Del said, "Whoa," and pulled on the reins. Penny lurched to a stop, her chest heaving. He stepped out of the cart and went to her, checking her harness and bridle. "Okay?" he asked.

She nodded not glancing at him. Her chest was covered with foam.

He worried having her out in the sun too much after having her head shaved and he worried about her picking up a stone. He didn't want her lamed. He turned to Star and motioned her out of the buggy. "Over there," he said.

Star walked well, didn't hurry. Her bearing expressed pride in her owner. He wished he'd met them. She waited in the shade of the large maple.

"Over by Star," he said.

Penny pulled the empty cart so that both were in the shade. He could see the muscles in her legs tremble.

He went to the stable and found a bucket which he filled with water. He set it by the stall door, went in for rags and sunblock. He came out with those things and two pairs of handcuffs.

Misty was still doing circles in the ring. Benjamin looked bored. Del went to the ringside, set down the bucket and leaned on the fence rail. Benjamin looked like he needed a nap or something. His eyes were half shut. "She canters well," Del said.

Benjamin gave a brief nod.

"My two over there for ten minutes with Misty."

Benjamin looked to the maple. Penny was bent so her hands were on her thighs. Star stood by the buggy. Benjamin shook his head.

Del gave a smile. "That's okay. I'm happy, too."

Benjamin gave a slight grin, shook his head.

Del watched Misty for a minute longer then left them. Misty was dusty, needed to be hosed down. It was that kind of day. He wasn't upset at Benjamin saying no. He just wanted to wake him up for a moment.

He set the bucket down at Penny's feet. "Come here," he said. Star stood by his side. "Watch what I do."

He unhooked the harness from the belt around Penny's waist, lowered the buggy shafts to the ground. "Just like that," he said. "Don't drop them." He unbuckled the bridle and removed the bit from Penny's mouth.

Penny stood while he did this, her breathing easier now after a few minutes rest. She looked at him and tried to smile, saw his face and turned away.

He handed the bridle to Star. "Unclip the reins and place this and the reins on the buggy seat." He watched her as she walked away from him. She has a nice ass, he thought. He used a wet rag to wipe Penny down. He started at her head and slowly worked toward her feet. "Lift," he said. When he was done with that foot, no damage done, he did the other. Her right foot was tender but she'd be okay. They were going to have a long restful afternoon while he painted them.

He checked his watch. He thought there was time to go to the Colonel's before lunch. Just so he didn't run into the old fart. He wished someone would give the Colonel a joke book for Christmas. Something new for a change would be a relief.

He squeezed out the rag, checked her belt and the straps that went over her shoulders and under her crotch. Wet leather which she had to get used to. Chafing which she had to get used to. He patted her flank. "Good girl."

Penny gave the slightest nod. If he hadn't been looking for it he wouldn't have seen it. Her cheek was still red from his slap this morning.

He took her arm and led her to the side of the buggy. "Kneel," he said. "You, too," he said to Star.

Star knelt by Penny, her back straighter, still proud. He'd see how long that lasted.

He took the handcuffs out of his jeans back pocket. Kneeling beside Penny he cuffed her hands to the buggy wheel. He moved, knelt and did the same to Star. He left them in the shade.

The walk to the Colonel's was pretty. He could see the ranch below, the charges and the hands moving in the rings and corral. The Colonel's zip buggy wasn't parked in front of the house so he figured he was safe. He heard the crunch of tires, the sound of steps and saw Randi and Sam come out of the woods.

Randi was unbelievable. In just the two weeks she'd been here she'd become the hands' favorite. Randi was voluptuous where Misty was pre-Raphaelite ethereal. Randi was well trained, fast to pick up new skills, whereas his paints were goddamned pains in the asses. Sam was lucky.

They passed him, Randi at a good trot. He waved at Sam. Sam lifted a finger, best he could do.

Spot wagged her fanny when she saw him. He went over and gave her a pat. "Tomorrow, old girl," he said, "I'll tie you behind the buggy and we'll let you run."

Spot gave a yip and nuzzled his crotch.

"Not now. Maybe later this evening."

She whimpered, followed him as far as her chain would permit.

He felt for Spot who never got a chance to see much beyond the length of her chain. He thought it a waste. If Spot were his dog he'd have her down at the stable.

He knocked on the door, let the brass knocker fall with an extra rap. It was going to be hot this afternoon. Hot and humid. Maybe it would rain tomorrow.

The housekeeper opened the door. Her tan and white uniform was always spotless.

"Penny's tail, ma'am."

She shut the door and he waited. He heard the triangle ring below; lunch was ready. He'd get Star's tail from the office later.

The door opened and the housekeeper handed the tail to him.

"Thanks, ma'am."

Bertha never smiled, not in all his years here. She'd never said a word to him. Some of the hands said she'd talked to them, nothing memorable. Just that she did speak. The knocker made a clatter when the door shut.

"Well, that's that I guess," he mumbled.

He waved at Spot, grinned at her antics and went back to the wagon shed where Penny and Star were parked.

He left the buggy and harness where they were. He'd clean everything up this afternoon after a second ride.

He unlocked Penny and Star, pulled the tail out of his pocket and laid it on the seat. "Stand," he said. Penny was stiff, she was slow. He removed the belt and straps from Penny and laid them by her bridle. Star waited, open handcuff hanging from her other wrist. He pulled her hands behind her and cuffed them. He went to the buggy, took the sunblock tube from the seat and brought it to Star. "Open," he said. He placed the tube in her mouth. "Hold it there."

"Now you," he said to Penny.

Penny stood as he cuffed her hands behind her back. Her body gave off heat, more than Star's. He felt her forehead, cool. He placed the tail's plug at her lips and she held it with her teeth. "Good girl," he said. "You both are very good girls."

He led them to their stall, let them drink before making them lie down and cuffing them to each other. He liked the sight of so much woman flesh jumbled up like this. He set the tail and sunblock on the shelf and left for lunch.

Benjamin was the first to ask him why his paint wasn't chained to the post. He couldn't tell how many of the ranch hands asked him during lunch. All he wanted to do was finish his meal in peace, drink his coffee and try to plan the afternoon.

He left the bunkhouse early since they were all bored without his paints providing entertainment. Hell, Benjamin could chain Misty to the post for all he cared. He was too busy for that sort of nonsense.

He stopped at the office but no one could help him with a tail for Star. He'd have to return after one when Anna was back from lunch. He wished he got a full hour.

The walk from the office, the building closest to the gate, passed by the itsy bitsy duck pond. If this were his place he'd have a real, honest to god pond. Cattails, a rowboat, a dock. Everything. Hell, he'd have canals put in and tow paths so the charges could pull boats, not just buggies. But this wasn't his place so he'd have to make do. His place when he started was not going to be even a fraction of this.

He shut the stall door and looked at them. Damn, he didn't even check on Misty. It was like she was far off in the past.

He looked at the crossed brand on Star's ass; he could see her labia piercings from here. Penny's eyes watched him as he stood there.

"Roll on top of Penny," he said as he approached them. He dropped his jeans and knelt behind Star. He spit in his hand and used it to wet his cock. Star was relaxed and open so he slipped right in. He fucked her ass as Penny watched his face. He couldn't tell by her eyes what she was thinking which was just as well. He wanted to hurt her.

The crap she put him through. Star was easier. He bounced on Star's ass. When he was done using her he backed from her and zipped his jeans. He'd have to remember to bring a couple of changes of clothes tonight along with his bedroll.

He uncuffed them, made Star roll off Penny. Star lay on her back, that look in her eyes and the very beginning of a smile on her face. As if she pleased him in some way.

He hooded Star, locked the hood to her collar and then cuffed each wrist to an ankle. He stood and stretched; all this bending was getting to his back. He took the crop from the shelf and carried it over to Penny who lay on her back.

He stood over her, let her watch him. He wondered how long he would have to stand like this before she did something. He had all day.

She released her breath, began to breathe normally. She relaxed, let tension leave her body.

He swung the crop so the flail just brushed her thigh. She didn't flinch. He tossed the crop onto the shelf, got just a glimpse of Misty through the north window. He'd have Penny wear heels later this afternoon.

"On your hands and knees." He went to his kit box and rustled around until he found his lighter and the small brand he had the blacksmith make up for him.

"I'm marking you as mine," he said kneeling in front of her. He showed her the brand — a capital D with two wavy lines going through the upright.

"Turn around," he said. He didn't look at her, was busy heating the brand with the lighter. When she was ready he pulled her to him, his arm wrapped around her pelvis. He held the hot brand to her right ass cheek for two seconds then released her.

He rose to his feet waving the brand to cool it. Penny shifted behind him, was almost done crying. He set the brand on a broken saucer, dropped the lighter in his kit and returned to Penny.

"You'll hold Star for me tomorrow when I do the same to her." He debated whether or not he should praise her. "I don't think Star will do as well as you did."

Penny nodded. She faced away from him; her rear end still shifted.

"That's just a temporary brand. You have to sleep on your left side. Any grit gets in the burn will make a permanent mark. Understand?"

"Yes," she said softly. Her nose sounded like it needed to be blown.

He held his hanky to her face. "Blow," he said. When she was done he folded up the hanky and put it in his pocket.

He left them to get a cup of coffee at the bunkhouse. He relaxed at a table, enjoyed the air-conditioning. Paint Penny, go for a ride, put them up for the night early and leave to do his shopping. Come back, set up his things; he needed to remember to bring an alarm clock. He thought he'd better write it all down.

He found an empty page in his memo book and started his list for things he'd need for the next several days. He'd spent the night before when one of his charges was sick or injured. The charges were more important than the hands though you could never tell it. A day here cost their owners close to a thousand dollars. He knew how much he was making. The Colonel must be raking it in.

He wished there was a place to take a nap. He wasn't like some who could sleep sitting up. All he needed was fifteen minutes.

He finished his coffee and left the bunkhouse. Misty was still doing circles in the ring. Benjamin, he hated to have to say it, was an idiot.

The Colonel was sitting in his zip buggy talking to John. John's charge stood waiting a few feet away. He wanted to tell her to not lock her knees but figured what the hell.

He gave a quarter piece of apple to Penny, allowed her to use her hands, while he got things ready for the paint job.

He found a can of the color he wanted in the tack room, yellow this time, and a nice, clean for a change, round brush. The hands were hell on brushes. He carried the can, brush and a small pail back to the stall.

He stirred the yellow, poured a bit into the pail.

Penny took longer to finish the apple. He made her stand and tied her wrists to the bar that hung from the ceiling. He adjusted the height, tied it off and brought the paint to her.

He always started at the top. That way he didn't drip on anything freshly painted. He'd do her hands and wrists later.

He stood behind her since he didn't want her eyes on him, not now. He drew yellow paint over the white lines on her skin. He worked quickly, liking the contrast her tanned skin made with the paint.

He did as far as her butt then circled her. He'd have to come up with a way so she was held in a frame, could be raised and lowered, turned and rotated, so he didn't have to crawl on the floor or get his back in an uproar.

Stasis popped in his mind. He wondered why nothing like prosperity or happiness just appeared out of the blue. So today's word was stasis. He was pretty sure what it meant. Immobile.

Penny watched him while he painted her arms and her face. She was someone who was always thinking, thought too much for their own good. He didn't think Star was like that, though he wasn't entirely sure. Star was a manipulator. As if her precious ass or cunt meant something. As if by his using her she meant something to him. She was what? He couldn't remember from the sheet on the clipboard. Twenty-two? And owner marks all over her. That said something.

"In your life as property, how many owners have you had, sweet cakes?" he asked Penny. "One?"

"More." She spoke softly.

"Five?" She said nothing.

Whoever the poor fucker was he'd gotten taken.

He set the brush and pail down on the windowsill and watched Misty. He flexed his fingers. They tended to cramp. A whip or crop he could hold all day. But a brush and a few minutes his fingers cramped.

Next time he saw the Colonel he'd ask about Misty. It was crazy having her run in circles all day.

Stasis. Stasis as in he was seriously thinking about chaining Star out on the post tomorrow after branding and painting her.

He carried the paint and brush back to Penny and knelt. Carefully. Last thing he wanted to do was fall over with both his hands occupied.

He diddled Penny's cunt with the wood end of the brush before continuing. He wanted to see if he could get her to do something. She did nothing at all.

He painted her legs. He crawled around to her back and finished her. When he was done he threw the brush into the nearly empty pail and rubbed his fingers.

Penny's brand wasn't covered with paint. The skin was pale and shiny where the hot steel had touched her. It would either blister later today or become raw — he could never tell beforehand. After a week it should be well on the way to healing. Two weeks and there would be a red spot. He'd brand them again as long as they remained with him.

He washed the pail and brush in the sink, made sure the brush was really clean. He'd finish Penny tomorrow. Or not. Right now he needed to deal with Miss Hot Pants here while Penny dried.

He uncuffed Star and led her out of the stall. He cuffed her to the hayloft ladder and left her. She was free for anyone who wanted to use her. Just her lower holes, she was still hooded.

He wondered if he was being arbitrary. Damn right he was being arbitrary.

The walk to the office was pleasant. He didn't need to deal with both of them at once. Just one at a time. Right now he was using Star to help Penny realize he was serious about things.

He rolled up his sleeves. He liked shirts with snaps rather than buttons. He hated to wrestle with clothing. The office was air-conditioned; he relaxed in a chair while Anna found a tail for Star.

The walk back was better than pleasant. It would be just him in the buggy. Penny and he'd go up to the woods, take Spot along. Spot needed the exercise.

Star was cuffed to the ladder, alone, no users. She stood well, like she'd done this before a thousand times. He touched her back. "You disappointed me, Star. When they are done with you, tell each one, 'More please.' Understand?"

Star's hooded head gave a nod.

He left her, got the paint materials from the stall and put them away in the tack room. Penny's paint was dry. He spit on Penny's tail plug and set it in place.

After untying her he watched her as she put on her heels. She hadn't forgotten the brand when she sat. It must still hurt.

"Ready?" he asked her.

She rose gracefully, looked straight at him.

He waited.

"Yes," she said. Her tongue rested on her lower lip.

"Watch it," he said. He led her out of the stall.