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It's a fine day for a ride. The first touches of spring are here, and Rachat is in a good mood. As good as Rachat's moods get, anyway. Jim is glad to take the horse for his paces, trotting around the lake and then taking him for a full gallop between the lake and the stable.

You can find Jim riding, or in the stable, or back inside.

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William hasn't been in the Bar that much but when Jim's riding, William's in the paddock on his horse practicing his roping.

And so after Jim has put Rachat through his paces, he returns to find Will.

"Good afternoon, Will."

He throws out the lasso to and back before turning again to Jim, "Hello, sir. Did you have a good ride?"

"Jim. Jim is fine." Just because Will seems young enough to be a cadet doesn't mean he should try Jim like a cadet would. "And I had a good ride. The snow's gone and the ground is just the right firmness today."

"Right, yes, Jim. I noticed that, the horses are likin' being outside more."

"Winters can't be fun for them. I don't imagine they're fun for people." Earth hasn't seen a real winter in a long time, between global warming in the 21st century and the development of weather modification - never control, just adjustment - in the 22nd.

"No, but these horses have it nice, the stables are properly built, the wind won't get into them."

"My uncle strove for that, but sometimes he would let things get run down." Even in a time as advanced as Jim's, you need maintenance.

He brings Rachat close to his paddock but doesn't dismount yet.

"There's always wear but these are stronger than anything I've seen that's not stone," He loops his rope around his pommel, "Rachat's been doin' well."

"How old do think he is now?" Jim's been riding Rachat for years. Seven or eight?

"Maybe eight years but a good lookin' eight."

"Let's hope he outlasts me. No one should ever rush to be put out to pasture."

"No and he's not. He's one of the best horses for teaching and new riders I know."

"Who else is riding him?" Now Jim is ready to dismount.

"Its been a while since I taught anyone. I've been at home, thinkin' about enterin' a ropin' competition."

"How do those work?" Roping is as lost an art as swinging a baseball bat or using a...what were those called...write-typers?

"Some town or rancher or someone offers up a prize and cowboys come and compete."

"And you rope...horses, cows, fences?"

"Cows as that's what we do anyway."

"So it's just a basic skills competition. Nothing fancy."

"Yeah, but it ain't easy to get fast and good."

"How do you hone your skills." Jim backs Rachat into his paddock, and find an apple.

"Lots of practice with the horses here and anythin' else I can rope."

"Think you can get up to snuff in time?"

"I hope so, it'd be a nice bit of cash."

"Ah. Of course." Cash. How quaint.

"Yeah, just have to be fast enough."

"Care to demonstrate?" It will be something new to see.

"Be glad to. I'll start with that post,"

He gestures to one on the edge of the paddock and starts by riding around, twisting the rope to get it ready and then gently letting it drop over the post.

"Ah. I think I see the basic idea."

"Yes, most of the work is done from your wrist."

"I assume you've been doing it since you were a kid?"

"Since we moved out West, yeah, its been a while. Do you want to try?"

Jim considers it. "No, I think you can't teach an old horse new tricks." And he feels old these days.

"Oh, alright, it ain't that hard once you get to doin' it."

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