13 comments/  34152 views/  41 favorites

Kate & Jim

By: beagle9690



June, 2011

Katherine once was an insufferable shrew of a wife married to a two-timing cheating wimp of a man for almost 16 years.

Jim is a wrecking yard owner and scrap dealer. He comes from a long line of lawyers, doctors, and family members in the diplomatic corps. He has three brothers and one sister in those professions. Jim absolutely loves his work, especially the hard physical labor involved. 

Jim is a plain man bordering on homely. He is also built like a fireplug wrapped in muscles and is as strong as an ox. Jim's intellect is as sharp as a virgin scalpel. He plays it down to his advantage so that people will underestimate him. He finds their lack of insight amusing. 

Jim and Katherine were neighbors for almost ten years when unforeseen events devastated Katherine's life. She is a very pretty woman with shoulder blade-length copper red hair and green eyes. Katherine has freckles that decorate her lithe and trim figure which she used to hate them. 

Jim started calling her Kate to annoy her, the reference being the Kate from Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". 

At first, Katherine had no idea of the inference, or the fact Jim attended private schools, followed by college to earn a six year degree. Kate was a pretty thorn in his side, while Jim was a thorn in hers until she moved in with him. 

Kate has nothing to go back to because she came from nothing, growing up in a shabby trailer court in an immaculately clean rundown trailer in central Florida. Kate lived in that tiny abode with her mother, grandmother and grandfather, Kate's father leaving when she was five. Her grandpa Jack taught her the fine sport of billiards in the recreation hall of the trailer court. 

Grandpa Jack was a scoundrel in his younger days, making a living as pool shark; he taught Katherine well. Katherine's grandpa Jack loved Kate more than anything in the world and died when Kate was thirteen followed by Kate's mother who was killed by a bus walking to work when Kate was fifteen. 

An honor student, Kate dropped out of school to work full time so that she could care for her grandmother. At nineteen, Kate married a man almost twenty years her senior and moved with him to New York. 

Kate's ex-husband, the passive aggressive wimp, ruined her finances and reputation. He left her nothing but the clothes on her back when the house from the divorce settlement literally burned to the ground destroying all of the contents. 

The fire marshal deemed the suspicious fire as arson. Katherine was the prime suspect in the ensuing police investigation that led to a grand jury hearing and subsequent bench trial culminating in a plea deal out of desperation. 

Kate's husband, Thomas, is no doubt laughing his proverbial ass off in his Villa in Costa Rica with his new young bride who would be Thomas's age of 55 subtract 40. 

Thomas planned everything with the precision of an atomic clock. He took three mortgages plus several loans against the house forging Kate's name. He opened and charged to the max on multiple credit cards letting the balances accumulate interest and late payments ruining her credit. 

To make matters worse, the home owners insurance was canceled without her knowledge a week before the fire was deliberately set. Katherine was in Florida on a bi-yearly trip visiting with her Grandmother in the nursing home. 

Kate's bank accounts were frozen shortly after the fire by the Internal Revenue Service as were her credit cards. To compound her problems, Kate received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service demanding payment for 7 years of unpaid joint taxes; her husband is untouchable in Costa Rica or so he thought. 

Their story begins in Jim's driveway the day after Katherine was sentenced to five years probation. 

Jim was rebuilding the engine of his restored 1969 Plymouth Road Runner and the silence of no Kate to complain was bliss to his ears. 

Kate or Katherine, whatever you prefer was in one dandy of a mess. Jim saw an opportunity to have a clean house not to mention a piece of ass on the side. 

***************************************** 

"So let me get this straight, Kate, as a condition of your probation you are required to have a place to live with valid mailing address."

"We have been neighbors for 10 years, Jim. I know we have our differences but I have always thought of you as a good man. Your business sponsors several youth sport teams and you coach your own little league team. You have such a big house and it is just you living here." 

"Why should I, Kate? You and I never got along, but assuming I agreed. I will wash your mouth out with soap if you talk to me the way you did to your husband. 

Afterward you wouldn't be able to sit for a week when I finished spanking your tight little ass. You are hard on the ears but nice on the eyes, pretty Kate. 

How many times have you complained to me for working on my cars on my own property, or because the leaves from my oak trees blew in your yard, an act of nature; or because I threw snow on your yard with my snow blower....ridiculous nonsense like that? Your bull shit list of complaints over the years has been endless." 

"I know I went a little overboard as a neighborhood activist but if you don't agree the alternative for me is prison. I can't find a job yet to suit my station. I promise you won't even know I'm around." 

"Suit your station? That's a good one, Kate" Jim said laughing. You could tell from the look on her face that Katherine wasn't accustomed to being laughed at. 

"I'll be dipped, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha," Jim continued to laugh at her, "Suits your station, ha, ha, ha, ha...make yourself useful your Eminence. Please hand me the 3/4" open end box wrench in the third drawer from the top of the tool chest behind you."

Kate was thinking, 'You are a homely unfeeling crude beast, Jim Brady. I paid you a compliment about youth sports and you basically being a good man and I meant it.....if I were your wife indeed; fat chance of that ever happening. 

Just try washing my mouth out with soap and spanking my bottom you brutish ogre. You are nothing but a junk man trying to live above your station in life with the biggest house on the street and it's not fair.

I never graduated high school but neither did you Mr. Junk Man.' (a wrong assumption on Kate's part) 'To think I have sunk so low that I have to come begging to you for a place to live.' 

But in the end what could she do. Kate swallowed her pride and said, "You have to believe me Jim I didn't do it. I'm not that kind of person."

"I listened to you talk for the past hour. Are you done?"

"Yes, I..." Jim interrupted, "Good, now shut your yap and listen for a change.

I believe you pretty Kate," Jim said wiping his hands on a shop towel as he walked over to her, "It is an election year and the district attorney saw a slam dunk case when he brought your case quickly to trial. You were distraught having lost everything and took a plea deal.

You can be a first class bitch do you know that Ms. self-appointed neighborhood activist. I often got the impression you think your shit doesn't stink. 

Don't mistake for a minute I don't know you look down on me. I'm just a common uneducated junk man to you with dirty hands who has his junk cars cluttering up an otherwise compliant neighborhood.

At times you can be an insufferable shrew. That being said I do not doubt your veracity or misguided good intentions. 

I don't believe you did it. I believe you are basically a good person who likes to put on airs. 

I also think it is a shame your so called friends and compliant neighbors, the one's you managed to bully, turned their backs on you the way they did. 

But lucky me; I'm your last choice. How sad is that. 

In your defense your husband did you wrong. Thomas wasn't much of a man to begin with so there is no great loss there. Why an obviously intelligent woman like you would marry a man who was so much older is beyond me. You have every legal right to divorce him, however, Thomas has no moral right to do what he did to you. 

Like it or not the courts decide divorce settlements no matter the outcome. You didn't do too badly there until your ex-husband got his revenge. I believe he is behind everything.

It is said that women marry men thinking that they can change them. That is why I never married.

It is also said that men marry women hoping that their bride will never change. 

I will never change. I doubt you will ever learn to curb your mouth unless someone tames your tight little ass. 

Despite your acid tongue, I have often wondered if there is a tender woman's heart beating in your chest, a heart as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. I have been enjoying the view, you ever since you moved here.

If you are offended by my assessment too damn bad. I'm no prize either and I'm anything but handsome. Granted I'm rough around the edges and blunt, perhaps even crude in your eyes. 

But I'm an honest troll...nothing like your former piss ant passive aggressive husband Thomas the investment broker with his soft clean hands and manicured nails. 

Tell me the truth, am I your last choice, Kate?" 

"I won't lie, yes; I'm just looking for a fresh start."

"Excellent, I respect honesty even when it's directed at me. You have just gone up a notch in my eyes. 

Let's get down to the nuts and bolts; how much money do you owe the half-ass attorney that allowed a plea deal?"

"I owe him twelve grand."

"Do you owe anyone else money?"

"I filed bankruptcy for everything else except for what the IRS says I owe them. Bankruptcy doesn't cover that. I need to meet the terms of my probation to stay out of jail." 

"I'll cover the attorney bill in consideration for your housekeeping expertise. 

You can move into the first floor Master bedroom with the attached bathroom my mother used when she was visiting. This will allow you privacy, and I am sure you will be more than comfortable.

Nobody alive I know can keep a house like my Mom used to in her day. Nevertheless I believe you can do a far better job at it than me

I know your house was spotless, Kate. By reputation and the one time you tricked me into attending a neighborhood meeting when my junk cars was the main topic of conversation. It was very clever of you to keep it as the last item on the agenda while you plied me with coffee and coffee cake to soften me up. I never saw it coming.

"Thank you."

"How old are you Kate?"

"I'll be 36 in five months."

"What day in September?"

"The eighth."

"If that doesn't beat all, we have the same birthday; I'll be 37 on the 8th of September," Jim said laughing, "You can bake us a cake. If that coffee cake you served is any indication I know you can cook."

"Of course I can cook."

"I just said that....I need a housekeeper who can a cook. You will fit the bill nicely. Better yet make that a surrogate wife. 

It will be a pleasure to have a pretty woman to look at around the house. You will get room and board plus $ 50.00 a week in spending money, provided you learn to keep your yap shut."

Kate was seething and trying to bite her tongue thinking, 'room and board? Fifty dollars you smug bastard...surrogate wife! Who are you to tell me I can't express my opinions. How dare you, you troll.... only when pigs can fly.' 

I will send your attorney $250.00 a week until his bill is paid. After your attorney's bill is satisfied your wages will be fourteen hundred a month in addition to room and board. This pretty much means that you will have the run of the house. 

That should satisfy the conditions of your probation. You now have a place to live and are gainfully employed. I don't think we require a written contract. There is no need to thank me, as it will be an equitable deal for the both of us." 

"What duties other than cooking and cleaning do you require?" Kate asked sweetly."

"As I said, you are a pretty woman, Kate. I might want to roll in the sack on occasion as any good wife would do as part of her wifely duties. At least until your attorney is paid."

"Don't think for a second I will ever let you put your coarse dirty hands on me. You probably can't get it up you ugly beast. It's no wonder why you never married. I'll bet you a year wages that your tiny weenie is a joke. Do you think I'm some kind of high class whore?"

"I never said or even implied that you emasculating shrew. 

I never used the word "high class". 

What a shame you are such a frigid, unfeeling, ungrateful bitch. What a shame your beauty is only skin deep. I take back what I said about a woman's heart. 

I'll bet my left testicle you never had an orgasm in your life. 

I also doubt you've ever been with a real man. A good fucking followed by an honest orgasm might thaw you out some. It might do you some good; now you will never know."

"You conceited egotistical troll, you a real man? Don't make me laugh, ogre! If your imagined libido was as huge as your enormous ego your little cock would still only be 1 ½ inches long, assuming you can manage to get it up. 

"Who do you think you are some kind of satire? Why are you laughing, asshole? Stop laughing at me!"

"The word is satyr, Kate, not satire. Satire is a literary work in which human vices or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit. It can be of a verbal nature such as you just unsuccessfully attempted. 

While a satyr is a mythical manlike woodland creature from Greek mythology depicted as having the pointed ears of a goat, the short horns of a goat on his head; the short tail of a goat and the hairy legs of a goat ending in hooves. I'll only concede I'm an ugly man going bald," Jim ran his hand over his close cropped bristly head, "minus the mentioned appendages of genus Capra." 

Jim grabbed Kate roughly and kissed her lips making her eyes get big. Kate gasped and sputtered with surprise and indignation, thinking, 'He has been playing with me all along. Nothing I said rattled him. Nothing I said got through his thick troll skin.' 

"You...you can go to hell you smug bastard. I'd rather go to prison!" and with that Kate picked up her donated Salvation Army suitcase full of used clothing from the same and walked away. 

*********************************************

It was almost midnight when Jim's doorbell rang and he leisurely got out of bed. He put on his robe to answer the door.

When Jim opened it, "I'm not going to beg. Is the job still open?"

"Well, hello, Kate." 

"Hello, Sir, may I come in?" 

"Of course you may. Let me take your suitcase," and Jim did, leading Kate into the kitchen. He pulled out a chair for her to sit down.

"Have you been crying, Kate, you look terrible."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

"No thank you, Sir. Why do you insist on calling me Kate when my name is Katherine?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Kate."

"Fine, you're the boss, Sir."

"Well you woke me up. I'm going to make myself a cup of Earl Grey tea to have with some short bread cookies. Would you like a cup?

"Yes, Please." She gladly accepted as it was her favorite tea, and his. 

"What happened to calling me Jim?"

"That wouldn't be proper, Sir."

"I can live with that. Call me Sir if you wish." 

"Then... you are going to hire me?"

"Of course, we share the same birthday and as I said, you are a pretty woman and a delight to my eyes."

"What if I wasn't a beautiful woman? Would you still hire me?"

"There you see, we do agree on something."

"What do we agree on?"

"That you are a beautiful woman.......ah hah!" 

"Now what's the matter?"

"Stop pretending that you can't smile.....you are still pretending.....that's better.....very nice."

They sat quietly for a time in the kitchen sipping their tea. Jim pretended not to notice that Kate ate most of the cookies, finally, "It's getting late, Kate. Let me show you to your room." 

********************************************

Kate lay on the bed without bothering to undress or unpack her suitcase. Earlier she cried her eyes out. She was absolutely drained and exhausted from worry that Jim wouldn't take her in.

Kate was thinking, 'I'm surprised Jim didn't to rub my nose in it.....the hell with him. The troll only wants one thing from me, sex. I'm not going to change for anybody. I'll call them as I see them.....I'll just have to be extra careful around him; the troll really would spank me. 

I also better get accustomed to being called Kate.' 

Kate woke up late the next morning feeling refreshed if somewhat momentarily puzzled. Someone, Jim, had taken off her shoes and covered her with a cotton quilt while she slept. Jim also unpacked her suitcase putting everything in the closet or dressers. 

'Well I guess the troll saw my "GPS" ankle bracelet. I can deal with everything else but this is so humiliating. I'm not some kind of wild animal or dangerous career criminal or rapist. I was going to tell him.'

Kate went looking for Jim and found a note on the refrigerator addressed to her, "Dear Kate, I'll be overseeing Little League tryouts for most of the day. 

Look around and get used to the house. You may have noticed there are no locks on any of the inside doors. I'm not being sarcastic. Help yourself to whatever you need and make yourself at home, Sincerely, Jim."

Kate made herself a poached egg on wheat toast along with a banana for breakfast before taking her shower. 

She was pleasantly surprised and then mildly annoyed to find her bathroom freshly stocked with towels, washcloths and toiletries. 'What an ego the troll has to assume that she would come crawling back.' 

That was Kate's wrong assumption. Jim's intentions were good even though he guessed right that Kate would be back. He knew Kate was in a hard way; just as he knew somebody close to her case. 

There were several brands and types of shampoos and conditioners for Kate to choose, as well as ladies razors, shaving creams or gels. Kate found several styles of toothbrushes and different brands of toothpaste. 

Then there were the soaps, however, not just any common brand of store bought soap. Jim bought Kate locally made hard milled organic soaps by Hawk Moon Soaps with names such as Pink Clover. The wrapper described this soap having a light fruity and floral combination with fresh jasmine, lily of the valley, violets and lavender topped off with notes of fresh ripe peaches and raspberries. 

There was Jamaican Sunset, Slice of Summer, Powder Room, Red Ripe Raspberry, Mystic, Spring Lilac Herbal and Scented Goat Milk. There was Sun Shower, Sweet Grass & Sage and finally, Country Almond Oat. 

Jim is a practical man and planned on using any or all of the soaps that she didn't like.

Kate was thinking, 'the troll can go to hell if he thinks I'm impressed or I can be bought this easy.' Despite the fact that Kate was secretly pleased.

Kate took a leisurely shower. She dressed and explored her new home for at least the next year. Going room to room Kate was thinking, 'The décor and color scheme in most of the rooms in this house are very masculine in flavor and seem to emanate testosterone. 

All the furniture is heavy and massive. It looks to be very comfortable. This must be his favorite chair,' and with that Kate dropped down into the well worn but lovingly cared for brown leather chair putting her feet on the matching ottoman. 

'Just try laying a hand on me Mr. Troll," she thought punching the arm of the chair, 'I bite as well as bark.'

Kate sat there for a moment imagining that this was her house with Jim as her indentured servant. Jim was wearing a long blond wig and dressed in a French Maid's Uniform serving her tea. 

This thought had Kate grinning from ear to ear. "This tea is tepid," she said out loud while pretending to pour the tea from an imaginary cup to the floor, "bring me a fresh hot cup immediately and clean up this mess! You can then stand in the corner, sissy boy. When I'm done with my tea you will be spanked again with my hairbrush," and this caused Kate to get silly and laugh out loud. 


Kate & Jim Ch. 02



Jim finished her spanking and surprisingly Kate didn't get up from his lap right away. He was pleased Kate took her punishment well. Kate didn't make a sound as the tears fell from her face. 

Jim really had to admire her for that....admire her as well as love her. He took no pleasure in spanking her but honestly felt that Kate needed a strong hand to keep her in check. 

Just as Jim finally admitted to himself that he needed a woman to love, to truly love and share his life and thoughts with. 

Everything changed when this well dressed, highly organized, refined and classy bitch, Katherine Mavis Ryan, a truly difficult woman with an acid tongue moved in to be his housekeeper. 

While he first considered it, Jim was amused with himself for contemplating the idea. He was then surprised afterward by bringing it up to her, and then bemused for her agreeing to it. 

Jim was delighted with their verbal jousting, when Kate lashed him with her acid tongue, shaking her finger in his face and calling him a troll and ogre and more; she did without profanity, and while she was doing it he was thinking, 'Katherine will be a lovely challenge to explore'.

Jim was looking forward to an interesting year to break up his routine of living alone. There was no doubt in his mind he could handle Kate and it would be interesting to see if Katherine could handle him. He knew from experience that Kate was tough in her own way. 

Day by day, living with her, Jim came to realize that his boys, his business; his hobby of tinkering with cars was no longer enough. 

It was the little things about Kate that Jim started to notice, such as how Kate's hair shone in the sun the first thing in the morning in the kitchen when she stood by the kitchen window. 

Jim drank his coffee or tea from the same chipped clay mug while Kate preferred one of his mother's dainty bone china cups and saucers, choosing a different one every day . Kate stirred the milk and sugar into her tea or coffee counter clockwise. 

Kate held her cup in two hands when she brought it up to her lips, taking a small sip, a hint of a smile on her pretty face; the first sip of coffee in the morning was with closed eyes, a little smile followed a contented murmured sigh.

Kate would tug on her ear and frown when she was concentrating on something and especially when she was reading something. This often was followed by a smile. This was always the case when Kate figured out the ending before she finished the book, the Mystery she was reading, she would put the book on her lap and unconsciously hug herself before continuing. 

Kate loved Murder Mysteries or any Mysteries for that matter which required problem solving and thinking, including the daily crossword puzzle in the paper.

Jim adored the way Kate gave her head a little toss and smiled during the two games shows they watched together after the news when Kate answered the question before him; Jim loved seeing her smile, desiring to kiss Kate's full and luscious lips each and every time. 

Yes, after Gina, and up until Kate, Jim had his share of women. He was honest with them about commitment; he always showed them a good time and treated them like ladies, the bedroom being the exception. The sex was always good for what it was, but there was no passion, no feelings of tenderness afterward. 

It was a mutual dalliance, a good time, a non-committal tryst, their careers taking precedence. Jim never brought them home for a roll in the hay. If Jim didn't pick them up at their place, they met somewhere, a restaurant, a bar, the movies perhaps, to return to their place afterward. They often planned a week or a weekend together, traveling in the same car, flying to their destination together, or simply meeting there.

What really amazed and overwhelmed Jim were his feelings of simple tenderness he felt for Katherine, wanting to protect her from the world, just as he felt for Gina. 

In his mind, Jim failed Gina; he didn't protect her as he should have. It was a throbbing intense guilt that faded with time until it was a dull ache, never completely going away, and Jim resolved that his penance was to live alone and never commit again. 

Jim's heart was beating forcefully like a hammer on an anvil when he heard Kate scream from inside the locked garage. He gave it no thought when he crashed through the door to get to her.

And then, oh yes, and then, when he scooped Katherine up in his arms...scooped her up and realized Kate was safe....that secret place in his heart of hearts, that little door that he stubbornly kept locked burst from its hinges as his love burst forth to envelope her. 

"I'm sorry Katherine, I warned you not to hit me with the broom. I did tell you what to expect when you moved in. 

It's a shame all that lamb stew went to waste," Jim said, pretending to sigh while grinning from ear-to-ear.

"Jim?"

"Yes, Katherine?"

"I've never been spanked before."

"Katherine, you need to talk these things out with me first."

"Obviously," said, Kate, rubbing her bottom.

"Don't be afraid to speak your mind or ask me anything."

"Do you know what I think, Jim Brady?" He didn't answer. Kate continued, kneeling on the ottoman while facing to him, "you look ridiculous."

"Anything else, Kate?"

"Yes, sweetheart; take a shower and a nap while I clean up the mess. I'll call you when it's time to put the steaks on."

"No more tricks?" Jim asked.

"At least not for today, my bum can't take........."

When Kate went upstairs, she found Jim naked, sleeping on top of the covers. Kate went into the bathroom to clean and discovered he already cleaned the tub; the dirty towels and lamb stew saturated clothes were in the hamper; she was pleased with his thoughtfulness. 

Kate was thinking, 'Jim can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, good, that means he's not angry with me. I'm sorry I doubted you sweetheart,' and Kate smiled, 'that spanking really stung, despite the fact you were holding back my no nonsense troll who quotes "Shakespeare", I love you Jim.' 

Going back, Kate gently touched his face to wake him; Jim pressed her hand against his cheek and sighed, "What a lovely sight you are to wake up to Katherine. Will you reward me with one of your kisses? Even though I am no longer delicious now that I have washed off the lamb stew?"

"Let me be the judge of that," Kate answered while lying on the bed next to him. Jim took Kate in his strong arms for her to kiss him and she kissed his lips long and deep.

"Is it time to put the steaks on? I'm starving after being so nicely marinated with lamb stew."

"I'm sorry, Jim."

"There is nothing to be sorry about. It is over," he said, stroking her hair, "You took your punishment like a lady, Katherine. 

I admire you for it, as I admire your fiery spirit...attacking me with a broom; what were you thinking?" 

"I was so angry. I couldn't stand the thought of you with another woman. I love you Jim, you are mine. It wouldn't matter if you were poor. I would live again in a trailer if only to be with you."

"And I never thought I would fall in love again, Katherine. 

I want no other woman but you. Your hair is so soft, and you feel so good in my arms, and...."

"And what, Petruchio?"

"You are mine, Katherine. I always hoped for someone to share this house with....to share my life with." 

"Do you want to make love to me now?" Kate asked.

"What about your sore bottom?"

"I'll be on top," and Kate was thinking, 'the ex hated that and wouldn't allow me on top.'

"Yes, ma'am, anything you say."

"I'm going to prime the pump first," said Kate, sliding down and licking Jim's cock with her tongue, "I want you nice and hard when I ride you."

Jim lay back and closed his eyes, while Kate licked and sucked only to open his eyes again as Kate squeezed his balls hard enough to hurt, causing him to exclaim, "Katherine, you said no tricks."

"Yes, Sir, I did say that and this isn't a trick. I'll concede I had that spanking coming. 

I also could have squeezed harder. Obviously I don't stand a chance against you and I would be foolish to do it again.

I just want to remind you that I'm my own woman even though we are lovers now. You will be allowed to tame my tight little ass only because I let you, because I love you. You did say we must talk things out, remember? I'm not going to hold anything back from you and I expect the same."

"Yes, of course," Jim said grinning, even more pleased with her moxie, "like the song says, Katherine, love hurts" Jim was thinking, 'partially tamed but not broken; that's my girl.'

"I'm not afraid of you, Jim."

"Yes you are."

"Well....maybe just a little," she admitted, holding her thumb and forefinger to show him. 

"Now you are being sensible, Kate."

"Anything else, you want to say to me, Petruchio?" 

"Yes, are the steaks ready?"

"Anything else, Jim?"

"You are beautiful and sexy and I love you, Katherine. Come here please."

Jim rolled over on his side and Kate did the same while sliding down to get comfortable to suck on his cock. 

Kate started licking the tip of Jim's hard cock, teasingly while Jim stroked her face and hair. Jim's huge cock was so big and he tasted wonderful. 

Kate was stroking her pussy with a free hand as she licked and sucked on his hard pulsating cock... teasing him, probing and testing with her tongue and lips.

Kate almost brought Jim to orgasm several times, but backed off playing with her dripping wet pussy. She stopped sucking and licking his cock to lick and suck on his balls making Jim smile and growl in his throat. 

Jim's hands were buried in Kate's hair as she took his cock deeper in her mouth, licking and sucking ravenously all wet and sloppy, savoring every inch of it. 

Kate imagined what his cock would feel like in her cunt when she rode him like the well hung stallion he was; Kate wanted Jim's cock buried in her pussy and soon, but she would be patient and pleasure him first. 

Jim's orgasm was onslaught testosterone laden energy as his hard member assaulted Kate's mouth and tongue. The ensuing orgasm was soon followed by a torrential onslaught of his thick rich semen flooding her mouth for Kate to swallow greedily. 

"Was that good lover?" Kate asked licking the tip of his cock, teasingly.

"It was heaven on earth, my little red haired vixen."

"Good, because I'm going to suck on your cock to get you hard again." 

Jim rolled over onto his back and soon was hard as she know he would be. 

'This is incredible!', Kate though as she slowly climbed on top of Jim, lowering herself in place, engulfing his entire cock into her swollen and dripping vagina, 'I never dreamed it could be like this... it feels so good....mm, I'm going to fuck myself silly.' 

Kate looked down to see Jim smiling at her and she tossed her head and smiled back. Kate's beautiful red hair spilled over her shoulders and then her back as she arched it, stretching like a cat in heat. She put her finger tips on Jim's chest and slowly raked down his chest, not her nails, just her finger tips, Kate knew better. 

Kate's hips were slowly gyrating while she was pumping up and down on Jim's big fat cock. It felt incredible and better than that. Kate gradually increased her speed and gyrations and in her exuberance and sexual passion nearly lost her balance. 

Jim took hold of Kate with his hands to hold her in place as she pumped him, up and down, increasing her cadence as Jim thrust upward.

"That's my girl Katherine," Jim encouraged her; "You are in charge now, my love and my life. Don't hold back, my beautiful Katherine, my sexy little redhead."

Kate was wild and out of control as her orgasm burned through her....Kate's eyes were closed, her head was thrown back and she was holding Jim's hands as she came, moaning, and panting and squealing with delight, not holding back, and Kate would never hold back again, never with Jim. 

Kate opened her eyes to see Jim smiling at her through her passion and what she considered reckless abandon in pleasing herself. Jim was actually pleased by it.

It was marvelous sexual rapture and so long in coming; something that she always wanted to do, to be herself with a man she couldn't intimidate in any way shape or form, or he be intimidated or turned off by her healthy sexual needs. 

Satisfied, Kate lay down of top of Jim while he stroked her hair and held her close in his powerful and protective arms. The special intimacy they now shared and intuitively understood was an unspoken and deep ineffable feeling of loving solitude as if they were one.

As he held her, Kate realized she loved Jim with a deep, tangible passion that she didn't think she was capable of loving any man, she merely settled with her husband. Kate had summarily dismissed such silly notions as soul mate years ago as girlish fantasies, fairytales and nonsense. 

Kate could feel Jim's heart beating and it was beating only for her and the thought was wonderfully silly, unfailingly girlish but spectacularly true. 

"I suppose you must be starving by now, sweetheart," Kate sighed contentedly, kissing his chest.

"Katherine, how can you think of food at a time like this?" and she lightly pinched him. 

"There is German Potato Salad and coleslaw to go along with the steaks. I took out a big one for you and a small one for me. Why don't you cook them while I shower, get dressed, and pin up my hair."

"Yes, ma'am, medium rare for the lady...wait. Why are you dressing for dinner?"

"It's a surprise, sweetheart. Do you realize I can hear your heart beating?"

"Call me sweetheart again," Jim said kissing her lips, "I adore hearing you calling me that, my heart is beating only for you, Katherine, my love."

"Sweetheart, sweetheart and sweetheart, my sweetheart," Kate coed, kissing Jim back and playfully poking his ribs with her finger, the discovery bringing a satisfying smile to her face.

"Ah hah, my big, tough man is not invulnerable after all," and she tickled Jim, making him squirm, while he laughed and tried to catch her hands while not hurting her.

"Now, Katherine, I'm warning you." 

"About what, sweetheart," she said innocently while getting up, "I'll be good for the rest of the day....maybe," Kate teased as she poked him and darted away as Jim tried to grab her.

Jim chased Kate into the bathroom, caught her, picked her up, swung her around, put her down gently, and kissed her lips long and deep, "I love you, Katherine."

"I love you more," Kate replied, rubbing his bristly head, "We're going dancing after a cozy candlelight dinner at home , our first candlelight dinner together, Petruchio, and then for ice cream at that little stand with the picnic tables outside, surprise...."

It was to a starlit sky overhead when Katherine walked outside to where Jim was grilling the steaks to model her look for the evening. Kate was wearing a colorful maxi dress with a large floral pattern of various shades of red, orange and green. It had spaghetti straps and a fitted elastic bodice that hugged her trim figure at the waist. 

The loose and flattering jagged edged of the skirt moved with Kate as she turned or walked. It came down to her ankles to meet the straps of the open toe red leather sandals on her small and dainty feet. 

Kate's hair was pinned up loosely on top of her head with long tendrils escaping to soften the look, and her makeup was artfully applied and correct for a candlelight dinner in a darkened room and perfect where they were going dancing. 

The effect on Jim was more than she could have hoped for or imagined. Kate revisited her stardust dreams and her ardent romantic ideals as a teenage girl. She would secretly bask in the poetry of love read in private, ideals she once held dear, close to her heart....and now to embrace again and be sprinkled in words of stardust for that moment and henceforth. 

Jim took Katherine's hands and kissed them, the words flowing from his lips as inspired by his heart, "She walks in beauty, like the night. Of cloudless climes and starry skies, and all that's best of dark and bright, meets in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light, which Heaven to gaudy day denies."

"Oh, Jim, Lord Byron, I haven't read or heard poetry like that since my mother died and I..."

Seeing that Kate was about to cry Jim kissed her lips, tenderly assuring her of his love and devotion,"Lord Byron said it best, Katherine, and you inspire Lord Byron's words from the past my lady with your woman's heart. 

The steaks are almost ready, Katherine. The table you set for us is a picture of elegance. Please light the candles for our dinner," and Kate did, wiping a tear from her face in the dining room and then hugging herself, admiring their soft glow. 

After a quiet dinner they went to a country-western bar that Kate knew about featuring a live band on Thursday and Saturday nights.

Jim tipped the band well so that every other dance was a slow one for him to hold his Katherine close. Katherine pressed close against Jim, for everyone to see, as they danced oblivious to everyone but themselves. She was listening to the beat of his heart.

"Jim."

"Yes, Katherine."

"I could dance with you like this forever. Will we dance for forever, Jim?"

"Yes, Katherine."

And so they danced, lost in themselves and the moment, until, "Jim."

"Yes, Katherine."

"The music has stopped...."

They had the place to themselves when they stopped for ice cream cones, arriving 10 minutes before closing time, and remaining after the lights shut off, and the employees left, closed for the night. 

They shared, sitting close together on their picnic tables and taking licks from each other's cones, kissing in between, 'stardust sprinkled cones of chocolate and vanilla' in Katherine's imagination, until they were gone.

On the way home, Jim held her hand, "Jim."

"Yes, Kate."

"My grandmother has been a lot on my mind lately and I haven't seen her since my divorce. Grandma is going to be 96 next month. Grandma Mavis is the only blood relative I have left."

"You want me to talk to Bobby, don't you."

"Do you think he will let us go to Florida and visit her?"

"I think it can be arranged and Kate squeezed his hand, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

"Can we take our time and drive down along the coast?" kissing Jim's cheek. 

"I don't see why not."

"Jim."

"Yes, Katherine."

"Grandma doesn't know about my divorce or the fire."

"I see."

"I want you to meet her and have her blessings."

"I'll be happy to meet her, Katherine."

"Grandma can be difficult. She hates my ex-husband."

"Difficult like you."

"Worse, unless Grandma Mavis likes you....."

True to his word, Jim made arrangements for Kate to visit with her grandmother in the nursing home in Florida. 

They decided to drive down taking two weeks up and back and stopping on the way to see the sights. 

For Kate, this meant shopping for new clothes and planning their itinerary.

Kate assumed they would be driving down in Jim's nearly restored 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner with the slightly dented hood.

Jim decided against taking it to a body shop and pounded most of it out. It was an amateur but adequate attempt that left a slight dimple to serve to remind Jim of how much Katherine meant to him and not to keep secrets or locked doors between them. 

He let Kate assume they would be taking the Road Runner to Florida. Jim planned to surprise her with something special.

Jim came home for lunch as usual to a different kind of surprise. Kate was waiting in the kitchen to show off some new clothes complete with a new hat. 

"Katherine, what in the world?"

"Do you like?" Kate asked, turning slowly to model her form fitting blue coveralls, "I want to help you get the Roadrunner ready. You can teach me about fixing cars."




Kate & Jim Ch. 02



"Well, you certainly look the part," said Jim, pulling Kate close to him as she knew he would making her smile, "What a sexy little apprentice mechanic you will make my love," He tugged lightly on Kate's ponytail sticking out of the back of her hat, "With your help we most assuredly will have it done on time."

"Jim," said Kate, rubbing Jim's bristly head. 

"Yes, beautiful."

"I have another surprise."

"And that is?"

"I don't have anything on underneath," Kate kissed Jim's lips long and deep, "I'm horny and so are you. I can feel your cock poking me through your pants."

"Then we will have to do something about it."

And he did, Jim picked Kate up and slung her over his shoulder.

"Jim, where are you taking me?" Kate asked as they exited the door off the kitchen to go outside, "No wait! Put me down, you brute!" Kate exclaimed in feigned indignation, struggling and lightly punching Jim's back. 

Jim was silent until he put her down. He stepped back to look at Katherine and she was thinking, 'My sexy troll is giving me that same demanding uncompromising look like when he surprised me getting out of the shower. I can feel my skin tingling and he hasn't even touched me yet. It is like a wave of hot masculine energy is washing over me.'

Determined to be her own woman no matter what, Kate knew that Jim could have his way with her whenever he chose, and the thought thrilled her as well as frightened her, 'Jim makes me feel so vulnerable in so many ways, just as he makes me feel so safe when I am with him. I'm not afraid of anything or anybody when I'm with Jim Brady...God, he makes me so horny when he looks at me like this and he knows it.'

Kate could barely meet Jim's eyes as she looked down to find that she unconsciously had covered her breasts with her arms. 

She looked up to see Jim looking kindly at her as he gently took her arms down and kissed her hands. This simple gesture always made her heart melt; there was nothing but love in his eyes now. 

Jim kissed his index finger and touched her nose, he turned Kate's cap backwards so the brim was in the back, "The better to kiss your lips my precious little mechanic's helper," and Jim kissed Kate's desperately seeking lips, long and deep, savoring every millisecond of the kiss. Kate returned his kisses, hugging Jim close, feeling the wet arousal between her legs as Jim's hard cock pressed up against her. 

Letting go of her, "Katherine," Jim said, in a quiet, yet commanding tone, "strip," and Jim took his finger, touching the zipper at the base of Kate's throat. Kate put her head down to watch it with her green eyes as Jim slowly ran his finger down the entire length of the zipper ending at her navel.

Jim took his right hand cupping Kate's chin between his thumb and index finger to raise her head in order for her marvelous green eyes to meet his, "You drive me wild, Katherine. I can smell the moist musky scent of your womanhood. I will have you now you sexy little bitch....any objections?"

"No, Sir," Kate said almost breathlessly, looking into those kind but demanding eyes, her body begging to feel his cock inside of her.

Kate reached up to her throat and slowly pulled the zipper down to her navel for Jim to pull the coveralls down over her shoulders to help Kate pull her arms out and to slide it down to her ankles to finish taking it off.

A lovely sight to caress his eyes, Katherine stood there naked on the garage floor, thinking of her spanking, 'And craves no other tribute at thy hands. But love, fair looks, and true obedience, Katherine Mavis Ryan, and to think you have come to this, naked and obedient and totally loving it.' 

"Leave the hat on," Jim warned as Kate reached up to remove it but dropping her arms while Jim cupped her breasts in his big callused hands, squeezing and rubbing her nipples in a circular motion with his thumbs.

"You drive me crazy and you know it, Katherine," Jim continued caressing her breast and nipples, "You have magnificent breasts, Katherine, simply magnificent. Does this feel good my little redheaded vixen?"

Kate was in her own world, a world of unadulterated pleasure, as she moaned; eyes closed nodding her head for yes. Jim continued caressing and started licking them. Katherine's eyes were closed as she rubbed his head and face.

"Do you want to come, Katherine? Do you want me to fuck your pussy?" Jim asked while pushing his scuffed oil stained engineers' boots off with his feet, continuing to squeeze and lick as he took off his work pants. 

Jim spun her around so she was facing the trunk of the blood red custom paint job of the Roadrunner before he removed his work pants. He bent Kate over the trunk, placing her hands flat palms down and holding her in place by her wrists. He spread her legs apart with his foot. 

Jim straddled Kate's dripping and welcoming pussy with his cock. He leaned forward until his face was close to hers and kissed Kate's cheek, "You are mine, Katherine," Jim said as he entered her, pushing slowly, making her gasp and moan while stretching her tight pussy until Kate could feel his balls caressing her ass cheeks. 

Jim's huge cock filled her entire uterus and Kate started immediately to moan and squirm from side-to-side, her breasts pressed up against the smooth, cool, metal body of the powerful machine. 

In and out, in and out, Jim slowly assaulted her pussy with his cock, as he held Kate in place by her wrists, while the powerful cold steel body of the muscle car stroked Kate's breasts like a second lover, a contrast to the strong warm ropey muscles of Jim's body.

One's passion was fueled by volatile gasoline and sustained by the thick oil pumped through it vitals while Jim's passion was fueled by Katherine; his hot, red blood pumping through his heart; a heart beating only for her. 

Jim brought Kate to the brink of orgasm several times before she was allowed her first orgasm. 

Just as it peaked, his thrusting becoming more forceful and his cock seemed even bigger and harder as his balls spanked her ass while Kate's breasts were pummeled against the smooth cool surface of the trunk

Amazed, and astounded, Kate's massive orgasm consumed her, followed by another, as she squirmed, and panted, and moaned and said most unladylike, "fuck me harder", unable to control herself or muffle her sounds by covering her mouth with either hand. 

The sharp intake of Jim's breathing and the deep low feral growl in his throat was the only noise Jim made as he fucked her. Perhaps he was a little rough with her; however, Katherine was not intimidated at all.... quite the contrary and this pleased him greatly.

Jim let go of her hands and Kate turned to face him, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him, "You did it to me again! You changed tactics on me again, you big wonderful sweetheart troll, you!"

"Did what to you, my love?"

"Never mind," she said, kissing his lips and rubbing his head, you need a haircut, I'll take care of that later, Mr."

"Yes, ma'am."

"You drive me crazy. I love you but you drive me wonderfully and utterly crazy. To make love in the garage? Who ever heard of doing it on a car...in a car, maybe, but on a car?"

"That's my job, Kate," she pinched his ear lightly. 

"I want to help you finish rebuilding the engine. But for now let's get dressed. Your lunch is ready and I want to show you our itinerary for the trip." 

"OK, now that our car the RED VIXON is properly christened for it's soon to be maiden voyage. What's for lunch now that I've had you for dessert?"

"Our car, Jim?"

"Yes, our car, Kate. We just christened it together, much better than any champagne bottle hitting it and making a mess. 

The RED VIXEN doesn't need any more dents in it. I decided to name our car after you, you little red head vixen."

"You can be so sweet, do you know that, sweetheart," Kate replied putting her head on his chest and just hugging him for all she was worth, "I made you Liverwurst and onion on rye with tomato basil soup; did you eat the chicken salad sandwiches I sent with you this morning?"

"Yes, they were delicious."

"You say that about everything I make for you."

"I only speak the truth, Katherine; you spoil me."

"You deserve to be spoiled. I telephoned Grandma this morning. She is looking forward to my visit. "

"Did you tell Grandma Mavis about me?"

"Not yet....."

Every night after work for a week, including all day Saturday and Sunday, Kate helped Jim rebuild the engine. Jim was patient with her, explaining everything step-by-step. Kate was lost in all the technical terms, theories and such that only motorheads cared about or understood. 

All she cared about was she was with Jim, and they were doing it together and she loved him for happily ever after.

They didn't make love again in the garage, so intent were they on completing the job, but Jim being Jim saw to it that Kate received more than her share of hugs and kisses. 

Kate torque down the final bolt on the engine while Jim with much playful fanfare mimicked the sound of a trumpet salute with the help of his hands.

As a reward, Kate received a playful slap on the ass, a crushing hug and a passionate kiss....several passionate kisses, actually.

They went out for dinner in their coveralls and now matching traditional dark blue New York Yankee ball caps that Jim bought for them. 

Initially Kate protested, about wearing the coveralls insisting that she change into a nice dress. Jim insisted they were fine for the occasion and she could dress to the nines for their next dinner, hinting he might purchase a suit for her, as big of a concession she was making for him. 

"You look beautiful, Katherine, my lady fair," said Jim, taking off his old grease stained ball cap. He bowed to her at the waist with a flourish, "Your cute ponytail is perfect. The most elegant and costly ball gown couldn't do you justice to how you look in the honest coveralls you are now wearing." 

Jim won Katherine over with more hugs and kisses on her grease smudged face. Kate conceded to herself that at one time this was something she would never dream of doing; going out in public unless immaculately dressed and coiffed, until now, until Jim, her charming troll who stole her heart for happily ever after. 

Kate insisted she should drive the RED VIXEN to get a full tank of gas, and then to the semi-refined establishment of pretty good dining, "Mama Nancy's". 

They negotiated, Kate poked and tickled Jim, darting away just out of his reach until he relented. It was loving, playful, totally silly and just plain fun. It brought back memories for Jim of something he lost years ago and something Kate never was able to do after her mother died. 

For Katherine, it was the fulfillment of romantic ideals and tangible stardust to hug and kiss. A start of new memories for things Kate always wished for but until now never had. 

In keeping with the spirit of things, and perfect for their attire Mama Nancy's is a plain but down to earth truck stop renowned for its good simple food and plenty of it. 

It is also a hangout for motor heads, racing enthusiasts; the unofficial meeting place of a local classic car club, as well as an old established dinner for discriminating hungry truckers. The original Mama Nancy passed away years ago and the business was now run by her daughter and granddaughter. 

When they arrived, Kate parked the Roadrunner and went on ahead of Jim to use the Ladies Room located on the outside of the building. 

Something was not quite right with the sound of the engine and Jim wanted to tinker with the carburetor, "I'll only be ten minutes, fifteen at the most beautiful," he explained, kissing her, "I did tell to you we would have to drive it and listen to make the final adjustments."

'Well, the place is not much to look at on the outside, but at least the bathrooms are clean and tidy,' Kate thought wiping her hands on a paper towel. Kate pushed the curtains aside on the bathroom window and noticed that the glass was clean and the windowsill dust free with no dead bugs or spider webs in sight. It was a very good sign of what she would find about the cleanliness inside and she felt better about the place already.

When she went inside, Kate noticed the truck stop restaurant was one big room with a green painted concrete floor crammed with mismatched tables and chairs. 

As she passed them, Kate observed that the tables were all clean with placemats advertising local business and the silverware neatly wrapped in over size napkins with a paper ring. 

In place of a traditional napkin dispensers containing small cheap napkins were paper towels on vertical dowels attached to a block of woods, simple and practical. 

Kate chose a corner booth away from everybody to have a cozy dinner with Jim. Kate's waitress, Doris, immediately brought a menu with the daily specials neatly hand written on plain white paper and a glass of ice water. Doris told her to take her time and wave when Kate was ready to order.

While she waited for Jim, Kate sat and sipped her water looking around and taking in everything. 

There was a lunch counter the entire length of one wall with old fashion backless stools. They were the type of stools that bolted to the floor with round seats originally upholstered in red vinyl. 

Many of them were recovered in different colors of vinyl or temporarily repaired with silver duct tape.

Behind the lunch counter was a pass through window to the kitchen. Kate watched as the orders were passed through to the waitress' and then served to the customers.

Kate also noticed that the patrons, most of them working class men, or men with their wives and girlfriend tended to sit in groups at tables next to each other, like little countries, and everybody seemed to know everybody else. 

Some of the tables with three or more men had their own coffee pot to save the waitress' from running back and forth to fill their cups. Kate assumed they were the regulars or as Jim called them, "the hangers out." 

They watched Kate walk to sit in the far corner booth away from all of them. Most of them went back to mind their own business and conversations except for one table with six men middle aged or older men and one very handsome man in particular. 

He was studying Kate most intently, while making comments to his buddies and they seemed to be encouraging him. Smiling, he walked over to Kate's booth. 

Amused, Kate watched him walk over to where she was sitting. There was a certain cockiness and confidence in his step and he struck her as a man who could handle himself in a fight. Kate estimated him to be in his late thirties to early forties. 

The man reminded Kate of "Elvis" but taller with a muscular build including the full head of thick black hair slicked back away from his face. Kate could see the man's nose had been broken at one time which gave his face character. 

Kate took him all in with her green eyes; a black silk shirt open at the throat but no heavy gold chains, and in her mind this was a point in his favor. 

He was wearing a sterling silver ring with a large turquoise stone of Navajo design on his right hand, the only jewelry she could see, and Kate approved, thinking, 'very masculine.'

Actually, Kate approved with almost everything about him, including that he was dressed all in black. The man was very handsome in a rugged kind of way that some women like.

As he sat down across from her, uninvited, and introduced himself, 'There is one thing wrong with him; he is not Jim Brady,' Kate was thinking, but curious what he might have to say.

"Good evening, little lady. Welcome to Mama Nancy's. I see that you are alone. May I be so bold to ask what brings you here?"

"You may, do you eat here often?" Kate asked, "This is my first time here."

"Yes, you might say I'm a regular, but my manners, Tom Butler," he said holding out his large, but not as large as Jim's hand for her to shake, and Kate took it, "Katherine Ryan," Kate replied shaking it, while thinking, 'Warm, and callused, but no tingle or star dust like when Jim touches me. I wonder if he knows Jim.' 

"Well this is a good, sign Katherine. You haven't asked me to leave. Do you mind if I sit with you and talk while you have dinner. I am curious by the way you are dressed."

"Well, Tom, that depends on how you answer my next question."

"Ask, away, Katherine."

"Do you know Jim Brady?"

"Yes, I have dealt with him in the past," Tom answered cautiously.

As Jim came through the door smiling, Kate watched him stop to greet a few of the people at the various tables finishing with the hangers-out from Tom's table. 

'He looks so happy,' Kate thought, mentally hugging herself, 'stardust and moonlight, sweetheart. I love you Jim.' 

Although Tom's back was to Jim, Kate could see Jim pointing in her direction and smiling. Each of the men got up to shake Jim's hand in congratulations, slapping him on the back. They then walked quickly towards Kate as if to congratulate her too.

By the time Jim shook the last hand, four of Tom's friends were standing around her booth with worried looks on their faces.

One of them whispered in Tom's ear, "Tom, for god's sake, you are making time with Jim's fiancé."

Kate could see the angry look on Jim's face when he realized who was sitting with her. He walked over pushing two of his friends out of the way. 

"I didn't know, Katherine," Tom said, quietly, "Jim and I were good friends once. I'm sorry, I didn't know." and sighing, Tom stood up to face Jim.

"Jim," Tom said, in a terse greeting, taking off his ring and putting it on in his pocket, "Do you and me have a problem?"

"You're damn right we have a problem. You broke the truce. Are you ready to go outside to finally settle this? Sally is not here to save you, may her soul rest in peace. She is not here to break us up so that I can finish kicking your sorry ass."

"You're out of your mind, I was winning," Tom replied, easily pushing the two men in front of him out of the way to get to Jim, "Sally didn't want to see either of us getting hurt. You want to go outside, fine with me."

"Jim."

"Not now Kate, stay in the booth. This is my business."

"But Jim."

"Shush, Kate I'll handle this."

"Like hell I will, Jim Brady," Kate said angrily, not to be ignored. She slid out of the booth and stood between them with her arms extended, holding Jim by his coveralls and Tom by his shirt to keep them apart. 

"Don't you dare "not now Kate" or "shush Kate" me. I'll speak my mind when the time comes for it."

Tom couldn't believe what he was seeing and was thinking, 'This little lady has a temper as red hot as her hair. Katherine Ryan is blasting him in front of the whole place and Jim was just taking it.... 

The son-of-a -bitch has a right hook like a sledgehammer and Jim is just taking it from her...wow! Jim must have fallen for this interesting woman in a big way. It's like a hummingbird attacking a grizzly bear.'

"What are you looking at?" Kate said, turning her wrath to the men from Tom's table, "If you no account impotent gaggle of timid jackasses who are trying to live your lives vicariously through someone else had the good sense to mind their own damn business and not encouraged Mr. Butler there wouldn't be a problem now. 

Furthermore, since there isn't a single one of you chicken shits who is man enough to keep them from fighting you might as well go sit down and plan another potential disaster while I get to the bottom of this. You should be ashamed of yourselves for letting a lady break up this fight. 

"And you," Kate said, turning her attention to Tom, "Was Sally your wife?"

"Yes, ma'am," Tom said, trying not to grin because Jim's grin was infectious, just like in the old days. Nevertheless, Tom knew Jim was still angry.




Kate & Jim Ch. 02



"How long were you and Sally married?" 

"Sally Ann and I were happily married for twenty-three years," Tom replied, putting his hand in his pocket to feel his ring, a 23 rd. wedding anniversary gift from her, the love of his life; Sally Ann passed away shortly after. 

"Did you love her, Tom?"

"Sally Ann was the love of my life."

"Good, I pegged you right away for a decent man, although I have my doubts about these so called men who will allow a woman to break up a fight."

Jim had quietly directed them back to their seats with intimidating looks and motions with his hand, a fist and then a thumb pointing to their table while Kate's attention was on Tom. Tom caught the gesture's playing along. They hadn't talked in years but they knew each other well and old signals and understandings remained.

"Tom, did you and your wife talk things out before things got out of hand?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Do you hear that Jim?" Kate said, looking at Jim, it was Tom's turn to grin, "They talked things out. If that goes for me, it goes for you. Will you be reasonable and talk things out with him? Otherwise don't you think the word hypocrite comes to mind?" 

"Maybe; does the word latitude come to mind, Katherine? You are close, one toe over the line, but for you my love, and in Sally's memory, I will hear what he has to say," the grin hiding on his face. 

"Fine then, we'll discuss the issue of latitude later and settle now what is at hand."

At that point the Kate proclaimed jackasses at Tom's table and everyone in the restaurant watched things unfold. Kate turned her attention to Tom's now somber face.

"And you Tom, will you be reasonable?" 

"Yes Ma'am, I know a brave lady when I see one and I respect that. For your sake I will be just as reasonable as Jim, and I'll start.

Jim, we agreed this is neutral ground and to avoid each other when we are here. I didn't break our agreement despite what you think. 

Yes, I was attempting to make time with her. I saw a beautiful woman sitting alone. I sat down to talk to her. I didn't know Katherine was your lady or that you were in the parking lot. 

How was I to know? Before we fell out you were an avowed bachelor. You never brought a lady here in all the years I have known you."

"Fair enough, Tom." Jim replied his anger cooling. He realized fighting Tom wouldn't be a cakewalk. They were evenly matched and ended up bloody and battered the last time they fought, neither one holding back or giving ground. Tom's punches were like mule kicks and he could hit equally hard with both hands. They would have seriously hurt each other if it weren't for Sally. 

"It has been a long time since we spoke, Tom. You wouldn't have known. I guess we will never know who is top dog."

"Yeah, I guess we won't, what a shame."

"I agree. I suppose there is no more to say."

"Just one thing, Jim, congratulations, I wish you both well. That being said, you're not good enough for Katherine."

"Yeah, thanks. But it seems to me I always told you that in regard to Sally. I'll be seeing you around and ignoring you."

"Yeah, me too."

"Is that the best you both can do?" Kate asked, letting go of their clothes.

"Yes," they said in unison. 

"You both are bullheaded and obtuse."

"Yes, ma'am, "They said together, grinning.

"Well, it will have to do for now."

"A pleasure to meet you, Katherine," Tom said, walking back to his table....

Momma Nancy's was well know for their corned beef hash and Jim had three plates of it along with six eggs over easy, just as many pieces of toast, and several cups of coffee to wash it down.

Kate had a single order and had to admit the corned beef hash was as good as she could make, making it a point to have their waitress tell the owner, who in turn stopped at the table to talk with them, trading recipes while Jim was working on his second plate. 

While they were eating, "Jim, what happened between you and Tom? I didn't talk with him long but he was a gentleman with me."

"We were both at fault, me more than him."

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"Someday," and Jim raised his hand to get the waitress's attention for his third plate of corned beef hash, eggs and toast."

"Tom said you were good friends once."

"We were."

"Are you angry with me or just avoiding the subject."

"I'm not angry Kate," as his third plate arrived and the waitress topped off their coffee cups, "Please pass the hot sauce, beautiful."

"Then you are avoiding the subject?"

"Maybe."

"You are impossible."

"I'm impossibly in love with you, Katherine."

"I know, don't change the subject. Are you two ever going to swallow your pride and shake hands to make up?"

"Weren't you paying attention, Katherine?"

"You call that making up?

"What did you want me to do, kiss him?"

"No of course not, but you could have at least shaken his hand."

"I'd rather kiss you."

"It would be a magnanimous gesture to shake his hand in front of the regulars."

"Maybe."

"Will you be the bigger man and shake Tom's hand before we leave?"

"Slide over and kiss me first," and Kate did, putting her arms around Jim's neck and kissed his cheek, "Please?"

"Maybe... ouch, OK, OK, I'll shake his hand," Jim said, rubbing his ear where Kate pinched it.....

Jim's arm was around Kate's waist as they walked over to Tom's table. 

"Tom, Katherine is making me shake your hand," Jim extended his hand and Tom took it.

"I understand, Jim, wives and fiancés can be like that," Tom said, solemnly, "but I draw the line at kissing."

"I agree, Tom. There is not enough Irish Whiskey in O'Brien's to drink you pretty."

"How would you know? My grandmother can drink you under the table."

"Bring your Grandmother to O'Brien's. I'll buy the first bottle of Jameson's and will match you both, drink per drink."

"When?"

"Right now. We will meet you there."

"Jim, I can't go looking like this."

"Grandma can't make it. I'll do you better and buy a bottle of Jameson 12-year-old Special Reserve."

"You were always a showoff, but without your Grandma you don't stand a chance." 

"Maybe, but you don't stand a chance on the billiard table."

"Nobody stands a chance against you in a game of pool."

"Jim, I have to change first."

"Tom, we will meet you there in ninety minutes, Katherine wants to make herself more beautiful, if that is even possible...."

While pulling into their driveway, "Jim?"

"Yes, Kate."

"Is Tom a good pool player?"

"He is very good and known locally."

"Then he is a better player than you."

"Much better."

"Do you mind if I play him?"

"You play billiards, Kate?"

"I can hold my own."

"Well after your performance this evening, I have no doubt that you can. You prevented us from doing something stupid, my brave lady, and things couldn't have worked out better. We have a billiard table in the attic. Why haven't we played yet?"

"That was part of the master plan, to do things together but we got caught up in other things. I planned on letting you win to keep you interested."

"I wouldn't like that Kate. If you are a better player great, that moves you up a notch in my eyes. Did you think it would bother me losing to you?"

"That was before and this is now. I know you better now."

"What master plan?"

"It doesn't matter and is not important. What matters is friends and family, Jim. I can't tell you how much I miss Grandma Mavis."

"Give it time Kate. Eventually the neighbors will come around when we prove your innocence, assuming you want anything to do with them. Besides, in three days we will be on our way to sunny Florida." 

As they were walking through the door Kate caught Jim off guard, tickling him and making him jump in surprise. 

"Kate!" Jim exclaimed twisting around to grab her but Kate was too quick and darted around him and ran upstairs.

Jim shook his head, smiling, and slowly walked up the stairs to his bedroom to change....

Having exchanged his coveralls for faded blue jeans, a green flannel shirt and his well broken-in comfortable moccasins, Jim walked into the bathroom to find Kate putting the final touches on her makeup. 

Kate had pinned her hair up in a french twist exposing her long neck. The blouse Kate chose was rather exotic with an oriental flavor made of red silk brocade embroidered with plum blossoms in gold colored thread and golden piping. The blouse had a Mandarin collar, bracelet sleeves and the traditional frog button side fasteners.

Kate was wearing this on top of snug fitting dark indigo jeans, and she chose white running shoes to give her a solid platform to stand on while she shot pool. 

Jim put his arms around Kate's trim waist and nuzzled her neck before kissing her ears; "I love it when you put your hair up so I can get at your neck. I have not seen that blouse before, but you look exotic and lovely. Are you almost ready?"

"Almost, sweetheart," Kate said squeezing his hands, "do you want me to drive home? I'm not planning on drinking at all this evening."

"That's a good idea. I'm planning on tipping a few."

"In that case I absolutely will drive."

"Katherine."

"Yes, Jim."

"I love you..." 

The usual crowd was at O'Brien's when Kate and Jim arrived to find Tom sitting at the bar talking to Patrick.

Tom got off his stool to greet them, "My goodness, Katherine, I mean wow, that's quite a change from earlier. If I remember correctly, red is the color of good luck in China, while the plum blossoms represent brave and noble."

"Thank you, Tom," Kate said, shaking his hand. "I'm not that brave, but I am a lucky woman."

"Do I still have to shake Jim's hand, Katherine?" 

"Of course you do."

While they were shaking hands Patrick came out from the bar to greet Kate, hugging her lightly, "Thank you Katherine. You did in one day what I couldn't do in five years"

He then cuffed the two men in the back of the head and not gently.

"Jim, you obtuse horse's ass, our mutual friend, Tom, the other obtuse horse's ass told me what happened. It's about time you kissed and made up."

"Did you hear what Patrick said Tom? He wants us to kiss, yuk. Those are fighting words."

"Yea, Jim you're right, let me at him. After five years of no fighting celibacy we have to fight somebody. Do you want to kick his ass first, or shall I? We will have to clear some tables out of the way to make some room though."

"Good idea, we'll toss him for it. I'll grab Patrick's arms and you grab his legs. Katherine will call him in mid-air; how about the best five out of seven?" 

"You will do no such thing," Kate said laughing, happy to be back at O'Brien's. She felt very at home here, "You three charming scallywags will be gentlemen." 

"Yes Ma'am," they all said in unison, followed by Patrick saying, "I'm taking the rest of the night off, brave and noble lady. I will do you dubious gentlemen one better; a bottle of Jameson 18 year-old Gold Reserve to celebrate."

"I understand you are quite the billiard Master, Tom?" Kate inquired as Patrick went into his office to get the bottle. 

"I can hold my own, Katherine. Do you play?"

"How about the best two out of three? After that, Jim and Patrick can play the winner if they like."

The boys tossed down a couple of shots, insulting each other while Katherine sipped club soda and brushed down the surface of the billiard table.

Kate reminisced about her Grandpa Jack as she selected her cue, wishing that her Grandpa's custom cue hadn't burned up in the fire. 

Kate wiped a tear from her eye and sighed. Wishing that if there were only one thing she could have saved from the fire, including the house and it's entire contents, it had been Grandpa's cue. 

Kate walked over to where the boys were standing and tapped Jim on the shoulder, he turned and Kate put her arms around Jim's neck and kissed his lips long and deep.

"I don't need Grandpa's pool cue, or anything else, Jim, I have you."

"What is this all about, Katherine, my love?" Jim asked hugging her, "Is that like the blond wig thing?"

"Perhaps, sweetheart," Kate said, rubbing his head.

"Ladies, choice, Katherine," Tom offered, "name your poison."

"Nine ball is fine with me," and this peaked Tom's interest even though he didn't start taking Kate seriously until they were halfway through the first game, which Kate won.

"The best two out of three?" Tom asked, which turned into three out of five. 

When they were tied two and two, Kate offered, "This is your night boys. Have yourselves a good time."

And they did, they partnered off, Jim with Kate, Tom with Patrick and played eight ball until closing time....

It was raining when they said their final goodbyes, but a cold wind soon picked up until the rain was coming down in wind driven buckets. 

Tom was happy for his friend, but a little sad and melancholy as he drove home. The first woman he tried to make time with since his wife died, and Kate was spoken for.

Tom came over the top of the hill on his road and then down the rise. He saw a green Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan at the bottom parked along the side of the road on the mud covered gravel median with no emergency flashers on. 

He slowed down and saw the figure of a woman trying to change a tire and doing it unsafely; you never try to loosen the lug nuts with the tire jacked up off the ground. 

Twenty-seven years with his father in the tire business, Tom knew how to safely change a tire. 

He turned around and drove his Jeep Wrangler 4 X 4 behind the car to shine his headlights on it, turning on his off road spotlights for more illumination and then his emergency flashers before he got out. 

"Pardon me Ma'am, do you need any help?" Tom could see her clothes were wet.

It was dark on this deserted country road, with only two houses on it and the woman was soaked to the skin and cold. She could smell alcohol on Tom's breath.

"I'm fine, but thank you for stopping, Sir. I'm almost done," she lied. 

"I have," Tom started to say but instead grabbed her just in the nick of time as the jack, the wrong type for this model car slipped from underneath. They ended up in the grass with she on top of him.

Tom let go of her and she scrambled to her feet. He got up more slowly after taking the brunt of the fall, the woman backing away from him, cautiously. The hood on the woman's light cotton jacket had fallen back because of the fall and Tom could see that she had red hair just like Kate...was this an omen?

"I was going to tell you it is the wrong jack for your car. Even if it were the right one you should have a board underneath it being it is raining and the ground soaked."

"Have you been drinking."

"I live just up the road, and yes I was celebrating."

"The battery on my cell phone is dead. May I use yours to call my Auto Club?" 

"You are welcome."

"Excuse me?"

"I said, you are welcome from keeping you from being hurt." Tom held out his hand, "Tom Butler. It is good you are cautious, but I'm not that kind of man."

"Thank you, Mr. Butler."

"Do you have a name?" Tom asked.

"My name is Dorothy," the woman replied, lying. 

"Well, Dorothy, no last name," Tom, said, crouching down to look at the damage, "You are starting to shiver and I suggest you get out of the rain," and reaching down and feeling the oily puddle beneath the car, "It looks like the jack snapped your break line. 

You won't be driving it anywhere soon. I have a 6-ton floor jack and the proper tools in the back of the Jeep. If you want, I will change the tire to save time for the tow truck driver. 

"Dorothy Smith."

"OK then. Don't tell me your real name," Tom said getting the wool blanket he kept in the rear seat, "wrap this around yourself. My cell phone is in the cup holder. 

The engine is running so why don't you sit on the driver side and turn up the heat. Lock the doors until the tow truck driver gets here in case I'm some kind of crazed predator. Assuming I am, you can always run me over when you make your quick get away." 

"Sally McCarthy," she said wrapping the blanket around her and sticking her hand out for Tom to shake.... 

Jim had a lot on his mind when they got home and was unable to go to sleep right away, first and foremost because Jim reconnected with a friend; he lamented those five wasted years while looking forward to the future. 

He went into the kitchen and made himself a pot of Earl Gray tea to go with some shortbread cookies to mull everything over 

Months ago, Jim hired a private investigator to look into Katherine's case. He hired the man for results, and Jim didn't care how the investigator went about getting them.

As it turned out, heads would roll when the truth got out, which would be soon, perhaps shortly after they returned from Florida. 

The private investigator, a retired CIA agent recommended by his uncle, met with Jim earlier in the week and advised him everything pointed to several factors. 

Fact one, a deliberately sloppy police investigation. Fact two, Kate's lawyer was incompetent at best. Fact three, something Jim already knew, the prosecutor was politically ambitious, going for expediency instead of justice, and was now running for County Judge. 

Fact four, the senior police investigator looking into Kate's case was up to his ears in debt and is related to Kate's Insurance broker, the broker's brother. To compound the problem, there were financial ties between Kate's ex-husband and the insurance broker.

Encouraged with this new information, Jim's oldest brother was going to take the case when he received the word. 

He hadn't told Kate yet and wouldn't until most of the pieces were together and everything was set in motion. Jim was deep in thought when Kate walked up to him unnoticed. 

"May I join you?" Kate asked, putting her bone china cup and saucer on the table and sitting across from him.

Not answering, Jim poured Kate a cup and pushed the cookie plate closer to her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Kate asked reaching across the table to squeeze Jim's hand. Kate was wearing nothing more than Jim's New York Yankee Baseball Jersey on top of her panties. It was like a loose nightgown for Kate and she started wearing it months ago, laying her claim on him.

"When the time comes, my love," he replied squeezing back. 

They sat quietly together sipping their tea until Kate broke the silence, "Even if we get everything over turned, I don't care what the neighbors think. If they come around, fine, if not...." letting the implication being the hell with them. 

"Things are falling into place, Katherine. That's all you need to know for now. Please trust me on this. There is no obtuse, bullheaded guy thing about it."

"Yes, sweetheart." 

"Until it is settled, I need your full cooperation without question. Will you please do that for me no matter what I ask?" 

"Yes, Jim."

"Thank you my love," Jim said getting up from his chair, offering Kate his hand and helping her to her feet.

Kate put her arms around his neck; Jim put his arms around her waist pulling her close, "Really Kate, a gaggle of Jackasses living their lives vicariously?" 

Kate put her head on Jim's chest to listen to his heartbeat, "Well they should have done something."

"Thank goodness my little bitch saved the day."

"Thank you, I was in rare form, wasn't I?" Kate asked smiling.

"You were, Katherine."

"And the latitude part?" Kate asked.

"There is no need to discuss it," Jim gave her tight little ass a slap just hard enough to sting, making her yelp, and then, "Brute," she said, kissing his lips, "are you going to ravish me now?"

"Maybe."

"I'd pinch your ear, but I might get another slap on the ass."

"You know me so well, Katherine."

End of Chapter 2.



Kate & Jim Ch. 03



Kate was standing by the window when Jim walked into their bedroom. The soft moonlight was streaming shyly through the glass illuminating and caressing her trim naked form inspiring him to words destined by fate to be said. While not as eloquent as Lord Byron, they were a part of him known only to his dear departed Gina. 

Kate hadn't taken her hair down. She would leave that erotic delight and sensual pleasure for Jim. Jim Brady was hers' now, heart and soul; heaven help the hellfire fury of her wrath for any woman who tried to tear them asunder. 

Jim put his arms around her slim waist and rubbed her flat tummy, smelling her hair, "I love you, Katherine."

"I love you too, sweetheart. I've been looking at the moon. In another two days it will be full," Kate took his hands and squeezed them, "and the fireflies are like tiny twinkling stars. It is so peaceful and I'm so happy."

"Jim?"

"Yes, Katherine."

"I have to ask you something."

"Ask away, beautiful."

"While I was looking at the stars I was thinking about us and well....I used to believe in such things; the magic of stardust and moonlight.... I love you so much that I can feel it in my soul. You said we can talk about anything.....are we soul mates, Jim?" 

"As I stumble for these words that justice is served, I hold you close in celebration of your life. I say to the heavens my witness this night, you are a delight to my eyes as the moonlight caresses your naked form, illuminating the love of your tender woman's heart, true Kate, true, Kate. 

Your earthly beauty is the envy of the stars above and the fireflies below. Tiny beings with their brief flickering lights destined for their reward in the heavens when they pass from this earth, true stars, true stars. 

While the stars may twinkle in millenniums of life they too will fade; millenniums are but seconds to our souls now eternity intertwined as witnessed from above this glorious night."

Katherine turned and put her arms around his thick bull neck, kissing his lips, basking in his words of love. Jim put his strong massive arms around her waist and gently held her as they looked at the stars, the moon; the fireflies. 

Finally, "Do you know what I think Mr. Brady?"

"What do you think, Ms. Ryan?"

"I think Shakespeare wrote the "Taming of the Shrew" with us in mind," and she kissed his lips.

"Will you please take my hair down, my sweet Petruchio? You have earned a special reward for that beautiful poem."

"What kind of special reward?"

Kate got down on her knees and kissed his stomach, "Well lover, start taking my hair down and you'll see."

Kate started licking the tip of Jim's hard cock, teasingly while Jim removed the hairpins from her hair. Jim's big thick cock was pulsating and twitching in anticipation as she licked; Kate loved teasing him this way. 

She was stroking her pussy with a free hand as she licked and sucked on his hard pulsating cock... teasing him, probing and testing with her tongue and lips.

Kate almost brought both of them to orgasm several times, but backed off playing with her dripping wet pussy. She stopped sucking and licking his cock to lick and suck on his balls making him gasp with pleasure.

Jim was putty in her hands as Kate sucked on his balls and playfully nibbled them feeling him shudder. 

Jim's hands were buried in Kate's hair as she took his cock deeper in her mouth knowing she could never take it all, such is its length and girth; she was licking and sucking ravenously and savoring every inch of it, all wet and sloppy. 

Kate fantasized about Jim's cock buried in her cunt up to his balls while she sucked; she wanted Jim to take her like a woman and fuck her hard. 

Even when they were contentious neighbors and fighting, Kate wondered how it would be like to fuck that feral bruin of a man, that totally hardheaded and unreasonable man, Jim Brady, and now she loved him with a deep passion few women would ever know....he is her soul mate. 

Kate could sense Jim's impatience....good, she had teased and titillated him long enough, it was time to get down to business, she wanted to orgasm as well.

Jim's orgasm was an onslaught of testosterone laden energy as his hard member assaulted Kate's mouth and tongue, followed by a torrent of his thick rich semen flooding her mouth for Kate to swallow greedily. 

Now sated, they got into bed and Jim lay down beside her. He started licking and sucking on her breasts while Kate was caressing his freshly barbered head with her hands, moaning and gasping with pleasure.

She adored the contrast of his short bristles to her silky tresses now that she took over cutting his hair. 

Jim adored the way she moaned and squirmed and panted and squealed during sex; it added to his arousal by pleasing his woman, that, and knowing Kate genuinely liked sucking on his cock. 

Kate was pushing her cunt into his hand as he was stroking her, as he parted her pussy lips to get to her sweet, swollen clitoris making her gasp and pant and moan all the louder.

"Please Jim, I want to come, I want you to kiss me...oh god this feels so good.....I want to suck on your big cock."

Jim just brought her to the peak of orgasm and stopped having something else in mind for her.

Jim went down on her licking and sucking and teasing while Kate lay there, thrusting her dripping wet and in his mind delicious pussy into his face for him to lick harder.

Kate's hands were in the silkiness of her hair while rubbing his bristly head enjoying the contrast of sensations. 

She was rolling her head to from side to side as the first orgasm washed over her and yet Jim was still not finished with her. 

Jim rolled Kate over onto her stomach making her get up on her hands and knees; his dam was about to burst now that Kate was satisfied....he rammed his rock hard cock into her still dripping pussy while holding onto her hips and pounding her relentlessly.

Jim's lustful thrusts increased in speed and in power as he reached forward to grab her hair. He twisted it into a ponytail and pulled her head back as he continued pounding her; holding Kate in place with her hair which only heightened her arousal, she was so glad that her hair was long for him to grab like this; she wanted it longer for him. 

Kate was bucking and panting and moaning as her second orgasm washed over her. It was as deliciously satisfying as the first, more so as she felt his hot thick and rich semen being pumped into her dripping and swollen ravaged cunt as Jim's orgasm overtook him. 

Jim was breathing in and out deeply while emitting an occasional soft grunt. Kate was determined not to waste a single drop of his semen, for her a proven aphrodisiac. Kate would lick his cock clean with her mouth when he rolled off. 

Such was Jim's orgasm that he rolled off of her onto his back to get his thoughts together and let the memory of that orgasm linger in his mind while thinking 'Kate is so hot and if you'll excuse the expression a great fuck..Wow. 

What a wonderful contrast between the classy and refined well mannered Lady the public sees; Katherine is so beautiful and sexy both ways that I can hardly stand it.....my soul mate.' 

Fascinated by his seemingly endless erections, to give her endless multiple orgasms, Jim's after-orgasm daydream allowed Kate her chance to get him hard again 

Kate started kissing his stomach, working her way down to his cock, licking and sucking on the tip as her silky red hair fell forward covering her face. 

Jim reached down and gathered her hair into a ponytail and next twisted it up in a bun as she knew he would to keep it out of her mouth. He was instantly hard again and she was thinking..."He is amazingly always ready to fuck and mine for eternity.

Jim was trying to hold back and prolong this marvelous blowjob, however the first clear pre-cum escaped despite his best efforts. Kate stopped and looked at him smiling, licking her lips and teeth to tease him before continuing. 

Jim let go of her bun just before his orgasm washed over him. He buried his hands in Kate's unbound hair to hold her in place while filling her mouth with gobs of his thick, creamy semen. Kate tasted and savored every bit before swallowing while wishing for more as she licked her lips. She then cuddled next to him for him to hold her. 

"Jim?"

"Yes, Kate?

"I love you my soul mate." 

"Kate?"

"Yes, Jim?"

"I couldn't have said it better......"

Jim intended to purchase four high performance tires including a matching spare for the Roadrunner and today was the perfect opportunity. 

Kate drove it to Tom's tire shop early in the morning to wait for them to be installed; all part and parcel of Jim's plan for Kate's surprise with Tom as a willing accomplice. 

Kate turned on her considerable charm for she genuinely liked Tom and wanted to know about the falling-out. However, more than anything, Kate wanted to know about Jim and Gina. 

Kate correctly assumed Tom was a wealth of knowledge. Equally charming and impressed with Kate, Tom told her a bit about Gina, beginning with their engagement, Gina's disappearance in France and what occurred after. 

"So you see Katherine, Jim was devastated when he lost her. He never thought he would find another Gina."

"Did Jim ever, well you know after?"

"Did he have other women? Of course he did, a few years later. How shall I put this, Katherine? Jim is a man. I'm a man. 

Still, it isn't and wasn't the same as it once was for us; not for Jim and not for me; short dalliances only. Those ladies never knew the real Jim as you do now. I'm sure eventually Jim will tell you the whole story." 

"Do you think you'll ever find somebody again, Tom?"

"Perhaps," he replied smiling while thinking of Sally McCarthy and their upcoming "Just for coffee mind you," date. Tom told Kate about the woman he met whose car was broken down at the side of the road after he left the pub. 

"Will you tell me why you and Jim had a falling-out?"

"No, that shall remain between Jim and me. What I will say is we didn't hate each other Katherine. If something bad happened to Jim or if he needed something I would be there for him and he would be there for me."

"Do you mean being there to beat each other's brains out, Tom?"

"We didn't though because we were stopped a second time; the down side is we'll never know who is top dog," he sighed.

"The first time you were stopped by your wife Sally Ann correct?" To which Tom simply replied, "Yes."

"Will you tell me about Sally Ann?"

"Goodness, Katherine; you don't beat around the bush. We'll save that for another time."

"What about Gina? How did they meet?"

"I've said enough. If you want to know more about Gina ask Jim. Jim loves you Katherine although I hardly need to tell you that. He loves you as much if not more than Gina and I'll tell you why. Word got back to me how you sang with him at his birthday party."

Kate smiled, remembering how he tucked her tenderly in bed and kissed her that night following the party, and last night with the poem; they had to be soul mates and there was such a thing as the magic of star dust and moon beams if one would only believe. 

"He doesn't give his love or loyalty lightly, Katherine. Jim will go to the ends of the earth to see to your well being and safety."

"Jim is my soul mate, Tom." 

"You know Katherine, I believe he is and I'm not just saying that. There I'm done," he said, tightening down the last lug nut, "There will be no charge. I strongly suggest you go straight home. Something is waiting for you that will require your immediate attention." 

Jim was at work when she pulled into their driveway. Kate put her hand over her mouth in surprise, almost not believing her emerald green eyes. 

There was a Winnebago Sightseer Recreation Vehicle parked to one side. 'Goodness and bless him,' she thought, 'Jim has done it to me again.' 

She found a brief note on his embossed linen stationary. It was written with a fountain pen in his bold cursive handwriting and placed on the steering wheel. 

"My dearest Katherine, The owners' manual for the Winnebago is in the glove compartment. Please familiarize yourself with it. I know you will clean and organize it from top to bottom to meet your exacting standards before we leave in it for Florida. 

I won't be home for lunch because we're breaking in a new man to fill in while we're on vacation. See you when I get home at five, all my love for eternity, Jim." 

'All my love for eternity,' Kate thought as she hugged herself pretending it was him, 'I love you too, Jim, my sweet Petruchio.'

She kissed the note at the bottom by his signature next to the hand drawn red heart with a black and red fletched arrow through it; their names Kate & Jim in the center. 

'This little heart is a sweet romantic gesture with so much love behind it. It's so like him. How can Jim possibly know I've always wanted to travel in one of these....it will be so much fun! 

We'll have to buy extra groceries though and I'll bring a few of my pots and pans..... The cast iron one if we cook over a camp fire.....I'd love to do that....oh yes, we'll need paper plates; I'll get the good ones. I'm sure we'll be going out for dinner....and my clothes...there is so much to do.

I wonder if Jim will let me drive it.....that will be so cool...I'm getting ahead of myself. I'd better start his dinner. He'll be starving when he gets home.'

Dinner was waiting for Jim when he arrived home and plenty of it. 

On the stairway to the stars of love, Kate could barely contain herself as she ran out to meet him in the driveway with a hug and a kiss; practically jumping into his strong arms for him to pick her up and spin her around; and he did. 

Kate felt so young when she was with Jim. She absolutely craved his hugs and kisses. 

The widow Dudley from across the street was sitting on her front porch with an indignant look on her face when Kate did that and was thinking, 'First the arson and now this ridiculous display....shameful, living in sin with that brutish homely man,' there were other thoughts not so nice. 

At one time the woman was one of Kate's staunchest neighborhood supporters although the woman is a bit of a prude. 

Kate smiled and waved to her over Jim's right shoulder. It amazed Kate the things she was willing do with Jim. It was Kate and Jim against the world in their private romantic love cosmos. 

"Wow, what a greeting, Kate. I missed you too," Jim said putting her down and kissing her lips, "who are you waving at?"

"Priscilla Dudley; let's give the old prune a good show," Kate grabbed his face in her little hands, kissing his lips and sticking her tongue in his mouth.

"Wow and double wow!" Jim exclaimed not expecting this, "Aren't you in a playful mood? You taste delicious by the way and you smell like Jasmine. It must be your shampoo."

"Of course I smell nice. I took a shower. Do you like my ponytail?" She asked shaking her head and making her ponytail bounce.

"I adore your ponytail. It goes well with your blue jeans and red paisley bandana blouse. What's for dinner?" 

"We're having lamb stew with parsnips, carrots and little pearl onions over garlic –tarragon mashed potatoes; a tomato & cucumber salad with raspberry/balsamic vinaigrette. We will be having go-get ice cream for dessert."

"What kind of ice cream is that?" Jim asked tugging on her ponytail.

"There's no ice cream in the fridge. We have to go get some; my treat. We can make it a little date and go-get an ice cream cone." 

Kate put her arms around Jim's neck and kissed his lips while rubbing his bristly head, "Your hair can use a trim later tonight." 

"Your wish is my command, beautiful Kate." 

Kate noticed Pricilla Dudley was now on a cell phone, probably talking to Mira Malone who was on her porch with her cell phone to her ear watching them; Kate was thinking, "What busybodies they are....what a busybody I was...I love you Jim. I don't care if the whole world knows!' 

"I love you, sweetheart," she said raising her voice and waving to the both of them and then louder, "I love him ladies and I don't care if the whole world knows it."

"I love you too my little bitch with a woman's heart," he replied quietly, crushing her gently to him with his strong arms.

"May I drive the Winnebago when we go for ice cream and groceries? I always wanted to travel in one." 

"I don't see why not. We will be taking it to Florida."

"Just like that; no comments about women drivers?"

"No! Of course not; you're an excellent driver." 

"Fair enough; it's just that you are familiar driving large vehicles; dump trucks and heavy equipment like cranes and backhoes while I'm not." 

"I'm sure you can handle it my beautiful and smart lady. May we have dinner now please?" Jim asked letting go of her and waving to the neighbors, "I love her and we're going to Florida," he shouted. 

"Yes, Sir," Kate replied taking his waving arm and then his hand to stop him, both of them laughing as they walked in their house together for dinner...........

They first went to purchase their groceries with Kate in command at the wheel when they pulled into the super market parking lot. They selected a deserted section well away from other vehicles so she could practice backing up. 

'She's doing well,' Jim was thinking as Kate backed in and out several times, 'good peripheral vision...yup... Katherine is doing just fine....very good, darling!'

Jim was himself on the stairway to the stars of love. He was delighted how Kate was enjoying herself; Jim was delighted with Kate in general when she suddenly hit the brakes stopping abruptly. 

Two ostentatious chrome accessorized off-road pickup trucks covered stylishly in dried mud came careening from around the corner of the back of the supermarket at a high rate of speed; both deliberately missing the Winnebago by a baby's breath. 

Kate laid on the horn and as a result both trucks came circling back. The red one stopped in front with the squealing of tires; the green doing the same parking behind them to prevent the Winnebago from leaving. 

The driver in the red truck was a large well built young man in his late teens to early twenties wearing a red ball cap backwards. 

There was another equally well built young man of the approximate age in the cab with him wearing a similar red ball cap as were the occupants of the green truck. 

Before Kate could blink Jim was outside approaching the driver side door of the red truck when she heard one of them say, "Oh shit, it's Coach!"

"Jeff Olson! Is that you in there? I'm disappointed with you Jeff." 

"Oh my goodness gracious me, "the driver said mockingly, "he's disappointed in you Jeff. Do you know this asshole and the bimbo who can't drive? I'd like to fuck her though; I wonder how much the cunt charges?" 

"Yeah, dog I know Coach. You'd better apologize or you're going to make him angry."

"Fuck him! What's he going too........" 

Too late; Jim grabbed the foul-mouth moron pulling him like a cork from a wine bottle minus the "pop" kicking and screaming through the rolled down truck window as the two occupants in the green truck came from around the corner of the Winnebago. 

Jim held foul-mouth by the throat and groin pinned on the hood of the truck. The terrified punk was afraid to move or speak as Jim squeezed his nut sack, "You boys get back in your truck and clear out or I'm going to rip this puppy's balls off." 

"What the fuck is the matter with you, dog?" one of his buddies said to Jeff who hadn't moved from the truck.

"Did you hear me?" Jim warned, squeezing harder to make him scream in pain. 

"Fuck, this son-of-a-bitch is crazy!" The two from the green truck said in unison while looking at each other now unsure.




Kate & Jim Ch. 03



"Perhaps, I am," Jim agreed letting go of the young man who slid off the hood of his truck onto the ground in a puddle of pain and vomit, holding his groin and moaning, "Nevertheless you puppies would do well to control your dirty mouths in the presence of a lady." 

"It's two against one asshole. Let's take him, Dave."

"I like these odds; two to one but barely a challenge. Leave now or have at it little puppies. I don't have all day. If you stay I won't be as gentle with you as I was with him," Jim said quietly, pointing to the puddle of pain and vomit on the asphalt. 

Glancing briefly over to his left Jim saw Kate standing next to him with a cast iron frying pan in her hand. Kate's eyes were hot green flames of resolute anger and this made Jim smile and love her all the more if that were possible. 

"The odds just changed. You're outnumbered." 

"Coach," Jeff said getting out of the truck and walking over, "May I help Eric up so we can leave?"

"You may," Jim replied and as Jeff was helping Eric to his feet, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry, Coach."

"I'll take it under advisement. Are you still living at home?"

"Yes."

"Are you working?"

"No, and uh, sorry, Ma'am," he said taking off his red ball cap and looking at Kate; Kate merely nodded. 

"Fine, we'll talk in a few weeks. Come by the yard to see me."

"Dog, what the...." Jeff interrupted, "Watch your mouth, Dave. Mr. Brady is giving us a play. If you think you can both take him go for it. I'm not ending up in the emergency room for what started off as a goof........"

Kate took hold of Jim's hand as they left and turned to him as both trucks drove out of sight.

"Katherine that was a courageous thing to do but hardly necessary; nevertheless I'm proud of you."

"Thank you. I know you can handle them, but just in case."

"Well," Jim said squeezing her hand, "I'm glad you went after me with a broom and not a cast iron frying pan. Cold iron is deadly on any of us Sidhe." 

"Don't be ridiculous, Petruchio," Kate said, dropping the frying pan to the ground with a thud and putting her arms around his neck for a kiss, "You're a good troll. Good trolls and ogres are immune to cold iron when they have the love of a human woman too melt their hearts and ward the deadly effects."

"Quite right," Jim replied hugging and kissing her, "although it's a potent deterrent when forcefully applied to dastardly redcaps should they attempt to accost us." 

"Exactly, even though it was you who scared them off."

"We scared them off; there is an old saying, Kate, when you have the balls firmly in hand the heart and mind is sure to follow."

"You just made that up," Kate said laughing, "Do you think they will be dumb enough to bother us again?"

"No, But I want you to promise me to do as I say when things are really dangerous; do you promise?"

"Yes, Sir," Kate replied putting her head on his shoulder to hear his heart beating, content and feeling very safe at the moment, especially now that she knew the extremes Jim would take to protect her. 

Although not a bully and slow to anger, Kate knew that Jim relished a good fist fight. Those boys didn't stand a chance against her man. 

She remembered what her Grandpa Jack used to say about tough and confident men like Jim. It was simple and to the point, "No brag, just fact."

This very masculine part of Jim fascinated and aroused the woman in Kate. She was amazed by the way Jim knew exactly what to do to dominate them so easily, thinking, 'I love you Jim Brady, my pugnacious pugilist Petruchio.' 

Jim hugged her close enjoying how Kate melted into him. As far as Jim was concerned everything was right with the cosmos, "Thank you, Katherine my love. Shall we get our groceries now?"

"Yes, Sir," Kate said taking his large warm callused hand in her small one for them to walk into the grocery store together.......

Much to Kate's delight Jim took every opportunity to kiss and hug her between juggling oranges and apples all the while being downright playful as they shopped. 

Jim stood behind her with his arms around Kate's trim waist blowing on the back of her neck and giving her goose bumps as they waited in the checkout line.

"Would you please behave," she said not meaning it, reaching back to touch his face. 

"No ma'am, I'm just getting started."

"You're impossible."

"And you're gorgeous." 

"And you're next, "said Martha, the romantic at heart checkout lady in her late-sixties. Martha was smiling and thinking, 'If only to be young again and so much in love.......'

Kate parked the Winnebago across the street from the dairy store and they walked inside for their ice cream cones. 

The place was packed as usual however they managed to get the only empty table, a table of four. They sat close together to share their double dip cones, strawberry and chocolate for Kate and maple walnut for Jim. 

"Kate, that's Sam and Mira Malone in line."

"I see them. It's a shame there's nowhere for them to sit," Kate commented although not meaning it. 

As Kate said it their neighbors moved away from the counter with their hot fudge sundaes and walked in their direction looking for a table.

"Sam, there's two seats over here," Jim announced loudly standing up and waving.

"Jim, I......" 

"Please Katherine, let me handle this. I know what I'm doing."

Sam looked at his wife, and Mira gave him a glance that said....'No!'

Sam gave a look in return, 'Enough of this nonsense, Mira. It has gone on long enough. We will be polite and sit with them.'

"Sam," Jim said, shaking Sam's hand followed by Mira's complementing her and meaning it, "Mira, you look as lovely as ever I see." 

At five-six Mira has baby blue eyes and a small turned up nose, possessing a clear complexion that any woman would kill for. 

Mira also has what many discerning men appreciate; a curvaceous and buxom figure to complement her dark long brown hair styled that day to please her husband in a simple three strand braid that fell to the middle of her back. 

Mira was wearing an embroidered green corduroy jumper that came down to her knees. It had floral embroidery trim on the scoop neckline and front pockets. It had an empire waist, etched-metal buttons and side ties. Underneath this classic style of dress was a white silk-pima cotton blouse with ¾ length sleeves.

"Katherine," Mira said politely not accepting Kate's hand as she sat down.

"Mira," Kate replied just as politely, insulted with the obvious snub and very annoyed with Jim at the moment.

"You have a Winnebago in your driveway. Are you going on a trip?" Sam asked

"Yes we are going to visit Katherine's grandmother in Florida."

"No offence, Jim, I never expected you and Katherine winding up together given your past history and the circumstances of her house burning down and all."

"No offence taken. I'm lucky to have her. We have surprised each other how compatible we are; the beauty and the beast," Jim said, laughing, "Katherine is the second blessing of my lifetime, soul mate you might say."

"I see, soul mates, much like Mira and me." They were married for thirty years at that time. 

"I see you finished restoring your Roadrunner. That's one machine I'd give a year's pay to own it."

"We'll get to that in a minute. How long have we known each other, Sam?"

"About fifteen years; why do you ask?"

"Would you agree that I mind my own business?"

"Of course; you are a man after my own heart."

"Thank you, back at you. You've been avoiding me these past months, Sam."

"You're right; however I'm not avoiding you now."

"That's because you need a place to sit." 

"That's part of it. I'm sure you can guess the rest. Are you and me OK though?" 

"Nothing is changed Sam. I'll chalk those months down as being busy" 

They shook hands again in unspoken understanding.

"We're both direct men, Sam. Feel free to tell me to go to hell at any time with no animosity in return. You sat with us to be polite."

"You have me there buddy." 

Mira shifted in her chair looking uncomfortable at where the conversation was going; Kate's annoyance was bordering on anger. 

"I assumed you would want to talk about Mira and Katherine making up when you invited us over. If you do your part I'll do mine."

"Exactly; both of them are stubborn and they were good friends once." 

As Jim said this Mira stood up emphatically stating,"I'm leaving."

"Sit down Mira," said Sam, "I want to hear what else Jim has to say," and Mira did, glaring at her husband while Katherine glared at Jim becoming angrier by the second.

"Katherine's case is going to be overturned; she will be found innocent of all charges. Her good name will be restored. You can expect to read about it in the newspapers in about a month. 

"What an interesting theory; where does the Roadrunner fit in?"

"No theory, just fact and I have a proposition for you, a bet so to speak." 

"I'm still listening, Jim." 

"I'll bet the Roadrunner that Katherine is totally innocent and was set up by her ex-husband."

"You spent five years restoring it. What am I putting up against it?"

"I'll bet you Mira's braid against my Roadrunner." 

"It sounds like a suckers bet, but I can't pass up those odds. Are you that sure Katherine is innocent?"

"I've heard quite enough!" Mira exclaimed standing up a second time and trying to walk away, hindered by Sam holding the back of her jumper. 

"So have I!" Kate exclaimed standing, now angrier than a nest of scorched hornets," If Mira doesn't want to be friends again, well, fine with me." 

Kate then enunciated by poking Jim in the chest with her finger, "You and I are going to have it out when we get home, Petruchio." 

Jim grabbed Kate and crushed her to him kissing her lips.

"Jim! Stop it...let me go damn you!" she exclaimed struggling to get loose. 

Jim kissed Kate's lips again saying, "You're beautiful and sexy as hell when you're angry. Your green eyes look like they're on fire. I love you Kate. 

I have another surprise for you. Since we're leaving for Florida tomorrow we'll stop off on the way to see my sister in Kentucky."

"Your sister?"

Jim kissed her lips a third time, "Yes my baby sister. It's about time I introduce my future fiancé to the family. Mary is planning a little barbecue get together." 

Kate stopped struggling, "Oh Jim," she said softly, putting her arms around his neck to kiss his lips long and deep, all her anger melting away.

"Well congratulations you two," Sam said slapping Jim hard on the back and meaning it. He then put his arm around Mira's waist and pulled her close. 

"This changes' everything now that you have a mare in the race." 

Sam tugged on Mira's long thick braid, "Put Katherine's ponytail up as side bet against a wedding present and you have yourself a deal....." 

That night after making slow and gentle love on their side facing one another, Kate was cuddled tight against Jim, hugging him as he stroked her hair, enjoying their quiet intimacy. 

"Jim?"

"Yes, Kate."

"Did you really get in a high speed chase with the French Police?"

Jim hesitated before answering, "Obviously Tom told you that, and I suppose I had to tell you sometime," he replied sighing.

"He did and he said you love me."

"He's right on both points, beautiful."

"I told Tom we are soul mates and he agreed."

"He and Sally Ann were the same; they often time would finish each others' sentences." 

"Tom said you broke the Inspector's nose with you head."

"I didn't have much choice at the time; my hands were handcuffed behind my back."

"Jim?"

"Yes Kate."

"Tom told me everything; he was adamant I should know."

"Everything?"

"No, from your engagement forward until you lost her. Tom said if I wanted to know more, ask you."

"I did what had to be done; otherwise there would have been no justice for Gina." 

"I know, Petruchio, no brag just fact."

"What does that mean? Is this like the blond wig thing?" Jim asked kissing her.

"It means I love you for all eternity."

"And I love you. I'll never get tired of saying it."

"Sweetheart?"

"Yes Kate."

"Are you ever afraid?"

"Let me put it this way. There is courage and then there is stupidity, while cowardice is followed closely by panic."

J.M. Barrie said it best in his Rhetorical Address at St. Andrews in May of 1922. "Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes!' However, the short answer is yes."

"As I said," Kate replied, kissing his chest, "no brag just fact." 

"Were you afraid when you stood beside me with the frying pan?"

"Maybe just a little."

"There you see; that is courage. Being afraid but doing what has to be done. You're a tough woman Katherine. You lost all your worldly possessions and made due. 

You didn't buckle under the pressure, even though what you value above all else is your good name. In the end what else is there my love? 

You do what has to be done. You swallowed your pride without losing it and came to work for me. You taught me it's OK to fall in love again...priceless."

"Jim?"

"Yes Kate." 

"Will you tell me more about Gina?"

"When we return from Florida; we'll go through the photo albums page by page and photo by photo."

"Jim?"

"My goodness, you're just full of questions tonight," he remarked, pushing her hair behind her ear and kissing her cheek. 

"Will you tell me why you and Tom were fighting?"

"We didn't fight, you stopped us. You are the reason we are back together."

"You know what I mean," she replied pinching his ear.

"Ouch, enough with the pinching; perhaps I'll tell you some day; why are you and Mira fighting? At one time you and Mira were inseparable. Life is short Katherine; both Tom and I regret that stupidity."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Fair enough, but I'll do my part in seeing you both make up."

"I'll try to make up after we look over your photo albums." 

I give you fair warning, Kate. You brought Tom and me together again and I'll see to it that you make up with Mira; even if I have to spank it out of you."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me, Kate."

"Yes, Sir, you would dare. I promise when we return from Florida, however I won't tell you why we are fighting until you tell me about, Gina."Jim reached up and turned off their bedside lamp. 

"Thank you. Get some sleep I want to get an early start."

"Kiss me first, Petruchio......."



Kate & Jim Ch. 04



Kate awoke around four in the morning to find Jim's side of the bed empty. Having the need to go herself, Kate went to the most logical place first, the bathroom.....no, he wasn't there. Next she went downstairs to check the kitchen to see if Jim was having a snack in the middle of the night as he often does. 

When Kate walked into the kitchen Jim was standing there naked with his arms folded across his chest. The only light in the room were the night lights on either end of the kitchen.....however his eyes....Jim's eyes were on fire; the eyes of a great hairy beast stalking its prey....her. 

Jim had that look on his face again. The same look when he surprised her in the bedroom with new clothes on their shared birthday. It was a lusty look....a demanding uncompromising look that makes her skin tingle and her pulse quicken. The look said Jim would have his way with her if he chose to do so. 

Even though they were lovers, Kate caught herself covering up her breasts with her arms. Jim caught this and shook his head in disapproval. She instinctually dropped them to her side, frozen in place. 

Kate's imagination was racing in anticipation of what Jim was about to do....she could feel her heart beating in her bosom and it was deafening in the still silence of the kitchen. 

Even without Jim touching her Kate could feel the moistness between her legs as her nipples hardened, pushing against her white cotton nightgown. There was no need for words....this look warned her to remain silent and take it like a woman....or else.

Jim silently walked up to her. Kate closed her eyes as Jim leaned forward to kiss her lips lightly. She felt his hands on her shoulders slide down to the front of her nightgown to the lace collar. 

Jim ripped the nightgown down the front... the fabric tearing like tissue paper in his strong hands making her gasp and swallow... leaving her partially exposed to the lusty fire in his eyes. 

Jim stepped back momentarily to admire his handy work before slowly circling.... deciding what he would taste first. 

He decided with the back of her neck first; the subtle smell of Jasmine blended with Kate's musky woman's scent; the scent of her arousal.

Jim reached around and underneath Kate's torn nightgown giving her goose-bumps as he cupped her perfect breasts; breasts with pink areolas and upturned nipples, his hot breath was on the side of her face, making her shudder as he whispered, "You're my bitch, Katherine; any objections?"

Kate shook her head as she felt his hard cock pressed up against her, pushing back against him to stimulate herself further while Jim caressed her breasts and nipples. She was moaning in total pleasure, surrendering to his demands. 

Jim's right hand slid down to her plump pussy caressing it while he continued caressing her breasts with the other. 

Kate tried to turn to kiss his lips; she wanted to suck on his cock and licks his balls; Jim slapped her bottom in warning, growling "Don't move!" and continued to tease her pussy with his fingers, stopping several times just as her orgasm was starting to peak to taste his fingers.....the taste of his woman's sweet sex. 

Jim stepped back and roughly pulled her nightgown off completely, dropping it to the floor and kicking it aside. 

Jim put his hands on Kate's shoulders to turn her to face him. He took her arms and placed them around his thick bull neck, putting his hands around her trim waist to kiss her lips long and deep, their tongues caressing and probing; Kate returning his kisses, their tongues intertwining and caressing as if lovers unto themselves. 

Grabbing Kate's ass with one hand and squeezing, Jim's other hand was in her hair at the nape of her neck to pull her head back slightly to get at her neck and throat; kissing and licking to the base of her throat, working his way down to her firm round sensitive breasts to return again to her sweet lips. 

Jim slid his hands to her ass and picked her up, putting her on the kitchen table as they continued kissing lost in the passion of the moment and Kate in her urgent need to orgasm.

Jim cleared the table with his arm, pushing the polished wood fruit bowl full of apples and oranges; the fruit bowl one of his boys (Bobby, Kate's Probation Officer made for Jim as a gift in shop class while Bobby was still in high school) crashing to the floor. 

He slid Kate to the middle of the long massive trestle table to have her lie on her back and then continued with his tongue in her plump wet pussy what he started with his fingers. 

Jim soon had Kate moaning and squirming on the table as she arched her back to push her pussy in his face. Kate's violent orgasm burned through her likes a sun going nova, and yet Jim was not through with her until he satisfied his own urgent need.

Jim helped Kate off of the table taking her small hand in his much larger and callused one leading her to the dimly lit front door foyer grabbing her torn nightgown from the floor and turning off a small table lamp to throw the foyer into almost total darkness. 

There was a large ornate with leaves, flowers and swirls ceiling to floor black wrought iron framed mirror bolted to the wall that Jim made at work on a whim. Between the frame and ¼ inch glass of the mirror, Jim estimated it to weigh close to seven hundred pounds. 

He incorporated candle holders into the design with the original candles in it although they were never lit. Jim always wanted to ravish a woman he loved front of it and now was the perfect opportunity. 

Jim put both of Kate's hands behind her back and whispered in her ear, "Close your eyes, Katherine."

Kate closed them and Jim tore a strip for a blindfold and tied it over her eyes. He then twisted and pushed one of the flowers to the side to reveal a hidden compartment full of wood farmer matches. 

Jim removed them and lit the twelve beeswax candles. He put his hands Kate's shoulders and she knew what Jim wanted, his cock sucked on; unaware as yet the candles were lit, illuminating the foyer in soft, flickering candlelight. 

Kate went to her knees finding his hard cock with her small hands, caressing the shaft, licking the tip and kissing it. Kate continued licking the circumference of the tip teasingly and then up and down the shaft from his balls to the pulsating tip of his huge beastly cock, knowing she can never take it all into her mouth because of its girth and length; 'My pussy is another matter entirely' she was thinking, 'I can take it up to his balls.'

Kate fantasized about Jim's cock buried in her cunt up to his balls while she sucked; she wanted Jim to take her like a woman and fuck her hard while she licked and sucked getting aroused anew....it was so wonderful. 

It was then Jim removed the blindfold and Kate blinked, her eyes adjusting to the soft flickering of the beeswax candles. 

Kate paused and smiled to see their reflections in the mirror; a woman with long red hair sucking on her lover's mammoth cock. 'This is so incredibly erotic' she was thinking 'it's like I'm a participant and a voyeur at the same time; watching a live play with all the tastes and sensations....the wonderful tastes and sensations; Better yet, Kate through the looking glass in our private mirror world. There is a clock in the background. The grandfather's clock on the far wall....I'll have to check it for hidden compartments.'  

Kate kissed the tip of Jim's cock looking up and smiling. Jim nodded, gathering her long thick hair in his hands. He gathered her tresses into a ponytail and twisted it into a bun on top of her head; letting it go to unravel to cascade about her shoulders and down her back. 

Kate continued to lick and suck on his cock while watching in the mirror, until Jim made her get up on her hands and knees facing into the mirror. He rammed his rock hard cock into her still dripping pussy without further fanfare while holding onto her hips and pounded her relentlessly.

Jim's lustful thrusts increased in speed and in power as he reached forward to grab her hair. 

He twisted it into a ponytail and pulled her head back as he continued pounding her; holding Kate in place with her hair which only heightened her arousal, she was so glad that her hair was long for him to grab like this; she wanted it longer still. 

Kate was bucking and panting and moaning as her second orgasm washed over her. It was as deliciously satisfying as the first, more so as she felt his hot thick and rich semen being pumped into her dripping and swollen ravaged cunt as Jim's orgasm overtook him. 

Jim was breathing in and out deeply while emitting an occasional soft grunt. Kate was determined not to waste a single drop of his semen; for her a proven aphrodisiac. Kate would lick his cock clean with her mouth when he rolled off. 

Such was Jim's orgasm that he rolled off of her onto the floor to get his thoughts together and let the memory of his orgasm linger in his mind while thinking 'It was like I was fucking two women.....damn that was good.....she was good...I was good...the four of us were....hah.....the beauty and the beast fucking to candlelight!

Fascinated by his seemingly endless erections, to give her endless multiple orgasms, Jim's after-orgasm daydream allowed Kate her chance to get him hard again 

Kate started kissing his stomach; working her way down to his cock, licking and sucking on the tip as her silky red hair fell forward covering her face. 

Jim reached down and gathered her hair into a ponytail and next twisted it up in a bun as she knew he would to keep it out of her mouth. He was instantly hard again and she was thinking..."He's always ready to fuck and mine for eternity.

Jim was trying to hold back and prolong this marvelous blowjob, however the first clear pre-cum escaped despite his best efforts. Kate stopped and looked at him smiling, licking her lips and teeth to tease him before continuing watching the Jim and Kate of the mirror world. 

Jim let go of her bun just before his orgasm washed over him. He buried his hands in Kate's unbound hair to hold her in place while filling her mouth with gobs of his thick, creamy semen. Kate tasted and savored every bit before swallowing while wishing for more as she licked her lips.

Jim helped her to her feet and kissed her hands, "I love you Katherine. We can sleep in until eight. It's not like we're on a fixed schedule and neither are they" Jim said pointing to their reflections in the mirror, "Our alter egos in our private mirror world with their backwards clock will be here for us when we desire their looking glass world and they ours." 

"Private looking glass world...clock....those are some of my thoughts and more!"

"That's because we're soul mates, baby and its back to bed with us" he said, blowing out the candles.

"But Jim, I have to pick up the kitchen first. I can't go to sleep with an untidy house. I'll be just a minute," and Kate gathered up the remains of her nightgown.

"We'll take care of it in the morning" Jim grabbed her and threw Kate over his shoulder, walking to the stairs.

"Jim, what are you doing?" Kate said laughing and not resisting; not surprised with anything he did anymore.

Once in the bedroom he dumped her on the bed. Kate immediately grabbed a pillow and hit him with it. 

He picked one up and Kate dropped hers, fluffing it up and lying down. "You can't hit me. I'm a girl" and she held out her arms to him.

"No, I suppose not" Jim replied agreeing while putting his pillow back and lying next to her to take her in his arms.

"Kate?"

"Yes, Jim."

"I love you, Katherine."

"I love you too, sweetheart, although I bet the redhead in the mirror world picked up the kitchen first."

"Really, Kate," he said chuckling; "what an imagination you have....."

As always, Kate is a whirlwind of efficiently organized motion. She woke Jim at 8:00 AM with her signature hot pink clipboard and checklist to ensure everything is shipshape for their upcoming adventure in their land ship. 

These are Kate's imaginative, creative thoughts, "upcoming adventure" and "land ship" inspired by Jim's poem to her with a light sprinkling of stardust and moonlight thrown in for good measure. Not to mention the wild and imaginative sex on the kitchen table and then in the foyer. 

Kate never knew about the mirror's hidden compartment despite her bi-weekly dusting of it when she cleaned the glass. 

Quite simply, Kate is gloriously in love with a man who loved her with a passion of storybook happily-ever-after.  

She lovingly laid Jim's clothes out on the chair that morning; casual attire because they discussed being comfortable for the drive. 

She laid out Jim's blue jeans, his red tee shirt and blue cotton chamois shirt because it was chilly that morning (the weather forecast called for it to warm up later) his socks and his well worn double sole moccasins. 

After he was dressed Kate fussed over him as she does every morning; a chance to touch him and kiss Jim's lips as she adjusts his shirt collar whether it needs it or not; Kate adores doing this. It is now her morning ritual. 

Kate wore snug indigo blue jeans with hand embroidered peacocks on the back pockets, a red tee shirt to match Jim's, a light pink sweatshirt and white sneakers. 

Even dressed casually and with little or no makeup, Kate's beauty shown that morning as if she was freshly coiffed from an exclusive salon or if she were wearing designer clothes after having her face done by the makeup artist to the stars. 

Kate was smiling as she fixed her hair into a ponytail for Jim to touch while she fussed over him. She hugged herself after she finished remembering something Jim told her. 

Jim confided he thought her to be a well dressed sophisticated bitch when they were neighbors; well mannered and polite but a bitch to be sure. 

Kate hugged herself as she thought, 'you're right to a certain extent, sweetheart. Nevertheless, manners and proper decorum are important. You're no slouch there when you want to be. You just enjoy people underestimating you...goodness....Goodness, I can't stand here all morning thinking; I have things to do and places to go. 

As they bustled about in passing each to their own tasks, Jim stopped often to kiss Kate's warm lips and crush her to him gently, taking in the jasmine of her perfume. Jim Brady loved Katherine with a passion he once thought impossible twice in a lifetime. 

Just as they were almost ready to embark, Kate asked, "Jim?" 

"Yes, Kate, just give me a second. I have to get something out of the garage."

"Do you know what we should do?" Kate suggested walking beside him.

"Please tell me, my love." 

"We should select a name and christen our land ship on its maiden voyage for the magic of moonlight and stardust to guide us safely on our way." 

Jim stopped walking and studied her, "Have you been peeking in the garage again?" he asked smiling. 

"No...Wait a second...do you mean we are thinking the same thing?"

"We are. I wanted it to be a surprise; however it is apparent the shared magic of moonlight and stardust allows us to read each other minds; two souls entwined on the sea of love."

"I adore it when you talk like this, Petruchio," and Kate put her arms around his bull neck to kiss her true love's lips, "you are wonderfully romantic sweetheart....what's in the garage?"

Jim scooped her up in his strong arms like he did after she fell while trying to get his chest down. He brought her to the front of the Winnebago and put her down, saying, "Close your eyes and when I tell you to open them you shall see." 

Jim returned with a wicker basket. Inside were two Champagne glasses and a small bottle of well-chilled sparkling Concord grape juice, plus a small bottle of French Champagne double wrapped in a towel.... also inside was a new set of license plates. 

"Keep your eyes closed" and Jim handed her the towel wrapped bottle and kissed her lips, "now open your eyes," and when she did, Kate had the biggest smile on her face as she said, "Oh, Jim, I never expected this," and she loved him even more if that were possible.

"I'll bet this is real Champagne; do you really want me to hit it with the bottle? What if I put a dent in the bumper; it's a rental."

"Well not exactly, Kate; I have a few more surprises," and Jim put his arms around her. 

"I'll say it once and then we'll say it together as we christen; I christen thee the "Lady Katherine" and we will hit the custom front tow hooks I made and bolted to the frame." 

They did it together repeating the words, breaking the bottle as if it were a ship on skids ready to be launched into the water.

"Jim." she asked kissing his lips and rubbing his bristly head, totally overwhelmed at this unique and loving moment.

"Yes, Kate."

"I....I..." and Kate started crying, tears of joy, but tears nonetheless. Jim held her tenderly in the driveway until she stopped.

"It's OK, baby....it's OK" he said, soothingly, rubbing her back, "I understand so cry all you want," and then after a bit.

"I'm better now" Kate said wiping her face, "I must look a wreck."

"Just a smidgen; I see a few tears I must kiss away," and he did, "I want you to see the bow of our land ship. All ships need a proper name on the bow."

"You didn't, did you...you did. When did you do that?" 

Kate rushed around the back to look. The hand painted letters done in a flowing gold script proclaiming THE LADY KATHERINE. 

"I painted them on while you were sleeping and you almost caught me. You walked into the kitchen minutes after I finished. It's a good thing I had my little snack before I started."

"Yes, I'll bet a little snack; I saw the dirty glass and dish in the sink; no doubt three peanut butter sandwhiches and a quart of milk; your idea of a little snack."

"Well yah; I was hungry."

"You're always hungry, Jim!"

"I'm always hungry for you, Katherine." 

"After eating me out on the kitchen table, obviously."

"You probably didn't notice the lettering this morning because I parked it so close to the garage. Now we need a proper toast before I put the new license plates on."

"Wait do you mean that look was....."

Jim interrupted, "You were going to say a part of a ploy to distract you, and no it wasn't a ploy...you caught me off guard in more ways than one. 

You looked so helpless and vulnerable and so incredibly sexy and desirable. Your hair was tousled from your pillow and your night gown was the only thing between me and my lust....my hard cock. I really couldn't help myself, Katherine; you have a way about you that brings out the beast in me."

"You had me so flustered Jim. I was tingling all over. My god it is so erotic to just submit to you when you are like that, but wait a minute; what license plates! I thought it was a rental....did you buy it? You did buy it; didn't you?"

"Yes, I bought it and now we can travel anywhere we want without a seconds' notice," Jim explained twisting the plastic cork from the bottle and pouring the sparkling grape juice into their glasses.

Jim handed Kate her glass offering up a toast, "To stardust... to moonlight....to my beautiful lady with a woman's heart...to true and love everlasting........"

Kate drove for the first three hours until they crossed into Ohio. She kept on glancing at Jim as she drove...most content in her thoughts and blowing him kisses. 

'Jim Brady, you are all mine, although you're not classically handsome or taller than me; although you are not slim and trim with a full head of hair, my once ideal man...perhaps you accept yourself as a balding ugly man, but not in my eyes, you're not ugly anymore, the beauty of your secret heart is like no other man I ever met. 

You, my beautiful, sweet troll have helped me to believe that true love is more than a romantic ideal; that there truly is a person for everyone...a soul mate in more than just flowery words. 




Kate & Jim Ch. 04



You have delighted me with soft tender words starting when you noticed how my hair shines red like a new penny as the sunlight touches it in the morning through our kitchen window while I make your breakfast.

This is when you first realized you were falling in love with me,' and Kate blows Jim more kisses, 'you greet me every morning with a kiss and a cup of coffee served in not just any cup, you serve my coffee in a dainty English china cup and saucer. Your mother's and each with a different flower pattern; I counted exactly two hundred in her collection. 

I never imagined any man could make me swoon with a hug or kiss...or a demanding uncompromising look to send thrills of arousal up my spine to bring out the woman in me. 

When we were neighbors of 10 years I thought you dull and simple; an unreasonable junk man.... basically a good man, yes, but an unsophisticated redneck with dirty hands.

However your immortal soul is like a prism to disperse your aura with all the colors of the rainbow, my kind and considerate ogre. 

You are built like a massive, muscular hairy fireplug with arms and legs. You are incredibly strong and must be terrible when enraged beyond reason; a massive bruin of a man.... yet you are incredibly gentle with me most of the despite my temper and you have spoiled me. 

I'm not spoiled with materials things; I lost everything to gain everything.

I'm spoiled because you respect my opinion and will let me speak my mind. I'm spoiled because you cherish imaginative thoughts that I once had and dismissed as childish, now having discovered them all over again.....and believing. 

I'm spoiled because you believe in me despite our past differences, and yes I can be a bitch; however you accept even that although you'll spank me if I get unreasonably out of line. 

I'm spoiled because you give me your blunt honesty and I can always count on you to tell the truth, whether I want to hear it or not. 

You believe that I didn't set that fire......I'm spoiled because you let me into your world...I never imagined when we were feuding for almost 10 years that you are a complex man, an educated man; or that you can sing, or dance or juggle....that you can act... or perform magic, And now I'm part of the act....but I have a few surprise for you too, my dear thoughtful Petruchio.'

Kate looked at the cloth napkin on the dash board hiding a wobbly knick-knack underneath. It was anchored firmly in place with a suction cup. Kate was certain in her heart of hearts that her man would appreciate this symbolic gift that said, without words, "I love you, Jim" and she blew him a kiss.

It was a bit tacky; most definitely silly and ridiculous when it shimmies and shakes; a classic tacky, silly and ostentatious memorabilia; much like fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror....and it shared two striking attributes with Kate. 

'Mostly my love, I'm spoiled because you gave me your heart....truly gave me your heart without reservation or conditions; there are no locked doors between us...and I give you mine unconditionally until all the stars in the sky fail and the universe is reborn and reborn into infinity. 

"Jim, sweetheart," and she touched his face looking forward to his reaction to the little gift. 

"Yes, Kate," Jim answered opening his eyes and stretching in the passenger side Captains' seat. 

"You asked me to please wake you when we crossed into Ohio," Kate said, pulling into a gas station and up to the pumps. 

"Thank you; it's my turn to drive." And noticing the napkin, Jim asked, "What is this?" 

"It's a gift, sweetheart."

"Thank you; it's a fine napkin Kate."

"The gift is underneath, it and you know it. I hope you like it."

When Jim removed the white cloth napkin, his face lit up like a Christmas tree. For Jim Brady is a man who appreciates such things in the spirit of giving; plus the fact it came from Kate making it all the more special and precious to him; this silly little gag gift with all Kate's love behind it.

"Where in the world did you find a Hula dancer doll with coppery red hair, Katherine, and one with freckles?" He was absolutely delighted and surprised, poking it to make it dance on the hidden spring. 

"I didn't." Kate knew Jim was thrilled with the gift, "The Hula doll was a brunette and I painted the hair copper red and added the freckles with pin dipped in the same paint because you love a certain redhead with a temper. 

Look underneath her grass skirt," and Jim did to find the outline of a tiny red heart painted on the dolls buttocks with a black arrow with green fletching through it, and their initials K & J in gold letters in the middle of the heart. 

"You painted the heart too; and the initials K & J for Katherine & Jim; this is sweet, Katherine, as well as wonderfully unique because there is not another like it in the whole world. 

I can't thank you properly on board ship." He opened the passenger door and climbed out.

Jim bowed at the waist and then held out his arms to her saying, "My lady." Kate stepped into them to be picked up and swung away from the motor home and set her down on her feet; anticipating his warm kisses and gentle hugs.

"My father had one similar on the dash board of his 1965 Ford Mustang" he kissed her lips, closed his eyes hugging her gently while remembering, "Mom bought for him on their honeymoon in Hawaii. They're both gone you know." 

"I was always fascinated with it as a child. My sister has it displayed under a glass dome on the mantle of her fireplace. 

This is a princely gift in so many ways. This brings back fond memories and creates new ones of us.....imagine; a hula girl doll with red hair and freckles?" and then Jim opened his eyes and kissed her neck and face all over...."Aloha, Katherine my feisty freckled redhead; to old memories and to new ones."

"Oh, Jim; I knew you'd love it; I just did; oh I'm so happy!" 

Kate kissed Jim's warm lips while hugging and squeezing him as hard as she can, thinking, 'my ex-husband is incapable of appreciating or understanding such heartfelt yet intimate little gifts; phooey on him. May the bastard be cursed with broken egg yolks forever........' 

They topped off their gas tank before they left the Gas Station with Jim at the helm, getting back on the interstate when, "Jim."

"Yes, Kate."

"Do you know what will be fun?"

"Please tell me."

"We can rehearse for the upcoming audition."

"What audition?"

"I have the flyer from your theatre group right here," said Kate removing it from her purse, "see," and she held it up briefly towards him, "it says that open auditions for "Kiss me Kate" are being held at the Hippodrome during the first weekend of November." 

"Are you serious, Kate? You really want to try out for a part?"

"Yes, it will be so much fun!"

"Now you're talking.... I'll ask again; you're serious right?" 

"Yes; you made the offer once. This is something you can't spank out of me."

"I'd love to try out with you, freckles," and Jim tapped his Hula dancer to make her jiggle and dance, "actually, I was going to invite you again to join me and forgot; but now you have denied me the pleasure."

"Denied you the pleasure; you really are a charmer; do you know that? Don't think for a moment I didn't know what you're up to."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jim said, his face losing all expression as he tapped the hula dancer doll again. 

"Yes you do; stop being obtuse. You left the flyer where I was sure to find it."

"It was in my sock drawer, Kate."

"Exactly, and who washes, sorts, folds them into each other and puts your clean socks away?"

"The venue where you found the flyer is circumstantial evidence at best."

"No it's not! You wanted me to find it." 

"Maybe."

"I suppose it is purely circumstantial that the first play chosen for the grand opening at the Hippodrome is "Kiss me Kate? Particularly when you have played the leading man; "Fred" when you were in college and your leading lady was Gina." 

"Possibly." 

"You're not fooling me Jim Brady! I know you're a man who can make things happen when you want too."

"For the sake of argument, suppose I did. That doesn't negate the fact that you have a beautiful singing voice, Katherine, and I'm sure you can act. You were in your high school drama club."

"For arguments sake, suppose I can't act or another woman is better than me; I don't want you pulling any strings to get me the part. I want to get the part on my own, OK.......OK.........Jim?" 

"I admit that I did arrange for this particular play; nevertheless, I'm not surprised that you would insist on getting the part on your own; I expect nothing less from you, Katherine. I do remember most of my lines, though."

"Good, now that it's settled; we can rehearse our parts while we drive, starting right now."

"We'll need the script for that."

"I know; it must be circumstantial because I have a script," and Kate removed it triumphantly from the LL Bean canvas tote on the floor between the seats.

"Where did you get a script?" Jim asked very surprised although no less pleased.

"It's a secret."

"A secret you say, hmmm, did you get it from Bobby?"

"Maybe."

"I bet you got the script from the director."

"Possibly."

"Now you sound like me, Katherine."

"Don't be ridiculous, sweetheart, your voice is much deeper than mine..........." 

Stopping for lunch they had cold basil/garlic tomato soup and sandwiches made with sliced turkey breast, thick sliced hickory pepper/bacon, tomato, and romaine lettuce on wheat with Kate's homemade horseradish mayonnaise dressing, saving their big meal for later in the evening, thick porterhouse steaks, to be cooked over a campfire. 

Kate assumed they would be stopping at the campground of their carefully planned itinerary for the night, however Jim had other plans and that can mean only one thing. She could barely sit still waiting to find out. 

They got off the interstate onto a secondary road and after half-an-hour turned onto a County road until they found a gravel road going another 3 miles to their destination.

"This property was owned by my Uncle Bob, Kate. I call it my fortress of solitude. He sold it to me a few years back. 

Like him, I rent out the land to local farmers to cover the taxes, insurance and turn a small profit. 

In consideration the farmers keep trespassers off and mow around the field stone foundation and what was once a yard. 

I have electricity though. There is a utility box with plugs and circuit breakers on this pole," Jim explained, parking next to it, "It will save us running the diesel generator tonight to power the air conditioner if we need it. See that wire," that wire goes to the green barn and there is power there as well." 

They got out and walked over to the foundation, "The farmhouse was built in 1902 and burned down in 1955. There is a story/mystery about the place." 

"What story," Kate asked, peering down into the foundation.

"Be careful," Jim warned putting his arms around Kate's waist protectively, "don't get to close to the edge." 

"Thank you" and Kate squeezed his hands, "what's the mystery?"

"It is a true story, however the story and subsequent mystery will have to wait; step back carefully please." 

"But why must I wait, sweetheart," Kate asked taking his hand as they walked away. 

"You must wait so I can make it a campfire story after our swim." 

"What swim?" Kate asked, squeezing his hand and thinking, 'Another surprise?' 

"There's a large pond just beyond those trees," Jim told her, pointing to the west...he grabbed Kate suddenly to crush her to him gently to kiss her warm lips long and deep. Kate returned his kisses and rubbed his bristly head playfully, "You're such a brute sometimes and now I'm all flustered."

"Yes I am and you love it."

"I do; is the pond deep?"

"It's about thirty feet in the middle and spring fed. It drains into a rocky brook that empties into Dawson's creek," they continued walking, "there is a small dock in the deepest part away from the water lilies. 

It's full of bull frogs, leopard frogs, turtles, crayfish and minnows; the usual farm pond residents....oh yes, the occasional ducks."

"Are there snakes in it, Jim?"

"Nothing poisonous; are you afraid of snakes?"

"Yes and no. If they mind their own business, I'll do the same." 

"A very good philosophy indeed my love," Jim agreed as they continued walking hand in hand through the wild flower covered meadow until they arrived at the pond. 

Kate thought the pond was beautiful and peaceful with the water lily pads and cattails along the waters' edge and willow trees providing shade; Kate never saw so many orange day lilies in her entire life as were in the adjoining fenced off meadows. 

"I own 75 acres total and the pond is approximately eight of it. The pond and the five acres around it are off limits."

"I spent six months here grieving. I was like a monk, working and praying and grieving. I didn't shave the entire time or leave the property. Uncle Bob had my groceries delivered. 

That is when I put the pole in, wired in the utility box and gradually restored the barn while I lived in it for the next six months. I store a few things in it now.

During that time I cleared out the burnt timbers, leaves and trash from the foundation; repaired it, including digging out around it and putting in crushed stone and drain tiles right out to the drainage ditches along the road; did you notice the stone in the ditches?"

"Yes; to help keep the weeds out and the water flowing through it."

"Yes, I cleaned out the brush and deepened the ditch all with a shovel, a pick axe and a wheel barrow before adding the stones. I intend to build a small vacation house someday.

"It is back breaking work and exactly the therapy I needed then. I want you to understand Katherine....I was angry.....so very angry!" 

"Did you ever bring Gina here before.......?"

"No; Uncle Bob brought me here for the first time knowing what I needed....he is right; all that hard labor did me good. It took my mind off of things. 

I needed to be alone, Katherine. I needed to get my head to together to think through the anger and the guilt of having failed her; as I said this is my fortress of solitude." 

"I understand, sweetheart," Kate said hugging him, Kissing his face and then his hands....squeezing them, "I love you Jim Brady."

"And I love you Katherine Mavis Ryan; shall this be our fortress of solitude?"

"That will be so wonderful, but I have a question? Was there electricity to the farm before the fire, Jim? This place is so far off the beaten path."

"No, they never bothered; not even with a telephone."

"They?"

"I'll get to that at the campfire," Jim said, starting to undress.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing? I packed your bathing suit!"

"I don't need one here and neither do you."

"But Jim; I never swim in the nude."

"Can you swim?"

"Well, yes."

"Then what's the problem?" and now totally undressed, Jim ran off the end of the dock and dove in with a noticeable splash, leaving a large ripple. He surfed and asked, "Well?"

"What about our towels?" Kate asked, walking to the end of the dock.

Jim swam over to the dock and reached up grabbing her ankle saying, "The sun is warm and there is a nice warm breeze. We can lie in the sun until we dry. Are you coming in or not?"

"Don't you dare pull me in with my clothes on Jim Brady; do you hear me?" Kate warned him, thinking he might; the ex-asshole husband would have. 

"I wasn't intending too. I much prefer you come in on your own," Jim let go of her ankle and pushed himself away from the dock with his feet. "Will you please come in; pretty please, Katherine? 

I think you'll find it nice swimming this way. Be one with the pond little pollywog. Wouldn't you like to be one of the royals of the summer fairy court; you can be the countess of minnows, or the red haired water nymph of the peacock pants?" Jim teased.  

"The Lady Katherine, Mistress of the Water lilies holding court over her loyal subjects; the minions of minnows; the frogs, the crayfish and the turtles." 

"Oh why not,' Kate was thinking, 'you didn't pull me into the water when I objected. Such a stunt is neither cute nor funny....what If I couldn't swim; although I can... you didn't pull me in because that's what a bully would do. 

Decorum and propriety be damned today...decorum and propriety be damned whenever we are here alone in our fortress of solitude...and especially since you shared a secret part of you I never knew about. 

You asked me so nicely; so sweetly and romantically...I'll gladly succumb to your charm to be your Mistress of the Water Lilies.....oh God, I love you, Jim.'

Katherine left her clothes in a pile on top of Jim's and dove in hardly leaving a ripple in her wake as she went almost to the bottom and swam effortlessly and gracefully beneath Jim to come up behind him. Jim turned as her hand deliberately brushed against him. 

Katherine surfaced and wrapped her arms around Jim's thick bull neck to announce imperiously, "Gaze upon my beauty and rejoice; "KISS, KISS", for I am the Tamer of turtles, "KISS, KISS" the Mistress of the Minions of Minnows," and she kissed his lips, "KISS, KISS". 

"I'm the Countess to the Crayfish, "KISS KISS" I'm the Red Haired Water Nymph of the Peacock Pants!" She exclaimed laughing. Kate kissed his warm lips again and again "KISS, KISS, KISS 

I am the Princess of the Pollywogs, "KISS KISS, " the Baroness of the Bull Frogs and favored by the lesser leopard frogs, "KISS, KISS" I'm the Duchess of the occasional Ducks, "KISS", "KISS" I am your Mistress of the Water Lilies, "KISS".

"Imperious one of many titles," Jim replied meekly, "I tremble in your royal presence, Lady Katherine, my Mistress of the Water Lilies," He said this so solemnly with such a straight face that it got them both to laughing and shortly after they were laughing and splashing about. 

Kate was delighted she joined him and Jim delighted that Kate did. 

They were like joyous children lost in the moment; diving and surfacing, swimming side by side, hugging and kissing. 

Katherine challenged Jim to a race to the water lilies and they dived off the dock at the count of three. Jim is a powerful swimmer although plodding and slow in water, he's quick and fleet on land. 

Katherine is more graceful and fluid in the water; she easily beat him there, effortlessly and swiftly, gliding through the water like her imagined subjects, the pond minnows. 

Jim is absolutely fascinated with this aspect of Katherine, thinking, 'Katherine's imagination and loving playfulness was stifled while married to that grasping, adulterous, money grubbing investment banker, Thomas Anders with his soft hands and limp handshake....I'd like to throttle the bastard.' 

Standing among the white water lilies in the shallows, Jim plucked one and solemnly placed it on Katherine's head saying, "With this water lily, I swear my love now and forever, my Lady Katherine, Mistress of the Water Lilies." 

Jim kissed her hands and finally her lips long and deep, crushing his love, the Queen of his heart to him gently. 

"I swear my love, now and forever, my dear sweet, Petruchio," said Kate, placing the water lily on his......"it's getting late sweetheart; the sun will be going down in a few hours. We need to dry off in the sun and get our supper fire started."

They picked the sunniest spot they could in the warm sun kissed grass....the sun's final kiss until old Sol drops below the horizon. 

Kate was amazed how quickly their bodies dried as they lay there on their backs watching the clouds drift lazily by. 

Jim was lying next to her asleep with his hands under his head, 'A talent' Kate was thinking 'to be able to fall asleep at the drop of a hat.... Jim looks so peaceful and happy ....perhaps it's a trick of the light.




Kate & Jim Ch. 04



The sunlight playing on his face shows an ethereal handsomeness just under the surface that only true love or God can see.....I've never made love under the sky before.'

Kate sat up and leaned over to kiss her lover's lips, awaking him, "Katherine," Jim said, covering his yawn with his hand, "thank you for letting me sleep. That little nap did me a world of good," and he started to sit up, "I'm starving!"

And Kate licked her finger and placed it at the base of Jim's throat to trace an imaginary line to his manhood, stopping to stroke his big cock to get it hard, "I know, so am I."

Jim stood up and Kate got on her knees, continuing to stroke his cock in one hand while cradling his balls in the other. 

Kate started licking the tip of Jim's hard cock, teasingly while Jim's huge cock was so big and he tasted wonderful, "I love you sorry, sweetheart, thank you for bringing me here."

Kate was stroking her pussy with a free hand as she licked and sucked on his hard pulsating cock... teasing him, probing and testing with her tongue and lips.

Kate almost brought Jim to orgasm several times, but backed off playing with her dripping wet pussy. She stopped sucking and licking his cock to lick and suck on his balls making Jim smile and growl in his throat. 

Jim's hands were buried in Kate's hair as she took his cock deeper in her mouth, licking and sucking ravenously all wet and sloppy; savoring every inch of it that would fit. What God took form one part, God more than made up in another because Jim's cock is huge. 

Kate wanted Jim's cock buried in her pussy, and soon, however she would be patient and pleasure him first. 

As always Jim's orgasm is an onslaught of testosterone laden energy as his hard member assaulted Kate's mouth and tongue. The ensuing orgasm was soon followed by a torrential onslaught of his thick rich semen flooding her mouth for Kate to swallow greedily. 

"Was that good lover?" Kate asked licking the tip of his cock, teasingly.

"It's heaven on earth, my little red haired vixen and especially now in our special place." 

"Good because I'm going to suck on your cock to get you hard again so I can ride you. I want to be on top. 

Jim lay on his back and soon was hard as she know he would be. 

'This is incredible!', Kate though as she slowly climbed on top of Jim, lowering herself in place, engulfing his entire cock into her swollen and dripping vagina thinking, 'it feels so good....mm, I'm going to fuck myself silly.' 

Kate looked down to see Jim smiling at her and she tossed her head and smiled back. Kate's beautiful red hair spilled over her shoulders and then her back as she arched it, stretching like a cat in heat. She put her finger tips on Jim's chest and slowly raked down his chest, not her nails, just her finger tips, Kate knew better. 

Kate's hips were slowly gyrating while she was pumping up and down on Jim's big fat cock. It felt incredible and better than that. Kate gradually increased her speed and gyrations and in her exuberance and sexual passion nearly lost her balance. 

Jim took hold of Kate with his hands to hold her in place as she pumped him, up and down, increasing her cadence as Jim thrust upward.

"That's my girl Katherine," Jim encouraged her; "You are in charge now, my love and my life. Don't hold back, my beautiful Katherine, my sexy little redhead of the peacock pants." 

Kate was wild and out of control as her orgasm burned through her....Kate's eyes were closed, her head was thrown back and she was holding Jim's hands as she came, moaning, and panting and squealing with delight and not holding back. 

Kate opened her eyes to see Jim smiling at her through her passion and what she considered glorious reckless abandon in pleasing herself. 

It was marvelous sexual rapture to be with a man she can't intimidate in any way shape or form; a man who encourages Kate to explore healthy sexual needs. 

"You never fail to amaze me, Katherine. Come here my love, I need your hugs and kisses for the after play."

Satisfied, Kate lay down of top of Jim while he stroked her hair and held her close in his powerful and protective arms. 

The special intimacy they now shared and intuitively understood is an unspoken and deep ineffable feeling of loving intimacy; whether alone or in public....a slight touch or kiss was all that was needed to remind them. 

Kate could feel Jim's heart beating and it was beating only for her and the thought was wonderfully silly, unfailingly girlish but spectacularly true and wonderfully romantic..... 

It was dark as they were walking back hand in hand too their land ship, when Kate asked, "Jim?" 

"Yes, Kate."

"Promise me we'll always be like this....like we are right now."

"I promise."

"Jim?

"Yes, Kate?"

"May we spend a couple more days here in this peaceful place?"

"We may and I'm glad you like being here." Jim squeezed Kate's dainty little hand in his large callused one, "somehow I knew you would though. There is something about this place, and I can't quite put my finger on it....."

When they returned to the land ship, Jim got an axe from the barn and spilt some of the small logs into kindling for their fire. He found it hard to believe that Kate never sat at night around a campfire let alone cook on one.

Jim explained her many of the tricks for cooking over the hot coals and being a quick study, Kate cooked the third porterhouse steak almost to perfection; one for Kate and two for Jim. 

After dinner and the dishes were washed and stowed away, Kate changed into a short pale rose summer dress and pinned her hair up for Jim, a dab of perfume behind each ear and on her wrists. 

They toasted marshmallows over their campfire to a golden brown on the outside; hot, gooey and creamy in the middle. 

Jim brought out wood and canvas folding chairs from the barn, the short ones that sit close to the ground.

Kate didn't sit on hers; she sat between Jim's legs leaning up against him for a backrest. His strong loving arms were wrapped around her as they watched the fire, the only light for miles, aside from the stars and half moon. 

"Do you want to hear about the mystery now, beautiful?"

"You know I do," Kate answered squeezing Jim's hands and snuggling closer, "I've been waiting all day." 

"You smell like Jasmine and it mixes well with your womanly scent, my love."

"The story, Jim."

"I'm tempted to rip your dress of and ravish you now."

"The story, please; how did the house burn down? What happened?"

"I was tempted to rip your clothes off and ravish you when we were neighbors. However you were married and off limits. The first time I was tempted was right after your Neighborhood Garden Club meeting in October of 2007.

Your had just cut your beautiful waist length hair short; into a blunt, chin length bob with blunt bangs; I liked it better long and loose or when you wore it pinned up. I was always on the lookout to catch a glance of your long red tresses down and loose. 

You were wearing a white blouse under a tailored navy blue jacket and matching skirt; stockings and black pumps. I also remember you had a cameo set in gold filigree pinned to your jacket and a red silk scarf tied around your neck for a splash of color.  

Do you remember that day, you little red vixen; I was underneath my truck changing the oil when you walked into the garage.

I miss that old truck. Do you know that after I sent it through the crusher, I saved it? I have the cube outside next to my office."

"Yes I remember that day. You were in the garage under that old truck. You slid out from under it on the creeper and stood up. You wiped your dirty hands on the front of your coveralls; if I remember correctly, you were in need of a shave. 

You walked right past me without a word to the refrigerator. You took out two cans of cola. You offered me one. I politely declined. You drank them both down and burped loudly to annoy me," and she started laughing. Scratching your butt you asked, "What the heck did I do now?"

"You remember well, Katherine. You were very charming and you were flittering when you suggested I plant perennials per the decision of the Neighborhood Improvement Committee. 

You handed me a very precise drawing so all the perennial flower beds would be the same from house to house on our street. Included were a list of the correct flowers; spring, summer and fall varieties and how and where they should be planted."

"I remember, Jim. I thought you agreed after you said you'd take care of it. I thought I'd finally won after you dug the flower bed in the right spot to my specifications. I thought by changing my tactics and flittering you might comply. In the spring you planted corn."

"Yes and it was especially delicious because you stared knives at me all summer and into early fall. I did plant the perennials in the fall. 

It is a good idea and they look nice when they bloom throughout the year, although I strayed from your color scheme and flower varieties; you sent me a thank you card the next spring when the tulips and daffodils bloomed and invited me to attend the Neighborhood Improvement Committee meetings." 

"I remember," Kate said, laughing, "you are so recalcitrant. Myra told me you planting corn instead of flowers was hysterical. I find it quite annoying that you and Myra got along so well."

"You thought me recalcitrant over flowers?" 

"Not the flowers, because of your arrest right after you planted the corn. I was in Florida visiting my grandmother when it happened. Myra told me all about it; she and Sam watched the whole thing. Now that was hysterical!"

"He was a new Officer and I didn't like the way he talked to me when he approached me on my own property. It was a misunderstanding and I was given an appearance ticket."

"You refused to show the Officer Identification."

"That's right. I told the cocky rookie there is not a curfew in this town and as a free man I'd ignore it regardless." 

"I know," Kate said laughing a new, "The Officer kept insisting and you kept refusing."

"I was on my own property, for god's sake. I wasn't about to stand and argue with him all night."

"I know, you told him to take a hike and walked away." 

"And you find that hysterical?"

"No not that part, Jim. The Officer tried to handcuff you so you decided to play with him. You took the handcuffs right out of his hands and bent them sideways so they wouldn't close. You walked away and sat on your porch. How many Sheriff Cars showed up; all of them?"

"Four or five and as you said, I waited for them on the front porch."

"I know, Myra said he ordered you at gun point to remain seated so you pushed the footstool over with your leg and your feet up on it." 

Sergeant Kowalski arrived first and took charge. He ordered Officer Kowalski to holster his Glock."

"Is Officer Kowalski the Sergeant's son or nephew, I forget?"

"You really do know everything about that night. Tim is John's nephew, although his son was on my team. I paid for new handcuffs and that was the end of it; no hard feelings. You met both of them at our birthday party."

"I got lost in all the people you introduced me too. 

Now, when I returned from Florida, shortly after your almost arrest, I discovered for the first time my ex-husband was cheating on me with an intern. I thought about having my own affair to get even."

"Thank you, I'm flattered."

"Not with you Jim!"

"I was teasing; married women are not my style."

"I didn't though because I would be just like him; I would have to stoop to his level. I took my wedding vows seriously. 

We went to counseling and I forgave him....until he did it again. Let me tell you Jim, I made the bastard's life miserable if I didn't get my way right up to our divorce."

"Yes, I know you did; you intimidated the hell out of him; he's afraid of you Katherine. Acid tongue bitch or not you were honest with him."

"Will you please tell me about the mystery?"

"The McNulty's owned the house; John and Mary McNulty. They were in their mid sixties at the time and by all accounts very much in love.....like us," and Jim kissed Kate's hands. 

"It was on their 40th wedding anniversary; John gave Mary gold earrings. They drove into town to renew their wedding vows in Church, followed by a dinner with friends in the Church's recreation hall. Mary still fit into her wedding dress and that is what she wore. There was a photographer at the party from the local newspaper. 

Their picture was in the paper the next day and the following day John's obituaries. By all witness accounts, John drove back to the church alone because Mary thought she accidently lost one of her earrings there. 

While John was driving into town there was a brief but severe thunder storm and the fuel tank beside the house was hit by lightning igniting it.

When the Sheriffs, Volunteer Fire Department and neighbors arrived the house was engulfed in flames. They found John or the charred remains of him in the driveway. 

It was far too late for Mary, or so they thought and they just let it burn out. 

They sifted the burnt debris after they cooled and found nothing in the basement; no sign of Mary anywhere. After an inquiry and thorough investigation, like the house, it was determined John was struck by lightning. 

The autopsy of the body found a small lump of gold clenched in John's charred right hand. Interestingly enough, John's wedding band remained intact.

To this day nobody knows what happened to Mary. John is buried in the small cemetery next to the church where he and Mary were married. 

Local legend tells that on the anniversary of John's death, starting with his 41th Wedding Anniversary and ever since a woman in a white wedding dress has been seen by John's grave."

"That's quite a story, sweetheart. Has anyone actually talked to the apparition?"

"No; as soon as anyone gets close Mary is gone; assuming it is Mary of course. Uncle Bob bought the property for the taxes and then he sold it to me."

"Is this property haunted?"

"No not that I've heard?" 

"Do you believe in ghosts, Jim?"

"I've never seen one. That being said I don't go out of my way to look for them either." 

"Jim?"

"Yes Kate."

"Is the motorcycle in the barn in operating order?"

"It should be, yes."

"May we ride it tomorrow? I've ridden on one."

"Yes, there are several paths and/or farm machinery access roads intersecting the farm and county roads."

"Can we go look at it now?"

"Not tonight my love. I'm thinking of turning in. I have two helmets and one should fit you" he said as Kate got off his lap and stood. 

"The first thing after breakfast we'll go for a ride" and he took Kate's hand in his. "Let's try out that Queen Size bed................"



Kate & Jim Ch. 05



Katherine Ryan spent a few minutes putting the dishes away and straightening up their Winnebago before joining Jim in the bedroom; her motto; a place for everything and everything in its place.

Her lover was lying naked in bed with a big smile on his face. He was shaking his dashboard hula dancer, her little gift to him and watching it jiggle, which in turn made her smile. 

Katherine's lover Jim Brady is a balding, brutish looking man bordering on homely.

He is also built like a hairy fireplug wrapped in muscles and is as strong as a prehistoric cave bear; in contrast to his thoughtful and gentle nature when he is with her; especially when he holds or tenderly caresses her with his powerful callused hands. 

His outward appearance aside, Jim's intellect is as sharp and keen as a virgin scalpel. He plays it down to his advantage so that people will underestimate him. He finds their lack of insight and preconceived assumptions about him amusing. Katherine loves him more than all the stars in the heavens and Jim loves her more than life itself. 

Jim is a wrecking yard owner and scrap dealer. He comes from a long line of lawyers and doctors; with family members in the diplomatic corps. He has three brothers and one sister in those professions. Jim absolutely loves his work, especially the hard physical labor involved. 

Before she became his lover, Katherine had no idea he attended private schools, followed by an Ivy League college to earn a six year degree given his occupation. Katherine was a pretty thorn in his side and concurrently, Jim was an irritating thorn in hers because she viewed him as unreasonable, immovable, and obtuse until she moved in with him as his housekeeper. 

Jim and Katherine were neighbors for almost ten years when unforeseen events devastated Katherine's life. She is a very pretty woman with shoulder blade-length copper red hair, green eyes and a lithe trim figure. 

Katherine is also a very organized and resourceful woman. When they were neighbors and feuding; Jim saw Katherine as a sophisticated and well dressed and often time caustic tongued bitch of an adversary. 

Although Jim didn't tell her then, he admired her tenacity and organizational skills. Katherine was active in the Community, including the city council. The neighborhood historical and improvement committee was a particular favorite of hers. 

Jim always loathed and despised her husband and thought him undeserving of her. He recognized the narcissistic opportunist for what he is; an adulterer and all around disreputable asshole. 

Katherine's ex-husband, the tall, trim and classically handsome investment councilor devastated her finances and reputation. He left her nothing but the clothes on her back. The house awarded to her from the divorce settlement literally burned to the ground destroying all of the contents.

The fire marshal deemed the suspicious fire as arson for the insurance money. Her ex-husband hired a hacker to steal her identity to remortgage the house as well as creating several large credit card balances and other similar accounts without her knowledge. 

Katherine was the prime suspect in the ensuing police investigation that led to a grand jury hearing and subsequent bench trial culminating in a plea deal out of desperation. 

Katherine had nothing to go back to because she came from nothing; growing up in a shabby trailer court in an immaculately clean old trailer in central Florida. Kate lived in that tiny abode with her mother, grandmother and grandfather. Her father left when she was five. 

Grandpa Jack was a resourceful scoundrel in his younger days making a living as a gambler and pool shark; a janitor after he married and settled down. He taught Katherine the finer side of billiards. Katherine's grandpa Jack loved her more than anything in the world. He died when Kate was thirteen followed by Kate's mother who was killed by a bus walking to work when Kate was fifteen. 

An honor student, Katherine dropped out of High School to work full time to care for her grandmother. At nineteen, she married a man almost twenty years her senior and moved with him to Western New York to be his trophy wife. 

Katherine has a fiery temper to match her hair; and when angry can be a caustic bitch, intimidating any man not prepared or able to deal with it. Her ex-husband is terrified of her, while Jim finds it a challenge. 

Jim sees her fiery temper amusing for the sex afterward is amazing. He lets it run its course within reason; a lesson Katherine painfully learned when it's not. 

Jim started calling her Kate to annoy her, the reference being the Kate from Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". To Katherine, Kate is now the ultimate term of loving endearment. 

Kate licked her index finger and placed it at the base of Jim's throat to trace an imaginary line to his manhood, stopping to stroke his big thick cock in her small hands to get it hard. While God set aside handsome for Jim, he more than made up for it in Jim's well endowed family jewels. 

Jim stood up and Kate got on her knees, continuing to stroke his big hard monster cock in one hand while cradling his balls in the other. She started licking the tip of his pulsating cock teasingly while stroked Jim her face and hair. 

Becoming aroused by his taste, Kate began stroking her pussy with a free hand as she licked and sucked on his hard pulsating cock... teasing him... probing and caressing with her tongue and lips while Jim took Kate's bun down; removing the pins so that he could play with her ponytail.

Kate almost brought Jim to orgasm several times, but backed off, delaying her own orgasm while playing with her dripping wet pussy. She stopped sucking and licking his cock to lick and suck on his balls making Jim smile and growl in his throat as he took the elastic band from her ponytail, letting her hair dance about her neck and shoulders.

Jim's hands were buried in Kate's hair as she took his cock deeper in her mouth, licking and sucking ravenously all wet and sloppy; she was savoring every inch of it. 

Kate was anticipating impaling herself on his cock; anticipating feeling his massive thick and hard cock in her cunt and uterus when she rode him like the well hung stallion Jim is. Kate wanted Jim's cock buried in her pussy and soon; but she was patient and will pleasure him first; just as he does for her. 

Jim will often arrived home from lunch with an intense hot look in his eyes; a feral and demanding look; a large hungry grizzly bear circling his prey. That look always excited and aroused her. Her Petruchio would gently crush her to him and kiss her lips long and deep. Jim might then pick her up and put her on the kitchen table. 

Soon Kate's clothes would be off and he would perform oral on her; having her for lunch; licking and sucking on her freshly shaved plump pussy with abandon while caressing her full breasts. He made few demands on her; although her plump shaved pussy was one of them; to be available for his tongue or cock.....the ultimate incentive to wax and shave her pussy for him. 

Jim might bend her over the kitchen table to take her from behind and Kate always would orgasm first.....always....Jim after he pleasured her. On those days Jim took her out to lunch and sent her flowers when he returned to work. 

Jim's orgasm was flaming onslaught testosterone laden energy as his hard member assaulted Kate's mouth and tongue. His ensuing orgasm was soon followed by a torrential onslaught of his thick rich semen flooding her mouth for Kate to swallow greedily. 

"Was that good sweetheart?" Kate asked licking the tip of his cock, teasingly.

"It was heaven on earth, my sexy red haired vixen."

"Good because I'm going to suck on your cock to get you hard again." 

Jim climbed into bed and was soon was hard as she know he would be. 

'He's incredible!', Kate though as she slowly climbed on top of Jim, lowering herself in place, engulfing his entire huge hard cock into her swollen and dripping vagina, thinking 'I'm so happy Jim let's me fuck him like this... it feels so good....mm, I'm going to fuck myself silly.' 

Kate looked down to see Jim smiling up at her. She tossed her head and smiled back. Kate's beautiful red hair spilled over her shoulders and then her back as she arched it, stretching like a cat in heat. She put her finger tips on Jim's chest and slowly raked them down his chest, not with her nails, just her finger tips, for Kate knew better. 

Kate's hips were slowly gyrating while she was pumping up and down on Jim's big fat thick cock. As always it felt incredible to her and better than that. Kate gradually increased her speed and gyrations and in her exuberance and passion nearly lost her balance. 

Jim held Kate in place by her hands as she pumped on his cock; up and down, increasing her cadence as he thrust upward. 

"That's my girl Katherine," Jim encouraged her; "You are in charge now, my love and my life. Don't hold back, my beautiful Katherine, my sexy little redhead."

Kate was wild and out of control as her multiple orgasms burned through her....Kate's eyes were closed, her head was thrown back. She was holding Jim's hands as she came, moaning, and panting and squealing with delight, not holding back as she did with her ex. Kate never has to hold back or express her healthy sexuality with Jim. 

Kate opened her eyes to see Jim smiling at her through her passion and what she considered reckless abandon in pleasing herself. As always, Jim is pleased by it; he encourages it. Jim's always game when she wants it and his appetite for her is insatiable.....as is his love for her, and she for him. 

As I mentioned, Kate never knows when or where when Jim might enforce his demands. She gladly submits to him as his woman and his unrelenting and wild sexual appetite; his just under the surface animal magnetism that never fails to arouse and excite her. 

It is a marvelous sexual rapture being his lover; to be herself with a man Kate can't intimidate in any way shape or form, including being turned off by her healthy sexual needs. Jim Brady has given her his complete love and loyalty and Kate gives it back the same.

Satisfied, Kate lay down of top of Jim while he stroked her hair and held her close in his powerful and protective arms. The special intimacy they share and intuitively understand is an unspoken and deep ineffable feeling of loving solitude as if they are one.

As he held her Kate reminded herself she loves Jim with a deep, tangible passion that she didn't think she was capable of loving any man, she merely settled for security with her husband. Kate had summarily dismissed such silly notions as soul mate years ago as girlish fantasies, fairytales and nonsense. 

Kate could feel Jim's heart beating and it was beating only for her. This thought was wonderfully unfailingly girlish but spectacularly true; after a bit Jim rolled over on his side and she fell asleep snuggled up next to him safe and secure in their fortress of solitude......

Kate awoke around two in the morning to the sound scratching and shuffling outside of the Winnebago. Jim's arm was on her thigh and she carefully moved it to the side. She lay there for awhile until the eerie noises stopped. Kate put on Jim's flannel shirt and went outside barefoot to investigate. 

The dim illumination from the yellow bug light on the barn cast long dark shadows in the damp grass now that the moon and stars were hidden by the clouds. Kate watched as eerie shadows moved and skittered around the foundation of the old farm house; to vanish into the blackness. 

Kate was inexplicably drawn to the black maw in the earth. As she slowly walked towards it, the fieldstones of the foundation appeared to her like the gray teeth of a cavernous mouth ready to devour anything that came near. 

Kate's heartbeat sounded like drumbeat in her bosom as she inched closer to the haunted black chasm......inching closer.....and.....closer...and closer until she was at the very edge of the precipice looking for the ghosts or spirits Jim eluded too, but not quite acknowledging their existence as fact.

As Kate strained to see into the darkness, someone...something...some dead entity brushed her ankle. Screaming shrilly, she jumped back and turned to run, slipping on the damp grass and landing on her stomach to almost have the wind knocked out of her. 

Scrambling to her feet and momentarily disoriented from the fall and her fright, Kate ran towards the north field away from the barn and was stopped by a prickly hedge; the sharp thorns bringing her to her senses. 

Mastering her fear, she closed her eyes and calmed herself. When she opened them she saw Jim walking towards her with the heavy-duty aluminum police flashlight he bought for her; all fear melting away and realizing there must be a logical explanation for what happened. 

She was embarrassed and angry with herself for letting her imagination get the better of her; particularly since Jim told her to stay clear of the old foundation and only go outside after dark with her flashlight. 

"Katherine, you come here right know!" He said firmly, shining the light on the ground to guide her way. Jim's firm tone of voice told her she was in trouble and she didn't want to make him angrier. She covered her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing at the ridiculousness of her reaction and embarrassing situation she found herself in. 

Kate walked up to him and stopped. She put her arms around his neck and her head on his shoulder waiting to be scolded and rightfully so. Jim was barefoot and naked and her normally gentle Troll looked like a great hairy beast, although his closeness and warmth soothed and comforted her. 

"I heard you scream" he said quietly "Did you go near the foundation?" 

"Yes, but I can explain."

"Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm not hurt, just my dignity when I overacted; I heard something eerie scratching outside and went to investigate. I didn't want to wake you. I saw dark shadows moving about and something brushed against my foot. It must have been an animal." 

"They were raccoons, Katherine; a Sow and her kits. I saw their scat earlier today and forgot to tell you. They most likely have a nest somewhere in the foundation. They were scavenging for food which is why I brought the garbage inside before bedtime. 

You're fortunate you weren't bitten when you screamed" he continued scolding her "Let alone falling in and breaking your neck. To make matters worse you went outside without your flashlight. 

You don't know this place as I do. We're out in the middle of nowhere. The nearest hospital is 50 miles away. We discussed this and you agreed."

"Are you angry with me, sweetheart? I didn't realize about the animals when I put the garbage outside. You didn't tell me otherwise. I should have taken the flashlight with me regardless. I guess I'm just a city girl at heart."

"I'm not angry with you. I'm just concerned for your safety" Jim sighed hugging her "I assumed you knew about the garbage. Let me see your hand Kate, you're bleeding."

When Jim shined the light on it she said "I must have scratched it on the thorn bushes."

"Yes, it looks like that to me too, my love; a nasty scratch" Jim replied kissing it and then picking her up and cradling her in his arms "Let's get that taken care of so you don't get an infection. We can do anything short of open heart surgery with the EMT quality first aid kit you organized for our land ship, you red headed vixen........" 

Kate awoke the next morning with a kiss on the cheek, followed by one on the lips. There was folding table next to the bed with a steaming cup of coffee, exactly the way she liked it and with just the right amount of cream and sugar. 

She sat up against the headboard and Jim sat next to her, handing Kate the fine bone china cup and saucer with the purple-blue morning glories gracing it. Jim was using his favorite chipped brown earthenware mug with the missing handle. 

"A morning toast to ghosts and ghouls and things that scream or go bump into the night" Jim said grinning. 

"Very funny" she said leaning over to kiss his cheek "I love you Jim."

"I love you to Kate, and in all seriousness I can't honestly say what I would do if I saw a real ghost or what I thought was a real ghost. If it moves I can kill it or render it harmless. What do you do with something that's already dead?"

"Then you don't think I was silly to scream and run away?" 

"Not at all, baby" he said squeezing her hand. 

"You wouldn't have screamed and ran, Jim, I know better."

"I might have screamed but would have stuck around to see what happened next. Ernest Hemingway said "Cowardice as distinguished from panic is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination" and I'm sure you'd react differently in a more tangible situation." 

"Thank you and you're right, I would. Are you hungry?"

"Yes, I'm starving. I was up at dawn and went for an invigorating swim. Your royal subjects in the pond send their greetings to the red haired water nymph of the peacock pants. Will you please make breakfast for us while I get the motorcycle ready?"

"You're always starving and of course I will................" 

Jim's BMW FG650 trail bike was in lousy condition overall when he bought it for scrap. He completely rebuilt it. It was a labor of love and Jim has the healed bruises and scars on his hands and knuckles to prove it.

He was pleasantly surprised that Kate is a proficient rider and licensed to operate a motorcycle; a skill she acquired from her Grandpa Jack when she cut her milk teeth on his semi-retired 1961 Harley panhead. She regrets she listened to her ex-husband shortly after they married when they sold it in Florida to a Harley collector rather than bring it back to New York with them. 

"Why didn't you tell me you can ride?" he asked after watching her take the BMW through its paces. 

Kate got off on the bike and removed her helmet, shaking her head and fluffing out her hair before answering "The subject never came up before. I never wore a helmet riding in the trailer park, only on the street. My Grandpa referred to riding without a helmet as "the dignity of risk" and refused to wear one at all"

"We will wear our helmets regardless" Jim said putting his arms around her waist "I suppose we should get another bike so we can ride together; what do you think of that idea?"

"I love the idea" Kate said rubbing his bristly head and kissing his lips "I'll be your biker bitch."

"Biker bitch as opposed to my well dressed sophisticated bitch, Katherine?" Jim teased. 

"Anything you say lover" she whispered in his ear "and afterward I'll ride your crank" she added rubbing his manhood through his blue jeans "you'd like that."

"Yes I would" he said patting her bottom playfully "hop on behind me and I'll give you the grand tour......"

They drove the access roads and narrow paths of the property for a couple of hours and were approaching the east section full of squirrels galore in the five acres of mature Black Walnut trees when they heard the sounds of chain saws, followed by the sound of a tree crashing to the ground. 

"Do you allow anyone such as loggers to cut trees on your land?" Kate inquired "I know you rent it out to farmers."

"No and never here; years ago Uncle Bob let loggers in to cut trees for pulp wood and they tried to pull a fast one and cut hardwoods. We're going to check it out. Heaven help them if they're poaching my black walnuts. 

I don't know how many of them there are so I'm going to walk in and come up behind them. I'll decide what to do from there. Wait ten minutes and follow the path until you can just see them and stay put. 

Don't let them see you, although if worse comes to worse they'll never catch you on the bike. You can go places with it they can't with a truck. I'll wave or call to you when it's safe. Do you have your cell phone?"




Kate & Jim Ch. 05



"Yes" she replied and Jim said "I don't have mine so we'll just have to make do with yours."

Jim circled around and was approximately 100 yards from where he left Kate to observe two large men of indeterminate age with their backs to him operating chain saws. They were apparently testing the waters and felling his black walnut trees to retrieve at a later date and may have posted a lookout. It's a common practice among tree poachers. 

Keeping out of sight, Jim followed the narrow gravel access road in the opposite direction another 600 yards to observe two Ford F-150 pickup trucks, both 3/4 ton four-by-fours parked back from the main highway yet hidden by the trees. 

One of them was a brand new King Ranch Model double cab model and loaded with all the bells and whistles; heated leather seats, expensive stereo systems etc...... The other was 10 years or so older; a single cab basic work model starting to rust at the bottom of the doors and rocker panels. 

Waiting there was a large muscular, clean shaven and handsome man with a blond ponytail. He appeared to be in his late twenties and was sitting on the tailgate of the older red pickup drinking coffee from the thermos cup, the thermos bottle beside him on the tailgate. 

"Are you the brains or the flunky of this outfit?" Jim asked walking directly up to him "I estimate you and your buddies are into me for a grand already. The property is well posted and you have no business being here."

"I don't know who you are Mr." said the young man sliding off the tailgate and reaching in his pocket for his cell-phone "We have permission from the owner Mike Edwards to cull those diseased trees." 

"Mike Edward's is one of the farmers who rent from me" Jim retorted "I own this land. My name is Jim Brady.....remember it. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is for you to give me your cell-phone to call the Sheriff. We'll let the judge sort this out in a civilized manner; however, I'd prefer the hard way." 

"What's the hard way?" the man said putting the cell-phone on the tailgate. 

"I take it from you!"

"You made the challenge so I go first, right; palms up stops the fight and then I just leave." 

"Fair enough, young man if there's no hard feeling after; agreed?"

"Agreed, Mr. Brady on the count of three" and without further comment, the young man threw several probing rights and left jabs and feints at Jim's head and torso. 

Jim was ready for them and blocked or deflected the blows gauging the man's style which was predominately right handed in power and speed. No doubt the man was feeling Jim out as well and was holding his best in reserve. 

Obviously in fit fighting shape and an experienced brawler; he lacked the finesse of a trained boxer. The man stepped back palms up smiling and nodded, confident he would win and said "Challenger next, it's your turn Mr. Jim Brady, or should I just leave." 

"I'm beginning to like you, son."

"It's John Morgan." 

"Now that the preliminaries are over with, John Morgan lets have at it for real on the count of three." 

Wasting no time, Jim commenced with bone jarring blows to John's body with his massive fists. John blocked them wondering what he got himself into; he'd never been hit this hard before in his life. John's return body blows to Jim were ineffectual; he might as well be hitting an oak tree. He did manage to hit Jim twice high in the face, putting a bleeding cut above Jim's eye. 

Smiling at the bloody cut and the blood dripping down the side of his face, Jim unrelentingly advanced raining jackhammer punches on him; numbing and hurting John's arms and forcing John to cover up in pain. 

Changing tactics John grappled with Jim trying to knee him in the groin and smash his forehead into Jim face. Again, Jim expected this, keeping his head low and chin tucked, as he smashed his fist several times into John's left kidney to force him let go, which he did, staggering back and sitting down hard. 

When he tried to get up, twice, Jim kicked his feet out from under him to send him crashing to the ground. 

"This fight is over, son" Jim said holding up his palms and then wiping the blood from above his eyes that continued to drip in a stream down the side of his face and neck "We've had our fun and I may need stitches. Your kidney is bruised and I may have cracked some of your ribs. Sit here and think about it." 

Wasting no time, Jim searched the trucks to get the registrations, insurance cards, or any documentation identifying the owners. There was also an unopened fifth of Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Sour Mash Whiskey in the King Ranch truck and Jim took that too.

He then called the Sheriff's Department. John was sitting up against the truck watching him. "Well young man, the Sheriff is on the way."

Jim broke the seal and removed the cap from the whiskey bottle and took a long swig. He handed the bottle to John who in turn took a longer swig and gave the bottle back to Jim. 

"No hard feeling, John?" Jim asked offering him his hand to help him to his feet.

"None, Jim Brady" John replied wincing from the pain as he took Jim's hand to be helped to his feet "You play the game; you accept the pain. How about another sip of Jack?" and Jim gave him the bottle to take a long sip. 

"Good attitude young man so I'll make you this one time offer. We'll consider this fight a draw. You wait here in your truck and I'll drop all charges against you when we go before Bob Sanders." 

"Agreed; you're not a local, Jim, how do you know Judge Sanders?" 

"He's a third cousin on my mother's side."

"Just my luck and they're not my friends.....I've been out of steady work for months with my first baby on the way. I needed the money and they offered me two hundred dollars to sit here for a few hours and drink coffee. Naturally I didn't ask many questions." 

"You win some and loose some, John. How do you know Bob?"

"I've been good friends with his son Bryan since grade school. We were on the High School wrestling team together and State champs four years in a row."

"What kind of work do you do?" Jim asked.

"Any kind of work with my hands; construction work mostly including heavy equipment; electrical, carpentry, some plumbing; why all the questions and why are you being so reasonable?"

"You took a beating and all you did is grunt. I admire that. There are no hard feelings between us and we had a drink together. You remind me of me, when I was your age, except you're way better looking. Have they paid you yet?" to which John replied "No Sir."

"Excellent, don't take their money. When you heal up my barn needs painting. Can you operate a backhoe or a grader?" 

"Yes, Sir, I'm certified with both."

"Have you ever been in serious trouble with the law before young man?"

"No, Sir not counting a felony that was reduced to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct; there were two of them and it was self-defense. In the end it was adjourned contemplating dismal." 

"Who were you protecting, John."

"I was protecting my wife, who was then my girlfriend.....how did you know that?"

"Intuition young man; I'll supply the paint and the brushes and you'll paint my barn when you feel better in consideration to charges against you being dropped. 

I'll leave your wages with the judge. When you finish with the barn, I'll then make some inquiries about you. Before I leave for Florida, I want to meet your wife and your parents before I consider you for more work."

"Yes, Sir, thank you."

"All the gravel roads on the property need work to varying degrees and this will keep you employed for a while. I'll need your cell-phone at the moment. I'm going to give those tree poachers a chance to do the right thing........"

As before, Jim causally walked up to where the men who were sitting on a fallen tree, their work done for now: as he did, one of them used his cell phone to place a call.

Jim answered the cell-phone he took from John Morgan saying "This is Jim Brady speaking. I own this land. Your lookout is indisposed at the present time; will I do?" he asked, tossing the cell phone to one side. 

"The way I see it you owe me several thousand dollars for those trees" said Jim removing the truck registration and insurance paper from his other pocket. "That's a fine truck you're driving Frank Fowler and thanks for the whiskey. Which one of you is he?" Jim asked taking a small sip and then pouring the whiskey to the ground and tossing the bottle behind him. 

"How did you get those; they're mine? Did you break into my truck? That's a felony?" Frank Fowler indignantly accused while stepping forward and holding out his hand as if Jim would just hand them over to him "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"You know who I am. We can play nice and do this the easy way; or we can do it the hard way before the Sheriff gets here" Jim answered reasonably "the easy way is to wait for him here with me. We'll settle out of court for cash in consideration from me for dropping the trespassing and vandalism charges." 

"Fuck you! What's to stop us from leaving you for dead or worse?" the other asked sneering "there's two of us" he pointed out, picking up a double-bit felling axe "I can make it look like an accident." 

Frank lunged for the papers while reaching into his rear pocket; taking advantage and grabbing Frank's wrist, Jim used Frank's momentum to pull him towards him; putting him in a crushing bear-hug while butting him in the face with his head and breaking Frank's nose. 

Jim let go and Frank staggered back a step or two. He turned to pull a nickel-plated Baby Browning 25 caliber semi-auto pistol with mother-of pearl grips out of his front pocket while wiping the blood from his face and mouth with his other hand. 

Jim lunged to the side and grabbed Frank's arm raising in the air and pulling him to him to knee Frank in the groin. He spun him around to face his partner. In his pain and panic Frank accidently jerked the trigger to get off one round in the air. Apply bone crushing pressure to his wrist; Jim made Frank drop the gun. He then twisted Frank's arm behind his back to use as a human shield. 

"Throw the axe in the bushes" Jim ordered, getting Frank up on his tip toes, applying pressure to Frank's arm and wrist. 

"He's breaking my arm!" Frank screamed struggling to get free. 

"Let go of him or I'll kill you!" he shouted advancing to within a few feet of Jim, the axe raised up in the air. 

"We've already established your intent and it's not nice" Jim said calmly breaking Frank's arm with an audible "SNAP!" 

"The bastard broke my arm Ron...he broke my fucking arm" Frank moaned going limp.

"You're a fucking dead man!" the axe-man screamed "Let go of my cousin or I'll butcher your whole family!" 

"Not happening" said Jim "throw the axe in the bushes or I'll break his other arm followed by his neck; I won't be that nice to you!"

Seeing his chance when Ron looked momentarily at the axe trying to decide what to do, Jim rushed him using Frank as a battering ram to send the axe man sprawling from the impact as he tripped over a tree root. 

Scrambling to his feet and leaving the axe behind, Ron turned and ran toward Katherine as Jim slammed Frank up against a fallen walnut tree and took the handgun before running after Ron. 

Ron didn't get far though. In his panic he didn't see Kate racing at him with the dogs of war not far behind; righteous furious wrath burning like flames in her green eyes until it was too late. 

As she passed him and using the speed and momentum of the motorcycle, Kate lambasted Ron full in the mouth with Jim's helmet.....Ron went down hard landing on his back spitting blood and his front teeth

Kate slowed down and turned; coming back to stop in front of Ron as Jim caught up to them. Getting off the motorcycle Kate torn off her helmet and threw it at Ron, hitting him between his shoulder blades; her fiery red hair spilling down her back and shoulders to match her fury. Jim thought she looked magnificent; Ron literally wet his pants. 

Kate's face was flushed with adrenaline and rage that this coward attacked Jim with an axe. She was waving Jim's helmet over her head in a circle like a medieval morning star flail; daring him to stand up and fight her....he refused to move; as is the way with base cowards like Ron. 

Ron hardly knew what to think. He was waylaid by a crazy bloody grizzly bear man who broke his Cousin's nose; the bear man disarmed Frank and then effortlessly broke his arm like a twig. The crazy bruin bastard then dared him to chop his cousin Frank up with the axe 

He, Ron, then had his teeth knocked out by a beautiful red-haired acid tongued banshee on a motorcycle who was cursing him out and wanted to kill him. Ron's best course of action in his mind to avoid further injury was to close his eyes and stay on the ground to play possum until the Sheriff to rescued him. 

"Katherine" said Jim "I told you to wait until I called you. You could have been hurt, however I'm....." when she interrupted. 

"Like hell I'm going to wait when you're outnumbered" she said her green eyes a blaze "Especially since this pants wetter; this cowardly and impotent eunuch......this despicable stinking lump of excrement; this limp dick inbred incest progeny of an imbecile father and his diseased whore of a slut of daughter was waving an axe at you." 

Kate declared directing her frustration, worry and anger at Jim now that her adrenaline rush was diminishing because he was safe. 

"You're bleeding and you could have been killed; despite what you think you're not invincible: I heard that gunshot! And furthermore Jim Brady, while we're on the subject....... 

"You're right on all counts and you did well, Katherine; I'm proud of you" Jim interrupted "you're magnificent when you're angry and I love you." 

"Don't change the subject.....wait.....what did you say?" She asked dropping the helmet to the ground. 

"I said I love you and you did the right and brave thing by helping me."

"Oh....you....you..."

"Sweetheart" Jim suggested putting his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek "your eyes are on fire, baby. Don't be angry with me."

"Don't tell me not to be angry with you" she said turning her head but not pulling away "I was so worried when I heard gunshots; and just look at your poor face, you're bleeding" she said, turning to tenderly touch his cheek "you're going to need stitches."

"Yes, I know, but we make a good team. When I saw you charging at him like a redheaded Valkyrie on a War Horse I thought: "Blood and destruction shall be so in use; and dreadful objects so familiar; that mothers shall but smile when they behold. Their infants quartered. With the hands of war; All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial." 

"You're darn right we do, Petruchio" Kate said putting her arms around Jim's neck to kiss his lips. Jim put his arms around her waist in anticipation to one or more of her hot sweet kisses "Really Jim; at a time like this; only you would quote lines from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar."

However before she kissed him Kate glared deadly vitriolic venomous poison at Ron, reigniting the angry green fire in her eyes "What are you looking you pee pants limp dick? Close your eyes and roll over the other way or I'll castrate you for real. 

You'll wish you were a dead possum instead of a pathetic palpitating poltroon pile of putrid pulsating puke!" and being the pathetic palpitating poltroon pile of putrid pulsating puke that he is, Ron did. 

"Now where were we?" said Kate "Oh yes....I was just about to kiss you, sweetheart" and she kissed Jim's lips long and deep "Darn, I see flashing lights. It looks like two patrol cars. We've a lot of questions to answer."

"Ignore them, Katherine my love. The explanations can wait until we're done kissing..."



Kate & Jim



'If nothing else the sissy boy's mother has good taste. I love the way my room is decorated and furnished. It is almost if I decorated it myself. It will be my safe haven in a storm.'

Kate decided the house cleaning duties wouldn't be so bad since the floors were finished wood with carpets. The kitchen and bathroom floors were tile. With the exception of her room, the wood floors had the oval sectional rag wool carpets of Jim's rustic and masculine taste. 

Kate's room had a genuine hand woven wool oriental rug. There was a genuine Tiffany floor lamp next to the huge floral and cherub carved mahogany poster bed that was the centerpiece of the room. There was a matching Tiffany table lamp on her makeup vanity table with the carved mirror and matching carved chair. Add the lace curtains and the heavy brocade drapes on her bed, that where identical to the canopy and curtains ...perfect.

There was a mahogany floor to ceiling wardrobe with mirrors on the inside of the doors. There were two dressers of mahogany carved to match the rest of the bedroom furniture.

Kate explored the three story house, an historical landmark, and a house that she secretly coveted. Kate went from top to bottom; from stem to stern looking through every closet and drawer. Kate even went up in the enclosed widow's walk going outside on the roof near the railing to look over the neighborhood through Jim's Swarovski binoculars and telescope. Kate didn't recognize the brand but she recognized their quality when she handled them. 

No doubt the troll wanted the house cleaned from top to bottom and stem to stern and here is where Kate started after going downstairs for the Murphy's Oil soap, a bucket of warm water, rags, glass cleaner, paper towels, a broom and dustpan. 

Kate cleaned the inside of the widow's walk from ceiling to floor, returning with glass cleaner to do the windows inside and out. Kate noticed one of the windows was sticking. She would have to talk to Jim about that. 

Next Kate tackled the finished attic, opening the windows on both ends for a cross breeze. 

'This attic is a disgrace,' she thought, 'just look at all this dust and clutter; boxes scattered about including on top of the billiard table.' 

Kate moved boxes and swept and dusted. Kate then vacuumed intending to wash walls and mop the floor after checking in with her Probation Officer. Kate lifted the corner of the nylon tarp to check the surface of the pool table. She was pleased to see it still in excellent condition. Kate loved playing pool and was quite good at it; as it turned out much better than Jim. 

Kate went to the kitchen to make to the telephone call to get his voice mail. She reasoned that was good enough for now. Being a little hungry Kate ate another banana, a can of tuna with celery, red onion, lemon juice, black pepper mixed in on top of saltine crackers.

She drank three glasses of water while sitting at the table and compiling the grocery list. She reasoned that it would be good to get into her routine again even if it wasn't her real home. 

Kate made a mental note to discuss removing all the contents of the beat up cardboard boxes and plastic garbage bags in the attic to put them into plastic storage tubs with lids so that they could be stacked. It wouldn't hurt to label them as well. 

About the time she finished the attic, Kate heard cars pull in the driveway and the loud noise of excited youthful commotion that could only be boys. Looking out the window she saw dozen boys of all shapes and sizes with groceries bags in hand piling out of Jim's Chevy Van and four more boys get out of a black sedan.

The last person to get out of the sedan was Robert Jervis. Kate thought, 'great, just my luck."

They already had the grill out of the garage, the ice chest full of ice and soda pop before Kate got outside to talk with her young Probation Officer, Robert Jervis; he couldn't be more than twenty-two or twenty-three at the most and he was all hard nosed business. In Kate's mind she was being bossed around by an insufferable child who was too big for his britches. 

When she approached him, "I'll be with you in a minute, Ms. Ryan."Kate was using her maiden name of Ryan now, "I'm not here on official business.....OK, you boy's line up behind your Coach and then we need a show of hands of who needs a baseball glove...pay attention, Sam."

He then turned to Kate and said, "We will talk after we bring the boys home, Ms. Ryan," and Kate wondered why the change in attitude. He was addressing her as Ms. Ryan instead of Katherine.

In the mean time more boys showed up and immediately got in line behind Jim or Robert. These boys were wearing their team's uniform from the previous year.

"You players pair-off with a boy in uniform," Jim said, "he is going to be your practice buddy for the entire season.....what did you say, Sam?..... Yes, after you are paired off and get your glove we will have hotdogs and hamburgers.....Yes, Sam, we will be having soda-pop too......yes, Sam, everybody is going to get a uniform but not today..... 

************************************* 

Kate went into the house to get cleaned up to be ready with her meeting with her Probation Officer. It was after dark until Officer Jarvis came inside. He seemed to be in good spirits.

"Coach is driving the boys home who don't have a ride."

"Who is Coach?" Kate asked.

"Coach Brady," Officer Jervis replied, "I assumed you knew. Jim was my Little League coach. Normally all the best players are picked first. Coach and I pick the boys we know nobody else wants; the misfits. We mix them in with the better players from the previous seasons who stick around to mentor; the buddy system. 

Some of the new boys will lose interest and quit early but most stick around to become adequate or good players with the occasional outstanding player emerging from the mix. 

I was lousy when Coach picked me. I am merely adequate now. Our team seldom won any games but we were a tight group. We learned the most important lesson of all; to have each other's back covered.

There were no stars on our team. Everybody got to play. I have my own team now and I follow Coach's philosophy." 

"As you can see Officer Jervis, I am in compliance. I work for Mr. Brady as his live-in housekeeper. I still contend that I'm innocent."

"Yes, Coach and I discussed your case in great detail." 

"What do you mean in great detail?" Kate asked starting to get angry, "What business is it of his?"

"Your trial is a matter of public record, Ms. Ryan. Coach has copies of the trial transcripts. I didn't give Coach any personal information about you if that is what you are worried about and he didn't ask." 

"I had no idea that trial transcripts are that easily available, Officer Jervis."

They're not; access generally requires a written Freedom of Information request and that takes time."

"Then how did Mr. Brady get them so quickly?"

"I have no idea....perhaps because he is Coach. I caught hell for referring to you by your first name, Ms. Ryan and I apologize. 

Coach explained it was disrespectful and unprofessional of me to address a mature woman in such a manner. 

'A mature woman," Kate thought, ready to kill the troll. 

I also read the transcripts of your trial. I'm not supposed to take a stance one way or the other. Off the record I don't believe you did it either now, Ms. Ryan. The good news is that I do have some discretion in the administration of your probation. You will no longer be required to wear the "GPS" ankle bracelet."

"Thank you, Officer Jervis."

"You are welcome, Ms. Ryan." 

****************************************** 

There was a dark storm cloud gathering above Kate's head in the kitchen as she waited for Jim to return. 

When Jim walked into the kitchen, "Hello Kate, I trust you slept well?"

"Yes, thank you for asking, Sir."

"Do you like your bedroom?"

"It's adequate, Sir." 

"I see, just adequate," Jim said, shaking his head in annoyance, "I also see that you are still fixated on calling me Sir?"

"Yes, Sir, I'm trying to be professional about it unlike some people."

"Alright, what's bothering you, Kate?"

"May I speak my mind without fear of being beaten or fired, Sir?"

"You may."

"And you won't wash my mouth out with soap."

"No, spit it out," he said grinning. 

"Don't think for a minute that you can buy me so cheaply."

"Are you dissatisfied with our arrangement? Do you want more money? I feel I have been more than fair."

"I can buy my own shampoo and other things like that. I'm not destitute, Sir."

"What are you talking about, Kate? I was just trying to be nice to make you feel at home. I have no idea what brands you prefer." 

"You just want to get into my pants. It's patently obvious. "

"Is that what you think, Kate? I have no other feelings or motives aside from the patently obvious?" 

"All men want something. I know what you want, me."

"Apparently there is no pleasing you, Kate, and yes I still do. That is part of our agreement," Jim replied raising his voice with this difficult woman. 

"You are angry. There is no point in trying to reason with you and discuss this sensitive issue further, Sir." 

"Don't try and manipulate me, Kate; "there is no point in trying to discuss" is a manipulative argument falling on deaf ears." 

"Fine, we will have it out her an now. What business is it of yours reading my trial transcripts or interfering with my Probation Officer? I'm more than capable of handling that on my own." 

"Are you aware that as your employer I am required to provide Bobby with monthly time sheets along with a progress report? 

I have to talk to your Probation Officer as a condition of your probation. You approached me, remember. You asked me for help. I have every right and a vested interest."

"No I didn't know about you reporting to Officer Jervis. But if you think I'm innocent why inquire?"

"Because I am looking into a few things, Kate." 

"Next subject ; don't you think it hypocritical that you insist Officer Jervis address me as Ms. Ryan and you address me as Kate when my name is Katherine?"

"No, I do not think it is hypocritical."

"How convenient, I...." Kate stated sarcastically before catching herself to really speak her mind. 

"Bobby is one of my boys, Kate. I was his Little League Coach. He worked for me summers during High School and summers while attending college. 

Bobby just turned twenty-two while you are going to be thirty-six in September. Bobby doesn't have your life experience or sophistication. 

Furthermore, Bobby has only been a Probation Officer for six months. In theory you are old enough to be his mother. 

Bobby is young, inexperienced, highly motivated to succeed, perhaps a bit hardnosed. I am certain when he gets older and gains experience, Bobby will calm down and mature into the job."

"I thought it was something else."

"Fair enough, but I have to tell you I didn't like finding the ankle bracelet on you. It is totally unnecessary and demeaning. It is no different than a shock collar on a dog. 

You are none of those things and it angered me."

"There is one more thing, Mr. Brady, is the occasional role in the sack open for negotiation?"

"In a word, no!"

"I have made a grocery list for you to approve. Many of the items in your cupboards are questionable or out of date. They need to be replaced. I've put them aside if you care to look."

"That won't be necessary. I'll take your word for it. Dispose of them as you see fit."

"I cleaned the widow's walk and started on the attic. The window facing North on the widow's walk sticks. You need to look into fixing that. 

We can talk about the plastic storage tubs with lids and what my days off will be tomorrow. Do you need my services for the rest of the evening, Mr. Brady? Are you hungry?"

"No, I'm full of hotdogs and I have my team roster to go over."

"I will be in my room, good night, Mr. Brady."

"Goodnight, Kate."

**********************************

Three months had gone by and Kate was well settled into a routine. She was getting used to Jim's ways. Kate had no real complaints because she had the run of the house from top to bottom and kept it immaculate for them. 

Kate is a well organized woman with a system and once she got things the way she wanted them, all Kate had to do was maintain. 

Kate rearranged all the kitchen cupboards and moved furniture around including his bedroom. Jim didn't complain. 

As long as his leather chair and footstool had the floor lamp next to it and his meals were on time, everything was OK in the world as far as Jim was concerned. 

Jim approved her grocery list every week and for the most part let Kate plan all their meals. 

They took all their meals together even lunch. Jim came home from work for an hour most days and telephoned her when he couldn't. 

Jim wasn't a picky eater and ate whatever she put in front of him aside from liking his steaks rare. Encouraged by this, Kate started trying out different recipes and dishes, something she wasn't able to do when she was married. 

The ex was an extremely picky eater who would throw a tantrum if she broke the yolk on his egg. Jim didn't care as long as it was cooked.

It was amazing, Jim ate and ate with a healthy gusto never seeming to gain weight. 

She found herself constantly comparing Jim with her ex- husband. Jim took all of his meals at a properly set table with her. He never in front of the television to eat, like some people, the ex-asshole. 

Jim was considerate. He picked up after himself. He wiped out the tub and shower with his bath towel when he was done bathing, put his dirty clothes in the hamper....little things like that. 

Jim hadn't demanded Kate perform her wifely duties to date although out of the blue when she least expected it Jim would grab Kate and kiss her lips leaving her flustered.

The garage along with that stupid car remained his domain. Jim kept it locked when he wasn't home. This made Kate very curious. She wondered what the big secret was; especially since there wasn't a thing or place in the house she wasn't intimately familiar with. 

*************************************

Baseball season was over and Kate had been living with Jim five months. She still hadn't been able to get into the garage alone to look around. It was driving her crazy. 

'What is Jim hiding in there?' Kate was always thinking, 'Jim sometimes disappears early in the morning on weekends to return late at night. 

Kate found herself waiting up for Jim unable to sleep when he wasn't home and would stew about it, thinking, 

'Jim is so predictable and reliable except for disappearing all day Saturday and Sunday and not telling me where he is going....reliable is good. Is it possible that Jim is with a woman....no women have ever called here looking for him? 

I have no idea who Jim talks to when he is in the garage. He never brought a woman home that I know of in all the time I have known him.....

What's the matter with me? I'm a woman.... granted he leaves his cell phone number for emergencies.....the hell with him. 

There are definite disadvantages to working for Mr. Brady. 

I have to be home after eight at night because of my damn curfew unless I am with Jim or it is work related. Maybe I should try a different approach with him.'

So she did; during the week after dinner Jim watched the evening news for an hour. Kate started joining him for that and after the news they would watch the game show "Jeopardy" together. Kate was quite good at it and was surprised Jim was too. 

It was a race to be first to answer the question correctly out loud and they started keeping score. 

Interestingly enough Kate started to realize Jim had other interests and knowledge beside baseball and the stupid car he was restoring, thinking, 'Yes we make small talk during meals and in a way I look forward to being grabbed and kissed; Jim is so damn strong and powerful.' 

Kate realized that she underestimated him. Jim was seeing another woman. She realized Jim Brady wasn't really that bad now that she was getting to know him. 

It was now time to take advantage of Saturday and Sunday which were Kate's regular days off. Officer Jervis couldn't do anything about her curfew; that was part of the plea deal written in stone. 

If Jim insisted on a surrogate wife he should be home on the weekends with her, and at the very least tell her where he was going. 

Kate reasoned that she cooked and cleaned for Jim like a wife and therefore they could play billiards, the next step in doing things together on Saturday plus other interests to cover Sunday. She might even let Jim win; it would be good for his ego. Kate assumed that being married once made her an expert on all men's egos. 

*****************************

The following morning was Saturday and their shared birthday. Kate was in the kitchen mixing the batter for the sour dough blue berry pancakes they would be having for their birthday breakfast.

Jim walked into the kitchen casually dressed in tan chinos, a white long sleeve shirt with a pair of brown leather brogans on his feet. 

"Happy birthday, Kate. You shouldn't be cooking on your birthday. Would you like to join me for breakfast? I'll wait while you get dressed. Don't take too long or it will be lunch time and I'm starving. How does steak and eggs sound to you?"

"Good morning. You're always starving. You certainly are in a good mood this morning. Happy Birthday. Breakfast out would be very nice, thank you. Just let me put the batter in the refrigerator." 

Kate walked over to the refrigerator and put the bowl away. She procrastinated and pretended to arrange the magnets holding the notes and newspaper clippings they put there to talk about during meals. 

Kate was waiting for her birthday kiss. She was sure that today of all days Jim would kiss her. When Kate turned around Jim was gone.

Annoyed, Kate went upstairs to her bathroom to take a quick shower.

'I really could use some new clothes,' Kate thought sighing while checking her long coppery red hair for split ends. Pampered and well cared for it felt good in her hands, 'I haven't had a good trim in almost six months....I'll ask Jim if he has the time to take me.' 

Kate loosely put her hair up before going into the shower not wanting to get it wet. She washed quickly with the lavender oat meal soap. She came out with a towel around her middle to find Jim was sitting on her bed. 

"You look beautiful with your hair pinned up, Katherine," Jim said getting up from the bed. She took a step back unsure. 

Jim never looked at her like he was looking at her now. It was a demanding uncompromising look that made her skin tingle. 

The look said Jim would have his way with her if he chose to do so. Jim was addressing her as Katherine on his terms as if Katherine was another woman and separate from Kate, a woman to be savaged for his unbridled lust. 

If nothing else. Jim could be very intimidating when he was angry, and even then Jim was slow to anger. Kate attended a few of his team's Little League games in the evenings or on Saturday to get out of the house and sometimes worked in the volunteer refreshment stand. 

During one of those games an asshole father from the opponent's team didn't like a call that the Umpire made against his son. The classless father became loud, obnoxious and vulgar. He almost had Jim's pitcher in tears.

Jim stopped the game by walking out to the pitcher's mound. He whistled loudly and sharply through his fingers. All of his player's in the dugout and on the field ran to the pitcher's mound. They formed a circle facing the crowd around their distraught team mate closing ranks. 

Jim made an announcement that the game wouldn't continue unless the loudmouth left the property. Jim's team could forfeit the game per the rules of the league, but in this case the loss was really a win. 




Kate & Jim



That obnoxious loud mouth was a rather large man. Apparently he thought himself a tough guy and a local celebrity. He ran out onto the field and grabbed Jim's team jersey in both hands. Jim nodded and smiled. 

Jim put one hand on the idiot's shoulder and clamped down like a vise, squeezing the man's shoulder near the collar bone. In a manner of seconds the loud mouth on his knees in excruciating pain, and seconds after, with a broken collar bone as Jim continued to apply pressure.

Katherine unconsciously put her arms up covering her breasts and holding the towel in place remembering how easily Jim handled that obnoxious fool, thinking, 'Not that Jim would hurt me but...?'

Jim took both Katherine's hands and put them behind her back holding Katherine's little hands in his huge left one. Katherine was almost breathless as he held her close to him. She could feel his hard cock pressed up against her. It felt anything but tiny as he leaned in to kiss her lips....Jim was giving Katherine hot flashes and she could feel her face flush.

"Your eyes are as green as emeralds, Katherine. I'm sure I never mentioned before how beautiful I think your eyes are. 

They were beautiful when you moved into the neighborhood and they are stunning now; especially looking into them while holding you close like this. 

Your beautiful eyes compliment your freckles, a sparkling bouquet of tiny red rubies sprinkled on your creamy white skin," Jim kissed Katherine's lips a second time as he caressed the soft hair at the nape of her neck. 

"I have laid out new clothes for you on the bed. Happy Birthday, Katherine and many more. If you like, I will take you shopping after breakfast."

Jim let go of Katherine's hands and took her hair down arranging it around her neck, shoulders and back. Katherine's hands went back to hold the towel in place. 

Jim left her standing there, befuddled, beguiled and bemused. 

**********************************

Kate stood in place staring for a moment at the closed door thinking, 'Jim has never come into my bedroom before without knocking or asking permission,' she then realized how tightly she was holding her towel. 

'He did it to me again....damn Jim,' but she was smiling and tingling all over, 'That charming troll has me all flustered and tingly again. Just when I thought I had figured Jim out, he changes tactics on me. 

The only thing between Jim and I is this towel...but new clothes? How could Jim possibly know I was going to ask to go shopping for clothes....what did he buy for me?'

Kate walked over to the bed and picked up the dark green lace dress laid out for her not failing to notice what was underneath. 

'This dress is lovely. It has a v-neck and an invisible back zip with an eye and a hook. It has an empire waist and the ¾ length sleeves I prefer; how could Jim possibly know? Somebody must have coached him what to buy, but whom? 

We will see if he chose this outfit on his own without help when we go shopping.'

Kate opened the door of her mostly empty wardrobe and held up the lace dress in front as she looked into the full length mirror mounted on the inside of the door. 

'Perfect, it comes down almost to my knees.' 

Next Kate picked up a luxurious silk undergarment, 'and look, a pale sea green silk camisole with matching silk panties,' she rubbed it on her neck and face, 'a sparkling bouquet of tiny red rubies sprinkled about my creamy white skin; what a unique way to describe freckles. Or these silk panties undergarments next to my creamy white skin. The ex never gave me undergarments like these, he lacked the imagination. He always wanted me to dress cheap and slutty.' 

Kate dressed and redid her coppery hair up into an elegant French twist for Jim before lightly applying what was left of her makeup, another thing she would have to purchase with the spending money she saved over the months. 

Kate found Jim waiting for her in the garage. He had put on a brown tweed sport coat. Jim's back was to her. He was looking at what appeared to be a red leather bound photo album or scrap book.

"I didn't hear you come in Katherine," Jim said as he closed it, putting it into the small oak chest on the car's back seat. Jim closed and locked the car door turning to her.

"You look lovely Katherine, lovely and elegant. Shall we go?"

**************************************

'It is so nice to be out to in public with a man,' Katherine thought as she passed her plate with the remainder of her charbroiled 20 ounce t-bone steak (half of it) to Jim, smiling at his appetite, 'I have no idea where he puts it all?' she thought, looking around the small but packed restaurant and thinking about the many things she wanted to buy. 

'What in the world am I going to get Jim for his birthday? We didn't talk about exchanging gifts. I don't know anything about tools and...' Jim pushed his plate away and sighed, interrupting her thoughts as he touched her hand.

"What are you thinking about?" 

"Do we have time for me to get my hair trimmed?"

"We have all the time in the world, at least until nine o'clock. It is your birthday Katherine, anything you want until then."

" It is your birthday too, Jim."

"Yes, but I have almost everything I want. I'm just a simple man."

"You're not fooling me Jim Brady. You are anything but. I live with you, remember?" 

"Alright, then, I'm a mostly content man."

"I'm trying to be serious. I have no idea what to get you for your birthday."

"Do you realize that statistically only 1% or 2% of all the people in the world have red hair and green eyes, beautiful Katherine?" Jim said, making her smile

"Don't change the subject. What do you want for your birthday?"

"A bottle of cologne or a tie perhaps."

"You don't even own a tie, or a proper suit for that matter. As far as I know you don't wear cologne. There is not a bottle in the house, not even aftershave. You use Witch Hazel after you shave." 

"That's true but in case you haven't noticed, I don't have much of a neck. I have nobody to wear cologne for."

"What kind of cologne."

"I don't know, you pick one for me and I'll wear it."

"You are just being difficult."

"Give me your hands, Katherine," and when she did Jim held her little hands in his big ones, "now I'm being serious. The house has never been as clean and you would make my mother jealous if she were alive to see it. Especially because you make it look so easy. 

My laundry is done, my shirts are ironed, all my clothes are on hangers or neatly fold and organized in the drawers. You have everything in the house organized. You have labeled and cross referenced everything; including the expiration date when applicable. 

I appreciate the things that you do for me, including little thoughtful touches that go along with them.

You have surpassed my mother's cooking. Your cooking is fabulous. I never eat the same thing twice in a week. 

My Mom had her signature dishes, but not as many as you. Take your mango and pineapple chicken for example, or any of your spicy chicken dishes let alone your basic fried chicken with sides of biscuits, gravy and coleslaw. 

Don't forget your soups and magnificent flavorful broths that stand on their own. I love all your soups even the ones that are meant to be served cold. They are cool and refreshing during the hot summer months. 

Just the thought of your lamb stew with the little pearl onions makes my mouth water. But what are all those meals without a properly set table of china and crystal and such.....a delight to my eyes, although not as much as you are." 

Jim squeezed Katherine's hands gently meaning every word. Having lived with him, Katherine didn't doubt a word he said now. 

At that moment Kate remembered something that her grandmother always said, "Handsome is as handsome does, Katherine", and she was thinking, 'Grandma you are so right.'

"You can't put a monetary value on those things Katherine for they are priceless."

***********************************

Katherine managed to get the last hair appointment of the day at 5:00 PM which gave them plenty of time for clothes shopping. 

They went from store to store, making tentative selections and stopping twice for coffee while Katherine quizzed him. She asked Jim about this and that; does this go with this or that; color patterns, everything and she was pleasantly surprised that her junk man had an eye for such things. 

Even the salesgirls noticed this and Kate was thinking, 'Jim chose my birthday presents on his own and for the most part likes conservative but feminine with a splash of color, provided it matches my hair and skin tone....even the salesgirls were impressed. 

Jim took everything into account, including my figure. He made suggestions that I was already thinking about....it's almost scary. 

My asshole husband liked flashy and trashy. He always wanted me to dress like a slutty nineteen year old in public. 

Granted I have the figure for it but that's not me. I'm not trailer trash....that asshole can go to hell.'

********************************

They were in Jim's big Grand Marquis station wagon on the way to get her haircut, "Jim, do you think I should cut my hair short?" 

"Absolutely not."

"What if I get it layered."

"Again the answer is no."

"You said it was my birthday and I could do anything I wanted, until 9:00 PM so why not?"

"Because of the shape and bone structure of your face and the fact that you have a long graceful neck and small dainty ears. 

The fact that you are tall and trim but curvy in all the right places. I have heard you sing, Katherine. You are good enough to be on the stage, that, and my preference is for women with long hair."

"What about...wait, what do you mean you heard me sing?" 

"I'll get to that in a minute. You can put your beautiful coppery hair up in any style of bun or French twist as it is now and really pull it off nicely. On you it will never look severe but only accentuates your classic features. Most women can't do that. In my opinion you look stunning with your hair up. "

Katherine was thinking, 'that's exactly what my stylist Susan Banner says about my bone structure. Susan wants me to grow it longer....he said small dainty ears,' and she touched one smiling. 

"On you it is a timeless look, especially with the clothing you chose to wear. You have sophisticated tastes in clothing, Katherine.

I just can't imagine you wearing anything tasteless or trashy. Don't take this the wrong way, but I used to think of you as a well dressed sophisticated bitch."

"What about now? Since I've been working for you, do you still think I'm a bitch?"

"Other than that one time in the garage.... that's a good question. We have gotten comfortable with one another, I suppose. 

We seem to get along. I certainly haven't been burned recently by your acid tongue."

"That's because you won't tolerate it. I'm sorry I said those things to you, Jim." 

"I'm sorry I talked the way I did to you Kate."

"You didn't answer about the layers." 

"Layers cut into your hair would limit how you can style it."

"Would you like to see my hair longer?"

"Yes."

"OK, I'll take it under advisement. How do I look with my hair down?"

"You look sexy as hell. Especially first thing in the morning when the sunlight is coming through the kitchen windows and illuminates your hair. 

Your hair is tousled from sleep but shines like a new penny when the sun is on it. That is why I am always up before you in the morning with the coffee ready, so I can watch you make our breakfast."

"You are just full of compliments today," she said while considering reaching over and squeezing his hand, "do you really think I have a nice voice? I like to sing when I'm alone.

When did you hear me sing?" 

"The first time was by chance two weeks ago. Jeff called in sick and I was driving by the house with the tow truck. The truck is pretty much on its last legs and we have been nursing it along.

I didn't want any fluids from the wrecked car leaking in the concrete driveway so I parked in the street. I was hungry and was going to make myself some sandwiches. 

You were upstairs cleaning. I sat on the staircase to listen. You were singing songs from the "Sound of Music" of all things. (At the time Jim was singing quietly along with her and was absolutely delighted. He forgot all about being hungry) 

"You obviously were enjoying yourself. Who were you dancing with when you sang "I am sixteen going on seventeen?"

"I love all the old musicals, "The Sound of Music", "West Side Story" or "South Pacific" and the newer ones like "Grease", Katherine answered as they pulled into the driveway and parked by the farm house where Susan Banner had her little Beauty Salon. 

"I tried out for the part of Maria the last year I attended High School but..... But things didn't work out," she added softly. Kate got the part but dropped out of the play when her Mother died.

"Who were you pretending to dance with?"

"I'm going to be late for my appointment," Katherine said, embarrassed and trying to get out of the station wagon.

Jim reached across and grabbed the door handle. Knowing it a lost cause to try and force it open Katherine asked, "You promise you won't tell anybody?" 

"I promise, cross my heart and hope to die," Jim replied making the motion with his right hand."

"I was dancing with the new corn broom," Katherine answered reluctantly.' 

Jim was thinking, 'I was hoping Kate would say she was pretending to dance with me, oh well.' 

"It will be our secret. When we get home you can sing "I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair from South Pacific". 

"Now you are teasing me," Katherine said smiling and squeezing his hand, "you don't think dancing with the broom was silly?"

"I think it was wonderfully spontaneous and delightful. Fred Astaire danced with a hat rack and that was a great movie." 

"In that case perhaps I will since it's your birthday too." 

**************************

As they entered the small salon together, Susan Banner, an older lady in her early sixties, stood up from her chair. Susan placed her hands on her hips and she was frowning. Katherine quietly whispered to Jim "I'm going to get an ear full any second now." 

"Katherine, why didn't you call me about your fire? It is bad enough I had to find out about it second hand. But then you plead guilty to a crime you didn't commit. I don't believe you would ever do such a thing. 

I'm your friend Katherine. You have been coming to me since you moved here from Florida. Why didn't you ask me for help? My brother could have found you a better lawyer then the fool you hired."

"I was ashamed and embarrassed, Susan. "

"Ashamed of what?"

"Ashamed of what you would think of me."

"I think you are innocent. I think you are stubborn. I think you are prideful. I think you remind me of me at your age. I think you should have left that bum the first time he cheated on you five years ago. Come here and give me a hug, honey. We need to talk."

Much to Jim's surprise, Katherine took the scolding. It was if this woman, Susan Banner was her mother."

"I'll just wait outside, ladies," but they didn't hear him. Katherine started to cry as Susan hugged her. Any minute they might both be crying so it was time to leave; exit stage left. 

Jim quietly slipped out the door to wait in the car. He could always recline the seat and take a nap. Jim had a knack for being able to fall asleep at the drop of a hat 

*************************************

"Jim, wake up," Katherine said touching his face, "Susan wants to meet you."

"What time is it?" Jim asked.

"It's almost seven and Susan has vanilla pound cake and coffee. There is a whole pound cake just for you."

"Just for me? Now you are talking. Did you have a nice talk with Susan?"

"Yes, do you like my hair?"

"Yes, you didn't cut it short and now you are a curly top."

"Exactly, Susan did a light dusting only cutting off an eighth of an inch and curled it with a curling iron." 

Jim got out of the station wagon and took Katherine's arm in his, "Let's not keep the dear lady with the pound cake waiting."

***********************************************

Katherine had never been to O'Brian's Pub before and didn't quite know what to expect. O'Brian's Pub was originally a working man's bar. His son, Patrick, took over when old man Clancy O'Brian died. 

Patrick expanded the business to serve food. It's simple menu included a variety of sandwiches and the soup of the day.

Once a month, O'Brian's would feature one of the local Irish bands on the weekends. Patrick O'Brian and Jim were school chums since kindergarten and shared the same birthday.

Red, white and blue Americans to the bone, they could nonetheless put on a brogue that could fool most to think they were from the old Sod and keep it up all night despite copious helpings of Irish whiskey. 

Because it was their birthday, some of the regular patrons had complimentary chits for free drinks and sandwiches that would be served. It was a private party after nine. 

The birthday festivities at O'Brian's became a local tradition and like the St. Patrick's Day parade the place was always packed and extra help was hired. 

It was Jim and Patrick's night to party and Katherine knew none of this when a very striking man met them at the door. 

Patrick O'Brian is as handsome as Katherine is beautiful. Patrick is slim and tall with a full head of black hair and blue eyes; he almost took Katherine's breath away when he shook her hand during the introductions. 

"Pat, this is Katherine Mavis Ryan, and she is my date for the evening. It's her birthday as well. Katherine, this is Patrick John O'Brian the owner of this dubious establishment."

"I'm very pleased to meet you, Patrick."

"And I you, Katherine. Did you know that you are the first lady that Jim has ever brought here? You must be a very special lady indeed."

"Thank you, and no I didn't."

"Jim tells me that you sing like an angel."

"Did he?"

"Yes he did," Patrick said handing Katherine her menu, "the band is running late so why don't you two sit down for a bite until then. I'll put a rush on it. When they get here it is going to be a very busy night." 

"We will need another menu unless you want to share mine," Katherine remarked as Jim pulled her chair out for Kate to sit down. He then sat across from her.

"I don't need a menu, I'll be having my usual, curly top," Jim replied. 

Patrick returned a short time later wearing a brown bowler (derby). He put Jim's double shot of Tullamore Dew on the table and then tossed another bowler to Jim.

Katherine watched as Jim caught it in his right hand and somehow manipulated the bowler in such a way to have it spin on its brim rolling it neatly onto his head and patting the top. Patrick and Jim removed their bowlers, tossed them into the air repeating the trick for her. 

Jim took a sip of whiskey and sighed before speaking in a thick brogue, "Do you know the difference between an Irish wedding and an Irish funeral, darling?" Katherine smiled and shook her head, "one less drunk," Jim replied, tossing his derby into the air and catching it smartly. He did a different vaudeville trick with the bowler before rolling it smartly onto his head and patting the top."

Jim held up both hands displaying his palms for Katherine to see and said, "Me thinks ye have something behind your ear, darling," and with that Jim reached forward pushing Katherine's red curls out of the way and made it look like there was a Benjamin Franklin Half dollar behind her ear. 

Jim then flipped the fifty cent piece into the air making it spin end on end before catching it. He manipulated the coin with his hands. When Jim opened them the coin was still there. Frowning Jim then turned his bowler sideways and manipulated his hands again; this time Jim made the coin disappear. 




Kate & Jim



"I forgot to turn my magic hat sideways," Jim said, taking another sip of his favorite whiskey, "ah, the water of life." 

"Are you going to talk with a brogue for the rest of the night," Katherine asked intrigued. She never saw this part of Jim before. Katherine never imagined her troll could be like this. Jim was funny and charming and had changed tactics on her again.

"And what will you be having now, darling," Patrick asked Katherine while refilling Jim's glass with whiskey. 

"The Reubens looks good, and I'll have a glass of diet cola. Somebody has to drive Jim home."

"It's the best. Four Reubens and a diet cola coming right up," and with that Patrick walked away to get their order.

"Obviously you have eaten here before, Jim. Three for you and one for me."

"You haven't had one of Patrick's Reubens yet. You will want another. Nagging already and the night is young. You sound like a wife and a fine Irish one at that. 

Don't worry about a thing. I have to set an example for my boys. I've already arranged for a ride home. Just don't let me stick my head out the window on the way home. I've ruined more telephone poles that way....You have a beautiful smile darling. 

Get into the spirit and treat yourself to a little nip," and when Patrick returned, "I'll have a proper pint of Harp and a wee bit of Jameson," Katherine announced in a very good but more refined brogue of her own, refined like her Grandpa Jack.

Pleasantly surprised, Jim smiled, thinking, 'Very nice, very nice indeed,' and tipped his hat to her, 'This might be the best birthday yet.' 

**************************************

While they ate Jim explained what was planned for the evening. Katherine although intrigued, was also hungry and helped herself to one of his three Reubens without asking. If she sounded like a wife she might as well act like one. 

This event was a fund raiser for Youth Sports and little league baseball in particular. Even though the party was by invitation only, most paid $300.00 for their chits; whether all at once or in installments throughout the year. 

It was Katherine's birthday too. She made up her mind to make the best of it and have a good time. Part of her birthday present to Jim was to be the best date he ever had. 

Actually as things turned out it was one of the best times Katherine ever had in her entire life. Jim took her arm and they went from table to table for him to introduce her to people. 

Jim knew everybody there and they knew him. There were several women there, beautiful women, whom Kate noticed seemed annoyed that she was his date; women sense these things about one another, while most men are oblivious to the situation. 

Kate's solution was to hang onto Jim's arm even tighter and smile, sweetly laying claim. To hell with them.

In between times, when the band took a break, Jim would tell jokes and do card tricks while Patrick kept the libations flowing. 

There were several children attending who Jim delighted by pulling one dollar coins from behind their ears and then giving it to them. 

Jim knew many other different tricks with that bowler, making things appear and disappear; Kate was his assistant.

At around 10:30 PM all of the children were gone; house rules, and there was a drum roll by the band.

Jim and Patrick jumped up on the bar together, making the bar their stage. They sang a variety of Irish songs together with most the audience singing along with them, including Katherine. 

Patrick was a baritone while Jim was a tenor and they complimented one another. 

The third and last song was "Clancy lowered the boom". Grandpa Jack used to sing "Clancy lowered the boom" to Katherine when she was a little girl and it always made her laugh. Tonight was no different because Jim and Patrick pretended to punch each other at the prompt of the drum.

Katherine noticed that most of the patrons cleared a space near and around the bar to give them room. 

They improvised a fight, pretending to fall or jump off the bar as they threw fake punches. Once on the floor they staggered about the audience to sing verses the writer never wrote, making things up as they went along. 

During one the improvised verses Jim was punched and pretended to fall backwards into Kate's arms and she barely caught him. 

Jim righted his bowler and then took Katherine into his arms and kissed her lips long and deep while the audience cheered for more kisses; Jim was glad to oblige and Katherine was not objecting. 

Jim fell twice into Katherine's arms and on the third time Katherine took the derby hat off him and put it on her own head. Katherine grabbed Jim's face in both hands and kissed him as Jim flailed his arms up and down to a drum roll as if he was in shocked surprise. 

Katherine let go and Jim jumped up into the air with a big goofy smile on his face and then did a summersault to land on his feet while pretending to stumble against the bar and steady himself. 

The audience was hysterical with laughter by his performance thinking Kate was a new part of the act. Jim grabbed somebody's whiskey from the bar and drank it down before standing up straight and resuming the song without his bowler. 

'This is so wonderful,' Kate thought, 'it's like Clancy lowers the boom meets vaudeville....what's next?' 

All her trouble seemed to melt as she clapped and cheered. Katherine felt so alive and happy, something she hadn't felt in years.

The comedic song ended too soon. This time Patrick got up on the bar alone for his solo. Traditionally, Jim would sing his solo next and they would cut the cake

Patrick sang "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" in his rich baritone voice, while Jim was standing next to Katherine, contemplating another tradition.....if she would consent.

At the end of Patrick's song Jim retrieved his derby from Kate and got back up on the bar alone before calling for a round of drinks. 

When everyone's glass was full, Jim called for a toast; one more toast or blessings of many that he made throughout the evening. This time Jim was looking straight at Kate. 

"To my housekeeper forever, Kate,' everyone raised their glasses, 'To my beautiful lady if only for the evening. Katherine Mavis Ryan who sings like an angel." 

And then immediately after the toast Jim asked, "Would you fine gentle people like to hear Katherine sing?"

"Sing for us Katherine, sing us a song and give us a tune" called people from the crowd of happy party goers. 

"Katherine, would you come up here with me please and grace our ears with a song?" Jim asked taking off his hat and bowing amides the steady chants for Katherine to sing. 

Jim put his right hand up in the air and whistled loudly and sharply through his fingers before folding his arms over his chest. It was Jim's way of saying please be quiet or else. Many of the men here had tangled with Jim in the past and wished they hadn't. 

They raised their glasses in acknowledgement to his request while silently looking to others, warning them to be quiet.

Jim was liked because he never held a grudge. Jim Brady was also liked because he didn't have short arms. In other words Jim's arms reached into his pockets to get his money out to buy a round when it was his turn.

When they quieted down Jim jumped off the bar and walked over to Kate. He took her into his arms and kissed her lips, "Please Katherine, sing for us. A man couldn't ask for a better birthday present."

Kate nodded and smiled; encouraged Jim picked Kate up and put her in a sitting position on the bar. He got up next to her and helped Kate to her feet. 

"I'm sure the band must know "Danny Boy?" Kate inquired.

"As a matter of fact they do, darling," Jim answered, "You heard the lady, Danny boy it is." 

******************************

Kate finished her song to absolute silence...and then she was greeted by a standing ovation, followed by calls for more songs. 

She also overheard some good natured kidding directed at Jim; something about Jim better find himself a new song. 

"They love you, Katherine," Jim whispered in her ear, "They will now expect you to sing here every year."

"What did some of them mean when they said you better find a new song, Jim?"

"It's nothing; it is time to cut the cake."

"That was your song, wasn't it, Jim?"

"It doesn't matter as long as you are having a good time. Let me help you down."

Kate whistled loudly through her fingers and folded her arms. It didn't have the same effect as when Jim did it, but it did get the crowd's attention. 

"I have something to say," Kate announced loudly, while yanking Jim's ear and making him wince, "Jim and I are going to sing "Danny Boy" together. Isn't that right, Jim?"

"Yes, ma'am, thank you," Jim replied, smiling from ear to sore ear. He took both Katherine's hands in his and squeezed, while thinking, 'Yes, definitely the best birthday I can remember. 

******************************

They had a wonderful evening together, although, Kate had a bit too much drink. 

She fell asleep in Jim's lap in the car on the way home.

Jim carried his sleeping Kate into her bedroom. He undressed her, removing everything but her camisole and panties. Kate woke up as he tucked her in and was leaning over to kiss her cheek. Kate was so tired, and could barely keep her eyes open, but was determined to have her say. 

"Jim, I want you to...." "Hush, you want me to make love to you? Is that what you were going to say?" 

Katherine sat up abruptly throwing back her quilt. She nodded her head, burping and giggling, "yes, and the room is spinning round and round, and you can sing and dance and do magic and everything."

"No more talking, Katherine, please go to sleep."

"But, I want you to fuck me," she insisted dropping back on the pillow and extending her arms to hug him while giggling, "you can wear your blonde wig." 

"Katherine, I don't want to hear another thing about the subject. Do you want to be spanked?"

"You can't spank me. I'm drunk!"

"Do you want to find out?"

"No, Sir. I'll be a good girl," she said seriously, but burped and giggled some more. "You're a sexy bastard for a troll."

"Wonderful, get some sleep then."

"Jim."

"Yes, Katherine."

"Do I have a woman's heart," Kate asked as Jim covered her with the quilt.

"I'd fight anyone who said otherwise," Jim said leaning forward to kiss her cheek.

"Thank you, I am going to sleep now...."

******************************

Kate woke in the early afternoon with a mild headache and was thankful for it, considering all she had to drink the night before. 

After everyone had left, her, Patrick and Jim sat around talking, about next year's party, and what Jim was like as a little boy. Patrick had her laughing with stories about Jim, and the drinks were flowing. 

'Next year I'll be more careful and drink less,' she thought, surprising herself by thinking that, and 'Why not, we sing well together.'

Kate took something for her headache before taking a shower. She assumed Jim would be up and gone, and after she dressed Kate went looking for him and confirmed it, his station wagon was gone. 

'Where is Jim always disappearing to,' she thought, realizing that she hadn't checked the garage door to see if it was locked.

Kate almost ran outside to turn the doorknob and bingo; she entered closing and locking the door behind her.

Up above her head and resting on the steel support beam for the chain fall was the oak chest. Kate moved a step ladder over and climbed up to get it down, thinking, 'Hmm, what kind of secret is my sweet troll hiding from me?' 

She had to stretch to reach it, and almost tipped the stepladder. 

Katherine found Jim's College Diploma's; she had no idea that he went that far, but now everything was starting to make sense. 

Next the real surprise, the red leather bound photo album, and another one just like it. 

Katherine sat on a stool by the window unable to tear her eyes away as she slowly turned the pages, studying everything.

Jim was in the drama club. There was picture after picture of the plays or musicals he was in for those years of college. There were mementos and programs and tickets stubs.

Jim's big three were "The King and I", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Kiss Me Kate". Jim had the leading roles of "King Mongkut of Siam", "Quasimodo" and "Fred".

In most of the other plays he had smaller parts, but was several different characters in each.

The next red photo album showed what went on behind the scenes at the rehearsals or cast parties when the actors, friends, were away from the public. They seemed to be a very tight group.

There was a young woman that caught Kate's eye. She was absolutely gorgeous; long dark brown hair and brown eyes. Gina had a voluptuous figure, and there was a presence about her. In almost all the photos, this woman was standing near Jim. 

Gina La Salle was the leading lady in all the college productions, even the ones were Jim had minor parts. There were pictures of her in costume in the first album with some of her other leading men, handsome men, but behind the scenes, Gina was always with Jim. 

This young woman, Gina La Salle was often on his lap with her arms around Jim's neck. There were photos of them dancing together, or doing silly things together. There were some intimate shots when Gina was kissing him. There was something about the way Jim was holding her....it was obvious that they were an item, while just as obvious.... they were in love. 

She wanted to know everything about Gina, but couldn't ask. Kate now felt guilty for prying; especially after last night, when Jim very well could have taken advantage of her. 

Kate also was running out of time. There was no telling when Jim might be back. Well, too late, she could hear Jim's Station Wagon pull into the driveway. The clock on the wall said it was after six in the afternoon.

Kate was on the very top rung, struggling with the chest, the very place where she shouldn't stand, and the ladder tipped. She screamed as she fell; Kate went one way and the oak chest another, the chest taking the brunt of the damage.

Hearing her scream, Jim came crashing through the locked wood door, smashing it open with his shoulder as if it were cardboard. Kate was trying to stand on a possibly broken ankle.

"Katherine!" Jim exclaimed, as he scooped her into his arms. Kate put her arms around his neck and pressed her face up against his," I'm sorry, Jim, I'm sorry; your oak chest is..."

"Is it just your ankle? Are you hurt anywhere else? 

"No," Kate said in a small voice, hugging Jim's neck, tighter.

"We are going to the emergency room to make sure."

"Yes, Sir."

****************************** 

Jim left everything as he found it, not bothering to look at the oak chest or close the broken garage door, despite the fact that those photo albums meant a great deal to him. 

Instead, Jim carried Kate into the house to get two of the six medical icepacks she insisted should be in the freezer door at all times before he carried her out to his station wagon to drive Kate to the hospital emergency room.

Kate was lucky and the prognosis good. She didn't have a fracture, torn muscles, torn ligaments' or a sprain. The hood of the Road Runner was damaged from the fall, denting and giving way some when her left foot hit it. Kate then landed on her bottom and slide down the trunk to land on the floor where Jim found her trying to stand; Kate had blunt tissue damage, a bruise on the bottom of her heel.

Kate was certain she was going to catch hell on the ride home. Instead, Jim was unusually quiet and held Kate's hand the entire time.

'Again Jim has changed tactics," she thought, and then, 'no he hasn't, all this time it has been me. He is genuinely concerned about me. He was looking at me as if I was that woman, Gina in the photos. That was my wrong perception assuming all men are alike.'

"Jim?"

"Yes, Kate."

"Are you angry with me?"

"No."

"Are you just saying that?"

"Surprisingly, no, I am relieved that you are safe. You gave me quite a scare when you screamed. You could have been hurt badly," and he squeezed her hand, "If it will keep you from doing impulsive things, I will bring everything from the chest into the house where there are no locked doors between us."

"Jim?"

"Yes, Kate."

"You loved her?"

"Gina was my whole world, Kate. We were engaged to be married. After last night, I can finally move on." 

*****************************

Gina graduated college as a pharmacist. Gina's graduation gift from her parents was two weeks in Paris, France, and what a gift it was. Jim would be taking a flight to be with her. They would spend Gina's last five days in a 4-star hotel. They would return together. Their wedding was scheduled the following year. 

Gina was not there when Jim arrived. The desk clerk insisted that Gina had checked out the day before, and he had personally hailed her a cab. 

Jim got no satisfaction from the manager of the hotel where Gina was staying. He got even less satisfaction from the aloof Police Inspector who arrived to remove Jim from the premises when he refused to leave the manager's office. 

Inspector La Blanche claimed that there was no evidence or probable cause to indicate a kidnapping. "American women are flighty," he said, "this kind of thing happens all the time. Paris after all is the City of Love. Perhaps your Gina met someone," he said, smirking, insinuating that Jim was a cuckold fiancé."

Jim knew that a minor Saudi Prince and his entourage were renting the entire fifth floor for the month. There were beautiful girls from all over Europe that weekend to party. Many would be lured with promises of unbelievable good paying jobs in Saudi Arabia. Once there the girl's passport would be confiscated....need I say more?

Jim went to the American Embassy to talk to his uncle stationed there. His uncle Bob arranged for Jim to be put on the Embassy staff. Being a blood relative, Jim was granted full diplomatic immunity. Jim's promised to be patient and work within the system. Jim had all the official identification and was given a satellite cell phone just in case. 

Jim suffered three weeks with no results and then struck out on his own. The weak link was the hotel manager. Jim went back to apologize for threatening him, hoping to get a lead. 

He gave the desk clerk one thousand dollars in American Express Checks and hinted there was more to come if he could get in to see the Manager to apologize and rectify the misunderstanding. 

He planned on offering the Manager a bribe; the modest seventy five grand he set aside as collateral for a loan to start his business. 

The Hotel Manager invited him in his office. Everything changed when Jim sat down to talk and looked at the wall behind the manager's desk to see it hanging there. He calmly set the satellite cell phone to speaker before dialing the Embassy where all incoming calls are recorded. 

Smiling, Jim punched the man in the face, breaking his nose, and knocking him out of his chair. He took the janbiya from the wall drawing it from its woven silver wire and jewel encrusted leather scabbard. 

Jim pressed the janbiya to the manager's throat and showed him his Embassy ID, "Do you know what this is?" 

"Yes," the cowering Manager answered, choking on the blood running down his throat from his broken nose. " 

"Good. I know how you acquired this saifani janbiya. Honor dictates blood must flow once it is drawn from its scabbard. You will to determine how much. 

I'm sure you realize I can get away with anything short of murder," Jim said coldly, while drawing it across the man's throat, cutting deep enough to draw blood, "I will let you live, but you will wish yourself dead when I feed you your testicles. 




Kate & Jim



"Talk and you had better pray for your soul and mine nothing happens to Gina."

When the scum started repeating himself, Jim banged the manager's head on the desk, and left him unconscious on the floor, taking his evidence with him. 

It was a half hour ride to the Embassy in the congested Paris traffic. Jim intended to cut that time in half, and obeying the speed limit wasn't an option.

Jim was within one mile from the Embassy, driving the narrow streets to see flashing lights behind him. Jim wished he was in his Ford F-150 pickup truck with its big V-8 instead of the cramped putt-putt sardine can he was driving, thinking, 'oh well, here goes nothing.'

He ignored the lights and sirens, going around a barrier in the street they set for him to drive on the side walk. He damaged several store fronts and little sidewalk stands as he drove through with his horn blaring in warning. He was on and off the street, steam coming from underneath the hood, picking up several more police cars joining the pursuit. 

Jim was within 100 yards of the embassy when the overheated engine seized. He abandoned the vehicle and ran. 

Jim was at the gate when the Gardien de la paix were upon him. 

He managed to throw the incriminating saifani janbiya over the fence before they grabbed him. Jim had a death grip on the bars of the gate as they beat him with their truncheons while trying to pry him loose. 

Jim gave his message and instructions to the Marine Guards as the truncheons rained on him. When he finished, Jim let go to surrender. 



After he was on the ground and handcuffed, Jim was searched. Everything was removed from his pockets before they helped him to his feet. 

A familiar man got out of a police vehicle and started to walk towards him. 

Jim knew the man; he was the aloof Officer de la paix. Lieutenant La Blanche was the Inspector who refused to investigate the case. 

One of the French Police Officers, who searched Jim, the Gardien de la paix (keepers of peace) glanced at Jim with a worried look on his face.

He attempted to intercept his superior to show him Jim's Identification Papers from the American Embassy, only to be summarily dismissed with a wave of a hand as La Blanche walked past him.

The aloof Officer de la paix got right into Jim's face, "Defiant to the last are we, you lawless American Cowboy. I will personally see to it that you spend many years in one of our most hospitable French prisons. 

"You are nothing here, Mr. Brady," La Blanche then spit into Jims face. 

Jim smiled and replied with his best John Wayne, "Fill your hand you son-of-a-bitch," Jim then smashed his head into La Blanche's face, breaking his second nose of the day. 

****************************** 

Jim's uncle had him released several hours later from French Custody. They drove to the American Embassy were Jim was examined by Medical staff. From there, Jim was taken by helicopter to a military base for a more thorough medical examination. Jim was then escorted under Marine Guard and placed on a Military transport under guard back to the States.

Jim's Uncle Bob's Superiors contacted the French Ministry of the Interior demanding a full investigation. They balked until the recording transmitted by the satellite telephone was played back to them. 

The hotel manager disappeared that day. He is believed to be living in Yemen. While awaiting sentencing, the disgraced La Blanche was found, hanging lifeless in his cell

The Saudi's offered no comment, and when pressed claimed the incident a hoax and an insult to the Royal Family. 

The politicians on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee in conjunction with Cabinet Members of the President strongly advised they drop it and pursue no further. 

Robert was proud of his nephew. Jim was the only Brady of his generation not to serve in the Military. Nevertheless, Jim was a Brady through and through and his courage was never in doubt. 

He grieved for the loss of Gina La Salle; for Gina herself and for his nephew. Gina was the perfect woman for Jim, and Robert had been looking forward to being a great-uncle. 

Robert remembered the days when his country was energy independent. A time before greedy politicians and special interests cut sweetheart deals for foreign oil. 

The Russians still know what to do. They would grab a Saudi Prince and hold him for ransom. They would send the Royal Family one finger at a time until their citizen was released; in other words adapt a Seventh Century solution to a Seventh Century mindset. 

The most important thing was his god son was safe. In Uncle Bob's mind, family is everything. Being a practical man Robert knew nothing further could be done about Gina, for now.

Robert has valuable contacts. He would find out eventually through unofficial channels the status of Gina La Salle. If she were alive, he would wait, and it might take years; if not, Robert would call in a big favor. It would be done covertly and without fanfare. 

The time came, and the sanction was carried out. Robert met with Ivan in a park. 

Robert was given an envelope. Inside was a photo of the severed testicles and two thumbs. Also inside was a gold ring with the Royal seal. 

******************************

Jim carried Kate into the house and put her on the sofa across from his leather chair.

"Do you need anything, Kate?"

"No, I'm fine but we need to talk."

OK, but first I have to fix the door. Call me if you need anything."

Jim made a temporary repair on the door and brought in the contents of the chest to find Kate sitting in his leather chair. 

Smiling, he shrugged his shoulders and put the albums in the bookcase before turning to her.

"I'll make room for you," Kate said, sliding onto the arm of the chair for Jim to sit down, and after he did Katherine snuggled up next to him and Jim put his arms around her, sighing contently. 

"This is cozy, Kate. What do you want to talk about?"

"I want to talk about us."

"Wouldn't that be redundant?" Jim asked teasingly while taking her hair out of the ponytail and dropping the elastic tie onto the floor. "I think we have already established us. What more is there to say?"

Annoyed, Kate tried to sit up but Jim held her easily in place as she struggled. Defeated, Katherine sighed and snuggled closer.

"Can you ever love me like you loved her?"

"I would certainly like to try, Katherine," he answered, pushing Kate's hair behind her ear and caressing her face, "I have seen many a moonlight glimmer of your woman's heart these past months, but last night it shone as bright as your red hair in the morning sun." 

"Jim."

"Yes, Katherine."

"I'm still going to call them as I see them."

"I know. You are a feisty little lady and that is part of your charm."

"Then I may speak my mind?"

"You may do so at the risk of your tight little ass being spanked when you wander beyond the boundary of civility."

"Do you know what I think about that, Jim?"

"Tell me but hurry up, I'm hungry."

"You want me to cook for you?" Kate asked, sitting up to face him, and then giving Jim's ear a tug and a pinch.

"We Trolls have insatiable appetites for fair young maidens. When fair young maidens aren't available, feisty red heads will suffice. I'm always hungry for your luscious kisses, Katherine." 

Jim took Kate's face in his hands and kissed her lips.

"And you are my charming and thoughtful troll," Kate said, taking Jim's face in her little hands, and kissing his mouth, long and deep. 

Kate ran her hands over Jim's bristly head, "handsome is as handsome does, sweetheart."

"Am I your sweetheart now, Katherine?"

"I would like you to be."

"And so I shall, forever." 

"Can we negotiate the spanking part?"

"No, but I am giving you complete latitude in the matter."

"That doesn't make sense. "

"It makes perfect sense. You have latitude to behave or not to behave. It's your choice."

"You are impossible, Jim Brady."

"And you are beautiful, Katherine Mavis Ryan."

"Does this mean we will be sleeping together, Jim?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Kate." 

"I want to suck on your cock, and then I want you to make love to me, Petruchio."

Jim carried Kate upstairs to his bedroom and put her gently in the bedside chair being careful of her bruised foot. He turned back the cotton blanket to uncover fresh clean sheets for Kate to be on the bed next to him.

"Just a minute, Katherine," Jim said leaving and returning with her hairbrush, "Let me brush your hair. You are a little disheveled from your fall and trip to the emergency room. You are always as neat as a pin."

"Well, I know someone who never has problems with messy hair," Kate replied, running here hands over Jim's bristly head and kissing his lips.

"Do you actually pay someone to do that for you?" Kate asked turning so Jim could start brushing.

"Yes, my barber," he replied, starting to brush Kate's red hair.

"Fire him!"

"Fire Mandy, why would I do that?"

"Because I'm taking over; all you have to do is buy a good set of electric clippers."

"Yes ma'am. "

"This feels good sweetheart. Obviously you have done this before. What other surprises do you have for me?"

"Do you want me to braid it?"

"What kind of braid?"

"Just about any braid, or I can put it up for you."

"Did Gina teach you those things?"

"Yes, Gina and my sisters, but Gina is in the past. I only have eyes for you, Katherine."

"Braid it any way you like, then."

Jim completed a French braid in Kate's hair. She stood up to look, admiring herself in the dresser mirror, "you really did a nice job, Jim" 

"Your hair is soft and thick, Katherine, perfect for any type of braid. I'm looking forward to seeing your braid much longer."

"And I am looking forward to my big, strong sweetheart. Will you help me undress?"

"I could spend the rest of my life kissing your delectable lips," Jim said standing as he helped Kate out of her panties, bra and dress, kissing her and sighing contentedly while gazing at her in wonder while thinking, 

'Kate has an exquisitely trim figure but rounded and curvaceous in all the right places She feels so warm and yielding in my arms. I'm a lucky man to have her.' 

"It's my turn, Petruchio," Kate said, unbuttoning Jim's top shirt button and working her way down. Kate had never seen Jim in his under pants let alone completely naked. She wondered how her gentle troll was hung.

When Kate finally reached his underpants, Jim's hard cock was straining against the fabric. It sprung to attention when she pulled them down. 

'My god!' Kate thought, 'where the good Lord took away from Jim in the handsome department is more than made up for in another; Jim is well hung,' Kate laughed to herself thinking what a little cocktail wiener the ex has in comparison. 

Jim was only the second man she had ever been with; nevertheless the difference in the family jewels was obvious. 

"Jim."

"Yes, Katherine."

"Promise you won't laugh."

"Your ex-husband was your first and only one, wasn't he?" Jim, stated while putting his arm around Kate's trim waist. 

"How can you possibly know that?"

"I didn't, you just told me, that, and I guessed from the look in your green eyes. Let me smell you," he said nuzzling her neck, "We trolls can also tell these things from our sense of smell alone." 

"You are impossible, Jim Brady," Kate said pushing Jim down on his back onto the bed, "but I'm full of surprises too you know"

Jim rolled over on his side and Kate did the same while sliding down to get comfortable to suck on his cock. 

Kate started licking the tip of Jim's hard cock, teasingly while Jim stroked her braid. Jim's cock was longer and thicker then she was used to, but Jim tasted wonderful. Jim was all man, a mass of corded muscle, and Kate was thinking, 'Petruchio is all mine.'

Kate was stroking her pussy with a free hand as she licked and sucked on his hard pulsating cock... teasing him, probing and testing with her tongue and lips as Jim took her hair out of the braid, as she knew he would.

Kate almost brought both of them to orgasm several times, but backed off playing with her dripping wet pussy. She stopped sucking and licking his cock to lick and suck on his balls making him gasp in surprise.

Jim was putty in her hands as Kate sucked on his balls and playfully nibbled them, feeling him shudder. 

Jim's hands were buried in Kate's hair as she took his cock deeper in her mouth, licking and sucking ravenously and savoring every inch of it, all wet and sloppy. Kate realized she would never be able to take all of his cock in her mouth. 

Kate imagined what his cock would feel like in her cunt when he fucked her; she wanted Jim's cock in buried in her cunt up to his balls. Kate wanted Jim to take her like a woman and fuck her hard. 

Even when they were contentious neighbors and fighting, Kate wondered how it would be like to fuck that feral bruin of a man, that totally hardheaded and unreasonable man, Jim Brady. 

Kate could sense Jim's impatience....good, she had teased and titillated him long enough, it was time to get down to business, she wanted to orgasm as well.

Jim's orgasm was an onslaught testosterone laden energy as his hard member assaulted Kate's mouth and tongue, followed a torrent of his thick rich semen flooding her mouth for Kate to swallow greedily as her orgasm burned through her....it was marvelous sexual rapture and so long in coming. 

Kate sat up and Jim rolled over on his back putting his arms above his head and stretching. Kate lay on top of him, rubbing Jim's head and kissing his mouth.

"What a little tease you are, Katherine. Where in the world did you learn to do it like that?"

"I told you I was full of surprises, Petruchio."

"And so you are, Katherine."

"This meeting is called to order."

"What meeting?"

"You are out of order, Petruchio."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Chairwoman doesn't recognize the gentle troll with the big cock."

"The Chairwoman? Oh, I get it. This is a setup."

"First order of business, no more female barbers except for me," Kate declared, sliding down slightly to lay her head on his chest, "Second order of business; no other women".

Jim pushed Kate's hair to one side and caressed her face, "Yes, Madam Chairwoman." 

"Good, do I hear discussion...no discussion, and since we have a quorum do I hear a motion....we have a motion....do I hear a second....we have a second...a show of hands....motion passed. 

Do I hear a motion to close the meeting....I do hear a motion, do I hear a second.... I hear a second....show of hands.....unanimous. 

The meeting is officially closed. Let's get dressed to buy the electric clippers. You must be hungry."

"What makes you think I'm hungry?"

"You are always hungry, and I am in no condition to cook."

"Good point. I suppose you want to have dinner out?"

"Yes, thank you for asking, sweetheart."

"As if I had a choice."

"Of course you don't. You're the one who made me your surrogate wife."

"What about your foot?"

"If I keep pressure off of my heel it will be fine."

"You're impossible, Kate."

******************************

Katherine selected the most expensive professional grade electric hair clippers from the Barber & Beauty Supply outlet.

From there it was off to dinner. They went to a small Greek Restaurant and ate outside on the patio sharing several dishes, including broiled lamb marinated in spices and olive oil, delaying their dessert for later. 

They finished their evening by stopping for ice cream sitting outside under the stars on a picnic bench to watch people come and go.

Kate sat close to Jim, hugging and kissing him. Actually Kate was all over Jim. Jim was delighted with the attention, particularly when Kate finished her ice cream cone and sat on his lap. 

Kate didn't give a hoot who was watching them. She saw several people she knew who wouldn't give her the time of day after the fire and her subsequent conviction....the hell with them. 

Kate was just as delighted to be with Jim and have his strong arms around her waist as he hugged and kissed her back. Kate loved Jim...there was no other word for it and she would surprise him again when they got home. 

'And it's funny,' Kate thought to herself, 'I never thought of or even considered the ex-asshole as my man. He never gave himself to me the way Jim does.'

When they got home, Kate took Jim's hand and they went right to the bathroom off of her room.

For the second time that day, they slowly undressed while kissing and caressing each other all over. 

Kate took her time with the clippers, leaning over often to rub Jim with her breasts while kissing Jim's lips as she ran the clippers over Jim's head.

Kate's ex-husband, Thomas, would never allow anything like this. The asshole was into fifty dollar haircuts and was a prude unless it gave him pleasure. 

When Kate finished Jim's head was clipped down to 1/32 of an inch or 1mm; Kate was smiling because his bristles felt wonderful as she ran her hands over Jim's head. 

"Does your ex- barber ever cut your hair like I just did?" 

"No, ma'am."

Would you like a shave?"

"You want to shave my head," he asked, grinning.

"No, of course not, I meant your face. I love the contrast of clean shaven when you nuzzle my face while I rub your bristly head. I hate seeing a balding man with long hair on the sides, and especially with a ridiculous comb-over. 

You are most sensible for keeping it this way, sweetheart."

"Any other critiques, Katherine?"

"Yes, on you bristly is sexy as hell."

"OK, Katherine. I'm game. You really are full of surprises."

"Good, it will be fun. Get into the bathtub and I'll get everything ready." 

Kate put a fresh blade in Jim's safety razor and filled up the tub with hot water for him so he could lean back and relax. She washed his face twice and then applied several hot wet hand towels to Jim's beard using water from the sink, changing them before they cooled.

Next Kate whipped up lather in Jim's shaving mug with his boar hair shaving brush and lathered well to help soften his beard and too exfoliate his skin. 

Kate shaved him carefully and expertly, lathered and shaved him again, followed by a cold water rinse to close Jim's pores before patting his face with witch hazel.

Jim stood to drain the water from the tub before stepping out and running a hand over his face, "Excellent job, just like everything you do. It's my turn," as he stroked Kate's pussy. 

"What do you mean it's my turn?" She asked catching on, "I...no, you...I won't allow it!"

"You will allow it," Jim said picking up the clippers and removing the guard.

"But, I'll look silly," Kate said, covering her pussy and breasts with her hands and arms, thinking, 'Jim is looking at me like he did in my bedroom yesterday morning when he brought me my clothes.

There is no denying him this; I know that look, but will Jim actually hold me down and shave my pussy against my will?

That is what makes him so hot; Jim would do something like that. Do I want Jim too? He can easily do it. He is going to do it no matter what, I just know it ....' 

"Katherine, you are anything but a silly woman. I think a shaved pussy to lick will be scrumptious, not to mention sexy as hell."

"Yes, Sir," Kate replied thinking; 'On the other hand, maybe I'll like it. I'll bet trolls have sensuous tongues.' But for all Kate's hesitation she was secretly aroused by that demanding and unyielding look. 

Jim put the clippers down, picked Kate up and put her gently on the sink vanity top. Kate spread her legs wide for him to get at her plump pussy. The vibrating clippers added to her arousal as Jim slowly pushed them through Kate's thick curly bush.