4 comments/ 17038 views/ 3 favorites Smithfield Don, You're History By: Egmont Grigor CHAPTER 1 Spring was bursting forth in great beauty on Kentland Farm that had been in Don ownership for eleven generations and the current owner – a grumpy attorney well-known in Boston – was the fifth Don going by the name of Smithfield. One of the many first sons bypassing the ridiculous name of Springfield had been named Donald Don, known as Don Don. He was the current landowner's late father. Smithfield Don had a number of loves, mostly other men's wives or daughters but his most significant loves were his love of law, the love of his land and the fine horses that graced it's pastures and stables and Amelia, his daughter who reminded him almost much too much of his late wife Elizabeth, who one day unfortunately arrived home unexpectedly. Elizabeth had found Smithfield between the legs of socialite Mrs James Benrow. Smithfield's upset wife went into her dressing room and returning with her handgun placed the barrel behind Alice Benrow's ear and killed her. With Smithfield still not reacting, she dispatched herself, covering her adulterer husband with her blood. Amelia was fourteen, at boarding school at the time of the tragedy. She was brought home for the funeral and then sent to her aunt and uncle in Kent, England and now, ten years later and possessing a MBA, was returning home for the first time since her beloved mother's burial. "Hello father," she said at Logan Airport. Smithfield had been studying a pretty woman in blue. "Oh heavens, Elizabeth. How lovely to see you again," he said, taking her by the arms and kissing her just to the right of her mouth. "It's Amelia." "I know dear, your are my dau...oh god, I called you Elizabeth." "Early senility daddy?" It wouldn't go down as one of the most fascinating reunions between a father and his daughter. Amelia was appalled. She'd prepared herself to remain a little distant, to be in not hurry to bridge the gap and her tactical approach had proven unnecessary. Simply by calling her by her mother's name her father had deepened the gulf between them. That suited her fine. "A good flight?" "Being my first flight in ten years I have nothing to compare it with." Smithfield did a double take, as if wondering why she was touchy. "Boston is a great sight from the air, isn't it?" "We approached through very low cloud that cleared at only about three hundred feet, according to what the co-pilot had said earlier. "Oh, what a shame." "Yes it's my home city." "I'm glad you a back," Smithfield said kindly. "So am I." "And you glad to be reunited with me?" Amelia decided to be courteous. "Not particularly." Smithfield's mouth tightened. He offered to wheel Amelia's luggage trolley but she said no thanks. He then noticed Amelia was walking half a pace ahead of him so caught up and placed a hand on the trolley. Amelia let go of it, stepping to the side and then continuing to walk at his space. Smithfield's face appeared to be reddening. Amelia Don felt nauseated, being so physically close to her father, although knowing she had to get used to it for a time. Smithfield had attended her graduation in London and had pestered her to come home and live with him. She baulked and he worked on his sister and husband and they persuaded Amelia to go on six month's trial. She agreed to go after completing professional examinations for registration as a financial advisor. She now looked at the balding potbellied man she planned to kill. Only she didn't have a plan yet. She wanted a death that appeared accidental, leaving her in the clear to sell Kentland Farm with its horrible memories and to begin her own life. Amelia's father knew virtually nothing about farming; he wasn't interested. But he knew almost everything there was to know about horses and needed a farm to stable and breed his fine line of horses and have them trained for equestrian events before on-selling them. The remainder of the 325-acre farm not required for horses was left to a manager to farm. The manager was Tom Richards. Amelia and Tom had grown up together as Tom's father Jock had been the farm manager and now lived in retirement with Tom and Lisa. "Tom asks about you almost every day since I told him you were coming home." At last her father had said something of interest to her. "Ah, Tom Richards. We started at pre-school within three weeks of each other and continued through school until...until I went away." "Yes, always a good thinker and a good worker who seems to thrive on responsibility. I have women looking after the horses and the stables. Tom is in charge of everything else. He has a penchant for dairy cattle so we breed them, keep only the females and sell them at auction as in-calf heifers. Our name for quality milkers is known far and wide." "All because of Tom?" "Well I am always listed as owner and I supervise of course." "Of course." Amelia was delighted...a plan was rushing to take basic shape in her head. She'd thought up fifty ways of killing her father and had settled on going far out to sea with him in a boat and then pushing him overboard and coming back to shore at speed to report him missing. But as soon as she thought of that she had to jettison it; her father couldn't stand small boats so almost certainly wouldn't go out with her. Her mother used to take her out in hired boats fishing, not her father. "What breed of cattle?" "Jersey." Amelia smiled, unable to believe her luck. Jersey! At that point the plan began to evolve in detail. The big black Mercedes was parked in a two-minute maximum stopping area. A traffic warden hovered, too reluctant to ticket or have towed away such an expensive vehicle associated with VIPs. As Smithfield opened the trunk by remote the warden walked away looking for some little people to squash. "Do you want to drive?" "No thank you. I prefer not to drive ostentatious cars." Smithfield scowled. The large house had been extensively renovated. Smithfield took his daughter on a tour and his bedroom was now at the opposite end on the upper floor. He pointed to the door where the murder-suicide had taken place and said, "That area is now for storage – I don't like entering it." Hiding deep revulsion, Amelia said passively, "So you have a woman here?" "Yes, I always have company. Ella wanted you settled in before meeting you. She is staying with her parents up in Maine." "Is she your wife?" "No, they are called partners." "They?" "Um, one at a time and usually they stay twelve to eighteen months before finally realizing what I meant that marriage was not an option with me. Ella has been here almost three months. I don't think she really likes me." "She sounds intelligent." Smithfield opened his mouth to retort but closed it when his daughter said smoothly, "In deciding not to be here when I arrived." "Oh yes, a very smart gold-digger I can say with confidence." Amelia smiled, already liking Ella better than her father although she had yet to meet the woman. "I have a live-in cook. She will cook anything you wish. We've already eaten lunch." Ah, a resident fuck for when darling daddy was between partners. "Thank you, a tomato and chopped bacon omelet and coffee would be nice." "Order it yourself. She'll be waiting for you in the kitchen." "Oh thank you daddy," Amelia answered with just the lightest of sarcasm. "Where do I sleep?" "Suit yourself. You won't recognize your old bedroom. There are six rooms to choose from." "Then carry up my luggage and put them into a room that catches the morning sun." "I'm not..." "Please daddy." He went down the stairs ahead of her at pace as if to give the impression he was athletic and fit. She imagined him puffing, lifting out the luggage. Oooh goody, a heart attack but not immediate death, lingering death." He bounced into with two bags grinning. "I play squash three times a week and swim a mile twice a week. You'll be pleased your daddy is keeping himself fit." Amelia thought darkly well even fit people have heart attacks, have cancer and brain tumors and or get hit by trains on crossings. Prepare to die daddy. Amelia considered herself as her mother's daughter, not her father's daughter – well she looked rather like her mother rather than that pig. That's why she saw herself as the person to organize his execution. A rosy-cheeked woman of perhaps twenty-two holding a baby in the kitchen smiled at her. "Hi Miss Don. I'm Annie and this is Jimmy. Do I call you Miss Don or do you have another preference?" "Yes, please call me Amelia. Let me hold Jimmy while you get me a tomato and bacon omelet. Is wee Jimmy here Tom Richard's son?" Annie turned crimson. "I do look at Tom, he's such a perfect specimen. But no I went through a randy patch and had no idea who the father was." "Oh, what a shame. But you are well set up here until something else turns up. Does my father ever sleep with you?" The blush came again. "Yes Miss Don." "Amelia." "Yes Amelia. But only when he has no one upstairs; he's very loyal to his partner." "So you believe Annie," said Amelia, holding out her arms to take Jimmy. She told Annie to relax, she was used to holding babies. Amelia spent the time learning about her father's routines. It appeared his law firm was ticking over nicely and he took considerable time off because Miss Ella liked to shop and travel. "Is Ella lovely." "I'd rather not say." "I don't mean to you, I meant with my father." "You're wanting me to be honest with you, aren't you?" "Yes and anything you say will be confidential Annie." "She hates him and shows it but he doesn't seem to care. He just wants one thing from her and she's as randy as a cat on heat and screams, not only when she climaxes but also I would think as soon as he put it in. I thought I was a sex machine but I think I'm a go-kart and she's Formula One. She sometimes grabs him on the stairs and fucks him." "Oh god, how revolting." They laughed. "You are a breath of fresh air Amelia." "Are you able to entertain a young man?" "Yes I'm encouraged to do that. Your father is keen for me to stay." "I bet. Look, if you play straight with me and remain considerate I'm prepared to baby-sit Jimmy to allow you to get out for a few hours. You have to maintain a good social life and I imagine your parent's don't want to know you." "How did you know that?" "You'd be living with them, that's why." "You're brainy like your father. Oh Amelia, I'd love it if I could have spells away from here. I feel I can trust you with Jimmy." "Thank you. I'd have a total of twelve hours a week would be my limit and on each Monday morning any hours from the previous week not used are wiped off the board and we start with another twelve hours for that week. Use the menu blackboard over there." "Oh thank you thank you. Why are you doing this?" "I want you to find a life away from here, to find a man who will be good to you and good to Jimmy." "I don't fancy my chances of doing that." "Well believe me, your chances will be much improved when are you not sitting around here. Tell any guy from the outset you have a baby Annie. Let the ones who are scared shitless by that admission walk away." "But no one will want to date me." "Annie, I've had friends in England with unexpected babies and they've found guys. Some guys even have a desire to suck mother's milk." "Oh god. Do they?" "Yes, and some go gooey over little babies, especially if they had a much younger sibling." "Oh, I didn't know that." "Be my guest. My omelet Annie." "Oh yes. Oh look, Jimmy's gone to sleep." "He knows he's safe with me Annie. I really must do something with your hair and get you into more stylish clothes." They heard a farm ATV arrive. Annie said, "That will be Tom; he knows you are coming today." A guy with dark hair and brown eyes, looking a bit like someone Amelia remembered burst into the room, slapped Annie on the butt and strode over to her. She'd known as a young teenager Tom was odd-person out with his two bothers, he being dark and his brothers being blond. In that instance she knew her father had gotten between his mother's thighs. "Hello Tommo," Amelia said, not worried about his parentage and slipping into her customary way of greeting him. All through school Amelia had been the only one permitted to call Tom Tommo without him either flaying out or sulking. "Y-you're beautiful." "Her wonderful figure is obscured by little Jimmy." "Kiss me Tommo, we're not strangers," Amelia said and held up her lips. Tom, her age of twenty-four, hesitated than then sunk his lips on to hers in just the sweetest of kisses. Amelia felt the great urge to rush him off to a bedroom. He'd just straightened up when Smithfield entered and sized up the situation. "What are you doing in here Tom and why are your holding Annie's baby?" "Tom is free to visit me in this house whenever he likes father and this is a dear wee baby and I think I'll be a second mother to little Jimmy. Do you understand father or are we into a fight about this?" The aggression startled her father. He blinked and sat at the table. "Join us Tom. Coffee Annie." "Coffee PLEASE Annie." Smithfield didn't bother to look at his daughter. He just corrected himself and said, "Coffee for everyone please Annie." Somehow two hours just went during which time Jimmy woke; Annie went to leave the room to feed him but Amelia said, "Feed him here at the table Annie. These two guys would have seen more bare breasts than you'll ever see." "Mr Don?" Smithfield nodded that it was okay. He and Tom seemed fascinated to watch the wee child and its mother stare at each other and the softness such unification seemed to create. The talk was mostly about Amelia...about her life in England...how she coped with living away from home...her university life...her girlfriends and boyfriends and what her interests were. "Well you'll get as much horse-riding as you want here," said her father. "We also have a full jumping arena and a permanent and adjustable cross-country course of fifteen jumps that we use for training. You will be able to find your own level of expertise. I still ride every week. I'll take you to the stables in the morning and introduce you to everyone." "Thanks," Amelia said, having no reason why she shouldn't remain basically courteous to her father despite planning to engineer his death. "What time do you begin your rounds each day Tommo?" "From 10:00. When it's calving I bring the pre-calvers into the barns so attend to them first and to any sick animals. I check the water pumps and the steam flows and then administer feed supplements of medicines as prescribed by the vets for off-color livestock including the horses if it's tablets as they're pretty hard for the girls to administer. Then it's home for a quickie – her grinned – I mean coffee and then go on my bike to do my rounds." "Is there a spare bike for me?" "Smithfield?" "Yes Tom, she can use mine. Christ, look at the time. I have a meeting in twenty minutes." Tom also left. Annie took Amelia's empty plate and then returned to take Jimmy who was asleep again. "Thanks, you are so good with him. I notice you are not afraid of your father." "Why should I be?" "Well almost everyone else is, but not Tom or Ella." "Are you afraid of your father Annie?" "Yes, and my mother." "Have they every hit you?" "Not for years. But I feel dominated by them." "Well, that's something I can teach you – it's called self-assertion. The problem is if I teach you it too successfully they'll want to hit you, finding nothing else works." "Is that a joke?" "Well, almost. If you keep in contact with them while being coached by me the chance should come about without them scarcely noticing until it's too late." "I'd like that. I still can't believe you are being so nice to me. I thought you'd be like Ella." "Oh, it sounds like Ella needs sorting out." Annie looked horrified and told Amelia she didn't want her to get into trouble with Ella over her. "I think all people need to exercise good manner Annie. Ella will get to know that. When I was a young university student I earned extra money for babysitting, having to cope with unruly kids and dads intent on patting my ass. I earned the name super-bitch nanny and mothers began saying their kids were always better behaved after I'd had a stint with them. I just had them acting as I'd behaved as a kid and would except my kids to behave." "Ella's grown up as a spoilt brat." "Ah, all the better. They have a point where they crumble and dissolve into tears and know they are beaten." Smithfield bought in coffee to Amelia at 5:45 and said, "You have seven minutes to get dressed and be outside. If we are not down at the stables before 5:55 the girls will be setting off exercising the horses." They got there in time for Smithfield to introduce his daughter to Bethany Webb, Harriet Davies, Holly Harrison and Naomi Ward. The older Bethany who was in charge stayed behind to talk to Amelia while Smithfield went back to breakfast and off to an early meeting. "Do you ride Amelia?" "Yes Mrs Webb." "Oh come on, we are very relaxed around here." "Thank you Bethany. May I ride with you now?" "Yes of course, something rather quiet or a gelding with a bit of passion." "The gelding." "Very well, but hold Banjo when he sees me on Sierra jumping. He is really keen." "Then I'll take the jumps too if that's okay." "It is for Banjo but what about you?" "I was eventing for five years although not much for the past two." Bethany said to take no risks, to pull out if uncertain because Banjo was a $9000 horse. "Sierra, our best mare would probably fetch $45,000 at auction." "So daddy has money tied up in this operation?" "Does he what! He paid more than $200,000 each for two of the stallions. I virtually have an open check book but what this operation costs we would average about eight times at horse sales, mostly private sales to buyers within 100 miles of here and on top of that goes Sierra's colt or filly, sometimes fetching $20,000-plus." "Wow, and yet your jump her?" "She was born to jump and pines for that exercise if she's not taken out. Our top stallion imported from Ireland covers her; Lord Rosslare who we call The Bastard, because he is bad tempered and sometimes nips us. He bites the crap out of Sierra but she's a fast healer. I forbid anyone else to ride her, even your father, and of course she is out of action when she begins to put on weight when in foal. You ride well and jump well." "Thank you. Dad said you were years on the national eventing circuit." "Yes but surprisingly this gives me more satisfaction. You father allows me to run this operation as if it were my own. That's an almost impossible dream come true for me." "Does my father...you know." "Darling, how quaint of you to ask and how flattering. No I'm not far short of his age. He runs with the fillies. Come, let's ride across a couple of pastures to where some of our brood mares are. These ones are quiet and visitors ride them. They rode to the fence of that pasture and leaned over the gate. "I don't want to upset you Amelia, I arrived just after it happened..." "Oh god, mom's horse." "How on earth did you know I was about to say that?" "Because of the way you came into it gently and what you said." "Well, there are seven of them. Which one?" "That dun. Gosh she's the tallest of them. I remember her. She was a four-year-old I think, and skitterish. Mom wouldn't allow me to ride her. I've forgotten what's her name?" "Santa Ana." "Bethany..." "Yes dear, I'll get Harriet to bring her in and we'll keep her in the pasture behind the stables for as long as you stay here. Just call us when you want her saddled." Smithfield Don, You're History "Thank you Bethany. You are so kind." "I'm just pleased you want to ride her." * * * Late morning Amelia leaned over a gate with Tom, looking at three adult Jersey bulls. Amelia had earlier asked Tom if she could accompany him on his rounds most mornings and do odd jobs, but not milking. He'd laughed and said okay but she'd not have to worry about milking because he engaged contract milkers who did the milking on four neighboring farms and organized their own relief milkers. With Amelia interested in learning, Tom had stopped to educate her. "The Jersey bull is the least docile of cattle breeds," he said. Amelia bit back her response that she already was aware of that, having lived on her aunt and uncle's dairy and beef cattle farm in Kent in England. "Now listen carefully. The lighter colored bull is the quietest and that darkest one with the leaner rear hindquarters is the most aggressive one. I never go into their paddock to bring them out, I send Flip and Meg in to do that and to cut either one or two out to bring through the gate. Even with they are with the cows, never turn you back on them. They are perhaps at their most dangerous if alone, but don't count on that. The most difficult thing is guessing how they behave. You could walk across this paddock one hundred times and they'd not give you anything more than a longish glance. But then one of then could come after you on any one of those hundred occasions. Just don't trust them and remember on a charge they can run fast, much faster than you." "Fine, I'll remember than. Now Flip and Meg, will they work for me?" "Who knows? They won't work for your father or for Lisa. What we should do is allow you to feed them for a week – they are fed at morning and at night, their main meal. That might help." "Thanks. Oh, is Lisa your wife or partner?" "Why, are you wanting a piece of me," Tom grinned. "Wife actually but if you a feeling frisky I wouldn't mind." "Get Flip and Meg or even one of them working for me and you could get lucky," Amelia grinned. Three weeks later Flip was rounding up the calves consistently for Amelia and had difficulty in know whether to follow Tom or Amelia until one of them whistled him to heel. Meg sometimes joined in and gave Amelia the impression they were bonding but then would give up and run off to find Tom, refusing to come to heel when called. She decided to give up on Meg and maintain the bonding with Flip and Tom agreed. "Take him home with you. There are two chains outside the woodshed I use when I visit with them. I'll give you a bag of dog biscuits. If you are not coming out with me and I need Flip to help shift the bulls I'll come and get him." Amelia chained flip by the woodshed and put the biscuits up on a shelf. There was a bowl outside so she filled it for water and walked in the kitchen. "Is that a dog I saw you with? Hi, I'm Ella and you must be Amelia. Please have that dog out of here by midday tomorrow. Annie, where's my coffee you lazy girl." "How dare you talk to Annie in that manner. Apologize at once." "Or else what." "I'll have you thrown off this property so fast your ass won't hit the ground." "Oh come on lost daughter. I'm the mistress of this house. What I say goes. Your poor mommy has gone..." Amelia leaped forward and slapped Ella across the cheek, hard enough to knock Ella off the chair. Absolutely livid, Ella climbed to her feet and pulled a hand across her stinging cheek and appeared surprised there was no blood. "Why you little bitch." "Come on, hit me and I smash you to pulp." "For god sake. This is civilization." "Then apologize and never speak to Annie like that again." The skinny blonde looked at her attacker with the powerful looking shoulders. She swallowed. "I apologize Annie, I was out of line and I apologize Amelia for upsetting you. You both can be assured I'll speak more carefully in future." "Thank you Ella." Two days later Amelia helped Tom and the women unload a truckload of 40 to 60lb square bales of grass/alfalfa into the barn against the stables and after lunch unloaded a truckload of straight hay averaging about 80 lbs into the barn over at the back of the farm where the dried-off dairy herd had wintered over. As the truck drove off Tom said, "You are strong for a woman." "I've lifted weights since turning eighteen and work in other ways on my fitness." "It sure shows. God I'm sweaty after all that lifting and heaving." Amelia's eyes seemed to hood and she almost whispered, "Take your shirt off and show me your sweaty torso." Tom looked at her a little apprehensively. "Go on. You've probably had a hard-on most of the day listening to we women grunting under the weight of those small bales of Lucerne and me bending over in front of your, straining the ass of my jeans." Without a word Tom unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. Amelia walked over, licked across from one nipple to the other and groaned, "Oh Tommo." "Oh Amelia, get your tits out for me." "No you lazy male, you do it." And they were away. Tom got them out and snuffled and sniffed his way over her mounds and pressed against him jerking his hips until she was driven almost crazy, not having had sex for almost six weeks, so long that she'd almost forgotten she had a vagina. Her body was now striving to pull him inside her. Tom pushed her back into a stack of loose hay from broken bales and she was glad he left her unsexy close fitting wool hat on otherwise she'd never get all the dried grass out of her hair. She unbuttoned the sides of her heavy farm pants and unlaced her boots while he slobbered over her tits and face. Chest heaving and face scarlet with rising passion, Tom jerked off her boots and yanked off her trousers. Tom unzipped and pulled off his pants and underpants. Amelia began to pant as soon as she saw what was in his hand, dripping at the end. She'd rarely felt so sexually excited and couldn't keep her eyes off it: was of that really for her. She opened her legs very wide. "Come on Tommo, come on. I've often thought about you at nights. Quickly, I want it all." She pulled aside her panties and with an animalistic sound in the back of his throat Tom dropped on to her and began fiddling to get at it. Groaning in frustration, Amelia brushed his big hands away and steered it in, adjusting her angle to facilitate docking. She was lubing and the sensations as he entered and the hugely fat feeling she experienced made her mouth open and tongue flop out, not that Tom notice because his head was turned up to the roof of the barn, infested with rodent nests spiders and dust. He howled as he plunged in and out of her and Amelia defied his weight and thrust her groin back at him, swallowing excessive dribble and groaning pleasurably. Amelia imagined the heavy bulb of his cock rumbling up her vagina, withdrawing and hurrying back, sweeping secretions in front of it as it slid forward again. She came. But she wanted more and as her body super heated and Tom squeezed a tit painfully she came again and again. Finally she really climaxed and felt sated as he squirted in his semen, groaned and sunk on to her like a half-ton weight, or rather how she imagined a half-ton would feel like. With that weight, sweaty and drained of passion and finding it difficult to breathe she felt...she felt...and then the answer came to her: totally fucked. They weren't in love but then again it really wasn't carnal assault...it was just two athletic young people having a ball. Er balling. Kissing him and stroking Tom's face, she confessed, "I...can...scarcely...breath." "Oh fuck, sorry," he said, easing away, speaking for the first time for quite some time. "God that was a great fuck. I don't think I can walk." "Then stay there...I can breathe now." "It will go soft." "I'd still like it to stay inside me for another minute." "What, are you trying to get pregnant?" "No Tom, I'm protected. I was in love with you when I was thirteen to fourteen." "I remember thinking you might be." "You didn't say anything." "Too scared of your mother." "You mean my father." "No, your mother. She was the one who rode hard lines. She'd pull me back to finish grooming her horse." Amelia smiled. "Her last one was Santa Ana. You know I really don't know if that is a female name." "She named it after the wind. Are you aware Santa Ana remains on the property and foals well each season?" "She has been brought in for me to ride." Tom smiled and pushed Anita's fringe back. "Well if you ride with her straight back you'll make a wonderful sight, taking my mind back. You mother only had two real loves – you and her horses." Tom licked away her tears. CHAPTER 2 The relationship between Ella and Amelia remained guarded while that between Ella and Annie was much improved. Ella and Smithfield offered no comment went they saw Annie being picked up by someone in a car occasionally after dinner and Amelia left holding the baby or disappearing into Annie's quarters if Jimmy was asleep. If they called for coffee, Amelia would fetch it for them with a smile. After the rut in the barn Tom said that had to be the last because he didn't want to lose Lisa; she was not long pregnant. "Go into the city and find someone, he'd urged. Amelia went into the city, not to find a man but to find employment. In the way things happened she ended up with both. The city had a population of around 40,000, large enough to have job openings for someone like Amelia recently graduated with an MBA that equipped her to begin in middle management in finance with potential to branch from there in various directions. The first job hire consultancy Amelia visited offered her a form to fill out but declined to discuss job prospects locally so she withdrew and went to find the next consultancy she'd listed from the Yellow Pages. This business had a warmer atmosphere and the receptionist said, "Please pour yourself coffee miss and sit over there. I'll find who's free. A woman in her mid twenties came out with a folder that she handed to the other receptionist. She glanced at Amelia and went to walk away but turned and said, "Amelia?" Amelia examined the young woman and said, "Charlotte?" "Yes. God, you look like your late mother." She rushed around the counter and the two women hugged. The first receptionist came out and said, 'Oh Charlotte, I was looking for you – I see you have found Miss Don." "Thank you Claire. Come through Amelia, I specialize in executive placements." A formal interview followed and when completed the two women arranged to meet for lunch. Amelia met Annie with Jimmy asleep in his pram and they went to early lunch, although Amelia only had coffee. Annie was surprised to hear that Amelia was dealing with Charlotte at The Job Search Professionals. She apologized. "When you asked if I knew anyone working in job placement I didn't think of Charlotte. I went through high school with her younger sister Gwen. I just didn't think, as I knew Charlotte was in that business." "It doesn't matter Annie. I went to call Flip the other day and found I'd temporarily forgotten his name. It happens to us all and tells us what we have to look forward to when we reach seventy." Annie giggled and said it would help knowing Charlotte personally because she would try harder, perhaps calling contacts in other agencies if her agency had nothing suitable. "I'm not sure they would do that Annie because they are competitive in business." Annie went off with Jimmy still sleeping and feeling optimistic Amelia purchased two business suits but left them to have the skirts raised by three inches. She knew it was a conservative region but that didn't mean she had to fall into line and have her hems below her knees and her tops up to her chin. Charlotte came into the restaurant looking flushed and beautiful, albeit dressed conservatively. They kissed and began talking about their days at high school together. As they began on their salads, Charlotte said she'd married Alex Wilson and they had a son, aged eighteen months. Her mother was besotted with him and looked after him on week days. "Oh how wonderful. You'll make a lovely mother." "Thank you darling. I looked at your face when I said Alex Wilson but there was no reaction. I remember his older brother Dusky having a keen eye on you." "Dusky?" "His real name is Duncan." "Oh him," Amelia said rather casually, forking up carrot. "He hasn't married." Amelia's head shot up and she looked straight at Charlotte, whose eyes gleamed triumphantly. "I thought so." "That's bullshit and you know it Harlot." "God, Harlot. Charlotte the harlot. No one has called me that in years. It's lovely having you back." "Sorry, a slip back in time. I can't call you that...you are a respectable mother." "Thank you darling...my mom would die hearing that name resurface. Should I call Dusky over to join us – he's within short walking distance." "Charlotte!" "What? I was only teasing but you'll see him. You have an appointment with his father at 3:00 today. I had nothing to really match your specs so called a friend from mother's club who's with Hot Spot Employment Agency. Wilson, Monroe and LeBlanc, accountants and financial consultants, are seeking a replacement internal audit manager for the company. Wendy has made the appointment and we'll split the commission if you are engaged." "Oooh, that's good. What size are they?" "The largest in the city, having purchased or merged with their main competitors. Wendy said you'd have a staff of four, the clerical woman also acting as your PA. Wendy says if you interview well you'll get the job if your young age doesn't count against you. Ralph Wilson knows you – he coached us at ice-skating, remember?" "Oh yeah, tall, thin and with glasses." "That's him and a decade on he's scarcely changed. And his wife Hilda was a friend of your mother's." "Was she?" "Yes but don't tell Ralph you can't remember. I seem to remember Hilda rode a chestnut stallion. Just mention that if you get a chance. Employers tend to soften with dealing with job candidates when they express interests beyond the job. Do you have a horse?" "Yes, I'm riding my mother's horse." "What the dun?" "God Charlotte, your memory is much sharper than mine." "It's cultivated darling, I'm in the people business so have to concentrate on knowing about people and their interests." * * * The interview went very well. Amelia grew in confidence, knowing that. She knew she owned Charlotte and her husband a dinner out when Ralph looked quite astonished that Amelia remembered his wife rode a chestnut stallion. "She still rides him. Do you ride?" "Yes, I'm riding my late mother's horse." "What, the dun?" "Yes." "I remember photographing Hilda and your mother on their horses on several occasions. Photography was my hobby but I don't do much now." "Well you wait until the grandchildren come along." "Ah yes," Ralph said, looking at Amelia thoughtfully. The interview switched into technicalities and Ralph seemed surprised at the extent of Amelia's experience she'd amassed during the last three years of her studies. "May I call in my business partners to meet you over coffee?" "Of course. I apologize for not being in business clothes." Alex grinned. "All but one are males. They'll like you being dressed in elegant style." Duncan Wilson raced into the room. "Hello son, is there a fire? Amelia, this is my elder boy Duncan. Dusky this..." Ralph watched in surprise as his son placed a hand on the new recruit's shoulder and kissed her on the lips. She looked up and smiled at his son. "I take it you two know one another?" Ralph said dryly. "Knowing used in that sense has more than one meaning Mr Wilson. "I have not met Duncan who's now apparently Dusky since I was fourteen and that is our first kiss." "I was a class ahead of her and thought she was the greatest looking girl in the entire school but I knew her mom bred horses and folk including mom went to Kentland Farm to ride horses. Unfortunately I was never invited." "Oh you poor boy," Amelia said, patting his cheek and smiling. "You were too subtle for me; you should have asked. There was this divide between us...you were a more senior boy." "Only by one year." "Ah yes, but that's huge when you're thirteen or fourteen. I'll give you my phone number before I leave. I'd like you to come out and ride one of our horses." "I will, providing I can ride with you>" "Oh why would you want to do that?" That question wasn't answered. Other people filed into the room behind the young woman wheeling the coffee trolley. Ralph formally introduced his seven partners and finished with the dark-featured Dusky. "Dusky our newest partner went to school with Miss Don who after her exceptionally fine interview is my choice for our new internal audit manager. I have called you in because she's only going on twenty-five but her background is surprisingly good and her top qualification is first-class, a MBA from London, England. She is also registered as a financial consultant in England. Please chat to Miss Don...er Amelia...now and if anyone has reservations please discuss them with me. In my opinion, Amelia is the strongest candidate for this position by far and in my opinion she will find her choice of career path within our company. Amelia is the daughter, only child in fact, of Smithfield Don. Some of you will know him." Two hours later Amelia emerged from the HR manager's office, having completed the formalities after accepting the job offer. As she was leaving the building Dusky, who's darker features came from his mother who was part native Tahitian, raced down the exterior steps after Amelia. "Your cell phone number, remember?" "Oh yes, of course. Here, call your phone on mine and my number will be recorded as an incoming call. Add my name and put it into your phonebook and all done." "Ah, very efficient. May I call you Milly?" "No, sorry Dusky. It know it won't sound fair with me calling you Dusky but my mother simply wouldn't allow anyone calling me Milly." "Oh, that's okay. Look I don't have a steady..." "Yes Dusky, you may date me as many times as you wish. Just the once may well be the disappointment of your life." He grinned, licked his lips and said he was not excepting disappointment. "Ooooh, you randy boy. Get back to your desk and earn your money." Dusky watched her walk away. He stared at the swaying ass and wondering if the sway was being exaggerated. * * * The commercial house cleaners who came three days a week were just driving away as Amelia arrived home. She thought it was a good system and would retain them when she killed her father. Annie was excited about Amelia securing such an important job in such a short time. She hugged Amelia and then broke away embarrassed. "Annie you are my friend, not my servant. Now hug me again like a friend." "That's much better. Please get a bottle of champagne and three flutes." Although any accord had failed to develop between her and Ella, Amelia called Ella to come and join them. Ella arrived and asked what was the occasion. Amelia said she'd applied for a great start-up job and secured it within hours. "That' good, congratulations but what about me? With you away I'll be even more lonely." "I don't see how that can be. You never do anything with me despite being invited." "Well just having you here around the house and chatting noisily with Annie is something." "Sit down please Ella and celebrate with us. You do nothing around here but mope and walk around looking lonely and only buck up when my father comes home. It's not a life Ella." Smithfield Don, You're History "I know. I was hopping he'd marry me." "Yes, and what would change Ella?" "I-I. Ella looked shocked. "Yes, the empty road would remain empty Ella. You are from the big city used to your own kind of people around you. This is an isolated life out here. I'll not tell you what to do – expect drink up. Come on, let's get a little merry but not drunk as father would not approve." Two nights later after the movies Dusky Wilson was in his SUV parked under trees on the riverbank, murmuring to Amelia as her kissed her passionately, a breast out in his hand. "God Amelia, if this wasn't our first date I'd..." He stopped talking, falling on to her nipple and nipping it. "You'd what?" "Nothing." "Please fuck me Dusky. I've never been a fan of a nice girl doesn't do it on the first date convention. It's a pack of crap." "Oh Amelia. "Oh Dusky. Let me get it out. I want to suck it." "Oh Amelia." "Oh Dusky." "Oh Amelia – fuck, your touch is awesome." Amelia put her heart into it and sucked like a champion. She wanted Dusky to go home later and think nothing else but of her. She'd often wondered why people fucked in vehicles and now she knew: because it was there. After leaving Dusky with a huge smile on his face, his cum all over her tits, she pulled off her panties and sat hunched back extremely uncomfortably to life up her butt to present him with a swollen-lipped pussy. Dusky launched himself at it and had his tongue up it without seconds, but that was easier enough. When it came to fuck her he appeared all legs and elbows. Amelia made it easier for them, heaving around till her butt faced him and she lifted a leg and told him to place it over his shoulder. She then guided him in to ensure he didn't find the wrong hole. He screwed her with some difficulty and came. She didn't but lied she had, having made the appropriate noises. "Wow that was great despite this fucking awkward division between the seats. You cooperatively wonderfully." "It's my pleasure Dusky. We must get somewhere better to do this tomorrow night." "You mean you are willing to go out with me again?" "Yes Dusky. A young woman needs to be fucked regularly as you're the only guy I have around me at the moment." "At the moment? Um Amelia, can we go steady?" "Sure Dusky, providing you keep on humping me, but in comfort." Dusky had the look of a guy who'd won ten million bucks. He grinned, "What say I move in with you?" "You mean to be my fella?" "Yes, why not?" "Good. I'm an adult. I can't see my father objecting to that." CHAPTER 3 Three months after winning her job, Amelia was cruising along. Dusky was living at the farm with her, paying board, he and Tom were hitting it off well, joining the local country club and playing golf and badminton together. At work under her leadership, Amelia's team had uncovered a raft of late payments incurring unnecessarily penalty payments, five instances of unauthorized finder's fees being claimed and paid, another five instances she'd uncovered were being investigated as possible corrupt practices, the IRS has been over-paid by $16,000 during the last quarter and three junior staff had claimed and been paid for vehicle expenses allegedly involved in the commission of company business when they were desk-bound in accounts and had forged their supervisor's signature. Several thousand other documents had been examined by her department and verified as being correct. In those three months, her department had issued 123 'please explain' notices. In addition the business's management committee had been embarrassed by the findings of Amelia's review of risk management across the company's entire operations with the glaring example that the qualifications of senior personnel, including herself, had not being independently verified. When the management committee questioned whether anyone could possible fake a university degree certification Amelia asked for a twenty minute recess and when the meeting resumed the five partners on the committee were presented with authentic-looking certificates marked 'sample' indicating they had obtained their law degree from one of the most prestigious law schools in the country and each received a medical certificate, marked sample, proclaiming they had qualified to perform vasectomies. Amelia won that round and her reputation lifted a couple of notches. The board noted with some trepidation that her next major investigation would be into the effectiveness of the company's governance processes. At Kentland Farm the good was mixed with the bad. Amelia and Dusky occasionally looked after Jimmy for a whole weekend to allow Annie to have some quality time to herself. She would express enough milk for two days and Amelia and Dusky would pretend Jimmy was theirs. They'd shift into Annie's suite to lessen the upset to Jimmy and Amelia relished being back cooking again. Early in the piece she heard her father and Ella engaged in a fierce row. Ella screamed, "I don't want him in my house and nor for that matter I don't want her." He father's response was heavy-handed, "Get it into your thick head you silly bitch this is not your house and Amelia has every right to live here and I agreed to her having her boyfriend live here with her. He'd paying rent and that is more than you are doing." "Well I don't like it." "If you don't like it you know what to do about it. Now shut up." "Smithfield, I really don't..." "Ella, shut up. I'll not tell you that again." A long silence followed. That exchange led to Ella totally ignoring Dusky and Ella only just managing to be polite to Annie. She was back to being rude to Annie. "I'm not bothering to speak to Ella again about her rudeness to you Annie. I predict she'll leave permanently and very soon. She's burning up inside." Two days later Ella shifted out. No one was around to help her take her possessions down stairs to load into the cab or to say goodbye. From that moment the atmosphere of the house seem to lighten and its occupants smiled more. * * * At last the day came that Amelia had wanted, perfect conditions for her task. It was Saturday morning. Flip was tied up outside the woodshed. Her father was working in his study. Dusky was out some miles away. Bethany was tutoring him on controlling his mount when riding along a busy road. Tom was painting the kitchen in his house. Annie and Jimmy had gone to mother's club. The mid-sized bull was in a pasture alone, the other two were running free with the older line of heifers. Perfect. Amelia unchained Flip and taking a heavy piece of hosepipe used when slapping the bulls along when they dawdled along the track when the heifers gathered at the fence beside them. She went to where the sole bull was grazing, going on the far side on a line of trees so anyone looking up the slope from Tom's house would not see her She entered the bulls' enclosure. The bull was black-haired around the head and brisket and tapering out from straight brown to golden curls to the rear from its fore-shoulders. It looked ugly to Amelia who recalled Tom saying it weight about 1600 lbs, so was no lightweight. She positioned halfway down the side fence and sent Flip in to run it up to the top end of the enclosure and down again and after several repeats Flip was enjoying the game but the bull clearly wasn't, attempting several times to toss Flip but was far too slow. The ground was already broken up where it was running because the bulls were always trotting up and down that fence line when heifers were in that next pasture. The bull began sweating and snorting. When they came up the hill once move Amelia moved. The bull saw her and began trotting towards her, sniffing and snorting, it's tail held high. Heart racing, Amelia knew it was still not charging. She moved out from the fence a bit more and the bull began a low roar, tossed its head around and then fixed on her and increased its gait. She turned side on and whacked the ground heavily with the hosepipe. She had no idea whether that would work and was ready to hastily climb and vault over the gate behind her. But the bull veered at right angles. It was just as she'd hoped. She called Flip in to drive the bull forward and Flip gleefully moved in and got the bull into a gallop. It failed in its attempt to leap the fence but crashed over, breaking the three top wires and the electrified wire braced out from it on short battens nailed to posts. Amelia called Flip to heel and the bull immediately calmed and it began sniffing at the rear-ends of heifers. Amelia hurried back home, again taking the route behind the trees. She chained up Flip and rewarded him with biscuits. After drinking water in the kitchen, Amelia ran up to the study. "Dad, dad," she called. "One of the bulls is in with the young heifers. Should I call Tom?" "No, I need a break. I'll down and get him out. Flip's here isn't he?" "Yes." "I'll lure him with the sight of some meat. Once he realizes I want the bull out of there he'll work for me. I'll take my stockwhip. You stay here, you're only get in the way." "I'll call Tom to help you." "No, I'll only do that if I can't get him out by myself." Smithfield rode off on his farm bike, Flip refusing to jump up on to the rear freight tray but running alongside because he could see and probably smell the meat. Three minutes later, sweating and feeling ill at ease in being aware she'd set up her father's possible death from a bull being riled and then being denied the prospect of mounting more heifers, Amelia was horrified to see Flip trotting back with the meat and turn into the woodshed. That wasn't supposed to happen. She'd decided she ought to give her father a chance and have Flip with him. Flip might take on the bull and give her father a chance. Oh god. Perhaps her father was good with the whip and the bull, being able to mate after finding a few of the heifers ready, might wander back calmly and her father would call out Tom to repair the fence. She grabbed her phone and called Tom. "I was out walking when I saw the cream bull was in with the heifers. I came back and told dad. He said not to call you and went down with his whip and with Flip but three minutes later Flip was back here." "It should be all right providing you father works the bull patiently. I'll take a look and give you a call." Within five minutes Tom called. Amelia, don't come down here. Something terrible has happened. It's your father...he's dead. I'm calling the police." "I'm coming..." Amelia threw down her phone and could here Tom calling, "Amelia don't...please don't." She burst into tears and began running. She felt happy beyond belief. No doubt Tom would call Lisa to stop her but Lisa would have no show. She wanted to see her father's battered body and the bull mounting heifers to end his day before the police shot him. Poor bull, poor baddy. She cried hard as she had to arrive greatly distressed to look the part of a genuinely grieving daughter. She was happy, remembering she'd given her father a chance anyway. She'd decided earlier if this attempt failed she wouldn't attempt again. Lisa was standing in the middle of the track, holding her arms out. Amelia feinted to her left and Lisa went that way, allowing Amelia to run around her other side. Although gasping for breath she heard Lisa say, "Tom, the bitch was too fast and too smart for me. She got around me." Well, that was smart of Lisa to be already talking to Tom and now had got back to him fast. Amelia believed her mother would see what Amelia saw: she had to get to the body. Amelia came to the top of the rise and saw Tom just mounting his farm bike. He rode towards her, waving her back. She figured she needed to keep to her right on the track, as Tom would dismount as usual on his right side. He'd plan to run around and grab her. She ran fast down the slope but slowed and then stopped as he reached her. They looked at each other but did not speak. As he lifted his left leg to pull it over the seat behind him Amelia kicked him in the hip. Because Tom was holding on to the handlebars with his right foot braced on the ground practically under the bike he fell almost straight down and the bike fell over him. "You fucking bitch," he yelled. "You can't see him; I don't want you to see him." Her fallen father was not far beyond the gate. The bull must have spotted him and charged instantly. She looked at him, at the dreadful sight of a man crushed beyond easy recognition. Amelia vomited, wiped her mouth and stood looking at him. "You made a terrible mistake mama. You should have just shot him rather than yourself and that other woman. Probably by now you'd be out of jail and once again being around me as my mother. Well, he's paid for his treachery in a horrible death. Sorry I have taken so long to avenge you." "Amelia, Amelia," Tom said, taking her into her arms. EPILOGUE Smithfield Donald Don was declared to have met his death by misadventure, the victim being pummeled to death by a bull that police destroyed. The deceased's interest in his legal firm were purchased by existing partners and the proceeds went to his sole beneficiary, Amelia Carol Don as did Kentland Farm and all his other possessions. Amelia transferred the intellectual property rights of the horse stud to Bethany Webb who signed an agreement to lease the stables and pastures used by the horses for five years with right of renewal for another five years. Those 109 acres were subdivided into a separate title. During the reading of the will the attorney handed Amelia a sealed envelop marked, 'To Amelia, to be read when alone'. The note simply stated, 'Thomas Roan Richardson is your half brother'. It was unsigned but clearly was in her father's handwriting. The remaining farm was almost tripled in size with Amelia buying a neighboring property, using money inherited from numerous investments. She went through the legalities and paying all costs in setting up a partnership with Tom Richardson to own and operate the two properties, consolidated under the one title. She simple stated to Tom "This is what my father will have wanted" without offering any explanation. He simply had to pay Amelia $100 to received his half share of the land and accept responsibility to run it as a business. Tom hired a married man who took over his house while Tom and Lisa, by then heavily pregnant, moved to the modern home on the newly acquired farm. Dusky and the now pregnant Amelia married two months ago and live in the Kentland homestead. The room where Amelia's mother killed herself is now her study. On Friday Dusky and Amelia will attend a farewell dinner for partners at which managing partner Ralph Wilson will announce Amelia will replace retiring partner Ashton Wright. Amelia will become the company's senior financial adviser. Amelia had decided to take her secret about the death of her father to her grave. She feels no remorse; she's just glad she put away the beast on behalf of her mother. THE END