Riding with Michael

[not_his_pa]

William's out by the stables, leaning against the paddock fence and watching the horses.

Les is hitched near the front but for now he's just enjoying all the beautiful horses.

He left a message with Michael to let him know that he was here and could do some riding.

Comments

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael's slowly getting used to the stables and has made a few trips out to just tend the horses and acquaint himself with them since he came back from New York.

When he makes his way out, he's still in his jeans and plain white t-shirt - but a nine millimeter sticks out of the back of his jeans having just came from the range.

"William!" He calls over with a slight smile, pushing up his shades as he jogs over to the fence. "Was hoping I didn't miss you, ended up spending a little time down at the range."

[not_his_pa]

"Hello and I wasn't plannin' on leavin' until you showed up,"

He waves Michael over as one of the horses whinnies and comes over to see if there are carrots.

[luvs_yogurt]

Remembering the trick he'd used with Kate, Michael brought an apple with him and quartered it with his pocket knife as he nodded.

"I appreciate it."

Handing over one half to William, he keeps the other for his mount. "Who do I get the honor of working with today?"

[not_his_pa]

"Duncan, who you'll need to saddle up. I've got Les all set but you need to lean how to do this part."

[luvs_yogurt]

He remembers watching Kate do it, but all the same it's not second nature.

Nodding easily, Michael approaches the horse and offers him a piece of the apple - looking him in the eyes as he strokes over the beast's soft fur. "Duncan," he addresses the horse directly; "my name is Michael and we're going to be working together, all right? Now, I will be good to you, if you're good to me."

He smiles, remember how amused Kate had been when he talked to Ratchet - but damn if it didn't seem to help to have a connection.

He feeds him the other piece and then gently strokes down to it's haunches before saying; "Let's get you saddled up, Duncan."

[not_his_pa]

"That's good. Now here, I've got an extra saddle, blanket and bridle over here,"

They're all like William's and there's even a rope looped around the pommel.

[luvs_yogurt]

He's still pretty sure he's got the routine down, and the horse's gentle demeanor helps things a bit. One piece at a time, he saddles up before turning to William with a slight smile.

"Not bad for a city boy?" He invokes Kate's gentle tease as he hooks his foot in the stirrup and manages himself up without much hassle. It's not bad, looking out at the world from up there.

[not_his_pa]

William watches and makes a few suggestions before nodding,

"Yeah, that's good. Now lead him over here and mount up. We'll start by takin' a ride around the lake." It's one of the good paths and he hasn't seen Tamara in the water today.

[luvs_yogurt]

"Right," he nods, settling into the saddle before taking him over. "You take the lead and I'll follow?"

[not_his_pa]

Once he sees Michael mounted, William gets onto Les and starts toward the path around the lake,

"So what do you know how to do?"

[luvs_yogurt]

It's not like driving a car, but he's learned to feel out the animal - to read the way it moves under the saddle and adjust his center of balance with it.

"Just the basics, I think... walking, a bit of a run. No jumping or anything fancy like that - but I don't fall off."

Hey, it's a start... and for someone that grew up in modern day Miami it's not bad at all.

[not_his_pa]

"That's good then let's try a trot then a lope,"

He squeezes Les and speaks to him before their pace shifts.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael tries to the whistle Kate had taught him, a wide grin crossing his face when Duncan responds - picking up his pace to keep up with Les.

"Good, that works..." he laughs under his breath, eyes darting between William and the path ahead of them.

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, it does. Still got your seat?"

The path's fairly even with some rocks around it but its gets used enough that its in good shape.

[luvs_yogurt]

"Yeah," he nibbles at his lower lip in concentration, still easily moving with Duncan's solid body. "Not bad at all."

[not_his_pa]

"Good then ya," He gets Les going into a canter with a grin.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael's grin stretches at to mirror the impish smile and and he whistles to Duncan - taking him just fast enough to keep up with the young man's gait.

"Feels good!" The shades hide his eyes, but the smile is fully genuine - a rarity for him most days.

[not_his_pa]

William laughs and keeps going at a canter around the far side of the lake then as they start towards the stables moves into a gallop.

This is the kind of riding he loves when he doesn't have to thinking about cattle and can just ride.

[luvs_yogurt]

The gallop is a little harder, he'd barely gotten that far in his lesson - but Duncan responds readily to his command chases Les down the back of the path, nearly keeping up.

Michael shifts his balance downward to his hips, leaning forward slightly as he clings to the horn with both hands - the reins looped loosely in one fist.

[not_his_pa]

"No holdin' onto the horn, can't do that while you're tryin' to chase down a steer."

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael lets out a low growl that might be considered playful or a challenge - both to those that know him well - and pushes himself back up with only one hand on the horn as the other avoided the natural urge to tighten the reins.

And then slowly, he let up his security - swaying a little unsteady in the saddle but acclimating quickly enough.

"You make it look so damn easy!"

[not_his_pa]

"Use your legs and you're doin' fine. Once around the stables then we'll slow to a canter,"

William's leaning forward and holding the reins in one hand, his hat trying to escape as he looks to Michael.

[luvs_yogurt]

His thighs squeeze down on the edges of the saddle and he angles his feet enough to catch his bearings. It's a thrill, and damn if he's gonna let himself fall off if he can help it.

He nods once and leans forward to mimic William's posture as he gently guides Duncan through the turn.

Definitely not the Charger...

[not_his_pa]

They make it around the turn of the stables and around the paddock where the other horses whinny and run alongside them.

[luvs_yogurt]

Feeling the slightest bit cocky with his new-found skills, Michael gives another short whistle - guiding Duncan even faster around the edge of the fence before tugging the reins to turn him to circle back toward William.

"No problem!"