Del
saw her in the ring, tall, slender, narrow hipped. Her mane of blonde
hair was thick and long he had never seen hair so thick,
so blonde. Blonde eyebrows he knew, he couldn't see them from this
distance. A profile like no other.
Benjamin
was directing her gait. Benjamin's crop helped her keep her spine
straight, shoulders back, just a touch of the crop, not a stroke
to remind her. At least not now.
He
heard a sniffle behind him, turned and went to his charge, hobbled,
a damn paint. He wondered why the Colonel always gave him goddamn
paints. More trouble than they were worth.
Penny's
front hooves were in the hobble, an iron shackle with a center ring.
Her collar was held in the ring, chin an inch from her thumbs.
He
turned, watched the one in the pen, Benjamin's charge, Misty. The
blonde one. He shook his head. Not a goddamned paint.
He
prodded Penny with his boot. "Think you can do it now?"
She
whinnied. Her tail swished, stroking the back of her thighs.
Why
couldn't she be blonde?
He
knelt and unlocked the shackle from her wrists, leaving it attached
to her neck.
Spontaneous.
For some reason the word spontaneous popped in his mind. So he did
spontaneous.
"Stand."
He rose, stepped back.
Penny
as almost as tall as him. Not slender like Misty. Not a blonde dream
like Misty.
She
tottered back on her heels, the iron shackle jangled from her neck.
She faced straight ahead, didn't look at him.
"Step,"
he said.
She
moved her right foot forward.
"Step."
Her
left foot came even with her right foot.
"Step."
She was doing it all wrong. Bad conformation. Sliding her feet instead
of stepping. She leaned forward.
"Step."
Her
skin was red where it wasn't covered by the geometric cross hatches
of thick black paint. Across her face.
"Step."
Across
her body, breasts, tummy, at least that was flat, ass, legs, fingers.
"Step."
All
wrong.
"You're
doing it all wrong. Look over there. Watch the blonde."
Aw
come on, for chrissakes. He took her arms and swiveled her upper
body until her legs moved. Her arms were surprisingly slender. He
let go. "Watch her, dammit, and learn something."
A
tear slowly dripped down her cheek. She squeezed her eyes shut,
opened them.
He
watched Misty. Benjamin was always quick with the bridle. Misty
looked good but he wondered if Benjamin wasn't making a mistake
being so quick. Looking good was not important in the long run.
He wanted more than looking good which was maybe why the Colonel
gave him the paints.
The
triangle rang out in from the bunkhouse. Cookie had lunch ready.
The noise in the yard changed as the hands got their charges ready.
Benjamin led Misty back to the stable. He saw Misty butt Benjamin's
back playfully, didn't bother looking around to see if the Colonel
saw.
He
had more important concerns right now. He took a shackle and led
Penny to the corral, told her to stay and went to his kit, the painted
wood box by the stable door. He could hear the hands and their charges
inside. He rummaged, found the bottle of sunblock and carried it
back.
She
swayed stiffly as he covered her with the lotion. He didn't say
a word; she didn't whinny, fine by him, damn paint. He set the bottle
in the dust by his feet, led her by the shackle to the post.
"Kneel,"
he said.
She'd
done this so many times, he didn't need to adjust her position.
She'd worn two depressions in the ground where her knees went. He
pressed her forward so her chest touched the post, chin on top.
He wrapped her arms around the post and the crosspiece and shackled
them, left hoof by her right breast, right hoof by her left breast.
He
flexed her fingers out so he could check them. Her hooves needed
to be painted; they were cracking in the dry dust. He didn't know
which was worse, mud or dust.
He
gave her shoulder a pat and left her. He was hungry, he couldn't
wait to get out of the hot sun, sit down and eat.
He
never looked out the bunkhouse window to check on his paints at
lunchtime. What happened to them wasn't his concern. Sometimes he
heard one of his paints cry out. That's what happened to paints.
He
used his biscuit to sop gravy on the plate while he organized his
mind. He flipped open the memo book and set down the biscuit. He
wasn't sure how many rings he wanted when he set up a place of his
own. Next year maybe. He might have enough money then. He wasn't
planning on hiring extra help; he didn't know anyone who'd do a
proper job.
Two
rings maybe. A corral. A stable. Close to the house. He might have
enough to only be able to build the stable first, that and the corral.
He could live in the stable. Two stalls, tack room, place for feed
and the carts. Maybe a second floor for an office and apartment.
He
had a piece of land already picked out, not near here. Not near
the city. The Colonel had them coming from all over. England, Argentina.
All over. Maybe he should learn Spanish, enough for him to get by.
Marge
never truly understood his dream. A place of their own. When he
finished a job it would be he, not the Colonel, who got the check,
the bonus, and the appreciation.
He
closed his memo book. He remembered how happy the customer was last
year after that particularly long and drawn out job. That was Loosa.
He couldn't believe it when they called him over, showed him his
new charge when she first came in. Loosa had paint written all over
her. Six months later a complete change had taken place. He hadn't
broken her in; he'd transformed her. The tip for that one went straight
to the bank and he was a step closer to his dream.
He
heard the crunch of tires outside the bunkhouse. The Colonel and
his little zip buggy. Goddamn thing was electric so you couldn't
hear it until the Colonel was right on top of you.
If
he were the Colonel he'd use a cart. Get them started right away.
Use them for godsakes. They needed to be doing more than just running
circles in the rings.
He
checked his watch. Almost time. The Colonel didn't come in here
which meant the Colonel got distracted. He heard Penny scream.
Oh
well. She wouldn't be good for much until later.
He
left the bunkhouse and sure as shooting there was the Colonel and
a couple of the hands trying out the paint. He kept in the shade,
leaned against the wall and waited. What he wanted to see was Misty,
not a goddamned paint getting her ass reamed. He could see Penny's
tail in the dust by their feet.
He'd
do things differently. Not that the Colonel ran a slack operation.
It was tight. But . . . He dug in his jeans pocket for
a packet of gum. When he got home sometimes all he wanted to do
was open a six pack, put his feet up in front of the TV and be mindless
like nothing mattered, not Marge's chattering in the kitchen, not
goddamned paints.
That's
right Benjamin. Misty's not enough for you; you have to fuck the
paint's face.
He
couldn't watch any more. He walked over to the washhouse, checked
to make sure everything he needed was there. It wasn't of course.
He went to the stable and found the spreader bar tossed on a pile
of hay. He picked it up, stood by Misty's stall and looked in. Just
for a minute.
She
lay on her side, still in her bridle. He shook his head. He knew
she needed to get used to it but . . . She looked like
she was sleeping.
Some
came to them shaven, some not. Misty was shaved all over, except
for her mane. His paint was shaggy. He liked them that way at first.
The shaggier the better. So many knots in the mane the only thing
he could do was shave them all over.
It
was a process. Not all the hands knew that. There wasn't a book
you went by. When it was time for the next step you went there.
He
wondered what it would be like if he kept one for a couple of years.
He was just getting started when they left, even the ones who'd
been his charges for six months or more. A long time. Misty had
been here three weeks and look at her. It was a waste in a way.
Not so most of the owners would ever know it. They wanted show ponies.
He was after the real thing. Six months and Penny and he would just
be started.
He
carried the spreader bar out the big doors of the stable, past the
post. The Colonel was telling war stories to the new hand.
A
shame. He carried the spreader bar to the washhouse, set it against
the wall near the sink. He spit out his gum into the trashcan. Checked
his watch. Fifteen minutes more and then he'd get her for her bath
whether they were done with her or not.
Once
he caught two kids who'd snuck onto the property. They were scared
as hell he'd do something to them. He just led them back to the
road, opened the gate and showed them through. "Don't come
back," he told them. He smiled then. "Unless you're serious."
Cute
little fillies. Such big brown eyes. He wasn't sure how old they
were. Thirteen. Fifteen. Twenty-two. Once he reached a certain age
they all looked alike. Damned young.
They
scampered off. He almost wished he'd catch them sneaking on the
property again. Almost.
He
wondered if he couldn't take a few free ones, ones like the fillies,
and spend some time on them. It'd be a big chance. All that work
and no money coming in.
He
wondered if the Colonel got offers from girls. Not just approached
by owners but by the girls themselves. He wondered once he was set
up on his own if he couldn't take one or two on for speculation.
Maybe three or four stalls in the stable. Two paying, one or two
for speculation. Could he handle it all on his own?
He
checked his watch. Time's up.
He
left the washhouse. Only one was with Penny. The Colonel had left.
The Colonel. It helped him to remember the Colonel was a light colonel,
not a full bird. And nothing really serious. Supplies, logistics,
something like that. Well away from any front line.
John
finished in Penny's throat, holding her head close to him as she
bucked, fought for air. John winked at him then let her head go
and stood back. She choked as drool and stuff poured out of her
open mouth.
He
watched Misty in the ring as Penny composed herself. Benjamin didn't
really challenge Misty. Just let her run herself dizzy. Still, she
looked beautiful. She really did.
He
looked down at Penny. Her eyes were averted. The post top was wet
with her drool, her cheeks were flushed, her mouth red.
"Good
girl," he said.
She
exhaled and her eyes watched him as he unlocked the shackle. She
didn't face him, just her eyes. He thought he saw the beginnings
of a grin on her face. Damn paint.
He
drew her up by the shackle connected to her collar. He dropped the
iron shackle, hot from the sun, bent, picked up her tail and swished
it against his leg to get as much dust out of it as possible.
"Open,"
he said.
She
opened her mouth. Her lips trembled, her whole body trembled slightly.
He held the tail plug so she could grip it with her teeth.
He
heard a whoosh and turned. Misty stumbled then regained her gait,
leaning slightly to the side that had been whipped. Benjamin liked
to mark them.
Penny
followed him to the washhouse while he wondered if he could arrange
with Benjamin . . . just ten minutes. He held the door
open for his paint whose eyes watched him as she passed.
He
stood her in the spot over the drain. He left the shackles connected
to her collar, they needed a wash too, and the tail in her mouth.
He turned on the spigot, aimed the hose at her and pulled the trigger.
She
fell back a step then returned to her position as the water hit
her. He sprayed her all over, watched the paint peel in places from
her skin leaving white patches against the open red areas.
"All
fours," he said pointing the hose to the floor.
She
knelt and fell forward as he walked around her directing the blast
of water at stubbornly dirty spots. He released the trigger and
dropped the hose to the cement floor.
It
was cooler in here, shady. It was dark when they first walked in,
now it was lighter as his eyes grew used to it. The open windows
let in a breeze from the southeast. In the winter it was damn cold
in here, almost ice. His charges weren't so quiet then.
He
picked up a bucket filled with soapy water and a brush. He carried
the bucket to her, set it on the floor by her left shoulder. Like
clockwork. Left shoulder and arm. Face and head. Right shoulder
and arm. Back. Right leg and ass cheek. Left leg and ass cheek.
A firm scrub up the center of her universe then he made her roll
onto her back and he started all over again. Like clockwork.
"Drop
it," he said.
She
released the tail to fall with a thud and a clatter to the floor.
He tossed it to the side. He unfastened the shackles from her collar,
carried them to a hook on the wall to dry. He left the key in one
of the shackles for the next user. If only everyone . . .
Why start on that.
He
knelt by her, jeans knees on the wet floor. There was no way he'd
stay dry if he did it right. He lifted the scrub brush out of the
bucket and tapped the wood back against the bucket rim.
He
scrubbed her shoulder and upper arm. Her body moved as he scrubbed
her. Most of the paint came off as he cleaned her. He lifted her
hoof and scrubbed her nails carefully, between her fingers, then
up her arm.
Sometimes
he wished there was music. He held her face as he scrubbed her jaw
and cheek with the brush. He held her mane out of the way and did
her forehead. He used his fingers to clean her ears and around her
eyes and mouth. Her eyes were closed because of the soap but she
managed to quickly kiss his finger before he got it out of the way.
Other
arm, other hoof, then her back and right leg as he crawled around
her. He paid particular attention to the center of her universe,
first with the brush which made her jump. As if this were the first
time and she was the first one. Then he cleaned her carefully with
his fingers.
When
he was back to the spot he started at he told her to turn over.
She rolled onto her back and inched her way to him, spread-eagled.
He
stood up, went to the sink and dumped the dirty water into it. He
rinsed out the brush, filled the bucket with clean water and added
soap. He could just see Misty through the window when she was at
the east end of the ring. She wasn't fresh like this morning. It
was hot outside; she was in the sun. She held herself properly but
he could see she wasn't lifting her feet as high as she had earlier.
He saw her jump as she entered his view. Benjamin must be getting
cranky.
He
carried the bucket over to Penny, set it down and knelt. He held
her mane as he scrubbed her shoulders. He had to use his free hand
to hold her skin taut over her breasts as he scrubbed each one.
He could almost feel her firm erect nipples as the brush passed
over them.
He
couldn't allow himself to get bored. A moment's inattention and
weeks worth of work would be wasted. He drew his free hand over
the edge of her ribcage as he scrubbed her stomach. That she could
hold firm for him, not like her breasts which had a mind of their
own.
He
felt her cunt; it was still slippery. Penny was just that way. Each
one of them was different.
He
was tired. After he'd rinsed her off he'd get a cup of coffee; a
carrot for her. It always surprised him how he'd be mad as hell
at them and halfway through the day he'd start liking them.
He
carried the bucket to the sink, emptied it and rinsed out the brush.
He set the bucket under the sink, the brush on its wood back on
the sink's edge. He couldn't see Misty at all out the window even
though he waited for several minutes. For some reason the image
of Misty's shaved cunt popped into his mind. Long and delicate,
not fat and juicy as some. The lips were rounded, not pointed, lush.
They promised riches underneath ready to burst forth. He could almost
feel it.
He
walked back to Penny, picked up the hose. "Stand," he
said.
She
stood, eyes still closed, rose carefully, knees and fingers leaving
the floor as she rose. She held her arms away from her body, feet
spread.
He
pointed the hose at her and pulled the trigger. As he rinsed her
she turned slowly. Some things she knew automatically, others she
had to be told and be clumsy as hell at the same time. Like walking.
He
wondered when she'd stop her game, or this part of her game. She
damn well knew how to walk. Maybe not like Misty but not a bum's
shuffle either. He painted her body with the force of the water.
It dimpled her skin where it hit. The white gridlines, the red squares.
Her soft breasts, the firm flesh of her calves. He turned off the
water, coiled the hose, felt her eyes on him. He dropped the hose
to the floor by the spigot, tried to see Misty through the window
there but couldn't. All he could see was the new one, John's charge,
and someone else; he couldn't keep all their names straight.
He
turned to Penny who knelt on the cement floor, hands offering her
breasts, mouth open, eyes bright.
"Watch
it, sweet cakes." He muttered, "I need a cup of coffee."
Her
eyes followed him as he walked past. He gave her shoulder a pat,
tried to prepare himself for the bright outdoors. He opened the
door, winced, shut the door behind him.
He
went to the bunkhouse ignoring the owner's look at his wet clothes.
Didn't recognize this one; he must have brought a new girl. The
Colonel was telling war stories, making that godawful laugh of his.
He
didn't see Misty. Maybe a year more of this, then a place of his
own.
He'd
get Cookie to quarter an apple for the paint. An apple and a carrot
for her while he drank his coffee.
Go
to the next chapter.
Ponygirls
Page
Chapter 1 | Chapter
2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter
4
Chapter 5 | Chapter
6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter
8
Chapter 9 | Chapter
10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter
12
|