Slim tips his hat back, shielding his eyes against the sun so he can squint up at his partner astride his horse. It's not his usual mount, a green-broke buckskin colt Jess has been working for a while now, and both man and beast seem to carry the same boundless youthful air about them. Jess grins down at him in return, an eager glint to his eyes. Slim can tell Jess is looking forward to some time on the trail, and away from the ranch. He doesn't know what's gotten into his ranch hand but he's been strung tighter then a barbed wire fence the past few weeks, nearly humming with a strange sort of restless energy. Maybe it's just the summer finally arriving after a particularly long cold spring that's got him acting up like this but whatever it is he can't say he's unhappy for Jess to be heading off either, hoping he'll maybe get some peace and quiet round the place for a few days.
The errand's simple, checking out a new stud bull for the herd over in Cheyenne, certainly nothing exciting. Jess had suggested flipping for who'd go, but Slim had been more then willing to leave it to his antsy partner when he'd visibly perked up at the chance for a trip.
"You got the bank draft?" Slim asks, for the second time. Jess pats the pocket of his snug shirt long-sufferingly.
"Yep, still right where I put it. You got anymore worryin' you want to get done before I go? Ask me if I got my drawers on backwards, iffen I still got my head screwed on?" He replies, grinning a little at the Slim's sour expression.
"Very funny." Slim retorts dryly, making it obvious he doesn't find it that funny at all. "Now you come straight back after you look that bull over alright, with Andy and Jonsey visiting my aunt's for the rest of the month we're short-handed as is."
"Aw you're no fun Slim. Heard they opened a new saloon in Cheyenne, with some real pretty girls working."
"Jess…" Slim starts warningly, but stops when Jess laughs lightly.
"Don't get yourself in a twist, I'm only jokin'. Ride'll take me about two days each way, should be back by Friday evenin'. Promise I'll behave and everythin'."
"Alright, get outta here before I change my mind." Slim says with a sigh, giving the colt a slap on the flank and stepping back.
"See ya on Friday, Slim." Jess says, tipping his hat before pulling his horse's head round and kicking him forward.
"See ya Jess. Be careful out there!" Slim calls after him as he trots out of the yard, sure it'll go unheeded. Jess just waves a hand at him without looking back, the colt picking up his pace as the two of them head over the hill that leads into Laramie. Slim watches until they're gone from sight, shaking his head before turning to face the day's work that awaits him.
It's strange to imagine that it was only a few months ago Jess Harper had ridden into this ranch with nothing but a grin and a mean right hook, Slim thinks as he starts to tack up the horses for the stage coming in soon. He rubs his jaw unconsciously at the memory, wincing a little - he was none to eager to be on the wrong side of that particular fist again.
Slim can't lie, the beginning of their relationship had been rocky. There'd been a few times he'd nearly asked Jess to draw his pay, and a few more times he'd thought the other man might just up and quit. It was obvious he was unused to a schedule - to responsibilities and expectations - and at first he'd chafed at the bit like a wild mustang. Slim can't count the number of times he'd set the man to a task only to find him drinking a cup of coffee in the kitchen or messing about with Andy in the yard. It had made him fuming mad at first but he quickly realized that Jess never left something unfinished, even if he had a round about way to getting at it. He never complained when they had to get up in the middle of the night to help calve a heifer either, or when the same fence needed fixing three times in week. He's got a better hand with the horses then near anyone Slim has seen, and a gentler hand too, the darn things just seem to want to impress him, and the longer Jess had stayed on the more Slim had come to rely on him. Jess had, against expectations, risen to meet his trust with earnesty and a strange mix of gratefulness and pride. Slim suspects now that Jess hasn't had many folk expect much out of him before, and feels an odd sense of satisfaction to see him settle into the ranch like he has.
They still have rough patches of course. Jess is better at getting Slim aggravated then just about any other man he's met, and between Jess's hot temper and stubborn nature they still get in their fair share of fights - though Jonsey's real quick to point out Slim gives their ranch hand a run for his money in mulishness, which Slim will admit is true. It's just Slim has always believed in certain things whole-heartedly, that there's a right and wrong way to do things, that the law exists to uphold justice. Jess has a different set of rules he lives by but Slim has come to realize he's no less dedicated to them. His code of honor might not look quite the same as Slim's but he's seen Jess willing to die for it more than once, and that tells him everything he needs to about the man.
So sure Jess's a bit rough around the edges, a little 'undomesticated' as Jonsey had so aptly put it once, but Slim thinks he's a good man, the sort you'd like to have your back in a pinch. He figures Jess is a little like a stray dog, quick to bare it's teeth but if you showed it kindness it'd be loyal to you for life. Some might call him crazy for hiring him on like he had, but Slim figures he'd gotten pretty lucky himself and for all Jess's short tenure here Slim finds he can't quite imagine the ranch without him now.
Jess settles his mount into a nice easy trot once they reach the east road out of town, enjoying the feeling of a breeze on his face and a good piece of horse-flesh between his legs. The colt is fresh, still a little mouthy at the bit and not so eager to listen to what his rider's telling him, but Jess enjoys the challenge and he keeps a firm hand on the reins. It's morning and still cool yet but he knows it'll be scorching in a couple hours, so he tries to enjoy the temperature while it lasts before he's drenched in sweat and covered in dust.
It feels good to be back on the trail, even if it's just for a few days. Lately it's felt a bit like he's got ants under his skin and he can tell Slim's patience with him is wearing thin. Probably for the best he's out of the house for while, at least until some of that restiveness is run out of him. It's just, he's not used to a life like this: staying in one spot for more than it takes to finish out a season, eating at the same table every night, sleeping in a bed instead of on a trail under the stars - really becoming a part of a place. This'll be the longest he's settled somewhere in… well, he don't know how many years. Long enough to make the feel of it strange and a bit uncomfortable, like putting on a suit a size too small.
Despite the strangeness of it all though he finds himself with no particular inclination to be moving on anytime soon. He likes the work at the ranch, likes the people on it too. Andy had taken to him quicker then a fish to water, and Jess couldn't but return the feeling, the boy filling up a place in his heart that's been empty for a long long while. Jess was a big brother once upon a time, and Andy makes one of him again. He likes Slim too, even if he can be infuriatingly obstinate about some things. The rancher is a good man with a good head on his shoulders and he'd done more for Jess than perhaps he deserves. He's pretty fun too when he's not busy being all responsible-like. Even Jonsey seems to be warming up to Jess - though that's been a longer battle, which Jess will admit, he hasn't always helped along. Jonsey's just too easy a target to rile up, and between him and Andy's pranks they've both been cursed blue to Sunday and back by the old man.
Thinking of all of them brings a smile to Jess's lips, a sort of warm feeling kindling in his chest. He figures these folks are the closest thing he's had to a family since his died, and ain't that just the durndest thing. He ducks his head, wondering at himself for getting all soft like this. It had crept up on him, the affection he feels, slow and quiet until it'd been too late to turn away from it. He's got to admit it's kinda nice too, waking up every morning in a bed that's his, working alongside Slim every day, even coming home to Jonsey's cooking in the evening. It's no fancy life, but it feels like it belongs to him. That's more then he can say of most things the last couple of years.
Under him he feels the colt strain a little against the bit, shaking his dark mane eagerly, and with a grin lets the reins out. The horse needs no further encouragement, breaking into a gallop. Jess pulls his hat down further on his head so it doesn't fly off and whoops for the sheer joy of being young and alive and riding fast with the wind in his face and open trail under his horses hooves. As if spurred on by his cries the colt seems to pick up speed, powerful legs pounding hard into the dirt and sending the two of them down the trail so fast it feels near to flying.
Jess lets the horse run himself out a bit before he finally reins him in, wanting to save his legs for the rest of the journey. They settle into a good steady pace, Jess eating a lunch of dried jerky and hard tack in the saddle, and only stop once dusk starts to fall, dying the grassy plains first gold then blue as the sun fades from the horizon. He makes camp tucked against the side of big boulder to break the wind, even in summer nights here are still cold he's learned, not like in Texas where the sticky heat followed you long into the evening. It's strange, he doesn't miss it as much as he thought he would. Jess has always been a southern boy through and through but while he might complain a whole lot about the cold up here he's also come to love it in a strange way. Well, maybe not the cold so much. He could do without the snow.
He makes it to Cheyenne by afternoon the next day, meeting with the fella selling the bull and getting the deal done before they roll the streets up. Figuring it won't do any harm he heads to the saloon to wash some of the trail dust down, even plays some hands of poker with a couple of willing gentleman and leaves the table quite a few dollars richer then when he'd sat down. Earlier when he'd been looking the bull over the rancher had mentioned a friend of his owned a spread about half a days ride outside of Cheyenne; he's looking to get out of the ranching business and'd be willing to part with cattle cheap. It's on the way back to Laramie so Jess figures he'll stop by tomorrow and take a look, grinning a little to himself at the thought of arriving back at the ranch with a handful of new steer for the herd on top of closing the deal on the stud too. Slim sure will be mighty surprised. Feeling satisfied with himself Jess heads back to the hotel long before the saloon closes down, planning on getting an early start in the morning.