The Bandit Scout

Chapter 21 -- Lt. Tom Scores With an Old Friend

Three months had passed since the incident in the badlands. Lt. Tom Daley and Henry Long hitched up the nine-seater and drove it to the front of the big house. The nine-seater was a large wagon with three seats that could accommodate three people each, plus some cargo space in the back. Ralph, Carmen, Carlos, and Stella had finished breakfast and were waiting on the porch. The men were finally going to keep their promises to their mates by taking them to Round Rock to shop for clothing.

The Lieutenant and Henry Long were going to visit the Sheriff and the saloon to find new hires for the Ranch. Henry had only brief opportunities to speak to Stella since her return from the mountains. He was looking forward to the drive to Round Rock with her. Henry had thought of her often since their initial encounter on the Wagon Train, where he had served as her driver and guard. He had come to think of her as a favorite niece.

Tom Daley had also helped guard her on the Wagon Train. He had an even more extended history with Stella. Tom was the Platoon Sergeant of the platoon that initially captured Stella. He had gotten to talk to her when he and Capt. James returned with the Wagon Train from Kennedy.

Round Rock had a good-sized general store and a couple of clothing stores. Henry guided the horses to pull the wagon to the front of the store Ralph had selected. He dismounted to assist the women in climbing off the wagon. He held a hand up for Stella, which she took as she stepped down. When she reached the ground, she put her arms around Henry and gave him a tight hug. "Henry, I have seen you at the Compound from time to time, but have never been able to catch you. It is good to see you again."

"I'm glad to see you, too. It is good to hear that you are doing better now. What happened to you was terrible. I knew that Sloan fellow was no good."

"I was in trouble with the Comanche even without Sloan. That is water under the bridge now. I am getting much better."

"Boss Carlos, if I can ever do anything for either of you, please let me know."

Henry hitched the horses to a rail, and he and Lt. Daley walked to the Sheriff's office. Ralph and Carlos led their mates to the first store. Stella said, "Carlos, you know this is terrifying to me, don't you?"

Carmen injected, "Me too. I have never been in a store like this."

Ralph said, "Relax, both of you. You will find that it won't hurt a bit." They entered the store.

The proprietress greeted them, "Gentlemen, ladies. It has been a while since we have had such distinguished visitors. Welcome, my name is Rita. How can I help you today?"

Ralph answered, "Thank you, Rita. You probably already know that I am Ralph Rider, and this is Carlos McTavrish. This is my mate, Carmen Rider. And next to Carlos is his mate, Stella McTavrish. Our mates need a full set of clothing for all occasions."

"I am so honored you brought your mates here. It will be a privilege to outfit these beautiful ladies. This is going to take some time if you gentlemen have something else that you need to do."

Carlos said, "Ralph, it has been a long time since I have been in a saloon. What do you say that we go and wet our whistles?"

As Ralph and Carlos leave, Rita turns to Stella and Carmen. "The new, beautiful ladies of Rider Ranch have been the talk of Round Rock. I will have to tell everyone that the talk does not do you justice. You are both more knock-down gorgeous than I could have imagined. Do you know what you are after?"

Carmen said, "Rita, I am from the Comanche, and Stella is from the Bucks. Shopping in a store like yours is a new experience for both of us. Could you advise us about what you think we will need?"

"Of course, I will be delighted to do that for you."

Stella added, "Could you not only advise us but also explain things to us? It is like we have dropped in from another world."

Rita answered, "You can leave this in my hands. The first thing that we will do is get you measured."

-----

Sheriff Matt Crosby was glad to see Tom Daley. He had congratulated him warmly on his promotion. As Tom explained the alliance and the new weapons the Ranch was making, he listened carefully.

"Matt, you need to be on the alert for strangers or unusual activity. There will be some who won't approve of what we are doing."

"I know of some folks who might like to work at the Ranch. Especially on something this exciting. You say you want to hire men and women?"

"Hiring women might cause some to get their backs in a knot. But I haven't heard of any problems. I always keep my eyes sharp if strangers are around. Right now, I want to say hello to Ms. Stella. You say she is at Ms. Rita's store?"

The Sheriff ambled over to Ms. Rita's store and went in. Rita saw him and waved him over. "Matt, the ladies are in the changing room. I have never had an order like this before. This sale will make my nut for the summer. If you can stay a minute, you will see that they are the most beautiful young women I have ever outfitted. The Bandit clothes they were wearing are pretty skimpy. I'm sure that has made the men at the Ranch smile."

Carmen and Stella emerged from the changing room wearing dark skirts, silk camisoles, and colorful jackets. The Sheriff put on his biggest campaign-style smile and said, "Good morning, Ms. Stella. Welcome back to Round Rock. I hope you find this visit much more pleasant than your last one. It looks like Ms. Rita is fixing you up. Those outfits look very good on you ladies. And you must be Carmen Rider. Welcome to you, too."

Stella walked up to the Sheriff, extending her hand, which the Sheriff took in both of his. She said, "This is a much happier visit than my last one."

Carmen said, "Stella has told me all about her last visit to Round Rock. She said that you treated her very fairly and with kindness. You have the thanks of Ralph and me for that."

"We were trying to make the best of a bad situation. Ms. Stella helped with that a lot. I am on my way to the Red Eye to meet with Tom and Henry. Ralph and Carlos are also there. Are you ladies going there for lunch a little later?"

Carmen replied, "That sounds like a fine idea. Will you join us, Rita?"

"A lunch break in half an hour does sound good. You head on, Sheriff, and let the men know we will be coming. Ladies, do we put the outfits you have on in the keep or don't keep piles?"

Carmen said, "Ralph didn't tell me how much we should get. I like this. It is colorful. Did Ralph mention anything to you about how much?"

Rita answered, "Yes, he said a full set of clothes for all occasions. I recommend having enough to last a week without wearing the same thing twice. I'm sure that you will want more soon, but that is a start. Take a look at this." She showed them another casual style.

-----

Ralph and Carlos were standing at the bar when the Sheriff walked into the Red Eye. Carlos was telling a tale about a Wagon Train incident. "Finish your story, Carlos, and we will grab a table. Your ladies and Ms. Rita will be joining us for lunch."

Looking around, he saw that Tom and Henry had already taken the biggest table in the Red Eye. Henry yelled over the room, "Come have a seat, Sheriff."

Maddie Carter, the waitress, brought mugs of ale for the Sheriff, Tom, and Henry. They were just having their first sips when Ralph and Carlos walked over and took seats. Henry was telling Tom, "The Red Eye has a new owner since you were here last. I see her coming in the side door from the Rancher's Rest." The Rancher's Rest was the Round Rock bordello. It was in the building next to the saloon.

Effie Worthington had recently moved to Round Rock and had purchased the Red Eye Saloon and the Rancher's Rest Bordello. Ms. Effie was a tall, red-haired lady in her early 40s. But she could have easily passed for being in her early 30s. Effie was taller than the average woman and had an hourglass figure. All in all, she was a commanding personality.

She came directly to the Rider table and spoke directly to Ralph, "Welcome to the Red Eye, Boss Ralph. I am Effie Worthington, the manager and proprietor of this establishment. Please let me know if there is anything that you wish."

"Why, thank you, Ms. Effie. I think that Ms. Maddie is taking good care of us."

Effie looked over the table, nodding to the Sheriff, and spied Tom Daley, whom she had known in the past. "Tom Daley, you don't look a day older than you did ten years ago when I saw you last in Cold Water Springs. How are you?"

"Effie Worthington, you are the last person on Newhome that I expected to see today. How did you wind up here?"

"We need to talk. Would you gentlemen mind if I borrow Tom for a while?"

Ralph smiled and said, "You go ahead. Ms. Rita and our mates will be joining us soon for lunch."

-----

Effie led Tom up the stairs to her office. Upstairs, in addition to the door to the office, there was a door that resembled a porch entrance but actually led to an enclosed archway connecting to Effie's living quarters on the second floor of Rancher's Rest. As soon as the door was closed, Effie held Tom tightly and gave him a deep kiss, which Tom returned with enthusiasm. They had been lovers until Tom's military life forced a separation.

Tom held Effie tightly. "I can't believe that you are here. Don't you have a mate? Or some significant other?"

"No, Tom, I don't. I didn't know you were here. And you are doing well; I see you're now a Lieutenant. Since we had to part, I have always hoped to find you again."

"How do you manage to look so young? You look like a million in bullion."

"Tom, I watch what I eat. I exercise regularly. And I have avoided being a working girl, although I hire them. That kind of life can take a toll on a woman. I try to help my girls avoid the pitfalls of the life. But you, you are a Platoon Commander for Ralph Rider? Have you met the Bandit Scout, Stella? She is the talk of Round Rock."

"Yes, I do. Stella is the mate of Carlos McTavrish, the Wagon Master. She and Carmen Rider will be joining the crew in the Red Eye for lunch."

"Oh, I should be down there for that! But I'm not. Do you know why I'm not going down?"

"It sounds like something that the manager should do, Effie. Why aren't you going?"

"Because, Lt. Tom Daley, you are going to stop me. Do you know how you are going to stop me?"

"Well, I can think of one way. What do you have in mind?"

"I'm thinking of the things we used to do. It has been a long, dry spell for me. Now that I've found you, I want you to do to me what you used to like so much. If you are still of a mind to do that with me."

"Effie, I think I am following you, but we have been apart a long time. Are you sure that is what you want?"

"Look in the third drawer of the bureau there. Then you can decide if you want this or not."

Tom walked to the bureau and opened the third drawer. He gazed at coils of rope and a variety of gags. A couple of floggers, crops, and thin rods. "Effie, this looks like all of our old play toys." He turned and saw that she had stripped down while he was staring at the collection of toys.

He began removing his uniform. Effie came and helped him.

"I daydream and night dream about our times together, especially our last time. I have kept in shape and limber just in case I found you someday, and we could repeat that session." She turned her back to him with her arms high between her shoulder blades. Her hands were palm to palm, and fingers almost reached her neck.

"I have dreamed about this too." Tom made a lark's head loop around her arms above her elbows and tightened her arms together.

Effie could feel the rope circling her wrists, locking them. After he cinched her wrists, she intertwined her fingers while he completed a chest harness. Tom circled her. He touched every part of her, finally moving her to the bed and laying her down on it. He tied her ankles to her thighs.

Tom sucked on her left tit while she squeezed her right one. He kissed her, letting his tongue caress hers. When the need overwhelmed him, he inserted himself and began powerful strokes. Effie was equally ready and moved in harmony with him until they were rocked by a climax that had been delayed many years.

Later, Tom was lying back on the many pillows on the bed. He had turned Effie so that she was beside him with her head on his chest. "I had thought that I was too old for that. Did I take care of your needs, Effie?"

"You could untie me if you wanted to."

"Why, no. Not yet, dear. I have control of you and would like to keep this a little longer. That would be alright, wouldn't it?"

"If you play with me some more, that will be just fine. I would suggest that you untie this frog tie, cross my ankles, and tie them that way. Then top things off with a hogtie. That was a favorite of yours."

Tom busied himself with his tasks, thinking,"I didn't dare dream that this wonderful woman would come back into my life. I am more fortunate than I thought possible. I hope I please her."

Effie told him, "Now you get over here where I can get my mouth on your cock."

As he moved to do her bidding, he said, "After that orgasm that you gave me, I don't think we will see much activity with my cock for a good long while. But I am doing what you asked."

Effie took his limp member in her mouth and alternated applying a strong vacuum and intense stimulation with her lips and tongue. It surprised Tom, but not Effie, that he grew a good erection once more. She took him to climax again, swallowing his seed and cleaning him.

When she released him, she said, "Now take the penis gag on the panel and shut me up for a spell while I try to escape from your hogtie. You do remember that I was captured by the Bandits when I was a young lady and became fond of some of their ways. At least I am with the right man."

He gagged her as she had requested. Tom turned her on her side to make her tits and pussy accessible to his fondling. His fingers on her clit brought Effie to another orgasm.

She fought against her bonds, but there was no way for her to escape. Her efforts in trying uncountable times accelerated the orgasm from Tom's fingering. In the end, she gave up and relaxed. Tom, seeing this, removed the panel gag.

"While you are a captive audience, there is something I want to ask you. Ralph Rider wants to hire more people. You have your hand on the pulse of Round Rock. Do you know of any that might want to come to work at the Ranch, men or women?"

His hand was massaging her butt as he asked the question. She answered, "Yes, I know a lot of folks who would like to have a good job."

"Good, I am sure that Ralph would go for a finder's fee for you for any that you sent our way."

"That's a deal. I'm beginning to cramp in my arms and shoulders. Would you untie me now? It's not that I am getting older. I'm just out of practice with these kinds of activities. I hope that you will rectify that situation."

-----

Stella and Carmen returned with Rita, and by midafternoon, they had met their goal of having enough new clothes to go a week without wearing the same thing twice. Rita had them add a formal outfit. "You may not need this for a long time, or you might need it tomorrow. It is something that ladies in your position should have."

Rita sent a message to the saloon to let the men know their mates had finished their shopping. When the men arrived, the girls were wearing low-riding skinny jeans and very colorful camisoles. Carlos said, "That looks very good on both of you. Are you ready to return to the Ranch?"

"Unless you have other things you want to do here," answered Carmen.

Tom arrived and quietly joined the group. Stella pulled him to the side. "Did you just get laid by Ms. Effie?"

Tom looked sheepish, and Stella said, "Congratulations, I do hope you got to tie her up."

Tom was quiet on the trip back to the Compound.

-----

Stella's exercises had become more training and less therapy. She ended each session with two activities. The last one was stretching therapy. The first was to jump and grab a bar that was parallel to the ground and chin herself as many times as she could. She was back up to 40 repetitions, but had a long way to go. Before the badlands incident, she could have performed 50 to 60 reps. Her upper body strength was returning.

Author's Note:The pull of gravity on Newhome is 1.072 times higher than on Earth. Thus, a 150-pound woman on Earth would weigh 160.8 pounds on Newhome. This implies that pullups, or chinning, would be proportionally more difficult on Newhome.

After completing the chin-ups, she would move to a lower bar that was at shoulder height. She would grasp the bar, palms out, a little over shoulder-width apart. Then she would kick her legs up to the bar and pass her legs under the bar between her arms. Moving slowly, with as much control as possible, she would continue until her hips were moving between her arms. As her legs moved toward the ground and her hips started down, this put her increasingly in the position that the Comanche had bound her. The Medico had added this to her routine weeks ago.

His instructions were insistent. When it started to hurt, let go of the bar without delay. The first time she tried, her hips were barely past her arms when it caused pain in her shoulders, and she let go. That was an awkward dismount. As her hips passed her arms, she continued until her feet dangled just above the floor, and would hang there for minutes, enjoying the stretch in her shoulders. Now her dismounts dropped her lightly on her feet. The Medico had told her that the bondage position that damaged her was called strappado. He wanted her to keep doing "skin the cats" to prevent stiffness from returning to her shoulders. She should hold on to the bar and hang in that position for half an hour each day. Even longer would be better.

It had been four months since her ordeal. The only pain she felt now was the usual pain of getting back into peak physical condition.

Stella was doing her afternoon walk after her exercises and came across Carmen at the stables. "Hey, good to see you, Carmen. Have you gotten any comments on your new clothes? Also, are you coming by my room this afternoon?"

"Good to see you, too. Yes, everybody is noticing. Sure, I'm coming by. Does half an hour from now sound alright?"

"You bet. See you then."

Stella hurried back to her quarters and sponged off. She changed into shorts and a low-cut peasant blouse. She welcomed Carmen when she knocked.

"I'm glad to see you today. Would you like a glass of wine?"

"What are we celebrating today, Stella?"

"Well, I am seeing some progress with my training now. But that is not why I wanted you to come by. A while back, you caused a change in my attitude by getting me to tie you up. I need to tell you again that I am sorry that I misbehaved with you sexually."

"Stella, I know that you love Carlos. What happened was what you needed to do at the moment. You shouldn't worry about it. I'm not."

"The reason that I am thinking about that now is because I am going to ask you for a big favor. I want you to feel comfortable saying no if you don't want to do what I'm asking."

"You know that I will do anything for you, Stella."

"Okay, I want to tie you up again. This time I want to tie you rigorously."

"Well, that isn't anything that I expected. But sure. I trust you, Stella. I thought last time was pretty rigorous. Are you going to use the bedpost again?"

"No, would you kneel on the bed?"

Carmen was wearing the low-riding skinny jeans and a tank top. "Do you want me to strip?"

"If you don't mind, take your top off."

Carmen did and climbed onto the bed. She took a kneeling position with her back to Stella. Her jeans were brief, with the top halfway between her crotch and her navel. "You want my hands behind my back?" She placed her hands in the small of her back before Stella could answer.