Erin's Life ~ Book 2

Chapter 35 ~ Mf, f, ff, Fffff, lactation

In a small office in the administrative building at the State College of Nebraska, a web developer had an overflowing inbox.  The new term was about to start and it seemed like every department wanted updates made to their sites in addition to the regular class and student roster updates.  She took a moment to sit back and look at the inches-thick list of new students... she hated that admissions wouldn't just sent this fucking file electronically.  Why the fuck did I decide to move to fucking Nebraska, this shit isn't worth $38k a year. I've quit better jobs than this.  She drained her cup of coffee and went for more.  She'd start the student roster tomorrow, or even better, on Monday.  

A few pages deep into the roster was the name Erin Jennifer Banks, who just so happened to be the youngest of all the incoming freshman.  A member of the college Board of Directors just happened to be a friend of the compound and made an exception for her age.

++++

Mary never spent any of her money as it accumulated, so she thought it was neat that she could charter a private jet just to fly around the country picking up her friends, and then rent a helicopter to bring them from the airport to the ranch, and still have more money than she had a month ago.  Sam just shook her head and smiled that Mary had no concept that she was making over $40k a month in investment income that she didn't even care about... so the private plane was a reasonable extravagance for her.

Laura gave it six weeks after she had her baby.... and even then her father had to force her to leave on her vacation.  She just didn't want to leave her new son, she was a very doting mother.  "Sweetheart, you are running yourself ragged.  Aaron is fine, he is just starting to sleep though the night, go and relax for a week, he and I will enjoy some man-time together.  Go and relax for a week so you're refreshed for the new school semester to start."

Laura couldn't quite laugh at his joke.... and when he mentioned school she turned away from him, couldn't look him in the eye.  She left him a long list of things to do for the baby every day, and he just smiled and promised to follow the instructions to the letter... though, of course, fatherhood wasn't new to him.  He'd already been through this once with his first child, the one who'd just given birth to his second.  But, he agreed to everything to make Laura happy... since she'd given him a child it just reinforced his love for her.  He knew he would always do anything to make Laura smile.

The jet had left from Florida so by the time Mike drove her to the airport, all of Laura's friends were already there and came off the plane to briefly meet the new baby.  He stepped back trying to be inconspicuous as the former girls of The Circle gathered around Laura and the baby... the last he'd seen them was in Erin's hospital room when she came out of the coma, and before that... was when he'd had sex with them all, at various times.  No, not all.  That girl must be Ashley. 

He was doing his best to be invisible, but then Lucy and Nora walked over to him.  His heart suddenly sank into his stomach, he instinctively looked to Laura for help but she didn't notice what was happening as Ashley held Aaron.

Mike tried to look them in the eyes but couldn't, he only lamely said to the pavement, "Hi, how was your flight?"

Lucy answered, "Laura tells us you really regret what you did to us.  Do you?"

If anything, his heart beat faster.  He forced himself to look at them, "I do, and I know this is stupid, but if there is ever anything I can do to make it up to you, don't hesitate to tell me."

There was a long silence, Lucy and Nora just staring at him.  Finally Nora broke the moment, "Laura was always different from us.  She never needed her collar.  She was with you... and us.... because she didn't want The Circle to hurt you, you understand that, right?"  Her tone suggested he'd better answer this correctly.... but of course he knew this.

"I do understand it.  And... for what it's worth.... I know I never deserved your... mercy.  I would never hold it against any of you if you decided to turn me in.  God knows I deserve it."

Lucy and Nora looked at each other, sharing their thoughts.  Then they turned back to him, "Laura is happy.  She is always happy when we talk to her, and since she had the baby... even though she always looks so tired... she is even happier.  She always wants to talk only about him, and it's so adorable.  The other night we watched her fall asleep while breastfeeding," and the girls smiled at each other.  "We guess her happiness is because of you."  The girls looked at each other one more time, and Nora gave Lucy a small nod.  "As for you... we've been working on cutting loose the negativity in our lives, our friend Linda says we should do that.  That includes any angry feelings for you.  We just want you to know..." again the girls shared a quick glance... "We forgive you.  We understand why you did what you did, and we survived, and we found each other, and you keep our friend happy.  So we forgive you.  We just wanted to say that."  

Doctor Mike Turner didn't know what to say.... he was a little sleep deprived too... newborns do that to you... and he was a little frazzled with the baby and making sure Laura took her vacation... she really needed this time to herself, with her friends, no matter what she thought or said otherwise.  But now this, this unexpected forgiveness.  He felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"Lucy... Nora... thank you.  This means a lot to me.  I... never expected this.  Just... thank you."  A tear rolled down his other cheek and he couldn't stifle a small sob.  He felt an urge to hug them, but knew that would be nowhere near appropriate.  He was shocked when Lucy and Nora hugged him themselves.  They held him tight, and Nora whispered in his ear, "But if you ever hurt Laura, you know we'll literally kill you, right?"  And she kissed his cheek before she pulled away.

"She's serious," Lucy smiled as she pulled away from the hug.  "And no jury will ever convict us."  

Mike Turner had never seen Lucy's dimples... he suddenly realized it was because he'd never seen her smile.  That sad thought conflicted with the elation of the forgiveness and the hug... he never realized how much he craved forgiveness until they gave it to him.  He smiled, touching his cheek where Nora's lips had again touched his skin.

Lucy and Nora walked back toward the jet, and Laura, again holding her son and looking at them incredulously with wide eyes.  "Did you..." she said looking between them.  "Did you just kiss and hug my dad?"

Lucy smiled, "Yeah, we forgave him."

Nora deadpanned, "But I also threatened to kill him, so it evens out.  Hey, let's go!  I want to see Mary!"  Nora gave that adorable little red headed baby one last kiss on his forehead, and climbed back up into the plane.  

Lucy did the same, "Tell him you'll see him in a week and let's go," Lucy whispered, kissing Laura's cheek, and then followed Nora, and Ashley followed her. 

As the other girls got on the plane Mike walked over to his daughter.  He tried to take his son but Laura wouldn't let go.  "They really forgave you?" she asked him, holding her baby tight, just for a few more minutes.

Mike smiled, he couldn't help it.  "They did."  He looked at his daughter.  "Sweetheart... I am so in love with you.  I will feel your absence every moment you were gone.  But go... have fun, see Mary, get some sleep, ride a horse.  And if you think she wants to hear it... tell her I am sorry, and I am so proud of her.  But... only if you think you can find a good time to apologize for me.  If not, that's fine."

"Daddy... it's always a good time to apologize."  Laura took a deep breath, and finally handed her son to her father.  "Goodbye my baby boy... mommy loves you.  I'll see you soon."

"Text me when you get there so I know.  But no skyping... this is your week off.  You can call once a day but only for 10 minutes."

Laura looked at him evenly as if to say I will do what I wish and you know it.

Mike smiled at her, and gave her a sound kiss.  He took his son.  He took Aaron's little arm and made him wave at her, and in a little baby voice said, "Bye mommy... daddy says he's going to teach me how to smoke cigars while you're gone."

Laura tried to be sad but couldn't help it, she laughed, and turned to climb up into the plane.

++++

The people flying commercial that day, sitting on the tarmac waiting for clearance, watched the ladies leave the private jet and proceed immediately into a nearby helicopter.  The murmurings on the plane were to wonder if a bunch of models were heading to a photo shoot, or something.

++++

Junior had staked a big, white "H" a bit away from the yard and barns so the dust kicked up by the helicopter wouldn't send a choking cloud through the stables.  He learned that lesson when the telecom helicopter landed that day.

In spite of the cell service he kept the radio anyway, just for convenience, so he was able to communicate with them and knew when they were 10 minutes out.  Sam smirked at Mary as she was so nervous, she hadn't seen her friends in person in so long.

It hadn't happened right away once Mary was a regular Skype user, when they finally got internet... and the other girls didn't push her at all... but one night the conversation had turned to sex.  Lucy suggested that Mary may not want to talk about it... she had been the most traumatized about her life in The Circle... and Mary was, in fact, still a little shy.  She loved being intimate with her Sam, Sam had reconnected her to that part of her femininity.  But she said, "No... no... it's ok... we can talk about that if you want."  She glanced at Sam who had been in bed next to her.  This was back before they shared a bed, they were just dressed in their comfy jammies and hanging out before they went to sleep.  

Sam was looking back at her... Sam was too shy to go on Skype with her, but liked listening to Mary talk to her friends.  Sam nodded and gave her a small smile... her blessing.

Mary smiled back at her... the smile she always had for Sam, and turned back to the camera.  "I actually like sex now," she said softly... and then she and her friends all laughed as Mary turned red.  She looked again at Sam, who was also laughing with her.

They had a long talk together that night, Mary and Sam talking on Skype to Lucy, Nora, and Laura.  For the first time they spoke with Mary about their shared experiences, Mary sharing that the intimate moments with them were the only happiness she'd ever known, the others agreeing that the only good thing that came out of The Circle was their relationships with each other, and they were all so happy that Mary had found happiness.  There were tears and laughter and Sam learned a lot about the girl she loved, that night.  Mary didn't often speak of her past.  It made Sam love her more, that was the night she secretly decided she wanted to spend the rest of her life getting to know Mary better.

That night was about healing.  The next time they all got online together was about cautiously exploring boundaries... the girls had often masturbated together, either alone or with her significant other, sharing the experience with the group.  They only talked about it that night... but Mary... didn't think she would mind... she had memories of all of them in passionate embraces with her that were so clear.  Sam took her hand... Sam knew what the other girls were hinting at before Mary did, and by now knew that these girls may have been the only reason her Mary survived.  It made Sam almost love them, as well.  They had Mary's heart before Sam did, and Sam did not begrudge them that because she knew she had Mary's love now... she felt warm and safe wrapped up in it... she was not insecure about Mary sharing herself with her friends, again.  She told Mary as much that weekend when they camped out at the spring.

The next time they all got online together... Lucy staying with Ashley, Nora online alone, Laura with her Daddy in the bed behind her.... and Mary, in a t-shirt and panties, her Sam in the  sleeping bag next to her.  They'd taken their laptop with them out to the spring and the other girls were amazed when Mary would rotate the camera... there was a fire... and horses.. and a moon reflecting on a river.  It was one of those moments when Mary realized how great her life was, hearing her friends marvel at what she had.... nothing more than a private spot out in the desert.  The talk got low, and intimate, talking about how they felt about each other, the couples beginning to touch, Nora smiling as the buzzing of her toy started, and then was muffled as it slid between her thighs and then up inside of her body.  Mary felt warm... but she had a hard time taking that next step.... when suddenly Sam, behind her, pulled her t-shirt off over her head.  Mary held her arms up to let her.

Mary looked at herself in the little window, the image she was showing her friends.  She saw firelight dancing across her bare breasts, she saw her own brown nipples were erect.  She wasn't sure what she was feeling.

Lucy was the first to speak.  "Oh god Mary, I remember sucking your nipples... I always loved doing that for you," as Ashley softly rubbed her clit.

At this point, in the little window, Mary saw Sam's arms appear at her sides, reach around, and hold her breasts.  She inhaled sharply at the sensation, feeling so exposed... yet so safe being watched by her friends.  She looked at the other windows of her friends.  They were all looking at her with love... and more.  She saw a head full of short hair between Laura's spread legs, she was sighing, running her fingers though his hair as he licked her, but she kept looking straight at Mary.  Mary looked at Lucy... she saw the same thing, a head of long, dark hair at the bottom of the screen going down on her.  Lucy was holding Ashley's head, but looking into Mary's soul.  She looked to Nora, alone, arm moving, disappearing under her covers, moaning softly as she fucked herself, never looking away from Mary.  Mary looked again to her own window, Sam now behind her, kissing her neck, and she saw as she felt Sam's hand slide down her tummy and into her panties, finding her already wet as Mary spread her legs.  Almost as if it was planned, the Circle girls had this moment of pleasure together, only Erin missing... their partners pleasuring them, or pleasuring themselves, .... finally free to share love and pleasure with each other as well as they could being scattered across the country.

"Oh god I love all of you so much," Mary moaned as Sam slid her middle finger into her vagina and sucked on her neck from behind.

All of them spoke through the pleasure at the same time... returning Mary's love, watching her, listening to Mary approach her orgasm... they all realized they'd never seen Mary cum before.  They all stopped to watch as she did, as Sam's knowledgeable fingers touched her lover just right, Mary cried out, leaning back against Sam, thrusting her hips up and against Sam's fingers, crying out her orgasm.

Mary finally rode it out, Sam holding her so tight.  The others watched Mary's beautiful breasts heave as her breathing calmed.  Mary looked to her left... smiled.  The girls saw her reach out to the camera, she unclipped it from the laptop lid and turned it, the girls saw horses looking back at them.  The camera then turned back to Mary, she said to them, "The horses always watch us when we make love..."

And they all laughed together.

They all shared orgasms with each other, Mary a little fascinated to see Laura's father spooned up behind her, cumming in her, seeing his balls tighten up as he filled her with cum.  She remembered him, remembered sucking and fucking him, but didn't begrudge Laura her happiness.  Mike Turner... "Whatever," as he was known in The Circle... had always licked her wet first and never made it hurt.  Mary had appreciated that.  Besides Officer, Laura's Dad had always been the nicest.

Their laptop battery only lasted a couple hours with the video and the cell connection, just barely long enough for all of them to cum together a couple times, and then Mary had to tell them goodnight.

After, when she had eaten Sam to four orgasms, Sam trying to crabwalk away to get her clit away from Mary's tongue, they held each other in the firelight.  "Thank you for tonight, for sharing that with me," Sam told her.

Mary held her tighter.  "Thank you for helping me let go of myself enough to do it.  It feels like..."  she collected her thoughts, these feelings were so strange.  "It almost feels like I am rewriting some memories that aren't great.  I am thinking of the good times more.  My days with the girls.  It's so strange."

Sam held her so tight.  "If you're happy, I'm happy."

"I love you so much Sam," Mary said to her, and they made love in the firelight one more time.  Their horses watched.

++++

But now here they were, Mary watched them land, standing too close, holding her hat on her head as the helicopter made a breezy day windy.  The ranch hands of course stopped to watch it land, but generally stayed at work, only Junior and Martha, Mary and Sam waiting to meet them.  Mary had told everyone at supper one night about the guests they had visiting, Junior sure to remind them to make sure none of their guests wandered anywhere dangerous.

Mary pulled her hat down a little to shade her eyes, the aircraft was coming out of the west, and it was past mid-day.  Sam took her hand, on the porch, and turned to her.  "You're vibrating, calm down before you explode."

"They're almost here!" Mary turned to her, smiling.  "I can't wait for them to meet you!"

"Well just don't pee your pants," Sam teased, and Mary punched her arm playfully.

The helicopter arrived, circled, and landed directly on Junior's big H.  Dust was everywhere but Mary could hear the engines winding down, Sam had to squeeze her hand to keep her from running out there.  Finally the blades stopped and the light breeze had the dust blown away, and the door opened.  Sam couldn't hold Mary back at that point.

A man in a flight suit exited first, and put down a stairway.

Lucy was the first down the ladder, she saw some cowgirl running at her and wondered where Mary was.  The cowgirl stopped in front of her, Lucy looked closer.  "Oh my god... Mary?"

Mary just stood looking at her, a smile splitting her face.

"Oh my god, you're so tall!" Lucy exclaimed, and Mary laughed and hugged Lucy fiercely.

"I am so happy you're here," Mary said into her ear, she knew she was starting to cry.  "I missed you so much."

"Me too," Lucy answered, she knew she was starting to cry, too.

By now the others were filing out, and they all wanted at Mary.  Nora as shocked as Lucy had been... and she'd seen Mary as recently as when she left the hospital.  For Mary and Laura it was a long hug, Laura had gone to Utah with her father and never had a chance to visit with Mary after she had started speaking.  Mary and Laura enjoyed talking together over Skype, but now, as they finally held each other, they were able to establish a tenuous bond that built on their shared past in The Circle.

Junior, Martha, and Sam gave them some time together, but once the bags were unloaded Junior could tell the helicopter crew was anxious to be off but didn't want to interrupt their clients and whatever reunion was happening here.  Everyone was talking at once as they approached the ladies, Mary was being introduced to Ashley who blushed as they shook hands, silently thinking how silly that was considering they'd had sex in front of each other on Skype... so they laughed and blushed and hugged.

"Welcome ladies," Junior said to the group, and five smiling young women turned to him.  "We almost forgot you were coming today, Mary hasn't mentioned it at all lately."

They picked up on his sense of humor immediately, and laughed.

"Don't mind my dad," Mary said.  "He thinks he's pretty funny," but looked at him with a sparkle in her eye, eliciting a wink from him.  Mary walked over to Sam, putting her arm around her waist.  "Everybody.... this is my Sam."  Before she could say, "Sam, this is everybody," Sam was suddenly mobbed by them all.... they all wanted to make the acquaintance of the woman who had made Mary so happy.  Sam was too swamped to blush, she had been thinking, You all look taller with your clothes on, but got caught up in the attention and immediate affection from these beautiful girls who had come for Mary.  That they were all so immediately familiar with her was a little jarring, hugging her, standing close, just touching her arm, her hip, with their fingertips.  Sam was a little overwhelmed, but in a good way.

"Ladies, welcome, I'm Martha since my daughter forgot her manners," she said, giving Mary an insincere glare.  

"Sorry mom!" Mary answered, smiling.

"If you'd like to come to the house you can freshen up," Martha continued.  "My husband would be happy to bring your bags in."

Lucy walked over to Martha, and hugged her.  "Thank you for taking care of her," she whispered.  "I was so worried when she left."

Martha held Lucy back.  "Mary is a blessing.  Thank you for being there for her when she needed you."

Lucy pulled back, she and Martha holding each others arms.  Lucy nodded and smiled, tears again in her eyes.

Nora was next, hugging Martha, thanking her, while Lucy moved on to Junior and repeating the gesture.  Lucy wanted it to feel comfortable, but Junior was the first man she had touched since her grandfather had killed himself.... and she felt it.  She was a little surprised at how odd it felt.  But Junior was a good man, Mary finally had a father, and Lucy thanked him as sincerely as she had thanked Martha.  That they were good people was what Mary had needed... but that she herself could be at ease about Mary had been good for Lucy's well being too, allowing her to live her own life, find her own happiness.  Lucy suddenly understood all of that, here at the ranch, actually in their presence.  When she stepped back, Laura now hugging Martha, Nora hugging Junior, she saw it, she saw Mary standing nearby, smirking as her friends gave their love to her parents, and she saw the family Mary had found, two loving parents, and a loving wife as her hand found Sam's beside her, without looking, just feeling her presence and reaching out, lovingly accepted.

Just being here was enough to make Lucy feel a contentment she wasn't sure she'd ever felt before.

Ashley didn't have the emotional history to bring to the greetings, but she smiled and thanked Martha and Junior for allowing her to visit, and Lucy smiled as Martha put her arm around the waist of her girlfriend, the former stripper, the one wearing heels and a tight black skirt and black lace top, dressed so inappropriately for the desert, and treated her like an old, dear friend.

Lucy went to Nora and Laura, and they all found Mary.  "Let me show you the house... and my room.  Then we'll see the horses... maybe there's time to go riding before supper!" She was all smiles, Mary had never entertained, before.

"Ladies," Martha said as they walked through the house, "Our home is yours, the kitchen is open.  Let me show you your bedrooms."  They walked past the kitchen, down the hallway.  "We have two open bedrooms... Mary mentioned you wouldn't mind sharing beds?"  Martha kept a straight face, but Mary suspected her mom may have her suspicions... and she blushed a little.

All the ladies tried to make it sound casual, but Martha was met by a single blurted... "That's fine... Yes I can do that... Yes, that will be ok."  Mary wasn't sure she'd ever seen that particular look on her mother's face, before... not mean enough to be called sardonic, and not quite sarcastic... maybe just slightly amused.  How much does Mom know?

"This is me and Sam's room!" Mary said as they came to that door, and they went inside.  

Lucy saw it immediately... the doll she had given Mary the day she left Florida, on her bed, leaning up against the pillows.

Mary looked at the faces of her friends, saw Lucy looking intently at something, followed her gaze.  Oh.

"She helped me find my happy times," she said to Lucy softly.

Lucy turned to Mary and smiled, "I can tell...." and again they shared a hug.  "I'll explain later," Lucy said to the rest with a small laugh who were looking at them in confusion from over Mary's shoulder.

In the end Nora and Laura shared the bedroom that shared the bathroom with Mary and Sam, and Lucy and Ashley took the bedroom next door.  The beds were queens, there was plenty of room, and none of them were averse to cuddling, anyway.

After their bags were in the correct places Mary immediately dragged her friends out to the stables, to meet her horses.  None of the newcomers had ever ridden before, but Mary's enthusiasm had them all excited for the chance.  Ashley was so excited she didn't even seem to mind she was traipsing through a working horse stable in high heels.

And then there was Jimmy, being charming and teasing Mary in front of her friends.  "Oh my, my stables are suddenly filled with angels straight from heaven.  Mary, how did a plain girl like you manage to find such gorgeous friends?"

Mary responded, "That's Jimmy, my brother in law.  Ignore him.... he'll just talk your ear off anyway," and she gave him a smirk.

Sam caught her brother making eyes at Nora, who was raising her eyebrow back at him.

Lucy noticed too, knew that look on Nora.  Nora was considering him.  "Oh boy," Lucy sighed to herself.  "Hey Jimmy, are you married?"

"No maam.... but is that a proposal?" he said, turning to her and grinning.  Nora then caught Lucy's eye, her eyebrow still raised, but now with a smirk on her face.  Nora knew what Lucy's question implied.  

All of the girls were slightly interested by Jimmy's Texas drawl... Mary noticed he was really turning his accent on thick, too.

"Hey Jimmy, tell them about the day you had the flu and tried riding out for some strays anyway and crapped in your pants."

Without missing a beat he turned to her, "Only if you tell them how one day I made you laugh so hard you peed your pants."

Mary had a look of shock on her face, but the entire group was suddenly laughing, including Jimmy, and Mary knew this was all just hopeless.  She laughed with them... it actually had been pretty funny, that day.

They were all hanging out in the horses, down near Cindy, Satan, and Libby's stalls, when finally she heard her mother calling her for dinner.  It must not have been the first time she called because she finally heard "Mary Elizabeth Taylor.... SUPPER!"  Mary had decided that as much as she loved her parents, Donners was still his name and she had officially/unofficially taken Sam's last name when the committed themselves to each other out in the spring.  Junior and Martha understood completely.  Sam still smiled when she heard Mary answered to it.

"Coming Mom!" she shouted back.  She turned to them all, "Come on, Mom's a great cook," smiling.

The ranch hands had other plans that night so Mary could visit with her guests.  Some went to town for the weekend, some were in the bunkhouse cooking for themselves tonight and watching Netflix or chatting with far away friends or whatever other diversions had become available when the cell tower was finished.

"Laura, I understand you had a baby recently," Martha said to Laura.

"Yes Mrs. Donners," Laura answered, smiling wistfully.  "This is my first time away from him and I'm doing my best to not freak out over it."

"Please, call me Martha," she smiled.  "Mary showed me pictures, he has your hair and eyes.  He's adorable."

"Thank you," Laura smiled... and the other girls rolled their eyes lovingly as Laura started off yet again about her baby.  They'd heard it so much over the last several weeks, but Laura had a new audience in Martha so they knew she was in heaven.  They talked among themselves to Mary and Sam while Laura told the first-poop story again to Martha.

Mary looked to her father, sitting next to Martha, just picking at his dinner, watching everyone, listening to them, with that small smile on his face.  Mary noticed long ago that her dad loved people, loved just watching them be themselves.  It must be why everyone who lives and work here are all so good-natured, she realized.

After dinner they all pitched in to help clean up, and long after Junior and Martha had gone to bed the ladies lounged about in the family room still talking, still catching up, all of them getting to know the newcomers to the group, Ashley and Sam.  There was a lot of happy laughter.

Finally after midnight they were all yawning in spite of their desire to stay together, it had been a long day for all of them.

Lucy and Ashley said goodnight, and retired to their own room where they wanted to make love in Texas but fell asleep on each other before they even finished undressing.

Sam and Mary kissed Laura and Nora goodnight, and closed their door.

Laura and Nora smiled at each other, closed their own door, and got changed.  "Nora... I hope you don't think this is gross... but I need to pump my milk.  I wont be feeding Aaron for a week and I need to keep pumping so my flow doesn't stop."

"Why would I think it was gross?" Nora asked.

Laura was sitting in the chair at the vanity, untying her slip at her neck.  "It's just supremely weird... the first time I nursed him, it was like..." she looked off into space.  "I just can't even describe it.  But I started pumping so Daddy could give him a bottle in the night sometimes so I could sleep, and it's just weird, I feel like a cow getting milked."

"Well...." Nora considered.  "Let me see," and sat on the bed nearby.

Laura nodded and took the pump, and opened her top, exposing her fair breasts and pink, swollen nipples...

"Oh my god, the boob fairy really hit you hard.  You used to be... what... an a-cup when we were together?"

Laura smirked, "Yeah... I'm rocking the D's now, though."

Nora didn't even try to not stare... Laura's boobs were bigger then hers, now.  Neat, she thought...

Laura was having trouble.  She put the mouth of the pump over her nipple, and the thing was chugging along but not much milk was coming out.  She tried the other breast, and it was the same.  Laura was becoming a little frustrated... and the hormones, and missing her baby, Nora sensed her slowly approaching a freakout.  She got up and knelt next to her, putting her hand on Laura's arm.  "Sweetie... what is it?"

Laura dropped the pump in her lap and squeezed her eyes shut, Nora saw she was fighting back tears.  "I have to do this but I need to be relaxed when I nurse and I miss Aaron and I'm just too tense and my body is gross now and I should be home with him," and she sobbed.

Nora stood, holding Laura's head against her tummy, caressing her hair.  "Laura," Nora said seriously, "You aren't gross.  No honey... you're still fine... this will be fine.  Just because you had a baby doesn't mean you stop being your own person.... now you're Laura AND mommy.  And that is fine, and that is the way it should be."  She took Laura's chin, made her look up at her.  "We've got this.  Let's figure it out.  Tell me how to help you relax."

Laura looked away from her.  "At home when I am having a hard time nursing sometimes I lay against Daddy and he holds me and then it works."

Nora smiled at her.  "Well let's try that."

"Ok," distraught Laura answered softly.

Nora looked around, turned on the small lamp on the night stand, and turned off the overhead room lights.  The room was now dimly lit and cozier.  Nora stripped off her clothes, she knew Laura was watching.  "I'd forgotten how beautiful you are," Laura said softly.  

Nora tuned to her with a small smile, pulling up a pair of thong panties and dropping a silky half-slip over her head.  She lay on the bed, against the headboard.  "You lay against him?"

Laura nodded.

"Well come here then," Nora said.

Laura stood, padded softly to Nora.  Sat next to her.

"Come on," Nora said, holding out her arms.

Laura smiled softly, turned, Nora spread her legs for her and Laura and lay back against her friend, in bed.  It took her a few moments to find a good spot... when she lay against her daddy, there were no soft breasts against her back.  She again adjusted her top, exposing her breasts, and applied the pump... and nothing.

"Sweetie," Nora said softly into her ear.  "Just relax... you feel so tense."  Nora caressed Laura's shoulders, ran her hands down her arms.

Laura got goose bumps.

Nora took the pump from her hand, put it on the table next to them.  "Just forget that for a minute.  Just relax." Nora wrapped her arms around Laura, holding the slim, redheaded woman against her.  Nora put her hands on Laura's soft tummy, "I can't believe how fast you lost your baby weight," Nora said softly, caressing without tickling.

"I only gained 30 pounds overall, but they say breastfeeding takes off the weight fast.  And Aaron has a big appetite."

Nora then held Laura's breasts.  Laura gasped softly, looking down she saw her swollen nipples poking out from between Nora's fingers.

"You must have lost 40 pounds because I think these things gained 5 pounds each," Nora said, holding Laura, softly squeezing.

Laura closed her eyes, breathing deeply.  "They are a little tender when they are this full."

"Do you want me to stop?" Nora asked softly.

"No..." Laura whispered.  She closed her eyes as Nora touched her.

"Just relax everything," Nora said to her softly, kissing Laura's ear.  "Start with your toes... unclench.... work your way up your body, just relax everything."

Laura did as Nora told her... actively working to unclench her thighs, her stomach, her shoulders.... she hadn't even realized she was clenching until she actively thought about unclenching.  Nora was touching her so softly, running her fingers around Laura's breasts, gently sliding her hands down her rib cage, her tummy, her inner thighs.  Laura spread her legs, just a little.

"How did it feel the first time you had sex after the baby?" Nora asked softly, kissing Laura's cheek, caressing her skin with her lips, down to her shoulder.

Laura took a deep breath, she hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.  She brought her arms up and back around Nora's head, behind her, holding her close as Nora teased her ear with her lips.  "We haven't yet," Laura said softly.  "My OB/GYN said we could a week ago, but I just haven't felt.... I feel gross.  Daddy is understanding, he says he will wait until I am ready."  She whimpered as Nora's fingers again found her nipples, rubbed them.

Laura had told them all about her delivery.  It had lasted 6 hours, was vaginal, and fortunately there was no tearing.  But Nora understood how Laura could feel self conscious.  She obviously couldn't relate to her own experiences, but she had seen Laura on skype when she was huge and pregnant and couldn't imagine how she herself would feel in that condition.... even though even then she thought Laura was beautiful.  Nora was not averse to pregnancy.

"I bet he tells you you're still beautiful, doesn't he."

"Yes..."

"He tells you that you still drive him crazy."

"Yes, how do you know?"

"And your daddy tells you that he understands, and will do whatever you need until you are ready."

Laura opened her eyes, looking at Nora as well as she could, being held in her arms.  "How do you know all that?"

Nora simply told her, "Because you are beautiful, you're so sexy you're driving me crazy right now, and I know he loves you and he would be willing to do anything you need to make you happy.  Laura.... even back when I knew you had self esteem issues, I always thought you were the most beautiful of all of us.  And you know the others aint exactly ugly.  It wasn't a hard decision for me to want to have sex with you after I put on my collar and my demon came out.  I always looked forward to it when I knew I would be seeing you... being with you made me feel better about myself."

Laura was overwhelmed.  With her hormones coursing through her system she was always on the edge of being emotional even when she wasn't having her entire existence validated by a beautiful friend.  She closed her eyes, tears began to fall down her cheek, laying back against Nora, feeling like they both had too many clothes on.  She stretched against Nora's body like a cat, crying silently, feeling Nora now kissing her neck.  Laura felt Nora moving... adjusting... and suddenly Laura felt something against her breast... cold.  She opened her eyes, Nora was holding the breast pump against her.  Nora found the switch, turned it on.  Holding the pump with one hand and Laura's breast with the other, she gasped as Laura's milk started flowing easily into the container.

Not even her Daddy had milked her before.... Laura found this situation suddenly very erotic.  She watched Nora's hand holding her breast still, the other holding the pump against her nipple, saw her white milk flowing into the bottle as Nora's hand instinctively squeezed rhythmically, helping Laura's flow.  When the bottle was half full Laura whispered, "Now the other," and she watched Nora switch hands, one holding her breast still with the nipple presented, the other holding the pump.  Laura's other breast began to flow.

Laura felt hot... so wet... so... womanly... for the the first time since the baby.  She bent her legs at the knees and began touching herself lightly over her cotton panties, right where her swollen clit was, as Nora lovingly relieved her full breasts.  

The suction of the breast pump stopped automatically when the bottle was full.  Laura grabbed it and put it on the table beside them, turned in Nora's arms, and kissed her friend firmly.... quickly invading Nora's mouth with her tongue.  She ground her hips down between Nora's spread legs exactly once before Nora... taller and stronger, turned her over, putting her on her back.  

Nora looked down into her eyes, Laura suddenly felt Nora's hand between her legs, first over her panties, then Nora slid her hand inside of them.  Laura felt Nora's fingers immediately on her clit.

Nora gasped, feeling how wet Laura was, she slid her fingers down... she was curious... and slid them into Laura.  Laura was still fairly tight... she felt Laura squeeze her.  She smiled at her, Laura smiled back, "You could feel that?  I've been practicing."

Nora gave her a small kiss, "Your daddy will like it when you get home."  Nora began masturbating Laura softly... her vagina, her clit, Laura so wet Nora's fingers easily slid all over her.  Laura craned her neck up to kiss her, but Nora pulled back... and moved her head down Laura's body, kissing her chest... lower... her breasts.... homing in... Nora licked Laura's right nipple.  She looked up, Laura looking down at her nervously, "Is this ok?"  After a moment, Laura nodded silently.

Nora licked it again... and latched on.  She wasn't sure what to do... she never tried to actually drink from a breast before.... but she simply suckled.  She was rewarded... surprised... with a mouth full of warm milk. She heard Laura gasp somewhere above her, but she wanted to try that again.... again she suckled, and her mouth drew more from Laura's body.  Nora ran it over her tongue... it was actually almost sweet... and the warmth was so strange.... but she liked it.  She was feeling thirsty, so she drank from Laura.

Still playing with Laura's clit, it didn't take long for the red headed young woman to have her first orgasm.  She bucked her hips up against Nora's hand, feeling the mouth still working her nipple, the combination of sensations made her head spin and before she knew it Nora's other hand was covering her mouth, "Shhhh," Nora whispered to her softly, a smile on her face.

"Sorry, I...." Laura stammered.... "just wow."

"Right?" Nora smiled back at her, looking back down at Laura's body, catching her breath... and the breast she hadn't been suckling was leaking a little.  "Uh oh," Nora said, and leaned down licking the small stream of leaking milk back to the source.  Nora nursed from Laura's other breast.  She had drunk enough now that she could feel Laura's warm, rich milk in her tummy... and for some reason that thought instantly made her hot, she felt her pussy tingle.  She took her hand from Laura's panties... fingers still glistening from her wetness... and slid them into her own panties, mingling Laura's juices with her own.  She slid her fingers inside herself and squeezed like Laura had, she was glad she could feel it...and then found her own clit, just like she'd just done to Laura.  She moaned with the nipple in her mouth.

Laura looked down at her lover, eyes closed, kneeling next to her in bed, feeding from her, and she felt so much love for Nora right at that moment.  Just having been sexually satisfied for the first time in months she felt so relaxed, and reached down and held Nora to her breast like she was her baby, but her other arm touched Nora's body, she could see Nora touching herself.  She tried to help, but the angle was wrong... instead she squeezed Nora's hanging breasts and then put her hand on Nora's ass and held it... held her... squeezed when she felt Nora's mouth do something different on her nipple.  They communicated that way... when Nora would use her tongue for a moment, Laura would slide her hand down Nora's ass and squeeze.

When Nora found her orgasm she sucked Laura's nipple so hard that Laura had to stifle a cry.... but the pain was so sharp and erotic, she loved it and loved Nora and just felt so much better.

Nora recovered with her head on Laura's tummy, the girls looking at each other.  When she felt she could move again without shaky legs she lay up beside Laura, the red headed girl turning and spooning back against the taller girl.  Nora wrapped her arms around the new mother, her old friend, her lover, and held her.  After a moment Nora said, "You were saying something about being tense, and not feeling attractive."

Her eyes closed, Laura did her best to melt back into Nora's arms.  "I have no idea what you're talking about," she said softly.

+++

Of course, on morning one, Mary was going to teach them to ride.  They finished breakfast and went to their rooms to change into their jeans and old shoes, Martha asked, "Laura, can you stay a moment, help me finish the dishes?"

Laura smiled, "Of course," and grabbed a drying towel, going to work on the dish rack.

Martha never stopped washing plates, dipping them into the clean rinse water, and putting them in the rack.  "You seem much more at ease this morning, dear," glancing at Laura briefly.

Laura actually blushed.  "I.... yes.... Nora, she...." and she had no idea where to go with it.  "There's just something about this place, I guess."

Martha smiled at her, "There really is."  After a moment she added, "I'm glad you were able to relax, you looked so tense yesterday.  I trust the bed wasn't too small for you and Nora?"  Now Martha was just teasing.

Laura blushed even harder... and for a redhead with a fair complexion, that was saying something.  "I..."

Martha laughed, "I'm sorry, that was mean of me.  I just want you to know... it's ok, and I'm happy for you... I am glad Mary has the friends she has, and I hadn't really considered it, but I bet the same applies to all of you.  You all had each other," she said wistfully.  She leaned over and bumped Laura's shoulder softly with her own.  "Hey... why don't you call home before you start the day?  I'm sure you'd like to talk to your little boy before you head out... knowing Mary, by tonight you'll all be worn out."

Laura smiled, "I'd like that... and... thank you for letting us visit."

Martha looked at her, "My daughter's friends will always be welcome here."

Laura smiled, and she felt it.  There was so much love in this place.

Laura cried a little when she heard her baby cooing to her over the phone, her daddy answered on the first ring.  The tears were happy, though.  All was well in her world, and she didn't even need to be there in charge of things.

++++

Mary taught them to ride, taking Cindy and Libby and a couple other mares that were a little older, and gentle.  They all took to it well, even Laura, who had been worried about sitting in a saddle .  As Nora knew, Laura was more worried about her body than she needed to be.  Laura was surprised the way the saddle rubbed her clit when she sat a certain way.  Mary saw her discovering that, and smiled when their eyes met.  Laura blushed yet again.  "Wait until I teach you how to trot, you wont be able to stop it," Mary giggled to her softly when no one was listening.

Junior and Jimmy were around helping to saddle the horses, Jimmy paying an inordinate amount of attention to Nora, Junior watching Mary play instructor for the first time.  He was again proud of his daughter, she was patient and competent and all of the girls did well with her as a teacher.  He thought of the first day he met her, always astounded at the changes in her in just a couple short years.

The girls just rode around the ranch that day, never far from the buildings, and the horses didn't let any of them fall off.  They were ready for more after lunch but Mary warned them of the danger of overdoing it... they would be sore before they noticed it.  They spent the afternoon lounging in the back under the shade trees, chickens wandering here and there, and realized she was right.  As they sat their muscles tightened up a little.

That night Nora suggested privately that they could switch rooms, if someone else wanted to visit with Laura, since they hadn't all been together in so long.  Lucy volunteered, if it was ok with Ashley, and of course it was ok.  Nora went to Mary, took her hand.  "Are you ready to...." 

Mary smiled softly... looked to Sam.  Sam nodded softly, giving her blessing.  "I... I don't think I am quite ready yet... I will stay with my Sam tonight."  Mary was over her trauma... but her love for Sam was an entirely new thing.  She hadn't really thought about the fact her friends might want to reestablish intimacy with her.  She wanted to talk to Sam about it, about her feelings, first.  "Maybe tomorrow, ok?"

Nora smiled and hugged her.  "Of course it's ok."

Nora walked to Ashley, their eyes met briefly, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

+

As they were getting ready for bed, two girls at a time in the bathroom showering, brushing hair, laughing as they bumped into each other, Nora caught Lucy alone.  Softly, Nora said, "Laura is still a little self conscious about her body.  And she will need to use her breast pump tonight, and she seems fine now but she may need help relaxing.  And if you get to that point, let her nurse you.  Oh my god it is so erotic."

Lucy, sort of surprised by that quick info dump, just looked up at Nora and gave her a smile, and they shared a quick kiss. 

Nora's words planted a seed in Lucy's mind... so as soon as they all said good night to each other, and doors were closed, she just undressed Laura, put her to bed, and listened to her sigh and moan as she drank from her breasts.  Nora had been right, it really turned Lucy on.  Their intimacy with each other was reestablished well into the night.

+

Nora and Ashley, the "lingerie every day" ladies of the group, didn't need to speak much as they got ready for bed.  They both wore teddies, Ashley's white, Nora's black, and Ashley held the covers for Nora as she joined her in bed.  They'd been together before with Lucy and sometimes Erin... but never alone like this.  It was very different.  Nora and Ashley leaned in at the same time, and shared a soft kiss to cover their unexpected shyness, being alone with each other.

When they finally broke it Nora, brushing wisps of hair out of Ashley's face, "I'm glad you found us.  Lucy is naturally a happy person, but since she's been with you it is the happiest I have ever seen her."  Erin passed through each of their minds... Erin had found Ashley.  But thinking of lost Erin hurt.

"I think back on my life before you guys...." Ashley said softly, studying Nora's eyes in the dim room.  "I don't even recognize myself.  I thought I was happy, but oh my god.  I had no idea what happiness was."

It wasn't love.  Well, maybe it was.... but not the all-encompassing romantic-love... that's what Ashley felt for Lucy.  And Nora... she wasn't sure if she'd ever felt that kind of love at all.  In fact, she was sure she hadn't.  And in spite of Ashley's tongue currently licking her clit, the thought that she'd never felt real love made her a little sad.  But between Nora and Ashley there was affection, and caring, and trust, and comfort.  For them, for tonight, that was more than enough.

They kissed so deeply, sated, surrendering to the night, they had cum for each other twice before they fell asleep, the moon shining on their bodies through the window.

+

Mary and Sam held each other in the dark room.

"I know you know I am ok with it.  What made you turn down Nora?" Sam asked softly.

Mary wasn't sure, she stared into the darkness.  "I don't know.  I... " she tried to make sense of her feelings.  "You know that my memories of them are the only good parts of when I was young.  And I love them... you know how," squeezing her Sam in the dark, making sure she understood the difference between love and Love.

Of course Sam did.  "But?"

"Well, basically, you," Mary said.  "I still love you so much, and I know I always will.  If I share myself with them again... would that hurt us, or make what we have any less?  I mean, there is real affection there, real feelings.  But I don't want anything to change between you and me, not ever."

Sam held her silently, listening.  "I think I know what you mean.  You can't just say 'nothing will change' because you might totally mean it but then something does change, because it such a huge thing.  It actually means something, it isn't just a random hookup that you can forget the next day."

"Well, yeah.  Not that I've had any of those," Mary replied.

Sam tickled her for an instant, "You know what I mean," chiding.  "But listen.... you've been with them in the past."

"Yeah?"

"And back then... you were forced, more or less.... and you had that collar between you and your feelings."

"Yeah...."

"But even through both of those impossible things, you felt affection for those girls, and they obviously loved you.  You were the only good parts of each other for so long that it makes me want to scream in horror when I try to imagine what you all want through.  But listen... you have a bond with each other that I can never be a part of.  I know you do, and you know it, too.  I am not jealous of that.  You found me, and Lucy found Ashley, and Laura has her father as crazy as that is for me to think about, but she's obviously happy so I don't judge.  Nora will find someone eventually.  But even though you all found others to love, that doesn't change at all what you have with each other, your shared experience, your love.  What you went through with them made you who you are today.  I love you, and I would marry you again today and every day until I die.  But I don't begrudge you the love and affection of those girls.  I think you should be with them, if you think you want to even just a little.  As much love as you have from me, more love from them could never be wrong."

Mary had teared up about half way through Sam's long speech.  She turned in her arms and hugged her.  "I don't know how I got so lucky to ever find you, Sam."

Sam's first instinct was to reply to her I'm the lucky one, but she didn't.  Mary heard that all the time.  "They're all good on the horses and ready, who don't we ride out to the spring tomorrow.  We'll take lots of blankets and stuff, stay over night."

Mary nodded into her Sam's neck, "I'd like that."

++++

The other girls had wanted to see the place where Mary had bitten the cock off a rapist, they were duly impressed.  They were also comforted by the fact Mary and Sam now both had huge 6-shooters in their saddle bags.  After the event Junior had taught them to shoot.  "These are family heirlooms, they've been on this ranch over a hundred and fifty years.  This style of gun never jams, so let's teach you how to use them."  They practiced until Sam and Mary could both murder tin cans nine times out of ten at 20 paces.

Mary and Sam had the others help as often as they could, but mainly had them just stay out of the way as they set up camp.  Lucy was a little uneasy when Mary explained why she put a rope on the ground around where they'd be sleeping that night.

"Scorpions and tarantulas?  Seriously?" Lucy asked.

"Nah, they're fine," Mary answered casually.  "It's keeping the fire going you need to worry about, it keeps the coyotes away," and the rest of them laughed, but Sam could tell they were a little wary of that little joke, too.  Mary kissed Lucy's cheek, "Trust me, sweetie, Sam and I sleep out here almost every weekend," and Lucy gave her an uneasy smile.

When the camp was ready.... Sam and Mary had brought some large tarps, it would make it easier for the newcomers to keep the sand out of their sleeping bags, if they were on tarps.... Sam and Mary started stripping down.  "Come on, let's swim," Mary told her friends.

Nora didn't need to be told twice, she had been feeling a little hot and bothered since they left the stables, hours ago.  She needed to cool off, she took off her shoes and started unbuttoning her jeans.  Mary and Sam stripped naked, ending any confusion about what they would do about bathing suits, and the rest of them began stripping down, as well.

Mary noticed them all glancing at Sam, discretely... she was a little proud, she knew Sam had an amazing, lean body.  She also noticed the rest of the girls stayed smooth, down there, like they always had before when they would be together.  She began to feel a little warm, herself.  She ran to the spring, splashed through the shallows, and dove in, as she always did, getting used to it as fast as she could.  As she surfaced she turned, "Come on, it feels great!" Lying a little, she still wasn't used to it.  Mary watched Sam enter, getting in slowly to her waist, then dropping under.  Finally the last four ladies walked nude to the water line, standing ankle deep...

"Oh my god, seriously?" Laura smiled.  "This is freezing!"

Mary laughed.  "I know!  But trust me, it's 72 degrees.... it feels colder because the air is so warm here.  You get used to it in like 20 seconds."

Sam looked at the four of them, like four desert nymphs, Lucy with the fair complexion, Laura with her nearly pink skin, she still had some freckles on her shoulders... we should have brought sunscreen for her, Sam thought... she's going to burn.... Nora the latina with her tan complexion, and she hadn't quite figured out Ashley, with her almost olive skin.  But these young women were desirable, she recognized that, even though up until now the only female she had ever found sexually attractive was her Mary.  "Hey Laura, did you bring sunscreen?" she asked on a whim, to try and distract herself from the thoughts she was having.

"Uh, yeah," Laura answered.  She looked up at the sky, it was mid afternoon, the sky was cloudless, still hot and bright.  "I put it on my arms earlier but I didn't expect to be doing any naked desert skinny dipping today," and they all laughed.  She started walking back to camp, "I'll go get it, someone can help me with my back."

The other three girls were wading in slowly, mid-thigh, still getting used to the cold.  Nora smirked at Sam a little, "It was your idea, you help her get her back," and then Nora turned to Mary and winked.  Mary gave her a demure smile.

"That's it, vacation cancelled," Ashley laughed, still trying to get in.  "It's just too cold!"

Lucy took her hand.  "Jump in with me."

Ashley took a deep breath, a frown on her face.  But counted "1.... 2... 3!" And on three, both girls jumped in, hand in hand.

Nora smiled at them coming up spluttering and splashing and squealing, and with her strong runner's legs she dove in with a high arc, but keeping herself shallow.  She let the shock of the cold wash over her before she surfaced so she could continue to look awesome and unaffected by the bracing cold.

By now Laura was back with her big orange tube of sunscreen, and Sam saw they were serious... no one else went up to help her.  She waded back up as Laura started applying it to her legs.  "Yeah, thanks for reminding me.  I'm sort of surprised I didn't just immediately burst into flames as soon as I took my clothes off, I burn so easily."

Sam smiled, walking up next to her.  "It's easy out here.  You're from Utah though, so you wouldn't be as bad as some of the Yankees who come down to buy horses or beef.  They just have no respect for the sun down here."

Laura finished bending over getting her legs, front and back.  She did her tummy.  Sam tried to not stare as she slathered more sunscreen on her hands and did her swollen breasts, her nipples, her chest, her neck.  She then handed the tube to Sam, turned, and lifted her long, red hair out of the way.  "Can you get my back, please?"

Sam knew she shouldn't hesitate, this was perfectly innocent and to hesitate would suggest she thought there was something more going on here, which of course there wasn't.  She slathered too much on one hand and touched Laura's soft, warm back, smoothing the cream on it, now dripping because she used too much.  She put the tube on the big boulder nearby, used both hands, rubbing the cream into Laura's fair, nearly pink skin, seeing her freckles here and there, the ones holding on into Laura's adulthood.  She did Laura's back, her neck, her shoulders, until her skin was glistening.  There was still some excess at her lower back... and now Sam was uncertain.  Laura's soft, cute butt was still dry.

"Get her everywhere," Nora said out in the water, watching.

Sam now felt herself blush, as she hesitated.  She put her hands on Laura's hips, asked her softly, "Is this ok?"

"Yes please," Laura answered softly, without hesitation.  "I don't want to burn anywhere."

Sam looked up, caught Mary's eyes, out farther than the rest.  She had an intense look on her face, but Sam knew that look wasn't anger.  It was closer to hunger.  She looked down and placed her hands on Laura's buttocks, kneading the sunscreen into her skin.

Nora had been doing her best to direct Sam and watch Mary at the same time... she was so intrigued by this relationship, but she didn't want to cross any lines.  She moved slowly, silently toward Mary as Mary watched Sam touching Laura.

As she watched Laura close her eyes as the tan cowgirl caressed her butt, she finally got next to Mary and slid her arm around the smaller girl's waist.  "What do you think?" Nora asked as her hip touched Mary's hip under the water.  Nora felt Mary's hand circle around her own waist, and slowly reach down to cup her butt.

"I think it's hot... look at them together," Mary answered.  "I never imagined in a million years my Sam would ever be with my friends the way I was."

"So you're ok with it?" Nora asked, sliding her own hand down to Mary's ass, squeezing it, the first time she had done so since years ago when she had been in a 69 with her at Crazy Ed's mansion, her uncle watching and masturbating over her.

"I'm ok as long as Sam and Laura are ok."

Sam seemed to be done getting sunscreen on Laura's ass, they saw Laura whisper something to Sam, who smiled, but they couldn't hear what had been said.

"You forgot a spot," Nora cried out.  

Sam looked Laura up and down, who turned to face her... the only part of her anatomy that wasn't glistening with sunscreen was her smooth pudenda.  She looked at Laura's face, who was just standing there with a small smile at the corner of her lips.

"Darlin," Sam giggle-said... "I don't think I'm ready for that, yet," blushing.

Laura smiled, "It was mean of Nora to tease you like she did," and she came in for a hug.  

Sam was wide-eyed, feeling the lush, nude woman hold herself against her... so slippery.  She whispered again in Sam's ear, "Thanks for helping me," and gave Sam a little kiss on her cheek before pulling away.  She watched Laura take the tube, put a little on her hand, and casually rub it all over her pussy.  Sam couldn't quite take it... she was beginning to regret not helping... but instead of changing her mind she ran back into the spring, directly at Mary.  She dove down to hide as soon as it was deep enough and didn't come up until she was next to her wife.  She was opposite of Nora, and realized she couldn't look at her.

Mary put her arm other around Sam's waist, the one not holding Nora's butt cheek.  "I liked seeing you and Laura," Mary said to her profile.  "It was like seeing my past and present... together.  It's hard to explain."

"So it was ok?" Sam said, finally turning to her.

Mary smiled, "Of course it was, stupid," and she turned to her, got up on her tiptoes, and gave Sam a peck on her lips.  Without waiting for Sam to say anything, she turned to everyone else, "So y'all can swim, right?  If any fisherman or border patrol go by on the river just stay under until they are gone," and they all laughed.  The border patrol had stepped up patrols of the river since the incident with Mary and Sam... they hadn't like the Texas Rangers cleaning up their mess.

They stayed in the cool water almost an hour until Lucy's lips were turning blue... she was the smallest and had the least body mass and lost her heat the fastest.  They left the water, "Stay off the tarp with your sandy feet!" Mary told them, and the other girls shared the towels while Sam and Mary air-dried, which didn't take long in the arid heat.  They were old pros at this.

There was some discussion about how much clothes to put back on... they all eventually decided to keep it to bras and panties, admitting that if they had brought them they would be lounging around in bikinis, anyway.  Lucy helped Laura reapply more sunscreen.

Sam thought it was wild.... she thought this is what spring break must look like, a bunch of nearly naked, hot girls everywhere.  They put their towels down so it was a little softer on their butts than the tarp and sat around the fire just talking about everything, and nothing.  As the sun was beginning to fall the mood struck.... they wanted to hear the entire story of Mary and Sam, and those two men who attacked them.  Sam started it until the part she was unconscious, Mary told the rest.  No one interrupted, and at the end they all glanced in amazement at the corral, at Mary's Arabian, standing taller than all the mares.  He heard the story too, and he was feeling puffed up, Mary was amused to see.  Mary left out the part where she and her horse shared their strange, basic communication.... the others just saw a good horse who was protecting his mistress, which was more or less correct, anyway.  Some of the girls had slight concern about more men stumbling upon them out here, but between the guns and that horse watching over them, they didn't have any more fears.

At the end of the story Sam offered, "That Texas Ranger came out a few weeks ago checking up, they've been passing around fliers with pictures of those men, how they look today.... he says that south of the border they warn of a crazy, 16 year old, Texas gringa they call 'Maneater.'  The people-smugglers don't want to travel through our valley any more."

They all giggled, but were impressed.  They used to worry Mary couldn't survive out of the hospital... and now she was internationally feared.  It was amazing.

Lucy asked, "Was that hard... I mean, actually biting it off.... was it hard?"

Mary just looked at her.  "I looked at Sam on the ground, I knew she'd be next.  There was no way that was happening.  So I just thought of my uncle and bit down.... I knew it was either going to come off or they would kill me."  She felt Sam squeeze her hand, she squeezed back.

There was a moment of silence, around the camp fire.  Satan snorted.

"Too bad we didn't know how useful teeth could be a few years ago," Nora offered deadpan.... and the girls all looked at each other... and broke out laughing, even Laura.

+++

Sam and Mary taught them cowboy cooking, Martha had packed them a cooler that had been tied behind Mary's saddle, so the girls cooked hot dogs on sticks, and ate Martha's stew out of a big pan sitting right in the fire.  Then they taught them all cowboy dishwashing... letting the dirty dishes sit in the shallow water of the riverbank, letting the minnows and crawdads clean it up overnight.

+++

They again sat around the fire, the sun setting, the sky an explosion of red and orange.  

"So I gave Jimmy a blowjob in the barn before we left," Nora grinned, meeting Sam's eye.  "Sorry," she apologized to Jimmy's sister.

Lucy rolled her eyes with a small grin, "Oh boy," she said softly.  She knew Nora, she saw that coming.

"What did he say to you to trick you!" Sam cried sarcastically.  "I'll kill him!"

Nora laughed lightly.  "Well you all saw him flirting with me, right?"

"Oh Nora," Lucy said in amused exasperation.

"Well he isn't married!" Nora cried to Lucy with a smile, defending herself.  "That doesn't even count.  I am avoiding inappropriate men, not all men.  I just so rarely meet men who aren't inappropriate," and they all laughed.  "And I'm 17.  It probably isn't illegal in Texas..." she added, and they all laughed again.  When they were quiet, "Yeah, he's cute... but I saw how he treated you, Mary.  He loves you like a sister.  I found that very attractive for some reason.  So while you were all saddling up the horses we ducked into that room at the other end and I rewarded him."  After a moment, she added, "That poor boy must be really lonely out here, there was A LOT," and they laughed again.

"I don't think I want to hear this," Sam said with a smile, closing her eyes and covering her ears.

After the laughter they sat absorbing Nora's bombshell, and they got quiet.  The sun was gone, now, even the red glow on the horizon was gone, and a full moon was now above the mountains to the east.  "The coyotes will start singing soon," Mary said softly.  "The first time I heard it I was a little scared, but they don't come into camp.  But we may hear them all around us tonight.  Satan will warn them from getting too close, but just stay close to the fire."

Lucy looked around, Ashley at her side, Sam and Mary together, Nora and Laura with their knees touching, close to the heat of the fire.  Lucy turned to Ash, who met her eyes.  "You know I love you, right?" she asked.

Ashley smiled, "Well you tell me often enough."

Lucy kissed her softly, lingering, and licked her lips.  "I'm going to go be with Mary now," she said softly.

Ashley smiled softly and nodded, tears coming to her eyes.  Tears not in jealousy or sadness, but because she knew what this meant to Lucy, and how long she had wanted to be with Mary again..... never daring to hope too much it could actually happen.  She was happy for the girl she loved.  This was beautiful.

Lucy got up and sat next to Mary, opposite of her, and held her hand, looking into the fire.  She was silent, not saying anything.

Sam thought she knew what was happening... or was about to happen.  She kissed her Mary on the cheek, whispered, "I love you," and got up and walked to Ashley, sitting where Lucy had just been.

Nora and Laura also read the change in the wind, they got up, Laura sitting next to Mary, Nora sort of in front of them until they formed a loose circle.  In only their bras and panties there was so much exposed skin, crossed legs, vulnerability.  Mary wasn't sure who touched her first, maybe all of them.  A hand on her knee.  Fingers on her arm.  A soft kiss on her cheek.  She looked around, every one of them looking at her so intensely, questioning, searching for acceptance.

Ashley and Sam, sitting together part way around the fire, watched.  "Those are the women we love," Ashley said to Sam softly.

Sam turned to her, smiled.  Moved a little closer, it was getting chilly out as the heat fled the desert.  "I know I should be jealous, at least a little... but I am just so happy for Mary.  She seems fine about the bad stuff but there was always a part of her past she never reconciled... I think it was them."

Ashley leaned a little closer, her shoulder now against Sam's back.  "Lucy used to worry so much about Mary.  Sometimes she would have nightmares when we spent the night together... but she always said she never remembered them the next day, and always had a smile on her face.  But sometimes she would moan Mary's name in her sleep, and not in a good way.  'We have to help Mary' was what it usually was.  When Mary started calling on the phone... and sounded so happy... it changed Lucy completely.  Maybe someone else wouldn't notice, but I could.  It was like a huge worry was off her shoulders."

Sam leaned back into her, just a little, she could feel Ashley's breasts in her lacy bra against her back.  The girls were starting to give Mary soft kisses, just light ones... here, there.  Sam just watched Mary looking around at them in wonder, as if she thought she might be dreaming.  Sam could almost read Mary's mind, comparing what was happening to her now to the last time she had been with each of these girls... as if to say the last time we were together, I was nearly dead.  And now look at us.  Mary looked up and caught Sam's eyes.  Mary seemed to ask, yes?  Sam nodded back to her.... yes.  Mary smiled, looked to her left, and returned Laura's kiss.

"Do you know about Erin?" Ashley asked Sam, and began caressing Sam's back with her fingertips, softly.

Sam felt goose bumps on her arms from Ashley's touch, but didn't pull away.  "Mary has mentioned her.  She says that Erin saved them all when they were... in that Circle.  I don't quite understand how, I wasn't there.... but yes, Mary mentioned Erin.  Says when Erin tried to save her, her uncle almost killed Erin for it."

"Yes," Ashley said, kissing Sam lightly on her neck.

Sam felt her nipples harden in her bra.

"I actually met Erin first, and we were lovers... but that was mostly Erin.  She straight up seduced me," and Sam and Ashley smiled together.  "But then Erin introduced me to Nora and Lucy.... and Lucy and I.... there was an immediate spark." She kissed Sam's neck again, liking the sigh she heard from the girl from Texas.  "But Erin didn't even hesitate... she told me if I felt something for Lucy, to yes, absolutely see if it went anywhere.  There was no jealousy, no hidden resentment, nothing.  Erin wanted Lucy to be happy, and if being in a relationship with me was how to make her happy, it was just a no-brainer for Erin."  Ashley got up from sitting with her legs under her, and got on her knees behind Sam, her knees on either side of Sam's hips, pressing herself against Sam's back.

Sam was trying to listen to Ashley.... trying to keep her head as Ashley touched her.... and was watching the others slowly undress her Mary, first her bra, then her panties, Mary lifting her butt to help them.  

Mary again made eye contact with Sam as Nora began to kiss her way down her tummy.... tried to notice Sam in her own situation with Ashley... then closed her eyes and let her head fall back in a moan as she felt Nora's tongue on her clit.

"Why are you telling me this," Sam whispered as Ashley kissed the other side of her neck, reaching around with her hands on Sam's tummy, holding her close.

"Because even now... as much as Lucy and I love each other... and we do.... Lucy shares me with her friends, because it makes her happy to share me with them.  Even when we spend the weekend in bed with Nora... and Erin, before she left... there was never any jealousy between Lucy and I, after.  Lucy and I are a couple, and we both also just share love with her friends.  Our friends."  With one hand Ashley held Sam's left breast, with her other hand she reached down to Sam's panties and touched her, feeling her wetness already soaked through.

Sam was sighing softly, watching Lucy now eat Mary's pussy, the other two each with their mouth clamped on to Mary's nipples.  She saw the look of exquisite pleasure on Mary's face, and still somehow Mary felt Sam's gaze, and looked.  She saw Sam receiving pleasure from Ashley, seeing it caused her a shiver not from any of the three girls currently licking her body, but from seeing her Sam with that look on her face.

Sam moaned, looking into Mary's eyes, asking her own question.... yes?

Mary just answered her, "Oh yes," and grabbed Lucy's hair as she came on her tongue.

Sam turned her head to the woman touching her body so intimately, and the two shared their first kiss... tongues diving deep, passionate.  Sam broke it as Ashley's hand slid into her panties, finding her slippery clit.  "You're telling me this is ok... I am part of your group, now..." she tried kissing Ashley again, but Ashley pulled back just out of reach, teasing, working Sam's clit.

"Yes.... the women we love are over there reestablishing their intimacy with each other... I know Lucy wants me to be close with you and Mary, too."  With one hand she stopped caressing Sam's breast and undid the clasp in the back, Sam letting her bra fall to the ground.  But Ashley's fingers were now inside of her, Sam spread her legs to give her access.

"I love Mary..." Sam moaned as Ashley began tweaking her nipples from behind, still masturbating her.

"I know you do," Ashley moaned, finally letting Sam kiss her again.

With that understood, Sam stopped acting uncertain, turned against Ashley, laid her down, and started behaving like the strong girl from Texas that she was.   She stripped Ashley bare.... Mary didn't shave herself bald, licking Ashley's baby-smooth pussy was a new experience for Sam.

The coyotes began to sing at the moon, but the girls barely heard them.... they were singing their own song to the moon goddess, tonight.

Laura had just licked Mary to another orgasm.... Mary had lost count of her orgasms, and she looked over at her Sam and smiled as she saw her and Ashley in a private little 69 thrusting and moaning against each other.

Laura crawled her way up Mary's body to kiss her... and noticed she was leaking milk along Mary's body.  "Oh... I'm sorry.... I haven't pumped yet today.... I am so full."

Lucy beat Nora to it, she leaned down and licked Laura's milk off Mary's skin.

Mary was fascinated by it... she didn't know why.... she could see the white droplets of milk hanging from Laura's nipples.  Without thinking she took Laura's shoulders, pulled her up closer, leaned forward, and took Laura's nipple in her mouth.  She sucked... and from the beginning, she felt the warm fluid in her mouth, and swallowed.  And she sucked again, and swallowed.  She heard Laura gasp, but Mary didn't stop, she was so thirsty... not dehydrated, not exactly... just so badly wanting to be able to take something inside of her, something she could keep that would be hers forever, more than just love and memories.  Laura's milk was real, it was tangible, and it was shared from her body freely, with love.

She felt Laura hold her head against her, and she felt the others move in close, surrounding her, touching her, loving her.  Mary wished she could somehow share this with her Sam.

After a while Mary heard Laura, "Switch sides, honey..." and understood.  She opened her eyes and found the other nipple... and Laura's flow was again immediate and rich and Laura sighed again at the new sensation.

Sam and Ashley had given themselves another orgasm together, and were curled up on the bedrolls, Sam draped across Ashley using her bare tummy as a pillow, and they were watching Mary nurse from Laura.

"That... is intense," Ashley said to her new lover, caressing her back, as they watched Mary nurse from Laura.

"I've never seen anything like that before," Sam said, her arms wrapped around Ashley's torso, holding her close, sharing warmth.

"I recognize the look Mary gives you, it's how Lucy looks at me sometimes," Ashley said softly.

"That look means Mary is comfortable knowing she and I will be together forever.  Does that freak you out that Lucy looks at you like that?" Sam asked, looking up and Ashley from her tummy, between her breasts.

Ashley was quiet for a moment.  "Lucy is younger than me, still in high school, and she wants to go to college.  I'd ask her to marry me right now but I wouldn't want to do anything to derail her plans... slow her down." Ashley responded uncertainly, like she was forming the thought as she spoke it.

Sam kissed Ashley's tummy, and gave her a squeeze.  "I bet Lucy would wait for you forever... I know that look.  You should ask her anyway... it's not like you need to worry about an accidental pregnancy that would keep her from going to school."  Sam considered, wondering how much of her private life with Mary she wanted to share.  She decided to be open... join the group.  "Since I committed myself to Mary...everything is easier.  I have a partner, someone who I know is looking out for me all the time, someone who can help me with the hard stuff and all I have to do is ask. If something is bugging me I know Mary will be in bed with me tonight and I can talk to her about it.  When I sleep I know Mary will be there when I wake up and I get to see her again, and I get excited.  It makes everything better.  Everything is better," Sam smiled.

Ashley smiled, watching Lucy now suckling from Laura's breasts as Mary and Nora kissed softly.  "You just described how I feel about Lucy, perfectly.  Everything has been better since I met her."

They were quiet a while, holding each other.  Sam finally asked softly, "Is it bad of me to be glad Mary came here because of what she went through?  If she hadn't, I would never have found her.... I ask myself if I could spare her that life, even if it meant I never loved her... would I? I think about that sometimes and I don't like myself."

"I think about that too sometimes," Ashley answered.  "So many things had to happen.. in exactly the right order... or Lucy and I never meet and I live my whole life not realizing how much my life sucked.  Yeah," Ashley said firmly, "It is a little selfish of us.  But... I just tell myself I think that way out of love.  I love her.  I will spend the rest of my life making sure she never forgets that."

Sam answered, "We're safe... we can't change the past, anyway."

"Right."

"We can just be thankful they found us."

Ashley bent down and kissed Sam, who turned her face up to accept it.  They smiled at each other.

Ashley said, "I think the women we love are about spent, let's go be with them."

Sam looked over, indeed, all four of them were now laying all over each other, breathing hard, glowing.  Sam was glad of the tarp, she got off of Ashley and crawled over, Mary was still surrounded but she spooned her naked body up behind Nora, reached over, and held her Mary's hand on her tummy.  "So how was the reunion?" Sam asked cheekily.

Mary looked into Sam's eyes, peeking over Nora's shoulder... and began to laugh, hard.  The others soon joined her.

++++

They swam again in the morning as the sun was coming up.... it was interesting to them that since the spring water was still 72 degrees, and the morning air was in the 50's, it was actually a relief this time to run naked on their tiptoes across the sand and plunge into the clear, relatively warmer, water.  They laughed and splashed and washed off the sweat from their late night passions.

++++

Back at the ranch, the ladies were chatting as Mary and Sam helped them unsaddle their horses and brush them down.  Jimmy had been there when they rode back in and helped hold reins while the new riders carefully dismounted and rubbed sore butts unused to hours in the saddle.  Nora was watching Jimmy... he had barely glanced at her.... as he helped Mary down, and asked if she was ok.  Sam had told them that Jimmy always worried now when Mary and Sam went to the spring, because of what happened.  Nora watched Mary nod at him, yes, everything is fine, and he gave her a hug, before returning to his usual teasing banter with her, making Mary laugh.... and Nora was suddenly wet again.

When everyone was busy with their horses Nora walked down the stables, and turned her head... Jimmy just happened to be watching her walk away.  She gave her head a little motion, come here, and Jimmy did.  They ducked into the tack room again with the desk and bridles and leather repair gear.  He followed her in and latched the door.  Nora walked up to Jimmy and grabbed the belt on his jeans, began undoing it.  Jimmy started unbuttoning Nora's jeans.

Nora got impatient, "Just take your pants off," she said, stepping back, kicking off one shoe, and taking down her jeans and panties in one motion.  Jimmy was fast and Nora growled as his large... second biggest one she ever saw.... erect penis made its appearance.  Nora pushed him back into the chair, straddled and mounted him, guiding him inside of her.  She worked him all the way in... it took some effort.  She sat on him, looked into his eyes, and gave him one fast, but passionate kiss.  "Hurry up," she said then, and started fucking him.  She rode him like the horse she just dismounted, taking him deep with every stroke, bouncing him off her cervix.

Nora was ready and Jimmy was big so they came together in about 90 seconds.  Nora looked over her shoulder to the door, hoping she wasn't missed.  She stood up and pulled her panties up, Jimmy sitting back in the chair looking at her, glistening cock throbbing with his heartbeat.  He grinned.

Nora said to him, "Shut up.  Put that away.  Put your pants on," but gave him a half of a hint of a small smirk.

"Yes maam," Jimmy said to her, cocking the cowboy hat he still wore.

Nora buttoned her jeans and left.  She didn't bother closing the door, forcing Jimmy to hurry up and dress before someone walked by and saw.

Nora returned to her horse besides Lucy's, continuing to brush her down.

Lucy looked at Nora who was pointedly concentrating on her horse.  Lucy looked down the stable, saw Jimmy exiting the tack room, looking left and right, he seemed to be adjusting himself in his pants.

"Seriously?" Lucy asked Nora softly.

Nora wouldn't look at Lucy, but blushed.  "I don't know why," Nora answered her.

++++

That night, back at the ranch, Ashley was with Nora, Mary with Laura.... and Mary helped Laura relieve the pressure in her breasts, again... and Sam shared Lucy's bed.  

For Sam this was still so strange...Mary had been her only woman, and suddenly there had been Ashley, and now sweet, little Lucy.  Lucy could sense Sam's thoughts.  In bed in their nightgowns, before anything happened, they were just looking at each other.

"This must seem so strange to you," Lucy said to her in the dim moonlight coming in the window.

"It kind of is," Sam answered.  "I've... I don't have a lot of sexual experience.... a lot of partners, I mean."  Sam suddenly realized how that must have sounded, she said quickly, "No... don't misunderstand... I'm not saying I think you're all sluts."

Lucy smiled, "I know."

"I just mean.... you all just have more experience than I do.  I'm ok with it... I like getting to know Mary's friends... being close with you like she is.  It makes me feel closer to Mary."

Lucy kissed Sam's nose.  "That's sweet."

Sam gave her a small smile, and kissed her lips, back, softly.  "Ashley.... she told me how she became part of your group... her relationship with you all when you first met.  Do you think you can tell me something you remember about Mary before I knew her?"

Lucy thought about it, frowning.  She then told Sam about the first time she met Mary, so tiny and scared.  Lucy was the first girl in The Circle that Mary had ever been with; Lucy was Mary's introduction to The Circle.  Lucy was very much under the influence of her collar but she remembered Mary cried, and Lucy had done her best to help her through it and distract both of the men so they didn't hurt Mary too much... both men came in Mary's mouth even though she cried.  Lucy had done as much as she could, though it wasn't much.  When she finished her story both girls had tears in their eyes, and they hugged, under the sheets.  After, Sam felt she could truly make love with Lucy, not just have sex with her.

The next night night Mary was with Nora, and Mary was reminded how sexually aggressive her tall friend could be, Mary enjoyed feeling comfortable enough with Nora to be sexually vulnerable with her.  Sam slept with Laura, and Ashley with Lucy.... and Ashley suggested to Lucy that maybe when they got back home they could talk about making their relationship permanent.  Lucy, tears in her eyes, thought that sounded like a wonderful idea, and they made love.

Sam talked with Laura that night, as she had with Lucy.  Settled in bed, she asked Laura for a memory.  It turned out Laura had a similar memory.... before Mary learned to be numb, she cried a lot when she was forced to be with men of The Circle.  Laura said that her father wouldn't do anything with Mary, because of that... "Even when he had a drug problem, he just couldn't touch her when she was obviously distressed..." but she went on to say that Crazy Ed, after he made Laura use her mouth on him, would make her have sex with Lucy.  Laura didn't want to... but Mary's uncle scared her and she would do as she was told.  Laura said she had done her best to make it ok for Mary... she did everything she could think of with her body to put Mary at ease, she was just so afraid of Crazy Ed.  "I know Mary was in a bad way and didn't want to remember.... but I always hoped something got through to her... so she would know someone cared about her.  I tried to make her know that I cared about her."

Again, though it began with tears, Sam could make love with Laura.  Sam helped Laura with her milk that night.

Their final night on the ranch Mary finally slept with Lucy, and Lucy listened as Mary talked about how wonderful it was to be married... after they made love, of course.  Laura and Ashley made love for the first time, that night... Ashley finally understanding what was so erotic about drinking from a beautiful woman's breasts.  Laura, understanding the purpose of Sam's questions the night before, told Ashley some of her gentler memories of Lucy from when they were children together.  Sam was with Nora and found Mary's oldest friend was a very strong-willed girl.... Nora was torn but decided to not tell Sam that her brother had ejaculated into her pussy a couple days ago.... since Sam had already eaten her pussy. 

Nora's memory of Mary was that when she had to be with her, Nora always acted like she just couldn't get enough of Crazy Ed's small cock.  When she pretended like she was obsessed with that little thing between his legs he would ignore his niece, if only for a few hours, giving her some small amount of peace.  That's all Nora could think to do for Lucy, through the haze of her collar.... fuck Crazy Ed hard so Mary wouldn't have to for a day or two.  She always knew it was never enough but she had been so young, she didn't know what else she could do for Mary.

Sam thanked her, kissed her, and made love to her. 

++++

Martha instinctively knew everything that happened under her roof, but even she was bemused by the nocturnal activities of Mary and her friends.  Knowing what was happening in the night made her feel a little warm.... and even Junior got lucky a few nights in a row, though he had no idea what had gotten into his wife.  He didn't complain.

++++

Their helicopter home was 10 minutes out, the girls and their luggage on the porch, waiting.

Martha found Laura, pulled her aside.  "When you first came here," Martha said to her softly, "you were the most lost person I've ever seen.  Now..." and she let that thought trail off.

Laura looked past the buildings, out to the horizon.  "I was actually thinking about quitting school... Aaron was all I could think about... I didn't know what kind of horrible mother I could be leaving him alone all day."

"And now?" Martha asked.

Laura turned to her and smiled.  "This place reminded me I am still myself.  What kind of example would I be setting for my son if I pulled out of the world, stopped being a part of it?"

Martha smiled, and hugged the young mother.  "I have a feeling your husband is not getting back the same girl who left him last week."

Laura giggled, holding Martha.  "And I think he is going to enjoy his afternoon as soon as the baby goes down for a nap," causing Martha to laugh.

"Good for you, sweetheart," Martha said softly, looking into Laura's face.  "You are welcome here any time.  Bring the baby, bring your husband."

"Thank you so much," Laura smiled at her.  "We will.  I love this place."

The helicopter was getting closer, they could hear it.

++++

The helicopter landed and the dust had settled.  There were hugs all around and tears and goodbyes, all of the girls whispering in Sam's ear their own version of, "We are so glad you found Mary, and us," giving her chaste kisses so unlike the ones they had given her over the past few days, in the dark.

Jimmy was helping carry luggage out of the house, at one point Nora watched him approach, he was heading right for her.  She knew what he was going to do, like all the other men, he had fallen for her and he was going to beg for her digits and say that he couldn't wait to see her again.  She steeled herself for the brush-off she would have to lay on him.... he was nice, but she hooked up with him just because he was the only cute guy here, she told herself.  That was all.  He dropped her suitcase at her feet, and she waited for his line.... but he just tipped his hat to her, "Later darlin, it was fun," and began to turn.

Nora was too stunned for her jaw to drop open.  Did he.... just brush ME off?  Before she even knew she meant to do it, Nora said, "WAIT" too loudly. 

He stopped, turned to her, a small smile on his rugged face.  "Was there something?" He asked her, really stretching out the drawl.  He made Nora walk to him.

She did.  "I just wanted to say..." Nora said, suddenly completely uncertain and out of her element.  She was used to being in charge.  "I'm not saying I love you or anything," she said to him softly so no one could here.  "But I just think you are a great brother to Mary.  And Sam.  And I am glad you are here keeping an eye on them.  It makes us all feel better."

Jimmy suddenly played bashful, "Shoot, maam.  T'aint nothing.  I always take care of those that are important to me."  And he flashed Nora a grin....

Nora was horrified that his grin made her legs feel weak.  That was new.

"Give me a call sometime, Mary knows my number," he tipped his hat to Nora, and walked away.

Nora kept her composure, but that was because she had no idea what to do.  Suddenly Lucy was next to her.  "He really is pretty cute.  And he just annihilated you, so I guess he's ok."  She smiled at Nora wide, and went back to hug Mary again.

Nora watched him saunter away and decided that maybe these Texans weren't to be toyed with.  She forced a shiver to clear her head, and turned, her dignity pulled back up around her shoulders, wrapped around herself, and restored, mostly.

+

With promises they would all come back soon, they boarded the helicopter.  Those who were staying retreated to the porch, hopefully out of range of the dust the blades would kick up.  They were, just barely.

As the helicopter was a half mile out Junior said, "Well that was an adventure.... tell your friends they are welcome any time, sweetheart."  He kissed Mary on the forehead and walked out to the bunk house to tell the ever-amused ranch hands that the coast was clear, the Florida invasion was over and that they'd just barely survived.

As soon as he was out of earshot Martha said to her daughters, "You two must be looking forward to some rest, after so many late nights," and she smirked as she retreated into the house.

Mary and Sam, blushing, watching their mother walk away.  "Now what do you reckon she meant by that?" Sam asked.

"Probably that you became a huge slut for girls this week," Mary answered her with a smile, turning to her, putting her arms around her Sam's waist.

Sam put her hands around Mary's neck, but spluttered... she couldn't think of a response to that.  "I... but you...."

Mary laughed, pulling Sam close.  After a hug she looked up into Sam's eyes, "But mom's right.... I am pretty tired.  It's Sunday, let's take a nap.  Plus, there's still one girl here you haven't had sex with for like five days." Mary took Sam's hand and took her into the house, and they locked their bedroom door.  After, they had their long afternoon nap.

Chapter 36

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Copyright 2017: "Marissa Banks." Rights reserved. Not for reuse without express written consent of the author. All content is purely fictional; any similarities to actual persons or events is pure coincidence. Reader must be of legal age in the judicial area he/she resides. Reproductions of the fiction contained herein or linked from here may not be used in whole or in part without express permission from the author.