Summer Reins [Closed] - Printable Version

Summer Reins [Closed] - Printable Version

+- alonimi (https://alonimi.net)
+-- Forum: Contemporary (https://alonimi.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=71)
+--- Forum: Miscellaneous (https://alonimi.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=87)
+--- Thread: Summer Reins [Closed] (/showthread.php?tid=691)

Pages: 1 2 3

Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 11-07-2016

megs && saronym
doing what we do

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - saronym - 11-08-2016

Though it was just past three in the afternoon Sanders had been up since a quarter to five in the morning. He’d made himself breakfast and put left overs out for his daughter once she woke. After feeding the variety of animals he’d found himself owning, Sanders, with the help of his usual crew, herded the cattle from the Neverland to Camelot. The names of the fields, like the ranch, he had inherited from his family. Some uncle or cousin at some point had the opportunity to name the various fields and they’d stuck.

No sense in reinventing the wheel.

With his cattle in happily fertilizing a new field, Sanders had sent the crew home for the day. It was afternoon feed time at the barn and Akiko was busy trying to figure out how many barn cats he’d acquired. They seemed to breed and wander off at varying rates over the years and Sanders had lost sense of which cat belonged to what litter and how many there were.

He glanced at his watch and stared out towards the entrance of the ranch expecting a visitor soon. It was the riding teacher he had contacted to get Akiko formal lessons while she was with him for the summer per the custody agreement he'd worked out with her mother. The riding lessons were something for her to do other than play video games when he was busy - not that he had an issue with the video games. Sanders only ever wanted to send Akiko home with experiences she wouldn’t get from her mother when she spent her summers with him. Something to keep her wanting to come back to stay with him as the custody arrangement was contingent on Akiko wanting to continue it. And year after year she kept coming back.

A hazy cloud of red dust rising from the midst of the fields of blue columbines that lined the winding dirt road to the front of the ranch signaled a vehicle approached. The dogs had sensed it first and raced off barking wildly. It could be intimidating for first time visitors to find themselves surrounded by a pack of eager barking herd dogs though they weren’t menacing in the least.

“That’ll be your teacher.” He said to his daughter as he moved towards the horse he’d saddled for her lesson. “I’ll go get ‘em.”

Sanders mounted the chestnut and white speckled stallion and rode out to meet the vehicle. Knowing the dogs would beat him to the vehicle at their head start he rode at a moderate gallop, taking the horse through the columbine patches to flank the vehicle negotiating the dogs that threatened to get under tire and the gravel path that had been roughed up by heavy trucks that always came through on work business.

With two fingers in his lips he whistled at the dogs yelling a command for them to get away from the truck. The sound of his whistle was sharp and cut through the noise of hooves and tires over rocks. The dogs with tongues slinging saliva ran back towards their master. Smiling he waved at the driver and indicated with his hand that they should continue straight ahead and turn off to the right. Once he was satisfied that they understood his directions he turned the horse around whistling at the dogs again to follow him as he rode back towards the house holding his wide brimmed white hat to his head. Through the columbine field he had a more direct route and easily beat the driver.

Sanders dismounted the horse and dusted his hands on worn Levis. He had a red and black flannel shirt tied around his hips and was down to a dirt stained white t-shirt as the day had warmed considerably since the morning. He stood by with the reins in hand waiting for his guest with his pack of eager dogs running excited circles in the yard expecting a new friend.

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 11-08-2016

Akiko followed her dad around barn as he worked. She was full of excited energy for her first riding lesson, and channeled it into rambling on about her school and life in California with her mother. She chased the barn cats, giggling as she slid on loose hay scattered across the floor. The older cats were content to let her approach them and pet their heads gently, but the kittens were just as energetic as she was, running and falling and hiding behind farm equipment. She was still working on the barn cat tally.

She was naming the horses at her father’s insistence when the sounds of a diesel could be heard from a distance. “This one is going to be Epona,” she announced cheerfully, smoothing her hand down the nose of the stallion Sanders had already saddled. “That’s from Legend of Zelda,” she explained, stepping back so he could mount the large American Quarter Horse. The other horses has been named Yoshi, Artax and Rapidash. She could hear the dogs starting to rile up, meaning the visitor was even closer. Akiko’s excitement was renewed to full force, jumping excitedly with eager shouts.

She ran circles around the barn, before running back to the front of the house to wait for her dad and new trainer.

The Blue Columbine Ranch was one of the prettiest properties Loch had ever seen, and she'd not even seen all of it. The long winding path to the house was lined with the flowers it was named after, and they just so happened to be her favorite. She smiled, leaning forward on the steering wheel to get a better look at the mountain peaks in the distance. A breathtaking view.

She wasn't hauling her horse trailer today, the client having informed her that he owned horses, which made the rough gravel easier to navigate. He'd sounded cute on the phone, too, so she was looking forward to that.

Cute and single.

A cute, single, ranch-owning cowboy. A girl could dream.

Loch spotted who she assumed was the man she spoke to surrounded by a pack of dogs and riding a beautiful speckled stallion, and from what she could tell he was indeed cute. She waved to indicate she understood his instructions and continued driving.

Cutting off the engine, she pushed open the door and hopped out of the lifted truck, keys jingling in her hand. She was immediately swarmed by dogs that no longer seemed interested in obeying their master in the presence of a newcomer. She didn't seem to mind, grown used to the attention from her work and loving dogs. Loch grunted as they knocked into her knees and laughed as they vied for her attention. “Okay, okay, I see you all.” Hands ran over fur as the batted her hands with tails and noses.

Working her way out of the horde she approached Sanders. “Hi,” she chimed, pushing sunglasses into her dark hair, his dogs trailing behind her. “Mr. Strafford? I'm Lochellen. It's nice to meet you.”

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - saronym - 11-09-2016

When Akiko named the horses, Sanders carefully repeated the unfamiliar monikers after her trying to commit them to memory. If truth be told, he would need to hear them a few more times to remember. He didn’t know what or who a Yoshi was. Sanders wanted to give his daughter a chance to make a mark on his life. He didn’t have a new field she could name, so he’d let her name each of the horses. He’d bought her her own horse, too.

“You’ll have to tell me where these names come from.” He laughed at this confession knowing full well he was ‘out of touch’ so to speak. Luckily he had a daughter who could bring him up to speed with what was ‘cool’ these days.

While he He watched Akiko run off in her excitement. When she disappeared around the back of the barn he kicked the horse into motion.

The teacher stepped out of the truck and dealt with the swarm of canines with familiar ease. Sanders still scolded the dogs and called them away from her just to help her mitigate some of their attention. “Sorry about them, just wade through they’ll make room.” He called to her even as she seemed determined to pet each of the dogs. While she took a moment to entertain the dogs, he surveyed the diesel truck with a light dusting of red dirt on it from his drive behind her. He nodded to himself approvingly of her rig. Naturally a horse instructor would need a nice truck. But did she also need to be so charming?

Sanders moved forward to meet the woman with one thumb hooked behind his belt. “Pleasure to meet you ma’am.” His hand met hers in a friendly handshake. “Mr. Strafford is my father’s name.”He joked lamely. “Please call me Sanders.”

He waved then for Akiko to come over to him. Moving behind her, Sanders placed a hand on each of her shoulders. “This is my daughter Akiko. Akiko this is Lochellen, your riding instructor.” He leaned down to look at the girl with a twinkle in his eye. “She’s been dying to start her lessons.”

Epona snorted behind them, and shook out his mane. Sanders turned and patted his side. “This is...Elon?” His brows knit together and he frowned looking askance at Akiko to correct him. “What did you name him?”

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 11-10-2016

Lochellen didn’t even blink when her called her ma’am. She continued to wear the same easy smile. Most women would complain about the address, saying it made them feel old, but she’d spent enough time around home-grown cowboys to know you’d be hard-pressed to get them calling you any different. “It’s nice to meet you, Sanders,” she corrected as his large hand enveloped hers. Dogs still clamored at their feet, sniffing a her riding boots. She looked him over quickly, and it was like he’d just stepped out of some romantic comedy about...bull riding or something. From his worn hat to his belt buckle to his boots. Loch wore her typical teaching attire. A long-sleeved but breathable half-zip top. It was brown with her logo on the left breast. The shirt was tucked into beige breeches that clung to her curves, and of course her boots.

She pushed her keys into her pocket as the girl ran over at her father’s beckoning, obediently standing in front of him and beaming up at Loch. She had known the trainee was a young girl, but hadn’t been aware that it was his daughter. Probably not single then. Ah, well. She could only be so lucky. “Well aren’t you adorable,” she observed, leaning to meet Akiko’s eye level, low-tied ponytail falling over her shoulder. The more she spoke the more the slight drawl to her voice became obvious.

“Thank you,” Akiko blurted, pushing her glasses up with one hand. They’d fallen when she’d shaken her head eagerly in response to her father mentioning her excitement. “You're really pretty, too!”

Loch smiled and nodded her thanks, rising her full height again, looking at the horse as Sander’s spoke of it. As introductions had been made, she returned her sunglasses to her nose to combat the afternoon sun.

“Epona,” Akiko corrected, playfully rolling her eyes at him.

“Epona?” Lochellen repeated. “Like from Zelda?”

“You know Zelda?” Akiko asked, excitedly. Her mouth was all but hanging open as she stared up at her instructor. Pretty, and rode horse and knew about Zelda. Akiko already thought she was amazing.

“I sure do. Still got my old NES hooked up to play sometimes.”

“That’s so cool!” Akiko looked at her dad, brows raised in such a manner as to ask ‘can you believe her? Isn’t she awesome?’ It was a very adult expression for a thirteen year old. Perhaps, she was already trying to set him up, as if she knew anything about dating.

“So is Epona the horse you want to train with?” Loch asked, moving close to the chestnut stallion. She placed a gentle hand on the horse’s shoulder. “It’s best to train with the horse you could see yourself riding in competitions with. The more practice with that horse the better.”

Akiko’s eyes widened. “Competitions?” she repeated, voice pitching in her excitement. Her day seemed to be getting better as the minutes passed. She never had this much fun back with her mother. It was all tests and tutors back in California. “I could be in competitions?”

“If you want to be, and if you work hard enough.”

“Do you think Epona would be okay, dad?” Akiko looked up to Sanders for his approval. Epona was the smaller of the four horses, but just barely. She liked Epona best, with Artax a close second, but it was ultimately up to her father to choose which horse he’d be most comfortable with her riding.

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - saronym - 11-10-2016

Sanders stood idly by with a generic smile on his face while the girls complimented each other. Akiko wasn’t wrong in her assessment of Lochellen. Dark hair, a little drawl to her vowels, and a figure for riding apparel. His kind of girl, if he let himself think of women in as date-able.

Which he didn’t. One assumption about the wrong woman and he’d gotten himself a daughter from a woman engaged to another man. Not a pattern he cared to repeat. When he saw an attractive woman it was as if he also saw a huge warning sign: ‘Approach with extreme caution.’ And he did.

Sanders dramatically rolled his eyes back at Akiko who was exhibiting her exacerbation with his poor recall of her names. “Epona.” He repeated after her playfully emphasizing the name. “My bad, my bad.” He’d probably need it repeated a few more times.

Admittedly, Sanders did not know what an NES was or what a Zelda was. He could use context clues to figure out that they both had something to do with electronic game consoles like the one his daughter owned and the colorful games she loved to play.

She would get riding lessons. He would get gaming lessons. They had much to offer each other.

Sanders’ hand moved over the flank of the horse in question. He laughed and shook his head, “I’m afraid Epona will be no good for competition riding, Akiko. I’ve already ruined him.” He winked at Lochellen who would likely gather that Sanders had trained Epona for his personal use which meant he hadn’t reared him for show riding.

“For you, young lady,” He started as he turned Akiko around to push her towards the barn, “We have Ajax?”

That was a cleaning product.

He was positive that the horse wasn’t named after sanitizer.

“Um.” He cringed at his daughter, one eye closed and his mouth pulled back revealing white teeth. “I can’t remember the name.” He admitted even as he laughed. It was a full bodied throaty sound. Completely lacking any self-consciousness about his inability to remember the culturally relevant names his daughter had given the horses.

Epona walked along Sanders’ side led by the reins as he guided them all towards the barn. With his arm around Akiko’s shoulder, he squished the girl against his side and went on to describe the horse he had in mind for her. “The American Paint. Little smaller. Still young. Great bloodlines. The sire was a champ.” His fingers kneaded at her rib cage to tickle her. “Just like you.” Sanders made the cheesy joke grinning at both the teacher and his daughter seeking their approval of his cleverness.

He glanced over his shoulder at the teacher, as they neared the stall that housed Artax. “Let’s see what Miss Lochellen thinks. I think she’ll agree with me.”

Gesturing for Lochellen, Sanders moved aside and leaned against the wood half-door for the riding instructor to inspect the horse for herself and give her opinion of the animal.

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 11-11-2016

He winked. Lochellen smiled. She couldn’t help it. She thought she’d been living in Colorado long enough to not notice when cute cowboys winked at her, but she had been mistaken. Even growing up in South Carolina hadn't been enough to resist the charms of a handsome rancher. Uh oh.

“Artax!” Akiko piped up to correct him again. Her insistence and Sanders’ amusement caused Loch to laugh quietly. The young girl’s boots kicked up red dirt as she moved towards the barn at her dad’s pushing. Loch followed a little ways behind them, watching the adorable way they interacted. Akiko was all dressed up in anticipation for her lesson in an outfit similar to Loch’s and her blonde hair tied into a neat French braid.

Akiko’s giggles were more like squeals as Sanders’ fingers pressed to her sides. She wiggles away from him, to escape the tickling and dawdled a few beats until she was walking closer to her new instructor. Akiko stuck her tongue out at him and Loch’s eyes rolled behind her sunglasses, much the same way Akiko’s had earlier, at his comparison

As they entered the shade of the stables Loch removed her glasses and let them hang from the collar of her shirt. Akiko ran ahead to push a stool closer to Artax’s pen so she could lean over the barrier and pet the horse. He responded eagerly, huffing and pushing his nose against her hand. Lips moved across her fingers in search of goodies. Akiko laughed, her feet nearly off of the stool as she leaned farther across the railing.

Loch approached the stall when Sanders suggested she give her opinion. “Oh wow,” she breathed, caught off guard by just how pretty the stallion was. A white mane, with a black tail. Spots like splotches of paint that serves well to the name of it's breed. “He's a good size for you, Akiko” was her initial note. She'd have to get a closer look when they brought him out for the lesson. “He's very pretty, which will get you bonuses in some completions, and he seems to already like you.” Akiko had both hands on the horse’s face and he was snuffling at her braid. “I think he's perfect.”

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - saronym - 11-16-2016

“Artax not Ajax. Got it, got it.” Sanders repeated to himself. Artax not Ajax. That little mantra would repeat in his head every time he said the horse’s name. Forever ingrained. Serving as a mnemonic device for the unfamiliar name.

Akiko escaped his tickling fingers and moved to walk next to the teacher. Sanders shrugged and strode confidently ahead. He tied off Epona outside the barn before they all moved inside and passed the empty stalls until they reached Artax not Ajax.

“Careful there.” He cautioned Akiko stepping up to stabilize her with his hands on her shoulders. His booted foot simultaneously pressed down on the stool sending it back to all fours for her. “Don’t want you to fall in sweetheart.” Once Akiko seemed safe, Sanders backed away from her. His phone vibrated in his pocket as Lochellen complimented the stallion.

Sanders glanced at the name that flashed on his screen and frowned. He halfway shoved the phone back into his pocket but pulled it out again after a moment’s hesitation. “Sorry. Excuse me.” He apologized and accepted the call moving back towards the barn entrance for a little privacy.

Keeping his voice low, Sanders paced nearby kicking at loose straw as he seemed to plead with someone on the other line. His voice rose and fell in volume as he turned towards and away from the girls as he paced. Clips of conversation rose over the sound of his boots crunching straw and scraping the ground. “Akiko...riding lesson….no, it is perfectly safe…” He stopped suddenly standing with feet wide apart at shoulder’s length and stared down at his feet. “Fine. Yes. Okay. I will.”

The phone was lowered from his face and Sanders moved back towards the girls. “Akiko, your mother would like to speak with you.” He held the cell out for his daughter sighing as he waited for her to accept it. “We’ll take," Artax not Ajax repeated in his mind triggering his memory, "Artax out and get ‘em saddled up for you, okay?”

“Sorry about that.” He apologized to Lochellen trying to smile to dissipate any tension he’d exhibited. Sanders moved to retrieve the saddle he’d set aside for Akiko that morning. “Her mother is... you know what, nevermind. I won’t say anything else.” Sanders' mama had taught him not to say anything at all if he couldn't say something nice. And at that particular moment he couldn't think of anything nice to say about his daughter's mother.

He held out the saddle to the teacher changing the subject from Akiko’s mother. “You’ll have to learn me on jump saddling. I’ve never done it myself. In fact, is it alright for her to wear her glasses? Should we have gotten her some contacts?”

He swung the door to the stall open and stepped inside. He held his hand out for the horse just as Akiko had and Artax turned his head away finding the man had no treats to offer. Sanders ran his fingers over the side of the stallion’s face and patted his neck as he walked around the side of the animal. Artax stepped aside making room for the new addition to his stall.

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 11-16-2016

Akiko giggled as the stoll was pushed back to the ground, bringing her into an upright position was well. Artax snorted as the attention of her gentle hands was taken away from him, hooves stamping against the floor of the stable. The teen’s demeanor seemed to change when she noticed the double take her father took toward his pocket, recognizing the slight furrow of his brow. As her father walked away Akiko turned her attention on Lochellen.

“Where are you from? I like your accent. How long have you been riding horses? Did you ever win any competitions? Do you still compete?” Questions seemed to pour out of Akiko all at once and Loch laughed jovially as she worked to keep track of all of them. Artax huffed again, he sounded impatient. Curious as to why so many people were standing outside his stall if not to pay attention to him. Akiko started petting the horse again, back to her stool tipping ways in the absence of her dad.

“I am from good old South Carolina,” she replied, playing up her accent for the girls amusement. Akiko beamed. “I’ve been riding for fifteen years and I have won dozen of competitions. Both show jumping and barrel racing-”

“What’s barrel racing?”

Loch grinned. “You’ve never seen a barrel race?” Akiko shook her head. “Alright. Well, it’s real simple. You got three barrels spread out in a triangle, and what you gotta do is get your horse around those barrels as close and as fast as possible without knocking them over.”

“That doesn’t sound too hard?” Akiko’s face scrunched up in childish confusion, nose wrinkling.

“You’d be surprised,” Loch countered. “Takes a lot of control to get a horse to do what you want. I don’t compete anymore. I mostly teach and do trick riding.”

“Trick riding?”

Loch playfully propped her hands on her hips, eyes widening at Akiko. “You’ve never seen trick riding?” she asked in mock exasperation. “You must not be from around here then.”

Akiko shook her head quickly, looking over to where Sanders was still on the phone. “I live with my mom in California and stay here with my dad during the summer.”

Before Loch could answer any more questions, Sanders returned and handed the phone off to Akiko. She looked at it somewhat annoyed. She wished her mother would just leave her alone when she was in Colorado. Akiko liked having time away from her overbearing mother who couldn’t resist making phone calls such as these. Rolling her eyes and sighing dramatically Akiko stepped off the stool and pushed the phone towards her ears as she moped away. She could be heard talking in clipped Japanese as she paced impatiently at the entrance to the stable.

“It’s fine,” Loch smiled at him reassuringly as he apologized. She didn’t take the saddle right away, waving her hand as he voiced his concerns. “No jumping today,” she informed, following him into Artax’s stall. “First few lessons will be all about basic riding and control.” She placed a felt pad across the horse’s back and then motioned for Sanders to add the saddle. After he’d done so Loch began adjusting the straps to secure the saddle.

“Jumping also requires a different kind of saddle,” she continued explaining, sliding a hand between the straps to check the tightness. Her voice was pleasant and informative without sounding bored or condescending. She was a natural teacher, and genuinely enjoyed sharing her experience.

Akiko’s voice could be heard rising to a glass-shattering pitch of a whine, seemingly at odds with her mom.

“Her glasses will be okay for now, but if she feels serious about jumping I would lean towards getting her contacts.”

Akiko eventually returned to them, looking impressively red-faced and angry for a thirteen-year-old. She thrust the phone back in her dad’s direction. “She is crazy,” Akiko complained, certainly mimicking a descriptor she had heard in another context. “Why can’t she leave me alone while I am here,” she muttered angrily. Though, much like a teenager her sour mood seemed to dissolve as she looked up at the painted horse, all saddled up.

"Oh my gosh!" Excitement renewed.

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - saronym - 12-01-2016

Sanders had noticed the girls talking together while he’d been engaged placating Akiko’s mother on the line. He wondered what his daughter had said to make Lochellen plant her hands on her hips in that sassy way. Smiling to himself he turned away from them again to focus on a measured response for the woman on the other line.

“Keep it quick.” He instructed Akiko quietly so her mother wouldn’t hear when she accepted the cell phone from her.

Sanders waited while Lochellen settled the pad on the horse’s back. He nudged the animal gently with his shoulder and Artax acquiesced moving over a pace to give Sanders room to swing the saddle up and smoothly down onto his back. He released the straps and assisted Lochellen in securing the equipment feeling somewhat embarrassed about Akiko’s rising tone with her mother. Thankfully she was speaking in Japanese, which was a language he assumed was not understood by a woman who sported a southern accent, but he could be wrong. He had heard her say South Carolina, which did much to explain her drawl.

He grunted under his breath about new saddles, special saddles of which he knew next to nothing as far as purchasing a decent one went. “You’ll have to teach me about those, as well. I suppose I’m as much a student as Akiko at this point for all I know about fancy horse riding.”

As Akiko’s voice rose so did Sanders’ eye brows. He blinked slowly imaging in his mind the things her mother must have been saying to make her sound off like that. He peaked his head around the corner of the stall to check on her. “Geeze Dawn.” It seemed that the butting of heads between mother and daughter had become worse lately. Or worse as Akiko became older and sought more autonomy and freedom as a teenager coming into herself.

“Well I heard you two mention competitions so I suppose I should take her to the optometrist sooner rather than later.” He almost said I’ll never hear the end of it if her glasses end up broken, but was able to police himself into something more innocuous. Sanders didn’t like the fact that his personal life seemed on display at their first lesson with the new riding instructor. Awkward to say the least. “I would hate for her glasses to end up broken.”

Sanders pursed his lips at Akiko’s unfiltered expressions of frustration at whatever conversation she just had. No doubt he would hear all about it later. “She’s your mother, so, she just wants to make sure you’re okay and having fun.” He offered wondering why he bothered trying to save Dawn’s image. The woman didn’t bother saving face with their daughter why should he try to correct the impression she left on the child. The conflict was soon forgotten when Akiko caught a glimpse of the horse readied for her.

He moved aside and spread his hands as he bowed his head to the teacher “Take it away Miss Lochellen.” He said amiably giving her the green light to officially begin the lesson.

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 12-03-2016

Loch was not at all perturbed by the battle of wills that seemed to be happening on the phone just outside of the barn. She had been working with teenagers - and their parents- long enough to know how both parties could be. She did however, speak Japanese. Having a Japanese mother and growing up on a military base in Tokyo had gifted her with being multilingual. She was not however, interested in overhearing the conversation that Akiko was having. She continued smiling, and kept her attention on Sanders. “Don’t worry,” she sang as she checked the straps again. She had a habit of double and triple checking the bearings, especially when it came to other people’s children. “I’ll shape you and Akiko into jump riding experts in no time.” Winking at Sanders, she patted an appreciative hand against the side of the gorgeous painted stallion.

She couldn’t help the turn of her head and the arch of one brow as Akiko’s shrill whine carried through the barn. It was becoming harder for Loch not to eavesdrop when the child sounded so momentarily distressed, but the call was drawing to a close. Dark eyes returned to Sanders as he spoke to her again. “Competitions are a possibility, but those will be months away, if she really takes an interest. As much as I hate to say it, the idea loses its novelty for some riders when they’re faced with how much training is involved.”

It was true, but Loch hoped that wasn’t the case with Akiko. Not because she thought the father was attractive and appeared to be single, but because Akiko seemed hardworking and determined. She hoped that neither she nor the girl would be disappointed. As they spoke she continued getting the horse ready for Akiko’s lesson. “You don’t use bits,” she observed, reaching for the bosal and hackamore hanging from the rung near Artax’s saddle. Her expression read surprised, but her tone sounded pleased. She easily worked the braided rawhide cords around the horse’s snout, and cooed calming compliments to keep him from trying to fight her.

Akiko’s head snapped upwards to look at her dad. “She knows I’m having fun,” Akiko shot back, not quite having shaken off the attitude her mother had prodded out of her. “That’s why she won’t leave me alone,” she finished under her breath. Pushing up her glasses with one hand, Akiko seemed content to let the call with her mother drop when the attention was brought back to her lesson.

Loch’s quick fingers smoothed out any twists in the reins before she held them out for Akiko, who took them from her with tentative excitement. “So, lesson one: walking with your horse.” Loch smiled as she began instructing Akiko on the proper way to lead a horse. As they led Artax from the bar. The entirety of lesson was very basic, she verbally reviewed how to saddle and bosal a horse since Akiko had missed the process before. Within forty-five minutes Akiko was mounted and leading Artax through gentle paces.

It was impossible for Akiko to keep the smile off her face for the entirely of her two hour lesson. She listened intently to everything Loch explained, and asked a million insightful and curious questions in return. Loch was a patient teacher, answering all of her questions and quelling any nervousness that appeared while the young girl rode.

“We’re done? Already?” Akiko asked surprised when she was told the lesson for the day was finished. It didn’t feel like two hours had passed already. Lochellen nodded and smiled. “Yep, and you did great today.”

Akiko dismounted as she had been taught, boots kicking up dust as she made contact with the ground. “Walking feels weird, now,” she observed, shifting on her feet to relieve the tingling sensation in her legs.

Loch laughed lightly, walking with Akiko back towards the bar. “You’ll get used to it. Did you enjoy it?”

“Yeah! It was so much fun, thank you!”

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - saronym - 12-04-2016

Sanders caught the look on Lochellen’s face as Akiko’s whine reached its pitch. He only sighed and shook his head, moving around the horse to help the riding instructor secure the saddle. Satisfied that Loch could finish the work, Sanders leaned his back against the stall wall and shoved his thumbs into his pockets. “If her penchant for finishing every video game she’s ever bought is any sign, I think you’ll find that Akiko very a determined student.” Sanders complimented his daughter’s willpower with fatherly pride as if to take credit for her positive attribute. “But we’ll see how she does with the basics.”

Sanders shook his head and pushed away from the wall, “That’s right. We’ve always been a no bit family.” He ran his hand over the painted stallion’s flank. “Natural horsemanship creates a better bond with the animal. And, of course, if you know anything about animal physiology you’ll know how cruel the bit is.” Sanders laughed to himself as he was reminded of something. “Some of my helpers call me a hippie but I think it’s mostly because I got USDA organic certified on the beef a couple years back. Not sure if minimizing cruelty equals hippie but I’ll take the label I suppose.”

Sanders laid a comforting hand on his daughter’s shoulder. Squeezing gently he lowered his voice, “We’ll talk about it later, alright? Look, you’re all saddled up and ready.” He redirected her attention from the obnoxious phone call with her mother back to her lesson knowing how such conversations could put Akiko into a bad mood that was hard to shake at times.

Sanders let himself fade into the background as the lesson got started. The riding instructor was capable and he wasn’t needed for anything further. He hung around the barn nearby and piddled around on tasks inside. Sweeping the aisle and mucking the stalls. He worked efficiently having done such work his entire life and spent the remainder of the time left in Akiko’s lesson watching the girls. He hoisted himself onto the fence and observed the lesson.

Sanders laughed along with Loch at Akiko’s remarks about walking. “Your backside will be sore later too.” He warned knowing full well the feeling. “Like she said, you’ll get used to it.”

He beamed at Akiko’s enthusiasm for her riding lesson. They had just set up a preliminary first ride to see how she liked it and apparently she seemed to want to continue. “Good. How often do you want to meet?” He asked the question of both girls leaving it up to them to work out the schedule. He didn’t want to push Akiko into meeting more often than she wanted.

Sanders was eager to return Artax to the barn as he hadn’t eaten since breakfast and felt painfully hungry. Call it poor planning or his own workaholism but at times it was easy for him to forget to eat during busy days. “I’m starving.” He complained holding a hand on his stomach for extra emphasis. “You two hungry?” He asked both, but pointed a finger at Lochellen, “You got another lesson or would you want to join for a bite to eat?” Being a business owner and the business being ranching, Sanders' opportunities to socialize were far and few between. Sharing a meal was usually the easiest way for him to make friendships.

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 12-07-2016

Loch found herself enjoying a conversation about bit, and cattle practices with Sanders while they waited for Akiko. She admittedly, didn’t know much about the livestock trade, but discovered it was rather fascinating. That may have had something to do with the handsome cowboy that was telling her all about it. She could tell that he enjoyed the work, and she enjoyed a man that wasn’t afraid to get dirty. A preference for working ranchers with cornflower blue eyes and lips that seemed curled in a permanent half-smile.

Akiko’s talk with her mother had dissolved immediately with the lesson and she was in much better spirits by the end of it. Still full of wild teenage energy as they walked Artax back to the barn. She rambled on about the lesson and what she had learned in the short time to Sanders, despite that fact that he had seen most of the lesson. It was a part of Akiko’s learning process however, and if no one stopped her she would keep on talking.

Loch was smiling. Thoroughly charmed by Akiko’s excitement. She was also impressed by her; she’d taken to the lesson easily and seemed to be a natural at horse riding. As if she’d been doing so all her life.

The instructor seemed surprised by his invitation. Her slow blinks as she processed his question were hidden by sunglasses. “Sure,” she replied, looking down at Akiko who stood between them. She was nodding her head eagerly and beaming at Loch. Unbeknownst to the adults she had already decided to play matchmaker. “I’m free for the afternoon. I’d be delighted to join you.”

Akiko’s delighted cheers sounded off as they entered the barn and led Artax into his stall. As Loch helped relieve the horse of his saddle and bosal, she went over the process with Akiko. Peppering the task with help hints and fun facts as she went along. The instructor had a lot of information she was willing to share with her new pupil, on and off of a horse.

Lochellan handed the saddle off to Sanders, and lifted the felt padding from the horse. Artax made a huffy sort of sighing noise, as if he was glad to be rid of the weight. Loch ran a hand across his back.

“So, where do you go to school Akiko?”

Akiko was petting the horse’s nose gently, she made a humming noise as she considered the question. “I go to school in California,” she replied, none of her earlier enthusiasm present in her tone. “I only get to stay with my dad during the summer.” Loch nodded in understanding, stepping out of the stall and moving over to another one. An all black Irish Draught turned around to look at her, but looked away again; immediately uninterested in her. Loch snorted a short laugh at being snubbed by the horse.

“I’ve never been to California. Do you like it?”

Akiko shrugged. “It’s okay. I like the beach, and the Santa Monica pier, but I like it better here. I like the ranch.”

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - saronym - 12-08-2016

Though the afternoon lesson passed quickly and with very little continued direct interaction with Loch, Sanders was nonetheless left with very positive impression with the young riding instructor. Not only did she seem infinitely capable of keeping Akiko safe on a horse and entertained during her lesson, she had navigated the brief snafu with the uncomfortable phone call from Akiko’s mother with a certain social grace that put him at ease. He was trying very hard not to notice thick dark hair and the enticing southern accent and tried instead to focus on other positive attributes.

Like tight riding pants. Except he wasn’t trying to notice that either.

Or the easy way she shared smiles with his daughter and continued casually teaching as they put Artax up.

As if anticipating that she would hand it to him, Sanders held his arms out for the saddle, his fingers brushing hers as he accepted the heavy leather from her. He listened to the girls chatter as they got to know each other. He chortled behind his hand when Rapidash scorned Loch. “She’s not normally like that.” He offered. “She’s just jealous you gave all your love to Artax today.”

There was a sort of heartbroken character to Sanders’ smile when Akiko admitted to preferring his ranch to her mother’s house. Though he and Dawn had their differences he always wanted Akiko to know both of her parents. He did not want her to be the center of a struggle between adults who couldn’t get along.

He moved behind his daughter and placed both hands on her shoulders. He pulled backwards so that she would look up at him. “California has better schools.” He tried to grant her other home some affirmative characteristic but just ended up parroting something Dawn held over his head.

“Should we go to Pepper’s?” He asked to change the subject. Sanders’ favorite trashy restaurant. They served greasy food during the day and transitioned into a kind of dive bar at night with a mechanical bull. “I’m feeling like cheese fries.”

RE: Summer Reins [Closed] - megs - 12-24-2016

“Well, ain’t that a shame,” Loch cooed, leaning heavily on Rapidash’s stall. She shifted on her feet, hips swaying with the movement. She was determined to make amends with the jealous mare. She clicked her tongue in an manner meant to be enticing, but Rapidash wasn’t having any of it. The horse tossed her head back and almost deliberately stuck her head out of the opposite window. Loch pushed away from the stall, turning to look at Sanders’ with an amused expression. Brows towards her hair, mouth spread in a cheerful smile. “Another time then, I suppose.” She laughed softly.

Akiko tilted her head to look up at Sanders when he stationed himself behind her, with hands on her shoulders. The gesture, protective and affectionate, was a common posture he defaulted to. Loch pretended not to notice the sad way he smiled down at his daughter.

The sassy teen's eyes narrowed behind her glasses, mouth screwing up in an unspoken question. As if she cared about the quality of the school’s in California. School was school as far as she was concerned and she didn’t get to ride horses in Cali. She also didn’t get to see her dad. Which was the ranch’s biggest appeal. “You’re always feeling like cheese fries,” she replied with a shake of her head. She didn’t want to talk about California or her mom anymore so she easily accepted the change of subject.

“Cheese fries are pretty good,” Loch offered, as she pushed her hands into her pockets, which caused Akiko to smile.

“I’m going to change!” The teen pulled away from her father’s grasp to take off back towards the house at nearly full speed.

“She has a lot of energy,” Loch commented, bemused as she watched the girl race towards the house. “It’s cute.” Loch lifted a hand to smooth away any small hairs that may have fallen free from her ponytail. Briefly, she looked down at the dusty top of her riding boots as she moved a rock back and forth beneath the heel. She cleared her throat before speaking again.

“So," she paused, unsure of the tenderness of the topic. "I know it’s not any of my business, and I don’t want you to think I’m judging your situation, but I just wanted to mention that riding competitions happen in the fall. Usually August through October. I’m still more than happy to train her, but… I figured you should know.”