Chapter 64

THURSDAY MORNING — SEPTEMBER 19

Jeff and Dave were building a cardboard tunnel for Jeff's obstacle course on the firing range.

... Dave stopped to look at him. "You've started some shit, you know."

"Me? What have I done?" Jeff tried to innocently ask, a grin on his face.

"You know very well what I mean," Dave said, trying to act pissed, but not fooling Jeff a whit. "All this talk about Alpha Males and Queen Bitches, not to say anything about the precedent you're setting with a bunch of wives. Do you know that little wife of mine laid down the law to me when I first got to know you and I told her about suspecting that you were sleeping with all of your women?"

Answering himself, Dave continued, "Yeah, I guess I told you about that. But the point is that after she got to know you, and them, she changed. Oh, it was gradual, and I suspect that Diana had a lot to do with it. But acting like she's kidding, or not, fact is that she's serious about this Queen Bitch thing. You have no idea how much of a turnaround that is. She wants me to take Linda as a wife. I swear she about screwed me to death after Linda left last night."

Dave shook the section of tunnel they were working on. "I think that piece is a little loose," he said, pointing. "You probably need to put in a few extra staples. You do know that if we get a strong gust of wind, this thing is going to become a sail, and probably come all to pieces in the process?"

Jeff restapled the piece, but otherwise didn't answer. "Anyway," Dave started again, "she's telling me that an Alpha needs more than one wife and is going to see that I get them. Shit, Jeff, I think she's talking about more than just Linda. And what if they both get PMS at the same time, or however many she's thinking about? Crap, I'll have to head for the hills."

Jeff chuckled. "Move your hand, unless you want a staple for a decoration. And in case you haven't noticed," he said, his grin getting bigger, "you're already on a heck of a hill."

Dave quickly jerked his hand to a new location as Jeff finished up with the section. "Man, you make this multiple marriage thing look easy." After a second, when Jeff didn't respond, he continued. "Linda's titties are a little bigger than Evie's, at least they look that way through her clothes. I haven't seen her nude, yet. But even I know that I'm going to have to be very careful about any compliments, or hell, even giving the impression her titties excite me. That could start a whole bunch of shit if the green-eyed monster rears its head, as they say."

Dave thought for a second, then continued, "But ... if I don't compliment Linda, then she's going to have her feelings hurt..."

Jeff, who had been bending over for some time stapling the sides, stood up and stretched. "Those are valid points, and believe me, I've worried about the same thing, and a lot of others, besides. But, oddly enough, I think that's where the Queen Bitch comes in. Diana says that her opinion and feelings changed after Arlene and I got together. Of course, it was Diana's instigating that got it started, anyway, but she's adamant that something changed in her after she made up her mind about Arlene."

Jeff picked up another piece of cardboard. As Dave held it in place, Jeff stapled. "The healer says that the Queen Bitch syndrome — if you want to call it that — happens when the first wife decides to expand her husband's mates. Apparently, we're enough like the race who created the healer for this to happen. Heck, I don't know. Maybe we're cousins, or closer, even. Whatever the reason, I know that something is going on. The healer also says that the Alphas have a mental influence that keeps down strife. In other words, the wives know that strife among them would displease their Alpha, and this is unconsciously avoided.

"Let's carry this section down to the other one. I've decided to put in two turns. Might make it a little harder."

"All of this is well and good," Dave said, standing and grabbing one end of the tunnel, "but it still seems like a good recipe for a few nights on the couch now and then."

"Well, I've come close," Jeff answered, picking up his end, "But other than a threat or two, so far I've managed to sleep in my own bed."

Shortly, they had removed a portion of one of the panels from the side of the first tunnel, and attached the next section at a ninety-degree angle. As they walked back, Jeff put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I think this is going to go a lot smoother than you think it will. Looks like Madison is supporting it. Diana tells me that he bought that outfit that Linda was wearing last night."

"Yeah," Dave admitted as they started building the last section. "I think he was a little shaken. Hell, I was a lot shaken. But other than telling me that he would beat my ass if I ever hurt her, he seemed ... well, resigned to an extent, but more than that, he also seemed to think that our marrying was the right thing to do. That is the last thing I expected out of him."

Jeff paused for a second with the drill in his hand as Dave held a couple of two by twos together. "Diana is adamant that you, Madison, Frank and Fred are all Alpha Males, plus the healer told me that the four of you would begin displaying more of your Alpha tendencies as they were awakened in you."

When Jeff finished attaching the pieces to each other, Dave held the two by two section as Jeff aligned the cardboard. "I don't feel like an Alpha Male — whatever they are. Oh, the healer has obviously helped me. My dick is a little bigger," he grinned. "And I think my little wife can't make up her mind whether she likes that or not. But I've had to buy new pants. I've grown a couple of inches, and I can't fucking get enough sex. I think it's stressing Evie."

"So maybe you need another wife to cut Evie a little slack," Jeff said as he stapled the last sheet of cardboard. "We need four more pieces." But Dave had already started for the side of the range to get them.

A few minutes later as they resumed their work, Dave sighed. "Uh, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Do you mean that what we've been talking about isn't personal?" Jeff teased.

"Well, damnit, the women can talk about anything. But if us guys mention something and they find out, we're in a world of hurt."

"Yeah, that's about right," Jeff agreed.

Dave caught Jeff's eye. "How in the hell do you take care of seven women? And now it's going to be nine. I mean even if you can keep going ... the logistics of things..."

"Logistics?" Jeff laughed. "I've never heard it called that. Hand me that other piece."

Dave absently handed him the cardboard, then held his end in place. "Well, whatever you call it. By the time you get around to the last one, it's a wonder she hasn't died of boredom."

Jeff stopped stapling for a moment, looked at his friend. "Boy, are you in for a surprise." Hooking the staple gun onto his belt, he said, "Let's get this part mated up to the rest. I want the tunnel to turn both ways."

A few minutes later, as Jeff finished stapling the last section to the main tunnel, he turned to Dave again. "If it works with you the way it has with me, your women will gradually — well I'll use attune for lack of a better word — attune to each other."

"What the crap does that mean?" Dave asked.

"Well, you see the way they work together, cooking, cleaning up, and the rest of it ... It doesn't stop when we get to the bedroom. I've given up trying to deny that there's a connection between them. Diana claims that even if they're not in the same room, that when one of them orgasms, the others will, but not nearly as strongly unless they're touching me or the wife I'm making love to."

"Oh, shit," Dave said. "I've seen some of them sitting in the living room, when they all got quiet, then flushed, and sometimes shivered. I knew what it looked like. I just couldn't believe they had an orgasm just sitting there."

"By the time I get around to the ones that have had to wait, with all of us together in that big bed, it doesn't take much before they have the big one and pass out. I suspect that the same thing will work for you, especially after they've been together for a while. And if they touch me, or the one I'm making love to, they'll pass out when she does. And ... they don't exactly just lie there while I'm making love to one of them."

Dave wasn't sure how he should respond to Jeff's last remark, remembering Evie's comment about not being bi. Instead, he said, almost to himself, "Evie has fainted a few times, lately."

"I think you're worrying about something that will take care of itself. I've come to trust my little friend that rides my shoulders," Jeff said as he put a hand behind his neck to touch her through his shirt. "Between you, your Queen Bitch and Little One, everything will work out."

The two men stood admiring their handiwork in the cloudy dawn. "Well, there's no denying that your women have some sort of link, but I guess I never really thought of Evie that way. Although, come to think of it, she seems to be able to work in that kitchen with your wives just as they do. But she hasn't mentioned being able to know when they're having sex."

Jeff looked at his friend for a moment. "I don't think it works that way, but I'm willing to bet that they have some kind of link when they work together."

Dave glanced at his watch, then back at the retreat. "You know that we're late for breakfast?"

"Yeah, and what do you want to bet that they know exactly where we are and will be putting breakfast on the table when we walk into that kitchen."

As they gathered up the tools and started back for the garage to store them, Dave asked, "Did you use the healer on Jeb and Annie again?"

"Yeah," Jeff replied. "I went back to their suite a little after midnight. I came on out here and started on the tunnel when she finished."

"So you haven't had any sleep?" Dave said.

"Oh, I slept some. I sat in the corner and catnapped."

"How do you do that? You must have done the same thing with Evie and me. How do you get by with so little sleep?"

Jeff opened the garage door so they could store the tools. "Must be the healer. But I've never needed a lot of sleep. I guess I got used to it when I was working and going to school."

After storing the range tools, they stepped outside and lowered the door. "Did you guys get an invitation to Carla's party?" Dave asked.

"Yeah," Jeff answered as they turned toward the house. "We're supposed to go down after lunch to help her with things."

"Us too. What do you suppose we are going to do while the women are getting ready for the party? Oh, shit, I can't believe I said that," Dave cringed.

Jeff laughed at Dave. "Diana has already given me a list of things to load. Might as well use Evie's pickup as well, if you don't mind — tables, chairs, a whole list of things."

"My back is hurting already," Dave joked.

"Yeah, but you better be grinning when you say that in front of the women," Jeff warned as he held the back door open for Dave.

When they entered the kitchen, all Jeff's wives and Joyce were wearing black BDU's. (Military surplus black battle dress uniforms like you see the SWAT teams wearing) Dave grinned at Jeff. "Damn if I'm not going to have to get Evie a set of those."

"Well, they'll work out fine for today with the range wet and them having to crawl around."

"Hey, Jeff," Jeb called from the bar, where he was drinking a cup of coffee, "can Annie and I watch? Your course looks like it will be fun."

"Sure," Jeff laughed. "Maybe with enough witnesses, I won't get into too much trouble when someone skins an elbow or something," he laughed.

When Jeff sat at the head of the table, Caitlin came over and plopped into his lap. "How come I can't shoot your obstacle course? Diana says that she doubts that you will let me. My dad taught me to shoot a pistol, though."

Jeff looked at Diana, who slow-winked at him. "You can shoot it, but not right now. I don't want to insult you, but the course can be dangerous unless you're very familiar with a handgun. This one is timed, so you're pushing against the clock. After fifty or sixty hours on the regular range, I'll run you through the obstacle course. We're going to be shooting obstacle courses, plates, and the shooting trees a lot in the near future. But Diana and I will have to bring you up to speed, first."

Caitlin frowned a bit, but said, "Well, it was worth a try. I guess I can understand, but I don't have to like it." Kissing him, she hopped up, and was quickly replaced by Joyce.

"I told her that you wouldn't let her do it, but she said she was going to try, anyway." Joyce kissed him hard for a moment, then was gone, to be replaced by Diana.

Jeff glanced at Jeb and Annie, who were sneaking looks. "I think we're giving them a show," he said, nodding his head slightly in their direction.

Diana kissed him hard, then pulled back looking into his eyes. "They may be old, but never think that they're senile. Annie had it figured out ten minutes into breakfast preparations." Smiling at him, she added, "Oh yeah, she said that they dreamed of a blue light again."

Still talking quietly, she continued, "I talked to Carla about inviting Jeb and Annie to the party. She said it would be fine, of course. I think it will do them good to associate with all those farmers. I can't see just leaving them here, and they certainly look like they're feeling better today. I gathered from Annie that they don't have many friends, anymore. She says that they outlived everyone that they knew."

Noticing Jeb in animated conversation with Helen, Jeff quickly agreed.

Dave and Evie had left to check on Jeb and Annie's house. Everyone else was in the classroom. "Okay, everybody," Jeff said, looking around him. "I'm going to take each of you, singly, through the obstacle course. You will shoot it twice, and Caitlin has agreed to keep the times and apply band aids to the skinned places." He waited for the laughter, but none came. His little joke having fallen flat, he cleared his throat and continued. "A miss adds five seconds to your score. A hit on a good guy adds twenty seconds to your time. The object is to hit all the targets that you're supposed to with a double-tap, and still have the shortest time through the course." (Double-tap: Two rounds fired in a very short period of time. The first is an aimed round, followed as quickly as possible with the second round. With enough practice to produce the necessary muscle memory to bring the weapon back on target, the second round will hit very close to where the first round did, generally causing far more shock to the body.) "So you have to hurry to do well, but you also have to shoot well to have a decent time. Any safety violation will add sixty seconds to your time, if the violation is minor. If it is a major violation, I will disqualify you immediately. In addition, safety violators will accrue massive numbers of pushups to be worked off in the coming week."

The room got very quiet. "And, yeah, I know that I'll probably be sleeping on the couch, but if I catch you moving from point A to point B with your finger on the trigger, or point your weapon in an unsafe direction. There will be penalties — big penalties for you. Under stress, we sometimes do stupid things. A gunfight is bad enough without getting killed by 'friendly fire.' So we learn here, and pushups, and my yelling at you are going to be the penalties — whether I sleep on the couch or not," he added with a chuckle that he hoped would break the tension a little.

"I want each of you to shoot the course once without having seen anyone shoot it. In other words, we'll do it like this. First Diana will shoot the course, then she'll watch as Laura shoots the course. After that, Diana will shoot her second time with Laura watching. Then Laura will shoot her second time. What I'm trying to do is have everyone shoot the course once 'blind' so to speak. Then watching someone else shoot will give you pointers as you watch them mess up or do something better than you did. You not only learn from your mistakes, but you learn from theirs as well, plus you learn from their good points where they have, maybe, had a better idea about something than you did."

There were a lot of frowns. Jeff just grinned. "Diana first. As soon as she finishes her first time, I'll call on the radio and Laura can come out. No peeking on the security monitor. I want the first time to be a surprise for each of you."

On the range a few minutes later, Diana looked at the course as Jeff explained it to her. Nervous, she glanced at him. "This thing is complicated. I don't want to screw up..."

"Remember, I'll be right by your side all the way. Well, except for the tunnel. You'll crawl, or duck walk through it by yourself. I'll be waiting at the exit for you."

"So, I start at the twenty-five, run to the barrier, and kneel behind it. Then the target will turn and I'll engage it, if it is a threat. Then holster and secure my weapon, go through thirty feet of tunnel, go to each station behind cover, engaging each target for that station. After all of the stations, I run to the end of the sidewalk, go prone and shoot the two bowling pins that are thirty feet away on the end of the sidewalk. When I knock the last pin down, my time stops."

Diana looked over the course again. "I'm to use two magazines, changing when necessary, but from behind cover, right?"

When Jeff nodded, she continued, "Then why do I have three magazines?"

"Hopefully, you won't have to find out?" Jeff answered with a smirk. Then, "Take your time on the first run-through. I know that you think you have to beat the others, but pushing it too fast won't get that done. A balance of precision shooting and a little hurry up will get your best time."

"Yeah, well, that's a lot of help," Diana mumbled sarcastically as she positioned herself at the start.

Jeff jogged beside his wife as she engaged the first shoot/no shoot target — a badass looking guy holding a black cell phone as if he had a gun in his hand. As the target turned to face her, she snapped her weapon into position, shook her head, holstered, and took off for the tunnel at a dead run.

Jeff was waiting for her when she came out of the other end, mumbling, red-faced. Then despite his warnings — although he knew she would — she took off for the next station flat out, and dived behind cover.

Jeff smiled as he stayed within touching distance of her as she worked her way through the course, hitting every bad guy in the head, none of her rounds coming near any of the hostages.

Jeff grinned as she charged down the sidewalk toward the line he had drawn across it. He had put a six foot piece of carpet down that the shooter was supposed to lie on while shooting the bowling pins. As Diana neared, she dived into a prone position, slamming into the carpet-covered concrete, pulled her weapon from the holster and commenced firing at the bowling pins — which wiggled but refused to fall over.

The comments she didn't mumble, but enunciated very clearly, weren't for delicate ears. She carefully aimed and fired twice more. Both pins fell.

"Time," Jeff yelled as he noted his stopwatch.

Diana stood, dropped her magazine, ejected the last round, and double-checked her weapon, returning it to the holster. Picking up the round and magazine, she turned to her husband. "The girls are going to have your ass," she said as she looked up at Jeff. "Your ass," she repeated. "And those damned pins won't fall over."

"Sure they will," Jeff joked, "when you hit them just right."

"I had one round left. If that damn pin hadn't fallen, I would have had to change into that third magazine, and waste more time."

"But you put two rounds into each bad guy's head, with no misses. You only wasted two rounds on the pins before you figured them out."

Diana grinned at him. "There are going to be some girls pissed at you. When they get frustrated when the pins don't fall over, then start missing them, well..."

"A real gunfight is also stressful, to state the obvious. Teaching them to use their weapons during stress is one of the main reasons we're out here."