Hondo I. Sackett
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As Valentine heads back, Molly came out and trotted his way, slowing down as she passed Valentine and then picking up speed again as she headed towards Hondo. “You’re not limping anymore, that’s good news.” He said as she trotted up to him. “Really?” she said, walking a quick circle around him to test out her gate. “I didn’t even notice, until now, honestly… The short nap must have helped some.” He nodded, “Like Jefe an’ I said, if you rest, you’ll heal… How are you feelin’ otherwise?” “Well, my hips still a bit sensitive to pressure on the side and my guts and ribs still feel like I was kicked by a horse, but I’m definitely getting better.” She said. “If that’s not gone in a couple days, we need to talk to Jefe ‘bout it.” He replied She smiled as she grabbed his coat and leaned in closely, “You’re the third person to say that to me today… Nice to know people care.” “Well, we do, an’ I hope you know that.” He replied. She nodded, “I know, and it’s nice. It’s not something I’ve had much of, before… Just wish I’d heal up faster as I want you to pound me! Starting to get really horny for you, but not sure my insides can take you yet.” “You goin’ into heat?” He asked, cocking his head a bit at her as he asked. She shook her head, “No. I shouldn’t for another month at least. It’s about every three months and I was in heat right before.. before, uhm..” “Before Fight Town, I remember you sayin’ that.” He finished for her, knowing she was thinking of James dying again. She nodded somberly, “Yeah, uhm, then… So, I should have some time, but I do miss making love with you. Seems that not being able to and having you close makes me feel like I’m in heat, though I’m not. But I know Maggie says she’s going into heat soon and I swear one of the girls are, as I smelled it in your bedroom. I didn’t ask as I did not want to embarrass any of them. Tonya has been a bit abrasive with me today, and Zoey has been really fidgety, so it could be either of them.” “*sigh* … That all is somethin’ I’m completely lost in… Zoey an’ Tonya have said some things ‘bout wessen heats an’ how I’m expected to help them, but frankly it’s a lot for me to take in or figure out.” He said. “I’ll help you, if I can… Uhm, has Zoey had a heat yet?” She asked. He shrugged, “I don’t think so, but I don’t know. She says she hasn’t, but… I have no idea what to do or what to ask or anythin’ there.” “Well, we’ll figure it all out together. There’s a lot of different ways that wessen parents handle it. Some is by region and some things by species. Some is dependent on how they handle their heats, which for young teens it’s always worse and Zoey especially will need you when hers starts as it’s a confusing time for a young wessen woman. For some it doesn’t get much easier, but they learn what works to ease the symptoms.” She said. “Like Maggie.” He replied. She nodded, “Yeah… You figured out how to help her?” He shook his head, “No, not really. She want’s me to possibly have her spayed, but even if this #$@!in’ world allows that, I can’t let that happen to her. Not sure #$@!in’ her is the answer either, as I heard some wessen if you screw them without breedin’ them it makes the heat longer an’ worse! There’s so much about it all that’s different an’ some things I’m told I’m supposed to do, that I’m not too comfortable with doin’.” “Everyone is different, but we will figure it out… I’m glad you don’t want to sterilize her. That’s the first thing most humans jump to when wessen heat troubles are talked about. Many masters do that, either with pills, shots, or sometimes surgically, unless the wessen is breeding stock. They say it makes us more docile and predictable, as well as being a way to control the quality of slaves, as those with less desirable characteristics are weeded out.” She replied. He frowned angrily and shook his head, “I get that it can be troublesome, but that’s just not the answer! I figured it was done, but didn’t realize how often. Is it that common everywhere?” “It’s fairly common with slaves, though you see if being forced on even free wessen in some towns. With each region it’s different, and honestly, where we are is probably the freest for us wessen, even before you and Fernando got the region’s main towns to stop slavery. Only other places freer for us is some of the wessen settlements, but some of them treat all humans like slaves, and take it to the extreme out of spite and hate. Wessen Town was nothing compared to some of the others, I have been told. I’ve not been to most of them, but you hear stories… Sometimes Slave owners spay their slave girls before their first heat hits or after one or two, as they can stunt their growth and keep them looking younger for a long time, but ultimately, they die before they hit forty years old. Some say it’s from their growth and cycles being stopped, but it’s hard to tell, as they are usually sex kittens and distraction girls for some entertainment house and that lifestyle leads to a lot of injuries and sicknesses, so why they die young could be for many reasons. Plus, the chemicals they are on for life, to keep their hormones stable, to force them to be more obedient, and keep them horny, has side effects as well. I’m sure April and Kiah could tell you more about all that. Higher end sex kittens, usually privately-owned ones, go through the surgeries, as it’s easier on their bodies to be spayed surgically than chemically, but they too are on hormone drugs for life usually, though sometimes not as many as the entertainment girls.” She explained. “That’s just barbaric!” He growled. “It’s worse with working slaves, often, the one with physical labor jobs, I mean. On top of obedience chemicals, they are given hormones and steroids to make them stronger too. Males are often steered, especially if they are aggressive, or of a species that the master doesn’t want interbreeding with the others. It can be used as a punishment, for both males and females too, though more often for males. Working females are more often left whole, as long as their heat doesn’t mess with their duties. And though it’s not unusual, for them to spay the girls, they often let them go until eighteen to let them mature, but if they don’t want them bred, chastity belts are sometimes used, for both males and females, to let their bodies grow before spaying or neutering. For the girls, if the heats are bad, then sometimes they use an injection that lets the heat go through but suppresses the pheromones, and the sex drive, and other symptoms, but it makes then very sick while they are taking it. It’s expensive, though, and it makes heats happen more often, so more is needed, and if the girl is weak she can die from it, but it lets them mature if they live.” Hondo scowled at her, “You want me to burn this world down?” She shook her head, “No. I just want you to know what we go through, the fear we have of being made slaves, the fears and struggles we have as wessen, and why so many want to give themselves to you both for what you have done. I know we’ve all seen bad things, out here, but the further south and east we go, the worse it gets. If we make it through no-man’s land, we will see far worse places, at least that’s what the stories from merchants who trade on the other side of No Man’s Land say… The further we get the more human salves we will see too. Though as wessen, we are looked down on and treated rougher, human slaves are not immune to many of those treatments. Had Ruth, her sister, and cousins, been taken to the slave market and sold further south, unless someone bought them to breed, they very likely would have been chemically sterilized too. A slave that is pregnant costs more resources and can do less work. Some smaller slave holders put up with pregnancy to increase their holdings, but many of the larger, wealthier ones don’t want the down time. There are less of the wealthier out here, as even that spoiled brat Maribelle’s family was small fish compared to some of the others close to Chinatown by the inland Mississippi sea, or on the other side of it. Her family and other’s frequented fight town, like all the wealthy families in the area did, but occasionally, one of the wealthies from the east would come, and looked down their noses at everyone. Their slaves and the merchants that followed them told tales of fight towns, and cities of sin, that made Fight Town look like a church town. Despite all that, the altering of slaves still happens a lot more than is good out here… I’ve even had my heat suppressed a couple times as a girl, and was given the first dose of the sterilization chemicals, before being sold as a slave, to my last owner, when I was in my early teens, but it takes many doses to make it take, and my new owners didn’t want that me, thankfully. I know how sick they can make you, especially the sterilization one… I was weak, my belly, breast, and even my pussy hurt, I had headaches, I could barely see or think, I couldn’t hold any food down, and couldn’t sleep. It was awful. But my owners were kind enough to give me medications for the pain and some to help me sleep, and let me rest until it was out of my system… The master got drunk and beat me a couple times, but other than that they treated me well, and my Mistress ended up freeing me, after the Master died. Most others don’t have it so good, and as much as I appreciated what they did for me, and what you have done too, I can only imagine that the others who have had it worse, like Maggie, have no way to express how much they appreciate both your and Fernando’s kindness. ” “I appreciate your insights, Molly, but hearin’ all that does make me sick an’ angry…To think that it can get worse… heh… You know it can in your head, but, damn… I’m glad we can help, but I’m still not sure how it helps with Maggie or the girls.” He replied. She stretched up and kissed him lightly before lowering back down, to look at him, while smiling softly, “It helps, as they need you to know what happens to their kind, or has happened to them, as they know it all too well, and in knowing what is done, I know you will use that, while looking at what else can be done, so you can help them the best way possible. They trust you to do what’s best for them, even if it hurts or is scary, as they know you care. Maggie doesn’t really want to be spayed, but she gave that as an option to you, to take the stress off you in making the choice, as if you feel its best, she wants you to use that on her. You and Fernando have the trust of the women you saved, and for most of us that includes whatever needs done to our bodies to keep us safe and healthy. If you felt Maggie needed the shots to calm her heat, though it would make her sick, she’d gladly take it. Zoey would too, but she would need you to hold her a lot. We trust you to help us, but we need you to trust yourself, and to know what we have been up against and what is out there.” “yeah, I have to know an’ want to know, so I can do more an’ make better decisions for the girls, but.. What if I choose wrong?” He asked. She shook her head, “It doesn’t matter, as we know you will choose what you feel is best, and if it’s wrong, you’ll do your best to make it right. You’re not a slave master, who does what he wants and doesn’t care how his slaves feel about it. You are our kind, loving master, Maggie’s owner, my mate, and Zoey and Tonya’s father. We trust you.” He looked down at her and gave her a bit of a lopsided smile, “I needed to hear that, darlin’, I really did. I try, but I often wonder if you all know I’m tryin’ to do the best I can for you… I love you, Molly, very much.” Her smile got bigger as she looked up at him, “I love you too, more than I thought was possible, and I am proud to be your woman… I’ll always try to be there for you and the girls, too.” Hesmiled and nodded, “Thank you, Darlin’. That means a lot to me… I did have one more question, bout the heats an’ all, uhm… Jefe said he got some gum an’ some sort of spray to help stop heats, but Melissa seemed to be wary of them. You know much ‘bout them?” She frowned, “I imagine he got them from the army, as they aren’t sold everywhere.” Hondo nodded, “Yeah, that military quack gave them to him, I think.” “I figured… I don’t know much about them, other than what I’ve heard. From what I hear they work a little. The sprays that mask pheromones work the best, but showers do pretty well too. I’ve heard they were created specifically for the military and traveling merchants, who can’t access regular showers for their wessen. The gums, sprays, and creams, I’ve heard they sometimes work and sometimes don’t, but they often make the woman feel like she has the flu. She has her period, but doesn’t become fertile, and is often sick for a week after, but symptoms vary. From what else I’ve heard it can make heats more often, as the body seems to want to fight it and get fertile, so more of these chemicals get used. Some say that if you use them long enough, it acts as if you were taking a chemical sterilizer, but I’m not sure how long. The chemical sterilizers take three months and a shot every two week, for that time. The injection heat killers have been known to do the same, but it takes three years of killing every heat, which is why many let the ones they want to mature go through a heat a year, at least. That will still chemically sterilize them, but might take six or seven years then, which is why they only usually let female wessen slaves go until eighteen before putting them through the sterilization treatments. The sprays, roll on, and gums I’ve heard some are worse than the injections and some are better, but they all have side effects. Melissa probably told you that the military sees their wessen troops as not much more than property.” Molly replied. Hondo nodded, “Yeah, I don’t know if you noticed that night but her tail had been cut off. She said when she was a young troop member they cut off her tail as a punishment for talking back to her former captain.” Molly closed her eyes and shook her head, “The poor girl… I can’t imagine having my tail cut off. For all the good the army has done, they are just as barbaric as the ones they claim to protect us from, sometimes.” “I’m not arguin’ that. Sometimes one has to be as barbaric as the enemy, to be able to fight them, but their treatment of the wessen troops is inexcusable. Melissa said that tail or ear docking, castration or spaying, being made to be an officers sex kitten for a time, an’ other shit was used as punishment for them. The human troops didn’t have such treatment, but they saw the wessens as expendable. So, she doesn’t trust their special wessen medicines, as she said that they did not care if they were sterilized, of felt sick, just that they could fight an’ clean up the messes that the human troops didn’t want to.” Hondo replied. Molly nodded grimly, “That sounds right, unfortunately… *sigh* … I know we are different, but do we seem that different? Like something to be owned or treated as lesser beings?” Hondo shook his head, “No. You an’ the others seem like people to me, not lesser bein’s. My view on slavery has changed some, as there are some in this world that are too broken mentality to be on their own, an’ maybe need a master. Some were made that way an’ some born, due to how their parents or grandparents were made, seems like, an’ that’s human an’ wessen. They are not lesser, but to let them free might be a disservice to them an’ others, as they might just starve an’ die, or they might rape, rob, an’ pillage. Neither is good for anyone.” “I hadn’t really thought of it that way before, but you are right. Some like Maggie, or others who are worse, just can’t survive on their own, and need someone to give them purpose.” She replied. “Even I would not fair so well on my own without you as a master and mate, so it makes sense… I’m sorry if I don’t always seem to give you the respect you so deserve for doing all that for me and other.” He shook his head, “No need to apologize. I know you are tryin’ an’ learnin’, an’ honestly, you give me more respect than Val ever did.” She nodded, “I understand, but I do have to apologize to you.” “For what?” He asked. “I did not check on how covered up those rabbit sisters were, and they got bad sweaty when the sun came out… It had to be in the 90’s and humid, and the cab of the truck was sweltering… I.. I just didn’t think about it, until the blonde girl woke me up and I checked on her and found her and her sister soaking wet with sweat!” She said. Hondo frowned a bit and nodded, “It’s alright. I should have told you ‘bout that. It was fairly cool when I left so I didn’t even think of it, an’ I told you to rest. They are my responsibility, so that’s on me.” She shook her head, “But it shouldn’t be, as your responsibilities are mine too! And, I also forgot to check on the girls during the thunderstorm… I feel so bad for Tonya, leaving her to suffer like that.” “Suffer?” Hondo asked. “Her fear of thunder storms? From being tied out in them as punishment by her master?” Molly asked, figuring he had to know. Hondo shook his head, “I didn’t know about any of this!” Molly frowned, “Damn… At the hanger, she did say she was trying to be strong for you, and not show she was afraid, and asked me not to tell you she was handling it bad, but I didn’t know that meant you didn’t know! *sigh* … and she’s already angry enough at me as is.” “Why is she angry at you??” Hondo asked, a bit of a growl to his voice at the thought of Tonya copping an attitude again. “I.. I guess I was mothering her too much. She told me I wasn’t her mother and told me not to act like it, as she doesn’t want another after what Valentine did to her, Zoey, and you. I wasn’t trying to be her mother, but I care about her, Zoey, and Macey, and want to help them… I’d like them to trust me too, and I know it will take time, but I feel a bit lost on what to do for them.” Hondo sighed and shook his head, “*Sigh* … I’ll talk with Tonya. They all need time, but they need to respect you too, as you are my woman, now. I reckon I should have had more of a talk with them ‘bout what to expect an’ all.” “Please don’t talk with Tonya about this, yet. I want to be her friend, but I know it will take time, and I don’t want her to think I’m trying to get her in trouble. I want her to trust me. After what Valentine did, I don’t blame her for being surly or mistrusting of me, and I know with that, and how close we are in age that it would be unfair to her to try to make her look to me as a mother figure. I just wanted you to know I messed up, but I am trying… I could also use a few pointers, as I want to help them the best I can, for them and you.” She replied. “I don’t have any great insights, honestly.” He replied. “I’m still learnin’, myself, on how to be a father, let alone a father to girls an’ wessen girls to boot! An’ an uncle on top of that… It means a lot to me, that you try, know that. An’, I’ll have a talk with them, as when I’m gone, I expect them to look to you, as their caretaker. I trust Jefe, of course, but he’s as busy, if not more so than I am. After you an’ him, I trust Ruth next, but she has her hands full an’ they aren’t her responsibility. I told you when you asked to be mine, help me, an’ take on the challenges in life with me, that my girls came with me, as we are a package deal, an’ you agreed to that, so I expect you to handle things with them when I can’t, so they need to respect you, that includes Tonya.” He replied. She nodded, “I understand, and of course I want to help them, but if you could hold off with Tonya, I would appreciate it, as I think I’ll get further with her handling her objections alone. She’s too old to be ordered to respect me, without being made to resent me. By her age, as a wessen, she’s been considered an adult for a couple years, and then everything she went through as a slave in the fight rings, she’s not a kid, and needs handled like an adult woman.” “You’re not wrong ‘bout that, but she has a lot to learn still.” He replied. “As do I,” Molly replied. “But as your woman. Not a slave and not a child, which you aren’t treating me like that, but maybe you are treating Tonya too much like a child.” Hondo nodded, “She’s said the same thing before, an’ maybe I am, but I’m tryin’ to be better. The way she acted ‘bout Hector kinda set that back, some. I know she only knows bein’ a slave, an’ I guess I just don’t know how to handle givin’ her the life she should have an’ teachin’ her to be a good strong, woman.” Molly nodded, “I know it’s hard, but I want to try to help… I know she’s your adopted daughter, and I get that you want to give her a bit of a childhood, but you’ve given her more than most slave girls her age, especially ring fighters, would ever get. She had to be fairly good at fighting to still be alive, but she was being sold again, so she most likely wasn’t great. I lived around fight town long enough to know that only the great ones lived past thirty. The rest rarely made it past twenty-five. Even if she got very good, the likelihood of her making it to twenty-five is very low… James, he.. he was 25 or 26, he wasn’t even exactly sure, even of his age or date of birth. He wasn’t a great fighter, but he was very good. He figured he’d might live to twenty-one, or possibly twenty-two, but he didn’t figure he’d live much past that, honestly. I think he only lived as long as he did, because he quit fighting full time, as we wanted to start living and helping others, instead of just barely surviving. Had he still been in the rings full time, I would have lost him soon and been alone… Even so, he still fought when the money was good, to cover our expenses, and it was only a matter of time… I tried to ignore that, even after I lost him, but the truth was, when I took his ring, I knew it would be for a short time. I knew I’d soon be alone and possibly taken as a slave again, which is why he never bred me… but.. but the time with him was worth it… I wish you both had been friends, so you could have known he was a good man, and how good he was to me, but though he tried, what you’ve done for me is so much more, and more than I ever dreamt of getting. He gave me his all, I do not doubt that, but you’ve given me a hope and purpose, beyond what he could give, and a chance at not being just some wessen whore, which would have been my future without you. I’m not a fighter, not like James was, or even like Tonya. I could gamble, but I wasn’t great at it. I could distract, but I am getting a bit old for what most gambling houses want, as they want younger looking girls like Miniya, April, Kiah, Macey and the others. You saved me from that by taking me in, as did Fernando when he stopped me from riding off alone… I don’t know a lot, but I know how it feels to be saved and given more than you could imagine, and I love you so much for that and more.” He shook his head, “Hell, I didn’t save you. You saved me. I’d have lost it, after what Val did to me an’ the girls, if it wasn’t for you. The girls need you too, whether they know it or not, but I know they will need time. They latched onto Val as she was one of the ones carin’ for them while they still thought it all was a dream. Her betrayal might have hurt me the worst, but it shattered their dream an’ forced them back to reality. They do have it better with me than they would have wherever they were headed, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt an’ confuse them too.” Molly nodded, “I know, but they, Tonya mostly, needs to realize how good she has it with you. I think she is starting to, but she’s focusing too much on what happened in those few days, rather than what she went through in her whole past, and what her future could have been.” He nodded, “True enough, but I know she’ll come ‘roud fully. She’s a good girl, I know, but there’s a lot of hurt there. Had Val not spurned her like she did, an’ just came after me, I reckon things would be a lot different.” “I know you don’t like me to ask about her, but.. I know she came to talk to you, and we didn’t hear any yelling, so…” She paused, continuing when he did not offer up anything freely right away, “Did it go alright?” He frowned a bit, “Eh, I’d not call it alright, though I don’t know what you all said to her.” “What we said to her?” Molly asked. “She came out not seemin’ like her usual mopey self, an’ I thought she was Maria, the older version of herself.” He replied. “She really seemed like the other Valentine?” Molly asked. “You didn’t know her before she was taken, an’ barely got to see her actin’ half normal after we got her back. The older version of her acts tougher an’ more surly than my Val used to act, but even she has softened a bit lately… When she is softer, I’d half swear she was my Val, just on a rough day, if it wasn’t for that scar.” He replied. “And you didn’t see it, this time?” She asked Hondo went on to explain about her hair being over that eye, from it being so messy, and how he had said some harsh things that she maybe needed to hear, but he had not planned to say to her, as he thought he was blowing off some steam to the older Valentine. After he told her the whole conversation, Molly nodded. “I think you are right about you both needing time, but I think you’re wrong about it bein’ hopeless.” Molly said. He narrowed his eyes a bit at her, “Why do you say that?” Molly shrugged, “I don’t know, exactly, but for her to seem more like her old self, and not fall apart in front of you, after you said all that, means she’s healing and changing, and it’s obviously for you, not for herself.” “Probably more for Zoey, as she’s the only reason I’m givin’ Val a chance, as is.” Hondo replied. “Maybe, but I think she’s trying, and she took that well enough, like she did some other things.” Molly said. “What other things?” He asked. “We had a conversation about… *sigh* … don’t be mad, please.” She said softly, looking down a bit, as she worried that she would anger him. “A conversation about what?” He asked firmly. She sighed and looked back up at him, speaking quickly as she wanted to get it all out before he got mad. “About how I will protect you and your heart with my life, if I have to, from even her, and if she wants back she will learn to serve you as a wessen woman should serve her man, and I’d train her and not let her be equals with me until she earned the right, even if it made you hate me, as I can’t let her hurt you ever again!” She blurted out. He stared back at her blankly, and she looked at him, though not directly as she waited for him to scold her for being so bold as to assume she would have a higher status in his life than Valentine would, if he took her back. To her surprise, instead of yelling he laughed and shook his head, to which her look went from tense, to curious, to sour as he laughed. “How was that funny?!” she asked, bewildered, after a bit. “Heh! It’s funny an’ great at the same time! Ha, ha! Oh, darlin’, I love ya, an’ I love that you want to protect me so fiercely.” He replied with a grin. “So, you’re not angry that I assumed that I could do that or that you’d see me as having more authority than Valentine, if she comes back?” Molly asked He shook his head, “No, not at all. I know you meant it well, an’ after bein’ given reasons to think on it today, I realized some of the reasons I love you, an’ one of them is that you have given yourself so fully to me, even when I fail to be able to do the same of myself to you.” “But, you are the master, the alpha, the male in this relationship. As the female, I am supposed to give myself fully to you, and any of your offspring I might have, but you can’t give all of yourself to me, as you may have other females, and even if you don’t, you have goals, and ambitions in life that part of you must go to! I can’t expect to have all of you, and if I did I would be a fool!” She exclaimed. “Val expected that.” He replied softly, his grin fading some. Molly looked down, “Then… She was a fool.” He nodded, “Maybe so, but if she sees that, I know I will have you to thank for that. An’ I know that if I told you to step back, you would if you could, until she tried to do me wrong, then you’d put yourself in danger, of even my wrath, because you care so much.” She looked up at him and nodded slightly, “I would… Maybe I should obey you fully, but… I can’t if it means harm or pain will come to you that I could stop.” “I know you mean well, Molly, an’ I am glad you want to help an’ protect me, but please don’t be brash ‘bout disobeyin’ me. I need to know I can trust you an’ count on you… I’m strugglin’ with that since Val turned on me.” He replied. She nodded again, “I’ll make sure it’s worth it, if I do disobey, I promise.” “Good.” He replied. “Now, should we check on the rabbit sisters?” She nodded, “Yes. Sorry for keeping you, but we’ve not had time like this in a while, if ever since we have been together, where we could just talk without one of us needing to rush off, or being exhausted and needing to sleep.” He nodded, as he put his arm around her and started walking back to the camper, and around to the truck cab, “I know. Hopefully we’ll find a safe place for a few days, after you heal up, an’ we’ll try to spend a day or two alone together… We owe ourselves that, as I can’t give you a proper honeymoon yet.” Molly shrugged, “Honeymoons are for wealthy couples trying to show off their wealth.” “Well, I’m not too bad off, especially after that fight.” He replied. “Must have got some decent gold out of that.” She replied. He shrugged, “Eh, a little. Not the wealthiest in the land, but should have enough to meet the convoy’s needs an’ have some left over for us once this mission is done, to build a home for us.” He did not really lie, as he had taken more out of his account and spent more recently, so Fernando was the wealthier of the two, money wise, though only by a twenty or thirty thousand, at most, which was a drop in the bucket of their winnings. In truth, if they ever tried to even withdrawal half of their winnings, Fight town would close down, and the town assets be owned by them, with at least half of their winnings left unable to collect. They would deal with Fight Town someday, but for now, they let it operate and make money so their mission would have guaranteed financing. She nodded, “I have mine too, that James won… It’s yours now, too, you know.” “I appreciate that, but for now, I want you to hold onto it. We might need that someday, but if anythin’ happened to me, I want you to have easy access to money, as I will need you to take care of the girls in my stead.” He replied. She nodded, “I understand and I will, but I’d rather not think about that possibility.” “Understand, but should still be ready, as this is dangerous work.” He replied. “In a dangerous world.” She replied. “Is your time that much safer?” He nodded, “In some areas, not in others. As dangerous as it is here, I find this time to be freer, in some ways… If we could take down whoever is setting up these dictators and slavery rings, this world could heal, but I’m not sure it’s possible.” “Will we go back to your time, someday?” She asked. He shrugged, “I don’t know, honestly. For now, all I can say is we need to keep movin’ forward, together, an’ see what happens.” “Talking about moving forward together, you have fun with your threesome?” She asked, grinning and blushing a bit at the thought of him being sexually passionate with Melissa and another woman. “Threesome??” He asked. “I smelled Melissa and another woman that I don’t recognize on you… You said you’d be honest with me about who you were with.” She said. “That reminds me, Melissa wants to talk with you about that.” He said, seeing how she would respond. She frowned a bit and looked down, “I imagine its to tell me its not my place to ask that… She’s right, I shouldn’t, but… Maybe I’m a bit insecure… IF you don’t want to tell me, that is fine, just please don’t lie and say you didn’t. That’s all I ask.” He smiled softly and pulled her against him more tightly, “You’re a good woman, Molly, an’ I have no reason to lie to you. Honestly, you’re bein’ so understandin’ helps me a lot. I’ve been stressed out, but been able to curb it more lately because of you. Had you asked that I be yours only, I would have been, you know?” She nodded, “I know, but its not my place to ask that, and I know you need more… More than I can give and more freedom.” “Well, it’s helped, especially since you’re still healin’.” He replied “An’ Melissa helped me with some stress today, but it was just her an’ I.” “Oh.. I see.” Molly said softly, knowing she smelled another woman on him, but trying to just trust him, like he had asked of her back at the hanger. After a pause, he stopped walking in front of the truck, and turned her to look at him, “I know you smell another woman on me, as a very lonely woman, about twenty-seven to thirty, who runs the electronics store, made a bold pass at me. She hung on me an’ kissed me, an’ asked to be one of my women.” “Oh? Did.. did you say yes?” She asked. He shook his head, “Nope.” “Why not? Wasn’t she pretty?” She asked. “Pretty has little to do with it, though I do live my women to be beautiful, like you,” He said, which caused her to blush and look down, though she looked up as he put a finger between her breasts, “but I care more about who you are inside.. the person you are. But that’s not even why I said no. Now, I said no because of a couple reasons. First, I’m not ready for more women. I already have you, an’ maybe Val someday, an’ maybe Melissa an’ Nova someday, an’ they both seem to want time with me, for us to get to know each other while we can to find if there will be a someday or not, an’ I’m fine with that because you are. But I’m not out there tryin’ to find a harem.” Molly nodded, “I understand, but I understand that if you run across someone special, that you take them up when you have the opportunity. You don’t know when the opportunity will happen again… was she not special?” Hondo frowned, “That’s the only issue… she was.” “So, why not, then?” She asked. “Because she wouldn’t leave.” He answered. “So, she was special enough for you to give that option too?” Molly asked. Hondo nodded, “Yeah. She was widowed six years ago when the town was attacked, but as lonely as she is, she wasn’t bitter. She was also very bold an’ very smart… Almost a sweeter, bolder version of Val, I guess, though I’m not sure she was even five foot tall, though she was stacked well enough!” Molly giggled a bit, “He he! Sounds like a cutie! … I like that you feel that you can talk about other women like that with me.” Hondo’s look got more serious and he cocked his head a bit at her, “I am, though I never realized it until now… I’d never been able to talk to Val ‘bout another woman like I can with you.” “I’m glad you can, and it makes me feel a lot better that you do.” She replied. “So, she wouldn’t leave her store?” He nodded, “Yeah. She felt she couldn’t leave her late husband’s legacy. She said she was fine with me travelin’, an’ havin’ other women, but she wanted me to base my operations from there, an’ even offered me her old family house to fix up for you, the girls, an’ anyone else, as she has an apartment over the store. But I told her I don’t know where we are gonna end up, how long it will take, or if I’ll ever be back. Plus, I can’t compete with all that. Call me selfish, but I like how you make my life an’ goals your goals, an’ I don’t think I could settle for less anymore.” “I’m glad I did that for you, as you deserve that.” She said, smiling at him softly, “It’s too bad she could not leave, but I can see that being hard. It was an easy decision for me, as James and I had little, and your goals, your life, your mission… those are what James and I dreamed of being able to do, anyway, so how could I say no? Even if it was different, I would have changed as it’s a womans job to help her husband further his goals, and if a woman loved her mate, how could she want to do anything else?” “I like the way you talk, you know?” He said with a grin. “… I think she’s not a lot different from you in that way, but she did love her late husband deeply, an’ she feels she needs to further his goals an’ plans, which was the store. She wanted to help me too, with free supplies, housin’ for my women an’ children, by givin’ me children, an’ she even offered if you or anyone else I take as my woman was pregnant, to have them live with her an’ she’d help take care of them, if they helped ‘round the store as they could.” “But, she’s trying to juggle two goals, so she’d not be completely yours.” Molly said, finishing out his thoughts. He nodded, “Exactly… I just am not sure that would work.” “You going to see her again, at least?” She asked. He nodded, “I promised her that I would try. She’d like me to show her some of what I know ‘bout electronics, as I taught her a couple tricks I knew in exchange for a discount.” “She’d probably like more than that from you, sounds like.” She said. He frowned a bit and nodded, “Uhm, yeah. That was… Well, let’s say you couldn’t call what she threw out a hint, or even a broad hint.” “So, she asked you to bed her?” Molly said with a grin. “In no uncertain terms!” Hondo replied. Molly giggled again, “He he!.. I want to meet her!” Hondo gave her a soft smile, “Well see ‘bout that, though I can’t see why not. I need to get you some more clothes, an’ we I’ll see ‘bout us gettin’ away for a day… speakin’ of clothes, is that my old hoodie?” She looked down at it and nodded, “Yeah, I hope you don’t mind. That blonde rabbit girl’s snuggie was soaked, so I put my jacket on her and.. and I don’t have another.” He frowned, “I don’t mind at all, but I do mind you not havin’ spares… how many changes of clothes do you have?” She looked down and blushed again, “Two, maybe, though I found out one of my underwear sets is a swimsuit today… I was a little embarrassed when the bunny girls pointed out how stupid I am.” He scowled a bit, “Kiah?” “She wasn’t the only one, though she did laugh. It.. it is a cover up for her own insecurities, though, and the other girls and Ruth said some things, though Ruth’s were accidental and out of frustration with the heat inside today, but I felt bad for Kiah… She’s hurting inside and really needs someone who cares. The other girls try to be there for each other, but they are each broken and because of that, they can’t help each other like they need.” Molly said in Kiah’s defense. Hondo’s frown deepened, “Well, that’s no excuse for bein’ a bitch, but I’ll remember that when I talk with her.” “You don’t need to talk to her. I can handle her.” Molly said. “Well, maybe not, but I still might… What I need to do is to get you properly outfitted! Next town, we are doin’ that, alright? He replied. She nodded sheepishly, “Okay, but don’t worry about it too much. I don’t need much fancy, or a lot of things, as long as I have you.” “Well, we’re getting’ you more clothes. If I realized you had that little, I’d have got you a few more things sooner! … I saw your bag, but thought you were packin’ light as we weren’t movin’ into the hanger.” He replied She shook her head, “No. That was just all I had.” “Hmm.” Hondo grunted. “Well, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize that.” “It’s okay, my love.” She replied, “I know you will take care of me, so I’m not worried. But, if you talk to Kiah, please be gentle. She’s a very hurt young woman… She asked us not to tell you what she’s been through, as she thinks you’ll see her as lesser because of it, so I want to respect that.” “Probably all lies to get sympathy.” He groused Molly shook her head, “It was Mae that told us her story, and Kiah was upset that she told us as she doesn’t want anyone to know or to pity her.” “Pity her?” He asked. “How bad is it?” Molly frowned, “Bad. I don’t want to break her trust, but she’s never had a caring family, and really doesn’t know what love is. If you think Macey doesn’t know what love is, Kiah is probably ten times worse. Not trying to lessen what Macey went through, but just be gentle and forgiving with Kiah, please. For me.” Hondo sighed and then nodded after a moment, “*sigh* … I’ll try, for you… Not been ‘round her a lot, but every time I have she’s just rubbed me the wrong way.” “It’s just a mask she puts on, trust me. She has a good heart, but doesn’t know how to use it and is scared to show it.” Molly replied. “I’ll keep that in mind. Now, lets see ‘bout this girl here, an’ once these two are on their feet, then I’ll worry ‘bout others. First we need to get her some broth an’ cleaned up, if she’s awake.” Hondo replied, to which Molly nodded in agreement, and walked ahead of him, getting to the door first and opening it. As the door opened and they looked in, a groggily looking blonde rabbit wessen girl looked up at them, wearing nothing but Molly’s coat, with the snuggie that had covered her, having been kicked off. There was some fear and uncertainty in her eyes at first, as she looked at Moly, but as she glanced at Hondo her eyes locked onto him and got wide. “M.m.master?” She asked groggily. “Hey there, goldilocks. How you doin’?” He asked softly. “Master!” She exclaimed weakly as she struggled to get up, but was floundering and failing, as she was too weak. The open coat showed her dirty, bruised body, and though many of her cuts were sealed and her bruising lesser, she still looked beat up, the dirt, sweat streaks, and tangled hair, not helping her looks at all. “Whoa, now! Settle down!” He said in a firm but kind tone, as he held up his hands to try to show he was not going to hurt her. “I. I’m s.s.sorry, M.master!” She blurted out. “I’m s.sorry I’m n.n.not up!! P.please don’t beat me!!!” Tears were streaming down her face and her body shook from a mix of the cold air, weakness, but mostly from fear. Hondo reached out to her and she flinched, pulling back from him, and closing her eyes tightly, as she tensed up and waited for the pain. But instead of pain, she felt him pulling her towards him, which she expected was so he could beat her more easily, but again no pain new pain came, other than the ones that were still in her beaten up, but healing, body. Instead she felt him pick her up and hold her against him, as he started carrying her somewhere. “P.please don’t throw me away… I’ll do better, I promise!” She exclaimed weakly. “Please, don’t take me away from my sister!” “Shhh now, goldilocks. You’re not in trouble… I know you’re healin’ an’ need rest. I’m takin’ ya inside, so we can get some food in ya an’ get you cleaned up.” He replied. She stared up at him with a look of fear and disbelief, as he carried her to the camper door, of which Molly opened and let him inside. As he entered all eyes shot to him, even Valentine’s this time, though she looked away first. “Oh!” Ruth exclaimed as he entered, “Is this one of the sisters I’ve heard about?” Hondo nodded, stopping in the middle of the kitchen as he spoke to Ruth, “This is Bella, if I remember right.” “Hello, Bella.” Ruth said softly to the obviously frightened girl, “It’s alright. There’s no need to worry now. You’ll be taken good care of.” Maggie stood up, from where she sat on the couch and grabbed an older blanket to sit on the couch, without being asked. “Thanks, Maggie. Do you have time to help Molly get her fed some more broth, help her use the bathroom, and wash up?” Hondo asked, as he set the girl down on the blanket, and pulled the edges of it over her lap to cover more, as the jacket was not doing the job well, though it was long and big on her small, skinny frame. Maggie looked at Ruth who nodded, “We should be good, now, Maggie. Mae, June, and April should be here any minute to help.” Maggie nodded and turned back to Hondo, “Of course, Master.” “I can take care of her.” Molly replied. Hondo shook his head, “Not with you still healin’ too. She’s gonna need carried to the shower, an’ held up while washed, as she’s too weak. She’s light enough that I know Maggie can handle that, as could you if you weren’t hurt. I want you well, woman, so you let Maggie lift her, an’ wash her. You just hand her soap, towles, an’ whatever she needs, alright?” Molly frowned a bit but nodded, “Yes, my love, I understand… Though I wish you wouldn’t worry so much about me. I’ll be fine.” “An’ you’d over-do it, which would set your healin’ back, so I’m tellin’ ya not to.” He replied firmly, but with a look that said it was loving as well. She nodded, sheepishly, knowing he was right. She had over done it a few times already, and was sure that’s probably why she still hurt when others said she should be healed by now, on top of underplaying her injuries. Hondo turned to Maggie, “You should be able to handle that, right?” Maggie nodded as she headed for the cupboard to grab some more broth to warm up, “Y.yes, Master. I can h.handle that.” Hondo grabbed her arm lightly, causing her to flinch and look up at him with that startled look of hers. “It’s alright. I just want to make sure you’re alright.” He asked softly. She sighed and nodded, “*sigh* … Yes, master… sorry.” “it’s alright. We’ll talk before bed, as you need to get more comfortable talkin’ to me.” He said as he let her arm go. “Yes, master. Th.thank you.” She said softly, blushing with embarrassment as she hurried on to her task. “Well, I’d better get out of the way, again.” He said. He turned to leave, but he felt a tug on his coat, as if he had snagged it on something, so he turned to look, and found a very weak, scared blonde rabbit girl, holding onto it. “You alright, there, goldilocks?” He asked. “P.Please don’t l.l.leave me!” She begged softly. He took her hand from his coat and held it as he hunkered down in front of her, to get to eye level with her. He gave her a soft smile as he looked into her scared eyes, that stared back at him with fear, longing, and doubt that any of this was real, “I have to go check on your sister, now, but Molly an’ Maggie will take good care of you. They are gonna give you some broth, so you can heal more, an’ then clean you up an’ let you use the bathroom if you need to. I’ll be back later to check on you, but for now, just listen to them an’ get some rest, alright?” She nodded back, with quick, short, scared nods, after a moment, though she held onto his hand and did not want to let go. He pulled his hand away after a few seconds, to which she looked even more crushed at, as she stared at him with big, scared eyes. He gave her another soft grin, before turning away and heading out the door. She stared at the door for several long seconds before her emotions overwhelmed her again. She sniffled and cried softly, tears flowing down her dirty cheeks, as she stared at the door and tried to wish him back. Though he scared her, as everything did at the moment, she also longed for him for some reason that she did not understand. Even though he terrified her, he also filled her with hope, as though she had met few in her life, she felt he was a good person and wanted what was best for her. She did not fully understand this, though, as she had always been told she was a worthless animal, only good for #$@!ing, so she did not understand why he seemed to find value in her. She figured he must want to #$@! her, as what else could he want with her? So, she determined to get well as fast as she could so she could give him what he wanted, and she thought if she was good enough, maybe he would keep being kind to her, and let her and her sister be together. If she did not please him, she feared what might happen, as she knew she could not bare to go through what she had experienced again. (To Be Continued ...)
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