CHAPTER 1
Late autumn snow had arrived. The riding school was closed until mid-spring so Rogan was ready to leave for his winter job splitting logs at the firewood and coal supply depot in the town as soon as Marin had arrived back from feeding hay to the horses that spent nights and stormy weather in the barn.
"The kids are asleep. Have a cheerful day," Rogan said, kissing her goodbye.
"Thanks for getting Peggy and Peter down."
"I should be doing the horses, it's man's work."
"You're playing the same old record Rogan. You know if I feed them I watch them closely for any sign that something's not quite right. In comparison they always look healthy and all look the same to you unless almost dropping in distress."
Marin had coffee and thought the ironing could wait for another day, Bored she put on a DVD. Yuk, it was a porn movie Rogan had been watching before coming to bed last night and fucking her. Gawd, how could that tiny woman get that big one up her ass! Marin giggled and turned it off. It was pointless not watching it with Rogan. She looked in at Peter who was two and Peggy who was ten months. They were asleep so didn't need her.
"Christ I'm bored," she gritted. The phone went. She ran to it joyfully.
"Hi sexy," said Pauline, her much older sister. "About to go to the mall all day?"
"A drive of fifteen miles through snow and as soon as I get there kids crying to be back in familiar surroundings. Oh yeah. How are your nails and hair?"
"Actually in rather top condition at present. Jealous?"
"Yeah, yeah. Are you coming to visit?"
"No but I'd like to talk about someone else visiting."
"Go on."
"Jack's graduated from high school as you know, sending him that lovely present. But he's run into trouble going around with a gang -- not drugs, well not as far as I know, but joy riding in stolen cars and harassing young women. The gang has been busted but because he's only just eighteen he's not facing charges on my promise I'll get him out of the city and staying on a farm with his aunt and uncle."
"I like Jack."
"I know you do. I could have sent him to mom and dad but I thought with you being a retired schoolteacher you might retrain him, no, reform him. You're only eleven years older than Jack and I think he regards you as an older sister rather than an aunt."
"So you want me to have him for three months?"
"Yes, please Marin. If I can arrange this with you he'll be let off with a warning and won't gain a police record."
"All right providing you guys come and stay with us for Christmas. You can then take Jack home with you to prepared him for college."
"Oh yes! How wonderful. You are such a darling."
Marin felt excited by the challenge. She could teach her nephew all about horses including riding them and perhaps even jumping in the sawdust ring, low jumps of course, and, um, child care. And then what? "I'll send him to work with Rogan."
As to be expected, Rogan turned negative. "If he's been running with a gang he's a fucking criminal, getting off by the skin of his teeth."
"Well there are no gangs out here to recruit him so why beef?"
"Well what about you screaming when I'm fucking you. It will embarrass the kid, and me."
"Well go to the sex shop and buy me one of those red-ball gag things?"
"Really? While I'm there what else should I buy?"
Marin sighed and told him to use his imagination.
* * *
Marin O'Hara with the kids were at the railway station to meet Jack Banks who looked taller, broader and a touch better looking than when she'd last seem him. Peter backed off shyly from Jack to clasp his mom's legs encased in jeans and high boots but Peggy went to him comfortably as soon as Jack grinned and held out his arms. Gawd, females are suckers even at ten months, Marin thought.
She then kissed Jack on the lips, without thinking, and smiled when the guy blushed hugely. Whatever for, she thought, moving off with Peter; was Jack thinking she looked good enough to fuck? You can never tell when young guys are in fantasyland.
"Peggy appears to have taken to you," she said when they arrived home. "She was weaned recently so is on bottle. Would you like to feed her?"
"Yeah, I may as well be useful."
"Oh in that case don't bother."
"No I want to feed her. She's so cute. Peter will get used to me soon."
"You know about little kids."
"Yes my ex-girlfriend back home baby-sat for her sister on occasions."
Marin was in her black bra and panties combing her hair when Jack entered the bedroom and said all done, Peggy was asleep. "Oh god, excuse me. I didn't mean to barge in like this."
After the initial panic Marin turned sly. "It's okay. You may like to brush the back of my hair."
"What, with you undressed like this?"
"Yes, I'm rather proud of my body, being a mother of two. Do you wish to see it?"
"No, whatever for?"
"I just thought you would be used to girl's bodies and might like to see the body of a more mature woman?"
Without thinking Jack said he sometimes timed his walk-in on his mother.
"Like you have done on me?"
"Oh no, oh what am I saying? No I had no reason to think you would be undressed."
He began brushing.
"Have you touched your mother... you know what I mean?"
"What? What do you take me for?"
"Perhaps not a mother fucker," Marin laughed, knowing she was being reckless. God, this could blow up in her face. "I want you to feel free to walk in on me anytime, although not when Rogan is around."
"Why?"
"This is your home for three months. It is part of your growing up. I wish to teach you to have love and respect for a woman."
"I can't see how that will be any help? I find this difficult to understand. Mom said you would try to reform me, to make me see sense."
"Well you'll be surprised what love and respect will do for you, having just come off lesson one."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't think it was just chance you were sitting on that chair feeding Peggy and then put her into her crib do you?"
"I... well... oh, I see. You're very clever Aunt Marin."
"Call me Marin Jack. When Rogan calls to check that you have arrived I'll tell him that now you are eighteen it is okay to drop the titles uncle and aunt."
"Will he accept that?"
"I would think so but who cares?"
"Marin, answer me this. Why is it okay for me to walk in on you when I'm alone with you but not when Rogan is around? Tell me the truth."
"Rogan would be shocked to know I've invited you to do that."
"Are you aiming to have sex with me?"
"The truth is I remain undecided. But just don't focus on that. I want you leaving here no longer slouching, no longer bored, just a lovely young man whom I'm proud of and I want Pauline to be ever so proud of you."
"Because she's your sister?"
"Yes and because she's appealed to me to take you under my wing."
"What about my father. Don't you want my father to be proud of me if you manage to turn me into a better guy?"
"Frankly I don't care what David thinks; I believe his neglect of you is part of the problem. If you want your father to be proud of you that's fine. You can stop brushing now."
"You are not a bunny are you?"
Marin smiled and thanked Jack for a thoughtful comment.
"You are so much more glamorous than mom, although you practically wear no makeup. Her body is soft whereas I bet yours is hard through working horses. But your thinking is so multi-dimensional like the best of my teachers at school. I arrived here rather surly but it sure beats doing community work. Already you have me tied around your finger."
Marin turned and kissed him on the lips lightly. "Thank you darling. You do have a nice side to you. I'm thrilled about that. I don't want you beholden to me -- cooperative yes, but I want you to feel independent. Now run along and watch DVDs. There are some adult ones and I don't mind if you jerk off -- just don't let Rogan catch you at it. He'll have some theory that the place to do that is in the bathroom with the door locked."
Jack looked straight at Marin and asked confidently, "Will you allow me to jerk over you one day?"
"I should think so. Now run along, I'm snatching a nap because Peggy had me up several times last night. When Peter wakes attend to him."
"What do I do?"
"Don't allow him to look at adult movies. You'll think of something. A tip is he'll be hungry. If he's hungry enough he'll let you know what he wants."
"He can talk?"
"Yes, you'll hear him really on the go when he's playing with his toys."
* * *
Rogan arrived at 6:30 and was pleased to find Peter had a new pal and pleased that even so his wee son ran to him. Marin was pleased to see Rogan give Jack a real shoulder hug and then slap him on the back affectionately.
"Well you soft city kid -- I've asked the boss can you work with me Mondays and Tuesdays splitting logs. We get cleaned out at the weekend. He's agreed and said he'll tossed you a few bucks because you have to be on the payroll for employment regulation and insurance purposes. Do you want to do that?"
"Yeah, sounds great. Thanks... um."
"I thought you were to call me Rogan?"