#bergen_county

"Uh. That's taking the stuff off, right? Yeah.... I remember." He looks around. "Find somewhere to tie him to, right?"

"Right!" Encouraging.

"Ok, so...." He takes the reins and .... well, ties them in a knot to the fence.

"Then there's all the buckles and stuff.

"Yes, lots of buckles. Saddle first, there's the girth..."

"Right, I got... it... " He fumbles around, finds it, and looses the girth... which drags on the ground but he gets it off. "Ok, but.... if I take off all the parts of the head thing, he's not tied up any more, right?"

"That's right." She takes the saddle to put over the fence rail.

"You sure?" He moves to start taking off the bridle.

"Now, he's gonna toss his head... put a hand on his neck to steady him."

Adam does, on the crest of Stormwake's mane. The other hand fumbles with... well, the wrong buckles. "There's a lot of them, I can't use both hands?"

"Hold on... shh.." As the steed dances and stomps.

"Hand here... shhh... and wait for him to calm."

"Woah, hey, hold it.... stop...." Adam grabs a handful of mane.

Stormwake neighs and REARS!

Dagmar picks Adam up and bodily moves him back.

"WOAH!!!"

"Don't panic, okay? If you're nervous, that'll make him nervous."

"Maybe you oughta do it....."

"No, you're learning. So, watch - okay?" Hand on Stormwake's neck, soothing noises, coaxing him down.

Adam watches.

She does use two hands to release a buckle... then, hand on his neck again, reassurance.

Buckle buckle, slip the whole thing off.

"So... trade? Like, trade hands?"

She nods. "Take turns, I guess?" Now free, Stormwake is trotting away... and showing off to Star. If a mare could roll her eyes...

Adam looks around. Zane's wandered off, no one visible.....

"Yeah, I guess I get it. Going to take some practice, though. He's -big-."

"Well, yeah."

"Everything worth doing takes practice."

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Uh. So I have a question."

"...yeah?" She rubs the back of her neck.

"You wanna make out?" Quietly, but with real interest.

BLUSH.

"..Maybe?"

"Yeah??" hopeful "I mean.... you know, not if you won't want to but... if you did....."

"Just kissing?"

"Yeah." cocky grin "Just kissing."

She scuffs her foot. "I guess that'd be okay." Shy smile.

"Okay." He reaches a hand out for hers.

She allows it, but nervousness is creeping into her expression.

He takes her hand, and instead of drawing her close, steps closer to her. He looks up at her.

"...hi."

"Hey."

She blushes harder and looks away - but she's still holding hands.

"You change your mind?" some concern.

"No!"

"It's ok, if you did." He fidgets.

"...I'm too tall..."

"Huh? Too tall for what?"