[Kieran blinks, then blushes. Even the tips of his ears turn a bit red. All he’d said to Ben was exactly what was on his heart, much like anything else he’d said, whenever he found the courage, so it didn’t occur to him that it would have that profound an impact on anybody. He hardly ever did.]

[He’d been called a good friend once or twice before, usually around a table overflowing with alcohol by men who could barely see straight, but this time it feels much more… genuine. Like it actually mattered to someone. He’d helped out a friend, and that in itself was its own reward. He grins.]

N-No problem! I-I mean, uh… you too! Least I could do fer someone who’s done so much to help me, too.

[He clears his throat, unused to such exchanges, but not entirely uncomfortable.]

Now let’s get these horses into their paddocks. I’ll show you how we get ‘em all boarded!