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Sophie was at her wits end with her stepdaughter Libby. Her husband, Libby's father, had died in a car crash leaving them well provided for rattling around together in a palatial home that was empty and cold without him. Libby had slipped into bad company and was drinking too much and who knew what else. It would be understandable being resented, if she had tried to take her mothers place, but Sophie had tried hard not to give that impression. Rather she attempted to be a friend rather than step mom. Being just eight years older than the girl it was difficult to take control although she had to admit it wasn't in her nature to be the one in charge. Her daughter took after her father, in a word, domineering. This uncomfortable situation demanded drastic action and so an arrangement had been made, somewhat reluctantly, to have the young woman taught self discipline for her own good. A friend of a friend had put her in contact with someone experienced in dealing with wilful teenagers of wealthy parents. The man had agreed to take on the task of taming her even though she was out of the usual age group at twenty years old.
A one-page synopsis of the problem behaviour had been emailed to the trainer, as he called himself, and with that she felt somewhat relieved that someone else was taking over the problem. The arrangement was easily kept secret from Libby as they hardly ever spoke except when she demanded money. The trainer had emailed back with instructions not to warn the girl of the arrangement. Any day now he would call and spirit her away leaving Sophie with a few weeks of peace. The expected awkward confrontation bothered her until reassured it would all happen while she was out of the house. It all seemed so cloak and dagger and adventurous, as well as it being revenge at last, leaving Sophie with a thrilling sense of anticipation.
Saturday morning and Libby hadn't arrived home from a Friday night party, leaving the large sprawling house quiet and peaceful. Sophie had determined to make friends in the area so had joined a tennis club and was looking forward to the first lesson. Not wanting to be home when the young tormentor finally arrived she quickly dressed in tennis whites ready to go. A white blouse, short white pleated skirt, ankle socks and white trainers completed the outfit. Smart, perhaps a little too neat, but it reminded her of lazy carefree school days.
The front door bell rang. Dropping the sports bag she dragged reluctant feet to the door expecting an ugly confrontation with Libby. The sun streamed into the oval atrium blinding her yet she could see from the dark outline of a large built man it wasn't Libby. An authoritative voice asked, "Libby?" Sophie inwardly groaned wondering what trouble the little terror had caused now. It was useless to deny she lived there for they would merely return later.
"Yes?" The one word was all she managed to say.
The man pointed to something behind her asking, "What's that?" She turned to look and was confused seeing nothing there. In that split second a strong hand clench both wrists behind her back. Instinctively opening her mouth to shout a protest a gag was deftly inserted and the next moment she was hauled over his shoulder. Before she could gather her wits she was bundled into a van and driven away down the crunching gravel driveway. The gravel gave way to a smooth road surface with Sophie listening intently for clues as to where they were going and what was happening. As the adrenalin rush subsided she began to think more clearly. Trussed like a chicken for the oven she could hardly move from where she had been placed in a cardboard box. This had all been carefully planed so it wasn't Libby's friends playing a prank. Then it sank in. This was her plan, going dreadfully wrong.
Sophie laughed hysterically into the gag. The fear turned to embarrassment on realising she was going to have to explain she wasn't Libby but the mother. It was her fault as she had answered to her name at the door meaning only to confirm Libby lived there. There had been little excitement in her life so this would be something to laugh over with friends in the future. She could imagine it now, telling them how she was dragged out of her own home and the terror felt being driven away by a stranger. Being kidnapped was a rare situation to be in but as it was she who had made the arrangements, it all seemed so ridiculous. The trainer had hinted in his email this might be necessary but she hadn't imagined it to be so dramatic.
There hadn't been a chance to explain anything once they arrived. She had been expecting to point out the error and for them to share an embarrassed moment where they laughed at the mistake. Instead she had been carried over his shoulder into a barn then callously dumped into a stall still tied and gagged. On realising he had no intention of removing the gag she yelled and shook her head trying to explain through frustration and anger struggling furiously.
"Look here Libby. Calm down. You're going nowhere. You're here to learn respect for your elders. Your parents arranged this and I'm going to train you to behave like a proper and respectful young woman. Get that into your head right now. Do you ear me?" The tall man said, speaking slowly and forcefully.
Sophie shook her head wanting to explain he had got it all wrong. "It's no good I'm not letting you loose until you calm down. You won't get the pampering you're used to, not here. You will have to earn everything you get. You will have to earn every little thing until you value it. Your freedom, food, clothing, shelter, even the small things in life you take for granted will have to be earned. Your attitude and hard work will be the way to earn them. I'll leave you alone to think about it." He said.
"At least the straw is fresh." She thought. Thinking about it, all that he said, applied to her too. She had experienced a privileged upbringing as an only daughter of a rich man, widowed when she was born just like Libby. Only she hadn't the same rebellious streak Libby had, she had conformed, bent to the wind. "OK." She said to herself, "Go along with it until I get the chance to explain."
He woke her with the toe of his boot keeping back, out of reach. "You calmed down now?" He asked. For a moment she wondered where she was. The smell of horses and the straw brought back the awful trouble she was in. She nodded, attempting to look calm even relaxed.
He knew exactly what to do having been at the job a long time. Usually they were younger and had parental rights over them but this was different. This was the summer break with no one but the two of them on the ranch. Meaning there were no female staff to look after the more personal chores such as making sure she dressed and bathed as ordered. It might be an indelicate operation but he had on rare occasions dealt with female prisoners in the army so he could rely on rigid self-control to get them both through the next few weeks. In the army it had just been a job, breaking people for information. After retiring from the army he considered this was just a job, only it was well paid. He was looking forward to a second retirement with this young rich kid a last minute chore. Once it was over the new guy could take on the business.
