Klempner

It’s not as though I don’t have the time to think… To plan…

I might be short on the creature comforts, but if there’s one thing I have in endless supply, it’s time.

And the time hangs.

There are times I consider finishing it. It wouldn’t be difficult: to tangle myself in the chain and let myself fall into the fetid water.

But even at the end of hope, life remains sweet.

And I have a better reason…

Mitch...

When I think of Juliana’s threats, my throat tightens, my breath catches. My mind freezes over.

But I’m no good to Mitch like that. Or Jenny. So I don’t let myself dwell on it.

She’s alive…

If she weren’t. Or if Juliana had succeeded in committing some harm to her, I’m quite sure she would have told me. Almost certainly, she would show me some kind of proof.

She hasn’t. Ergo, Mitch is alive and well.

But Juliana is never going to release me…

The key…

It dangles from its nail, tormenting me with its promise of freedom.

I have to be patient, make my moves slowly. But I can’t afford too much patience. With the poor diet and unsanitary conditions…

… and the depression…

… and the darkness…

… I’m conscious that I’m no longer in good physical condition. And that’s only going to get worse every day.

Even the fetter around my ankle is looser than it was.

How much weight have I lost?

How long can I last?

I have to escape.

So… How?

*****

Michael

“Morning, Mitch.”

Early Spring sunshine streams down on the sultry beauty. A large bag full of who-knows-what women’s paraphernalia is by her feet. A book pokes out of the top. Pregnancy For The Older Woman: All You Need To Know.

She smiles at me from her seat by her front door, setting a porcelain cup on its saucer. Mint-scented steam rises from the pale-green tea.

Cradled into the nook of her other arm, Cara gurgles, trying to point at the birds pecking up a little scattered grain. Her aim’s a bit off, still wobbly and uncoordinated, but she’s trying. As she sees me, she breaks into a gummy smile, then at the sight of Bear and Scruffy trotting along behind, she bounces and jiggles in Mitch’s embrace, little arms outstretched.

“You alright there? With Cara using you as a trampoline?” I nod down to the now noticeable swelling of her stomach.

“I'm fine. Just holding her until James arrives. He's having a shower after he and Jenny went riding.”

“You’re waiting for him?”

“He's dropping me off at the clinic on his way to the office. Jenny’s in the stable if you’re looking for her.”

“I was, yes. I'm at a loose end, so I thought I'd see if she wants some help with the garden.”

“I think you’ll find she’s mucking out the horses right now.”

The clip of leather on stone behind me: it’s James, freshly shaven, his hair still damp; suited and booted. “All ready, Mitch?”

“I am, yes.” She makes to stand. “Michael, could you…”

“Of course.” I take Cara from her. The tiny girl blows a bubble at me. I blow one back.

James heads for the stable…. “I'll just say goodbye to Charlotte…” … and reappears half a minute later followed by Charlotte.

“Okay, let's go.” James offers Mitch his hand. Although her pregnancy is showing now, she still moves gracefully, elegant on his arm.

“Thanks, Michael.” Charlotte takes Cara from my arms. Then, to her mother, “You're sure you don't want me to come with you?”

a big girl. I can

up Mitch’s bag. “Let me carry this to

*****

pocket. Oliver snorts and stamps, then as I snap the carrot in two, stretches

up to her knees in horse bedding, fork in hand, shuffling straw through

came to see if you

of straw, shaking the clean parts free

to get back to a normal life,

pitchfork held in one hand, balancing it on the other. She purses her mouth, tilts her head. “Is it normal? Mom

“Let's pretend it's normal.”

how do

I grin. And wait.

me. “What? What

my eyes. Flash my brows.

“You've got

look would

“You know what look.”

Oh, yeah…

me doing it. “You know, you really do things for me

sucks at her cheeks. “I'm shovelling horse shit

move in closer, take the fork from her and set it against the wall. “I rather like you dressed like that too.” A hand on either hip,

You bent me over a crate in your van...” She struggles, hands on my chest as though trying to push me away. But she’s

I scan the stable. “What I can bend you over in here?” Then I

an old chest of drawers. Well past its better days, once it furnished a bedroom in the hotel. Now, it houses tack, bits of leather, saddle soap, wax and rope. A single enormous cobweb drapes diagonally

blankets and the gurgling Cara. She’s already watching us, and as she sees me looking at her, she gurgles, beaming a

her under the arms to bounce her up and down a bit. Then, I move into the sunshine to get a better look. “She’s getting a good head of hair now. As dark as James’ almost. But there’s definitely a touch

“She has his

forehead. “Who’s going to be

by me, rests her head on my shoulder. “The next one’s yours. Perhaps she… or he… will be a

laying Cara back in her spot amid the horse tack. When I

came as a shock. I’d never realised just how big a change it is. But I’ve gotten past that. I'm ready for it this time…” She hooks hands around my neck,

cup her cheek with my hand.

you want

her

“Almost?”

mouth. “I don't want you doing something you don't really want to. Babies are a

want to.

behind her, I palm her ass. A plump cheek cupped in either hand, my cock gives me a nudge,

Michael, I smell

horse….” Charlie nickers and tosses her head… I nibble at an earlobe. “… And we can both have

to push me away… ”Michael Summerford, you are

there was a reason you married me.” I pull her back towards me by the ass, pressing her against my burgeoning groin. “It's rather nice to have

say otherwise. Hitching her up, I semi-prop her against the bales. “Hold

as her hands come up back up

like it. Get yourself comfortable.” I fumble for

you think you're parking my bare ass on prickly straw, you're

I mutter, nudging her back to the ground, Tugging my sweater off over my head, I lay it over the straw. “A throne fit for a queen. Now…” I return

hands. “Let me

on the sweater, then tug off her boots. Then her jeans and panties, to leave her naked from the waist down. My cock’s already at half-mast inside my jeans as I move in close and she wraps her legs

warmed over shall we.” Kneeling, my knees resting on straw, I push her knees open. “Rest your feet on

back, her ponytail swinging back against the straw, giving me a front-row view

laughter in her voice. “You're not going to scare the horses are

much

thighs, veeing to the startling copper of the curls; her labia,

and drawing down and into her warming sex. “I knew

she chuckles again. “It

beautiful you know.

her head, opens her eyes to meet mine. “Shovelling horse shit,

fit. Here, look at you now. Apart

“D’you think I'll get it back as fast with

did

of her

after yourself. Um… you realise you're not likely to conceive again while

we can't practice. And if we're going to have a lot of babies in the house, we might as well have them altogether; Cara, Adam, Mom's

“Your brother or sister...”

“Yeah... There’s a thought…”

Getting a little serious?

Save that for later…

my finger: a soft bite just below her knee, then drawing the heat of my lips and tongue downward… downward and inward… towards

shifting her position a little, dropping her head again, settling back and lifting her hips to me. Trailing lips over

in my ear is followed by

“Shove off, Charlie!”

blows by

This isn’t

nicker and ambles back to her spot in the straw, exchanges nuzzles with Oliver, then tugs a wisp

out laughing, dropping back against the bales, her body

assaulting me from one side and you shaking like a bloody Hula dancer from

very convincing attempt to straighten her face, then creases up again, knees curling up to her chest while I try fruitlessly to stretch out her legs again and open

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