Chapter 89

I awoke and glanced at the clock. It was only four-thirty so I rolled over and spooned up against Tamara. She moaned and pressed her ass into Mr. Happy. I really, really, really wanted to make love to her but I settled for just holding her.

I must have dozed off for someone shaking my shoulder awakened me. I looked up to see Audrey smiling at me. "Good morning, lover. It's time to get up and get sweaty."

"How about you get naked and we'll get sweaty in the bed?"

"I would love to but your mother is upstairs. Now get up. Sam and Roy are waiting in the kitchen."

"Go start stretching and I'll be there in a few minutes." She leaned down and kissed me before she left the bed.

I rolled back and kissed Tamara on the shoulder. I then visited the WC before getting dressed.

I grabbed a bottled water and headed out the patio doors. Sam, Roy, and Audrey were already stretching when I joined them. I did an abbreviated stretching session and started with some calisthenics. I hated those when I had to do them everyday in the Marine Corps but knew they were necessary.

I had Audrey step through the kata I taught her. Roy and Sam mimicked her. She did well. I only had to adjust her arm position a couple of times. I then sparred with Sam for a few minutes and then with Roy for a few. After I rested for a couple of minutes, Audrey asked me to spar with her.

For being a beginner, she did quite well. She would get frustrated when I would get through her blocks. We went at it for about ten minutes and I noticed Roy and Sam were also sparring.

I sat with my legs out stretched and drank some water. Roy and Sam asked me to take them on at the same time. I told them we needed pads if we were going to do that.

When Roy asked why, I answered, "When there is only one of you, I can pull my punches fairly well. But when there are more, I can't trust myself to pull them and move to the second attack quickly."

"Since we don't have any this morning, we'll take our chances," Sam responded.

"It's your funeral."

I took my stance while Roy and Sam circled. Sam lunged with a right front kick and I dropped and swept his left leg. As he fell to the ground, I spun to meet Roy's attempt at a side kick. I stood and stepped into his body and used an elbow to his ribs. I didn't quite get the punch pulled and he let out an 'oomph' upon contact. I then stepped back towards Sam blocking his punch to my head. I countered with a heel thrust to his nose. This I did pull but Sam's eyes got very wide.

"Time!" I called.

"I guess I see what you meant," Roy said holding his side.

"I was afraid you weren't going to pull that last punch," Sam said.

"I thought that sparring two on one wouldn't be much different than one on one," Roy commented.

"In a controlled environment, say in a dojo, it is calmer. In the real world you don't know what an attacker is going to do and therefore you go for maiming blows. The fewer the blows the quicker the fight is over."

"I watched that tape of the Santa Fe attack in slow motion and I swear you only made contact three times. One blow to the knee, one blow to the throat, and then one grasp as your threw the guy past you. Three blows and the fight was essentially over," Roy stated.

Sam added, "I saw the attack after the trial and it was similar. Wham bam and over."

"Can you teach us that?" Roy asked.

"Please," Sam begged.

"I plan on getting you better training. I talked to Dan and suggested Jeff set up training for all the Shield employees."

"Does that include me?" asked Audrey.

"Maybe. I should turn you over to a better instructor."

"You're great. How could there be any better instructor than you?"

"I do better than I teach. Besides, some of the training I received was strictly meant for killing. I want you to be able to defend yourself."

"A good defense is good offense. Or so I've heard," she replied.

"I think we've had enough for today," I said and grabbed a towel. Audrey and Sam went in to shower and Roy left to go home. I turned to go into the house when Mom walked out on the patio with her coffee.

"I see you're still in pretty good shape. I had never seen you work out before," she said.

"How much did you see?"

"I saw most of it. I heard movement this morning and got up to make coffee. What's with Audrey?"

"I made her my personal assistant and I want her to be able to defend herself if something happens."

"That makes sense. But what I want to know is what's with her affection towards you. That little girl is in love with you."

I had a difficult time not showing any emotions in my face. "Why do you say that?"

"I'm your mother; I just know things. I also noticed the same attentiveness with Lena and Susan. And you do have to admit it is unusual for someone Susan's age to be living with another family."

"First of all, Lena and Audrey have accepted me as their mother's mate. Secondly, Susan moved to Albuquerque to work for me and Tamara offered to let her stay here for as long as she likes."

"Those are valid explanations but I see more to your situation than that."

I sat there for a minute trying to figure out how to tell my mother I had a harem.

"John, you're a mature man. I'm not trying to start anything. I'm just being me. I'm just giving you a chance to fill me on what's really going on."

She had been here for less than twenty-four hours and had already seen through our charade of hiding the circle from her.

"Have you ever heard of a polyamorous relationship?"

"No... I've heard of polygamy though. Is it similar?"

"Yes, it's similar. It is where there are multiple people involved in a relationship based on the openness of being involved with more than one person at the same time. All have to consent to the relationship. It's not a 'swinging' lifestyle, it's emotional intimacy."

"That's a mouthful. How did this happen? I don't see Tamara being the type to be with more than one person."

"Ours is an unusual situation. Tamara was the one to invite other women into what we call our circle. Each time is was because of love, not sex. Don't get me wrong, there is great sex."

"I could have told you that," she said slyly.

"He's right, Martha... I invited the others in," Tamara said as she walked out of the open patio door.

"What is this? How many others are going to sneak up on me this morning?" I stood up and pulled out a seat for Tamara.

"I was going to join you but I heard you start to tell your mother about our circle and decided to let you start without me," she said. She then turned to my mother and continued.

"Martha, John came into my life at a time when I didn't want anything to do with men. I had just recently divorced and was still wearing my wedding ring to discourage advances. Your son melted the wall I had up and I was interested in seeing where it would go. He was more than I could have ever hoped for and we committed to being monogamous immediately."

"That seems to have changed," commented my mother.

"Yes, it did. My daughter, Lena, needed a strong male in her life, as she was involved in a lesbian relationship. I couldn't think of anyone better than John to give that to her. What neither John nor I knew was Lena had fallen in love with John. John also did the same thing for Christina, Lena's lesbian lover."

"I haven't met Christina, have I?"

"No you haven't. Actually Christina has voluntarily left the circle. The number one rule is that John is the only male. Anyone having sexual relations with another male must leave the circle."

"How did you manage to get both daughters?" Mom asked.

"That's a longer story. Susan joined before Audrey. Susan had also been in a very bad marriage. She's Steve's sister. Steve is John's friend and now works for him. Anyway, I felt a closeness with Susan and invited her into the circle. I use the term invited because John has never invited anyone into the circle and has turned down several advances from other females."

Mom raised her eyebrows. "I have trouble believing John turned down anyone."

"Oh he has and has done it many times. Anyway, Audrey was the last to join and in a way, has become closer to John than even I am. Oh I don't doubt John's love for me and I know I'm his number one, but Audrey is on a different plane with him. Maybe because she told him off when she found out he and Lena were sleeping together."

"How do you and the other women put up with sharing him?"

"I never thought that could happen. All of us share him and each other. We love each other. There have been few if any signs of jealousy. John has become our lover and protector."

"I can't say that I understand it but you seem very calm and comfortable talking to me about it. John has always had room in his heart for multiple females but I never thought I would see him in a relationship that included all of them. What about marriage?"

I spoke up, "With your blessing, I plan on asking Tamara to marry me. She is my number one and will be until I die. The others in the circle know this and accepted this when they joined."

"I believe you. You have my blessing and hopefully someday I might understand this better."

I looked at Tamara and got down on my knee. "My love, will you marry me and share my life until I die."

"Yes, I will marry you. But what if I die before you?"

"I would hate for that to happen but if it does, your memory will be in my heart until I die."

"That's so beautiful," Tamara replied.

"Thank you for sharing that with me," Mom said. I looked at her and she had tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. It's just that I really believe everything you said. I didn't feel that with your first two marriages."

"Martha, my parents had a little trouble accepting our circle. My dad had seen how Susan was around John and thought he was cheating on me. I told them what we told you. You seem to handle it better."

"You are their little girl and parents treat girls different than boys. I have seen John grow up and make a few mistakes in his relationships. He didn't give up. He said he would know when it was right. He told me that a few weeks ago so I was prepared when I arrived. I have to admit you're head and shoulders above the rest of the women he has had in his life."

"Actually she is the shortest," I commented and moved to keep from getting hit. "I'll be back."

I left and went to round up the rest of the circle. Lena and Susan were both getting ready for work and I asked them to come down to the patio when they were decent. Audrey was drying her hair when I entered her bathroom. I reached around her from behind and cupped her sweet breasts. She was a goddess. Something about brunettes initiate lust in my loins.

"Take me right now!" she said.

"Later. Come down to the patio as soon as you can get decent." I kissed her on her bare shoulder and left.

I refilled the coffee and was seated when the girls came out on the patio.

"I wanted you three to be the second to know. I asked Tamara to marry me and she said yes."

I would have to wait to say anything else as the three of them swarmed Tamara. Mom winked at me and leaned over, "You did good!" I thanked her and whistled.

"Ladies, I have another announcement. Mother, I would like you to officially meet the other members of Tamara and my circle: Lena, Audrey, and Susan."

They all three stood there looking like they had be caught cheating on a test at school.

"Nice to meet you," Mom said. "Tamara and John explained your relationship and I am pleased with his choice of companions." She then stood up and held her arms open. All three hugged her.

Mom then took Tamara's hand and pulled her to her feet. "Welcome to the family." She looked at the others and said, "I welcome you three as well."

"Now who wants to go to Santa Fe today?" I asked.

Lena was the first to answer, "I would love to but I have to help Lisa. Remember?"

Audrey acknowledged she was going and to my surprise, Susan said she wanted to go.

"Good. I need to shower and get dressed. How about we leave in an hour and have breakfast on the way?"

After a breakfast Denny's we were on the road to Santa Fe. It was amazing how comfortable everyone was with each other in the Escalade. Even Susan was joining in the conversations more.

Once in Santa Fe, I guided us to the gallery I loved. There were sculptures by a young artist that were excellent. Periodically he worked in the gallery to entice more sales. It so happened he was there and had a sketch of his next endeavor. He hadn't started working the clay yet but said he would within the next few weeks. I told him I would like to buy the first one and he put my name on the list and took my credit card to bill me.

I caught up with the girls as they were meandering through the gallery. Mom was writing a check to the owner of the gallery. I asked her what she bought. She pointed to a painting that Tamara was staring at. "It's a wedding present. Tamara said she wanted it so I'm buying it."

"I can remember when you used to do that for me because I didn't have enough money for things. You really do like her, don't you?"

"Yes I do. She probably won me over faster than she did you."

"I doubt that, she had me from hello." I quoted a C&W song.

"The owner said they would have it delivered."

"Thank you so much," Tamara said when she walked up. "I hope you like it, John. I want to hang it over the fireplace."

I told her that would be fine. We left the gallery and strolled through the shops looking at the turquoise jewelry. I picked up a couple of items for Marie. I noticed Susan admiring a bracelet. "Do you want that?"

"Yes and no. I like the design but I want different stones."

"I have a friend who makes jewelry. We can visit him and get him to make what you want."

"You are so good to me. I feel very special. I couldn't believe you told your mother about the circle. I felt a little out of place."

"I could tell. I don't want you to ever feel that way. You're a part of the family and part of my heart."

"I wish I could have met you before I married."

"It wouldn't have been the same. Our paths crossed when they were supposed to. Neither of us was ready for what we have now."

Just as I turned, I noticed Sam coming towards me. "Trouble. I don't know how the word got around but I think our little friends know you're in town."

"What makes you think that?"

"I saw one of the guys from the incident after the trial following you. I noticed him talking very animatedly on his cell phone."

"Can you get in touch with the Santa Fe police department and get a couple of officers over here?"

"I already called and reinforcements should be here shortly. I recommend you stay in here until they arrive."

"Okay, but find Tamara and tell her to go to the Ore House. Tell her I'll meet up with her as soon as I can." I turned and went back to Susan. I told her to go with Sam to find Tamara.

I edged up to the front of the store and sure enough, the young man whose nose I had broken was standing across the street in the plaza. A couple of minutes later two more guys walked up. They did their gang handshake and he pointed over to the store where I was watching. I didn't think they could see me.

My cell phone rang. It was Sam. He told me all the women were at the Ore House. He said the police hadn't yet arrived. While we were talking three more young men joined the first three. I noticed one of the guys had a pistol stuck in his belt and I told Sam that along with a description of the shirt. He asked if I was packing and I told him no. I left the Glock in the Escalade.

What was it about Santa Fe that was trouble for me? I had been coming here at least once a month for the past three years and now I couldn't show up without trouble.

Then I saw something that pissed me off. The youngest of the original attackers, the one that tried to run away, joined the group. I called Sam and told him. He said he was in the plaza behind the group. I spotted him. I told Sam I was coming out of the store and I would be going to my left, his right. He told me to stay put but I told him that the police wouldn't be able to do anything if the gang didn't do something against the law. I hung up and went outside.

I turned to my left and walked down the sidewalk. I glanced over my left shoulder at the window and saw four of the seven cross the street. The other three started to pace me from across the street. The one I spotted with the gun was still across the street.

There were too many tourists on the sidewalk and I didn't want to get any of them hurt. I needed an edge. I glanced to my right and saw Sam was even with the gun-toting gang-banger. If I timed my move into the street just right, Sam should be able to come up behind him.

I turned at a forty-five degree angle and started across the street. This caused the group on the other side of the street to stop. I heard "Freeze" from Sam and looked long enough to see Sam had his gun at the base of the gun toting tough's head.

I then continued my turn until I was facing the four that had been behind me. They were all in the street about ten feet in front of me. Three of the four pulled knives. The only one without a weapon was the original assailant.

"I see we meet again."

"Yeah," he said, "and this time you ain't leaving here."

"I guess you didn't learn your lesson the first time. Nor did your cousin. I see his nose is still bandaged."

"That's cause you broke it, mother fucker." He made another mistake by lunging at me with his arm extended. I sidestepped his attack, grabbed his wrist, twisted and then squatted bringing his outstretched elbow across my knee. The sound of the breaking bone was extremely loud, but not as loud as his scream of pain. I stood up and he fell to the ground grabbing his arm.

I'll call his buddy Mr. Stupid since he apparently didn't learn anything and tried the same move. Since he came from my right, I grabbed his arm and flipped him. When he landed I twisted his arm to give me tight resistance and then drove my left boot down into his shoulder socket. The crunching sound of a severely dislocated shoulder made for a deterrent for the other knife welding youth. He ran right into a Santa Fe police officer coming around the corner.

"This is the police! Throw down your weapons and lay face down on the street."

The original assailant thought he could run away and tried. However the police had that direction covered and he was again tackled. I finally looked back over to where Sam was. He had all three of the gang members lying on the grass.

"Hello, Mr. Kegler." I turned to see Officer Bryant. "I heard you were in town."

"I was trying to have a nice peaceful day."

"Whoever called in said you were involved. I thought about calling in the S.W.A.T. team but since it was you, I didn't figure they would be needed."

I told him what happened and Sam walked up during my statement. I introduced Sam to Officer Bryant. Sam told him that he had been the one to call 9-1-1.