(no subject)

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph's got some decisions to make. Well, okay, sure, she's actually already made them. Well, it. But also, she's really enjoying air-conditioning and ice cream.

The ice cream really helps with the cognitive process.

She is sitting in the rafters, picking splinters of wood out from her jeans. Nobody polishes up here. Occasionally, a drop of ice cream hits the floor below. It's very melty.

Comments

[not_his_pa]

"I've done that when ridin', sometime you just get tired and doesn't matter where you are,"

During long nights on the trail, he's found his saddle a comfortable space to rest his head because he's just that tired.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Kind of bad when you're supposed to be on watch," Steph admits, grinning. "You're a cowboy? A real one?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, out in Arizona Territory. Bad when you're ridin' too, I've had a time or two when I almost fell off."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"I've never fallen asleep while I was actually moving or anything," Steph says, grinning at him. "That's pretty impressive. William - do I call you William, or Will, or?"

[not_his_pa]

"I answer to both. It also got me in trouble though my brother Mark thought it was neat that I could manage it. My Pa just sighed at me and told me to be careful."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Were you careful?" Steph is smiling, amused.

[not_his_pa]

"I didn't fall off just almost did."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Well, that totally counts as not falling off," Steph says, grinning. "I almost fall off things a lot. The important part is that you didn't."

[not_his_pa]

"No, I didn't. Usually if I get hurt its in a fight or cause one of the herd's bein' stupid."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"You herd cows, right? Aren't they, you know, kind of docile?" Steph asks, intrigued.

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, but they're also big and stupid."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"So they can hurt you?"

[not_his_pa]

"They can, usually it ain't on purpose they'll just push against you and you never want to be on the ground when they're stampedin'."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Yeah, that really doesn't sound like fun," Steph says, blinking. "You ever get hurt like that?"

[not_his_pa]

"I've had a steer push me up against a fence and handled stampedes, they're real tirin' to take care of cause the cattle are so scared. You just have to keep on makin' 'em go where you want."