24 comments/ 76970 views/ 8 favorites A Carpenter's Carol By: My Erotic Tale "Jake, it's quitting time." Andy yelled out into the Plantation Mansion. The sound of a hammer pounding rang out from it's interior. Andy Tibidoux was the Contractor of this construction site and was a friend of Jake's, had been since middle school. The Plantation was a nine hundred acre spread with cotton fields, guest houses, migratory workers shacks, a barn, sheds, silos, air strip, hanger and the big white pillared Mansion that had been under renovation for almost a year and a half now. "Quitting time? It's only two O'clock!" Jake yelled from the second story landing. Most of the workmen didn't show up at all and those who did took an early lunch and disappeared for the rest of the day. "It's Christmas Eve Jake. Come on, I told Maggie to set a plate for you. You can come out to the house and we'll drink a few brews for old times sake." Andy stepped into the Mansion looking up into the big spiraling stair case towards the second floor landing. "You got to be kidding. Thanks but no thanks, I'm working till seven at least and I'll be back out here tomorrow, too." Jake yelled out while nailing more boards. The slamming of the hammer against a nail set rang out from the Mansion's upper level. "Damn you Jake, Your worst than Mr. Scrooge. Come on, don't be like that," Andy pleaded. "You've known me since we were kids, Andy. You think I'm joking?" Jake replied. "Look if you change your mind, supper will be around eight, okay?" Andy shook his head in misbelief and turned and walked out the door, then stopped. "Oh, don't forget to lock up. The owner may show up so try not to piss her off, and Jake...Merry Christmas." "Yeah whatever." Jake mumbled as the nail gun spewed out it's ringing sound. "Ca-shew." Everyone say's he works to keep his mind off his loses. A quiet man, known as the best Carpenter in these parts. But lately his favorite sayings been, "I wasn't put on this earth to win a popularity contest." "Ca-shew... ca-shew," the air powered nail gun rang out loudly with a slight echoing sound in the empty Mansion. The wood trim walls were solid mahogany, with a lacquered sheen that glistened. The spindles on the stairs were all lathed by Jacob Randle. Better known as, Jake around town. Southern Mississippi, land of the big river, cotton, swamps and the Gulf of Mexico. The Mansion was owned by a woman that inherited the place. They say her families out of England and that she rarely visited. The history of the plantation dated back to beyond the civil war and slave trade days. The task of remodeling was a feat that was estimated to take at least two years with all the modern equipment to be installed. The state of Mississippi was more interested in saving the place than the owner. They were even establishing a room for tourists near the front door. Jake wiped the sweat from his brow and leaned back into the silence. Gazing at the caps and molding to ensure that they were plum by sight. Reached out to a spindle on the stairs and pulled himself up. Standing, he stretched his arms out and twisted slightly to adjust his body to being erect, he had been knelt down for way to long. "Lunch time," Jake thought as he began to descend down the stairs. Holding onto the bannister and feeling it's smooth surface as he walked slowly downward. He became entranced in the feel of slick wood. Checking for blemishes or bubbles in the finish and buckles in the wood's grain. "Cre....eek," Jake stopped and listened for a second cocking his head slightly to see if he could hear better. "Anybody still here?" He yelled out through the house. The amount of men working here was enormous. The different crews it took to put this place back together was astounding. Mason's, plumbers, pool builders, hot tub installers, painters, alarm and AC installers and the list goes on, so noise wasn't anything to be concerned about except everyone had left, or so he was told. The general help and field workers stayed in a congregation of homes down by the air strip, hangers and a barn about an eighth of a mile down the road. They never come up to the big house. Or at least not while the yellow construction tape had been placed about the place to warn of hazards. Jake went to the kitchen were they usually had lunch. Opened up the fridge and took his sack lunch out and grabbed a canned beverage. Sat at the bar and straddled a stool and unraveled a sandwich from a baggy. Popped the top on his can drink and took a big swig. "Creeeeek," Jake stopped in the middle of drinking and gently laid the can down with his head slightly turned towards where he had heard the noise, the basement. Slowly and quietly he got up from the stool and walked towards the door that led to the stairs. As he opened the door a Woman in a full, long flowing dress came barging outward. "Oh blimey! You startled me! I thought everyone had gone home for the day?" Her long, wavy, brown hair was pulled back and pinned, then draped down around her shoulders then down her back. Her pumped up breasts and long cleavage line was a bit different from the usual farm girl's dress around here. Her brownish red dress went all the way to the floor. She had a white knitted Shaw that draped over her shoulders. Jake figured she was from England by her accent and clothes. And rested a bit more assured that she was a family member or the owner. Yet still cautious enough keep an eye on her. Which was just as much an allure, for she was very pretty. "Huh, ma'am, should you be in the construction area?" Jake asked politely. Stepping back and allowing her to pass. She was carrying a bottle of wine. Jake had redesigned the wine cellar months ago and assumed she had full permission to be here. He had never met any of the owner, but was told she may appear. So he tried to be polite. "Well I bloody hope so," she replied as she scampered about the kitchen getting a wine glass and some cheese from the fridge. She opened a drawer and pulled out a knife and got the cutting block along with a plate from the cupboard. She obviously knew her way around so Jake felt certain she had more right to be here than he did. Jake steadily gazed at her and became more fixed on her pale complexion that added to her beautiful face. She wore a black choker around her neck with a Woman's face stamped on it, that had the look of ivory, centered at her throat. "And your name would be...?" Jake asked trying not to be to obvious that he was taking mental notes, in case she wasn't supposed to be here. "Cassandra, Cassandra Hardwick. And you are...?" She asked casually as she began slicing pieces of cheese and placing them on the plate in an eloquent manner. "Oh, I'm Jacob Randle," he answered while he grabbed is bag lunch and drink, then began to leave the kitchen. "Where are you going Mr. Randle? Please stay, eat your dinner," she said kindly yet pointing the knife towards the stool he had sat at. Jake glanced at the knife, frozen in his steps with uncertainty. "Oh Please..." she giggled as she saw his concerned look and silent stare at the knife in her hand. She quickly placed the knife in the sink and grabbed her plate of cheese then strolled around the bar and sat at another stool. Jake slowly climbed into the stool and began spreading out his lunch once again. He kept his eyes on his sandwich as he took a bite but couldn't help but glance her way and soak in her half bare shoulders that pulled on his pupils, begging him to memorize their soft, inviting way. "I have seen you before, haven't I?" She asked while pulling on the cork screw trying to open the bottle of wine. With no luck she slid the bottle towards Jake. "Would you mind?" Jake reached over and took the bottle. His flannel shirt sleeve half rolled up still showed his strong forearm that seem to put a gleam in her eye and a grin on her face. 'Pop' went the bottle as the cork released the vacuum. Jake pushed the bottle back towards her. "Thank you ever so kindly," she said smiling. Her eyes were big and bright. Her hand graced his as she took the bottle and a smile curled across her face. "No ma'am. I'm sure we have never met before," Jake said as he began to eat his sandwich. "Do they have the hot pool of water ready?" She asked as she poured the wine into the tilted glass. She put the glass to her nose and swirled the liquid around then sniffed it's aroma. "Yes ma'am. They've had it ready, but they are still building the mesquite skirting." Jake finished his sandwich in one big bite and crumpled up his sack. Gripped his beverage and stood up. "So I can sit in it then?" She asked just before taking a small sip from the glass. "Yes ma'am," Jake answered then turned to leave. "Would you mind escorting me there?" She asked in a quick blurt as Jake was starting to walk away. "I really must be getting back to work," Jake replied in a short whim. Then finished his drink in one big gulp. "You are an employee of the Hardwick Mansion right?" She spat. "I'm sorry, what I meant is that there is all this dangerous bloody equipment all around." She smiled as she stood up and gripped the bottle of wine in one hand and her glass in the other. "Come on," she demanded, politely. Jake sighed and turned around and began walking towards the back door. Passing her up as she just stood there waiting to hear his rely. Jake opened the door like a gentleman. Then waited for her to step out. She delighted in this action and smiled as she passed Jake and went out into the back patio. Her heels clicked on the brick walkway which brought Jake's attention to her strange looking shoes. Black boots laced up the front that stuck out only slightly from her long dress. He closed the door and followed her to the hot tub house. He slighted a smile when he noticed her ass pouched out a bit as if she had something stuffed underneath her dress to create this effect. When Cassandra got to the Hot tub house she stepped to the side and waited for Jake to open the door for her. Holding the wine bottle up and cupping her glass. She smiled with a slight curtsy as Jake opened the door and a slight mist swirled from its steamy interior that met the cool, southern, December air. She stepped into the small room and swirled slightly as Jake went to shut the door. His short black hair with a dew curl in the front swung a tad bit as he whipped around to leave. "Wait!" She blurted. Jake sighed as he knew she was going to take up more of his time. His frustration showed as he slowly opened the door wider and glared at her slightly. "Is there a Mrs. Randle?" She asked curiously. Jake closed his eyes as if a dagger had been run into his heart. "Yes," he answered. "You don't wear a wedding band?" "Gator got it," he replied, not exactly a conversationalist to begin with but she touched the sore spot in his life and it showed. "Oh my, an Alligator, but your fingers are still intact?" "No ma'am, gator is the 80 tooth, saw blade, mider saw." "You call your saw, gator?" She smiled at his answer then chuckled a bit. "This saw of yours...it destroyed your ring, but not your finger?" "No ma'am." "Jacob Randle...your not a very talkative person are you?" "No ma'am, I wasn't put on this earth for conversation." "Oh?" She set the bottle down and turned her back to him. "Would you mind? Or dare I say would your wife mind if you unfastened me?" She pulled her hair to her side to allow Jake full access to the fastens that ran down her back. Jake stepped into the warm hot tub house and began unfastening the top set of fasteners. He had never seen this type of connectors so his curiosity peaked a bit. The door closed and Jake went to step back and turn the door knob, but it appeared locked. He shook the handle and got a firm grip and twisted with a bit of strength. Cassandra slightly snickered as her dress fell to the ground. Jake gasped thinking he was about to see her fully naked, but she wore another set of clothes under the dress. A long white frilly slip like top with a strange white frilly pant set. Jake had never seen such under garments. His eye's darted back to the door as she caught his smiling glance. "What's wrong?" She asked with a giggle pulling her undergarment top down around her shoulders. Jake tried even more desperately to turn the knob. "Great...It's jammed." Jake replied then looked about the small room for a window or an opening. "Will your wife miss you if your not home soon?" "Huh? Uh...no. She passed away few years back." Jake checked the hinges for a way to remove them but without his tools he couldn't pull them out either. "Oh...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to pry. I'm nosey that way you know. I like to hear about people's past. Do forgive me." She pulled the undergarment off and laid it to the side. Fully nude now Jake's eyes shot wide open. Her back was to him as she quickly stepped into the bubbling water and submerged up to her neck and choker before turning around. She pulled her hair up and twisted it into a bun and tied itself into itself. Trailing strands fell to her neck and shoulders. It had been a long time since he had seen so much of a woman. "Look...I might have to kick the wall slats outward to get us out of here..." Jake started. "Oh no you bloody won't," Cassandra blurted. Snickered then reached for the wine glass but it was out of her reach. "Would you be as so kind?" Her long finger pointed at the glass of wine. He quickly picked the glass up and handed it to her. The touch of her hand sent a jolt through him like he had never felt before. Almost electrifying. He stood dazed a second then searched for a place to sit down as he got light headed. "Are you alright? Mr. Randle...MR. RANDLE!" "Yeah...yeah I'm fine." Jake said as he sat on the edge of the tub and looked around the tiny room for a way out. The room seem to spin slightly. His eyes blinked quickly trying to regain focus. It was as if he had been drugged. He put his head in his hands. Then blacked out. When he came to, he was in the tub. The swirling water massaged his every being. Leaning back into the side of the tub he looked around trying to get his bearings. Slightly disorientated and yet soothed by the bubbling water. "There you are," Cassandra said with a smile. She was next to him still holding her glass of wine as if she had never moved. He looked about the hot tub room and saw his clothes when he realized he was stark naked. His shock showed in his face. "What happened?" He asked curiously and a tad bit excited. "I invited you in the tub and you excepted." She replied with a smile. "Here," she handed Jake the bottle of wine. "I don't drink." Jake replied. "You do now," she said. And as if he was under a spell he took a drink from the bottle before he even realized he was drinking wine. "I don't like wine," Jake said then took another drink. "Finish telling me about your wife?" "Finish? Huh...what do you mean?" "You said she passed away?" "Yeah...she died giving birth to our son." Jake took a big, long drink as he looked straight ahead, as if the whole event just came flooding back. He had tried for so many years to shove those memories deeply into the back of his mind. But they came flooding back like watching a homemade movie reel of the whole event. He broke down slightly as a tear fell from his face. "You loved her very much didn't you?" "Well yeah," Jake took another drink then looked at Cassandra. Her bare shoulders up from the water line that seem to dance around her breasts in the swirling water. His eyes fixed on her while she raised an arm up and drank from her glass that finished her drink. She reached over towards him with the glass out for him to refill it. "More please," she said smiling. Her arm up and out of the water brought her breast up higher too. Jake was shakily trying to pour the wine and look at her at the same time. She giggled at his attempt then reached out and steadied his hand. "Tell me about your son. Do you still see him? Is he at your home?" "No, he stays with my mother over in Vicksburg." "Oh, why is that?" "I really don't want to talk about this." Jake said as he took another drink. "When was the last time you saw him?" She asked in persistence. "Well, it's been...lets see. I guess 2 years now." "Mr. Randle...that is way to long for a child not to see their parent. I should know, my father came to this place to get it ready for my mother and my two sisters. She passed away from phenomena the winter before we were to arrive." Jake seemed to be feeling better but he could feel the effects of the alcohol beginning to take effect. "I am truly sorry to hear that. I know what it's like to loose someone." "Yes well, soon afterwards my sisters and I arrived here, my father was killed by the blue coats and we have been here ever since." "Damn, that's sad, Cassandra, right? Cassandra, that's a pretty name ... blue coats?" Jake smiled for the first time. This made her smile too. Jake stared into her eyes then down at her breasts. Then he looked down at his own nakedness. His stirring mind began to try and recall his getting into the tub naked. "Or did she take my clothes off?" He thought to himself. "Your to kind," she said then sipped her wine and leaned into him. "Kindness is a virtue my sister, Robin didn't have. Now my other sister Victoria, she's an angel. You would like her. Do you have any siblings?" "No ma'am," Jake replied as he leaned into her beauty. He couldn't take his eyes off hers. They were like stars glistening, attracting him, drawing him closer. She leaned into him. He leaned into her. Closer they came till he felt her warm breath on his lips just before he kissed her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Splash!" Jake sat up, groggy. He looked about the empty hot tub room. His clothes were where they had been. He looked over and saw the bottle of wine and one empty glass. "Cassandra?" He mumbled. Realizing he was alone, he got up and got out of the swirling water. Reached for the stack of towels on a shelf and dried off. Confused he then got dressed and went to the door. He recalled the door being stuck so he gripped it tightly and turned it hard. It turned and opened. "Where in the...?" He looked back in the bubbling water trying to figure out what was happening to him. Jake opened the door and stepped out into the cold air and a chill run through him. His mind was boggled with the events that had just taken place but he headed towards the Mansion and figured it was time to get back to work. He could sort it all out in his head while slaving away over lumber as he had done so many times before. He took a few steps toward the house when he heard a voice. "You there...give me a hand. My mare has bolted and run a muck." Jake turned to see a red headed woman in a riding outfit walking briskly towards him. Riding crop in hand and briskly walking towards him. She was very pretty with her hair pulled back into a ponytail held by a large black bow. "Excuse me?" Jake replied. "Who put those ring ties on at the barn? I tied my mare to them and she rare'd and broke free. I'll have their jobs for doing such shoddy workmanship." She was stern in her tone and steady in her stride as she walked up to Jake and must have liked his appearance cause she smiled at him even through her huffy comments. "The welders I think," Jake answered. "Well could you take a look? I can't tie the horses to a tie if they will not hold." "Yes ma'am. And you are?" Jake asked. "Robin Hardwick, who am I speaking with?" She asked "Jacob Randle ma'am," Jake replied. "I will have to report this to Daddy and he will be furious that horse is very expensive." She rambled as she turned to head towards the barn. "You want a ride?" Jake asked as he saw she was going to walk to the barn a foot. He was accustomed to driving his truck down there. A Carpenter's Carol "Excuse me? Ride? Sir it is hardly a long ways to the barn, come on." She was persistent and obviously a woman who got her way. They began walking to the barn across the field and toward the large road that led to the barn and air strip area. "You the new grounds keeper?" She asked. "No ma'am I'm the Carpenter," "Oh, you build things. How quaint," she slighted him a smile then continued walking in a fast paced manner. Jake's eyes fell to her very alluring rear which showed greatly with her tight riding pants. She whacked the crop against her leg in a steady march all the way to the half painted barn. Scaffolding and paint equipment were scattered about. The sun rested on the tree tops hinting night fall was setting in. Jake didn't realize he had been out of it for that long but finding an excuse to get on home was stirring in his mind. She swung the half opened barn door and entered into the darkened interior of the stabled barn. The smell of livestock reeked strongly. Jake went into the barn behind her and looked about. "See," the lady spat as she pointed to a metallic ring tie that had been pulled from the boards on the wall near the tack cupboard. "I can fix that in a jiffy," Jake snickered." Simply replace those dry rotted boards. Then I'll have the welder replace the ring with all-thread." "I don't want a quick fix. I want all this wall replaced and made sturdy. Can that other tie hold a horse's pulling weight?" Robin Hardwick pointed to another tie as she opened up the tack cabinet and scrounged around it's interior. "Well, let me see," Jake reached up and gripped the tie ring with two hands and pulled hard. Placing a foot on the wall he gave it a hard jerking pull and it didn't budge. "I think so..." "Click, click...click," "Hey!" Jake blurted as a pair of shackles was placed on his wrists quickly then fastened to the ring. Jake pulled hard and the strain bit into his wrists. "What the fuck!" "You men are way to easy, I use to do the same thing to the slaves. Dumb animals they are, too!" "What?" Jake angered and kicked at the wall hoping to pull the boards from they're nailed studs. But the pain of the metal biting into his wrists was to great. "Now ... Jacob is it? You'll get a lesson in the here and now!" Jake wasn't really listening to her, his focus was on a way to get free. 'Wack' a slapping sting came across Jake's back. "Ouch," Jake yelled. "Hey! You fucking bitch that hurt." Jake became enraged jerking at his binds. "You feel that, brings life to the body. There is nothing in your mind but the feel of the flesh." She rared back with the crop and slapped at his rump. 'Wack.' "Lady, when I get out of..." Jake kicked at her while trying to pull free. "Wack." She lashed at him again. She then took a rope from the stall and swung it quickly around his legs and cinched it up binding his legs. Jake struggled trying to pull his legs from her wrappings to no avail. With his now tied legs he then settled into the wall for balance. She ran her hand along up his shirt along his muscular back then around his front to his chest and twisted at his nipple hard. Jake squirmed but his position didn't allow for much movement or his body would fall and the shackles would bite into his wrists with an enormous amount of pain. She reached down and unfastened his pant's button and pulled them to, open up the flap a bit. "I bloody enjoy taunting men, the blimey slaves would hate it when I come to visit. But I really liked teasing my dear sisters best. Nothing like the feel of a woman, don't you agree?" She asked as she stuck her hands in his pants and wrapped her fingers around his cock and pulled it upwards. "What? Your sisters? Slaves? Lady slavery has been abolished for a long time. You some kind of master, slave bitch or what?" Jake was confused and trying to understand what she was saying while still yanking at the old dry wooden boards. "Oh yes, I would trick my sisters the same way I tricked you and strip them bare and have my way with them. I love the taste of a woman. But men will do too." She snickered then stepped back from Jake. She began unbuttoning her blouse sensually. As Jake settled and watched her for a second she lashed out with the riding crop again against his back. 'Wack.' Then she dropped the crop and removed her top. Hanging it on the stable gate. She tucked hard at her boots till they pulled free, then turning slightly she peeled her pants off till she was bare. "What the fuck's wrong with you?" Jake spat. "Me? I enjoy bringing people to the here and now. People are so entranced in their dreams, wishes and daily lives they rarely realize their is an element of ... NOW!" With an open and she slapped at Jake's bottom, slapping him mildly. "You feel that?" "Look Lady, your crossing the line here. You can go to jail for what you are doing." Jake twisted back and forth trying to find a good stance with his legs bound, it wasn't easy. "Jail?" She scoffed, "Sir, I have gotten away with murder for a long time now. You can't jail the dead." "Dead?" Jake felt like a knife at gone through him as he considered the fact that this was all a dream or she was telling the truth and she was a ghost or he had died and this was hell. He didn't have the answers but he knew his situation was dire. She run her hands along his chilled body, her nipples perked from the cold as she pressed her body against his and lightly hugged him. "Does the warmth feel good to you?" She asked as she purred a bit and reached down and fondled his cock. Playfully she toyed with it pulling and stroking till it began to swell. "Mmmmm..." she delighted in his erection. "See, touch is a part of the now, not the past, not the future. But can only be experienced now. Sure you can recall this later and it will excite you, but nothing like the touch of the now." She gave his cock a really hard yank and Jake jerked back the best he could. She pulled his pants down to his knees as she knelt before him and took him in hand again. Jake wasn't fighting near as hard, for it had been way to long since a woman touched him so. He couldn't deny the wonderful feelings she was filling him with but still didn't approve of her methods. He melted when he felt her warm, wet mouth envelope his cock. She sucked and stroked him with long sensual strides along his girth. Pulling back she took him in hand and pulled lightly. trailing her fingers along his cock till it was so hard he was about come. She got up and slapped at his protruding cock and gave out a laugh. It twanged back and forth only for a second then stiffened into it's erection. She reached down and grabbed the crop and slapped at his cock. Jake tried to turn from her but that only encouraged her to slap at his exposed ass. She stepped up behind him and pulled his ass cheeks apart licked her finger and started teasing his ass hole. He went to turn around and she slapped at his cock. "You want this," she said as she slapped at his hard cock again. The pain made Jake jump back the best he could with tied legs. "Or this," she said as she ran small circles around his ass's opening. "My sister didn't like the way I played. She threatened to tell so I had to eliminate her. Down by the creek. I kissed her just before I hit her in the head and she became unconscious. Which made it easier to hold her under the water." Jake's eyes lit up realizing he was at the whim of an insane person. Unable to do anything but squirm. Just then Robin pushed the end of the riding crop into his ass and he jolted forward. The crop entered his being as she toyed with his ass for what seemed like an eternity. Pushing it in then pulling it out. Then she pulled on his cock gently. Then slapped at it. Jake twisted away and she would ram the crop's handle deeper in his ass. The room began to get darker as the sun was setting and night was making shadows black and the room dim. "Victoria was the shy one," Robin said as she stepped back and left the crop in his ass. Jake tried to wiggle hoping it would fall out but the handle had a larger round end and it was stuck. Robin came to Jake's front and she began trailing a finger down to his cock and lightly run her fingers down his penis that had lost it's luster and hung half swollen. The attention revived it as she pulled and tugged it back to hard and pointing once again. She hiked a leg up and fixed her self to settle upon him. Her wet pussy felt good and they both moaned with a certain pleasing tone. She wrapped her arms around Jake and began fucking him. Bouncing slowly but steadily, faster and faster. Jake preferred this to the alternative. Her firm breasts pressed into him fully. Her tight grip around his neck strained under her thrusting bounces. She sank her teeth into Jake's shoulder with a half chopped bite, and Jake yelled out from the pain. This only fueled her fires and she moved her mouth around biting him here and there while pumping herself fully on his hardened muscle. She wrapped both legs around him and humped madly. "Yes," she rang out as Jake felt her sloshing wetness form around his cock. She wrapped her arms tighter and quivered slightly while resting for a moment. She pressed onto him slowly and Jake could feel her depths. Then she slid off of him placing her feet back on the ground. Gripped his nipple with her fingers and twisted hard. "Thanks lover," she said as she stepped away from him. His cock was rock hard and the riding crop still in his ass. "NOW! Didn't that feel good? You'll remember this the rest of your life. But nothing will ever be as good as the real thing. The time here and now. You may forget your grade school teacher's name, but you will never forget me." She reached back behind him and yanked the crop from his ass, ripping pain through his body. He flinched and tightened with a death grip around the shackles. His eyes squinted closed and his teeth gritted. His body went limp with submission that he was at her whim. He couldn't do anything but except that she was going to do what ever she wanted with him and he could do a 'Damn' thing about it, right NOW anyway! Jake opened his eyes, the darkness filled the barn. There was nobody there. She had disappeared while his eyes were closed. He didn't know if she walked out or was just gone for the moment. But she wasn't anywhere around to be seen. Jake listened fully, but didn't hear a sound. Not even her steps walking away. Hanging there with his pants down to his knees, legs tied together and the shackles around his wrist, held him to the metal ring tie against the wall. The cold was beginning to set in and shivering took his body uncontrollably. The hair on his body raised from the chilling, slight wind that came through the barn's half opened door. He closed his eyes and imagined what he would tell them when they found him like this. Jake tried to relax, realizing nobody would becoming to the barn till Monday for all he knew. The paint crew was a bunch of drunken misfits that showed up when they felt like it. It maybe several days till anybody came to his rescue. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Click...click," Jake felt the shackles release. He had no idea how long he had been there and startled that she was back he jumped. His eyes shot open and saw a beautiful blonde woman pulling her hands from his wrists. His arms dropped like dead weights. She looked at his nakedness with a half snickered smile then walked away. Never saying a word. She appeared to be in a long white night gown with a white wrap around her body to shield the cold. She went straight out the barn door without a word. Jake wrenched his wrists to get the blood flowing from his needle pricked, sleeping arms. Reached down and pulled up his pants and untied himself. "Wait!" He yelled and he tried to walk only to find his legs had fallen asleep as well. He got his footing and stumbled out the barn door glaring around in the darkness. There was no moon and no lights. Just pitch black darkness. He looked back up towards the Mansion and saw one small light was still on in one of the rooms. As he went to walk towards the Mansion he noticed the white gowned blonde woman was walking up a hillside in another direction. His first instinct was to go to the Mansion and call the police but another thought ran through his mind to follow the mysterious lady that rescued him. The later won over so her headed up the hillside. He saw her descend over the other side. At this point he began getting his legs to move faster and half jogged up the grassy mound that led to the woods. As he crested the hill he saw the woman in white down by a cemetery just standing there. He quickly went to her side with a million questions filling his mind. He blurted out, "Thank you." The woman never moved, she just stood in front of a row of head stones, gazing blankly at them. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along." Jake blurted as he stood next to the silent lady. He looked down at the head stones and could barely make out the names. Cassandra, Robin and Victoria. "Huh!" Jake's confusion mounted. "I don't understand," Jake's mind soaked up the names as he looked at the woman and she looked at him. She didn't smile, but she still had a very pretty face. A seductive quietness with wildly flowing long blonde hair. "Your Victoria?" Jake asked somberly. The woman never said a word as tears fell from her face. She reached an arm out and showed Jake a very large and deep scar that ran across her wrist. He looked into her face again and a tear fell from her cheek. It looked like silver dropping from a molten pot. "My sister Robin had a passion for Cassandra," she said lightly in a light mumble. "Robin killed Cassandra down by the creek while they were swimming. Cassandra had fallen in love with a suitor from town. Robin's deranged love for our sister caused her to take her life in the heat of anger. Kissed her then hit her in the head with a rock and drowned her." "What?" Jake listened with curiousness and felt the woman's sorrow in her words. Her hair blew lightly in the dark night but her white dress seemed to glow slightly. "I killed Robin, she was a bad seed. A disgrace to the family, father said that many times. Then I couldn't live with what I had done." Her tears flowed fully now. As she raised her wrist higher. "I went to her while she slept and stabbed her in the heart with my fathers saber. Then cut my wrists while her blood was still wet on the blade." She pointed to the head stones again. Jake didn't look, he had seen the names. He reached and laid his hand on the woman's shoulder. When his hand touched her, it was as if he felt her pain and she pulled away. Knowing he may feel the depths to her pain even greater than he'd be able to handle. "Do you know where people's futures lie?" She asked lowly. Jake didn't really understand the question as she reached up and placed her hands on his face and turned his head to look at the head stones that he had already seen. But he pacified her and looked again. Like a dagger through the heart he began to cry as he looked at the three head stones. The names read Jacob 'Jake' Randle, Nicole Ann Randle, and a smaller head stone that read Tiny Tim Randle. Tears filled his eyes and he knelt before the graves. The years of shoving and packing the pain deeply inside came flooding out. He fell to the earth with nothing left in his soul but the hurt that drove him to keep his mind off those thoughts were staring him dead in the face this night. She knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort. It felt like a suction pump pulling the pain from him so that he could breath again. He took a deep breath and looked at the head stones again and they were back to reading Cassandra, Robin and Victoria. Jake jerked back a bit and settled into a sitting position. "Your future while your alive is not set. But your death will come one day. It's what you do till then that matters and how your remembered by the ones you love." Jake tried to listen but his mind was still swimming in the memory of his wife's passing and the child that took her life that he shoved away because every time he looked at his son, he thought of his wife. "You will be given a gift. I give to you a gift of choice. You can choose to live in misery and the misery will spill into your child's life, or your can rejoice in a Christmas Carol." "Huh?" Jake looked up with a puzzled look but the lady in the white gown was gone. He looked around the cemetery but there was no sign of her. He looked back at the head stones and sank into his thoughts. His night was over whelming and he pulled his flannel shirts collar up around his neck and sat there in a fixed stare. The memories, the anger, the past and the hatred warmed him, but didn't fulfill him. He felt more empty than he had ever felt before. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The sound of a vehicle woke him up. He opened his sleepy eyes and stretched slightly and crawled to his feet. Stood up and stretched fully. The sky was hinting, day was coming. A small car had shot passed him on the main road to the air strip. He didn't recognize it but since it was just breaking daylight he figured it was a worker showing up for work. Jake made his way to the air strip and saw someone go into the hanger then open the big double doors. His tired and strained body felt every step with a heavy thud. Walking up to the quanson hut he tucked his shirt into his pants and tried to make himself slightly more presentable. Brushed his fingers through his hair and wiped his face with his hands. The loud roar of the cesna rang out as they taxied the air plane onto the open pavement. Jake waddled up to the air plane as the door opened and out stepped a very attractive woman. Her blonde hair was pushed under a baseball cap. Wearing sunglasses and a smile. "You my ride," she asked smiling. Reaching her hand out in a friendly manner for a hand shake. "Huh, no. I'm the Carpenter." "Oh, I'm supposed to meet someone here and give them a flight," she said smiling. Jake shook her dainty hand. "You seen any one else around here?" Jake asked curiously while looking around for signs of one of the sisters he had met the night before. "Nope, your the only one I've seen. I don't suspect you'll see to many people about this morning, it's Christmas." She said as she reached into the air plane that still had the motor running at an idle. Pulled out a paper, read it and said, "I got a call about 5 am this morning. I'm supposed to pick up a Jacob Randle and fly him to Vicksburg this morning." Jake's eye's lit up then his forehead crinkled with shock. "Huh?" "I'm sorry, where's my manners. I'm Carol ... Carol Hardwick." "Carol? Hardwick?" Jake's thoughts were like putty with confusion. "Yeah, I'm one of the family. We'll if this guy don't show up soon I'm going back home and bury myself into my novel I'm writing. Well, trying to write, I got writers block right now, can't seem to come up with a good story to write, right now. Hell, there I go rambling again. I'm sorry what did you say your name was?" Jake looked up and down the woman's frame. He wanted to pinch is arm to see if he was awake yet, or still dreaming or was he really dead. The prop wash from the propeller reminded him that feelings had nothing to do with being awake or not this night. "Huh, I'm Jacob Randle. Who called you?" "Oh, your my ride? A woman called this morning and said she had a job for me. To fly a Mr. Jacob Randle, that's you, to Vicksburg. Is this not correct?" "Well, yeah I could use a ride. My son lives in Vicksburg." Jake scratched his head. Still entranced in this pilots cute and charming smile. "Did you say your name was...Carol?" "Yep, that's me. You going to see your son for Christmas? The lady said round trip, so I'll be bringing you back too. I hope the airport restaurant in Vicksburg has good food. I'll wait for you there till your visits over." A Carpenter's Carol "Oh no, I can't allow that you'll come out to moms with me. They'll be surprised that's for sure." Jake said with a smile as realization was setting in as well as the thoughts of seeing his son. "Right now that would be excellent," he thought. He thought for a second about Victoria's words, then smiled. "Well, get in, were burning daylight." Carol went around and opened the door to the small airplane and waited till Jake climbed in, then shut and locked the door. The cesna taxied onto the paved runway, revved it's engine then took off rolling, gaining speed till it finally lifted into the air. Carol looked over and smiled at Jake. Jake soaked up the beauty of the sunrise of radiant colors that bounced off soft and friendly clouds. Then looked over at his pilot that was even more lovely. "Hey, Mr. Jacob," she said loudly to be heard over the roar of the engine. "Jake, everybody calls me Jake," he answered smiling. "Okay Jake ... Merry Christmas!" Jake smiled bigger than he had in years. "Merry Christmas Carol." He thought a moment then turned to her. "I got a story for your writers block ..." The cesna flew into the clouds that Christmas Day. Like any other morning, into new beginnings.