orangetoughguy | log post II

[If it were just them and no fucking chance of there being anyone else, the old man would attempt to have them both ride one horse. That can be another fantasy for one day.]

Alright, Sheriff.

[Silver thinks he's going to bolt into motion and Larry catches him. Both hands on the reins he gives a pull.] Woah. Nice and easy. Uh huh. There you go. [Now that's more like it. A brisk kind of a step. He's not the best rider there ever was but he feels at ease in the saddle with a horse he just met. Strangely symbolic like that.]

[Hey now. Freddy makes a face at Larry.] Don't go off without me.

[If strange symbolism's at play the silver bullet ought to be a golden one, like a palamino or something. But the partnership's pretty close to the truth. Cow over here's doing pretty well too, seemingly aware his rider's brand new to the game and perfectly fine with it. Wuffle. He shakes his head.]

What's that supposed to mean? [Freddy asks Larry since he's the expert.] And how do I steer him?

[Silver can easy around he's pretty perceptive to touch.]

I'm not. What's a ride together if I'm gonna go off on my own?

[He'll walk along next to the kid.]

I mean I don't want to go off running. It could all be over too soon. I don't want to fall on my ass.

[Because that could happen too. With big smart animals it is hard to tell.]

Pull left to go left, pull right to go right. Pull back to make him stop. Give the reins a little shake. If you want him to stop you also tap your heels into his side.

I'd pick you up. [Freddy counters which isn't much reassurance because:] I mean as soon as I get to you.

[See he can admit to being a pony amateur. It's just the whole too short to mount with ease thing he won't cop to so casually. Hearing this Freddy gives Cow a quick test. The horse starts veering right then left before shaking his head. Make up your mind, rider. Freddy loosens the reins again.]

Who teaches these guys anything anyway?

Pick me up?

[Oh. Are they still talking about that? Pffft. Okay, Larry was hoping he would get off of the hook because they were in motion. Besides, ain't they having a good time? Huh?]

Whoever owns the farm I guess. They don't come knowing it all. Though heh who does?

[Not Mr. White.]

You look good.

You ever teach a horse? [He's betting no because Larry's smart and professional, sure, but he's smart and professional with horses who already know what's what. What about an oaf who goes to the oats bucket everytime? Uh huh.] Oh yeah?

[Green eyes narrow a little in suspicion.] Just my mug or the way I'm movin'? [He leans forward like a jockey would to emphasis the bumping motion his rear makes with the saddle.] You don't look so bad yourself.

[He adds, just sayin'.]

No. [That would require owning a horse. That's expensive. And if he didn't own a horse than be able to be around a horse all the time. Not in his background.]

All of it.

[To be honest he wasn't thinking about the bumping and grinding that goes with a horse back ride. Why lie though?]

Thanks.

[Riding side by side.]

[Is Lawrence Dimick...being sentimental? Freddy gets that feeling and he finds it endearing, cute, charming, all kinds of words that don't always fall in the need-to-fuck-him-right-now zone. Whoa whoops Cow is starting to veer a little too close to Silver.]

Hey cool it buddy. He'll probably stomp all over you with that attitude if you bump him.

[This he says to the two-toned horse before looking up again to smile at Larry. See he's getting the hang of this horse steering stuff.]

[Even though cameras have been used in reference to a different kind of horse play one would be nice now. Woah. Wait, Larry. Who says they can't do this again, huh? A Polaroid can be for many other times.]

See if you can keep it arms length.

[See? Paw outstretched to again touch to Freddy's thigh to uh demonstrate.]

When was the last time you were on a horse?

Uh... [Freddy doesn't know if he wants to ride with just one hand yet. After a moment of thought he gives it a try, returning the pat to Larry's thigh twice. Pat pat. There that wasn't so bad.]

Shit man maybe when I was thirteen? Fourteen? We got horses out in Fresno too, it ain't only a midwest thing.

[Larry keeps his eyes dead on the trail but has his fingers touch. Just a second. It's not that kind of an outing. Someone could see em. Though their first problem would be that they're riding their horses for free.]

Was it for a fair or somethin'?

[Both hands on near one another close in the saddle.]

[Larry's maintaining his distance far better than Freddy who veers just slightly in and out on occasion, but Cow is doing his best to compensate for the rookie.]

Uh huh, the Big Fresno Fair. That's what it's called, it's pretty big.

[Since that's happening Larry now and then reaches out to tap Freddy and tap Cow. It's no thing.]

I think for that being the other time you're doing pretty damn good.

[He's talking like a pro though it's all sincere as can be. Fresno to LA city slicker.]

Can't picture Pink doing shit like this.

[Another reason why this is a VIP only occasion.]

[Snort. Freddy snorts at the idea of Pink riding a horse. Freddy snorts at the idea of Pink at all. No need to talk about the weasel when they're out riding together under a slowly darkening sunset.]

What about you huh? Or is it like riding a bike? Once you pick it up you just got it and don't let go. [Just riding, just talking about riding. Yep.]

[Sunset sure does come on in quick. So much for doing anything else rather than going to work. That's okay. This was well worth it.]

Well, I knew I wanted to do it. At first I was pretty scared. They're so big, you know? Except cowboys can handle them. In the flicks they're always like good ol' friends. Rough and tough too but gentle. It's natural.

[He ruffles Silver's mane and he shakes his head. Okay. No more of that.]

And once I knew I could do it. I wanted to do it all the time.

[Just riding.]

[Gentle he says. Freddy's giving Silver the eye when Larry calls him gentle. Hah see, that horse has a 'tude. At least his toucan can't stomp all over a man.]

Do you still wanna do it all the time?

[He's not saying let's buy a horse or anything because unlike a bass guitar they can't just take a horse home and play with it whenever they want. But Freddy's considering arranging some sort of deal so Larry can ride once a week. Something casual.]

[Gentle don't mean that they don't have a personality. Horses don't stare like toucans.]

It'd be nice. I got plenty of other things to tend to though.

[The touch to Freddy's thigh might be on purpose.]

Maybe we could do this again sometime, cowboy.

[He doesn't want to say that they should be heading back but...]

...you feel comfortable enough to race back?

[Freddy's going to take that answer as a yes. He'll try to arrange something for Lawrence Dimick, just like he took his man out for dinner. He'll take his man out horseback riding too. It's a give and take sort of thing since Larry gets to play photographer. He can't help but smile over the touch to his thigh--

Er. What.]

Race back? I don't know, Larry. I don't think I'd be any good at it.

[Give and take is what its all about in a real relationship be it man and man, man and woman, woman and woman, cop and robber....]

Okay. I don't want no injuries.

[So his hand will stay there at his thigh. There's still some sunlight left but the stars are coming on out. So it wouldn't be the first thing anybody'd see]

[Awww but Freddy doesn't want to disappoint his old man. The hand on him is encouraging.]

...I can try to get him to trot or something.

[Or canter but a Newendyke isn't ready for the speed that's gonna generate no matter how much he likes going fast on Christie.]

Ease into it. You remember how to stop right?

[Larry pulls Silver away so that there's a distance. He'll wait for Freddy to start up first.]

Okay boy. Let's pull out the lead a little.

Yeah, I remember.

[What he doesn't remember is how to make the horse go faster. With a little more distance between them the kid finds himself kind of working on his own. Okay. Do something, Cow. What what? The horse is slowing down.]

Hey don't do that. Giddyup. Heigh ho.

[Nudge. Freddy gives the horse taps with his heels. Nudge nudge nudge. Oh shit he's gaining speed.]

[Silver is up to the challenge. He's been waiting this whole time after all. All Larry has to do is give him a tap. There he goes.]

Ho woah wait there pal. Fuck.

[A pull on the reins okay now he's about...to pass him? What? No fair horse. C'mon.]

Woah.

Oh shit oh shit how do I stop him.

[Bump bump bump the kid's already forgotten how to do it or maybe he remembers but he's too scared to try it and risk getting tossed. All in all he's not even going that fast.]

[Huff. Didn't Larry just ask this?]

Take the reins and pull hard, stay crouched, dig your heels in and make sure he don't toss you. Okay?

[The old man's doing that too for all he's worth. Silver as much as he hates it is finally cooling down. He pulls to the side to give Freddy and Cow all the room they want. The dirty they're kicking up is hanging in the air.]

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