Storiesonline.net
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                                 Synergy
                                by colt45

Copyright© 2011 by colt45


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Description: Okay, so the job sucks, you can’t quit and one tiny little indiscretion (I swear she said she was nineteen!) gets you posted to the farthest known edge of the Empire. The place is called Pigsford for Gods sake! So there you are stuck in the boonies for the next decade or so with nothing to do and one day you catch sight of a girl with one of the most perfect asses you have even seen… Maybe things are looking up for once!

Codes: MF rom humor ESP poly
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Chapter 1


The Imperial Talent Agency's Director of Personnel grinned evilly at the twenty-five year old man squirming in the chair on the other side of his desk. Rumor had it he had picked his position over other more glamorous jobs because it allowed him to discipline, i.e. torture, the indentured recruits on a whim without any fear of reprisal. The rumors were based in fact. Thurston Beauregard was a small, petty man locked in a fat, slovenly body. He had thirty years with the Agency which meant he was a lifer, one who stayed by choice, very much unlike most of the agency personnel like the young man sitting across from him.

Physical torture wasn't his style. He much preferred to mentally dissect his prey and pin them to the examining table until they screamed at the inherent unfairness of the system. Their cries for mercy were sweet music to his ears and much more satisfying than mere screams of pain. Besides, the Agency would never let him go so far as to physically torture them he was sure ― pretty sure, anyway. There was also the fact, he had to admit, that almost every recruit they conscripted could and probably would beat him to within an inch of his life if he ever actually touched them.

"Well, Cranson, you finally fucked up big this time," he chuckled. The subject of his barb looked slightly morose but did little more than shrug. Beauregard frowned and pursed his lips; he had hoped for more of a reaction. His prey was taking this far too lightly. "What do you have to say for yourself?" he barked.

"Nothing," was the sullen reply.

"Nothing? You don't even deny the charge?"

"Of course not," came the disgusted answer. "If I did, you'd have a truth-teller here in a heartbeat. I'm not going to get caught lying to a superior."

Beauregard frowned even more. Lying to a superior was about the worst crime there was in the agency. Being caught doing it would at least add years to your indenture or at worst get you time in SA (Suspended Animation). With SA they brought in a specialist who put you in a trance that left your body frozen in time. You didn't breathe, didn't feel, needed no food or water ― it was like you were frozen in a block of ice. Unfortunately your mind didn't freeze with the rest of your body. You were completely awake and able to perceive everything around you. Those whose minds survived the torment said it was like continuously feeling you were drowning but being unable to do anything about it, not even scream. The very few that didn't come out gibbering idiots said they would have much preferred being beaten every day than to be put through it again.

Naturally Beauregard was hoping Cranson would have lied and become eligible for this discipline. Unfortunate, but it looked like he had to do it the old-fashioned way.

"What you did was reprehensible and disgusting," Beauregard continued as if Cranson hadn't said anything. Marlin Cranson tended to agree with the fat bastard's assessment although after discovering more facts post-incident he allowed that maybe he wasn't entirely at fault in the whole fiasco. "You showed a remarkable lack of judgment." Marlin agreed whole-heartedly with that. "And an inability to conform to the minimum moral standards required in polite society." What he didn't add was that it was illegal, but the only reason he didn't was because technically what occurred wasn't against the law, just frowned upon strongly.

"Because of this the Inspector General has decided to overlook your more egregious behavior and has mercifully only requested you be posted somewhere else so this entire incident can be forgotten." Marlin understood that to mean since they couldn't put him in SA, jail or something even worse, the IG wanted him buried under a rock somewhere.

"Marlin, Marlin, Marlin," Beauregard shook his head sadly. You could almost see the crocodile tears running down his fat cheeks. "What are we going to do with you?"

"Gee, I don't know," Marlin grumbled sarcastically. "Take me away from my home; mark me as a mutant and freak to ninety percent of mankind; steal the best twenty years of my life; make me a virtual slave with almost no pay, no benefits and of course no retirement leaving me at the end of my faithful service old, broke and, oh yes, the best part, still hated by nearly everyone I happen to meet. Why don't we start with that and see where it takes us?"

"Cranson," Beauregard puffed importantly. "It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen for the Talent Agency. Only a few are selected and the service you provide to the empire is invaluable and well respected. Even if you don't appreciate the honor you've been afforded I can tell you for a fact your country needs and values your service."

"Sure it does," Marlin laughed. "Having a truth-teller auditing taxes sure helps squeeze that extra penny or two, like blood out of the stone. I'm sure having a mind-reader weaseling about out among the unwashed masses helps ferret out those nasty little revolutionaries too. And of course let's not forget the future-seer keeping our benevolent leaders safe when that bloodless stone, now starving because you've squeezed him for everything he has and has lost the family farm, thinks about sticking a knife in their ribs." Marlin shook his head in disgust. "You slap cuffs on my arms and drag me away from home while my parents gape at me like I'm some kind of monster, force me to work for twenty years for wages that would make a slave scoff and then talk to me about honor? You can have it."

"You have Talent, Cranson," Beauregard growled. "Without the protection of the Agency you would be a danger to the normals of our land and though their own ignorance they would be a danger to you."

"Some protection," Marlin taunted. "I understand being torn apart by a lynch mob is still the leading cause of death for our field agents. That and suicide from loneliness."

"These unfortunate incidents do happen at times," Beauregard admitted. "These atrocities are fully investigated and the perpetrators are found and always brought to justice."

"Fat lot of good it does the field agent who's spread out like a bacon stain on some village green," Marlin growled.

"Be that as it may," Beauregard smiled and steepled his fingers. "I think it's time we put your considerable Talent to useful service."

"Considerable Talent?" Marlin snorted. "I just barely triggered the Talent level necessary to be drafted into this chicken-shit outfit."

"Quite enough, I assure you," the smile broadened. "After all if it wasn't good enough it wouldn't be the minimum. I think what you need is some seasoning. Some time as a field scout would suit you perfectly."

"A Scout!" Marlin blurted incredulously. "You have got to be fucking kidding! I have nothing a Scout would need!"

"Quite the contrary, dear boy," the smile widened into a grin and the grin gave way to a chuckle as a fat finger stabbed down into the file sitting on the desk. "In fact I believe your major Talent is divining and quantifying the Talent level in others. Just the thing for a Scout."

"But I have to be practically within arm's reach," Marlin blubbered. "They'd tear me apart!"

"Oh I doubt that," the chuckle almost became a laugh. "I believe you also have a lesser Talent for making people trust you, which should come in handy."

"That's not a Talent, you bastard!" Marlin choked. "People trust me because I don't lie to them. It has nothing to do with Talent!"

"Either way it should help." Beauregard's chuckle passed right through laughter into cackling. "Here's you assignment and instructions. Make sure you get there on time or I will have you put into SA for a few days, or weeks." He shoved a paper towards the gaping youngster. Marlin picked it up and looked at it.

"Pigsford? Where in hell is Pigsford?"

"I don't know and believe me I don't care," Beauregard answered barely containing his mirth. "All I know is my staff spent days finding the absolutely furthest spot in the empire from here and this is what they came up with. I do know it's been years since we've had a field agent in that area so it should be interesting. There it is. Now get moving, Talent Scout Cranson. Service to the Empire!"

"Fuck you!" Marlin growled as he stamped out of the room followed by peals of laughter. Luckily insubordination was not an SA-able offence.

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"Furthest spot in the Empire," Marlin muttered under his breath as he watched the countryside slide past the train window. "Bumfuck Nowhere is what the bastard should have said." They hadn't stopped or even passed a town big enough to be anything more than a wide spot in the road for hours. For the most part it was trees, fields and every once in a while an isolated farm. He was deep into the second day of a two-day train ride with a couple of hours at least of travel by coach before reaching his final destination.

"I'm sorry, young man. Did you say something?" a matronly lady sitting in the bench across from him asked.

"Oh," he answered shaking himself after being jolted out of his cocoon of self pity. "I'm sorry, ma'am, I was just talking to myself."

"Hopefully not arguing with yourself," she added with a pleasant smile.

"Well, I do that occasionally," he admitted, smiling back.

"Do you often lose your argument?" she asked in jest.

"I can be rather persuasive," he said settling back on his own seat. "But I will admit I can also sometimes be an obstinate stinker, but I usually find I can bring myself around to reason with a little persistence."

"I assume you are unmarried if you find you must argue with yourself very often," she nodded knowingly. "Find yourself a good woman and you won't have to worry about that."

"I've never heard of the benefits of marriage put quite that way before." He barked a laugh. "But it would make things easier I will admit. If I were married it would already be assumed I was wrong no matter which side of the question I happened to take."

"So wise and already partially trained," she answered with a glint in her eye. "That's refreshing in one so young. It usually takes years before a man is finally willing to confront the inevitable facts of life."

"Be that as it may," he laughed. "I think I'd rather argue with myself for a while longer and be right at least half the time."

"Why you make it sound like you have a say in the matter, young man," she said reaching over to pat him on the knee as if giving sympathy.

"Of course I do," he said emphatically and then added with a little less certainty, "Don't I?" She just smiled at him, settled back and took up her knitting without answering.

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The elderly woman got off at the next stop and he missed the companionship of even this friendly stranger. Luckily the next station was also the end of the rail line and his final stop before what he sarcastically thought of as the thriving metropolis of Pigsford. At least I'll get a good night's sleep, he thought.

Naturally the room at the local inn that had been reserved for him by the Agency was the smallest, dirtiest and ― true to form ― cheapest in town. Resigned to another restless night on a lumpy, straw-filled and probably bug-infested mattress he set out in search of something to eat that he could afford with the pitifully small amount of travel money they had provided.

The town, aptly named End-of-the-Line, didn't offer much in the way of choices so he picked a couple of men dressed in workman's clothing and followed them thinking if they could afford their meal maybe he could also. Luck was with him and they turned into a rather plain but surprisingly clean eatery where he found a spot at an empty table.

Soon an immensely fat man in a stained apron waddled over to him. "What can I do you for?"

"What do you have for tonight?" Marlin replied. "I'm starved but unfortunately I don't have a tremendous amount to spend."

"A poor scholar on the road, eh?" the owner said cocking an eyebrow at Marlin's clothes that had "city" stamped all over them without being overly ostentatious.

"Poor in fact," Marlin laughed. "As for being a scholar ... Well, my teachers would probably disagree on that point. Let's just say I'm a searcher with very little coin."

"Searcher? A searcher of what?"

"I'll know that when I find it," was all Marlin would say.

"Weren't we all like that when young," the owner nodded sagely. "Well, we have pork roast, pork steaks, fried pork, salt pork and ham. If you don't like pork there's the mutton stew; there's not much pork in it."

"What?" Marlin uttered confused.

"Just a joke, my friend," the owner chuckled. "It's all good but you get the most with the mutton; a good portion with a half loaf of bread and all the berry juice you can drink."

"I'll have the mutton then," Marlin nodded.

"Good choice. I'll send the girl over with it in a moment."

As promised a slim girl in her early twenties soon weaved her way between tables carrying a mug, pitcher, large bowl and bread. Marlin's grumbling stomach was looking for a good meal when his Talent awoke as the girl plunked everything down in front of him.

"Shit!" he hissed. She looked surprised and took an awkward step back away from him.

"I'm sorry, sir. Didn't you order the mutton?" she asked anxiously.

"Yes, I did," he sighed. "And it smells delicious. I just hope I actually get to eat it. Is there somewhere we can talk privately?"

"I don't know where you heard it but I don't do that!" she exclaimed angrily.

"It's not that, I assure you," he said holding up his hands soothingly. Although you might wish it were, he muttered to himself. "But it is important."

"Well, all right," she said looking at him suspiciously. "Over there, the hallway to the jakes," she jerked her head in a direction towards the back of the restaurant. "You go first and I'll follow you as soon as I can." Marlin nodded and casually stood up and headed back towards the indicated passage. It led to the outside and the privies as was normal in the rustic parts of the empire. Great, he thought, outhouses. I forgot about that bonus. He waited only a few minutes and the girl followed him out into the cooling dusk.

"I'm here," she said sharply. "I promise you though if this is what I think it is I'm going to scream and you'll be lucky to get away with your life."

"Your virtue is safe with me," he said. It was the truth; the girl was plain as a stump and he doubted even in his most desperate he would have made a play for her. Marlin was no stranger to the gifts of women ― one of the reasons he was in the situation he found himself ― but he did have pretty high standards. Reaching into his inside coat pocket he pulled out the slim leather folder and flipped it open to display the infamous and instantly recognizable badge with the Talent Agency's emblem.

"I think you know why I wanted to talk to you," he sighed.

The girl quickly put her hand over her mouth and stifled a shriek. Backing away she muttered "No, no," over and over.

He could tell she was just about to turn and run when he spoke again. "It won't do you any good," he said calmly. "Running that is. They'll find you no matter where you go. If you run it just takes longer and it pisses them off." She hesitated.

"Yeah, I know you have a Talent," he continued. "I don't know what it is and truthfully I don't care so you don't have to tell me. My job is to find the Talented and send them in to the agency, nothing more. And believe me, I'm not going to do one damn thing more for them than I absolutely have to."

"You could tell them you never saw me," she said hopefully. "I can disappear and you'll never see me again."

"Nope, no can do," he said shaking his head. "As you'll find out trust isn't one of the Agency's biggest virtues." He paused for a moment musing, "In fact I don't think they have any virtues at all. Anyway, every so often they audit their field agents with a truth-teller. They'd find out in a heartbeat I hadn't reported you. Aside from the fact they would then make my life even more miserable than it already, is they'd have a mind-reader pull you from my head and give it to a tracker. I can tell you right now once a tracker is on your trail you can never hide. I don't care if you're on the other side of the world, they'll track you down. So, if you run I'm not going to stop you but I will send in a report and when you don't show up they'll send a team out to get you.

"Sorry," he added with a shrug.

"You don't seem to enjoy this very much," she said looking at him. She seemed more relaxed now that the shock had worn off a little.

"Hate it," he admitted. "I hate doing this to you, I hate the Agency and I hate everything about it. But there's not a fucking thing I can do about it. Maybe if I were braver I'd do something about it but I'm not; I'm no hero. Since I'm not, I'm just going to do my job, keep my nose clean for the next thirteen years, eleven months and five days ― not that I'm counting ― and run like hell once I'm granted my freedom."

Her shoulders slumped then suddenly perked up again. "But what if I'm married, have children?"

"Doesn't matter," Marlin said shrugging again. "I'm sorry if you are but they really don't care. If you're between the ages of eighteen and forty-five and still breathing, they'll take you. Blind, crippled, deaf or mute it doesn't matter. You could bring your husband and children with you of course, even those pricks aren't that big of monsters. He'd have to get a job in the capital or wherever they posted you, though. Believe me, it's almost impossible for one person not to starve on what they pay us, two would be impossible."

"So, if I go in quietly..."

"When," Marlin quickly corrected.

"If I go in quietly," she continued as if not hearing him. "Would I have to bring anybody? Like say some pig-fucking farmer's boy that smells like the shit he has coming out of his ears that my father has betrothed me to?"

"Oh, he could follow you, I suppose," Marlin mused. "But I will say, grudgingly, the Agency does protect it's own from the normals, at least in the cities. If your future hubby is a normal and you don't want to see him, you won't.

"Normal ― that's a joke," he snorted.

"Would it be so bad, being normal?" she asked.

"Oh, it'd be great!" he said. "What I wouldn't give to be normal. The problem is what you call normal. Most people think normal means Talent-less but to tell the truth there aren't many people who have absolutely no Talent whatsoever. Most don't have enough to reach the level to where the empire requires them to enter the Agency, but they still have some. I should know, my Talent is feeling just how much Talent someone has, one of the reasons I got this God-damned job.

"So, I'm afraid you really don't have much choice," he continued. "Take the trip back to the capital and report in yourself or have them track you down. Who knows? You might actually enjoy it. Some do, maybe even most do. I have to admit I'm one of the more extreme examples of their disgruntled employees. I'm sure a lot actually like being around others with Talent and away from the prejudice the rest seem to have against us."

"But you don't," she stated.

"I resent being forced to work for them at wages and under working conditions they set," he shrugged. "I would have been just as pissed off if I'd been drafted into the army. At least here my attitude is tolerated so long as I do my job."

"What do I do?" she asked shoulders slumping. Marlin pulled out his pad of official stationary and wrote down an address in the capital along with a scribbled note giving her free passage under the Agency's protection.

"Show this at the train station," he said. "They'll get you out of here as quickly as they can. Ask anyone with the railroad for help with food and lodging. Don't expect them to be happy or even treat you well but they will help. Lord help them if they don't!"

"You won't tell anyone here about this?" she asked anxiously. "I don't want anyone to know I'm a witch. I've hidden it well so far, but being a witch around here isn't a good thing."

"None of their business and now it's none of mine," he said kindly. "You do what you think is best but remember my advice. Right now I'm going back in there and finish my meal before it gets any colder. By the way, we usually don't like the term, witch. Talented or Gifted, yes; maybe even the Lucky-Few-Chosen-by-God, but not witch"

"Thank you," she said simply.

"I really do hope you will thank me later on, but I doubt it," he sighed.

"You're kind of funny," she giggled. "Kind and funny."

"Thanks," he said sadly. "I really do wish you the best of luck."

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Before retiring to his lumpy mattress for the night Marlin wrote the required contact report and stuck it in one the Empire's emblazoned envelops he had in his luggage. The next day he dropped it in the mail slot at the train depot before heading out to the coach station for the final leg of his journey.

The coach ride was even more uncomfortable and slower than the train ride and he considered it a mixed blessing that he was the only passenger on the trip. He didn't want to deal with the inevitable questions that would arise. Who was he? What was he doing and why in the hell was he going to Pigsford? Good questions all. What he needed was a cover story. One would think the Agency might have provided one and probably did for its other scouts in the field. He doubted this slight oversight had been unintentional. Of course he could have asked during the one hour briefing that covered what and how to report; as if he hadn't already received the basic training back when he first "volunteered". There were the usual threats of eternal damnation if he exceeded his travel and subsistence allowance; he figured one meal at any decent inn would do that for the month, but nothing about how to conceal what he was doing.

Marlin stretched out, put his hands behind his head with legs crossed at the ankles and thought. He had his Agency badge but that wouldn't be the best thing to flash around. Whether it would be any worst in these parts as it would in the capital he couldn't guess, but he had to assume it wouldn't be any better. There was his Empire identification card; it ID'd him as a government employee and his civil service rank, close enough to the bottom to make any difference moot, but it didn't give his affiliation. Maybe he could do something with that. If he could come up with something innocuous enough maybe it would hold up to passing scrutiny. But what to become?

A tax assessor, maybe? They moved freely throughout the countryside with access to anything they wanted. He could visit the farms and towns meeting and evaluating the people there without them knowing they'd even been appraised. It had some merit, but it also came with a lot of disadvantages. Aside from the fact that tax assessors were hated just as much if not more than someone from the Agency, he just didn't fit the profile. He'd met a few of the field agents from the Imperial Treasury and without exception they all struck him as arrogant, prissy sons-of-bitches who dressed in expensive clothing and traveled with an entourage of assistants most of who probably doubled as bodyguards. His own well-kept but obviously lower quality garments wouldn't fit the picture aside from the fact his bevy of sycophantic ass-kissers was nonexistent. Besides there was undoubtedly a tax assessor already assigned to the area with whom the people were well acquainted. No, that wouldn't do at all.

So, who could move around without suspicion and impunity? An itinerant scholar like the innkeeper had assumed he was? Actually that would be a job he felt he could really like, if he had a life. He wasn't entirely accurate when he'd told the innkeeper his teachers might disagree about his ability to be a scholar. In fact he mused fondly remembering his final evaluation upon leaving school before being "volunteered" for Imperial service.

"Brilliant and capable with a sharp, insightful mind. Unfortunately he is also as lazy as the day is long with the uncanny propensity to set low standards for himself which he continually fails to meet. Mr. Cranson's potential and capabilities are exceeded only by his complete lack of drive, ambition or desire to conform to the social norms of polite society."

A stinging, hurtful and mean-spirited assessment, Marlin thought as he grinned to himself, and completely accurate. But then why should he have busted his ass to do better? He'd known since he was twelve he had a Talent and even though he couldn't use that Talent to assess himself, he was firmly convinced it was strong enough that the Agency would come looking for him when he turned eighteen, which they did.

He knew damn well they had their agents wandering through schools all over the city; he could see the brilliant white glow of their aura as they visited pretending to be a building inspector or education evaluator or some other such rubbish. He could see them so he knew they could see him. He'd probably been on someone's list since he was a youngster. The terms of Imperial service in the Talent Agency were well known so there really wasn't much to strive for. Why break your back if you already knew you were going to be just another low paid freak in their circus? Instead he concentrated on doing the minimum amount possible necessary to avoid beatings at home and chased skirts.

At least I'm good at that, he smirked to himself. If you can't have money or a respectable job even a somewhat normal life sex is a reasonable alterative. And the funny thing was he was good at it. It wasn't that he was particularly handsome, pretty average in that department, or tall and muscular, and suave and debonair was right out. But he was honest and he did truly like and enjoy the company of all the girls and women he'd ever been with. He never wooed them with false promises of undying love or anything else he wasn't prepared to give, for that matter. No, he just liked women, loved being with them and felt comfortable with them. This sincerity seemed to shine through and for some reason women loved it.

He found it remarkably easy to find his way into their hearts and as a result their beds, without really trying. Most of them knew he was seeing others but that didn't seem to matter. What he really found amazing was that almost to a one when their relationship ended as it inevitably did, they parted as friends, often friends with special benefits.

Marlin never thought of this as a Talent, just the result of treating someone with respect and honesty. There were TA agents that had the ability to determine what a person's Talent was, alike but separate from his being able to tell how much someone had, and of course he had been thoroughly evaluated by them in his early induction phase. They had always talked about his ability to quantify another's Talent but never said anything about an ability to influence others.

Of course they hadn't said anything about his other minor Talent so it did seem possible they could have missed it. Truthfully Marlin didn't care whether his knack with women was a result of his natural personality or artificially enhanced through Talent. It got him close to and friends with dozens of incredibly beautiful women and laid more times than he could count. Why bother asking where this boon came from?

So, itinerant scholar was out. It would tie him down to one place too much anyway. Military recruiter, agricultural agent and another half-dozen jobs passed through and quickly out of his mind. Finally he sat upright and smiled lazily to himself.

The perfect cover, he thought, absolutely perfect!

Edited by Morgan



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Chapter 2


"Excuse me," Marlin said as he tapped on the wooden shelf on the window of the Coach Master's tiny office.

The grizzled old man looked up with a frown and then frowned even more deeply when he saw the face of a stranger. "What can I do for you?" he asked gruffly.

"I'm looking for..." Marlin paused and looked down at the instructions in his hand. "The Sunset House?" he finally asked looking up hopefully.

"The widow Binder's boarding house," the Master grunted. "Up the street, turn right, past the hardware store and it's on the left. Got a sign out front if it hasn't blown down again."

"Thank you very much," Marlin said politely. "That should be easy enough to find."

"You're new around here," the Master stated with another grunt. "What's a city boy like you doing out here in the working world?"

"Just my job," Marlin replied happily. "I'm here to take a census of the shire."

"Census?" the oldster grunted and rubbed his chin. "Haven't seen a census taker out here in, oh, nigh on twenty years or so. Why's the Emperor need to take a census of us now? He ain't seemed to pay us much attention except to collect taxes till now."

"Beats the hell out of me," Marlin shrugged. "All I know is when my boss says frog I jump, if he says shit I ask what color. They don't tell peons like me anything. They just tell me to get my ass out here and start counting. Maybe they're setting up a big government assistance program and need an accurate count of how many disadvantaged subjects are going to be lifted out of their dreary lives into the light of the Empire's civilization."

"Right," the Master guffawed. "And I'm a three-balled billy-goat with his own harem of she-goats."

"Hey, I'm from the Empire and I'm here to help you," Marlin said with mock sincerity. The Master actually laughed.

"Sure you are, kid," he chuckled. "At least you have the right attitude. That'll serve you well around here. Well, welcome to Pigsford, the jewel in the crown of Lands-End Shire."

"Haven't seen much I'll admit," Marlin said with a shrug. "But what I have seems nice enough."

"What you've seen is pretty much what there is to see," the Master snorted. "But what we do have ain't so bad. Real quiet and easy most times. Not much after the bright lights and excitement of the big city for a young feller like you, though, I'll bet."

"The city has its good points," Marlin admitted. "But unless you're rich or a higher level imperial servant it's mostly dirt and grim with the biggest excitement coming from wondering if you'll get knifed on the way home. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not going to miss parts of it," especially the women, he thought to himself. "But I don't plan to sit around and wallow in self-pity while I'm here either. It can't be that bad or nobody would live here."

"Like I said, a good attitude," the Master nodded. "We have some of the best fishing in the empire hereabouts and hunting if you want to take a trip into the Wilds. You interested in either or those?"

"Haven't been until right now," Marlin shrugged. "But that's mostly because I've never done either. I'll let you know after I've done them."

"Well then I hope you get the time to get some in," the Master replied.

"Time I got," Marlin snorted. "Let's just say my assignment here was 'open-ended.' I may be here until I retire submitting reports that will probably go straight from the mail to the files without human eyes touching them in between. If I have a schedule other than the one I make for myself I haven't been told what it is."

"Nice work if you can get it," the Master commented.

"Yeah well, the pay is definitely on par with the effort required," Marlin sighed. "Well, I suppose I should be finding this boarding house before this Widow Binder locks the door for the night and I have to sleep on the porch."

"Shasa will let you in even if you are there a bit late and besides it's only supper time," the Master chuckled. "Tell her Tom down at the station sent you. That's me, if you haven't guessed. Tom Binder, Station Master, Post Master, Shire-rief and for my sins the mayor of Pigsford. Shasa's my sister, by the way."

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Mayor," Marlin said sticking his hand through the window. "If I had known I was speaking to the city's leading citizen I would have made the appropriate obeisance."

"Sure you would," Tom grinned as he took Marlin's hand. "I think I can see how you got posted out here. I'm thinking your attitude didn't exactly meet with imperial expectations."

"I have absolutely no idea what you could be talking about," Marlin answered evenly. "I always show deference to those in power in exactly the same proportion that they deserve, no matter how petty, stupid, pompous or elevated their blotted bureaucratic egos are."

"That's exactly what I'm guessing," Tom chuckled. "Well, I'm sure I'll see you around but now you had better scurry over to Shasa's; she'll let you in all right but she can get a bit testy if you wake her from her after-dinner nap." Marlin waved his goodbye and headed out onto the street following the directions he was given.

Shasa Binder turned out to be the sweetest little old lady Marlin had ever met and after a couple of days would have paid for the privilege of seeing the miracle of her actually being "testy."

"Now you just let me know if you need anything, Master Cranson," she would say at least twice a day. Marlin had already given up on having her call him by his given name. "And if you would like to have one of your lady friends over for dinner we'd be just tickled pink. You just let me know."

That was one thing that had surprised Marlin more than anything: the women ― girls to be more accurate. The word had spread faster than a bird could fly that there was a young, single, and most importantly, new man in the Shire. It seemed like every single, husband-hunting female from age fourteen to forty had suddenly found she had important business in Pigsford and as much as he enjoyed the company and attention of the fairer sex it was getting so he couldn't turn around on the town's main street without tripping over some fresh young thing or her mother, asking when he would be out to their farm for his counting and offering to show him around. Some offers were a lot more blatant, blatant enough to make even a farm animal blush.

He was diplomatically vague in his response to all offers but you can be sure he filed away the more aggressive ones in his mind for future reference. Even a self-confessed horndog like Marlin wasn't dumb enough to start tapping the local talent right after stumbling into town. Given his recent experience, he was leery of playing mattress tag with a woman he knew almost nothing about. He first wanted to know who her father was, or brothers; marital status ― he wisely avoided fucking around with married women or ones with steady boyfriends especially since the boys around those parts seemed to come in two general sizes, big and huge. He had observed over the years that a man interested in a woman, even if the interest was only from his side, tended to get a bit perturbed by a stranger "poaching" in his territory.

Marlin wanted to know what in the hell he was getting into before he started sampling the local cuisine. Besides, the local ladies might be a little less tolerant of his buffet-style dating techniques and the last thing he wanted was to get tied down to only one woman no matter how pretty or big-titted she was. As much as he liked sex he wasn't going to let his cock get him into a position of having his ass kicked or even worse, married.

"You just let me know," Shasa would say patting him on the arm and then almost always would come up on her toes to whisper in his ear, "and if you want an over-night guest, well, we'll just look the other way."

The relative openness to premarital sex did kind of surprise him. He was ashamed to admit even to himself that he had expected a more puritanical attitude from his rustic cousins concerning the sport. True, the skirts were a little longer here in the country, not many of them shorter than mid-thigh and the women tended to wear the same sturdy, dull brown work pants the menfolk did almost as often as they wore a dress, but it wasn't like they covered themselves in grain sacks. Other than the more robust nature of the clothing, most of the women in Lands End Shire would have passed as unremarkable in any working-class neighborhood in the capital.

"Watch your feet, young feller," Tom warned him one day as they sat on the steps of the coach station one afternoon playing a board game Marlin had never seen before. Deceptively easy to learn, it was devilishly hard to play and consequently the old man continually beat his ass up one side and down the other but honestly Marlin couldn't care less; he enjoyed the conversation. Old Tom was not only one of the leaders in Pigsford; he was also one of the foremost gossips. If there was any safe snatch to snitch in the area, here was the place to find out about it.

Besides it helped him avoid his principal duty which he dreaded. He could honestly tell a truth-teller that he was looking for the Talented by sitting at the Coach Station/Post Office. Everybody seemed to come by there at one time or another. He knew that soon he would actually have to go out into the countryside and start beating the bushes, but that was for later.

"Watch my feet?" Marlin asked staring at the board trying to figure a way out of another untenable situation he found himself in.

"That's right," Tom chuckled. "One of them little bitches you got sniffing around you is going to stick her foot out, trip you up and be under you before you hit the ground."

"Well, that's not all that bad, now is it?" Marlin looked up with a grin and then looked down at the board and sighed.

"Nope, least wise not until you put a baby in her belly and daddy comes looking for you to make an honest woman of his virgin daughter." Then he snorted, "Like you could find a virgin around here with an imperial search warrant."

"That's not exactly what I had in mind," Marlin admitted. "But I wouldn't mind a little company now and then. I take it it's not frowned upon too much."

"Hell no! Frankly we've been surprised you haven't bedded a half dozen or so by now," Tom laughed. "Some people been wondering if maybe you're one of them funny fellows who doesn't enjoy female company."

"Oh I enjoy the ladies just fine, exclusively. I'm just trying to be careful is all," Marlin stated. "I'm just not ready to be tied down to any particular one right now, if ever."

"Or two or three," Tom cackled. "Put a bun in a couple of them and you may end up with two for the price of one."

"More than one wife?" Marlin looked up incredulously. "Ah, I'm as a bit of a loss for words. Where I'm from, its pretty much one to a customer and honestly, right now that seems like one too many as far as I'm concerned."

"Knew I liked your attitude there, boy," Tom said. "Don't happen real regular but often enough; there ain't a law against it. Kind of needful sometimes, in fact. Most of the boys around here get bored and take off for the city or get volunteered for the Emperor's levees. Ain't a lot of them come back, you know." The propensity for the Emperor to play war with his army and its conscripted levees was just a fact of life. The minimum term for service in the army was fifteen years, five shorter than Marlin's, but the chances of serving the full enlistment were one hell of a lot less.

"Lots of widows and young single girls," Tom continued. "Feel sorry for them I do, not that I feel sorry enough to marry one again myself you hear, but it ain't easy for them. Not sure what most of them feel about it but there's plenty that don't seem to have a problem sharing a husband. Jest wanted to let you know that if you decided to spread your joy around a bit and think getting two or three in the family way is going to get you out of the knot, it won't."

"Getting pregnant wasn't a reason for getting married back in the capital," Marlin mused as he tipped one of his few remaining pieces on the board on its side in resignation. "The contraceptives are free and even if it does happen, the Emperor takes care of his citizens when they need it."

"Same here, for the most part," Tom shrugged. "But out here land is passed down by inheritance and marriage is one of the few legal ways to enforce it. We can't buy or sell the land even if we're supposed to own it. Being or having a bastard ain't such a big thing but you can't inherit unless there's a marriage. Stupid law but it does make us a kind of marriage-minded folk. I'm guessing you city people don't have the same sort of problem."

"Too true," Marlin admitted. "There are probably less than a hundred families that actually own land in the capital and most of them are in the royal family. Everybody just rents from them. Just ought to let you know the shrewd intelligence you've been hiding under that country-bumpkin façade is starting to show through. You wouldn't want the city slicker to guess you know a bit more about the wide world than you want to let on, now would you?"

"Don't bother me none," Tom answered with a twinkle in his eye. "You seem to be a good enough fellow even if you are certifiably lazy as a house cat. Can't see that you've been doing much census taking here lately."

"I'll have you know I've been carefully preparing and meticulously researching every aspect of my assigned task to ensure a thorough, extensive, exhaustive and efficient survey of my assigned territory," Marlin said puffing out his chest in mock offense. "Besides I have a pretty good memory and I've been writing my reports when I get back to my room at night. This being careful leaves me with a lot of time, fortunately.

"But unfortunately I'm almost done here in town and I will have to get out into the countryside soon," he sighed. "Plus you are quite correct that I am lazy ― not an original observation, I might add. But then it's not exactly a job a sane man would get excited about. It'll get done when it gets done."

Everything Marlin had said was the total and exact truth. If Old Tom or anybody else wanted to assume he was talking about counting pigs, chickens and people because of his slight deception when he first arrived that was their problem. Unfortunately Marlin figured he had met just about everybody in town he needed to and while a couple had almost had enough Talent to trigger the limit, they hadn't and Marlin was comfortable that "almost" wasn't enough so he had nothing further to do with them, professionally anyway. The fact was most of the people in Pigsford had some degree of Talent, just not enough to force him to act. He wasn't surprised; in fact he would have been shocked if there were more than one or two Agency-level Talents in the whole shire; they just weren't that common. Running into the serving wench on the trip here had been just plain bad luck.

"How you going to get around?" Tom asked. "Noticed you don't have a vehicle or horse sticking out your pocket ― none I can see anyways."

"Hoof it, I suppose," Marlin shrugged. "Beg rides and meals. Throw myself on the exceptional generosity of you wonderful country folk. I don't know. I have enough money to buy a small tent, backpack and bedroll, I think. I'll make do; walking won't kill me."

"I'm surprised," Tom added. "I'd of thought a servant of the Empire would storm in here demanding the Shire provide him with transportation and subsistence."

"Don't have the authority to do that," Marlin shrugged again. "At least nobody told me I did, anyway. Besides even if I did what's the best you could give me? A horse? Like I know how to ride and care for one of those monsters? I'm not even sure which end the shit comes out of. Give me a trolleycar that knows where it's going any day. Anyway the last thing I need to do is go pissing off people by demanding this and that. I have a feeling bothering them by asking stupid questions is going to do that well enough all by itself."

"Oh, you'll do fine, youngster," Tom laughed. "I think we can scare you up a militia kit from the Shire's stores. Won't be fancy and it'll be well used but it'll keep you dry and warm. I'll put the word out you're harmless for the most part and a hot meal now and then would be appreciated."

"I'm not sure I like being thought of as harmless," Marlin frowned. "Kind of destroys the image of a dashing, dangerous adventurer as far as the ladies are concerned, don't you think?"

"It doesn't matter if you have a spine made of jelly, Marlin, my boy," Tom laughed loudly. "So long as you're swinging meat between your legs you'll do fine with the ladies. Just remember what I said: More than a few of them are going to be looking for more than a night's sport. I think you're smart trying to get to know them before you bed them which isn't common in a youngster like yourself. Might be if you get to know them you'll be able to tell which ones are lying when they tell you they're safe, but then again maybe not."

"Thanks a lot you old fart," Marlin grumbled. "Hopefully I will be able to figure it out before it's been too long and I don't care anymore. I never claimed to be a saint; I know for a fact that time will come."

Tom just laughed at him.

-------

Interestingly enough Marlin found he didn't dislike his forays into the Shire's outback nearly as much as he had expected although it would have taken torture to force that admission past his lips. The kit Tom had given him contained a light tent, warm bedroll, field compass and a small cooking set. The pack settled on his shoulders comfortably enough and after a few trips he hardly noticed it.

The funny thing was he rarely had to actually use it. He made a point of visiting the farmer whose land he was thinking of for a campsite, both as a courtesy and to complete his survey or rather surveys. More often than not he was invited in to stay for at least the evening meal and a soft place to sleep in the barn's hayloft or even a spare bed if they had one. All in all, he found the people of Land's End Shire to be simple (in lifestyle not intelligence), generous, pleasant and thoroughly likable.

He was rather pleased with himself for coming up with his census cover story since nobody seemed to think it strange when he told them he was required to meet every person living on the farm personally which allowed him to conduct his official duty. It did require him to take copious notes though since the citizens seemed to expect it, but that was a small enough price to pay, he reasoned.

He had worked his way through about a third of the shire and surprisingly enough had actually found two Agency-level Talents. One was the seventy-two-year-old patriarch of one of the larger family farms, so he didn't even bother approaching the elderly gentleman since he was well beyond the induction age. The second wasn't quite so easy. Bart Hampton was a forty-four year old bachelor living on a tiny farm with nobody else except his pigs for company.

Halfway through the questionnaire he had dreamed up Marlin set down his pad and pencil and sighed.

"Mr. Hampton, I'm afraid I have a confession to make," he said wishing like hell he didn't have to do this.

"I ain't a priest, boy," Hampton snorted gruffly. "If you've been diddling the local girls you'll have to find someone else who gives a damn. Damn females are nothing but trouble, if you ask me."

"Believe me I wish it that simple," Marlin chuckled and then turned serious again. "No, my confession is I'm not here to take a census. Actually I'm from the Imperial Talent Agency and I've been sent to find people with Talent. Unfortunately you are one of those people."

"Hmm," Hampton mumbled knuckling his chin and staring at Marlin. "Damn witches and freaks. I don't believe you. I ain't got no Talent."

"Actually you do," Marlin replied. "And a fairly strong one at that. I don't know what it is but from the fact you haven't tried to hit me with anything or chase me off your farm I have the feeling you do." Surprisingly Hampton just hung his head and sighed.

"Always been good with the pigs," he said. "Ain't nobody better than me that I know of. Jest sort of know what they need and how to help 'em grow healthy and strong. Paw knew pigs but not like I know 'em. I could feel them. He used to say that was crazy talk and smack me when I did. I guess I'd always known there was something different about me. So what do I do now, Mr. Talent Agency man?"

"It's a damn shame I didn't start on the other side of the Shire," Marlin answered after glancing down at his notes. "Another three months and you would have been too old to be considered for induction."

"I'm supposed to round you up and herd you back to the capital and that, of course, is my official recommendation," Marlin said. "But I can honestly say giving you the full warnings of what would happen if you don't wouldn't be out of line here.

"First, like I said you could just pack up and head to the capital and report like a good little citizen of the Empire. The next thing is you could run and hope they won't follow. The thing is if they do decide to chase you you will get caught, of that I have no doubt. I really wouldn't recommend that. All that does is piss them off.

"Finally of course you could just sit back and do nothing."

"Do nothing?" Hampton blinked with surprise.

"Yep," Marlin said folding his arms. "Do nothing. Just sit here and work your farm and wait to see if they want you enough to come out here. Who knows? They just may leave you alone."

"Do ya think?" he asked hopefully.

"I have no idea," Marlin admitted spreading his hands. "But you're very close to the age limit and have a Talent that as far as I can see is completely useless to them. I wouldn't bet against them just ignoring you."

"You'll recommend they leave me be?" he asked.

"Oh, God no!" Marlin laughed. "If I put that in my report they'd be out here on the first train. No, in fact I plan to write an excruciatingly detailed report of our conversation and every detail you can give me of your marvelous Talent and how lucky I was to find you before you were too old. Why I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be ten or eleven pages long."

"That will keep 'em from coming to get me?" he asked puzzled.

"You have no idea in what low regard I'm held by the Agency," Marlin grinned. "I have the feeling if I tell them how much I think you should be brought in they will make every excuse in the book to make sure it doesn't happen. No guarantee of course, but it's worth a shot."

"You ain't acting like I expected you would," Hampton grunted. "Don't seem to have a particularly strong attitude towards your own fellows."

"Oh, I have a strong attitude all right," Martin laughed. "It's just not strong in the way they'd like to see."

"Won't this get ya into trouble?" Hampton asked. "Don't figger yer bosses would appreciate the kind of advice you been giving me."

"I haven't given you any advice," Marlin protested. "I've just given you the possible outcomes of a series of potential actions. What actions you take given those possible outcomes are your business. I've done my job to the letter of my mandate and not one bit more."

"Still," Hampton mused. "I'd hate to see ya in trouble. You aint' exactly the little prissy thing I'd expect from you Empire folk."

"Believe me there's plenty of them," Marlin shrugged. "But don't worry overly much for me. They've already pretty much done their worst to me by assigning me here as far as their concerned."

"Why?" Hampton demanded. His pride in his home had obviously been hurt. "Land's End ain't such a bad place. Maybe Pigsford ain't no big shake but it ain't bad either."

"Of course not," Marlin soothed. "But to a city fellow like me who has never been here it seems like being exiled to purgatory, a fate worse than death. In fact I kind of like it even given the certain lack of company from the ladies."

"Young feller like you shouldn't have no trouble finding that," Hampton snorted.

"I suppose not," Marlin answered slowly. "But I've been warned that dallying with the local girls might lead to something a little more permanent than what I'm looking for."

"Damn females," Hampton grunted in agreement. "Try and trap you every time ya turn around. Make sure I stay away from the conniving creatures is what I do."

"I have to admit to a certain addiction to their company," Marlin sighed. "But for now I'm trying to be discreet and careful. I have the feeling I'm going to be here for quite a while and no sense stepping in it right up front." Hampton grunted again.

"Ah," Hampton started then paused. "Ah, ya won't be putting it around I'm a witch, now would you?"

"You're not a witch, you've just got a Talent," Marlin replied emphatically. "But don't worry, I won't tell anybody other than whoever reads my report which might be nobody. I hope you will extend me the same courtesy. I doubt my popularity would be increased any if it became public knowledge I'm a Talent Scout and not just an unassuming census taker."

"Yer secret's safe with me," Hampton chuckled.

"Thank you, Mr. Hampton," Marlin smiled and stretched out his hand in farewell. "I hope everything works out well with you."

"And for you youngster," Hampton said taking the proffered hand in a firm grip. "Feel free to drop by anytime yer in the neighborhood."

"I'll do that," Marlin agreed as he left. "I'll be looking forward to seeing you again."

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 3


Even though the trips to the farms and small hamlets surrounding Pigsford weren't anywhere near as onerous as he had expected them to be, Marlin still preferred being in town and not walking all day. For the most part he was lazy and unmotivated, knew it and while not exactly proud of it certainly did nothing to remedy the situation. While Pigsford was no capital city, it was clean, orderly and didn't smell anything like its name implied. The food was good, not overcooked and underspiced like it usually was in the city and the people were generally pleasant or at the worst merely reserved. All in all it wasn't a bad place to laze your life away. More money would be nice but with all the meals he'd been offered on the road he was actually a small coin or two ahead for the month.

He sat at one of the tables in the inn's outside dining area musing over the expected and yet wholly undesired visitor he'd received the evening before. He had been putting the finishing touches on another weekly report: an extensive, excruciatingly detailed report of some twenty-plus pages that recorded his travels, farms visited and people seen the previous week. In fact he spent a considerable amount of time doing his best to ensure it was the most flowery, verbose, boring and utterly useless document ever written. He was getting good at it and quite proud of just how many ways he could say absolutely nothing and yet make it seem like on the face of it he was enthusiastically performing his assigned task. Twenty-plus pages that could be summed up in two words: "Found nothing." The report containing the contact with Hampton had been two weeks gone by then and it had only reached nineteen pages; this one was a personal best so far. Unfortunately, his moment of self-satisfaction didn't last long and was interrupted by a knock on his door.

"Yes?" he asked as he opened the door. Standing before him was a nattily dressed man whose knowledge of self-importance could almost be seen hanging around his shoulders like a cloak. Marlin knew who he was even before the man pulled out the little bi-fold leather wallet and flipped it open to display the Talent Agency badge.

"I think you know why I'm here," the man said with assurance.

"Sure," Marlin grunted. "Come on in. I was going to make some tea. Do you want some?"

"No," the Agency operative said shortly. "I'd rather not spend any more time here than necessary. If we can get this done quickly, I can still catch the last coach out before dark. My God, they don't even have a train station here!"

"Very true," Marlin agreed as he motioned for the operative to take one of the two chairs in his small room while he turned around and set his tea in the hot water to steep. "So, I'm new at this. How do we go on? By the way, what's your name?"

"My name is of no concern of yours," the operative sniffed. "I will ask you questions and you will answer them. I will record your answers and send them in with my report. If you lie to me I will know it and I will report it!"

"Sure, no problem," Marlin said unruffled. "Go ahead."

There were a number of standard questions: Are you Marlin Cranson? Are you an Imperial Talent Agency Scout? What is your age? These Marlin answered with polite, short and to the point yes or no's.

"Have you discovered anyone with Talent?" he finally asked.

"Yes."

"Did you report all of them?"

"No."

"No?" the truth-teller said eyes widening in surprise. "Why not?"

"Because they didn't come up to the Agencies level of interest," Marlin said smugly.

"Did you report everybody that met the Agencies acceptance criteria?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you say so?" the truth-teller snapped crossly.

"Because that wasn't what you asked me," Marlin answered blandly. "You asked if I'd reported anybody with Talent. Almost everybody around here has at least a little bit of Talent but I haven't reported them, just the ones over the limit. Given what you asked I had to say no if I were to tell the truth."

"You're a smart ass and a troublemaker," the operative growled and when Marlin didn't respond he snapped, "Well?"

"Well, what?" Marlin shrugged. "That was a statement, not a question. Although I suppose opinion would be more accurate..."

"Enough!" the truth-teller hissed. "Stop wasting my time! I can fully understand why they dumped your insolent ass out here in the middle of nowhere and for all I care you can rot out here forever!"

"Well, not forever," Marlin smiled. "Someday my tour of servitude will be fulfilled and I'll be able to move to the middle of somewhere if I wish."

"I despise cretins like you," the truth-teller said as he stood obviously planning to leave. "You take the golden opportunity the Agency has given you and waste it!"

"True," Marlin said holding his arms out to encompass his surroundings. "Opportunities like this don't come around every day."

The truth-teller frowned and then smiled slyly. "There is one other thing I was asked to pass along to you. The idea of using the census as a cover was quite ingenious; in fact we are going to implement it Agency-wide. It will probably save the life of a good number of our Scouts. The Director wanted me to make sure I told you he was glad he thought of it."

"I'll bet that set your Talent tingling," Marlin laughed.

"It doesn't bother you he is taking credit for it?" the truth-teller asked curiously.

"Hmm," Marlin pondered a bit. "I suppose it does just a little. Everybody likes to get the credit they deserve. But then I can't say I'm all that surprised. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if most of his good ideas were stolen. Make sure you put that part in your report and you already know I'm speaking the truth." Marlin's eyes twinkled just a little as he said it.

"Just because you believe it doesn't make it the truth," the truth-teller growled and turning around stomped out of the room.

-------

It didn't turn out too badly, Marlin thought as he sipped on a cool beer while idly perusing the menu wondering if he should eat cheep or blow his pitiful fortune all at once. Won't help me any but then not much would, so why not have some fun? He sensed more than saw a body pass by his table and head into the front door of the inn. Lifting the beer to his lips again he looked up curiously and almost dropped it in his lap as his brain ceased to pay attention to minor things like telling his fingers to hold onto the glass.

What he saw was the backside of a girl as she strode purposefully through the dining area and into the inn. The first thing he noticed was the damn near perfect ass encapsulated by the shortest and tightest pair of shorts he had ever seen that didn't qualify as underwear. The next thing he noticed was the long dark brown, almost black hair flowing over her shoulders and down to the small of her back. Lastly, there were the slender, tanned, bare legs rising up out of the tops of over the calf, skin-tight black boots to met with the oh so perfect posterior which of course started the cycle all over again. Unfortunately his eyes couldn't complete their third circuit before she disappeared into the darkened interior.

"Holy shit!" he hissed to himself. "If the front of her is half, no, a third a good as the back that is a girl I want to meet." Putting actions to words he scrambled to his feet and calmly walked into the inn himself.

"I'm sorry, Miss Melody, but you know the rule," the innkeeper shook his head as he stood behind the counter. "I don't hire no witches. I know you'd be a hard worker and I ain't got nothing against you personally but too many of my customers won't have any business with a witch. Ain't nothing I can do about it."

Marlin slid to one side of the doorway when he entered far enough away he couldn't overhear exactly what her reply was although it was obviously a plea of some kind. Marlin could see her profile as she adamantly made her case to seemingly no avail and he was pleased that not only was the front view equal to the rear it was quite possibly even better. From what he could see her face was delicate and expressive although he was still too far away to see much detail. She wasn't overly blessed in the breast department but neither was she shorted in that respect either. Very well proportioned is what he would have said if anybody asked him. He couldn't fully see her face but what he could see looked good; no huge hooked nose or obvious deformity anyway.

From the looks of it her pleas were having no effect on the innkeeper although he didn't look happy about it. After a few minutes the girl must have come to the same conclusion because her shoulders slumped and her head drooped. Without another word she turned and started slowly walking towards Marlin and the door.

As she passed by him Marlin spoke softly, "Having some problems?"

Startled she looked up at him and grimaced. "Go ahead," she growled at him in a voice equal parts resignation and outrage. "Ask, then I can tell you to go to hell and you can get out of my way."

"Oops, didn't mean to block you," he replied ignoring both her tone and the obvious question. He hadn't been blocking her path but took a half-step backwards anyway just to make sure she knew it.

"Well?" she asked practically tapping her foot. She crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Well, what?" he replied back. He was finally able to get a good look at her and even with the pursed lips drawn down in a frown, narrowed eyes and arms held tightly across her chest it was well worth the look. She had a wide oval shaped face with unblemished skin framed by that impossibly luxuriant long dark hair. She was a little bit shorter than he was, the top of her head coming up to about the same level as his own eyes. Without the heels he just might be able to rest his chin on it.

"Well, ask it!" she spat.

"Okay, I will," he answered raising his hands in surrender. "It's a little early for a real drink but I was wondering if you would like something to eat if you're hungry? If not then maybe just a sit in the shade with some iced tea or some fruit juice?"

"I am not a..." she started and then stopped short; obviously she was answering a question he hadn't asked. "Ah, what did you say?"

"I was trying to ask you to dinner," he grinned. "Or failing that maybe just to sit with a cool drink and talk awhile."

"Why?" she looked at him suspiciously.

"A man needs a reason to ask a pretty girl to dinner or for a drink?" he came back with his own question.

"Well..." she hesitated.

"Tell you what," he said gesturing with his arm towards the outside tables. "Why don't we sit down and have something cool to drink and you can decide whether or not you wish to dine with me afterwards. I assure you there is nothing more implied than just a request for company while I sup."

"I suppose..." she began again.

"Please, allow me," he said bringing his hand around her back and just barely touching her with his fingertips. "I already have a table."

"Okay," she agreed moving away from his touch in the direction of the tables. "But just for a glass of juice."

"Of course," he said jovially. When they reached his table he pulled her chair out for her and, after looking at the chair and then him, sat down still looking at him slightly askew. After pushing her chair in for her he sat himself and waved to the server looking at him from the doorway.

"Fruit juice, right?" he asked and she nodded. "Carla, two fruit juices please."

"Anything else?" Carla asked sharply pointedly ignoring the girl sitting across from him.

"Not just yet I think," Marlin said overlooking the server's deliberate rudeness.

"Carla's in a bit of a foul mood today," he mused as he stared at her retreating back.

"It's because of me," the girl admitted crossly. "I'd better go if you ever want to be fed here again," she said and started to rise.

"Please don't," Marlin said reaching out to lightly grasp her hand. "I'd rather have your company now than eat here in the future if that's the alternative."

"I doubt that," she snorted but sat down anyway.

"So, why would having you at my table bring on such a remarkable reaction?" he asked. "Are you married? Maybe being seen in the company of an unmarried man would blemish your virtue and standing in the community. Or maybe you're too young to be seen with me. Is that it? If that's the case then I'll have to assure you and your father, assuming he's as large as most of the men around here seem to be, that my intentions are totally honorable."

"No I'm not married and no I'm not too young," she replied with just a hint of a smile on her lips.

"That's a relief," he said pretending to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Although I must admit I don't think I've ever had this much trouble just getting a girl to sit down with me for a drink."

"Some kind of super stud, huh?" she snarled and pushed back her chair preparing to stand up.

"Don't I wish," he said with an exaggerated sigh while making no move to stop her. His lack of aggression caused her to pause for a moment, ready to stand and leave but not doing it quite yet. "No, while my overly sensitive male ego would love to tell you I have conquered every woman who's caught my eye, honesty ― and reality ― demands that I admit somewhat less than one-hundred percent have fallen victim to my evil ways."

"Somewhat less than one-hundred percent, huh?" she said with raised eyebrows. "And just how much less are we talking about?"

"Well that's not fair," he protested. "If I'm ever going to have a chance to seduce you, how can I possibly do that if I tell you just how inept I am?"

"Seduce me?" she growled, her face hardening again. "I knew that's all you wanted."

"Well, I have to admit it wasn't your bubbly personality that caught my eye as it wiggled past my table," he grinned and settled back in his chair. "I am a man and carry all the baggage that entails. I see a beautiful woman and naturally I evaluate her as a potential mate. You are an extraordinarily beautiful girl and the crass animal part of my brain naturally did it's best to ensure the rest of me knew what it was thinking." He leaned forward still grinning and propped his elbows on the table, "But I think I can restrain myself. At least long enough for you to safely finish your fruit juice."

"Oh you can, can you?" she visibly relaxed a little and as if daring him, reached out and took a sip of the juice. He laughed and sat back in his seat again.

"I think so," he said still chuckling. "But now that it appears you aren't going to run away like a frightened doe being chased by a hungry wolf I have to say something other than your beauty has tickled my interest. I am intrigued by the thought that I shall now become a starved, skeletal scarecrow for having the audacity to sit in a public establishment with a pretty girl. Would you mind elaborating on that?"

"It's because I'm a witch," she answered harshly. She peered at him waiting for the expected reaction. Needless to say she was surprised by what did come.

"If you mean you have some measurable amount of Talent, so what? Who doesn't?"

"What?" she asked totally taken aback.

"I said, so what?" he repeated. "I don't want to sound like some jerk from the city crying over how backward you country folk are but Talent is fairly common. In fact I have it on good authority that most people have at least a touch of it. Why, I'd be willing to bet my meager salary that our good innkeeper inside has a bit of it himself. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"They tolerate witches where you come from?" she leaned towards him and whispered.

"Hmm, tolerate is probably a good word to use," he answered thoughtfully. "I'm not saying anyone who has enough to be in the Emperor's Talent Agency is particularly well liked but I have to believe that's mostly because of the amount of Talent they have as opposed to having any at all."

"It doesn't bother you I'm a witch?" she asked confused.

"I don't know why it would," Marlin answered. "I have a little bit myself." Her eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped in shock.

"You shouldn't say that!" she hissed. "Besides, how would you know?"

"Remember that 'good authority' I mentioned? Let's just say he's in the Talent Agency and I found out through him." Unlike some people Marlin enjoyed the game of having everything he said be the absolute truth while still being able to hide what he wanted to behind it.

"A friend of yours?' she asked.

"We're very close," he nodded.

"But before we engage in conversation about such weighty subjects I think we should at least be introduced," he stretched his hand out to her. "I'm Marlin Cranson and I am very pleased to meet you."

"Ah, Melody Hawking," she replied taking his hand tentatively. "I'm glad to meet you also Mr. Cranson, I think."

"Well that's progress," he said releasing her hand. "At least you aren't running, screaming in terror. That's usually a bad sign. And please, call me Marlin."

"I suppose it might be," she giggled. "Does that mean your plan to seduce me is still on track?"

"Well now that you know of my nefarious scheme, I can hardly hope to continue with it, can I?" he answered wiggling his eyebrows which caused her to laugh and cover her mouth with her hand.

"No, you can't," she said primly with a twinkle in her eye. "And since your plan to divest me of my virtue along with my panties has been exposed I think it would be safe for you to call me Melody."

"Well then, Melody, my devious plot having been reduced to tatters as it will I'll just have to enjoy your company if you allow me," he said. "Have you thought about my invitation to dine?"

"I think not today, Marlin," she said after finishing her juice and setting the empty glass on the table. "I should be heading for home now anyway."

"Ah, back to the safe embrace of your family," he sighed feigning great disappointment. "Safe from conniving cads attempting to entice you to your dishonorable doom. Well, maybe another time then?"

"Maybe," she grinned. "But then again maybe not; I haven't decided yet."

"Well then there is still hope for me yet," he said standing as she did. "May I at least walk you home?"

"I live out of town a ways," she said. "That won't be necessary."

"Then at least till the edge of town? I promise I won't follow to see where you live."

"I suppose," she said still smiling. "But won't you miss your dinner?"

"I can eat at the boarding house," he shrugged. "I'm not all that anxious to eat here tonight as it is." Laying a coin down on the table to cover the drinks and a small tip he gestured for her to proceed.

"I don't really care if you know where I live," she said when they reached the street. "Anybody could tell you that. It's about twenty minutes down the main road here; a big white house set back aways. Our name is on the post box.

"It's not that I don't trust you," she continued after a pause. "But it's just me there alone and..."

"You don't feel comfortable having a stranger at your home," he finished for her. "Perfectly understandable."

"Not that I think you're dangerous or anything like that," she said quickly.

"Maybe a little bit dangerous?" he said woefully.

"Maybe a little bit dangerous," she laughed.

"Thank you," he sighed. "I thought my ego was going to take another beating there for a minute."

"I get the feeling your ego can take the abuse," she smirked.

"Hmm, that has been pointed out to me before," he conceded. "Although for the life of me I can't understand it."

"Sure you don't," she answered with a big smile.

"Well, Miss Melody Hawking," he said as they neared the edge of town. "I really would like to take you out for dinner sometime. You don't have to answer now; I don't want you to have to say no. What is the best way for me to contact you so I can formally ask you out?"

"You mean like on a real date?" she grinned.

"Yes, a real date," he answered solemnly.

"You can just post me a note," she said. "Or drop it off on one of your little trips."

"Oh, you know about those."

"Of course I do," she smirked. "Everybody knows who you are Mr. Imperial Census Man."

"I have to tell you," he whispered conspiratorially. "The census is just a cover."

"Oh? And what is it you really do?" she asked cocking her head at him.

"As little as possible," he said still whispering while glancing from side to side as if afraid someone might overhear him. "For as long as possible."

"You sure know how to impress a girl," she laughed.

"I'm afraid I have to rely on my wits and personality for that," he nodded. "My wealth garnered from imperial service doesn't seem to do it, for some reason."

"Then you really are in trouble, aren't you?"

"I'm afraid so," he agreed.

"Drop me a note and I give you an answer," she said eyes twinkling again. "Thank you for walking me this far. Well, bye for now."

"Goodbye, Melody Hawking," he smiled. "Do you mind if I watch you walk down the road?"

"So you can stare at my ass?" she guffawed.

"Well, yes," he answered simply.

"Honesty: that is a novel approach," she mused. "Very well, look all you want, but no touching," she said as she turned and then added just loud enough to be heard, "yet."

Marlin smiled to himself as he watched her walk down that road all alone. He couldn't be sure but he thought there was a little more sway in her hips than there had been before. Chuckling, he also turned around when she was out of sight and headed back to the boarding house for his delayed supper.

-------

For reasons only he knew or cared about ― probably Melody's big doe-like eyes, kissable lips and fantastic rear-end ― Marlin decided to move up the date for his next excursion. The next day he gathered his gear together and wrote what he hoped was a romantic note asking her out and headed out of town following the same road she had. Like she had told him the Hawking place wasn't difficult to find. There were several homes scattered along the road and a few farms set back even farther but the big white house with the Hawking name on the post box was standing pretty much alone. He momentarily contemplated marching up to the house and delivering the note by hand but discarded that thought almost immediately.

Melody was a shy person and justifiably reluctant to receive visitors given the prejudice she had obviously been subjected to for a good many years. Marlin really did enjoy her company the other day and contrary to popular belief wasn't out for just a quick fuck. He much preferred many fucks over an extended period of time usually ended by mutual and congenial consent. He had the feeling being overly aggressive in this case would be counterproductive so he settled for placing the note in the post box.

"Hey there, Mr. Census Man," he heard someone yell as he turned away from the box. Looking over his shoulder he saw Melody standing by the side of the house waving at him. That being the case he assumed going up to met her wouldn't be perceived as overly forward so he turned around and did just that.

"Hi there yourself, Miss Hawking," he replied cheerfully as he approached her. He was secretly disappointed she wasn't wearing her tight little shorts that day instead she was sporting the heavy cloth trousers he assumed she wore for working around the house.

"Did you just leave something in my post box?" she asked.

"Yep."

"Well why didn't you just bring it up to me and save me the trouble of walking down to get it?"

"Because I was told to drop my invitation to dinner in the post box," he explained. "I wouldn't want it said I don't do what I'm told."

"Right, I'm sure you always do exactly what you're told," she scoffed.

"Of course I do," he protested. "Subject to some personal interpretation when the instructions are vague, I will admit."

"I'll bet those interpretations can get interesting at times," she laughed.

"I've always heard the worse thing you can do to a supervisor when he's being a pain in the butt is exactly what he tells you to do," Marlin answered blandly. "Not one bit more, not one bit less."

"You are a very strange man, Mr. Cranson," she said peering at him intently. "Do you have time for some lemon drink? I certainly wouldn't want to keep you from your appointed rounds."

"That's the postman," he said with a grin. "I more or less make my own hours so by happy happenstance I just happen to have a few minutes to spare from my busy schedule. I'd love to have a nice cool drink with you, since you asked."

"There's a table up on the porch," she said nodding her head towards the front of the house. "Why don't you sit down and I'll bring one out in a minute or two." Again following his orders precisely he was soon sitting in the shade of the big porch when she returned bearing two glasses of yellow tinged drinks.

"Ah, this tastes good," he said smacking his lips after taking a sip. "That was a long, dry trek out from town."

"You really are an idiot," she giggled. "Or is it you just enjoy playing the fool."

"Typecasting, I'm afraid," he smiled back. "But I think it all boils down to the fact that I find it difficult to take anything too seriously. I won't bore you with my rants concerning the privileges and benefits of imperial service but I do find it almost impossible to get excited about my future prospects in serving His Imperial Majesty. Since my unchosen professional future is out of my hands at the present, I try not to worry about it and take my pleasure where I can find it. Such as sharing a refreshing cool drink with a very pretty girl on a warm summer morning."

"Talk around town is you're funny, personable, charming and lazy as a hound dog," Melody replied.

"You probably wouldn't be surprised just how often that last part has been noted," Marlin nodded without offence. "I suppose notable lack of zeal and motivation can look a bit like laziness, especially to the hard working folk around here."

"Are you saying you're not lazy?" Melody asked raising her eyebrows.

"Of course I'm not lazy!" he snorted with feigned indignation. "You have no idea how diligently I strive to avoid real work! Do you know how difficult that is sometimes?"

"I can only imagine," she replied with twinkling eyes.

"It's true!" he protested. "Why just the other day I spent hours busting my ass to avoid doing something useful!" Very true, he could have spent ten minutes writing that report and have it say the exact same thing.

"You certainly know how to impress a girl," she giggled. "Most boys I know try to tell a lady how important they are and how hard they work. Why I would expect they would be flashing that Imperial badge of yours around hoping to impress the girls right out of their panties."

"Gee. Would that work?" he joked. "Well, never mind. Even if it did that's not my style. I'm never going to be much more in the Imperial service than I am right now; mostly because I don't want to be. If that's what it takes to impress the ladies around here then I guess I'm just going to be lonely.

"Not that I like being lonely mind you," he added. "But I have found the women that seem to be impressed with that sort of thing aren't the type I tend to like anyway. Besides from what I've observed when the truth finally comes out ― and it always seems to come out eventually ― those same ladies get quite perturbed at being lied to. I've always found the ones that are willing to take me for who I am and nothing more make the best friends."

"Just friends, huh?" she teased.

"True friends have a tendency to share a lot," he replied.

"Do your friends always share much with you?" The teasing disappeared.

"They don't have to," he replied again. "It's certainly not a requirement." He thought back to all the women he had gratefully counted as friends. Surely there had been one or two he hadn't slept with. He was being truthful when he'd said he didn't consider it a requirement. Surely there had been some! Unfortunately he couldn't think of any right at that moment.

"I mean that," he told her without a trace of amusement. "I like you. You're pretty; you're funny and obviously smart. You laugh at my jokes which shows you don't have much of a sense of humor but nobody's perfect. In short just the kind of woman I like spending time with.

"Would I like to go to bed with you?" he continued. "Hell yes! I am male after all and you are one of the sexiest little things I've ever seen. But that doesn't mean we have to for me to want to spend time with you. I like you and if it doesn't bother you to be around someone who has said he also finds you sexually attractive, I'd be honored to spend some time with you. If it does I'll understand and won't bother you anymore."

"You're very blunt," she said cocking her head to one side. "That's unusual and a little disconcerting." She paused as if thinking something over in her head. "I'm not sure I like it but I can't honestly say I dislike it. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to spend time with a boy who didn't think I was attractive but to know that he does ... Honestly that's not something I'm used to. Do you mind if I ask if any of your other lady friends have ever decided not to date you after you've told them this?"

"Well I can't say that the question comes up all that often, truthfully," he laughed. "But the few times it has ... No, they have always decided to at least let me take them out to dinner."

"And just how many lady friends have you had, Mr. Census Taker?" she asked in mock severity.

"Hmm, I'm not sure I'd like to answer that," he frowned.

"And why not?"

"A couple of reasons really," he said sitting back in the chair and idly swishing the lemon drink around in the glass. "To begin with I'd have to sit down and think about it because that's not a number I've really paid attention too. Secondly ― or maybe it's really still just a part of the first reason ― I don't feel right about reducing the time I've spent with these ladies down to just a number. To me that sounds too much like they were just another conquest; another notch on the bedpost and none of them were anything like that to me.

"Each one of them was truly my friend," he continued. "And still are for that matter. Their circumstances may have changed or mine so our relationship may have changed but after it was all said and done they are still my friends.

"No, come to think about it I don't think I'll answer that question. If that disturbs you and means you don't want to spend any time with me then so be it. That would be my loss but I'm willing to live with it."

"Hmm, my curiosity is eating away inside of me," she pouted. "But even so I have to admit that is a very gallant answer. I suppose I could live with it also."

"That really wasn't my intent," he laughed. "But I've always found that leaving a woman with a little mystery to chew on is a good thing." He stood up. "I think I'll leave you now while I pretend to do my duty. I enjoyed this and would be happy if you decided my company wouldn't be too onerous."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't want to be accused of impeding the important work of the empire," she said jumping to her feet. "Maybe I should accompany you to the road. I'm wondering if I might find something interesting in my post box today."

"I'm pretty sure you'll find something," he chuckled as they started down the path to the road. "Whether you'll find it interesting or not, I don't know."

"We'll just have to wait and see, won't we," she grinned as she skipped along beside him.

When they arrived at the road she took out his note and broke the seal peering at it in dramatic fashion.

"Well I'll be," she gasped in feigned surprise. "A gentleman wishes the honor of my company at dinner this very weekend. Whatever shall I do? I suppose I should check my social calendar first before making a decision. Then again maybe I should wait a few days before letting him know. It's never proper to seem too eager, you know."

"And it may pay him back for his atrocious sense of humor," Marlin chuckled.

"Maybe it would," she agreed with twinkling eyes. "But I'm afraid my manners aren't so poor I would lower myself to do it for that reason. Sir, I gladly accept your offer to dine with you this weekend. What day and time shall I be ready?"

"This gentleman thanks you for the privilege and heartily thanks you for your kindness," he said bowing with a flourish. Marlin straightened up and grinned. "I'll be damned! I actually called myself a gentleman without gagging. That's a first! Well let me see ... I should be back sometime on Thursday so how about I meet you here at 5 o'clock on Friday. I'm afraid I don't have any conveyance so we'll have to walk back into town if that's all right with you? I'm afraid your date is not a man of means and is barely able to afford shoe leather let alone a carriage."

"That's okay," she grinned. "Most boys around here pick up the girl in their hay wagon. I think I'd rather walk."

"Then I'll see you on Friday," he said setting off with a wave.

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 4


"Wow!" was the only thing Marlin could say when she answered the door.

"I hope you're not disappointed," she answered nervously when he took the offered step in. "I didn't wear those shorts you seemed to like so much." She was wearing a relatively short, flowery summer dress that left her arms bare and showed just the hint of cleavage.

"Actually it wasn't the shorts I was interested in," he grinned. "You look wonderful. Better than I deserve in fact. Well, do I have to meet your father and reassure him I have no diabolical plans for his lovely daughter?"

"Dad's been dead for years," she smiled sadly as they stepped out onto the porch. "Besides you do have diabolical plans for me, remember?"

"Well, I wouldn't call them diabolical," he protested. "But I suppose it is open to interpretation. Unfortunately my devious campaign has been uncovered and now you are forewarned. I am completely undone!"

"It didn't take much to uncover them; you told me yourself, you idiot!" she laughed and wrapped her arm around his as they strolled down the road towards town.

"True," he mused. "Note to self: Diabolical plans work much better if kept secret. I'll have to remember that."

"No, you won't," she laughed lightly. "You are disarming me with your honesty and seducing me with your charm. I'll bet you've done this hundreds of times before."

"Hundreds of times!" he barked. "My God, woman! How old do you think I am? Where would I have found the time? Maybe I've been bragging about myself a little too much. You must think I am an incredible cad!"

"Incredible, yes; a cad I'm not so sure about," she said looking up at him. "You're the strangest man I've ever met. You continually belittle yourself and yet it's obvious you're witty and intelligent. You don't even pretend you don't want to take me to bed and yet are being honest when you say it doesn't matter if I say no. All in all, you are very puzzling."

"Oh? I'm telling the truth, am I?" he cocked his head and grinned at her. "Does that mean your Talent tends towards that of a truth-teller? In that case I'm going to be very careful what I say around you."

"It's not considered polite to talk about what makes somebody a witch," she dropped her eyes and bit her bottom lip. "But yes, I can usually tell if someone is lying to me. If you'd rather just take me home now..."

"Why would I want to do that?" he interrupted. "And deprive myself of your company? I think not! I'm sorry if I've embarrassed you or crossed some social boundary there but honestly I couldn't give a damn if you can tell when I'm lying or not. That's easily remedied by not lying. Which by the way I find works out much better in the long run anyway. It's too much like work trying to remember what you've said otherwise. If I tell the truth I don't have to think about it.

"I've told you before the fact that you have a Talent doesn't bother me," he chided her gently. "That your Talent manifests itself as truth-telling is interesting but not particularly important. You already know pretty much everything I would potentially lie about anyway. Yes, I think you're gorgeous. Yes, I'm sexually attracted to you and if ever given the chance would not only willingly but joyfully share a bed with you. But then I'm a man. If I'd of said anything different you wouldn't have to be a truth-teller to know I'm lying, now would you?

"And by the way, in the big city where I come from calling somebody a witch, even if they do have Talent, is considered impolite. The more usual term is Talented or maybe Gifted. Unless one of your Talents is the ability to turn me into a frog. If that's the case then maybe I'll reconsider the term witch."

"No!" she laughed and slapped the arm she was holding. "I can't turn you into a frog."

"That's good," he breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Because if my hand just happened to stray, completely by accident of course, to places it might not be welcome ... Well, I'm not eagerly looking forward to an exclusive diet of flies if it's all the same to you."

"That won't be a problem," she laughed again. "If your hand does accidently stray where it's not wanted I'll let you know about it soon enough in ways that won't involve lily pads or frog gigs. Well, maybe frog gigs; that depends just how far it happens to stray."

"In that case I'll make sure I give you plenty of warning before any accidents occur," he assured her.

"How can it be an accident if you warn me about it?" she giggled.

"Good point," he admitted after a pause.

"So where are you taking me to dine?" she asked.

"Well, as to that," he began. "I noticed that inexplicably the five-star restaurant in town is closed for the evening. Who would have known? We could go to the inn I suppose, but honestly I haven't been particularly happy with the service there lately. How about this cozy little place I know of, The Sunset House?"

"You want to take me to your boarding house?" she laughed. "You just want me close to your bedroom."

"Hmm, not a bad reason come to think of it," he replied. "But in this case ― this time anyway ― I was thinking it had decent food and maybe not so ... judgmental as some of the other places. However if you'd rather, we could stop by the store and pick up something for a picnic dinner down by the river."

"I like that idea," she smiled. "Maybe another time. It's possible the Widow Binder wouldn't be as persnickety as some of the others. She was always very kind to me and my sisters when we were young. I'm sorry this is such a problem for you but nearly everybody around here knows and thinks about us Hawking girls as being witches."

"Don't apologize to me," he insisted. "I knew the silly prejudices of these backward country bumpkins before I asked you to dine with me. Although it may somewhat limit our options I believe the company of one extremely attractive young lady is worth it. Pardon my language but honestly I don't give a shit what anybody thinks. Their petty little bigotry reflects poorly on them but nothing on you."

"You're a strange guy," she grinned, hip-bumped him and then reached out to grab his hand. "But I like that you're not scared off just because everybody else thinks I'm a witch or have these funny feelings once in a while."

"Believe me it would take more than being a witch or having funny feelings to scare me away from you," he grinned back and wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Oh, you!" she huffed and then laughed. "Yes, you want to get into my panties and you certainly haven't been shy about making that known. But why me? There must be at least a hundred other girls out there who would trip you on the street in broad daylight and be under you before you hit the ground. Why me? I'm not going to be that easy!"

"Okay, I'll admit it," he continued. "If you had weighed four-hundred pounds when you rushed past my table that first day I wouldn't have followed you in as you tried to storm the inn. Do I want to bed you? Hell yes I do! I'm a man and you are one heck of an attractive woman. That's nature and I am a very natural man. But even if you never succumbed to my secretive seduction I'm still enjoying my time with you. You're funny, bright and generally seem to be a really nice person. That it comes wrapped up in an adorable sexy little package is a bonus.

"So if I'm coming on too strong and it irritates you let me know and I'll keep quiet. My desire will still be there mind you but I won't mention it out loud anymore."

"Oh, I don't mind too much," she said. "It's nice to know a guy thinks you're attractive and enjoys being with her. And Mama always told us girls not to think too poorly of the boys just because they only have one thing on their minds. Like you said, it's only nature. Truth be told girls think about it a lot also but until recently we had to worry about what comes after more so than our boyfriends."

"Well I'd think you'd both have to worry about it," Marlin replied. "I guess the only way to be a hundred percent safe is through abstinence and I'm afraid I'm not a big fan of that. But if you are, that's okay."

"I'm glad to hear that," she smiled. "So does the contraceptive not being fool-proof and given your many experiences, does that mean there are one or two little Cransons running around?"

"Not that I know of," he chuckled. "But if there were I'd do the right thing by them if I could. I'm not exactly sure what I could do given I can hardly feed myself now on the pittance they pay me but I'd do everything I could. Hey! What do you mean by many? You make it sound like I've bedded every woman in the capital. I can assure you that isn't the case."

"You might have missed one or two but I'm sure you'll get around to them sooner or later," Melody smirked.

"Not even close," he scoffed. "And here is our bistro for the evening," he said as they stopped in front of his boarding house.

"Okay," she answered nervously looking up at the porch.

"If you'd rather, we can still get that picnic..." he started quietly.

"No," she nodded firmly. "I won't let a bunch of bigoted pricks ruin our evening. I'm a big girl now and I won't let what someone thinks of me stop me from doing what I want to."

"Then, my lady," he smiled and offered her his arm. "Shall we dine?"

"Why Mr. Cranson, you're just in time for supper!" the Widow Binder greeted them at the door. "And you've finally brought a guest. How lovely!"

"Where else would I bring my date if I wanted to impress her?" he chuckled. "Since I can't woo her with my boyish charms I was thinking your heavenly cooking would do the trick. Mrs. Binder, I'd like you to meet..."

"Melody Hawking," Mrs. Binder gushed. "As if I hadn't know her since she was a wee one still in diapers. I'm so glad you're here, love." Then as an aside to the girl she said, "I'm glad to see this young man out with such a lovely girl. We were beginning to wonder if he is a bit antisocial or something like that."

"I was just waiting to find the prettiest girl in the Shire," he responded. "Since you keep refusing me." In a sotto voce he whispered to Melody, "I think she has a boyfriend she won't tell me about."

"Oh you go on now," Mrs. Binder pretended to huff as she lightly slapped him on the arm while Melody giggled. "You two go in and get yourselves a seat and I'll be right back out in a jiff with the first course."

Marlin led Melody into the dining room where three elderly men already sat at the long table. He knew them fairly well since they were three of the five or six that ate most of their evening meals at the Sunset. Pulling Melody's chair out he seated her and then nodded to the others.

"Mr. Grayson, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Blackstone. Good evening to you. I'd like to introduce you to..." he started.

"We know who she is," Blackstone cut him off sharply. "And while it seems yer not too particular about yer company, the rest of us folk don't appreciate breaking bread with witches..." Smack! He yelped as a large sliver ladle cracked against the back of his head. "Now what ya go and do that fer, Shasa?" he whined.

"James Blackstone!" Mrs. Binder growled at him dangerously as she waved the ladle under his nose. "You'll be keeping a civil tongue in that head of yours or you'll be eating your own slop for supper for now on. Do you hear me? This young lady is a friend of my boarder and a guest in my house and if I have to choose between whose company I'd rather be keeping, then you know your way to the door and you best not be crawling back anytime soon! You understand me, James?"

"Aye," he flinched. "But I weren't saying anything that everybody else weren't feeling."

"Well you just keep your feelings to yourself," she huffed. "And that goes for you two coots, too," she said waving the ladle at the other men.

"I don't want to cause any trouble, Mrs. Binder," Melody said with a sniff. "I'll just leave now..."

"The devil you will," Shasa rounded on her waving the ladle. "I may not have the best cooking no matter what that young rascal says, but you're my guest and you're going to get a good meal in you if I have to tie you to that chair."

"Yes, ma'am," Melody answered in a small voice.

"You'd better do what she says," Marlin told her. "She swings a mean ladle and it looks like she knows how to use it."

"Okay," Melody giggled softly. Mrs. Binder nodded once with a huff.

"Well I don't care if she can turn me into a frog or make me stiff as a board," one of the other men said out loud. "I say it's about time we had some pretty young thing to look at around here. We was beginning to think this young fella here was a monk in disguise from one of them monasteries or something.

"Ya can't make me stiff as a board now can ya, Miss Melody?" he asked with a wink. "Or maybe just parts as stiff as a board? Now that's a bit of witchcraft I could be using if ya know what I mean." Melody tried to cover up a giggle with her hand and shook her head no. "Well, that's a damn shame and here I was hoping..."

"And that will be quite enough out of you, Walter Grayson!" Shasa chided with exasperation. "Your personal problems aren't fit talk for the dinner table, especially in front of a young lady."

"I have a feeling just having you in the same room is going to help out with his little problem," Marlin leaned over and whispered in Melody's ear. She blushed almost purple and smacked him lightly on the arm.

-------

"Mrs. Binder, as usual the meal was delicious," Marlin told her as they were leaving. "And now if she will consent I think I will take my lady for a walk by the river and let this settle."

"Oh, you go on, you silver-tongued devil," Shasa blushed and then turned to Melody. "I'm sorry about that ass Blackstone, my dear. But you know you are welcome here any time even if it's not with this rapscallion. In fact I insist. I will be expecting you. With your mother and sisters out of town I want to make sure you get a good meal now and then. That reminds me, say hello to Teresa and your sisters when you see them next and I'll be expecting them around the next time they're here."

"I will, Mrs. Binder," Melody dimpled.

"Well I've some cleaning to do," Shasa scoffed and left them at the door.

"So, a river walk?" Marlin asked once she'd left.

"First I'd like to see your room," she grinned and then added, "No, not for that. I've heard you can tell a lot about a man from the way he keeps his room so what better way to get to know you?"

"My disappointment runneth over," he sighed. "However if you really want to ... It's right up the stairs here. Now I will warn you its not very big and maybe a bit cluttered." He opened the door for her and once they stepped inside he left the door open. She smiled a little at that as she looked around.

"You weren't kidding when you said it was cluttered," she mused. "What in heavens name do you have in all these trunks?" Although remarkably clean there were trunks piled on top of trunks throughout the tiny room leaving little room for anything except his single bed, neatly made up, and a small writing desk.

"Hmm, books mostly," he admitted flipping the lid on the trunk closest to him showing it to be filled to the top. "I, uh, read a lot. I don't tend to accumulate much 'stuff' as is were but books ... Well, once I get one I just can't seem to get rid of it. I know I'm a bit of a pack rat when it comes to them..." he sounded embarrassed.

"There must be thousands here," she gasped in amazement.

"Well, not that many," he muttered.

"Have you read all of them?" she asked.

"Not all," he shrugged. "I got two or three of the ones I brought with me still to go but I suppose I'll be done with them soon. Do you know of any bookstores around here? I haven't been able to find any."

"You'd have to go to Brighton," she replied absently. "One of my sisters works there. I'll write her and ask if she knows where any good bookstores are." She turned and looked at him appraisingly.

"Now you know my secret vice," he shrugged

"That and seducing young innocent woman into your bed," she chuckled.

"I have a hard time thinking of that as a vice," he grinned. "Plus it appears I'm a much better reader than a seducer."

"Oh, I don't know," she let her fingers trail across his chest as she past him leaving his room. "But for now you did promise me a walk by the river."

-------

"Ouch! Damn, these heels are killing me," Melody muttered as they started out on the road back to her house.

"I'm sorry about that," Marlin commiserated. "But they do make your legs look spectacular!"

"Thanks, but right now you can have both the heels and my feet," she grumbled.

"Wait," he said stopping her and she looked at him quizzically. Moving around behind her back he said, "Spread your legs a little." She turned and arched her eyebrows. "Trust me."

"I'll bet you've said that a few times before," she laughed but did spread her legs to about shoulder width apart. Suddenly he bent down, stuck his head between her knees and stood up lifting her up and onto his shoulders as she squealed.

"There, hold these," he said pulling one shoe off and handing it up to her and then doing the same to the other.

"Put me down, you idiot!" she shouted laughing and screeching at the same time. "I'm too heavy for you to carry!"

"No, you're not," he said starting out down the road. "Maybe a few months ago but I've been carrying that damn heavy backpack over half this silly shire for the past two months. Believe me you feel light as a feather."

She giggled and protested as he carried her home, ignored her by blandly commenting on the sights along the way. Once they met a farmer driving a horse-drawn wagon heading into town and he looked at the farmer letting loose with a loud whinny.

"How embarrassing!" she cackled. "It's bad enough you're carrying me like a two-year-old playing horsey. Why did you have to do that?"

"I figured he probably thought you had bewitched me into thinking I was a horse," he shrugged causing her to squeal again and wrap her arms around his head. "So I thought I'd act the part."

"You are insane!" she screeched laughing so hard she had to bend over his head to keep from falling over backwards. "Now everybody will not only think I'm a witch, they'll know I'm one!" They gabbed and squabbled until finally reaching her house where he gently let her down on the grass of her front lawn.

"Thank you," she said quietly seeming to get shy all of a sudden.

"Believe me, it was my pleasure," he smiled at her. "After all I got to play with your legs the whole way here." She grinned up at him.

"Walk me to my door?"

"Of course. This is a full service date," he said taking her hand.

"Do I get a kiss?" she asked as they stood by her front door. He didn't say anything but gathered her up in his arms and softly brought his lips down to hers. After a few seconds she moaned softly and pressed her lips harder against his. He felt the tip of her tongue brush against his lips and soon both of theirs were dueling and exploring the others oral cavities.

"Oh, my," she sighed and relaxed against him when they finally broke apart.

"I'll say," he agreed hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry," she stuttered, "but I can't ask you in..."

"I know and that's okay," he grinned. "Do you think I might get a second date though?"

"You better damn well," she snorted. "After that kiss I may be pregnant."

"I don't think it works that way," he chuckled. "But I'm willing to take my chances.

"I'm going to be out of town again starting Monday but I'll get a hold of you first thing when I get back."

"You'd better," she growled.

He whistled the whole way back into town.

-------

"Ah, now this is the life," Marlin sighed as he lay back on the blanket looking up through the leaves overhead at the early evening sun. Melody was sitting up beside him splashing her toes in the slowly moving river. The remnants of a picnic dinner lay beside them. "I could easily give up city life forever just to do this every day."

"You'd have to work sometime, silly," Melody giggled and rolled over to look down at him.

"Maybe, but I don't want to think about that now," he smiled. Reaching up he pulled her down until their lips met. She moaned and they spent several minutes exploring each other until she sighed and lay her head down on his chest.

"I think I'd like you to take me home now," she whispered after a few minutes.

"Well, okay," he replied disappointedly. They gathered up the basket and the blanket and returned it to the boarding house before beginning their walk to her house. He of course groused over the fact that she was wearing flats and didn't need a ride on his shoulders for the return trip. She laughed and punched him softly as they strolled slowly down the road.

He kissed her on the porch as she whimpered and clung to him tightly. Looking up shyly she asked, "Would you like to come in?"

"Are you sure?" he replied knowing full well what the invitation really meant. "I told you this is not necessary."

"I want to, but..." she whispered then bit her lip and glanced down to avoid his eyes. "I've never done this before. None of the boys around here would be seen with a witch and ... I'm probably not very good."

"Melody Hawking!" he chided as he scooped her up causing her to squeal. "There is no good or bad, just what makes you feel good or doesn't. Half the fun is finding out which is which." Still holding her he reached down and opened the door carrying her inside. He asked which way to go and she pointed down a hallway and into a bedroom, clearly a girl's bedroom. Setting her on her feet he drew her in for another kiss as both their hands roamed freely over the others body.

Suddenly Marlin jerked back saying, "No, I can't. Not without telling you the truth."

"The truth?" she looked at him puzzled. "I think you've always told me the truth."

"I have for the most part," he mumbled. "But I haven't told you everything and now I must. You may not want to ever see me again and I can't do this to you under those circumstances."

"What? You're married?" she cocked her head. "You have a girlfriend? I already know you've had many of those. Do you have some disease?"

"No, none of that," he waved his hand. "Well, I hope I have a girlfriend and I hope that is you. But no none of that. Do you remember when I told you I didn't really work for the census?" She nodded. "Well that was true."

"I supposed it was," her eyes widening. "I would have known if it wasn't but I didn't think about it. So what do you really do?"

"I do work for the Empire," he said taking a deep breath, "but not the census. I'm a Scout for the Talent Agency." He let out his breath and waited.

"So you're here to take me in?" she looked at him in horror.

"No, not at all. You don't have enough to qualify," he quickly reassured her.

"I don't?" she frowned.

"Nope, close but not enough," he nodded. "That's my Talent. I can tell how much someone has but not what kind of Talent they have."

"So you're really a witch too," she accused him.

"I told you I had Talent," he shrugged. "But like I said before most people do. They just don't have enough to qualify for the Talent Agency."

"So you're here to sneak around and spy on us!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah," he paused for a moment and sighed. "I guess that's the most honest way to put it. It doesn't sound very nice when you say it that way but I guess there really isn't any nice way to say it. I hate it, but that's what I do."

"Can't you just tell them no," she asked still frowning.

"No!" he replied emphatically. "Well, I suppose I could but the alternative would be..." He shivered.

"Look. I'll be going and I won't bother you again," he said. "I'd rather you kept that part about me being a Scout between us but you do what you think you have to."

"You could have just kept quiet and said nothing," she said softly.

"No, I couldn't," he sighed and turned to leave.

"Wait," she said holding his arm. "Come here." She pulled him over to the bed and pushed him down on it then stretched out beside him. "I don't think I'm in the mood for anything else right now but I'd like to talk about this."

"I hope you don't mind if I'm disappointed but yeah, I don't mind talking about it," he chuckled.

"I said now ― right now," she gently slapped his arm. "Later, we'll see. But for now, spill it, I want to hear everything."

So he told her about knowing from a young age he had a Talent and being drafted into the Talent Agency. His near hatred for the Agency and everything they stood for and even his little acts of rebellion.

"I'm not a hero," he admitted. "I do what I'm told but not one bit more. I wish I could but I can't. I just want to do my time and get the hell out."

"That's not so bad, I guess," she said letting her fingers trail over his cheek and through his hair. "And you never really did lie to me."

"I really try not to lie. But sometimes I don't tell everything," he admitted.

"So what got you exiled out here at the edge of nowhere?" she asked.

"Ah, that's kind of embarrassing," he muttered and blushed.

"What? Got caught screwing the Emperor's daughter?" she grinned.

"Closer than you think," he grunted. "No, it wasn't one of the princesses. They would have just cut off my head for that. It happened to be the Inspector General's daughter and she happened to be sixteen, by three days thank God or I wouldn't be here in Pigsford, I'd be in some lousy jail back in the capital."

"So you seduced and innocent young girl?" Melody gasped.

"Seduced? Innocent?" Marlin harrumphed. "Not hardly. Young, yes. But she told me she was nineteen and she looked it. I'm not sure if I seduced her or she, me, but I can tell you she was no innocent, that's for sure! Turns out I wasn't the first boy she'd played mattress tag with, not by a long shot! She'd had more experience than most ladies twice her age! Unfortunately we got caught, er, rather publically and the Inspector General decided he wanted me buried under a rock far away from the capital.

"So here I am," he waved his hand around the room. "Did I make a mistake? Yep, but I honestly don't think I'm completely at fault in the mater. The little vixen was trouble with a capital "T" and I just refused to see it."

"So you didn't try to seduce me just so you could tell me I'm heading for the Talent Agency," Melody smiled.

"No," he smiled back at her. "If you had enough to be sent to them I wouldn't have tried to get close to you at all. That wouldn't be right. Not if I had to do that to you.

"Believe me, you have more than any man would want to pursue you for yourself alone. Talent has nothing to do with it," he said stroking her hair, shoulders and back. He did nothing overtly sexual but he really enjoyed touching her.

"Hmm," she moaned. "I think I like to be petted." She reached over and wrapping an arm around his neck pulled him close until their lips met.

"You are very pettable," he chuckled after they'd broken their kiss sometime later.

"Thanks," she mumbled scrunching into the crook of his neck. "I think I'd like to go a little further," she continued in an almost little girl's voice.

"We can go as far as you want and when you say stop we stop," he assured her.

She muttered something into his neck which he took for agreement. His hands and fingers continued their exploitation for a while until he finally pushed her over onto her back. Now he gently rubbed up and down her stomach, his fingers coming near but never actually touching the swell of her breasts under the dress as his other hand, trapped by her head, continued fondling her silky hair.

When he felt the time was right his fingers traced the line of buttons that held the front of her dress together up until he reached the top one snuggled between her shapely orbs. With an ease that confirmed a good deal of experience he flicked it open and moved on to the next. At the third button she gave a little gasp and he froze until she uttered a little growl. Suddenly sitting up and moving off the bed she reached down and grabbing the hem of her dress yanked it up and off throwing it in the general direction of a chair.

"My God, you're beautiful!" he gasped seeing her stand there in nothing but tiny almost transparent panties.

"You're just saying that," she blushed and looked down. Getting up to his knees he moved to the edge of the bed and gently lifted her chin with his fingers until they were looking each other in the eyes.

"Read me, Melody Hawking," he ordered. "Read me when I tell you that you are one of the most exquisite and beautiful women I have ever seen." She blushed again as the truth of his words washed over her. Turning her around his eyes locked on her rear and his hands soon followed.

"Your ass — I mean your bottom — is absolutely perfect," he sighed as he gently caressed it with his fingers feeling her shiver under those flimsy panties. "And your legs..." He continued as his touch continued down along those long lean limbs. "What they do to a man should be illegal."

Quickly she turned in his grasp and looked down at him with blazing eyes. Her nostrils were opening wide with the deep breaths she was taking. "Someone here is way overdressed," she growled and grabbed his shirt with both hands and yanked it apart. Buttons flew everywhere and his eyes opened wide.

"Whoa!" he gasped. "We can take a little time..."

"Fuck the buttons," she growled again. "I'll sew them back on for you later. Now get those pants off before I have to rip them off of you!"

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled then swung around, unfastened his trousers and pushed them off dropping them to the floor on the other side of the bed. His shirt he eased off and tossed in the same direction her dress went.

"Everything!" she ordered pointing to his underwear.

"That wouldn't be very fair seeing as you still have yours on," he pointed out. With a wiggle and a dip her panties were soon following his tattered shirt. He chuckled as he pushed his shorts down and dropped them onto his pants, his cock springing up to attention immediately.

"Oh," she gasped with wide eyes. "I've never seen one of those for real." She slid into the bed next to him and reached out but just before she touched him she looked up. "May I touch it?" she asked.

"As often as you like," he smiled. "But I need to warn you it's loaded and ready to fire."

"Just tell me before you do," she sighed as her hesitant fingers lightly grasped his turgid member.

"I'll try," he grunted through gritted teeth as her fingers moved up and down his shaft.

"It's so hard," she whispered in wonder. "And yet so soft." Her thumb rubbed the head with its copious discharge of pre-cum until he couldn't take it any longer.

"Oh God! You're going to make me cum," he gasped and he felt the tightening of his scrotum heralding the inevitable discharge. Quickly her head bobbed down and she sucked the head of his cock into her mouth.

"Arrgh!" he shouted as he ejaculated directly into her sweet sucking orifice. Melody took his gift and patiently waited until he had finished before pulling back and softly kissing the end of his cock. Rolling his spend around on her tongue she finally swallowed and looked up at him with a grin.

"Not bad," she said. "Doesn't really taste like anything. The texture is kind of funny but I could get used to that."

"So I've heard," he gasped and reached down to pull her up to him. Pulling her tightly he kissed her hard. She tried to pull back but he wouldn't let her. Finally he relented and she withdrew slightly.

"Yuck. Isn't that nasty with all your stuff in my mouth?" she asked.

"You were willing to have my stuff in your mouth. How could I complain about tasting it when I kiss you?" he answered.

"Mmm," she thought for a moment. "I suppose so. It really doesn't taste like anything but, oh my God, I felt so powerful when you shot it in me. I felt like I had complete control over you! It was awesome!"

"You women always have control over us mere men," he complained. "And it sure doesn't take you very long to figure it out."

"That's right and don't you forget it," she grinned. "But right now I want that thing somewhere else."

"Okay. Why don't we take a little time and I'll get you ready..." he started.

"I'm ready now," she replied sternly, "and I want it now."

"Lord, I think I've created a monster," he chuckled. "Fine." He pulled her over him until her hips were straddling his and the slick slit of her pussy split and rode on top of his hard shaft. "I don't know if there is really a best way for a first time but this way you have control and can go as deep and fast as you want to. If it hurts too much you can stop."

Melody rubbed herself back and forth on his shaft making sure the little button at the top of her slip was bumped each time the head passed beneath. One time she went just a little too far and the head of his cock bobbed up just as she was pushing back. Suddenly she had two inches of him implanted tight in her virgin passage and she froze, eyes practically popping out of her head.

"Oh God!" she gasped. "You're inside me!"

"Just hold still for a minute until you get used to..." he tried to advise her.

"No!" she replied petulantly trying to push down on him. "I want it all, now!" She gasped as another inch slid in.

"Lord, you're bossy," he sighed shaking his head slightly. "Try rocking gently, it will work much better."

She looked down at him with not quite disbelief but did as he suggested and began to move her hips back and forth slightly. To her astonishment every time she rocked back he slipped into her just a little bit further until a short time later they were groin to groin and the head of his cock kissed the hard rubbery barrier of her cervix.

"So full!" she groaned with her head back and eyes held tightly shut. "So good!" She was sitting almost straight up on him now and began moving herself up and down slowly. Her movements became more of a bouncing as the pleasure began to radiate through her body.

"Ah, Melody," Marlin groaned as he tried to hold himself back. "I should have said something before, but are you protected?"

"I went and got the pills the day after I met you," she growled. "Now shut up and fuck me!" Her movements were becoming almost frantic as she pulled herself up and slammed down again.

Marlin didn't bother to point out that she was fucking him and not the other way around but he did lick his finger and press it against the button at the top of her slit. It was like he triggered an explosion. Melody suddenly jammed herself down on him as hard as she could while moaning loudly enough it almost became a scream. Her fingernails were digging into his chest but Marlin didn't care as he suddenly came himself pumping as much of his seed into her body as he physically could.

When they were both finally done Melody slumped over him bonelessly and he rolled them both to their sides petting and whispering to her and they both drifted off to sleep still entwined.

-------

Sometime later he was gently licking, sucking and nipping her nipples while she softly caressed his hair and back. He wasn't trying to excite her again, the three times before were more than enough for one night. He was just doing it for his own pleasure.

"I'm not sorry they're not bigger," she said almost sadly.

"What?" he said looking up puzzled.

"My tits. I'm sorry they're not bigger," she replied.

"That's silly," he huffed. "Your breasts are perfect for you. Why would you want them any other size then what they are now?"

"You should see my sisters," she sighed. "They have huge tits."

"Larger is not necessarily better," he said pulling himself up so he could look her in the eyes. "I'll admit they can be an initial attractor," he continued. "But sweetie, your ass and legs are so perfect I didn't even know you had breasts until the third or fourth time I saw you."

"Now you're lying," she laughed and slapped him on the arm gently.

"True," he grinned. "I noticed them and I thought they were absolutely wonderful. They are perfect for you and I wouldn't want them any other size than they are now."

"I love you," she sighed and then kissed him before he could answer. They both drifted off to sleep soon after.

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 5


The next couple of months passed by rather quickly and for the most part pleasantly as far as Marlin and Melody were concerned. Melody finally convinced him to move out of the Sunset House and in with her stating truthfully it was silly for him to be spending his meager allowance on a room he almost never stayed in. He did end up agreeing but insisted in helping out with the household expenses as much as he could.

The Widow Binder was sad to see him go until she found out where he was going after which she teased him mercilessly.

"But I had to, Shasa," he told her mournfully. "You made it clear I had no chance with you so I had to look elsewhere to mend my broken heart." He grunted as the hip-bump from her ample pelvis shoved him into a wall followed by her laughter.

His "census" trips slowed down considerably since he now had something much better to do but couldn't put them off entirely since at some time he would have to face the truth-teller and be able to say he had been doing his job. Melody didn't like it either but admitted at least it gave her time to do some of the housework and upkeep of the small farm that didn't involve inspecting the bedroom ceiling.

He had returned from one of his trips one morning and they were getting "reacquainted" on the living room couch which entailed a highly excited and very vocal Melody bouncing up and down on top of him when they were interrupted.

"Well this is interesting," someone said dryly from over Melody's shoulder. Melody twisted around and suddenly screeched, jumped up and ran back towards the bedroom still naked leaving Marlin high and dry as it were. Struggling to sit up Marlin finally got to see the owner of the intrusive voice. She was a tall woman, probably as tall as or even a little taller than Marlin himself even without the high-heeled boots she was wearing. She also had tight short-shorts and a halter top that just barely contained her impressive breasts. Her hair was long and dark blonde; some would have called it "dirty blonde," and a face that he would have called pretty rather than beautiful if it weren't for the smirk/frown she was wearing.

"Hi there," he said reaching for his pants. "I'll be right with you as soon as I can put something on."

"Don't bother just for me," she snorted. "You haven't got anything I haven't seen before."

"I'm sure," he responded casually pulling his trousers up and throwing his shirt on. "But it would make me feel more comfortable.

"Hi again. I'm Marlin," he said walking over to her and sticking out his hand. She looked down at it with surprise and took it after a moment.

"Malinda," she smiled. "Melody's sister. You know, the girl you were fucking on our couch. Of course from what I saw maybe it was more her fucking you."

"Yes, well, I just came back this morning and we didn't quite make it back to the bedroom," he admitted.

"So the little ice-princess finally gave up some pussy and got herself a little dick," Malinda laughed.

"Mmm," Marlin's eyes narrowed.

"Mandy!" Melody screeched from the bedroom causing her sister to laugh even harder.

"Sorry about the show but as far as I know we weren't expecting you," Marlin interrupted. "If we had we would have baked a cake. Plus we would have been a little more circumspect."

"Well maybe not a cake but you were certainly trying to put a bun in the oven," Malinda laughed again. Marlin's eyes narrowed even further.

"Mandy!" Melody screeched again sticking her head out around the door frame.

"You might as well come out, honey," Martin called to her. "You can't hide in there the rest of your life."

"I can try," she muttered but inched her way out and then scurried over to stand by him. He settled his arm around her waist protectively. She was wearing a dress hurriedly thrown on.

"What are you doing back home, Mandy?" Melody asked. "You didn't tell me you were coming."

"What? I can't come back to my own home when I want to?" Malinda huffed then she shrugged. "Things were getting a little intense in Brighton so I decided to come back here until things cooled off a bit."

"Well, of course you're welcome, Mandy," Melody replied. "This is your home, as you say. By the way this is Marlin Cranson, my boyfriend."

"Yeah, we've met," Malinda snorted. "It's good to know he's your boyfriend and not some strange dick you just happen to sit down on."

"Not all of us can be the family sluts," Melody hissed.

"You did a pretty good imitation with that pole dance in here, little sister..." Malinda started.

"If you've been traveling from Brighton you must be thirsty or maybe even hungry," Marlin interrupted smoothly. "Why don't we step into the kitchen and see if we have something cool for you to drink."

"Mmm, not a bad idea," Malinda mused. "You got any beer around here?"

"Not that I know about," Marlin answered. "But Melody usually has some of the best lemonade I've ever tasted sitting in the refrigerator."

"Lemonade, great!" Malinda snorted. "You have any vodka to make it worth drinking?"

"You drank it up the last time you were here," Melody said through gritted teeth.

"And you haven't replaced it? Shit. I guess I'll have to go out and get some later," Malinda huffed. "Well, hell, I suppose something cold is better than nothing at all." She walked towards the kitchen and as she passed she looked right at Marlin. Suddenly he could feel something pull on him especially in his groin and he became hard as a rock.

"You keep away from her," Melody hissed at him once her sister was out of the room. "She's pure poison. She'll use you up and throw you away like she has all the rest of her boy-toys."

"Your faith in my fidelity is comforting," he answered dryly. "And while she is attractive in her own way, as of right now I can't say I even like her very much and she certainly isn't any competition for you."

"I'm sorry," Melody sniffed. "But she's done it so many times. She's broken up more relationships and marriages than I can count. She just looks them in the eyes, crooks her finger and men follow her around like little puppy dogs."

"Really?" he asked raising his eyebrows. "Now that's interesting."

"You know something don't you?" she asked accusingly.

"Know? No I don't," he shook his head. "But I'm beginning to suspect something. I'll tell you about it later. Maybe after we've gone to bed."

Melody just looked at him and nodded.

"Now we'd better get in there with her or she'll think we went back to finish what she so rudely interrupted."

Melody grinned and nodded more vigorously this time.

"Yes, yes. I'd rather be doing that also but we ought to at least keep your sister company for awhile. Don't you agree?"

Melody pouted for a moment but then smiled up at him and taking his arm walked with him to the kitchen.

"There is some ham in there if you're hungry," Marlin said as they walked through the kitchen door.

"Well, well. You seem to be making yourself right at home," Malinda replied snidely. "You certainly seem to know where everything is anyway."

"He should," Melody said crossly. "Marlin's been living here for the past month."

"Is that so?" her sister snickered. "Does Mom know you're keeping your little fuck toy in the house while she's away?"

"Yes," Melody hissed and Marlin let his fingers tickle up and down her spine to distract and calm her down. "As a matter of fact I wrote her just like I did you and Maggie."

"Like I've got time to read all that crap you send me," Malinda waved her off. Marlin's tickling became rubbing and even tiny pinches on the top of her bottom. She wiggled and then looked up at him with a frown. When he wiggled his eyebrows at her, her frown suddenly became a smile.

"So what do you do, boy-toy? Other than sponge off my sister, that is," Malinda asked loudly.

"I work for the Empire," he answered with a smile. "I tell everybody I'm a Census Taker but really I do as little as possible to earn my meager wages."

"Another fucking parasite," she snorted. "Just what this family needs. Mel already can't get a job and now she hooks up with another worthless rodent while the rest of us send her money to keep this barn open."

"You're damn right I keep this place livable while the rest of you run off and for your information Marlin gives me more of what little he does have than you ... Ouch!" She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "What do you think you are doing? I'm trying to stay mad at her."

He leaned over and whispered back. "I know. That's why I did it."

"What are you talking about?" Malinda asked suspiciously.

"Just making plans for our orgy later tonight," Marlin answered calmly as Melody snorted and giggled.

"Yeah, that's another thing," Malinda complained. "Keep your fucking in the bedroom where decent people don't have to see it."

"Which decent people are you talking about, Mandy? You certainly never seemed to care where you happened to be when you spread your ... Ouch! Okay! Okay! I get it!" Melody giggled again.

The rest of the morning and afternoon was spent listening to complaints about her job ― she was a stripper ― or about men in general with specific bitches about her sisters, mother or anyone else she could think about. It was not a pleasant day for either of the young lovers.

-------

"Wow, that was good," Marlin sighed as he flopped on his back next to a grinning Melody. "I hope it was as good for you as you made it sound there at the end. I don't think I've ever heard you scream that loud."

"Oh, it was good all right," she grinned and rolled over to rest her head on his chest. "But I have to admit I may have added a little bit of volume for Mandy's benefit."

"You are an evil woman," he chuckled. "I have to admit your sister can be a bit—irritating."

"Mandy is a bitch, a slut and quite possibly a whore," Melody hissed. "But she is my sister and I don't see there is anything I can do about it. She makes me so mad, I just want to spit! How can you sit there and be so calm while she is calling you a useless parasite! She just about came out and said you were fucking me just to have a place to stay. I just want to gouge her eyes out!"

"She does have that a bit backwards I will admit," he chuckled. "Actually I'm staying here to make it easier to share your bed not the other way around. As for the other..." he shrugged. "I hope I'm not useless; I try to help around here as much as I can ― I'm just not all that handy. Parasite I might have a harder time trying to argue against."

"Bullshit!" Melody retorted and punched him in the side. "I know how much you make and you've given me just about every penny since you've been here. In fact you've given me more to help out around here than that bitch has in the past year and I can tell you for a fact she makes one hell of a lot more than you shaking her ass and flaunting her tits to those slime balls up in Brighton!"

"I hope that's true," he chuckled again. "But as for what she says making me mad ... Why bother? If it's true then the one I should be mad at is me and not the messenger and if it's not true then it really doesn't matter. She wants a fight and I decline to give her the satisfaction.

"That is one seriously unhappy woman there and I think she's just trying to make everybody around her just as miserable," he continued.

"Unhappy?" Melody snorted. "All she does, other than tell the rest of us what worthless pieces of shit we are, is brag about how much she is making from the chumps and how many boyfriends she has following her around sniffing her ass. She makes it sound like she has it made and the rest of us are idiots leading pathetic lives! What makes you think she's unhappy?"

"I could be wrong," he shrugged again. "But I've noticed that when someone seems to have a need to brag about how well they are doing or feels like they have to tear down those around them it's because they are trying to convince themselves they are either better than those others or are better off.

"Having money doesn't automatically mean you're happy," he said. "Look at me. I haven't got a penny to my name but I'm as happy as I've ever been. Sure, not having to work for the Talent Agency might make it a little better but all in all I am perfectly content exactly where I am."

"Do you mean that?" Melody suddenly sat up and stared down at him.

"You tell me, little witch. Do I mean it?" he chuckled.

"Oh, God, I love you!" she screamed and jumped on top of him.

"And I love you too, little witch."

"I'm horny again," she mewled as she climbed on top of him and began rubbing herself over his body.

"This is news?" he snorted. "Fine. You can have your wicked way with me again but this time you have to be on top. You just about wore me out the last time."

"I think I can handle that," she purred.

-------

"You never did talk about what you were thinking last night, about Mandy that is," Melody stated while the both of them were out feeding the few numbers of livestock. It was only an old milk cow long since dried up and a few goats but Melody had told him she was too attached to them to sell them off even if they were of little use.

"You're right, I didn't," he grinned. "I can't imagine how it slipped my mind. I must have been occupied with something else at the time."

"Oh you," Melody giggled and threw a handful of hay in his general direction. "No really. It's about Mandy, isn't it? Something about Talent."

"Yes," he nodded. "But I'd like to keep it to myself for a bit, if you don't mind. I'm still not sure because what I'm thinking about is pretty damn rare. I read about it once and I need to dig that book out and look at it again."

"Well, they're all in Maggie's old room where we put them," Melody replied.

"I know," he grimaced. "The problem is finding the right trunk."

"You need to build a library so you can find all of them," she laughed.

"I guess I should at that," he sighed. "But at least I haven't been adding to them lately. Don't seem to have the time for reading as much anymore."

"Are you complaining?" she asked seductively as she strolled over to him her hips moving side to side.

"Not so you'd notice," he grinned. She pushed him away as he reached for her and laughed.

"Let's finish this and I'll help you look," she giggled. "And maybe after we find your book I can think of some way to distract you away from it."

-------

"If I can find the right trunk it shouldn't be difficult," he grunted as he pulled another one down and set it on the floor. "I don't have them categorized or anything like that of course but books in the same trunk are generally from around the same time frame so if I find one I read around that time we should have the right one."

"You remember every book you've read don't you?" she looked at him amazed.

"I think so," he shrugged. "But then if I've forgotten it then I wouldn't remember now would I?"

"And you remember everything you've read." It was said as more of a statement then a question.

"More or less," he shrugged. "I'm never one hundred percent sure which is why I want to find this one. Especially if it's been awhile since I've read it. Ah, this might be the one."

"But that's like a super Talent all its own," she almost whispered still staring at her lover. The more time she spent with him the more she became in awe of the goodness and gentleness of his soul but the amazing talents (small "t") he possessed.

"Naw," he replied digging through the trunk. "Just a good memory. Yep, here it is." He pulled a slim, dusty volume titled Known Talents of the Empire. "This might help. Let me read through this again and then maybe I can tell you what I've been thinking."

"Shoot. I was going to try and distract you away from that," she pretended to pout.

"Maybe we should go out to the couch and rest a bit," he wiggled his eyebrows at her. "That would really piss your sister off."

"Mandy already complains that all we do is fuck and eat," Melody laughed.

"Well, we do sleep sometimes," he mused.

"We'll see how sleepy you are tonight," Melody said seductively over her shoulder as she swayed out of the room.

"Not much chance of that," he chuckled to himself.

-------

Marlin sat at the kitchen table and flipped through the slim book. Actually he was reading it as he went but he read fast enough it look like he was just skimming through it.

"What do you really want with my sister?" The angry asked question came from the doorway.

"Companionship. Love," he answered without looking up. "Melody is a joy to be with. Every day with her is like a warm summer afternoon. She is bright, funny and is such a warm and just plain good person the only word I can use to describe her is joy," he finished looking up.

"Yeah and she has a nice ass and puts out," Malinda stared at him furiously.

"That's something I refuse to discus with you," he stated flatly. "What we do in our bedroom is of no concern of yours."

"Yeah, well, she is my little sister and I'm making it my concern," Malinda practically yelled. "You're not good enough for her and you should get the hell out!"

"Maybe I'm not," he answered softly. "But that is for her to decide, not you. If she wants me to leave then I will but until then I find that I am happiest when I am with her and I will stay as long as she lets me."

"Or until you find another pussy you want to stick your dick into," she growled. "You're all alike, every one of you. Promise a girl the world and then take off as soon as some bitch wiggles her ass and opens her legs."

"Not all men are like that..." he shook his head.

"Bullshit!" Malinda exclaimed. "You'll take off after the first one you can." Suddenly she got an evil grin on her lips. "In fact I bet you want my pussy don't you, big boy?" She bent over slight to expose more of her breasts and slowly moved her hips around in a slow grind. "I'll bet you want my pussy so bad you can't wait to get over here to take it."

Marlin suddenly felt that pull again. Stronger this time. It almost forced him to stare at her swinging breasts and follow her grinding hips. Immediately his cock was rock hard and his breath was getting harder to control.

"I knew it!" he shouted and slammed the book shut. "You're a Siren! I wasn't absolutely sure but I'd bet the rest of my life on it now. No wonder you can get men to follow you around like a flock of lost sheep. It's not incredibly strong but given that body of yours and the way you can pull them in with your Talent they don't stand a chance in hell unless they know what you are doing."

"No! You can't know ... I mean that's bullshit!" Malinda gasped. "You men are all just assholes! I don't have to do anything!"

"I'm sure you're right in some cases," he agreed. "But I'm pretty damn sure you're a Siren. Yep, that would explain a lot..."

"What would it explain, Marlin?" Melody asked pushing her sister out of the doorway and walking up to him until she was looking him right in the eyes.

"How long have you been listening?" he asked.

"Long enough," she replied. "Did you mean that when you said I bring joy to your life?"

"You are the joy of my life," he answered slowly.

"And you are my life," she sighed and leaned up against him her arms going around his back as his did the same to her. Malinda suddenly sobbed and bolted towards her room.

"You had better tell me what this is all about now," Melody said looking back over her shoulder.

"Sure," he said sitting down and pulling her into his lap.

"Wow! Did Mandy do this to you?" she asked squirming around on his erection.

"Yes, although you're not helping much right now either," he said giving her a light slap on an exposed buttocks. She giggled and wiggled some more.

"Anyway," he cleared his throat. "The Siren Talent is very rare but what it basically breaks down to is the Siren can induce lust in her target. Normally that lust is focused on the Siren herself but lust is lust."

"So Mandy can put men under her control if she wants too?" Melody asked.

"Something like that," he nodded. "For the most part their lust for her would be so overwhelming they would do almost anything to possess her."

"Wow, that's pretty powerful stuff," Melody whistled.

"Yep," Marlin nodded in agreement. "Rumor has it the empire has a few Sirens and uses them mostly for espionage and assassination. Malinda's Talent doesn't reach the level that would require Imperial service but if the empire ever found out about her they still might want to draft her into service."

"But you were immune to her?" Melody asked.

"As you can feel, not completely," he chuckled and she again squirmed on his lap. "But I have two advantages. First, I knew or had a pretty good idea what she was doing which allowed me to concentrate on resisting and secondly there is you. My feelings for you helped me confirm what I was feeling for Malinda was pure lust and considering you do your best to drain that out of me just about all the time there was no reason for it to be there other than it was induced by an outside force. Mild attraction, yes. Maybe even admiration for a pretty woman; but not hard core lust."

"So you think my sister is pretty, do you?" Melody giggled.

"Yes I do you little vixen," he tickled her. "I have eyes, you know, and that is the last we will talk about that."

"We'll see," she replied. "However I guess I need to go talk to that man-stealing bitch now. Somehow knowing what she can do makes everything she's done seem even worse."

"Mmm, maybe," he nodded. "But I think both of us need to see her. I'm not sure she's ... ah, completely sane right now."

"Okay," Melody said completely serious now. "Let's go."

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 6


Melody knocked on her sister's door but the only answer was a muffled, "Go away! Leave me the fuck alone!" Disregarding her sister's order she opened the door and marched in with Marlin following close behind.

"I told you to leave me the fuck alone!" Malinda screamed and twisted on the bed until she was facing the wall away from them.

"No, we will not, Malinda," Melody stated firmly as she stood up straight looking down at her sister. "We ― I ― want to know how long you have known you had this power and what you have been doing with it."

"It doesn't matter!" Malinda shrieked. "They deserved it! Every God damned fucking one of them!"

"Who deserved it, Malinda?" Melody asked softly.

"The men! The men! Every one of those raping, selfish, merciless bastards!" her sister cried.

"Who hurt you, Malinda?" Marlin knelt beside the bed and put one hand gently on her shoulder. She jerked away from him but he continued reaching until he grasped her again and pulled her over on her back. "Who hurt you so badly you hate all men so deeply?"

"Hates men? How can you say that, Marlin?" Melody gasped. "My God she screws everything on two legs and probably some without legs if they gave her a chance! From what I can see she loves every fucking man on the face of the earth!"

"She didn't love them, Mel," Marlin shook his head as he looked up at her. "She didn't even like them. She didn't make love with any of them; she used them for sex. More than that she drew them in, punished them by having sex with them and then cast them aside. And I doubt if she did it kindly, when she did.

"How many lives did you damage, Malinda?" he asked turning back to the woman on the bed who was now just staring at him blankly. "How many families did you break up trying to satisfy your thirst for revenge? How many chased you and gave until they had nothing more to give and were left with nothing when you casually tossed them away?"

"They deserved it," Malinda whispered. "They all deserved it."

"Who hurt you so bad, Malinda?" Marlin asked again. "Who did this and when?"

"It wasn't Mandy," Melody said shakily from behind him.

"What?" Marlin looked back over his shoulder.

"It wasn't Mandy," Melody stood there white as a sheet staring down at her sister. "It was Maggie, our sister."

Marlin quickly stood up and gathered his love in his arms. "Tell me about it," he commanded softly.

"I was only nine," Melody started listlessly. "Mandy was twelve and Maggie fourteen. She was raped and our niece Tess was the result."

"Did they catch the bastard?" Marlin asked. "Did they know who did it?"

"Oh, we know who did it all right," she laughed humorlessly. "Maggie had no problem picking him out, that's for sure. Dominic Prandle. The Prandles are the largest land owners in the shire. They own just about everything that's worth owning and they sure as hell owned the Shire-rief. He didn't do a God damned thing about it. Just hung his head and refused to look at us when Maggie reported it."

"Was that Tom Binder?" Marlin asked.

"Yep, the same one," she nodded.

"Damn, I liked that old fart," he hissed.

"Nobody around here stands up to the Prandles," Melody shook her head. "They can do pretty much whatever they want."

"Bullshit," he muttered as he released her. Turning around he started pacing back and forth in the room, muttering to himself. Every once in a while he would stop, stare at nothing, scratch his chin and resume pacing. Melody watched him for a moment and then sat down on the edge of the bed and looked down at her sister.

"You have been a very bad girl," she said.

"They deserved it!" Malinda protested defensively.

"Some, maybe," Melody partially agreed. "But certainly not all those men deserved what you did to them. Marlin was right, wasn't he? You preyed on them. Setting them up. Sucking them in with your power and then crushing them. Didn't you?"

"You don't know what its like," Malinda responded vehemently. "Having them stare at you night after night. Having them want to do nothing but paw you, rut on you like you were some animal, just some piece of meat to satisfy their lust! Their eyes never leave you: your tits, your ass or legs. Their hands grabbing, fondling ... It's disgusting!"

"Actually I get that pretty much every day and I kind of like it," Melody answered with a quirky smile and looked up at Marlin pacing with fondness. "Not the piece of meat part, but Marlin can't keep his eyes off me nor his hands. It's only fair, I suppose, since I can't keep my hands off of him either."

"Just wait until he finds some new pussy to dip his dick in and drops you like a hot cinder," Malinda hissed.

"Mmm. I suppose it could happen," Melody answered thoughtfully then glanced down at her sister. "But he did a pretty good job of resisting you and you cheated."

"Yeah, well, wait until he finds someone he thinks is pretty," Malinda muttered.

"Oh, he thinks you're pretty, all right," Melody responded. "He admitted he was attracted to you. He said he didn't think he liked you very much but he was certainly attracted to you."

"He told you that?" her sister gasped.

"It doesn't do much good to lie to a truth-teller," Melody smirked. "Besides I don't think Marlin ever really lies. He's pretty good at not telling you everything but he never outright lies."

"He knows you're a witch?" Malinda gasped again.

"Sure. From the first day we met. I told him right up front but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. He knew I had some kind of Talent even if he didn't know what it was," Melody continued.

"How? That's impossible! He's just some silly little census taker!"

"Actually I believe he told you he tells everybody he's a census taker but what he does in something different." She paused thoughtfully for a moment. "Mmm, I suppose you could call that a lie but then again it would depend on how he actually says it. Anyway, he's not a census taker."

"Then what the hell is he?" Malinda demanded.

"Marlin," Melody tried to get his attention. "Marlin!"

"What?" he pulled up short breaking out of his deliberations for the moment. "What is it, dear?"

"I'm going to tell Malinda what you really are doing here," she said. "Is that all right?"

"Oh, sure. If you think we should," he nodded and then started pacing and muttering again.

"What do you mean, 'What he's really doing here?'" Malinda asked suspiciously.

"Well, he does work for the Empire," Melody started. "But as I said before he's not a census taker. In fact he's a scout for the Talent Agency..."

"No!" Malinda screamed and backed up in her bed until she was pressed against the wall. "Get him away from me!"

"What?" Marlin jumped startled out of his musings.

"I don't think you're a useless parasite anymore, darling," Melody said dryly. "Now you're more like a scary monster."

"This is better?" he asked. She shrugged.

"He's going to send me to live with those freaks and fiends!" Malinda blubbered.

"Mmm, that would certainly take care of more than one problem," he teased but relented when Melody gave him a scathing look. "But unfortunately your Talent doesn't come up to the level that would require recruitment in the Agency. However the ... er, uniqueness of your Talent might tweak their interest if they found out about it regardless of it's relative strength so I'd be careful of who found out about, it if I were you."

"So you are going to hold it over my head to get what you want, aren't you?" Malinda demanded.

"That would be a marvelous idea," he smiled brightly. "Unfortunately I doubt Melody would let me get away with it. You wouldn't would you, sweetie?"

"Not a chance, buster," Melody chuckled.

"Well, if you ever change your mind..."

"He's telling the truth?" Malinda asked her sister anxiously.

"Every word," Melody nodded. "Including that he thinks it's a 'marvelous' idea," she continued looking at him with narrowed eyes. "But if he says he won't then he won't."

"He's hasn't actually said he wouldn't," Malinda pointed out. "He just said you wouldn't let him get away with it."

"Too true, sister," Melody smirked. "I can see you're beginning to see what it takes to handle my man here. Okay, Mr. Cranson, give her your word."

"I will if you want," he agreed. "But I think you should keep it as at least an option here. Malinda seems to have the morals of a predator. Would it be all that bad to have something to keep her in check? How about if I promise not to hold her Talent over her head if she promises not to use it to prey on men anymore?"

"Mmm, another good point," Melody nodded. "Malinda, from what we've heard so far it sounds like you've been an evil bitch. If Marlin were to promise not to threaten you with exposure would you promise not to use what you have to entrap men?"

"But I can't help it!" Malinda wailed. "I can't control it! If I see a man I want or just want to ... lure him in it just happens! I can't stop it."

"A Talent that can't be controlled?" Marlin mused and scratched his cheek. "I've never heard of that. My guess is you never tried before. If that's the case then we can probably help you work on that."

"You'd do that for me?" Malinda blinked. "You really think I can control it?"

"I wouldn't be surprised," he nodded. "Besides I'd be doing this for your sister's sake. I can't have you getting me excited every time I need to get undressed to take a bath or take my shirt off to cut the grass. I'd have to do something with it and Melody may not live through it," he continued completely deadpanned.

"You think pretty highly of yourself don't you Mr..." Malinda's eyes blazed.

"Mandy," Melody interrupted taking her arm. "He's teasing you," she said glancing at him trying to frown. Then she added just as dryly, "I think I'd live through it. He's the one that might have a problem."

Marlin snorted.

"How about we do this," she continued. "Marlin promises to help you control your Talent and won't threaten to turn you in to the Agency if you promise to really try to control it and not use it to entrap men any longer. Marlin... ?"

"I promise," he nodded.

"Mandy... ?"

"I'll try," Malinda answered. When Melody narrowed her eyes she quickly continued, "Okay, okay. I promise."

"Good," Melody nodded once. "Then I think you should lie here for a while and think about what you've done in the past and what you want to do in the future. A little introspection will be good for you."

"You sound more like Mother than Mother ever did," Malinda grumped. "When did you grow so old?"

"We all grow up, Mandy," Melody smiled patting her arm. "Now is my time and soon it will be yours."

"Why you..." Malinda huffed as Melody jumped up and grabbing Marlin's arm pulled him towards the door. "We'll see you when you're ready." Closing the door behind them she tugged him to a stop and leaned up against his chest.

"Lord, she's a mess," she sighed. "Do you really think you can help her control herself?"

"I think so," he stroked her hair. "If she wants to control it."

Melody sighed and looked up and him. "Do you mind? I really don't feel like doing much else but I'd like to lie down and have your arms wrapped around me."

"That sounds like another marvelous idea to me," he smiled causing her to giggle and slap him lightly on the chest. Arm in arm they strolled off to their bedroom.

-------

They were both sitting down to dinner when Malinda peeked around the corner and then entered the kitchen looking down at the floor sheepishly. Marlin pointed to the open chair with a plate and silverware already waiting for her.

"Feeling better?" Melody asked her sister.

"A little," Malinda admitted reluctantly. "About some things anyway. Not so much about others."

"That's to be expected," Marlin nodded.

"Did you really mean what you said, about helping me control myself?" Malinda continued.

"Sure," he nodded again. "If you really want to control it I think it will be fairly easy to help you do it."

"How?" both sisters asked at the same time and then giggled.

"Well," he stared and put down his fork. "First I think you should try to project on me again. Go ahead, do it now. Don't worry. I'll try not to come across the table and attack you."

"It doesn't work that way," Malinda blushed. "I really can't just turn it off and on like a light switch."

"Okay. Let's see if we can't induce it," Marlin grinned. Reaching under the table he started tickling the inside of Melody's thigh causing her to squirm. "What's this? No panties?" he chuckled and she gasped even if he hadn't reached up far enough to actually tell. Malinda's eyes blazed and suddenly he felt a wave of almost overwhelming lust for his lover's sister sweep over him.

"Oh, yes," he gasped. "That's it."

"Malinda!" Melody exclaimed sharply.

"No, love. That's exactly what I wanted," he panted. "I just wish I'd, ah, adjusted myself before I started playing this game.

"Now, Malinda," he said looking at her. "Close your eyes. Look inside of yourself until you can feel where this is coming from. Can you feel it?" Malinda bit her lip and nodded slightly. "Okay. Now try to stop it. Imagine using your hands to squeeze it off or at least reduce it somehow." Malinda bit her lip again and the feelings started decreasing until he was feeling only minor discomfort and then it finally stopped.

"Good girl!" he grinned as her eyes popped open. "You see, you can control it. The more you do it the easier it will get. At some time you'll be about to even stop it from happening at all unless you want it to."

"That was a dirty trick," Malinda frowned but suddenly looked thoughtful. "But I was able to control it, wasn't I?"

"And how did you know I wasn't wearing panties," Melody demanded then looked over at her sister. "He never got up far enough to know for sure."

"You haven't worn panties with a dress since I've lived here," he sniggered.

"True," Melody replied and shrugged. "I'll give you that one."

"Melody, you slut!" Malinda gasped with a smirk.

"Only for him, Mandy," Melody assured her. "Besides I do so wear them. When we go into town I always have my panties on especially if I'm wearing a dress."

"Also true," Marlin agreed. "So I'll give you that one."

"You'd better," Melody laughed and reached under the table to grab his still rock-hard cock. "What's this? Is she still 'pinging' you?"

"No," he admitted sheepishly. "It just takes a little while for it to ... settle down. Of course what you're doing isn't helping and add to that the fact that what both of you are wearing would make a granite statue stand tall and proud."

"Sorry," Malinda looked ashamed. "I'll try to dress a little less provocatively from now on. This is just normally what I wear."

"Don't change on my account," Marlin shook his head. "Wear what makes you feel comfortable. While I do appreciate the view I'll try to save my lecherous looks for Melody's backside."

"Right where they belong," Melody laughed again as she released him.

"Yes, dear," he smiled at her but then turned back towards Malinda. "There is one thing I think we should talk about though. When we first met. When you, ah, found us in the living room you expressed a desire for a drink; a beer or vodka to be exact. I take it you like a drink now and then?"

"Now and then," Malinda agreed cautiously.

"Maybe even more than now and then?" he continued.

"Hey, I'm old enough," she protested.

"Not my point," he shook his head. "Alcohol loosens inhibitions. The more you drink the less inhibitions you have and inhibitions are just another way to say control. The more you drink the less control you'll have. Did you used to drink every day? Do you still want a drink now?"

"I suppose I could use a drop or two," she admitted slowly as he nodded.

"There is such a thing as addiction to alcohol," he started but quickly continued when she started to protest. "I'm not saying you have one but a craving for it is not a good sign. I'm just saying you should probably refrain from it while you're learning to control your Talent and have come to some kind of resolution with this intense hatred of men. I'm not a doctor and I'm not trying to diagnose you but it seems fairly clear that these issues at least partly stem from what you saw happening to your sister when you were younger. Your chosen profession and the type of men you would meet while working certainly didn't help."

"How come you know so much?" Malinda looked at him strangely.

"He's scary smart, Mandy," Melody interrupted. "I think even more so than Maggie; maybe a lot more. He reads everything and remembers what he's read. Have you looked in Maggie's old room? All those trunks are filled with books and he's read every one of them."

"Except for maybe one or two," he muttered and she rolled her eyes at him.

"Shut up; I'm talking." Melody turned back to her sister. "The fact is he knows things I've never imagined. He sees things that other people don't. You never asked why exactly he's a scout for the Agency. It's because he can tell if someone has Talent and how much they have but he can't tell what that Talent is. Even so he knew what your Talent was probably within two minutes of meeting you. Keep quite!" she said sharply and smacked his arm when he started to protest. "I don't give a shit if it was three minutes or two and don't tell me you didn't know." He closed his mouth and settled back in his seat. She sniffed at him and turned back to her sister.

"The fact is he probably already knows you better than any silly head doctor we might have around here and maybe anywhere. The point is if he says you shouldn't drink then by God you shouldn't drink. Period!"

"I'm not a child!" Malinda protested with a frown.

"Oh, and you don't think you've been acting like a child?" Melody spit back.

"Stop it!" Marlin interjected forcefully. "That's enough. While I have to thank my beautiful lover for her wonderful support I'm going to point out that I am not a doctor and it's silly to think I'm anywhere near as competent as someone who has been doing this for most of his life. I do know however that yelling will get nothing accomplished.

"Regardless of how you think she may have acted Malinda is a grown woman. She is an adult and as such must make her own choices. She now knows she has both family and friends that are here to help her if she wants it but all we can give her is advice. If she is willing to take it, that's fine. If not then that is something all of us will have to live with, but trying to browbeat her into something isn't the way to do it."

"But I just want to..." Melody started but stopped when Marlin placed his fingers over her lips.

"I know you do, love. Ouch!" He snatched his fingers back after she bit him. "Okay, I deserved that. But anyway, my darling, you aren't her mother or her husband. You can't force her to do anything and it will just make things worse if you try." Melody frowned at him and pouted. Turning to Malinda he said, "Boy am I in trouble tonight. If you find me sleeping on the couch in the morning, don't be surprised."

"Sometimes the truth hurts," Malinda grinned. "Especially when it comes back to bite you on the ass." Then she frowned and looked serious. "But what you say is true. This is my problem and I'm the one who has to start taking care of it. Okay, so no booze for now and we'll see how it goes. I'm going to go back to my room for now, if you don't mind." She got up and turned away. "By the way: I don't hate all men." He felt the tiniest little ping from her Talent, just enough to make him flush before smiling and leaving the kitchen.

Marlin put his arm around Melody but she shrugged it off. "Will it help if I grovel?" he asked leaning over to nibble on her neck.

"Maybe," she crossed her arms and used her head to push him away from her neck.

"How about if I suck on your toes and kiss your feet while I'm groveling?" She giggled and allowed him to attack the other side of her neck. Finally she stood up, laughed and pulled him up along with her. "We'll leave the dishes for later. Right now you have a lot of atoning to do, mister." With that she dragged him along behind her heading towards their bedroom.

-------

"I don't even know where to begin," Malinda sighed. "By the way, where is Mel?"

"Kicking the washer into submission I believe," Marlin replied. They were sitting at the kitchen table the next morning. "If she hasn't got it to surrender here in the next few minutes I'll go back and help her curse at it. If we can get it to finally yield to her supreme mastery then I'll help her hang the wash on the line to dry later."

"That's woman's work," she scoffed.

"No, that's housework," he corrected her. "And since I live in this house I therefore help with the housework. But back to what you were saying. What do you mean you don't know where to begin?"

"Oh, I think I know how to work with the control thing," she half smiled and pinged him again with just a little more force than the night before. He shivered but it stopped before it could become uncomfortable. He narrowed his eyes at her and she gave him full smile before losing it again. "No. It's this thing about men. I mean when I think about them I still get pissed off, present company excluded, of course."

He gave her a negligent wave.

"I know up here," she tapped her head, "that all men aren't assholes deserving to be, ah, punished, but down here," she rubbed her stomach. "It feels as bad as it always did. I just don't know what to do about it."

"Okay. First let's state flat out that the probability is at least some of the men you had dealings with were indeed total assholes. Don't look surprised. I can admit there are probably more sinners than saints out there and everyone has some of both in them. Some have a lot: the assholes; others maybe not quite so much. Maybe they're jerks or maybe they're just normal. The problem is you're basing a lot of your perception of men on the ones you've met in the clubs where you danced. Now the fact is watching you dance is going to instill a lot of lust in any normal man even without you using your Talent."

"Thanks," she gave him a lopsided grin.

"The truth is the truth," he shrugged. "You are an attractive woman and men are for the most part very visual creatures. We are attracted to visual stimuli. A man sees a woman that is attractive to him and he is going to respond; it's human nature. Women aren't as visual as men. What attracts women to any one particular man can be a number of things: good conversation, a funny joke, maybe just the way he treats her when they first meet. For a man the initial attraction may be her hair, her eyes, maybe the breasts or hips or legs. I know I'm grossly generalizing here but woman and men have different attractors for potential mates and really that is what is all about when you get down to it. The instinctive desire to mate."

"So you're saying it wasn't Melody's bubbly personality that got your attention when you first saw her," Malinda teased.

"No. It wasn't her personality that practically made my heart stop when she walked past my table," he chuckled. "That came about five minutes later."

"I'm telling her," Malinda continued teasing.

"I already did," he said waving it off. "Do you think I was gong to lie to her?"

"You're no fun," she pouted.

"Anyway back to what we were talking about before Melody's ass became the subject of conversation," he continued. "Let's just say it's a given that some of the men you dealt with were indeed assholes and some probably weren't. So what I recommend is that you write about all of them. Write about what happened from the first time you met them: what you felt, what they did, what you did. Everything you can remember."

"Ah, that could get kind of personal," she replied nervously. "I'm not sure I want anybody to see any of that, at least not now."

"This isn't for me or for Melody; this is for you. Write it down. Wait a day or two, read what you wrote then burn it. Put as much of your hate as you can into it. How much you hated them; why you hated them and what you did about it. Hey, if it doesn't help we can try something different. What have you got to lose?"

"Okay," she nodded. "I'll give it a try."

-------

It was four days later and Marlin had just returned from a quick two day trip out in the shire. At the moment he was seriously thinking about how he was going to turn ten hours of walking, eight hours of sleeping and various assorted hours interviewing and eating with some of the shire's more pleasant citizens into a forty page dissertation on pig farming. Up till now thirty-nine had been his personal best but he was feeling in the groove and expected to top that record easily. Unfortunately he was interrupted by the love of his life entering the room and circling him like a shark. The expression on her face had about as much mercy and pity the aforementioned creature would be expected to show.

"What did you do to my sister?" she demanded.

"Nothing that I know of," he protested mildly. "I've only been home for two hours and I haven't even seen her since I retuned."

"Well, she's in her room bawling her eyes out and I just know you had something to do with it," she huffed.

"Mmm, maybe I did at that," he nodded and stood up. "I think we should go in and see her immediately." Without saying anything more he headed towards Malinda's room with a squawking Melody following close behind. He opened the bedroom door and as Melody had stated Malinda was curled up on her bed huge wracking sobs shaking her entire body. Carefully he sat on the bed next to her and gently laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Malinda..." he whispered.

"God! How can you touch me?" she wailed. "I am the worst person in the world! I'm awful! I don't deserve to live!"

"Now that is just plain ridiculous," he said sharply. Sliding one arm under her and grunting, Malinda was not a small woman after all, he rolled her up and into his lap. She was as tall as he was and her head rested on his shoulder although she tried to bury her face under his chin. Beckoning Melody over he patted the bed next to him asking her to sit down.

"We need to set some rules here," he said gruffly. "To begin with nobody is allowed to say outrageously stupid things like 'I don't deserve to live' except me..."

"Why you?" Malinda sniffed and tried to look up at him.

"Because I make the rules, that's why," he answered reasonably.

"Oh," she sniffed again and stuck her face back in his neck. Melody covered her mouth but her eyes were laughing at him.

"I'm guessing someone has been doing some writing," he continued.

"Oh, Marlin, I am such a bad person!" Malinda sobbed again.

"You expected this?" Melody asked accusingly.

"I had hoped for this," he answered truthfully and went on to explain what the writing assignment was all about.

"You wanted my sister to feel like shit?" Melody's voice was becoming higher the more she talked.

"Yep, sure did," he replied calmly in the face of her rising ire. "Now the real question is why I wanted her to feel like crap. Can you answer me that?"

"You wanted to punish her," Melody responded icily.

"Not even close," he shook his head and rubbed Malinda's back. "Do you want to try, sweetie?" Malinda was silent for a moment and then she slowly lifted her head and looked him in the eye.

"Remorse," she whispered. He smiled sadly and tapped her nose. Malinda gave him a lopsided grin and turned to her sister. "He didn't want me to just feel bad, Mel. He wanted me to feel bad about the awful things I've done."

"That's right, sweetie," he said pulling her back into his chest. "A truly evil person wouldn't give a damn if she'd hurt someone. You may have done some bad things, Malinda, but you aren't a bad person. We all make mistakes. I made a whopper to get sent out here to Pigsford. Of course in the end it may have turned out to be the best mistake of my life but it didn't seem like it at the time."

"What mistake was that, Marlin?" Malinda asked although her question was muffled by his shirt.

"I'll tell you later," he huffed. "Let's just say I got caught with my pants down in a compromising situation."

"I'd say more likely in someone you shouldn't have been," Melody giggled.

"Oh really?" Malinda raised her head. "Now that sounds intriguing.

"Yes, yes, as interesting as my roguish past would delight the gossips of the neighborhood we're not talking about that now. There'll be enough time for that later. Right now I think we should talk about you and your past. Were you sorry for what you did to every one of them?"

"No," she answered in a tiny voice. "There some that really deserved what they got. I just can't feel bad about them."

"Then we'll not worry about them," he stated with finality. "But I'm guessing that there were others that weren't so cut and dried. Maybe there were a few where you feel you may have been shall we say callous, merciless, heartless and maybe even downright cruel?" Each word caused her to flinch like he was slapping her face.

"Yes," she sobbed and then gushed. "Oh, Marlin! I was all those things, and to guys that probably really didn't deserve it. I..." He stopped her by pressing her lips together.

"No confessions," he said firmly. "Not now, not in the heat of contrition. You might say things you really don't want us to know about later and resent it. If you still want to tell us later, much later, then we can talk about it."

She looked at him for a moment and then gently bit his fingers before he could pull them back. Suddenly he felt a large dose of her Talent flowing through him.

"Ah, Malinda," he gasped. "Control? I really don't want to have to try to explain to Melody why I had an erection while her sister was sitting on my lap. She just might start with castration before moving on to explanations."

"Sorry," she mumbled as the feelings decreased and then disappeared.

"Now why don't you try to get some sleep?" he advised. "I think that would be in order here."

"Stay with me," she pleaded. "Both of you, please? I ... I don't want to be alone right now."

"I think a nap all around sounds like a wonderful idea," he smiled rolling them over to lie on the bed. Melody crawled in behind her sister and grabbing the hand that had been around Malinda's waist brought it to her lips for a soft kiss. He caressed her cheek and they all settled down for a rest.

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 7


He awoke a few hours later to find the three of them had shifted to a different position. He was now on his back with a girl resting her head on each of his shoulders. Straining to look down he saw dark blonde hair on one side and dark brown on the other. They were facing each other and very quietly whispering to each other. When they felt him move they stopped talking and looked up.

"Now this is something I could get used to," he sighed happily. "A beautiful woman on each arm ... What more could any man ask for?"

"You are such a pig," Melody giggled. "If you really had both of us to satisfy you'd be dead within a week."

"Ahhh, but what a way to go," he sighed just as his stomach let loose with a ferocious growl.

"It sounds like the top hog needs to be fed," she giggled again and rubbed his stomach.

"I'll get it," Malinda said jumping up and rolling off the bed.

"I'll help you," Melody added pushing herself up.

"What? You don't think I can do it?" Malinda frowned.

"Of course you can," Melody soothed her sister. "But you don't know where we keep everything."

"Mmm, true I suppose," Malinda's eyes narrowed. "Well, okay, you can help, but only help." Saying that she turned around and left.

"She is the worst cook in the world!" Melody whispered into Marlin's ear once her sister was out of earshot. "She can burn water without even trying. I'd better get out there or God only knows what awful stuff we might be trying to eat for dinner."

"No matter what it is I will put it in my mouth, chew and swallow with a smile," he assured her. "She's finally trying to do something around the house and that is no small thing."

"True," Melody admitted. "But still I should be getting out there before her offer of assistance becomes our sacrifice."

"You do that," he grinned and drew her down for a quick kiss. "I'll start outlining my new report. I have the feeling it's going to be magnificent!"

-------

"That was wonderful!" Marlin exclaimed as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. Maybe wonderful had been a slight exaggeration but it certainly hadn't been the total disaster Melody had predicted. Of course he had no idea how much his lover had guided her sister in the preparation.

"Thanks," Malinda muttered even as she blushed. "I'm sure Mel would have done better."

"Possibly," he admitted. "But then Melody has a touch with food that I believe borders on the magical. We all have things we're better at that others just as others are better at certain tasks than we are. Now Melody does best at, well let's see, cooking, cleaning, laundry, planting, taking care of the animals and fixing up the house while my strengths lie in more ... shall we say, the more intellectual pursuits?"

"You liar!" Melody laughed and hit him on the chest then flopped down in his lap. "You do more around here than I do, you bag of hot air."

"I'm not sure what I'm good for," Malinda sighed. "I haven't done anything useful for years except stripping and I don't think I want to do that again."

"That probably wouldn't be a good idea," Marlin agreed.

"But maybe I can dance for you," she grinned evilly as she stood up grinding her hips and moving her torso in a sinuous weave.

"That is also probably not a good idea," Marlin gulped. "Unless after about two minutes you want to see me drag your sister back to her bedroom and have my wicked way with her."

"Oh! Oh! I want to see you dance! I want to see you dance!" Melody clapped and bounced up and down on Marlin's lap. Both Marlin and Malinda burst out laughing as Malinda collapsed back into her chair.

"You don't need me to get him all riled up," Malinda smiled sadly.

"Maybe not," Melody admitted. "But why take any chances?"

"I just wish there was something I could really do around here," Malinda sighed again. "I don't have a job now so I guess I'm just one of those parasites I'd been complaining about and it's not like anyone around here would trust me enough to hire me even if they didn't think I was a witch." Melody nodded sympathetically.

"Well, you know I was thinking," Marlin began and suddenly two sets of eyes bore down on him. "Hey, I told you my strengths were more toward the intellectual, didn't I? Anyway, this place has the potential of becoming a lot more self-sufficient and maybe even earning a few extra crowns with just a few changes. Now Melody couldn't do it all by herself and of course I'm completely useless..." This earned him another smack on the chest. "But with two of you, or maybe the three of us, it could work. That orchard back there is essentially going fallow and with a few chickens and maybe another cow or two ... I think it could work."

"You mean start having a real farm just like when daddy was with us," Melody smiled dreamily. "That would be nice."

"So I go from stripper to farmhand," Malinda snorted. "Not such a big difference, I suppose. I'd still be working with dumb animals. At least I wouldn't have to shake my tits at them."

"I don't know," Marlin began, knowing he shouldn't. "If we had a bull he might appreciate it. In fact he just might think he'd been plopped down in the milk-producing capital of the world." He ended up being pummeled by two women and just barely escaped from the kitchen with his life.

-------

"Hey, there!" Marlin called out. Malinda was perched halfway up a ladder with her head in the branches of an old apple tree cussing up a storm and sawing away. Numerous dead limbs littering the ground around her testified to amount of work she'd already put into the job. "Just wondering if you needed a little help." The cursing stopped and Malinda backed down the ladder. She was sweating profusely and had on a sleeveless shirt tied at the bottom of her swinging breasts, skin tight shorts and big rubber boots that came up to almost her knees. There were a multitude of scratches on her arms and legs.

"You know, just a suggestion," he continued. "You might want to dress in work clothes instead of something you'd wear on a date Saturday night."

"You'd want your date wearing this when you take her out?" Malinda demanded.

"Heck yeah," Marlin grinned. "Those boots are sexy as hell."

"Asshole," Malinda grinned back at him.

"True," he replied. "But as much as I'll probably be thrown out of the he-man club, you should wear long sleeves and long pants if for no other reason than to protect the delectable delicacies beneath them."

"It's too fucking hot," Malinda growled.

"Then you're working too hard," he countered. "Remember slow and steady gets the job done. The quick little bunny just wears herself out and drops dead from exhaustion."

"Yeah, well, did Mr. Slow and Steady finish all his chores all ready?"

"Yep, that's why I'm out here seeing if you needed a hand," he nodded.

"Really? That was quite a list Mel gave you this morning," Malinda gaped at him in disbelief.

"Yeah she was in a bit of a mood this morning but being lazy pays dividends," he responded,

"Yeah, we Hawking women can get a bit bitchy around our time of the month. But run that one by me again. How does being lazy help get any job done?" she asked.

"That's easy," he answered. "The first thing I do is sit down and think about the job. Mostly about what would be the easiest way to get the job done. Amazingly enough it turns out the easiest way is usually the quickest way so they're done and here I am."

"And it has nothing to do with avoiding one little prickly pear back in the house..." she teased.

"Almost nothing," he said with a straight face.

"Yeah right," she scoffed and sat down on the log of an old fallen tree. "You know I've been thinking..." He started to open his mouth but her suddenly narrowed eyes caused him to clamp it shut again and smile. "Wise man," she snickered. "I may not be sleeping with you but I can make you walk funny all day if I wanted to and don't you forget it."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," he replied innocently.

"Uh-huh, I'll just bet you don't," she harrumphed. "Anyway I was thinking about those animals you talked about buying. Do you have any idea how we're going to pay for them? How much cash do we have now?"

"A small flaw in my plan, I will admit," he sighed sitting down beside her. "I put my meager pay in the jar in the living room and I think Melody does the same with what your sister and mother send. She buys what we need and when it's gone we don't buy anything until we get some more. I don't know exactly how much we have but it's probably not much."

"It's almost nothing," Malinda stated. "Certainly not enough to buy what we want. However I do have some money saved. But ... but it's in the bank in Brighton and I have to go get it in person. Marlin, I don't think I can go there alone!"

"Whoa there! To begin with you certainly don't have to spend your money..."

"What? This isn't my home too?" she demanded.

"Of course it is..."

"You and Mel aren't married yet and until you are I can still live here and if I want to put my money into the family farm I can do it if I damn well please!" she exclaimed.

"Again, whoa!" he said putting his hands up. "Melody and I haven't even talked about marriage although I suppose it's not ... beyond the realm of possibility," he gulped. "But even if that were to happen I'm sure you would be welcome here as long as you wanted to stay."

"That thinking about being married kind of stuck in your throat, didn't it?" she teased.

"It's ... a new concept I'll admit," he shivered. "But not without merit. However that's for a future discussion and not one between you and me. As for your money ... Of course you can do whatever you want with it I was just saying it wasn't expected. As for going to Brighton alone ... Well I'm sure the two of us can go with you and if not then at least I can."

"I won't be welcome there," she whispered softly.

"We can get there early in the morning and be back by the afternoon," he assured her. "You're not wanted for anything, are you?"

She hesitated for a moment. "No," she finally said. "But the last time I was there there was a fight over me, and a man was killed. I didn't really have anything to do with it but I won't be welcome. Oh, Marlin, I've been so bad!" She started sobbing and leaned against his shoulder. With one arm around her back he reached under her legs with his other arm and pulled her onto his lap where she continued to cry grabbing onto the front of his shirt fiercely. A few minutes later he heard someone walking up behind them.

"And just what is going on here?" Melody demanded. "What is my sister with her tits hanging out and painted on pants doing sitting on your lap?

"You can discuss proper working attire with her if you'd like; I already tried," Marlin replied then as an aside he whispered, "I did tell her the boots were sexy, though."

Melody frowned for a second and then smacked him in the arm, hard. "You goof! All right now what is this all about?"

"Malinda needs to return to Brighton and retrieve the money she has in the bank and I assume also what possessions she might have left. Unfortunately she is scared to go back so I told her that either we or I would go with her. She's a little distraught thinking about some of the reasons she might not be welcome back there."

"Oh. Sorry," she said blushing. "Well, good. You two can go tomorrow. It will get you out of the house and keep you from being under foot. Although I will say there has been a whole lot of lap sitting going on around here that I haven't been involved with. Mandy, you do remember that you're just borrowing that lap and not homesteading it, don't you?"

"Yes," came a tiny voice from beneath Marlin's chin. "Thank you."

"Mmm," Melody huffed. "Well I suppose someone ought to take advantage of it and it might as well be you. Right now I can barely stand the sight of him let alone think about sitting on his lap.

"Good Lord, Mandy!" Melody exclaimed. "What did you do to your arms and legs? You really are an idiot. Come on; let's get those taken care of right now." Grabbing her sister's hand she pulled her upright. "I swear sometimes you act like you have more brains in your boobs than you do in your head."

"If I did then I'd be a genius," Malinda smiled and then sniffed. Melody rolled her eyes and dragged her sister off.

-------

"It will be all right," he assured her for the tenth time as the coach pulled into the Brighton coach terminal and the hissing air brakes jarred them to a stop. She held his hand in a grip that was practically crushing. Like she was a drowning woman and he was her only lifeline.

Their first stop was the bank where she closed out her account taking two hundred crowns in cash and the remainder as a bank draft. Marlin did his best not to see how much that draft was for. Next was her apartment where she fretted about what to take.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with all this shit," she said waving at the spangled, stretchy and mostly tiny costumes from her dancing days. "I suppose I should just throw them all away."

"If you want," he shrugged. "But I'm guessing that someday there will be a man who you will want give a private showing to and he is going to be very, very appreciative. Besides, they don't take up much room and can't weight anything." Her shoes were actually the biggest problem but they managed to fit them all in. The jewelry was another problem.

"These were all 'gifts' from my admirers," she sighed. "I guess I really was a whore."

"A gift is just that, Malinda," he soothed her. "Just because a man gave you something hoping it might ... ah, make you more inclined to spend time with him, it's still just a gift."

"Well, there were times I might have inferred that this little trinket or that one might make me more amenable to his advances," she responded with a crooked grin.

"A gray area," he admitted, "but not one you should worry about now. Take them and if you don't want them you can sell them and be done with it."

After they had taken everything down to the street, she contacted the landlord. Her rent was paid up till the end of the month so that wasn't a problem and she informed him anything she had left he could have. They called a cab and hauled it all down to the coach terminal.

They were sitting on a bench talking quietly waiting for the next coach when they were interrupted by a gruff voice in front of them.

"Mandy Hawking, you bitch!" They looked up to see a large, angry man scowling down at them. "I think you owe me some one-on-one time, you little slit. I've been looking for you for a while now and I heard you were in town."

"I'm sure it must be nothing more than a misunderstanding," Marlin said standing up. Malinda tried to pull him back down but he refused to budge. He stood directly between the man and Malinda. "You see the lady and I were just getting ready to leave town..."

"Get out of my way, you little shit," the big man hissed.

Marlin looked up and cocked his head and tapped his cheek as if thinking. "No, I don't believe I will."

"And what are you going to do when I splatter you all over this sidewalk? Huh, big man?"

"Well, considering I'll be splattered I probably won't be able to do much but the constable walking up behind you might take exception," Marlin stated reasonably.

The man looked back over his shoulder quickly and indeed there was a uniformed officer standing not three feet behind him a nightstick swinging in his hand.

"And what might be going on here?" the constable asked as he walked around and stood between them.

"This gentleman thought he had some business with my lady friend but I'm sure he realized he was mistaken," Marlin answered evenly.

"Ah, Rufus," the officer tapped the big man on the chest with his stick. "It's not often we see you out this early. Maybe you should go home and hide for awhile."

"This ain't got nothing to do with the law," Rufus grunted. Suddenly the nightstick was jammed up under his chin tilting his head back.

"If I say it has to do with the law, then it has to do with the law," the officer hissed. "Now get moving before I run you in for littering."

Rufus scowled and turned around but grumbled back over his shoulder, "I'm waiting for you, bitch; you just remember that! Ouch!" he shouted when the constable smacked him hard in the kidney.

"Now unless you want me to be calling for assistance and to add resisting arrest to the beating we'll be giving you, you'd best be on your way." Rufus grumbled but quickly made his way down the street.

"Now who do we have here?" he asked turning around and firmly pushing Marlin to the side until he could see Malinda. "Ah, Malinda Hawking, and I thought it was going to be such a nice day. What are you doing back here, girl? You know you're not welcome here in Brighton."

"Officer," Marlin interrupted gently. "We just came back this morning to retrieve her belongings. We'll be leaving on the next coach."

"For good?" the constable asked sharply directing it towards Malinda. She nodded without looking up. "Well then that is the best news I've heard all day. And you, young man," he turned towards Marlin and tapped his chest with the stick. "You be careful of that harpy. Some say she's a witch and she'll eat your heart out if you give her a chance."

"I'll be careful, officer," he said with a slight smile.

"You see that you do," the constable tapped him again. "And make sure she doesn't come back. Now I believe I will stroll just over there and have a cup of coffee and maybe a creampuff. Just until the next coach leaves, you understand."

"We would be most grateful for your watchfulness, officer." This time Marlin really did smile.

The constable jerked a nod and glanced fiercely at Malinda then moved off towards the coffee shop swinging his night stick. The coach arrive soon after and soon they were loaded up and leaving town.

"Oh God," Malinda sniffed clinging to Marlin's arm. "Mel would have killed me if you had gotten hurt over me."

"There was less danger then you think," he soothed her. "Now look behind us. What do you see?"

"Just Brighton," she answered puzzled.

"That's right. It's Brighton and it's behind us and that's where it will stay. Now turn around and face what is front of you. That's your future, not what's behind," he told her firmly. Instead she laid her head on his shoulder and sobbed quietly, hanging on to his arm tightly.

-------

"So you're running away for three days, are you?" Melody stood in front of him tapping her foot.

"Maybe four and it is my job," he protested.

"Yeah and it gets you away from your bitchy girlfriend for almost a week," she harrumphed.

"I would never say that," he assured her.

"Well, I guess I don't blame you," she tried to smile. "But I would sure like to know what really happened in Brighton. Mandy is happy as a lark one minute and bawling her eyes out the next. And this following you around and trying to serve you like you were some kind of prince of the empire is really getting irritating."

"I told you. We met one of her prior acquaintances ― a rather disagreeable sort, I might add ― but a constable chased him away and we returned," he said soothingly. "No trouble, just a little scary for her, that's all."

"Mmm, as if I can believe a thing you say," she said snorting at his hurt look. "Which way are you heading?"

"I thought I'd try east this time."

"East? That's not in the pattern of where you've been doing your searching," she said accusingly. "In fact that's out towards the Prandle estate."

"Is it? How interesting," he mused. "Well I thought I'd try something different. Who knows what I'll find out there."

She stared at him for a long moment and then sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck giving him a big kiss.

"You be careful," she sniffed thumping him on the chest. "I want you coming back to me all in one piece. You hear me?"

"Believe me I'll do my best," he grinned.

-------

"Honey, I'm home!" Marlin called out as he entered the house through the kitchen door. He smiled as he heard a pair of running feet heading his way while he placed his traveling kit in the space reserved for it. Turning around he was hit in the chest by a flying dark-haired body that wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He might have said something but the tongue stuck down his throat prevented it.

"Mmm," he finally managed to utter when they broke their kiss. "This makes every step of the trip, both out and back, worth it."

"I like the sound of that," she replied rubbing her face in his neck.

"So, how are you?" he asked reaching down and gently grabbing her ass. "You certainly feel good."

"I am just fine," she giggled again. "And I'll only give you a day or two to stop that."

"Then I'd better make the best of the time I'm allotted, hadn't I?" he chuckled kneading her just a little more firmly. "And how is Malinda doing?"

"Ah, well, there we may have a little problem," she answered mysteriously.

"Is she all right?" he asked with concern.

"Eh, up and down," she said. "We had a lot of time to talk to each other. Even made a few trips into town.

"Those weren't too bad," she continued. "She admits she still doesn't like men but she says she was able to keep from pinging them. I believe her. We didn't have many of them following us like little lost puppies; no more than usual, anyway."

"I'll bet the two of you were wearing shorts," he chuckled. "Which meant the whole male population was following behind you and drooling even without Malinda adding her Talent."

"Maybe," Melody laughed. "But everyone in town already knows that this ass," she slapped the cheek Marlin wasn't playing with, "is wholly owned by one Imperial Servant Marlin Cranson."

"Mmm, now I like the sound of that," he smiled and his kneading turned into a caress.

"You know, so do I," she replied looking up at him coyly.

"Anyway we did have a number of guys she used to know come up to talk to her," Melody continued. "Fuck-buddies she called them. I wouldn't say she was nice but at least she was cordial. Afterwards she admitted to me that she still didn't like any of them or maybe the better word is she didn't trust them. She felt anxious and skittish when they were near and had to work hard to control herself."

"That may be the case for a long time," Marlin sighed sadly. "In fact she may never get over it completely. Hopefully it will get better as time passes but it may never really go away completely."

"Yeah, well, that isn't the problem," Melody said and pushed him down in a chair and plopped herself on his lap. "The problem is she's fallen in love with a man."

"That was quick," Marlin jerked in surprise. "Someone she just met in town? Does he know about it? I hope she's not just fixating on him in a subconscious effort to resolve her ... ah, issues."

"You read too much; you sound more like a shrink than most shrinks do," Melody giggled. "Anyway it didn't just happen and I think it's more than just a fixation or even puppy-love."

"Then he'd better be good to her or he and I are going to have words," Marlin growled.

"Oh, yeah, and that's another thing," Melody looked at him in mock seriousness. "She told me all about that little confrontation you had with that piece of shit in Brighton and if he was as big as she said he was, you and I are going to have words about self-preservation and your usefulness to me after being splattered all over the sidewalk."

"Well, it wasn't a bad as it might have seemed at the time," Marlin fidgeted.

"Maybe, and to tell the truth I kind of find it hard to fault my man when he protected my sister even if it meant he was going to get his ass kicked," she snorted. "But that's another topic and I don't want to get sidetracked.

"Do you love my sister?" she asked. This time she was being very serious.

"I like Malinda a lot," he replied. "Even given the somewhat rocky start we had I really believe under all her bluster and bravado, even with everything she's done, she is still a good person."

"You didn't answer the question," she said poking him in the chest. "Do you love my sister?"

"Not the same way I love you," he admitted cautiously.

"Of course not," she scoffed. "We're different people; how could you love us the same way? That wasn't the question. Okay, you're being pigheaded so let's try this from a different angle. If you hadn't met me and you'd met Mandy and I don't mean the Brighton pole-dancer Mandy. I mean the Pigsford farmhand, slightly emotionally troubled Mandy, could you have fallen in love with her?"

"Probably," he responded after thinking a bit. "She really is a good person under all that and of course her ass is almost as nice as yours."

"Plus she has big tits, you goof," Melody giggled. "Anyway that's good to know because you see the problem is she's in love with you and I'm talking bigtime here."

"What?" Marlin exclaimed and jerked back like he'd been hit.

"Oh Lordy, for such a smart man who seems to see everything around him you sure are blind sometimes," Melody snickered. "Of course she's in love with you. How could she not be? My God, you took her in past and all, help to heal her or at least start; then there was that protecting her from that asshole in Brighton when others probably would have said she deserved what she got ... You've been kind, generous, compassionate ... You had her tumbling ass over teacup weeks ago.

"There's only one problem though," she continued. "The man she loves is sleeping with her sister and it is tearing her up just thinking she might hurt me."

"Hell yes, that's a big problem," Marlin exclaimed.

"Not as much as you think," Melody shrugged then leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Actually I feel kind of naughty admitting this but the thought of you holding my big sister down and ramming that big beautiful cock in and out of her makes my panties drip and I get all quivery inside."

"Yeah, well, the reality may not make you as quivery," he cautioned her.

"Maybe not," she admitted. "But there is only one way to find out. Would you please do this for her? Do this for me? I've found out I love my big sister all over again and I don't want her to leave. Please? For me?"

"Well, I confess that the thought of making love to Malinda is not exactly onerous," he replied slowly.

"You can always close your eyes and pretend it's me with big tits," she teased playfully.

"You know I love you more than life itself and always will," he told her seriously. "Even if we do this I will still love you."

"I know," she said simply. "I think that's why it doesn't bother me. Now come along, you have another Hawking woman to subdue." She stood up and grabbing his arm dragged him back towards the bedrooms. Opening her sister's door she marched in with an embarrassed Marlin firmly in tow. Malinda was lying on her back staring up at the ceiling and looked over at her sister with surprise.

"All right, Mandy," she said loudly. "We are going to take care of this little problem right now."

"Oh, no! You told him!" Malinda wailed and started sobbing. Quickly Melody let go of Marlin's hand and jumped on her sister's stomach putting her face down until they were nose-to-nose.

"Damn right I told him," she growled. "And I'm going to tell you exactly what I told him. I finally have my big sister back and I found I love her so much it hurts. I've got her back and by God I'm going to make sure she stays back home where she belongs even if I have to have my boyfriend and future husband fuck her until she can't hold her legs together and can't walk three steps down the road.

"I'm lending him to you ... No actually I think I'm giving you to him and after he's done with you, you aren't going to be able to even think of leaving!"

"He'd be willing to ... be with me?" Malinda asked with awe.

"Eh," Melody sat up straight. "He said he didn't think it would be too onerous. Besides, he likes your big tits."

"Not too onerous?" Malinda sniffed.

"Not onerous at all," Marlin laughed softly sitting on the bed beside her. Melody rolled off her sister and lay down on the other side of the bed beside her. "After all you are a beautiful woman as well as being a beautiful person."

"I am not," she sniffed again. "I'm not a good person at all and you know it."

"Nope," he said lying down beside her. "I think you are a wonderful person who has made some mistakes. We've all made mistakes and it takes a special person to admit those mistakes, face and overcome them. That is exactly what you are doing."

"I wouldn't be able to do anything without you," she said scrunching up next to him and burying her face in his neck.

"Yes you would," he gently stroked her cheek. "You're stronger than you think, Malinda Hawking."

"I don't want to be strong," she murmured nuzzling his neck. "I want to be weak. I want to be taken care of. I want my man to lead me. I want to surrender to him.

"May I kiss you?" she almost pleaded.

"It would be my honor," he smiled just before their lips met. At first it was just their lips but soon tongues tentatively darted out and touched. Before long they were pressing close together and moaning into each others mouths.

"Oh, my God!" she hissed when they finally broke away from each other.

"Yeah, I kind of like that too," Marlin grinned.

"Not bad, is he?" Melody interjected. "So now we have the kissy stuff done when are you going to get to the good stuff?"

"Who left the door open?" Malinda giggled. "You think this is a spectator sport?"

"Damn right," Melody countered. "My boyfriend, my rules. After you've screwed him a few times maybe he'll be your boyfriend too but until then..."

"What did you do to my sister?" Malinda buried her head in Marlin's neck again. "It used to be if anyone even said the word 'fuck' she'd faint."

"Yeah, well now I only faint when I've been fucked," Melody continued. "Come on let's get on with the hokey-poky! Right now you two have got me so worked up that doorknob over there is starting to look kind of cute."

"Melody!" Marlin admonished. "Where is your sense of romance? Malinda doesn't need sex, she needs to be loved. She may not be ready for anything else right now."

"No, I'm ready," Malinda looked up at him. "I'm more ready than I've ever been before in my life but I want you to take me however you want to; however fast or slow you want to."

"Well in that case I might just play with these for awhile," he grinned almost evilly as he reached down and untied the knot in her shirt under her breasts. Pushing it aside he let his fingertips gently roam over her large orbs touching everything except her nipples.

"You like my boobies," Malinda asked in a little girl voice.

"I love your breasts," he whispered back letting his lip follow his fingers until finally he sucked in one fat nipple and teased it with his tongue.

"Holy shit!" Malinda screamed and started shaking. Both Marlin and Melody looked at her with concern. When she finally stopped shaking she looked back at them in astonishment even as she continued panting. "I've never cum before by having someone sucking on my tit!"

"Yeah, well just wait until he..." Melody bent over and whispered in her sister's ear.

"Oh, shit!" Malinda closed her eyes and groaned.

"Don't you think someone is a bit overdressed?" Melody continued whispering.

"Hell, yes!" Malinda agreed loudly. Both sisters then attacked Marlin and soon had him stripped down to his underwear. Malinda pulled them down slowly and as he popped free gasped and said, "It's beautiful!"

Bending double she softly kissed the head of his cock and then licked her lips when she came back up. As quickly as she could she threw off her shirt and peeled down her shorts. If she had panties on they went with the shorts. Neither Marlin nor Malinda noticed Melody doing the same thing lying down next to her sister as naked as she was.

"Marlin," Malinda's voice quivered as she lay back and held her arms up to him. "I know I said you can do what you want with me but right now I just need you inside of me while I look into your eyes. Please?" Without a word Marlin stretched out on top of the shivering woman and very slowly pressed into her as they stared at each other. When he finally hit bottom Malinda moaned and her eyes rolled back. Her legs came up and wrapped around his waist allowing him just that little more bit of penetration.

"Perfect," she whispered in his ear while rubbing her cheek against his. "This is all yours. You may have others but there will never be anyone else inside me again other than you." She moaned again as he began to slowly thrust inside of her. They lay there for a long time undulating against each other; touching, kissing, exploring. Finally Marlin couldn't suppress nature any longer and he began long, hard, quick plunges that made Malinda grunt each time he hit bottom. When he couldn't take it any longer he pushed in as far as he could and released his seed into her willing body causing her to shriek as her own orgasm washed over her. He rolled to the side after a few minutes and she followed giving him little kisses and soft caresses.

"That was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced," she smiled dreamily.

"Yeah, well," Melody smacked her sister's bottom hard. "You have two minutes of kissy-face huggy-bear before I'm coming over there and pushing your big ass out of the way. By the way make sure you give him a really good ping because I want him to nail me right through this mattress!"

Malinda buried her face in Marlin's chest and giggled uncontrollably as Marlin chuckled.

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 8


"Mom's coming home next week," Melody announced one day as they were sitting around the living room. As usual Malinda was curled up next to Marlin squeezed in as tightly against him as she could without actually interfering with his reading, writing or whatever else he was doing at the time. Melody, on the other hand, was propped up against his chest totally heedless of the fact that he couldn't possibly turn the page in his book with her there.

"She's bringing Tess with her, of course," she continued. "That's Maggie's little girl," she looked back over her shoulder at Marlin. He nodded to remind her that she had already told him about her.

"I hope I won't cause any trouble," he said.

"She already knows you're staying here with me," Melody shrugged, "and I don't think she believes we're just roommates. Of course she doesn't know you're fucking Mandy blind every night in addition to me but I suspect she'll get over it soon enough."

"I can go back to my room..." Malinda began.

"Bullshit!" Melody snorted looking at her sister with narrowed eyes. "You're right where you belong and that's where you're going to stay. Final word! If mom gets her panties in a wad then we'll just move out and find a place of our own."

"Yes, ma'am," Malinda grinned. "She's getting to be a real bossy little bitch isn't she?" Malinda looked up to Marlin.

"I generally find it's just easier to do what she says since she's always right anyway," he winked.

"Damn right I'm right," Melody mumbled. Suddenly there was a sharp knock on the door. Both girls jumped up followed slowly by Marlin.

"Who could that be?" Melody demanded.

"Well we could stand here and guess but it might be easier if we just answer the door," Marlin said mildly. Putting actions to his words he strolled over and opened the door. Standing there looking slightly disheveled and clearly unhappy was the truth-teller that had visited him earlier.

"Finally!" the truth-teller hissed. "Took me long enough to find you! I'm going to have a hell of a time making it back before the last coach leaves."

"I'm sorry," Marlin answered placidly. "Won't you come in? We can make this quick and I believe you will have plenty of time to make it back. Please, sit down. Would you like some lemonade? I'm sure it was a dusty walk out here and it will be just as dusty going back. It won't take you any longer and Melody makes some of the best I've ever had."

"Well, I suppose so," he grumbled. He came in and sat down in a chair. Pointedly he looked at Malinda who was just standing and again at Melody when she returned with his glass.

"Oh," Marlin waved. "They know who I am and what I do. At first it was a bit of a shock but it doesn't seem to bother them all that much now."

"Well, okay," the truth-teller relented. "Oh, this is good," he said taking a sip.

"Thank you," Melody replied cheerfully.

"No, thank you," he nodded. "I suppose we should get started." They quickly ran through the standard questions although this time Marlin didn't try to be such a shit.

"I suppose I should be getting back," the truth-teller finally said.

"Sure and like I said you have plenty of time. I've never known the coach to leave early before," Marlin said. "Do you mind if I walk with you for part of the way? I have a question for you."

"Ah, sure," the truth-teller muttered. "Got to head that way anyway. Ladies, it has been a pleasure. Thank you for the drink."

"You know," Marlin started as they began walking down the road. "If you let me know ahead of time I could meet you in town and we could get this over with right there at the inn. It would save you a lot of time. Actually if you let me know far enough ahead of time I could met you in End-of-the-Line and save you the coach ride. Of course I don't have the allowance for that but if I did you could pop right off the train and right back on."

"Well, these inspections are supposed to be a surprise," the truth-teller muttered.

"I don't know why," Marlin continued evenly. "I can't lie to you, anyway. If I was hiding something you'd find out right away not that I can think of anything I'd want to hide. We both know I'm not exactly busting my ass out here but I am doing my job."

"True. It really shouldn't matter if you knew I was coming or not," the truth-teller answered thoughtfully. "And it certainly would be more efficient. I'll bring that up. Maybe something can be done about it."

"I wouldn't mention that it was my idea," Marlin chuckled.

"No. Your name is still permanently printed on the shit list," the truth-teller smirked. "And those reports of yours don't help. They give the clerks spastic diarrhea every time they see one of them come in. It's actually kind of funny. One of the clerks wanted to submit one of them to a writing contest as the longest and most well written prose that actually said nothing at all. I don't think he could find a category for it though. That, and since it might have brought you some recognition, the idea was shot down immediately."

"I'm just trying to be diligent," Marlin said with a straight face.

"That came damn close to a lie," the truth-teller chuckled.

"Well there is the truth and then there is the truth," Marlin admitted. "However that's not what I really wanted to ask you about. What I want to know is how the Agency interfaces with Imperial Justice." The truth-teller gave him a sharp look.

"I know how it's supposed to work," Marlin continued. "But I have a feeling you know more about how it actually works."

"Mmm, probably," was the reply.

"You see I've been made aware of a rape that took place about seven or eight years ago. The girl identified the rapist but the Shire-rief refused to bring in a truth-teller."

"Why?"

"Because it was the son of the largest land owner in the shire," Marlin answered.

"Who gives a shit if he owns more dirt than anybody else?" the truth-teller snorted. "You remember that nephew of the Emperor's? It happened about a month before you were sent out here. Caught him didling little girls under ten years old. He was dancing at the end of a rope soon enough. New rope, though, so I guess that was something.

"Have you talked to the girl who said she was raped?" he asked.

"Not yet," Marlin shook his head. "One of the reasons I haven't said anything to anybody. There was also something strange that happened to the girl's father. He went out that same night to confront the alleged rapist but was found in a ditch the next day with a broken neck. The Shire-rief said he was drunk and must have stumbled but the funny thing was this man was never known to take a drink."

"You think he was killed?"

"I can't know for sure but there are certainly questions that should be asked," Marlin nodded.

"Justice usually needs a signed complaint," the truth-teller mused. "Especially if there is a possibility of complicity on the part of the Shire-rief. I'll look into it and see what Justice might want to get involved. They do love a good hanging and if they can get a hold of a rapist or even a murderer that could make them happy for a couple of weeks. I'll write you and tell you what they would be looking for. Where should I send it?"

"Send it here in care of Melody Hawking. It'll get to me," Marlin nodded appreciatively. "Thanks. I know at least the girl's family would like to know what happened even if it was seven years ago. As they say, 'The wheels of Justice grind slowly..."

" ... but once caught they grind exceeding fine, '" the truth-teller grinned. "Yeah, it could be fun. Beats running around and chasing Talent Scouts all day. If you have anything else let me know. Send it to Dan Davies at the home office; it'll get to me."

"Thanks, Dan and have a nice trip back," Marlin shook his hand.

"Yeah, maybe next time we can meet at End-of-the-Line."

-------

Marlin sat at the kitchen table scribbling the draft to his latest report and sighed. For some reason messing with the lower level geeks at headquarters just wasn't as much fun as it used to be. It just seemed like a waste of time when there was so much else that needed to be done such as fixing the stall in the milking barn and patching the roof on the old chicken coop to mention just two of hundreds. He still listed how many people he interviewed on his latest trip and what they did in general along with the fact that none of them met the minimum standards for the Agency. It was only going to cover five or six pages but he just didn't care enough to do more.

"Hello there!" he heard from behind. Turning around he saw a red-headed woman and a young girl enter through the kitchen door. He guessed the woman to be somewhere between thirty and thirty-five of average height and well built. She was pretty rather than beautiful and it didn't take a genius to see that she was related to Melody and Malinda.

The young girl was fair haired, fair of skin and came up to about mid chest level on him. Marlin didn't know much about children of any age but she seemed to be a good representative sample of the species.

The one thing he noticed right away as they approached was that both of them had Talent. The woman was comfortably below the minimum he had been sent to look for. However the child ... The child blazed like a lighted torch almost blinding him with her power. He knew immediately if she had the same level of power when she turned eighteen she would have been sent to the Agency without any delay. Luckily she was young and it was well known that power levels in children fluctuated dramatically until they reached maturity and a high level now didn't necessarily mean she would have it later.

Standing up, he stuck out his hand and said, "Hi there, I'm Marlin Cranson."

"Of course you are," the woman gushed rushing over and ignoring his hand threw her arms around him hugging him tightly. Carefully he folded his own arms around her and almost felt bad when the thought struck him that she was a pleasant, soft armful.

Taking a half step back while leaving her arms still at his sides she said, "Of course you are! As if I wouldn't recognize you after Melody described you just like she'd taken a picture. Goodness, it's nice to have a man around the house again. I'm Teresa Hawking and this little dickens is Tess, my granddaughter."

"You can't be Teresa Hawking," he shook his head solemnly. "Teresa Hawking is Melody and Malinda's mother. There isn't a chance in this world you are old enough to be their mother. The mysterious third sister maybe, but never their mother."

"Oh, such nonsense, and you can be calling me Trish and not Teresa or Mrs. Hawking. From what Melody has written you are practically family now." she playfully slapped him on the arm then she turned a little grim. "Melody said Malinda was back. Did she get in trouble again? Who is chasing after her now?"

Carefully Marlin reached out and placing his hands on either side of her cheek gently but firmly drew her face around until their eyes met. "I understand you have had some problems with Malinda," he started.

At first she tried to jerk free of his hold but after a few half-hearted attempts she just stared up at him with big round eyes.

"Malinda has changed, is trying to change. She knows she has hurt a lot of people in the past and I'm sure that includes you. What she doesn't fully comprehend yet is that the one she hurt the most was probably herself."

Teresa tried to snort but Marlin continued. "You don't believe that now and I understand. However, if you allow yourself it will become clear that she is healing. She is not healed yet, not by a long ways and honestly she may never be completely whole. But she is trying. She is trying so hard and it hurts her. It hurts her every day. I don't ask you to forget and forgive ― that's far too much and too soon ― but I ask that you give her a chance. Meet her with an open mind, open arms and an open heart. What she needs right now is support from the ones she loves and later we can work on the other things."

"Are you a doctor?" Trish whispered still staring up at him while placid and almost limp in his hands.

"No," he laughed. "Just somebody who's read too much and is trying to help a ... friend. But I still think it's true and I'll be willing to bet you will also pretty quickly."

"Okay, I'll try," Trish replied softly.

"That's all we can ask," he laughed again and leaned over to kiss her forehead. "Sisters and friends help but I think she is going to need her mother most of all." He dropped his hands to her shoulders and gave her another hug before pushing her away gently and looking down at the little girl.

"And this must be the beautiful Tess," he said with a chuckle dropping to one knee and holding out one hand to her. Tess took a step towards him but ignored the hand and just reached up and placed her hand on the side of his head. She closed her eyes for a second and almost sighed.

"Oh, Grandma," she giggled. "He's so pretty inside. It's all shiny and sparkly like little pieces of glass in the sun."

"Tess!" Teresa cried in horror. "You know you mustn't do that... !"

"It's all right, Grandma," Tess opened her eyes and looked at Teresa. "He knows what I am; he can feel me. It's so pretty and warm in there. He is very good, and kind. He is full of interesting things."

"Oh, Tess," Teresa moaned softly.

"Its okay, Teresa," Marlin smiled up at her. "She is correct that I know she has a Talent. I can't tell what it is but I know she has one."

"How... ?" Teresa blurted out.

"Ah, now that is a story in and of itself and probably we should wait for the other ladies to return before we get into it..."

They all heard the front door slam and Melody calling out, "Man of the house! Your worker bees have returned!" In less time than he could answer Melody and Malinda were at the kitchen door. Melody screamed and ran to her mother hugging her and picking her up. Malinda just stood in the doorway, not entering.

"It's so good you have you home, Mama," Melody squealed.

"Put me down," Teresa laughed and slapped ineffectually at Melody's arms. "It is good to be home." Melody did put her mother down but immediately jumped over to Tess and picked her up swinging her around as the little girl shrieked.

"I swear you are growing like a weed," Melody grinned setting the girl down and mussing her hair.

"I missed you too, Auntie Melody," Tess replied.

While that happy reunion was going on Teresa had caught sight of Malinda and walked over to stand about two feet in front of her.

"Mama," Malinda said in a tiny voice and Marlin could see the tears start to run down her cheeks.

"Malinda," Teresa nodded slightly. Marlin moved until her was directly behind Teresa and placed his hands on her waist.

Leaning over until his lips were next to her ear. "An open mind," he reminded her. "Along with open arms and an open heart." Firmly he pushed her foreword until the two women bumped and Teresa's arms automatically went around her daughter's. Malinda started sobbing and dropped to her knees and grasped her mother like she was a life-preserver in an empty ocean. Her face was buried between Teresa's breasts and her wracking sobs shook the both of them.

"Oh, mama," Malinda bawled. "I have been so bad! So bad! Can you ever forgive me? I have been trying so hard. It hurts so much but I have been trying."

"There, there," Teresa soothed. "Mama's here now."

"Can you ever forgive me?" Malinda cried. Marlin dropped to one knee next to his lover and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Malinda," he said softly and she turned to look at him. "Understanding first, then forgiveness. Your mother has no idea what has been going on. How could she understand it? She only remembers what you had been, not what you are now. One step at a time, my love; one step at a time."

"Oh, God, I love you!" Malinda gasped and releasing her mother dove at Marlin grabbing him so tightly he could almost feel his bones creak. She kissed him hard and then buried her face in his neck mumbled, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Teresa just stared down at them with her mouth open.

"Break it up, you two," Melody smirked and walked over to help her sister up. "There are children present, you know."

"Children?" Marlin cocked an eyebrow. "I only see one child unless you are going to count yourself. Now I will admit there are times you may act a bit childish but ... Oof!" he grunted when she drove a finger in his stomach.

"You are going to pay for that," Melody laughed and then turned to everybody else more seriously. "We do have a lot to talk about so why don't we sit down and have something to drink. Tess, would you like some lemonade?"

Melody hustled them all over to the kitchen table and sat them down. Since there were only four chairs around the table and all were filled after she had served the drink to everyone she plopped herself down on Marlin's lap just like she owned it.

"Where's my welcome back kiss?" she demanded and leaned over to stick her tongue right down his throat. "That's better," she sighed and looked over at her mother with almost a smirk. Teresa was glancing back and forth between her two daughters with a confused look that bordered on panic.

"Something wrong, Mom?" Melody asked sweetly.

"I thought he was your boyfriend," Trish started. "But then ... Malinda ... Kissed..."

"Yeah, yeah," Melody replied. "She kissed him like she wanted to drag him off to the bedroom. Well she probably did ... Murffff!" She was suddenly silenced by Marlin's hand across her mouth.

"Ouch!" Marlin cried when she bit his finger. He quickly took his hand away and looked for blood. "I was merely trying to point out that the direction your explanation was going might not be appropriate for everybody in the room."

"Oops! Well, maybe not. Sorry," Melody giggled. She then looked over to her mother. "Mom, Marlin is my boyfriend. Actually he's more than just a boyfriend; he's my man. But he's also Mandy's man too."

"What?" Teresa looked confused.

"He's Mandy's boyfriend too," Melody reiterated. "Look, I know it may seem confusing but it's really not. It's all part of the whole story but Marlin's right; we should probably wait for later tonight to tell all of it. But everything is okay, I promise. It isn't any part of any problem; in fact it's kind of the solution to a whole bunch of them. I know it seems kind of wacky but believe me, it really is okay."

"Well, I'll try to keep an open mind," Teresa said looking at Marlin through narrowed eyes. "But you'd best be telling me about it real soon."

"I promise, Mom," Melody giggled. "We will."

Tess had finished most of her drink and hopped out of her chair. She walked around the table and stood next to Malinda with her arms up. Malinda quickly glanced at Marlin then scooped the young girl up and into her lap. Tess put her hands on either side of Malinda's face and again closed her eyes.

"Sad," she whispered. "So sad. I'm sorry you feel so sad, Auntie Mandy."

"That okay, sweet thing," Malinda whispered back.

"The sad is so dark," Tess shivered. "And something else I don't understand. Like she's sorry about something she did."

"It's called guilt," Malinda mumbled. "And I have plenty of it and many things to feel guilty about."

"But there is love!" Tess smiled. "And it is so bright! It's like it's eating the sadness away piece by piece and something else ... It's almost as bright as the love but I don't understand it. It's like you're hungry. Hungrier than I've ever felt before but it's not hungry for food. You're hungry for..." she turned towards Marlin. "Uncle Marlin! I don't understand how you can be hungry for someone else. Do you want to eat him?"

"Tess!" Marlin said sharply while Melody laughed uncontrollably in his lap as Malinda blushed bright red and looked down. He gave his lap partner a dirty look and turned back to the child. "Tess, do you know what privacy means?"

Tess glanced at Teresa and then back before replying. "Grandma said something about it. It's like not getting undressed in front of other people and not looking through other peoples things."

"That's part of privacy," he nodded. "A person's body is private and you should not look at it unless they want you to, the same with their things. But something else is also private; their mind, what's inside of them." Tess started to say something but he continued before she could. "Yes, I know. You can't help it. It's your Talent and you can't control it yet and until you can you will be seeing what's inside of other people. Because you can't help but do that, you need to be very careful about what you say. You could hurt people when you talk about their deep feelings especially in front of other people."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Marlin," Tess replied with a quivering lip.

"That's okay, Tess," he smiled. "We will talk about it later and you will understand. You didn't do anything wrong because you didn't know but after we talk you will understand."

"Okay," she smiled back at him. Turning to Malinda she said, "I'm sorry, Auntie Mandy. I didn't want to hurt you."

"You didn't, honey," Malinda gave her a hug. "You may have embarrassed the hell out of me but you didn't hurt me."

"It's not like anyone with eyes doesn't know Marlin gets you hotter than a ... Ouch!" Melody yipped as Marlin smacked an exposed buttock sharply. "Okay, okay, you made your point," she frowned rubbing the offended area.

"Auntie Melody got spanked," Tess giggled and Teresa's eyes got even larger and rounder if possible.

"It was just a reminder," Marlin said casually.

"Sometimes naughty girls need reminders," Malinda whispered in Tess's ear.

"I will try very hard not to be naughty," Tess looked up at her aunt solemnly.

"It works best that way," Malinda nodded. Tess climbed down and went over to Melody.

"May I please, Auntie Melody?" she asked reaching her arms up.

"Sure you can, baby," Melody grinned. "I think I'm firmly under control now." She reached down and lifted Tess into her lap so the both of them were sitting on Marlin. Tess raised her hands again and placed them on the sides of Melody's face.

"So happy," Tess smiled with her eyes closed. "So happy and so much love." Suddenly her eyes popped open and she glanced over at Marlin slyly. Leaning up she whispered to her aunt, although it was still loud enough for everybody to hear. "Somebody else is very hungry too."

"Why you little dickens," Melody laughed and started tickling the young girl. When they had stopped she looked over at Marlin dreamily. "I didn't need a mind-reader to tell me that." He just smiled and gave her a kiss. Tess sighed and leaned back against Marlin's chest with one hand up above her caressing the side of his face.

"So pretty, so pretty," she murmured. "Grandma, I've never felt one like this before. So sharp and shiny; so full of ... Goodness. I love watching it work," she mumbled. Abruptly her eyes flew open and she scrambled around on her knees not thinking they were digging into her aunt until she was nose to nose with Marlin. "It must be very close to dinner time." She said slyly. "Because everybody is hungry."

"Are you being naughty?" he asked ominously.

"No!" she yipped and her hands flew back to protect her bottom.

"That's good because nobody wants to remind naughty girls," he told her. She whirled around until she was again sitting on Melody and leaning back against him reaching up to stroke his cheek.

"So pretty," she sighed.

-------

"So that's where we are," Marlin shrugged his shoulders as they finished their story.

"So," Teresa shook her head. "You are an Imperial Talent Scout but you hate your job; my problem child is becoming a butterfly from the worm she used to be; my youngest daughter is now older than all of us and is the woman of the house and you are bedding both of my daughters at the same time. I hope you at least love them."

"More than life itself," he grinned. "Besides I'm not sure who is bedding whom."

"You may be bedding no one tonight if you keep that up," Melody harrumphed and smacked his arm from the side she was on.

"Yes he will," Malinda said sleepily from his other side. Malinda's part of the tale had been very difficult on all of them at points reducing both daughter and mother to tears. There were many times Marlin had to hold her tightly and remind her, "We know there are going to be bad times, baby. This is one of them. Once done, its over."

"And just how are we supposed to control this beast?" Melody demanded playfully. "We can't even do it by withholding sexual favors if you keep giving in."

"Well I can't withhold anything from him and neither can you," Malinda smirked with her eyes closed.

"Yeah, well, we ought to at least make him think we will," Melody responded.

"Hello! Your mother here," Teresa reminded them.

"Sorry, Mom," Melody giggled. "But we can't help it. I fell in love with this big brute about two minutes after he told me about his nefarious plot to seduce me into his bed."

"He told you he was going to seduce you?" Teresa laughed.

"A tactical mistake," Marlin shrugged. "But I did make a mental note to keep those things to myself from now on."

"Well it worked, you big goofus," Melody petted him more than smacked him this time.

"Beyond my wildest dreams," he smiled at her.

"I think I fell in love with him when he told me my rubber boots were sexy," Malinda added. "And then when he protected me in Brighton..." She shivered and scrunched in even closer. "I was his from then on." She opened her eyes and look at her mother. "I don't deserve him, Mama, but for as long as he lets me I'm going to be his."

"We've already talked about this," Marlin started when Melody interrupted.

"Yeah, yeah, like you could keep her out of our bed with a stick of dynamite. Anyway, it's getting late and Mom has a lot to think about." Then she got an evil grin, "Besides I think all of us are getting hungry for a bedtime snack."

"Oh, that's naughty," Malinda sat up and grinned. "And you know what happens to naughty girls." Melody shrieked and jumped up running straight back toward the bedroom.

"Like we won't know where to find her," Malinda snorted. "Mom," she said suddenly serious, "I hope we can talk again. I have a lot I need to say and a lot to ask forgiveness for."

"We both have a lot to say, sweetheart," Teresa answered sadly. "And forgiveness won't be needed from just one side."

"Good night, Mom," Malinda kissed her mother's cheek and headed back to the bedroom also.

"I hope you don't mind. We moved your bed into Melody's room," Marlin said as they both stood up.

"I'm surprised you didn't just take the whole room," Teresa replied.

"Didn't seem right," he shook his head. "But ... ah, the bed was bigger."

"And you certainly need it," she grinned. "Two girls at once," she shook her head. "Especially those girls. I hope you live through it."

"I have so far," he shrugged. "As for the future ... We'll see."

Teresa stepped over to him and hugged him tightly. "You are good for them," she said. "They love you and I know you love them. In fact I think you will be good for all of us. This family was fractured and now it looks like it might come back together. And of course Tess adores you. I don't know what you have in that mind of yours but she just can't seem to get enough of it. It's like you're a drug or something."

"She's a sweetheart," Marlin chuckled. "We'll see you in the morning."

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 9


The next month was fairly calm. The work around the farm progressed. Malinda and Teresa had many long talks that often resulted in both of them crying but Marlin told them that was good. It meant emotions were being let out and dealt with. The two women couldn't argue since they felt the closest they had for over seven years.

Tess and Marlin had many talks too, mostly with Tess sitting on Marlin's lap playing with his hair and delving into his "pretty" mind. Of course they talked about privacy and emotions and even sex so far as a seven-year-old could understand.

Melody maintained her position as "Woman of the House" with Teresa helping out as much as she could. But it seemed that as every day passed Teresa became more passive and remote, sometimes just staring off into nothing except when Marlin was around and then she was focused on him, although she tried to be inconspicuous about it. The change was obvious enough that Melody and Malinda were talking about it one day when they thought they were alone.

"I don't know what Mom's problem is," Melody sighed and shook her head.

"She's mooning over Marlin like she was a school girl," Malinda added.

"You think she needs a little cock to pep her up?" Melody giggled.

"God, you are so bad!" Malinda giggled right along with her. The both heard a rustling behind them and turned to see Tess standing behind the couch where they were sitting.

"You're talking about Grandma, aren't you?" she asked.

"Don't you know it's impolite to listen in on other peoples conversations?" Melody inquired lightly. "I thought you and Uncle Marlin had been talking about privacy."

"Well," the young girl looked down and shuffled her feet. "We didn't talk about that exactly."

"Oh, Lord. She sure is learning from him," Malinda chuckled.

"That not always a good thing," Melody grumped as Malinda twittered. "All right, sweet thing, come around here. I assume you have something you want to add to the discussion?"

"Yes," Tess nodded. "But first: What's a cock?" Melody turned bright red and Malinda laughed so hard she fell off the couch.

"What's so funny?" Tess asked puzzled. "Auntie Melody said maybe Grandma needed some cock and I know some people call a rooster a cock but I don't think Grandma wants a rooster." Malinda had started to get up but fell down again and just sat on the floor trying to breathe while Melody sputtered and mumbled trying to force something out.

"Oh, dear," Malinda wiped her eyes as she finally plopped back down next to her sister.

"Uncle Marlin will tell me," Tess said forcefully. "He tells me everything if I ask about it even if I can't always understand it. He says someday I will and I should be ready for that day."

"Yeah, he would now, wouldn't he?" Malinda muttered and then tried to become serious. "Very well. I'll try to do as good a job as he does. He talked to you about sex, right?"

"Yes," Tess nodded. "He said its nature's way of making babies. He said it's a lot of fun because nature wanted people to enjoy it so they would do it a lot and have a lot of babies. Like what you three do except you won't have babies yet, just a lot of fun.

"He said I won't understand it yet until my body is ready and then I'll go crazy for a while until my body settles down. He said that hunger you all feel is..." She chose her words slowly and carefully, "Sexual, desire. Yes that's what he said it was."

"I wonder when we'll settle down," Malinda murmured to Melody who turned red again and bumped her with a shoulder.

"But I still don't know what a cock is," Tess continued.

"Oh, boy," Malinda sighed. "Well, cock is another name for a boy's penis, a kind of bad word. Uncle Marlin told you about penises, didn't he?"

"Oh yes," Tess smiled brightly. "He said that is how the boy plants his ... sperm ... into the girl and the baby gets started. He wouldn't show me though," She looked disappointed. "But it all sounded very messy..."

"Only if you do it right," Malinda whispered to Melody who turned red again and hissed, "Would you shut up!"

" ... but he promised I would understand when I got older.

"Cock, cock, cock," Tess tried the word out as her Aunt Malinda tried to keep from laughing hysterically and Aunt Melody came very close to apoplexy.

"Cock, yes. So, Auntie Melody you were saying Grandma needs a boy's penis to feel better?"

"Ah ... ah ... well," Melody sputtered.

"Yes, that makes sense," Tess nodded as if something was becoming clear. "Grandma has those same hungry feelings the two of you do about Uncle Marlin. But they're not exactly the same. It's like she's hungry for something else, too, but I can't understand it. Maybe I should just ask Uncle Marlin about it."

"Maybe you shouldn't," Malinda blurted out and then calmed down. "You know he would never talk to you about something you felt inside of Grandma unless she gave her permission first."

"True," Tess looked thoughtful. "But I'm talking to you two about it."

"Yes, but we are women and have a right to be nosy, busybodies; especially when it concerns our mother," Malinda told her. "It comes with the tits ... er, breasts."

"That doesn't make sense, Auntie Mandy," Tess scrunched up her nose.

"Just like the sex thing it will when you get older," Malinda assured her with a chuckle.

"Oh, okay," Tess nodded.

"So Grandma has the same hunger for Uncle Marlin that we do, huh?" Melody mused.

"Yes. Well not exactly the same, but it burns just as bright as yours does," Tess nodded.

"I wonder if Marlin has that same hunger for Mom?" Melody looked at her sister and raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, yes," Tess nodded again. "He hungers for her a lot. I asked him about that and he said most men get that same hunger for a pretty woman but that a man can and should control it even if he can't stop it. He said its nature again."

"Oh, he did did he? Well, well, well..."

"Tess. Would you mind leaving your Aunt and me alone?" Melody asked and then turned to her sister. "We have some plotting to do.

-------

"But I don't understand why you don't want me to come with you," Marlin asked again. "I wouldn't mind seeing the Coronation Day fireworks."

"I'm sure they aren't going to be anything like what you are used to in the capital," Melody patted his cheek. "Anyway Mom is just mopping around the place and we want you to keep her company.

"Besides we have something else we want you to do tonight," she added. Melody and Malinda were standing with Marlin out on the front lawn.

"What?" he asked puzzled.

"We want you to fuck Mom's socks off tonight," she grinned.

"What?!" he practically screamed.

"Yep, you heard right: We want you to take mom to bed tonight and make her the third happiest woman in the empire. Marlin," she said seriously, "Mom has it bad for you and we know you have more than a little desire for her. You do think she's pretty, don't you?"

"Tess," he hissed. "She's going to get a lot of reminders for this."

"Don't blame her," Melody scoffed. "She's only seven. We weaseled it out of her." She came close and laid her head on his chest. "Marlin, our mama is one of the most important people we have. We love her and she is hurting now. She wants you so badly, she can hardly look at you now. Won't you do this for us? Love our mama?"

"This is a really bad idea," he sputtered and shook his head.

"If it turns out badly we'll make it right and take the blame," she reached up and kissed him. "By the way we're getting a room at the boarding house tonight because we don't want to walk back when it's so dark. The two of you will be alone all night."

"This is insane!" he hissed.

"Please do this for us," Malinda moved closer and nuzzled his neck before kissing him lightly on the lips. "She needs you almost as badly as I do. Please help her. You've helped me so much and now she needs you."

"Go get her, Tiger," Melody slapped him lightly on the chest just as Tess came running out of the house whooping like a madwoman. Without letting him say another word they left him sputtering in the dusty road.

-------

"Can I get you anything?" Teresa asked as she walked into the living room from the kitchen.

"Nope," Marlin closed his book and looked up at her.

"Then do you mind if I sit here with you?" she asked. "I promise I won't bother you."

"And I should complain about having the company of a beautiful woman on a pleasant night like this?" he smiled. "Of course I wouldn't mind."

"You are so funny," she snorted and set her drink cup on the table. She was wearing a long robe and big fuzzy slippers and Marlin thought he could just see a nighty peeking out from the fold of the robe. Turning around to sit down she caught her toes on a table leg and suddenly was falling backwards screeching. Marlin caught her easily and gently settled her down on his lap.

"Ah, now I have you just where I want you," he cackled evilly.

"And just what are you going to do with me," she asked with a giggle.

"I haven't got that far yet," he admitted. "But there is something I do need to talk to you about." She looked up at him expectantly seemingly unconcerned about her placement or his arms around her. "Your daughters set you up tonight."

"What?" she asked frowning.

"Your daughters told me to take you back to that bedroom and make love to you all night," he nodded. "They even got a room in town so we wouldn't be disturbed."

"That's crazy!" she started to struggle. "An old woman like me? Are they insane?"

"That's exactly what I told them," he chuckled. "Well not the 'old woman' part. You're not old and you're every bit as beautiful as your daughters are. It's plain to see where they got their beauty. Now stop struggling," he ordered and she immediately froze and when he tightened his grip she completely relaxed in his arms.

"So you are going to take me back to the bedroom and rape me," she stated in a flat voice.

"I wouldn't even joke about raping you," he replied vehemently. "After what your family has gone through..."

"It wouldn't be rape," she said very quietly.

"They said you had some desires for me and knew I had them for you," he continued pretending he didn't hear her.

"You do?" she blinked in surprise.

"Of course I do," he nodded. "I'm a normal man. You are a beautiful woman and even more than that you are a tremendously good person. Naturally I would feel both an emotional and sexual attraction to you."

"You think I'm pretty?" she asked blinking.

"No. I said you are beautiful," he chuckled.

"No, I'm not," her voice quivered. "I'm old and I'm saggy. I'm not pretty at all."

"All right," he said with exasperation leaning slightly forward and standing up with her still in his arms. She yelped in surprise. "Enough of this nonsense. If you don't believe me when I tell you then by God you are going to believe me when I show you!" With that he carried her back to his and the girls' bedroom.

Melody and Malinda had a full length stand-alone mirror placed up against one wall and he stopped in front of it. He stopped in front of it and gently set her feet down but didn't take his other arm from around her. Then using both arms firmly on her shoulder he turned her around until she was facing the mirror.

"What do you see?" he demanded.

"An old woman," she whispered.

"If you say that again I will spank you," he said giving her a little shake. "It won't be a reminder, it will be a real spanking. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," she murmured.

"What was that?" he asked loudly.

"Yes, sir," she replied strongly. "I understand."

"Good," he smiled as they looked at each other in the mirror. "Now, get rid of those ridicules slippers." She immediately kicked them off and away. Releasing her shoulders his hands went down to her waist and around to undo the knot in the robe sash. Teresa gave a little gasp but remained still. His hands moved back up and pushed the robe down off of her shoulders. He continued pushing it down until her arms were free. Catching it he flung it to the side. Her nighty was plain and functional. With two shoulder straps to hold it up, it covered her from breasts down to below her knees. With great deliberation he reached up again and began to pull the straps over her shoulders and she began to shiver uncontrollably.

"Stop that," he ordered softly and she froze. She still shook a little but not as much. "You like doing what you are told don't you?"

"Yes," she hissed.

"Did you always like doing what you're told?" he asked again as he continued to very slowly moved the straps down her arms.

"No. Yes. I don't know," she admitted.

"Did your husband tell you what to do?" he continued as the straps moved down and the top of the nighty followed. She gasped loudly when the top moved down her breasts, caught momentarily on her nipples and then popped over them. With nothing to hold it up it fell the rest of the way and pooled around her feet.

"No," she said. "Tom would never do that."

"Did you want him to?" Marlin asked his hands sliding back up her arms to her naked shoulders.

"I never thought of it," she admitted. "I don't know what I would have felt if he had tried."

"So this is something recent," Marlin stated more than asked. His thumbs were now together and gliding down her spine with his fingers trailing over her skin and again she shivered.

"Yes," she hissed. "Very recent. Maybe it was something I always wanted but didn't realize until now."

"Maybe," he said neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "How much you really want this we will see." His hands stopped at the small dimple just above her buttocks then proceeded around to rest firmly on her hips. "Step out of that thing and get rid of it," he ordered referring to the nighty at her feet. She jumped out so quickly she almost fell over but he tightly held her hips and kept her upright easily. Steady once more, she kicked the nighty away vehemently.

"What do you see now?" he asked firmly looking over her shoulder into her eyes through the mirror.

"A ... woman?" she answered breathlessly.

"It would appear you are trainable," he chuckled and very, very lightly slapped one of her bare buttocks. The slap was hardly audible and barely felt; more of a reward than a correction. She giggled and looked back at him eyes smoldering.

"Let me tell you what I see," he said softly in her ear.

"A woman, yes. Not a girl, not a teenager, a woman. A woman in the prime of her life." His words caressed her ears while his hands did the same to her hair, cheeks, chin and lips. "They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have to agree. That being said, in the eye of this beholder the woman standing in front of me is exceptionally beautiful.

"We change as the years pass," he continued. "It is a fact that we live with and die with. But being older does not mean a woman becomes less alluring or attractive. In fact it can be just the opposite." His hands skimmed down from her face over her back and around under her arms to very gently cup her beasts supporting them ever so slightly.

"Your breasts are magnificent," he whispered as she whimpered. "They are soft and yet firm; wondrous to the touch and exciting to the eyes. Your nipples are baby-chewed," he continued. "Causing the little boy in me to wish to partake of your sweet nectar. I would feed at these delightful orbs morning, noon and night if I had a chance." Teresa's head rolled back onto his shoulder; her eyes closed, breathing quick and shallow.

"Your tummy softly rounded..."

"I'm getting fat," she added breathlessly. Quick as a snake his hand struck her bottom causing her to open her eyes wide and yip.

"You will not say that of my woman," he said with mock severity. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," she smiled and closed her eyes again letting her head roll listlessly on his shoulder and against his neck. His hands again found her stomach and he began to gently fondle it again.

"As I was saying; your tummy is softly rounded with a maturity that is both alluring and damn sexy," he whispered in her ear. "Your hips are widened by child birth," he continued as he moved down to gently stroke her pelvis and the outside of her thigh. "Again a sign of fertility that can drive men wild; I know it does me.

"Now your legs..." he slowly knelt behind her letting his hands run up and down her limbs. "Perfect. Strong and well formed yet gentled by a softness the makes them pleasing to the touch.

"And this," he chuckled as he kissed first one cheek of her buttocks and then the other. "I wish you could see what I see. They are delicious; I just want to eat them up." He finished by taking a nip of the one closes to him. Standing up he put his hands around her waist and looked in the mirror with her.

"Do you see what I see now?" Quickly she turned into him and wrapping her arms around his neck pulled herself up to give him a kiss; her tongue entering his mouth and exploring like a new kitten discovering her new home.

"Do you really want me?" she asked nervously after they were done.

"Very much so," he replied looking into her eyes.

"Then you have me," she said sounding relived. "You have all of me. I'll be your lover if you want or your bed-toy; I will be your ... slave."

"My slave?" he chuckled and she shivered. "I like the sound of that. Maybe I should have my slave undress me." She started unbuttoning his shirt but when it didn't go as fast as she wanted she just yanked it open and buttons flew everywhere.

"Hey, we have time..." he started to say.

"Fuck the shirt," she growled. "I'll sew them back on. I'll buy you a new one; hell, I'll buy you ten new ones." When she'd pushed it off his shoulders and down his arms she began rubbing her face on his chest.

"Oh, God, yes," she moaned and started working at his belt and fastening to his trousers. Pushing them down along with his underwear she gasped when his cock popped free of its confinement. "Beautiful," she sighed and then looked up at him. "May I?"

"Any time you'd like," he smiled and she lovingly leaned in to kiss the end of his ridged pole. Then she licked the glistening drop of his pre-cum as it appeared and took the whole head in her mouth closing her eyes and sighing. He could tell she wasn't very experienced with oral sex but this wasn't really sex. She was worshiping his body; expressing her adoration of his maleness and her submission as his slave.

After a few minutes he lifted her up from under her arms and she whimpered a little as his cock left her mouth. With one arm snaked around her back he bent and lifted her up with his other arm under her knees.

"That was wonderful," he said and her eyes sparkled. "But I have other uses for my slave." This time her eyes smoldered almost to ignition. Carrying her over to the bed he set her down and kicked off his pants the rest of the way. Looking down at her spayed out spread-eagle on the bed he smiled as she looked up at him in almost awe. Grasping her behind her knees he pushed up until her thighs almost touched her stomach and spread her even wider. But instead of mounting her like she expected, he leaned down and began to nibble on her inner thigh until he was almost down to her center at which time he would start all over on the other leg.

"What are you doing?' she gasped. "You don't have too ... It's dirty..." Smack! Again a hand landed on an exposed buttock. She groaned and shivered.

"My woman, my pleasure," he reminded her firmly.

"Yes, Master," she yielded moaning again as his tongue began to softly lap at the folds of her slit. By the time he had worked himself up to the little button at the top of her cleft she was shrieking and undulating beneath him like she was being tortured. Finally she grabbed his hair and screamed so loudly Marlin was glad her soft thighs were pressed up against his ears to muffle the sound. After her last convulsion she dropped back to the bed bonelessly, her arms flopping to the side and her legs wilting away from his head to leave her spayed open like a gutted fish. He moved up on top of her as she stared up at him through dazed eyes. His own strong thighs pushed hers up again and his cock rested in the soaked outer lips of her pussy.

"Oh, my God," she whimpered. "I never knew..."

"I never said my pleasure couldn't be yours also, my little slave," he chuckled and she shivered under him again. "But that hair down there has got to be trimmed. I don't like it sticking in my teeth."

"It will be gone tomorrow, Master," she sighed.

"You have one last chance to say no, Teresa," he looked down at her seriously as he rubbed his engorged cock along her sopping slit. "Once I enter you, you become mine. No other man will have you. You will belong to me. You can say no and I will leave you alone."

"Not a fucking chance in hell, Master," she growled and wrapping her legs around his waist used her heels in an attempt to force him into her body. He smiled and drew back slightly until the head of his cock dipped into her cleft and then he began to push forward slowly.

"Ohgodohgodohgod," she whimpered as he took possession of her inch by torturous inch. She grunted as the soft head of his rod touched the hard, rubbery entrance of her cervix just as their groins met.

"A perfect fit," he groaned. "You were made for me."

"I'm older," she muttered under her breath. "You were made for me."

Their coupling began slowly almost languidly as they kissed and petted Teresa taking her lips away from his only when a wave of pleasure would roll through her body causing her to stiffen and hiss. She had always thought her husband Tom had been a great lover but now she realized they were just two virgins playing around and doing the best they could. For the first time she realized she was truly being fucked, being made love to and the sensations were almost too much to bear.

Although they had started slowly the tension finally became too much and Marlin began to speed up his thrusts just as Teresa began to push her hips up to meet them. Soon they were hammering away at each other like a couple of animals both grunting and straining striving for the final climax. At the end Marlin gave a bellow and pushed himself into her body as far as he could and released his seed. The moment she felt this happening Teresa's orgasm overwhelmed her and she clutched at him, fingernails digging into his back and legs doing their best to crush his pelvis to paste.

As soon as his last spurt had been delivered and the last wave of her pleasure started to recede Marlin rolled over on his back dragging her along until she was laying on top of him.

"I love you so much," Teresa whimpered as she tried to kiss every square inch of his face.

"I love you too, my little slave," he said kissing her back. "However my slave's work isn't done yet."

"Yes, Master?" she smiled at him dreamily.

"A slave always cleans her master after he has had his pleasure," Marlin insisted.

"Yes, Master," she grinned sitting up. "I'll go get a washcloth..."

"Oh, no, little slave," he chuckled almost evilly and firmly but still lightly gathered her hair in his fist. "That's not how a slave cleans her master." He began directing her face down towards his crotch and she gasped. Her heart began beating faster and her eyes got wider as she was 'forced' to do what most normal women would consider something nasty. His soiled cock was now right next to her mouth and she shuddered as her tiny pink tongue snaked out and touched it. The taste of his spend was there along with another musky although not unpleasant one. She shuddered again and moaned when she realized she was tasting herself. Tentatively at first and then with enthusiasm she licked and sucked until he was glistening with saliva and nothing else.

"Did I do well, Master?" she asked coyly laying her head on his thigh.

"Very good, my little slave," he nodded. "So good I think I will have you clean me after I have been with my other women also."

"Oh, shit!" she groaned clamping her thighs together as her pussy began leaking copious amounts of fluid. He was talking about her licking her own daughter's pussy juice off of his cock!

"But you have done such a good job cleaning me I am now ready to use my slave again," he said and indeed his member was all ready back at full strength. "But this time I'm going to take you as a slave should be taken; on her hands and knees with her ass up in the air and her face on the bed."

"Oh, God!" she moaned as he positioned her and with a few swipes along her soaked channel pushed himself in to the hilt. She grunted and groaned biting the blanket beneath her.

"How does it feel to be just a warm, tight hole your master uses for his pleasure?" Marlin goaded her.

"Shit! Shit!" she screamed. "Oh, fuck!"

"Maybe next time I will use this when I fuck you," he said rubbing a thumb across her anus. "Of course a master may use his slave's mouth, pussy or ass..." He was cut off as she tightened on him to the point he could barely move and she shrieked while pounding her fists on the bed. Suddenly she stopped and flopped forward as he plopped out. Fearing the worst he checked her quickly relieved to discover she had fainted dead away. He lay down next to her and stroked her sweaty hair until her eyes fluttered and she looked at him groggily.

"What ... what happened?" she asked.

"You fainted," he replied.

"Holy shit!" she hissed.

"Yeah, I can't say that's happened too often," he admitted.

"Did you cum?" she demanded.

"No, I was too busy making sure you were..." he started to say.

"Then get over here, damn it!" she ordered and tried to pull him over between her spread legs. Reaching down grabbed his now flaccid cock like it was the teat of a milk cow and began to stroke it. Soon it was hard again and she pulled him down and tried to stuff him inside herself.

"Get in there and fuck me until you cum," she commanded.

"You're a bossy little slave, aren't you?" he teased.

"Then spank me later," she gasped as he began to slide in. "Right now fuck me hard and fuck me deep. I want you to fuck me until you cum inside of me."

Marlin laughed until he no longer had the breath for it. After that he concentrated on pounding her through the mattress as she grunted and groaned through every thrust. They both climaxed as he injected her with his sperm and again he rolled them over until she was on top.

"I need to clean you off, Master," she mumbled sleepily, her head laying on his chest.

"We'll worry about that later, my beautiful little slave," he soothed stroking her hair.

"Okay," she purred happily.

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 10


"You are purposely dripping that syrup on my boob," Teresa complained happily.

"The better to lick it off," he grinned and stuck out his tongue. Teresa was sitting on his lap with just her robe loosely tied around her. The top was loose enough that one breast was fully exposed and with her crossed legs the top leg was bare almost up to her crotch. She was feeding him pancakes with her fingers and he took considerable pleasure in licking his utensils clean and the area below them when the inevitable drip happened.

"Tess and the ladies should be back soon," he sighed. "I suppose I'll be losing my little slave now."

"No, you won't," she said and grabbed his head pulling it towards her until they were nose to nose and staring in each others eyes. "You are my master and you will be my master until you send me away. You can fuck me, beat me or just ignore me but I am still going to be yours.

"I just hope the girls will let me have a night or two every once in a while," she sighed.

"Why?" he shrugged. "You're going to be sleeping with us. We'll work it out then."

"But I can't..."

"Am I still your master?" he asked roughly. She nodded with wide eyes. "Then you will do as I say and I say no woman of mine will sleep away from me unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Yes, Master," she cooed and rubbed her face in his neck.

"Besides if those two devious devils don't like it they only have themselves to blame," he shrugged. "In fact I feel them coming close," he frowned. "Which is weird."

"Why?" Teresa asked but he shook his head and said "later."

"I guess I'd better get up," she said but found she couldn't move as his arm tightened around her waist.

"No, you don't," he grinned. "You are going to sit right here where you belong. However I suppose we should make some adjustments for decency seeing how we do have a seven-year-old in the house." He tucked her breast back into her robe and patted it closed but when she started to cover her leg he stopped her. "A breast I can tolerate but I like looking at your legs far too much."

"You are so bad," she giggled and gave him a light kiss. Soon they heard the front door open and Tess yelling "Where is everyone?"

"In the kitchen, dear," Teresa called back.

Tess ran in through the kitchen door talking a mile a minute. "Grandma, you should have seen them! They were so bright and loud..." She came to a stop when she saw the scene before her and cocked her head in puzzlement. Slowly she walked forward and put her hand up wiggling her finger towards her grandmother. Teresa smiled and bent forward until the young girl could touch her forehead.

"Ooh, so happy!" she exclaimed and then slyly glanced over at Marlin. "I guess you're one of his women now, aren't you, Grandma?"

"I guess I am, honey," Teresa smiled.

"Good!" Tess nodded emphatically. "Then everybody can be happy.

"Auntie Melody!" she called out loudly. "Auntie Malinda! Whatever you plotted worked. Grandma is one of you now and everybody can be happy." Marlin and Teresa looked up and saw Melody and Malinda standing in the doorway, mouths hanging open and eyes wide as saucers.

"I think I'll get changed if that's all right with you," Teresa asked Marlin and then whispered in his ear, "Master."

"Of course," he chuckled as she stuck out both legs slowly and slid down to the floor. Walking over to her daughters the gentle, unfettered sway of her breasts and her legs peeking out through the slit in the front of her thin robe made it abundantly clear that was all she was wearing. Standing on her tip-toes she kissed each pole-axed girl on the cheek in turn.

"Thank you, babies," she said. "I truly hope that the both of you are as happy as I am. Now I'd better clean up a bit and get dressed." With that she sauntered away, her hips gently swaying back and forth.

"Ah," Melody regained her speech first. "We were ... we were going to take a shower..."

"Go right ahead, dear," Teresa waved absently over her shoulder. "We took one already. Hopefully there is some hot water left." The two women watched their mother disappear into the master bedroom and then their heads swiveled to look at each other.

"Holy shit!" Malinda muttered.

"No kidding," Melody gulped. Then both of their heads rotated to lock on their new target. Marlin was placidly sipping his coffee watching them as they marched over and surrounded him like sharks around a bloody seal.

"I suppose they're mad at me?" Marlin asked Tess, ignoring the two hovering women.

"I don't know," Tess giggled kicking her legs from the chair she had claimed. "They're all mixed up inside. I'd have to touch them to make sure."

"Not necessary," he said the then reached up and grabbing Melody from behind her neck pulled her down and kissed her hard. Releasing her he did the same to Malinda. Putting his arms around each of their waists he hugged them in to his side hard and said, "I missed you both."

"I'll just bet you did," Melody replied still stunned. "What in the hell happened?"

Marlin looked over at Tess and said, "Tess, I'm sure you understand why you can't be a part of this conversation."

"I know, Uncle Marlin," she sighed and jumped down from the chair. "I'm not old enough."

"Actually it doesn't matter how old you are, honey," he shook his head. "Even if you were twenty this is something private between your aunts, your grandma and me."

"If I was twenty years old maybe I would be one of your women too," she giggled and poked him in the stomach.

"How about I keep you as my niece and just gobble you up," he said grabbing her and after wrestling her into his lap started nibbling on her neck while she shrieked and laughed. Loosening his grip slightly she wiggled out of his grasp and giggling hysterically ran out of the kitchen.

"She's a good kid," he said to nobody in particular and took another sip of coffee.

"Yeah, she is," Melody nodded. "Now what in the hell did you do to our mother?"

"Nothing more than I was asked," he took another sip. "I hope you noticed she didn't have any socks on this morning."

"And damn little else, either," Malinda snorted. "She looked like a hooker out trolling for customers."

"No she didn't," Marlin frowned. "Your mother is a very beautiful and sensual woman and after a night of meaningful ― at least it was to me ― physical intimacy she was sitting on her lover's lap feeding him breakfast. There was actually no real reason for the robe at all although I will admit the way it framed her legs and breasts was really sexy. She didn't look like a cheap tramp," he looked at Malinda meaningfully, "she looked like a woman enjoying herself. You should know the look; I have seen you wear it many times."

"Sorry," Malinda muttered and looked down.

"I'm not the one whom you should apologize to," he continued. "But honestly I have a feeling Trish won't give a damn what you thought about her and isn't interested in your apology.

"I know this is going to be difficult for both of you," he continued. "But truthfully you both instigated this whole thing and you're going to have to learn to live with it.

"I know it's difficult to think of your mother in terms of a sexual being. Moms and dads don't have sex, period. At least that's what their children think even though the results of that physical love is staring back at them in the mirror every morning. It's not easy but you are going to have to stop looking at her as just 'Mother' and start seeing her as 'Teresa' the woman. A whole woman with sex and everything else thrown in."

"So, what's next?" Melody asked slowly.

"I suppose we'll see tonight when we're all in bed," he grinned slyly.

"Mom? In bed with us?" she sputtered.

"Of course," he responded calmly. "You didn't think I was going to just throw her on the bed, play hide the sausage and then say, 'That was a great fuck, Teresa. Hope you enjoyed it and that it'll last you awhile but now I have to get back to poking your daughters, ' did you?"

"Well, I hadn't really thought about it much after..." Melody mumbled.

"How would you feel if somebody told you you were a great piece of ass but it was a one time thing?" he pressed.

"I don't think I would..." she started.

"Damn right you wouldn't!" Malinda hissed tears running down her cheeks. "Do you know how many times I had that happen to me? You feel cheap and dirty, used and mad as hell."

"Those times are over, Melinda," Marlin said softly and reached out to stroke her hand. She grabbed it and brought it up to her cheek as of to wipe the tears away.

"Besides I love your mother as much as I love the two of you," he said. "There is no way in hell that I'm locking her out of my life and that includes the bedroom."

"I'm not sure I could ... do anything with my mom watching," Melody muttered.

"Then you'll just have to watch as I spread her legs and hammer her into the mattress until you get used to he," he said placidly.

"Oh, shit!" Melody groaned, crossed her legs and stuck her hand down between them.

"And maybe after I've done that I'll flip her over and fuck her like a bitch in heat until she passes out," he continued.

"Oh, fuck!" Malinda moaned crossing her legs also while her hand disappeared.

"So you see..." he started until he was interrupted by Teresa walking purposefully into the kitchen stopping next to Marlin. Bending down she wrapped her arms around his head and kissed him hard, very hard. Leaning back she sighed and then slowly slipped down onto his lap. She was wearing a nice blouse with the top buttons open, the lack of bra obvious, and a short skirt. She crossed her legs and drew one of his hands down lying in on her exposed thigh. She smiled as he began to lightly caress her and then she turned to her daughters.

"I was very naughty," she started. "When I was coming back I heard you three talking and listened in by the door." Glancing back at Marlin she added, "I will probably be spanked for that later. However, spanking or not I did it and I apologize. I have a few things I need to say to the both of you but first..." She turned around in his lap and looked directly at Marlin, "Did you really mean what you said? About loving me?"

"I would not have said it unless I meant it," he answered her solemnly.

"Good, because I love you too," she nuzzled his cheek. "You own my body but I willing give you my soul."

"I will try to protect it as the precious gift it is," he replied.

"I know you will," she whispered. Then turning back to her daughters she said, "Last night was the best night of my life and I mean my whole life. I have never felt more like a woman, loved, cherished and ... used. It was spectacular!"

"Ah, used?" Melody asked puzzled.

"Oh, yes," Teresa sighed. "But we'll get to that in a moment. The first thing I want to say is I am not trying to steal your man. I couldn't anyway; he loves the two of you far too much. But if you allow me it would make me very happy if you would share him with me."

"Uh, sure," Malinda sputtered. "I guess we kind of knew that was going to happen. But when he said we'd all be in bed together..."

"I know, I heard," she laughed lightly. "And if you have ... performance anxiety until you get used to it I'll gladly get up on my hands and knees and let him fuck me like the bitch I am until I pass out again."

"You ... actually passed out?" Melody asked in amazement.

"I did indeed," she nodded. "Of course that was when he started playing with my butthole and told me he was going to take me there because a slave is required to give her master everything..."

"Slave?" Melody gasped and stared at Marlin. "What in the hell did you do to our mother?"

"He unlocked a part of me I'd never known was there, so calm down," Teresa reached over and patted her daughter's hand. "Maybe it's always been there and maybe it's more recent but it doesn't matter; I love, no I crave being ordered to do things. If he took me down to Pigsford and ordered me to take out his cock on Main Street in front of the Post Office and suck him till he came I'd do it. If he pushed me down on this table and took me from behind right here in front of you I'd be climaxing even as he entered me." She looked back at Marlin shyly, "By the way, it's all been cleaned up down there like you ordered, Master." She took the hand resting on her leg and pushed it up under her skirt until it reached her crotch.

"Very nice," he smiled.

"Oh, fucking shit!" Melody nearly doubled over she was pressing her legs so tightly together.

"Yeah, me too!" Malinda gasped.

"So you see I'm not trying to steal him," Teresa said as she uncrossed her legs and spread them slightly giving him room to play. "The way things are going the two of you will probably be his wives in the future. I won't be. I'll be his slave, his plaything, his toy, but not his wife."

Marlin grabbed her hair with his free hand and firmly turned his face towards him. "Is there anything that says a slave can't be a wife also? When we come to that point we ― I ― will make that decision."

"Yes, Master," Teresa gasped and shivered.

"This is just plain weird, Mom," Melody shook her head.

"Maybe," Teresa replied. "But it's who I am and I have never and I mean never been happier than I am right now. And you might want to start calling me Teresa or Trish. Yes, I will always be your mother but you two are grown women and you don't need to be mothered anymore. Like our genius here said, it might help to see me as just another woman if maybe a little strange."

"You aren't weird or strange at all, Trish," Marlin spoke up. "What you feel isn't common but it certainly isn't unheard of. In the spectrum of sexuality it may be closer to one of the ends but it isn't abnormal. You appear to be a bit of a sexual submissive. It happens more often in women but does occur with men also. Just as there are submissives, there are those who feel the need to dominate them. I can't say I fit well in that category but I don't mind playing the part if it makes you feel good. It seemed to last night."

"Last night was perfect, my Master," she purred in his ear.

"Well, all right I'll try to wrap my brain around this," Melody said and then stared at Marlin through narrowed eyes. "Just don't think you have another little slave over here. That doesn't appeal to me at all ... Although the part about being banged until you pass out does sound ... uh, interesting."

"Yeah, and the part about doing it in the butt," Malinda said very softly as she squirmed in her seat.

"Really?" Melody asked her in amazement.

"Oh, yeah," Malinda sighed.

"Well, maybe," Melody mused and did a little squirming herself. "Now don't you think it's about time you took your fingers out of Mom's ... er, Teresa's cunt?"

"He doesn't have them in there, dear," Teresa sighed. "He's just gently stroking me and it's driving me fucking crazy!"

"The point is," he chuckled pulling his hand back until it rested on her exposed thigh. "Partly due to your conniving and plotting there are now four of us and not just three. We will have to work it out as we go along."

"And we will," Teresa stated firmly. "But for now how about we declare a holiday and just have fun today. Maybe we can have a picnic out on the lawn?"

-------

It was a few weeks later when Melody asked Marlin as the two of them sat on a blanket watching the other three play some kind of keep-away game, "What are we going to do about Tess?".

"I assume you mean what are we going to tell her," he replied. He wasn't exactly sitting; actually he was lying down with his head in her lap as she absently played her fingers through his hair. "We tell the truth, as a matter of fact, without making a big deal about it. Yes, her aunts, grandmother and their boyfriend are sleeping together and she already knows that involves sex although we don't have to say that explicitly.

"She knows and I think understands mostly what 'privacy' means; at least as much as a seven-year-old can. If she asks questions we don't want to answer we just tell her that. No need to be mean or nasty about it ― we just tell her right out. The one thing we don't want to do is lie to her. To begin with I don't like it and another it's not fair to her. Of course there's the fact that she will probably read what we're really feeling anyway."

He was looking up at her when her Talent level suddenly seemed to shoot up to well beyond the Agency minimum standards. "Shit! There it goes again!" he muttered loudly and sat up. "What in the hell is going on?"

"What's the matter, Marlin?" Melody asked anxiously.

Marlin noticed that Teresa and Tess were walking their way and getting closer. "That couldn't be it," he shook his head. "I've never heard of such a thing ... But maybe..."

"What couldn't be it," Melody asked again louder. "You're starting to scare me."

"What? Oh, nothing to be scared of," he patted her leg. "It's just something really weird and it just now clicked as to what or who might be causing it. Let's call everybody over. This could be interesting."

"Okay, you all know that I'm a Talent Scout and that my Talent is being able to quantify how much Talent someone else has," he started when they were all seated around in a circle.

"Yes and you haven't been doing your job much lately," Melody chided him. "You're going to get in trouble if you don't."

"True," he sighed. "However for some reason I don't fee like leaving here especially for that stupid reason. I miss all of you too much."

"Except for that time of the month when Mel..." Melody quickly covered her sister's mouth and the rest of what she was saying came out as mumbled gibberish.

"Yes, well, no need to go into that," Melody harrumphed as Malinda snickered through her fingers.

"Maybe one of us should keep you company on your trips," Trish batted her eyes seductively.

"How could I possibly pick only one of you?" Marlin smiled back at her.

"We'll take care of that," Melody added forcefully. "And talk about it later. Now getting back to what you were saying, Marlin... ?"

"Oh yes. Anyway, I can tell how much Talent someone has but not what it is," he continued. "Now I'm not particularly strong; in fact I usually have to be within an arms length of someone to make an accurate reading. However I've noticed lately I've been able at times to read beyond that.

"Maybe a little background might help," he said. "When someone has a Talent it can be wildly variable while they're young. One day off the charts and the next almost nothing. It will settle down as they get older and usually by the time they're fifteen or sixteen it will have reached the level it will be for the rest of their lives. In fact beyond the age of eighteen it has never been known to vary.

"So when I've noticed my range changing or seeing the levels in you ladies fluctuate I thought either I was going nuts or maybe my Talent was being affected by my emotional attachment to the three of you. I've never heard of that happening so I though I was probably going nuts.

"Now," he took a deep breath and kept going. "When I was looking up at Melody just a minute ago I actually saw her level rise even as I was looking at her. Looking up I saw Teresa and Tess coming closer to us naturally I thought that either one or both of you could be causing this.

"Tess's Talent we know pretty well. She's an empath, that's someone who can feel other peoples emotions. It's not quite like mind reading but for a good, experienced empath the difference is hardly discernable. Besides they can read what someone is really feeling way down deep while a mind-reader can only read surface thoughts.

"Anyway empaths are fairly common but I have no idea what Talent Teresa has..."

"I'm not a witch!" Trish gasped. "Not that I care about such nonsense but I've never been able to do anything out of the ordinary," she added quickly.

"Well, you've certainly put a spell on me," he grinned at her and she blushed all the way down to the tops of her breasts. "But you do have some Talent. It's not real strong. If we put Talent on a scale of one to ten with the Agency minimum being five Trish would be about a three and a half. Melody is about a four and Malinda around four and a half. I'm right at five point zero zero zero one. Just enough to be unlucky enough to get inducted..." He suddenly stopped and stared at nothing. "Of course if I hadn't been in the Agency I would never have met any of you so maybe I'm not so unlucky after all..."

"We can talk about how unlucky you have been or how lucky you are going to get later, love," Melody chuckled and nudged his shoulder. "Keep going."

"What? Oh, yeah," he looked at them sheepishly. "Anyway Tess is between a four and a ten on any given day..."

"Tess may have to go into the Agency?" Teresa gasped.

"Maybe," he nodded. "But who knows? We won't have any idea for another seven to ten years. No sense in buying trouble now."

"Uncle Marlin will protect me," Tess said confidently as she crawled over and sat on his lap. Reaching up she patted his cheek. "So pretty. It's all spinning and sparkly and sharp; more than I've ever seen it."

"Too many things can happen before then to worry about it," Marlin shook his head slowly so as to not dislodge her fingers. "That is for another time. However right now I'd like to conduct a little experiment if you are all willing." They all nodded.

First he set Melody up in the center of the yard with the rest of them well away from her. At his signal they slowly approached her one at a time as he watched her Talent level intently.

"Nothing?" she asked after Malinda had come and gone.

"I'm horny from looking at you," he smiled.

"Pig," she giggled and he oinked back at her.

The results were the same with Tess. However when Teresa drew near, Melody's Talent level shot up with every approaching step. Not one to settle for a half done experiment Marlin did the same with each of them. The only one whose level never changed was Teresa's.

"It's you, my darling," he told her as he led her back to the blanket.

"But what does it mean?" she asked nervously.

"Beats me," he shrugged. "But you seem to act as an amplifier or magnifier for someone else's Talent. You have some kind of synergistic effect. I've never heard of that before and it isn't covered in the book I've got. Like you, my love, your Talent appears to be unique." She blushed again.

"Uncle Marlin," Tess spoke up. "What does sinergickic mean?"

"Synergistic," he repeated slowly. "Synergy means the whole is greater that the sum of the parts. It's like saying one apple plus one apple equals three apples."

"That's impossible, Uncle Marlin," Tess laughed and attacked him.

"No it isn't, sweet thing," he laughed and started tickling her. "It happens all the time. Remember we talked about it before."

"We did?" she sat down and frowned. She was thinking hard when suddenly her eyes lit up and she laughed. "I know! I know! It's like when you have one mommy and one daddy and then you have three because they have a baby!"

"Very good," he laughed with her. "It's not a perfect analogy but close enough to get the concept."

Suddenly Teresa's face went pale and she jumped up and started running towards the house crying.

"What the hell?" Marlin gasped as he and the rest of the group scrambled to follow her inside. They found her lying on their bed sobbing uncontrollably. He sat down beside her and gently picked her up and held her on his lap while she tried ineffectually to push him away.

"What is it my love?" he asked.

"Oh, Marlin, I've been so stupid!" she sobbed and he lifted her chin to see her face. "I haven't been feeling well and ... But I'm too old! I haven't felt like this ... Like this since Melody," she wailed. "Marlin, I think I'm pregnant!"

"Silly woman!" he laughed and rolled back on the bed carrying her with him. "Too old! What a silly bunny! What are you? Thirty-eight? You ninny, women have been having babies well into their forties! Too old!"

"You mean you're not mad at me?" she sniffed and looked up at him.

"How could I be?" he replied. "One of the women I love may be having my child? How could I be mad?

"Of course I suppose you might not be so happy about it," he mused. "After all you do have three grown children already. Probably thought you were done with that silliness. But," he shrugged, "when you have your fun sometimes the game of life hands you an unexpected bonus."

"You idiot!" she sniffed, snorted and then giggled as she thumped him on the chest.

"Is Grandma okay?" Tess asked with concern.

"She's going to be fine," Marlin assured her. "In fact when we know something for sure I will tell you all about it. I promise. Now why don't you go find something to do while the four of us talk."

"Okay. But you promise?" she asked. He nodded and she left closing the door behind her.

"Well I'm not happy about it," Melody stood there with her arms folded tapping her foot once Tess had left. "I should have been first!"

"No, I should have been first," Malinda chimed in. "I'm older."

"If that is what you are using as the criteria than we did it right since I am older than both of you," Teresa blew her nose on Marlin's shirt and sat up.

"Well, I found him," Melody pouted.

"You could have just thrown your pills away," Malinda teased.

"I was waiting until..." He mouth snapped shut.

Marlin stood up and walked over to her. He grasped her shoulders and turned her so she was looking at him. "You were waiting for what, Melody?"

"Nothing," she mumbled.

"Waiting for what, Melody?" he asked again.

"Until you married us," she sobbed. "But you never asked, did you?"

"God, what an idiot," he sighed and pulled her into him. She struggled for a moment and then relaxed. "And I was waiting for the three of you to tell me you were ready. Well this can be taken care of!" Quickly he sat the three of them on the edge of the bed and knelt in front of them.

"Melody, Malinda, Teresa Hawking," he started. "I love each and every one of you more than life itself. I have no idea why I was blessed to know three of the most beautiful, intelligent and genuinely good women I have ever met but I have. I can't even think of a life without each of you in it. It would be my honor and privilege if you were to bless me again and consent to be my wives."

Malinda looked at Melody over Teresa's head. "I haven't had a better offer today. Have you?"

"Not yet but the day's only half over," Melody shrugged. "Do you think we should wait?"

"Naw," Malinda and simultaneously both girls launched themselves bowling him over backwards and trying to kiss every inch of his face.

"Is that a yes" Marlin gasped.

"Of course it's yes!" they both said at the same time punching him on opposite sides of his chest. He carefully extracted himself and looked over at Teresa serenely sitting on the bed by herself. Slowly he knee-walked over to her and laid his head in her lap.

"I haven't heard your answer," he said quietly.

"I already had one husband," she replied.

"I'm not trying to replace him," Marlin told her.

"No. Tom will always have a special place in my heart," she said sadly. "But that doesn't mean I don't have room in my heart for one more." She lifted his head to look at him.

"Are you sure you want this old woman?"

"You're just saying that because you know I won't spank a pregnant woman," he looked at her through narrowed eyes.

"Well if that's all it took..."she grinned then looked at him solemnly. "I am already yours and you know that."

"No," he said coming up to sit beside her and pulling her into his lap. "My little slave girl can't answer this. Only Teresa Hawking can answer this. She answers this and then she can go back to being my little slave."

"Then Teresa Hawking says yes," she pulled herself to give him a very soft kiss. Holding his arms out Melody and Malinda joined them and they all snuggle together.

"I suppose I should get tested soon," Teresa sighed.

"Why?" Marlin asked sleepily. "There's no hurry. I would think the answer will be evident either way soon enough."

"But you're going to want to know before..."

"Before we get married?" he cut her off. "Don't be silly. I'm not marrying you because you're pregnant; I'm marrying you because I love you and want to be with you the rest of my life. Even if this turns out to be a little morning gas I still get to marry you. Remember? You already said yes."

She began crying softly into his neck clenching and unclenching her fist in his shirt as her daughters, now future co-wives and her future husband petted and cooed their love for her until she and the rest of them drifted off for a short nap.

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 11


"Marlin, you have a letter here with the Imperial seal on it." Melody frowned as she walked into the kitchen and dropped what little mail there was on the table.

"Oh goody," he replied with false enthusiasm. "The Emperor has finally sent me the invitation to his birthday party. That thing has been lost in the mail forever." Slipping his finger under the seal he popped it open and pulled out the two sheets of stationary with handwriting on them.

"So what does it say?" Melody demanded.

"What does what say, dear?" Teresa asked as she entered followed by Malinda.

"Marlin got a letter from the empire today and I'm trying to get him to tell what it says," Melody told her.

"It may be official business and he can't tell you, honey," Teresa pointed out.

"No, it's not really official business; and it's not a pardon for the unspeakable acts I committed to get exiled here and it isn't my invitation to the Emperor's birthday party," he sighed. "But it does have to do with..."

"Wait," Teresa interrupted. "What unspeakable acts?" Melody giggled.

"Oh, that's right I don't remember telling either you or Malinda about it," he nodded. "Well, if you must know I was caught in a ... shall we say compromising situation with a young lady..."

"How young?" Teresa's eyes narrowed.

"Sixteen," he admitted sheepishly. "But she did tell me she was nineteen."

"I'd think a lady's man like you would be able to tell the difference between sixteen and nineteen," Malinda snorted.

"You'd think..." he started then paused. "Wait. Maybe I can show you rather than try to describe her to you." He jumped up and rushed out of the room only to come back two minutes later.

"I think it's in here," he said riffling through the pages. "Ah yes, here it is. I was using it as a bookmark and remembered I hadn't been back to this one since just before I met Melody. Here is the scene of my crime, so to speak." He placed a picture down on the table and his three ladies crowded around to look at it.

"Holy shit," Melody gasped. "Look at those tits! They're bigger than mine!"

"You said this woman ... girl was only sixteen?" Teresa shook her head in disbelief.

"Actually she was probably only fifteen when that was taken," he added.

"Look at the legs on that bitch," Melody whistled. "I already knew you were telling the truth but now I really know you were telling the truth."

"Why did you keep the picture?" Malinda teased.

"To remind me what can happen when you think with your dick instead of your head," he laughed.

"Okay, so she was sixteen," Teresa continued. "Not very good judgment although we can see where you might have believed she was older. But so what? Sixteen is still legal. Hell! Fourteen is acceptable around here."

"Possibly," Marlin nodded. "But not if she was the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Inspector General and you got caught banging her in a broom closet by an inspection team. Never did figure out what they were looking for in a broom closet," he mused.

"Maybe two people fucking like bunnies?" Malinda twittered.

"Mandy, your language!" Teresa admonished.

"You mean like, 'Oh, God! Oh, God! Fuck me harder, my Master! Fuck my cunt raw!' and more of the same," Malinda smiled sweetly.

"It's not the same context," Teresa blushed and mumbled. "But your point is taken."

"Anyway the IG wanted me buried under a rock in the farthest corner of the empire and here I am," Marlin grinned holding up his hands. "Ta da!"

"Well, I think we can give you a pass on this one," Melody smirked. "But no more sixteen year-old bimbos."

"Thank God, no!" Marlin exclaimed.

"Hey, you were going to tell us about that letter when we got sidetracked by Miss Big-tits. What is that all about?" Malinda asked.

"Oh, yeah," he sighed. "This has to do with you but I'm not sure how you are going to take it. It may open some old wounds and I need to have your permission before moving on with it. You see when I was talking to that truth-teller..."

"You really think you can get that bastard after all these years?" Malinda hissed through gritted teeth. Fury was in her eyes and tears were running down her cheeks as she sat on his lap digging her fingernails into his shirt. She had been crying and screaming a lot and finally he pulled her into him and just held her tightly. It wasn't overly comfortable and he had the bite marks and scratches to prove it."

"I think we will be able to get the truth finally," he stated flatly.

"Then that son-of-a-bitch will swing," Malinda spat and then sobbed into his neck.

"Do you really think my Tom was k ... killed?" Teresa sat next to him eyes glistening.

"From what you told me about him, it's the only thing that makes sense," he told her gently.

"I knew it wasn't right. I just knew it," she repeated as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Oh, Tom. You poor thing!"

"But the problem is you need Maggie to file a complaint with Imperial Justice. Right?" Melody said.

"Yeah. Officially anyone should be able to file it and they would investigate. One of us could do it," Marlin sighed again. "But in reality my pen-pal tells me in a case this old if the complaint isn't by the victim or an eyewitness then it just gets stuck on the bottom of the pile and never sees the light of day."

"But if Maggie files it, they will investigate?" Melody continued. "Why?"

"Probably," he nodded. "Because the first thing they would do is interview her and if her story checks out then it's a pretty fair chance the one she fingers is guilty. In a case of rape that would mean a big public trial and a hanging right afterwards. Good publicity for Justice and the Agency, for that matter. They like that. If they think they can have somebody swinging at the end of a rope then they'll go for it even after eight years.

"She'll never do it," Malinda shook her head sadly. "She won't even talk about it. You know how hard it is for me to talk about it, and she's even worse."

"So you've told me," he nodded. "But I have to give her the opportunity to see justice done if nothing else. I was thinking that if you wrote her and told her I was coming, maybe I could see her and..."

"Oh, God no!" Malinda shrieked with horror. "She's even more of a man-hater than I was. She'd rather slit your belly than talk to you. You can't go!"

"Then I don't see..." he started.

"I think writing her is a good start," Melody interjected. "If she responds then we'll take it from there."

"I'll follow your lead," Marlin said. "This is really your family's decision."

"You are part of our family now," Teresa said firmly. "And no matter how this turns out, thank you for at least trying." She kissed his cheek lightly.

"Yes, thank you," Malinda kissed the other cheek.

"And thank you for loving us," Melody kissed him hard on the lips. Standing back up she cheerfully hollered, "I win!" and the other two started giggling.

-------

Marlin wrote his truth-teller politely thanking him for the information and letting him know what they were trying to do.

For the next two weeks they heard nothing from Margret. Melody wanted to write again but Marlin convinced her to wait for at least another week.

Marlin did make a few trips during that time and each time with a different one of his ladies. They found the time alone with just the two of them refreshing and deeply enjoyable but all agreed they had missed the others and were happy to return.

One day Melody and Malinda were outside collecting eggs and chasing chickens around the coop while Marlin had caught Teresa in the living room and had her backed against a wall giggling like a schoolgirl while he nibbled her neck. It had progressed to some rather ardent kissing when they heard the front door open. Since it could only be one or more of three people they ignored it. After all Tess had certainly seen them kissing before and that's all they were doing for the moment.

"What the hell are you doing to my mother!" someone screamed and Marlin suddenly felt like a brick wall smacked him in the side throwing him down. As he shook his head trying to clear it he felt a constriction around his throat and started gasping for air.

"Margret! Stop it!" Teresa shouted. "Stop it right now!" Marlin felt no relief from the pressure.

"Ack!" he gasped turning purple.

"God damn-it, Margret!" Teresa bellowed this time. "If you don't stop it right now I'm going to smack you so hard you're still going to be moving when you hit the road!" Marlin looked over and saw his little Teresa cocking her fist at a stranger. One part of his mind, the part not immediately concerned with trying to breathe, took in the red-gold hair, decent-sized breasts and a face that could only belong to a Hawking woman: the mysterious older sister, Margret.

"But Mama, he was..." Margret protested but he did feel the pressure lessen until he could get gulps of air into his lungs.

"He was kissing me, you twit!" Teresa hollered over her shoulder as she ran back to Marlin and flopped down beside him.

"Are you okay, baby?" she asked anxiously as she cradled his head in her lap.

"Okay," he gasped still breathing hard. "Think I'm okay."

"You'd better be, honey," she growled glaring at her dumbfounded daughter as she gently rocked him. The kitchen door slammed open and they heard two sets of boots running towards them.

"What the fuck is going on in here?" Malinda yelled as both she and Melody burst into the room.

"Your sister's home and she tried to kill Marlin," Teresa ground out through gritted teeth.

"You bitch!" Malinda screamed and started towards the stunned Margret.

"No," Marlin forced out. "No! Your sister came in the house while Trish and I were ... ah, kissing and I think she got the wrong idea."

"Kissing, huh?" Melody knelt next to him and gave him the once over herself. After kissing him herself, just to make sure it still worked, she rocked back on her haunches and chuckled. "I guess it's a good thing she didn't get here about five minutes later, isn't it."

"We wouldn't do that in the living room," Teresa blushed still stroking his hair. "Not with Tess around," she qualified as Melody started to say something.

"Yeah, I suppose not," she smirked. Her smile disappeared and she stood up as she looked at her eldest sister. Marlin also stood up and pulled Trish up alongside.

"Hi, Maggie," Melody nodded. "We didn't expect to see you."

"He was kissing mom ... Then you kissed him..." Margret sputtered.

"Well then let's really confuse the shit out of you," Malinda said with a crooked smile and stepping over to Marlin spent a good ten seconds sticking her tongue down his throat.

"What in the hell is going on with this family?" Margret demanded angrily.

"Well I guess I didn't tell you everything in those letters I sent you," Melody admitted.

"Why don't we all sit down and talk?" Marlin interjected. "This is going to be a lot for your sister to absorb and comprehend. At least we should be comfortable when..."

"Mama?" Then heard a small voice behind them. Turning around they saw Tess standing in the hallway looking at her mother with a combination of hopefulness, longing and apprehension.

"Tess," Margret choked out. She was as pale as a sheet. Suddenly she turned and ran out the front door.

"Mama?" Tess sobbed helplessly.

"I'd better go talk to her," Melody said grimly. "I'm about the only one she's usually able to be civil to," saying that she rushed to follow her older sister outside.

Tess was crying harder now and she ran over to Marlin grabbing him around the waist. "Why does Mama hate me so much?" the young girl whimpered. "What did I do to her?" Marlin scooped the child up in his arms and carried her over to the couch where he sat down with her on his lap.

"Look at me, sweet thing," he crooned. "Look at me, please." He peeled her arms off from his waist and placed them on the sides of his face. Slowly she brought her chin up and met his eyes and there was a twitch in the corner of her mouth that acted like it wanted to turn into a smile.

"That's better," he said softly and smiled at her. Now, do you trust me?"

"Of course, Uncle Marlin," the twitch turned into a small, tentative smile.

"Then I want you to believe me when I tell you than you did nothing wrong. Nothing!" he said firmly. "Your mama was hurt very badly when she was young and that is causing a lot of pain for everybody, but you did not cause this. It was not your fault.

"I don't know if we have time to talk about it now," he continued. "When Melody brings your mama back in, the rest of us have a number of things to discus with her that I'm not sure she's going to react very well too." Malinda snorted and Teresa elbowed her in the side.

"Oh, you mean like all of you sleeping together and Grandma's baby?" Tess asked.

"Well," Marlin cleared his throat. "Those certainly are two of them."

"But Grandma is so happy it almost hurts to feel her," Tess said puzzled. "And the rest of you are too."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean your mother is going to approve of what we have been doing," Marlin nodded.

"The master of understatement," Malinda snorted. "Maggie is going to shit her pants and then she's going after your balls with a dull knife."

"Mandy! Your language! There is a child present." Teresa admonished. When Malinda looked at her askew she immediately continued, "The bedroom does not count. That is private and between only us."

"Like the whole house and half the shire can't hear you," Malinda teased and then nimbly jumped out of the path of Teresa's sharp elbow.

"That's okay, Auntie Mandy," Tess spoke up. "Uncle Marlin and I have talked about that, too. He says there are some things we know about but pretend not to because it's polite. I like those sounds because I know all of you are happy. Besides," she looked at her aunt slyly, "you are just as loud as Grandma."

Malinda's mouth dropped open in surprise and she stared at the young girl for a few seconds until she finally started laughing so hard tears rolled down her cheek.

"I suppose I am, sweetie," Malinda chuckled wiping the tears away.

"Anyway," Marlin interrupted smoothly, "if Aunt Mandy can get your mother to return we all have some serious talking to do and I want you to either go back to your room or go outside to play for a while.

"Remember this until we can talk again," he continued. "I really don't think your mother hates you,  but what you represent. There is a really big difference even though you can't see it now."

"But I don't understand..." she started.

"I know, sweetie," he sighed. "And this may be one of those things you won't for awhile and maybe never will. I'm sorry but this may be one of those things. When we talk later I'll try to explain, I promise."

"Don't worry, Uncle Marlin," Tess patted his cheek. "If anyone can make me understand, it is you."

"Thanks for your confidence..." he chuckled but was interrupted by the screen door opening. Melody followed by Margret entered. Margret saw her daughter sitting on Marlin's lap and scowled.

"I'll go feed the chickens now, Uncle Marlin," Tess said jumping off his lap and looking at her mother with apprehension.

"You do that, honey," he said patting her butt and pushing her on her way. She scurried out of the room and Marlin looked up at Margret.

"Please sit down, Miss Hawking," he said placidly. "We really do have a lot to talk about and we should all make ourselves comfortable. All I ask is that you listen to what we say and not interrupt until we're done. I'm sure you will have a lot of questions then."

-------

"Okay. Let me get this straight," Margret said with undisguised disgust. "You're screwing both of my sisters and my mother. In fact you've knocked her up with your little bastard and on top of all that you want me to relive the most hellish time of my life. Does that pretty much sum it up?"

"Calm down," he soothed. "Calm down." He had his hand on the legs of both Melody and Malinda as they sat on either side of him. He couldn't do much about Teresa since she was sitting in his lap but she just leaned back against him looking at her daughter with pity.

"To begin with I love Malinda, Melody and Teresa," he said to the furious woman. "Yes, our love is at times expressed physically..."

"God damn right it is," hissed Malinda followed by a harrumph of agreement from Melody.

" ... to everyone's mutual pleasure I hope," he continued ignoring the interruption except for a gentle squeeze of both their legs. "Teresa's baby was a happy surprise but..."

"He or she won't be a bastard as you so crudely put it," Teresa interjected. "As we told you we will all be married soon; certainly before the baby is born anyway. So your derogatory use of that label is both inaccurate as well as crass."

"Sure, he'll marry you," Margret snorted. "When? Two minutes before or after never?"

"When are we getting married, Marlin?" Teresa asked without turning around to look at him.

"Whenever the three of you tell me it's time, of course," he answered.

"Such a good boy," Malinda patted his cheek before giving it a little kiss. "We have you so whipped."

"And this is news to whom?" he rolled his eyes as he glanced her way.

"Well he would say that now, wouldn't he," Margret snorted in disgust. "These bastards would say anything for the chance to fuck you."

"What Marlin said was the absolute truth," Melody interjected with no emotion.

"Oh, yes. Our little truth-teller," Margret snapped sarcastically. Not even a powerful enough witch to get sent to the agency but you are so sure you can tell when he is lying."

"We told you about Teresa's catalytic Talent," Marlin said patiently. "Right now Melody has a strength Rating of about nine on a scale of one to ten. That's pretty damn powerful. I or anybody else would be a fool to try and lie to her now." Melody looked at him with a smile of appreciation.

"Lie to me Margret," Melody turned back to her sister. "Lie to me about something I couldn't possibly know about."

"I have nothing to lie about," Margret stated defiantly.

"That is a lie," Melody replied flatly. "How do you feel about Tess?"

"I love my daughter of course," Margret responded nervously. Melody blinked in silence and turned to Marlin.

"I don't know what to say," Melody's lip quivered. "What she said is both true and not true. How can that be?"

"Because it probably is," he answered. "It's complicated and not really a subject we should talk about now. Stop trying to make her believe that what we say is true. She will either recognize the facts and the truth or she will refuse to. It's not something we can force and it will just make everybody angry if you try."

"But..." Melody protested.

"Leave it Mel," Malinda told her from around him. "I've talked with him enough that I think I have an inkling of what he's thinking. I got some clues from what he told Tess earlier when you were outside with her. I'll fill you in later."

"Yeah, that's another thing. What are you doing with my daughter?" Margret demanded. "Are you fucking her too or are you just waiting until she bleeds so you can breed her?"

"Calm, calm," Marlin said with a strained voice while gripping both sisters' legs forcefully.

"I should come over there and smack the sneer off of your pitiful face," Teresa said calmly. "I know you have been hurt and are damaged and ill but that is just plain evil and nasty. Marlin couldn't love that little girl any more if she were his own child. In fact he has given her more love, compassion and attention since we got here than you have for her whole life. He would rather die than hurt her and she loves him just as much. Her fondest wish is that he could be her daddy and not just Uncle Marlin. I know for a fact he would adopt her in a second if he could."

"This isn't a contest," Marlin told Teresa as he lifted his hand off of Melody's leg and stroked her hair.

"No it isn't," Teresa sighed. "But what she accused you of was just ... just, disgusting!"

"How would you know what in the fuck my world view is? Asshole!" Margret spat.

"I'm not even mad about this anymore," Melody said as an aside to Malinda. "I'm just bored and ready for this to be over."

"Yeah, there's a point to where you leave victimhood behind and go right into bitch-hood," Malinda nodded.

"Hush, both of you," Marlin whispered quietly. He then turned his attention back to Margret. "I don't pretend to know or fully understand what you have gone through but I can imagine how something like that can impact how you look at ... well, just about everything. I'm not saying I'm right, just that I can see where certain reactions flow logically from given stimuli. I'm not a doctor; I just tell it like I see it."

"Yeah, well I've had seen plenty of those useless creatures," she snorted. "It's all about how I need to get in touch with my true feelings and forgive and forget ... Bullshit! There is no forgiving and no forgetting. What that fucking monster did made me feel unclean, used and less than human! Why should I want to go through that ever again? What makes you think they will believe me any more now than they did back then?"

"For one thing," he shrugged, "it will be completely different people you will be dealing with this time. If they take the case ― and it's not a hundred percent sure they will ― then you will be dealing with Imperial Justice and the Talent Agency. It will be both easier and much, much harder on you this time."

"That doesn't make any sense," she scoffed.

"Actually it does," he gave her a small grin. "IJ and the TA are two of the most cold-hearted, bloodless, mercenary arms of the Imperia. If they send a team out it will include at least one truth-teller, a mind-reader, a tracker, an Imperial Marshal and maybe a few constables. When they question you they will drag out every speck of memory about what happened to you back then and not give a shit on how that makes you feel. They will squeeze you like a sponge and if what you tell them is the truth as you know it..."

"I didn't lie last time!" she shouted. "Are you calling me a liar?"

"No, I'm not," he responded calmly. "What I'm telling you is that you will relive that day just like it happened and you will feel all those feelings all over again."

"Marlin, you didn't tell us that," Teresa looked back at him anxiously. "Maybe it's not such a good idea to bring this all up again."

"I didn't tell you because it isn't your choice, my love," he told her gently. "Only Margret can make that decision but I want her to understand fully what it will mean."

"Then why did you say it would also be easier for her?" Melody asked.

"Because if she tells them and they believe her, which they will if she is telling the truth, then they will be going after this Dominic Prandle and they will never stop until he is either caught or is dead and once caught he will be put through the same type of interrogation she had. If he is guilty and knows he is guilty they will discover that and it's back to the capital for a quick trial followed by an even quicker hanging."

"What do you mean 'if he knows he's guilty'?" Malinda demanded.

"What if he's truly insane and he thinks the sex they had was really consensual?"

"Could that really happen? What if that's the case?"

"There are other Talents that will be brought in that can delve into a person's mind and determine fact from fantasy," he shrugged. "It makes for a messy investigation but the truth will eventually come out."

"And what if it turns out that I'm the one who is crazy and didn't remember it right?" Margret asked tentatively.

"Do you think there is even the slightest chance?" he challenged.

"Not a fucking chance," she shook her head vehemently.

"Even if that were the case, so long as you truly believed what you said then my guess is you would be reprimanded and referred for psychological help," he shrugged. "As little as I think of the empire and it's servants they really aren't monsters. If your perception of reality was that wrong they would send you for help and not to jail."

"Would it be the same for that prick?" Malinda asked.

"Well if that were the case it would be a little different," Marlin looked over at her. "In that case there really would have been a crime committed and a real live victim. There might not be a hanging involved but I wouldn't be surprised if the counseling was much more intense and secure."

"This sounds like it could be a lot of trouble for Maggie," Melody said slowly. "Maybe this isn't really a good idea. Why would she want to go through it?"

"Revenge, justice," he shrugged. "I don't know if either would make her feel better. For me there is a third and possibly even more important reason. What if she wasn't the only one he has raped? What if he's still doing it? If he is and he could be stopped do we owe it to those future victims to try? These aren't questions I can answer; only Margret can."

"I have a lot to think about," Margret said slowly.

"Yes and you should take your time," he nodded in agreement.

"Maybe I'll just lay down for awhile," Margret sighed.

"Ah, you'd better use my old room or even Mel's," Malinda hurriedly added. "Your old room is kind of full."

"Full?"

"Books," Melody giggled. "Thousands and thousands of books."

"There aren't that many," Marlin blushed. "And I'll move them out right now if you want me too."

"No. That's okay," Margret assured looking at him strangely. "One room is a good as another."

"Honey," Teresa stood up and went over to her daughter. "We all thought this might be good for you but now I'm not so sure. We just want you to be happy."

"This jackass may be using some witchy power to seduce all of you but the prick is right about one thing. This is my choice and nobody else but me can make it. I'll ... I'll see you later." Mother and daughter hugged in a most awkward manner then Margret headed off towards the bedrooms.

"Ewh, you're using a witchy power to seduce us are you?" Melody teased tickling Marlin under the arm.

"Damn right he is," Malinda attacked from the other side. "And I wouldn't mind seeing about eight inches of that witchy power right now."

"You two trollops leave him alone," Teresa scolded. "We need to get washed up and get dinner started."

"Looks who calling us trollops," Malinda exclaimed to her sister. "If I remember correctly it was her playing around with him out here that started this whole mess."

"You know I have no control over what my master does with his slave girl," Teresa winked and scooted off towards the kitchen.

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 12


"Mother, are you really happy now?" Margret asked as she sat at the kitchen table while Teresa dried and put away the last of the lunch dishes. Taking the last cup of coffee from the pot, Teresa sat down across from her daughter.

"I assume you are talking about either my man, your sisters or the new baby. Probably all three," she smiled softly.

"The simplest answer is yes. I am happier than I have ever been before in my life." She paused and took a sip. "But my guess is you are asking how I could be happy with all this and that's not quite so simple.

"I suppose to begin with there is Marlin," she said as her eyes went slightly out of focus and a dreamy smile settled lightly on her lips. "I'm not sure how I can describe him. He's kind, loving, passionate and smart. Oh my God, Maggie, you can't know how smart he is! You know all those books stored in your old room? He's read every one of them and remembers everything he read! It's actually kind of scary sometimes. Tess says he has the most beautiful mind she's ever felt. She will sit there for hours rubbing his face or his hair ... You know that's how she gets the clearest picture, don't you? Anyway she'll sit there for hours feeling his mind as they talk about everything under the sun."

"That's just not natural ― a grown man spending that kind of time talking to a seven-year-old," Margret muttered.

"He's not just talking to her, Maggie. He's teaching her," Teresa pointed out after taking another sip. "She asks him questions and he does his best to answer her. He tells her right up front that there are some things she just isn't ready to understand even if she knows the facts about them, but he goes ahead and does his best to explain it to her anyway. Let me tell you they get into some subjects I cringe to think about trying to explain ... But he seems to do it easily. He is a natural teacher. If this world were fair he would be in a classroom somewhere and not roaming all over this God-forsaken place looking for recruits for that Agency of his."

"That's another thing I don't understand: how you can ever talk to him let alone ... sleep with him knowing what he is," Margret frowned.

"It's because that's what he does and not who he is, honey," Teresa smiled. "He has no more choice in doing what he does than you did when you were raped."

"I don't want to talk about that," Margret snapped.

"I know, dear. But that's part of what he does with us," she said calmly. "Everything is talked about; nothing is hidden. He says that by talking about it you demystify the subject and make it easier to deal with. You don't make it go away and you can't always solve it but you can take some of its power over you away.

"But enough of that. He told us not to push you on that subject at all and if he found out I was talking about it with you I just might find my bottom blistered like Melody did the other night. I don't care what he says about not spanking a pregnant woman."

"He hits you?" Margret started to get angry. "He hit Mel?"

"No, dear," Teresa finished her drink. "He spanked her. She was extremely nasty and spiteful to you the other night and he reminded her of proper manners. True it is her ... troubling time of the month but that didn't make it right. She knew she was wrong and she knew she deserved it."

"What? When she said he should declare me over the limit and send me to the Agency?" Margret was momentarily distracted.

"He really hates that part of his job and he refuses to joke about it and to use it out of spite ... She will apologize once she gets back to being herself, I'm sure."

"But he hit her? For that?" Margret blurted out.

"No, he spanked her like the ill-mannered child she was," Teresa replied calmly.

"I hope she smacked him from here to tomorrow for even trying that," Margret harrumphed.

"No, but she did get a little ... excited," Teresa chuckled. "I'm not sure if he will ever realize that it's not quite the punishment he thinks it is. Or maybe he does and he does it because of that. It really is only for a reminder, after all.

"But that's getting a little too close to very private matters that are only for the four of us," Teresa continued. "Let's just leave it that I am very, very happy about how everything is going between us and I believe your sisters feel the same way."

"We damn well know he's happy about it," Margret muttered.

"We certainly hope so." Her mother's smile disturbed Margret. It was too much like what she would have expected from some slutty school girl that had just been laid by the entire field-ball team.

"Now, as for the little darling in here," Teresa chuckled and patted her still flat stomach. "I'll admit I was a bit flustered at first. After all, starting over with the baby-making when my youngest is already a grown woman took a few minutes to get used to. But..." Teresa's eyes glistened and a single tear slid down her cheek as she reached out and grabbed her daughter's hand, hard.

"I'm going to break the rule again damn-it," she sniffed. "And if my bottom has to pay for it later, then so be it." She took a deep breath and said slowly, "When you were pregnant with Tess the thing I regretted the most wasn't that you had been raped and that monster had made you with child but that you never got to feel what it was like to carry inside of you the baby of the man you love.

"Every time I think of this little darling I think of the man that put him or her there and how much I love him and how much he loves me..." She paused for a moment to sniff and collect herself. "And I love this little thing so much it hurts sometimes. Am I happy about the baby, Maggie? No. I am so far beyond happy I don't even know what to call what I'm feeling."

"I ... I don't understand," a very pale Margret croaked hoarsely.

"I know my darling and that make me so very sad." Teresa tried to smile. Suddenly the outside kitchen door opened and Marlin stomped in followed by a grinning Malinda.

"Watch out everybody, Mr. Grumpy-Bear is home," Malinda announced.

"Bad trip, dear?" Teresa asked.

"Yes," he replied curtly and then sighed and hugged her from behind giving her a kiss from around the side. "Which is not a reflection of the company I had, by the way."

"He had to send someone on to the Agency," Malinda filled in.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Honey," Teresa patted his hand where it came around her. "It wasn't someone we knew was it?"

"Trish, we know just about everybody here in the shire," Malinda chuckled. "How could it not be someone we know? Anyway it was one of the Hempfield boys; the oldest I think. That was Mike, right?"

"I believe so," she agreed.

"Anyway I told this big idiot that Mike was happier than a pig in shit to be heading to the capital and not mucking out some sty for the rest of his life but he won't believe me," Malinda poked Marlin in the side.

"Still doesn't make it right," Marlin muttered. "He has no idea what he's getting into."

"Maybe not but he sure as hell knows what he's getting away from," she poked him again. "And at least it's not the army press gangs scooping him up."

"There is that," Marlin grumbled an agreement.

"Anyway it took five whole minutes wiggling my ass in his face last night before he ... Oops, sorry," Malinda quickly covered her mouth with her hand when she realized Margret was in the room.

"You always were the shire slut," Margret sneered and Marlin started to protest.

Malinda uncovered her mouth and gave her sister a sad smile while placing her hand on Marlin's shoulder to stop him.

"You're right, Maggie," Malinda continued while standing up straight. "I was the shire slut and I was even worse than that in Brighton. I hated men so much for what they did to you I did everything I could to hurt them back just as much or more. I lured them in with my Talent and I used sex as my weapon. I hurt them ― oh God did I hurt them ― but you know, I hurt myself as I was doing it even more.

"So you're right; I was that slut but I'm not that person anymore," Malinda nodded to herself. "I met a man that didn't care about the slut, the bitch, the whore. He looked inside of me and saw there was someone there that was worth saving and he saved me..."

"You saved yourself, Mandy," Marlin said softly as he stood up and put his arms around her.

"No, my darling, my love, my life," Malinda gazed back at him. "You saved me. You were tricky and manipulative and sometimes downright deceitful but you saved me. If it weren't for you I would probably be dead right now or wishing I were.

"And you see, Maggie," she looked back at her sister. "He saved me knowing everything I was and while he was saving me I fell in love with him. I am doubly blessed in that as I was falling in love with him he was also falling in love with me.

"I've had sex with so many men so many times I couldn't begin to count them. But you know? I've never had sex with Marlin, never. Every time I'm with him it's been making love. It may sometimes be really loud, nasty, raunchy making love but it's still making love," she said with a crooked grin. "Call me a slut if you want; I don't care. That's what I was, not what I am and not what I'll be in the future. What I'll be is his wife and hopefully the mother of some of his children. Which I would have been the first," she leaned over and nipped his ear, "if he hadn't knocked up mom."

"I think Melody would have had something to say about that," he winced.

"Yeah, well, I'm older and bigger than she is," Malinda boasted with a grin letting go of him.

"So big sister, call me anything you want. I don't care. There are only three people who I give a crap what they think of me and you ain't one of them. Four, I suppose, if you count Tess and I guess I have to but then she knows me better than I know myself even if she does cheat.

"And by the way," Malinda leaned over the table putting her face close to her sister's. "I haven't told you this yet but if you ever try that witchy shit with my man again you're going to be gumming your food for the rest of your life because I'm going to knock every fucking tooth out of your head."

"Malinda!" Marlin gasped.

"Oh! Am I going to get a reminder tonight? Goody!"

"I told you it isn't the punishment he thinks it is," Teresa whispered as an aside to her shocked eldest daughter.

"Please be nice," he sighed and shook his head. "It wasn't her fault and you know it."

"Like I care about fault," Malinda sniffed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I'm going to take a shower and get some of this road dust off me." Looking back over her shoulder she batted her eyes at Marlin and asked, "Would you care to join me, Mr. Servant of the Empire?" With that she strolled out of the kitchen rolling her hips with cat-like indifference to who was watching her.

-------

"Can I ask you a question?" Margret had come up behind Marlin as he was laying boards out on the ground preparing to fasten them together into a new barn door.

"Sure," he answered without looking up. "I may not answer any particular question depending on what it is but I don't mind if you ask anything."

"Fair enough," she nodded. "How bad do you really think this investigation thing will really be?"

"Good question," he said putting down the drill as he finished the pilot holes in the cross supports. "I'm not sure I can answer that. It depends on how you feel when you think of your attack now."

"I don't think of it at all," she responded grimly. He glanced up at her and then went back to working on the door. Changing the bit in the drill to a screw head he asked, "Even in your nightmares?" When she didn't answer he looked up and she was shaking with rage. He sighed and began hand threading the screws into the tiny holes.

"I don't know how it will affect you because you don't know how it will affect you," he continued as if they were actually having a discussion. "If you haven't faced it ― really faced it ― how can you know how you will react?"

"Repressed rage," Margret snorted. "That's what those worthless shrinks called it; a bunch of bullshit, if you ask me. Talk about it, go past it and get on with your life is all they had to offer. Fucking worthless!"

"I don't think repressed rage is your problem," he gave her a slight grin as he began driving the screws home with the drill. "Rage you have plenty of and if it's been repressed I sure haven't seen it. Now fear: that may be something different."

"I'm not afraid of anything!" she shouted, scowling.

"I sure would be," he shrugged and stood up, "if that had happened to me. Here, would you give me a hand. This thing is heavy as hell and I have to set it on the hinges. Stupid bull," he muttered. "Two more minutes and he would have what he wanted but noooo, he had to kick the damn door down."

"Just like a male thinking of only one thing," Margret sneered.

"Actually he was heading for the fodder if I remember correctly," Marlin replied placidly.

"The second thing they think about," she snorted as she helped him lift the heavy door.

"Can't argue with that," he grunted as they muscled the door onto the top hinge. Looking down he snorted seeing the hinge pin laying at their feet. "That was pretty stupid," he noted. "Should have picked that up first." Slowly the pin wobbled and then jerkily lifted off the ground until it reached the height of his hand where he snatched it out of the air and jammed it into the hinge while holding the top of the door in place."

"Thanks! That's a mighty handy little talent to have," he smiled as he bent down retrieving the second pin which he knocked into place.

"Yeah, well, I never found it so handy before," she grumbled in embarrassment. "Can't do much except lift little things; unless Mom's around I guess."

"Still, it's like having a third hand which is something I wish for all the time," he commented.

"Hey! How did you get this done so fast?" she asked directing the conversation elsewhere. "Didn't we just get that bull this morning?"

"Yeah, less than a day and he's already looking good in a roast pan," he chuckled. "As for getting it done ― well you helped."

"Bullshit! I didn't do anything," she snorted. "It was done before I helped. Did you use to be a carpenter?"

"What? Something useful like that?" he laughed. "Not hardly but I do have a book or two on rough carpentry. Planning the job is the hardest part; from there the rest goes pretty quickly."

"Uh-huh," she sounded unconvinced.

"You know, you might want to talk to Malinda about the investigation," he said casually greasing the hinges and making sure the door latched correctly. "She's had a few things to work through herself and she might be able to give you a few insights on handling ... rough questions."

"She hates my guts," Margret pointed out. "Not only is she still pissed at me for trying to choke you but she thinks I'm a wimp for not talking to you about the ... you know what."

"Mandy doesn't hold a lot back, I'll give you that," he agreed. "Tell her you'd like help in finding out what talking about the event would be like and you don't feel comfortable talking to me about it. That's perfectly understandable, by the way. I would be surprised if you did feel comfortable with me.

"Give it a try," he urged. "I know Mandy can be kind of harsh but that's mostly because she knows what she's been through and she expects everybody else to be able to do the same. But she also knows what it's like to need forgiveness and under that sometimes crusty exterior she is full of unlimited compassion. She really is an old softy."

"I don't know..." Margret muttered reluctantly.

"It's just a thought," He shrugged turning away to pick up the tools. "You should do what you feel comfortable with."

-------

"You are one sly, devious little bastard," Malinda grinned as she plopped down on his lap later that night.

"I am?" he asked innocently.

"Yes you are," she confirmed after getting a kiss. "Guess who came to see me?"

"The Emperor?"

"The Emperor, my ass," she smacked him lightly.

"He's after your ass too?" he gasped. "Now that's just too much competition!"

"He can't have my ass," she giggled and snuggled up close to him. "You're the only one who has had my ass and you're the only one who ever will. I love you even if you are an idiot."

"Okay, then let me guess again," he squeezed her tightly. "Margret came to see you."

"As if you didn't know," she snorted. "She asked how I was able to confront my past demons and you know what I told her to do?" He just smiled at her. "Like I said, you are a devious son-of-a-bitch. You knew I'd tell her to write it down. Every sight, every sound, every smell. What that bastard was wearing, what he said and what she said to him. Everything right down to how it felt when he entered her and what she was feeling as it happened. I told her to write it down and then burn it. Just—like—you—did—me. I figure if she's honest with herself she'll be bawling or throwing things about halfway through it."

"It might help," he gave her a little smile along with a small shrug.

"Like I said, you are a devious, manipulative, little bastard." She kissed him hard, jumped up and said, "I'm going to go see if she did anything; I'll catch you later, lover."

About ten minutes later Tess wandered into the living room and without a by-your-leave crawled up into his lap forcing him to put away the draft report he was working on.

"Uncle Marlin," she started even as she was reaching for his head. "You promised you'd tell me why Mommy hates me. Can you do it now?"

"Oh, my angel," he sighed. "I really wasn't looking forward to this but sooner done the sooner over. Now remember what I told you before. This may be one of those things you will never understand. Some of it I'm just guessing at and so I maybe wrong but I'll do my best."

"I know, Uncle Marlin," Tess replied solemnly.

-------

"God! That was hard," Margret sobbed silently as Malinda helped her out of her bedroom.

"No shit," Malinda nodded. "I could lie and tell you it gets easier after doing it a few times but I won't. It doesn't get all that much easier but you do get used to it. It can't affect you as much."

"I can't believe you didn't want to read it," Margret shook her head.

"Nope, you'll tell me yourself when you're ready," her sister responded.

They heard voices coming from the living room. "Oh! Oh! Marlin is having one of his little talks with Tess. These things are absolutely fascinating. You never know where they are going or where they may end up. Now be quiet so we can listen in."

"But that's not polite..." Margret protested in a whisper.

"Yeah, yeah," Malinda giggled softly. "I'll probably get my butt blistered for it later but these are usually so worth it."

"That's another thing I want to talk to you about..."

"Later," Malinda hissed.

"Oh, my angel," they heard Marlin say. "I really wasn't looking forward to this but sooner done the sooner over. Now remember what I told you before. This may be one of those things you will never understand. Some of it I'm just guessing at and so I maybe wrong but I'll do my best."

"I know, Uncle Marlin," Tess's reply drifted over to the eavesdropping listeners.

-------

"I suppose it all goes back to sex," he started.

"You mean the making babies thing?" Tess asked.

"Well yes," he paused. "Normally I'd say not really but in this case I suppose it does.

"Anyway, nature makes us want to be with others in a sexual way so that there are plenty of babies around. Someday when you are older you will date a number of boys and you will find one that you love. It's a given, of course, that he will already be madly in love with you," she giggled and squirmed in his lap. "When that happens you will want to be with him in a sexual way among others."

"Like you and Aunties Melody and Malinda and Grandma?"

"Yes just like that," he tickled her lightly.

"But you never let me see it," she pouted.

"That's right because as we talked about before, your body isn't ready for it yet and you wouldn't understand and by the time your body is ready to understand the last thing you will want to see is a bunch of old people doing it. Trust me.

"You know if you keep interrupting me we will never get done here," he tickled her again. "Now where was I? Oh, yes, sexual desire. Well there are times when only one side has these desires; say a boy was madly in love with you but you thought he was gross. In that case nothing will happen between you.

"However there are times, very few thank goodness, that someone's desire is so strong or the good part of their soul is so weak that they will force sex on the other one. This usually happens with boys or men so it is usually girls who are forced. That is called rape.

"This is very bad, Tess. It hurts the girl terribly. It hurts her in more ways than just the physical pain. It can hurt so bad that she may hate all men for the rest of her life because they remind her of what happened to her."

"This happened to Mama, didn't it Uncle Marlin?" Tess asked with a tiny voice.

"Yes it did, sweet thing," he stroked her hair softly. "And when this bad man made your mother have sex the seed he forced into her conceived and you were born as the result.

"So every time she sees you she remembers what was done to her and she is afraid. But being a Hawking woman she is strong and hates being scared. Every time she sees you she sees her fear and hates what it does to her. She doesn't hate you, she actually hates the man who did that awful thing to her but he isn't here and you are.

"It's not your fault, my love. It's not even your mother's fault. It is the fault of the bad man who raped her in the first place."

"Then she will never love me," Tess said sadly.

"I don't know, honey," he held her tightly. "Maybe someday when she can separate the beautiful, wonderful child that came out of her body from the terrible thing that was done to her she will be able to really love you like you deserve to be loved.

"Until then," he continued. "You have to remember that all of us love you more than life itself. Also remember that it is not your mother's fault. She would love you with her whole heart if she could. It's okay to love her even if she can never return it. Think of her as being ill and she can't help herself."

"I will, Uncle Marlin," Tess nodded solemnly. "I will love her as hard as I can until she gets well."

Suddenly they heard someone sobbing uncontrollably around the corner. Rushing towards the sound Marlin and Tess found Margret sprawled against the wall crying while Malinda knelt beside her.

"We were listening in," Malinda explained nervously. "I didn't know what you were going to talk about. She started crying and just sat down right here."

"You girls and your snooping are really going to hurt someone someday," he sighed.

"I've learned my lesson," Malinda promised.

"I doubt that," he replied with a dry chuckle and she winced letting him know he was probably right.

"Oh, Tess, my baby," Margret cried. "I'm so sorry I hurt you! I never wanted to hurt you!"

"That's okay, Mama," Tess said taking her mother's hands. "I know you don't feel well so I'll just love you until you get better."

Margret pushed herself up using the wall while never letting go of her daughter's hands. "Then I guess I'd better start making myself better hadn't I?"

Edited by Morgan



-------

Chapter 13


"I want you to write that letter," Margret said confronting Marlin as he finished a repair on the old militia tent he used for his trips. What with him now having company for all of them there was a lot less staying on the spare cot in some farmer's house although haylofts were always welcome.

"I want to do the interview," she finished taking a deep breath.

"I thought you might," he replied calmly packing the tent away.

"Mandy's right. You are one tricky son-of-a-bitch," she groused.

"Me? What have I done other than give you the opportunity to see justice done and possibly prevent what happened to you from happening to some other poor girl in the future?" he asked.

"You knew I would if for no other reason than I want to do the right thing by Tess," she said. "Do you really think all that crap you were telling her was true?"

"I think it is highly probable," he shrugged. "Nobody knows all the reasons for some of your thinking and beliefs, probably not even you."

"So you think if I confront this thing that happened then I will be well and everything will be wine and roses?" she scoffed.

"No. Unfortunately it's never that easy, now is it?" he smiled sadly. "What I do hope is that this will help get you started on the path to being the best you can be. Completely healed? That's a goal but what if it never happens? You still have to live your life."

"Yeah, fix my little brain fuck and settle down with a nice guy and have another two or three kids. Like that will ever happen," she snorted.

"Or find another woman who you makes you happy," he shrugged again. "There are many paths to happiness and I'm hoping you find one of them for your sake and Tess's."

"I tried that once or twice and it didn't work out too well," she muttered.

"That's a shame," he sympathized. "Given your distrust of men it would have been easier if your orientation was more to the feminine side or at least bisexual. I don't know if you will ever be able to really trust any man ever again and having another woman for the emotional closeness we all need would be nice. Not to mention the sexual loving that most of us crave."

"It wouldn't bother you if I was a ... lover of woman?" she asked shocked.

"Why should it?" he grinned. "I am, and I fully understand it. Look, I already have three beautiful, intelligent and loving women who keep me on a short leash. I'm not looking for any more lovers, wives or bedmates. I am attracted to you of course. You're a Hawking woman and nothing else really needs to be said. However it takes interest from the other side to attract my emotional interest and I'm pretty sure you don't have any such interest."

"That's for fucking sure," she grinned back at him.

"So if I was single and I made my play for you I would have been shot down," he continued. "Seeing that I'm not single and have no intention of ever making a play for you the who or which sex you do sleep with is of no concern of mine."

"I'll bet it would to my mom and sisters," she answered grimly.

"You don't give them enough credit," he admonished gently. "What they really want is for you to be happy. I'm willing to bet they couldn't care less if it is a woman or a man that gets you there."

"Do they ... you know ... when all of you are in bed together... ?" she stuttered.

He smiled brightly and said, "By the way: I'll help but you have to write the complaint yourself."

-------

"How long is it going to fucking take?" Margret whined at the kitchen table during lunch. It had been about two weeks since she had sent the complaint and she was starting to become a little unraveled.

"Weeks, months, a year or maybe never," Marlin shrugged. "I don't have any idea not knowing their procedures or workload. I told you right from the beginning they may do nothing."

"The thing you have to remember, dear," Teresa patted her hand. "You've done your best. What happens now is not something you can control."

"That's right, Maggie. We're all real proud of what you did," Melody assured her sister. "That took some real courage."

"I don't have any courage," Margret twitched. "In fact, I'm scared to death!"

"A wise man once said that bravery is not the absence of fear in the face of adversity, for that is foolishness," Marlin told her. "Bravery is battling on against adversity in spite of that fear."

"Your man is so full of shit," Margret stated but she said it with a smile.

"Yeah. Is it any wonder that a few sweet nothings from his lips to our ears and all three of us are falling over backwards legs spread wide and feet pointing up in the air. Oops!" Melody slapped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry, Tess. I wasn't supposed to say that out loud."

"That's okay, Auntie Melody," Tess said grinning at her. "I've heard you say worse at night." She said in a half-whisper to her mother, "Auntie Melody is really loud sometimes." Melody choked on a piece of fruit until Marlin slapped her back and it flew out onto the table. "But not as loud as Grandma."

"Tess, that's private!" Teresa gasped as she turned bright red.

"I didn't tell her what you yell, Grandma," Tess protested and went back to her sandwich. "Besides Mama lives here I'm sure she's heard you also."

There was silence for about thirty seconds and then Malinda started giggling followed by Melody and finally Teresa and Margret. Marlin sat there stoically and ignored them as best he could. When lunch was finally over, which took longer than normal due to the numerous outbursts of spontaneous laughter, he sent Tess out to see if they had received any mail.

"That is if you are done with both your sandwich and embarrassing everybody at the table," he said.

"I don't know why you would be embarrassed, Uncle Marlin," Tess replied with a devilish grin while placing her plate in the sink. "It's your name they are mostly yelling." With that she ran outside heading for the road.

"I swear, Marlin Cranson," Teresa shook her head. "I don't know if you've taught that little hellion too much, too little or just enough."

"She does have a sense of humor, doesn't she," Marlin smiled.

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with you teaching my daughter about sex," Margret alternately grinned and frowned.

"I only talked to her about it in general terms," he defended himself. "And to be more accurate we talked emotions and affection as much as we did sex. The sex part doesn't interest her all that much yet, anyway. But really I had to or she would have run screaming into her grandma's room every night wondering who was getting killed." Melody paused in her clearing of the table and smacked him lightly on the back of the head followed by a kiss to make it better.

"We all have our ways of being reminded," she giggled at her eldest sister.

Margret was just about to say something when they heard the front door slam and Tess calling, "Uncle Marlin! Uncle Marlin." She ran into the kitchen slightly out of breath waving a large envelope with the Imperial seal. "There's a letter just like the ones you get only with Mama's name on it!" She handed it to her mother. Margret's hands shook as she stared down at it.

"I can't look. You do it!" her voice quivered as she shoved it over to Marlin. He raised his eyebrow at her and with practiced fingers popped the seal and drew out the paper inside. He studied it for a moment and cleared his throat.

"Hurry up! Hurry up!" Malinda jumped up and down. "Or I'll be smacking your head this time."

"Margret Hawking," he said importantly. "You are directed to appear before an Imperial Justice Investigation Team on the nineteenth of this month at two o'clock in the afternoon in End-of-the-Line ... Well it gives a conference room number and the hotel there in town. You have your investigation, Margret," he smiled at her.

"Oh, shit. It's really happening," she whispered turning pale.

-------

It was decided that Marlin would accompany her on the trip. At first they all wanted to go but Marlin told them not only no but hell no!

"I am not going to let them anywhere near Teresa if I can possibly help it," he said in no uncertain terms. "And I think it best if the rest of you stayed here also. This was her complaint and she is the one they want to talk to."

"But what about Tom?" Teresa asked sadly.

"Well, I did tell Margret of my suspicions and she did put that in her complaint," he responded calmly. "All we really wanted to do was get them to think about it, even if we have no real evidence. Two or three questions put to Mr. Dominic Prandle and the matter will be cleared up once and for all. We just need to get them to ask the questions. There is no reason to get any of you involved since you can't add anything more than I could."

"I told you he was a devious bastard," Malinda smiled seductively and slowly lowered herself into his lap. "How can we not love this son-of-a-bitch? You are so getting lucky tonight," she whispered in his ear although everyone in the room heard her.

"And this is different than any other night?" Margret snorted.

"Oh, yeah," Malinda purred and Marlin shivered. "There are nights and then there are nights." She gave him a little shot of her Talent and he shivered again.

-------

"I don't think I can do this," Margret whimpered and wrung her hands as they sat in the coach heading towards End-of-the-Line.

"Yes, you can," he assured her patting her hand. "And you will."

"I don't know! I don't know!" she started shivering uncontrollably and he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. She stiffened slightly and then relaxed.

"I don't think I've been this close to a man since ... that night," she said.

"If it helps, don't think of me as a man, just someone giving you comfort. Or if that doesn't work try thinking of me as a really ugly woman," he said giving her a little shake.

She giggled and replied, "That may work."

They found the hotel easily and at exactly two o'clock knocked on the conference room door. The door was opened by a large IJ marshal and they were led in. There was a table with five men seated facing a single chair. Marlin saw that his truth-teller was sitting at one end. Each gave the other a slight nod.

"You are Margret Hawking?" the man in the center demanded.

"I am," her voice quivered.

"I am Inspector Durant of Imperial Justice," he told her emotionlessly. "We are here to investigate the complaint you filed against one Dominic Prandle for rape and possibly murder. We will ask questions and you will answer them truthfully to the best of your ability. There is an Agency truth-teller present in this room and he will know if you are lying or hiding anything from us. If you do not answer any question we are authorized to restrain you and have that information taken from your mind without your consent. Do you understand all of that?"

"I do," she replied firmly. "I intend to give my entire story truthfully and in its entirety as I believe it happened."

The inspector glanced at the truth-teller and received a nod in return. "Good." he continued. "Then maybe this will be easy. Now you, sir! Who the hell are you?" he demanded looking at Marlin.

"Marlin Cranson, Scout for the Imperial Talent Agency, sir," Marlin answered quickly taking out his badge and showing it.

"We don't need that," he waved the badge away. "Again, why the hell are you here?"

"I live with the Hawking family and it was at my urging that Miss Hawking filed her complaint," he replied. "We thought it best that I escort her, not only for moral support, but to be available to answer any questions you might have of me."

"Do you have any direct evidence to present in this case?" he asked.

"No, sir," Marlin responded. "I was not present when this event took place. All my suspicions are based on deduction and hearsay alone."

"They are certainly enough of those here to have the questions asked at least," the inspector nodded. "However we have no further need for you. You may wait for Miss Hawking out in the hallway." Marlin nodded and left the room quickly.

Marlin paced outside in the hallway for about an hour before the door opened and an ashen-faced Margret stumbled out and practically fell into his arms.

"Was it bad?" he asked sympathetically.

"Worse than I'd imagined," she nodded her head resting on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry..." he started.

"Don't be," she cut him off. "It was bad but they believed me. They believed me and now they are going to interrogate Prandle. They have their own vehicle and will be leaving soon for Pigsford. They also said they have sent a notification of the inquiry to Prandle ― something about procedures. When I told them he might attack my family they just said then they would hang him for that too!"

"I told you they were heartless bastards but once they're on someone's trail he's as good as caught," he patted her back. "The next coach is scheduled to leave in abut ten minutes. Since he hasn't done anything yet my guess is he hasn't received the notification. If he had, his only chance would have been to do something to you before now although hopefully he knew that would be useless."

"What do you mean?" She looked up at him.

"I'll tell you as we walk," he said putting an arm around her shoulder and gently guiding her out of the building. "If a potential witness died or came up missing under suspicious circumstances they would be all over that like flies on a cow-flop," he continued once they'd reached the street. "Now I don't know this Prandle..."

"He's an asshole and that's the best you can say for him," Margret growled.

"Now that I can believe," he grinned and gave her a squeeze. "But if he had a brain in his head the moment he received that notification he should have been running as far and as fast as he could ― preferably to some neighboring kingdom we're presently at war with. It's not like there aren't any number to choose from. Of course," he mused, "the Emperor does have his assassins in those countries and I wouldn't put it past him to have Mr. Prandle killed just for the object lesson.

"So hopefully he hasn't seen the notification yet and Justice will get to him before he does or at least before he can do anything even dumber than he already has."

-------

The rest of the family was waiting for them at the coach stop when it pulled in.

"Thank God, you're back!" Melody jumped into his arms and then released him to hug her sister. "It's him," she hissed. "We just got into town hoping you would be able to make this coach when we were told he was down on the square telling everybody that you were just another witch stirring up trouble and lying about him to the Imperials."

"Well, he's too late," Margret said proudly. "I told them and they believed me. They will be coming for him soon enough."

"Yeah, well, the Shire-rief is over there trying to settle everything down but I don't know how effective he's going to be about it," her sister replied.

"Or how effective he wants to be," Marlin added grimly. "I think we ought to ease on out of here as quickly as we can."

"Too late," Malinda gasped. "They're coming this way!" She was right; a whole crowd was moving down the street towards them with a rather large angry looking fellow in their lead.

"So it is," Marlin hummed. "I want all of you up against the wall over there. Yes, that should be close enough and still give you some protection. I'm going to stand out here and stop them."

"You can't, Marlin, they'll tear you apart!" Teresa sobbed.

"Oh, I think I'll be okay. Especially if you're close enough to me," he winked at her. "I have another rather minor Talent that I haven't told you about that has kept me safe in the past."

"What is it?" Melody demanded.

"It's probably easier to show you rather than try to explain it to you. Now get up there!" he said forcefully. They reluctantly did as he told them when he noticed a sapling growing up at the corner of the building. It was about as thick as his middle finger and using his pocket knife he quickly cut it off, then stripping the few branches and leaves it had. Swinging it around he nodded with satisfaction at the sizzle sound it made whipping through the air. Calmly he folded and put his pocket knife away and stood on the street waiting for the crowd. He didn't have to wait for long.

"You there!" large, blonde, angry man in the lead shouted when the crowd was about thirty feet away. "We've come for the witches and not you!"

"Seeing that at good portion of those witches you want are going to be my wives and the others are their family I don't think I'm going to do that," Marlin announced loudly. "And unless you want the Imperial Justice gallows to work overtime for the next week or so I'd suggest the rest of you turn around and go back to what you were doing before this nonsense started." The crowd shifted nervously and stopped moving forward.

"I doubt the empire is going to care if one little census-taker gets a bit roughed up," the big man chuckled.

"You must be Prandle," Marlin nodded. "Well, as it happens you're wrong. True, they treat us like shit and pay us less than a slave but even if I was a census-taker they still would get more than a little irate if one of their servants was hurt or killed."

"Did you hear that?" Prandle bellowed. "He said even if he was a Census taker. He's not even from the empire!"

"Oh, but I am," Marlin stated loud enough for everybody to hear. "Just not from the Census. A minor deception I will admit, but one I thought necessary at the time. Actually I'm a Scout for the Imperial Talent Agency." He held his badge of office up so the all of them could see the sun glinting off its distinctive crest. There were mutterings of "Witch! Witch!" throughout the crowd.

"And for all its faults I will tell you the Talent Agency does get rather perturbed when one of its scouts gets accosted."

"I'm not afraid of you, freak!" Prandle screamed.

"Well of course not," Marlin grinned. "After all how many times can they hang a man? Margret Hawking has already given her statement to the Justice Investigating Team, in front of a rather powerful truth-teller, I might add, about your raping her eight years ago and they believed every word she told them. In fact they are looking for you even as we speak, Prandle. I'll bet that after two questions they'll have the cuffs on you and it'll be back to the capital for a nice quick trial and a lovely hanging directly afterwards."

"I'm not waiting for a bunch of witches to railroad me! I'm going to kill you and then I'm going to kill that lying bitch!" he screamed, pulled out a large knife and dove at Marlin. Marlin stood there placidly as his women shrieked behind him until at the last possible second he seemed to melt to one side and Prandle stumbled through the spot Marlin had been standing. The sapling swished around and landed on his back with a loud POP!

"Oh, did I forget to mention that I have another minor gift?" Marlin teased the furious man. "In addition to being able to identify Talent in someone, it is impossible to touch me unless I want to be touched." Again Prandle launched himself at the Talent Scout and just as it appeared the knife was going to spit him Marlin again melted away again with the knife only brushing his shirt. This time the sapling landed solidly on Prandle's wrist. The knife dropped to the road as did Prandle bellowing in pain.

"Witch, witch, which way is the witch going to go this time?" Marlin taunted moving his hips back and forth. Again came the charge with the same expected results.

"I can do this all day," Marlin said waving the sapling around in the air. "Come, come. Surely if you are telling the truth then the investigators will let you go free. Of course if you are lying then it's swing, swing, swing by the neck until dead, dead, dead. I'll bet a few of your fellow townspeople here are starting to wonder why you don't just answer the questions. Maybe a few of them are also wondering if Margret was the only little girl you raped. And what exactly did happen to Tom Hawking?

"Questions, questions, so many questions," Marlin shook his head. "It's the answers that are going to be interesting." Prandle stared up at him, eyes wide and feral; chest heaving with labored breath. Staggering up, Prandle charged once more but this time Marlin didn't jump out of the way. Smashing the sapling down so hard on the knife-bearing hand the small tree splintered as the knife dropped to the ground. Starting from his waist Marlin cocked his fist and drove it up as hard as he could under the chin of the screaming man. The blow stood Prandle up straight and from there he slowly toppled over backwards to crash onto the dusty road.

"Ouch! Oh, shit, that hurts!" Marlin whined shaking his hand as he was soon surrounded by four women and a girl congratulating, consoling and berating him all at the same time. Just then a smaller, black coach with the Imperial Justice emblem on the side drove up and six heavily armed marshals spilled out, their military style automatic weapons pointed at the crowd.

"Oh, goody. We are saved. The cavalry has arrived," Marlin mumbled sarcastically.

"Halt where you are!" one of the marshals bellowed as the crowd took a couple of steps back. "Move and die!" The investigation team exited more slowly and Marlin used his head to motion Teresa back and away from them.

"This is Prandle, I assume," the lead investigator asked as they came up to Marlin.

"Yes, sir," he replied. "He was thinking of doing away with the witness before you could get here."

"Idiot!" he scoffed. "Well, good job. Cranson, wasn't it?"

"I didn't really do anything, sir," Marlin protested lightly. "I just slowed him down. I think he must have hit something with his head while doing it." The truth-teller frowned and then gave him a slight smile and a shake of his head.

"Well be that as it may," the investigator snorted. "We'll wake him up and get to the bottom of this quick enough." One of the marshals was bending over slapping Prandle's face none too gently. "We'll take it from here, Cranson."

"Yes, sir," Marlin nodded and gathering up his flock moved away. They were passing part of the crowd when he noticed them moving back away from his group. He stopped short causing one woman to bump into his back and the two hanging on his arms to be yanked backwards. "Wait a minute," he told them. Marching over he stood in front of the crowd with his hands on his hips glaring at them.

"You rustic, inbred, moronic bumpkins," he shouted. "So you're afraid of witches, are you? Are you also afraid of the little people or the monster under your bed?

"You idiots!" he continued. "Almost every one of you has some amount of Talent! "You do!" he pointed to a woman. "You too! And so do you back there hiding! And you..." he was now pointing to a shaking man. "Actually you don't, which is not normal for around here. But God Almighty, people, let's not try to prove to these city folk that you really are pig-brained dimwits they all believe you to be! You want to kill a witch? Then go home and hang yourself!

"You've harassed and persecuted these poor Hawking women because you were afraid of what they might be able to do when you have the same damn gifts!" he roared. "They are the sweetest, kindest, most considerate family I have ever known and I'm proud they would even consider letting me join them! They are the most beautiful, intelligent, sexy..."

"That's enough, my man," Teresa pulled on one arm while Melody tugged on the other and Malinda pushed from behind.

"But I was going to tell them..." Marlin protested as they moved him along.

"Ah shoot, Trish, he was just getting to the good parts," somebody shouted from somewhere in the crowd.

"Well, you just never mind about those 'good parts'," Teresa smiled primly while blushing. "I'm afraid Marlin has got himself a bit riled up and it's time to get home to unwind him."

"Make sure you don't unwind him to a little frazzle there, girls!" somebody else yelled and most of the crowd laughed. The women ignored their well-wishers as they dragged their sputtering captive down the road heading for home.

"I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of people making their apologies come the times we find ourselves in town," Teresa smiled with satisfaction.

"Kind of hard for them to stick their noses up in the air if they know there's a damn good chance they may have a bit of the witchy gift," Melody smirked.

"If they don't we'll just set Marvelous Marlin, the bawdy brawler of Pigsford on them again," Malinda laughed.

"So all those times I smacked you in the head it was because you let me?" Melody poked him in the side.

"I have to want not to be touched for it to work," he grinned back at her.

Margret sort of oozed her way and to his side taking Marlin's hand tentatively. "Marlin, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Don't mind at all; go ahead," he replied and three other sets of eyes watched them surreptitiously.

"Do all of you mind?" she asked annoyed. "I'd like to ask him privately."

"Why?" Malinda replied with a question. "We'll just find out about it later."

"Fine, have it your way," Margret huffed. "Marlin, you said once you found me attractive?"

"Yep. You are a Hawking girl so that pretty much is a given," he nodded.

"I feel ... better now. Not a whole lot better but better," she added quickly. "But ... and I'd never thought I'd say this, but maybe there will be a day when I'll want to be with a man..."

"You have a long and difficult path ahead of you, Margret," he said gently squeezing her hand. "It's best if you take it without any expectations. I truly hope that someday you find that one special person that lights up your world, whether it's a man or a woman.

"It may be me or it may be someone else entirely," he continued. "But you have to remember something; I don't make those kinds of decisions alone anymore. I'm not marrying your sisters and mother individually, I'm marrying all of them. Any changes in family structure would have to be fully accepted by each and every one of them. We are not just a group of individuals, we are a whole made up of separate parts."

"And the whole is greater than the sum of its parts," Teresa said from under his other arm.

"Yes we are, my little catalyst," he chucked. "We are synergy."

Epilogue

"Papa! Papa! There's mail for you!"

"Is there now, sweetie?" Marlin Cranson laughed at the thirteen-year-old sprite running up to the porch where he was sitting. She had red flowing hair like her mother and he just knew there was going to be plenty of boy trouble around the house in the next few years.

"It's one of those big envelopes from the Empire!" she bounced in place.

"Well, let me have it and see what kind of trouble I'm in now," he laughed. His daughter gave it to him and hovered around like a pesky fly as he slowly, very slowly opened it.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" she goaded him until he finally had it opened and had pulled the one piece of stationary from it. He stared at it almost in shock.

"So soon?" he muttered. Giving his daughter a wink he opened the front door and took a step into the house proper.

"Women of the house, attend me!" he yelled as loudly as he could.

"What does that big blowhard want now? Melody groused as she waddled into the living room. She was only a week away from delivering their fourth and she swore it was going to be her last. Of course she had said the same three times before so it was anybody's guess what the future would really bring.

"Beats me," Malinda shrugged chasing the toddler running gleefully in front of her. Two more of hers were either doing school work, chores or just running wild as did most of the rest of their brood. "But when the man of the house calls..."

"What is it, dear?" Trish strolled out of the kitchen with Margret beside her. Margret was buttoning up her shirt since she had been feeding their youngest. Maggie's oldest with Marlin was four now. It had been a long and difficult path for her to take but surprising nobody except maybe Marlin she had added her wedding vows to her sisters and mother's after seven years.

Marlin's eyes rested on Teresa. At fifty two her birthing days had ended with an additional three, Thomas being her last. She was a little thicker in the middle and there were a few streaks of gray in the forest fire of red but a flash of a leg and the twinkle of her eye still enflamed him like it always had.

"Women of the house!" he announced pompously. "I am now officially unemployed!"

"Unemployed?" Melody frowned. "When the hell did you ever do any work? Oh! Oh! You mean... ?" she gasped suddenly realizing what work he meant.

"Yep, this is my official discharge from the Imperial Talent Agency!" he waved it proudly.

"Really? So soon?" Teresa ran over and gave him a hug.

"I know, kind of caught me by surprise too," he laughed. "I suppose I haven't been tracking it like I used to what with everything that's been going on around here."

"Tess is going to be thrilled," Trish added happily. "Where is she anyway?"

"Out with that Robinson boy," Maggie replied with a frown.

"Oh, my," Marlin laughed. "Can't have a twenty-year-old running around loose, now can we? Heaven only knows what kind of trouble she might get into."

"You should know," Maggie came over and poked him in the side. "You taught her everything she knows."

"I did leave a few things for her to discover on her own," he winked at his wife. "Besides if anyone can look into a man's soul and divine what he's really like it would be Tess." Maggie muttered her reluctant agreement.

"So you're really out?" Trish rubbed her face on his chest.

"Yep. I don't know how we're going to live without my salary," he sighed.

"Oh no! There goes the chicken feed. Whatever shall we do?" Malinda wailed dramatically and then burst out laughing.

"Whatever will you do to fill up that extra time?" Melody teased.

"I'll guess I'll become a gentleman farmer and chase my wives around the house all day," he beamed.

"I'll be thanking you to keep your hands and other body parts to yourself," Melody huffed. "Chase Mama. She's safe and I've noticed she doesn't run all that fast or maybe one of these other two slackers. They still need to do some catching up."

"Yeah, we'll see what tune you'll be playing in about three months," Malinda nudged her sister. "You could just take the pills, you know."

"Yeah, well, I'll think about it," Melody mumbled and everybody laughed.

"Well it doesn't really matter," Marlin chuckled. "No more worries about being moved anywhere else; no more worries about someone running when they catch sight of me and no more hiding from the Agency truth-tellers! I guess we're here to stay and as long as we're together that's good enough for me. Our whole is still greater than the sum of our parts," he said taking the baby from Maggie and giving him a cuddle, "and what more could a man ask for?"

Edited by Morgan


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The End
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Posted:  2011-06-15
Last Modified: 2011-06-18 / 09:45:51 am
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