Preface:
This adventure of Andrea and Zenobia takes part in the Everglades, in and around a town called New Hope, a fictional place near Cape Sable. The time is the late summer of 1866 and the story starts immediately after the events described in „Mexican Standoff“.
Chapter one
Rose Callahan was heading home as quickly as her sense of how to behave as a Lady in public allowed her. There were two reasons for her hurry: her rather prosaic urge to pee and anticipation to see Curt.
After the war, it had turned out that things were not developing well for the economy of the South. Rose`s husband had left for the West and she had never heard of him again. After some months, when her debts had become almost unbearable, she had decided to start a new life somewhere else, too, and had left Miami after having sold her house.
However, she had not gotten very far. Instead of moving to New Orleans, Rose had instead found herself in New Hope, Florida. The name had attracted her, since being a 37 years old woman with no money, hope was all that was left for her. The town consisted of only a few dozen houses and was inhabited by 372 persons, including her.
However, life at New Hope had been simple, but not bad. She had started to work at the town`s only shop and though she didn`t earn much money, it had been enough for a little house. Besides, she was a respected member of the little town`s society.
And three weeks ago, even love had come back into her life. One afternoon, a tall blonde man had entered the shop and asked for ammunition. They had talked a little and he had introduced himself as Curt Snyder, a man living in the swamps where he worked as a hunter. Curt was really tall, measuring some 6`3``, and his body was quite muscular and strong. His lineaments were a bit hard, but Rose considered him to be very attractive. Though she actually was quite shy and always a bit nervous when she talked to men, she started gossiping with him and when Curt had smiled at her, Rose was definitely attracted.
He had come back the next day and this time, he had asked her if she could repair his shirt for him. Unfortunately, he would not be able to fetch it before dusk. Rose had agreed and so, Curt had accompanied her on her way back to her home.
The next morning, Rose was a bit afraid that anyone living next to her had seen or heard anything, but she definitely didn`t regret what she had done with Curt. He definitely was as masculine as he looked and Rose had encountered pleasures she had never enjoyed in her marriage before. All the day at work, she had still felt a bit shaky from her night with Curt.
And he had come back. Still, he lived in the swamps and did not visit her every night, and still, Rose hadn`t dared to tell anyone about her lover, but in most of the nights, he was with her. And every night, she had encountered something new and exiting.
Her disappeared husband had been a good lover – or at least, that was what Rose would have considered until her first night with Curt. But now, she was addicted. Curt was not only able to make the act itself last long, he also seemed to be more interested in her pleasure than in his own. And he always had some daring, but also very, very intriguing ideas.
Rose blushed slightly when she remembered their last meeting three days ago. They had been standing face to face and she had looked up to him. Rose enjoyed to see him like that, staring down on her. She was quite in a good shape for a woman of 37, though she had always considered such thoughts to be indecent. But now, she saw him looking at her, his big, but gentle hands playing with her long dark brown hair and his eyes examining her nude body. Rose had a rather pale skin, but now, she blushed from his look. He put his hands on her shoulders and made her sit on the edge of the bed. then, he went on his knees.
„Now, what does he want there?“, Rose thought when he pushed his hands under her buttocks and his head disappeared between her thighs. When he kissed her inner thighs, she sighed, half from surprise, half from arousal. Did he really intend to kiss her – there?
He did, and he did not only kiss her. A short gasp of sheer perplexion when his tongue first pushed inside her was followed by sighs and screams of sheer pleasure. The next day, Rose had to stay at home, feeling like she would never be able to walk again.
But of course, she had recovered and now, she knew that Curt was waiting for her. Quickly, she entered her little house. It only had a small kitchen and a combined living and sleeping room. There, standing by the bed, was Curt, wearing only his pants.
They kissed, but when she wanted to sling her arms around his body, Curt instead grabbed her arms and clamped her wrists in one of his hands, firmly, but gently.
„Mhhmm?“, Rose moaned questioningly, not turning her lips from his.
In his other hand, Curt held a piece of rope. When he started binding her wrists, Rose`s eyes widened and she asked:
„Curt! W-what are you doing?“
„Trying something new. Trust me, I am sure you will like it.“
Rose shivered, fear and anticipation fighting within her. The feeling of having her hands tied behind her back was frightening, but also quite interesting.
„Have you ever regretted anything I proposed to do?“, Curt asked and kissed her again. Rose still was reluctant. She didn`t really like the idea of being bound, but on the other hand, everything with Curt had been marvelous. He knew her body better than she did and so, she finally shook her head, panting slightly.
Now, Curt tied her elbows, carefully bringing them closer together until they were only some five inches apart from each other. Rose gasped when this made her breasts thrust out and her hardened nipples pressed harder against her camisole, blouse and jacket. However, when Curt had tied off her elbow tie and started to push her jacket over her shoulders, she told him to stop.
„Curt, no, please, I-“
„So, you don`t trust me?“, he asked her, withdrawing a bit, but still keeping her shoulders in his hands. When she answered, Rose`s pale cheeks reddened:
„I-I trust you, b-but, before we g-go on, I-I-I h-have t-o, to-“
Now, she blushed all over. Curt looked questioningly, but then, he showed her a broad smile and asked:
„You mean, you have to – powder your nose?“
Closing her eyes and blushing even deeper, Rose nodded. She expected him to be disappointed by ruining the mood by such a thing, but she hadn`t been able to relieve herself for hours and her bladder was about to burst. But to her surprise, Curt still smiled and even kissed her cheek. Then, his hands started to lift her skirt.
„No, Curt, please, we can go on after-“
„Easy, darling, I just don`t want to loosen that ropes now.“
Rose didn`t understand what he had in mind. So, she just stood motionless, allowing him to peel down her knickers. But when he took the chamber pot from under her bed, she shook her head.
„No, Curt, I can`t do that when you are in the room. It`s – it`s naughty!“
„Nearly as naughty as having an affair with me whilst you are still officially married.“
Curt`s smile told her that he wasn`t meaning to hurt her. However, she still was reluctant when he pushed the pot behind her heels and began to lift her skirt and underskirt.
„Please, I – I can`t!“
Curt just took her crumpled skirts in one hand and looked at her, smiling, but also with some greed in his eyes. Rose knew this view only too well. He was anticipating another night of love and passion. She still felt awkward, but finally, she crouched and after a last pleading look at Curt, Rose relieved herself in front of his eyes.
Gently, he helped her to stand up and led her to the bed, making her lie on her back. He grabbed her ankles and spread her legs wide, until her skirts were crumpled around her hips and he could look down on her naked middle. Rose panted and waited for him to take off his pants, but instead, Curt took two more pieces of rope. She slightly protested when he bent her legs and tied her ankles to her thighs, but Curt kissed her again.
„Just trust me, Sweetheart!“
He took one of her silk scarves and caressed her neck with it. Then, he gently, but firmly blindfolded her, stifling her protests with another kiss. Rose sighed when Curt peeled her jacket over her shoulders and started unbuttoning her blouse. Then, she felt his hands on her breasts, now only covered by her thin camisole. She sharply sucked in air when he plucked on her nipples with his tongue. Already, her womb was growing warm and she felt the tingling arousal all over her body.
„Oh Curt, please, get on, please!“
However, Curt went from the bed and she heard some rustling before he came back.
„Just for one last thing, Sweetheart. Yesterday, I heard two of your neighbours talking. They were concerned about your health. Obviously, they heard you moaning and screaming two nights before.“
Though she was blushing all over, the blindfolded Rose had to giggle. She had indeed moaned and screamed, but not from an illness! But did that mean that Curt would not do anything else to her that night?
„I will have to take some – precautions that you will not attract their attention once more. After all, it`s better for the two of us if our relationship remains a secret.“
„Y-you mean, y-y-you w-will g-g-gag me?“, Rose asked, cursing her nervous stammering. Instead of an answer, Curt caressed her cheek with something soft.
„Well, yes. After all, there is not much you can do about that, bound and helpless as you are.“
A strange scent reached Rose`s nose. It was coming from the soft silk that caressed her cheek and now was gently pushed agains t her lips. There was a smell of perfume – her perfume -, but also another fragrance that was less convenient. With dismay, she recognizet it as her own knickers!
„Curt, whaauuuhhmmmph!“
Slowly, he began pushing the wadded silk into her mouth. Rose tried to turn her head away and pushed against the intruding mass with her tongue, but Curt just put one hand at the back of her head and continued pushing.
„Uuuhhmmmm! Nnnnnngggg! Ghhhhmmmph!“
Rose tried to squirm and wriggle. This definitely was not pleasure any more! She knew that Curt`s games always were a bit strange, but this was definitely too much! More and more of the vile tasting silk filled her mouth and she began to retch when it tickled the back of her throat. When she tried to fight him off in earnest, Curt shifted his position and sat astride of her, pinning her upper body to the bed. Rose weakly fluttered with her bound legs and moaned through her gag.
„Uuuhhmmmmmm! Mmhhmmmmm! Mph!“
Finally, it seemed that he had forced all her knickers into her wide open mouth. When he withdrew his hands, Rose tried to get the silk mass from her mouth, but her tongue was trapped and so, she only managed to get the knickers out a few millimetres before Curt pushed them back in. Then, Rose felt him tie some cloth band between her lips, securing the stifling gag.
„Nnnnggggg! Hhhhmmmmmm! Mmmhhmmmmmmmmfffff!“
Without a word, Curt rose from her body and turned her on her belly. Then, he gtabbed the long ends of her cleave gag and tied them off to the heels of her boots, forcing her to arch back her head and increasing the pressure on her gag. Helplessly rocking and shaking on her bed, Rose fumed through the knickers stuffing her mouth to capacity. Why was Curt so mean to her?
„Sweetheart, I have to admit I am not exactly who I told you I am. Oh, my name really is Curt and I am really a hunter, but my prey is a bit – special.“
„Mmhhhhhhrrrrrrrr!“
Rose tried to scream, but Curt just checked her bonds, gag and blindfold before cradling her in his arms and carrying her outside.
***
Some half a mile off the shore, a small dinghi was dancing on the waves. The boat had no sails, but the stream helped the three girls to get closer and closer to the coast.
It had been some twelve hours since Zenobia, Andrea and Paloma had escaped from Xenia`s clutches and for some time, they had anxiously watched the horizon if there was an approaching ship, searching for them. But now, with the land in reach, they found time to concentrate on other problems.
Though Andrea had forgiven Zenobia what had happened between her and Paloma, it didn`t help that the young Mexican was on the boat, too. They hadn`t talked much since they had left the ship and Zenobia could feel that Paloma was suffering from the fact that they were reunited, leaving her alone. However, she didn`t dare to take Paloma in her arms for this sure would upset Andrea.
Another problem was that they had no supplies at all. Of course, they weren`t hungry after such a short time, but now that the sun was rising, it was clear that they would be thirsty before noon. Zenobia looked at the shore, but there were only the offshoots of the mangroves. But then, she could see some smoke at the horizon.
„There! There`s a town or at least a village!“
The others looked and indeed, the smoke could only be that of a chimney. So, there was civilisation in reach! Andrea and Paloma reached for the two oars and tried to pull the dinghi through the waves.
„What will we tell them why we are on that boat?“, Paloma suddenly asked.
Zenobia frowned. They had not thought about what to do once they were back at the land, but now, she thought twice. Perhaps, the people in the village would think that they had stolen the boat. But Andrea had an idea.
„We could tell them that our ship sunk and we could just save our lives. Sure, the nice people will help us to get to the next big city.“
„There wasn`t a storm in the night“, Paloma said. And so, they decided to tell that there had been a seaquake. Since they had been naked, bound and gagged for some days on the ship, they now looked convincingly dishevelled enough to make that story sound plausible. The dresses they had stolen from Xenia and her maids didn`t fit properly, but at least, they now were more or less decent. Their only problem now was that they had no money, but Zenobia was sure that from now on things would turn to the better.
Two hours later, they were close enough to the village to see details. There were some 50 or 60 houses, including a church and there were several fishing boats on the shore.
„Aren`t you born here?“, Andrea asked. Zenobia smiled at her and shook her head.
„I am born in the South of Florida and my father was a Seminole, but I was sold to the North when I was five years old. I can`t even remember my Seminole name. Besides, I was born a few hundred miles from here.“
Andrea took her friend`s hand, causing Paloma to look to another direction. So, she was the first to see the fishing boat coming closer to their boat. The three girls waved and screamed and some hour later, they were sitting in New Hope`s only Saloon, wrapped in blankets and sipping from mugs with hot coffee. They told their story about the seaquake convincing enough to make some of the women sob and then, a friendly looking man with a large mustache rose.
„Ladies, we are glad that your ordeal now is over. I am Bruce Vandermoore, the mayor. We will do our very best to get you back to your homes. You are from New Orleans, you said?“
The three girls nodded and Vandermoore scratched his head before he continued:
„Unfortunately, we are quite remote here in New Hope. The city was founded just three years ago and so, we haven`t developed steady connections to bigger cities yet. Every four month, there is a steamer coming where we can buy things like coffee, tools or cloth. But this steamer has been here two weeks ago and we don`t have a hotel here.“
However, this turned out to be only a minor problem. A woman wearing black, obviously a widow, said that they could live at her house and help her with the farm. Neither of the three had experience as a farmhand, but Fiona Clarke, the widow, meant that they would soon learn their work and since they would only work for food and lodgings, Fiona promised that they would only have to work a few hours each day.
Fiona`s house turned out to be a rather big building, not very far from what the mayor euphemistically called the „city`s centre“. They had to share a room and there wasn`t much luxury, but Zenobia felt as if she had reached paradise. None of the people had even mentioned the fact that she was black and among the persons in the Saloon, there had also been some Blacks and Mulattos. Obviously, racism hadn`t reached that remote part of the world yet.
***
„So, here`s Virginia from Virginia!“
Virginia Brown hid her annoyment behind a smile. Obviously, some people still thought that this joke was funny, but she had to be nice to the fat man in his bright vest. Though she was a pretty girl, the fact that her mother had been a Black closed quite a lot of doors to her when she was looking for a job. The fact that she and her friend Caroline, a half Indian, had been brought up in an orphanage at Miami and they didn`t have a single cent didn`t help the matter.
The orphanage had organized jobs for them as maids at a plantation owner`s mansion when they had become 15 three years ago, but last year, after the war, the plantation had bankrupt and they had been sent off. For a year, they had tried to find another job, but except for short and ill payed employments, there had been no chance for them to start a better life. That was, if they would keep on refusing to work as prostitutes. Up to now, both girls had refused to sell their bodies. But now, this Mr. Moore had made an interesting proposal.
„Deep in the swamps, there`s a mission to help the last Seminoles to become good Christians. It`s on the other side of the peninsula and we will have to do a strenuous trip of some hundred miles through the wilderness, but you could work there as maids, or even as teachers for the young Indians.“
Virginia was a bit suspicious. To her, Mr. Moore looked more like a pimp than a missionary. But he had showed them some fotos of a large, but solid wooden building and a group of dark skinned children wearing white dresses. Also, he had never done anything more offensive than doing the „Virginia from Virginia“-joke again and again. And, what counted most, they would earn more than twice the money than as cleaning women at a hotel.
So, they had signed a treaty for one year and Mr. Moore had even giving them a few Dollars in advance, enough to buy some dresses for their trip. And so, they were entering the coach that would get them to the little outpost some 30 miles away from Miami. From there on, a guide would get them to the mission on a canoe. Sometimes, Mr. Moore had told them, they even would have to walk.
The next day, Mr. Moore introduced them to a guy named Wilson who looked as if he had slept in a swamphole and who seemed to be more than interested in Virginia`s and Caroline`s forms. However, he did not try to follow them when Mr. Moore told them to change their clothes.
Virginia, who had already been wearing her travelling clothes and who only had to change her shoes, stepped out of the barn and saw that Wilson was handing some money to Mr. Moore. Shouldn`t the guide get paid by their employer instead? She went to tell Caroline who was just coming from behind the trees with her old dress over her arm. Now, both girls were dressed almost identically: knee-length boots, skirts that reached to the middle of their lower legs and plain shirts. They didn`t look like much, however, Caroline would have been gorgeous in rags, too. Her buxom forms were visible even in casual wear and her high cheekbones and aquiline nose mached perfectly with her full lips. Virginia would have been envious, but Caroline was her best friend and besides she knew that she was worth a look, too. Whilst her black mane and her full lips proved her Black origin, her skin colour was rather fair, making her look more like someone from the Caribeans. Her forms were not as voluptuous as Caroline`s, but she had long legs and a slender figure. In a land where people would not have considered someone`s value by the colour of his skin, both would have been called beauties.
„Ah, so you are ready. Virginia from Virginia and Caroline from Carolina, Mr. Wilson will now lead you to your destination. It`sSeminoles, if necessary.“
The guide grinned and Mr. Moore handed him some coins. Now, Virginia really became curious:
„Mr. Moore, why did Mr. Wilson give you some gold just two minutes ago and now, you are handing money to him? What kind of strange transaction is this?“
Mr. Moore hummed and hawed and Wilson grunted something that sounded like „nothing of your business, Missy“. However, Virginia now was suspicious and asked him again. Instead of an answer, Wilson suddenly aimed at them with his rifle.
„You better keep your thoughts to yourselves, if you know what`s good for you!“, he hissed.
Caroline gasped, but Virginia wasn`t that much impressed. The outpost was just some 50 yards away and there were three or four men.
„If you shoot at us, you will be hanged before tomorrow.“
„Well, I don`t think so“, Mr. Moore said, „Because I will confess that you two tried to kill us for our money and that we had to act in self defense. Besides, these guys over there won`t care much about two coloured girls like you.“
For a while, the four persons stared at each other and the girls`s self confidence decreased by the minute. Mr. Moore was right, he and Wilson would easily get away with murdering the two of them. But what did they have in mind?
„Perhaps, I should explain you your part in our business. You would have found out soon enough anyway. Until last year, I was a slave trader, but now, I had to look for other ways of earning my money. And so, some months ago, I met Mr. Wilson who does some business with the last free Seminoles living in the swamps. Usually, they are peaceful and just buy some things they can`t grow in their hideouts, like ammunitions or metal pots. In exchange, they swop furs or some woodwork. But just a few weeks ago, one of the chiefs asked him if he could get him and his men some women. Obviously, these last free groups have an excess of men. However, Mr. Wilson asked me for help and so, I brought you here.“
Virginia and Caroline were too perplexed to do or say anything. This just was an evil joke! Sure, after a few seconds the two men would burst out laughing, happy to have frightened the girls. However, this salvation just didn`t happen.
„Hey, don`t even think about it!“
Caroline had made a step towards the bushes and Wilson had immediately raised his rifle. Though he was a dirty and shabby clothed bastard, his reflections seemed to be excellent. Virginia desperately looked in the direction of the outpost. If she would scream, the men would be here in a few seconds, but then, she and Caroline would be dead.
„Well, luckily I have prepared everything for such a turn ov events. Vinnie, just go for my bundle behind the big tree over there.“
Mr. Moore did as he had been told. Meanwhile, Wilson gleered at the two girls who still could not believe what was just happening. Virginia wanted to say something, but he told her to shut up. Then, he continued looking at Caroline`s big boobs, even licking his lips.
After a minute, Mr. Moore came back. In one hand, he held a canvas bag, in the other a wooden stick with a fork on each end. This stick was about two yards long and some three inches in diameter. Waving this, Mr. Moore smiled.
„Just like in the old days!“
Wilson grunted something and handed his rifle to Mr. Moore. Again, the two girls anxiously looked for help, but they were alone with these men, though the outpost was so close they could even hear the men there speak. However, it looked as Mr. Moore knew how to use a rifle, too.
Wilson rummaged through the bag and took out two pairs of handcuffs. When he tied both girls`s hands behind their backs, they mewed with pain and fear. Stepping in front of Caroline, Wilson took a rag from his back pocket, balled it up and stuffed it into the girl`s mouth. Caroline retched and tried to fight him, but he quickly tied a piece of leather between her lips. Virginia wanted to help her friend, but Mr. Moore waved with the barrel of his weapon and shook his head.
When Caroline was gagged, Wilson removed his bandana and stuffed it into Virginia`s mouth. The girl tried her best not to retch from the sweaty, foul tasting cloth. Her gag was secured by a piece of leather, too.
„Now, something we used back in the old days, which will allow you to follow me, but will prevent you from trying anything stupid.“
„Mmmhhmmph!“
„Nnnggg! Hhmmmph!“
Ignoring the captives`s moaning, Wilson took the stick and pressed one end against the back of Virginia`s neck. Now, her head was trapped between the ends of the fork and Wilson took another leather strap and tied it between the two wooden ends. Now, Virginia`s head was fixed to the stick`s end. The ends of the fork rested on her shoulders and the leather thong was knotted in a way that she still could breathe without problems, but could not slip her head through the narrow gap. Virginia could not turn her head enough to see what was happening now, but she could guess from the movements of the stick that he was tying Caroline`s neck to the other end of it. When he was finished, both girls were forced to stand some two yards away from each other, with no chance of getting closer to each other. Shuddering, Virginia remembered a picture in a book that described the slave trade in Africa where they had used similar sticks to tie two persons together. With sheer fear, she screamed through her gag, accompanied by Caroline moments later.
Drawing by hugues66
Laughing, Wilson took two belts from his bag. Virginia could only hear some moaning from behind and some tugging on the stick tied to her neck told her that Caroline was obviously not liking what Wilson did to her. Then, she felt him slinging one of the belts around her arms and upper body, buckling it tight and pinning her arms to her body. Now, even the chance of breaking free by getting her hands to her front and to reach for the knots securing the stick was gone.
„Uuuhhmmmmph!“
Virginia moaned with fear and disgust as Wilson kneaded her breasts from behind. She tried to kick his shin, but the man just laughed and took his rifle back from Mr. Moore.
„All right, girls. We have some ten miles to go now and I expect you to follow me without hesitating. Just step where I do and you won`t get swallowed by the swamp. If you fall into the water, you might get stuck in the mud and then, I can`t help you. don`t try to run away, for you don`t have a snowball`s chance in hell to survive, bound and gagged as you are. I don`t want to hurt you, and you won`t be beaten, unless you force me to do so. But don`t expect me to be weak or silly either.“
Obviously feeling exhausted from his little speech, he reached for his bag, took a bottle of Whiskey and took a long sip. Then, he tied a rope around Virginia`s neck and, using it like a leash, wanted her to follow him into the woods. Virginia refused to walk. With a sigh, Wilson stepped behind her.
„Mmmhhrrrrmmph!“
A squeal from behind was heard and the stick pushed against Virginia`s neck. Obviously, Wilson had slapped Caroline`s butt.
„So, whenever one of you will disobey my orders, the other one will have to pay!“
Again, he took the leash. With a last look for the men at the nearby outpost, Virginia and Caroline slowly and reluctantly followed him into the forest.
***