Yellowstone

Chapter 14 - Youth

"Well, I think you just... run down and say 'whoa'." Jimmy said, adjusting himself in the saddle.

He sat up on top of a sorrel gelding in front of Elisabeth and Walker, who were seated on the fence in front of him.

"I'm afraid there's a little more to it than that." Walker responded. Elisabeth nodded beside him.

"Wait, you guys know how to do it?" Jimmy asked in slight shock.

"I used to compete in it, Jimmy." Elisabeth told him with a half smile.

"Eh, I ain't gonna win no money at it, but uh... I don't think you are either." Walker chuckled, toying with the rope in his hands.

"I'm getting a little thin on options." Jimmy sighed softly.

"Look, just run down the arena." Walker told him. "Tilt your belt buckle to the sky, keep your eyes on the top of the barn, open up your feet and say 'whoa'."

Jimmy copied all of Walker's instructions as he spoke. "How fast do I need to go?"

"The faster you go, the further you're gonna stop."

Jimmy shrugged a little. "Hm, ok. It's easy."

Walker nodded with his eyebrows slightly raised. "Easy."

Jimmy turned the horse and started towards the other end of the arena.

Walker turned his head to meet Elisabeth's gaze. She arched an eyebrow in suspicion with a smirk tugging at her lips.

He shook his head, his facial expression telling her all that she needed to know.

Jimmy kissed to the horse, sending it into a steady canter. As they neared the opposite end, he cued the horse to stop.

Unfortunately, the sudden impact caused Jimmy to bounce forward and crush a certain region up against the saddle horn.

Walker tensed and shifted, inhaling sharply through his teeth.

"You alright?" The male wrangler called out shakily.

"Ah... yeah." Jimmy croaked, weakly holding his thumb up. "Belt buckle to the sky..." He repeated, heading back to try again.

"You felt that in your soul, didn't you?" Elisabeth asked her companion.

"Fuck yeah, I did. I lost count of how many times that happened to me when I was in the circuit." He said, still slightly cringing to himself.

She looked up as Ryan and Colby began to pass the arena to return to the barn, slowing their horses so they could watch curiously.

Jimmy did exactly what he did before, correcting his previous mistake and caused the horse to slide a few feet.

"There ya go!" Elisabeth yelled, smiling to herself.

A triumphant grin crossed Jimmy's face as he hollered out with excitement.

"Did you guys see that?!" He asked hopefully, directing his question towards Ryan and Colby.

"Oh yeah, Jimmy. We saw you out there looking just like Andrea Fappani." Colby replied sarcastically, walking along with Ryan.

Jimmy smile wavered just the slightest bit before he looked back at the man and woman in front of him. "Who?"

Walker huffed before Jake called out to interrupt their little lesson. "Hey, Lizzie!"

Elisabeth turned her head and squinted, seeing Jake with Lady beside him. "Whatcha need?"

"Lady's warmed up and it's your time to go. Travis is askin' for ya." Elisabeth rolled her eyes and smirked while Walker furrowed his brow at the unfamiliar name.