Bette shrugged her shoulders, and accepted Joe’s help in mounting Gold.  She fixed her riding helmet firmly on, took the reins, rubbed Gold’s side, then led Gold out towards Lauren, and told Joe, "I’m not sure how long we’ll be, since this is the first time I’ll be riding with someone, Joe."

He nodded then waved goodbye as she let Gold assume a quicker walking pace to join Baker.

As they joined Lauren, Bette asked, "Is there a particular route you’d like to take?"

"No … I’ll follow your lead.  Wherever you want to take me," Lauren smiled, then licked her lips.

"Ok," Bette answered, puzzled still by Lauren’s sudden appearance at the stables this morning.  "We’ll only be in full gallop after we cross the first few fences, alright?  And from there, depending on the footing, we can go on long, hard ride, or we may have to go more slowly, and take things easy, if that’s ok with you?"

"Nice and slow at the start, then a long, hard ride after or a slower, easier pace later … got it," Lauren answered smiling more broadly now.

Bette shook her head with a smirk. Lauren seems to be a real tease.  But she seems to know her way around horses.  I hope this turns out to be an enjoyable ride, at least.  For all the explaining I’ll have to give Tina after!

"Oh, and Bette?," Lauren called out as she and Bette increased their horses’ paces to a trot.  "Happy Valentine’s Day!"

Bette shook her head again, and with a smirk at Lauren, she tapped on Gold’s sides with both of her heels to urge him to a quicker trot.

Several hours later, they were trotting back to the stables.  Both Gold and Baker were snorting, breathing deeply, lathered in sweat.

"Wow!  That was a real workout!," Lauren exclaimed.  She was rubbing Baker affectionately while Bette was doing the same with Gold.

They both dismounted as Joe approached.  "Wow, you ladies sure know how to work it!," he said with a slight shake of the head, eyeing the two horses, who were settling down, but clearly in need of a good lather and rub down.

"I am exhausted!," Lauren sighed, as she walked  ahead, pulling on Baker’s reins.  Her groomsman came up to take the reins from her.  She bent over and rested her hands on her knees.