Sarah had not looked shocked some hours later when she had freed me from my pastry like prison. Hilary had left the drying lamps on so the syrup and flour had set like concrete trapping my body. Sarah had first pried my body from the floor with a shovel before washing a quantity of the mess from me. I will still pretty well caked when she stood me up.
"Look, come with me, you can use the shower in the grooms flat." She had walked off and I had followed at a waddle, stiffened flour and syrup making my jodhpurs rock hard. When I had eventually managed to climb the stairs she had to rip and drag the fabric from me until I stood before her humiliated and naked. She had silently ushered into the bathroom, it was cramped and smelt of damp, but the hot shower was inviting. A bottle of horse shampoo sat on the edge of the bath. She saw my curious glance. "Look it is good enough for the horses, and..." She paused. "Free of charge." She sniggered.
Sarah left me to shower, I rinsed the worse of the mess from my long hair before dousing it in almost half a bottle of the shampoo. It smelt acrid and somewhat unpleasant, but there was nothing else I could do. In the end it took at least three attempts before my hair was becoming clean.
It was only as I stood under the flow of warm water that I realized that something was wrong. My head was becoming warmer, I snapped my eyes open reaching up to my head to find that my hair was coming out. I screamed as clumps of hair came away in my fingers, running down my body and clogging the plug hole. What the hell was happening? I panicked until I suddenly realized where I had smelt the odor of the shampoo, it had been the time I had used hair remover on my legs. I gulped sniffing the bottle again, tears pricking my eyes. A flash of light caused me to jump.
"Oh that is one for Facebook!" Sarah stood sneering. "Bald and naked."
I could not bring myself to face her, the humiliation burnt through me. I grabbed for a towel suddenly realizing I had no clothes.
"That is for stealing my lover you bitch!" Sarah spat at me. "Bald and ugly... See her love you now!" I ran from the flat, dressed only in a towel I leapt into my car and drove home praying not to be stopped by the police.
***
I waited two weeks, two weeks with little growth on my head or body. I had thought of changing stables, but... To be honest I lusted after Hilary and would have to face Sarah to satisfy my desires. It took me two weeks to overcome the humiliation.
So as I walked onto the yard with my riding hat already on my head, tacking up the horse for the lesson and leading it to the arena. Hilary was waiting, she smiled as I walked in, she was about to speak but paused, looking me up and down.
"What is different?" She was staring at my head. She knew. "Take off your hat." I resisted, "Now!" I could not resist the order from my mistress. I slowly unbuckled the strap and slid the hat from my head. "What...?"
I turned away, running, I dropped the reins and ran. I did not want pity, I certainly did not want to explain what had happened. I just ran, fumbling with my keys and driving away. Glancing up I could see Sarah in my rear view mirror and Hilary coming to a halt beside her.
***
The rest of the day passed as a blur, I could not go back. I threw myself into my work, again 'working from home' thanking the systems which allowed me to work without seeing another human being. As night fell I was typing up a report as there was a knock at the door.
I stood slowly and walked to the front door, glancing through the eye piece I saw Hilary standing there in the moonlight, she was wearing brilliant white jodhpurs, he riding boots were polished to a mirror finish and her white blouse and tie were spotless. I slowly opened the door.
"Hello..." I looked down. I was embarrassed to see her standing there before me.
"May I come in?"
I ushered her into my front room, papers and documents were scattered about and my laptop was open on the sofa. Hilary closed it and told me to sit down.
"Sarah told me what she did." It was matter of fact. "It should not have happened to you. I am deeply sorry. " She paused. "You missed your lesson." I nodded. "It is a shame, as I wanted to work on your position in the saddle. Perhaps we could work on positions here?" She smiled warmly, coming towards me gently reaching down and kissing me softly on the lips.
