27 Fall Again
More girls joined the Still Waters Riders, some brand new. After Labor Day, Mary got things organized.
“Welcome, everyone, especially you new girls. Jane and May, I asked you to make a list of things new people need to know. Now, would you please take time this week to explain to new members what we do, and what to expect?
“As all you veterans know, and for the benefit of the new people, we use a system of learning called ‘mentoring´. We ask a person to get good at something, then take responsibility for making sure everyone else is as good as they are. So, Jane and May will be bringing our new members up to speed.
“For the rest of you, you did a great job last year, and we want to go out and do it all over again this year. Only better. Here´s my plan. Sally and Millie, please come to us next week with some ideas for a new demonstration. It has to be something everyone can handle, including the new people, but it also needs to show the advanced skills you old hands have learned. Use your imagination – I´m open to anything.
“Next item. Last year, we had six of you who competed in junior events at shows. This year, I want more of you in the ring. If you´re good enough to ride in the demo, you´re good enough to compete.”
“What if someone doesn´t want to?” someone asked.
“Hi, ‘Someone´,” Mary grinned and waved. “Glad to see you back. Don´t worry, any of you. I´m not going to force anyone into the ring. I want you in the ring because I discovered, when I started to do shows, that until you´re competing you can slope along. You can be lazy and you can let things go by, not do the difficult things. Competition changes that. If you want to be really good on horseback, not just competent, you need to compete. I don´t mean you have to win – that´s great – I mean I want you to compete some, try it and see what it´s like. If you have a problem with it, talk to me or to one of the others. No one will be forced to compete.
“Next thing, you´ll notice the building next door, the old cowshed, has been worked on. It´s going to be our new headquarters next week. There´ll be lockers and showers, so you can clean up after mucking out ...”
“Or aerobics” a voice called.
“Or, after Saul´s gotten you all sweaty. Better study facilities, too. Give a hand to Ken Chance. He´s the one who´s done it for us.” Applause followed.
“Now, since I´ve threatened you about competing, I have to tell you something else. As you know, Still Waters people have done very well in the competitions you´ve – we´ve – entered. The six of you who competed last year and this summer have been climbing in the finishes. I´ve done all right, too.”
There was a murmur of laughter.
“Some people,” Mary aimed a phony glare at Sarah, “have said I need to compete in a bigger ring. So, I´m going to go out to Denver in January and enter a few things at the National Western Stock Show. Anyone who wants to go with me – for fun or to compete – let me know later. There are several of you who could do well there. I´m also going to talk to them about having the Still Waters Riders do a demo a year from January. God knows how we´ll get you all out there, but first things first. We need an invitation.”
Applause and cheers. “Go get ‘em Mary.” Someone called out.
“I´m going to. Count on it.”
.oOo.
“Sarah,” Ken said, “I´ve been looking at the stable list.”
“And?”
“I think it would be a good idea to improve our string of horses. There are a couple that are pretty well tapped out, and some who´ve just been in a stable too long.”
“True. Where are you going to get new ones? Around here?”
“No, I thought I´d ask Dan and Consuela to hunt us up a few good, inexpensive, cattle-hardened horses.”
“What will you do with what we want to get rid of? They´re not dog food yet.”
“Heck no. I thought I´d have Dan and Consuela take them out west, see if they can peddle them, or rent them to the ranches. They are quarter horses; there´s a few years of range work left in them. The one or two that are too old, we can just pasture.”
“Not bad, Ken. I like it.”
“Breeding barn should be ready by Christmas, Tom says. This time next year, you´ll be a mother, Sarah, if I don´t get some foals in sooner.”
“I´m ready.”
.oOo.
Mary and Jane were sitting on the patio in the warm October sunshine. Mary had taken to wearing nothing but a tee-shirt when Jane came round, which now happened once or twice a week. Today, Jane sat in the sunshine while they talked, finally pulled off her tee-shirt. Mary said nothing, continuing with their discussion of dating and boys.
There was a commotion at the door, and Iris came in, pulling her carry-on after her. She was, of course, dressed professionally.
“Hi, Mary. Hi Jane.”
She sat down at the table. Jane looked her over. “You really look great.”
“I kind of have to, Jane. These are my overalls, working clothes. I meet with people and tell them about our VeeCees and stuff. Get them to write about us, buy our designs.”
She took off her jacket. The ruffles that had shown through her suit jacket were real, the rest of the blouse was virtual. Jane did a double take.
“Wow!”
“Like it? I think it´s very pretty. And no one notices until I take my jacket off.”
“You mean you take it off ...”
“Well, of course. Everyone I talk to wants to know what our things look like, so I show them. Of course, when I´m not talking business, I keep my jacket on. The only real problem is that, when I travel alone, there´s no one to help me put the back on.” She turned around. Her back was bare. “I either have to wear the same blouse the whole trip, or get by like this. But most women don´t use VeeCees the way I do.”
Iris got up from her chair and took off her skirt. “I´m wearing VeeSes, too. I keep these panties on and I don´t very often take my skirt off, but it´s important that people know I wear our products. Right now, though, I´m going to take a shower.”
Iris took her clothes and suitcase into the bedroom, stripped off her panties and went into the bathroom. She showered, the virtual clothing washing down the drain.
Jane watched Iris without a word. Mary watched Jane. Finally, she turned to Mary.
“You´re right. Watching people take showers is neat. She´s gorgeous, isn´t she? I wish I looked like that.”
“You´re very pretty, Jane, and you´re developing a very nice body. Keeping fit the way you do helps a lot. Wouldn´t Tim love to see you now.”
“Yeah, you bet he would,” she preened, raising her arms, thrusting her young breasts forward. “But, no way. I like him, but not that much. I like holding hands with him, and I might let him kiss me one of these days, but that´s about it.”
“Well, one of these days you´ll want to try something more.”
“Yeah, I guess so. But, like you said, I´ve got plenty of time. I´ll wait until I feel like I´m ready.”
Iris turned off the shower and walked, dripping, onto the patio. “Swim anyone?” she said, and dove into the pool. Jane looked at Mary, took off her panties and dove in. Mary followed.
When they were sitting at the table again, Mary said, “Jane, you´re getting a sunburn.”
Jane looked down at herself, concerned. “Yeah, and if mom sees where ...”
“Stand up a second, Jane,” Iris said. “Yeah, now turn around.” Jane´s youthful nakedness showed tanned shoulders, arms and legs, the tuft of hair between her legs. Most of her had been covered by a bathing suit.
“Okay, put on your tee-shirt,” Iris said, “When you want to come here and be bare, we´ve got a virtual bathing suit you can wear. It´ll cover all the same places your real one does, and you won´t get a tan there. I don´t mean to lie to your mother, but ...”
“What she doesn´t know won´t hurt me,” Jane finished.