The Ridge Farm Summer

The Mirror

“If you hold on too tightly, you will lose him.” I said smashing what was left my cigarette to the ground.

 “What?” Vivienne asked, looking over at me from the back of her horse.

 “The reigns. If you hold the reigns too tightly, that horse will not follow you. Slack it up. Leave enough slack in the reigns that he can move freely, but let him know that you’re there.” I explained to her and watched her loosen her grip. I shook my head. “More.” I shook my head again.  Do you trust him?” I asked of her. Vivienne shook her head. “Then loosen them more.” I waited as she dropped even more slack. “There ya’ go. If there is trust, you won’t have to hold so tightly. It’s true for that horse and it’s true for a man. Never forget that.” I winked at her.

 Chrissie, Mary and Veronica laughed at me. I was inside the riding ring with Vivienne and the other girls were standing on the outside of the fence watching us. The recording session the previous day had gone well. Four tracks had been successfully recorded and the previous evenin’ Freddie, Brian, John and Roger couldn’t stop talking about the thrill of hearin’ the playback. Today, they were rehearsing to get ready for about four or five tracks to be recorded. They had been in the barn for three hours. Vivienne and I had been in the ring for about the same time. Mary, Chrissie and Veronica had been in the house and had only recently come down to the riding ring with us.

 “Now, see how he responds to you.” I stepped away from Vivienne to watch. One thing about her was that even though Vivienne was a bit of a pain in the arse; she sure took direction well. I watched as instantly that horse’s demeanor changed.  “There ya’ go. Now, take him around the ring. Make him trot.”

 “Okay.” Vivienne answered me.

 “Hey, where ya’ been?” I asked of Mary, Veronica and Chrissie as I walked over toward the fence.

 “Just doin’ some laundry. Well…a lot of laundry actually. My god, Lydia! How much shit did Roger bring? Half of that load that’s in now is his crap and we haven’t even been here a week!” Chrissie said.

 “ ‘Ey…’Ey don’t even get me started on all the stuff Roger packed. It’s ridiculous.” Mary rolled her eyes.

 “Oh, Lydia. Sweetie…come in to my room. It looks like a department store exploded and then threw up on itself.” Mary shook her head. Chrissie laughed.

 “I somehow believe that.” She said smiling.

 “Vivienne, take him faster now. Loosen up! Ya’ body is too stiff!” I yelled at her.

 “Hey! Poker tonight. What do ya’ think?” Chrissie asked. I presumed she was directly the question to all of us.

 “What goes with the poker?” I asked still watching Vivienne carefully. “No! No, Vivienne. Come in. It’s all wrong!” I yelled at her again and she trotted my way again.

 “Anything you want.” Mary said excitedly. I laughed at her.

 “In that case, it’s poker night ladies!” I assured them. Vivienne had approached me. “Get off. Come on.” Vivienne hopped off the saddle. I faced her and sized her up. “You don’t move your hips with your horse. That’s another problem you have. Vivienne looked puzzled.