Disguised In Lavender

Part 46

Adrenaline was beginning to cut in, Lauren started to sway with Ducky's gallop, her hips pushing her forward. She tugged the reins tight so they made a mark in the gelding's sweat covered neck. Through the water again, taking the jump in instead of out this time and landing with a heavy splash. Lauren could hear the shouts of other contestants coming from the trees mingle with the pumping blood in her ears. Out of the water and facing the tight turns around gates, Ducky spun with ease, tucking his hind neatly. Over the coffin, stretch further for the next one, higher over the guard. "Get." Lauren felt her voice break as she gave the command, releasing the reins around her wrist. Ducky took his head willingly and sped forward, his neck almost level with the ground and his legs a blur. Tangling her fingers in his mane made the course feel just like it did when she ran with Gravity.

Thousands of years ago Lauren could have been a queen racing her mare through the waves of Camargue. Another mile and they'd be done, Ducky was panting and frothy spit flew back against his already dripping neck. Lauren stood in her stirrups, eyes wide as she saw the finish line, Mr. Terence stood screaming and jumping. That was normal, he always came to the finish line for his students, especially Lauren during shows. Beside him was Ann, her hands cupped around her mouth as she yelled something that was swallowed by the wind. "See her." Lauren whispered to Ducky, crouching low over him and smiling as his ear cocked back in recognition. "Let's get her." She twisted the reins and let even more slip through her fingers, whistling sharply as Ducky skipped into his second head. The duo blasted past the finish line, Lauren sitting tall and regaining her reins as Ducky shook his head.

When they'd crossed the line, Lauren had heard Ann screaming, her voice hoarse from the entire course. "Just like in the lavender fields." Her words were clear, the memory was even more crystal, Lauren broke into a wide smile. "Five minutes, 42.8 seconds." The judges called over the microphones in crackling monotone voices. Lauren halted Ducky with a pat, reaching down her hand to Tanner who bounded over first, whooping. Mr. Terence barged over after him with a fatherly clap, the one where it's slow but comes with a smile. "Lauren!" Just as she dismounted, Ann wrapped her arms around her, burying her face in her shoulder. The smell of sweat and whatever coffee was served that morning wafting from the trainer. "Why're you so hot?" Lauren asked, pulling away and pushing back a strand of curled blonde hair stuck with drizzling sweat. "Do you not know how high those jumps are? I almost screamed." Tanner nodded in agreement as though he'd been the one Ann had screamed at.

Once the cross country section was through, you didn't have to wait the entire time but no one cared for the practice arena. Lauren sat on the railing, kicking her boots over Ducky's head as he guzzled mouthfuls of water. Ann sat beside her, resting her head on the rider's shoulder and chewed comfortably on a sandwich. Maybe one or two new riders, maybe from the neighboring town for a walk, trot, canter tournament. "Dressage starts in two, let's get out here, kiddo." Mr. Terence walked up to the fence, sticking himself between Ann and Lauren with a sip from a capri sun box. "Yes sir." Lauren jumped down, placing her hands steadying on Ducky's withers, twisting the new reins around his neck. Tanner had come by earlier to tack up Ducky and Dalla's mare while she probably argued with the judges. She'd nicked a log and lost those points but the mare balked out at the water and she was disqualified.

Maybe it wasn't personal to Lauren, but it was to Dalla, they were rivals even if they weren't at the same show. Ducky looked much nicer in a dressage saddle than a cross country one, considering his unusual buckskin coat. "Dressage isn't as scary." Lauren assured, patting Ann's knee at the grim look crossing her pursed lips and widened eyes. "Laur, can we get going please, judges are calling for finalists." Dressage usually begins first and ends first, meaning it's mostly the second course for eventers after cross country. Dalla would have gone first, she wasn't necessarily concerned about her mare taking rests. Lauren patted Ducky's neck, feeling his neatly pleated coat and running her hand down to his hocks, the mud combed free. "Riders up!" Above the speakers came the judge's harshly rapid voice, Mr. Smith, Lauren knew him, she'd bought Gravity from him when he worked at the auction.

Mr. Terence stood nervously at Ducky's head, checking his watch at his rider's willing pokiness. "Finish line?" Lauren asked, lengthening her stirrups and looking up at Ann who had jumped off the fence and stood beside her. "Of course, darling." She answered with a smooth hum to her voice, taking Lauren's hand as she leaned on her shoulder. "Come on, Lauren, Dalla's already riding!" Mr. Terence sighed, waving his arms for Ann to come over and leave Lauren to mount up at the bell. Blowing a kiss, the rider mounted up and gathered Ducky's reins more tightly than in the cross country ring. Mr. Terence motioned hurriedly for Lauren to follow him, nodding to Ann as she followed Tanner the opposite way.

Letting Ducky on a long rein down the slope towards the fields, Mr. Terence kept a keen eye on his other students. The end of year competitions were always some of his favorites as a teacher but not when he had to say goodbye. Of course the teacher knew all about Lauren and Dalla's rivalry, he'd had enough ranting from Tanner to be sure of it. He could also be sure that Lauren wouldn't put herself at risk, especially not in a dressage ring before show jumping. "Hey, over here." Lauren called, waving for the teacher to come back to reality as she shifted in her elongated stirrups. Each ring, of which there were five in a neatly raked row, was watched by three judges behind the tinted glass of their cars. "I'll be watching from the sidelines, good luck, ride right." Mr. Terence waved a brisk goodbye as some older teachers waved him over, familiar from other competitions. Lauren took a slow breath as she settled into the saddle awaiting her name to be called by the judges. She laid a hand on Ducky's neck and stretched over to see Dalla exit the ring, the brunette hadn't seen her.