I was awakened by a sweet singing voice and the smell of fresh coffee. Sweet Mary had a fresh cup of coffee and a smile for me as I emerged from dreamland. She looked nothing like the night before and she was beaming happiness. Another thing to add to the mystery of women.

I was able to easily extract myself from the rest of the sleeping pile and went out to enjoy my coffee and tobacco in the morning sun. It was a pleasure in life that I had pretty much forgotten back in the modern age, but I tried to enjoy it as often as possible now. Mary and Brin joined me.

“Thank you for last night,” Mary said, “it feels good to know I’m not alone anymore. Can I really come home with you?”

“Mary, you are part of the family now. Besides,” I smiled at her, “you forget that I still own you.” With that I put my arm around her and gave her a side hug and then a small tickle.

Mary giggled and said, “Oh, mighty master, what you do wish of your humble servant?” That earned her a kiss on the forehead.

She wasn’t done and she really had come out to ask me something.

“Master, will you please still punish me so that I may atone for my sins?”

Fuck, that was a dilemma. No, I didn’t want daily beatings on my checklist. If I put the rod to her, Banshee would be right behind her in line. It was easy to ignore Banshee, but if Mary the slave got something she wanted, I had better give it to her, also. I couldn’t afford to alienate the Pawnee right now, particularly since I felt I had enough trouble on the horizon. I had to trust that I could work Mary out of this punishment need.

“Mary, I promised to take care of you, and I will do as you ask. And if you are good, I will reward you. We need to make a deal, though. If you can forgive yourself and not need punishment, I will give you a child as a reward.”

Confusion, consternation, and happiness warred across her face.

“I should not be punished?”

“No, Mary, you shouldn’t be. We shall talk as we travel; I have a bible, so we can discuss things. You did nothing wrong in front of our Lord. For now, I will do as you want, but we will talk a lot and when you understand and can forgive yourself, I will give you a baby.” Boy, did I make a promise for the ages that I was definitely going to regret. I needed to get home and I’d sort it out there.

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Mary was happy, though, and skipped inside to make breakfast, singing some silly song about babies. Mouse was the next person on the bench next to me. Before she started, I said, “More coffee, please, wife.”

Damned if she didn’t get me a fresh cup of coffee, so I lit another cigarette and waited.

When she finally spoke, she said, “Last night. Mary. That was bad.”

I merely nodded in reply.

“You should not beat her like that.”

“I don’t want to,” was my flat reply, “I don’t like it.”

“Then why?” she asked.

“You listened last night. She believes it is her fault that her baby died and she believes she must be punished for that. You will help me fix that.”

“How will I help?”

“ You will talk to her and you will tell her truths. This is how it will be, if you are my wife.” I finished.

“Yes, I will obey.” She replied and gave me a sweet kiss.

We sat in the sun drinking coffee and lost in our own thoughts. I wondered how the young beauty sitting next to me came to be there. I was a firm believer in the ‘seven year rule,’ which made her far too young for me. I felt like that creepy old guy in the park watching the girls walk by. I was in a politically arranged marriage and I was expected to give her children. I really had crossed the time rift somehow.

After breakfast was eaten, I pointed out that we would leave tomorrow morning. They needed to say their goodbyes and we needed to prepare. Mouse and Banshee were off to see their respective families, leaving only myself and Mary. I wanted to rest some more, but that wasn’t happening yet.

“Please…”, Mary pleaded. We were alone, so I nodded my head and she scurried over to get her switch. She knelt in naked in front of me and offered the switch to me.

“Mary, why am I punishing you?” I asked.

She looked confused and answered, “Because I was evil and bad things happened.”

Thwack! “You” Thwack! “were” Thwack! “innocent!”

Now she was confused, crying and unsure. I was just guessing, but if she had been brainwashed this way, this could be how I would fix her. Just without the viciousness. I had learned to control her switch and, although her cheeks grew rosy, I didn’t leave bruises or welts. That was the best I could do while I worked my way through this mess.

I continued down the same line, and, every time, she answered by blaming herself. I corrected her verbally and with a measured stroke. I had her answer four questions and then finished.

“Mary, do you deserve to be punished?”

“Yes,” she cried.

Thwack!

“If you get it wrong again, Mary, no reward.”

She looked at me in confusion as I asked again, “Mary, do you deserve to be punished?”

“N…n…no?” she guessed.

I gave her a big hug and then gave her the desired reward. As I lowered her shaking body to the blanket, I looked up and into the eyes of Mouse.

“Now, do you understand?” I asked.

She merely nodded and looked down at the resting Mary.

“We must do the opposite of what he did and reward her when she answers correctly.”

“But you didn’t…”

“No. And I will not; fingers are enough for her now.” 'Thank the heavens,' I added to myself .

We covered the sleeping woman and began to pack for our journey tomorrow.