The Heart of Deception

Chapter 8

Every inch of her backside felt bruised. Muscles she didn’t even know she had, hurt.

“I can’t believe Diane actually rides for pleasure,” winced Lauren, easing her aching body into the spa-bath. With a sigh of relief, she lay back in the hot, fragrant water.

Thousands of bubbles massaged her, creating thick foam around her shoulders. Helen had poured essential oils into the bath, and the relaxing scent of lavender, rose with the steam. Combined with the hot, effervescent water, they slowly alleviated some of the discomfort caused by eight hours in the saddle.

Exhaustion swept over her, as some normality filtered back into her weary legs.

“At least I didn’t fall off,” mumbled Lauren dolefully, trying to console herself.

But, the thought of spending more time astride Lightning the next day, was enough to make her heart sink down into her boots - Diane’s boots to be precise.

Lifting a searing foot out of the water, she surveyed the damage done by the slightly oversized riding boots. The burst blisters, had left raw patches on her heels and toes.

Maybe I should wear two pairs of socks tomorrow, thought Lauren, wriggling her sore toes. Tomorrow, she groaned aloud. Tomorrow, she was going to have to face that wilful animal all over again.

“Give me a motorcycle any day,” she muttered. “At least there’s only one brain at work - mine.”

Learning to ride a horse was harder than Lauren had anticipated, especially when the horse in question was a spirited stallion like Lightning. It had been a sheer battle of wills.

Helen took her down to the stables to teach her how to saddle a horse soon after breakfast. Lauren then spent three hours learning how to control a placid old mare, called Chocolate. Chocolate only moved when given the correct instructions, so Lauren quickly mastered the commands required to ride a horse.

Lightning, however, was a different kettle of fish. After lunch, Helen helped her into the saddle, and held the frisky Palomino until her feet were securely settled in the stirrups. She then slowly led Lightning around the paddock, until Lauren felt confident enough for her to let him go.

Once released, the stallion alternately ignored her, or tried to get rid of her. Lauren clung on for dear life, with both hands and legs. An hour later, he was frothing at the mouth, and she was drenched with sweat.

In a last effort to ditch her, Lightning lowered himself to the ground. Helen saw the action and shouted a warning just in time for Lauren to pull her feet out of the stirrups, and scramble off his back as he began to roll in the dirt.

By this time, she was as mad as a raging bull. The frustrations of the last fortnight came to a head. With a strength that she didn’t know she possessed, she turned on the stallion, physically hauling him to his feet by his bridle.

Helen almost fell from the fence laughing when Lauren threw a temper tantrum. She yelled abuse at Lightning, prodding him on the muzzle with a finger. Still in a foul mood, she flung herself back into the saddle unaided, and continued the battle of wills.

Lightning finally settled down, and allowed her to ride around the small enclosure in a more orderly fashion. The day had finished with her rubbing down the huge stallion.

“Here, a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” said Helen, handing her a bunch of carrots.

“Put pieces of carrot on your flat hand for him to eat, so he doesn’t accidentally take off your fingers,” she instructed, taking in her wary glance. “And try talking to him nicely. Sound friendly. If he likes you, you’ll find him a lot easier to manage.”