The Last Straw (new 4/5)

[barelin]

The nearest blacksmith? Wow

[student]

Looks like Frankie will need more film for his new camera.

While in the "wilderness" somebody will have to ask about how come Bea has a diamond-shape for her pubic hair and why Mary has a little heart. Cindy explained that she was making a shape but kept getting it lopsided and then there was none.

I look forward to all of the girls screaming the first time that they see a furry critter. How many tents? One or two? One pup tent is rather tiny for four. Pop-up tents are generally for three but will work for four friendly people. If those are GI shelter halves, then there's no floor. Or perhaps Sergeant Askis signed out tents from supply or from MWR--or rented the camping gear from MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation). Either way, the number of tents involved will be small. Family-size tents are another story entirely but I doubt that the roof rack would hold six cots--probably sleeping on the ground.

[Skylar21]

...I was digging around in my pack...when my hand closed over...a piece from the custom harness the cowboy Percy left me after Mary's horse demonstration. And it gave me a spectacular idea!

"Say, Mr. Fleemer,"...could you give me a lift to the nearest blacksmith?"

Something tells me I'm going to like Frankie's spectacular idea!
As always, looking forward to the next installment. Great writing, more and more Frankie takes control.

[Somebody]

You made me feel silly for being so genuinely pleased the lost clothes were recovered, just for economic purposes, only to dash those hopes soundly. Naw it's fine, and she kept what mattered. Very nice chapter, Frankie's smart.

[student]

"Somebody" raised an issue: the girls are returning home to a depleted wardrobe.

Mary shouldn't have a problem--all of her stuff is at home.

Bea may have overpacked and will suffer most.

Cindy also may have lost half or more of her wardrobe.

Suitcases! There are three less suitcases (or six) to worry about. Bright lining to every cloud.

But--will homecoming be the last chapter, an epilogue or a spin-off? I guess we'll find out next year...

[Freesub]

"Somebody" raised an issue: the girls are returning home to a depleted wardrobe.

Mary shouldn't have a problem--all of her stuff is at home.

Bea may have overpacked and will suffer most.

Cindy also may have lost half or more of her wardrobe.

Suitcases! There are three less suitcases (or six) to worry about. Bright lining to every cloud.

But--will homecoming be the last chapter, an epilogue or a spin-off? I guess we'll find out next year...

I prefer to think homecoming is far, far away

[neverdoubted]

With Mr. Fleemer's help, I picked out the perfect camp site. It was remote enough that we wouldn't be disturbed - no one for miles and miles around - but not far from good water sources. It was on a plateau which should provide some good overlooks, but the elevation from the trail head to the camp site didn't change much and would make an easy hike even for inexperienced teenage girls.

With a steady hand and concentration, I carefully copied every detail of the map onto a sheet of mylar tracing paper to take with me. I went over the route with Mr. Fleemer until I had it memorized. The process took longer than I intended, most of the afternoon, but I had to be sure we wouldn't get lost.

The site settled, I pulled our existing supplies out of the truck and took inventory. We had a cast iron skillet, ice chest back at the motel, lantern and flashlight, matches, twine, three pup tents and six bed rolls, tarp, mess kits with tin cups and utensils, a trenching shovel, a hatchet, coffee pot, canteens, and a .22 rifle. Not bringing any clothes for the girls would lighten the load. But I still feared it would be too much for one man to haul alone once we got our groceries.

I loaded up one of the army green rucksacks with as much as I could comfortably carry. Then, using an example from my survival handbook, I fashioned a simple rectangular travois for the rest. It was light enough that the girls shouldn't have any trouble taking turns dragging it.

Our next stop was a nearby ranch that had an on-site blacksmith. When I showed the man my harness, he was perplexed by its function but was confident that he could replicate the design. Though I hated to part with it, I offered Percy's grooming brush as a barter which he accepted. Ranchers would get more use out of it than I. And Mary would be happy if those stiff bristles never came anywhere near her hide again!

It took a while, over an hour, but the blacksmith managed to fashion two more harnesses out of scraps of metal he had lying around, some pieces of creamy soft leather, and a few lengths of rope. That was probably how Percy had done it, and the end result looked pretty much identical. And best of all, it didn't cost any money.

Mr. Fleemer happily drove me back into town afterward. He was such a nice man but seemed lonely. I think he liked having a project to work on and was excited to see the land everyone else in his family had given up on serving a purpose once more.

At a five and dime, I checked the few remaining non-perishable supplies off my list. A box of ammo, duct tape, and fresh batteries for the flashlight. Trying to anticipate what kind of trouble naked girls could encounter in the great outdoors, I also got a small first aid kit with bandages and gauze, bug repellant, aloe vera lotion for burns or rashes, and a tin of "hiking salve" made from tallow, beeswax, lilac and vanilla.

It was late evening when we pulled into our last stop. The supermarket was close enough that I could walk back to the Inn. So, leaving the camping gear in his truck, I thanked Mr. Fleemer and arranged for him to pick us up in the morning.

When I stepped through the doors of the supermarket, my grumbling stomach reminded me that I had skipped lunch. It didn't take me long to get the things on my short shopping list; salt and pepper, butter, powdered milk, half a dozen eggs, some fresh fruit, a couple cans of soup, pancake mix and syrup, and sunflower seeds. I also grabbed some sliced bread and deli meat. We could make sandwiches for dinner tonight and take whatever we didn't eat with us.

On impulse, I bought a chocolate bar at the register with the last of my money. There was this kid at school named Abe who was always blabbering on about girls - as if he were an expert in the subject. It never occurred to me to wonder where he was getting his information. But according to Abe, girls go absolutely crazy for chocolate.

I used to only ever think about my stepsisters in the context of finding ways to steer clear of them. But lately, I had been thinking of them in other ways. I didn't just consider them, was more considerate of them.

Cindy was easy to care about. One look into those big, adoring eyes and you just wanted to find ways to make her smile. I couldn't wait to see her face light up around the campfire when I revealed this special treat.

My consideration extended to the other girls, too. Mary had genuinely opened up and put her trust in me to help her through a difficult time. I told her I wouldn't let her down, and I meant it. As for Bea, I wasn't convinced her old, abrasive personality wouldn't come roaring back at some point. But I would take that chance as long as I got to enjoy her cranking services!

The sun had set by the time I exited the market. Walking back to the motel with a bag full of groceries took longer than I expected and gave me second thoughts about how much I had bought. But it wouldn't be so heavy once it was spread out and properly secured to the travois.

Turning down a side street and looking all around to make sure I was alone, I plucked a few flowers from a bed near the road. Mary had been so brave making it through a nude church service and even honoring my snap while standing in the choir loft. I wanted to surprise and reward her with a bouquet as pretty as she was. I was turning into a full-blown flower thief!

As the Inn’s vacancy sign near the road came into view, excitement overtook fatigue and I began to lay out the rest of the evening in my head - including our sleeping arrangements. Cindy would throw a tantrum if she got banished to the floor alone. But I doubted anyone else would volunteer their spot on the bed to make room for her. We would just have to squeeze in.

The thought of sharing a bed with three naked girls sent my arousal into the stratosphere. It also gave me an idea. Why bother hauling four heavy bedrolls out to the campsite? It might be a little cozy, but surely, we could get by with less. And since when is cozy a bad thing? Picking up my pace, I hurried through the door of our unit.

"Oh, thank goodness you're ba-" Bea started to say, as she and Cindy jumped to their feet beside the bed.

"Sorry I'm late," I replied, setting the shopping bags on the counter nearest me, "I brought stuff for sandwiches."

The tv on the other end of the counter had a soft medley playing - some kind of evening variety show. But the girls ignored it and just stared at me. I couldn't see Mary but assumed she was in the bathroom.

We had brought two ice chests from home. Walking to the corner nearest the window, I propped the flowers against the wall and hefted the smaller chest, then set it down with a self-satisfied smile. Other than the little crock of butter which should be fine for a couple of days, I had managed to avoid purchasing any true perishables. Not having to haul a fully packed ice chest would make our load that much lighter. Thanks to my shrewd planning and forethought, the girls would have to carry next to nothing. Ah, how I did spoil them!

"Well, they aren't going to make themselves," I hinted, nodding toward the bag of groceries on the counter.

Bea and Cindy shared a look with each other but remained standing at the foot of the bed. Why were they acting so strangely? Why did Cindy look...scared? Crossing my arms, I stood up and looked around the room. What had Bea been saying when I first came in? And why did she cut herself off? Scrutinizing the scene, I noticed something I had overlooked before. The bathroom door was closed, but there was no light shining underneath. It had to be vacant.

"...where's Mary?"

Cindy lowered her head and Bea just stood there in silence.

"WHERE'S MARY?" I yelled - pounding my fist on the windowsill a little too forcefully.

Cindy flinched and crossed her arms into a defensive hug around her middle. Still not used to seeing her without clothes on, I got briefly sidetracked by her budding form. In this pose, her breasts were bunched up into prominent mounds, and her perky pink nipples were pointing straight at me. Her cute little lollypop drew my attention. Such alluring nakedness excited and stiffened me, but I had to stay focused.

Stomping across the room with a frown, I bore down on the two girls. Bea was barefoot and I had my shoes on. But even then, I was only barely as tall as her. I could still make an imposing presence when I was angry. And with something going on behind my back, I was plenty angry.

I had assumed that putting them naked in a motel room with strict instructions to stay put would be enough. Boy was I wrong! Now that the Conyor sisters were reunited, I should have known better than to leave them unsupervised.

Crossing my arms, I stared them down. Bea had a well-practiced poker face. Like a good foot soldier, she held her ground and kept her mouth shut. But Cindy, too tenderhearted and not built for confrontation, let out a high-pitched squeak of distress. After several seconds of uncomfortable silence, she looked like she might crack any moment. Following her big sister's lead, she held her tongue, but her guilty expression convinced me more than ever of wrongdoing afoot. If I could only figure out what.

It was foolish and shortsighted of them to think they could keep me from learning the truth just by staying tight-lipped. But if that's how they wanted this to play out, fine! Interrogation wasn't the only way to gain answers. In a huff, I walked over to the bathroom door and swung it open to confirm it was empty. I turned back around.

My horny, teenage boy brain had trouble tearing my eyes away from the two naked girls standing near the bed; one trying to keep up a defiant pose and one shuffling anxiously. But the room's sparsity made scanning it anew in search of clues easy. Cindy's church shoes placed thoughtfully out of the way next to the bedside table. Her purse hanging on the closet doorknob. Two sacks of camping supplies on the counter. That's when I saw it. I had left my duffel in the corner near the ice chests. But it was now sitting on the floor just inside the front door.

Realizing I had missed it while I was carrying in the groceries and supplies earlier, the expression on my face changed. Bea saw it happen and, as I took a step forward, raised her arms to block my path.

"Frankie, wait," she pleaded, "let me explain!"

But she had already blown her chance to do that. Brushing past her, I stalked across the room and crouched over to my open duffle. That it had been moved and opened was already a violation of my privacy. But I quickly discovered an even more egregious offence. The country girl outfit, my outfit, was missing!

"W-w-we didn't know what to do," Bee blubbered, "you were gone a-a-and mother wouldn't answer the door. Mary just went out to get food. That's all!"

"Sit," I ordered, pointing to the bed. Rather than yelling, my voice came out no louder than a seething whisper. For a second, I sounded exactly like my father always did when you knew you were in real trouble.

Cindy immediately obeyed. Sitting at the foot of the bed, she perched silently on the very edge with her feet barely reaching the ground and her hands in her lap. Bea threw her hands up and sat silently beside her sister.

"You will both sit there and say nothing," I commanded, "even when she gets back. I want silence."

After they had both nodded, I stood up and began to pace. I had watched my father do this dozens of times, pacing silently with a stern look on his face, and thought it would calm me down. But then again, when did it ever calm him?

Bea's explanation made sense. We had all skipped lunch, and Patricia may have been fast asleep and missed the knock from her hungry daughters. Left to fend for themselves, I could see Bea and Cindy looking to Mary. Of all the ways she could have helped them, that she chose to run off and leave her own sisters behind to cover for her was extremely foolish - even for her! Didn't she know there would be a price to pay?

Wait a minute...pay? Mary didn't have any money. How was she planning to pay for the food, unless... Fearing the worst, I ran back to the duffel and tore open the inside pocket where I had been keeping the balance of my souvenir money. It was completely empty.

Slumping against the wall, I slid to the floor and placed my head in my hands. Even in what she perceived to be an emergency, Mary had no right to wear my clothes without permission. At least clothes could be returned. But money spent on food was gone forever. And for what?!

I didn't need Bea or Cindy's help to figure out what their plan had been. They were going to eat quickly and discard the packaging in an outside trash can before I got back. If I inquired about the missing money, they would feign ignorance - let me think I had misplaced it or something.

Were they really this senseless? To think they could pull off such a half-baked conspiracy without being found out was beyond me. Now I knew how my father must feel with three stubborn teenage girls always scheming to undermine him. I had been so kind and considerate to all of them, and this is how they repaid me??? ...Women!

I was furious! But I was also practical. With no way to contact Mary and stop her, I had to accept that my souvenir fund was truly gone. When I stood up, Bea opened her mouth to say something, probably in her defense. I shut her up with an ice-cold glare which started Cindy whimpering. Then I dragged the armchair across the room to sulk in the corner and plot my next move.

For their own good, I could not let this transgression pass without at least trying to teach them a lesson. The punishment should fit the crime. The first step was assigning blame.

Poor Cindy sniffled quietly on the edge of the bed. As the baby of the family, she was more of a follower - not to mention, a peacemaker. Getting into trouble made her visibly uncomfortable. I couldn't blame her for this debacle. Her only crime was being too trusting of her sisters and gullible - too young to know better. And hungry. Bea was a little worse - stonewalling me and doing a terrible job covering for her sister's absence. But how much blame did she deserve, really?

The real troublemaker was Mary - the ringleader of their hapless group. I had to re-establish my authority in a powerful way and make an example of her in front of her sisters – something none of them would soon forget. If I didn't, how long before they lost all respect for me and started taking liberties at the expense of my generosity just like Mary was already doing?

A few minutes later, the key rattled in the lock and the front door swung open. Mary rushed in and quickly closed the door before setting the brown bag she was carrying on the counter. She was in such a rush that she didn’t even notice the brown grocery bag next to it. And because I was seated in the corner farthest away from the lone lamp, she didn't see me right away.

She also failed to notice her sisters' strange behavior - sitting perfectly still side-by-side on the end of the bed, staring at the empty wall, and working hard not to make a peep. Rather, she gave her full attention to stripping off the clothes she had stolen as quickly as possible. Tugging at the knot in the plaid, country girl vest, she whipped it open.

My mouth fell open. On this trip, I had spent hours studying Mary's nude form. I was practically an expert on it by now. But I had next to no experience watching a woman strip. Shrugging the vest off her shoulders to return to her usual, topless state, she immediately reached for her waistband. As she wiggled the skin-tight shorts down over her nicely rounded hips - her unencumbered and newly bared breasts bobbed back and forth in an erotic display.

When she finally wrestled her skimpy shorts to the ground and bent over to pick them up, I recovered enough to remember I was still mad at her. Whatever fast food she had spent my money on was inside the bag she had sat down. It was probably delicious - much better than cold deli sandwiches.

In a matter of seconds, she was once again completely naked just like her sisters. But she still had to hide the remaining evidence of her misadventure. She only got one step in the direction of my open duffel bag before noticing me glaring at her from the corner. Caught red-handed!

[student]

First, the 11/28 posting proved that girls are too ingenious and mischievous to be left unsupervised. True, hunger is an excuse...

Second--neverdoubted did it again: ending on yet another cliffhanger

Good work!

[Somebody]

Ohhh she's gonna get it.

[johnathENF]

Another masterpiece. This is getting crazy and also another cliffhanger. Thank you as always!