John and Argent by cmsix

Chapter 34

We were only at the table drinking coffee for a few minutes when my mates and most of the other women from this side of the canyon came in to cook something for lunch. As usual it made me feel better at once. Raalto joined us and Jareena brought him a mug of coffee.

"I want to thank you all for abandoning me to my fate with my mates and most of yours also. I especially want to thank you John for pointing out that I had plenty of room in my new bed for another mate or two." Raalto said facetiously.

"You are welcome Raalto, after all, what are friends for?" I asked.

"You can be sure that I will be keeping an eye on your bed from now on, I've been told that it can grow, though I don't understand how. If it does grow you can be sure that I will be one of the first to mention it." Raalto said.

"As a matter of fact I already have another mate in mind and she has already agreed. I'm also planning a trip for mate hunting. I won't leave until after Racaato has made a dent in my debt to Barbo's camp though." I said.

"Where do you plan to go looking for mates John?" Georgo asked.

"I do not want to mention it yet but I think that all of you will be surprised."

"I have not been here very long but you seem to have daily surprises already." Colonto said.

Conversation died down then since the women began bringing our lunch. I was glad for an end to the talk I had started. It had just slipped out somehow. I did intend to make a trip to the camp of the other people in search of a mate from among them but I hadn't meant to tell everyone else about it. I don't think I had even mentioned it to my mates yet.

After we ate everyone dispersed to help with the unpacking. My mates were anxious to help Reeana and Jareena bring all their things to the new quarters. My wranglers were back now and since they weren't really needed to help unloading I took them to the pens with me to continue with the training. We were able to get all the horses that would stand tied to lead, even Rockhead, the one that had balked earlier. The thirst must have been bothering her and when she finally figured out that I was leading the others for a drink she gave up and followed me.

Time passed fast while we were working and sunset was upon us as I got the last of eight more mares tied to the snubbing post. We left all the others that had already had that training tied to the fence and then opened the gates to let the foals back in. I'm sure they felt that they were being deprived during their time away from their mother's teats.

We left after that and went looking for food. After eating it was a short night and I was happy to find a place among my mates for some rest.

The next morning, after breakfast, all our attention focused on helping Raalto's group get started on their trip. I kept Danlo and Jonoco here this time but sent Sahto, Talvo and Nadlo on the journey. Danlo had wanted to go but I thought he needed more work training the horses. Raalto would have been all right without Nadlo too, but I had plans for Melieta. I told myself that it wasn't because Nadlo had tried something with Jaada but that was probably part of it.

Another part of it was that Melieta seemed to really appreciate my attentions in bed and I know I liked her pussy. She was doing her best to learn the fine art of cocksucking too. I would have to try and figure out a little trip that included Nadlo and Natalto so I could have Cahttiea available to teach Melieta some of her expert techniques. Cahttiea gave by far the best blowjob I'd ever had.

Raalto had left Jareena and Reeana here again so I was looking forward to the night's fun and games when they joined my mates, Melieta, Jaiya and me. Their naked asses had looked especially good under their Wilma dresses this morning and my dick had been hard since Jareena rubbed hers against me when she brought me my coffee.

After Raalto had gone, the riding lessons for the women were on again, and once we had them started Jonoco, Danlo and I got back to it with the wild horses. Everyone kept at it all day, except for a small break for lunch. Later in the afternoon Dieta, Maia and Merita were even able to get started teaching some of the men to ride.

Supper was a treat tonight since I started early. Most of the men that usually ate with me were still riding since I had left the finishing up for Danlo and Jonoco. Jareena, Melieta and Reeana seemed to be the designated servers for me and when they brought me something they didn't hurry off before I got a chance to examine their asses and other nether areas using the Braille system. Dicky was throbbing alarmingly before the other men even came in to eat.

After the meal, when I was alone with my mates and our overnight guest, I suggested another good soaking in the hot tub.

"Good, will you wash our hair for us again?" Jareena asked.

"I want my hair washed this time too, the last time you washed my hair I was still unmated." Melieta said.

"Me too, I want to get the full treatment this time." Jaiya added.

"Do you remember what almost happened when you washed my hair before?" Melieta asked.

"I remember. Why do you ask?" I asked her, recalling how she had nearly settled in for an assfucking last time.

"I was thinking that I might want to try that again. You told me that it might hurt but it didn't feel bad that time." Melieta said.

"Yes but we didn't really do it." I pointed out.

"I still think that I would like to try it. Can we try?" She asked.

"If you want to we can."

That was all that I had time to say. The others, all except for Jaiya who knew what we were talking about, burst into questions for Melieta. She was embarrassed immediately and blushed crimson. I headed toward the bathroom and called over my shoulder that they were wasting time asking and could see for themselves soon enough if they would just come on.

I made sure to get some lube before I entered the big tub. My mates joined me and soon we were groping anything we could reach. I pulled Melieta into my lap and after getting her hair wet I put shampoo in it and started on the lathering.

Jareena and Reeana came over and tried their hands in the soapy lather as I put mine to teasing Melieta's titties and playing in her bush. She was squirming and wiggling against my hard dick after only a few minutes.

"I am ready to try it now John." She said shortly.

"Then put your hands on the side and kneel with your butt toward me." I instructed.

"We didn't do it that way last time." She pointed out.

"Do it Melieta, you will like it and we will be able to see what this surprise is." Geera encouraged her.

Melieta assumed the position and I got the lube. I eased up behind Melieta and pressed my dick to her pussy's entrance, sliding it home slowly.

"That isn't it John." Melieta moaned.

"Patience little one. It will come soon enough." I told her, taking time to begin stroking.

I took a big glob of lube and worked it into the split between her cute buns. She shivered when I began teasing her rosebud with a slippery finger and she gasped slightly as I pressed a finger into her ass. I pushed it further and then matched the rhythm of my fucking.

This action heated her considerably and it was working wonders on Dieta too. She had her face nearly up against Melieta's ass for a bird's eye view.

"Oh. He is going to fuck her other hole." Dieta announced.

This brought comments from all the others and they gathered around to examine the process.

"Won't that hurt?" Jaada asked.

"I don't know. I will try to be as gentle as I can but it still might hurt at first. Be sure to tell me if you want me to stop Melieta." I said.

"If it hurts I will tell you but I am ready for you to try it now." Melieta said.

I pulled dicky out of her warm pussy and pressed his head against her asshole. She sucked in a breath as I put pressure against it and I held still.

"It feels so big but it doesn't hurt yet. Go ahead." Melieta said.

I pushed more firmly and the head popped inside her sphincter. She gasped again and I held still with my dick throbbing unmercifully. The view I had was maddening. I wanted to just shove it in with all my strength but I didn't dare.

"I feel so stretched back there but it still doesn't hurt." Melieta told us.

I pushed harder and began to slide in slowly then I felt Melieta begin pushing back against me. I pulled back and pressed again and the tight friction gave me a thrill. She still wasn't complaining so I started a slow shallow stroking, pressing a little more firmly each time and my dick began to burrow deeper and deeper into her sweet ass.

"It doesn't hurt me John, it is starting to feel good even." Melieta sighed.

Emboldened, I pressed it to her harder and she pushed back against me more firmly each time.

"It doesn't hurt. It feels good now. Do it harder." Melieta whimpered.

"You told me that you were going to do that to me too. It looks better than it sounded." Dieta whispered low in her throat.

Always easy to arouse, Dieta couldn't resist joining in. She pulled Melieta's head up by a handful of her wet hair and kissed her lips fiercely. Then she released Melieta's hair and moved her lips to the hollow of Melieta's throat and began fondling the wildly swinging titties.

All this action was getting to me also and I began to pump Melieta's asshole forcefully now. Since I now knew that I was firing real ammo I wanted to save it for the next pussy I was in, just in case. There was no chance of that though. I felt the tingling start under my balls as I pounded harder. The end was coming soon so I gave Melieta's clitty a reach around and slid a finger up into her empty pussy too.

I yelled out as my cum started and Melieta moaned as she hit her peak. The others were all crowding around now reaching in for a fondle here or a kiss and nibble there while I slowed my stroking and began to pant for breath. Seemed my first ass fuck in this time and place had been a big success.

Just like with any good thing they all wanted one now. Shit I had to rest a minute. After withdrawing a shrinking dick I sat back down to let the bubble jets provide a little soothing. When Melieta rose I reached and pulled her to me, sitting her in my lap to kiss and cuddle her and tell her how good it was for me.

"I loved it. It seemed so wrong but it felt right, it was wonderful." She told me as she still panted.

Later as I got my wind back they were all vying for the next ride. Even with Argent's modifications to my dick, I knew that I couldn't give them all a good ass fucking tonight. I made sure that those that might be headed for their own beds tomorrow night got the chance they all wanted. Surprisingly it didn't turn out to be a chore. No matter how worked up or worn out I got the sight of another beautiful round ass pointed at me and wiggling seemed to bring dicky back to life every time. I was tired by the time we called it quits though.

It had all been worth it since my mates and the others were very solicitous of my welfare when we headed to bed. I got plenty of kissing and cuddling as we settled down to sleep.

I don't know why but I woke probably two hours before sunrise. Somehow I was able to get out of the bed without rousing anyone else. I crept into the bathroom and took a quick shower then dried and dressed and made my own coffee for once. My only company while I sat and drank the first mug came from Prince, King and Rover. It was a little funny that I had made it such a priority to capture them when I first came here but now Maia and Merita were looking after them and the younger wolves I'd caught later and I didn't really have much time for my substitute dogs. They were doing exactly what I'd hoped they would though. We were never bothered by pesky varmints. I guess just having the wolves staying with us, exploring all around and pissing on everything that smelled interesting kept the animal sneak thieves away.

Being alone for a change let my mind wander a little and I started thinking of the situation I found myself in. It really was a wonderful life. Not like the old movie but even better. There were no problems in the world or no big ones. I was master of my fate and it had turned out that I was master of the fates of many. The advantages given to me by Argent and company were a big part of it and the knowledge I had acquired that those around me would never know made me more able to take care of them and myself.

It wasn't that they lacked intelligence, what they lacked was the benefit of thousands of years of accumulated wisdom. The intelligence and the trial and error of millions who came after them and before me gave me advantages that no single man could ever accumulate.

Did I feel guilty? Was I taking advantage of the situation? No, I didn't feel guilty and yes I was taking advantage. If I was hurting anyone in the process, I didn't know about it. I thought that I was being fair in my dealings with my people and I believed that what I was doing was helping them. When it came down to it though, I didn't really have a choice in the matter. My last real decision had been to let Argent put me here instead of letting cancer put me in the ground to push up daisies or whatever dead people had to do.

That was enough of that kind of thinking for me. I refilled my mug and walked outside with the wolves following me. They lost interest in my company when we got outside and occupied themselves sniffing of and pissing on every bush or tree that caught their interest while I headed toward the horses.

Approaching the pens I heard some of the horses snort as they picked up my smell or heard my footsteps. When I came into sight I could see their eyes following my movement. Those that had been trained and worked already didn't pay much attention to me. The ones that were in the process of being trained kept watchful eyes on me though. Perhaps they were wondering what new indignity I would heap on them today.

Aside from the few soft noises they made it was quiet outside. The sky was clear and though I was no astronomer I could easily tell the difference between the night sky now and the one from my time. I didn't know shit about what star was where but it was easy to see the difference in clarity of the view. Thousands of years of smoke and fumes really had obscured it. When it came down to the fact of my situation I was a hell of a lot better off here than I had been way back when.

I got an odd feeling and then Argent appeared near me. It surprised me because it was the first time I'd seen him in person since just before they put me here.

"Hello John." He said.

"Hello. I woke up very early and decided to take a look around while everything was peaceful." I said.

"It is very different from the life you left isn't it?" He asked.

"Yes, different; and better for me. I like my life here much better than the one I left."

"Good, we had hoped you would." He said.

"I don't suppose you dropped in to tell me what this is all about did you?"

"No. Does it really matter so much to you?" Argent asked.

"Not anymore. I thought it did at first but now I don't think that it does. I like it here no matter the reason. I hope you are gaining something from the experiment, I know that I am."

"It is more than we could have ever hoped for. Just continue with your life here and do as you see fit. We are more than pleased." He assured me and then disappeared.

I didn't want to get started speculating about the reason for all this. It really didn't matter to me anymore. I would be mad as hell if some 'gotcha' showed up later.

I went back to my cave and found Dalia and Shelalliea cooking.

"Where have you been John?" Dalia asked.

"Just out looking around. It is very quiet and peaceful before anyone else is up."

"We were worried that you might have gone away." Shelalliea said.

"I will never leave you if I have any say in the matter." I assured them.

"You are not angry because you had to make your own coffee or wait for your breakfast?" Dalia asked.

"Not a bit. I don't expect everyone to wait on me hand and foot. I don't mind when you do but I don't demand it. I will never be angry for waiting on my breakfast, I will always just be grateful when it comes."

"Well be grateful then because here it is." Shelalliea said as she brought my plate and Dalia brought more coffee.

"I am grateful for the food, I am grateful for the coffee and I am grateful for two beautiful asses to feel when it comes to me." I told them as I gave each of their asses a little grope.

I ate slowly and I seemed to be in an odd mood, almost as if what I did didn't matter. It seemed that everything went my way now no matter what I got up too. In fact everything had gone pretty smoothly for me since I got here. Well except for Gigo and Dergo getting killed. That hadn't seemed like such a good deal at the time. It had given me four more mates and I had to admit that I liked their company more than I had enjoyed Gigo and Dergo. Maybe I just needed more coffee to perk me up.

Georgo and Ladeliea came in then.

"What has you up and about so early Georgo?"

"I don't really know. I woke up about an hour ago and couldn't get back to sleep. I feel a little guilty since my tossing and turning woke Ladeliea." He said.

"You aren't nervous about getting two more mates are you?"

"No, it isn't that. It may be that I am anxious to be mated to them. I know that Ladeliea is." He said.

"You should be able to leave to seek one of the other shaman tomorrow, or the next day at least."

"It will probably be the next day. I doubt that Raalto and his group will be back today." He said.

"You are probably right. It seems as if someone or group is off somewhere all the time now. I hope we can settle down soon."

"Things have been busy. I will probably be gone three or four days when I leave. How long is Racaato going to stay with Barbo's camp?" He asked.

"Actually he could be gone only one night. It depends on how many bison Barbo's camp can deal with at one time. I am going to ask him to stay and hunt for them as long as it is productive though. Maybe he'll just get a few the first day so they can see what it involves having so many kills to deal with at once."

"That will probably be best. If I know Racaato he will want to make all the kills he can." Georgo said.

Our talk died down then since Ladeliea brought him his plate. The sun was just peaking out now so I went back toward the horse pens. I was hoping to be mostly through with the new bunch today, through with teaching them to lead that is. Gentling them and starting to ride them would come next but it would take a lot longer. I had some ideas about a mass production approach to that chore too. It would require all my wranglers to do it though. Hopefully the others would be back by tomorrow at the latest.

I spent the day with the horses. With the help of Danlo, Jonoco, Merita, Maia and Delia we had all of them leading, after a fashion, before sunset. As Georgo had predicted Raalto's group did not make it back. When we turned all the horses loose for the night I realized there were worse fates than having Reeana and Jareena join me for another night.

After supper was finished and the dishwasher was fed, my mates, our guest and I went directly to bed. They all seemed too anxious for the butt fucking to begin to spend any time in the hot tub.

I was up early again the next morning too but not as early as yesterday. Dalia, Gema and Melieta were up cooking before me but the rest were still sleeping as I got up. I went over to give the cooks a good kissing and got a mug of hot coffee in return. My breakfast wasn't far behind and I had finished and headed to the horse pens before anyone else got up. I just walked around looking over our horses at first. We had let them all loose last night and I would need some help catching them again.

They came down soon enough. We only caught six of the newly trained mares at first. We drove them into a smaller pen and I had to rope them before we could get a lead rope on them. We had left the halters on them so it wasn't a big chore. We each took one mare and spent about an hour leading them around, stopping and starting and getting them accustomed to being handled.

We tied the first bunch to the fence after the hour or so of work and caught a new group. We repeated the original process and got another new group after another hour. Two more rounds brought us up to lunchtime and I was happy for the break.

Raalto and his group made it back just after we finished lunch. Most everyone put off other things to help them unload. Raalto came to my cave to get something to eat and I sat with him.

"How was the trip Raalto?"

"It went well. Jakado was there with the things we'd traded for and some of his camp were already moving in. I was surprised to learn that his camp had grown quite a bit. I think that it may actually be bigger than my camp. In fact some men were putting up huts in addition to those they traded for." Raalto told me.

"It is strange that we hadn't heard of the camps growth."

Georgo joined us then and Raalto repeated what he's said about the size of Jakado's camp. Of course Georgo couldn't let us think that he hadn't known about it.

"I knew his camp was growing but I didn't know that it had grown that much. I have heard rumors that Jakado has devised a new way of hunting that is much better." Georgo said.

"Now that you mention it none of his men seemed to have spears like we have always used. They had spears but they were much smaller than normal. They also had some type of thin club that they all were carrying." Raalto said.

"It is probably a spear caster." I said.

"What is that?" Georgo asked.

"It is a piece of wood that is used to throw the spear faster and farther. They are an improvement over a spear cast by hand but they are not nearly as useful as a bow and arrows and certainly not as good as the rifles. They are a big advantage over a normal spear though. For one thing you can carry more spears more easily and you can cast them farther." I explained.

"That is probably how he has attracted others to his camp then. Hunting is probably easier with that weapon." Raalto said.

"I'm sure it is. Do you know Jakado well?" I asked.

"I don't think I could say I know him well. I have known him a long time but we have never been close. He is a little bossy for my taste and I never tried to know him well." Raalto said.

"I also have known him for a long time and I consider him too bossy myself. I usually let other shaman visit his camp. I do not seem to be able to get along with him." Georgo told us.

"At least he is a long way from here and we won't have to worry about getting along with him." Raalto said.

"Yes, if he bothers anyone it will be Barbo's camp that he bothers. Barbo is the nearest to him." Georgo added.

"We will hope that he minds his manners. Maybe Racaato can tell us more after he returns from his hunting." I said.

I went back to the horses after lunch. Raalto left the unloading to others and came to join me. I spent quite a while explaining what we were doing and why and Raalto seemed to catch on quickly. When we got the next group I caught one for him to work with also. By the end of the day all the wild horses were leading pretty well except the stallion. I hadn't even caught him for his snubbing yet. I felt that he would be the most troublesome so I had just skipped him. He was in the pen at the end of the day and so I roped him and after winding him up around a post I left him to spend the night learning that he couldn't get away.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Kateata among the cooks as I came to my cave for supper. After supper I was pleased again when I saw that she would be spending the night with us. She teased me about ignoring her while I'd had so many other guests so I was quick to catch her up on the wonders of an ass fuck. It was quite a surprise for her since she hadn't heard anything about it yet and she required much restraint at first and I'm not sure that her moaning and wailing was all a sham. She did see the wisdom of my ways before it was over though.

I had to make sure to be up early the next morning because I wanted to talk to Racaato before he left. I warned him again to make sure that no one tried to take advantage of him and to do his best to keep the secret of the rifle from anyone at Barbo's camp. Raalto joined us just before Racaato left and warned him to also keep an eye out for Jakado or others from Jakado's camp. Racaato told us he would be alert to anything he could learn and finally left with my original wagon pulled by two of the Clydesdales and leading Bonehead in case he needed to do any riding while he was gone.

The rest of us settled down to horse training and riding lessons for the day. After supper that night I took my mates, Kateata, Raalto, Jareena and Reeana to the practice cave for a couple of hours of Glock lessons. Something was nagging at me and telling me that they needed to get started with the sidearm.

I lay slugabed the next morning for an extra hour at least. My bed was empty except for Erieta and Failiela who were visiting since Racaato was away. I have to admit that I was begining to get a little conscience attack about Failiela. I fought it off telling myself that I was going to mate her as soon as she was a woman and bolstering my rationalization with the fact that her mother didn't see anything wrong with it.

After eating breakfast I sent Nadlo, Jonoco and Danlo to work with the horses telling them to make sure that Talvo and Sahto joined them. I took my mates, Erieta and Failiela back to the practice cave for more Glock work and Raalto, Jareena, Reeana, Barago and Britta joined us.

We worked with the pistols until lunchtime and went back to them after eating. We were still going when Danlo came sprinting in from outside.

"John, Racaato is coming back on Bonehead. He is galloping toward camp. I came to get you as soon as we saw him." Danlo told me between breaths.

I headed outside at once wondering what could be wrong. When I was out of my cave I could see Racaato coming, he was just passing the horse pens and didn't slow down. He pulled up and dismounted just as he reached me.

"What has happened Racaato?" I asked.

"Barbo is dead, his second man, Bowto is hurt badly and needs help for his wounds. I rushed here as soon as it happened. Jara is taking over the camp for now and she asked that you come if you could. I think that there is a woman from Raalto's camp that is very good with wounds." Racaato blurted out all at once.

Raalto had come outside with me, as had everyone else. Daaggo had also heard the ruckus and come to us.

"I will find Jalayla and bring her." Daaggo said and left again.

"Jalayla is very good with the wounded." Raalto said.

"But what happened Racaato?" I asked.

"It was during my first hunt. We had agreed that I would go kill the bison and then they would come to help me load them into the wagon. Barbo understood that he was not to watch me kill them. Just as I had killed the second bison I noticed movement about five hundred yards to the west. It was a hunting pride of cave lions. They were attacking something but it wasn't bison. Then I heard a man scream. I turned and shot one of the lions then and shortly took a shot at another. This confused them and the other three left. I shot one more as they were trotting off and then the other two ran away.

"I went toward the spot but dared not run for fear that there might be more lions. When I reached the place Barbo was already dead. Bowto was mauled badly and bleeding. I did what I could to stop the bleeding and began calling to the others to come and help me. When they got there I fetched the wagon and we loaded Bowto and Barbo's dead body in the wagon and returned to camp." Racaato told us.

"Danlo catch and saddle Red, Ben, Bob, Sally and Jane. Raalto, Racaato, Danlo, Dieta and Jalayla can go with me and see if we can help. I hope that Jalayla has already done some riding."

"She has." Raalto said.

"I guess we should go quickly." I said.

"Yes but I think that one more should go with us; Jonoco or Nadlo I think. In case we need to send someone back with a message." Raalto said.

"You're right Raalto. Jonoco will come with us and we will tell Nadlo to be ready here in case they need to send us a message." I said.

We were mounted and leaving within thirty minutes. We didn't bother with food or furs; the only thing I insisted on was that everyone brought their firearms. This left Jonoco and Danlo out since they hadn't had any training at all yet. It didn't leave Dieta out though. I saw that she had no trouble figuring out the saddle holster for her rifle and that she had her Glock in it's cross draw holster. I wasn't really expecting any fighting difficulties along the way but I didn't intend to be caught short by an ugly surprise.

Jalayla said that she could ride a gallop and so we started out that way. It wasn't a dead run but it was a ground eater. I slowed to a walk every fifteen minutes to let the mounts get a blow. Red didn't need it and I don't think the others did either. At first I was worried that Bonehead, who had already made the trip once today, would lag behind but she seemed fine. It was better to be sure than to ride a horse to death though.

We were at Barbo's camp in three hours. We did find quite a surprise. Two men that I had never seen were waiting for us about two hundred yards out from the camp. I saw at once what Raalto had talked about. They had what I assumed were the spearcasters on their arms. They motioned for us to stop and we did, dismounting.

"Who are you?" One of them asked me.

"I am John, I have come to see Jara and I have brought a woman to help Bowto with his wounds." I said.

"You are not needed or wanted here. Go back." He said.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?"

"I am Chargo and my spearcaster is telling you to leave." He said putting a small spear in the device.

I didn't argue; I just let my Glock tell him that he had made a mistake. I turned it on the other one who hadn't spoken yet.

"Do you want to die with him or will you throw down your spearcaster?"

I guess he was lonesome for his friend already. The Glock let them be together again. I turned to Racaato and told him to get his M1 ready for action. Others were approaching us now and I saw that the two at the head of the crowd also carried the spearcasters. I told the others to stay back and I approached them with my Glock still in my hand. I saw that Racaato was moving off to the right and I hoped he was trying to get position so that he could fire at the two in the lead without endangering those following them.

Without preamble one of the next two flung a spear at me from about a hundred and fifty feet. I saw that his aim was good and I took the spear right in the chest. The mail did its job but that fucker did hurt. I assume it didn't hurt nearly as bad as the shot Racaato gave that asshole though. I kept walking as he fell. The other one dropped his weapon when he saw me keep walking even after the spear struck me.

"They have taken Jara to their camp!" Said a woman I had seen at my camp as she came running toward me.

The one that had dropped his weapon must have forgotten his situation already since he raised a hand to strike her. It dropped harmlessly with the rest of his dead body as Racaato showed me that he was paying attention.

"When did they leave?" I asked the startled woman.

"Not more than twenty minutes ago." She told me.

"Raalto please take over here. Racaato and I will go for Jara." I requested.

"How many are taking Jara?" Dieta asked the woman.

"Three of them. They are going back to their new camp." The woman told us.

"I want to come too John. If we can capture one alive I would like to make him tell us their plans." Dieta said.

I thought about it for a moment. I worried that Dieta might be in danger if she went but I knew that if we could get one of them alive he would be in much more danger.

"Good Dieta. I think I would like some information." I told her.

Raalto looked at me and then smiled. I am glad that I am not at that camp anymore he seemed to be saying.

We mounted up and left at a trot. There was no way they could escape us with so short a lead and I wanted to be able to talk for a moment.

We discussed it and Racaato said that they were almost surely going directly back to their camp. He thought that once we found them we should circle around them and get between them and the camp. I liked the idea and we eased into a slow lope now.

I'm sure that they had no inkling that anyone could be coming for them and no conception of how fast a horse could cover the ground. We had them in sight in ten minutes and even riding very wide to avoid notice we were between them and their destination in ten more minutes.

We dismounted and tried to spot them through our riflescopes. I had the low light goggles with me and could see them easily but couldn't pick them up in the rifle's scope. Racaato said that he thought he could see them and felt that when they were closer he would be able to see well enough to take a shot.

"Do you think that you can hit one of them in the leg?" I asked.

"If they get closer without seeing us I'm sure of it." He replied.

"Very well. Do it, if you can get another in the leg after the first one falls do that also. Be sure not to endanger Jara." I told him.

"I will make that my first priority. I would not like to injure my leaders next new mate." Racaato said.

I hadn't even considered this yet but when he mentioned it I knew that it was already decided. With Barbo gone and his second man badly injured there was no other feasible scenario except for the camp to join ours. Except for the chance they might join Jakado's camp. I was pretty sure that this option had already been rejected since they seemed to be hauling Jara off against her will. If she was going willingly three men were about to pay the price for my mistaken grasp of the situation.

Racaato's rifle cracked and destroyed the stillness of the night then. A scream from those approaching helped. I was observing with the goggles and saw the party halt. Racaato fired again and the scream this time was even louder.

"You, standing beside Jara, if you do not want to die lay down on your face with your arms out in front of you." I yelled to him as I started for them.

In a surprising moment of lucid deduction he did it. I doubt he would have if he'd known that Dieta would soon be tending to him. We all approached them then. Jara rushed into my arms when we got near but I hugged her to me with my left arm while keeping my Glock pointed in the direction of the men.

"Dieta tie the hands of the one who wasn't shot. Jara let us see if we can stop the bleeding of the other two." I said.

"Why. We should just kill them and the one you didn't shoot also. They dragged me from my camp after Barbo was killed. They say that they are taking over my camp." Jara was almost screeching from her anger.

"We will probably kill them soon but Dieta thinks that she can make them tell us their plans. We will need to keep them alive long enough for that."

"Oh, I see. In that case we should hurry. Maybe Dieta will let me help her." Jara said and her mood had changed at once.

She dropped to her knees to look at the wound of the first one that Racaato had shot. It was apparent that she didn't know anything about using pressure to stop the blood flow. She did understand a tourniquet though and she didn't waste any time applying one just above the man's ruined knee. I turned to see how Racaato was doing with the other one.

"I must have pulled the shot too high for this one. It entered his thigh and he is bleeding much more than the other one. I tied a thong around his leg above the wound but I don't think that it is helping." Racaato said.

"It doesn't matter. We have two alive; surely we can get one to talk. If not I'm sure that Dieta can at least make them scream for a while." I said, making sure that it was loud enough for the men to hear.

I didn't really relish torturing them but there were no rules of warfare in this time. I could see from the way they had acted so far that they would have done the same or worse. Just then I thought I heard a voice yelling from a long distance. I called for quiet and we all listened but didn't hear anything.

Racaato had been right in his diagnosis. His guy died pretty quickly. Dieta and Jara had the bleeding stopped for the other one but I saw that they didn't intend to let the pressure of the tourniquet off periodically. They had tied the rawhide cord off with a knot that could only be untied with a knife. It didn't really matter since Racaato's shot had destroyed the knee. He probably wouldn't be any better off with a dragging leg than he would be with a missing leg.

I decided that I should clue them in though in case it ever came up with reference to one of my legs. I explained about the bloods circulation, which was a revelation to them, and then we released the tourniquet and put on another one that could be tightened or loosened with a stick wound up in it.

He bled some more when we released it but not nearly as much as he had at first. Jara claimed that she could take care of him well enough if Dieta wanted to get started trying to convince the other one to talk.

Dieta outdid herself almost at once with the other man. She pulled out the drop point hunter that I had given her, placed the point firmly in his ear and told him that if he didn't tell us everything he knew about today's goings on pretty quickly she was going to start pushing and twisting on the knife. No wonder it worked on him, it made my asshole draw up and want a dip of snuff and she wasn't even threatening me.

We soon knew that this had been pretty much a target of opportunity type thing. Jakado had sent the seven men out just to take a look at Barbo and his camp's situation. When they got there and found that Barbo was freshly dead they made their own decision to take over. They'd learned that Racaato had raced off to get help and posted the two sentries to send us back. The one on the ground had no idea that we had already disposed of all those he left at Barbo's camp. He was shocked when Dieta told him that he and the one that was shot in the knee were the only two left alive.

"What will you do with me now?" He asked.

"That will be Jara's decision. I'm guessing that she is going to want you dead but she might find a use for you cleaning up after our horses or something." I said.

"If we need help that bad cleaning up after horses I will do it myself. Let's just kill him and be done with it. If we keep him around we will have to watch him always." Jara shared her feeling on the matter with us.

"I suppose you are right. He has already demonstrated that he doesn't mind kidnapping women. What do you say Dieta, what are your thoughts on the treatment he should receive."

"I would like to see how much of his worthless skin I can get off of him before he dies." Dieta said.

So much for the kindness of the fairer sex. It seemed that the tender feelings were not to be extended to men that kidnapped women. I wasn't ready to kill him yet though. I didn't intend to do it myself anyway since he might have a mate and I damned sure wasn't interested in gaining another one tonight. I wasn't sure where the duty would lie if Dieta killed him and since I was pretty sure that Jara would be joining me in my bed after all this I didn't want to chance letting her kill him either.

I decided that there was no time like the present to get things sorted out.

"Jara will you join me as one of my mates since you have no mate now?" I asked her.

"You know I will John. I did not wish Barbo dead even though I wished to be one of your mates. He was foolish enough to get himself killed and while I will miss him some I am sure that you can make me forget him sooner or later, probably sooner." She said, coming to me and kissing me.

"Dieta, will you ask your new friend which of the other men we met tonight had mates. We might as well start planning for what tomorrow will bring." I asked her.

"What about it my precious, were any of you mated." Dieta asked him sweetly as she gave the knife in his ear a little twist.

He rattled off some names and we finally figured out that the two that I shot at first were the only ones that weren't mated. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well Racaato, it looks like you have made a large addition to your family tonight. I'm not sure that I want to be there when Erieta learns that she is now the first of four mates; from the looks of that one on the ground she may be the first of five before long." I said trying not to laugh.

"We will get by. I do think that it was a little unfair of you to shoot the only two that were unmated though." He said and I could tell he thought it was funny too.

"You may all laugh at us now and I'm sure that you intend to kill the two of us that are left alive but Jakado will take our revenge on you. He will not let you live to collect your new mates." Dieta's captive said.

I had to shout at Dieta to keep her from cutting his throat for that outburst. She got up though and I asked she, Jara and Racaato to step away from the two on the ground for a few minutes.

"We need to keep the one that isn't wounded alive so we can send him back to his camp tomorrow. It is possible that when Jakado discovers what happened he will submit to sending the women out to us." I said.

"We can try that but we had better have our rifles aimed at him while we watch for what happens. I do not know much about Jakado but I do not like what I do know." Racaato said.

"We will ask Raalto about the best place to observe the camp when we send this one back. We can wait and see what happens." I said.

"But there are many in that camp and there are only a few of us." Racaato said.

"Will they keep coming after their leader and others drop dead while approaching wanting a fight?" I asked him.

"I don't think they will if their leader is killed. He is the worst of them and I didn't really think that he was so vicious before. Maybe this new weapon has made him think that he can not be harmed." Racaato speculated.

"He will be in for a surprise tomorrow then." I said.

We all heard the yell this time. I couldn't understand what was said but I did recognize Raalto's voice. Racaato yelled back and soon Raalto came driving up with the wagon.

"I decided to bring the wagon in case someone was wounded and needed to be carried back." He told us as he approached.

I took a few minutes to explain what was going on to him.

"Racaato is right. Jakado is changed with his new weapon and it is strange. He didn't think of it himself, one of his men did. It has made him think that he is to be the ruler of everyone near him though. We must be very careful when we go for Racaato's new mates." Raalto said.

"From the sound of it he won't be the only one with new mates after tomorrow." I said.

"I will do my part and be glad to, I do think that it is your duty to shoot Jakado though, unless Racaato wants to. I do not want to be the death of him." Raalto said.

"Nor I." Racaato joined him.

"I do not want to kill him either, do you think that we can talk to him and solve this peacefully?" I asked hopefully.

"I don't and even if we get out peacefully tomorrow we will have to make sure to keep aware of Jakado's movements after that. We will be much safer if he dies tomorrow since we have had to kill members of his camp today. I just do not want to deal with his mate as one of mine." Raalto admitted.

"Neither do I. I have gained more mates today than I ever thought of having. I am sure that I have more than enough for a while." Racaato said.

I could see that Dieta was grinning and if I wasn't mistaken Jara was also. I couldn't figure out what was going on and I began to wonder if Jakado's mate was bone ugly.

"Is his mate so unattractive that other men will not kill him to keep away from her." I asked finally.

"Oh no, it isn't that. Ameliea is beautiful, very beautiful. She is clever also but I have heard that she is a handful, how can I say this? She is a very demanding woman and is accustomed to getting her way." Racaato said.

"I don't want to say that I fear a woman but I am not afraid to say that I would just as soon pass up the honor of having Ameliea for one of my mates, no matter that she is beautiful." Raalto said.

"What do you say Dieta or you Jara, will Ameliea cause discord in our home?" I asked then.

"Not for very long." Dieta said quickly, surprising us.

I glanced down at the man Dieta had been interrogating and thought to myself that she was probably correct. Even if none of my other mates could show Ameliea the advantage of cooperation I was absolutely certain that Dieta could introduce her to the concept.

"Dieta I want you to promise me right now that if you find it necessary to discipline any mate I might acquire tomorrow that you will make sure not to leave any scars on her." I said.

"If you insist my mate it shall be. It will make it harder if she is recalcitrant though." Dieta said.

"Take heart Dieta, she may give you a chance to find out what a spanking is."

"I had forgotten. Do you think that she will need a spanking?" Dieta asked, slightly excited.

"From the way Raalto and Racaato are talking she may very well need one."

"I will not bother her then. I will let her make her own punishment." Dieta was grinning now and she took Jara aside for further discussion.

"I guess it is decided then. If they want to cause trouble tomorrow I will kill Jakado first and then you two will join in as needed." I said to Racaato and Raalto.

"That will be best. I do intend to give Raalto the first shot or two though. I may have acquired my quota of mates already." Racaato said.

"Well I am going to try and let you two take care of any that keep coming after Jakado falls. We all know that I have enough mates to tide me over for a while." I said and we all laughed.