Mistress and ponyboy had been at it a week now. Lyda was amazed at how fast her new ponyboy picked up the commands. He, from the onset, had a perfect gait and his knees automatically came up higher than any ponyboy she had ever seen. The first time she bridled him he balked a bit, but then he settled down and accepted it. Lyda worked him out twice a day, in the early morning and late afternoon. My Winner, as she named him, calling him Win for short, was acting more and more like a pony than a human. Win watched the ponygirls closely.  Watching how they moved their legs and the height of their knees as they moved.

Win took to the training like he enjoyed it and it showed with the quickness of his leaning. Little did Lyda know that all of this was so he could be with her. He had fallen in love the very first time he ever saw her, while she was jogging. He had watched her for a month before he got the guts to finally say something to her. He would do anything to please her. If that meant being a ponyboy, so be it! At night he talked to Dancer, learning all he could about being a pony.  They were careful and quiet about it because they knew that they were breaking rules.

Win worked hard at being the best pony around. He had watched the other ponygirls and boys, and learned. He learned what not to do also. He watched one ponyboy get the whip because he got to close to his Mistress and bumped her. He had no desire to feel his Mistress whip him upon his backside.

Win learned how to nicker, whinnie, stomp his hooves and do the things that would make him a true ponyboy. The training was sometimes hard on him. He had never been around horses, so this was all new to him. He listened and learned all he could. He wanted his Mistress to be proud of him and he wanted to win the competition for her. He also knew that a new pony had never won first or second place before. He had heard his Mistress and Master George talking about it. At night in his stall, he practiced his moves even though there was not much room.

Lyda walked in and Win started to nicker and stomp his hoof. Lyda said "You have been very good and have learned a lot. Now it is time to put you to saddle!"

Win stopped his movements and just stared at his Mistress. "Saddle!" he thought. "She is going to ride me?" Win whinnied loudly and pranced around the stall in happiness.

Lyda laughed at his antics and attached the lead rope to his halter when he finally settled down and led him out of the barn to an area that had a post with a ring. Win stood as still as his excitement would allow him. Lyda took the soft brush and gave him a good rubdown. Win's hair was already long and Lyda brushed it till it was shining.

Lyda gave the command for Win to drop to his knees and he did so quickly. Shivering with excitement he watched as his Mistress picked up the blanket that was lying on the fence next to them. He felt the soft fabric laid across his back and he nickered softly. Then he felt a weight added to his back. He stiffened up and snorted. He had watched the ponygirls while their Masters were riding them.  Watching how they moved and carried their Masters. He was totally surprised that they could move as graceful as they did with this weight on their backs.  He thought, "If they can do it, so can I!"  Lyda moved to his front and talked gently to him and patted his head. Win finally relaxed and Lyda moved back and tightened up the cinch to where the saddle would stay on and not slip. Win hunched his back as she did this. He was not sure if he really liked this weight on his back.  

His Mistress talked quietly to him and he listened to her words. "This is not so bad, my ponyboy, you are strong!"

Win flexed his back muscles and found that she was right. Lyda led Win into the arena and started to lunge him. At first she just walked him around so that he could get used to the weight of the saddle. For now he was standing upright. Lyda clicked twice and he proceeded to trot around the ring. The saddle was getting less and less heavy as he got more used to the feel of it. Lyda clicked three times and he moved into his canter. Win noticed that there were other Masters and Mistresses watching from the stands at the side of the arena. He felt proud and it showed in the way he moved.  He noticed that a few of the ponygirls were watching him and nodding, and this made him try all that much harder.   They worked out for an hour more and then his Mistress led him to the stand again and took off the saddle and the blanket. Win shook with the pleasure of the weight being gone.

Lyda hosed him off and then dried him. Again she brushed his body and his hair. Lyda then led him to his stall and took off his halter. Win wondered what was going on. She had not taken off his halter since she first put it on him! He looked at her questioningly and she smiled.
 
 

"Tonight you will be my escort!" she said. "You have done very well and you deserve a reward." Lyda walked out to the truck and brought back a suit on a hanger. She handed him the clothes, then a bag with shoes, socks, underwear. She also returned all the valuables that she had taken from him before, and closed the stall door. "When you are dressed meet me at the truck."

Win watched her go outside. Looking at the clothes, Win knew it would feel strange to be wearing them again. He dressed quickly, strode out to the truck and got in the passenger's side.

Lyda smiled at him and told him "Tonight you are not a pony, Steven."

Steven smiled that glorious smile of his and leaned over and kissed Lyda on the cheek. The first sound out of his mouth was a nicker, and then he laughed and said, "I am looking forward to enjoying this evening." Lyda smiled back, started the truck and headed towards town. "So where are we headed?" Steven asked.

Lyda looked at him and said "Out for dinner and then we can decide what's next!"

Steven nodded his head and sat back to enjoy the feeling of being human again. He enjoyed the life that he had lived for the last 5 weeks, but he wanted more from this beautiful woman next to him. His love had only grown with the way that she had treated and trained him. She was a strong but gentle woman. Even on the few occasions that he had screwed up she didn't raise her voice in anger. She just told him what the mistake was and knew he would correct it.

Lyda pulled up at her apartment and shut the engine. "You can come in while I shower and dress." They got out of the truck and entered her apartment. "I'll not be long." Lyda said as she walked off into another room.

Steven looked around. He noticed that she was into reading. Books were everywhere, and they varied in subject. Steven sat on the couch and picked one up from the coffee table. The pages were bent and well worn. He read the back of the book and found out that it was one of those romance novels. "Hmmm" he thought. "So she is a romantic at heart! I wonder if she is looking for a lover and not just a ponyboy?"

He heard a rustle behind him and turned around. "Oh my! She is even more beautiful than I thought!"  Standing just inside of the living room, Lyda was wrapped in a beautiful bronze cloak, under it Steven could see a sexy, floor length black dress. Lyda had applied light makeup and it made her eyes seem even bigger and greener than he had ever seen. "This woman will be mine, or I will be hers!" he thought with a chuckle.

Lyda looked at him questioningly.

Steven shook his head. "No, I was just thinking of something. You look beautiful tonight!" Steven was taken aback when he noticed that she was blushing! He held his arm out to her and said "Shall I escort you to your chariot Madam!"

Lyda smiled and curtsied, "Why thank you Sir! Then she took his arm and they went out to the truck.

An hour later found them sitting back comfortably in a private booth in one of the town's best restaurants. Lyda groaned, "Oh my, everything was just too good! Now I am stuffed!" Steven smiled and asked, "How about a walk to settle things down?"

"Now that is a very good idea!" Lyda replyed smiling. Steven signaled the waiter and quickly paid the bill. Lyda started to protest, but a look from Steven stopped her. After the waiter left, he looked at her and said, "Remember, I am your escort tonight, and besides I ate more than you did!" Lyda chuckled. "Ok, ok, you win on this one."

Steven stood up and again offered his arm, which she took. Soon they were walking barefoot along the beach, side by side. The night was one of those perfect ones.  Clear sky, full moon and the air was warm.  For the time being Lyda forgot about being a Mistress to her ponyboy.  She just wanted to be a woman.  Steven led Lyda to the side of a secluded sand dune and sat down and pulled her on his lap. Lyda sighed and laid her head on his chest.

They stayed this way for about half an hour, not talking, just being together. Then Lyda looked up at Steven, reached around and gently pulled his head down to hers. Their lips met with a hunger that they both felt. Slowly Steven pulled away looking astonished. Looking into her eyes he could see that she felt 'that' something too.  Lyda could only nod her head in agreement. Slowly Steven lowered his head and lightly touched her lips with his.  He felt something even stronger this time.  Steven deepened the kiss. Lyda's body responded with a fire that roared out of control. Lyda tightened her hold on Steven, slid off his lap and pulled him next to her.

The sound of the ocean played in the background. Steven and Lyda slowly undressed each other and then Lyda proceeded to learn Steven's body. Nothing was untouched by her roving hands.

He finally groaned and rolled on top of Lyda, kissing her deeply. "Now it is my turn, beautiful lady, to learn your secrets." Steven took his time. Lyda was moaning softly and her body could not stay still. Moving back over her body, he kissed her passionately. He entered her slowly, feeling the perfect fit of their bodies in their dance of love. Their lovemaking was slow, wanting to feel each new sensation as they drove each other to the final peak. Their lovemaking ended for both of them with total fulfilment.

Steven rolled off of her and pulled her close, sighing. "Thank you special lady, for arriving in my life"

Lyda smiled, "Seems that you found me, if I remember correctly!

Steven chuckled softly and held her tightly to him. The lovers lay there for a long time just holding one another and softly talking of things that no one else knew. Finally Steven stood up and helped Lyda to her feet. "Morning training is going to come too fast as it is now. I need to get back to my stall and get some sleep."

Lyda pulled his head down and kissed him. "No! Tonight, you are coming home with me." she stated.
 
 
 

To be continued…