Rent-A-Mate : Reunion Roundup

I Approve

Ash pov

Today would prove more interesting then yesterday. The boys had returned for their riding lessons again, but this time they had the young gals watching them. He caught on real quick of who they each were trying to impress. The girls would smile or giggle every time that certain young man would look her way. The boys would be sure to grin at them or nod their head in passing. The horses seemed to be more relaxed today but any sudden movements would cause them to startle and the boys would be thrown off again.

Some of the adults stayed to watch and even Kiera and April stood at the fence to watch the boys lesson. Both Michael and he were on a horse but Michael was having trouble directing the horse around. It was amusing that he was having more trouble then the younger boys. Ash rode around the boys correcting them on their technique or helping them control the horse. Slowly he made his way to the edge and up to where Kiera and April stood.

"Would you ladies like to join us for a ride?"

April laughed, looking over to Michael who's horse was backing up while he tried to get him to go forward.

"I'll pass." She said with humor in her voice. "As much as I trust Mike, I don't think we will survive unscathed."

"Kiera?" Ash said looking down at her.

She looked at the horse uncertainly.

"Maybe another day."

"Its not as bad as it looks and you'll enjoy yourself."

"Maybe some other time."

"I'll make sure you keep that promise." He said with a smile.

Ash nodded to one of the ranch hands who was by the gate, quickly jumping off the fence and opened the gate. Ash motioned for the boys to follow him out. There was a path down by the lake they could take that opened up to a clearing. He was sure the boys would like to race a bit instead of just riding around in the corral. They seemed ready for another challenge. Glancing back he saw the excited looks on their faces.

As they made their way down the path they passed another corral with the men learning to ride with the hired trainers. It seemed that they were having more trouble with the horses. The horses were frightened and only a few men were atop of them, if only for a moment before being bucked off. Some even looked like they were ready to call it quits.

"Hey! Maybe you should let someone younger do that, we wouldn't want to see you get hurt." Chase called out to them, making the rest of the boys laugh.

One of the trainers turned and made his way over to where they were. Ash recognized him as he drew near, it was Jason Rands. They met each other when they were young at rodeo competitions. Ash hadn't competed in a couple of years and didn't know if Jason still competed.

"Well, if it isn't Ashton Cullom. What the heck are you doing here, this isn't your usual crowd." Jason said shaking his hand.

"Having better luck than you it seems." Ash said, nodding towards the men on the ground. "Your loosing your touch Rands."

"Don't worry about them a few more hours and they'll be good as any."

"Is that so. How about we meet down at the clearing for a bit of racing. Then we'll see how good a job you've done."

Jason threw his head back and laughed. "Against this boys. They'll fall off before they get into a steady trot."

"What's wrong, scared the boys will out ride your men?" Ash said, seeing that some of the boys seemed offended.

Jason scanned over the boys, "Alright, your on. I'll meet you down there."

Ash looked over his shoulder at the boys, "You boys in?"