I havn't updated this in a rediculously long time. I hope to be less lazy in the future.
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"So," Eric said loudly as he cantered up to the group, "How many of you have been on a horse before?" He was a large man who seemed to be in his mid-twenties, with very muscular shoulders, shaggy brown hair that reached about to his jawline, and a rather attractive tan. His chin was shadowed with just a bit of stubble. The only thing really unflattering was the strong scent of dirt and animal that wafted from his denim clothing.
Maureen was the only person who raised a hand. "I did one time when I was fourteen! It was fun."
Eric looked at her for a few moments, then turned to the rest of the group. "So nobody else in this group has ever been on horseback?" The only reply the cowboy got was some nods and indistinct grumbles.
"Alrighty then, I suppose we'll just have to start from the beginning," After quickly demonstrating how to properly mount, dismount, walk, trot, stop, go backwards, and slow down the horses, Eric stared at the group and raised his eyebrows.
"Did everyone get that?" he asked, as if daring any of them to admit they hadn't been paying attention. The bohos nodded hurriedly, and Roger gave the instructor an only half-sarcastic "Yes, sir!"
Eric remained mounted on his horse. "Well, if everyone understands how to work the horses, I'll just put you on some so we can get started. When I point to someone, I want whoever knows him or her best to give me some idea as to their personality, aye? Keep it short and sweet. And don't go blabbering all at once- you all know who'll give the best testimony."
"So we're going to be playing Dr. Phil?" Joanne said skeptically, shifting a bit in her seat on the wooden bench.
Eric turned to the lawyer and made a face. "Unless you want to get trampled on by a horse that hates you. They've got as much personality as you do."
Nobody else argued.
The first to be evaluated was Mark. Roger quickly looked up at Eric. "Well... Mark doesn't really like being around too many people and he sometimes detaches himself from society. He gets lonely and likes to make films."
"Antisocial, eh? That's okay, I know who we can-"
"I am NOT antisocial!" Mark objected loudly, running Eric over.
"Yes you are, Mark," Mimi laughed. "Most of the time you just stare at people from behind your dumb old camera and say more to it than you do to anything living."
Eric didn't really pay any attention to the argument and continued as soon as Mimi finished. "-put you on. You'll be riding the light chestnut Arabian that's grazing out in the field right now. His name's Brad- sometimes needs a firm hand." As soon as he finished he pointed a callused finger at Mimi. "What about Giggles over here?"
"Mimi-" Roger began to speak again, but Angel took an opportunity to speak before he could continue.
"She has an independent spirit but likes to be surrounded by people. Mimi is very loving and likes to joke around."
Eric nodded thoughtfully and said after a moment, "You can take the dun and brindle Kiger Mustang. She's in the barn, I think. Name's Star. She needs lots of attention, but if she likes you I think you'll like her." Next Eric gestured to Angel.
"Angel is very gentle," Mark said quietly before anybody else could speak.
Collins took only a split second to add, "She's wonderful to be around. Sweetest person I ever met." In no time Eric responded.
"Angel, you'll be paired up with Daisy- that's the white horse in the stable right next to Star's. Only white horse we have." After that Eric pointed to Maureen- Joanne and Mark both said the exact same thing at the exact same time.
"Maureen's a diva!" For what seemed like forever the two stared awkwardly at one another. Mark cleared his throat. "But, erm, yeah," he said slowly. 'Maureen is very outgoing."
"She's crazy sometimes," Joanne added, "But very- ehm- loveable. Free spirited."
"Spontaneous," Mark muttered, dragging the uncomfortable moment out even longer.
Again Eric managed to avoid making any comments about the obvious conflict and assigned Maureen to a Paint Horse named Spitfire. Collins, after being psycho-analized wonderfully by Roger and Angel, was put on a black mare named Cinders. Roger, who was described as 'irritable,, not very adventurous, but an amazing friend all at once' by Mark, was going to be riding Brownie, a bay filly with a sneezing problem. And last but not least Eric looked at Joanne. "And what about her?"
Maureen quickly spoke up. "She's kind of a control freak and has to have her way otherwise she gets irritated," the diva announced all in one breath.
"Hey!"
"Oh, come on Pookie, you know it's true. You're possessive sometimes. But I love you," Maureen laughed, giving Joanne a playful nudge. The lawyer said nothing.
"I see," Eric said slowly, nodding. "Well, you can ride Pistol. You two should cooperate pretty well. Pistol's the Pinto gelding grazing out there next to Spitfire. They're cousins, you know."
"Well, if everyone has a horse we can get started. Does anybody here have any idea how to properly tack up a horse?"
"Do what?" Roger asked, genuinely confused about the term.
"'Do you know how to put the saddle on?'," Joanne explained a bit curtly.
The bohos all shook their heads. Nobody knew.
"Fine, fine," Eric sighed. "I'll tack 'em. Right now what I want you to do is go get your beds set up. And please don't put two people who're gonna fight in the same room. I sleep in that house, too." Strangely enough our friends got up and shuffled back inside without conversation. Once they got inside everyone immediately took a seat in the living room.
"I'm tired of him already," Roger announced as soon as Angel walked in last and shut the door. "He's even bossier than Joanne." Mark, Mimi, and Collins all laughed. Maureen had found a small toy that dropped marbles in random patterns down a wooden track and was too occupied to pay attention. Angel was busy looking at the scenery out the window. Joanne just looked at Roger disapprovingly.
"Well, I officially hate it here," Mark announced to nobody in particular. "It's hot as hell."
"I already nearly stepped in a pile of cow shit," Collins put in, making a face.
Nobody else said anything for a while. Roger was still steaming about being told what to do by some tall guy in denim. Mimi was wondering how the rest of the trip would pan out. Angel and Collins were staring intently into each other's eyes, holding a silent conversation that nobody else could understand. Mark was pulling out his camera and staring around for something interesting to film (to little sucess). Maureen and Joanne were curled up back-to-back on a sofa, not really doing anything in particular. After a period of silence Angel looked outside again.
"I think that's the storeroom. We're going to have to make our beds sooner or later, may as well be now." The entire group considered this for a while.
"I suppose Angel's right," Mark said, nodding.
Mimi added, "We came here to do things, didn't we? Not just sit around all day. Let's go, guys." The rest of the bohos either nodded or put in a few words of agreement and crawled out of their chairs. After about an hour all of the sleeping spaces had been sorted out: In one room Angel and Collins shared a queen-sized mattress, and Joanne and Maureen shoved two twin-sized ones together. In the other room had been a bunk bed; Mark took the top bunk, Roger the bottom, and Mimi had plopped a single-sized mattress on the floor. Once everyone was at least somewhat comfortable with where they were sleeping, they went back downstairs. For a while they chattered as usual- until Eric came back inside and announced that the horses were ready. Soon the group was standing outside, each one staring at the group of horses gathered in the corral.
"Who wants to mount first?" Eric asked casually, gesturing to the horses through the open gate.
In the next chapter we get to see them ride horses. Yay!
