A Taste of Solitude (part 6)

Posted on Thu Aug 8th, 2019 @ 10:00am by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant Commander Orin ch’Valri

1,438 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Ripples
Location: Holodeck

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

"Don't give in, John, and she'll stop." Orin said firmly, tucking Doc's revolver in his belt, before crossing his arms over his chest. "Get some rest, Doc. I'll stop by in the morning to see how you are."

[NEW]

Doc looked to T'mpest before looking back to Orin. "And leave a lady as smart, and lovely, as her to fend for herself without your fine company? I would never forgive myself, Sir."

Orin laughed softly as he walked toward the door. "Good-night, Mister Holliday."

"Meeting you was definitely an experience," T'mpest said, nodding to Holliday. "I wish you a good night."

Orin walked out of the door with T'mpest and soon down the small corridor. Once they reached the stairs, leading down, he walked with her to the floor level but stopped at the woman behind the counter. He soon reached into his vest and removed a fold of the times currency before placing it on the counter. "For the Holliday Bill. Make sure Miss Grimshaw knows he paid for the next few days."

"Yes, Sheriff." The woman replied, with a smile, taking the fold and placing it in the registers bin.

"Thank you." Orin said before walking out with T'mpest.

"I see why everyone likes you here," T'mpest said. "That was a kind thing to do, and should give them both time to cool off." She kissed him on the cheek. "But then, I already knew that about you."

Orin smiled as he stopped outside the door and looked around. "I've been in many fights. Been through war. Worked under the shadow of night to prevent future problems. I've done this all with a weapon in my hand and with the understanding that I was being a good solider. Here... I don't want to use my gun. I don't want to shoot my way to answers and use violence to as a solution. Here, in Solitude, I want to use my gun as a last resort and only as a last resort because, their lives, are affected by what I do and how I do it. I want them to know, even if they are holograms, that I think of them first before every decision."

"I am glad you have this place, and I am glad you chose to share it with me." She hugged his arm. "What do you have for us now?"

"Horses." Orin replied with a smile.

"All right. We'll go riding."

Orin smiled as he looked at her. "Then we go see Mister Pearson."

She nodded. In the stables, T'mpest looked at the available horses, spending a minute talking to each one and looking it in the eye. Finally, she settled on a mare with light-brown and cream hair and bright eyes. "I'll choose you."

She turned to Mr. Pearson. "What's her name?"

"Shaunti. She's gentle enough, but she's got spirit. I think you'll like her."

T'mpest nodded. "I thin I will, too."

"I'll have her saddled and ready for you to take her out." Mister Pearson replied in his husky voice. He looked to Orin and smiled. "Takin' Gypsy out, Sheriff?"

"That was the plan." Orin replied as he crossed his hands over his chest.

Pearson smiled from ear to ear before replying. "She's in the back, her usual stable. Left a few treats for her outside her stable, but she refuses to pick at them, and no one wants to try to feed her." He looked to T'mpest as he continued. "She won't let anyone else feed her, except the Sheriff. I tell you, that horse, is smarter then she looks. She'll kick and holler at anyone when we move her, but when Sheriff Val does it, she's as calmer than the waters of a river with no life. Darnedest thing."

T'mpest smiled, not at all surprised. Everyone here seemed to be better off with Sheriff Val around.

Orin nodded his head slightly before looking to T'mpest. "Gypsy is very selective. She'll only let me ride her and we wont move, unless Yas or myself, is only her reigns." He smiled as he gestured down the path inside the stable. "Let us know she her horse is ready, Mister Pearson."

"You bet, Sheriff." He than walked off to get Shandi ready for T'mpest.

Orin walked with T'mpest down the path, passing by other horses stabled there. Once they got to the final one, Orin approached is slowly, grabbing a carrot from the bag by it. He held it up, inside the pen, and waited. It didn't take long for Gypsy, the white Turkoman, to emerge. She looked beautiful and well taken care of. Her white mane lay to one side of her head and her long tail rested against her hind legs. The horse immediately began to eat the carrot as Orin placed his head on her snout. "Hello, Girl. I have a friend I would like you to meet." He said softly to her as he stroked her long snout as she ate.

T'mpest walked up beside Orin. "Hello, girl. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Orin turned to T'mpest and smiled before looking back to Gypsy. As the horse began on another carrot, Orin began to speak, continuing in his soft and gentle tone. "This is T'mpest and she means a lot to me. You might be seeing a lot of her so I want you to be nice to her. It would mean a lot to me if you did." He looked over to T'mpest and motioned her to come closer. "Grab a carrot and try feeding her. See if she'll take it." He took her other hand and slowly ease it onto Gypsy's nose. "Pet her slowly." Gypsy pulled away slightly from T'mpest's touch. "Whoa... whoa. Easy girl. Easy. It's okay."

She gently rubbed her muzzle. "Hi, there, girl. Here, try this carrot. Val gave it to me just for you." She sniffed the carrot and hesitated, then ate it. "Good girl. We're going for a ride. You and Val and me and Shaunti. Okay?" The horse snorted. She rubbed the muzzle again, then kissed the horse. She looked at Orin and smiled.

Orin smiled, placing his hand on the side of Gypsy's neck, and petting it softly. "It's time to go for a ride, Gypsy. I know you like that, don't you?"

"You're horse is all set, Miss." Pearson said as he walked up behind them. "Do you want me to saddle up Gypsy for you, Sheriff?"

He shook his head and kept his gaze focused on Gypsy as he spoke. "No, Mister Pearson. I'll saddle her up. Anyone else will just get her worked up." Orin unlocked the gate and stepped into the stable, keeping himself focused on Gypsy at all time. He then proceeded to talk softly to her, making small conversation, even though she didn't respond she would react in some way that he would take as a response to what he was saying. It was like a ritual, a bonding moment, between the two of them.

Both horses were saddled and brought out. A picnic lunch was strapped to the back of T'mpest's horse. She was grateful to see that she wouldn't have to ride sidesaddle. Still, it would be a bit awkward in her skirt.

She needed help mounting, and then arranging her skirts so she was modest, but they were soon off riding out of town.

She let Orin take the lead as he knew the terrain and where the best place to ride would be.

Orin patted Gypsy on the side and spoke firmly. "Alright, Gypsy, we know the perfect place, don't we?" The horse let out a strong neigh and stomped one of her front legs on the ground. "Let's not go too fast. We don't want to lose them. Steady pace, Girl."

T'mpest laughed. If he went at full gallop, he'd definitely lose her, but she would catch up eventually. Still, she was glad he kept to a comfortable pace so she could enjoy the ride.

When Orin and Gypsy stopped, she dismounted and led Shaunti to a stream in the shade of a tree where she could get a drink and eat grass.

Just then a message came over the comm. "Captain, please report to the science department."

T'mpest sighed. "Sorry, Orin. I hope we can continue this later." She rubbed her horse's muzzle. "And thank you, my friend."

She smiled at Orin, then called for the arch to see what science had to show her.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Orin ch'Valri
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Captain T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer

 

RSS Feed