Disguised In Lavender

Part 20

True, Ann knew it, Madge had reminded her day after day, but she sat quietly and calmed her bitterness to the sound of Lauren's heartbeat. "Homophobic family?" She guessed, Lauren shifted so that she could examine Ann's eyes, catching the sunlight reflecting in their inky depths. "Yeah, my dad, he kicked me out a while ago. He wouldn't call me, refused to see me, so Mr. Terence taught me to ride when I was a kid and pretty much adopted me. I was thirteen, you've got to be a sick piece of shit to kick your daughter out at thirteen." The remorse in Lauren's voice turned to deep rooted anger as her eyes unfocused, recalling the moment.

Ann let go of her hand, drawing her back to the dorm and pulled her legs together, criss cross. "I think you're right. A sick bastard." She nodded decisively and edged a laugh from Lauren who leaned her cheek on the palm of her hand, silently gazing at her. They could have talked like this before, but it felt as though a barrier had been torn down and it felt so good. "What're you gonna do? It's not like I got to choose, and even if I did, just to be clear, there's something about women in jodhoppers." Lauren framed her hands like a picture and earned a playful slap from Ann who crossed her arms and pretended to be upset. "Guess I better hurry up my riding lessons then, huh?" She giggled, taking a sip from her coffee and leaning back on her hands, her eyes wandered around the room as Lauren fell comfortably silent. "Riding lessons!" Jumping up, startling Ann as she dashed into the bathroom and hurriedly dug around for a brush.

Since the sun had dried the once sloppy ground, Ann and Lauren ran in short sleeved vests towards the stables. As they'd expected, Mr. Terence was pacing with his hands folded over his chest in front of Ducky strung between the cross ties. He looked up as the girls slid to a halt, huffing with their hands on their knees but expectant smiles. "Why is your hair purple? Gosh, Lauren, get his boy tacked up in twenty minutes or I'll shave it all off. Ann, follow me, let's look over the plans." Ann trotted quickly after the instructor, shooting Lauren a thumbs up as she trotted backwards for a stride.

Sweeping her hair back, the rider chuckled to herself and ran a hand down Ducky's velvety muzzle, cooing to him softly. "So who confessed?" Tanner's voice made Lauren jump as he dumped the saddle onto the stand beside her, eyes wide in excitement. "Oh shut up, you're so nosy." She snapped, flipping a brush in her hand and running the bristles across Ducky's already flawless buckskin coat. "She did." Tanner pumped his fist into the air with a whoop, earning him an elbow in the gut as Lauren shoved him backwards. He giggled and hummed a song under his breath 'Laur and Ann sitting in a tree' that got him thrown back into the tack room.

Mr. Terence and Ann were already waiting in the ring by the time Lauren had hauled herself into Ducky's saddle, shifting her seat side to side. Ann had her hair tied back and a shining black mask clipped around her ears, identical to Lauren's helmet. "Just get a feel for him, trot a few laps and start up a canter at C." The teacher instructed, settling his chin on his palm as his critical eyes floated over Lauren and her gelding. He was a stunning mover, collecting his trot almost instantly but he had a hopping extension when Lauren loosened the reins. Getting him into a canter felt choppy and his head bobbed to the rhythm, tossing his rider up and down on the bit.

Ann watched with her lip between her teeth, foot tapping in annoyance until Lauren pulled to a square halt in front of her. Their eyes met and it was clear they both thought the same thing 'we made a mistake'. The rider dismounted and gingerly put up her stirrups, taking down the reins and glancing up at her teacher. "He has issues with control but really all that takes is practice. I'll hold him if you two can set up a few jumps." Ann shuffled sideways as Lauren tossed the reins to Mr. Terence and glanced teasingly over at her. "Don't make me dye your hair green while you're sleeping." She threatened quietly, pointing a finger at Lauren who leaned closer and pushed it down, winking as she trotted off towards the crossrails.

"A triple oxer and box jump, set up a cross rail at X!" Mr. Terence didn't seem to notice how Ann stuck like glue to his student's side and would lean unnecessarily close to whisper to her. Of course, he wasn't very good at socialization unless it was with horses, his burly hand patting the gelding. One thing was for sure, Ducky could jump, Lauren leaned her head back with a long sigh of redemption when she slowed him to a rolling walk. His forelegs curling over the jump had shown off the strength in his hind legs and his pace counting was almost human-like. "I love it, one more time!" She begged, lowering her hand to Ann pleadingly as the trainer took her hand and squeezed it in her palm with a smile.

Mr. Terence had rushed out in heated enthusiasm to sign the final papers to lease the buckskin gelding. "Let's put him on a long line and see how he goes, lord knows you'll be out with him tonight." Lauren smirked, spinning in the saddle and kicking out her stirrups to shoot finger guns at Ann who simply rolled her eyes. She walked up to Ducky with the long reins coiled around her shoulder and expertly dragged them through his bridle. "For someone who can't ride, you're really good at everything else." Ducky bobbed his head as if in agreement and the trainer burst out laughing, unable to show off her dimples.

"I'm really good at everything." She agreed, wiggling her eyebrows at Lauren who slapped a hand over her mouth but leaned precariously close. "Show me." Shivers crawled beneath Ann's skin at the older girl's tone and her smile instantly dropped, her eyes locked on Lauren's. "How's it going girls?" Mr. Terence's booming exclamation tore her gaze from the rider and made the purple haired wiggle herself upright, hands on Ducky's withers. Ann's face was invisibly flushed and she sheepishly swept her hair back and turned away from the instructor.