Against the Odds Ch. 03

"Give her to me boss," the ape leered. "I'll get her into a mood that makes her know you are boss."

"That's right Ellis. Bute here is just itching to get his fingers on you. I have no idea what he has in mind and I don't wish to know but whatever it is brings a huge grin to his face. You welfare including your ability to walk and work again is my deep concern Ellis. Your stubbornness brought this on as I was informed that my changes of beating your defiance in Court are not good – indeed, far from it. You are now the victim of your own cleverness in the painstaking way you ensured at the signings of documents that both old folk in transferring their assets to you could be attested to being of sound mind at the time of signing."

"What does that mean boss?"

"They had expert witnesses who'd swear to the judge the old folk knew what they were doing."

"Oh – you mean they weren't nuts when giving away their loot?"

"Exactly Bute; why can't I express myself simply like you?"

"Perhaps you spent too long at school boss. Heh-heh-heh."

Philip scowled. "You have a go Richard."

Richard stepped into the water and began patting Ellis's face. He crooned, "Come on dear. We have no wish to hurt you. Agree with what we want and it's all over and you will be back in your office doing your best for your clients. You were a sweet little girl but we couldn't love you because you indirectly caused the death of our dear brother. Come on Ellis, come on Ellis."

The voice was almost hypnotic. She felt like laughing – this whole thing seemed like a terrible script for a B-grade movie. In fact it was unfolding like a B-grade movie. As soon as she was freed she'd go to the police and it would be all over – these three guys on the way to serving long stretches.

Philip took over from his brother. "Just agree to sign everything over Ellis and keep your mouth shut. Oh, I forgot to advise you – lawyers love having all the facts. If you should shoot you mouth off after the signings big boy will come visit you one night and...well, let's not dwell on that. Should you manage to escape then I'm afraid big boy's only option is to find your mother; I hope he won't hurt her – he'll be a bad boy if he does but imagine how you'd feel responsible."

This interrogation went on for more than an hour. Ellis was almost dozing with Philip wheedling at her when she saw a movement behind him and then clearly saw Troy.

Her heart fired in joy and then sank like a stone when she realized he was alone: one against three including one giant.

Oh the damn fool!

* * *

By the time Troy reached the horizontal shaft he was fully into assault mode; his breathing rate was slower than normal, his pulse rate down, his focus immense: in effect he was a spring ready to unleash.

The floor of the shaft was quite smooth and he swept forward panther-like, doing nothing to made noise, peering to detect any obstacles as the lighting behind him dimmed but he had the two lamps – probably gas mobile lamps – ahead of him and soon he could confirm the way ahead to them was clear.

His eyes metered to his brain what lay ahead as far as he could determined – three men, one a giant, Ellis tied to the end wall. Troy saw no reason to change his pre-determined strategy: go for the big fellow hard, the two brothers who really didn't know how to be bad guys would flee, leaving him to release Ellis and hug her while she cried and kissed him. Something like that; in all probability she'd kick him in the butt for taking so long. When she learned of their Keystone Cop interlude she'd have castration in mind.

Troy snapped back into focus and took a light grip on his chain: it was essential he aimed and hit exactly where he targeted: big fellows have difficulty doing anything once off their feet and hurt.

"Jesus, what the..." yelled Richard. That made Philip step forward with one foot into the water. He swore: his beautiful light tan riding boot from Austria – he never allowed them to get wet.

Troy ignored the two clowns and went thwack around the ankle of the big fellow iwho was in the middle of turning. He screamed and fell – both bones above his ankle shattered horribly.

The two brothers ran terrorized.

Troy dropped the chain gently on to the big fellow's screwed up face. "Roll over or take some more." Groaning /bute rolled over. Troy unwired the chain from this hand and bound the big guy's hands with it, very tightly. He then turned and found Ellis watching.

"Hi."

"Hi darling," she said, voice quavering.

"The key to your chains."

"On his bed."

Troy found it and sloshed through the water, kissed Ellis firmly on the mouth. Gawd, she smelt in need of a bath. He unlocked her, she rubbed her wrists and Troy's expectation he'd might not receive a hero's welcome was realized.

"What took you so long," she murmured and fainted, falling into the putrid water before he could catch her. He picked her up and carried her towards the exit.

* * *

Mitch had come forward ready to start filming. He heard the shouting and footsteps and the brothers came flying out of the cave. He filmed his Uncle Richard turning to check where his brother was, only to run smack into the trunk of a tree and staggered away dazed. More Keystone Cops, grinned Mitch, who swung to the right with his camera. His father tried one ATV, found it wouldn't start, tried another and realized they'd been disabled. He ran towards the road access to his left.

Mitch watched Molly step from her ATV and put her shotgun in the tray. She then stood in front of the vehicle and when Philip reached her she stood out to block his way. Mitch could see his father sizing up the situation, looking at Molly and looking at the vehicle. The two protaganists were very similar in height but Molly was much bigger. His father went to push Molly aside and she slugged him – the crack on the side of his jaw ringing throughout the basin.

"Bitch," he screamed, climbing to his feet. Molly grabbed him around the chest and his father really screamed as apparently a couple of ribs went.

"Take it easy Molly," Mitch yelled. "He's been a bad boy but he's the only father I have."

Molly lifted him like a sack of wheat and tossed him into the tray, removed the shotgun and then tied his ankles and wrists and fastened them to the subframe of the vehicle. She then jumped in and drove forward at high speed as she saw Troy emerge from the shaft with his trophy.

She kissed and fussed around Ellis and put her into the seat beside her. "You go with Mitch," she called to Troy but don't forget this other stunned stoat."

"I'll get Uncle Richard," Mitch laughed, taking some close-ups shots of Ellis. He then had the two rescuers stand with Ellis to take some shots of them all grinning and then Molly took the camera and he and Troy kissed the pale-faced victim who looked ready to collapse.

Mitch pulled his radio out, put it on to the usual band and called in a couple of his farmhands to come and haul out the Bute into the clear and call a rescue helicopter. He then spoke to his mother and quickly briefed her. He asked her to call all available Elliot's and Jefferson's to an urgent meeting in the dinning room of the Home for the Elderly for 2:00 that afternoon and for her to go in and brief his grandfather; they would clean up Ellis and then take her home to rest before the big event.

* * *

Eighty-three members of the two families – adults and pre-school children - were at the venue when Mitch and Troy arrived in a truck and unloaded their two prisoners. Philip had two cracked ribs and a bruised jaw but the medics had said time and rest would fix those problems. Mitch and Troy carried Philip into the dinning room on a stretcher and propped him up so he was clearly in view. Everyone was seated at tables drinking coffee or beer or wine with Jed Elliot presiding.

A very submissive Richard wearing a dog collar with the chain attached to Troy's wrist has followed the stretcher party in. Their immediate families watched silently, a small child being hushed when he cried out, "Grandpa." Ellis came in on the arm of Molly and that caused a whisper and murmurings when Jed called, "Come and sit beside me girls."

Mitch and Polly had already agreed the general should do the briefing – after all, he'd been the one to come up with the possibility of the snatch happening.

Troy cleared his throat and began, greeting Jed and then Ellis.

"You all have been invited here today for a very serious purpose which I'll simply describe as the humiliation of Philip and Richard Elliot – better that than having them both sent to jail – and redemption we would hope of Ellis Jefferson. By we I mean Ellis the innocent victim, her buddy and officer manager Molly Drusovich who you see sitting beside her, the very able Mitch Elliot and myself, Troy Gardiner, Ellis's property manager."

"First I'll tell you the story about what happened today and then Mitch will play an uncut shot film, illustrating excerpts about what I am about to describe. Here we go."

The audience sat largely half-stunned as they learned about the events of the past 24-hours. Then the film was played.

Mitch had been the only one to see the film and he played it with commentary. He'd been back to film the stone wall against which Ellis had been chained and that produced a couple of outbursts of 'Shame!' and he'd also filmed the half-wrenched car door where the snatch had taken place but tension eased with the great roar of laughter when Richard was filmed running from the shaft and staggering back after running into the tree; vintage Keystone Cops.

Richard's son Ian, an accountant, rose and spoke.

"This has been a despicable chain of events, engineered by my father and uncle but I feel the whole damn lot of us have failed Ellis which to some extent makes us all culpable. I propose we take a vote, restricted to those from the age of twenty-one upwards to decide the fate of these two men who've acted criminally. We have been told Ellis wants no action taken against them in the wish that her compassion may encourage more of us to regard her as kin. Well grand-dad, I feel this should go to family vote with voters facing the choice of calling the police to take these two men away or for them to apologize to Ellis in our presence and to be released into the custody of their families and told what to expect if they err again."

Jed rose and said thanked his grandson for his wise words. "I'm accepting no discussion. This has been a day of shame for our family and needs to be put to rest. I'll call the vote and Molly please count with me, Remember, only those twenty-one and under are to vote. First, all those who favor handing these two wretched men over to the police?"

Jed and Molly agreed there were 37 votes in favor and 37 votes including Jed's vote for releasing them into the hands of their families. Ellis had noticed her mother voted for police arrest while her two sisters voted against arrest; she had not voted, believing such action could produce an unwelcome diversion.

"Well, a deadlock," Jed sighed. "We still have some ways to go to achieve bilateral family unity. Ellis, I invite you to take the axe swinging over those two and decide what way it falls. In presiding over this gathering I claim the right to make that decision. Any objections?"

There was silence until Ellis's mother rose and said she wanted Ellis to apply the casting vote.

"With great fear I support Ellis having that vote, wept Philip's wife."

"And I," Richard's wife said, jamming her handkerchief back over her mouth.

Other women joined in and then men followed until a clear majority had voiced approval.

"Fine, that's enough," said Jed. "Ellis, you have the floor."

She immediately indicated which way she'd vote. "I have suffered over the past twenty-four hours in a most degrading fashion. But in some respects it was nothing compared with feeling like an outcast over what I can remember of the past thirty-three years, Fortunately I was not totally outcast because I had my late grandmother, you grandfather Jed and another really inspirational hand-holder Mitchell Elliot. I must leave now before I collapse. I vote for release into their families."

Ellis left the room, eyes averted, leaning on Molly's shoulder, and received a standing ovation. If the two brothers or her own mother expected her to look their way they were disappointed.

"Okay everyone – thank you dear Ellis. Keep seated everyone as our lady residents have honored me in requesting they serve us afternoon tea; some of them are older than I am so please be patient and don't fuss over coffee spills. Thank you for your attendance and would Philip and Richard's immediate families remember to take the brothers with them when they leave."

* * *

When Troy stepped from the elevator Kelly came out of Molly's office and greeted him.

"Something big has happened – Ellis and Molly are never away from the office together between 9:00 and 5:00. The office was in chaos so the two senior lawyers put me in charge to try to return everything to normal; no problem. What's been happening?"

"Ellis ran into a bit of bother. She appears okay but Molly is admitting her into a private clinic overnight for a medical check and then to be given assistance to ensure she sleeps for twenty-four hours. Molly and I have been without sleep for yonks but it appears will finish the day out here. Any news?"

"Oh, no not really?"

"That sounds if it is."

"I'll tell you when everything is back to normal."

"Are you having another baby?"

Kelly giggled and said not unless she were involved in a medical miracle. "No, Carl and I have agreed our marriage has gone a little stale so he's taking a six months exchange with someone in his position in the company's production unit in Ireland and it's likely we can leave in about four weeks. So I'll have to resign."

"Congratulations," Troy smiled. "I do believe you two should fire in a new environment giving you a broader life. I'll keep a job open for you as chief trouble-shooter. It means I look after the big picture and you'll be my second in-charge with responsibilities for actually getting things done and sorting out my and other people's stuff ups. The offer is conditional on us not having sex again – your marriage should be more important than spending your time on opportunists like me."

"What about the office Christmas Party?"

"Let's reserve our decision on that one, huh?"

"What about Molly – this hasn't been referred to her."

Troy cuffed Kelly on the ass with both of them pretending that hadn't happened. "You just leave Molly to me – she now secretly calls me the general."

After Troy instructed Kelly to find him a 'competent office administrator with 'off-the-wall ability' he returned to do some real work but not before Kelly frowned and asked what did off-the-wall ability mean?

"Those who have it will know what I mean".

"Molly will kill me if I action this without her authority."

"Crap, you are in charge. If she starts bawling you out refer her to the general."

In his temporary office Troy found a note from Kelly: 'Your new vehicle has arrived. Very impressive but metallic black?" Yuk, why not a pretty color?"

Oh yeah, Troy yawned, pink and I'd have the gays of both sexes attempting to hitch rides with me. He worked steadily and took a call from Ellis.

"Hi babe," he said. "Feel clean through to your heart and soul again."

"I wouldn't have quite put it that way but yes; what a lovely thing to say to me."

"I..."

"I've been given something to make me sleep. I just wish to thank you with all my heart and will reward you in due course; we'll talk about it. In the meantime I have arranged something lovely for you; please accept it, so bye – oh, standby for a call."

A minute later a warm voice said, "Mr Gardiner, this is Sophie Messman, Ellis's best friend. I'm having a dozen friends around for drinks at 6:00 this evening and request your presence. Do you have a white suit?"

"No I don't Mrs Messman so must I decline the invitation?"

"Oh no silly boy, Ellis opened an account for you at Everything for Gentlemen which is about 50 yards along Pioneer Avenue from your offices. She and I shop at Everything for Ladies and Ellis now owns the building. You probably have several pairs of cowboy boots but she said with a white suit you should have unmarked boots and suggests Cody cognac full-quill ostrich boots and says ignore the price. You are a lucky boy."

Mrs Messman gave Troy the address and said to approach the garage on the far left; it would open automatically and lock when he locked his vehicle. "You'll be staying the night, of course."

Troy felt like giving the whole thing a miss; it almost was spooky. He thought she'd be an old flesh-sucking dame but then decided she wouldn't be; Ellis was unlikely to do that to him after what he'd done for her. He didn't expect a reward but neither did he expect purgatory. Two things made him yield: he'd always wanted a white suit and if someone wanted to pay for it, so much the better and secondly, it would be insulting to Ellis if he rejected her spooky gesture.

After parking Troy walked through to the entry into the house and a maid smiled at him and then kissed him, on the mouth. A fucking maid did that. So he grabbed both tits and she giggled "Naughty boy." She led him in and once into the reception room took him by the arm. It was only then that Troy realized all six other women were dressed as maids and all the men were in white suits. It dawned on him that this was a theme party. An older woman with whisky red cheeks – bingo, she was holding a whisky glass in both hands – said "Hello darling, who are you? Please introduce us Sophie" and the woman hanging on to his arm said sweetly, "This is Troy Gardiner, the man who is to become Ellis's business partner."

"And some other kind of partner I daresay," cackled Mrs Whisky."

As the woman walked away Troy looked at Sophie.

"What?"

"I need a whisky," he croaked.

"I'll fetch you a double – you have turned white," said she, smiling at him beautifully.

When the last of the reasonably interesting guests departed at 8:00 Sophie walked him through the kitchen, grabbed a fresh bottle of champagne in an ice-bucket and said, "Come through to the spa darling while my two real maids to return everything to original condition."

As she closed and locked the enclosed spa area door and opened the sliding roof Sophie grabbed a handful of cock.

"Gawd, you're not even hard. After you grabbed and squeezed my tits when you arrived I've been walking around all evening with my nipples popped; you did give me a rev up. Ellis said she thought I might have trouble winding you into action because she's found you quite shy; you've not made a full-on pass at her naughty boy. She is one of the most fuckable women I know."

"Who, Ellis?"

"Yes – oh gawd, you're not gay are you? I mean..."

"No, of course not - feel my read meat, it's already growing."

"Oh yeah, there's nothing like getting one's teeth in a piece of red meat – this feels like prime; mind if I inspect and sample?"

"No, go ahead. Are you married?"

"No, divorced quite recently. Does that make a difference?"

"Yes, I prefer unclaimed goods."

"Ooooh, I'm going to like you. Remember, I only have you for tonight so I'm bound to wear you a little ragged."

Troy could see where some of the alimony was squandered – in her clothes. They were exquisite and he undressed her with interest, feeling the fabrics and even taking some interest in their construction; there was no hurry as he was staying the night. He still was only at half mast, however when she bent over to place the ice bucket at the edge of the spa and a lovely fat-lipped nude pussy winked at him he totally uncloaked his reserve. "Just a minute Sophie – stay in that position, hands on knees." He went down on one knee and worked her until the juices were flowing and then stood and fed it in.