds onto the ground a few feet away, redirecting the excited birds.
Scanning the flock, he spotted one of the problem hens limping again. “Alright, c’mere, you,” he said, scooping her up in his arms. Holding the hen two-handed, hamburger style, to keep her still, Feuilly looked at the bottoms of her feet. “Yep, bumblefoot again,” he sighed, and started walking towards the nearest supply shed for a bucket and epsom salt. Bumblefoot was a fairly common occurrence in many of the ranch’s animals, despite their best efforts to provide various surfaces and keep enclosures clean.