Then, early one afternoon, about a month after the funeral, what was going to happen happened. Two large SUVs and a cargo van pulled into the gravel driveway of my house. One of the SUVs was a sheriff's vehicle; the others were unmarked. Watching from an upstairs window, i saw two Female Deputies get out of Their vehicle and several Women in work clothes empty out of the cargo van. From the second SUV emerged a petite, stylish Woman i recognized as Ms. Forbes. Holding some papers, She conversed with the Deputies, looking about as though trying to confirm the address. When the three of Them stepped forward, up onto the porch, the other Ladies remained in the yard, surveying the house and workshop to the side.
As i descended the stairs, i had only a moment to collect myself before hearing the doorbell, followed a second later by an authoritative knock. When i opened the door, Ms. Forbes stood in front, the two Deputies behind Her, hands on Their holstered revolvers. I had a moment before She spoke to take in this Woman, my new Custodian. She was shorter than i'd thought, fuller, and a few years older, with darker and more intense features. With shoulder length hair and a sophisticated style, She radiated energy, confidence, despite being somewhat overweight. It flitted through my head that i wouldn't have considered Her "my type" ... not that that mattered anymore.
"larkin Nash?" She asked, in the hard accent of the east coast.
"Yes, Ma'am," i answered, keeping my gaze lowered.
"you know who I am?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Are you going to give Us any trouble?"
"No, Ma'am."
"Good boy." She turned to nod to the Deputies who stepped back off the porch. Then to me again: "Go the living room and wait for me there."
As i moved obediently to the living room, She waved the four other Women onto the porch and into the house. i could follow the sounds of Their progress as They wandered through the house, catching snippets of Ms. Olivia giving instructions. "Tag and inventory furniture, appliances, and the like for appraisal and sale. Workshop, too. Pack up his computer and any papers for me to take."
"Clothes?" one of the Women asked.
"Toss 'em, he won't need them anymore."
It took the Women some time to work Their way through the rooms on both stories of the house. Unsure whether i should sit or kneel or stand, i stood in the living room, watching the two Deputies casually standing guard in the front yard. As the tour of my house ended, Ms. Olivia stepped outside. After speaking with the Deputies, She went to Her SUV and pulled out a large tote bag. It also appeared She spoke to someone inside the vehicle, but i couldn't see who.
When She re-entered the house, She came into the living room. Without saying a word, She set the tote on the floor and sat down on the sofa. After a long moment, She cleared Her throat and said, "Come here, larkin." When i stepped across the room to stand before Her, a look of annoyance crossed Her face until i melted to my knees, which earned me a slow nod of Her head and a "good boy."
"you understand what's going on here, don't you, larkin?"
When i nodded my head, She gave me a lesson in Her control and Her preferences. "When I ask you a question, larkin, I expect an answer spoken in a respectful tone. So let Me ask again do you understand what's going on here?"
"Yes, Ma'am, i think so."
She gave me another lesson in Her preferences: "I prefer 'Maestra' to 'Ma'am,' larkin."
"Yes, Maestra."
"Good boy. As you know, I've inherited you; I'm now your Custodian. That means I own you." She probably saw the slight wince on my face. "I know that people out here don't like to think of it like that, but that's the long and the short of it. you now belong to Me." She let that sink in for a moment.
"Honestly, I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with you. The inheritance from My cousin significantly changes My financial situation and will almost certainly impact My lifestyle. With you and austen, I've also inherited significant new responsibilities. It will take me some time to sort all this out, but in the meantime I will take you back to the City with me." Again, She paused to let Her words sink in.
"I know this won't be easy for you, larkin. But it doesn't need to be that hard either. I'm neither a cruel nor an unreasonable Woman. But I am a Supremacist, and you're going to do things My way."
Ms. Olivia cleared Her throat and continued. "I won't lie to you, larkin, there are going to be parts of this you really won't like. There will also be generous rewards for obedience and good behavior. It will be much easier on both of U/us if you'll accept what has happened and embrace this next stage of your life. Will you do that for Me?"
"Yes, Ma'... Maestra ... i will try."
Ms. Olivia smiled as i corrected myself. "Good boy. I honestly think you'll find much to like in your new life, whether it's with Me or another Custodian."
With that, Ms. Olivia lifted the tote onto the sofa beside Her and ordered me to stand. When i had risen to my feet and taken a step back, She said: "Time for Me to see what I've inherited. Disrobe, please, larkin." i hesitated, eyes darting about as one of the Workers passed in the hallway, carrying a box out of the house. "larkin," Maestra spoke calmly, firmly. "That wasn't a request, it was an order."
"Yes, Maestra." Slowly, i undressed for Her, unbuttoning and removing the grey work shirt, then my boots and socks, then my jeans. i paused long enough to earn an impatient clearing of Her throat. Cheeks flushing, i stepped out of my boxer shorts and stood there, completely naked in front of my Custodian.
"Good boy, lark," She said, rising slowly, deliberately from the sofa. "The modesty of you country boys isn't without its charm, but you're going to have to get over it. I like seeing what i own ... and I like showing off what I own. Understood?"
"Yes, Maestra," my difficulty in dealing with this was obvious in my strained voice.
"Good, now turn ... slowly," She stressed ... "and let me see all of You."
As i did so, i found myself hoping She liked what She saw. i'm no Mister Universe, but am in pretty good shape. Although i didn't work out often, the manual labor i did in my shop kept me fit. i ate sensibly, and several times a week would go for a run or bike ride. At 5'10", i was considerably taller than Ms. Olivia, not that that mattered much. my hair was thick, dirty blonde in color, and cut short; my body hair was noticeable, but because of its light color not too conspicuous, except my pubic hair, which was thick and curly. Like most boys in this rural region, i didn't have any piercings or tattoos.