The Bandit Scout

Chapter 20 -- An Unexpected Makeout

The days marched by. Everyone was working themselves to the bone. The katana crew would start before first light and work until after dark. The Ranch Hands had to do the same because they were so short-handed. Ralph Rider cannibalized their group to add to the katana crew. He did not cannibalize the Mounted Troops. But the Troops took tasks from the Hands that the Troops could perform. The extra work, combined with the kendo training added by the Medico, left all the staff feeling stressed about time. The Chuck Wagon crew may have been the most stressed because they had to feed everybody wherever they were working.

Carmen would pick up food for Stella and herself at midday and evening meals and take it to Stella's room. The Medico not only allowed but strongly encouraged Stella to take long walks around the Ranch compound. She wasn't allowed to carry anything. It was still all-important for her to let her shoulders rest. Carmen would feed her the meals. Carlos took care of her breakfast.

Daily, Stella observed the smithing activities, the routines of the Ranch Hands, the training of the Troops, and the Chuck Wagon activities. She chafed at seeing all the action but not being part of it. Stella felt hurt that everyone ignored her as she walked around the Compound. She still didn't understand how much everyone respected her; they thought it was more respectful to give her privacy.

The day came when the Medico came to her room just as Carlos was leaving. "Stella, I congratulate you on your discipline. You have followed my instructions and not used your shoulders." He was probing her shoulders as he spoke. "I would be able to feel the difference if you had not. Now, it is time for you to begin some carefully controlled exercises. This afternoon, come by the dojo. I have set up a training room for you there.

"The exercises may, at times, be painful. Your shoulders, in their attempt to avoid further damage, will have formed adhesions. We will have to break these apart slowly, increasing your range of motion. Your arms are held in place on your shoulders by soft tissue. We will be strengthening those surrounding muscles. Do you have any questions?"

"Medico, I am so thankful to have you. Carlos leaves before dawn and returns after sundown. I see people as I take my walks, but they just ignore me. What have I done wrong?"

"Nothing, Stella. I can't change our tasks in making katanas. However, I can assure you that people hold you in very high esteem and are simply trying to give you your privacy. I keep getting asked if you are going to teach a kendo class."

"Is that even possible, Medico?"

"Of course it is. We have to build you back up first, and that starts this afternoon."

"Ralph seems dejected when I see him. Do you think that we will see a true Katana anytime soon?"

"Yes, Stella. The hold-up has been that Ralph does not have enough blades that have been through the folding and quenching processes for his testing purposes. Walter Holt has been a slave driver, overseeing the preparation of additional manufacturing lines. Soon, he will be producing two to three blades a day for Ralph.

After the noon meal, Stella went to the dojo. The Medico took her to the weight room. He had rigged all kinds of contraptions to exercise particular muscle groups. Often, therapy was a matter of restoring balance in the body.

"We will start you with stretches followed by four machine exercises. I will add more exercises as you progress." The Medico led Stella through the stretches that he wanted her to perform. "You control the resistance of the machines by the number of sandbags in these buckets. To begin, you will use one sandbag in each bucket. The initial point of the exercises is to work on your range of motion."

He showed her how to use each machine. "Come here three times a day. Do the stretches and the machine exercises. You may feel like you are not making a difference. But you will be."

Stella found that the stretches were more painful than the exercises. Knowing that she would never recover her limberness if she could not do these types of stretches, Stella determined not to show her discomfort and to grit her way through the therapy. She recalled the old saying, "No pain, no gain."

-----

"The Medico's therapy was not easy," Stella thought. Her shoulders objected to the stretches that were placed on them as well as the load. He had told her that he would add more weight to the load and add more exercises as she progressed. It was hard. But she could do hard. She had worked on challenging tasks, starting during her childhood and continuing to this day.

The problem that was really concerning her was her self-doubt. She could not stop thinking about her ordeal with the Comanche and Sloan. The truth, which no one but her knew, was that they had broken her. She had endured everything until the Comanche came back from their break. Then she was ready to give up. Because she was gagged, she couldn't. Then they brought Gus Sloan, and her anger at him kept her from surrendering. When they hung her in the spread eagle, the agony in her shoulder was unbearable because of the damage already done to both shoulders. But that became trivial compared to the whip lashes. She had decided to surrender. Then Sloan got in her face, asking where the Documents were, and her courage returned for a moment. He hit her in the stomach, and she heaved automatically. She wanted to double over, but she could not. She wasn't just standing in a spread eagle position; she was hanging and stretched. She could not move to relieve the agony.

Then the miracle happened. First, the Comanche killed Sloan. Then Carlos and Frank emerged from the trees and killed the Comanche. They saved her. But she knew that they had defeated her. After that last punch, even if Sloan had asked her, she would have given everything up to him. No one else knew. But she did.

Now she was living with a new fear. Stella did not know how she would react to being tied up again. She had enjoyed being tied up by Carlos. Sure, it hurt sometimes. But unlike the Comanche and Pvt. Sloan had hurt her. But if she were tied up, she would be vulnerable to that kind of pain again. She knew that Carlos wouldn't do that to her. Would he? Carlos had never hurt her unless she had insisted he do so. But how could she ever take a chance?

Carlos loved tying her up and playing with her bound body. She had loved that as well. The sex while tied up was mind-blowing. If she couldn't get back to that with Carlos, what would their future be?

Stella had been following the therapy for a week now. She was doing the exercises three times a day as directed by the Medico. After each session, she returned to their room and sponged off. Then she would brood.

It was always a welcome interruption to her routine when Carmen dropped in to see her. It was ironic that she first saw Carmen when Carmen was tied, spread-eagled in the Bucks camp. Stella had arranged for Carmen to have a more comfortable restraint. Since then, they had gone through much together and became good friends. Carmen had nursed her for days after the ordeal. Even Carmen did not know she had broken.

It was early afternoon that day when Carmen arrived. She studied Stella and could see that she was struggling with depression. "Stella, I have been observing you. As you exercised more frequently, I expected your mental outlook to improve. But, it has not. Can you tell me what is troubling you so much?"

"Carmen, I haven't told anybody this. Can you keep this between us and not tell Ralph, or Frank, or anyone else?"

"If it affects Ralph's business, I would have to tell him. But otherwise, I pledge that I will keep your secret."

"Fair enough. I am ashamed to tell you what happened. I'm even more ashamed that it happened. The Comanche broke me, Carmen. I am not the hero that people think I am. I am a fraud. I was going to give up the Katana Documents. Carlos and Frank saved me in the nick of time. I was ready to do anything to stop the pain."

"Stella, nobody would blame you for that. What you went through was horrible. The reason doesn't matter. The fact is that you did not talk. Sorry, Stella, you are a hero to me and to everyone else who knows what happened to you."

"That is not all of it, Carmen. I have a great fear of being tied up again. Frank would call this a phobia. Not that I could say these things to the Medico. I'm not even sure if I can be a scout again. There is always a danger that a scout could be captured.

"Since I was hurt, Carlos has been amazingly wonderful. We have had sex, but it has been slow and gentle each time. Before, we made love with great abandon. Carlos took a lot of pleasure in tying me up. I was crazy about the things that he would do to my body while I was helpless. The sex was spectacular. I can't describe it to you."

"You don't have to. Ralph and I have that too. I know exactly what you are talking about."

"Then what can I do. At some point, Carlos will ask me to submit to him again. And I just can't."

Carmen thought for a minute and said, "Stella, I have an idea. I'm not sure if it will help or not. I don't see how trying could hurt. We have to wrap your mind around the idea that bondage with the right person is a wonderful thing, right?"

"Sure, but since I can't stand even the thought of being tied up, how can we do that?"

"First, you need to switch roles. You be the dom and not the sub."

"But Carmen, I don't know how to ask Carlos for that. I would have to tell him the whole story. You know I can't confess everything to him."

"Of course, I don't think you should confess. Whether there is anything to confess depends entirely on how you look at the situation. You have told me, and I know it all now. To me, you are the same heroine that you were when I walked into this room. Now, I have something else in mind. You be the dom, and I will be your sub."

"Stella, you've told me how you fantasized about Carlos tying you to one of these bedposts. Tie me that way and see how I enjoy it. Maybe it will click in your mind that you will enjoy it too.

"No, you couldn't ask Carlos right now anyway. The folks in the katana crew are working themselves to the bone on the project. They are spending fourteen to sixteen hours a day, every day, following Ralph's and the Medico's suggestions. Ralph has sent messages to Round Rock and my dad, expressing his interest in hiring people. We can't distract them with our problems. Can't you use me?"

"Carmen, your generosity is overwhelming. I'm not sure if this will help me or not. But I would like to give it a try. When and how do you want to do this? I must warn you that I am not accustomed to being around women as beautiful as you. Even if it doesn't help me, I expect I will enjoy having you under my control."

"You are supposed to enjoy it. You are free to use me to your heart's content. I'm coordinating the Ranch's ranching activities for Ralph. But I do things on my schedule. I can take an hour or so right now. Don't you do your therapy on your schedule, too?"

"Yes, the Medico checks me out every other day and makes changes to my routine. I won't see him until tomorrow."

"Then now it is. Let's move to the bedpost. You get the ropes."

Stella went to a drawer and pulled out coils of rope. When she turned to the bed, Carmen had removed her halter and shorts. "I didn't expect you to undress for me, Carmen."

"In the past, wouldn't you have undressed for Carlos?"

"Well, sure."

"Then I will stay undressed for you. Let me know how you'd like me to proceed. Picture me in your fantasy."

Stella had Carmen back up to the bottom right bedpost, facing away from the footboard. "For now, lace your fingers together behind your neck. I will take this long coil of rope and make a noose around your body and the bedpost. I'll start above your tits."

After a couple of wraps, she continued below Carmen's tits. Stella pulled the rope tight, continuing with loops just below Carmen's ribs and finally around her hips. Now it was time to secure Carmen's arms. Stella took her wrists and pulled her arms behind the bedpost.

The diameter of the bedpost made it challenging to pull Carmen's elbows together. She used a lark's head to wrap Carmen's arms just above her elbows, using the noose to apply noticeable pressure to close the gap between her elbows. Stella cinched the elbow tie so that it wouldn't slip down her arms. Carmen's forearms were already close together with the elbows pulled back, and Stella did another twin column tie with a cinch on her wrists.

Stella took Carmen's right foot and pulled it back and up so she could lash it to the footboard. She secured the left foot by fastening the left ankle and thigh to the bedpost. "Two things left to do, Carmen. Are you alright so far?"

"Well, I've been tied to a post before. This is more exotic than my first post tie. To answer your question, yes, I am fine. What is next?"

Stella attached a rope to the cinch between her forearms and looped the rope around the left-hand bedpost. Stella used that to pull Carmen's hands away from the bedpost where she was tied. Because of what had happened to her, she was cautious not to put too much strain on Carmen's shoulders.

"Are you still okay?"

Carmen suppressed a giggle to say, "Stella, you could stretch me a lot more than that, and I would still be okay. I understand that you have to be comfortable with what you do as much as I do."

"The last step, then. This would be a gag if your mouth were packed. But I want you to be able to talk to me. The purpose of this is to hold your head in place."

She took a long strip of cloth and put the center between Carmen's teeth. She wrapped the ends behind the bedpost and back between her teeth several times. It was tight enough to pull the corners of her mouth back, and when Stella knotted the cloth behind the post, she had immobilized Carmen's head.

Stella stepped back to look at her work and decided that it looked pretty good. Carmen wasn't going to get loose until someone let her go. The ropes displayed her breasts to perfection. Stella gathered Carmen's hair and pulled it over her right shoulder, hanging it beside her right tit and down her right leg, which was drawn back to the footboard.

Surprising herself and Carmen, she cupped Carmen's tit and manipulated it. "This is what Carlos would be doing to me right now."

Mumbling because of the pseudo gag, Carmen replied, "It feels good with you doing it too." Carmen was surprised to feel a tingling in her pussy. "I'll bet that if you rubbed my pussy just right, I could cum in a minute or two." Carmen had not expected that.

With one hand playing with Carmen's tit, the other hand stroked her pussy. A finger hooked Carmen's clit, giving it some serious stimulation. Carmen was straining as hard as she could against the ropes holding her in place. She could find no movement, but straining her muscles accelerated her climax. As the sensations swept over her, Stella pressed her lips against Carmen's.

Stella sat on the bed next to Carmen as the last spasms exhausted her. She found that Carmen was hanging limp in her bonds. After she caught her breath, Carmen straightened up and said, "Stella, I didn't mean for that to happen, not that I could have done anything to stop it. What just happened to us was wonderful, but it doesn't mean that I don't love Ralph. You still love Carlos, too, right?"

Stella stood up in front of Carmen and untied the gag. She placed her hands on Carmen's cheeks and said, "Carmen, I do love Carlos. But I will never forget this moment. You are a friend who would do anything to help me. Let me get you out of this tie-up."

Carmen said, "Only when you are ready. I thought you would be an excellent top, and you were." Carmen had some Ranch business that needed attention. She dressed and hugged Stella. "I'll be back to see you tomorrow. I hope you feel better about yourself, and I haven't made your life even more complicated."

"You have given me a lot to think about. I'm glad you are coming back tomorrow. I'm the one who made this more complicated. We will sort it out."

After Carmen left, Stella put away the ropes and straightened up the room. She thought, "No, I'm not ready to get tied up again. But I can admit that I just had fun. I also think Carmen had fun. Much to think about."

-----

A few days later, Capt. Ron James and Lt. Tom Daley rode at the head of the 3rd Mounted Platoon as it arrived at the Rider Ranch Compound. Ranch sentries had alerted the Compound, and a crowd had gathered at the parade ground to welcome the warriors home. Ralph Rider and Carmen were at the front with Carlos McTavrish and Stella beside them. The Platoon formed a single line, facing Boss Ralph, with the two officers positioned in the front center. Capt. James saluted Boss Ralph, saying, "Capt. James, returning from the Wagon Train assignment, reporting for duty."

Boss Ralph returned the salute. "Welcome back, Captain, Lieutenant. I see wagons coming in the gate now. Is that our iron sand?"

"Yes, Sir. The Master at Unihold thought that you needed more than you requested. He doubled your order."

"Well, he was right. Get your men settled. Then come up to my office in the big house for a debriefing in an hour. I am sure that you have a lot to tell me, and I, sure as hell, have a lot to tell you. Bring Lt. Daley with you. Dismissed."

An hour later, Capt. James and Lt. Daley entered the big house and found Rider, McTavrish, and Stevens, along with Stella and Carmen, waiting for them. Ralph welcomed the officers, "Ron, Tom, please come in. We have some refreshments waiting. Help yourselves. You know everyone here. Except you, Tom. You haven't met Carmen. And you, Ron. You might as well not have met her. Let me introduce you to the former Carmen Gomez, who is now my mate, Carmen Rider."

Capt. James answered, "You said you had a lot to tell us. May I offer my congratulations and best wishes?"

Lt. Daley was having a hard time keeping his eye off Stella. But he was quick on the uptake and chimed in, "And that goes for me as well."

Ralph continued, "And for a second surprise for you, let me present the former Stella Brooks, now Stella McTavrish, the mate of Carlos McTavrish."

Ron James replied, "That is possibly less surprising. We saw the signs of this coming earlier. But again, congratulations and best wishes to the two of you."

Tom spoke, "Again, that goes for me as well. Stella, or should I call you Mrs. McTavrish, I am so happy for you. And for you as well, Boss Carlos."

"I think that I can speak for everyone here when I say that we are all on a first-name basis in this room," Ralph said, looking over the room. Now, help yourselves to the refreshments. The ale will wash the dust out of your throat. Then pick out a comfortable seat and tell us about the Wagon Train and the trip to Kennedy."

"It was an uneventful travel from the Big Meadow to Kennedy. Naturally, we stayed on full alert but saw no indications of trouble. We were eagerly welcomed at Kennedy. I think that they must have been running low on meat. The townsfolk pitched in and helped unload the wagons. That night, the town put on a feast for us. Although it wasn't as spectacular as the one Chief Brooks held, it was a most pleasant affair.

"The next day, Tom and I called on Unihold. The Masters were most gracious to us and showed great interest in everything that had happened on the trip from the Ranch. I believe we provided them with a comprehensive report. They were particularly interested to learn that the Medico had joined Ralph's group to return to the Ranch. They were also interested in the alliance and wanted me to tell them everything I could about it.