Disguised In Lavender

Part 47

"Lauren Blaine, we're ready for you." The judges voice echoed, once again it was Mr. Smith, he must be one of the judges. If that was true then what the blond boy in the stables had been right, Willerman worked with Smith constantly. They were brothers in law through Smith's older sister and had become inseparable when they began judging. That sister was Lauren's first trainer, the one who helped her buy gravity from Mr. Smith. Ducky tugged his head forward, drawing back Lauren's attention as she clicked him forward with her tongue. Entering the ring in a straight line at X was perfect, Ducky didn't have to see to know that. Dressage would be tricky, Lauren felt the gelding beneath her falter in his halt, not square enough. She gave her formal salute and regathered her reins, taking her time, there was no time to rush.

X to B, the turn was simple, Ducky did well and opened into a steady trot around the ring to H where he collected. Simple, slow and steady, Lauren focused on keeping her heels pressed down, she was confident enough in her posture. Stay still, after the match you want to hear the judging mother mutter 'the horse did all the work'. Snake turn, across the entire ring through X without a loop like a raindrop being drawn in the sand. Begin canter in the corner of F, get on the right lead until C, right in front of the jury and their flashy cars. Switch lead but not direction, it's choppy, especially on Ducky, but it would mean penalty on Lauren to over correct. Back and forth, switch leads in a one-two step constantly until the third pass of C. Easy, slow to trot at B then walk at F, turn in at the entrance, A to X, halt, final salute.

In a second it was over, Lauren felt her heart skip in excitement as she reached down a hand to Ducky's neck. She let herself relax in the saddle as the judges waited for their cue to let their riders leave the rings. "Scores will be posted after the eventing shows." A different man spoke this time, one who's voice wasn't recognizable to Lauren. She gave a final salute and exited the ring, letting Ducky's head hang again as she searched for Ann. "Laur! Over here, we got snacks!" Tanner called, rushing down the hill towards the rings with Ann trailing more slowly, a proud smile on her face. Lauren rolled her eyes as she guided Ducky over towards them, ignoring the waves from Mr. Terence. After every ring he always wanted to talk to his riders but he'd just have to catch up with Dalla first. "We should work on round stops before the show jumping course." Ann muttered under her breath as Lauren tied the reins steadily around her fist with a slow nod. They may have been dating but at shows they both had a job, Lauren had to win and Ann had to get her there. "Chips or Crackers?" Tanner asked, not even noticing Lauren and Ann standing so close to each other since he'd grown used to it. "Chips." Ann chirped happily, lifting a hand to her girlfriend and helping her down, folding their fingers together.

Show Jumping didn't start until after the lunch break which only lasted a half hour but it was fine. One of the best parts of show days was seeing all the picnic blankets spread over the hill like colorful polka dots. "Mr. Terence is avoiding you." Ann chuckled as she opened another bag of chips, laying idly on Lauren's lap with her hand shielding her eyes. Lauren looked over with a smirk, sure enough, the teacher was slinking around with a frown in avoidance. "He'll come around when I beat Dalla." Tanner made a face, setting down his Capri Sun with a raise of his eyebrows in a not so subtle act of disgust. "What?" Ann sat up, turning her neck until it popped, looking back at Lauren who shrugged and leaned over her shoulder. "Well Dalla's ahead by twenty. The most you can earn in Show is forty points." Tanner explained nervously, fumbling with his phone to avoid looking either girl in their eyes as it sank in.

Forty points, Lauren shifted nervously in the saddle, her eyes following Ann as she ran to the finish line with the other trainers. Tanner had gotten up and left when she sat in shock, the horror of that reality sinking into a burning ball in her stomach. "I'll be fine after college." The memory was so sharp, that was exactly the lie she was trying to prove to Ann with this win. Her eyes found Dalla in the crowd, her dark brown hair tied back in two long braids. "Forty points." Lauren muttered slowly as she wiped the sweat off her palms onto the seam of her jodhoppers. "Dalla Simmerman, first up." The judges called over the loudspeakers from the hooded tent directly across from the Cross country one. Dalla looked around as though she couldn't recognize her own name, but there was a look of narcissism rather than confusion. She knew she could win, that look made Lauren feel itchy and like needles were pieced to her skin.

It goes without saying that Dalla and her mare were a perfect match, as they stepped out anyone could see they worked together for a while. Unlike Ducky though, the mare gnawed over the bit and whipped her head against Dalla's commands. "Get your hold, idiot." Lauren muttered as Dalla stepped up to the starting line and dipped her head to the judges. Gross, everything the brunette did made Lauren sick to her stomach, even bowing the absolute minimum. The fog horn blasted and Dalla started off at a rolling canter towards the first jump. A three pole high standard which was about the highest jump in the course to start out. Dalla's mare clipped the first rail and made it tumble into the sand, forcing the horse's nose down in frustration. "Oh come on, get a grip." Lauren sighed, stretching back with a slight flicker of hope at Dalla's own expense which still didn't feel great.

Next jump, clipped, next turn, missed jump, Dalla was fuming now, you could tell by the way she jerked her hands. Lauren wanted to jump off Ducky and run out screaming that the mare was going to buck her off. Purely foreshadowing, the duo faced the next jump, nearly the center of the ring, a brush jump laced with purple flowers. The mare dipped her head for the foliage, twisting the reins from Dalla's hands and sliding to a stop. The rider went flying, everyone in the rider's circle gasped but had no idea what to do. Even Lauren slapped a hand over her mouth in shock at the shrillness of Dalla's scream and the static over the speakers. Two falls in one show was rare, especially at this level of competition and with the stakes of the end of year. Mr. Terence came running out with the hospital staff to grab the mare, it was far too funny to Lauren that he didn't go to Dalla first.