Getting Settled Pt 8

Walt cleaned up and put the truck away as he decided to change vehicles for the evening. Friday approved... until he went to another old classic.

(("Really Boss... that's just so you. If you're going for the "classics" at least pick one of the fancy ones."))

Walt grabbed the keys. "I'm not taking Sienna for a casual date in a race car or a fancy museum piece, Friday. Besides "Silver" is a comfortable and reliable vehicle. And you and I have put all the same features into it. Don't talk bad about "Silver"."

(("You're ridiculous sometimes, Boss"))

Walt climbed into the big suv and patted the dash. "Don't listen to her "Silver". She doesn't understand." He generally perfered his usual truck but he was rarely driving alone anymore these days. He needed more interior passenger spaces as well as comfortable ones. He started the big vehicle up and whispered. "Hi-yo, Silver. Away..."

He pulled up infront of the house and walked around to open the passenger door. Sienna came out of the house. She stopped on the porch so Walt could look up at her.

Her outfit wasn't that all that shocking or anything. It was essentially a casual version of her regular outfit. But Walt still thought she was stunning.

She had simply dressed in jean shorts and black boots with a black top and a red jacket. He had seen her wear more revealing outfits before. But it was how she wore it.

She strutted up to the top step and cocked her hip putting one hand there to give him a look at her. Her lovely tattooed legs and a bit of her midriff and cleavage on display. She brought her other hand up slowly drawing his eye to her whole look. "Well?", she asked with a smile.

Walt stood there speechless. She was lovely he thought as she smiled and made her way down the steps. He needed to say something... but what?

Sienna smiled as she walked over and helped him shut his mouth. "Thank you," she said, "that's a nice compliment. You look very nice as well." She looked at him taking in the nice shirt, black vest and black denim jacket. She noted the different and fancy belt buckle.

Walt found his words. "Thank you. Wow. You're always beautiful Sienna but you look great!" He took his hat off, leaned in and kissed her cheek.

She blushed and ran her fingers down his face. He'd trimmed his beard a bit shorter. "Thank you." He offered her his hand and she took it as he helped her into the vehicle before getting in himself.

They drove off and she looked around. "I see you changed vehicles?"

Walt nodded. "Friday was giving me grief about it. Saying I should take a fancier one. But like the truck it's dependable and reliable... and this has more space. Plus I need to fix the steering wheel in the truck tomorrow."

She looked around. It seemed comfortable but also like a very rugged and simple vehicle. "It's like the truck. It's very... "you", somehow. I like it."

Walt grinned. "Thank you, Sienna."

She smiled. "You're very welcome. So where are we going?"

Walt smiled. "Small sporting competition. It's the start of the season. I'm not interested in the newer events they have now with the mods but I used to compete when I was young and foolish. I like watching those. This is a more traditional one."

Sienna laughs. "Stories of a misspent youth?"

Walt shook his head. "It was one of the few things I could do to help my grandparents keep this place, at the time. Prize money helped keep the ranch going and the roof over our heads. There's one tonight and the next town over has a fair going on, as well as an old fashioned drive-in. I figured we could just see where the night takes us."

She smiled. "Sounds fun. Let's go!"

Walt sighed. Maybe this hadn't been a good idea after all. "Sorry, this one used to be more traditional focused..."

Sienna looked at him. "You don't like this? This isn't a traditional event?"

Walt shook his head watching the cow girls go by with their horns, tails and costumes. Men cheered at some of the skimpy costumes and outrageous proportions. He looked at the program and shook his head. "Nope. Not traditional at all." He sighed. "Maybe I'm just too old?"

She smiled at him and took his hand. "We can ignore the events you don't like and simply watch the ones you do?"

Looking at the program he nods. "Lets do that then. It looks like they're going to do traditional rodeo and then this other stuff. I don't know that I can get into watching some of these others "Cow Girl Roping", "Cow Girl Team Roping", "Cow Girl Wrestling" and the like."

She smiled. "You don't like the idea of them hurting the girls, do you?"

Walt purses his lips. "That's a part if it but I'm not sure... it looks like some of the events get pretty... "adult" in nature as it goes on. Probably not great date night material."

Sienna looks at him blushing. "So does it make you more uncomfortable that the girls aren't into it or the ones who are into it?"

Walt just looks down and nods his head not saying.

She grins he's really embaressed! "Because some of them appear to be really happy about it..."

It was true. Some of the "cow girls" in the opening parade definitely did not look happy and others were waving widely to the crowds, blowing kisses and bouncing around excitedly.

"They seem excited..." she continued teasing him. "The idea of some handsome, hardworking guy..." she leaned in to whisper into his ear."...roping them, wrestling them down and tying them up all helpless..."

Walt remebered doing just that with Anastasia. It hadn't been exciting like she was making it sound... but it had been exciting. Battles... competitions always were. The rush of adrenaline... and throwing lovely ladies into the mix after the fact...

Sienna tipped his hat back so she could look at his face. He was redder than her outfit. "Sorry for teasing you."

Walt shook his head. "It's fine... It's the second time or third I've made a fool out of myself today."

She nodded she might have taken it too far. She cleared her throat. "Exertion is like that for most of us I suppose... I would also get worked up after a mission." She crossed her arms.

Walt chuckled. "I was just thinking the same thing... there's few aphrodisiacs as powerful as surviving danger."

Sienna nodded and blushed. "Agreed... did you ever..."

Walt nodded his head. "Not often... that's a bad habit for a lot of soldiers. But back before when my wife was alive... or after an adventure and I had someone I liked or trusted like Ahnassi...yes. Mostly no though. Just either ignore it or... make due by myself. You?"

Sienna also blushed but nodded. "Same... it's hard when you're the leader."

Walt chuckled. "That's been my experience too. There's a bunch of subordinates that are more than willing but... it wouldn't be right."

Sienna smiles. "Yes. I heard about your popularity in 3S. The White Fang was similar."

Walt smiled and not. "That's not surprising, you're lovely. I'm sorry to hear that, Sienna. And I'm sorry tonights a bit of a mess."

She squeezed his hand. "It's not a mess. Plans don't always go as expected. And look." She held up their hands. "This isn't so bad." She winked.

Walt nodded. "You're right. Not bad at all."

She smiled. "So tell me about the more traditional events. Which ones are your favorites?"

"Well originally it was a working competition. The event's were based on actual daily life skills that we still use today, though a lot of that's also changed now. I was a pretty fair hand at roping, still am, as well as riding and working with the animals. That's the job."

He smiled. "When I was a kid I'd ride the wild broncos and rough stock, so the older fellows didn't have to. I had a way with animal's like my grandfather, so he nurtured that talent. "Horse whispering" they called it back then or "the gift"... So of course "Bronco riding" didn't interest me much as a competitor. I was such a dumb kid." He shakes his head.

Sienna smiles. "I think most of us look back and realize that about ourselves... the foolishness of youth. But which one was your favorite to compete in?"

Walt gestured at his buckle. "I was a damn good rider. Tricks and stunts. But my favorite was mounted shooting and archery."

She looked impressed. "I hear that's a particularly difficult skill to master."

Walt nodded. "I'm a damn good shot if I say so myself... but doing it from horse back, quickly and with accuracy is exceptionally difficult. It's all the same principles yall are covering in training but add to it the motion of your body, the motion of your mount, the both of your breathing, the timing. Tricky stuff."

Sienna nodded. "I think I'd like to see that sometime."

Walt chuckled. "Well they used to do a bit of that here but it looks like they got rid of it for some of these new things. Too old fashioned I guess."

They kept talking as they watched. Sienna would ask and Walt would explain the event and how it used to be done and it's practical applications in daily ranching life. She smiled. He was able to just be a "normal" person for awhile and enjoy it. Then she saw something that didn't make any sense.

"Ok," she said watching the action. It was thrilling but also puzzling. "I get the other events... but what is the practical application of "bull riding"?"

Walt shook his head and laughed. "That, Sienna, is a very good question. Long story short. There isn't one."

She watched the dangerous spectacle. "You're kidding me... they're doing this one just for fun?"

Walt nodded. "Well that and the chance at winning a big purse but yeah pretty much... how long can you ride on top of a dangerous animal that you're not supposed to ride is the point. It's sheer recklessness. Fun to watch but..." they watch the biggest meanest bull yet nearly gore a rider. "But also pretty stupid."

Sienna shakes her head. "I take it you..."

Walt shakes his head. "Never saw the appeal myself... hindsight being twenty - twenty though I done some crazier shit. But they were usually necessary... usually." He smirked.

They winced as some guy just got gored. He looked at her. "That's bull riding. You want to get out of her before the wilder stuff or do you wanna see more?"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress and Serana

Will Return In

Getting Settled Pt 9

Coming Soon]