Del sat in the study and waited for the Colonel to come downstairs. The cashier's check was in an envelope; he'd laid it on the desk afraid he'd mangle it.

Penny and Star had both been kneeling side by side when he checked on them when he first got to the ranch. He left some apple quarters and hurried up to the Colonel's only to wait.

He looked at the mantle clock, past ten, decided he'd look at the Colonel's bookshelves. Eventually he heard the Colonel enter, he turned and went back to stand by the chair he'd been waiting in.

"Sorry, Del. I had business to finish upstairs." The Colonel sat, picked up the envelope. "Sit, Del."

"Yes, sir." He sat in the chair.

The Colonel opened the envelope, took out the check and grinned, looked over at Del and continued smiling. "I'm glad she's going to you, Del." He dropped the check in the drawer. "There are some papers to sign, Anna at the office can notarize them for us." The Colonel stood.

Del stood, followed the Colonel, his fingers twitchy. He still wasn't sure this was the best idea. He'd been so sure yesterday.

Del sat beside the Colonel in the zip buggy. The Colonel handed a large envelope to him. "Her papers." The Colonel sped off toward the office, the squat tires of the golf cart crunching on the gravel. The Colonel didn't use the brake going down the hill; the cart picked up speed.

"There was this couple," the Colonel said, grinning at Del.

Oh, no, Del thought.

"They had run into money problems and then the husband lost his job. They were facing financial ruin. The husband went out every day looking for work and found nothing." The Colonel waved at John and Debbie in the ring. "I don't see Penny or Star out here."

"They're in the stall waiting for me, sir." The envelope of papers rattled in his hands.

"I see." The Colonel paused. "That night, in bed, the wife said, 'I know what I can do. I can become a prostitute.'

" 'But dear, you're almost fifty. I don't think it'll work.'

" 'Nevertheless, I'll go out tomorrow and see. Expect me home late tomorrow night.'

"The husband didn't want to say anything to her but he was sure she'd be disappointed. Nice day, isn't it?"

"Beautiful day, sir."

"When we get back I have something I want to talk to you about. A proposition." The Colonel paused. "Where was I?"

"She'd be disappointed, sir."

"Del, you are an owner now. You don't need to say sir all the time."

Del nodded.

"The husband spent a fruitless day looking, came back and the house was dark. He made a sandwich, watched TV, his wife never appeared. Finally he went to bed, despairing. They were about to lose everything.

"His wife woke him in the middle of the night by turning on the lights. She waved a fist full of money in his face. 'See what I made being a whore.'

"He sat up in bed and she dumped the bills and pennies into his hands. He counted and it came to thirty-seven dollars and fourteen pennies. 'Why the pennies?' he asked.

"She stared at him. 'They were all pennies.' " The Colonel began laughing.

Del cringed. The Colonel was doing that laugh right in his ear.

"They were all pennies, Del. Get it? All were pennies." The Colonel slapped Del's arm. "That's a new one."

"I could tell, sir."

The Colonel parked in front of the office.

Anna notarized their signatures on the documents and made a set of copies for the Colonel's files. Del kept the originals.

Del rode all the way back to the Colonel's thinking, I've done it. I really did it. He wiped his palm on his jeans. He saw Spot by her doghouse and waved. He wasn't sure if she knew what was happening. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her yet.

Spot ran toward them as far as the chain would permit and barked happily, wiggling her rear.

The Colonel smiled broadly at Del. "Nothing in the world like it, is there, Del?"

Del shook his head. He couldn't believe it. He waved again at Spot.

"I have that proposition for you, but I can see you have other things on your mind. Go on. We'll touch base later."

Del looked at the Colonel. "Thank you, sir."

"Thank you, Del. Not all owners are quite so prompt. Ask Anna."

Del left the zip buggy, walked to Spot and knelt. She grinned at him, put her paw on his thigh. He scratched her behind the ear, touched the stud on her eyebrow. "Did the Colonel talk to you, Spot?"

She barked at him and grinned.

He guessed not. "I've just bought you, Spot." He thought he could see something pass through her eyes. "You're going down to the stable with me, you're going home with me tonight."

She raised her head and licked his hand.

"You'll have to be a good dog at home. No messing the floors, no chewing stuff. Understand? My wife isn't sure she likes dogs so you must try especially hard to make a good impression. You can romp and frolic when you're at work with me here."

He stood. "Ready?"

He unclipped the chain; she jumped on him and nearly knocked him over. "Down," he said.

She sat back on her heels grinning at him.

He rolled up the chain as he walked to the doghouse. He set it inside, went back to Spot and clipped his leash on her.

Spot heeled well, followed him down to the stable only jerking on the leash once when she had to pee. He waited as she did her chore, told her, "Good girl," thinking they'd stop at that pet superstore at the mall this evening and get a carrier. She needed supplies: bowls, chew toys, and dogfood. He was so happy he'd be tempted to spend a million. He'd have to watch himself.

He'd never seriously thought about an ownership mark. He had his brand but that was a temporary thing useful in training. Brands were nice for ponies but dogs were different. He'd get tags made for her collar and perhaps a special tattoo. That could wait until Marge was sure one way or the other. If Spot could stay, when Spot could stay, he'd have her tattooed, maybe on her inner lip or ear.

He was so busy with his thoughts he was surprised to find himself ready to unlatch the stall door. He went in, Spot followed. Spot immediately wanted to sniff everything. "Down," he said, pointing to the floor by the bench.

Penny and Star watched him as he sat on the bench and patted Spot. "Lie down," he said to Spot. Spot curled at his feet.

Star's nostrils flared as she watched him and Spot. Her fire wasn't damped down like it had been the past couple of days. Penny's mouth was slightly open. Her gaze wasn't centered on his face but lower.

Del checked his watch, just about noon. He stood, put the envelope with Spot's papers behind the kit. "I'm going to lunch," he said. "We'll go for a ride when I get back. It is okay to rest and to talk to Spot, quietly, if you want. I own her now."

Penny's eyes raised to his then dropped to the floor.

He left them, got to the bunkhouse before everyone else. He made a shopping list in his memo book while he ate. He closed his book, then stopped as he began to put it into his pocket. He opened the memo book and added one more item: doggy bed. Then he thought of another: champagne.

He harnessed Penny and Star in tandem for the buggy. They looked beautiful in their high heels, matching brands, erect stance, straight shoulders drawn back, chins up. He tied Spot's leash to the rear bar and off they went.

He had Penny and Star do a circle of the ranch buildings, round the office, stable, rings and corral. Around the bunkhouse and washhouse, past the wagon shed where Sam was preparing Randi for a ride.

After that circuit they rode to the top of the hill, past the Colonel's house into the woods. He had them take him through the woods, into the rolling hills.

He relaxed in his seat, enjoyed how they stepped, perfectly in unison, how their bodies glistened with sweat.

They returned to the woods and he had them go to the clearing they used. After they stopped he heard Spot panting behind him. He turned to her, smiled at the look on her face, turned back to Penny and Star. "You're good girls," he said. "All of you are good girls."

Spot barked. Penny and Star relaxed.

He unharnessed his charges, gave their fannies a slap and they sauntered off. He unclipped Spot's leash. "Stay in the clearing," he said.

Spot wiggled her ass and trotted off to squat by a bush.

He got the blanket out and set it in the center of the clearing. He put bowls down and filled them with water. Spot immediately went to hers and drank noisily.

He sat on the blanket and unscrewed the thermos cap. He filled the plastic cup with coffee, screwed the cap back on.

"Don't I get any?" Sharon said behind him.

He didn't turn, picked up the cup, set down the thermos.

"Mr. Hardguy," she said sitting next to him. "Don't you ever say hi?"

"Howdy, miss." Penny and Star knelt side by side at the edge of the clearing, both watching him. Spot curled up near them.

"Look at me, Del."

He would rather not, but he did. She was stunning. Long hair loose around her face, red silk blouse unbuttoned down to there. Black pleated skirt and Roman sandals. She set a small purse by her side. No jewelry, not even earrings. She smiled at him and touched his leg. "I came, Del."

"Not as you were told."

"Not exactly as I was told. I agree." She held out her hand. "The coffee. May I?"

He handed her the cup, watched her take a sip. Her hands, she held the cup with both, shook slightly. She looked at him as she drank.

She passed the cup back to him. "Nice day, isn't it?"

"Beautiful, miss."

"Grand things can take place on days like this. Or idle dreams are dreamt lazily." Her mouth remained partly open after the last word.

Del realized Sharon's cheeks were flushed. She wore no makeup. Her lips were pale. "Why are you here, miss?"

"You want me to give up so much, Del. You want me to give up everything. What do I get in return?"

He exhaled, turned to watch Penny and Star. A week ago, two weeks ago? When he was spending the night in the stall. He'd woken up; Penny knelt by his head looking down at him. He could barely make out her shape by the light of the north window.

"I love you," she whispered.

He slapped her, pulled her arm down bringing her head close. He said in her ear, "I'm not your owner. Your love means nothing to me. If I fell in love with every charge I had I'd go crazy." He pushed her. "Go back to bed, Penny."

He could see her moist eyes look at him as she rose. She had a smile on her face, turned away and lay down next to Star. He rolled over from them and shut his eyes.

He'd go crazy if he loved them and it was worse than hell when their owners brought them back for a visit.

"I can't answer that, miss. I wish I could but I can't. What I do isn't a transaction. I have less than you after I've taken everything."

She was quiet for several minutes.

He handed her the coffee cup. She took it, drank and handed it back.

"Ron told me you've bought Spot."

"This morning."

"How much?"

"Forty-one thousand."

"That's a lot."

"Yes it is."

"Do you think you got a bargain?"

He handed her the cup; she took it, drank and held it. "I think he gave her to me."

"What does she get?"

"You sound like my wife, Marge." He took the empty cup and filled it from the thermos.

"She knows what you do?"

"She has an idea. She doesn't want to know the particulars."

Sharon took the cup, held it. "You and she get along?"

"So far so good. Spot it pushing it."

"The money bother her?"

"How much, not really. Otherwise, yes."

"Unhunh." She passed the cup back. "Look at me, Del."

He turned slowly after taking a drink. Sharon stared at him, still flushed. He could see a tremor above one eye, wondered if she felt it.

"If I decide I can't go on, you'll let me leave?"

He watched her face and nodded. "You'd be as free as they are."

"Is that free?"

"I'm not keeping them here. If they want they can talk to Anna and she will make arrangements."

"But is that free?"

"Hell if I know, miss." He tossed the coffee onto the grass and screwed the cup onto the thermos.

"Del, you aggravated me when you didn't answer my questions. You aggravate me when you do."

"Just lucky, miss. Is this discussion going anywhere? I'm busy."

"What's next on your to do list? Fuck one of them." Her finger flicked out.

"Thought crossed my mind." He paused. "Miss." He began to stand.

"Sit down."

He sat, looked off into the woods. He heard her open her purse, close it.

"Here," she said. She tapped his arm.

He felt the collar drop into his lap; he fingered the cold steel.

"Before you put it on me, you should read this." She laid an envelope in his lap.

He saw the white horse logo in the upper left-hand corner, silver foil embossed with engraved lettering underneath. The flap wasn't glued. There were several sheets of paper. He unfolded them, saw the Colonel's personal stationary.

"Del,

"Sharon is yours to make of what you will. If she is a dog as good as Spot, I'll buy her from you for a good deal more.

"Ron Lightly, Lt Col, USAF, Ret"

He studied the next sheets which were a resume and her vita. He folded them and put them back in the envelope. He set the envelope so it leaned on the thermos. It took two tries. He fingered the collar. "Any health conditions I should know of."

"I'm allergic to dog hair."

"That's good to know. Nothing else?"

"Clean bill of health."

"Anything scare you?"

"Everything scares me, Del."

He looked up at Penny and Star. Penny gave a slight nod. Spot scratched her ear and went back to sleep.

"The Colonel isn't making you do this?"

"Look at me, Del."

He turned to her. He saw the mark where a tear had gone down one cheek. "No one is making me do anything. I just don't know what to do. You have to tell me." She gave a crooked smile. "Please tell me."

"Go over there and take off your clothes. Fold them carefully, put them in the back of the buggy. Your purse, too."

She smiled at him. "Thank you." She stood, took her purse and went to the spot he had showed her. She undressed slowly, slowly folded her clothes as if this was the last time she'd ever do that. She carried the folded clothes and her purse to the buggy. After putting them in the back she waited.

He got up, walked to her, took her arm and led her to the blanket. "Kneel," he said.

She knelt, forgot completely what he'd told her yesterday. Sometimes the smart ones weren't so smart.

"Hands on your thighs. Remember?"

She blushed, put her hands on her thighs, palm up, fingers tightly curled; the fingers trembled. She looked up at him.

He knelt beside her. "Stomach in, shoulders back."

She jerked as if hit, glanced away from him and did what he told her.

"Look at me," he said.

She turned abruptly.

"Anything else you want to say before I put this on?"

"Ron suggested a more appropriate name."

"You'll be Missy for a while. To help remind you of your origins."

Her eyes dropped and rose to be level with his.

"Does being stable dog frighten you?"

"Yes." She added quickly. "But I'll do it if that's what you want me to do."

"It won't happen right away. It takes a lot of hard work to be a dog. Shoulders back."

"Sorry."

He wasn't sure how to respond to sorry. Sorry only means they'll do it again. "You'll be my assistant except for when I'm training you. You'll remember my training and practice while you are my assistant."

She nodded.

"While you are my assistant you may respond or address me respectfully. Otherwise you'll only be able to say yes or no."

"Thank you." She paused.

"Just that much is satisfactory. Hold still." He closed the collar and locked it. "Missy."

She stared at him.

He wondered if she expected a magical transformation. He took the leash out of his back pocket, held it to her. "Leash Spot and bring her to me."

She took the leash, stood and went to Spot.

He rose to his knees, watched Star and Penny.

Spot knelt in front of him.

"Stay," he said. He checked her ears and turned her lips to see if there were any marks. There were none. He touched her lower lip. "My mark will go here, Spot."

She barked, licked his fingers.

"Turn around, Spot."

Spot spun, wiggled her ass at him.

"Prepare me, Missy," he said.

She dropped the leash as she knelt.

"Who said you could let go of the . . ."

"Sorry," she said as she grabbed the leash.

"Go on."

She looked up at him as she opened his pants and held his cock.

He felt like tying her to a tree and whacking her with a branch. The things he had to go through. He knocked her hand away, rose and plunged into Spot's warm cunt.