Disguised In Lavender

Part 1

Dozens of stars scattered like miniature jewels across the lake, turning the inky depths into glowing palaces of fish. The trees surrounding the road down to the lake bent out of the way of the moon to allow its shimmering light as a guide. Pounding hooves filled the silence as the underbrush swayed with suddenly commotion. Water splashed up around the steel dappled mare's sides and lapped greedily at the rider's coal polished boots. A whoop of excitement left the girl's chest as she let the reins go slack and threw out her arms to the world. Her heels stayed planted on the mare's side, urging her through the eager as it was thrown over the banks.

Black mane mingled with the platinum blonde hair as the girl swung her arms around the mares neck. Slowing to a halt in the center of the lake, horse and rider let out an exhausted sigh and let their shoulders relax. If Lauren hadn't dropped her reins, the mare would have tugged them from her grasp to slurp the water between her bit. The night air was freezing, a slight breeze ruffling the leather vest around Lauren's shoulders.

A scatter of hooves made the girl swing her head around the way she'd come, squinting into the darkness. Mountain lions weren't uncommon in the dusty midst of Utah where Lauren lived, her mind running with imagination. Sharp claws piercing the flank of her mare as she reared up, tossing Lauren and crushing her. A shiver ran up her spine and she tightened her grasp on the reins, making the mare toss her head in discomfort. The tightness in the rider's seat was nearly unbearable, shocks of fear made the mare's ears Twitch.

"What do you think you're doing out here?" Lauren let the reins slip from her fingers, allowing a small scoff of relief as the rider skidded to a halt kn the sandy back. He was a slim man, the neon strips on his riding helmet illuminating his olive colored skin and anxious brown eyes. "Riding, trying to forget I flunked my Calculus test." Lauren called back, edging her mate around and letting her arms swing down, noticing the disdain in the man's glare. "Is this going to happen often?" He grumbled, picking up her reins in his own hand and clicking his gelding forward. Lauren didn't answer, she let her gaze wander back to the clouds that began to thicken.

Tossing her hair back over her shoulder, she let her hips swing loosely with the mare's bouncing gate. Brilliant light glowed against the peeking sun from the lanterns hanging from the gates and dorm doors. Winchester Manor Riding School was one of the most prestigious in Salt Lake, Home to nearly 5,000 riders. Lauren felt her fingers tangle back into the turns as the teacher beside her drool then and wheeled to face her.

"I won't do it again, I know ours dangerous and against the school rules." She recited numbly, refusing to meet his eyes and instead fascinating herself with a but caught in the saddle leather. "That isn't what I want to hear. Lauren, you go on and on about that place but it's anything else that never catches your eye." He paused for a moment, hot gaze drawing Lauren's russet eyes towards him as the early light ignited them into shards of fire. "And what, Mr. Terence?" The teacher raised an eyebrow at the harsh use of his name, his hands tightening on the reins. "You're unruly and honestly there's nothing I can do about it. That's just me though, what are we to do about you?" He sighed, shaking his head as rage filled Lauren's throat.

The young girl gathered her reins and kicked her mare forward, ignoring her teachers yells of protest as she sped down the cobblestone lane.