Seven Tails: Tail 05

5-26-11

Reposted by request

Seven Tails

Tail Five: Breaking In

(Belle and Chris)

One

I don't usually get out all that much, as you can probably guess. My duties back at the ranch kept my days pretty full and the entertainment for my idle moments was beyond compare. I just had neither the time nor the inclination for many extracurricular activities.

Aside from the occasional ride in the countryside and going to the pony gatherings once or maybe twice a year, I stayed at home as much as possible. And why not? I had close to a thousand acres of land to play in and six willing pets to keep me company and my mail and food were delivered to me once a week.

And now that I retired from hunting new pets the need for me to leave the farm lessened even more.

I had few actual 'friends' and those that I did have I saw at the gatherings and corresponded by email in between times. And those of my family who knew me (but not as well as they thought, or so I thought anyway) knew of my habitual standoffishness and thought of me as shy and reclusive and over the years the invitations to family functions had tapered to a stop. They knew I wouldn't come, so they stopped inviting me. It was a good thing, in my opinion.

Not that I didn't care for them as family as such. I always made sure to send cards and presents on birthdays and whatnot. I was just really selective as to the company I kept. As far as I knew, none of my family knew about my life, as such. They thought I just lived in a cabin out in the woods somewhere and rode horses for fun.

It was close enough to the truth.

There was one niece, named Belinda (an unfortunate name, but she went by 'Belle') that had been my favorite as a child when I was still coming around. She had taken a shine to me for some odd reason and we remained friends as she grew older and when I stopped coming around we exchanged emails back and forth. I always sent her good presents for her birthday and Christmas and so forth.

Last year she had graduated from college and married a nice young man. He looked nice in the pictures she sent me anyway.

When Belle was a little girl she was constantly inviting me to have "tea" with her, as many little girls do. It became a long lasting joke between us even after she had grown up. So for her wedding present I had found an antique set of child sized silver tea service. She loved it and sent me a long grateful thank you note and even sent a picture of the set proudly displayed in a cabinet in her home.

The other day I had gotten an email from her that was a bit mysterious. It read:

"Uncle,

I have a problem that I think only you may have a good solution to. I have done a bit of research and have decided that you are the best man to consult in this matter. Need to talk to you face to face. We will meet you anywhere you wish, just please say yes.

All my love, Belle"

My brother Raymond and his wife Cynthia had always kept a beach house down in Freeport, Texas. Just south of Galveston. Belle and her new man Christopher were staying there temporarily while Belle 'found herself'. In actuality I think it was to help her husband get used to the idea of being wealthier than he had imagined before. From what Belle had told me, Chris had no idea that she came from a wealthy family when they first met. It wasn't until he actually proposed to her that she let him see some of what her family life was like.

Amazingly enough, after he met her family he still wanted to marry her. I told her then that he might be a keeper.

Sometimes having lots of money just makes you a target. We were all taught early on in life to watch our backs. Belle being the smart girl that she was, knew what gold diggers were like and avoided them like the plague. It seems with Chris she had found love that money couldn't buy. I was happy for them.

I told Belle that I could meet them at the beach house if that was okay. I'd been there a few times before. It was a nice quiet and comfortable place.

She replied:

"That would be great! Chris will make us dinner. He is an excellent cook! Thank goodness, because I am hopeless at it. Can't wait to see you again."

And that seemed to settle that. I would fly down Saturday afternoon and hopefully back sometime late Sunday evening. Nathan and Sarabeth were left in charge with a schedule, my extra remote and the extra cell phone programmed with my numbers. Saturday evening had been designated as 'free play' time, as long as everybody behaved themselves. All the cage doors and all the cabinets could be open for three hours, but they were to confine themselves to the stables. And I wanted everyone in bed, by themselves with the cage doors shut by 9pm, as they would be arising early Sunday morning. At that time I wanted chores done. Laundry and cleaning of the house, the stables and the arena. I would be inspecting upon my return.

All of my pets swore that they would make me proud of them. I had briefly considered taking somebody with me, but as this seemed to be a fairly sensitive family problem, I thought Belle would be more comfortable if there weren't strangers about. Pity. Ah, well.

My chartered flight took off on time and landed on time, which was a blessing. I didn't really care all that much for flying, preferring to drive my RV on long trips. But that would have required several days more and I didn't wish to be away from the ranch and my pets that long. As promised, my rental car was waiting at the steps as the aircraft rolled to a stop and I was on my way down the coast within minutes.

If there was no traffic, the trip would take about an hour, which wasn't bad. I used the time to mentally review what I knew of Belle and her new husband, Chris. The last time I had seen my niece in person had been at her high school graduation, five years ago. She'd been a honors student and was at the top of her class. The skinny little stick figure of a girl I remembered had grown up into a beautiful, self assured and well mannered woman. Belle had never let our families money and life of privilege turn her into a spoiled brat as had happened with some of the others.

There were members of my family that I wouldn't acknowledge if I saw them lying in the street. And if they managed to make their way to my door all they would see would be the long dark dangerous looking tunnel that comprised a shotgun barrel. But there were a very few, like Belle, that I would happily leave the comfort of my nest for and do anything I could to help.

Luckily for me, not many of those needed or wanted my help or company very often. I much preferred to be left to my own devices.

The last time I had seen Belle she had long straight brown hair that reached halfway down her back. About five-six or seven, maybe a hundred and fifty pounds. She was built sturdy, a bit wide in the frame but she kept herself very fit riding and playing tennis and swimming. Always a very athletic girl even when she was younger. She often ran me ragged keeping up with her as a child. I had always thought that she would go into some professional sport when she matured. To my surprise, Belle had majored in sociology when she went to college. "People are fascinating and maddening." she said "I want to find out what makes them tick." I had no doubt that she would be very very good at whatever she decided to do.

Belle had met Christopher Reynolds in college, as I had said earlier. He was an anthropology major and they had some of the same classes. Although Belle claimed it was "Love at first sight" they had kept their relationship on a low key for three years while they both concentrated on their studies. Chris was unable to hold his peace and he proposed at the end of their junior year and they moved in together for their last year of college. Belle and Chris were married the week after they both graduated. The pictures she sent to me always showed him smiling and looking happy and content. Chris was maybe an inch shorter than his wife, but also very fit and athletic. He had sandy blondish hair with gray eyes that made him look pale but he always had a fair tan which offset that a little. He was a very handsome man and he and Belle made a striking couple.

It was a calm and beautiful late fall day which was kind of rare for that time of year. Sometimes the weather along that coastline could be tricky. Being that close to the ocean, with all of it's wild unpredictable power made me nervous. I much preferred the quite unmoving stature of the mountains. You could pretty much count on the mountains not to shift around a whole lot suddenly.

"Uncle Alex!!" Belle flew down the steps and threw herself at me, almost knocking me down. I managed to brace myself at the last second as the impact knocked the breath out of my body temporarily and kept us both from tumbling to the ground. I laughed and hugged her and poofed her hair out of my face and delighted in the love and warmth I felt from holding her again. Belle had always been a joy to be around, even if she was a bit exasperating at times.

I hadn't even noticed the handsome young man standing behind her until Belle unwound her arms from my neck after long moments. She planted a kiss on my cheek then turned and said "Uncle Alex, this is my husband, Chris. Chris, this is my favorite uncle, Alex DuMonde." He extended a hand and his grip was warm and firm. He said "Glad to meet you, Sir. Belle talks about you all the time. I feel like I already know you."

"Call me Alex, Chris. We are family, after all."

"Yes, Sir... Uh... Alex." He seemed like a nice enough young man. And Belle seemed more than happy with him.

I was no anthropologist or sociologist, but I think I may have enjoyed studying the subjects. My own experiences would have brought a different view to the sciences, I think. I tended to view personal relationships with an eye towards power and control and how to gain and keep them. Looking at Belle and Chris as they interacted I could instantly see the power dynamic and how it worked in this relationship. Belle had always had a strong personality, even as a child and I could see instantly that she was the dominant partner in their marriage. Chris rushed ahead of her to open the front door then bowed his head just a fraction as she went into the house. As she passed, Belle patted his cheek and gave him a smile and I saw him shiver just slightly. That was interesting.

He was indeed an excellent cook. Chris made us some sort of parmesan chicken alfredo dish with asparagus spears on the side and a fresh tossed chef's salad. Instead of piling the dishes on the table and having everyone serve themselves as most people did, he actually arranged each plate himself and brought them to the table to set in front of us. He served my plate first, and then one for his wife, then waited for me to look up and say "This looks wonderful!" before he went to the kitchen to retrieve his own plate. And then again once we were all seated he waited until Belle and I had both taken a bite and declared it delicious before he started eating his own dinner.

Dinner conversation was kept light and off of the subject of why I had been called out of my comfortable space. I didn't mind. But if it got too late and they were still reticent, I would push the issue. I did, after all, have a life I needed to return to soon.

Chris was slightly horrified that I would offer to help clean up after dinner. He flatly but politely refused my help and swept the dirty dishes off the table with the facility of a professional busboy and had the dishwasher loaded within seconds, finishing up by wiping down the table and the counter tops with a dishcloth and joining Belle and I in the living room just as we were getting seated and comfortable.

I eased myself into a thick leather chair and Belle arranged herself on one end of the sofa and as Chris sat next to her, she looked at him and put on hand on his knee. He slapped himself lightly on the forehead and said "Oh cripes, yes! I forgot!" Trotting over to the bar on one side of the room he decanted three small glasses of brandy and put them and a small box on a tray and brought them back to the table between us.

"I remember that you like these cigars, Uncle Alex. Dad likes them too, so we always have a supply of them here. Please help yourself."

"Belle dear, I think you are trying to butter me up." I said as I lit a smooth imported cigar. "So why don't you just come out and tell me what this problem of yours is?" They both looked away and Chris actually blushed as he tried to hide his face in his brandy snifter.

"And why did you come to the conclusion that I should be the person to come to? I'm certainly no genius and I'm not really an expert in anything in particular."

My niece turned and picked up a thick manila folder off of the side table and handed it to me. "I think, Uncle Max," she said "That under the circumstances, you are the only person we could turn to."

If I hadn't been paying attention, I would have missed that hint. She slid it into the conversation without a single hesitation. One eyebrow raised, I stared into her big brown eyes for a moment, then opened the folder in my lap. The first page was a typewritten summary.

Alex DuMonde aka Master Max Rambeaux.

Other aliases: unknown.

Present whereabouts: unknown, but suspected to have a large holding somewhere in southern Oregon or Idaho, but possibly in Montana or Wyoming. Travels in a large RV registered in Oregon but has no known listed properties there.

Present financial worth: unknown.

Known facts: Rarely travels more than once or twice a year. Is widely known as a trainer and exhibitor of "Human Ponies". Travels to fetish conventions and human pony exhibitions all over the US. Presently seen with six other adults, both male and female. Exact names and ages unknown. Seems to be well respected and spoken of in the fetish world.

It went on like that for a page and a half. Lots of 'unknown' entries. That suited me just fine. Though it did chill me just a little that she had been able to find out so much. Flipping past the summary I discovered that the rest of the file was all pictures. Some color, some black and white. The most recent were from the last gathering. I was in almost all of them, but there were a few solo shots of my pets. I could tell that some of these were poached from the same photographers who worked the gatherings as I had copies of some of the same pictures on the wall of my office. That picture of me hugging Sarabeth after the sulky race where she had that look of sublime ecstasy on her face. Me leading a blushing Daniel on his leash while his hard cock bobbed in front of his body. One hand wrapped in Nathans hair while I bent his head back and kissed him deeply. Gael and I talking to the artist while she beamed happily. Me once again leading Daniel and David on their leashes, both lads mostly naked in their harnesses and nothing else. Some action pictures of Sarabeth during her dressage routine and more of me and the lads during the chariot race.

There were about fifty pictures in the stack. I kept my face as bland as possible while flipping through them. But my mind was in turmoil as to why Belle had thought it necessary to do this and then to confront me with it. When I flipped through the last picture I closed the file and tossed it casually back on the coffee table in front of me.

"I'd like copies of some of those." I said. "Whoever your photographer is got some good shots I don't have. Maybe I should put him on my payroll."

Belle actually had the decency to blush. "You can have those, Uncle Max." she said. "I saw what I... needed to."

"Then let's drop the 'Uncle Max' business then, shall we? I have been Uncle Alex all of your life young lady and I will continue to be called that." I leaned forward a little and let my voice harden. "Unless you want to call me 'Master Max'. And unless you are one of my peers you will call me 'Master' or 'Sir' and use a respectful tone at all times. I won't tolerate disrespect from any subs, slaves, ponies or servants. Do you understand me, little girl?"

Chris blanched pale and dropped his eyes. Belle tried to meet my gaze and couldn't. Her lips trembled and she whispered "I'm sorry, Uncle Alex. I didn't mean to upset you and I meant no disrespect."

"So lets drop the bullshit and tell me what this is all about. Starting with why?" I waved a hand at the folder on the table. "This must have cost you a pretty penny. I'm not that easy to track down. I've spent a lot of time and money keeping myself out of the public eye." I waved my hand at the house around us and said "You have plenty of money so it can't be blackmail."

One hand flew to her pretty mouth and she started upright. Then she waved both hands and exclaimed "No! Please! Let me explain!" I sat back in my chair and steepled my fingers in front of my face.

"Explain then, girl. And this had better be good."

"I had... suspected...some things about you for awhile. Feelings that I got from you whenever we were face to face. Some of the things I heard from my Dad... But I never had any reason to follow up. I always thought it was your life and none of my business."

"So far you are correct. My private life is none of your concern."

She jerked back like I had slapped her. Her eyes went to the floor and she said "I know I violated a trust between us, Uncle Alex. And I'm sorry. But, I had to be sure before I... Well, when Chris and I started to have our trouble I went to Daddy, like I always do. He listened to me for awhile but when it started getting too...personal... he suggested I talk to you. He said you were the man for the job."

My brother Raymond was an astute businessman and a fine money manager. He was great with figures and charts and stock options, but not always so good with people. But one thing he was good at was figuring out who was the perfect person to delegate authority to. He always kept a close circle of advisers and 'go-to guys' handy. I guess getting that kind of recommendation from him was flattering, in a sense. But it also told me that Raymond knew more about my life than he let on. That was a bit disturbing.

"Trouble? Exactly what kind of trouble?" They both blushed even harder and looked at the ground. Chris took her hand in his and squeezed it. They looked at each other and I could see a wordless conversation taking place. Finally he nodded reluctantly and said "It's why we asked him here." Belle took a deep breath, sighed and then nodded back. "Okay."

Not really looking at me, Belle said "Neither one of us was a virgin when Chris and I met. I had been with a couple of other men before and Chris had a few girlfriends. But even though we were both fairly experienced as far as sex went, there was this...newness... this feeling like it was the very first time for both of us the first time we slept together." She glanced up at me and asked "Am I embarrassing you, Uncle?"

I smiled kind of wickedly and shook my head. "Of course not, dear. Your first was Bobby Monroe, the boy from your junior year English class that you had a crush on. If I recall correctly, you didn't have a crush on him anymore after that one night." Belle gasped.

"The second was Jamie Marks, the lifeguard at the pool at the country club in Richmond. You were lucky you didn't catch anything from him. I very nearly went there and took care of him myself before you wised up and broke up with him. He was starting to piss me off. And the third was that geeky little dude... what was his name? Oh yes. Tyler Jones. Fancied himself an 'artist'. I was really beginning to despair of your taste in men for a little while there. I was pretty happy when you and Chris got together."

They both sat there wide eyed with their mouths open in shock. I smiled again, looked at Chris and said "Your first was that girl in junior high... Maryanne something... That lasted for almost a year. Then you got involved with the girl whose father ran the local package liquor store... Ginger French. Her father broke your arm when he found out and you behaved yourself for about another year. Then, right before you graduated high school you hooked up with Sarah England. She seemed like a nice girl. She's married now and has two kids, by the way. They have a nice little suburban home in Austin and he's a fireman. And right after you got to college there was that girl Lisa at the coffee shop. It didn't go anywhere mainly because she was a conflicted lesbian. She thought for awhile that she was bisexual but since she met that personal trainer who taught her yoga classes there hasn't been any doubt in her mind since then. She is very happy and they are sharing a condo right next door to the gym where they both now work."