A new venue. (Roman)

"That's fine. Of course I wouldn't mind if you rode either. I'm a strong enough man. A little walking isn't going to hurt me any. Honestly a nice hike sounds good right about now and it's not like we have to be there in a hurry or anything."

"You're right, but I still'd feel better walking with you. Besides, I need the exercise."

As they started up the valley, Roman sincerely hoped that his mother'd cooked extra. She usually did, but one never knew....

Suddenly an ideas struck him, and without hesitation he sent Zane a mental image of him and Trent eating and mentally told the bronze to go home and show his mother, Arden. That way, she'd have some warning.

"At least it's not raining or anything. Otherwise this walk would be a bit more depressing." He said as they started walking along.

"Tell me about it, a could stand to lose a pound or two myself." He commented with a laugh. About that time, Roman sent Zane away. Trent sort of figured where it was. "Giving your mother warning? That's probably a good idea. I'd hate for her to be caught unawares."

"Giving your mother warning? That's probably a good idea. I'd hate for her to be caught unawares."

Flashing Trent a wry grin, Roman replied,

"Yep. She'd strangle me if we showed up and she didn't have enough for you. It's not that she doesn't like company, she just, like you said, doesn't enjoy being caught unaware."

After a moment, Roman added,

"Oh, and Trent? Try and call my mother Arden, or Ms. Arden. If you call her Mrs. Kincade, she'll be reminded of my dad's death, and she'll brood on it for the next week."

The silence after he's spoke wasn't kind, and, trying to keep his dad's death out of his thoughts he stroked Ares's nose thoughtfully.

"Yep. She'd strangle me if we showed up and she didn't have enough for you. It's not that she doesn't like company, she just, like you said, doesn't enjoy being caught unaware."

Trent giggled, "My mom was much the same way. She loved having company. The farm hands would constantly bring their families over. She loved to cook for all of them and honestly I don't think she knew what to do when she didn't have to cook."

"Oh, and Trent? Try and call my mother Arden, or Ms. Arden. If you call her Mrs. Kincade, she'll be reminded of my dad's death, and she'll brood on it for the next week."

"Not a problem. I'll be sure not to call her that. Arden, is it? I think I can handle Ms. Arden." He assured Roman.

"Not a problem. I'll be sure not to call her that. Arden, is it? I think I can handle Ms. Arden."

"Thanks, Trent. That'll help me & Les out tons. It's hard enough to watch your own words, much less someone else's as well."

As they continued up the trail, Roman enjoyed the companionable silence. Trent seemed like a good guy, one who shared basically the same interests as he did, and Roman always needed another guy to talk to. Alex was his best guy friend, but he was often flying thread, leaving him alone in a house full of women. Kita, his best friend, was often there, too, and while Roman loved her opinions, there was some stuff you just couldn't discuss with a woman.