orangetoughguy | log post II

[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.]

[Cut the kid some slack he's still new to this cowboy business. If Cow was an invisible jet or a silver surfboard he'd totally have this down easy. Fff.]

Make sure?

[Oh God there's that reedy pitch as Freddy does as he's told anyway. Holding on Cow does a hard stop followed by some low kicking. That wasn't very nice of his rider. The horse turns a circle until Freddy loosens up those reins.]

Woah. Woah.

[He decides to stay mounted since Silver was pretty comforting to him.]

You're doin' great kid. Talk nice to him. Give him a few pats. We're all friends here, huh?

[Not too close. Thump thump thump of his heart in his chest to go with the hooves on the ground.]

I'm sorry.

[It was his idea...]

[Pat him? Okay pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat. Good horse. Good horse. Don't throw a Newendyke into the barn now. Whew. When the dust settles Freddy's still in the saddle looking okay if a little freaked out. But he's recovering. The guy just lived through being teleported. Oh and once upon a time he got shot in the gut and bled for a really really long time without medical attention. What's a short canter by comparison?]

It's cool, man. [Huff puff.] I'm okay.

[The kid waves a flappy hand at Larry. In other words; don't apologize, knucklehead.]

[Phew. No one's crushed. And that little jaunt in the backseat when he got shot is not that far off in his memory. Especially when his voice goes reedy in a panic. Larry's right there in his head and all he knows is that he'll do whatever it takes to make sure he is okay. No lies. No waiting on anybody.]

Alright.

[Ahem. He clears his throat. A few steps more and it's the end of the trail. Larry dismounts and he waits. No he isn't waiting to help. He waits so that he can take the horse into his stall so that they're secure then remove the gear.]

Whew. [Freddy sounds at the end of the trail. He also waits to see if paws are gonna offer themselves to help him. When they don't he tries to get down himself. Oof. A lot easier than getting up that's for sure. He walks Cow along with Silver.]

That wasn't so bad.

[Says the guy who was frantically asking how to stop a cantering horse. Twice.]

[The kid gets down like a pro. Far better than teleporting. This is a damn eventful sort of a day]

You did very well.

[Cow first into the stall. Silver is coming on in after. The smell of horses and a whiff of Freddy's sweat are a good combination.]

Cool as sheet metal.

[Saddles off. The horses have water. Perfect way to leave the scene of the crime.]

You had fun right?

[With him.]

Thanks. [Oh. He's talking to the horse. Right. Freddy tucks his hands into his pockets trying to smooth over that brief moment of egotism. He upnods to the patchwork pony.] You were pretty cool, buddy.

[Is there anything the kid can do? He feels almost like he's watching his dad or coach do all the work because he hasn't learned all the right moves to participate yet. But damn does Lawrence Dimick look good bending over to put this here, stretching to unbuckle that there. Right. That's no pop or coach way of thinking. He straightens up a strap here and there just to feel like he knows what he's doing.]

Yeah I had fun. Did you?

[One pat for Cow and then another for Silver.]

Thanks, fellas.

[Larry wipes his sweaty, dirty hands on his own jeans before returning to Freddy with a smile.]

I sure did.

[This close he can really get a look and smell of Freddy. Just like a fucking cowboy. Paws smooth away his hair, it's not the same as petting on a horse it's a careful deliberate motion.]

I thought you handled that curveball like a pro.

log post II

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