“Ain’t no good reason not to. Somethin’ needs to be done, we do it.” Forest didn’t like putting things off and it was easy to make excuses for why they could wait. Sometimes later didn’t come and Forest was tired of seeing Lex kept reliant when there was no reason for it. Lex didn’t argue, agreed to grab the things they’d need. Forest headed to the barn.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Wallis watched Lex approach, motioning after him as he walked into the house. He didn’t seem so angry now. Whatever Forest had said seemed like it had taken that out of him. Lex was gathering up some food. Wallis asked of his well-being, not having seen the whole encounter, or what had set Forest off. It wasn’t hard to guess.<br/><br/>“What am I supposed to say to him? You and Forest are going to be gone. He’d going to assume the worst, and I’m not really sure what sets him off about Forest but it makes him crazy when he’s around you.” Which was silly because he didn’t seem to care about Wallis at all. “It’s got to change. Mason, I mean. Forest made that perfectly clear and I hope Mason understands it.” He touched Lex’s back, offering his support as a friend, not in a leading way as some of their exchanges went. There might not have been much romantic chemistry between them but Wallis still cared about Lex.<br/><br/>“You go. Get away from Mason for a bit. I’ll see if I can have a sit down with him. Talk some sense into him. It’s not like that between you and Forest, not like how it is with us. I don’t know why he can’t see that.” Or why he’d give a shit if it was. Wallis shrugged.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Forest had a thick chestnut gelding tied next to a taller bay mare. Both plain, strong looking horses. His gelding was saddled in a leather ranch saddle, broke in to death. He was swinging a flashier saddle onto the bay, dressed with shiny conchos and pretty silver trim.<br/><br/>“Was my sisters reining show saddle. She was tall and leggy like you. Someone may as well get some use out of it,” Forest explained as he cinched the horse up, showing Lex how. “Horse was my sister’s too. A nice mare. Won’t give you too much trouble, and you’ll learn how we all did growin' up. With miles.” Forest grinned, imagining the city boy hadn’t spent all that much time in the saddle. He’d be alright though. Nothing better than time and practice to teach. He slid their bridles on and gathered up their split reins to lead them both out of the barn.<br/><br/>“Gotta grab us some firepower and ammo. You can put whatever you packed into the saddlebags,” he said, handing both sets of reins for Lex to hold while he jogged off to the house, retrieving what they’d need. He had a rifle and a shotgun slung over his back, wanting Lex to get a feel for a variety and understand their different uses, holstered handgun at his hip. They never knew when someone was going to have to act fast. He'd left Wallis with plenty of defense as well, trusting him to look over the farm while he was gone. Hopefully, Mason would come out of his sulking.<br/><br/>He approached Lex carrying an extra leather holster and pistol, wrapping his arms around the young man to secure it low on his hips, adjusting it as needed.<br/><br/>“Empty for now. We’ll load it up when we get where we’re goin’. You ready? Think you can get in the saddle or need a leg up?”