Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Money Grab (MFf f17 cons slow)
   If you don't like character development and plot, this isn't for you. 
This is not a wank story.  There's plenty of sex, but it fits the story. 
Three people fall in love after an economic collapse in America.
   The day the bottom fell out Davis Rade hardly noticed.  He knew when the
inflation rate reached 20 percent.  Of course, the Federal Reserve System
didn't intend for that to happen, but they had no choice at this point. 
The national debt was soaring and the only way they could even make
interest payments was to print trillions of dollars of money.  He noticed
when inflation reached 1000 percent, then 1000 percent per week.  He also
noticed when his cell phone service died and when his satellite dish quit
working.  It didn't really bother him.  He listened to ham radio broadcasts
and discovered that the bank in Medicine Lodge had closed its doors and
there were a lot of angry people out there.  There wasn't a bank open
anywhere as far as his set could reach, and he could reach a long way.  The
government had abandoned the dollar as a currency.  He had about 500 of
them in the bank but he wasn't going to miss them.
   Some smart guy at the Federal Reserve came up with the bright idea of
converting to blue dollars instead of the green ones and that lasted about
a week until the blue ones were as worthless as the green ones.
   Davis knew what the problem was.  When you print money by the tens of
trillions of dollars, sooner or later people are going to catch on.  Their
money is suddenly worth half what it was two years ago and people notice
that.  The price controls lasted about a month and then merchants started
ignoring them.  The last time he was in Medicine Lodge gas had been 12
dollars a gallon.  That was a year ago and you would have had to bring in a
truckload to fill your tank last week.
   It took about three days for things to begin to unravel.  Runs on
grocery stores soon emptied shelves and with no currency with which to
restock, hunger stalked the streets.  Hungry mobs rioted in the cities and
roamed the streets, stealing from those who were unable to defend
themselves.  Fuel vanished and people began to die of starvation.  Barter
was the only system of exchange and could only be attempted by the bold and
those who could ensure their trading items would not simply be stolen. 
Sewage systems quickly failed and disease walked on two feet.  In its death
throes the government thrashed about trying to restore order and failed.
   Davis heard on the ham radio about the food riots in Wichita and Kansas
City.  The National Guard had been pretty brutal about putting them down
and that triggered a lot more violence.  It sounded like full scale chaos.
Ordinary people were hiding in their houses and bands of thugs ruled the
streets.  The pitiful National Guard force had gone rogue and violence
seemed to be the order of the day.  By the tenth day, barbarism reigned.
   The powerful had moved pretty quickly to secure hard currency supplies,
fuel storage facilities, flour, sugar and commodities and the powerless and
weak starved or became slaves.
   Davis wasn't worried.  Sitting in the middle of 100,000 thousand acres
of open range land in the middle of Kansas, he was pretty hard to find.  If
someone wandered up by accident he was prepared to deal with that too. 
People were fleeing the cities and he decided to close the gates in the
fence in the morning.
   At three AM the dogs woke him up.  They were making quite a fuss out by
the wall and he got up to investigate.  He turned on the flood lights and
he could see a motorcycle outside.  The wall gates were always closed, and
he heard the intercom buzzer.
   He pulled on black sweat pants and a black hoody and picked up his M16.
He didn't bother with the intercom.  He walked down to the gate.  The dogs
were at the gate milling around and barking.  He stayed behind the bunker
and walked down the wall.  He peeked around the corner and saw two people
on the bike.  He didn't see any weapons so he shouted at the dogs.
   "Anubis, Isis, Lilly!  Heel!"
   The three Cane Corso mastiffs came running and sat down beside him. 
They stopped barking and looked up at him, big pink tongues lolling.  400
plus pounds of dog waited for a command.
   "Who are you and what do you want?" he called.
   The driver of the bike got off and came close to the gate.  Davis could
tell by the way she walked that it was a woman.  She unsnapped the
chinstrap and took off the helmet.  She looked familiar.
   "Who are you?" he called again.
   "Mr.  Rade?  Do you remember me?  I'm Calista De la Vega.  I work for
Channel 3 News.  We met at the Peace Treaty Festival three years ago.  I
did a feature piece about you on Channel 3."
   "I remember.  You told me you wanted to do a human interest piece on the
only baseball player to ever retire at 32 after getting 30 home runs and 30
stolen bases the year before.  I also remember that you said I was a racist
gun nut that was waiting for the end of the world on a remote ranch in
Kansas."
   "Look, Mr.  Rade.  I don't know how much news you get out here.  Do you
know what's going on?  Wichita is in flames, people are killing each other
in the street and I'm desperate.  We had to get out of there and I thought
of you.  You were right and I was wrong.  The world did end, just like you
said.  I know you've got a fortress in there.  I saw it when I interviewed
you, remember?  I'm sorry about the story.  I just reported it the way I
saw it."
   "You still haven't told me what you're doing here?"
   "We need help.  Will you open the gate and at least let me talk to you?"
   Davis pushed the button and the gate rolled back.  She walked through
and into the yard.  She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and a leather
jacket and he remembered.  She had looked very good three years ago at 22
and at 25 she was stunning.  She had that Latina curve going on and the
mane of black hair with its auburn highlights framed a face to die for. 
Huge dark eyes and flashing white teeth in that mocha complexion lit up the
television screen like a light bulb.
   "Listen Mr.  Rade, the world is going crazy.  We're starving.  We're
almost out of gas and if you don't help us we're going to die, or worse. 
Did you know that there are gangs in Wichita that are enslaving women and
children?  We need help or we're going to die.  We're desperate, Mr.  Rade.
Please help us."
   "You keep saying us and we; who's we?"
   "Malina," she called.  "Could you come here please?"
   The bike passenger got off and walked toward them.  Davis could see that
it was another woman.  Calista was a tall woman, nearly six feet, but the
passenger looked more like five four.  She removed her helmet as she walked
and a cascade of golden hair fell out.
   "Mr.  Rade, this is Malina Nebrija.  Malina, this is Davis Rade."
   Malina extended her hand and spoke with a Spanish accent, "I am pleased
to meet you, Mr.  Rade."
   She had the most beautiful blue, almond shaped eyes in one of the most
beautiful faces Davis had ever seen.  She was obviously very young.  Her
skin was a golden honey color and the dark blonde hair had hints of brown
here and there.  Her little mouth formed a recurved bow with the some of
the fullest lips he had ever seen.  She was gorgeous.
   "You're Hispanic?" he was more than a little surprised.
   "No," Calista told him, "she's a foreign exchange student from Spain. 
She picked a very bad time to come to Kansas.  She can't get home now.  Her
host family lived next door to me.  They were killed 4 days ago during one
of the riots.  Some men were breaking in her house and she got away and ran
out the back door and over to my house.  The men who were breaking in saw
her going across the alley and down to my house.  They set her house on
fire and were coming to my house.  We jumped on the bike and got away.  I
didn't know where to go.  We have been running and hiding for three days.
We're thirsty and starving.  Our bike is almost out of gas.  I was racking
my brain trying to think of a safe place and then I thought of you.  You've
been expecting this for ten years and I knew you'd have the right
preparation.  Please, Mr.  Rade, will you help us?"
   "Why should I?" he asked.  "The last time I saw you was when you told me
you'd meet me at Griffin's restaurant.  You never showed and that night the
story ran making me sound like a dangerous lunatic.  It started an ATF
investigation and cost me 50,000 in legal fees.  You used me and threw me
under the bus."
   "I'm sorry about that.  You seemed like that to me.  I just reported the
facts.  The reason you should help us is because I have a hundred pounds of
South African gold coins in my saddlebags.  My father bought it years ago
and I inherited it.  That's all we were able to take when we got away. 
We'll pay you to help us."
   "I don't need your money.  You forget who I am.  You know I made 80
million playing baseball for the Cardinals, remember?  I've still got most
of it and it isn't in paper money.  I made twice that much from endorsement
deals.  You didn't understand me three years ago and you don't understand
me now.  You used me to jump start your career.  You can't pay me to take
you in.  Is that all you've got?"
   "Yes.  If you don't want money, what do you want?  Please, we don't want
to die and that's what's doing to happen to us if you turn us away. 
Neither one of us have any family we can turn to.  We haven't eaten in days
and we're afraid to go up to houses."
   She passed for a moment.  "If you help us I'll be very grateful." She
stepped closer and fluffed her hair with one hand.
   "Now why does that sound familiar?  I think that's what you told me the
last time you were here." He deliberately looked her up and down.  She was
a goddess, no doubt.
   She walked closer, her hips swaying in an exaggerated runway walk.
   "Do you see anything you like?" She put her arms around his neck and
melted against him.  "I'll do anything you want if you help us."
   The dogs stirred and growled.
   "Anything I want?" he asked.  "Does that mean what I think it does?"
   She looked up at him with half closed eyes and nodded.
   He disengaged her arms and stepped back.  "Anubis, guard," he said.
   The big mastiff moved between Davis and Calista and sat down, teeth
showing and a growl rumbling in his throat.
   He moved behind her and patted her down.
   "What do you think you're doing?"
   "I'm checking you for weapons." Inside her jacket he found a large
kitchen knife.
   "Jesus you're a slut.  I'd rather sleep with a rattlesnake," he told
her. "You were going cut my throat in my sleep."
   "You bastard!" she yelled, "Who do you think you are?  You can't talk to
me like that.  That knife was the only thing we had to protect ourselves."
She took a step toward him and the Cane Corso rose to his feet with a
menacing rumble.  She froze.
   He walked around her and spoke to the other girl.
   "What about you, Malina?  Are you willing to do anything too?"
   "No," the girl answered.  "I will not do what she said."
   "Why should I take you in, then?  What have you got?"
   "I do not have anything," she said.  "Mr.  Davis, if you help me I will
be your friend.  I will protect you and your things with my life.  I will
work hard and obey everything you tell me to do, but I won't do that.  I
will not be a slave but I will be a very good friend.  I will love you if
you help me.  You should take me in because I need your help and you can. I
am a person that needs help and you have the ability to help me.  I will be
very grateful and good to you if you help me, but I will not do that. 
Please Mr.  Davis, do you not need a friend?  Calley has told me that you
are alone here.  I can only offer my friendship and my need."
   "Yes," he said.  "I would like to be your friend.  That's the right
answer.  You seem like a very good kid to have as a friend.  What about
her?" he indicated Calista.  "Will you stay if I kick her out?"
   "No, I love Calley.  No matter what you think of her, she has been very
good to me, even before.  She saved my life.  I will not stay without her,
but if you help us I will love you as well."
   "Well, I guess I'll have to take the package deal to get you then," he
said.  "Pull your bike up to the house and come inside and we'll talk."
   Calley walked angrily to the bike and drove up to the house and Malina
walked with Davis, the dogs trailing close behind.  She was furious.
   "Hold on a minute Miss Vega," he called as she walked toward the door.
   She stopped and waited for them to catch up.  "It's De la Vega and it's
Ms," she said.
   He ignored her.  He snapped his fingers and the dogs crowded around. 
"Friends," he said and snapped again.  The dogs walked around the two
girls, sniffing their clothes and Lilly licked their hands.
   "What kind of dogs are they, Mr.  Davis?" Malina asked.
   "They're a type of Italian mastiff," he told her.  "They're called Cane
Corso's."
   "Why do they have such little ears?"
   "They were cropped when they were puppies.  Anubis and Isis are 4 years
old.  Lilly is their puppy and she's 2."
   "They are very well behaved," she said.  "I like their little tails. 
Can they understand English?"
   "Some words: maybe about 30.  They recognize voice commands and hand
signals."
   He opened the door and ushered them into the living room.  A huge
leather sectional faced a big fireplace.  The floors were hardwood and the
walls were roughhewn logs.  There were a lot of animal heads around the
walls and Calley thought it looked like a hunting lodge.
   He pointed to the sofa and they sat down.  He went to the refrigerator
and brought back three bottles of Heineken.  He popped the tops and handed
them each one of the bottles.  They drank thirstily and he sat in a
recliner across from them and took a drink of his beer.
   "Miss Vega, I think we should get some things straight."
   "I just told you, it's Ms.  De la Vega."
   "That's one of the things we need to get straight.  You're a guest in my
home.  I took you in because Malina asked me to.  I call the shots here. 
You don't tell me what to do.  If I want to call you Ned or Bill, that's
what I'll do.  If you don't like it, you know where the gate is."
   "You're a Neanderthal, Davis.  You think because you're a man you can do
anything you want because you're stronger than me."
   "See, you don't get it.  It has nothing to do with strong or weak.  It
has to do with human decency.  You don't get to call me Davis.  You lost
that right when you told those lies about me on TV.  Only my friends get to
call me by my first name.  You aren't a friend of mine.  You came here with
your hand out and expected to bat your eyes at me like you did last time
and I'd just drool all over myself.  I didn't invite you here and I'll kick
your ass out if you so much as look crossways at me.  You better get over
being sensitive fast.  The next Neanderthal you meet may take you for a
love slave."
   "How come Malina gets to call you Davis?"
   "She hasn't stabbed me in the back.  Besides, I like her.  I don't like
you.  If you'll notice, she doesn't call me Davis, she calls me Mr.  Davis.
I'm Mr.  Rade to you.  You can call me Davis, Malina."
   "Oh no, I could not do that.  It would not be enough, como se dice,
respectful.  Yes, it is not enough respectful.  You are saving our lives,
Mr.  Davis."
   He threw back his head and laughed.  "You're ok little girl.  I knew I
was going to like you."
   Calley hated him.  She had never had a man tell her that he didn't like
her before.  Most men fell all over themselves to impress her.  How could
he speak to her like that?  He was a cave man.  But, he had agreed to let
them stay so she supposed she had no choice.  They really had no place else
to go.
   "What else do we need to get straight?" she asked.
   "See, that's the right attitude," he said.  "All you ever had to do was
treat me decently.  You didn't do that.  If you're nice to me, I'll be nice
to you.  Malina, you said you'd obey everything I told you to do.  That's
good, and it may save your life in an emergency, but ordinarily, I don't
want to tell you what to do.  I won't be your boss and I won't tell you
what you do.  I don't need slaves or servants that do what I tell them to
do.  It's like you said, I need friends.  I want you to be my friends. 
That's the only way I'll let you stay.  If you will be my friends you can
stay.  If you can't get over hating me, Miss Vega, I'll still help you, but
I won't let you stay here.  I need you to be people that I don't have to
tell what to do.  I need people I can trust.  I don't trust you, Miss Vega.
I did the first time I met you and you betrayed me.  You're going to have
to earn that back.  You need to be just like me.  If you're going to stay
with me permanently, we're going to have to be partners.  I see something
that needs to be done and I just do it.  If the garden needs water, I water
it.  If I need to burn the trash, I do it.  If I'm hungry, I cook.  I'll
cook for you too, but I don't want you standing around waiting for me to
tell you what to do.  Do you understand?"
   "Yes," Calley said.  Malina nodded.
   "Good, then I expect we'll get along just fine.  We're going to have to
work pretty hard.  We can't run in to the store when we need something.  If
we can't harvest it or pick it or hunt it, we can't eat it.  I have a huge
garden.  That's because everything we eat this winter we have to grow.  I
didn't plan on three of us, but we'll be fine.  We're going to have to
harvest the wheat and corn.  I have 50 cows, 5 horses, 11 pigs and 10
chickens.  They have to be taken care of.  So do the dogs.  We're going to
have to hunt and fish.  I have three big freezer units in the bunker.  They
need to be full when winter comes so we won't have to go out much in the
cold.  We need to cut enough wood to last.  We heat with wood."
   "Will we have electricity?" Calley asked.
   "Yes, I have six solar panels on the roof and a windmill out back.  I
have replacements and we can keep them going for a long time.  We have a
generator too if we need it, but I don't want to run it if we don't have
to. I have 4500 gallons of fuel, but who knows how long it will be before
we can get more?"
   "We will work very hard, Mr.  Davis.  You will not be sorry you let us
stay," Malina told him.
   "That's what I need from you.  Do you girls need anything from me?" he
asked.
   "Yes, we do," Calley said.  "I'm sorry to have to ask you but we don't
have anything.  If you won't take our money, we have nothing.  We'll work
to pay you back.  We only have the clothes we have on.  We're beggars.  We
had to leave everything when we ran away."
   "I don't have any girl's clothes.  I have things like toothbrushes and
soap, but no girl's clothes.  I didn't know I'd have girls over for
breakfast.  Let's go see what we can find for you to sleep in.  I don't
expect you to pay me back.  If we're friends we think like that."
   They followed him into his bedroom and into the big, cedar lined closet.
"Knock yourselves out, he said.  "I've got boxers and t-shirts and wife
beaters in those drawers there.  Gym clothes over there, that's probably
all I've got that will fit you."
   Calley shot him an angry glare at the `wife beater' reference.  He
raised one eyebrow.  "Was that a look?"
   "No, sorry," she said.
   "Good, you're trying," he told her.  "Just don't be so prickly.  Relax;
I always liked you Miss Vega.  Just give me a chance, ok?"
   Calley nodded.
   The girls took the undershirts and boxers.  He led them off to two more
bedrooms.  "These are yours.  Fight over them.  I know you girls are
hungry. Would you like to shower before you eat?"
   They did, and he went off to cook breakfast while they changed.
   When they emerged, he was cooking sausage, and biscuits were in the
oven. They sat at the bar and drank coffee and he got out plates and
silverware.  He poured milk in tall glasses.  "Did I mention I've got a
Jersey cow in the barn out back?"
   They laughed.  "You have everything, Mr.  Davis," Malina complimented
him.
   "Can I help you with anything?" Calley asked.
   "Thanks, do you know how to make gravy?"
   She didn't and they both got up and came around the stove to watch him.
It was evident that neither girl had anything on but the undershirts and
the boxers and Davis' eyes bugged out and he choked a little.
   "Well girls, I'm glad you aren't shy," he stuttered.  "Just let the
boobs hang out there, don't mind me.  Are you trying to embarrass me?"
   Malina cupped her pointy little breasts in his direction.  "I'm not
shy," she said.  "I like to be sexy.  Besides, my only bra is dirty."
   Calley looked down at her chest and grinned.  The undershirt was barely
containing her full breasts and her nipples were making two peaks in the
thin material.  She brushed them with her fingertips and they became even
more pronounced.  "Regretting not taking me up on that offer, Mr.  Rade?"
   "Maybe a little," he laughed.  "Don't torture me like this."
   "I'm sorry Mr.  Davis, you will soon become accustomed to living with
girls," Malina said.  She arched her back and stretched languorously.
   "Jesus Malina, stop that." He turned red and took the sausage out of the
pan.  She laughed and crumbled the sausage up on the plate.
   He sifted flour into the sausage grease.  "The trick is to soak up all
the grease with the flour.  Then you make rue and cook it a little.  That
keeps the gravy from becoming lumpy when you add the milk.  Too much flour
at first is best.  You can always add more milk but if you have to add
flour you've got problems."
   He stirred the gravy until it thickened and added a little more milk. 
After it was bubbling he put the sausage back in.  He opened two biscuits
on their plates and ladled on the gravy.
   "I like pepper, but you do it like you want."
   The girls devoured their food.  "I was starving," Calley said.  "That
was awesome, Mr.  Rade.  Can we have another biscuit and some of that
strawberry jam?"
   "Help yourself.  You don't have to ask me.  Me casa es su casa."
   "Do you speak Spanish, Mr.  Davis?" Malina asked.
   "Some," he admitted.  "Not as well as you speak English.  There are a
lot of Hispanic ball players and I picked some up.  Are there a lot of
blonde girls in Spain?"
   "Some," she said.  "Mostly in the north we live.  I lived just a few
miles from France and some of my family has blonde hair and blue eyes.  I
speak French nearly as well as Spanish.  English is my third language."
   "Well, it's my first and you speak it as well as I do.  You know what,
I'm declaring tomorrow a holiday," he decided.  "There's a general store
over at a little town called Belvedere about 10 miles away.  It's really
not a town, just a store.  We might be able to trade for some stuff for
you. I'm afraid to go into Medicine Lodge, there's still a lot of violence
going on and all the stores have been looted, but this is a pretty out of
the way place that used to supply the ranches around here.  They carry
outdoor clothes, hunting stuff; things like that.  Maybe they'll have
something.  We'll go in the afternoon; right now I'm going back to bed. 
Sleep as long as you want and we'll just wake up when we're rested."
   That turned out to be noon for the tired girls and Davis got up at
10:30. He dressed quietly and got his Jeep Wrangler out of the shed and
fueled it up.  He made sandwiches and put them on the bar.  He milked the
cow and fed the animals.
   He ate his sandwich and went to a door off the kitchen.  He walked
inside and looked over the weapons hanging on the wall.  He picked out two
riot guns with pistol grips and picked up a dozen rounds of buckshot.
   He loaded the weapons and put them in the Jeep along with his M16.  When
he went back in he heard showers running in the girl's rooms.  He searched
around and found gym shorts with drawstrings.  He got t-shirts, boxers and
his smallest socks.
   He knocked on Calley's door.  "Just a minute," she called.  She soon
opened the door and peeked out.  "Clean clothes," she opened the door,
wrapped in a towel and he handed a pile to her.  "You're going to have to
make do with boxers until we get something else for underwear.  You can
pull the drawstrings up tight on the shorts and they'll stay up.  I don't
have any shoes that will fit you."
   "That's ok," she said.  "My shoes are fine." She turned away and then
hesitated.  "Mr.  Rade, thank you for taking us in."
   "You're welcome," he told her.
   He was about to knock on Malina's door when it opened.  She, too, was
dressed only in a towel.  "Mr.  Davis," she began.  "Oh, I see you have
already thought.  I was going to ask if you might have anything for me to
wear.  I cannot stand putting those dirty clothes back on."
   He handed her the pile.  "Just until we can get you something else."
   "Thank you, Mr.  Davis." She sauntered back to the bed, and opened her
towel, looking back at him over her shoulder.  "Do you want to watch?"
   He choked and quickly turned away.  Her laughter followed him into the
kitchen.  They looked like they had been dressed by an older brother when
they emerged.  They took one look at each other and laughed themselves to
tears.
   "Well, if you're done mocking my wardrobe, grab your sandwiches and
let's hit the road," he said.
   Chapter 2
   When they got outside he sent Calley to the bunker.  "Go down to the
second level and you'll find shelves full of whiskey.  Get ten of the
purple boxes that say Crown Royal on them and five of the ones that say
Jack Daniels on a black label.
   He and Molina carried flour and corn and loaded it into the Jeep.
   They drove down the driveway and he asked, "I've been wanting to ask you
something, Malina.  How old are you?"
   "I am 17," she said.  "I will be 18 next week."
   "Trying to find out if she's jailbait?" Calley teased.
   "No, just wondered," he laughed.  "You said she was an exchange student
and I wondered if she was a senior or a junior."
   "I am a senior," she told him.
   "Listen girls, I don't know what to expect over here.  I don't know
what's been going on.  I haven't been here for nearly a year.  There may be
no one there or it may be a pretty rough crowd.  I'm going to leave the
rifle in the car.  I've got two pistols and I want you girls to carry those
riot guns.  You know how to shoot?"
   "No," Calley said.  "I hate guns."
   "Do you like living?  You better fall in love fast.  Jesus Christ, that
attitude is going to get us all killed.  You can't miss with that.  Just
point it and pull the trigger.  You operate that slide to get another round
in the chamber.  Slide it and see how it works."
   She worked the slide and a round flew over the side of the car into the
road.  "Oops, I wasn't supposed to do that, was I?"
   Davis laughed.  "Well, no but that's how you do it." He handed her
another shell.
   "I know how to shoot." Malina told him.  "I have often hunted partridges
at home."
   "Good.  That's good, little girl.  There isn't a round in your chamber.
Wait till we get there before you put one in."
   "Is this town on a dirt road?" Calley asked.
   Davis laughed.  "I told you it isn't much of a town.  There used to be a
restaurant and the store; that's it."
   There were three vehicles pulled up in front of Grizzly's General Store;
two pickup trucks and an ATV.  The restaurant appeared to have been closed
for some time.  The windows were boarded up, but the store had an open sign
in the window.
   "Pay attention in here," Davis told the girls.  "Don't let anyone get
behind us.  I'm going in friendly, but they may not want to be friends."
   They got out and the two girls followed Davis inside.  They positioned
themselves beside the door.  A bearded, heavy man with an open flannel
shirt with no sleeves was behind the counter.  He had a chain running
across his belly from a ring in one nipple to another in his navel.  Two
other men lounged on piles of horse blankets off to the side.  One was a
young man who looked to be in his early twenties wearing a cowboy hat that
had once been white.  The other had on biker leathers with an open vest. 
He obviously worked out.
   "Hey, Grizzly, you remember me?"
   "Yeah, you're that baseball player got a place across from the Z bar. 
What can I do for you?"
   "You got any clothes or shoes for women?"
   "I've got flip flops, boots and Converse All Stars that they might wear.
Don't have many clothes.  I've got wife beaters, jeans they might find in a
small size, t-shirts, thermal stuff, a little cammo hunting stuff and a
couple of pairs of insulated coveralls."
   "I'll take everything you've got," Davis said.
   The two men had gotten up off the blankets and they moved to stand on
each side of Davis.
   "How were you planning to pay for that?" Grizzly asked.
   "How do you want to be paid?  I've got whisky, flour, corn or silver. 
I'll trade any or some of all of that.  Or," Davis reached into his pocket
and the two men tensed, "I've got a credit card." He showed it to Grizzly.
   Grizzly roared with laughter.  "He's got a credit card!  Ain't that a
hoot, boys?"
   The two men slapped their sides laughing.  A cold light came into
Grizzly's eye.  "Or, how about we give these two little honeys of yours a
roll in the hay?  That sound like a fair trade, Rade?  You trade some pussy
for what you need?"
   "I'm afraid that doesn't work for me, gentlemen.  I don't own these
ladies.  They don't look interested, so how about we trade for what I
offered you?"
   "No, I think I'll take the pussy," Grizzly said.
   Davis exploded into action.  He stomped his heel sideways into the knee
of the biker and slashed the credit card across the eyes of the cowboy. 
The biker's knee was destroyed with an audible crunch and the cowboy
screamed and fell to the floor clutching his eyes.  Blood seeped between
his fingers and the sound of a shell being jacked into the chamber of a 12
gauge froze Grizzly behind the counter.
   Malina pointed the riot gun at his belly.  "Take your hands slowly from
beneath the, como se dice, the counter."
   Grizzly slowly raised his hands.  "You take it easy with that shotgun,
girl.  Ol' Grizzly was just joshing.  We wasn't going to hurt nobody."
   "No, I would not wish to hurt anyone either.  But I will blow a hole in
your belly if you lower your hands."
   The cowboy was still screaming and Davis took out his 9mm and cracked
him on the head.  He went quiet.  The biker was unconscious, passed out
from the pain of his wrecked knee.  Davis covered Grizzly and spoke to the
girls.
   "Go look over the stuff.  Take anything you feel like you can use and
put it in the jeep, then come back in here with the whiskey."
   They quickly moved to the shelves and carried out several armloads. 
They didn't find any women's underwear, but they got two dozen pairs of
boxers.  They found All Stars that fit, jeans and t-shirts.  They took
thermal shirts and some of the hunting clothes.  They took two stacks of
the undershirts and lots of socks.  They found gloves and stocking caps and
they both found boots that fit.  They made two trips with whisky and Davis
put ten 2 ounce silver coins on the counter.
   "We aren't thieves Grizzly, but we don't like rapists.  Walk around
here."
   Grizzly walked slowly around the counter and stopped when Davis
gestured.
   "Cover him, Miss Vega."
   Calley leveled her shotgun at the man and he flinched.
   "You made some bad decisions today Grizzly.  I think that chain made you
do it."
   "My chain?  Are you crazy?"
   "No, I've heard that men with chains in their nipples make bad decisions
all the time.  I'm going to fix that for you."
   Davis reached out and ripped the chain off the man.  His nipple and
navel tore and blood spurted.  He screamed and clutched his nipple.
   "I'm going to kill you for that, Rade."
   "You've still got the ear rings," Davis told him.  "You want to go for
those?  I've got pliers in the jeep."
   "No, no, I didn't mean it.  Just take your stuff and these two bitches
and get out of here."
   "Now that's no way to talk to ladies, Grizzly.  I think you ought to
apologize or I send the girl to get the pliers."
   "I'm sorry, ladies.  I don't know what I was thinking." He swallowed and
licked his lips."
   "Next time we come I expect you to be polite," Davis said.  "Ladies, go
and get in the jeep."
   He kept the gun on Grizzly and backed out the door.  He turned and ran
for the jeep.  Calley had the engine running and she put a cloud of dust in
the air as she spun around in the road and flew out of town.
   Five miles out of town they crossed the Medicine River and Calley pulled
off the road.  "Why are we stopping?" Davis asked.
   "I need to talk to you," she told him.  "You guys get out and let's sit
on the tailgate for a minute."
   Davis lowered the tailgate and sat down.  Calley sat on one side of him
and Malina on the other.  They were tightly packed and Davis could feel the
two warm bodies pressed against him.  It was a beautiful spot.  The wind
rustled the leaves of the cottonwoods along the creek and they could hear
the sound of running water.
   "What is it, Miss Vega?"
   "I need to apologize to you Mr.  Rade.  Damn it, this is so silly.  I'm
going to call you Davis and you can kick me out if you want.  Those men
were going to rape us back there and you stopped them.  They were going to
kill you and rape Malina and me and then kill us.  We were going to die
horribly and you saved us.  Please don't call me Miss Vega anymore.  I know
you're still mad at me and I deserve it.  Will you call me Calley please?"
   "I'll think about it.  Go on."
   "I don't know what to say.  I treated you like shit.  I didn't know
anything about you and I just threw you under the bus like you said.  I was
22 years old; I was an intern and I needed to get on the desk in front of
the camera.  I didn't want to sleep my way there and so I used you.  That
story I did on you got me the anchor job.  I'm very sorry.  I know you
think I'm a slut Davis, but I'm not.  I'm just selfish.  I've always just
thought about myself.  I know it but I'm going to be better.  I'm so sorry
I treated you that way and I'll do anything you want me to to earn your
forgiveness.  If I start acting like a bitch again you have my permission
to kick me out.  Please don't hate me Davis.  I can't stay with you after
what you did back there if you hate me.  It will destroy me.  I'll know
that you're the kind of person that will risk his own life to save mine and
if you hate me because I treated you like that I can't live with it.  I
know what kind of a guy you are now.  You risked your life to get us
clothes.  So I'm begging you, will you forgive me?" She knelt in the road
at his feet and looked up at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
   "Don't do that," he took her hand and pulled her back up beside him
   "All you had to do was apologize and ask.  I do forgive you Calley, and
I like to be called Davis.  You don't have to beg."
   She hugged his arm and rubbed her cheek on his shoulder.  It felt like a
silk pillow against his skin.  "Thank you Davis," she whispered.
   "What I wish to know is how you learned to fight like that, Mr.  Davis?"
Malina asked.
   "Well, that's a long story.  Calley knows part of it.  It's the reason
she called me a racist."
   "I'm so sorry," Calley said.  "I just found out you spent six months at
one of The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord camps and I thought
you were one of them."
   "How could you think that, Calley?  Jesus Christ, the people were racist
nut bags.  Do you know that my mother was a half black South African?  I
hate racists.  You know the police never caught the men that killed Cindy?"
   "Who is Cindy?" Malina asked.
   "She was Davis' fiancée," Calley told her.  "She stumbled upon a group
of cattle thieves on the way home from town one night and they raped her
and killed her.  The police never found them.  What does that have to do
with The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, Davis?"
   "Well, it turns out the thieves were part of that group.  I went there
looking for them and joined up so I could find them.  They taught me how to
fight.  I spent six months with those sick bastards and learned everything
I could about fighting.  Some of them were tough.  They were sick sons of
bitches but they had trained all over the world and they taught me
everything they knew.  I found out who the five men were that killed Cindy
and I killed them, loaded them in the back of my truck and buried them out
in the gypsum on the back of my land.  That's why you called me a racist
Calley and I couldn't say one thing in my own defense.  I couldn't risk
anyone finding out about the men I killed."
   "Maria y Christo, Davis.  I never knew.  How could I know?  I'm so
sorry."
   There were tears in the eyes of both girls.  Calley pulled his head down
and kissed his cheek.
   "Those men were very bad.  It makes me happy that you punished them."
Malina told him.  "Those evil men, those pigs back there; they were not
going to let us go after they traded for pussy, were they?"
   "Probably not, little girl.  They would probably have killed me and used
you until they got tired of you and then killed you.  I wasn't going to let
that happen."
   "Thank you Mr.  Davis." She kissed him too.
   "You're welcome.  You may save my life sometime." He put an arm around
each of them and squeezed.  They both sighed and pushed their cheeks into
his chest.
   He shook his head and let go.  He stood up.  "All settled?"
   They both nodded.  "Good, then let's go home."
   "Yes Davis, I like that word; home," Malina reached her hand to him and
he pulled her up.
   Chapter 3
   They unloaded the Jeep and Calley and Malina wanted to try on their
clothes.  None of them fit exactly except the shoes.  They looked a little
odd in the men's clothes, but they would work.  They came out and gave
Davis a fashion show while he made dinner.  After dinner he took them to
the barn and they watched as he milked the cow.
   "This is Molly," he introduced them.  Davis had raised her from a bottle
calf and she was very gentle.  They stroked her smooth hair and giggled
when she licked Malina's hand.
   "Her tongue is very rough," she said.  "She is very fat.  Her stomach is
big, is she pregnant?"
   "No, not yet," he laughed.  "She's a Jersey and they all look like that.
When she has a calf next spring, she will have a huge stomach."
   "I would wish to pet a calf," she told him.
   "Well, if things go well you'll get your wish."
   Both of them wanted to try milking but their hands tired quickly. 
"Don't worry about it.  My hands were like that too.  You'll get used to
it. We have to do this twice a day if we want milk.  I drink it for
breakfast every morning and we'll cook with it quite a bit.  We also use it
to make butter.  I want to make cheese but I don't have the enzymes for
it."
   They went inside and they all showered and changed for the night.  It
was apparent that the boxers and wife beaters were going to be the norm for
pajamas and Davis groaned.  They never wore bras, they didn't have any, and
the sight of all that jiggling girl flesh was driving him crazy.
   "You girls want to watch a movie?"
   "How will we do that?" Calley asked.  She was sewing a cross stitch
design onto a pillowcase.
   "We have electricity, a TV and a PS4.  Go in my office and push the
yellow button to the right of the door."
   She went in and pushed the button.  The bookshelves rotated and on the
back side of them there were thousands of Blue Ray discs.
   "Malina, come look at this," she called.
   Davis popped popcorn and after 20 minutes they finally selected a movie.
It was a Nicholas Sparks film and Davis groaned.  "I don't know what I was
thinking when I bought that."
   "It looks very romantic," Malina told him.  "We like romantic movies. 
We are Latin and have romantic natures."
   "Well, I'm an American and we have violent natures.  I like action
movies."
   He had a huge TV and they plugged in the disk.  Davis sat on the sofa
and the two girls sat on either side of him.  He held the bowl of popcorn
on his lap and they reached in while the movie rolled.
   As it played out the girls snuggled in closer and took their arms and
put them around his shoulders.  The feeling of two firm breasts pressing
against his arms was very distracting.  He suspected that Malina was doing
it on purpose and looked down at her.  He saw her shift and rub one hard
little tip across his bicep.  She felt his eyes on her and she looked up
and smiled at him as she did it again.
   "Stop," he mouthed at her.
   She giggled and turned back to the movie.
   At some point he fell asleep.  When he woke up, both his arms were numb.
He realized that it was because two heads had been laying on them for some
time.  At some point he had put his arms around them.  The two girls were
asleep and there was nothing but static on the TV.  He disengaged his arms
from behind their heads.  They didn't stir.  He propped Calley's head up
with a pillow and stood and scooped Malina up in his arms.  He carried her
into her bedroom, managed to turn back the covers with one hand and put her
in.  She seemed light as a feather.  He tucked her in and kissed her
forehead.  A wisp of blonde hair tickled his nose and with a smile he went
to Calley's room and turned back the covers.  He returned to the couch and
slid his arms under her.  She was a much heavier load than Malina, but he
was strong and fit and he put her in her bed.  He covered her up and turned
the TV off and fell into his own bed.  Life was definitely more interesting
than it had been last week.
   When he awoke he smelled bacon and coffee and he walked into the living
room to find both girls working in the kitchen.
   "Good morning, Mr.  Davis," Malina called and Calley turned and smiled
at him.
   "You slept late this morning Davis.  Breakfast is nearly ready.  Please
sit down."
   "We have milked the cow and fed the dogs and the chickens," Malina said
proudly.  "Did you know you are running out of dog food, Mr.  Davis?"
   "Yes, I know.  I'm going to have to do something about that.  Do you
think you girls could help me with that today?"
   Calley nodded and Malina said, "We would be very glad to help, Mr. 
Davis, but I am afraid I know nothing about the manufacturing of dog food."
   He laughed.  "We aren't going to manufacture it; we're going to catch
it."
   "I don't remember going to bed last night," Calley told him.  "Did you
put me in bed, Davis?"
   "Neither one of you would wake up so I carried you and tucked you in."
   "You must be very strong Mr.  Davis, to carry Calley.  She is very
rechoncho."
   "I am not chubby," Calley protested.  "My stomach is as flat as yours.
Just because you're as skinny as a little boy does not mean that I'm
chubby."
   "Yes, it is true but I have tetas and nalgas like little boys do not."
   Davis blushed a little.  "Well, I what tetas are, and I want you both to
know that I looked at yours when I put you in bed.  Very nice!"
   Calley threw a dish towel at him.  "You big clown, I know you didn't do
that."
   "No," Malina agreed, "that would not be the action of a gentleman to
look without permission and I know you are a gentleman Mr.  Davis.  How
will we catch dog food?"
   "Here's the problem; each one of our dogs eats about 10,000 calories a
day.  They work hard for us.  They protect the livestock, patrol the fences
and let us know when they find something wrong.  We owe it to them to make
sure they are well taken care of.  There's no way to get enough commercial
dog food to keep them fed all winter.  But, I have an idea.
   Remember when we crossed the Medicine River the other day?  That river
has a lot of fish in it.  Unfortunately, the main species produced is carp.
They get big and they're high in protein but they're nearly inedible.  We
could eat them if we were starving.  They're bony and smelly and slimy, but
the dogs don't care.  I have a net that we're going to put across the river
and we're going to drive the carp down the river into that net.  We'll load
the fish on our trailer and freeze them.  Every day we'll get out a carp
and feed it to a dog.  What do you think?"
   "Yes, I would like to catch carps," Malina was excited.  "When will we
begin?"
   "After we do the dishes," Davis laughed.  "But the plural of carp is
still carp, not carps."
   "English is such a peculiar language," she complained.
   He laughed.  "You ladies cooked and did chores so I'll wash dishes.  Go
get your guns and if you think you can, you can get the Ranger out of the
shed and hook the trailer to it.  It's the green utility vehicle.  Here are
the keys.  I'll do the dishes and get the net and a gaff.  There are tall
rubber boots and rubber gloves in the mud room.  See if you can find some
that fit and we'll go."
   It took an hour to get ready and they were soon nearing the river. 
"Remember, we're outside the fence, so keep an eye out," he told them.
   "Does the fence go all the way around your property?" Malina asked.
   "Yes, it's nine feet of steel hurricane fence with razor wire on top. 
We can electrify it if we want to.  That's the outer perimeter.  If someone
gets through that, and it will take some doing, there's the nine foot
concrete wall around the buildings at the house.  If they make it over
that, we've got the bunker.  There's a tunnel that comes out behind the
hill so we won't be trapped inside.  No one but the military could get in
that bunker and it would take them a long time.  I think we're safe there
ladies.  I hoped I'd never need it but I'm glad it's there."
   "Me too," Calley said.  "Where are we going Davis?"
   They staked the net out across the small river in a shallow spot and
Calley waited with the gaff while Davis and Malina walked a mile upstream.
They entered the water and began walking downstream.
   "Splash around, little girl," he told her.  "The idea is to frighten the
fish and make them swim downstream and get trapped at the net."
   Malina enjoyed splashing and soon dozens of large wakes were running
down the shallow stream ahead of them.  They drove the fish along and the
numbers increased.  Some wily veterans sneaked back past them but the
majority was content to stay ahead of them and run downstream.
   By the time they reached Calley at the net she was already busy gaffing
fish and throwing them on the trailer.  Some of the carp reached the 20
pound range and every one they caught was at least five pounds.  She grew
tired and Malina relieved her on the gaff, only to give way to Davis.  The
small trailer was loaded and they carried them into the freezer and came
back for another load.
   Many of the fish had begun to swim back upstream and again Davis and
Malina walked back up the river.  They were two bends away from the net
when they heard Calley scream.  She screamed again and Davis leaped out of
the water, pulling Malina with him.  "Take off those boots," he said while
quickly removing his.  "Wait here while you count slowly to one hundred. 
Then walk through the woods to the Ranger.  Take this gun," he handed her
one of the 9mm pistols.
   "If you hear anything from me, do whatever I tell you.  If you see
someone other than Calley or I you drive as quickly back home as you can.
Shoot them if they chase you.  Close the gate and call the dogs and stay
inside until you hear from me."
   He crouched and ran quickly and silently through the trees toward
Calley's screaming.  As he approached the Ranger he could hear the sounds
of a fierce struggle and he heard the voices of two men mixed with Calley's
screams.  He peered around the trunk of a big catalpa tree and he could see
Calley being held down on the ground by the two men.  Her t-shirt was
ripped open in the front and her breasts were exposed.  One man seemed to
be trying to remove her jeans while another held her down with her arms
over her head.  She was screaming at them and attempting to bite the man
holding her arms while she kicked viciously at the man struggling with her
jeans.
   The man pulling on her pants was Grizzly.  The side of his face was
bloody and his ear was torn where Calley had obviously put the gaff to good
use.  He turned loose of her pants and slapped her twice.  Davis stepped
out and put three rounds into Grizzly's back.  The man holding Calley's
arms dropped her and fired at Davis.  He felt the impact of a slug take him
high in the left shoulder.  The blow twisted him around.  His foot was
trapped under a root and he felt his left ankle break as it twisted.  He
fell on his right shoulder and almost lost his gun.  He felt another impact
on his left thigh and the sights came into line on the red plaid shirt.  He
pulled the trigger until the slide locked open and he was empty.  The man
fell face down and didn't stir.
   Calley sat frozen, a look of shock and terror on her face.  "Calley," he
called.  She didn't move.  "Calley, snap out of it," he shouted.
   She started and looked at him.  "Check Grizzly and make sure he's dead."
   She got up and walked to the store keeper.  She felt his neck.
   "He's dead," her voice was low and soft.
   "Help me Calley.  My ankle is broken and I've been hit twice.  My foot
is twisted and trapped under this stupid root.
   She ran to him and knelt down.  She opened his shirt and screamed when
she saw the blood welling out of his shoulder.  His thigh was a mess and
the ankle was beginning to throb.
   "Call for Malina," he told her.  "She's at the Ranger.  Tell her I said
it's ok and we need her help."
   "Malina," she screamed.  "It's ok.  Help us!  Davis has been shot and I
need your help."
   She knelt beside him and leaned over him.  "Don't you die, Davis. 
Please don't die.  We just need to get you home.  You'll be ok at home."
She sat and cradled his head in her lap.  Her bare breasts were in his face
and he could see a bite mark on the skin of one smooth mound as she hugged
his head into them.  "Malina!" she screamed again and he could hear the
footsteps of the other girl running toward them.
   Malina ran into the clearing with her gun raised.  She glanced around
and then ran to where Calley was holding Davis.  She burst into tears when
she saw the blood on his chest.  "Mr.  Davis, what should we do?" she
asked.
   "First get my foot out from under that root.  Then take off my shirt. 
Take Calley's shirt.  It's torn up anyway.  Make two pads and press them
over the wounds.  Then you have to help me to the Ranger.  My ankle's
broken and I won't be able to walk on that leg.  I'm shot there too. 
Calley, can I lean on you so I can walk?"
   "Of course, silly." She eased his head to the ground and the two girls
looked at his foot.  Calley ran to the Ranger and came back with an axe. 
She chopped the root in two and lifted it off his foot.  Malina eased it
out straight.  Davis' head was spinning from the pain when they moved the
leg.  Calley began to unbutton his shirt and gave Malina her torn t-shirt.
They cut his shirt off with his knife and eased him out of it.  Calley tore
the tail off and made it into pads as well.
   "Help me up, girls," he asked.  "I'm feeling very weak."
   "Wait," Malina ran to the Ranger and unhitched the trailer.  She jumped
in and drove the big utility vehicle down to within a few feet of Davis. 
Malina held the pads pressed to his wounds.  Calley helped him sit up and
his head was swimming.  He drew his good leg under him and they managed to
help him stand.  He put his good arm around Calley's bare shoulders and she
supported his weight two steps to the Ranger and he collapsed into the
seat.
   "I don't feel so good," he told her.  "I'm very tired.  When we get back
can I lay my head in your lap and take a nap?" His vision grew dark and he
slumped in the seat, his head lolling back.
   "Davis, Davis wake up," she shook his head.  She slapped his cheek
gently and his eyes opened, unfocused, for a moment and then he was gone
again.
   "Oh God, don't let him die," she prayed.  "Please don't let him die."
   Malina was sobbing as she sped back home.  The dogs met them at the gate
and seemed very upset as if they could sense Davis' condition.  They got a
blanket and got Davis onto it and dragged him into the house.  Anubis took
one corner and pulled, as if he were helping them.  They managed to lift
him onto the bar.
   They cut off his clothes and located medical supplies in the bunker. 
There were several boxes of surgical tools and all kinds of bandages.
   "Help me roll him up a bit," Calley said.
   They rolled him up and she looked for an exit wound on his shoulder. 
There was none, but her fingers could feel the lump of the bullet under his
skin on his back.  She took a scalpel and made an incision and squeezed. 
The bullet fell into her hand and she cleaned the wound and sewed the
incision shut.  They used alcohol and cleaned the wound on his shoulder and
Calley stitched it closed and bandaged it tightly.  Luckily, the bullets
didn't seem to have hit any bones.
   The second bullet had passed through his thigh muscles and they cleaned
that wound carefully and closed it as well.  They didn't know what to do
about his ankle.
   Malina suggested that they twist it back straight and tape it in place
on a small plastic cutting board they found.  He moaned as they twisted it
back into place and beads of sweat sprang out on his forehead.  They were
thankful that he was unconscious.  They dragged him into his bedroom and
got him on his bed.
   They collapsed on each side of him, exhausted by the ordeal.  Malina
glanced over Davis at Calley.  "Do you know you do not have on a shirt?"
she asked.
   Calley glanced down at her bare breasts.  "I had forgotten.  I couldn't
think about anything but Davis." She got a shirt out of Davis' closet.
   "What should we do now?" Malina asked.
   "I don't know.  Wait, I guess.  He's lost a lot of blood."
   "Could we not give him some of ours?"
   "How?  We don't even know what blood type he is.  I don't know myself,
do you?"
   "Yes, I am O negative.  I can give blood to anyone."
   "I still don't know how to do it.  We just don't have enough skills. 
Why didn't I become a nurse?"
   "I am not a nurse either.  No one could have foreseen this."
   "He did," she nodded at Davis.  "I'll bet he knows how to give someone a
blood transfusion."
   "Calley, we cannot allow him to die.  He is a good man.  He is very kind
to us and he fought those men for us on the river and in the store.  He is
wounded for us and now we must save him.  I love him Calley.  He is
beautiful."
   "I know baby.  How could anyone not love him?" She began to cry.  "He
got shot because he was saving me.  After I was so mean to him, he still
did that."
   "Do not cry, Calley.  I think we will save him now.  We will take very
good care of him." She embraced the older girl and wiped away her tears.
   Chapter 4
   Davis was rarely awake for five days and when he was he was delirious
from the pain.  They fed him soup and made him drink water.  When he woke
up the fifth day he was raving.  When Calley touched his skin he was
burning up.  She took his temperature and it was 104.
   "We've got to do something, Malina."
   "Yes, we must have antibiotics.  He has an infection somewhere.  Where
can we get antibiotics?  If we don't I'm very much afraid.  We must find
some.  Who could we ask?"
   "I don't know.  Davis would know but he isn't making any sense.  This
fever is driving him crazy.  He thinks you're Cindy when he sees you.  He
probably thinks I'm the devil."
   "I think I have an idea, Calley.  You gave it to me just now.  Davis
knows, but he has the fever.  If we could cool him, could he not tell us?"
   "How would we cool him?  What do you mean?"
   "We must make ice.  We have large freezers.  Perhaps we could even put
him in one of those for a while?  Or we could make ice and put it in the
tub and run water and put him in.  I have heard of this."
   "You're brilliant, Malina.  I've seen that on TV shows too.  I'm afraid
to put him in the freezer.  He's too heavy for us and we'd have to get him
down 3 floors in the bunker after we got him there and then back out.  I
don't think we should move him that much even if we could.  Let's get
buckets of water and put them in the freezer."
   They put the plan in action and in six hours Davis was shivering in a
bath of ice water.  He raved and shouted and wept that he was freezing to
death.  They were implacable and kept him there until his temperature was
97.  They got him out, dried him off and tried to wake him up.  After 15
minutes they got him awake enough to ask him where they could get
antibiotics.
   "In the bunker," he said; teeth chattering and spasms of shivering
wracking his body, "bottom level.  White buckets that say `fish mox' on the
label.  Don't use the mox.  It's for smaller things.  There's Vancomycin in
one of the buckets.  Give me that; one every four hours.  Now for God's
sake, give me some covers.  I'm freezing."
   "I'll do better," Calley told him.  She got in the bed on his right side
and lay half over him and pulled up a comforter over them.  "Go get the
drugs," she told Malina.
   She soon returned with three bottles of the powerful antibiotic and they
woke Davis up enough to swallow one.  He drank a quart of water and fell
asleep again, the warmth of Calley's body through the undershirt and boxers
comforting him.  In the night he woke her, kicking the covers off with his
good leg.  He was sweating like he had run for miles.  The sheets and
pillowcase were soaked and she changed them.  After a half an hour he was
shivering again and she covered them back up and held him through the
night.
   She was exhausted in the morning and Malina took her place while she
slept.  For three days one or the other of them was lying beside him and
they forced the antibiotics and water down his throat.
   On the third night he began to sweat again and Malina bathed him with
cool cloths.  She changed the sheets and it appeared that he was sleeping
normally.  At 3 AM he woke her up.  He was stroking her hair, playing with
the golden strands with his fingers.  She looked up at him with sleepy eyes
and he was lucid and watching her.
   "What are you doing in my bed, little girl?  Not that I'm complaining
but how long have I been out?"
   "Many days, Mr.  Davis.  I am watching over you while Calley sleeps.  We
have been taking turns."
   "Thanks," he continued to play with her hair.  "My leg hurts like hell.
What's wrong with it?"
   "It is broken.  You have had a very high fever and probably do not
remember.  We do not know what to do with it.  It was twisted to one side
and we straightened it.  I am afraid we may have damaged it, but we have no
medical powers."
   "You do.  Just knowing you're here makes me feel a lot better."
   She cried a little and snuggled her cheek into his chest.  "We have been
so much afraid.  It seemed that you were dying and we were going to be
alone."
   "You'll never be alone again, little girl." He winced as she moved and
she was instantly still.
   "Do you think you could get me something for the pain, Malina?"
   "I have nothing.  I could get you an aspirin or something.  Perhaps
alcohol?"
   "I'm an idiot," he said.  "I should have shown you girls where
everything is at the day you got here.  We have pain medications.  They are
in the safe in the kitchen cupboard behind where we keep coffee cups.  The
combination is 12, 31, 19, 85.  It was Cindy's birthday.  There are bottles
in there that are labeled Hydroxydihydromorphinone.  The pain in my leg is
driving me crazy.  I can't think."
   "I will get them for you." She slipped out of bed and came back with a
bottle of the drugs and a quart of ice water.
   "Thanks Malina." He took one of the large white pills and in 15 minutes
the furrow between his eyebrows began to ease.
   "Are you feeling better Mr.  Davis?"
   "Yes, I've finished my water too.  Malina, I hate to bother you, but I
would like another.  I didn't realize how thirsty I am."
   "You sweated away much water in your fever.  You are not a bother to me.
It makes me happy to do things for you."
   She padded away and he heard ice tinkling in the glass jar.  She came
back and set it on his bedside table where he could reach it.  He drank
deeply and set it back down.
   She snuggled into him again and lay with her cheek on his arm, looking
up at him.
   "Mr.  Davis, how did you come to have all these drugs?" she asked.
   "Well, when I started being obsessed by this I thought I might need
medicine.  You couldn't buy it on the open market; the government
controlled all the drugs you might really need.  Apparently they think
we're all idiots.  I didn't want to buy from criminals and they only sold
stuff that would be as likely to kill you as help you.  They had pain
killers but no useful stuff like antibiotics or antivirals.  I have animals
and I started wondering about the drugs I gave them.  I did some research.
Drug companies can't afford to make drugs only for animals and a lot of the
drugs that work on humans also work on animals.  I found out that the same
companies that sell drugs to veterinarians sell the same drugs to
pharmacies.  So, I bought antibiotics for fish on the internet.  They were
the exact same pills that pharmacies were selling to people.  I got all the
things that I thought were useful from veterinarians.  I've been stocking
up for years.  Let me look at that broken leg, Malina."
   She got up and pulled down the covers.  He snatched them back up.  "Hey,
why am I naked?"
   "I have been molesting you while you were asleep," she giggled.  "But
really, we had to wash you Mr.  Davis.  You were very sweaty sometimes. 
You were unconscious for many days.  You were unable to use the bathroom. I
have seen it all and washed it too.  You have no secrets from me."
   "Well, that's embarrassing.  Just because you did that doesn't mean
you're going to keep doing it.  Just uncover my leg."
   She did as he asked.
   "What's that contraption?  How did you make it?"
   "It is half your little cutting board.  I'm afraid we sacrificed it. 
After we straightened your leg we bandaged it to that board so it wouldn't
move."
   He reached down and felt along the bone above his ankle gingerly.  It
was very swollen, but he couldn't feel anything obviously wrong.
   "Well, it feels ok.  I think you girls did a good job.  I have materials
to make a fiberglass cast.  We'll do it tomorrow.  Malina, I'm afraid the
pill is making me very sleepy." His words began to slur.  "Would you mind
if I took a little nap?"
   "No, Mr.  Davis.  I will sleep too." His eyes were already closed and
she stood in thought for a moment.  Then she slipped her undershirt over
her head, discarded her boxers and slid in between the sheets, pressing her
naked form to his.
   When she woke up he was stirring uncomfortably in his sleep.  She
reached for the bottle of pills and got one out.  She stroked the side of
his face with her hand; the stubble along his jaw was growing softer as it
grew.
   He opened his eyes and she held up the pill.  He opened his mouth and
she put it in and gave him a drink.  In a few minutes he grew more
comfortable, and she slid one leg across his and pressed herself against
him.
   They slept again for a while.  Davis slowly woke and Malina was snuggled
into his side.  He wrapped his good arm around her and caressed her naked
back.  It slowly dawned on him that she had on no shirt.  He could feel her
pressing on his thigh and the feeling of soft curls between her legs was
unmistakable.
   He continued to stroke the silken skin of her back.  Her eyes opened and
he asked her, "Malina, why are you naked?"
   "I embarrassed you last night because I have seen you naked.  I thought
that if you were to see me naked you would no longer be embarrassed."
   "I would love to see you naked," he told her, "but not because of that."
   "For what reason then should it be?"
   "Because you want me to; that's the only reason."
   "But I do."
   "Then help me up so that I can go to the bathroom.  There are crutches
in the entry closet.  Would you get them for me?"
   She jumped out of bed and walked across the room in all her naked glory.
She returned with the crutches and helped him get up.  He could hardly take
his eyes off her.  She was youth and beauty personified.  She helped him
inside and retreated and closed the door.  He called her in a moment and
she returned and helped him to the bed.  His face was grey with pain when
he sank onto the bed.
   "I need underwear and gym shorts and a t-shirt."
   She got them for him and helped him put them on.
   "Your turn," he smiled at her.
   She padded off to her room and soon returned dressed in her usual night
wear.  "I am staying inside with you today," she explained.  "Calley is
outside doing the chores.  The dogs very much like the fish we caught for
them.  Calley has brought back the trailer and we have picked the garden.
We have very many vegetables and we need your help to make them into cans."
   He threw back his head and laughed.  "You mean you need my help to can
them."
   "Yes, that's what I said."
   "You're irrepressible, little girl.  Let's get this leg in a cast and
I'll walk you through it.  Help me to the couch."
   Calley came in carrying a bucket of milk as he made his slow way across
the living room.  She burst out in tears and called his name when she saw
him, put the milk on the bar and ran to them and helped him get to the
sofa. His teeth were clenched in pain by the time he crossed the big room
and he settled onto the sofa with a sigh of relief.
   "That bone shifts around every time I move.  We've got to get it
immobilized.  There's a box marked MXGT next to where you found the
antibiotics.  One of you get that and we'll make a cast.
   Malina hurried away and Calley strained the milk and put it in the
refrigerator.  By the time Malina returned with the box she was finished
and they sat on the coffee table in front of Davis and opened the box. 
There were several different colors of material inside and Davis raised his
leg with a groan and placed it between them.
   "I think I must have a spiral break and you girls did the right thing
setting it.  Now we have to cut off the splint you made and start wrapping
the casting material around my foot."
   Calley carefully cut the bandages away and they discarded the remains of
the cutting board.  She reached into the box and came up with a package of
bright pink strips.
   "Why pink?" he asked.  "I don't want a pink cast."
   "Of course you do, Mr.  Davis.  Pink is a beautiful color.  It will look
very simpatico on you," Malina objected.
   "That's what I think," Calley couldn't suppress her giggles.
   "Oh, all right," he laughed.  "Pink it is."
   The girls carefully wrapped his foot in the cotton liner and wound the
casting material around his foot, weaving a basket around the ankle and
then around and around until they reached the top of his calf.  They added
a rubber walking pad to the bottom embedding it in the casting material and
applied the hardener.  He hung it over the edge of the sofa until it
hardened and stood up.  He walked across the room on his crutches and felt
no pain.  The break was stabilized and he could begin to heal.
   "Wait a minute," Calley laughed.  She ran to his office and came back
with a black sharpie.  The girls giggled uncontrollably as they both wrote
their names on the cast.
   They changed his bandages and demanded that he admire the stitches they
had made.  Calley was very good with a needle and the running cross
stitches were neat and even.  The wound in his thigh was red and angry
looking and they suspected that was the source of his infection.  They
didn't know what to do about it.  Davis favored opening the wound a bit and
inserting a bit of surgical tubing so it could drain.  The girls were
horrified at the thought and so he agreed to wait a few days and continue
the antibiotic and see if it got better.
   "I'll give it a few weeks and then try the walking boot," he told them.
He sat at the bar and snapped green beans while the girls cut sweet corn
off the ears with electric knives.
   "I like frozen corn, but not green beans," he told them.  "We'll put the
corn in bags and put it in the freezer.  When we get that done we'll can
the beans." The corn was kind of a messy job and by the time they got it
packed in bags and the mess cleaned up Davis had the beans snapped and they
let them soak in salt water in the sink while they got the canner out, the
jars and lids located and put water in the canner to boil.  They packed the
beans in the jars and the water was boiling.  They filled the jars with hot
tap water and lowered them into the canner in a wire basket.  When the
water in the jars began to boil they put the lids on and removed them. 
They sat them on the counter to cool and Davis and the girls sat on the
sofa and talked.
   "Davis, I want to thank you for what you did back there on the river.  I
realized while you were sick that that's what would have happened to me if
I had stayed in Wichita.  That's what would have happened to Malina and I
both.  We'd either be dead or turning tricks for some pimp to stay alive.
If you hadn't taken us in we had nowhere else to go.  You saved our lives
that night, and you saved us at the store and then you saved me again on
the river.  You almost died to save me.  I'm very grateful Davis, but I
don't want you to do it again." She began to cry.
   "You're a better person than me and I don't want you to die because of
me.  I've just realized what a bitch I've been all my life.  I manipulated
people because I was prettier or smarter or more popular than they were.  I
came here with the idea of manipulating you.  You knew it and you let me
stay anyway.  Then you nearly died because of me.  Don't ever do that
again. If anyone is going to die it's going to be me.  If you die, Malina
and I won't make it on our own.  We're too ignorant.  Malina is the most
beautiful person I know and you and her would be just fine without me."
   "No Calley, that is not true," Malina objected.  "We wouldn't be just
fine without you.  I love you and I wouldn't be just fine.  Do you not love
Calley, Mr.  Davis?  I think you must.  One does not get shot for people
one doesn't love." Her angel blue eyes pierced him.
   "Yes Malina, I do love Calley."
   "You must tell her.  She is very lonely and unhappy.  Only if you love
her will she not feel this way."
   He put his good arm around her and squeezed her to him.  "I do love you
Calley.  We wouldn't be fine without you."
   "Really?" she looked at him with tear filled eyes.  "Even after I've
been so mean to you?"
   "Yes, even after you've been so mean to me.  You've changed Calley. 
That gold dusted reporter isn't you anymore.  It never was.  I always saw
something in you; that's why I told you my story to begin with.  You
thought it was because you dazzled me with your beauty and veiled hints of
more.  You are very beautiful, but I thought there was a very interesting
and beautiful person inside that stunning body.  I was right about you and
that's why I love you."
   "You were very cruel to Mr.  Davis, Calley; but he forgives you.  You
see, he loves you and I love you.  No one is going to die.  We are all
going to live and be very happy.  I do not want to hear any more of this
dying."
   "I'm sorry, Malina," Calley reached across and stroked her leg.  "I just
feel so bad about Davis getting shot because of me."
   "That's just the point Calley," Davis said.  "It's not your fault.  It
was Grizzly and that other son of a bitch that shot me.  They were going to
rape you and they were probably looking for Malina.  They would have shot
me whether you were there or not.  We made some mistakes and they cost us.
We won't do it again.  We're never going to be separate outside the fence
again.  We're going to carry guns everywhere we go.  Even inside the fence.
We're ok inside the wall, but if you go outside the wall, you have a long
gun and a pistol.  I shouldn't have left you there.  It's my fault you were
there by yourself and I'm sorry.  I'll never leave you alone again.  What
they did to you must have been awful for you."
   "Yes it was, but I knew you would come when you heard me scream.  I knew
if I could just hold them off you would come." She pulled his face down and
pressed her luscious lips against his for a long moment.  She finally
pulled back and her face was flushed.  "Thank you Davis."
   A tinny pop sounded from the counter.  "What was that?" Malina asked.
   "That was one of the jars sealing," he told her.  "They'll all make that
sound and then they'll keep for years because the air is sealed out and
bacteria can't grow without air.  There is a vacuum in the jar now.  If one
of them doesn't seal we'll eat them tonight."
   "Mr.  Davis, did you know my birthday was while you were sick?" she
asked.
   "No I didn't, happy birthday little girl.  I'll bake a cake, and we'll
have a party."
   "I love parties," she said.  "I am not jailbait anymore, Mr.  Davis."
   "I'll keep that in mind," he laughed.
   He hobbled around the kitchen and cooked supper while the girls did the
chores.  By the time they cleaned up he was ready.  The cake was in the
oven and he called them to the bar.  "This is an interactive meal," he told
them.
   He sliced a loaf of slightly sweet hard bread and fried it in butter. 
He gave them a piece of bread and a clove of garlic.
   "Bite the clove in half and put one half on your plate," he told them.
   They did it.  "Now rub the clove on the bread.  Then you take a bite of
the garlic and chew it once.  Take a bite of bread and let the flavor
explode."
   They did as they were instructed and a look of bliss passed over their
faces.  They alternated through bites of garlic and bread until they had
each eaten three pieces.  He poured them a glass of a slightly sweet rose
wine and they took a few sips.  When their palate was clean, he brought out
a plate of red leaf lettuce and romaine from the garden.  He got another
plate loaded with very thin slices of beef, fish and chicken.  It was
cooked with wine, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil.  He had dusted red
pepper over it and he told them to put a little meat in one of the lettuce
leaves.  A bowl sat on the bar containing a plum sauce and he told them to
put a dab on the meat, roll the lettuce up around the meat and eat it.
   They devoured it until the lettuce was gone and he went to the other
oven and removed a dish full of chicken breasts, pan fried and covered with
a heavy cream and sour cream sauce heavily laced with the red pepper.
   There were baby carrots with brown sugar and the timer binged on the
oven.  The cake was done and he applied the icing and found two candles. 
"I don't have 18 candles, I'm sorry Malina."
   "Two is perfect," she told him.
   She blew them out and refused to tell them what her wish was.
   Davis poured three glasses of a Pinot and they retired to the comfort of
the sofa.  Davis winced as he put his cast up on the table.
   "Do you need another pill?" Malina asked him.
   "Yes, I guess I do," he admitted.  Calley went and got one and he was
comfortable in a short while.
   She went to his stereo and looked over his music lists.  She found a CD
called Morning Dance, by Spyro Gyra and put it in.  The mellow sounds
filled the room and Davis gingerly took his arm out of its sling and put
one around each girl.  He stroked the smooth skin of their arms and sighed.
   "Are you happy, little girl?" he asked Malina.
   "Very much happy," she said.  "I miss Spain a very little, and my
mother, but you are my family now and I am content.  Are you happy, Mr. 
Davis?"
   "Very much happy," he laughed.  "I was ok before you girls came, but I
always felt like I was waiting for something.  After Cindy was killed, I
sort of thought I'd had my chance and missed the boat.  Now I have you and
I feel like maybe the boat is coming around again.  Calley, are you happy?"
   "I can't imagine that I would be.  I thought happy was all about career
and importance and money and glamour.  I thought I was happy.  Maybe I was.
I can't remember.  I'm happy to be alive.  I'm happy that I haven't been
raped.  I'm not happy that the world is going to hell in a hand basket. 
I'm not happy that people are dying and that the violent are killing the
weak.  But I'm happy I'm here and not there.  I'm happy that you and Malina
are here with me.  I can't think of anyone else I'd rather dance on the
edge of chaos with.  So yes, I am happy.  I'll be even happier if you kiss
me again." She blushed a little and looked up at him.  He pressed his lips
against her luscious ones and her breath quickened.
   Malina felt left out.  "May I kiss you too, Calley?"
   "Yes you can." The two girls embraced and their lips moved against the
others for a long moment.  Davis was stunned.  "That is the hottest thing
I've ever seen," he told them when the kiss ended.
   They both giggled and Malina locked her fingers behind his neck and
kissed him fiercely.  He felt her little tongue against his lips.  He
parted them and it darted inside for a moment.  He caught her pouty lower
lip gently between his teeth and she pulled it slowly away.
   "I'm a sick man," he told them."I've been shot and I'm not up to this.
Help me to bed.
   Chapter 5
   Agent Lonnie Matuszi, formerly of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms, was growing desperate.  The raid on the estate in Augusta had
gone horribly wrong.  His partner was dead and he had barely escaped. 
There shouldn't have been that many people inside and they shouldn't have
been that heavily armed.  He hadn't heard from his superiors for three
months and they had lived by hiding and going out at night and making
raids. The Augusta job should have left them sitting pretty.  The owners
had been preppers and they would have been well equipped.  As it turned
out, they had been too well equipped and they had a small army inside. 
They had fought doggedly and when Evans was hit Matuszi and been force to
abandon his dying partner.
   They seemed to be vengeful as well and they had pursued him past the
point when reason would seem to dictate that they wouldn't find him. 
Augusta was a small town and they had been going house to house looking for
him.  He had stolen a motorcycle and got away.  He was hiding out at an
abandoned grain elevator.
   He went through his files.  He had been thinking about a case he
remembered.  A rancher out in western Kansas had applied for, and been
granted, a permit to own automatic weapons.  Matuszi had done some research
and the man was nuts.  He had taken his money and turned it into gold and
silver to the tune of 40 million dollars.  His permit had been approved
based on terrorist threats made against him by a paramilitary group.  He
had also obtained a permit for a German 43 Panzerschreck Bazooka, and
registered 50 rocket rounds as Destructive Devices.  The rounds had been
manufactured by a local machine shop to his specifications.  He also owned
a Browning M2 .50 BMG.  Matuszi had been investigating him for two years,
looking for possible weapons violations but the man seldom left his ranch
and wouldn't allow the BATF on his property without a warrant.
   He was just one guy and Matuszi felt like with some help the man would
be an easy target.  If he could get his hands on that hard currency and the
supplies he had stockpiled he would be sitting pretty.  He had a couple of
people in mind.  He had worked with a fellow BATF agent named Gerald
Johnson before, and he knew he was running a prostitution racket out of a
club called Wild Cherries on the south side.  Johnson had a crew of thugs
and they could easily knock off a soft target.  He would show Johnson the
file and the smell of all that money should be enough.
   Chapter 6
   With Davis confined to the crutches, the work that fell on the girls
increased.  Calley complained a little, but they took it in stride.  They
took Davis with them when they went outside the wall and he rode in the
Polaris when they went to check the cows or pigs.  One sow gave birth and
they were delighted with the 8 piglets.  Davis warned them not to get too
close to the tiny pigs on foot.
   "That sow will eat you both.  I want my pigs to be wild.  They fend for
themselves down here along the creek and that's the way I want them.  They
aren't pets; they're mean and short tempered.  I start feeding them corn
when I want to eat one.  That gets them coming to the feeder so I don't
have to hunt for them and they taste better.  Even the dogs stay away from
them.  I imagine they could take one down, but they know they'd get torn up
in the process.
   "But they are so cute," Malina objected.  "Can't we take just one home?"
   "Why?" Davis asked.  "Do you think their mother is cute?"
   "No, she is very dirty.  She is not at all cute."
   "They are going to grow up and look just like her.  We're going to kill
and eat all the males.  We'll have a Hawaiian pig roast when they get the
right size."
   Malina still wanted to pet one, but the thought of a pig roast consoled
her somewhat.
   "Will you wear a grass skirt, Davis?" Calley teased him.
   "I don't know how to make a grass skirt," he laughed.  "If you make me
one I'll wear it.  But you both have to wear one too.  And, you have to
wear one of those flower necklaces and nothing else but the grass skirt.  I
hear the Hawaiian women dress like that, and you have to do one of those
dances."
   Malina's eyes sparkled with excitement.  "I would love to wear a grass
skirt.  Can you make them Calley?"
   "I might, but did you hear all the other stuff?  I'm not doing one of
those dances with my boobs hanging out.  Besides, Davis is a sick man; he
can't handle all the excitement."
   "Tonter'a, it is absurd.  Of course we will dance.  This would please
Mr. Davis and I like to make him happy.  Has he not made you happy Calley?
You said so yourself.  It is the least we can do."
   "I obviously didn't know what I was saying," he laughed.  "I won't wear
a grass skirt.  You girls can't make me and I just said that because I knew
you wouldn't do it.  My fever must be coming back and I was temporarily
deranged.  I should have known better.  Thank you Malina for wanting to
make me happy, but I'm not wearing a grass skirt."
   "We will see.  You are weak and Calley and I can easily overpower you.
When will we have the pig roast?"
   "Some of the older pigs are just about ready.  Let's feed them corn for
two weeks and then we'll do it.  But I warn you that I'm armed and I will
shoot you if you try to put a grass skirt on me."
   "Ha, we will catch you asleep and restrain you.  Then we will keep you
tied up in the grass skirt and do the dance and you won't be able to
touch."
   "You are a devious little girl Malina.  ok, I'll wear the skirt.  Please
don't tie me up."
   She laughed.  "It was a joke, Mr.  Davis.  I would never tie you up;
unless you wanted me to." She looked at him speculatively.  "Would you like
to tie me up?
   "Malina!  You're shameless!" Calley burst out.
   They all laughed hysterically and the pigs, startled by the outburst ran
into the woods.
   ****
   The bouncer on the door of Wild Cherries recognized Matuszi and waved
him in.  A heavy bass beat filled the club and a young girl was humping a
pole on the stage.  Johnson was seated at a table in the back and two huge
bodyguards stood behind him against the wall.  One of them stepped forward
and patted Matuszi down.  He found the .357 and took it.  He stepped back
and Matuszi stepped forward.
   "Matuszi," Johnson indicated a seat, "how's business?"
   "Not so good.  Evans bought it two days ago.  I barely got away.  I'm
planning to change that."
   "How are you going to do that?"
   "I have a business proposition for you; a 40 million dollar
proposition."
   "What kind of dollars?"
   "40 million in gold and silver.  I'm talking dollars back in 2000. 
Maybe another 10 million in gems, art, liquor and supplies."
   "Who do we have to kill?"
   "One man.  His name is Davis Rade and he's a prepper.  He was a baseball
player back in the day; a hell of a baseball player.  He made millions in
salary and endorsements.  He didn't spend a dime of it till he retired. 
Then he bought a ranch and started prepping.  He turned most of that money
into land, gold and silver, precious gems, art and a mountain of supplies."
   "So why do I need you?  Why don't I just knock him off myself and keep
it all?"
   "You don't know where he's at.  I do.  He'll be a tough nut to crack and
you need me.  You know I'm a sniper.  You find me a good rifle and I'll
take him out and we move in.  We split 50/50."
   "Expenses come out of your half," Johnson said.  "I pick the team and
you pay them."
   "Deal.  When can you be ready?"
   "Give me two weeks.  Bastards downtown are trying to muscle in down
south.  I deal with them and I'm ready to move.  Where's this Rade at."
   "West and south.  I tell you when we're on the road."
   "Where's all that trust, Matuszi?"
   "Oh, I trust you.  I'm just keeping one hand on the wheel."
   ****
   Davis had the girls building an addition on the wall.  "I had always
planned to get around to this, but now that there are three of us, we can
man it right."
   "What are we building?" Calley asked.
   "A guardhouse," he told her.  "I've got a heavy machine gun and a rocket
launcher.  I'd like to build a platform so we could fire down if we need
to. The machine gun I've got would make us nearly invincible if we could
get it up there and make a mount for it.  I can make a shield and only a
lucky shot could get us."
   He was using the walking heel some and he could get around short
distances fairly well.  The girls loaded timbers, lumber and tools onto the
trailer and pulled it up at the site.  They dug four deep holes, Davis
dragged up four telephone poles with his small tractor, and they used the
tractor loader to raise them into place.  They mixed concrete and filled
the holes around the poles with rock and cement.  Davis built an internal
structure with lumber and stairs, turning at two landings, leading to a ten
foot square platform at the top.  The girls mixed mortar in Davis' small
mixer and Davis laid blocks up the sides of the structure as high as he
could reach.
   He sent Malina to a shed for scaffolding and he helped them assemble it.
"I can't climb that, girls; you watched me, do you think you can lay the
blocks the rest of the way."
   They felt like they could and they proved it by finishing the tower. 
Davis handed up long iron rods and they inserted the rods every two feet
into the holes in the blocks.  Davis mixed concrete and they carried it up
in buckets and poured in into the holes, filling the blocks with concrete.
   The tower had a wall around the edge, three feet high, and openings in
the blocks at both sides and one facing the driveway.  They drove Davis to
the bunker to get the guns and he took them on a tour, explaining what was
in each box or crate.
   He punched in a code and a heavy steel vault door opened.
   "This is the treasury for the state of Rade, De la Vega and Nebrija. 
You know the combination.  It's the same as the safe in the house."
   The room was lined with shelves and steel boxes lined the shelves.  He
opened one and the girls looked inside.  It was filled with gold coins.  He
took two out and handed one to each girl.
   "It is beautiful.  What is it?" Malina asked.
   "It's a one ounce American Eagle bullion coin.  You couldn't get gold
coins for years.  In the late eighties, they started minting them again.  I
started buying 15 years ago."
   "Are all these boxes full of gold?" Calley asked.  "No wonder you didn't
want mine.  You can still have it if you want it Davis."
   "No, but you can store it down here if you want to.  I don't need your
money Calley.  It's yours and you should keep it.  It's like Malina said,
all I need is for you to be my friend.  I know you are, and no, they aren't
all filled with gold."
   "May I keep this one?" Malina asked.
   "Of course.  Take a handful if you want."
   "No, I only want this one.  What is in the other boxes?"
   "Take a look," he led them to the next section.
   He opened another box and took out two silver coins.  "These are 2 ounce
silver coins from Provident Metals.  You can keep that one too, Malina."
   "How much money do you have Davis?" Calley asked.
   "There's 40 million here in gold and silver.  Come here, you'll both
like this."
   He led them to a group of a dozen large wooden chests.  He opened the
lid of one and the girls gasped.  Shelves, lined with burgundy felt, were
attached to the lid and jewelry lined the shelves.  There were a dozen
cloth bags in the bottom of the chest.  The jewelry was gold and rubies
glinted in the settings.  He opened the string and the bag was full of
rubies.  He selected a pendent with a stone as large as the end of her
finger and he lifted Calley's hair and fastened it around her neck.  It
hung in the deep valley between her breasts and the red glow, contrasted
with her tawny skin, seemed alive with her heartbeat.  He lifted her chin
and she looked into his eyes.  He tasted her lips and they became alive
against his.  He pulled away and her face was flushed.
   "That's for you," he told her.  "I'll bet diamonds would look good on
you too."
   "Oh no Davis, I can't take this.  It's too expensive."
   "Too expensive for what?  It makes me happy to be able to give you
things.  Malina likes to make me happy.  Do you like to make me happy?"
   "Yes, but look at this.  It's too much Davis."
   "Too much for what?  You need to learn how to let people be kind to you
Calley.  Just say, `thank you Davis.'"
   "Thank you Davis," she whispered.
   "It's my pleasure.  I want to make you happy too, Calley."
   He took Malina's hand and led her to a chest three places down.  He
opened the lid and took out three pieces.  They were white gold, set with
large sapphires.  He fastened a necklace with a huge blue stone on a fine
chain around her neck and took the gold hoops out of her ears.  He put
sapphire and diamond studs in her ears.  "For your blue eyes," he said.
   She lifted her lips, eyes closed expectantly and she was too cute to
resist.  He tasted the full lips and she put her arms around his neck and
responded with a passion that surprised him.
   She danced away and showed Calley.  "Are they not beautiful Calley?  I
like your ruby too." She reached out and ran a finger over it.
   "You can wear any of this stuff you want," Davis told them.  "Just don't
lose it.  It's worth a king's ransom."
   "No, how could we lose such beautiful things.  We must wear them only on
special occasions.  Perhaps when we do the dance in the grass skirts
Calley?"
   "No, flowers only," Davis laughed.  "We didn't come down here for this.
I just wanted to show you everything.  Let's go to the gun room.  But if
you need anything down here, use it.  It's yours."
   They unpacked the big Browning M2 and wiped off the oil.  The girls
carried the heavy gun out to the Ranger and made several more trips for
ammunition.  Davis had welded up a mount and they attached it with a pin.
   They built a roof and Davis declared that the job was finished.  The
girls had been feeding the pigs corn and they had selected one that Davis
thought would be just the size to roast.  They used the back hoe attachment
for the tractor to dig a pit.  The girls were learning to run it and they
took turns digging.  The soil was better along the creek; not so sandy and
containing more clay, so they dug there.  They filled the pit with pecan
wood and set it on fire.  It burned all night and in the morning they
filled it again.  While it burned down to coals they drove to the feeder
and found the pig they wanted.
   "Do one of you want to shoot him?" Davis asked them.
   Calley did not but Malina was excited at the opportunity.  They
positioned themselves and when the pig came back she shot him between the
eyes.  Davis hobbled quickly to it and cut its jugular.  Blood spurted out
and the pig soon quit kicking.  They drug it to a tree with the Ranger and
used a block and tackle to raise it off the ground and Davis eviscerated
it.
   They saved the organs and fat in buckets and they loaded it into the
Ranger and took it to the house.  The girls got burlap sacks and put them
in the spring and weighted them down with rocks.  They put the fat in five
gallon buckets with lids and put them in the freezer to render into lard
later.  Davis washed the pig carefully and removed the loins through an
incision in the skin.  He got potatoes and whole onions and carrots.  He
inserted the loins and the organs, along with the vegetables and many
cloves of garlic and spices into the body cavity and sewed it shut with
butcher's twine.
   The girls were fascinated with the process and watched closely, running
errands and keeping busy.
   "I'm sorry we don't have any fresh pineapple," he told them.  "Should we
try canned pineapple?"
   They wanted to try the canned so he opened the pig up a little and they
poured three cans inside and rubbed the skin with the juice.
   "We need banana leaves," he told them.
   "We have none," Malina told him.  "What will we do?"
   "Yes we do have some.  In the southwest corner of the greenhouse are two
banana trees.  Bring me about 30 leaves."
   "I didn't know we had a banana tree," Calley said.
   "Sorry, I should have taken you through the greenhouse.  I'm always
forgetting you don't know what we have.  The bananas aren't ready to eat
yet so I just never mentioned it.  Bring the leaves and we'll get this bad
boy in the ground."
   They ran away to get the leaves and when they returned they wrapped the
pig in the banana leaves.  He sent them after the wet burlap and they
wrapped the pig tightly and Calley sewed it together.  They wrapped the
whole thing in chicken wire and Davis attached a piece of chain to the
wire. They loaded it in the Ranger and took the pig to the fire pit.  Davis
threw a piece of sheet metal on the coals and they swung the pig into the
pit with the tractor.
   The girls put a larger piece of tin over the top and Davis covered it
with dirt.  The oven in the earth was done.
   "What shall we do now?" Malina asked.
   "Now we wait," he said.
   "How long will we wait?"
   "We'll wait eight hours; long enough for it to steam and then roast."
   Davis had a picnic table in the back yard.  They dragged it over onto
the back patio where he had a large, circular fire pit.  They filled the
fire pit with cedar and Davis got a redwood sofa out of a shed and put big
fluffy cushions on it.  He brought out matching tables and put them in
front of the sofa.
   The girls brought out yellow dishes and a cooler with two bottles of the
cabernet Davis recommended.  They got stemware and Davis brought another
picnic table and covered it with butcher paper.  They brought out a yellow
tablecloth and finally as the sun began to set, Davis declared that the pig
was done.
   They removed the burlap wrapped pig from the pit using the front end
loader on the tractor to lift it with the chain and put it on the picnic
table.  Davis cut off the wire, unwrapped the burlap and discarded it.  It
was charred nearly through in many places.  The banana leaves were also
charred and a wonderful fragrance of roasted pork filled the courtyard. 
Davis lit the cedar in the fire pit and the flames leaped and played on the
walls and the sweet smell of burning cedar filled the air as the flames
crackled.  He opened the pig and removed the cuts he had put inside.  He
put two loins on a platter and carved.  The girls had disappeared.  He
filled their plates with the roasted pork, potatoes, carrots and an onion.
He opened the wine and poured three glasses.  He heard the patio door slide
open and the sound of female voices.  They came outside and he saw that
they had donned the grass skirts.  Each girl had a brightly colored lei
around her neck, a garland of the same flowers in her hair and nothing
else. Their hair hung down nearly to their navels and glimpses of bare
flesh flashed as they walked.
   Calley had a third grass skirt in her hand and they walked up and stood
in front of him.  He couldn't move.
   "Close your mouth Davis," Calley laughed.  "You look like you've seen a
ghost.  Time for your end of the bargain." She held the grass skirt and a
safety pin out tward him.
   He swallowed twice, his mouth was dry and he had trouble speaking.
   "Sweet Jesus!  You two are gorgeous.  You look like you just walked off
a beach in Honolulu.  I never thought you'd do it Calley.  I knew Malina
would, but look at you."
   He took the skirt and examined it.  There was a waistband of cloth and
the grass was sewn to the waistband.  It looked like the leaves of big
bluestem that grew around his ranch.  The skirt wrapped around and the
waistband could be pinned together.
   He took it and wrapped it around his waist and Malina helped him pull
his t-shirt over his head while Calley pinned his skirt.  It reached
halfway down to his knees and his green shorts hung out from underneath.
   "That looks very unauthentic," Calley told him.  "Lose the shorts."
   "I can't," he said, "You'll have to help me."
   She pulled his shorts off and helped him get them over the cast, leaving
him in boxers.
   They sat down and begin to eat.  They ate with their fingers and the
juices ran down their chins.  They dried them with yellow checked hand
towels and the girls declared that they had never eaten anything so
delicious.  When they had eaten all they could hold they cleaned up and
carried the remains of the pig into the cooler for storage until tomorrow.
   They went back to the fire and Davis refilled their wine glasses and the
girls led him to the sofa and seated him in the center.  Calley went into
the house and came back with an iPod dock.  Sounds of Santana's Change Your
Evil Ways filled the air and the two women moved close to Davis and with
the fire at their back they raised their arms over their heads and began to
sway.  Malina slipped her lei down around her waist and Calley threw back
her hair.
   Her breasts were magnificent.  They stood out high and proud, not a
centimeter of sag in spite of their weight.  Her nipples were small and
capped large brown areola that formed small, elevated cones on the tip of
each big breast.  Her waist was very narrow and her hips flared
dramatically into the waistband of the grass skirt.  They elevated from
side to side as she moved and swayed to the music.
   Malina was a study in contrasts.  Her breasts were perfectly shaped
inverted cones and she was very slender yet sensual at the same time.  She
had the same swell of hip but in miniature.  Her honey golden skin
glistened in the fire light and he could tell that they had both oiled
themselves.  Malina's tiny brown nipples were obviously erect with
excitement and her golden hair caressed them sensuously.  They faced each
other and danced closer, their nipples touching and rubbing.  They kissed
as they continued to sway and Davis could hardly sit still.
   The song came to an end and they ran to him.  They sat beside him and
sipped their wine, snuggling into his sides.  He stroked their oily
shoulders and arms, skin silky smooth under his fingers and breasts warm
against his chest.  He wrapped his arms around them and pulled them close.
   Calley looked up at him.  "Did you like your dance Davis?"
   "It was the most erotic thing I could ever imagine."
   "Were we not beautiful?" Malina asked.
   "Gorgeous!  You were amazing," he told her.
   She took his hand and slid it down to one pert breast.  "You may touch
me if you like," she looked up at him with a drop of wine on her lower lip.
He kissed it away and cupped the breast in his hand.  He stroked the hard
nipple with his thumb and she shuddered with pleasure.
   He slid his hand lower on Calley's shoulder and looked at her.  She
nodded her assent and he tested the weight of one big breast in his hand.
He squeezed gently and the resilient flesh gave and overflowed his hand. 
He claimed her lips and rolled Malina's little nipple between his thumb and
finger.  She moaned and took his arm from around her shoulder, pulling his
hand down across her breasts.  He caressed her firm belly, lost in Calley's
lips, and his fingers dipped into the indention of her small navel.  They
moved lower still, stroking her lower belly above the skirt and she moaned
again.  Calley moved and pulled his head to one breast and her breath
caught as he captured the nipple.  He pulled with his lips and she threw
her head back and her moan joined Malina's.
   A branch exploded in the fire and they started.  They laughed and the
erotic spell was broken.  They leaned back into the cushions and put their
feet up.  Davis toyed with their nipples and twined his fingers in their
hair and they talked in low voices and drank wine until the fire died away.
   Calley kissed him, rose and said that she needed to wash the oil off. 
"I'm going to take a long bath."
   "Can I watch?" Davis asked.
   "Wait until you get your cast off and your wounds heal," she promised
him.
   "I'm going to break it off tomorrow," he laughed.
   She dimpled up and reached out a hand to Malina.  "Would you care to
join me?" she asked.
   "Yes Calley, I love baths," She kissed Davis and the two girls held
hands and walked into the house as Davis' imagination ran wild.
   Chapter Seven
   Something was wrong with the dogs.  They came and sat at Davis' feet
every time he went outside.  They would sit for a moment and then get up
and run to the gate.  They would stop and look back at him and then repeat
the process.  He called the girls after the third time.
   "Watch this," he said.
   The dogs repeated their cycle twice more.  "What do you think they're
doing?"
   "It looks like they're trying to get you to follow them," Calley said.
   He walked to the gate and the dogs ran outside when he opened the gate.
They ran down the driveway fifty yards and stopped and looked back at him.
Lilly ran back and took his hand gently in her teeth and pulled on it.
   "I think you're right Calley.  They want me to go with them.  Get the
Jeep and we'll see what they want."
   She ran and got the Jeep and pulled up beside Davis.  He got in and this
seemed to confuse the dogs.
   "Walk with them, Malina."
   Malina walked behind the dogs and Calley and Davis followed in the Jeep.
The dogs kept just ahead of Malina and they led them across the prairie to
the fence.  The dogs sat, looking out through the fence across the prairie.
There was a small hill just beyond the fence and they could see lines of
gypsum running across its face.  Malina got back in the Jeep and they sat
there for a minute.  They were perhaps half a mile from the house and there
was nothing unusual in sight.  Davis scanned the area but saw nothing.
   "Calley, drive down the fence until I tell you to stop," he told her.
   She drove slowly along until the fence curved and he could see behind
the hill.  There was an ATV parked there.
   "Ok, back to the house," he said.
   The dogs laid down in the grass and watched the hill and he left them
outside.
   When they got inside he sat the girls down at the bar and got them a
glass of tea.
   "Someone is watching us," he told them.  "Until we find out what's going
on, you girls are going to stay inside.  Whoever it is is on Z bar land.  I
don't recognize that ATV.  I know the Z bar people pretty well.  Unless
they've got a new ATV in the last month, that's not theirs.  I don't know
how they would have gotten a new ATV.  If they stay out there the Z bar
riders will spot them eventually.  They have fifty people on that ranch and
nobody wants to mess with them.  That's a pretty tough bunch; old time
cowboys that will fight at the drop of a hat.  I'd run over there and ask
but I don't want to leave you here and I don't want to leave the place
empty by us all going.  I've got a big telescope and we'll watch and see if
we can find out anything."
   They set the telescope up and focused it in on the top of the hill. 
Davis looked through his binoculars and he could see that the dogs were
still there.  They got up occasionally and walked up and down the fence for
a while and then disappeared back into the tall grass.
   Calley watched through the telescope and Davis sent Malina on an errand.
   "Just inside the bunker door there is a electrical box with a red
handle. Pull the handle down.  That will electrify the fence and give
anyone that touches it a nasty surprise.  I don't like to leave it on," he
told Calley.  "It will kill animals that touch it accidently and I hate
that.  The cattle and the dogs know to stay clear, but wild animals don't.
Keep the house between you and that hill."
   Malina returned and informed them that the fence was now charged.  That
would quickly drain their electrical reserve so Davis took them to a small
concrete building and showed them how to run the generator.  They stayed
inside the rest of the day and the girls took turns on the telescope.  They
saw nothing, and when Davis got up in the morning, breakfast was ready and
the girls were talking excitedly and taking turns peering through the
telescope.
   "Davis, good morning, you were very tired this morning.  We have found a
person!  He is watching us.  Come and see." Malina was very excited.
   Davis hobbled to the telescope and put his eye to the viewfinder.  It
was focused on a black form on the top of the hill.  It was a man in dark
clothing wearing a baseball cap.  He had a rifle in his hands and he was
looking at the compound through a large scope.  Davis was a gun expert and
the man's weapon looked like a CheyTac LRRS to him.  So far as he knew that
weapon was only available to the military and law enforcement and the
clothes the man had on looked like standard FBI or BATF swat gear.
   "I think he's a federal cop of some kind," he told the girls.
   "What would he be doing?" Calley asked.
   "I don't know.  There's no way he could be doing anything official for
the government.  There hasn't been a government for at least 6 months.  The
fact that he's got a military sniper rifle tells me he isn't up to anything
good.  We're at extreme range for the gun he's got.  He's not going to hit
much at more than 2500 yards.  If he's good he can sit on that hill and
kill us in the back yard.  We can't go out there anymore until this is
resolved.  Damn it, I'm a cripple and this hole in my chest isn't healed
enough to do much.  This couldn't have happened at a worse time.  We're
going to have to do chores after dark and in the dark.  He can't stay up
there all the time but we have to assume that he's always watching."
   "Calley and I are able to fight," Malina told him.  "We have not
forgotten that you are wounded protecting us.  We will protect you."
   He hugged her.  "I don't want you fighting little girl.  I'm too afraid
you'll get hurt.  If they come through the fence we'll fight, but as long
as he stays out there, we'll just have to put up with it.  Maybe the Z bar
boys will spot them."
   Two days later, Davis got his first look at the man's face.  There were
two of them up on the hill now and the man with the rifle took off his ball
cap and was speaking to the second.
   "I know that guy," Davis told Calley who had noticed that she could see
the man's face.  "He's a BATF agent that has been harassing me for 5 years.
His name is Matuszi.  He's a BATF sniper.  He was one of the guys that
worked on my class 3 weapons permit after Cindy was killed.  What the
hell?"
   ****
   Agent Matuszi was a patient man.  Johnson was not.  "Why don't you do
something?" he complained.  "We can't just sit here.  You haven't seen
anything for 3 days."
   "What would you like me to do?  I think he knows we're here.  Those dogs
down there definitely know we're here."
   "If he knows we're here he isn't going to show himself.  I'll go get the
rest of the men and we'll cut that fence and take him out the hard way."
   "Are you kidding?  Those dogs will eat us alive.  They're huge.  Look at
them," he handed Johnson his binoculars.
   "Jesus, they're monsters.  What are they?"
   "I don't know.  Some kind of Mastiff, but they're way more athletic than
any Mastiff I've ever seen.  Those are man killers Johnson.  We've got to
get them out of the way."
   "Shoot them then.  I'll get the men and you get rid of those dogs."
   He slid back a few feet and walked to the ATV and drove away.  They were
staying in an abandoned house 5 miles away.  He heard a shot when he was a
mile away and smiled.  Matuszi was taking care of the dogs.
   That shot was Matuszi's first mistake.  He made the shot and the bullet
smashed Lilly into the grass.  She was killed instantly and the result was
not what he expected.  The other two dogs instantly disappeared into the
tall grass and he couldn't locate them.  The next time he saw them they
were running through the gate in the wall and to the front of the house
where he couldn't see them.  The gate in the wall closed.
   ****
   Two miles away, Chip Hardesty was working on a windmill.  He was a
weathered old cowboy and he knew a rifle shot when he heard one.  It
sounded like it came from Rade's place.  He never knew Rade to waste a
shot. Maybe he was hunting, but Hardesty decided to check it out.  He put
his tools in his saddlebags and rode toward Rade's house.
   He knew Rade pretty well and he liked the kid.  He always had a beer for
a thirsty rider and he was always ready to hunker down and shoot the breeze
for half an hour.  The old man loved that boy.  Rade had worked summers on
the Z bar and his daddy had owned the property just to the north.  The old
man bought that piece of land from Rade after his father died and had sold
the land Rade owned along Elm Creek to him.
   Hardesty approached cautiously.  His horse seemed nervous about
something.  He kept off the skyline and dismounted below the crest of the
biggest hill around and crept to the overlook.  There was nothing stirring
at the house when Hardesty looked through his binoculars.  He looked around
the property and spotted a dark form lying on the ground near the fence. 
It was one of Rade's dogs.  It had a big bloody hole in its side.  Rade
loved those dogs.  Hardesty swore and searched the hill beyond the fence.
He spotted Matuszi, prone and looking through the scope of a rifle at the
house.  The son of a bitch was on Z bar land and he had obviously killed
that dog.  He had Rade pinned down in the house.
   Hardesty eased back down the hill and jumped on his horse.  He quickly
gave it a touch of the spur and rode for the Z bar at a quick lope.  He
pulled up at the main house an hour later and jumped down.  His horse was
heaving and he dropped the reigns.  It would stand there ground tied for
hours.  He ran to the front door.  He could see Angus sitting at the
kitchen table with his foreman.
   "Boss, you better come out here," he called.
   Angus Bachman was a small, wiry man with a deeply tanned and lined face.
He walked out on the porch.  "What's up Hardesty?"
   "I was working on that broken windmill over by Rade's place.  I heard a
shot and I went to check it out.  There's a fellow with a big rifle sitting
up on a hill watching the house.  He killed one of Rade's dogs.  That was
the shot I heard.  I think the boy's in trouble boss.  I rode straight back
here.  I know you like that boy, hell, I like him myself.  The guy with the
gun is on our place outside Rade's fence."
   "Damn it to hell, run and round up everyone you can find.  Everyone gets
a rifle.  They've already got side arms.  Beckett," he turned to his
foreman, "get on the radio and get everyone in a vehicle to go to Davis'
place.  We'll meet down at the creek where the big spring comes in.  Move
gentlemen."
   Hardesty ran down to the barn and Beckett went to a truck and got on the
radio.  Nine men came running and picked up weapons.  Hardesty came running
back with three more and they jumped in trucks and started south.
   "I got 13 on the radio and they're headed for the creek.  By the time we
get there they'll be there.  We should have 25 men boss," Beckett told him.
   "If they hurt that boy I'm going to tie them to the bumper and drag them
to death," Angus growled.  "I promised his Daddy I'd look out for him and I
aim to keep that promise."
   ****
   Agent Johnson was back with his crew and seven men watched the house
from the hill.  Johnson was angry that Matuszi hadn't gotten all the dogs.
He gave a pair of bolt cutters to one of his guys and sent him down to cut
the fence.
   The man cautiously approached the fence.  He looked around and saw
nothing.  He reached out with the bolt cutters.  As the tool touched the
fence there was an explosion of sparks and he cried out as 7000 volts
surged through his body.  He fell against the fence and his body spasmed
and his clothes began to smoke.  He continued to spasm and then a breaker
tripped and he was still."
   "Jesus H.  Christ," Johnson exploded.  "You didn't tell me the fence was
electrified.  It burned him up!"
   "I didn't know," Matuszi protested.  "How could I know that?  Look, it
blew a breaker.  It's dead now.  We can cut it.  Send somebody down before
they reset the breaker."
   "You go down and do it," Johnson told him.  "I'm not risking anyone
else."
   Matuszi ran down and quickly opened a five foot gap in the fence.  He
ran back up the hill.  "All clear.  Go and I'll keep them pinned down. 
When you get to the wall I'll come through."
   "Go fellows.  Get through that fence and stop under the walls," Johnson
told them.
   They grabbed weapons and ran down the hill and crawled through the
fence. The first man through stood up as the remaining four crawled
through.
   Davis and the girls saw the lights flicker and dim when the first man
was electrocuted.  They came back up when the breaker tripped.  Davis
grabbed the rifle beside the patio door and parted the curtain looking
toward the hill.
   "Here they come," he told them.
   The girls picked up their riot guns and came and stood beside him.
   Davis jacked a shell into the .300 Winchester Magnum and took a rest
with one hand on the door.  "Cover your ears," he told them.
   One of the men stood up and Davis shot him in the chest.  He was smashed
back on top of one of the crawling men behind his and they all rolled into
the grass.  Three shots from the hill shattered the glass in the patio door
and Davis dove back into the house, pulling the girls with him.  He hit
hard and felt the bullet hole in his thigh open when he hit the floor. 
They crawled further into the living room and Davis stood up and hobbled to
the kitchen window.
   He saw a cloud of dust coming along the fence from the direction of the
creek and he saw the Z bar vehicles flying along the fence.  Two circled
the hill and men jumped out and a thunder of gunfire roared as the Z bar
men shot the intruders inside the fence to rags.  The Z bar hands crawled
through the hole in the fence and checked the bodies.  They were all dead.
They crawled back through the hole and got in their vehicles and drove
around to the gate.
   Calley opened the gates and the convoy pulled up in the front drive.  As
the gate opened, two dark forms slipped out.  Anubis and Issus ran outside.
   "Hey guys, where are you going?" Calley called to them.  They stopped
and looked back at her, the stumps of their tails wagged furiously.  She
laughed, "Oh, go ahead.  Have fun." They trotted away and disappeared into
the tall grass.  Men came pouring out of the trucks and Davis hobbled to
the door with the Malina helping him and opened it.
   Angus and Beckett came in and the old rancher embraced Davis.  "Son, I
don't know who those men were but they weren't here for your birthday
party."
   "Hello Angus, Beckett," he nodded at the tall foreman.  "They were here
to kill me I think.  There's a rogue BATF agent with them.  Did you see a
guy in a black SWAT suit?"
   "He was running like a jack rabbit with another guy.  They jumped in a
Jeep and they were high tailing it north.  Six of the boys are chasing
them. We'll find out directly what happened to them."
   "Thanks Angus, I was never so glad to see anyone in my life when I saw
you boys coming along the fence."
   "Hey, your Daddy was the best friend I ever had.  You're a good boy
Davis and a good neighbor.  Those sons of bitches were on my land, trying
to kill a boy I've known since he was in diapers and that pisses me off. 
Who are these two lovely ladies, Davis?  I don't believe I've been
introduced."
   "This is Calista De la Vega and that's Malina Nebrija.  Girls, this is
Angus Bachman.  He's been like an uncle to me all my life.  He owns the
30,000 acre empire known as the Z bar."
   Angus took off his hat and shook their hands.  "Pleased to meet you. 
What are you doing hanging around with this bum?  You know he's a baseball
player, right?  Never done an honest day's work in his life.  He used to
work for me when he was in college at Wichita State, if you could call it
work."
   "Mr.  Davis has adopted us," Malina explained.  "We ran away from
Wichita and came here and he has been very kind to us.  Calley and I are in
love with him.  He has saved us many times and he works very hard to keep
us safe.  I do not believe that he has never worked." Her Spanish accent
deepened and her blue eyes flashed as she grew angry at his description of
Davis.
   "Lord, young lady, I was just kidding.  I know he's a hard worker.  I'm
sorry, an old cowboy just jokes around like that.  I'm in love with him
too. Well, I love him like my own kid, if that's what you mean.  You're not
from around here, are you?"
   Malina's frost melted before the kindly old man.  "I'm sorry Mr.  Angus.
It makes me angry when someone speaks unkindly about Mr.  Davis.  I see
that you love him and it was friendly humor.  My home was in Spain.  I was
going to high school in this country when the bad things happened and I
cannot return home.  My home is with Mr.  Davis now."
   "Do I know you?" Angus asked Calley.
   "We've never met.  You might have seen me on TV.  I was a news anchor at
Channel 3."
   "That's it.  Calista De la Vega, I remember.  You're even prettier in
person."
   She blushed.  "Please, call me Calley.  She smiled at Davis then gasped.
"Davis, you're bleeding!  Are you shot?"
   "No, but I think my thigh opened up again.  I think I need to sit down."
   The two girls sprang to his side and helped him to the sofa.  Malina ran
for the box they kept bandages in.  Calley cut open the leg of his jeans
and they treated his wound.  It was oozing greenish pus along with the
blood.
   "Mr.  Bachman, could you go to the bunker for me?" she asked him.  "On
the second level you will find a blue tub with surgical tubing in it. 
Bring me a piece about six inches long."
   "Call me Angus, Calley and yes I will." He hurried away and soon
returned with the tubing.  She poured alcohol into the wound several times
and Davis gritted his teeth and groaned with pain.  Malina held his face in
her two little hands and kissed him.  "Be brave," she told him.  Calley
inserted the tube three inches into the wound and he nearly passed out. 
Sweat beads stood out on his forehead as she stitched the wound closed
around the tube.  She wiped his face with a cloth and kissed him.  "I'm
sorry Davis.  I know that hurt.  You were right; we should have done that
to begin with."
   Light was dawning in Angus' eyes.  "You weren't kidding, Malina.  You
girls are in love with this big lunk.  Lord what a coil.  You're a lucky
man Davis.  You've got a hard choice to make ahead.  What in the hell
happened to you?  Why is your leg in a cast and how did you get shot and
why didn't you tell me?"
   The girls told Angus the story while Davis rested and the details all
seemed to involve how brave Davis was and how he had fought and killed the
two attackers to save them.
   Davis opened his eyes.  "At first I was in such bad shape I couldn't get
over to the Z bar and then Matuszi was up there on that hill and I didn't
dare leave the girls here alone.  What brought you out here in the nick of
time anyway?"
   Angus told them the story.  "I'm sorry Davis, but your dog is dead."
   The two girls burst into tears.  Lilly had been their favorite and she
had adopted them and went everywhere they did, watching over them.  Davis
hugged them close.  His own eyes were a little misty.  "I raised that girl
from a puppy.  Don't cry girls.  She died doing what she was supposed to
do; protecting us.  We'll let Issus have another litter and you can both
pick a puppy."
   They were both very excited about that but still sad that Lilly was
gone.
   "Tell Hardesty I owe him.  Any time he's over this way there's a cold
beer waiting for him and we'll feed him if he's around at dinner time."
   "I'll tell him.  When the boys find out you've got these two beautiful
ladies you won't be able to keep them away.  I've got to get back Davis. 
I'm going to leave Will Bryant here.  He's a good man and you know him. 
Just till you get healed up.  He'll help around and be handy in case those
sons of bitches come back.  Use your radio boy.  Call me if you need
anything.  I know you want to stand on your own two feet, but you've got
friends all over these hills."
   "I'm an idiot," Davis said.  "I never thought about the radio.  Thanks
Angus." He started to get up but the old man held up his hand.  "Don't get
up.  I'll have the boys bury those bastards up on top of that hill and
we'll fix the hole in the fence.  Call me on the radio if you need help."
He turned and walked to the door.  Calley walked with him.  "Hey, you all
want to come over for dinner Friday after next?  We'll get Curly to play
his fiddle, Mack plays guitar, Tom plays piano and we'll have a dance. 
I'll invite the neighbors and everyone can get to know the ladies."
   "Can we go?  Please Mr.  Davis, I love dancing," Malina begged.
   "Yes little girl; we can go."
   "Thank you Mr.  Davis.  We won't wear the grass skirts.  That's only for
you," she confided.
   Angus laughed.  "That's a story I want to hear sometime.  Walk me out
Calley."
   She walked him to his truck.  He leaned against it and chewed on a piece
of grass.  "I'm glad he's got you two here," he told her.  "After Cindy was
killed he kind of went into a shell.  He got cold and hard and I've been
worried about him.  I can tell he loves you girls.  Be careful with him
Calley.  I know it seems like he's the total package of cool, but he's
still a little boy inside.  He gets hurt easily and it takes him a long
time to get over it."
   "I know," she said.  "I really do love him you know."
   "Are you in love with him?"
   Her face flushed.  "Yes, I think I am."
   "What about Malina?"
   "Yes, I'm in love with her too."
   "Good God girl, this gets more and more complicated.  That's not what I
meant.  I'm an old fashioned kind of guy.  I never dreamed.  I meant is
Malina in love with Davis?"
   "Yes, I think so."
   "Does that bother you?"
   "No, she's in love with me too.  Do you understand?  We all love one
another.  Davis would die for us.  He almost did.  I would die for him or
Malina.  It's not complicated.  I love them, they love me.  I know you're
old fashioned but they're both incredible people and so beautiful and they
love me.  It's the most natural thing in the world to me."
   "I think I understand.  I'm not built that way but it seems right with
you.  If there's anything I can do for any of you, you only have to ask.  I
won't meddle but I will help if you ask.  You're a good girl Calley.  I can
see that.  Just take care of Davis and I'll love you for it."
   She embraced the old man and he got in the truck and drove away.
   ****
   Anubis and Issus slipped quietly through grass toward the fence.  They
sniffed Lilly's body and something like a low, moaning growl came from
Issus' throat.  They trotted around the dead men sprawled around in the
grass; sniffing their bodies.  Anubis tested the breeze with his nose.  It
was blowing in from the southwest and the hair over his shoulders rose.  He
growled and Issus came to stand beside him.  They slipped through the hole
in the fence and turned away from each other, each circling the hill and
they were invisible in the prairie grass.
   Agent Matuszi lay in a clump of switchgrass at the bottom of hill.  The
ground was uncomfortably damp but he didn't dare move yet.  He had jumped
in the truck with Johnson but when the other agent had produced a gun he
had opened the door and leaped from the moving vehicle and rolled into this
cover.  Johnson had sped across the valley but a truck full of men cut him
off and another pulled in behind him.  A hail of gunfire swept the truck.
Nothing moved for a moment and then four men jumped out and approached
Johnson.  There were three more shots and the men got back in and drove
away.
   Matuszi stayed put.  They wouldn't stay and he would use the darkness as
cover and when everything was quiet Rade would think things were over. 
Matuszi would slip through the hole in the fence and the prize would belong
to him.
   He settled in and waited.
   An hour later the breeze picked up a little and the leaves of the
switchgrass rustled.  There was a slightly louder rustling off to his left.
He peered into the tall grass.  It was over six feet tall and he was well
concealed.  It was possible that someone was searching for him.  He felt a
bit of panic, but he was well hidden.
   He heard the rustling again, to his right this time.  Were there two of
them?  He looked toward the sound and some intuition made him glance back
to the left.
   Anubis sprang from the grass directly at his chest.  He only had time to
raise one arm in an attempt to protect his face.  His gun was in that hand
and the big Cane Corso's jaws closed on his arm with a snap.  Matuszi's arm
was paralyzed and he screamed as Anubis' 140 pounds crushed him to the
ground.  He heard his arm break as the huge jaws exerted extreme pressure.
Anubis' feet found leverage and he began to twist and tear at the arm.  The
gun dropped from his nerveless fingers.
   He felt a shock on his right shoulder and Issus was tearing into his
trapezius and deltoid muscles.  He screamed again as Anubis dropped his arm
and the huge jaws closed over his face.  He felt teeth grating on his skull
and cheekbones.  He screamed and the scream turned into a bubbling moan as
Issus shifted her grip and tore out the side of his throat.  Darkness
filled his vision and he was gone.
   The dogs worried his body for another moment.  They sat for another
moment then turned and trotted back through the fence toward the house. 
Lilly was avenged.
   Two men were working on the hole in the fence when the dogs approached.
They had heard the screams and were standing, looking in that direction. 
They saw the dogs approaching and stood back while they entered the fence.
They were covered with blood and the men stepped back and raised their
hands.  The dogs eyed them for a moment and the stump of Issus' tail wagged
a little.  They started off in the direction of a pond.
   The two men crawled through the hole and a half an hour of searching
brought them to the grizzly scene.  They looked at Matuszi's mangled body
for a moment.
   "Jesus Christ!  It looks like sharks were eating him," one of them
spoke.
   "I'd rather have lions after me," the other remarked.
   He shook his head and they walked back to fix the fence.
   There were no empty bedrooms in the house so Bryant slept in one of the
bedrooms on the first level of the bunker.  He was a tall quiet man and he
quickly took over most of the chores the girls and been doing.  Davis'
wounds were healing nicely and they took the cast off the next week.  His
ankle was stiff and his calf looked a little emaciated but Calley made him
run with her and he lifted weights with Malina.
   They were eating breakfast the next morning when the radio crackled. 
"NZ401, this is SX359 come in please."
   It was Angus.  "NZ401, go ahead Angus."
   "My boys found they guy that was running in the truck.  Turns out he was
ATF too.  They took care of him.  We also found Matuszi."
   "You take care of him too?"
   "We didn't have to.  Your dogs got to him.  It was pretty gory Davis. 
They tore his face off and nearly decapitated him.  Remind me to have you
tell them I'm a friend again next time I come over."
   "Will do, thanks Angus.  NZ401 out."
   "Well, I guess that's poetic justice," Davis told the girls.
   "I saw them leaving," Calley said.  "I asked them where they were going
and they just looked at me and wagged their tails.  They looked so cute I
told them they could go."
   "We must thank them, Mr.  Davis," Malina told him.
   "How would we do that?"
   "We must feed them something nice and tell them how much we love them."
She got up and went to the door and whistled.  Davis went to the
refrigerator and brought two left over grilled chicken breasts and a
package of hotdogs.
   In a minute the dogs came to the door and sat, looking up at Malina. 
"Heel," she told them and led them into the house.  They were a little
nervous at being in the house but she insisted and they followed her.  She
brought them to a rug in front of the sofa and told them "down."
   They lay on the rug and Calley brought them the chicken breasts and laid
them on the rug.  They eyed the chicken and licked their lips but didn't
move.
   "Why won't they eat?" she asked.
   "They won't eat it until you tell them too.  I don't want them eating
things people give them.  They can't be poisoned that way."
   "Eat," she told them, pointing at the chicken.
   They made short work of the chicken.  They licked their lips and looked
at Davis.  He opened the hotdog package and gave one to Malina.  "Tell them
`catch' and throw them a hotdog."
   "Issus, catch," she threw her the hotdog.
   Issus moved her head quickly and the hotdog disappeared.  She threw
another one to Anubis with the same result.
   "Watch this," Davis said.  He walked to the refrigerator and came back
with a slice of dill pickle.  He broke a hotdog into four pieces and told
Anubis "open."
   He opened his mouth and Davis put in the pieces of hotdog and the
pickle.
   "Eat," Davis said.
   Anubis chewed a few times and the pickle flew out the side of his mouth
onto the floor.  He swallowed the hotdog and looked expectantly at Davis.
   The girls hooted with laughter and sprang on Anubis' back.  He growled
in mock menace and they rolled him over on his back and Calley tickled his
belly while Malina seized him by the loose skin under his neck and shook
him.
   "You are such a good boy," she cooed, hugging him and putting her cheek
against his.  He waved his feet in the air and licked her face.  Issus was
feeling left out.  She stood up and crowded between Calley and Anubis.  She
nuzzled in and began licking Calley.  Calley threw her arms around Issus'
neck and scratched under her chin."
   "Good girl," she told her and hugged her close.
   "Do you not love them Davis?" Malina asked.
   "Yes, I do.  But they're not pets, girls.  They're my friends and they
help me work and keep us safe but they're dangerous if we don't handle them
right.  They aren't human and they don't understand how human relationships
work.  They know I love you and so they protect you.  You're part of their
pack.  They think you're superior to them or they wouldn't let you handle
them like that.  You can play with them and wool them around and they'll
love it.  But, you've got to keep giving them commands.  When you give them
a command and they don't do it, you've got to punish them.  When they do it
you reward them.  That's the way you keep your place in the pack.  They
think I'm the pack leader so they defer to me.  They're smart and they know
there's more to it than that but they react the way dogs have reacted for
millions of years.  They can't help it."
   "But they're so cute," Calley protested.
   "Yes they are.  But those cute puppies just tore a man's face off
because he was an enemy.  He killed their puppy and threatened their pack.
They don't know what pity or mercy is.  There's the pack and then everyone
else.  They're friendly to things they don't see as a threat, but they will
attack and kill anything they think is dangerous to them, me or you girls.
I do love them and I think they love me, but I don't make the mistake of
thinking they're not killers."
   "You are a killer too, Mr.  Davis.  You killed that man at the fence and
those two men that were raping Calley."
   "They were threatening my pack," he laughed.
   When Friday rolled around the girls were very excited for the dance. 
They had been hard at work all week making dresses to wear.  Davis had
bolts of material in the bunker, but few were suited for dresses.  They
found two, a pale yellow silk Mikado for Malina and a deep red two ply
Chiffon for Calley.
   Calley was very good at sewing and Malina was very careful at tracing
patterns and cutting the material.  Davis had a very nice sewing machine of
a commercial grade.  It was easy to go too fast and Calley had to take out
a couple of seams but the dresses came together nicely.  They had browsed
through stacks of Magazines Davis kept to start fires with and had found
what they wanted.
   They raided the jewelry boxes in the treasury and got exactly what they
wanted.  Shoes were the only problem.  They made slippers with leather feet
on the bottom and the remains of the dress material for the top.
   They insisted that Davis wear a suit.  He was very reluctant.  "Those
cowboys won't have suits on," he protested.  "I'll be overdressed and so
will you."
   "Imbécil," Malina scolded him.  "Of course you will wear a suit.  You
are not a cowboy.  You are a rancher.  The other ranchers will wear suits.
Mr.  Angus is going to wear a suit.  I asked him.  You are our date for the
dance and you must look beautiful."
   "I don't think it's common for pretty girls to call their date's
imbeciles, for that matter," he shot back.
   She was instantly contrite.  "Of course not; I am very sorry Mr.  Davis.
Only you insist on not making yourself beautiful for us.  It is very
frustrating and I lost my temper.  We Latin's are known for our hot
tempers. But I am very sorry.  Do you forgive me?" She pressed herself
against him and offered him her lips.
   "Of course, little girl.  I wasn't mad; I was just teasing you." He took
the offered lips and kissed her for a long time.  She was breathless when
he let her go.
   "Oh, you are recovering very quickly Mr.  Davis.  Are you sure we should
not stay home and test how much you are recovered?"
   He laughed.  "As tempting as that sounds, I think you're still too much
for me Malina.  We'd better go and I will wear a suit."
   The girls went to their rooms and dressed.  Davis had many suits from
his baseball days and he picked out a tuxedo he had worn when he won the
National League MVP.  It was black and he found a red and yellow bow tie.
He struggled with it for a while before remembering how to tie it.
   He got the Suburban out of the garage.  It didn't seem right to drive a
Jeep or a truck to a dance.
   He went inside and poured a couple of fingers of bourbon and sipped it
while he waited.  The bourbon was gone and he was becoming impatient. 
Calley's door opened and he heard her call.  "Close your eyes Davis."
   He obeyed and heard the swishing of material as they stood in front of
him.
   "Ok," Calley said, "you can open them now.
   Two visions of loveliness stood in front of him.  Calley's dress had no
shoulders leaving her brown and bare to the top of her deep cleavage.  Her
mane of black hair glistened with the auburn highlights and fell down her
back.  Her breasts were confined to make a deep and mysterious valley and
the ruby pendant he had given her hung inside.  The dramatic swell of her
hips flowed into a tapered full length dress with a high cut on one side
exposing one leg nearly to the top of a gorgeous brown thigh.  She wore a
ruby ring and matching ear rings dangled.
   Malina's dress had a one shoulder sweep and two triangles were cut in
the sides leaving golden skin exposed.  The long dress made her look taller
and she looked like a princess out of a fairy tale with her golden hair
held up by a delicate white gold and emerald tiara.  Her ear rings matched
and a beautiful yellow choker of the same yellow dress fabric with a black
felt band held another large emerald to her long slender neck.
   "My God," he breathed.  "Turn around so I can see the back."
   They turned and it was a sight that took his breath away.  He walked to
them and turned them to face him.  He took one girl under each arm and
kissed them both, stroking the smooth bare skin.
   "I'm the luckiest man alive," he told them.
   "Look at your clever tie," Malina admired him.  "It matches our dresses.
Is he not magnificent Calley?"
   "I'm just a bench warmer tonight.  You girls are the stars."
   They glowed at the look in his eyes and he offered them his arms.  They
each took one and he walked them to the Suburban.  He opened the back door
and helped Calley up.  He took Malina to the other side and helped her in
beside Calley.
   "I'm your chauffeur tonight," he told them.  "I'm sorry I don't have a
coach and four, but this won't turn into a pumpkin either."
   They laughed at his joke and he drove to the gate.  Will opened the gate
and they drove around the road to the Z bar headquarters.  There were ten
vehicles parked in the grass across from the house and Hardesty was parking
the cars when they pulled up at the driveway.  He opened the back doors and
assisted the ladies out.  His jaw dropped as they emerged and he
temporarily forgot to park the car as they walked in on Davis' arms.  He
shook his head and came to his senses.
   Angus had a dining table 20 feet long and all the places were full
except for three.  Davis escorted the ladies to their chairs and seated
them and took his seat between them.
   "I see you're fashionably late Davis," Angus called down from the head
of the table.  "One look at the ladies and I see why.  It was worth the
wait." His eyes twinkled.
   s
   "I think we all know each other here except for the girls.  This young
lady in red is the lovely Miss Calista De la Vega.  Her friends call her
Calley.  You might recognize her.  She was the news anchor that brightened
up our screens on channel 3 in Wichita.  The charming lady in yellow is
Malina Nebrija.  She is a visitor from Spain to our country.  We hope
she'll be staying permanently.  They are living with our Davis Rade.  Well,
not living with him, but you know what I mean." A laugh went around the
table.  "Please make them welcome.  You all know that we're going through
some tough times.  We're all neighbors and neighbors stick together.  We're
pretty isolated out here and we're all pretty self-sufficient.  We've all
got food to eat, water to drink and we can take care of ourselves.  That's
the western way.  We've all got western minds; that's why we live out here.
This is a party and I want you all to enjoy yourselves.  But in the back of
your minds I want you to be thinking about how we're going to survive the
next ten years.  Some of you are running out of fuel.  We need to find a
way to get more.  Some of us have quite a bit and we'll share but we need a
long term solution so be thinking about it.  We need seeds.  Most of us are
growing hybrids and when we harvest that's the end of the line.  Davis saw
this coming and he's the only person here that's growing open pollinated
wheat, corn and vegetables.  I suggest we ask him if he'll trade for our
hybrids and eat them and save his crop for seed.  That will mean a lot more
work for him and I expect you'll all want to pitch in and help him," he
paused for a moment.
   "He was attacked the other day and I don't know what would have happened
if we hadn't come along and helped him.  He's dug in pretty tight and he'd
probably have been OK but I might be next or you might be next.  I think we
ought to get a posse together to help each other out if we're attacked. 
I'm done with the speech now so let's eat and get the party started."
Dishes were passed and plates filled as the buzz of conversation sprang up.
A young man sitting next to Malina introduced himself as Greg Wilson.
   "My older brother played baseball with Davis at Wichita State," he told
her.  "What part of Spain are you from?"
   "I am Castilian, from the north part of Spain.  My city is León.  Are
you born here?"
   "I was born in Wichita, but I've lived here all my life.  I love your
accent.  Can I call you Malina?"
   "But of course.  I shall call you Greg."
   "Will you dance with me Malina?"
   "Perhaps, I wish to dance with Mr.  Davis.  If Calley dances with him
first or when she is dancing with him I will dance with you.  Are you an
expert dancer Greg?"
   "I've got moves the world hasn't seen yet," he laughed.  "Why are you so
keen on dancing with Davis?  He's got two left feet.  You'd be better off
sticking with me.  Besides, he's old.  You can hang out with the kids."
   "I have decided not to dance with you at all Greg.  You are a great
estupido.  Mr.  Davis is not at all old.  He has saved my life and you
shall not speak of him like that." She glared at him fiercely.
   "God, Malina, I'm sorry.  I know he's a great guy.  My brother worships
him.  I didn't know you would be so offended.  I didn't know he saved your
life.  I just thought you're way younger than him and you might like to
dance with someone your own age.  Please, I'm sorry.  Now will you dance
with me?"
   She relented.  "Yes, but you are not to speak to me about Mr.  Davis
like that again."
   "No, I won't.  Jesus Malina; I've never met a girl like you before.  I'm
sorry."
   "I am sorry too.  I lose my temper easily.  I'm Latin you know.  We are
famous for our high tempers." She flashed him a rueful smile.
   They chatted and Greg was hopelessly enchanted by this beautiful and
exotic girl.
   Davis and Calley were talking with a man seated beside her and his wife.
Davis made the introductions.  "These are our neighbors to the west, Joel
Anthony and his wife Cynthia." The talk soon turned to economics.  The fuel
shortage was a pressing problem and Anthony had an idea.
   "What if we could get to one of the refineries down south and make some
kind of a deal with them?"
   "Where would we get crude oil?" Davis asked.
   "I've got three wells on my place and you've got five.  Angus must have
50 and if we get everyone pumping we could have truckloads in a week."
   "What about trucks?" Calley asked.
   "My brother owns a fleet of tankers," Cynthia said.  "He lives south of
Greensburg and I'm sure we could trade with him to haul for us."
   "That sounds like a good plan to me," Davis said.  "The problem for me
is that I'm afraid to leave my girls by themselves.  I won't leave my place
unguarded either."
   "Let's talk to Angus about it.  We can probably arrange something. 
Maybe the women could all come here and Angus could take care of them."
   "What about my place?"
   "I don't know, we'll figure something out.  I've got less than 600
gallons left.  If my generator stops I lose everything in the freezers."
   "I've got fuel.  If we can work out a plan to get more I'll let you have
some.  I'm not going to run myself and my family out though.  Get the plan
together and we'll see what we come up with."
   "I'm not letting you go anywhere without me Davis," Calley had been
biting her tongue.  "You promised me that we would never be separated
outside the fence.  Malina won't like it either.  Please Davis, don't leave
us alone." Her big brown eyes welled up.
   "Oh my.  I didn't realize," Cynthia mused.  "So that's the way it is. 
Congratulations Davis.  I'm so happy for you.  Don't worry honey," she
patted Calley's hand.  "We'll work something out."
   Davis blushed furiously.  "She was attacked and nearly raped the last
time I left her alone.  I did promise her that and I'm going to keep that
promise."
   "Are you two in love?  Is that what you're talking about Cynthia?" her
husband asked.
   It was Calley's turn to blush.  Her voice was husky with emotion.  "Yes,
I'm in love with him.  I hope he's in love with me."
   "Jesus Calley, just drop a bombshell on me why don't you?  I'm sorry
Anthony, I do love Calley but it's complicated.  He squeezed her hand under
the table.  "We need to talk about this alone.  Would you excuse us
please?"
   He walked Calley out onto the porch.  He pushed her against the wall and
kissed her.  She returned it fiercely.  He drew back and they sat on the
porch swing.
   "What in the world made you say that Calley?"
   "I realized it's true."
   "What about Malina?"
   "I'm in love with her too."
   Davis' head began to swim.  "Does she know?"
   "Yes, we've made love several times Davis.  Didn't you know?"
   "Yes, I guess I did.  How does she feel about you being in love with
me?"
   "She thinks that's the way it should be."
   "How does she feel about me?"
   "Why don't you ask her?  She's not a little girl Davis.  She knows how
she feels.  Don't ask me, ask her.  I only know I love you.  I'm in love
with you Davis.  Do you love me?"
   "Yes I do.  I want to be with you Calley; I'm just confused about
Malina."
   "Then talk to her.  Go in there and take her away from that boy and
bring her out here and talk to her.  I'm going to finish my dinner."
   Davis sat on the swing for a long minute, and then walked back inside.
People were getting up and going out the back to the barn where the dance
was being held.  He caught up with Malina and took her hand.
   "Could I talk to you for a minute, sweetheart?"
   She tucked her little hand in his and he led her to the swing.  "Malina,
did you know that Calley is in love with me?"
   "But of course, Mr.  Davis.  Why do you ask?"
   "How do you feel about that?"
   "It makes me happy.  She is a very wonderful person.  We will be very
happy together."
   "That's the part I don't understand.  What do you mean we?"
   She counted on her fingers.  "Malina, Davis, Calley; that's three.  That
is a we."
   "Malina, are you in love with me?"
   "But of course.  I have been trying to seduce you for weeks.  Did you
not know, Mr.  Davis?  Perhaps what Greg said is true.  I am too young for
you." She began to cry.
   "No, no precious, it isn't like that at all.  Don't cry now, you'll mess
up your face.  I didn't know.  I thought you were just teasing me.  You
know you like to tease me.  I love you desperately.  You're the cutest,
sexiest little bundle of a girl I've ever known.  I thought I was too old
for you to be in love with me."
   She smiled up at him through her tears.  "But I have told you many times
that I love you."
   "I thought you meant like a brother or because you were grateful."
   "I am very grateful Mr.  Davis.  But I do not let my brother feel my
boobs or sleep in his bed naked; only you and Calley."
   "How do you feel about Calley?"
   "I am in love with her.  She is very sexy and squishy and she is very
kind to me.  I love to touch her.  Is she not very beautiful Davis?"
   "Yes, just like you.  I'm not sure she would like the squishy part
though."
   Malina laughed.  "No, I tease her about being chubby.  I meant good
squishy, like she is very squeezable."
   "Yes she is.  I do love you very much little girl and I would be so
lonely without you.  You can seduce me any time you want."
   "I will," she promised, "but now I wish to dance.  Dance with me Mr. 
Davis."
   He decided to let the future bring what it would and led his little
lover onto the dance floor.
   Chapter Eight
   They slept very late the day after the party and Davis declared a
holiday.  He decided to take them fishing.  The girls packed a picnic while
Davis collected tackle.  They loaded up and drove the Jeep down a track
along the fence.
   "There are 12 spring fed ponds on this property," he told them.  "They
all have bass, bluegill and channel catfish in them.  If we manage them
right we can catch fish and eat them any time we want to.  You girls like
fish?"
   They did and soon Davis pulled up by a small sparkling lake with willow
trees along one bank.  They spread two blankets under the willows and Davis
got them both catching blue gill.
   He threw a buzz bait for bass and caught 25 before squeals from Calley
and Malina brought him back to them.  He had kept four of the smaller bass
and the girls had 15 blue gills on their stringer.  Calley had something on
her line that was putting up quite a battle.  Malina was helping her and
after a titanic struggle they dragged a 15 pound channel cat flopping onto
the bank.
   They were sweating and slimy by the time they subdued the big fish and
got him on the stringer.  They rinsed their hands and arms in the clear
water.
   "This water feels very nice, Davis." Malina said.  "Do you think it
would be acceptable if we were to swim in it?"
   "I don't see why not, but you don't have anything to swim in."
   "We will, como se dice, nadar desnudos," she looked at Calley.
   "Skinny dip," Calley laughed.
   "Yes, we will skinny dip."
   Davis fell back on the blanket laughing.  "Go for it," he told them.
   Malina stood up and pulled her shirt over her head.  Davis' breath
caught in his throat.  He stared.  Her breasts were high and firm, standing
out in perfect inverted cones.  The tiny nipples stood erect in the air,
light brown against a darker areole.  He was transfixed as Calley also
stripped off her t-shirt.  Neither girl ever wore a bra and they were both
beautiful and bare from the waist up.
   Calley's mocha complexion contrasted with Malina's honey gold, and Davis
had never seen two more beautiful women.
   "Close your mouth, Davis," Calley chided him.  "You're going to swallow
a fly."
   "Yes, Mr.  Davis.  You are not to stare like that.  It makes me, como se
dice, ruborizarse, hot?"
   Calley burst out laughing and the motion nearly caused Davis' eyes to
pop out of his head.  "Not hot, Malina; it makes you blush."
   "Yes, it makes me blush, and hot."
   "Sorry," Davis stammered.  "I'm not used to being with such shy ladies."
   They walked to the water's edge and untied their drawstrings.  The
shorts and boxers were discarded and two incredibly sexy butts, one slim
and tight and one full and rounded and both unbelievably erotic,
disappeared beneath the water."
   They shrieked and shivered at the shock of the spring water.  It was
warmer near the surface but kept cool by the constant influx of water
flowing in and out over a sluice.
   They splashed and played in the water for half an hour.  Malina's teeth
began to chatter and she made her way to the bank.  She gathered up her
shorts and boxers and walked to the blanket.  Davis was asleep.  He had
taken his shirt off and his skin was a deep bronze color in the sun.  She
put her clothes by the picnic basket and turned in the breeze, drying
herself in the air.
   Calley joined her and they lay down beside Davis on their stomachs and
soaked up the afternoon sun.  It was quite warm but the breeze playing over
their wet bare skin felt cool and relaxing.
   Malina pushed herself up on her elbows and looked down at Davis.  She
couldn't believe he was 36.  He looked so young sleeping.  His wounds were
healing nicely and only red indentions remained.  She reached over him and
poked Calley.
   "Calley," she whispered, "I wish to wake him up and make love to him."
   "Are you sure?"
   "Yes, but I don't know how.  You do it.  I will watch and learn how."
   "Malina!  I would be embarrassed."
   "Do you not want to?"
   "Yes, I do, but I've only done it once myself.  I'm embarrassed for you
to watch."
   "Do you love me Calley?"
   "Yes, I do.  You're incredible Malina."
   "Then I will share him with you.  I will make love to you tambien."
   "Estás segura?  Are you sure?"
   "I love you Calley.  I am in love with you.  You are very beautiful, and
I love him too.  He is saving us.  I think he will save us tomorrow and for
many years.  Can we not love him?"
   "Yes, we can.  It just seems weird.  I've never made love with a girl
and a guy at the same time before.  It's pretty hot, now that I think about
it.  I'm in love with you too Malina."
   She reached across Davis, careful not to touch him, and cupped one of
Malina' sweet breasts.  She rolled the little nipple between her fingers
and it became rock hard and Malina moaned.
   She got up and walked around Davis and turned Calley over.  She lowered
her head to one large breast and put her lips to the tip.  She pulled it
into her mouth and rolled the nipple with her tongue.  Calley sighed and
shuddered and her hands roamed.  She rolled Malina over away from Davis. 
She massaged one firm little mound with one hand and slid the other down
and between the other girl's thighs.  She felt the sparse golden curls and
her fingers sought and found the wetness inside.
   Their lips met and they dueled with their tongues for a moment as Malina
copied her lover's motions.  There were several moments of sighs and moans
and Malina sat up.  "I want to touch him."
   She moved back to the other side of Davis.  They both slid on top of him
and Malina nibbled at his ear lobe.  He opened his eyes sleepily and
murmured, "What are you doing little girl?"
   "You call me little girl, Mr.  Davis.  I am not a little girl.  I am
mujer, I am woman."
   "I know, Malina.  I just make up pet names for people I like.  I know
you're a woman.  I just saw that, remember?"
   "Jesus, you're naked!" He turned to look at Calley, "You too!"
   He tried to sit up, but their combined weight pressed him down.  They
caressed his chest and Malina moved lower and kissed his nipple on her
side. Calley moved further over him and one big brown breast scraped across
his chest and popped into his vision.  It was the most gorgeous sight he
had ever seen.  The size and incredible shape of Calley's breasts overcame
his resistance as she claimed his lips.  He lifted his arm over Malina and
buried his fingers in Calley's fullness.  He examined the breast with his
fingers, and played with the little cone at the tip.
   Little hands were busy at his waist and he felt his shorts loosen.  The
hand slipped inside and stroked him.  He felt hands tugging at his shorts
and he lifted his hips and felt the breeze play across his bare skin. 
There was more stroking and caressing and he felt himself enveloped in wet
warmth as lips closed around him.  It had been too long and he came in
waves, the heat of Malina's mouth incredible on his sensitized skin.  He
came back to earth and Malina was pushing Calley aside to claim his lips.
They turned away from him and explored each other's mouths, their manes
tickling his face.
   It was the most incredibly erotic thing he had ever seen.  Calley's hand
moved down to find him ready and when she spoke it was the first word in
many minutes.
   "You're huge Davis," she gasped.  "I don't know if I can take you, this
is only my second time and it was a long time ago."
   He looked at her in confusion and she moved her leg over him and she was
astride.  She moved slowly down and locked her lips to his.  He felt
Malina's little hands on him lifting him into position and again he was
enveloped in moist heat.
   Calley gasped and stopped for a moment.  She pressed down again and a
pained expression passed briefly over her face.  She rested and then moved
again.  She rocked against him, growing accustomed to what she had
accomplished then moved down again.
   "My God, Malina, how much is there?"
   "You are doing well, Calley."
   "I can't take it, baby.  Help me," she groaned.
   She felt Malina's hand reach between them and her clitoris was being
stroked.  Pleasure flashed through her body in waves and she slid down
again and he was inside.  She rested for a moment and sat up.  She began a
slow rise and fall as Malina sat up beside her.  She pushed Calley's
magnificent breasts together and manipulated her nipples.  She ran a hand
down over the slight rise of her belly and circled above their joining
again.  Calley's chest heaved and Davis palmed both breasts, rolling and
squeezing the firm flesh.  Her orgasm flashed through her and she collapsed
onto Davis' chest, panting for breath.  Another spasm rocked her body and
another as aftershocks rippled through her.
   She felt small, insistent hands pulling at her and she slipped to one
side with her lips locked to Davis'.
   She felt Malina replacing her atop Davis, and she moved to help her
lovers.  Davis protested a little as he noticed that it was now Malina
moving over him.  Calley placed a finger over his lips.  He looked at her
and she nodded.
   "I am seducing you now," Malina whispered.
   Malina sat up and raised herself as Calley positioned him at her
entrance.
   "Malina, Estás segura?  He's very big for your first time."
   "Si, I'm sure."
   "Be careful, Davis; she's very small."
   It was Malina that pushed the action.  She sank slowly down, impaling
herself and she cried out as she opened.  She sank again and she was
gasping and shaking as he slid fully inside.
   "Now Davis, I'm ready."
   "You called me Davis, little girl.  Malina, my gorgeous beautiful
woman."
   "Yes, I am not being respectful now, I am being cachondo; como se dice,
Calley?"
   "Horny, she's horny, Davis."
   "Yes, I am horny.  You can move now Davis.  I don't think I can."
   He cupped her butt; the firm round cheeks just filling each hand and
began to stroke.  A flush mounted in her cheeks and spread down her neck
and onto her hard little breasts as they moved.  He wanted to pull her down
to suckle one of those delightful mounds but the physics were wrong.  He
began to bounce her in longer strokes and her muscles tightened as she
raised her face to the sky and loudly moaned her passion as her orgasm tore
her apart.  She gasped and continued to moan as she felt him explode inside
her, the fluid soothing her stretched and flushed flesh.  She collapsed and
rested on him, her body still shaking with aftershocks.  At last she rolled
off, coming to rest with one arm across him and one hard little mound
crushed against his chest.
   Calley rolled into an identical position on his other side and they
reached out to play with one another's nipples.  Davis reached down and
cupped one of their butt cheeks in each hand, marveling in the contrast,
equally entranced with both.  He kissed them both.
   "Holy Christ, girls.  That was the most incredibly sexy thing I have
ever heard of.  I've died and gone to heaven.  Did you two plan that or am
I just dreaming?"
   They laughed.  "No Davis, you are not dreaming.  We planned it.  I am in
love with you.  I'm in love with Calley too.  We both want to be your
lovers and you must let us be lovers together also."
   "Calley, you ok with this?"
   "I can't imagine being more ok with anything.  I think I'm going to be
horny all the time.  Between you and Malina, I can't keep my hands off
either one of you."
   "Let's swim again," he said.
   "I do not think I can walk," Malina confessed.
   "Then I'll carry you." He picked up her slight body and she squirmed
against him.  Calley walked in front of him and the sway of her hips was
intoxicating.  They swam and played in the water until the sun was sinking.
They walked back to the blanket and dressed, gathered their things and made
the ride home.
   Both girls walked him to his bed, undressed him and themselves and they
climbed in with him.  The night became a thing of wet lips and sliding
flesh.
   "We will make love to Calley," Malina whispered in his ear.  "I am too
sore for you Davis."
   They turned their attention to Calley's lush body and she cried out her
joy repeatedly until dreams claimed them.
   Davis awoke the next morning and two naked girls were in his bed, their
arms across his chest, hands resting on each other's breasts.  They each
had a leg across him and he could feel their soft curls pressed against his
thighs.
   He stroked and caressed their bodies and excitement coursed through him
again.  He rolled Malina over and stroked her into writhing on the bed
without ever waking up.  He rolled and poised above her.  She awoke as he
slipped inside her and her arms circled his back and pulled him down.  He
felt Calley stir and her lips were on his neck and then Malina's nipple as
they loved the morning away.  Davis fucked them both and lost track of the
number of times he came inside them.  They both worked on him and each
other and Malina felt like she had cum a hundred times.
   "I'm starving," Malina stretched like a kitten.  "I believe I am unable
to walk so you will have to feed me here Davis.  My pussy is very sore."
   "I have my doubts about moving myself," Calley said.
   "Well, I'm not bringing you breakfast in bed," Davis told them.  He went
into the bathroom and turned the shower on.  Steam filled the air and he
carried them one at a time into the shower.  They soaped and played with
each other's bodies until Davis' excitement caused a protest from Calley.
   "You have to let me rest Davis.  I can't take you now."
   He turned to Malina's soapy little body.  "No," she said, "take that
monster away.  You will injure me."
   He shouted with laughter and pulled their slippery bodies against him.
He rinsed them off.
   They recovered enough to make it to the bar and he fed them waffles. 
They sat on the sofa and cuddled.
   "Girls, I am the happiest man on earth," he told them.  They sighed and
wiggled closer.  Calley was worried about the projected trip south and
wanted to talk about it.  Davis refused to worry about it until they had
actually had a plan and an intention to go.
   "I don't even know if Anthony can put it together.  When he comes to me
and tells me the trucks are in his driveway then I'll get serious about
planning."
   "Davis, are you thinking about going to Oklahoma and leaving us behind?"
Malina asked.
   "No I'm not.  That's exactly what I told Anthony.  I told him I was
afraid to leave you here."
   "That's not exactly what you said, Davis.  You said you were afraid to
leave us here alone.  To me, that meant you would leave us here if we
weren't alone."
   "You're right.  I didn't mean to put it like that.  I did think if I
could make sure you were safe I could go.  I'm sorry girls.  That would be
breaking my word.  I won't do it.  Do you forgive me?"
   "Of course we forgive you," Malina kissed his scar.  "But you are not to
make such decisions.  You might make sure that we are safe.  I am not at
all sure that I think you would be safe.  I know you are safe when you are
with me.  I can see you.  If something were to happen to you it would kill
me.  I do not want to live without you.  It would be as if someone cut out
a third of my heart.  Who would wish to live such a life?"
   "That's exactly how I feel," Calley told him.  "Besides, I wouldn't ever
feel safe if you weren't here.  I wouldn't feel safe locked up in Ft.  Knox
without you.  I know you aren't Superman, but sometimes I remember those
men down at the river and the only thing that kept me fighting was that I
knew you were coming.  `I'll never leave you alone again.' That's what you
said, Davis and I'm holding you to it."
   "Ok, I've got it.  I'm sorry girls.  I wasn't thinking well.  I've been
used to being alone for so long it's hard to get my mind around the fact
that I've got you to think about now."
   "I know Davis," Calley said.  "But you did say one thing that made me
feel all warm inside."
   "Well, I like the sound of that.  What did I say?"
   "You were talking to Mr.  Anthony about giving him some fuel.  You said
that you would help him and then you said, `I'm not going to run myself and
my family out though.' Did you mean me and Malina?"
   "Yes I did.  I didn't plan it out or anything, but that's what I meant."
   "Are we your family Davis?"
   "Well, yes you are.  I mean, you're not related to me, and we're not
married or anything, but you're family to me."
   "I would very much like to marry you Davis," Malina told him.
   "Well, I won't marry you sweetheart."
   "Why not?" she asked.
   "You're too young to be married.  In a year or two you might decide I'm
too old for you and want to marry someone like Greg Wilson."
   "Bah," she said, "he is a silly boy.  I will marry you, Davis, or no
one."
   "Ask me again when you're 25," he told her.
   "I will," she promised.
   "I'm 25," Calley told him.  "Will you marry me?"
   "Yes I will," he said.  Malina began to protest and he cut her off. 
"Let me finish, Malina.  Calley, I'll marry you the minute Malina turns 25
and asks me again.  How's that?"
   "You're a wise man," Calley told him.
   "Yes, we will be married together.  Calley, will you marry me too?"
   "I can't imagine it any other way baby."
   "Well, actually I don't think any of this is legal.  There really aren't
any laws anymore.  It was never legal for a man to marry two women and I
don't think it was legal for two women to marry in Kansas; much less for
them all to be married to one another."
   "I do not care for legal," Malina said.  "We are our own state now.  You
said so Davis.  The state of Rade, De la Vega and Nebrija; we will make our
own legal."
   "Well, now that we settled that, I have work to do.  You girls do the
dishes and I'll see what Will is up to.  How would you girls like to hire
him to work for us?  I think I could talk Angus out of him."
   "Yes, I like Will," Malina said.  "He is very quiet and droll."
   "Yes, I guess he is," Davis laughed.  "We would have to build him a
house.  He can't live in the bunker forever."
   He went out and left the girls planning their wedding.  The day passed
quickly and when it was time for bed the girls showered and put on their
night clothes.  They played monopoly while Davis showered and when he went
to bed they came in and climbed in with him.
   "It's a good thing I have a king sized bed," he laughed as they
sandwiched him between them.  "That reminds me of something.  He sat up and
opened a drawer in the nightstand and gave them twin discs.
   "What is this?" Malina asked.
   "Birth control pills," Calley told her.
   "Where did you get them Davis?" Calley asked.  "They're not fish birth
control, are they?"
   He laughed.  "No, when Cindy was alive she lived here with me and we
didn't want children right away.  We thought about it and she went to
doctors all over the state and got prescriptions for birth control.  We
stockpiled them and I've kept them frozen ever since."
   They both took one and Davis pulled Malina down on top of him.  He
kissed her and ran his hand up her back under her undershirt.
   She kissed him but said, "No Davis, I am much too sore.  Calley is sore
also."
   "I just want to cuddle you little girl.  The birth control needs two
days to work anyway.  I'll let you tell me when you're ready."
   "I would love for you to cuddle me," she said.  "Can we cuddle Calley
too?  She is very nice to cuddle.  She is chubbier than you."
   She gave a little shriek as Calley smacked her on the rump.
   Chapter 9
   The next several weeks were very busy.  They killed and butchered the
young pigs.  Davis had a smoke house and they made a cure of brown sugar,
salt and black pepper.  They rubbed the hams, wrapped them in white cloth
sacks and hung them in the cooler.  They hung the bacon in the smokehouse
and Davis kept the fire going and smoke filled the room.  They removed the
loins and cut the pigs up into the size they desired.
   Davis had been feeding two steers and they butchered them and hung them
in the cooler to age.
   They cut and hauled wood along the creek until they had a huge pile
seasoning under a pole barn near the house.
   Davis had a small combine and they harvested the wheat up on the wheat
field.  The girls hauled the wheat to grain bins in a grain buggy pulled by
the tractor and Davis drove the combine.
   They harvested the garden and canned and froze the vegetables.  They
fished the ponds and Davis calculated how many fish of which type they
should harvest from each one.  They filleted the fish and packed them in
the freezer.
   Three of the hens hatched eggs and the girls fell in love with the
chicks.  They brought them inside and they lived in a small, newspaper
lined cage in the mudroom under a heat lamp.  The girls got them out
constantly and held them and it was not at all unusual to see a small,
yellow; fluffy chick run out from under the sofa.
   Several of their neighbors came and traded their hybrid grain for Davis'
Turkey Red seed wheat.  Joel Anthony came with a tanker truck and Davis
traded him 500 gallons of fuel for labor.  Anthony was a very good
carpenter and they built Will Bryant a small, one bedroom house behind the
bunker.
   Angus' dance and dinner party started a fashion and soon there was a
gathering of the neighbors once a month for an event.  The girls insisted
and Davis finally gave in and hosted one.
   There was a new face in the crowd, one that Davis had never seen before.
Angus introduced the man to Davis and the girls.
   "This is Reverend King, Davis.  Reverend King, this is Davis Rade.  The
lady in gold is Calista De la Vega and this lovely thing in white is Malina
Nebrija.  This is their house."
   Davis extended his hand.  "Pleased to meet you; you new around here?"
   "Reverend King is from Topeka.  A mob burned his church down and he's
been wondering ever since.  The Methodist church up in Coats was abandoned
and he's holding church up there."
   "You're welcome to attend any time, Mr.  Rade.  Are you three related?"
   "I'm not much of a church goer.  I go maybe ten times a year.  I always
attend the German Baptist Church up in Sawyer when I go.  They're good
people and I've known them all my life.  Do you know any of them?"
   "They don't teach the same gospel," the reverend replied.  "We preach
the true gospel Mr.  Rade."
   "Ok, but to answer your other question, the girls aren't related to me,
or to each other.  They were neighbors in Wichita and they had to try and
get away from some men that were attacking them.  Calley knew me from
before and they came and asked me to help them.  We've been together ever
since."
   The reverend nodded.  "Young men and women shouldn't be living together
outside marriage Mr.  Rade.  Do you plan to marry one of them?"
   Davis felt his face go hot.  "What the hell do you know King?  You're a
guest in my house.  My business is none of yours.  Keep a civil tongue in
your head or get out."
   The reverend began to bluster but Angus cut him off.  "Now Davis, I'm
sure the Reverend didn't mean anything.  Take it easy boy, dinner's ready;
let's eat."
   Davis turned away and Calley took his arm.  "Take a breath Davis.  Your
Latin nature, according to Malina, is showing.  Don't lose your temper."
   "Yeah, but I'm not Latin.  Jesus, Calley, that's just the kind of
pompous windbag I've always hated.  My dad took me to church all the time
when I was a kid and there was always someone like him around; trying to
bully other people into accepting his `true gospel.' Do you go to church
Calley?"
   "I used to.  I was raised Catholic, of course.  Most Hispanics are you
know; especially Mexicans.  My parents came here before I was born and they
took me to mass every Saturday night.  After they died I started going to a
big community church just because that was where the important people went.
I thought it would help my career."
   They continued their conversation after their guests went home.  Malina
joined them and they drank wine in Davis' bed and talked.
   "Did you go to church in Spain?" Calley asked her.
   "Oh yes.  I am a Christian Calley.  We called it Mass.  Many people go
to church in Spain; especially in the villages.  When I came to this
country my host family went to church every Sunday.  They often took me and
there was a service in the afternoon in Spanish.  It was not exactly
Castilian Spanish, but I could follow along easily."
   "What kind of church was it?"
   "They were very kind people.  They called it Iglesia de Christo.  They
did many peculiar things.  They had no organ and all the people sang and
there were no statues or candles.  Are you a Christian Davis?"
   "Well, I guess that depends on what you call a Christian.  I believe
that there must be a God.  None of the other explanations make any sense. I
believe he must be good.  I believe there was a man named Jesus that taught
a lot of good things I try to live by.  Be kind to your neighbor, don't
steal: stuff like that.  God must be good because he likes good things. 
Some of the stuff is too good for me.  I can't do it.  But I've never
belonged to a church or anything.  Would you girls like to go to church
with me Sunday?"
   "Yes, I would love to go to church Davis.  Me, I am a great sinner and I
need to confess to God," Malina told him.
   "I have to warn you, this won't be like anything you've ever seen. 
These people all dress very plainly.  The women all wear bonnets and the
men all have big beards and wear hats.  If you're a member, all the men sit
on one side and all the women and girls sit on the other.  Sometimes boys
sit with their fathers.  But they're all very kind and they'll help
anyone."
   Calley looked dubious but Malina was very excited and so she agreed to
go.
   "We must dress plainly and wear hats so we will not scandalize them,"
Malina instructed them.
   The girls spent all day Saturday making "plain" dresses and bonnets. 
When they came out of their rooms Sunday morning, they came to the bar
where Davis was eating and demanded to be inspected.
   The dresses were high necked and made of a white cotton damask with
small blue flowers for Malina and dark burgundy flowers for Calley with
matching bonnets.
   "How do we look?" Calley asked.
   "Well, they're a little more form fitting than they'll be wearing." He
squeezed Calley's butt through the dress.  "You can't disguise that,
beautiful.  No one will have a bubble like that."
   She slapped his hand.  "Stop that!  We're going to church Davis, and
you're feeling me up."
   "He told us many things were too hard for him.  You may feel my butt if
you like Davis."
   He was happy to oblige and she purred and rubbed herself against his
hand.
   "I said, stop that," Calley slapped his hand away.  "Let's go before I
strip both of you naked and spend the day in bed with you."
   "Promises, promises," Davis murmured.
   She shot him a wicked look, took their hands and led them to the
Suburban.  Will had decided to go with them when Malina asked him and he
drove them the 15 miles just outside the small community of Sawyer.  Davis
saw some smoke to the north as they pulled into the church yard.
   "See that, Will?"
   "Yes, I've heard some gang is raiding some of these people out of Pratt.
There's some kind of a National Guard unit up there that's gone rogue and
giving them some trouble.  You know these people won't fight back and it's
pretty hard on them."
   Several women were sobbing in a corner of the church when they went in.
A man with a bushy red beard spotted them and a big smile spread across his
face.  He hurried back and embraced Davis.  Davis hugged him back.  "Good
to see you Kent."
   "It's very good to see you, Davis.  Somebody told me you'd been shot. 
You ok?"
   "I'm healed up.  Calley, Malina, this is Kent Ray.  These girls came to
me looking for shelter, Kent.  They lived in Wichita and when everything
went crazy they came to me for help.  Kent's one of my oldest friends.  His
wife's name is Susan and she's over there with her arm around the woman
that's crying.  What's going on Kent?"
   Kent shook the girl's hands.  "Ladies, it's good to meet you.  Any
friend of Davis' is a friend of mine.  Davis, we're in trouble.  The
Miller's got raided last night.  Some Guardsmen out of Pratt stole
everything they had and burned their house down.  It's the third time this
month this has happened to someone in this church.  You know we won't fight
back.  Those people know it too and we're easy pickings."
   "No you never would fight.  Not even in college when those punks tore
off your shirt and painted you red.  Kent was my college roommate girls. 
There were some punks that thought it would be funny to pick on him."
   "Yes, and I remember what you did to them," Kent laughed.  "I don't know
what we're going to do though.  There isn't any law; I guess we'll just
have to take it."
   "You don't know what to do, but I do.  We'll put together a posse and
the next time you have trouble we'll come running."
   "I don't want you to do that Davis.  I wouldn't have told you if I
thought you were going to do that.  I won't have you fighting for me."
   "I'm sorry Kent but that's bullshit.  Yes I know you don't like me to
talk like that, but you don't get to tell me what to do.  I know what you
believe and I respect the heck out of you, but I'm not going to set back
and let something happen to Susan or your girls.  I don't believe like you
do.  You know that and I'm going to do what I believe in just like you
follow what you believe."
   "Yes Davis, we must help them," Malina told him.
   "Davis, if you get hurt or you hurt someone else I'll feel responsible.
I appreciate you wanting to help but that's not our way."
   "That's just the point, Kent.  You're not responsible for me.  Who made
you responsible?  I'll respect what you want, but if I see a way to do
something I'm going to."
   People were beginning to take their seats and Davis and the girls sat in
the middle row of pews.  Susan Ray came and sat beside them.  She was a
very pretty, soft spoken young woman.  She introduced her two daughters to
the girls and kissed Calley and Malina on the cheek.  The girls were
younger copies of their mother.  Krista was 16 and Vera was 14.
   The service was very simple and moving and they went to dinner with the
Ray's.  Kent insisted and they sat around and told stories about their
college days.  They went back to church in the evening with the Rays and
drove home.
   Malina was strangely silent and Calley asked her if she was ok.  "Yes,"
she sighed.  "The church just reminded me of Spain.  The people there are
very much like village people in Castile.  They are very simple and good.
They are so very droll withtheir whiskers and hats.  I like them Davis.  We
must go back often."
   "They are wonderful people.  There's a dark side to them though.  Not
here, but I've heard things over the years about other groups of them that
are very cruel to people in their families that don't live by their rules.
They drive them away and refuse to speak to them.  They call it shunning.
I've never seen that happen here, but I've heard of it.  Some of them are
pretty old school."
   "Let us go to the Z bar and speak with Angus about helping them," Malina
said.
   "I want to help them too Davis," Calley told him.  "They seem so gentle
and peaceful.  I can't bear the thought of someone hurting those beautiful
girls.  I could be good friends with Susan."
   Davis turned off on the road to Z bar and they talked to Angus about the
situation.
   "Davis, the problem is that if those raiders are a rogue National Guard
unit they're bound to be well armed and trained.  I've got a pretty salty
crew but we aren't soldiers and we don't have that kind of weapons. 
30/30's are fine guns but they're not up to military standards."
   "How many men could you spare?" Davis asked.
   "Maybe 30," Angus said.  "I won't strip my place.  I like those people
too Davis, but I've got to take care of the Z bar.  A lot of people depend
on me.  Why don't you go around to the neighbors and see if you can get
some people together?"
   "I've got 50 M16's," Davis said.  "I'll arm the whole crew.  That ought
to tip the odds quite a bit.  There can't be more than 15 or 20 in that
unit.  Most of the guard units weren't local.  They traveled from all over
the area to form up."
   "What if they've got heavy machine guns or armored vehicles?" Angus
asked.
   "I've got a heavy machine gun too and a bit of a surprise for armored
vehicles.  I'll figure out something to make that gun mobile.  I'll make
the rounds and see which way the wind is blowing."
   Over the next two days Davis and the girls made the rounds of the
neighbors.  He picked up promises from a man here and two there and 10 from
the Rocking Ladder.  He had one ranch left and he almost didn't go.  He had
never liked Tom Clanton.  They had gone to school together and Clanton had
been big for his age in grade school.  He had been a bully and had selected
Davis as a good target.  For ten days in the fourth grade there had been a
fight on the playground every day.  Clanton started the first one and Davis
had started the rest.  He lost every fight but after the tenth, Clanton was
through.  He had promised to never bother Davis again if he would just stop
attacking him.  They had never been friendly after that and as they got
older Davis got much bigger and Clanton never grew much after the 7th
grade. As his size decreased in proportion to his classmates he became much
less aggressive.
   He pulled up in the yard and Clanton was sitting on the porch.  Davis
was surprised to see that the Reverend King was there.  He told the girls
to wait and walked up to the porch.
   "Tom, how you doing?" He nodded at the Reverend.
   They made small talk for a minute and Clanton asked, "What's on your
mind Davis?"
   He explained the situation and asked if Clanton would be interested in
helping with the raiders.  "If they clean out the German Baptists they'll
be looking for new targets.  We might be next."
   "Never cared much for those Dunkards anyway," Clanton said.  "I know you
was thick as thieves with the Rays and Millers, but they always seemed sort
of odd to me."
   "They're more than odd," Reverend King exploded.  "They're the spawn of
the false prophet."
   "What are you talking about?" Davis said.  "You told me you don't even
know them."
   "I know they don't believe in the millennial reign of the Lord.  It's
here Rade.  The axe is laid to the root of the tree and the fire of God is
raining down on all the followers of the false prophet.  The earth is being
cleansed and the temple of God is being set up in the New Jerusalem."
   "The Reverend's got a real church set up over in Coates, Davis.  I've
been going over there and he makes a lot of sense."
   "And I suppose the New Jerusalem is Coates and he's the harbinger of God
sent to warn all us sinners.  You're an idiot Clanton, and King is a
fanatic.  I don't know why I came here."
   He turned to leave.  The Reverend walked down the sidewalk two steps
behind him.  "The fury of God is going to strike you Rade," he thundered.
"You and those two harlots will face the wrath of God."
   Davis was on him in a blur and the point of his hunting knife was under
the Reverend's chin, tilting his head up uncomfortably.  Clanton started to
get up and the sound of a shell being jacked into the chamber of a riot gun
from the Jeep froze him.  He sank back down.
   "You open your mouth again and insult those two ladies and I'll cut out
your tongue.  You're a piece of shit King.  You aren't fit to lick the
boots of those good people you call `false prophets.' Keep off my trail or
I'll gut you and feed you to my dogs." He pressed on the knife and a thin
trickle of blood ran down the Reverend's neck.  His eyes rolled in terror
and he felt hot wetness flow down his leg as his bladder emptied.
   Davis pushed him back and he staggered and nearly fell.  Davis walked to
the Jeep and drove away.
   "Why did you do that Davis?" Malina asked.
   "He was uncomplimentary toward my girls," Davis said.
   "Let me guess," Calley laughed.  "We're whores or harlots and the wrath
of God is going to fall on us."
   Davis grinned.  "Something like that.  How did you know?"
   "I've met people like him before.  There used to be a group that came to
campus every year when I was in college.  They liked calling women whores
and promising hell fire to everyone they didn't like.  I like our German
Baptist friends better.  You made that man piss himself Davis."
   "Yes, it was very exciting, but you must not fight with everyone that
insults us Davis." Malina told him.
   "Why not?"
   "We do not need your help.  Calley and I will scratch their eyes out. 
We might shoot them with our guns.  I was ready to shoot the fat man on the
porch, but he was a great coward."
   "I know, thanks little girl.  I love you but it's my job to protect you,
not the other way around."
   "Davis, you're a fool," Calley told him.  "You're so chivalrous.  We
aren't some hothouse plants that you've got to shelter.  I hate being
treated like that.  I mean I love you for feeling like that but it is our
job to protect you.  That's what you do for people you love.  Do you
understand?  We're partners.  I think that's what Malina is saying and I
agree with her.  I know you protect us and take care of us, but we spent a
lot of time taking care of you too after you were shot."
   Davis grinned ruefully.  "I guess I do have a lot of old fashioned
ideas, but that's how I was raised.  I know you're smart and strong and
brave.  You're both a lot smarter than me.  I'll try to reform.  Do you
love me?"
   "Wait till we get home and we'll show you," Calley promised.
   Chapter Ten
   Davis got up the next morning with a plan.  The girls were still in bed
when he went to the barn and found Will milking Molly.
   "Will, I've got a job for you.  I want you to go up to Barnes place on
281.  There's no one there and it's a mile off the highway.  Take a good
pair of binoculars and some camping gear.  Take a radio and watch that
highway.  If you see any military vehicles you call me and hightail it back
here.  Don't let anyone see you and don't engage them under any
circumstances.  Will you do that?"
   "Sure boss," Bryant said.  "Be like a vacation.  I'll finish the chores
and leave.
   Davis went to the big garage and got out his 5 ton Chevy.  He walked
around it for a while studying it.  He went to the machine shop and
inspected his sheet metal.  He walked down to an old grain bin and looked
it over.  He went back to the truck and took a lot of measurements with a
tape measure.
   He went back to the house and took a cup of coffee to his office and got
out drafting tools and began to draw.  He heard movement from his bedroom
and the shower running and the girls talking.  He smiled at that wonderful
warm feeling those voices caused and bent back to his task.
   He didn't notice when Calley came in until she slipped her arms around
his neck from behind.  She rested her chin on his shoulder.  She was
holding a cup of coffee in one hand.  "What are you drawing baby?" she
asked him.
   "I'm drawing armor for the truck," he told her.  She pressed against his
back and watched him draw for a while.  She nibbled on his neck and he
straightened up and spun around on the stool to face her.  She had on a
button up shirt and that was obviously all.  Her hair was still damp and he
pulled her against him and buried his face in her fragrance.
   "You look so beautiful in the morning," he told her.
   Her eyes sparkled and she looked down a little shyly.  He reached out
and took her coffee cup, setting it on the table and unbuttoned the three
buttons she had fastened and slid his hands inside around her waist,
parting the shirt.  He let his eyes feast on her lush breasts, down over
her muscled stomach and to the narrow strip of dark curls.  She was
unbelievably curvy and sexy.
   "You're embarrassing me Davis," she whispered, a blush creeping down
from her cheeks.
   He pulled her close and nibbled his way down her neck.  She shivered and
arched her back giving him access to her breasts.  His lips fastened to one
little cone and he stretched it out with his lips and she gasped and
shuddered.  She reached for his drawstring and he helped her slide his
shorts and boxers to the floor.  She climbed astride and threw her head
back in ecstasy.  She came easily and often and they were oblivious to the
world for thirty minutes.
   Malina came to the door and saw them.  She smiled happily and waited. 
When they stopped moving, she knocked and told them breakfast was ready. 
Davis beckoned her over and she ran to be folded in their embrace.  Davis
slipped his hand inside her boxers and cupped her butt.  He stood up and
picked her up and carried her to the sofa.  He and Calley stripped her
clothes and nibbled and caressed her slender body until she cried out her
completion, clutching Calley's head between her thighs, her fingers tangled
in Davis' hair at her breast.
   They warmed breakfast back up and sat naked on the sofa and fed each
other.
   "Will you girls help me put armor on the truck today?" he asked them.
   They agreed and stood up to get dressed.  He smacked their rumps and
they squealed and ran off to their bedrooms.
   He rose languidly and dressed in jeans and a long sleeved shirt.  He
thought to call in and advise them to do the same.  They pulled the truck
into the machine shop and Davis used the overhead crane to move sheet metal
onto tables.  The girls used soapstone and drew the shapes on the metal and
Davis took his welding truck down the grain bin and cut five large
rectangles out of it.  He loaded them onto the truck and hauled them back
to the shop,
   The girls were finished with drawing the shapes he had drafted and he
put goggles on them and they watched fascinated as he fired up the cutting
torch and began cutting the shapes.  The sparks began to fly and molten
steel dripped on the floor.  The first part dropped to the floor and Calley
dragged it out of the way against the wall with a large pair of channel
locks.
   "Davis, may I try cutting the metal?" Malina asked.
   "Sure little girl," he cut off the gas and lifted his goggles.  "Put on
a pair of those long leather gloves."
   "Why must I wear the gloves?" she asked.  "It is very hot and they look
very uncomfortable."
   "Yes it is and yes they are.  But not as hot or uncomfortable as it will
be if some of that hot metal splashes on your arms.  I should make you put
on leathers and I will if you weld with the MIG."
   "I see, I was not thinking Davis.  I will not ask any more questions.  I
should have known you would have a reason."
   "Nonsense," he told her.  "If you don't ask questions you won't get
answers.  I don't always know what I'm doing.  If it doesn't make sense I
expect you to ask questions.  That isn't always true.  If I tell you to run
or drop or hide I don't want you to ask questions.  Just do it and ask why
later.  Assume I have a reason for emergency stuff."
   "I will remember Davis." She put on the gloves and he showed her how to
use the striker and explained what the valves did.  She opened the
acetylene valve and lit it with the striker.
   "Open the valve a little more," he told her.
   She turned the flame up a little and opened the oxygen valve.  The
orange flame turned blue as she adjusted the flame.
   He pulled her goggles down.  "Hold the flame there on the edge until you
see a glow and a shiny looking puddle forms.  Then you push the cutting
lever and it blows the metal away.  Make a cut over to the line and then
just follow the line."
   Malina cut a long, narrow rectangle and then cut a rectangular slot in
it and turned off the torch.  "I love to cut metal," she told him.  "The
colors are very pretty, but it is very hot.  I do not think I would wish to
do it all the time as a job."
   "Well, welders don't always cut metal.  You might like the actual
welding better."
   It took the rest of the day to cut the pieces and get the sharp edges
ground down.  They cut brackets to weld to the truck and set them aside for
tomorrow when they would actually attach them.
   When they completed the job the engine and wheels were protected by the
sections from the grain bin and the cab was lined with steel.  There was a
slot in front of the driver so it was possible to see out, but the driver
would be totally protected from fire.  Davis made the truck as safe as he
could and fabricated a mount for the M2 .50 caliber in the bed.  He had
also made a shield that attached to the gun with another slot to protect
the gunner while still allowing them to aim.
   They delivered weapons and ammunition to the posse and waited to hear
from Will Bryant.  The wait was not long.  4 days after they completed the
modifications on the truck Bryant reported that a group of Desert Sand
vehicles had left town and was headed south.  He ignored Davis'
instructions and shadowed the group as they moved south.
   Davis notified the posse and they met at the Sawyer Post Office.  Davis
and the two girls brought the 5 ton and Calley drove.  Bryant gave them the
location of the raiders and the posse set out on an intercept course.  The
posse set up at a crossroads and waited for the raiders to appear.
   Soon they could see the dust of the approaching vehicles.  Bryant
reported that the lead vehicle was a Bradley fighting vehicle and Davis got
his surprise ready.  The Guard unit stopped 100 yards away and Davis rose
up in the back of the truck and fire roared from the tube of the
Panzerschreck Bazooka and the rocket struck the Bradley.  It leaped into
the air on a ball of flame that surrounded it and landed on its side in the
ditch.  Davis reloaded and blew up a transport truck which exploded into
flames, disgorging flaming figures that flopped for a few moments on the
road and were still.
   The posse surged forward, guns blazing from the back of pickup trucks
with Calley driving the 5 ton in the vanguard.  Davis opened up the M2 and
the heavy slugs shredded anything they touched.  In less than a minute 18
men lay dead in the road or sprawling from doors where they died trying to
get out.  4 men were wounded and taken prisoner.
   The group discussed what to do with the prisoners.  "These men raped a
14 year old girl and her mother repeatedly while they forced their brother
and father to watch," Davis argued.
   "How do you know it was these guys?" Anthony asked him.
   "I don't," Davis replied.  "It may have been some of these other sons of
bitches but these men were there and watched it happen if they didn't do
it. I think they ought to be executed right now."
   "What about a trial?" another man asked.
   "They declared themselves guilty when they drove out of town on this
raid," Bryant said.  "I agree with Davis.  I think we should leave one of
them alive though.  Let him go back and give everyone in that town the
message that we're going to kill every son of a bitch that comes out here
and tries to rob people in this community."
   "Who's going to execute them?" the man asked.
   "I'll do it," Bryant said.  He didn't give anyone else a chance to
argue. He drew his revolver and put three rounds into the heads of the
prisoners.  He struck the last prisoner in the face and flattened him to
the ground.
   "You go back home and tell them what happened here.  If I ever see you
again I'll open you up like a Christmas package." He struck the man across
the face again with his gun barrel, leaving him bloody and barely conscious
on the ground.
   The group dispersed and Davis got back in the truck and they drove to
the Ray's farm.  They got out and saw Susan in the back hanging out
laundry. She waved and hung up the last garment and walked around the house
to meet them carrying her laundry basket.  Kent came out of the barn and
shook hands with them.
   "Kent, I know you didn't want this to happen but that Guard unit was
heading for Carl Brubaker's house today.  We got together with the Z bar
boys and about 40 of us met them on the road.  They won't be raping or
killing anyone else."
   Susan burst into tears and threw her arms around Davis and the girls. 
"Oh, thank you Davis, thank you girls.  I was so afraid.  You can't imagine
how afraid I've been for my girls.  I don't care, Kent," she said as he
started to object.  "I know it's not our way to fight.  I'm sorry Davis
killed them but I'm not sorry they're dead.  I can't be.  Our girls are
safe and I'm safe and you're safe.  I'll pray for those men but I can't be
sorry they're dead."
   Kent embraced his wife and patted her bonnet.  "I know Susan, I know. 
I'm grateful to you too, Davis.  I just don't want to see blood on your
hands.  You're a good friend to us Davis.  We all love you and we want you
to know that we're all in your debt.  I don't know how we'll ever pay you
back."
   "You don't owe me anything Kent.  I was protecting my family too.  Do
you think I didn't know what those people would have done to Calley and
Malina if they caught them out somewhere?  We would never have had peace as
long as they were out there.  I can go to bed at night now and know that my
friends and people I love aren't being raped and murdered.  The way you can
pay me back is the way you've been paying me back since we were three years
old.  Keep being my friend and keep my pew ready for me at church when I
come."
   Chapter 11
   Fall was rapidly approaching.  The corn was beginning to turn brown and
the mornings brought a chill to the air.  The last of the garden was in
sight and Davis and the girls worked hard to harvest their winter food. 
Some of the vegetables were allowed to grow un-harvested so that they would
fully ripen for seed.  The rest was canned or frozen.
   They made another collection of carp from the river for dog food and
Davis was satisfied that they had enough for the winter.  Issus was
pregnant and so was Molly.  They allowed her to go dry for a couple of
months and although they missed the milk they had canned cream to cook with
and plenty of butter in the freezers.
   The fall calves were born and the girls fell in love with the shaggy
little Beef Master calves.  There were also two colts and these quickly
became the girl's pets.  Pumpkins began to turn orange and it was time to
harvest the corn.
   Several of their neighbors helped them harvest and traded their hybrids
for Davis' open pollinated varieties.  They put the corn in the grain bins
and Davis traded with Krista and Vera Ray for two kittens, promising them a
puppy when Issus whelped.  The kittens were instantly adopted by the girls.
They were little balls of fluff that Davis hoped would keep down the rodent
population around the ranch buildings.  He had to speak sternly to the
dogs, who regarded the kittens with a great deal of suspicion.  The kittens
viewed their stumpy tails as toys to be attacked every time they moved and
the dogs quickly learned to tolerate them.  It was not unusual to see a
huge Cane Corso sleeping in the sun with a fluffy kitten curled up under
their chin or on their belly.
   Four puppies were born two days before Halloween, a male and three
females.  Davis gave two of the females to the Rays and the Calley chose
the male and Malina one of the females.  They named them Boris and Natasha.
Davis got quite a kick out of those names.  The girls insisted that Issus
be allowed to sleep inside in the mud room while the puppies were little
and Anubis grew so vocal about their separation that they let him in too to
keep him quiet.
   They hosted a Halloween party and all the neighbors attended.  Angus
pulled Davis aside and they went into his office and relaxed and sipped
whiskey.  Joel Anthony joined them and Malina came in and curled up on
Davis' lap.
   "Davis, I've been hearing some things I don't like.  Reverend King has
been spreading it around that you assaulted him.  Tom Clanton is backing up
his story.  He's got a bunch of people from around Coates going to his
church and a bunch of people from up around Havilland.  Did you attack him
Davis?"
   "Yes, I suppose I did."
   "Why?  I've never known you to go around picking fights.  Why would you
attack a preacher?"
   "Angus, you're my oldest friend.  I've known you since I was in diapers
and you've always been like an uncle to me.  But with all due respect, I
don't have to justify myself to you."
   "Now don't take it like that Davis.  You were always the damndest kid
for getting your back up.  I'm not asking you to justify yourself, I just
want to know what happened."
   "Sorry Angus, but the Reverend is a sore spot with me.  What would you
do if someone told you that Zelda was a whore and that the wrath of God was
going to fall on her?"
   "Who is Zelda?" Malina asked.
   "Zelda is his daughter," Davis told her.  "She's about ten years older
than me and she lives on a ranch down in Oklahoma."
   "I'd kick his ass," Angus replied.  "Is that what happened?"
   "Yes.  Did you think I'd just attack the man for no reason?  Clanton was
there and started to pull a gun and Malina covered him with a riot gun and
stopped him.  But I didn't kick his ass.  I should have, but I put a knife
to his throat and told him to keep his mouth shut or I'd cut out his
tongue."
   "He was very afraid," Malia said.  "He urinated on his own leg.  He is a
great coward."
   Angus and Anthony shouted with laughter.  "I didn't think that," Angus
said.  "I knew you would have a good reason.  Don't be so touchy boy.  I'm
on your side.  I just wanted to hear what happened.  I'm afraid King is
going to try to stir something up.  One of my boys went over there to one
of their meetings and King was talking about the beast and the false
prophet and it seems like you're him.  Well, he doesn't like the Baptists
over at Sawyer much either but you seem to head the list of the people the
Lord is going to punish.  I'm just afraid he won't wait on the Lord."
   "What can he do?" Anthony asked.  "Davis is dug in like an Alabama tick
here.  No one is going to come in here and get away with it.  Those people
out there in his living room think he hung the moon.  Especially after what
happened up there at Sawyer.  Hell, man, I think so too."
   "My boys would die for those girls to the last man," Angus said.  "Just
watch out for him Davis.  He's a vengeful man.  His religion is all about
wrath and hell fire."
   "The only time I go outside the fence is to go to one of the dances
around or to church," Davis told them.  "Let him try to come in here and
start something.  I despise that kind of fanatic.  Religion is supposed to
be about love and grace and mercy and treating other people like you want
to be treated.  He's a nut case and probably a dangerous man once he gets a
mob together.  But I'm not going to sit back and let him call my girls
whores."
   "Thank you Davis, but we have already had this conversation and you know
how Calley and I feel about this," Malina pulled on his ear.  "We don't
need you to fight our battles for us."
   "No you don't," Angus said.  "You're a little spitfire Malina and I
wouldn't want you mad at me.  You were ready to scratch my eyes out though
when I told you Davis was lazy.  Seems to me like you've got the same idea
he has."
   "Yes, it makes me very angry for anyone to speak about him like that. 
But I am Latin and we have fierce tempers.  I am trying to be more calm."
   "You're perfect just the way you are little girl," Davis kissed her
cheek.  "Don't ever change."
   Anthony talked for a while about the progress he had made in getting a
group together for the trip south for fuel.  He was experiencing
difficulties in dealing with a militia group headed by a former governor of
Oklahoma that had control of the nearest refinery.  The man wanted a
prohibitive cut of the fuel produced and so far Anthony had little success
in talking him off his position.  His brother-in-law had agreed to use his
truck fleet to haul the fuel but he also wanted a cut and by the time they
paid everyone involved it just didn't look like the trip would be
worthwhile.
   Davis suggested that they think about the abandoned Coastal refinery in
Wichita but the dangers of going there were a huge deterrent.  He also had
another idea.
   "Why can't we make alcohol?" he asked.  "It's a fine fuel.  We might
have to tinker with our engines a bit but we have grain.  We can produce
more grain and I don't see any end to the amount we could make.  Another
possibility is natural gas.  How many of our oil wells make natural gas?  I
know five of mine do.  I know how to do the conversions and I have the
parts for conversions to either.  I don't have a still but I know how to
make one that will produce 95 percent pure alcohol.  The natural gas
conversion would be easier.  I can convert a small gas engine like a
generator in about 4 hours.  People burning propane just have to change the
nozzles on their furnace.  The biggest problem would be getting the gas to
the engines or furnaces.  I have about 30 tanks.  The coop has compressors
for propane we could scavenge.  They aren't being used anyway; there's no
propane."
   "I already have a line," Anthony said.  "We quit using it about five
years ago when salt water came down the line and ruined the furnace."
   "That's just a poor design," Davis told him.  "Put a couple of dryer
tanks in the line and they collect the salt water.  All you have to do is
drain them once a month.  I know how to install them and I can teach you."
   "When can you start?" Anthony asked.
   "We can get all the pipe we need from abandoned oil yards.  I know where
seven are within 20 miles.  I can start next week.  People will have to get
their own pipe.  I'm not hauling it for them.  I won't install it either.
They can do that themselves unless they can't weld.  They'll have to find
somebody that can and trade with them.  Also, while I'm working on their
stuff I'm not letting stuff go here.  I'll trade for work here.  The girls
go everywhere I go and I won't leave Will here to do all the work we should
be doing.  If you pass the word I'll get started.  I won't work after the
first snow, so we need to get cracking."
   17 people wanted to convert to natural gas.  Davis started with Joel
Anthony.  Anthony sent two men to work Davis' place and Davis and the girls
had his generator running on compressed natural gas in two days.  They
converted his tractor and pickup as well and the girls quickly picked up on
the process.  Malina turned out to be a very good welder and Calley was a
good fabricator.  They worked quickly and by Thanksgiving everyone who
wanted to convert was finished.
   Davis and the girls took two weeks off and went hunting.  Calley didn't
really care for hunting, she discovered.  She killed a deer and a turkey
and retired.  She was happy to go with them, and she ran errands and did
most of the meat packing after Davis butchered, but she didn't like killing
the animals.
   They killed 10 deer and 20 turkeys before Davis was satisfied.  They
went pheasant hunting on abandoned farms to the north and killed 50
pheasants and twice that many quail.  Malina loved hunting.  Davis taught
her how to shoot a bow and all winter, she was as likely to be found
sitting in a tree stand as at home.  She hunted along the creek inside the
fence and took the dogs and hunted the corn fields for pheasants.
   Calley and Malina wanted to invite the Ray's for Thanksgiving.  Davis
smoked a wild turkey and Susan cooked a ham.  They played board games and
popped maize in the fireplace.  Susan and Calley were becoming very close,
while the younger girls adored Malina.  Her quaint way of talking charmed
them to the point that they began to adopt some of her mannerisms and she
was teaching them Spanish.
   Davis had made apple cider from some of the apples off his six trees and
they sipped hot cider with cinnamon.
   They all hugged goodbye and the Ray's went home.  Davis sat between his
girls on the sofa and ate a turkey sandwich while they drank more cider. 
Calley was holding Boris on her lap.  He was already nearly 40 pounds and
Davis declared that he was getting too big to hold.
   "No, he's just a baby," she cooed.  "Look at him.  He loves me."
   "Everyone loves you Calley," Malina told her.  "You are so squishy."
   Calley was indignant.  "I told you she wouldn't like that," Davis
laughed.
   "But you are," Malina objected.  She reached over and squeezed one big
breast.  "See?  I love to squeeze you Calley."
   Mollified, Calley arched her back, pressing into Malina's hand.  "Ok, I
guess I am, but I wish you'd find another word."
   "You're getting a little squishier yourself little girl," Davis tested
the weight of one of her firm breasts.  My little girl's getting big."
   "Yes, soon I will no longer look like a little boy.  Calley will not be
able to tease me anymore."
   Davis put Boris on the floor and held his hands out to them.  "Let's go
to bed and compare squishiness," he laughed.
   They lay breathless in the darkness, the girls on each side of Davis,
knees touching and cheeks resting on his chest while he ran his hands up
and down silky skin and tangled in the tousled hair.
   "What do you girls want for Christmas?" he asked.
   "I don't know," Calley told him.  "Let me think about it."
   "I know what I want," Malina said.  "I want two days and two nights."
   "I don't understand kitten," Davis said.  "Two days and two nights of
what?"
   "I want you to go somewhere so I can have Calley all to myself for one
day and one night.  Then I want you all to myself for one day and one
night. I do not know how to accomplish this but this is what I wish for."
   "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard," Calley told her.  "I don't
know how that can happen either, but we'll find a way baby."
   "Maybe I know," Davis said.  "How far away do we have to be?"
   "Not far.  I wish for you to be close in case I need you, but not so
close that you interrupt me."
   "Will is going home for Christmas for two weeks.  His folks live out at
Coldwater.  How would it be if I spent the day and night at his house and
Calley stays there the next?"
   "Oh Davis, that would be perfect.  You could stay in Will's cute little
house and if I need you I could just walk down the bunker and knock."
   "I think I know what I want too," Calley told them.  "I think this is
what I want but I wanted to talk to you both about it.  I'm not sure yet,
but I think I will be sure by Christmas."
   "What is it Calley?" Malina asked.  "We will give you anything you
want."
   "I don't want anything from you Malina except for you to love me and
give us your permission."
   "Permission?  It is a silliness Calley.  You do not need my permission
to do anything."
   "I do for this.  I would never do it unless you wanted me to."
   "You're killing us Calley," Davis said.  "Come on baby, out with it."
   "Ok, here goes.  I want an engagement ring from you Davis.  I know you
won't marry me until Malina is ready, and I don't want that either, but I
want your promise.  I want something I can hold on to so I'll have the
courage to do the other thing I want."
   "What is it Calley?  I cannot stand the suspense any longer," Malina
begged.
   "I think I want a baby." She burst into tears.
   "Oh yes, I would love a baby," Malina squirmed with excitement.  "But
why are you crying Calley?  Babies should not make one cry.  They are very
happy.  We would be very good mothers, Calley and Davis would be a
wonderful father."
   "I know, I was just afraid that you wouldn't want me to.  Davis still
hasn't said anything.  Please Davis, say something."
   "Yes Davis, you must tell Calley that you love her and that you would
love our baby as well.  She is very sad and you can make her very happy."
   Davis took Calley's right arm and pulled her on top of him and held her
tight.  He pulled her up so that he could reach her lips and kissed her for
a very long time.  "You just took me by surprise Calley.  I had no idea
that you were even thinking about such a thing."
   "But do you want to Davis?" she asked anxiously.
   "I think so," he finally said.  "Give me a minute to think.  You can't
spring this on me and expect me to decide all in a minute.  I do love you
Calley, with all my heart, and I love the idea of you having our baby.  I
just don't know if now is the right time.  It might be dangerous for you.
It would kill Malina and I if something happened to you.  There aren't any
hospitals, if you have complications I wouldn't know what to do.  How much
hardship would a child face being raised in the world right now?  I just
don't know.  Let me think about it.  Let's talk about it.  Convince me. 
I'm not saying I don't want to, I do but I don't know about right now."
   "No, I won't convince you Davis.  I understand that you need to think
about it.  I've been thinking for three months.  I'm sorry I cried and made
you feel like you need to answer now.  But think about this; I'm 26 and
you're 36.  I want to have a baby while I'm still young.  I want to be
young when our child grows up.  I won't ever love anyone else besides you
guys.  That's all I'm going to say, and Malina, I forbid you to pressure
Davis.  Let him make up his own mind.  If he doesn't think the time is
right I'll be fine with that so long as he thinks there will be a right
time."
   "No Calley, I promise, but I do want a baby Davis.  I want to have one
myself in a few years."
   "You know what?" Davis said.  "I do know some doctors.  Two of my best
friends are doctors.  The Berkley's live just across the Oklahoma line. 
His name is Rocky and hers is Chris.  He's a surgeon and she's a
pediatrician.  I went to grade school with him and his mom and dad were our
neighbors.  We've been close ever since.  It's only about 40 miles down
there.  We could go down and stay a couple of weeks.  They have a huge
house out on a horse ranch and we could take the Airstream down and stay
there for a couple of weeks or so before the baby was born.  They could
take care of you Calley.  But I'm still getting ahead of myself.  Let me
think."
   He felt Malina's little hand stroking along his thigh.  Her fingers
danced and his excitement rose again.  She moved him into position at
Calley's entrance and whispered, "Let's practice."
   Calley slid down and he was enveloped in her heat.  She sat up and began
a slow, languorous movement, her breasts bouncing with her movement and he
forgot all other thoughts.
   Chapter 12
   Reverend King looked out over his congregation with satisfaction.  The
small church house was nearly full.  The gospel had been well received
lately, he thought.  Numbers had swelled over the last few months.  These
people knew the millennial reign was about to begin and the last battle was
on the horizon.  God's enemies were about to be overthrown and the axe was
laid to the root of the tree.  The chaff was about to be separated from the
wheat and cast into the fire.
   The chief obstacles to his success in uniting the whole community in the
truth were the German Baptists over at Sawyer.  They were standing firm in
their opposition to the truth.  They refused to allow him to preach in
their building and denied that he was the Lord's prophet.  Ever since Davis
Rade had murdered the National Guard unit out of Pratt more and more people
had started attending church at Sawyer.  For some reason most of the
ranchers west and south of Medicine Lodge regarded Rade as a hero.  The
Reverend knew how to cope with wickedness.  Cut off the head and the snake
might writhe around for a while, but the body would die.
   The problem was getting to the head.  As long as Rade was in his
compound he was invulnerable.  The Reverend had tried to build enthusiasm
for a raid on the compound but the stories of the destruction of the Guard
unit had made the rounds and his people viewed an attack on Rade's home as
a suicide mission.
   The two whores were the key.  If the Reverend could get his hands on
them, Rade could be lured outside and destroyed.  They never went anywhere
alone.  That difficulty had to be overcome.  Rade never left them alone. 
One of the dances seemed to be the best opportunity, but the Reverend
wasn't being invited to those anymore.  He had been preaching against
revelry and debauchery lately so that he could separate his followers from
Rade's influence.  His moralizing hadn't gone over well among the
independently minded ranchers to the southeast and they had simply ignored
him.  If he could gain the support of the Rocking Ladder and Z Bar he would
have a strong base from which to operate.
   With that kind of numbers he could expand to Medicine Lodge, Pratt and
Greensburg.  The whole of south central Kansas would be under the Lord's
control and the gospel could be spread throughout the Midwest.  Rade was
the obstacle standing in the way.
   "My text today comes from Revelation chapter 13, verses 13 through 16,"
the Reverend began his sermon.  `And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs
come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and
out of the mouth of the false prophet.  For they are the spirits of devils,
working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the
whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God
Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief.  Blessed is he that watcheth, and
keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.  And he
gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue
Armageddon.' Make no mistake, my brethren; the final battle is upon us. 
This is the great day of the wrath of Almighty God.  You have seen the
first six vials poured out upon the earth.  All that remains standing
between us and the great day of the Lord when the saints emerge victorious
and the faithful are raptured is the appearance of the three unclean
spirits," he paused for dramatic effect.
   "But what would you think if I told you that your servant has discovered
the identity of the three unclean spirits?  What if I told you I know where
they are?  What if we had the ability to remove them from the face of the
earth?  Do you want to be saved from the wrath of God?  He is depending on
us for the spread of his kingdom on earth.  Yes, the people in this one
little congregation in Kansas are the ones he has chosen as his instruments
to cleanse the earth of these vile creatures.
   God has chosen me to lead you and he has revealed to me the location and
the names of the three unclean spirits.  They have lived among you for
years, hiding their evil natures.  Who is it that has prevented the spread
of the gospel among you?  Who is it that has defended the spawn of the
false prophet and prevented the outpouring of the seventh vial upon the
servants of the beast at Sawyer?
   There are three unclean spirits among us.  So long as they go
unpunished, God's purpose will be halted.  His will cannot proceed so long
as they go unpunished.  Shall we join together and march toward salvation
or shall we cower in fear while the enemies of God move forward boldly. 
God has chosen me to lead you in this righteous cause.  Are you with me, my
brothers and sisters?"
   A chorus of "Amen's" rose from the congregation.
   "I can't hear you.  Did someone say `Amen?'"
   There was an even louder chorus.
   "Who are the unclean spirits, Reverend?" Tom Clanton spoke up.
   "They are the three people standing in the way of God's plan," the
Reverend thundered.  "You know them well.  They are Davis Rade, Calista De
la Vega and Malina Nebrija.  Who was it that defended the spawn of the
false prophet in Sawyer when the wrath of God was falling upon them?  Who
is it that has deceived your neighbors and uses their influence to keep
them away from our church and fighting against the will of God?  Who is it
that attacked the servant of God when called to repentance and held weapons
at the ready to murder brother Clanton when he attempted to defend God's
servant?  God's word reveals that judgment must fall upon the two whores.
`I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore.' These women are
her children.  And by them the inhabitants of the earth have been made
drunk with the wine of their fornication.  Your neighbors have been
deceived by them and now is the time of God's judgment.  God has revealed
to his servant a plan.  Brothers and sisters, will you stand on the Lord's
side?  Will you join with his servants and overcome these evil spirits?"
   The response was everything he had hoped for.  He met with his leaders
after church and they began to form their plan.  It would take a great deal
of planning and execution but he was confident that the truth was mighty
and would prevail.  The reign of Christ was at hand.
   Chapter 13
   The three unclean spirits, unaware of their designation, were attending
church at Sawyer.  It was a cold, clear morning and Malina had risen early,
did the chores and cooked breakfast.  She dragged a complaining Davis and
the somewhat more cooperative Calley out of bed and got them dressed and in
the car.
   They spent a pleasant day in the company of the Ray's.  They stopped by
the Z Bar on the way home and Angus told them that there would be a dance
on Friday at George Lane's house.  Lane lived about 10 miles west of Davis
and he really didn't know the man that well.  He had come to two of the
events and Angus was planning to go with many of his hands.
   l
   Malina wanted to go very badly and so Davis relented and agreed to go.
Lane had primarily been a wheat farmer and Davis had traded some of his
Turkey Red to him for seed.  They arrived a little late and the dance had
already begun.  Davis danced with Malina a couple of times and Greg Wilson
asked her to dance while Davis went looking for Calley.  He found her
dancing with Anthony and tagged in.  She was looking very beautiful in an
electric blue gown and diamonds.
   "I told you you would look good in diamonds," he whispered in her ear.
"I was right.  You're glowing tonight baby."
   "Thanks Davis, I feel really pretty.  I've been wondering if you've
given any thought to what we talked about; you know, about a baby."
   "I haven't thought about much else.  Calley, I love you and I would like
nothing better than to make that happen.  I know it's what you want and if
that's what you want I want it too."
   "That's not good enough," she told him.  "I don't want you to want it
because I do.  I want you to want it because you do."
   "Well, I do want it.  I'm just afraid."
   "What are you afraid of?  Are you afraid you won't be a good father?"
   "That's not it.  I mean yes, I am afraid of that but what I'm really
afraid of is that the world isn't safe for a baby.  In ten years I might
feel differently, but that window might close for me.  I'm just conflicted
Calley.  I want you to be happy and I would love to be the father of our
baby.  I guess I'm telling you I still don't know."
   "That's ok Davis.  I'm already happy.  I don't want a baby to make me
happy.  You and Malina make me happy every day.  I don't need anything
else. I'll wait until you're ready.  If you never are, that's ok too.  I'm
happy you love me and Malina loves me.  You're all I need.  I just want a
baby.  I don't have to have one." She reached up and pulled his head down
and kissed him.
   "You're a great girl Calley," he told her.  "I'm the luckiest man
alive."
   Malina danced with Greg and he asked her if she knew Tim Lane.  "He's
been pestering me to introduce you," he told her.  "I think he wants to
dance with you."
   "I do not know him," she said.  "Is he interesting?"
   "Not as interesting as me," he told her.  "But I promised him I'd
introduce him.  Is that ok Malina?"
   "Yes, I suppose.  If he bores me I will wink at you and you must rescue
me," she said.
   "I'll be watching," he promised.
   He led her across the barn to where a thin, blonde haired young man was
sitting on a bale of hay.
   "Hey Tim, this is Malina Nebrija.  Malina, this is Tim Lane."
   "I am pleased to meet you.  Thank you for inviting us to this dance."
   He stood up and asked her to dance.  "I wanted to meet you.  Greg told
me about you.  You're just as beautiful as he said."
   Malina blushed a little.  "Thank you Tim.  I will dance one dance with
you but then I wish to dance with Davis again."
   When the song ended Tim asked Malina if she wanted to see the new
kittens.  She really wanted to dance with Davis but she did love kittens.
She walked outside with him and around to a shed behind the barn.  The
kittens were delightful and she played with them for a few minutes.  It was
cold and she became uncomfortably cool.  Her dress had no back and her arms
were bare.
   "I am growing cold," she told Tim.  "We must return so that I can dance
again with Davis."
   She preceded him to the door and as she stepped outside three men
standing outside the shed seized her.  Two held her arms and the third
slipped a bag over her head and drew it tight.  She fought like a tiger. 
Her screams were muffled by the hood and she couldn't see but she sank her
teeth into the arm of one of the men holding her and kicked wildly at the
other.  Startled by her ferocity, they lost their hold on her and she ran
forward swiftly.  She struck a car and fell to the ground, hands scrabbling
at the hood over her face.
   The three men recovered and jumped on her, pinning her to the ground. 
They pulled her arms behind her and wrapped them with duct tape.  She
continued to struggle, kicking with her feet until they held her legs and
wrapped her ankles and knees.  She bucked and struggled but they quickly
carried her to a car.  They threw her into the trunk and she was bounced
and bruised as the car sped away.
   She struggled to free herself.  She found a piece of what felt like
metal and managed to cut the tape around her wrists.  She hurt herself on
the metal and felt blood trickling down her wrists.  She was searching for
the knot holding the bag over her head when the car stopped.  She struggled
frantically, trying to get the bag off.  She heard the trunk open and
someone grabbed her wrists and bound her again.  Hands lifted her from the
trunk and she heard her dress tear as it caught on something.  Cold air
flowed over her legs and someone tore the dress again as they tripped on
the hanging material.
   She was carried into a warm place and they freed her hands for a moment.
She managed to scratch someone and they cursed and grabbed her wrists.  She
was thrust into something that felt like a wooden chair and her wrists were
taped to the sides.  They taped her midsection and legs to the chair and
cut off the tape she had been restrained with.  Hands fumbled with the
drawstring around her neck and the hood was removed.  Her heart sank when
she saw that the two men in the room with her were the Reverend King and
Tom Clanton.
   The Reverend was smiling.  "Welcome to your temporary home," he told
her. There were bloody scratches down the side of Clanton's face.  "You
might as well relax," he told her.  "You may be here a while.  You see, God
has chosen you as the instrument of his will.  You are going to be the key
to God's destruction of that Minion of Satan, Davis Rade.  I'm going to
tell him where you are and he's going to try to rescue you.  He never goes
anywhere without you whores and he's going to bring Calista De la Vega here
with him and the wrath of God will be unleashed on you."
   He leaned down and sneered in her face.  "Rade won't ever leave you
here. He is bound to try to rescue his whore."
   Malina spat in his face.  "I do not like being called a whore.  It is
you who are a fat pig of a person.  You are a great coward, attacking
girls. The last time you faced Davis you urinated on your leg.  I believe
you will do so again when Davis comes.  I will kill you for this."
   He slapped her brutally across the face.  Her head jerked to one side
and she was nearly knocked unconscious.  She felt blood in her mouth and
she spat it in his face again.  "I am not afraid of a coward such as you.
Go ahead, hit me again."
   He slapped her again and darkness claimed her.  When she woke her cheek
throbbed and she felt that two of her teeth were loose.  Clanton was gone
and the Reverend was sitting in a chair across the room.  Her head was
hanging and she saw that the lower part of her dress had been entirely torn
away, leaving her legs bare and her boxers exposed.  She glared at the
Reverend and he rose and crossed the room to stand in front of her.
   He raised his hand and she flinched.  He laughed.  "Looks like you're
learning who's in charge.  We're making arrangements for Rade and the other
whore.  Very soon you'll all be in the same trap."
   She writhed and struggled but the tape held her securely.  The Reverend
stood looking down at her.  He reached down and ran one pudgy hand over her
bare shoulder.  She shrugged it away fiercely and he slapped her again.  He
went around behind her and stroked her back and shoulders while she
struggled furiously.  He ran his hands up over her shoulders and circled
her neck.  He squeezed and she began to choke.  As the blackness threatened
to take her again he released her and slid his hands down over her chest
and into the bodice of her dress.  He cupped his hands around her breasts
and pinched her nipples.  She shifted as best she could to dislodge his
hands and he pinched harder.  She moaned in pain as his fingernails cut
into one nipple, drawing blood.
   "You're a pretty little whore," he told her as he squeezed her breasts
painfully.  "This is really all you're good for.  You like this, don't you?
That's what all whores like."
   She turned her head quickly and sank her teeth into his forearm.  With
all her might she bit down on his flesh and tore a bloody chunk from his
arm.  He screamed and struck her on the side of her head and she knew no
more.
   When she came to again his forearm was bandaged and he had a knife in
his hand.  Tape now covered her mouth and she could hardly breathe.  He
advanced slowly and cut the tape around her midsection and thighs.  He
grasped her hips and pulled her forward, forcing her to sit on the edge of
the chair.  He taped her in place there with her thighs parted.  He grasped
her boxers and jerked them down to the tape.  He cut them off with the
knife and slit the remains of her dress and opened it.  She sat helplessly,
exposed to his gaze.  He held his knife at her throat with his injured arm
and reached down, running his fingers through the golden curls between her
legs.
   She began to scream into the tape covering her mouth and the Reverend
laughed.
   "Not so high and mighty now, are you whore?  One more won't matter to a
whore like you."
   He opened his pants and let them fall to the floor.  His fat white belly
disgusted her and she continued to scream and shake her head.  He stroked
himself and lifted the tape off her mouth.  "Did you want to say something
whore?"
   "Please, not like this," she gasped.  "I will help you.  I have never
seen a penis so large," she lied.  It was pathetic.  "Let me help.  I am a
whore, like you said.  Let me touch it.  I will make it very good for you
if you will not hurt me again.  Just let me touch it."
   The Reverend smiled.  "I knew you were a whore.  You'll be begging for
it soon."
   "Yes, I will beg.  You are making me very excited.  Let me show you."
   He used the knife and freed one hand.  She reached out and began to
fondle his limp penis, panting as though she were excited.  He grew in her
hand and she continued to stroke him.  She pulled on him and he stepped
closer.  As he did she seized his testicles in her hand and squeezed with
all her might.  The Reverend screamed and she pulled him close enough that
she could reach him with her teeth.  Again, she bit down with all her might
and tore with her teeth.  He managed to pull himself free but his mangled
member was spurting blood and he sank to the floor unconscious.
   She began to rock her chair back and forth.  She braced her feet against
the floor and managed to topple the chair over.  Her head smacked the floor
and she fought to retain consciousness.  The chair broke when she hit the
floor and she managed to scoot around to the Reverends knife and cut the
tape holding her arms to the chair.  She cut her thighs and feet loose and
stood up.  She felt needles of pain as her blood flowed to her constricted
limbs and she collapsed, unable to stand the pain.  She was determined and
she scooted across the floor to the comatose Reverend.  She worked his
jacket off and put it on.  She buttoned it, covering her nakedness.  She
was finally able to sit up.  She found the duct tape and bound the
Reverend's hands behind him.  She taped his ankles together and began to
slap him.  His eyes opened and he stared at her for a moment as
comprehension dawned.
   "Now, fat pig; remember that I promised to kill you?  I am keeping that
promise."
   "You can't, I'm a man of God," he gasped.
   "I do not think so," she told him.  "I believe you are a fat pig.  Let
us see if God will save you."
   She raised the knife and plunged it into his right eye.  He stiffened
and spasmed, his body twitched and he was still.
   "Perhaps God does not look with favor upon rapists," she said.
   The door burst open and Clanton stumbled into the room.  He looked at
the Reverend with the knife sticking out of his eye.  He raised his pistol
and pointed it at Malina.  She prepared to launch her small body at him and
a shotgun blast nearly blew him in two.  Gunfire erupted in the yard
outside and Malina fell to the floor and fainted.
   Chapter 14
   Davis was getting Calley a glass of punch.  Greg Wilson came to the
table and Davis shook his hand.  "Aren't you dancing with Malina?" he
asked.
   "No, I introduced her to Tim Lane and he wanted to dance with her."
   Davis glanced around the barn.  Tim was sitting on a bale of hay in a
corner talking to his father.  "I see Tim, but I don't see Malina," he told
Greg.
   "I heard Tim tell her something about going to look at some kittens,"
Greg said.  "Maybe she isn't back yet."
   Davis walked over to where the Lane's were sitting.  "Where's Malina?"
he asked Greg.
   "She's looking at the new kittens," the boy told him.
   "Where is she looking at the kittens?" Davis asked.
   "They're in the shed behind the barn."
   Davis took Calley's arm and they walked out of the barn.  "Where are we
going?" she asked.
   "I just wanted to get you alone and ravish you," he told her.
   "Don't you think it's a little cold for ravishing?" she laughed.
   "Not when you're with a smoking hot woman," he said.  "But actually
we're looking for Malina.  Something doesn't feel right.  Why would the
Lane boy leave her alone?  He said they were looking at kittens.  I know
Malina loves kittens but why would he leave her?"
   As they approached the door of the shed Calley noticed something lying
on the ground.  She bent to pick it up and recognized one of Malina's
slippers.
   "Davis, hurry," she said.  "Something is wrong.  This is Malina's."
   They rushed to the door and the shed was empty.  They called her name
and ran around the building looking for her.  Davis ran to the Suburban and
got a flashlight and they searched the ground near where they had found the
slipper.  Calley found a few drops of blood on the grass and screamed.
   "Davis, something has happened to Malina.  Oh God, no.  Not that sweet
little girl.  Please Davis, don't let anythinghappen to her.  I'll die if
something happens to her." She began crying hysterically while Davis tried
to comfort her.
   People began pouring from the barn and running in the direction of
Calley's screams.  They came running up and Angus put his arms around
Calley.
   "Oh, Angus, help us.  Please help us," she wept.
   "I will Calley.  I promise I'll help but you have to tell me what's
going on.  Stop screaming now.  This isn't doing any good."
   "Malina's disappeared and Calley found blood in the grass." Davis told
him.
   "Who was the last one to see her?" Angus asked the crowd.
   "Tim brought her out here to see the kittens," Greg Wilson told him.
   "Lane, what do you know about this?" Angus demanded.
   "I don't know anything," the boy protested.  "I left her here and she
was playing with the kittens."
   "Bullshit," Davis said.  "She wouldn't have stayed out here by herself."
   His knife was in his hand and he was holding it to the boy's throat in a
blur of movement.  "Where is she boy?"
   He started to shake his head and Davis pressed the knife.  A line of
blood appeared on the boys throat and he gagged.
   "Dad?" he pleaded with his father.
   Mrs.  Lane rushed forward.  "Don't hurt my baby," she begged.  "Please
don't hurt my baby.  I'll tell you where she is."
   "Elisabeth," her husband shouted.  "You keep your mouth shut.  We don't
know anything."
   The sound of a hammer being cocked beside his head drew him up short.
   "It's all starting to fall in place now," Angus said.  "I thought it was
a little strange you holding a dance here.  You've been awful chummy with
Reverend King lately.  This his idea Lane?  You kidnap the little girl and
then Davis goes rushing off to rescue her and walks into a trap?"
   "No, the Reverend is a man of God.  He wouldn't do anything like that,"
Lane licked his dry lips.
   "Mrs.  Lane, you married an idiot," Angus told her.  "You better tell me
where Malina is or I'm going to splash his brains all over the side of this
shed and Davis is going to cut the boy's throat."
   "No, please," she wept.  "Don't hurt them.  I'll tell you everything."
   "You shut your mouth, woman," Lane shouted.  "You shut your mouth before
you cost us a place in the kingdom."
   Angus slashed him across the face with his pistol and he fell to the
ground.  Mrs.  Lane ran to him and shielded his body with hers.  "Please
don't hit him again," she begged.  "The Reverend promised us a place in the
millennial reign if we'd help him.  He took the girl over to Coats and
they're holding her in the house with the rock garden over there.  They're
planning to kill Davis and Calley when they go to rescue her.  Don't you
see Angus?  They've been deceiving us.  They're the three unclean spirits
keeping Christ from coming back.  He won't come until they've been
punished. They attacked the Reverend and they've been keeping God's wrath
from falling on the children of the false prophet at Sawyer.  Kill him,
Angus and God will keep a place for you in his kingdom."
   "Are you insane, woman?" Angus shouted.  "What kind of people do we have
around here?  Somebody shut her up.  Cline, you stay here and keep these
three under guard.  Be careful, man; I think they're insane.  The rest of
you, mount up.  We're going to Coats."
   Davis and Calley rode with Angus and Anthony and planned how they were
going to rescue Malina.  "How you want to do this Davis?" Angus asked.
   "Drop us half a mile outside town," Davis said.  "We'll run in from
there.  They shouldn't be expecting us yet.  I imagine King had some kind
of plan to let me know where she was, but it shouldn't have happened yet.
Give us ten minutes to get in place and then come in with your lights off.
If we don't get Malina quick I'm afraid they might hurt her to make us do
what they want.  If they've hurt her I'm going to burn Coats to the ground
Angus."
   "I'll help you do it boy, but don't think like that.  You two go in and
get her Davis.  You're the best I know at fighting.  Don't let them hurt
her." He choked back a sob.  "That little girl is precious to me Davis.  Do
you know that she's making deer jerky for me?  I told her I liked it a
while back and that's all she needed to hear.  She likes to make me happy;
that's what she told me.  Good God, I'm going to start crying like a baby."
   Calley hugged the old man.  "We all love her, Angus.  We'll get her out.
You just come running when you're supposed to."
   They turned off the lights of their vehicles two miles outside Coats and
stopped when they saw a few lights ahead.  Calley took her riot gun and
Davis checked his 9MM's.  Calley tore the bottom off her dress, ripping it
off so that her legs were bare to the thigh.  She left the road with Davis
and they ran through the grass.  They ran together every morning and she
set a quick pace.  In three minutes they were concealed outside the rock
house in the grass.
   They heard a man scream inside the house and Tom Clanton came running
down the street and up to the door.  They rose behind him and as he opened
the door Calley fired her 12 gauge into the small of his back.  Davis was
firing at a group of men that came out of a building up the street and
Calley ran to the door.  Malina was inside, lying on the floor, dressed in
a man's suit jacket.  The ruins of her dress stuck out of the jacket and
her face was cut and bruised and she had a black eye.  The Reverend King
lay on his back with a knife protruding from his eye.
   Calley stepped over Clanton's body and ran to Malina.  She gathered her
into her arms and carried her out the door to where Davis was waiting.  He
had driven the men back into the house and had them pinned down.  Lights
were beginning to come on in houses as people lit candles or lanterns. 
Those with generators turned them on and a few electric lights came on. 
The vehicles of the dance guests roared up and the reinforcements jumped
out.  Calley carried Malina to Angus' SUV and got in with her, holding her
head to her chest and caressing her hair.  She kissed her lips gently and
Malina opened her eyes.
   "Calley?" she whimpered.  "I hurt so bad.  I think my face is broken."
   "No baby," Calley whispered.  "You're just as beautiful as ever.  What
happened to your clothes honey?"
   "That fat pig cut them off.  He was going to rape me Calley, but I bit
off his penis.  He hurt my face.  He was going to kill you.  He was going
to kill Davis too.  I couldn't let him do that Calley.  I had to kill him."
Sobs shook her small body and she clung desperately to Calley.
   Calley opened the door.  "Davis," she called, "we've got to get Malina
out of here.  We need to take her home.  She's hurt Davis; not badly but we
need to get her home."
   "We've got this," Angus told him.  "Take care of that little sweetheart.
I swear Davis, by this time tomorrow there won't be a town called Coats. 
It's going to vanish off the map.  Take my car and get her home."
   "Thanks Angus.  I owe you again."
   "Bullshit, boy.  You pay me by making sure that little girl is ok.  Now
git."
   Calley held Malina in the back seat and Davis drove them home.  He
parked Angus' car in front of the house and jumped out.  He carried Malina
into the house and sat on the sofa holding her.  Calley ran the big tub in
his bathroom full of hot water and bubble bath.  She undressed Malina while
Davis got first aid supplies and when he got back he carried Malina to the
bathroom and lowered her into the tub.  She had been crying the whole time
and when the hot soapy water touched her bruises and abrasions she winced
in pain.
   Calley washed and caressed her small body and Davis cleaned the cuts on
her cheek and ear.  He placed a clean, warm washcloth on her face and let
it rest there a few minutes while he washed her hair.
   He took off the washcloth and gently kissed her lips.  "You're going to
be fine gorgeous," he told her.  "There won't be any scars.  You're going
to be bruised and sore for a while, but you're ok."
   "Two of my teeth are loose Davis," she sobbed.  "I don't want to lose my
teeth."
   "Open up and let me feel," he told her.
   Her jaw was so sore that she could only open it a little way.  He
wiggled the loose teeth.
   "I think they're going to be fine too, baby.  They should tighten back
up.  You can't eat anything hard or tough there for a while, but I think
you're going to be fine."
   "My face hurts so bad Calley.  I don't think I can stand it."
   "I'll help you baby." She went away and came back with a cup of water
and a pain pill.
   "She has blood in her mouth," Davis told her.  "We need to brush her
teeth and give her some anti-bacterial mouthwash."
   They brushed her teeth carefully and made her rinse with mouthwash. 
Davis lifted her from the tub and Calley wrapped her in a towel and wrapped
another around her hair.  He carried her into his bedroom and put her in.
   "Are you feeling better honey?" Calley asked her.  "Do you want another
pill?"
   "I am feeling better, but I would like another pill.  My ear is very
painful."
   Davis looked inside.  "There's blood in your ear baby.  Let me get the
Otoscope and look inside."
   He got the medical device and turned on its light.  He probed gently
inside.  "Calley, I need some q-tips and some peroxide." She got the
supplies and Davis gently cleaned inside her ear while Calley got her
another pill.  Davis looked inside again.  He put the Otoscope away and sat
down on the bed next to her.  He helped her sit up and she took the pill.
   "I know why your ear hurts, baby.  Your eardrum is ruptured.  Did he hit
you on the side of the head, honey?"
   "Yes, several times.  Will I be able to hear from that ear?"
   "Yes honey, you will.  It will heal and be just as good as before. 
Malina, I'm so sorry I let this happen." His voice broke and tears streamed
down his face.
   "No Davis, this is not your fault." She patted his leg.  "It is the
fault of that fat pig.  You came for me Davis.  You and Calley both came.
You cannot watch me all the time.  Calley, you must not let Davis blame
himself.  I am growing very sleepy and the pain is almost gone.  I am sorry
to be so much trouble but I must sleep.  Will you both hold me while I
sleep?"
   Calley lay beside her and stroked her hair and whispered words of love
in her ear while Davis showered.  He climbed in bed and eased his arm under
Malina's pillow.  He stroked her silky stomach and kissed her forehead. 
Calley got up and showered and joined them.  Malina rolled over in her
sleep and slid one arm and leg across Calley and Davis spooned up against
her and they drifted off.
   She woke them in the early hours, shifting and moaning as the medication
wore off and her pain increased.  Davis gave her another pill and in 15
minutes she was resting peacefully again.
   He got up at nine and reluctantly went to do chores.  Will was milking
when he walked into the barn.  Davis explained what had happened and Will
was visibly shaken.  "I've got the chores today boss.  You go take care of
that girl."
   "Thanks Will; I'll make it up to you," he told him.
   He made breakfast for himself and Calley and made oatmeal for Malina. 
Calley was awake when he entered the bedroom.  She smiled and blew him a
kiss.  "Should we wake her up?" she whispered.
   "I think we should.  She needs to eat and drink.  Especially drink and
she might need to use the bathroom.  We should start her on antibiotics and
she needs something in her stomach.  I need to ask her a couple of
questions too."
   Calley leaned over Malina and kissed her lips gently, careful to avoid
the cut in the corner of her mouth.  "Malina, honey, wake up and eat
something," she called softly.  Malina's eyes fluttered and she murmured,
"Where is Davis, Calley?"
   "I'm right here baby," he sat down beside her.  "Malina, are you
allergic to any antibiotics?"
   "No," she said.  "Why do you ask?"
   "I think you should take some so that your ear doesn't get infected and
just as a precaution.  But you need something in your stomach so I'm going
to feed you some oatmeal.  Is that ok?"
   "Yes, although I am not very hungry."
   "You might like this.  I put butter and brown sugar and cream in it. 
Open up."
   He spooned the oatmeal into her little mouth and she opened her eyes. 
"This is quite good, Davis.  It is called porridge in Europe, but it is
thin and made with water.  I like this much better."
   He fed her the rest of the oatmeal and gave her hot tea with lemon and
honey to drink.  He let her swallow another pain pill and an antibiotic. 
She sank back on her pillow with a sigh.  "Thank you Davis.  You would make
a very good mother." She giggled a little.
   Davis and Calley ate sitting on the bed beside her.  "Davis, is this
breakfast in bed?" she asked.
   "Yes it is kitten.  Please don't do this again just to get breakfast in
bed."
   She giggled again.  She reached out and pulled Calley down to her and
took her position half lying across her.  She squeezed her fingers into one
big breast and caressed the nipple.
   "Hold me Calley.  I am sleepy again.  You may go away and do things
Davis.  Calley will take care of me." Her eyes closed and she was asleep.
Davis covered them up and went to call Angus on the radio.
   Angus had not yet returned but Beckett assured him that he had spoken
with the old man and had been informed that his first stop would be Davis'
place.
   Davis puttered around, carrying wood into the house and playing with the
dogs for a while.  He checked on the girls after about three hours and
found them awake.  Calley was helping Malina sit on the side of the bed.
   "We just got back from the bathroom," she said.  "Malina is feeling
nauseas."
   "It's probably from the drugs but she might have a mild concussion.  Do
you think you can get dressed and sit on the couch honey?"
   "Perhaps, may I wear your robe Davis?"
   "You can wear anything I own.  I'll get one for you." He brought back a
robe for Calley as well.  They slipped them on and Davis and Calley walked
beside Malina, helping her to the sofa.  Davis made beef and vegetable soup
and a peanut butter sandwich for Malina and sat beside her while Calley fed
her.
   He and Calley ate the same thing and he made more hot tea with lemon and
honey.
   "Do you feel well enough to talk, baby?" Calley asked her.
   "Yes, I feel very much better now.  My face still hurts and my ear, but
not so much as last night."
   Davis got up and got new bandages and cleaned her cuts and abrasions. 
She sucked in her breath as he cleaned the cut on her nipple.  "I'm sorry
kitten, but it has to be done." He kissed the other one gently and she
sighed.
   "What happened after you went outside, baby?" Calley asked her.
   "I'm afraid that Tim Lane led me into a trap," she said.  "I'm sorry if
he was a particular friend of yours Davis.  He took me to a shed by
promising to show me new kittens.  They were very cute but when I grew cold
I asked him to take me back inside.  Men were waiting outside and they drew
a cloth bag over my head and restrained my arms.  I bit one of them through
the hood.  You would have been very proud of me Davis."
   "He wasn't a friend of mine," Davis told her.  "I've met the Lanes a few
times, that's it.  I'm proud of you every day Malina."
   "Yes, I am a credit to you.  I tried to kick one in the knee as you did
the man in the leather jacket Davis.  I kicked him but I was unable to see
and so it was not so effective.  I lost my shoe when I kicked him and I
tried to run but I collided with a car and they caught me.  They put tape
on me to restrain me and put me into the boot of a car and carried me
away."
   The intercom on the gate sounded and interrupted her.  It was Angus. 
Davis let him in and he pulled up a chair.
   "It's great to see you up and around Malina," he told her.  "I was so
afraid we weren't going to get there before they did something bad to you."
   "They did many bad things to me Mr.  Angus.  The fat pig beat me many
times.  Twice he knocked me unconscious.  He cut away my clothes and called
me a whore.  He pinched my nipples cruelly so that one began to bleed and
told me that I was enjoying it because I was a whore.  He said that since I
was a whore one more wouldn't matter to me.  It matters very much to me Mr.
Angus.  I do not give myself to men; only Davis whom I love."
   "Jesus Malina, I'm so sorry," tears filled Davis' eyes.  Calley was
sobbing on Malina's shoulder and even Angus' eyes were misty.
   "From the way things looked in that house you turned the tables on him,"
Angus said.
   "Yes, I saw that he planned to rape me, but he was not capable.  I
offered to help him.  I said that I was a whore and I wanted it and I would
help him.  He cut loose one of my arms.  I had been taped to the chair in a
convenient position for him.  I touched him.  It was disgusting." She
shivered at the memory.  "Only when I had the opportunity I seized him by
the cojones and bit him very hard on el pene.  He screamed and blood went
everywhere.
   "That's my girl," Angus cheered.  "She told you she didn't need you to
fight for her Davis."
   "No, he was planning to kill Calley and Davis.  One cannot simply kill
those I love.  I could not permit this so I took his knife and stabbed him
in the eye."
   "Good God, Malina!  The man deserved it but you're a regular tiger.  I
had no idea you could do something like that," Davis exclaimed.
   "Neither did I," she confessed.  "But he was going to harm you and
Calley.  We Latin's are very fierce when our families are threatened. 
Calley would have done the same thing."
   "I would have tried baby, but I'm not as brave as you," Calley spoke in
admiration.  "You are the most amazing person I've ever met, Malina."
   "Was it not you that shot that other coward?" Malina asked her.  "I
think you are braver than you think.  What happened to those other evil
men, Angus?"
   "We killed the ones that fought and buried them in the prairie.  The
ones that surrendered, we loaded them into trucks and drove them 50 miles
west and they started walking on west.  We helped them on their way a
little, I'm afraid."
   "What about the women and children?" Malina asked.
   "What about them?  They either knew about this and helped set it up or
they knew about it and didn't do anything to stop it or warn us.  They
wrote their own ticket.  We gave them food and water and blankets.  I don't
care what happens to them and you shouldn't either."
   "No, I suppose not," she said.  "What about the Lane's?  What will
happen to them?"
   "They took the same ride.  They set you up to be killed, little girl. 
We don't need that sort around here.  We burnt Coats to the ground. 
There's not a building left standing."
   "Thank you Angus," Malina told him.  "I would kiss you but my mouth is
very sore."
   She looked like a mugging victim.  Her face was bruised and swollen and
both eyes were black and puffy.  She had a cut in one corner of her mouth
and on her cheek and ear.
   He got up and knelt in front of her.  He took one of her little hands
and pressed it to his lips.  "I'll take a rain check on that kiss, young
lady.  You can give it to me when you bring me that deer jerky you promised
me."
   "Yes, I have finished it.  I hope you like teriyaki Angus.  That is the
liquid that Davis had in his recipe.  You may take it with you if you
like."
   "I'll love it.  But I want you to deliver it to me so I can have the
pleasure of your company.  Don't ever thank me Malina.  I like to do things
that make you happy."
   She threw back her head and laughed, then winced in pain.  "You must not
make me laugh, Angus.  It is too painful.  When I deliver the jerky we will
laugh.  Now you must go away so that I can be alone with Calley and Davis."
   "I'm off then," he laughed.  "I'll be back in a day or two to check on
you."
   "You will be very welcome," she told him.
   Davis walked him out.  When he got back Calley was helping Malina back
to bed.  The drugs made her very wobbly and he quickly supported her on the
other side.
   They tucked her in and Calley got her a kitten to hold, and a book to
read.  When she peaked in half an hour later, she was asleep with the
kitten curled up on her stomach.
   She got two bottles of beer and found Davis in the gun room, cleaning
their weapons.  She sat his bottle down beside him on the workbench and
pulled another stool up beside him.
   "Davis, I've changed my mind," she told him.
   "I'm told that's your prerogative," he laughed.  "What have you changed
your mind about?"
   "I don't want to have a baby anymore," she told him.
   He turned away from his bench and pulled her stool between his legs so
that she could lean back against him.  She leaned back with a sigh and he
slid one hand up under her shirt and fondled her breasts.  She sighed again
and arched her back, pressing against his hand.
   "Do you know, a year ago I would have hated for a man to do that to me,"
she told him.  "I would have found it demeaning.  Somehow, when you do it
it just makes me want to melt."
   "That's because I love you and you know it," he told her.  "You aren't
just a pair of boobs to me.  Not that you don't have the most incredible
boobs I've ever felt.  I just can't keep my hands off of you.  You're so
warm and soft and firm all at the same time."
   "It makes me feel incredibly sexy, Davis.  I love you too and I guess
that's what makes the difference.  I never loved anyone before.  I was too
selfish to love anyone.  You've changed my life, Davis.  But you were right
about a baby.  It's too dangerous.  What if someone stole our baby like
they did Malina?  I love you, Davis and I love Malina, but I have the
feeling that loving a baby would be a whole new experience and if something
happened to it it would kill us all.  We might never recover."
   "You're probably right.  I'm not sure we should let our circumstances
dictate our actions.  I know sometimes that happens, but I think we have
the obligation to ourselves to live our lives the way we choose, not the
way we think we have to because the world is such a dangerous place.  It's
always been sort of dangerous, Calley and people had babies and they were
just fine.  I suspect the pioneers in this country faced more hardships
than we will, but they didn't let that stop them.  The only difference
between us and them is they didn't know the world was supposed to be any
different.  We've been spoiled by 100 years of relative safety.  Don't let
what happened to Malina close your mind about this.  Let's keep our options
open.  It doesn't have to be tomorrow or next week, but when we're ready I
think we should do what our hearts tell us is right."
   She pressed his hand to her breast with both hands.  "Davis, you're the
best man I ever met.  Thanks for saying that, but now I'm confused again.
You're very wise.  No wonder I'm in love with you." She turned her head and
offered him her lips.  He claimed them and kissed her until her face
flushed and her heart was racing.
   "Make love to me Davis," she whispered.  "We can use my bed."
   He scooped her up and carried her to her bedroom and lost himself in her
mysteries.
   Malina felt well enough to get out of bed on her own.  She went looking
for Davis and Calley and found them in Calley's bedroom.  She climbed into
bed between them.
   "That's not fair," she told them, "you started without me."
   "You were asleep," Calley told her, "and I don't think you're up to it.
Besides, you needed to rest.  Are you feeling better baby?"
   "Yes, I am very much better.  My ear still hurts but it is not so bad.
My face only hurts if I press on it and my mouth is hurting not at all. 
Perhaps I am not up to being loved yet, but soon I wish for you to make
love to me.  That fat pig made me touch him and I feel not clean.  If you
love me I will feel good again."
   Davis pulled her against him.  "I can hardly wait, kitten.  Don't you
ever feel bad about what someone forces you to do.  You'll always be
beautiful to us.  We should only feel bad or good about choices we make. 
We can't feel bad about things we do because we have no choice.  That man
was forcing you to do things you hated and you didn't have any choice. 
Never feel bad about that.  Just be glad when it's over.  Besides, you
fought and kept him from doing the most evil thing to you and you made sure
he'll never do that to anyone else.
   "Yes, but when one is forced to do disgusting things, they are no less
disgusting because one is forced.  I accept no blame but I do feel shame
that I was not strong and prepared enough to kill those men who kidnapped
me.  Davis, you must teach us to fight so that this will not happen again."
   He stroked her bruised cheek lightly.  "I can teach you to fight, Malina
but no matter how good you become at hand to hand combat, you're very
small. You will be able to defeat some men.  Men your size are always going
to be stronger and faster than you.  Training will allow you to defeat them
as long as they aren't trained.  If I were to attack you, there's no way
for you to beat me unless you get lucky.  Even Calley who is much larger
and stronger than you wouldn't stand a chance.  I weigh 220 pounds and I
doubt you weigh more than 110.  If you were to hit me as hard as you can in
the stomach it wouldn't hurt me at all.  You might be able to kick me and
hurt me.  Our best bet is to always carry weapons.  Weapons are the great
equalizer."
   "We cannot carry guns to a dance!  It is absurd."
   "Why can't we carry guns to a dance?  I have guns that we can strap to
your thighs, guns that you can carry in your purse; guns that you can pop
out of your sleeves.  I have knives and razors and throwing stars.  I am
going to teach you how to fight but I'm going to teach you how to fight
dirty.  Unfortunately, even the very best fighters can be caught with their
pants down."
   "Yes, I wish to be very fierce, Davis.  I can defend myself and you and
Calley.  When Calley has our baby we will be able to defend ourselves and
our baby.  Why did we not learn to fight before, Calley?"
   "We did.  We learned to fight in different ways.  We fought in the
boardroom and in the classroom with different kinds of weapons.  We were
suited for that type of fight.  This is a different kind of fight.  We were
prepared for the wrong kind of fight.  Now Davis can teach us how to fight
like this."
   "First my face must get better.  Then you can begin to teach me.  But
Calley could begin today."
   "No, today we are going to stay right here and have a cuddle Malina
day," Calley told her.
   "Oh, well, in that case we will begin the fighting tomorrow.  You must
cuddle me gently though.  I am still very sore to touch."
   Chapter 15
   Malina healed with the gift of the young and just before Christmas, only
a faint darkening around her left eye remained.  Davis thought they were
both acting somewhat weird.  Neither girl had slept with him for a week. 
He knew it was Calley's time of the month so that wasn't unusual but Malina
had been sleeping with Calley.  That was unusual.  She usually slept with
him even if they didn't make love.  They had been sewing mysteriously and
wouldn't let him look at what they were making.  He suspected Christmas
presents but really had no idea what they were up to.  He had searched
through his stock of electronics, saleable items and weapons, looking for
something to give them.  He found a new iPod.  He had several of them, but
he didn't want to give both girls the same thing.  He had a new Nikon D3200
DSLR camera with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses.  Calley loved photography and
was quite the amateur photographer.  She had a camera but it was nowhere
near the quality of this one.  He would give Malina the iPod but he felt
like the gifts were now out of balance because the camera was much more
expensive.  uHe dug around some more and came up with a set of Bose quiet
comfort headphones.  He remembered they cost almost 300 dollars back when a
dollar was worth something.  He found parang type machetes with sheaths
from Gerber and wrapped them.  A trip to the jewel boxes brought rubies and
sapphires to mind and he took the stones and drove to one of his neighbor's
houses.  Daniel Southbow was a Native American that had lived on the fringe
of society for years.  He was a very good silver smith and Davis got him to
set the stones in silver wrist bands.  He sacrificed several silver coins
to the project and bought a lot of turquoise from Daniel to set around the
wrist bands in a circle.  There were a lot of Native American symbols
worked into the designs and Davis collected them early on Christmas Eve. 
He traded cigars for two beautiful doeskin beaded jackets and he had to be
content.
   When he got home the girls were locked in Calley's room and they didn't
come out until dinner.  They cooked and made Davis eat at the dining table
instead of on the sofa or at the bar where they usually sat.  They made him
take a shower after dinner and when he came out, clad in boxers and a
t-shirt Malina made him sit in the recliner facing the fireplace.  She got
him a glass of the good, single-malt Scotch.  He was curious to find out
what was going on but she refused to say anything.  She put on some smooth
jazz and cuddled up in his lap on the recliner.
   "Are you seducing me, little girl?" he asked.
   "No, but it is a good idea," she said.  "Tonight is going to be special,
Davis."
   "In what way?" he asked.  "How could it get any better?  I'm holding my
dream girl on my lap, she's trying to get me drunk and there's a nice fire.
It doesn't get any better than this."
   "Yes, Davis; it does get better," she said.
   He heard the door open behind them and when he saw movement out of the
corner of his eye he tried to look.  Malina covered his eyes.  "Don't look,
Davis; you will spoil the surprise."
   When she uncovered his eyes, Calley stood in front of them.  She had on
a red lace camisole and a red lace garter belt with black silk stockings.
His jaw dropped and he was unable to speak for a minute.  "Jesus, Calley;
where did you get that outfit?  You look amazing!"
   "We made it," Malina giggled.  "Is Calley not beautiful?"
   "She's ravishing," he said.  "Let me look at you for a minute, baby."
   She turned in a slow circle and his breath caught in his throat.  The
camisole was low cut, leaving most of her big breasts exposed.  The tops of
her areolas peeked out over it and her breasts jiggled and swayed freely as
she moved.  She wore no panties and her perfect Latina ass was on full
display.  When she turned back to face him the little patch of dark curls
between her thighs shone with a glossy sheen in the firelight.  He could
catch just a hint of pink peeking out through the curls and it looked wet
and glistening.
   "Tonight is make Calley... I do not know the word; gravid?  Como se dice
embarazada, Calley?"
   Calley burst into laughter.  Malina looked confused.  "What is funny,
Calley?"
   "You are," Calley laughed.  "You're so amazing, baby.  You have this
huge vocabulary that includes words like `gravid' but not pregnant!  Gravid
is for cows!"
   "Pregnant, then," Malina joined in the laughter.  "You are not a cow,
Calley; though you have very large titas." Calley looked outraged. 
"Tonight we make Calley pregnant, Davis.  I do not know many sex words. 
They were forbidden in Catholic school."
   Davis was shocked.  "Really, Calley?  You want me to get you pregnant?"
   "Yes, Davis," she said.  "We've talked about it a lot.  You don't mind,
I want a baby and Malina wants a baby.  I quit taking birth control pills
last month.  I'm fertile now and you're going to fill me up until I'm
pregnant.  We have tests and I'm ready."
   "We are giving Calley her Christmas present early," Malina said.  "You
will make her pregnant until the day before New Year's Eve.  You will rest
New Year's Eve and then you will give me my present I asked for.  One day
and one night with you, then one day and one night with Calley.  She is
very sexy and desirable.  You must tell her so, Davis."
   "I don't do everything you tell me, little girl, but she is sexy as
hell. Just the thought of making her pregnant has me about ready to
explode. Is this why you girls have been acting so mysterious and not
sleeping with me?"
   "Yes, Davis," Malina said.  "We were saving up your seed.  We wanted you
very strong and virile for this."
   "Calley, I'm going to realize a fantasy here," he told her.  "God,
honey; this is so exciting.  You're gorgeous, baby.  Can we start now?"
   Malina got off his lap and he stood up, taking Calley by the hand.  He
pulled her in for a kiss, wrapping her smoldering body up in his arms.  She
could feel the throbbing of his cock against her belly and it made her
knees feel weak.  Malina was stripping off the few clothes she had on and
she left them lying in the living room as she followed them into Davis'
bedroom.  He stripped quickly while the two girls climbed into bed,
following them closely.  Malina was in the way and he pushed on her.  She
giggled and moved over Calley so that he could lie next to her.  He kissed
her and felt Malina's little hand sliding between them to caress Caley's
soft belly.  He kissed his way down Calley's smooth brown neck to the tops
of those amazing breast, barely concealed by the camisole.  Her fat brown
nipples and areola were clearly visible under the lace and he made wet
spots on the material sucking on them through it.  They peaked under the
thin lace and she pushed it down so that he could taste the delicious mocha
flesh.  She shuddered when he buried his face in one big breast and took
the nipple into his mouth.
   He could feel Malina's hand sliding down to test the firmness of his
cock and then dip between Calley's thighs.  He knew she must be stroking
Calley when she began to tremble beneath him, moaning and pulling his head
into the generous mound of her breast, seeking more stimulation from him.
   "She is ready now," Malina whispered in his ear.  "She is very wet.  I
think she likes being made pregnant.  She will cum quickly."
   Davis shifted position and felt Malina's little hand position him for
entering Calley.  She was dripping wet and he penetrated her easily.  After
a week of no sex she was very tight and she groaned as he sank into her.
   "My God, Davis," she moaned.  "It's like I'm a virgin all over again! 
I'm so close already!  That's it, baby; fill me up!"
   It was a good thing that Malina had her primed to go, Davis thought,
because he wasn't going to last long.  Calley looked so hot and felt so
tight and wet around him and it had been so long since she let him make
love to her that he was on the point of no return.  When he felt the
tension build in her body he went along with her.  Her cry as she came
beneath him was so erotic to his ears that he came explosively with her,
burying his cock to the hilt in her spasming little pussy as he bathed her
cervix with his cum.  The idea that he might be making her pregnant caused
such a sensation in his mind and body that he continued to fill her, long
after he would have ordinarily have been drained.
   "Oh, God, oh my God, Davis; I can feel it," she gasped.  "You're filling
me up, baby!  It's so good, Malina; we're going to have a baby!  God, oh
God, I can't stop cuming!"
   She shook and shivered under his relentless stream of cum and he kept
pumping her until his strength began to flag.  He slowed and they held each
other tightly for a long time, his cock slowly softening inside her.  She
pushed at him and he lifted his weight off of her, easing his half hard
cock out.  Malina bent to examine their handiwork.
   "She is leaking, Davis.  Push it back inside her!"
   He hurried to give her a few thrusts, pushing the white flow back up
into her.  Malina caught her ankles and pulled them up so that gravity
would cause her to drain in and not out.  The sight of that fantastic butt
posed lewdly and her knees pressed against her big breasts caused Davis to
return to full size almost immediately and he rose to enter her again.  She
groaned again as he sank into her.  They resumed their quick motions and
Calley quickly began her ascent again.  Malina was feeling very left out as
she sucked on one of Calley's fat little nipples.
   "Calley, I am dying," she whispered.  "I will begin to rub myself if you
do not help me."
   "I'm sorry, baby," Calley pulled her up for a kiss.  "Davis, wait. 
Let's change so I can do Malina."
   Davis sat back on his heels and Calley rose and positioned Malina in the
middle of the bed, crawling between her thighs and presenting her fantastic
butt to Davis.  She began to nuzzle Malina's softness as Davis moved into
position to enter her from behind.  When he began to stroke her again she
quickly found the rhythm and the slapping of his body against her butt beat
out an erotic song, accompanied by her rising moans.  Malina, caught up in
the excitement, began her own song and they raced each other to the peak.
Calley had a head start and she shook as her orgasm flooded over her.  Her
moans were muffled by her mouth being filled with Malina's sweetness.  It
didn't take long for Malina to join her and she writhed as her orgasm
flushed her golden skin with a rosy hue.  Davis, having already cum once,
was going to last a while and he continued to pump into Calley's tight
wetness.
   She was near cuming again and she continued to match Davis' thrusts as
the valleys between peaks became ever more shallow.  She felt like she was
cuming continuously now and her mind was becoming overwhelmed with the
sensations coursing through her body.  Davis could feel her pulsations deep
inside and the sensations of her pussy contracting around him was bring him
closer and closer to his own climax.
   Calley was becoming a little frantic.  She felt like she had reached her
limit and was afraid that Davis would keep on driving into her
indefinitely.
   "Davis, please!" she cried.  "You're killing me.  Oh God, I'm cuming so
hard, baby!  Cum in me, Davis; hurry baby, I can't take much more.  Oh my
God, oh my God, please!"
   Her body shook and shuddered and she turned her face to lay her cheek on
Malina's hard little belly.  "Malina; baby, help him!  I'm going crazy; oh
God baby, I can't cum anymore!  It's going to kill me!"
   Malina responded by sitting up and stroking her silky back before
reaching under her and gently pinching her nipples.  "Cum again, Calley; it
will open you up so that you will more easily become pregnant." She reached
further down and began to rub Calley's clitoris, sending her into another
series of spasms.
   "No, Malina!" she begged.  "Please baby!  I can't; don't do that. 
Please Davis, I'm begging you!  Cum baby, cum in me now and give me a
baby!"
   Davis crested and filled her with another strong stream, pressing deep
inside her as her pussy constricted around him, milking him for the last
drops.  Calley collapsed beneath him, and he lay on top of her, her firm,
jutting butt shaking beneath him.  His cock deflated slowly inside her and
when it slid out he rolled off and pushed her over onto her back.  She was
as limp as a rag and Malina quickly pushed her legs up, stuffing a glob of
cum back inside her with one little finger.
   "Jesus Christ!" Calley gasped.  "Are you guys trying to kill me?  God,
Davis!  That was so intense.  I think I just became one giant cum machine.
You were like a machine too.  I thought you weren't ever going to stop. 
I'm worn, lovers; I don't think I can do it again for a while.  Malina,
you're breaking me in two!  Not so far, baby; you're making my hip cramp!"
   Malina relented her pressure a little and allowed her to lower her legs.
She got a pillow and made Malina raise her hips so she could stuff it under
her butt.  "We must do it again," she said, "many times until we are
successful.  How soon can we know, Davis?"
   He laughed.  "Not for a while, little girl.  I think there needs to be
some hormone changes first.  It may take a few weeks.  Be patient, kitten;
Rome wasn't built in a night."
   "What does Rome have to do with anything?" she asked.  "I know nothing
about Rome."
   Calley laughed.  "It's a figure of speech, Malina.  It means that good
things take a while to come to completion.  I think he put a gallon of cum
in me!  I feel like a mess down there.  Can we at least clean off the
outside?"
   "Yes, I will do it," Malina declared.  Calley shrieked as Malina bent to
her and began to lick up the excess cum on her labia.  "No, Malina," she
tried to push her away.  "Not like that!  I can't stand it, baby.  God,
please; I'm too sensitive."
   Davis pulled Malina up.  "I think she wants a washcloth, baby.  She
needs to rest for a minute.  As sexy as that looks, I don't think she can
stand it right now.  Can I make you cum?"
   "Oh, yes; thank you, Davis."
   She lay back and Davis quickly brought her squealing orgasm with his
fingers and tongue.  After a while Calley became interested in what they
were doing.  She pulled Malina around and pushed Davis onto his back.  His
cock was semi-erect and she moved Malina until she was kneeling over Davis'
face.  He pulled her down until he could reach her with his tongue and
Calley took his cock, still slick with the combination of their cum into
her hot mouth.  She had him fully erect quickly and she turned around and
mounted him.  As she rode his tool inside her she pulled Malina forward so
she could kiss her.  Their breasts rubbed together and their rubbery
nipples scraped in an erotic dance as the sounds of passionate sex filled
the room again.
   All night long they woke her up and Davis came inside her so many times
he lost track.  She protested each time, sleepily rising to mindless orgasm
over and over until she felt like she was a wreck.  After what seemed to
her to be a hundred times, she pushed Davis away.  Malina was fastened to
one fat little nipple and she pulled her face up to kiss her.
   "Stop, baby; my nipples are raw," she said.  "You guys are killing me.
I've got to sleep.  Promise me you won't take me again or I'm going to go
and sleep in my own bed."
   "I will go with you," Malina said.
   "No you won't," Calley told her.  "I want to sleep here but unless you
promise to just let me sleep I'm gong to my bed, alone!"
   "May we just hold you?" Malina asked.
   "I want that more than anything," Calley told her.
   They wrapped her lush body up in their arms and she slept; secure in the
arms of the two people she loved the most.  For the next five days Calley
felt like she was being fucked to death.  She was a willing partner, and
she loved every minute.  She had never been fucked so many times in her
life as in that short period and she was constantly exhausted.  They kept
her almost constantly in bed, making love or sleeping to recover from the
last marathon session.  They pampered her endlessly, feeding her in bed and
running baths to sooth her until she felt like a harem girl in some tale
out of Arabia Nights.
   She slept almost all day and all night when they reached the end of what
Malina called, "make Calley pregnant" time.  They were all somewhat
physically and emotionally drained and they slept in their own rooms for
the two days before New Year's Day.  Davis had an extensive fireworks
collection and they had great fun filling the sky with blazing lights at
midnight.  On New Year's Day Calley went to Will's little house for the day
and night.  Malina kissed her and clung to her.
   "Malina, I'm going to be 200 feet away," Calley told her.
   "Yes, but we have never been apart since we left Wichita," Malina told
her.  "I may need you."
   "I think Davis will take care of you," Calley laughed.  "I think you
need this time with him.  Make it special, Davis."
   "I will," he promised.
   It had been very cold for a week and Davis bundled her up and took her
ice fishing.  One of the larger lakes had a good population of large
crappie and he put up his ice fishing shack and they sat in the warmth of a
kerosene heater while they fished.  She loved catching the fish and putting
them on the ice to freeze.  They took them home and Davis cleaned them and
let them soak in salt water for cooking that evening.
   He played games with her on the PlayStation and they watched a movie. 
She sat, cuddled up on his lap and he stroked her flaxen hair.  When the
movie was over she sighed.  "This is very nice, Davis," she said.  "I like
being alone with you.  We must do this again many times."
   "I think it would be good for us," he agreed.  "I think Calley is going
to need this too."
   "Yes, we must be very nice to her so we will have a happy baby," she
said.
   "What do you want to do now, baby?" he asked her.
   "I am feeling very horny," she said.  "I want to do something different.
I want to... to... I do not know the word.  It is like have sex, but a
vulgarity."
   "Fuck?" Davis suggested.
   "Yes, I would like to fuck," she said.
   "We do that all the time," he told her.
   "No, we make love all the time," she said.  "You are always gentle and
sweet with me, Davis.  I love that and this is what I need from you.  I
need you to love me, but now I wish to fuck.  I have never been fucked.  I
want moans and sweat.  I wish to cum one million times.  I want you to fuck
me from the back like you did Calley, but hard and fast.  Is this
possible?"
   "I don't know, Malina.  I love you so much, baby, and I don't want to
hurt you.  You're so little and young and sweet," he said.  "Are you sure,
kitten?"
   "Yes, but I do not wish to be a kitten tonight.  I wish to be a tiger."
   "My God, baby; I had no idea you had this side to you."
   "I am Latin," she said.  "We are very passionate."
   The thought of just ravishing this sweet girl inflamed Davis.  He pulled
her into his arms and crushed her lips to his.  Still kissing her, he
picked her up in his arms and crushed her little form to his chest.  He
threw her on the bed and she bounced, giggling delightedly.  Roughly, he
pushed her t-shirt up, exposing her breathtaking little mounds.  She kicked
her legs as he pulled her shorts and boxers off, shrieking in excitement as
he climbed over her, pressing her back into the mattress with his weight
and claiming her lips again.  He squeezed one firm little mound in his palm
and pinched her nipple until she moaned.  He moved down, pulling one little
brown nipple into his mouth and stretching it before allowing it to slip
free.  She moaned as she felt his teeth scrape the little nub and move
across to give the other the same treatment.
   Her belly sucked in with a gasp as he nibbled his way lower, letting her
feel his teeth from time to time.  When he reached the sparse golden tuft
of wispy hair he tugged on it with his lips and she giggled again.  He
moved lower still and her perfect little pink pussy came into view.  He
avoided it for the moment, moving to nip at smooth golden inner thighs,
making her wiggle with the sensation.  She was all golden youth and silky
smoothness.  He dove into her sweetness, attacking her tiny clit with
tongue, lips and allowing his teeth to scrape it occasionally.  She came in
minutes, bucking up to meet his mouth on her hot little sex.  As she
continued to cum, he moved back up, plunging into her without warning and
she cried out, pain and pleasure mixed together as he sheathed himself in
her with one long, smooth stroke.
   He pumped her slowly for a moment until she was warmed up and then began
to stroke into her with long, firm motions; drawing back and plunging in as
far as she could take.  She was cuming again in minutes and he pumped her
through two orgasms before withdrawing.  He flipped her slight body over
and straddled her, spreading the cheeks of her tight little butt to slide
into her from behind.  She groaned as his heavy balls slapped against her
thighs, fully imbedded in her youthful tightness.  Her firm, round buttocks
were being slapped by his lower belly and she moaned into the bed, her
hands clutching the covers as her small body spasmed in ecstasy.
   Davis was determined not to cum until he had given her everything she
wanted.  He pulled out of her and rolled onto his back, pulling her on top
for a ride.  He turned her so that she was leaning back on one arm her back
to him and she scooted down until he impaled her in that position.  She
rode him for a minute before he took control.  He slid down the bed with
her until his hips were hanging off and he could move freely.  He held her
up a little so that he could control the motion and began to pound into her
little pussy, rapid, jackhammer like a piston, driving her crazy with lust.
He felt her squirt, something he had only felt a couple of times before. 
God, she was hot.  She was cuming in waves, her moans becoming near screams
of ecstasy.  He had never heard her be so vocal and he pounded her little
pussy until he was exhausted, one hand rubbing furiously at her clit until
she couldn't take any more.
   "Madre de Dios," she cried as she collapsed back onto him.  "Dios mio,
my God, Davis.  It was very perfect!  Ah, my God, I did cum a million
times! Did you cum, Davis?"
   "No, baby; I was trying to make it good for you."
   She spun around and pushed at him, indicating that she wanted him to
slide back up on the bed.  "It was very good," she said.  "I wish to do it
again sometime.  Now I want slow and sweet.  I will ride you and make you
cum.  I wish I were becoming pregnant like Calley, but I am too young. 
Will you make me pregnant someday, Davis?"
   "Yes, when you're 25 and you marry me," he told her.
   "You are a great silly," she said.  "What is your fascination with this
25?  Why must you torture me and make me wait like this?"
   "I would do it tomorrow if it was for me," he told her.  "It's for you,
Malina.  I love you too much to let you do things I don't think are good
for you.  Do you trust me, kitten?"
   "Yes, with my life I trust you," she said.  "I thought we agreed
together that I am not a kitten!"
   "I know, but you are," he laughed.  "You have claws.  They're sharp, but
just little.  You're my perfect little angel, Malina.  Did I mention that I
love you with all my heart?"
   "Yes, but you may mention this often.  I don't want to talk anymore.  I
wish to make love to you now."
   She mounted him and rested her little body on his chest, using he
amazing flexibility to pump her tight moistness up and down over his
straining cock until they came together, his cum filling her tight pussy
until it overflowed, running down over him and matting in their hair.
   They showered together and made the slow, sweet kind of love again
before he wrapped her small body in his arms and they cuddled.  They
drifted off to sleep.  Tomorrow, Calley would return.  Davis would move out
for the day and Malina would have Calley all to herself.  Perhaps Calley
was already pregnant.  The future was very uncertain, but they knew that
the three of them could face whatever came together; the nation of Rade, De
la Vega and Nebrija.  
  
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