Chapter 1

The phone rang, and I picked it up. “Jerry Smallbridge,” I said, not looking at the display.

“Hi, Jerry! It’s Jon. How’re things over there in Lakeland?”

Where to start? “We’re okay. Everyone’s well, the girls are getting their education via Zoom, we’ve plenty of food, and can get out in the fresh air a lot more than most people. I’ve been going to Mountain Rescue, as it’s an ‘Essential Service’. But I have to confess, it’s getting monotonous. Of course, we’re lucky. It’s a lovely place and we can get out on the lake or up on the Fells, and of course we’ve got the grounds of the Lodge. It’s good to hear a different voice, Jon, but I guess this isn’t purely social.”

“Indeed not, but I think you may be pleased with what I have to say.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“With the rules easing, if you’re still willing, we can return Anna and Jakub to you for the summer. Their English is pretty good now, and I think we’ve got everything they know about the trafficking. Apart from that, we’ve checked them over very thoroughly, and they’re as well as they can be. Pretty normal, really, but they’re still ... emotionally delicate. You ... and Sally and the girls are probably the best possible environment for them. They’ve got passports and all the other documentation they need. What do you say?”

That was easy. I had no doubt of Sally’s opinion, or that of Yelka and Lena. “I’d better consult Sally, Yelka and Lena before I say yes definitively, Jon, but you and I know there’s no doubt what they’ll say. We’ll have time to get them enrolled in the school, and they’ll have a summer learning to sail.”

“Thanks, Jerry. Do call and confirm, won’t you? I’d like to get them on their way to you asap.”

“Surely. How’s Rob, and Enid?”

“That was a surprise. They’re getting along very well indeed. Enid’s looking after Rob very well, actually, and she seems to be blooming. But It’ll be another couple to escort Anna and Jakub. They’ll bring a tent and camping equipment so they won’t need to enter the house. I expect they’ll appreciate dinner and breakfast.”

“No problem.” As it happened, the girls were ‘Zooming’ with the school, and Sally was in the kitchen, with Jerry Junior bouncing in his strange sling affair suspended from the door-frame. I squeezed past. “Da!”

That was new. I turned and squatted in front of him as he bounced. “Hey, son!”

“Da! Da!”

“That’s right! Clever boy!” Surely that was very early? I stood and went over to Sally, wrapped my arms round her and kissed her neck. She shivered, and turned in my arms, and we kissed. “I’ve just been on the phone with Jon Schraeder.”

“Oh?” Her face was alive with curiosity. In the past a call from Jon had resulted in several interesting outcomes, including our acquisition of the twins. “And...”

“Would we like Anna and Jakub back?”

“Oh, Master! Really?”

“Really! I didn’t think there was any question, but I said I ought to ask you and the girls.”

She pouted. “Master!” Very disapproving tone, “You know what I think.”

“I was sure, Sally, but I have to ask. And I have to ask the girls too.”

She turned away, out of my arms and bent to open a low cupboard. Once I would have smacked her delectable bottom. I’m sure she did it on purpose. But not with Jerry Junior in the same room. One day I’d have to explain to him, but definitely not for years. I did step to get between him and Sally and gave her a caress. She straightened up and tossed me a grin. “Later,” she smiled.

“How long are the girls going to be?”

“At least another hour. Then it’ll be lunchtime.”

With one of them in my study and the other in the lounge using laptops to get their lessons, I was a bit at a loss where I could go. After a brief hesitation, I headed out to get some firearms practice. That, and cleaning the weapon afterwards, took me to mid-day, and I headed indoors. As always, the food was wonderful. We had, after some discussion, permitted the girls to shoot for the pot, and we had curried rabbit for lunch.

When Sally served up an apple crumble and custard, I broached the question. I swallowed the mouthful and with difficulty restrained myself from taking another. “I had a call from Jon Schraeder this morning.” The girls looked up as I slipped a spoonful of dessert in to Sally’s waiting mouth. “He says Anna and Jakub are ready to come back to us.”

The girls both smiled. “So when can we expect them?” That was Yelka, taking the lead as usual.

“I waited to see what you had to say about it before I made any arrangements,” I explained.

“Papa Jerry!” Yelka exclaimed, both she and Lena were frowning. “Why didn’t you just say yes?”

“Because this is your home, and I wanted to give you the chance to say yes first.”

They looked at each other for several seconds, then nodded. “Okay. We’ll let you off ... this time.”
“So it’s yes? I’ll call Jon this afternoon. I expect they’ll be here late tomorrow.”

So lunch came to a conclusion. Yelka set about clearing up. Sally headed upstairs with Junior. We’re weaning him, but he still gets a sip of milk before his afternoon nap. I followed, watching her derriere; poetry in motion. Lena followed us.

We sat in the master bedroom, the four of us, while Junior sucked noisily. Sally quite unembarrassed, Lena, as usual, fascinated by the natural process. When he finished and was just messing about with the nipple, Sally detached him and handed him to Lena, who took him with a smile.

“I’ll look after Junior,” she said, the smile more of a smirk, really, “and put him down for his nap. Papa Jerry, you better look after Mama Sally well.”

I take orders quite well. Undressed Sally over her protests, undressed myself, emptied her breasts, covered her with my body. Three years ... nearly four now. Despite Junior and her history, she’s snug, slippery and hot. I took my time and, now she’s aware of my preferences, she’s happy to orgasm as I take pleasure in her body and her response. I cannot understand men who want to use a woman and prevent them from taking pleasure in the act – personally Sally’s response to me really ramps up my own pleasure. When I came, we lay together, snuggling, until it became necessary to get up and shower.

The call to Jon was short and straightforward. Afterwards, Yelka came with me as I felled a couple of trees which were obviously moribund. We reduced them to piles of logs and over the next few days I’d reduce them to firewood, splitting them so they’d dry in time for winter. Of course, there were already split logs ready, so they’d have plenty of time to dry. I made a mental note to call a sweep.

When we’d done, we headed for showers. Sally, as usual, made sure I was thoroughly clean, and then massaged my aching back and muscles. At one time, that might have led to a bed encounter, or even one in the bathroom, but Yelka deserved a massage too, and I wasn’t going to do that for her, or delay it by taking Sally.

Two days later, an MPV stopped at the gate and buzzed for entry. When I let it in, the driver swung it round in front of the Lodge, and Anna got out of the nearside passenger door, closely followed by Jakub, and ran to the front door. When Sally opened the door, both wrapped her up in a tight hug. Yelka and Lena immediately joined in, with a babble of words I couldn’t distinguish. I just stood back, shaking my head. But they separated, and the new arrivals came to me and hugged me too.

Jakub seemed edgy, somehow. “Jakub, why don’t you run up the hill and have a look at your garden, make sure we’ve been looking after it properly? Anna – you could go too.”

“Thank you, Papa Jerry!” Jakub, closely followed by Anna, shot off, through the house and out the back.

Sally wrapped her arms around me from behind. “That was well thought of, Master. They won’t be long, I think.”

They weren’t: ten minutes, perhaps, then they were back, taking shoes off before going upstairs.

When Sally took them – and their luggage – upstairs to settle in, I realised I had another task to perform. The little fourteen-foot dinghy in the boathouse was fine for Yelka and Lena. At a bit of a squeeze, it could accommodate Sally and me, too, but not six of us. I went to my study and picked up the phone.

“Thompson Boatyard.”

“Hello, it’s Jerry Smallbridge. I am in need of a larger dinghy than what I’ve got. I’m looking for something traditional. Clinker, half-decked, gunter rigged, centre board. Sixteen to eighteen feet.”