It was Thursday evening and Judy was on the phone to Charlotte. "A pony day, that sounds great. ... Yes, I saw the weather forecast. Hot and sunny, just what we need ... We'll come over about eleven then. Can we bring anything, a quiche? A salad? ... Ok, see you on Saturday, bye." She put the phone down and turned to Lisa. "That was Charlotte. Friday's cancelled, we're having a picnic on her lawn on Saturday instead."
"That sounds like fun. Will we have the usual games?"
"Sort of. It's always a bit different outside. Charlotte's got a thing about pony girls, you've seen the photos."
Lisa thought about the pictures. There was one of Sally looking cute wearing a complicated bridle and reins pulling a small cart with Charlotte, dressed to the nines, riding in it. The thought didn't particularly appeal but she'd learnt to keep an open mind. In the last few months she'd found quite a few things which turned her on that she wouldn't have dreamed of before, and with Britain going through a rare Indian summer it seemed an ideal time to play outdoors.
Saturday morning arrived and Judy was busy in the kitchen packing a cool box with food for the picnic when Lisa came downstairs looking glum.
"What's up, my pet? Why the long face?" Judy asked.
"Bloody period. I've just started, I can't go like this. The last thing I'll feel today is sexy." She slumped down on a chair.
Judy came up behind her and, wrapping her arms round her neck, kissed her on the top of the head.
"Come anyway. I know you can't play but a day out in the sun will do you good, it might even cheer you up a bit."
"But I'll feel so out of it, I'll be the ghost at the party,"
"Nonsense. We're all women; we've all been there. Look, if you wear a red ribbon in your hair everyone knows what that means and will leave you alone. Come on, come and have some fun."
Reluctantly Lisa agreed to go. She felt bloated and ugly and just wanted to go back to bed and curl up with a good book but Judy was insistent and, at the end of the day, if Judy had made her mind up, that's what happened. They loaded the cool box in the boot of the car and drove out to Charlotte's house deep in the Mendip hills. Judy chatted all the way, trying to lighten the mood but Lisa just sat there glumly staring out of the window. She knew she was behaving like a spoilt child, and normally this would lead to a sound spanking, but she couldn't seem to lift her spirits.
Charlotte's house had all the privacy money could buy, tucked away in a little valley surrounded by woods. She'd bought it after her fifth novel had topped the bestseller lists and her publishers had paid her a huge advance on the sixth. Although Lisa had been there a few times she had never seen much of the gardens but if they were as grand as the house then they would be spectacular.
They arrived at the gates and buzzed the intercom to be let in. The gates swung open and they swept up the drive to park in front of the house. Sally came out to meet them. To Lisa's surprise she was wearing a light cotton dress. As they had only met on Friday evenings Lisa had never seen her in anything but bondage gear before.
"Hi. Come on round. We're all set up on the lawn." As Lisa got out of the car Sally spotted the decoration in her hair. She went over and gave her a hug. "Lovely to see you. Shame about the ribbon, but it's good of you to come."
Charlotte's back lawn was part of a beautifully laid out formal garden facing south to catch the sun. In the centre of the grass was a selection of rugs and the hampers that they had all brought. Everyone was helping, laying out the blankets, sorting out the food, making sure the white wine was properly chilled. For the first part it was just a normal party, eight women enjoying the meal, the wine and the sun, relaxing together, taking pleasure in each other's company. Eventually the bulk of the picnic was gone and the last remnants were being packed away in Tupperware containers. Susan and Jane took the used plates inside. Charlotte announced that she had planned some pony trials and Sally went off to fetch the equipment.
Even if she hadn't been indisposed, Lisa was not sure that this was her cup of tea and, in her present state, she really wasn't interested. Charlotte and Christine had got involved in some rather technical discussion whilst getting Sally in harness and this was getting on Lisa's nerves. She took one of the rugs and went off to find some peace and quiet. She now knew that the others would leave her alone, respecting her inability to join in.
The sun was warm, she'd drunk just enough wine, and her book was less than enthralling so it was no surprise that Lisa fell asleep. It seemed like only ten minutes but it must have been much longer than that when she was woken by a gentle shake of the arm.
"Lisa, Lisa, sweetie, you'd better put on some sun block, your arms are getting awfully red." Jane, still dressed in some complex arrangement of leather straps, had come over and was, as ever, acting the mother hen. Lisa was grateful, she had begun to burn, and of all the company, the one she felt she could relax with at the moment was Jane. The cream was cool and pleasant against her skin, the sleep had done her good, and she was in a mellow mood. She was therefore quite pleased when Jane stayed to chat.
