orangetoughguy | log post II

Got it. [The kid knows exactly how reading your way to greatness goes.] Bullshit all you need is a hat. You got the jeans already.

[He doesn't see Larry as a leather chaps and bandana kind of guy. Just a t-shirt, some denim, a cigarette, and a hat to keep the sun out of his eyes. Oh and sweat too. And the smell of rugged testosterone--right. Freddy rouses himself from his kinda Cowboy Dimick driven la la land. He leads the Cow out after Silver.]

[Larry'd like to believe that he could live off of the land and see it all from the back of a horse. Except he likes his showers and fine restaurants. Some folks can have it all with the country club. He's pretty sure he's not one of those men. Property is enough to manage as it is.

A glance back at Freddy gets him smiling again. The kid looks pretty natural with a horse. Sure he isn't an Indian but he'll be Tonto today. Ah. The fresh air all around em makes a man feel good to be alive and able to do shit like this.

Larry keeps a firm hold on Silver as he turns to his pardner.]

Now you wanna boost?

[Because Cow isn't Christie Love.]

....What's that supposed to mean?

[Freddy asks while giving Larry a look. Cow is giving him a look too but it's a little more vapid than the foxhound's. All in all he is outright daring Larry to call him short. He is for a cornbread white twenty-seven year old Dutch-descended American male. But rare is the occasion that Lawrence Dimick does things because he's short.]

I'm asking if you want to mount yourself or not.

[No he's not scared. Though if Freddy's gonna be like this when he's trying to help, the old man can mount all on his own. C'mon Larry. Don't be a dipshit. This is your idea of an outing after all. Let the kid do whatever it is he's gonna do.]

Sometimes it's tricky.

[For everybody. See? Stature is one factor of this assessment but far be it from Larry to point it out. Besides, he wants to possibly get laid tonight.]

I can do it.

[Freddy insists with one foot in the stirrup. He places both freckled hands on the saddle...then kind of just idles there. Come on Newendyke, do it. Try it. The old man's not gonna think less of you if you fall. Right? Huff huff. Okay, 1, 2, 3...oof! Freddy tries to swing his leg over but falls short of the saddle. Cow takes a couple steps forward, unaware his rider is an amateur and not quite in the saddle yet.]

Hey hey hey stop. Stop horse. [Freddy hops those couple steps on one foot. Awkward. At least Cow stops walking forward.]

Good boy.

[He's talking to the horse, rewarding him for the stop. Larry brings Silver on closer keeping his ride in check as he smooths the other's nose.]

Got it okay? I'll hold him still.

[This is how people get hurt but the old man will wait a moment more before offering a hand without words this time.]

[A little red faced but otherwise unhurt. Freddy averts his gaze because damnit Larry knew better and unlike heists being a rookie to horse riding is a little more embarrassing. Simply because it's something 'normal' Larry enjoys and Freddy here, well he's not making the grade. Yet. With silent thanks for those silent helping paws the kid tries again. Once. Twice. He gets his leg over on the third try.]

I got it.

[Yeah Newendyke, you prove you can fly down from the lofty realm of superheroes and rough it like a wild west hero. Because Larry likes it.]

I knew you could.

[The old man gives him a smile. No laugh in sight because he was too busy thinking about how bad it would be if he fell on his head. He hands over the reins again and gives Freddy's thigh a pat. Now he'll mount.

It's not a fluid motion but once both hands are on the saddle and he gets the right leverage it's up and over into the saddle. Here they are, a couple of badass motherfuckers going for a ride on the trail.]

Ready?

[The thigh patting gets another look. They're not holding and squeezing but that's called touching. However it's brief enough that Freddy's focus still stays on not falling on his head. Watching Larry mount with better ease just makes him snort. Fff. But damn does he look good on Silver.]

I'm ready. Age before beauty.

[He says instead of begging Larry to go first so he can get the hang of riding Cow without looking as stupid.]

[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.]

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