Del unharnessed Star and Penny from the buggy. They did better in tandem than he ever thought they might. Star was stronger but Penny would match her soon. He was glad to be out of the mayhem down at the ranch.

He took off their bridles and other gear, patted their fannies and told them he'd have water and treats for them in just a minute.

He picked up the single shaft of the buggy and turned it around to ready it for going back. The clearing wasn't that large and this was the easiest way.

Penny and Star stood at the edge of the clearing staring into the woods, their fingers loosely intertwined. Del set their bowls near the blanket and went back to the buggy for water. He heard a noise and turned around. Sharon entered the clearing and waited.

He'd wondered what would happen. The Colonel stopped him yesterday and handed him Penny's bridle that he'd left on Sharon. The Colonel chatted for a few moments and then took off in his zip buggy. Chatted but said nothing.

Then in late afternoon the Colonel and Sharon stopped at the stall. More chatting, Sharon watching him with an intensity that made Del want to laugh out loud for some strange reason.

He had holed up in the stall with Penny and Star most of the day yesterday. Took them to the washhouse to get them clean. Gave them both rubdowns, brushed Star's mane, shaved Penny from top to bottom, painted their hooves. Then in the afternoon he took them for their exercise and to get new shoes in the office.

They watched the other charges, hands and owners and maybe Penny and Star picked up something from that. This was their best day by far; both were in good form. Star's physicality made picking up the body skills she needed easy. Penny had progressed so much in the past two weeks that maybe she'd be ready to go home in a couple of weeks more.

He left the water jug by the full bowl and went up to Sharon. Penny and Star left them, went to the center of the clearing for water and nibbles.

"I looked for you yesterday," she said.

"We stayed down at the ranch, miss."

"That explains it then, doesn't it." Sharon's smile was crooked.

"Pretty much, miss."

"I need you to tell me what to do, Del."

"Don't fall in love with me, miss."

"You know what I mean." Her eyes never left his face.

He looked down, saw her fingers were nervous. "Take off your clothes and kneel on the blanket."

She gave a quick smile, began to unbutton her shirt.

He left her, went to the buggy and brought a basket which he laid beside the blanket. He sat on the edge of the blanket, knees up, and went through the basket.

Penny and Star knelt on the blanket; he could tell their eyes never left him.

He poured coffee into the plastic thermos cap and smelled the aroma. He closed the thermos and set it by the basket. Cookie had made biscuits today. His was filled with apple and cheese. He set them on a napkin.

In a couple of months it would be autumn. Cool nights. If it was sunny, warm days. Leaves would start to fall. Autumn made the charges frisky. It was easier to pull a buggy when the weather was brisk. It was easier to want to walk or do some other exercise all day.

He took a bite of his biscuit, felt Sharon settle behind him. The coffee was good and strong like he liked it. He finished chewing. "What do you want, miss?"

"I don't know, I . . ."

"Pony or dog?"

"Dog."

"Are you sure?"

"No." She paused. "No, I'm not sure."

"Dogs can't talk." He finished his biscuit. After a couple of minutes he said, "If I take you down to the stable you won't be able to say no, miss."

"I can't do that, Del. You know that. Afternoons here, like this."

"We'll see."

"I need your assurance, Del."

"There are no assurances, miss. If you want assurances get dressed and go back to the Colonel's."

"There are no assurances there either. I . . ."

"Maybe you should be a pony, miss. Wealthy owner. Beautiful buggy to pull. Warm stall." He heard her shift. "Lie down over there," he pointed, "on your face."

"I . . ."

"You heard me, miss." He watched her walk slowly to the spot he'd pointed to. She glanced over her shoulder at him, lay face down.

He finished his coffee. He didn't have a clear idea of what he'd do next. That didn't matter really. If he tried to do things according to plans or rules or schedules everything became a big mess.

He screwed the cap onto the thermos. He went to the buggy, in passing touched Star's shoulder. This must be confusing to them. If Sharon weren't the Colonel's girlfriend or whatever she was he'd tell her to go to hell. He'd told many an owner to get fucked over the years. Sometimes it just needed to be said.

He carried the coils of rope back to Sharon and dropped them beside her. He took off his shirt. To do this right she needed a collar and a hood. She should be in one of the fancy rooms at the Colonel's, upstairs, the ones with bars on the windows.

He knelt and drew his shirt under her face, tied the sleeves at the back of her head. He took a short coil of rope and tied her hands and arms so that they crossed her back. Left hand to right arm, right hand to left arm, elbows bent, forming a square of sorts or a box.

The longer coil he drew out and folded the strands so they were two feet long. He made a large knot at one end, wished he'd brought his crop. He tried the whip on his leg. Heavy.

"Star," he said. He held up the whip.

Star took the rope, looked at him. Her fire had changed. He wasn't sure if it was something the Colonel had done or not. She'd been different since Friday morning.

"Hit her between here," he drew his fingers across the lower half of her buttocks, "and here." His fingers crossed Sharon's middle thigh.

He watched Star, suggested she kneel. She did.

Star's nose ring swung and jumped with every blow.

When he thought Sharon had had enough he stopped Star, took the whip. He removed his clothes and knelt behind Sharon. He pulled her to her knees; her face and chest were still on the grass. He entered Sharon, thrust holding her hips. She didn't move at all to aid or resist him.

When he was done with her, he pushed her forward, got up and left her. He sat on the blanket, Penny and Star behind him, silent.

He poured a cup of coffee, lay on his side, watching Sharon. After a while he said to Star, "Beat her again."

Star whipped Sharon. He turned and saw Penny watching Star, her lips slightly open, tongue against her teeth. She glanced at him, returned her gaze to Star.

When it was time, he took the whip from Star, sent her back to Penny. He untied Sharon, turned her over, and made her grip her elbows under her knees, shaping her into a ball. He tied her, wrists to elbows. He spread her feet, touched her cunt. Her pubic hair was black like her eyebrows. He used his fingers on her until he was tired of it and left her.

He lay down on the blanket and napped for a bit.

When he woke he lay looking at the leaves overhead against the bluest sky possible. There was a very slight breeze so they barely moved at all.

He took turns fucking Penny and Star, moving from one to the other. He didn't come. He left them on all fours and walked to Sharon holding his hard cock, fingers at the base. He pulled her up onto his knees, put as much of his cock in her as he could and rolled over her, her knees and legs on his shoulders. He finished in her, left her and lay down on the blanket.

"You can both sleep," he told Penny and Star. They curled around one another. Star's shaven cunt was red, still red from her use two days before. Her cunt was rounder, pointier. He could see the edges of her inner lips poke through the slit.

If there were some way he'd harness Penny and Star, ride out of here. Go to Alaska or Costa Rica. He wondered what they'd charge him with when they caught him. Grand theft, kidnapping or horse stealing. The last was a hanging crime. He didn't know how he could steal something he'd made but that was the way things were set up and there wasn't much he could do about it.

He stood, put on his jeans and walked to where Sharon lay. He took an ankle and dragged her across the grass and leaned her against Penny. Penny's eyes opened, she looked at him. Penny made that smile he hadn't seen for a few days, and she shut her eyes.

He took an apple out of the basket and ate it while he thought about his place. He'd want some spot like this where he could get away from everything. Marge and he had this automatically somehow. They could live piled on top of each other and they each had their privacy. Here at the ranch he had few moments of privacy in spite of the space around him. He didn't know if it was because of work or what.

He checked his watch; he'd let them have another half-hour. Cookie had given him special grain treats for the girls; he was saving the nibbles for before they went back to the ranch.

He lay on his side watching them sleep. So much woman flesh, he wanted to dive in, and if he weren't lazy he would. He wished he'd brought Spot. She'd enjoy this, lying in a fleshy pile, licking Sharon clean, and exploring the bushes that fringed the clearing.

Spot hadn't been at her doghouse when they'd gone by. The Colonel was entertaining; he could hear music from the back where the pool was. Del was surprised that Sharon had been able to come here. Was amazed that she wanted to.

He tossed the apple core across the clearing into the woods, got up and put on his socks and boots. He dragged Sharon away from Penny and Star, rolled her onto her side and unknotted his shirt. He stood while shaking out his shirt then put it on leaving the tails outside his pants.

He carried the basket back to the buggy leaving the nibbles on the blanket for the girls. He stood at the edge of the clearing and let his mind clear.

He heard a sound, turned, and saw the Colonel's zip buggy enter the clearing. The Colonel parked by Del's buggy and waved him over.

Del walked past the girls, all were awake and watching him. "Kneel," he said.

"Just checking," the Colonel said.

"Yes, sir."

"How are they doing?"

"They work well in tandem, sir."

"Good. Taking a break, I see."

"I was planning on heading back shortly, sir."

"No matter." The Colonel pointed to Sharon. "A side interest?"

"Not sure yet, sir."

"May I?"

"Be my guest, sir."

The Colonel got out of the electric golf cart and went over to them. He gave Star's head an affectionate pat, turned to Del. "Loosa's owner was asking about you."

"She here, sir?"

"She called. She has another, wanted to see if you were available."

"Penny will take another week or two, sir."

"You were right, Del." The Colonel held Penny's head to his crotch. "You were right and I was wrong." The Colonel let go of Penny's head. "This time, at least."

"Thank you, sir."

The Colonel stood over Sharon. "This one have a name yet, Del?"

"Missy, sir."

"Not very original, Del. No fire to it, nothing to spark the imagination."

"Sorry, sir."

The Colonel poked Sharon with his boot. Sharon stared at him. The Colonel turned to Del. "I've had an offer today for Spot, Del. Told them I'd think about it overnight."

Del nodded, he had a freight train passing through his body. It was hard to hold on.

"Forty thousand. I'd be a fool to say no."

Del nodded slowly. Forty thousand.

"I know you like Spot. If you wanted to make a counter offer, I'd need a cashier's check tomorrow morning. I can't just rent her or let you take a mortgage. It wouldn't be fair to Spot. Or me."

"Of course, sir."

"Want to think about it?"

Del threw caution to the winds. "Forty-one thousand, sir?"

"Sold." The Colonel grinned. "You could stop at the bank on your way to work."

"Yes, sir."

"So two weeks before you can take on another."

"Four to be safe, sir, but I think two."

"I'll tell her four. She wants you to be the one to train this new girl." The Colonel prodded Sharon. "What were you going to be doing with this one?"

"Piss on her, sir."

"Really, Del?"

Del nodded.

"Could I?"

"Of course, sir." Del stepped back as the Colonel unzipped. In a moment the Colonel's piss was covering Sharon. The Colonel grinned at him, waved his hand. Del unzipped his pants, pissed on Sharon's face. Her body jumped when the second stream hit.

"I'll need to replace Spot, you know."

"I'll keep my eyes open, sir."

"Any possibilities?"

"I don't know, sir. We're at the exploratory stages. She's not sure what she is yet."

"Fascinating, Del."

"Shall I load her onto your golf cart for you, sir?"

"I'd rather not, Del." The Colonel stood by Penny, fondled her head. "Bring her by later."

Del gave a nod.

"Clean her up first."

"Of course, sir."

The Colonel smiled. "That was quite a present you left me Friday. Oh, don't worry. I like presents." The Colonel nodded toward Sharon. "I wasn't expecting her to . . ."

Del didn't say anything. He was almost liking the Colonel now.

"Well. I'd better go," The Colonel said. He released Penny's head, began the walk to his zip buggy.

"Sir, would it be okay to bring Spot to work?"

"Any time you want, Del." The Colonel stopped and turned. "You needn't always be so formal, Del. This isn't the military."

Del nodded, walked alongside the Colonel to the cart.

"So, tomorrow morning a check for forty-two thousand."

"I thought it was to be forty-one thousand." Del paused. "Sir."

"So it was." The Colonel grinned. "So it was." The Colonel sat in his cart seat. "When you clean her up, Del. Missy." The Colonel waved his hand toward Sharon. "I'd rather not have it be a free for all with the hands if you know what I mean."

"Yes, sir."

"Maybe not make it so obvious that you . . ."

"Of course, sir. Is there a hose at your house I could use?"

"I hadn't thought of that. That's perfect, Del. Take her out by the pool. Bertha will have the cleaning materials ready for you." The Colonel nodded toward Penny and Star. "They are looking good."

"Thank you, sir."

The Colonel raised his fingers on the steering wheel, turned the lever and took off the brake. He closed his fingers after passing Del, turned sharply, and left the clearing.

Del stood for a moment, tried to clear his head. He went to Star and Penny and patted their shoulders. "Good girls," he said. Penny didn't smile, looked pensive.

He stood over Sharon who stared at him. He knelt and untied her. She fell open, winced. He rubbed her arms and legs, laid her out on her back.

He went and gathered her clothes, brought them and dropped them on the grass by her. "Kneel," he said.

Sharon rose to her knees, bowed her head.

"Hands like theirs," he said. He placed her hands on her thighs, palm up. "Not tense." He uncurled her fingers. "Back straight." He pressed his palm in the center of her back, used his other hand to push her onto it. "Shoulders back."

She looked godawful, worse than Penny in the beginning.

Del used Sharon's clothes to wipe her. She moved stiffly as he rubbed. She began to speak, he said, "When you are with me you can respond with three words. Yes, more and please." He tossed her soiled clothes in front of her. "If you come to me tomorrow, I will assume you are serious. I will put a collar on you so I will have something to lead you by or to lock a hood to. Four hours in the afternoon is all I can spend with you. Here, at the Colonel's or at the stable."

She began to speak. He gripped her chin. "Yes, more or please or any of those words in combination. Nothing else. If you can't say those words you have nothing to say."

She turned her face to look at him, licked her lips anxiously, and gave a crooked smile.

He turned to Penny and Star. "Do you want me to fuck Missy?"

Star gave a grin. "More please." She glanced at Penny.

Penny raised her eyes to his. "Yes," she said.

"All fours," he said. He crawled behind Sharon, dropped his jeans. He sank his cock in her, waited. He leaned forward, grabbed a fist full of her hair and pulled it back. His other hand held her hip. "When I say turn, you'll spin around." He began fucking Sharon. "You are not a pleasure slave. You will either be a dog or a pony. I will fuck you because I'm angry with you or because I'm pleased with you. You are not to come." He punctuated each word with a thrust. "Your body is mine to use as I see fit. Or not to use. You have no say, cannot beg or plead." He jerked her head back, released her hair. "Turn," he said.

She spun; he pushed his cock into her mouth, grabbed a handful of hair and pulled her onto him.

When he was done, he released her hair, stood. She looked up at him, red-faced, eyes wet, not the beautiful woman he first saw. "Understand?"

"Yes," she said. "More please."

He slapped her.

"More please." Her eyes begged him.

He smiled "There are nibbles on the blanket, enough for all three of you." He turned and watched to see if she would use her hands. His palm stung. He wiped it on his pants leg.