Bloody Mary

Chapter One

"If you wish to be the 'King of the Jungle', it's not enough to act like a king. You must be the king. There can be no doubt. Because doubt causes chaos and one's own demise." 

⚜

"Ellie, I swear, if you don't keep your heels down I will attach weights to your ankles" Lydia lightly threatens the young rider in front of her. The 5'10" blond pivots on her heels, her blue eyes trained on the younger brunette girl riding the dapple grey mare in front of her. "Keep your back straight... chin up... shoulders back and down. Posture. Posture. Posture" Lydia instructs her.

"Mrs. Smith, your husband is on the line" One of the stable hands says from the arena gate. Lydia raises a hand to her assistant while keeping the majority of her attention on her lesson rider.

"Take her over the poles again" Lydia orders walking along side her as the rider does as instructed. Ellie trots her mount over the series of poles laying on the ground. "Beautiful" Lydia praises. "Alright, slow her down, let her rest. When you're ready, dismount and remember to brush her out before putting her in the stall"

"Yes, ma'am"

"You did good today, I'll see you in a few days" Lydia compliments before making her way towards the gate. She grabs the phone from her friend's outstretched hand. She thanks her quietly before pressing the phone to her ear.  "Ray?"

"I'm here, love" Raymond responds making Lydia grin. "How did the lesson go?" He asks knowing why it took longer than usual to get a hold of her.

"She still has work to do before she begins jumping but she's progressing wonderfully" Lydia nods.

Raymond smiles enjoying the sound of pride coming from her voice. He knew Lydia loved her job, loved her horses and her lessons. He enjoyed hearing her talk about it. 

Whenever she spoke of her day her eyes would light up and sparkle, her hands would make wild gestures as she tries to explain something to him and the smile on her lips rarely left. 

"Are you on your way home?"

"Yes, I was wondering what time you thought you'd be getting in, I'll make dinner tonight" He tells her making her grin even wider.

Compared to Raymond, Lydia is a terrible cook. She knew her way around the kitchen and knew enough about cooking to keep them alive. Raymond, on the other hand, enjoyed it so much that Lydia knew he could open his own restaurant or cafe if he so wished.

"I don't know, won't be until late" Lydia says the excitement in her voice dimming. "I have another lesson and a mountain of paper work I was hoping to put a dent into, I've put it off long enough"

"Bring your work home, I'll keep you company, encourage you" Raymond says with a smile. Lydia laughs a little bit.

"The only work I'll be able to get done is whatever I do while you cook, after that you do a little less encouragement and a lot more distraction"

"You've never complained about my distractions before" Lydia rolls her eyes as she reaches her office. She slips in and closes the door behind her. She glances at the clock noticing she has a half an hour before her next lesson.

"That's because I'm a natural procrastinator unlike my father, but I really need to get this work done. I just concentrate better on this stuff at the office. I'll give you a ring when I'm about to leave" Lydia promises.

"Don't work too late, if you get too tired call me, I'll come pick you up" Raymond says sternly. Lydia smiles not failing to miss the protectiveness in his voice.