Brilliant story! Widget sounds like one of the horses at the barn I go to...he has two speeds and/or he'll ignore you if he feels like he can get away with either. Haha. Thanks for posting. :)

Hahaha I loved this! I own 2 of my own horses and have had many similar "never ridden a horse before" times. Loved the detail, another great story!

Sexy Don galloping...oh yeah, the story was really good too.

Just read your story "Shifting Ground" and immediately searched for other stories by you. I love your writing immensely. I loved how Charlie's horse was named Widget; it seems rather appropriate.

Nicely done indeed, I really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing.

Wonderful! The family bonding is endearing in this cheerful little story. Everything, from the helmet hair to the expected phone call and the perfect visual of Don riding confidently back down the trail was lovely. I smiled while reading it, and laughed a time or two...namely at the helmet hair. I don't like hights, and got a few butterflies in my tummy while visualizing Charlie on the edge with the rocks and dirt falling, and the stubborn horse refusing to leave the edge. I enjoyed seeing Charlie and Don in a setting outside of work where their confidence levels were reveresed, and Charlie was so out of his element. Very nice, thank you so very much for sharing!

Certainly different and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I couldn't keep from grinning at the description of Charlie's rather short legs not

going around the horse's belly too well. With short legs of my own, I know the feeling

well. :)

And I'm thankful everyone got back safely. Hope the Eppes family will have a family

discussion about the day over rib eyes later on that evening.

A story featuring the three Eppes men is a treat. A story featuring the Eppes men where Charlie is feeling out of his element is a very special treat indeed! Absolutely loved the part where Charlie's horse got a little too close to the edge for his comfort and the professor automatically started calculating rates of descent and pounds of force.

Thanks for a great read!

This was wonderful. I really liked Charlie's ruminations on the innate weirdness of riding a horse, and the use of the Griffith Park location was perfect. Helmet hair! Heh heh. I also thought it was cool that while there was no big "gasp" moment in this story, it was still very entertaining. That's a testament to your skill as a writer. Great job! :-)

Hi Z - there's something about the thougth of Don on horseback which is very, very appealing. The thought of all that sleek muscle and power . . . nope, not talking about the horse.

Really liked this one - Charlie's fear tinged desire to do something to please his brother was endearing. It was very satisfying to know he enjoyed himself at the end.

Heart in throat bit? When Alan and Charlie watch Don ride away and are grateful they at least had him for a little while. It's a terrible and wonderful thing to love someone who places their life at risk, for whatever reason.

Aw, I like this! Really great Charlie voice, and the image of Don on horseback is one I will treasure.

(Oddly, I just read a Michael Connelly novel which set a crime scene right up past the Stables, there; and I've recently become more familiar with that area in RL. Weird coincidences!)

Eppes family bonding - cream pie, complete with cherry on the top.

Horse riding seems to have become the perfect activity for the gentlemen, despite (or maybe because of) their varying skill levels.

Loved the parts describing Don from Charlie's perspective, the analysis of him as an Agent, brother and man, including the moments of hero-worship that seemed to creep in, lending further authenticity.

Where would Alan have learned the same?

Aww, there's nothing better than the three Eppes men bonding together, and I loved the image of Don turning Tinsel around and galloping off into the sunset, while Charlie continued to deal with the uncooperative Widget. I laughed at Charlie's "helmet hair" and sighed at Don's mega-watt smile when Charlie agreed to the riding lessons. This warm, enjoyable story is just what I needed today. Thank you.