Disguised In Lavender

Part Three

Evaluations, the word shot through Lauren's mind without any warning, this was an evaluation for Ann. Tall white men with scraggly beards had come in for the same reason before but there had always been other riders. Personal trainers far too new though many others had them following at shows like shadows. "You've met before?" Ann twirled a lock of hair between her fingers, eyes glued to Lauren with deadly precision. "You could call it that, something along the lines of a meeting." She answered in a small voice, it was near the sound of a river lapping calmly at its banks with the depth of an ocean miles away.

Lauren suppressed a shiver and tucked her elbows against her ribs, switching leads effortlessly and swinging her hips as she lowered from two point. Ann touched her waist, quickly crossing her arms as if the memory of Lauren catching her wasn't something she enjoyed. Maybe not, Lauren huffed under her breath, slowing back to a trot and picking up her diagonal. So what? She's grabbed her out of habit and it wasn't like they'd kissed or anything. Virtually it was nothing to remember since they'd had so little in common before

Looming cross rails drew Lauren's attention back, collecting the reins and tapping the gelding's sides gently. Her eyes flashed towards the second jump, a set of triple oxers, a novice height she took with ease. Slowing back to a walk, she let out a slow breath, realizing her cheeks were numb from smiling. Patting the gelding's sweaty neck, Lauren felt the familiar sense of pride wash over her. "Amazing, walk him around a few times, bend him around the turns and half him from C to X." Mr Terence clapped quietly, pointing around the ring to both points as he pulled his chair back from the barn dog who had hobbled over to nap on it.

Ann stayed quiet, fiddling with her mask in a vain attempt to keep her eyes from meeting Lauren's. The rider pressed into her heels and let the stirrups drop off, laying the reins gently on the gelding's neck and swinging by onto the ground. Mr Terence was handing Ann a play card twice as large as an index card, Lauren knew what the held. Each card has a number on it, one to fifteen, fifteen being the highest and one being the worst. Her stomach began to twist as she slipped the reins over the gelding's dipped head like it never had.

Being in shows all her life hadn't made Lauren feel this nervous about getting a score, even when she was younger. Mr Terence pulled his usual Thirteen, smiling approvingly and making a supportive fist as Lauren turned her attention to Ann. Not hardly caring about her teacher's number, her eyes scanned Ann, not exactly examining but taking in her physique. Her eyes were more visible with the mask shielding her face, almond shaped with slight creases at the edges, thick eyelashes that batted seriously as she flipped through the cards, high cheekbones hardly hidden by the fabric.

What Lauren had thought was straight blonde hair looked slightly curled, perhaps because of the ring dust but not as thin as her own. Ann glanced up and instantly forced the taller girl before her to blink, making her shift uncomfortably. Without a word, she held up her card, eyes shifting to the long barn exit as she flipped it around.