Lisa Ch. 04: Reminded Of Her Place

Life had gotten complicated lately, and this didn't help matters. He held the pup away from himself, as if it were something distasteful, and turned to Josh.

"Jessica is out here, why?"

"The pups were born," Josh replied watching Jessica, "I thought she'd like to see them ..."

"Right." Angus interrupted. Just like he'd thought. Well, he wasn't going to be the bad guy in this. He handed the dog to Josh. "You deal with it. Just remember that whatever you do, you'll have to explain it to Riley. Come on Scott, this is Josh's mess, let him clean it up." And he turned on his heel and left. Scott was confused as he followed Angus. It wasn't like Angus to turn his back on a situation that involved Jessica.

"Jess," Josh began, "I'm not trying to be cruel. I'd hoped you'd know that ... I mean do I look like a puppy killer to you? You know how much I like the dogs!"

"I know, I'm sorry, " she said moving closer to Josh. She stood petting the puppy that rested in his arms. "But there's a better way Josh, really! It just needs a little help to start off. Please let me take care of it!"

"Jess, the kind of help you're talking about requires round the clock care. Feedings a dozen times a day, it's a lot of work."

"I know. But what else am I doing?" she asked and nestled her nose into the puppy. "Please?"

Josh hesitated. How was he going to explain this to Riley? Well, he was going to have to think of something because he could never, ever, stand to see that look on Jessica's face again. When she'd realized what he'd planned to do ... she'd acted as if he were Charles Manson.

"All right, all right. Just until the puppy is able to survive on its own."

"Thank you! Thank you!" Jessica yelled, jumping up and down, and then planting a kiss on Josh's lips.

"Come here Baby," she said taking the dog from Josh. "That's as good a name as any for you, isn't it?" she cooed to the puppy as she lifted it above her head so she could look up into its face. She kissed it, and then hugged it to her chest. "I guess we'll need some baby bottles, a doggy basket, and some milk ... regular milk, do you think?"

"I don't know," Josh replied, too distracted to really hear her.

What if Riley came home and put an end to the whole thing? Jessica was going to be even more crushed than if Josh'd just finished the dog off to begin with.

"Maybe not milk, maybe formula. You know baby formula ... that'd be better."

"Isn't baby formula for human babies?" Josh muttered.

"A baby is a baby, isn't it?" Jessica asked. "Besides, Riley will know."

With the mention of Riley's name, Jessica finally realized that they still had to get this past him. She looked at Josh with a blank expression, which quickly turned to a silent plea.

Josh shook his head. "I can't promise anything Jess. Riley may be hard to convince."

"You can do it," Jessica said looking up at him, holding the puppy up beside her face. "you can convince Riley. Baby and I are counting on you." Josh felt a lump in his throat. She sounded so sure, so confident.

Suddenly he wanted to start the day over again.

Scott and Angus watched Jessica and Josh emerge from the kennel. Jessica held the puppy in her arms. Angus turned away. He didn't want to know. Scott intercepted them on their way to the house. Jessica was looking pretty happy.

"So?" Scott asked.

"We're going to take care of Baby for a little while, till she can survive on her own." Jessica said.

"We are?" Scott asked looking at Josh. "Riley's going to figure it out Josh, you can't hide a puppy all that easily."

"Josh is going to talk to Riley," Jessica said, "it'll be alright."

"Really?" Scott said. It seemed that Jim and Josh were getting stupider by the day.

Josh looked at the ground and shifted from foot to foot. Oh yeah, Scott thought, this was going to go well. Josh was just the picture of certainty.

"But we need some baby bottles, a doggy bed, and some formula ... " Jessica continued.

"No problem," Scott said. "I'll run into town right now and get all that stuff."

"You will?" Josh asked, surprised that Scott would want to associate himself with any of this.

"Sure. I've got some stuff to pick-up anyway," he said, giving Jessica a wink.

Jessica's blushed and looked at her feet. Ever since Scott had rubbed the cream between her legs the tingling lingered. She was actually enjoying masturbating ... well not the masturbating but the pleasure that rocked her when she masturbated. Scott had been so impressed with the advancements being made that he'd promised to pick up some 'props' for the following week. She had no idea what he meant by 'props' but she actually looked forward to finding out. She had co-operated with Scott the night before, in ways she thought surely had to be abnormal. She couldn't imagine what more could there be to do.

Josh had obviously missed something, and judging by the shade of Jessica's cheeks it was something big, but he was too distracted to worry about it.

He had to think of a plan of attack for Riley. Scott wasted no time leaving, so Jessica and Josh continued to the house.

Jessica sat on the sofa cuddling and whispering to the dog while Josh slouched next to her, mentally sorting through his options.

Scott had gone to town, come back, Jessica had insisted on boiling the bottles and nipples, and then fed the dog twice since. Angus had finally lumbered into the house, and sat in the rocking chair scowling by turn at Josh and the dog. He hadn't said a word, which served to heighten Josh's wariness.

By five o'clock, when Riley and Jim had pulled into the driveway, Josh had it figured out. He rushed out the front door to intercede Riley before he made it to the house.

"Hey," Jim greeted, surprised to see Josh.

He looked to the house with concern. Josh didn't look panicked, but there was something in the way he walked, the look on his face that caused Jim to pause.

"Everything okay?" he asked, eyeing the house again.

Riley had rounded the car and now stood next to Jim. He caught Jim's tone and began moving past him to the house.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"Nothing, nothing" Josh said, willing Riley to stop. "I just wanted a word, with you, Riley, " Riley slowed, looking at him quizzically. "Alone," he added, giving Jim a glance.

"Right," Jim said heading for the house as quickly as he could without actually running. Something wasn't right.

Riley stood watching Josh. Josh looked antsy. Really antsy. Riley waited, wondering how entertaining this was going to be. Josh cleared his throat.

"There's uh, been a development," Josh began. Riley still said nothing. "I think you'll like it. It's a good opportunity to get Jessica to warm up to you."

"Really," Riley stated, beginning to think that this may not be so amusing after all.

He had wondered whether informing the others about what he and Angus were doing with Jessica had been a good idea. They were already pretty easy on her, and the last thing he needed was for them to misinterpret the plan as a license to cater to her every whim.

Well, it seems he should have kept his mouth shut, now they could slant everything as an argument for Riley and Angus to not scare Jessica. Damn it!

"Yes. The pups were born this morning," Josh paused.

"All right."

"And so I took Jess out to see them."

"Less all right."

"Everything was fine except there was this runt, which of course Jessica took to right away. I thought ... I assumed that everyone knew what to do with runts ..." Josh's voice trailed off.

"Let me guess, Jessica didn't."

"No," Josh said shaking his head. "She was very upset. She wanted to help it, just until it was old enough to care for itself ..."

"Josh, don't say what I think you're going to ..."

"You didn't see her Riley. It would have been a giant step backwards ..."

"Where was Angus during all of this?" Riley demanded.

"He was there for a few minutes, said I had to deal with it." That took Riley by surprise. That didn't sound like Angus.

"So, how did you? Deal with it, I mean?" Riley asked, not so sure that he'd like what the answer would be.

"We got some bottles and formula for it, Jessica's been feeding it. She named it Baby."

'Baby?', Christ, what the hell was happening here?

"So, you made promises to Jessica which you now expect me to uphold, is that it?"

"Pretty much."

Riley moved toward Josh.

"And," he said sticking his face in Josh's, "if I say no, I'm going to be the bad guy, right?"

"Yes." Josh steadied himself, ready for the punch he was sure he would receive, but none came.

"I don't even want to know that damn dog is there, understand?" Riley said through clenched teeth. "Whenever Jessica has her night with me or Angus, or Jim and Scott for that matter, though I'm sure their little hearts are leaking blood all over the place already, you will care for the dog. And once that dog is remotely close to fending for itself, you will be the one to tell her, you will be the one to physically remove the dog, and this is all going to happen before I have to remind you ... is that understood?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad we understand one another. Help me unload the car."

Jessica had been working to steady her nerves. The fact that Riley hadn't yet barged into the house and punished her ... or worse yet, tossed the puppy out, meant that whatever Josh had told him had to have worked.

Still, Jimmy had been less than reassuring when he'd come in and saw the puppy.

"Riley's going to be pissed," was all he had to say.

Angus had spent the entire afternoon sitting in the rocking chair staring at her and the pup. He hadn't said anything, not a word. The tension had escalated to the point where Jessica wasn't sure she could handle it anymore. She didn't know how she'd handle Angus when he finally went on a rampage, but she knew what she had to do to try and prevent Riley from refusing to let her care for Baby. But she was so nervous, she wasn't sure she could pull it off.

On any normal day she had a hard time looking at Riley, much less going to him, kissing him, talking to him. Add the fact that he'd probably be furious, there was a good chance that despite all the mental work-up she'd given herself, she would probably freeze. And that would more than likely make Riley even madder. No, she had to do it, and she had to make it look natural. There was a life other than her own at stake now ...

The front door opened, Josh entered carrying several bags, and then Riley followed. His arms were full also, which gave Jessica a respite, until he put the bags down.

He marched to the kitchen and although he didn't looked pleased, Jessica was glad to see that he didn't have his usual expression of fury.

Jessica shifted from foot to foot in the living room as Riley, back to her, put the bags in the kitchen. When he stood and turned in her direction, Jessica moved toward him, able to keep her eyes in the general vicinity of his face. She stood on her toes, kissed his cheek, and then stood staring at her feet.

She had meant to ask how the trip to town had gone, but she couldn't find her voice.

There was a silence as Riley stared at Jessica's bent head. A quiet whimpering came from across the room. Jessica fought the urge to look in the direction of the puppy. It'd been two hours since the last feeding, and is if on cue, the pup was looking for more.

She willed the dog to be quiet, but instead it got louder.

"So," Riley finally said, "I hear we have a visitor ..."

Jessica nodded. Riley's voice was calmer than she expected, so she looked up at him. "Her name is Baby."

"Josh has assured me that this will be very short term ... just let's get one thing straight, look at me Jessica ..." Riley said when her gaze dropped. He stepped forward and tilted her chin up, "I don't want to know that dog is here. Get it fending for itself, and then get it out. Understand?"

"Yes," Jessica replied, and then, relieved Riley was going to let her care for the dog, she said without thinking, "Thank you."

That was it! Angus had been stewing all day since he'd let Josh make the decision about the dog, and he could take it no longer. He felt as though his head would explode as he propelled himself off the rocking chair and grabbed Jessica's arm.

"You can play the others all you want Jessica, but I'm not falling for it!" he thundered.

Angus held up his free hand when Riley had begun to speak, silencing him.

"Something about this afternoon bothered me, aside from the obvious," he tilted his head in the direction of the whimpering pup, "and I couldn't figure it out until now. Jessica is turning into a master manipulator. She spoke to Josh and Scott as if they answered to her. Someone is forgetting their place here, and I intend to remind her of it!" and he pushed Jessica toward the hallway.

Jim stepped forward ready to protest but Angus swung a look at him that made him freeze.

"Nothing is going to stop this Jim. But if you so much as open your mouth, I'll personally ring that dog's neck before I deal with Jessica!"

Jim shut his mouth as Angus turned and dragged Jessica to his room. He winced as the sound of Angus' fist meeting Jessica's flesh rang out. Jessica made little noise until the fourth or fifth hit. She'd always made it a point to resist showing any emotion as long as she could. This always had the effect of making Angus angrier. That never seemed to stop Jessica from doing it though.

Riley turned to Scott and Josh.

"Is it true? Did Jessica over step her boundaries?"

Both nodded. Neither had really seen it that way at the time, but on reflection they realized that she had been very bossy, almost authoritarian.

"Letting her keep that thing isn't a good idea," Riley said looking at the wriggling pup that Jim had picked-up.

"Maybe she deserves the beating Angus is giving her," Josh said, wincing as the sounds continued to emit from Angus' room. "But I really believe that if we kill that pup, everything will be lost. We can start from square one, all over again."

Riley looked to Scott who nodded slightly.

Well, there was an opportunity here to get even more out of Jessica than they could otherwise. Riley had the feeling that she would do just about anything to keep that puppy alive and well.

"Shut it up then," Riley said, "it's enough just listening to Jessica."

Jim got the formula as quickly as he could, and then went outside to feed the dog. He couldn't take listening to Jessica's cries any longer.

**************************************************

"Jess ... " Jim whispered, reaching out to Jessica who lay with her back to him.

She shrugged his hand off, and he could not think of what to say or do next. Angus had taken his time with her, spent hours. By the time he had let her out of his room, dinner had come and gone.

She had suffered through an hour or two of sitting in the living room and being lectured by Riley about her place. Finally, it was late enough for Jim to justifiably take Jessica to bed. She had climbed on the bed, and had not moved since.

Normally they would play cards, chess, talk, or more often then not, they hooked up the TV and spent hours watching.

It was normally the happiest time of the day for Jim, and Jessica as well.

Now there was nothing but silence, and guilt.

Maybe he should have sacrificed the dog to try and stop Angus. But in reality all it would have gotten him was a dead dog, and probably an even worse beating for Jessica.

He allowed half an hour of silence to continue before he could take it no longer.

"Jessica, you know that you're not allowed to challenge us. That's nothing new. Angus has gone off on way less provocation than that."

No response.

"And when we speak to you, you're expected to reply."

Still, no response.

It was at times like these that his paranoia began to surface. He knew the men thought he was a push-over, did she too? What if she was just using him, like Riley and Angus liked to suggest she was.

"Jessica!" he said in a tone he had come to call 'The Rangley', a perfect combination of Riley and Angus.

Usually, that was all it took for Jessica to snap out of whatever funk she was in, this time it did not work. She did not move. Now what? Was she testing him? It had been a long time, a very long time, since he had had to discipline her. He would have thought that after all she had gone through with Angus, she would not be looking for more, but it seemed he was wrong.

He could do like Riley had done earlier and imply that the pup's life depended on her replying to him, behaving. But between the two choices, strong arming, or blackmailing, he was pretty sure that she would hate him more for the blackmailing.

Jim shook his head. The truth was, he wanted it both ways. He wanted Jessica to like him, but to respect him the way she respected the others. Part of him needed to be sure that she did not think of him as a patsy.

All she had to do to satisfy him was respond when he spoke to her ... he took her arm and rolled her toward him. She pushed his hand away and rolled back.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, and rolled her back toward him.

Anger flickered across Jessica's face and she curled up her fist and struck him in the stomach.

"What the .." and before he could react Jessica had scrambled to her knees and launched herself at him. They struggled as Jessica landed several successful blows to Jimmy's face. Finally he managed to pin her on her back, arms above her head. He had to slide down over her thighs in order to keep her knees from bashing him in the back.

"Stop it Jessica, stop!" he yelled as she continued to struggle. Now out of control, strange grunting noises escaped her. She was beginning to do more damage to herself than to him, and he began to wonder if she were having some sort of seizure.

Taking a chance on Jessica punching him again, he released her right hand and landed a slap across her face. It was harder than he had intended, and with it, all movement on Jessica's part ceased. She lay with her face to the side.

"Jess," he said turning her face so he could see it. She stared back at him, expressionless. "Promise me that you won't do that again! Don't make me have to restrain you! I thought we were done with the handcuffs."

Jessica blinked at the mention of the handcuffs.

"Look, I'm sorry Angus hurt you. If you want I can get some ice for the bruises welts ... "

"Don't do that," she said in a low tone.

"We need to bring down the swelling ..."

"No ... don't pretend to be my friend," she said.

"I'm not pretending anything, " Jim said taken aback.

"Yes you are. Just don't be nice to me anymore." Jessica's voice was so devoid of emotion Jim wondered if she were in some sort of catatonic state.

"Snap out of it Jess," he said tapping her cheek, "or I'll have to slap you again."

"Go ahead," she said, "I probably deserve it anyway, I did breathe after all."

Jim stared down at her. "I have always supported the rules Jessica, you know it." He felt guilt nagging at him.

"And I'm supposed to be able to guess which ones?" she asked. "Besides, I didn't know there was a rule against saving an innocent puppy's life. You and Angus are right about one thing though ... I did misunderstand my place." Jessica turned her face away.

Jim grasped her chin and turned her face back to him, angered by her insinuation that somehow he had misled her.

"You listen to me ..." he began, but when he saw tears pooling in her eyes his throat constricted. His anger faded.

"Jess, " Jim said, his voice catching, "Angus made it very clear that he'd kill the pup if I tried to interfere. I had the impression that was something you wanted to avoid."