Disguised In Lavender

Part 35

The breakthrough tore tons of pressure from their shoulders, the show seemed that much closer. Deciding not to spoil the luck, Lauren swung herself down and ran to Ann, pulling the shorter girl into her arms. The trainer flung her arms around her girlfriend and buried her face in her neck, kicking her feet up. "Ready for a blue ribbon, darling?" Lauren whispered to Ann, a hand stroking along the top of her head as she set her back on the ground. "Ready as I'll ever be." A sharp ring made them both jump apart, Lauren grabbing Ducky's loose reins as he tossed his head up frightfully. Mr. Terence walked by the ring, a silver stick slamming back and forth against a rusted triangle bell. "Meet in the stables, please ladies." He waved them after him and went back to disturbing the peace with his horrendous noise. Ann looked up at Lauren in curiosity, the rider just met her glance with just as much confusion.

They jogged back to the stable, coaxing Ducky to trot between them with his head held high. When they arrived, a small group of riders were huddled in a semi circle around their instructor. Mr. Terence motioned for Lauren to hand Ducky to one of the younger boys who reached for his reins. Joining the group, Ann nudged her towards Tanner who made a point of not standing beside Dalla. "Stand by your horse's stall for inspection." The instructor's voice was crisp and he carried a show crop at his hip, directly in line with his polished spurs. Ann moved off first, Lauren staying a stride behind her with Tanner jogging to keep up at her side. "I'm telling you, unless you get her kicked off there's going to be a fight on the trains." He muttered, shooting a look at Dalla through slitted eyes as she vanished into a group of her friends.

Lauren rolled her eyes, stopping at Ducky's stall where she let her arm slide over Ann's shoulders. Tanner pursed his lips with his hands anxiously fidgeting with the seam in his pocket, he stood straight backed beside Dalla. Shows often loaded late but it was nearing midnight and the train ride to Yellowstone was four hours. "Let's just be glad we load early." Ann sighed, tilting her head to see down to the final few stalls where Dalla was holding the lead to her mare. "Like she won't try to find us." Distaste counted Lauren's tongue and left a hollow feeling in her gut, so much rode on the shoulders of winning this show.

Dalla would be suspended, Mr. Terence could help her file another restraining order on her dad, things would be okay. Ann didn't answer, she bit her lip and turned back towards Ducky, cringing as he tried to nose her for treats. His big brown eyes blinked sorrowfully at the two girls as if he understood, a long sigh blowing their hair back. "Easy captain. The trailer's will be here soon." Ducky vanished back into his stall, his dark tail swishing back and forth calmly without a care.

The first trailer to pull up had 'Bortle' written in big blue letters across the side, a makeshift sign stuck to the windshield. An older boy who had the reins to a hot headed tobiano mare hopped into the front seat with his mother. "Bortle riding Saving Grace. He's new and Gracey's as old as the sun, they'll be easy." Ann mumbled almost to herself, watching the trailer pull away with the crackle of flying gravel. Lauren smiled and put her arm around her girlfriend, leaning down so that her chin rested on the trainer's shoulder. "And what're my stats?" A big red trailer with chipped paint pulled into view just as Lauren asked, coughing to a halt at the doors. "Nosy and with a caffeine addiction." Ann pinched the rider's nose between her thumb and forefinger, letting her go with a giggle. Lauren shot her a mock glare as she rubbed her nose and pushed Ducky's stall door open.

Obviously Ann wouldn't want to help load him and he was easy enough to handle, the boy who had taken him did a good job. His hock shields were on tight and the padded blanket covered to the center of his oiled and plated braids. "Hey, Ms. Blain, purty lil fellow you gotcha." A man with a stubbly beard rolled down the window, his stained yellow teeth curled around a cigarette. "My name's Ann." Ann smiled, popping her head to the front seat as the driver turned to stare at her in confusion, dark eyes wide. Lauren scoffed, her hand loosening on Ducky's lead as she walked him up the ramp, his shoes clicking on the metal. He dunked his head into the bag of hay right away, tugging on his halter as his rider struggled to tie it on. "You a nice lady too, what put ya with Laur?" Lauren rolled her eyes as she swung the window to Ducky's stall closed, hauling herself into the shelf seat.

Ann laughed, shifting sideways on the layered blanket laid out across the bunk bed like compartment between driver and horse. "Call it destiny?" She tilted her head, lifting her hand to lift Lauren's chin closer to her, squishing her cheeks. "How poetic, darling." The driver let out a booming laugh, breaking into coughs on the smoke in his lungs, spitting a chunk of tobacco out the window. "Four hours to Yellowstone, 'ere we go." He ran a gnarled hand over his buzz cut greying hair, sniffing and sticking the cigar back in his cracked lips.

Ann sighed, her hand falling to Lauren's thigh as the trailer pulled from the barn with a lunge, creaking at the effort. "At this rate we'll break down in thirty minutes." The trainer grumbled, curling into a ball with her head on Lauren's lap, letting her eyes close peacefully. "Am I that comfortable?" Lauren asked, running her fingers through Ann's long hair, letting it fall in golden waves back down. Ann nodded, her breath evening out as the trailer passed the bright lights of the gates to Winchester