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Jack And Dianne

By: SW_MO_Hermit



Jack Morgan's trusty old F150 bounced down the nearly impassable trail and bounced through the last dry wash before he reached his destination. He could see the trail of dust hanging in the still air behind. It was a typical mid August day in Southwest Missouri. It was hot and dry with no real chance of rain for some time. 

When Jack had left home to go to college seven years ago he swore he would never return for more than a short visit. Now it looked like he might never leave again. He had everything he owned in the world with him. All his worldly possessions were inside the beat up old truck his family had purchased new in 1996. There were some clothes and personal items, a few dishes and a belly full of hate and sorrow. That was all he had to show for the last seven years of his life. There were a few memories but many of the pleasant ones had been overlaid with unpleasant ones.

If it hadn't been for his grandfather's forethought he wouldn't have even had the land he was planning to living on. Before he died he had set up an irrevocable trust placing the land in it along with the balance of his worldly possessions. The trust was for Jack but he would not become the owner of the farm until he had graduated college or turned age 31, married, and fathered a son. In the event these requirements were not met the trust passed to his grandfather's sister's family. Until Jack met the full requirements of the trust he was serving as trustee. He was thankful the trust was so worded or he might have lost even this little piece of ground in one of his two divorces. Here he was, 25 years old and already divorced twice. 

The bad thing about the land was there were no buildings of any kind on it. The good thing was it had a well and septic system and was situated in a beautiful little valley with a small river or large creek flowing through. Another positive aspect about the little farm was it was almost 25 miles from a town of any size and the nearest neighbor would be over a mile away. There were three small towns within a few miles but only one of them even had a store. Well two did if you count the old mill at Wilson's Mill. An old retired Army man had reopened it and put in a café. His wife sold a small number of grocery items but they were mostly of the emergency or snack food category. There were fish galore and some deer and other game on the land. With what little money he had managed to hide from his last ex wife and her sharks he could at least eat for a while.

I suppose you might ask how someone who graduated from the University of Missouri with a BS in Agricultural Economics and who had owned his own firm could sink to such a state as had Jack. Jack would tell you he suffered from a nearly terminal case of stupidity. 

While he was reminiscing he finally arrived at his destination. The small meadow that had the well and septic system was overgrown. There was a bluff about 30 feet tall in a bend of the stream with a deep hole beside it where the bluff forced the stream to bend. The rock caused water to swirl and keep the hole clean. There was a nice gravel bar on each side of the stream just before the hole. Jack smiled when he saw the old mill dam still held the water back and kept the hole even deeper than it normally would have been.

The bluff wandered away from the stream then became shorter as it curved north then back east almost into a protective cup. Before the rock outcropping disappeared it encompassed and protected about two to three acres between the protection of the bluff and the stream. 

The light pole that should have had an electric meter installed was there beside the bluff's highest point about 65 feet back from the stream bank. Sometime in the past the meter had been removed, hence there was no power. Of course right now that didn't matter because other than a small lamp or two and a microwave Jack had nothing that needed electricity. Oh, well, he thought. Man heated with and cooked over fires for millennia so I suppose I could regress. Jack gave himself a small grin and remembered the many nights he and his friends had camped in this very location when they were teenagers. They would catch fish within walking distance of the camp then swim in the ole swimming hole. At dusk they would cook fresh fish and the rest of their meal then lay listening to the chuckle of the stream as it flowed on past this little slice of heaven. Hell, Jack thought again. I even got my first piece of ass right here beside the stream.

Jack pulled his truck under the trees beside the light pole and the concrete pad his grandfather had poured years ago. The pad was next to the bluff. There were steel hooks embedded in the rock to hang things on. At one time there had been a roof over the concrete pad but time and perhaps vandals had destroyed the roof. All that was left were the steel poles set into the concrete that the roof had rested on. Jack planned to use the poles and hooks as anchors and support for his tent when he built it.

After walking around the site he proceeded to set up his new residence. Jack made a tent out of some old plastic tarps stretched over the concrete. Then he set an old card table and two chairs under the tarp fly with his cooler beside it. Next he unloaded a small gas BBQ grill and was in business. At least he had a small camping cot with a pretty good foam rubber mattress to sleep on. He put this under the tent also.

By the time his new home was constructed it was almost dark. Jack made a sandwich and wandered down to the cooler area beside the stream. He sat on the ground and leaned on a log while he thought about what had to be done in the next few days. He could do without many items but did need to find a job of some sort so he could have a place to live when it turned cold. Until then he would camp here. 

During the divorce proceedings Jack had managed to hide almost $5000.00 in cash. He didn't declare that money so when the property was split he ended up with $7300.00. A lot of that had been spent moving back home though. The last time he counted money there was just under $4900.00 left. The land was rented to a neighbor but the rent wasn't payable until January 1. Then he would only receive about $3600.00. No way could he live on that for a year. Of course in the spring he would plant a large garden and that would help.

Most of his possessions were left in the truck. They would stay dry there and except for a few clothes he didn't need anything except what had already unloaded. The first couple of days in his new home Jack prepared for the rest of the summer. He brought some firewood up and stacked it then covered it with a tarp. Some he cut into lengths with his chainsaw. He made a list of things that needed to be done and another of things he needed to purchase right now and things that he needed to purchase soon but could wait on.

Early mornings he sat and enjoyed the morning while fishing for his days meals. There was a spring running out of the bluff beside the camp that provided sweet, cold drinking water. It was better than any water you could get elsewhere in his opinion. The stream was fine for bathing. Considering what a pile of shit his life had turned into he was happy. Many times he was thankful he was debt free and free of the blood sucking, cheating skanky leech his second wife turned out to be.

The third day after returning home Jack drove to the nearest town with a grocery store and stocked up. He arranged for mail delivery with the Post Office. Another stop was at the electric COOP to arrange for a power meter to be set so he would have lights and could run electric appliances. On his way home he went to Wal-Mart and purchased a small apartment sized refrigerator. By the time the day was finished in town he had spent another $700.00 of his meager stash. 

During the day Jack had left applications at several businesses. None of them gave him any hope of being hired. They had all told him they weren't hiring right then. Jack even made a stop at the library to see if the paper had any jobs advertised. No luck there either.

When Jack returned home there was an old 1984 F250 diesel with dents in every sheet metal panel parked beside his tent. The truck was even more beat up than was Jack's. There was a weather beaten, leathery skinned old man sitting in one of Jack's chairs beside the truck. The man had white hair and about a three day growth of white beard on his face. His clothes had holes in them and were threadbare. His boots looked older than he was and were caked with dry cow manure.

The man stood up when Jack got out of his truck and said, "Howdy Boy. I hate ta tell ya this but this here's private propity and ya' all cain't camp here. It's late though so I s'pose ya kin stay 'nother nite though then ya need ta move on."

Jack looked at the old fellow and held out his hand. He said, "I'm Jack Morgan and I'm not camping here really. I own this land and that is my home over there under the trees."

The old man smiled and grabbed his hand in his. He said, "You're little Jackie Morgan? God Boy, you sure growed up after ya left here. Ya don't remember me do ya? I'm Gregg Hill. I been renting tha place whilst ya was gone. Bettie told me ya was comin back but she didn't say when. Welcome back boy. So whatcha gonna do now ya come back home? They sure aint much work hereabouts fer a young fella like you."

Jack's head was spinning after Mr. Hill's greeting. He said, "Well Mr. Hill, I really don't know but this is all I have left. I lost my business and two wives while I was gone. All I own in the world right now is here in front of you. I have no job, almost no money and not much hope. I guess I'll just have to get by on what I have for now and hope something comes up. I was in Steelville and Centerton looking for work today and stocking up on items I need but I didn't even get a chance to interview anywhere. Guess I'll just keep looking and hope something turns up."

Mr. Hill looked at Jack and said, "Hell boy ya don't have ta call me Mr. My name's Gregg. I aint got much and don't need no help but you drop by and see us in a day or two. I'll ask around and see what I can come up with fer ya. I know Bettie would like ta see ya. What's it been seven, eight year since ya was 'round these parts?"

"Yeah, 'bout that I suppose. Didn't plan to ever come back but you know how it goes. Men plan and fate intervenes. I been screwed by the fickle finger of fate aided by my own stupidity."

Gregg didn't say anything to that. He just shook his head. He started to walk back to his truck. He looked in the bed of Jacks vehicle, stopped and turned back to face Jack. He said, "You gonna unload that refrigerator here Jack?"

Jack said, "Yeah, the electric company's supposed to get me a meter installed before the weekend so I can use it to keep my food cool. It'll be good to have some lights after dark too."

"Well, come on then. I'll help ya with it before I go."

Jack and Gregg unloaded the refrigerator and placed it on the concrete pad near the light pole. Gregg turned and waved then walked back to his truck. After he had gotten in he started the old diesel and gave a nod before he drove off. After Gregg left Jack moved his cooler with the cold food inside over beside the refrigerator. Hopefully the electric company would get there before his ice melted and the cold food spoiled. Of course some of it could be placed in the cool spring water if he had to. That would extend its life a short while.

Jack made another sandwich then sat in his chair and watched night fall. He relaxed, listening to the flowing water and all the night sounds. In the background he could hear a tractor in a neighbor's field. In spite of the way his life had gone to hell he was more relaxed and happy than he had been for years. He almost didn't worry about his uncertain future.

After lunch the next day Jack was sitting beside the stream working on a list when he heard a vehicle coming down the dusty lane once more. When he got to where he could see he found Gregg and Bettie getting out of the old truck. Bettie was carrying a box with several Tupperware containers inside. Gregg looked over at him, grinned and said, "Here Jack. Gimme a hand fer a minit."

Jack walked with him to the back of his truck and watched as he tugged on an old generator. Gregg looked over at Jack and said, "Well don't just stand there help me unload this heavy bastard." They carried the generator over beside the power pole and sat it behind the pile of wood Jack had cut. Next Gregg got out ten gallons of gasoline and an extension cord. He started the generator then plugged the refrigerator into the extension cord.

Gregg turned and looked at Jack and said, "The tank holds five gallons of fuel. It will run for 18 hours or so on a tank. Should be enough here to hold ya until the power company gets your meter in." He turned to Bettie and reached for the box she was still holding. He continued speaking, "We brought ya some home cooked food. It isn't much but it's better than sandwiches and I suppose you'll get tired of fish pretty quick without it."

Jack watched as Gregg put the food inside the new refrigerator. He moved his chairs slightly and said, "I don't have a very good place to sit but please have a chair."

His two guests sat in the two chairs that went with the card table and Jack sat in his only yard chair. They visited about Jack's family and they tried to fill him in on local residents. Some of the names Jack recognized but he couldn't really say he remembered any of the people. Finally Gregg leaned back and said, "Ok Son. Now why don't ya tell me why ya told me yesterday ya got screwed by your own stupidity? And tell me whatever happened to that wife of yours. Afore they died yore parents said she was a real nice girl. I guess ya married the one ya was engaged to before they died?"

Bettie turned to her husband and said, "Gregg! You just leave Jackie alone now. He'll tell us whatever he wants us to know in his own good time."

Jack sat a moment then decided what the hell. He had been a friend to the family for years and Gregg was helping. He deserved to know how stupid he had been.

Jack leaned back in his chair and said, "Well, you know I went to college when I left here. While I was in college Mom and Grandpa both died in a car accident while she was taking him to the doctor. I guess that took the will to live out of Dad 'cause he died just before I graduated. The accident that killed Mom and Grandpa hurt Dad pretty bad. He just seemed to lose the will to live after that. Of course the doctors all said someone in their late 60's after that serious of an accident just had trouble going on. I think he died of a broken heart. Oh, I know they said he died of the flu and Pneumonia but I think he just didn't want to go on without mother. When he got sick he didn't go to the doctor. He had been dead a couple of days when I got worried about him not answering the phone and got the police to check on him."

Dad didn't leave much but with it I managed to finish college. Of course you know I married my college sweetheart and we both got a job at Archer Daniels Midland. We had a good salary and after a year we bought a house together. I worked another year and decided to go out on my own. I had enough money that I began investing in commodities and some stocks. I spent hours researching. I wasn't making as much as I did at ADM but I did OK. Stephanie stayed at ADM. I took the courses I needed and got my securities licenses. I had a few friends that wanted me to manage some money for them. My business was starting to grow when I got a brain fart."

"Well, go on son. How did ya lose it all," Gregg asked.

"Well, one day after work Stephanie brought one of the women she worked with home. I worked out of a bedroom in our house I had converted into an office. She had a friend—well a woman she worked with at least—with her. I can remember it like it was just yesterday. She came down the hallway and yelled for me.

"Stephanie said, Jack, are you decent? Honey I have someone with me I want you to talk to. She just got a divorce and has some money she wants to invest. I told her you might be able to help her.

"I came out of my office and stopped in shock. I lost my breath. There behind Stephanie was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. She was tall—I later found out she was 5'10"—and built like a brick shit house. She had the most beautiful blond hair and a figure that would make Miss America weep. Her perfect legs went from the floor to the most perfect ass..." 

Jack looked over at Bettie and said, "Oh, I'm sorry Bettie. I just meant..."

Bettie laughed and said, "I've heard the term before son. Now you just go on with your story."

"Well, anyway, she was just so beautiful I could hardly speak. Finally I invited her into my office to discuss investments and the risks involved with trading commodities. Stephanie sat with us a short time then got up, gave me a kiss and told me she was going to change while we talked. I was a mess. This woman was sex personified. Her voice made me shiver and melt. I fell into her blue eyes. By the time we were done with our meeting I was in love. All I could think about the rest of the night and the next several days was her. I don't know how many times I called her at work pretending I had business to discuss just so I could talk to her. Of course we visited and flirted more than we transacted business."

"It became common for us to take lunch together. At first we both pretended it was to discuss her investment portfolio but really, it wasn't. I just had to be with her. I was head over heels in love with her already and would do anything to be with her. Of course, she didn't help any. She always flirted with me. She would touch me, stare into my eyes and make suggestive comments. Then she took it to the next level. She began kissing me when we met and when she left. The kisses weren't sexual at first, just a gentle kiss on the lips between friends. After a while I noticed the kisses became longer and she began rubbing her chest on mine. One noon when she came to the house we stood in the living room kissing. It was a real kiss with tongue. I was rubbing her and God help me she unh, well, she had her hand on my crotch. I noticed a flash, then another one. Then I heard Stephanie cursing us. I turned and Stephanie was there taking pictures. She had one of the men from her work with her. They told me and Dianne to get out of the house.

"Dianne gave her a shocked, almost scared look and took off like a scalded dog. I started to leave then decided to brazen it out. I refused. I told Steph it was my house and I would be damned if I would let her kick me out. Besides, I worked there and needed the computers, phone lines and reference books I had in the office to do my job."

"The man began to advance on me and threatened me. I picked up the phone and called 911. I told them my wife and her lover had come into the house and he had threatened me. They were trying to throw me out of my own home and I needed help. I don't suppose it helped Steph's and her friend's case because she began screaming at me and he threatened to beat the shit out of me if I didn't leave. The police heard them over the phone and documented the threats."

"When the patrol car arrived Dallas (Stephanie's friend) and I were fighting. He had refused to leave my home and was still trying to kick me out. Most of his comments and attempts to kick me out were caught on tape over the phone. When the dust cleared I was left in the home, Dallas was in custody and Stephanie was escorted from the residence."

"Damn Boy. Sure seems like you shit in your nest. What made you do something dumb like that anyway?"

"Hell, Gregg. Don't you think I know that? I loved Stephanie with all my heart. I just...I've asked myself that same question for months and I can't answer it. All I know is I fell under Dianne's spell. From that first day when I met her she excited me. Hell, she was the one who began making the suggestive comments during our phone calls. She began coming to our house without an invitation during her lunch period. I should have known what she was doing but I was so besotted with her I didn't realize what was going on until I was sliding down that slippery slope." 


Jack And Dianne



Jack stopped talking and looked over at Gregg and Bettie then he continued, "I know I wasn't squeaky clean but I DIDN'T cheat on Stephanie. Oh, I supposed I did have an emotional affair but I never, not once, had sex with Dianne or touched her under her clothing until after my divorce from Steph. I'm pretty sure Steph and Dallas can't say that though. I saw them together way too much during the proceedings to believe they didn't have sex before we divorced. Several nights when I was out with friends I would see them in dance clubs dancing, kissing and fondling. I'm convinced, now, that the whole mess was a setup but then I just thought it was the way things worked out. "

"I tried to talk to Stephanie many times about what had happened but she didn't want to discuss it. It seems she, Dallas and Dianne's desks were near each other at work. She supposedly heard many of Dianne's phone calls with me. She supposedly had tapes of Dianne telling me how wonderful our loving was. I never made love to her until after the divorce and I never heard her telling me that on the phone. I am sure Dianne was talking to someone else or to a disconnected line when Stephanie made those recordings. Stephanie and Dallas followed Dianne to our house several times. During the divorce Stephanie presented a lot of pictures taken on different days to support her case as well as the recordings she made at work. Stephanie did admit that none of the times she followed Dianne did she catch us having sex. The worst was the day she confronted me when Dianne cupped my...Unh touched me. That was the only really hot, lustful kiss we had exchanged.

"Well, anyway, I gave up and didn't contest the divorce. We had not accumulated much during the marriage and after all our credit cards were paid off we were about even. Neither of us could afford the house alone so it sold. We took less than we paid and after commission to the real estate people we ended up in the hole on that deal. After it was said and done, we each kept our retirement accounts, vehicles and went our separate ways. I did get to keep my office equipment but I had to find another place to live and work. Luckily, I rented a small house just two blocks from where we had been living. The neighbors were not too friendly to me any longer because they all were upset at what I had done to poor ole Stephanie.

"I thought Dianne would leave me alone after that but she didn't. Even during the divorce she kept in touch. After the divorce she began coming over to my house again. Her greetings became even more uh, well, romantic. I was still so besotted with her I couldn't leave her alone even though I knew I should. By then I found out she had been married and divorced three times and had been the cause of four men's marriages ending in divorce. She explained it all away. Her husbands had been assholes and she had to leave them. I fell for it. Her explanations sounded believable, hell, I WANTED to believe her! I never thought to even question why a 25 year old woman could be divorced that many times and be the cause of so many other marriages breaking up."

Bettie looked at Jack and pressed her lips together. She said, "Jack even I can see you should have ran away from her screaming for help. How in the world did you let yourself stay involved with her? Why did you believe she was so good?"

Jack smiled and continued with his tale of woe. "Bettie I guess I'm just plain stupid. She was a beautiful woman and she sure knew how to make me feel good. When I was with her all I cared about was how good she made me feel. Oh, I know now she was the devil incarnate but then...Hell NO. Or at least I wouldn't admit it. One day she convinced me we were in love and she began moving in with me. At first it was just a few clothes so she could spend the night, then a few more, then she told me it was really stupid for her to keep an apartment since she was at my house all the time. I agreed and we became a couple. I never asked her to marry me. We just ended up at the courthouse one day and she led me into the clerk's office. For some reason when she said we wanted a marriage license I didn't say anything, I just gave them the information, signed the papers and paid the fee."

Jack looked into the distance and sighed. He said, "That is where I lost the only friend I had left in the area. When Mike found out we were getting married he came unglued. He told me more about Dianne than had come out in my and Stephanie's divorce. He even told me she was seeing another man while I was living with her. I called him several names and told him I didn't believe him and never wanted to see him again. He kept trying to tell me I was making a mistake and I hit him."

Mike lay on the ground, looked up at me and said, "Dude, I'm sorry. I've tried to help. When you find out what she's done to you you're going to feel like an ass but I'm done with you now."

"The day of the ceremony, before we got to the Judge's office to get married Dianne handed me a pre nuptial agreement and asked me to sign it. I was shocked and began questioning her about it. She explained her friends had suggested it because she was the only one with any money coming into the wedding and if we broke up it wouldn't be right for me to get any of it. The agreement was in legalese and I didn't read it very carefully. Now I wish I had. If I had taken it to an attorney at least I would have kept my retirement account and maybe my business. 

"The agreement stated if the marriage ended for any reason before three years were up she got all our assets. I didn't think much about it because in my mind I didn't have any assets left and she had several hundred thousand dollars in investments. I just signed the agreement and went to get married."

Gregg looked at Jack like he was an idiot and said, "Boy what were you thinking about? You just signed over everything you had to that woman!"

Jack gave him a sickly grin and said, "Yeah, I sure did. I didn't realize the way it was worded she got my 401K and retirement accounts as well as my business, vehicle and so forth. I just thought we were talking about bank accounts and investments. I had none so why not sign?

"After I handed the agreement back to her she squealed and gave me a toe curling kiss. We went into the Judge's chambers for the ceremony. In less than fifteen minutes we were married. We left from there to the airport where we went to Florida for our honeymoon. She took three weeks off work but I could only get off a week and I had to work some each day while I was there. I didn't realize until the day I was to leave that she wasn't coming home with me. I was upset but accepted her statement that this was her vacation too and she needed to relax so she could go back to work revitalized. I flew down twice to be with her and we would not do anything but make love and nap. I was in love and followed her lead like a puppy.

"When she got back from her vacation and our honeymoon Dianne worked for three more months then she was laid off she said. By then I was making enough for us to live pretty comfortable so I didn't say anything. Hell, I even liked it. We were still newlyweds and oh, how we loved each other. Not a day went by that we didn't make love. After a few weeks though Dianne said she was bored. She needed something to do. The only woman on the block that would have anything to do with her was a travel agent. Dianne talked to her about working in her business or at least in the travel industry. She was making a trip to visit several resorts in Florida and Dianne worked her magic on her. The woman invited her to go with her so Dianne could see if she wanted to do that kind of work. They were supposed to share the room Maureen had but Dianne had to pay her own way and for her own meals.

"When Dianne came to me she was so happy I couldn't tell her no. They left on a Sunday and I missed her so badly. I called her Monday night and she was rushed. She said they were going out to dinner then to check out the night life so our neighbor could discuss it with her clients. We didn't talk long and I felt upset. I called the next three nights and my greetings and the conversations became cooler, Dianne was sharp with me. She complained I didn't trust her. She told me that I needed to quit bothering her. She said that she was at work and she didn't bother me when I was working. Dianne said it was embarrassing for me to call and check on her like she was a child or as if I didn't trust her.

"I was hurt. The next day I was even more hurt. The husband of the woman Dianne had gone to Florida with came to see me. He was angry. He asked what kind of a skank I had married and sent off with his wife. I became angry with him and threatened him if he didn't leave my home. Since he was one of the men who had taken Stephanie's side in our divorce I didn't pay much attention to him. As he was leaving he said 'You know Jack, I always thought you were stupid and I know you shit on Stephanie but this is even too dumb for words. I'm going to show you just what you threw Stephanie away for."

"I was angry. I was so angry I couldn't see straight. I decided to call Dianne and tell her what her friend's husband had said. I wanted her to come home and get away from that woman. I called her cell and got no answer. I called the rest of the day, that night and the next day. Still no answer. Finally I called the resort and asked for the room. I got asshole's wife. She said Dianne was not there. Hell, it was after midnight and I knew Dianne would be there. I became obnoxious. Finally I pissed the woman off and she said, you asshole, Dianne hasn't been back to our room before three the last three nights. Yesterday she didn't come in until ten a.m. I don't know why I ever agreed to let her come with me except I felt sorry for her. As soon as I can get away from her I'm outta here. I can't believe you dumped Stephanie for this bitch."

I just hung up the phone and sat staring into space. A couple of days later I got a package from FedEx. It was a surveillance report from a PI in Daytona Beach, FL. It had CD's of Dianne having sex with several different men. It had tapes of her conversations with people in the resort and in bars. She was gushing over some of the young men's tight asses. One time she and another woman were watching a man swimming in the pool. The other woman said, 'Oh, GOD. Look at the ass on that one. I bet he could slam his cock into you so hard you'd be bruised for a week. Look at the size of that bulge in his trunks. I'm gonna get him tonight or die trying.'

Dianne looked at the young man and smiled. She said, "Oh, yeah. I've been with him twice this week and my pussy's still tender from the last time. We were out here swimming after we got back from the bar. He took me down beside the sea wall and did me. I think he may have the largest cock I've ever had pushed up my cunt." Other conversations on the CD showed her laughing and talking with women comparing the quality of lovers they had both had at the resort. I heard Dianne tell one of her new friends that she and her next oldest sister wouldn't even let their younger sister see them on dates because she always told their parents about them screwing everyone they could.

"Of course that sort of helped me understand why Dianne's younger sister wouldn't talk to her at family gatherings or at our wedding. Dianne had just told me the sister was a little bitch and thought she was too good for her and her middle sister.

"I was devastated. I couldn't believe how that conniving bitch had taken me in. I went to my attorney and we filed for divorce before she even returned from Florida. When I confronted her in the house when she got back she just sneered at me and said, so what? You knew what kind of woman I was before we got married. Why are you so upset about what you knew was going to happen. You agreed to it you know. Now either get over it or get the hell out of my house."

I was shocked. I just couldn't believe my sweet little Dianne could talk to me like that. Finally I decided to leave. I began breaking down my office equipment and she had a fit. She told me to get the hell out and leave her possessions alone. I kept working and she disappeared. On one of my trips to my car with computer equipment I was met by a policeman and her attorney. I was served with a restraining order preventing me from taking anything except my clothing and personal hygiene items. I was specifically allowed to take the truck over there."

"At the hearing things just got worse. I had filed asking for a split of assets based on what we had when we married. I didn't try for her savings or investments. I only wanted the $1795.00 I had in the bank when we married and my retirement accounts, computers and vehicle. They countered with the pre nuptial agreement asking for everything. My attorney was livid. I think he was as angry with me as them. When he asked me about the agreement and why I hadn't told him about it I was at a loss. I told him what I had thought when I signed it, that I didn't realize it covered my retirement and vehicle."

"We tried to break the agreement. That dragged the case out for several months. We did get the restraining order lifted so I could get into the house and continue operating my business. That was when I began rat holing money. I took cash from the bank a couple times a week. I made sure I was seen in bars and restaurants. I kept receipts, hell, I even picked up receipts from the ground and wherever I could find them to document expenses. Finally we had our day in court. The judge ruled the pre nuptial agreement would stand. I lost my business, 401K and all our joint accounts. All I had left was the cash I had hidden and not declared. The only reason I got to keep ole red over there is because I never had it transferred into my name. Grandpa had signed the title over to me but I had never recorded it. I lied again and said it was Grandpa's still. State motor vehicle records showed him as owner so the truck was excluded from marital assets because of the trust wording."

"One of the men Dianne was caught having sex with in Miami was Dallas, the friend of Stephanie's that had tried to kick me out of the house. I did enjoy seeing that on the tape. I mailed a copy of it to Stephanie's office at ADM. I had heard she married him after our divorce. I heard the crap really hit the fan when she got the CD! She called me a couple of weeks before my divorce from Dianne was final to talk. It seems she had signed a similar pre nuptial agreement with Dallas as I had signed with Dianne. The only major difference was she had taken hers to an attorney and gotten her retirement accounts excluded. She still lost everything else because she and Dallas spent their entire salary and what she had saved. At first I thought she was going to ask if we could get back together but she didn't. 

"We talked civilly for the first time since she caught me kissing Dianne. We finally understood we had both been played and played very well by Dallas and Dianne. Our attorney's agreed but we had no proof of anything illegal. We both agreed too much hurt existed for us to ever get together again. Besides, Stephanie said that even knowing I had been played by a predator she had lost her trust in me and didn't think she could ever get it all back. I admitted I saw her point and told her I could never forget what she and Dallas had done while we were married either. We parted on a friendlier note than we had when we divorced and agreed to go our own ways with a little fonder memory of each other."

Jack stood from his chair and went to his ice chest for a beer. He held one toward Gregg and Bettie and raised his eyebrows. After they had both shaken their heads no, he continued, "Well, that's my sorry story. That's how I lost two wives and a small fortune in a little over three years of marriage."

Gregg sat looking at Jack for several minutes. Bettie seemed too shocked to say anything. Finally Gregg leaned forward in his chair and placed his forearms on his knees. He clasped his hands together and said, "Son I never heard a story like that in all my born days. Ya was dumb ta fall fer her line of crap but I suppose alla us could do something like that if the circumstances was right. Aint there anything ya coulda done 'bout it? It sure don't seem right she took everythin' like she done. Besides, if ya loved Stephanie and she loved you like your folks said it looks like you coulda got her back."

"No, I talked to my attorney about going after Dianne and Dallas. He said even if I filed a lawsuit it could cost more than I would gain. He said since the divorce judge let the pre nuptial agreement stand the chances were slim I could win. Dianne only got about $23000.00 but it's the principle I guess. I think she believed my business was worth more than it was or that I'd keep her around longer than I did. I guess she just got too greedy too fast. I was just starting to make big money in the business. In three or four years I would have had a lot more in the bank and she might have been able to sell my business for a lot of money. All she had to do was be a good little wife for a couple of years and she would have really gotten some money from me. As for Stephanie, there had been too many hurtful things said and done for us to ever have worked again. I am still so angry at her I could choke even though a lot of the blame is mine."

"Well son, I guess ya made the right decision but it's still a bite in tha ass." He looked over at Bettie and said, "Ya ready ta go home woman?" She nodded yes and stood.

At the truck Gregg turned to Jack and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. Why don't ya go down to the Fielding's Feed Store in Steelville and see if they need help? I heard in the café the other day those wimmin was having trouble keeping up with the books and such."

The next morning early Jack went to the store as Gregg recommended. He talked to Amanda Fielding about a job. She said, "Well Jack, I do need some help from time to time but it isn't full time. If you want to fill in occasionally and work weekends mostly we can give you a try. I'll understand if you find something better and move on because we probably won't need you more than 16 hours a week or so. If you wanted to help in back you might get a few more hours if someone got sick or something. We always hire part time help during harvest season so you will get more hours then too."

"Great. I'll take it. Anything will help right now. I need to find something better and a place to live before it gets cold but that will give me some breathing room."

Jack and Amanda decided he would begin the next day, a Friday, and work Saturday also. On Friday she had him work the counter with their clerk during the morning. In the afternoon he worked in the mill part of the business. He helped load some of the feed and merchandise that sold that day. Saturday morning Amanda had him in the office with her watching how she posted items and kept books. She also let him take down some phone orders then showed him how to work them. That afternoon he again worked loading trucks. That evening at quitting time Amanda and he agreed his hours would be Fridays and Saturdays and he would be on call if one of the full time employees called in sick or took a vacation. Just before he left she smiled and said, "Jack aren't you interested in your pay? You never asked and I decided to wait and see what you said when I realized we had never talked money."

"Not really Amanda. I know what minimum wage is and I just assumed that would be what I earned." 

Amanda laughed and said, "I think we can do better than that. Not much better I admit but some. We will start you at $7.50 an hour if that's ok with you. No benefits thought I'm afraid."

Jack worked the next three weekends and became very confident with his duties. Just after noon Saturday he went into Amanda's office. He sat in a chair across from her and said, "Amanda I know I've only been here three weeks, well, six days actually but I think you need to make some changes here. I think I could help you increase your profits quite a bit if you do. You know I worked for ADM on their trading desk for a while then went out on my own?" 




Jack And Dianne



Amanda nodded her head yes and he continued, "I know you don't have the trading clout they did but I think if we hedge some of your purchases and do some trading on the side we can make and sell feed cheaper. Also if we bought grain and fuel on the futures market and"

Amanda held her hand up in a stopping motion. She said, "Hold on Jack. I don't know much about what you're saying. My degree is in management. I run the office for Charlie and the store. That's about the sum total of my knowledge. I barely got through economics and finance bothered me quite a bit. Why don't I get you together with Jeff and let you and him discuss this. If he thinks it's a good idea we'll get Jim and the rest of the family involved."

Jack looked at her and grinned then said, "Ok. I understand. Just let me know when and where. I really think we can make some money here and we might even be able to help the farmers too."

Later that afternoon Jack's cell phone rang. He didn't recognize the number and answered it hesitantly. After he identified himself he heard, "Jack, this is Jeff Fielding. Amanda says you have some idea on commodity futures trading you think would help the store's profits. She said you wanted to talk to me about it. That right?"

"Well, yeah, I guess I do. You know I used to trade for ADM and I think we could do that on a smaller scale."

"We're having a BBQ tonight over at the resort. Why don't ya come by, eat with us and we'll talk a while. Can you do that?"

"Yes, I can be there. What time?"

"We're starting to gather now. Why don't you just come over whenever you get ready? We're going to eat about six. Know how to get here?"

Jack got directions to the resort and said he would be there as soon as he could make it. After he hung up he got his bathing supplies, went to the stream and took a quick bath, dressed in clean shorts and shirt then drove off in a cloud of dust. He was strangely excited about the way things had turned out so far. He hoped he could talk the Fielding's into trying his idea.

Jack found the party and parked his truck. He wasn't a shy man but he found himself walking hesitantly toward the noisy partiers. They were laughing and talking loudly. Children were running and playing. Jack felt the hurt of his loss as he stood watching the happy couples interact. A tall, fit looking middle aged man saw Jack standing just outside the circle of partiers. He walked toward Jack with a smile on his face and his hand outstretched. "You must be Jack," he said. "I'm Jeff. Come on, let's get you a drink and we'll find someplace to sit while we wait for the ladies to get the rest of the meal out."

Jeff took Jack toward a small group of men standing alongside the river watching the children play. They all had a drink in their hand and were talking quietly with each other. When they arrived at the group Jack was introduced to LTC Jim Fielding, US Army, Retired, his son Colonel Paul Fielding, also US Army, retired and LTC Charlie Fielding US Army Reserve. After the introductions all the men instructed Jack to call them by their first names and they resumed their conversation.

Soon the ladies announced the meal was ready. Smiling the men walked over to the serving line. Jim guided Jack into line ahead of him. Everyone filled their plates with the wonderful smelling food then Jim guided the group of men to a table set up near where they had been standing. No one else joined them. After they had all taken seats he turned to Jack and said, "Well, Jack Jeff says you have an idea how we can increase our profits at the mill. He was going to listen to your proposal then get back with us but I decided we would just all listen so we could get it from the horse's mouth as it were. Now why don't ya take your time and tell us about this idea while we have our supper?"

Jack explained he had been a trader and his idea was to use his skills to trade for the mill and grain elevator's account. The men talked for almost two hours as Jack answered their questions and explained his idea. Since he had been a trader he had all the licenses he needed and most of the contacts. Finally all the questions were answered and the men's conversation moved on to other topics. They learned more about Jack and talked to him about some of the men he worked with or met in the store. Finally Jack decided it was time to return to his "home". Jim walked him back to his truck and before Jack drove off he said, "Jack I'm not sure your idea is right for us but we will talk about it some more. We're pretty small potatoes compared to ADM and if I understand commodity trading a fellow could lose his shirt right easy. We'll let ya know what we decide next week."

Friday when Jack went into the store Amanda had him work with her in the office. Just before lunch Jim and Jeff came into the building and invited Jack and Amanda to lunch with them. During lunch Jim said, "Jack we still aren't sure your idea is worth the risk but since we have the elevator and store we decided to give you six months to do the trading and show us what you can do. Call it a demonstration project if you want. You can use the office beside Amanda's for your work. How much extra time do you need?"

"Thanks Mr. Fielding. I can't really say how much time I will need right now. A lot of the time I will need depends on factors that change daily. I will need a phone, high speed computer, two monitors and file cabinet for sure. Of course I will need money to work with when I set up the accounts." Jack looked embarrassed and continued, "I don't have much of my own to use but I would appreciate it if I could also trade some for my own account. I only have $3000.00 I can afford to risk but I would like to use it too if you don't mind. As for time, I am willing to do the trading on my own time."

"We can't let you do that. We need to have you on the clock so we know how much to pay you son."

"Well, I'm not worried about the pay. If it works like I think it will I can make some good money just on my little investment." Jack laughed and continued, "Well not good money compared to what I made before I lost everything but enough to help living expenses."

"Well how do commodity traders get paid in the real world son?"

"It depends on where they work mostly sir. Most of them are either paid a commission or percentage of the funds they manage or of the profit they generate."

Jim thought a moment then said, "Tell ya what. You can use our office and equipment and keep all the profit you make on your money. We will put $100,000 in your trading account and will pay you 10% of any profit you make for us or of anything you save the mill over what we expected to pay for the grain we grind. Would that be ok with you?"

Jack smiled and said, "Yes Sir. That will be fine. Normally 10% of profits would be way too much to pay a trader but for this short period until we see what I can do for you I will let you pay me that. To be fair sir I think we will have to adjust that figure down though to be fair to you."

Jack set up the office and began getting ready to trade over the weekend. Monday morning early he was at his desk and making phone calls reconnecting with his old business associates. He established the account for the store and began trading on Thursday of that week. His accounts were small enough he couldn't get economies of scale like the large houses did but he was working and trying.

By now it was September and there were some cool nights. Jack knew he had to find a place to live soon as it was already getting cool enough his tent was uncomfortable some nights. His wages for Friday and Saturday kept him in food and gasoline barely but so far he didn't earn enough to rent a place. Of course the extra hours he got when he worked during harvest helped a lot. 

In mid October Jack decided to take his money from the trading account and build a small cabin on the concrete pad where his tent was. Jack didn't tell anyone what he was doing but he did tell Amanda he was not going to spend all day in the office watching the markets any longer. He had managed to turn his $3000 into $7300 in the nearly two months he had traded. He had made another $6000.00 from the Fieldings for his share of their trading profits.

The day he got his check back from the account Jack went to the Home Depot and purchased the materials he needed to build his cabin. It was only going to be the size of the concrete pad—16X20 feet—but it would still cost almost all he had saved. Jack purchased the lumber, insulation, wiring and fixtures. He was going to have one door and one window because of the cost. Luckily there was an old rusty wood stove at the campsite he thought he could use for heating and cooking during the winter. He would pipe cold water into the house but didn't plan on a toilet or hot water heater to save money. The land had no septic system and he could not afford to put one in. He would continue to use the old fashioned outhouse for a rest room. He would boil water on the stove to heat for washing dishes and bathing. He had purchased a small children's wading pool to use as a bath tub.

Jack went to Gregg's farm and borrowed tools to build his cabin. When Gregg found out what Jack was doing he tried to talk him out of it but Jack was adamant he wanted to live on his own land instead of move away and try to find another job and rent a home. Finally Gregg gave up.

Late the day after he borrowed the tools Jack had the walls up and was beginning to frame in the rafters. He heard Gregg's truck coming down the trail and watched as he pulled up beside the building. There was a pile of almost new roofing metal in the bed of the truck.

Jack climbed down his ladder and walked over to greet Gregg. After the greeting Gregg said, "Jack I've had this here metal stacked in the barn for several years now. I got it when we tore down the old garage here on your place so it's rightfully yours. I brought it over so you could use it on your little cabin. If you're careful ya can put the screws back in the same holes and it will work good as new. Most of it's not even beginning to rust so ya can save a lot of money with it."

Jack tried to refuse half heartedly but Gregg wouldn't let him. Finally he smiled, thanked Gregg and they unloaded the metal. Jack worked on his cabin from dawn to dark for two weeks except for the days he worked at the Farm Store. Finally it was all built and he was ready to move in. He even spent a little on paint to make the inside look more appealing. He bought a used area rug for the middle of the room around his bed and was ready to take up housekeeping. He had water from the well piped into his kitchen area. He would have to heat water for washing and bathing on the stove but at least he had a warm place to live and a sink to wash in. He piped the grey water outside and into a small settling barrel buried just outside the cabin. It had a short lateral line ran out for the water to safely soak into the ground.

Jack had even had enough wood and metal left to put a small porch roof over his entry door. His yard chair sat under the roof. The day he finished Jack stood back from his place with his hands on his hips. He was grinning and felt as proud and happy with his little shack as he had the house he and Stephanie used to own.

The day before Thanksgiving Jack was in the office working on the company accounts. Jim and Jeff came in, said hello and sat in front of his desk. They visited for a while about the upcoming holiday and Jack was beginning to wonder what they had in mind. Usually when one of them came into the office they talked for a couple of minutes and went on about their business.

Finally Jim leaned back in his chair and said, "Jack I know we said you would have six months to show us what you could do for us but we've decided to cut the deal short. It's nothing you've done or not done. We can see you have saved the mill a little money on the grain we purchase and have made us a little selling it. We want you to keep on doing some of that but we have decided it isn't worth the risk trading commodities themselves. What we'd like for you to do is just buy and sell our needs and let the commodities go. We'll raise your pay to $10.00 an hour for all your work with us and guarantee you at least thirty hours a week if you're willing to do that. We want you to wind down your operation in commodities trading by the end of the year and concentrate on buying and selling only what we need to operate. You will be in charge of all our grain and fuel purchases and sales though. We like the idea of buying and selling for our own use on the futures market. We just don't want to do any speculative trading."

Jack was shocked at first and a little hurt. He thought about what Jim had said and sat up straighter. He accessed his computer and looked at the accounting software showing profits and losses for the short time he had been trading. As much as he hated to admit it Jim was right. Trading with the small amount he had to use they were only making about 9% on the money used in commodities. He was saving the company almost 10% on the grain they bought to turn into feed and about the same on the fuel he was buying on the futures market for future delivery.

"Well Jim, I understand your thinking. Commodity trading IS risky. You can make a killing or lose your ass. I haven't made you a killing even though 10% is a pretty good return on your investment. Of course if I had made a bad call you could have lost a lot more than that. I don't mind just trading for the business if I can continue trading through your account personally." Jack grinned and continued, "And I have to say the raise and extra hours are really appreciated. Thanks for that Jim."

Jim and Jeff smiled and stood to leave. They both gave Jack their hands to shake. Just before they walked out the door Jeff turned and said, "Jack I almost forgot. Abby wants you to come over for Thanksgiving dinner with us tomorrow. She said you can show up any time after ten in the morning."

Jack was shocked at the invitation. He had expected to spend the day alone in his little cabin. He said, "Thanks Jeff but I couldn't intrude on your family's day like that. I'll be fine at home."

"Nonsense Jack. We all want you there. You're a member of our family in a way. We will have several of the people we work with there and a few neighbors as well. We always invite people who don't have family coming home or who don't go out of town for the holiday. We will expect you at ten tomorrow."

Jack fell in love with his new job. His salary gave him enough money to purchase everything he needed. He was even working enough to qualify for benefits through the business so he had health, dental and retirement coverage now. Sure he didn't have the high powered life he did before and his income was way, way less but for the first time since he left home he was happy with his life. He missed companionship and the love he had with Steph but he was not ready yet to look for another wife or girlfriend.

A week before Christmas Gregg came to visit. He was sitting inside the cabin and he and Jack were enjoying a beer when he said, "Jack I know ya don't have any family left 'round here and neither do Bettie and me. We would be real pleased if ya would come take Christmas lunch with us this year."

Jack once more thought about refusing as he had with Jeff's Thanksgiving invitation. He looked at Greggs face and saw the pain, almost fear of rejection and didn't have the heart to do so. Truly, he had been dreading spending Christmas alone. He smiled and said, "It would be a favor to me if I could come Gregg. That's very kind of you and Bettie. What does she need me to bring and what time should I come?"

"She didn't say for ya to bring anything son. You just bring yourself and an appetite. Ya kin come any time after breakfast."

Jack had no intention of going to Christmas dinner empty handed. He thought and thought about what he could bring. Finally in desperation he purchased four bottles of pretty good wine to go with the meal he had been told they would have. He also purchased two gift cards at Wal-Mart for the couple.

During the visit after the meal Christmas day Jack asked Gregg if he could borrow his machinery the next spring to put in a small garden near his home. Gregg only used Jack's farm for pasture and hay but there was room in the small area protected by the bluff for a nice garden. Jack could purchase a pump and irrigate it from the stream. He would have to fence the cattle out but that would not take much effort at all.

The rest of the winter went well for all. Jack fit into the group of employees at the Farm Store and was happier than he could remember ever being. He had more friends than at any time in his life and was saving money from his salary. He hadn't even spent any of the rent he had received for his farm yet. Well, in a way he spent it. He had begun trading commodities and stocks from the store as he worked on the trades he made for the store.

One day while he was at work he got a phone call from Bettie. She was crying and almost impossible to understand. Finally Jack understood Gregg had been admitted to the hospital with a stroke. He got permission to leave to be with Bettie at the hospital. While he was there he agreed to take care of the farm while she stayed with Gregg.

For the next three months while Gregg recovered Jack worked his 30 hour weeks at the Farm Store and did what he could for Gregg and Bettie. When they tried to pay him he refused. He knew they barely made enough from the small farm and their Social Security to live on and he had no intention of taking some of the little they had. Finally he agreed to take a beef as payment.

That spring instead of putting in a garden at his place Jack enlarged the one at Gregg and Bettie's place. Since he was helping her with her garden and farm he decided it would make more sense to have them both together. One day when he got to the farm to do the evening chores Jack saw a young woman working in the garden. He ignored her and went about his business. When he finished the evening chores and went into the house to see Gregg and Bettie the woman was cooking supper.

Bettie came into the kitchen and smiled. She said, "Jack this is my niece Janice. She's my sister's youngest girl and has come to stay with us and help around the place. You've been doing way too much for us and it just had to stop. Janice didn't have a job and agreed to come stay with me to help around the house and with Gregg. Janice, this is Jack. He lives just east of us and we been renting his place. He works at the Farm Store in Steelville."

Janice smiled and held her hand out for Jack to shake. As he took her hand she said, "Nice to meet you finally Jack. Uncle Gregg and Aunt Bettie have told me a lot about you. If half of what they say about you is true you're a heck of a good neighbor."

Jack was thunderstruck. He muttered something he was never able to remember saying. There was not one individual thing about Janice that was exceptional but everything combined made her a very pretty person. She was well built, wholesome looking and when she smiled it lit up the whole room. When you looked at her you were drawn to her but as far as beauty goes Dianne and even Stephanie were much more beautiful. Jack knew without a doubt though that if all three were in the same room most of the men would gather around Janice after they had heard all three of them talk and seen them smile.

That summer was hard. It was a typical hot, dry summer and the grass didn't do well. Jack worked the farm for Gregg as he promised. He doctored the cattle, sorted and marketed them. He made hay and made repairs as needed and as Gregg could afford. Much to his surprise Janice was right beside him helping. She was much stronger than she looked and was willing to do anything that needed done. She knew as much or more about the operation of a farm than he did.




Jack And Dianne



Of course Janice and Jack talked while they worked. He found out she had a two year degree in Farm Management. She had grown up on her parent's small farm in eastern Missouri. All she had ever wanted to do was farm but she had two brothers who were planning to operate the family farm and there was no room for her. She had given up on finding a husband in her small town and agreed to come help her Uncle and Aunt when she found out they needed her.

In spite of the weather this was one of the most profitable years Gregg and Bettie had recently enjoyed. They put the credit on Jack and Janice. In the hottest part of the summer Jack showed Janice his small cabin and the deep swimming hole beside it. He was embarrassed by his home but Janice just ignored his embarrassment. She saw it was neat and clean if small. Jack had found enough money that summer to add on a small bathroom so he could have a water heater and in door toilet and bath. He had left a spot in the original building for the door into it so the room only cost about $4000.00. His small home was now a total of 440 square feet with the 10X12 bathroom addition. It had cost a total of $7480.00 to build.

Janice fell in love with the swimming hole. Every evening after they finished the chores she rode home with Jack and they would swim. She would then ride a small bicycle home through the fields. Jack still used the mill pond/swimming hole for his bath but he did wait until Janice went home to do so.

Gregg was not doing well at all. He got to where he could move around the house but never regained the ability to help outside. Janice and Jack were almost as worried about him as was Bettie. August was once again one of the hottest months on record. Gregg and Bettie were like many of the older generation farmers in the area and did not have air conditioning. One night just before Jack went to bed he heard a tractor roar into his yard and then almost immediately a banging on his door. When he opened the door Janice stood there crying. She threw herself into his arms and said, "Oh Jack, Gregg had another stroke. They just now took him to the hospital. Bettie rode with him but I need to go too. I'm afraid this one was bad and she needs someone with her. Will you go with me please?"

Jack quickly grabbed his billfold and keys from the table. He walked out of the building and grabbed Janice's hand. He pulled her to his truck and they took off down his still rough trail toward the road. Janice was sniffling in the passenger seat. Occasionally she would wipe her tears off with her fingers.

About halfway to town Janice turned to Jack and said, "Jack I tried to call you but you didn't answer. I was afraid you were gone." Jack frowned and pulled his phone from his pocket. When he looked at it he saw it had completely run the battery down. He grimaced.

"I'm sorry Janice. I don't use the phone much and I guess I let the battery run down. Open the glove box please and get the charger out for me. I need to charge it."

By the time they got to the hospital it was already too late. Gregg had died in the ambulance. Bettie was sitting in the emergency room holding his hand crying. A nurse was trying to console her. When she saw Janice and Jack come into the room she stood and moved quickly to them. Janice wrapped her in her arms and said, "I'm sorry Aunt Bettie. I really loved Uncle Gregg."

Janice turned to the nurse and asked, "Is there anything else we need to do here tonight?" When the nurse shook her head no Janice turned back to Bettie and said, "Come on now Aunt Bettie. Let's get you home."

Bettie was never the same after Gregg died. She had never been very talkative but now she was more morose, never smiled and only spoke when forced to do so. She went through life as if it was a chore. Janice and Jack never saw her happy again. No matter what they did or tried to do to cheer her up she remained the same—quiet, almost as if she was just waiting to die. It was as if Bettie died with Gregg and her body just went through the motions of living without her soul. She didn't eat well and it was a battle to get her to take interest in life at all. She just sat and stared into space much of the day while Janice and Jack worked the farm. Bettie had been a wonderful cook before Gregg died. Now, the few times she even tried to cook a meal it came out almost inedible. During the coldest part of February Bettie got the flu. She refused to go to the doctor for it. Finally she became so weak she could hardly walk from the chair she used in her bedroom to the bathroom. Finally Jack had enough and picked her up and forcibly carried her to his truck and took her to the emergency room.

When he carried her into the room she was weak and lifeless. The nurse took one look at her and didn't even let Jack begin the admitting process. She led him straight to an emergency cubical and brought the doctor. They examined her and immediately began a solution of IV fluids to rehydrate her. Bettie hung on for almost another week before she too died. Jack and Janice held each other and cried once more for Janice's Aunt and Jack's friend.

Ten days after Bettie's funeral Jack and Janice each got a letter from an attorney. The letter said they had both been given a portion of the farm and estate. Sometime before his stroke Gregg and Bettie had put Jack and Janice on the deed and title to everything they owned as a couple or individually. It was a Transfer on Death which meant the estate did not even have to be probated. With that type of title ownership passed immediately upon death to the people who were listed TOD. 

Jack was given the half of the farm that bounded his land; Janice was given the half with the house and buildings on it. They were given ownership of all the animals and equipment 50/50. Jack and Janice now owned 160 acres each of the Hill's old farm. The attorney was hired to make the final property splits and settle any bills the Hill's had before the bank accounts were distributed.

The way the instructions were worded all the cattle and equipment was owned jointly. The attorney admitted since there was no title involved with much of that part of the inheritance they could either divide the property equitably themselves or jointly use it as they saw fit. That evening Jack and Janice returned to what was now her home and talked about their inheritance while they prepared and ate supper.

After the meal they went into the living room and sat around the old wood stove. For some time each seemed to be lost in thought. As the saying goes, the silence was deafening. Finally Jack spoke. "Janice I don't know what to do about things now. When I moved back home here all I wanted to do was just exist. For the first two years I was almost a hermit. Gregg got me the part time job at the store, then he and the Fielding's began getting me socially involved with the community. Then, when Gregg had his stroke I began helping Bettie here on the place. Ever since I have moved back here I have just fallen into things and gone with the flow. I have no plan for life and, really no desire to change the way things are going.

"I suppose what I'm saying is I'm happy with the way we're doing things and unless you see a reason to change them we can just go on as we were before Bettie died. We can split everything down the middle instead of the way we were before. I always felt guilty taking 25% like Gregg and Bettie demanded."

Janice sat thinking for a moment then said, "No Jack I don't think that is fair. We need to split everything 60/40. You own more land than I do and it's only fair you have the larger share. Besides you have to do the heavier work."

The two argued back and forth for some time before arriving at an agreement on splitting costs and profits. Jack argued since Janice's part of the farm had the buildings it was worth more so should garner her a higher percentage of profits. Finally they decided on a 55/45 split in Jack's favor. They then began planning for spring planting. A lot of the tillable land was in wheat but there were still several acres to either put corn or soy beans in.

The next few months were busy. The hours he was not working at the store Jack spent working on the farm. He and Janice prepared a plan for improving the fences, cleaning the fields of brush and smoothing out ditches to gain more tillable land or pasture. They also planned for repairs and updates on the buildings.

The partners decided to increase the size of their garden and sell produce. They also repaired an old broiler house and ordered a large number of baby chicks. They intended to eat many of them themselves but they also wanted to raise some for laying hens and sell some dressed. They became so busy they were only getting five or six hours of sleep some nights.

One day at lunch Janice was crying softly when Jack came into the kitchen for his meal. When she saw Jack she quickly wiped her face and tried to smile. She began placing bowls of food on the table and told Jack to sit down. Instead of sitting he walked up to her and pulled her into his arms. He hugged her to his chest. At first she resisted then seemed to just melt into his embrace.

"What's wrong Janice? Are you still upset because of all the work that's piling up on us? We're almost through the worst of it. Next year we'll just have to cut back a little."

Janice shook her head no and said, "It's not that. My cousin Betsy called a few minutes ago. Uncle Alton and Aunt Nettie were killed in an accident early this morning on the way to town. I have to go back home for the funeral. Can you handle things for a week or so while I'm gone? I know it's not fair to you but she really needs me right now."

"Sure honey. Take all the time you need. I can handle things. I may get a little behind but we can catch up later if I do. She's family and she needs you. Do you want me to take you to the airport?"

"No. I think I'll drive. It's only about five hours and the way flying is it would take that long to drive to and from the airports and make the flight. Thank you though." Janice gave Jack a hug and to his surprise a gentle kiss on the lips before she pushed away and took her seat at the table.

Jack was out in the field working when Janice left. Late that evening he went into the house and found a note on the counter where he could not miss it. "Jack. Thank you so much for your understanding. There's leftovers in the fridge. I'm sorry I didn't have time to cook up more for you to eat. I don't know when I'll be back but I'll try to make it a week or less. I'm going to miss you so much. Love, Janice."

Jack stood bemused. He was thinking about her statement about missing him so much and the way Janice signed the note. 'Love?' Finally Jack decided she hadn't meant anything by that and began heating his meal. He was so tired he decided to stay in the house. On his way back from work the next day he went by his cabin and took most of his clothes to Janice's home so he could stay there until she returned.

Janice was gone ten days. Jack was outside working the evening she got back home. He felt himself smile when he came into the barn lot and saw the lights on in the kitchen. He was strangely surprised at the flood of happiness he felt when he realized Janice was finally back home.

When he opened the kitchen door he saw Janice working at the sink preparing supper. He quickly walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her resting his hands on her belly. He bent and whispered in her ear, "God I'm so glad you're back."

Jack was slightly hurt when Janice gave out a little squeak and stood stiffly in his arms. He stepped back and began to stammer, "Janice, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have grabbed you like that."

Janice began to turn from the sink, and then Jack heard a peal of laughter coming from the doorway into the den. He turned and saw Janice standing there with a large smile on her face. He turned back to the woman now facing him at the sink. He felt his face blush and he stammered once more, "I'm sorry. I thought you were Janice." He stood in shock at how much alike the two women looked.

Janice finally stopped laughing and walked up to Jack. She wrapped her arm around his waist and said, "Jack this is my cousin Betsy. I'm sorry I didn't tell you she was coming home with me. Her parents had been living in a retirement community for people age 55 and older. She can't live there any longer since she is too young. She had had quit her job to care for them and needs someplace to stay now. Since we needed an extra pair of hands and I had the room I convinced her to come back here until she decides what she wants to do next."

The two women and Jack settled into a great working relationship. Betsy turned out to be just what they needed. To Jack's surprise she was just like Janice. She had grown up on a farm and knew how to do much of the work. They both were able to help with the field work and they completely took over the yard, garden and other barnyard chores. Jack did the heaviest work, most of the field work and many of the repairs. Their relationship deepened, matured, and grew as time progressed. They became more than partners over the course of the next several months.

The farm prospered beyond their wildest dreams. They sold all the produce they had excess to needs and to their surprise they received requests for items they had not grown. The three decided the next year they would expand their little garden and sell more produce and more varieties of produce.

The small house on the farm had only two bedrooms so Jack began returning to his cabin nights since Betsy and Janice each had a room of their own. Jack missed staying on the farm but the old couch was so uncomfortable he very rarely slept on it.

Over the course of the summer and fall Jack became more relaxed around the women. It seemed any time they were within reach one of the women would reach out and touch Jack or he would touch them. Jack realized he was even happier than he had been before Bettie died. He looked forward each day to getting back to the farm so he could see Janice and Betsy. He found himself looking for reasons to stay longer and get there earlier. He lingered over his meals to visit with the women. The women on the other hand seemed to take every opportunity to come to where ever he was working. Many times the reason they came was weak and they seemed to stay longer than the reason would justify.

Many times before they would part one of them would lean into Jack and rub her breasts on him, many times they would give him a gentle kiss before they left. Jack enjoyed those moments. He found himself looking at their trim little asses in their tight clothes. It seemed, unless they were doing heavy work that the ladies didn't wear bras and their tops were loose. They were so enticing.

Evenings when the work was done Jack found himself sitting in the yard visiting with the women. Many hot evenings and the few Sunday's Jack and the women didn't have to work the three spent time at Jack's little cabin enjoying the swimming hole with him. On those days they used his grill and had BBQ beside the stream.

One hot summer afternoon Jake and the women were working the cattle. It was late and all were exhausted but they had to finish before dark. The next morning Jake was taking a load of yearlings to market. They were also sorting out the weaning age calves and worming and delousing everything. For some reason this time almost all the animals were flighty, rambunctious. Normally their herd was calm and easy to work. Between the yearlings being scared and Jake's exhaustion the inevitable happened. He was easing a large steer into the squeeze chute when he quickly turned to try once more to escape. This time nothing Jake or the women could do would turn him. Jake was tired enough he couldn't move fast enough to get out of the way. The almost 900 pound steer slammed into Jake knocking him up against the fence. As Jake was falling the steer kicked and caught Jake on the thigh.

Jake screamed as he fell, his arms scrabbling to hold onto the fence to keep from falling under the feet of the running calves. He partially succeeded, ending up pushed against the fence sitting in the dusty barnyard. Both women ignored the cattle and rushed to Jake's side. They quickly checked him over and finding nothing except some scrapes and torn clothing helped him to his feet. It was all Jake could do to move he hurt so badly. Slowly, very slowly, they completed their task, the women now taking the more dangerous position forcing the cattle into the chute.

Thirty minutes after the accident the job was completed. All the remaining cattle had been doctored and the ones they were selling had been moved into a separate small corral for the night to be loaded into their trailer the next morning for their trip to market.

By this time Jake could hardly walk. It took both women to support him and get him into the house. Janice wanted to take him to the emergency room but Jake insisted they not do that. He hobbled into her bathroom and managed to get into a tub of hot water to soak. He felt a little better when he got out. He hobbled into the living room and they packed his leg in ice. The women brought his supper into the room and they all ate together in the living room. Shortly after the meal Jake tried to get up and go home. He couldn't even walk without dragging his leg.

When Janice saw the trouble Jake had walking she grabbed one arm and Betsy the other. The two women gently guided Jake down the small hallway and into Janice's bedroom. He protested all the way but they ignored him. They gently pushed him onto Janice's bed and covered him. It took less than five minutes for him to drop off to sleep. 

The next morning Jack woke up at his normal time. At first he was disoriented, the room seemed wrong and there was a large lump in his bed beside him. He tried to move and groaned with pain from his injuries of the day before. When he moved the lump moaned, then moved. He realized he was in Janice's room about the same time she rose on one elbow and looked over at him. She was beautiful. Her sleep tousled hair framed her happy face. Even the concern he could see on her face didn't detract from her beauty. When she moved the covers slid further down until they rested in her lap. Jack could see a faint darker spot through her thin gown where her areola and nipples pressed against the fabric. As he watched her breasts moved unfettered under her clothes. Her nipples began to elongate and harden. She had a slight blush when she realized where his eyes were focused.

"Jack I'm sorry if my being here embarrasses you. I tried to sleep on that damn couch and I just couldn't do it. My God I don't know how you manage to sleep there. I've never slept anywhere as uncomfortable as that thing is. The floor would have been better." She looked carefully at his face then asked, "How are you feeling this morning? You look like hell."

Jack tried to roll over and sit on the edge of the bed. His first attempt failed and he groaned. He forced himself to carefully swing his feet out of the bed and levered himself to an upright position. He grimaced and said, "I feel like hell. I don't think there's any place on my body that doesn't hurt. I'm not sure I can load and haul the calves to the auction today. I guess you and Betsy need to go let them back out into the pasture and we'll get them up and take them to town in a week or so."

Janice jumped from her side of the bed and went into the bathroom. Jack could hear her piss as it hit the water in the toilet. After she finished and washed her hands she came back into the room with a glass of water and three ibuprofen. They were still talking and Jack was trying to stand with Janice's help when they heard Betsy rummaging around in the kitchen. Shortly they could smell the coffee and bacon frying.




Jack And Dianne



Janice helped Jack down the hallway and into the kitchen. She was still in her short thin gown. Sometimes when she moved and bent just right Jack could see the crease at the bottom of her beautiful ass. Once he saw the hint of her slit and some pussy hair. He couldn't help it; his cock stirred then rose proudly. He was still in his boxers and his hard cock found its way out the hole in the front.

When she heard Jack and Janice coming into the room Betsy turned from the stove. She said, "Good morning you two. How do you feel Jack?" She gasped and blushed when she saw Jack's erection peeking out of his shorts. Janice heard Betsy and looked where her eyes were staring. She grinned and giggled then, to Jack's heightened embarrassment she reached over and gently guided him back into his shorts. She gave him a gentle squeeze before she let go of his cock.

"Well, that sure was a nice one. I'm glad to see at least part of you still works well Jack."

Jack groaned and blushed as he sank carefully into the kitchen chair Janice pulled out for him. After breakfast the women helped Jack out into the yard where they sat him in a yard chair. He protested he wasn't dressed and finally they agreed to bring him his pants and shirt as soon as they finished chores. Jack watched as the two women disappeared toward the barn. 

Shortly after he relaxed back into his chair he heard the old farm truck start and watched as Janice backed the trailer up to the loading chute. He yelled at the two women but they ignored him as they began loading the calves they were taking to market. Jack tried to get up and go help them. He finally managed to get up and make his way into the house.

It took Jack over ten minutes to dress because of his pain and stiffness. By the time he managed to bet back outside all the calves were loaded and the truck and trailer were parked beside the house. Janice and Betsy came inside and Jack tore into them for loading out the calves.

Janice got in his face and Betsy was right beside her. "Listen dummy. We're both big girls now and are almost as good at this farming shit as you are. There was no reason for us not to load out and take those animals to market. Now shut up and get in the truck. As soon as we get the stock unloaded you're going to the doctor to be sure nothing's broken."

Janice and Betsy got on each side of Jack and guided and pulled him to the truck. They actually had to almost push him up and inside because of his injuries. The three friends spent the whole day in town. Jack spent three hours getting checked out. He was told he was just badly bruised and to take it easy for a week or so just taking gentle exercise until the swelling went down in his leg. 

On the way home the three went by the sale barn and picked up their trailer and the check for the animals they had sold. The 24 calves they had sold that day grossed them almost $24000.00. All three went home happy.

By the time he got home Jack was bushed. He could barely eat the soup they had left cooking in the crock pot. He didn't argue when the two women guided him back to Janice's room and put him to bed. Once again the next morning when he woke there was a lump cuddled up beside him in the bed. This time he wasn't as surprised. What did surprise him was when he saw it was Betsy sleeping with him. She, too, was beautiful and a pleasure to wake up to. She also had on a short gown and nothing under it. She, too, wasn't very careful about what Jack got to see and once again delivered him to the kitchen with a boner. This time it was Janice that saw it waving perkily as he hobbled into the kitchen.

Janice smiled and looked longingly at Jack's appendage before he managed to stuff it back into his pants. Once again after breakfast the women guided Jack into the yard and his chair without letting him dress. They went about their work while he recuperated in the chair. From time to time one of them would come back to the house and check on him. Each time they stopped they would visit for a short while and before they left they would kiss him. Jack wondered what was going on and was a little embarrassed by the attention.

The next three days were repeats of the first two. By the end of the third day Jack was able to get up and move without as much pain and with no assistance. Since they still would not let him work with the animals Jack prepared the meals the fifth day. That evening Jack finished supper and said, "I think I'm good enough to go back home now girls. Thank you for your help these last few days. I owe you both one."

Janice and Betsy both looked like they had been hit in the stomach. Jack thought he saw a little moisture in the corners of their eyes. They looked back and forth between each other and walked to him. They stood between Jack and the door. Janice said, "Jack we don't want you to go. Please Jack can't you stay here with us? We don't like it when you're not here. It's lonesome and we miss you."

They argued back and forth until finally Jack gave in. "OH, OK! I'll stay another night or two. I don't know what's got into you two."

Betsy, normally the quieter of the two had a quiver in her voice as she said, "Jack you belong here. We were so afraid we were going to lose you when that steer got you down. Our hearts almost stopped with fear. We don't ever want to be away from you ever again. We want you to move in here with us."

"Now you know I can't do that. There are only two bedrooms and I"

Janice put her finger over Jack's mouth to shush him. She said, "We know that silly. That won't be a problem honey. You've slept with both of us since you've been hurt and"

"Whoa there girl. Don't even go there. I was unh. Dammit I don't know how much longer I can be a gentleman if I'm sleeping with one of you. There was a time or two when if I hadn't been hurting so badly I'm not sure I wouldn't have done something we would have been sorry for. No. I can't sleep with you."

Janice and Betsy smiled and looked at each other. They walked up to Jack and wrapped him in their arms. Each of them gave him a kiss then laid their head on his chest, just holding him. Finally Janice began pulling Jack toward her bedroom and said, "So? We're big girls. We know what happens to women that let men into their beds don't we Betsy?"

Jack felt his cock jump when he heard that. By the time they got him to Janice's bedroom he was rock hard and his cock was throbbing. The women helped him undress and pushed him into bed once more. Jack watched as they stripped completely naked then each walked to a different side of the king sized bed. Betsy came to the side Jack was laying on and reached for his boxers. She began tugging them down as Jack felt the bed shift on the other side. He turned and saw Janice beside him as she began helping Betsy pull his shorts off.

When the women had his shorts off Betsy pushed Jack toward the middle of the bed and she climbed in beside him. Each woman lay a leg over Jack and her head on his shoulder. They would rise occasionally and give him a kiss as their hands rubbed all over him. They fondled his hard cock and gently loved his balls. The women were lying on Jack's arms so all he could do was look at them and gently rub their soft behinds and some of their sides. Of course he could kiss them and he did so every chance they gave him. As the women rubbed and played with his cock Jack made several involuntary thrusts and several whimpers.

When he turned his head Jack could see as well as feel each woman's wonderful breasts brushing against his chest. His thighs became wet from the secretions each woman's pussy drooled onto them as they ground into him.

Finally Betsy rose up and crawled over Jack. Janice held his cock up and guided it into her cousin as Betsy slid down on it. Jack and Betsy sighed as he pushed deeper and deeper into her juicy cunt. Betsy leaned forward and rubbed her nipples on Jack's chest. She bent farther forward and gave him a gentle kiss. She sat up and leaned on her arms. Her hips began gently moving forward and back as she worked her clit on Jack's pubic bone. She could feel her cunt get juicier as she moved. Betsy moaned and her tight pussy began contracting and releasing as she slid into a small orgasm. Betsy began moving more rapidly, taking longer strokes as she built to another orgasm. She slammed down on Jack and began wildly moving her hips back and forth. Her pussy gushed liquid onto the bed and squeezed Jack in its vice like grip. Betsy collapsed on jack.

Jack was nearing his orgasm when Betsy stopped. He tried to thrust into her and bring himself to completion. Janice pushed on Betsy's hip and forced her to move off Jack before he came. She said, "Ok Cousin. You've got yours, now it's my turn. Don't you dare use him all up you greedy little slut."

As Betsy rolled from Jack he tried to follow her and keep his cock in her tight pussy. Janice grinned and grabbed his hip to pull him back on the bed. She looked down on him as she straddled him and said, "Unh, uh lover. It's MY turn now. I'm going to take all you have to give me too. I've been waiting on this for months now. That greedy little slut got to make love to you first so I get the first load."

Janice held Jack's slimy dick and gently settled down until it was just barely lodged in her lubricious cunt opening. She wiggled her hips slightly, grinned down at Jack and slammed her bottom down taking his entire length in one deep thrust. When she hit bottom her breasts jiggled. She gasped and Jack grunted from the force of insertion.

Janice leaned forward and gave Jack a deep, long French kiss. All the while her tight little ass was moving, wiggling and pulling from side to side as she worked his cock. She was moaning and rubbing her breasts on his chest at the same time. Janice rose up and braced herself on her arms as she began rising and then dropping rapidly onto Jack's cock. When she rose up she tightened her vaginal muscles and almost pulled Jack with her. She only relaxed slightly as she dropped down onto him once again.

Jack had not gotten much time to calm down between Betsy rolling off and Janice mounting him so he was very near his peak within just a few thrusts. He grabbed Janice's hips and began slamming his cock up into her meeting her thrusts with his own. He gave one hard thrust upward and felt his insides rush out through his cock. He groaned out, "UNNNNNHHH" and tried to hold himself tightly to Janice, keeping his cock as deeply embedded in her slick pussy as he could.

Jack's last hard thrust was all it took for Janice to go over the precipice also. She screamed and began wildly moving her hips back and forth as her orgasm ripped through her. Her pussy tightened up on Jack enough it was almost painful. She, too, collapsed on him and they kissed for a few moments. With a sigh she rolled off him and lay beside him as she had before Betsy had mounted him. Betsy snuggled in on his other side and they lay with heads on his shoulders and gentle smiles on their faces.

The three new lovers drifted off to sleep. Sometime during the night one of the women woke and pulled the covers over herself and the two lovers she was sleeping with.

The next morning Jack felt his evenings exercise in the muscles that had been injured by the steer. His women watched with guilt written on their faces as he grimaced and gingerly moved from the bed. The women followed Jack into the bathroom and tried to get into the shower with him. Unfortunately it was not large enough for three. In fact, it was barely large enough for two. The women solved the problem by trading places before Jack finished his shower.

Jack had a haunted look on his face and in his eyes. He was more quiet than normal and only spoke when one of the women said something that required an answer. The two women did not even bother to dress after they dried the shower water off their hard bodies. They left for the kitchen while Jack was still drying himself.

Jack walked into the kitchen fully clothed and sat at the table. Betsy immediately poured a cup of coffee for him and set it in front of him. She bent and gave him a gentle kiss before she returned to the stove and began helping Janice finish the breakfast she was preparing.

The women served the meal and took their seats to dine with Jack. Very little was said other than required for serving and eating the meal. After the dishes were cleaned the women refilled the coffee cups and sat once again at the table with Jack. They were beginning to look worried.

Jack sat for a moment and seemed to be staring into space. His eyes were fixed on something only he could see out the kitchen window. He looked miserable. Janice reached out and placed her hands over his as they rested on the table. She looked lost, scared as she said, "Jack Honey. I'm sorry if we did something wrong. We've seen how you look at us and we have wanted you from almost the first instant we each saw you. I know what we did may have been a shock to you but you didn't seem to mind last night. What's wrong now Honey?"

Jack looked around then at each woman. He set his jaws, clenched his lips and then said, "I'm not a person you should get involved with. I'm a complete asshole and I don't want to hurt either of you. A woman would be stupid to trust me. I think we need to figure out some way to split our jointly owned property and go our separate ways. I like you both so much, hell, I may even love you but I can't take the chance of doing something to hurt you."

The women had tears in their eyes as they listened to Jack. Both rose from their chairs and wrapped their arms around Jack. Janice exploded, "NO!!! We will not split the property. We're partners. In fact, we are all partners because I have given Betsy half of what I own here for her work with us. Jack we love you. We want to be your wives. Neither of us wanted to step back and give you up to the other. We could neither think of a way to be happy without you. You are the only man either of us has ever found that we feel happy with, that makes us feel loved and gives us that warm, relaxed feeling just being with you. We feel safe and cared for with you. We want you in our lives always.

"We decided the best way to do that was to share you. We seduced you last night for two primary reasons. First is, we love you and wanted to show that love. Second is we were so happy you didn't get hurt or killed the other day we wanted to soak up your karma. Third is we decided you were never going to make a move on either of us. Neither of us is willing to let you go but we will if you insist. If you just want one of us we have agreed the other will step aside. Jack, you should know if that happens we neither one plan to date or marry someone else. We live here and have this farm together. We have looked at the available men around here and it is just like it was at home. Except for you there is no single man here either of us would consider having."

"You don't know what you're saying. Dammit Janice I am the one who misbehaved and caused my first divorce. I cheated on Stephanie. You've heard the old saying, once a cheater always a cheater. I'm an asshole. Here I am not even 30 years old yet and I am a double divorcee. How can you even think about tying yourself to someone like me? No, I won't allow it."

Betsy pulled Jack's chair from the table and sat in his lap. She gave him a gentle kiss and said, "Jack, if you're talking about Dianne, Gregg and Bettie told Janice about your two divorces and she told me. We know you were taken in by Dianne. We know about your past but we don't care. We believe you are a good man that got taken in by a con. We have talked to Stephanie Jack and she told us she had never caught you cheating. She said she now believes you had not and admits it appeared you were trying to push Dianne away the day she caught her with her hands in your pants.

"Jack Stephanie was taken in by Dallas also you know. We know he was one of Dianne's lovers. We think they were working together and were almost impossible to resist. Jack, I know this may hurt you but Stephanie admitted she and Dallas were doing the same kind of heavy petting you and Dianne were caught in. She also begged us to tell you once more how sorry she is for the way things ended and that she wished you all the best in the rest of your life."

While Betsy was talking Janice had walked up behind Jack and wrapped her arms around him. She bent down and laid her head on the top of his. Betsy finished talking and laid her head on Jack's shoulder. They both hugged him while he processed what Betsy had told him.

Jack felt his internal conflict lessen somewhat while he listened to Betsy. He had been happier here than any where he had been since he had left home for college. He admitted to himself he had strong feelings for both the women who were hugging him. He was having trouble with his conscience though. Dammit, it wasn't right to love two women at the same time, to want to make love with each of them. He really could not decide which one of them he loved more or even if what he felt for them was really love. He knew he felt about them as strongly as he had for Stephanie when he thought he was in love with her.

Jack asked himself though, how could he have loved Stephanie and done what he had done with Dianne. Maybe he didn't love Steph or didn't love her enough. If that was the case did he really love Janice and Betsy? He knew he was empty when he was away from them and when he was with them he felt complete, happy, content. When they were out working together time seemed to fly past. Their mere presence made the day better. Wasn't that love?

"Girls I'm not sure I know what love is. I know I have strong feelings for you. I feel as strongly about you, maybe even stronger, as I felt for Stephanie and look at how I treated her. I thought I was in love with her too. If I really loved her how could I have treated her as I did? I know I am unhappy when we are separated and I cannot wait to get back to you. I know I would do anything I could to spare you hurt and pain and I would spend any amount or do anything I could to make your life better. Let's just see where this leads."

The three friends went about their normal daily activities for the next three months. The only difference was nudity became common when there was no reason for clothes. Jack never offered to leave the old farm house and return to his cabin to live. In the spring of the year after their discussion the two women found Jack sitting in the yard after work. They pulled chairs up close to his and Janice opened the conversation.

"Jack, Betsy and I have been talking the last few weeks. This old house is a dump and it will take more to repair and update it than it is worth. We both love the mill pond and swimming hole on your place. It's so peaceful and secluded we feel more comfortable sitting around nude like we do here.

"Jack we want to add to your cabin and build a new house there for all of us. We want rooms for children when the time comes and we want to live there forever with you. Between the three of us I think we have almost enough to build a very nice new house if we don't get extravagant with the furnishings and décor. Jack, can we please build us a new home? Betsy and I have drawn up plans for what we want. If we all do the work together except for what we aren't qualified to do I think we can do this really cheaply." Janice stood and walked to the porch of the old house and returned with a sheet of paper. She handed it to Jack.

Jack sat and looked at the house plans Janice had handed him. He was impressed. The plans were drawn in such a way they incorporated his little cabin into the new house. The cabin had been turned into a utility room and the new dwelling was to be built stretching toward the stream. Jack was impressed.