"Ordinarily I would brush Baker down myself, but today I am … wiped!," she exclaimed.

Her groomsman laughed, then said, "Well your car is here, Miss Lauren, so if you’d like to head home, I’ll brush Baker down, and take him back to the stables."

She gripped his forearm, "Would you please?  Thank you, thank you."

She kissed her hand and pressed it on Baker’s forehead, "Baker, buddy.  I will see you later this week, ok?"

Bette was shaking her head as she fed Gold some carrots and watched Lauren and Baker.  She turned to Joe, "Um .. Joe, I forgot, I had to call Mrs. Peabody’s driver earlier while we were out in the field… I guess we were having too much fun during the ride…"

"Bette, can I take you back to the city?," Lauren asked.

While Bette hesitated, she continued, "It’s no problem at all.  And it saves Peggy’s driver from having to make a trip out here … when we’re both headed in the same direction."

Bette pursed her lips, then turned to Joe, "Joe, would you please call and tell him that I’ll be riding back with Lauren, instead?"

Joe nodded his head as Bette rubbed Gold affectionately one more time.

"Did you bring a change of clothes?," Lauren asked as they walked towards her car.  "I can’t imagine you getting dirty at all, though.  Look at me!  I’m a mess.  While you have barely a spot on you."

Bette laughed, "Oh, I can get plenty dirty."

Lauren reached out to wipe off a smudge of mud on Bette’s collar, near the base of her neck.

"How dirty?," she asked with a naughty smile.  Bette gripped her hand before it got to her collar, and looked at her with narrowing eyes.  "Dirtier."   

Lauren smiled, "Your clothes?"  Bette shook her head, "They were in Peggy’s car."

"Oh, I’m sorry," Lauren answered.  She motioned to the driver to pop the trunk.

"I may have an extra shirt or something in here," she said.  She unzipped her garment bag, and felt around.  She pulled out one shirt, and gave it to Bette. She smiled triumphantly at Bette as she pulled out another one.  They each shrugged off their tweed jackets.

Bette motioned that she was heading inside to change and shook her head with a smile as Lauren gave her a mock-disappointed pout.