Tales of Culverin Hill

By Rollie Lawson

Culverin Hill - Two hundred years of history are tied up in this single North Carolina hill. Who was the first Master of Culverin? What caused Culverin Hill to get its reputation? Why do visiting families end up in relationships families don’t normally enter? Read and find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359860609

Book preview

Tales of Culverin Hill

Tales of Culverin Hill

The Master of Culverin

Chapter 1 - Reverend Playfair

Monday, May 16, 1814

Culverin Hill, Springwater, North Carolina

The Reverend Daniel Playfair rode his horse from Springwater towards Culverin Hill slowly. He was at best an indifferent rider and would have certainly preferred taking a carriage, but his had broken an axle the week before. He could have used one from the town’s livery stable, but he wanted his trip to be private.

Reverend Playfair intended to meet with the Master of Culverin at his home. Jacob Culverin was an apostate before God, a sinner, and wicked in the eyes of all that was holy. This was widely known to all, not least because it was the Reverend Playfair’s belief, and one that he readily passed on to everybody in Springwater as Gospel. He was also sure, beyond any doubt, that so wicked a man must have made a pact with Lucifer himself.

Daniel Playfair was a well-read and learned man, but not necessarily a wise one. His moral view was one that had gone of fashion a century or two past. Sin was sin, and there was no compromise in the man. He only wished the church had retained more influence over the civil authorities; the Salem witch trials should have been continued, and throughout the colonies and now the entirety of the United States!

This did not endear Reverend Playfair to the residents of Springwater and the members of his congregation, which had been slowly shrinking since he had taken his position as the shepherd of the flock. This was nothing new, however, and Daniel Playfair knew that within a few years he would be moving on, to preach the gospel in another town when the deacons suggested he leave. Springwater was the fourth town he had been a pastor in, and he knew the wickedness of men would force him on again.

That would be for the future, however. If he could force Jacob Culverin away from Satan and towards the Light, it would be a sign from God to the entire town! That he, Daniel Playfair, could redeem such a sinner would be heard far and wide, certainly throughout the entire state of North Carolina, and most likely through the entire south, perhaps throughout the nation!

Jacob Culverin was the wickedest man that Playfair had ever met, which would have surprised Jacob, who had known many men he considered much more wicked. To Playfair, he seemed a proud man, and haughty, and had a way of looking down upon him as if he was secretly laughing at the preacher. He had other sinful ways as well, such as intemperance, since he was a maker and purveyor of whiskey. Worse, Jacob was originally a Yankee, and did not hold with slavery, which was clearly what the Bible called for! Did not the books of Leviticus and Exodus both give laws allowing slavery? Who was this Jacob Culverin to set himself up in judgment of God?

His greatest sin, in the eyes of Playfair, was that he rarely, if ever, went to church. He stayed at his hilltop estate on the hill named after him, and when Reverend Playfair had once admonished him for not attending his church, had simply smiled and replied that he worshipped in his own fashion Sunday mornings. The women with him at the time, female relations of one sort or another, had tittered and giggled at that, rather than remaining silent when in the presence of men, as God had ordained them to behave.

That had been just a week ago, and Daniel Playfair had demanded that Culverin attend church that Sunday or face eternal damnation. Sunday had come and gone without Jacob gracing the church, so the Reverend decided to go and beard the lion in his den, much like his namesake had gone into the lion’s den. Playfair’s literary scholarship was no better than his biblical scholarship.

Reverend Playfair fulminated over Culverin’s sinfulness and wickedness and decided to arm himself for his trip. Though he was armed in the righteousness of his cause, he knew that would mean little to the wicked man he would be descending on. Therefore, he prepared for the coming battle, girding up his loins as it said in the Bible. He strapped a pistol in its holster around his waist and hung a sword from the other side of the belt. The pistol was an ancient flintlock that he had to clean and load, and both weapons were presents from his father when he had graduated from the seminary and joined the Army briefly. That hadn’t worked out so well, but he still had the weapons. He made a comical figure as he rode through town towards Culverin Hill, and several of the deacons noticed and decided their preacher had really lost his mind this time, and it was time to find a new preacher.

It was perhaps five miles by the roadway to Culverin Hill, just an hour’s easy jaunt for any sort of decent rider. It took roughly twice as long for Playfair, and shortly before he reached the base of Culverin Hill the rumblings of an approaching storm spooked his horse. With a loud whinny, the animal bolted and dumped Playfair to the ground in a muddy pool. It then turned and ran back towards town when another rumble came from the clouds.

Reverend Playfair climbed to his feet and shook the mud from his coat. He was tempted to curse the horse but realized this was simply further proof that Beelzebub was protecting Jacob Culverin. He could now face the ignominy of walking back to Springwater chasing his rented horse, or he could continue moving forward. In a way, he considered this a good sign; like Barak when he went against the Canaanites, he was moving up a hill against an enemy of God. He checked his weapons, picked his hat out of the dirt, and continued up the road. He marched with the certainty that God was with him.

That certainty was somewhat strained when he made it to the top of the hill. Though the distance was not great as the crow flew, the roadway curled back and forth up the side of the hill. It was a warm day, and it was a warmer afternoon, and Playfair suffered. The weather continued to become stormy. The rumbles that had spooked his horse were now constant, and the sky was becoming leaden with gray storm clouds. It would undoubtedly begin raining by the early evening. After facing down Culverin and forcing him to repent, he would demand that he be provided lodging for the night and a carriage for his return to town in the morning.

Reverend Playfair slowed his approach as he made his way to the top of the hill, where the roadway opened to a broad swath of lawn. To the left the track went off to some barns, and to the right it curled around some fenced fields. Straight ahead however was the Culverin home, Culverin House. Fortunately for the pastor, while he had not been overly gifted with either common sense or any equestrian abilities, he did have exceptional eyesight. That eyesight, combined with a spyglass he had obtained during his Army days, allowed him to watch over his flock for transgressions, whether they wished to be watched or not.

Now that exceptional eyesight stopped him in his tracks, because Jacob Culverin was seated on a chair on his front porch and surrounded by several of the women of the house. The chair was large and well-padded, and resembled nothing so much as a throne. Now, the Minion of Lucifer was seated on the throne, holding court, as it were, but doing so in a fashion unknown to any Earthly potentate, for Jacob was as naked as the day he had been born! Likewise, the three women of the household who were attending him were also naked, with one seated to each side of him on smaller padded chairs, and a third kneeling down between his outstretched legs. It was obvious she was committing the Sin of Sodom on the Master of Culverin, as Jacob styled himself. The Master had already condemned himself to eternal damnation in the Pit; now his women had done so as well!

By moving to the left, Reverend Playfair could move away from the road to the house and into the brush. He reached into his inner pocket of his coat and pulled out his spyglass, which he extended and raised to his right eye. The scene on the porch became crystal clear. The woman kneeling between Jacob’s legs was bobbing her head up and down, and Jacob had a blissful expression on his face. Next to him, the two women on either side were watching and touching themselves in the most intimate of fashions caressing their bosoms and loins in a manner that even Jesus and the Apostles could never forgive. Suddenly, Jacob Culverin stiffened and grabbed for the young harlot’s head, forcing himself even deeper into her mouth, and gave out a silent cry.

Reverend Playfair knew what had just happened. The godless abuser of women had just spewed his seed into the harlot’s mouth. Sodomy was the greatest of sins. True copulation was only performed with your wife and only for procreation. Both husband and wife were to be wearing a full-length night shift, and while the act of procreation necessitated that they be pulled to the waist, as soon as it was over, they needed to be pushed down. Pleasure was to be avoided - that was fornication, not procreation! - and afterwards they were to pray and repent for any enjoyment that might have taken place. Further, there was only one acceptable position, with the man atop his wife, as God had decreed that men were above women, and in the dark of the night.

Now, finished, Jacob Culverin sank back into his chair and the young woman at his feet moved to the side. The other women also relaxed from their sins, and the foursome looked out over the grounds of the estate. Playfair was finally able to get a good view of the sinners. Jacob was a tall and powerfully built man, slim but with broad shoulders. Playfair knew from meeting him previously that Jacob was thirty-and-five, and darkly complected, with dark brown hair and startlingly blue eyes. Now, seeing him naked, he could see that he was strongly muscled.

Playfair shifted slightly and swung his spyglass to view the woman to Culverin’s left. He recognized her also, as a woman who had been introduced to him as Culverin’s aunt. She was a most comely woman, with hair as dark as her nephew but a lighter complexion. To Jacob’s right sat another woman he had met, the apostate’s cousin; she was young, beautiful, fair-skinned, and fair-haired. Then he moved on to the young harlot who had taken Jacob into her mouth. She was the youngest of all, and now that he could see her it was obvious that she was with child! Was there no depravity Jacob Culverin wouldn’t stoop to?

His contemplations were put on hold as another woman came out of the front door of the manor house onto the porch. This one was as dark haired as Jacob and his aunt, but she wore a long night shift. She was as beautiful as all the other women. Somebody must have said something, because she began laughing and then slowly unbuttoned the shift, to drop it to the porch and stand before the others as naked as they were. Jacob’s aunt reached over to him and placed her hand on his loins. Jacob smiled and leaned back, allowing her easier access to his manhood. Within moments it had regained strength and reared up large and proud, and Daniel Playfair was amazed at its length and girth. Then the young woman who had come out onto the porch came over to Jacob. She turned her back to him and sat down on his lap, and the young woman on her knees reached out to insert his shaft into her cunny. Then, as she began to ride Lucifer’s cock, the other women began touching her most improperly. The crazed and sinful fornicators continued in this fashion until Jacob spewed, giving up his incestuous seed to his partner.

It was too much for Playfair to stomach! He dropped his spyglass to the ground and pulled forth his pistol and his sword. Waving them wildly, he strode across the lawn towards the house, all the while calling down the wrath of God on the vile and evil group.

Chapter 2 -Traveling South

Earlier That Evening

Jacob Culverin came out of his house and walked out onto his porch. He stood at the rail and gazed out smiling at what he saw. The house wasn’t even a house any longer, but was more of an estate or manor, and certainly not the one-room cabin it had been when he first arrived twenty years before. He knew that the crazy preacher in Springwater thought Jacob had sold his soul to Satan. If he only knew the truth…

Summer 1794

When Jacob had arrived in Springwater he had just turned fifteen. He and his family had been traveling for months, moving south from a small town west of Albany, New York. His father, Zachariah, had owned a small farm, but it had not been successful. The soil was too stony, the winters were too long, and the life was too hard. When Zachariah’s brother Ezekiel had invited them to move to his home near Springwater, it had come as a blessing. Ezekiel said that he owned a vast tract of land, fertile and much warmer than upstate New York, and that he was inviting all the members of their extended family to come and join him. Zachariah had sold his farm and loaded everything they owned into a buckboard wagon.

There were four of them when they left their home, Zachariah, Jacob’s mother Hannah, Jacob’s older sister Penelope, and Jacob himself. Penelope was only a year older than Jacob and had been betrothed to the son of a neighbor who farmed land near theirs, but he had died over the winter of lung fever. Jacob’s two younger brothers had died as well, and both Hannah and Penelope were glad to be quit of a home that had so many sad memories. It would take many months of traveling, but by late summer they would be at their new home.

Things didn’t work out as well as the family expected, however. Bad roads, bad weather, and bad luck dogged them the entire trip. They had barely crossed into New Jersey when Zachariah hurt himself repairing a broken spoke on one of the wagon’s wheels. The cut festered, and he died of blood fever a week later. They took him to the nearest town and buried him in a church cemetery. They continued, however, and Hannah told her son that he was now the man of the house, even if they didn’t have a house. A week later Hannah passed, coming down with a fever that had no cure. Jacob and Penelope loaded their mother into the wagon and continued to the next town and arranged for her burial.

It was then just the two of them, Jacob and his sister. They decided to continue moving south. New Jersey seemed very unlucky, and they had both seen the looks on the faces of some of the men in the small town where they had buried Hannah. Penelope was a beautiful young woman; though quite buxom she had a slim waist and hips, her hair was golden, her eyes were blue, and her face was round with an upturned nose and a misting of freckles. Even though Jacob was growing taller and stronger, some of the men in the town just saw a boy, and eyed Penelope hungrily.

Jacob’s fate found him just a few miles south of the town, and it came in the form of an old man travelling north. He was walking, leading his horse. Jacob and Penelope were moving south slowly, and he stopped and watched them. Hello, young feller, he said in greeting.

Both Jacob and Penelope returned the greeting, Hello, sir.

Young man, any chance we can talk for a moment?

Jacob looked at his sister, who shrugged silently, so Jacob stopped his team and climbed down off the wagon. He went over to the other man and asked, Yes, sir, how can I help you?

The old man looked over at Penelope for a second and then turned his attention back to Jacob. You’re in a heap of trouble, young man, you and your sister. His voice was pitched low, too low for Penelope to hear him, though it seemed quite loud and clear to Jacob.

Sir? Jacob gave the man a confused look.

There’s men coming for you and your sister, coming from that town you just went through, only they’re not coming for you. They want her, and you know what I mean, said the old man.

Jacob looked around wildly, and back along the road, but didn’t see anybody coming. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could do so the old man continued. You know it’s true, too, boy. You saw the faces on those men. There’s three of them coming. They’ll be catching up to you within the hour.

You came from south of us. How do you know about the town behind us?

The old man ignored the question. You know the three I’m talking about. You saw their faces. An hour from now you’ll be dead, and they’ll have your sister. That what you want, boy?

Jacob knew the truth of the statement even as he struggled to make sense of it. Why are you telling me this?

Curiosity, you could say. I am curious about what you will do. I can help you, for a small fee.

That caused Jacob to snort out a laugh. Mister, you made a bad bet, then. We ain’t got two pennies to rub together.

There’s other payments than money, young feller. You just say the word, and I’ll collect later.

Collect what?

For the first time, the old man gave a thin smile. I collect souls.

Jacob’s eyes widened at that statement, but for some reason he didn’t think the old man was lying. Looking back along the road they had travelled, he saw three men in the distance, rising over a small hill. He turned back and said, Sure, old man, whatever you say.

The old man smiled a second time and nodded. I’ll see you again someday, young feller. He pulled on his horse’s reins and continued leading him along the road.

Jacob didn’t understand what had happened, at least not right away, but he felt different, stronger and sharper. He glanced back at the riders approaching and realized the old man had disappeared. That wasn’t important, though. What was important was that they would never be able to outride three men on horseback while riding a broken-down wagon. Instead he climbed back to his seat and reached into the back. The Culverins didn’t have much in the way of weapons, just an old Brown Bess flintlock musket and a bayonet, but forewarned was forearmed. He checked the priming and load, fastened the bayonet, and then positioned the musket where he could grab it if necessary.

Jacob, what is going on? Who was that fellow, and what did he say?

Never mind, Penelope. We’ve got trouble coming. When I tell you to, I want you to jump in the back and stay there.

Jacob?

Just do as I say, Penelope. You heard Momma say I was in charge. Just do what I say.

Penelope felt something primal stir inside her at that. She nodded and said, Yes, Jacob. Then she looked back and saw the three riders coming closer. Jacob?

Jacob looked at them, and said, Get in back now, Penelope, and get down low. I’ll handle this.

Penelope was scared, but Jacob seemed so mature and sure of himself. She climbed into the back and huddled down on the bed of the wagon, surrounded by their meager belongings.

The three riders came up to the front of the wagon, two on the left side near where Jacob was sitting, and one on the right. It was the three faces he had seen in town, the three men the old man had somehow known about. Jacob never even had a chance to ask what they wanted. The leader, a rough looking man with a dirty beard, asked, Where’s the girl? She in back? He was holding a pistol in his hand, but it was simply down by his side.

The man sitting to his side laughed at that. That where she sleeps, boy? That’ll be real convenient!

That was enough for Jacob to hear. There was no use saying anything. Jacob picked up the musket and pointed it, not at the first man, but at the one next to him. Bracing it against the seat, Jacob pulled the trigger. Even though he hadn’t been aiming it properly, Jacob managed to keep hold of it and control it. The musket ball knocked the man out of his saddle. The leader stared in surprise at this, turning to face his fallen friend, and then he turned back just in time to see Jacob standing and thrusting the musket at him. The bayonet entered the base of his throat and continued out the back. Jacob dropped the musket at that point, pulled his belt knife, and launched himself at the horseman on his right. The pair fell to the ground, stunning the third outlaw, and Jacob slashed his throat open. Blood sprayed out across him as the man died.

The young man climbed to his feet, stunned by the violence and the speed with which it happened. He ignored Penelope’s screams of terror and went to check on the first two men. The first man, the one he shot, was crying in agony and holding his blasted guts together with his hands. Jacob went over to the man he had bayoneted in the throat. He was stone cold dead. Jacob pulled the bayonet out of the man and used it on the man he shot, silencing him. Then he set the musket back on the wagon and told Penelope to stop screaming and come out of hiding.

Oh, my God! Jacob, are you…

Ain’t my blood, Penelope. Now, give me a hand here. Get down here and collect up them horses, he replied.

Penelope stared at her blood-soaked brother, but she climbed down from the wagon. He explained that they needed to get the bodies off the road and used a rope and one of the horses to drag the bodies into a ditch. He stripped off their weapons and any possessions, and then tossed their saddles and bags into the back of the buckboard. Finally, he went down to the stream the ditch drained into and stripped his clothing off. He tossed that away and washed the blood off.

Penelope stared at her brother as he returned from his bath. He was naked, and his manhood hung long and thick between his legs. She felt herself stirring and looked at him in a way she had never looked at her brother before. She had occasionally seen her father’s loins, as he and her mother had coupled when they thought the children were asleep. Jacob’s seemed much larger! She watched as he strode over to the wagon, to reach inside and find cleaner clothing to dress in. Swallowing nervously, she asked, Jacob, what do we do now?

He looked around and smiled, for the first time since the old man had stopped them. Well, I say we go south. We take these fellows back north, the odds are their friends and neighbors might not take too kindly to my perforating them, hmmm?

Penelope gasped, and shook her head. No!

So, we take the horses and stuff south with us, sell it or trade it, and keep going. We’ll get to Springwater yet, you just watch!

Yes, Jacob, we’ll go south, she agreed.

Jacob tied the horses to the back of the wagon and the two siblings climbed back aboard the wagon. They continued several more miles down the road, skirting the next town they came to, lest somebody in the town might recognize the horses or saddles they had acquired. They set up camp late and ate a cold supper without a fire. Then Penelope set their blankets under the wagon as she always did, while Jacob took one last look around the campsite and checked on the horses.

Jacob found their blankets side-by-side, as opposed to being at opposite ends of the wagon. He looked at his sister, who had stripped down to a simple shift. Jacob, hold me tonight. Today…today scared me. Just hold me, she asked.

Jacob nodded mutely, struck by the beauty of his older sister in her thin shift. He had seen her like that before, but somehow things seemed different. Her breasts seemed to be pressing against the thin cotton fabric with little points underneath, and she trembled as he crawled under the wagon next to her. Rather than change into a night shirt of his own, he stripped off his shirt and lay down still wearing his breeches. Nervously he allowed Penelope to cuddle against him.

Hold me, Jacob, hold me, she whispered.

Jacob complied by wrapping her arms around her, and Penelope molded herself against his body. One of her legs swung over his, and he groaned silently as she pressed against his manhood. His shaft was now fully enraged and threatened to tear out of his breeches. The points of Penelope’s bosoms were pushing into his chest.

Oh, Jacob… Penelope began moving against him, and began to kiss his neck and chest.

Penelope… was all he could say. Part of him wanted to tell her to stop, that their behavior was wrong, but a greater part wanted to continue. That was when his sister began to undo his breeches. Jacob let out an animal growl and tore them open, ripping a button as he did so, and then he had her on her back and Penelope was spreading her legs. He broached her in an instant and began thrusting madly into her. Penelope wrapped her arms and legs around her brother, holding him against her, as she cried out in pleasure. Time and again she thought about the times she had heard their parents pleasuring each other in the late night, and it had never sounded as passionate or as pleasurable as this was.

Jacob and Penelope coupled for hours, barely resting before beginning again. By the time the sun rose, they had both lost what little clothing they had, and were lying naked in each other’s arms. Neither could explain what had come over them, but neither planned to apologize, either. They cleaned up, ate a cold breakfast, and broke camp.

Things began to improve for the young Culverins from that point onward. Jacob managed to sell the saddles and horses for enough money to allow them to buy a newer and better wagon as well as some supplies. Then they continued travelling. That evening, when it was time to retire, there was little pretense. When Jacob returned to the wagon after checking the horses and camp, he found Penelope waiting naked in their blankets. He stripped his clothing off and joined her. Together they learned how to please each other.

They continued travelling in this fashion, and conditions continued to improve. Jacob proved adept at trading, occasionally buying items in one town and then selling them at a profit in the next. The weather improved, as did the roads. They traded their old nags for younger and fresher horses and traded their buckboard up from a two-horse wagon to a four-horse model. They also bought additional goods which would be useful for setting up their household in Springwater.

Jacob continued growing. He no longer looked like a skinny boy barely in his teens but was instead a tall and well-muscled young man. Few men looked at him as somebody to trifle with. Women noticed him, however, and smiled at him invitingly. Jacob declined those unspoken offers, however, being perfectly content to fornicate with his sister.

Penelope changed, too. Like any girl growing up on a farm, she knew about animal breeding. She also knew what her parents were up to late at night when they thought their children were asleep. Still, nothing had prepared her for the pleasures of the flesh to be found with Jacob! Even though she was using his body every night multiple times, it still didn’t seem enough for the nubile young woman. Whenever they stopped along the roadside, if there was sufficient privacy, she would tell her brother that she had an itch that needed scratching, and then bend over and pull her dress up. Jacob frequently would laugh, but he always undid his breeches and entered her from behind, furiously rogering her and taking his pleasure as she took pleasure herself.

The net result wasn’t a surprise to either sibling. Well before they reached Springwater, Penelope had missed her courses, and by the time they arrived, Penelope was clearly showing that she was with child and Jacob had taken to calling her his wife, and not his sister. They received directions in Springwater to the place being called Culverin Hill, but they also received disturbing news. There had been several recent deaths in the family, and the long-anticipated family reunion might be sparsely attended.

A few hours later the horses pulled their wagon up the very rough road leading to the top of the hill, where they found a small and decrepit log cabin in the center of a small clearing. A young woman came out of the cabin to see who the visitors were; she was followed by a pair of girls. Jacob looked around before climbing down from the wagon. Culverin Manor didn’t seem to be in much better shape than their old home in Montgomery County!

The woman approached the wagon, leaving the girls in the doorway. Hello. Welcome to Culverin Hill. I’m Abigail Culverin. How can we help you? she asked.

Jacob smiled at her, and the woman felt a flutter inside. Hello. If this is Culverin Hill, then this is the place we were coming to. We’re also Culverins, Jacob and Penelope.

Abigail raised an eyebrow at that. Ezekiel had told her that his brother Zachariah had children named Jacob and Penelope, and that Zachariah was bringing his family to Springwater. Penelope, however, was pregnant, and she didn’t look at Jacob the way a sister looks at a brother. Still, it wouldn’t do to make a fuss about it, not when the farm needed so much work. Welcome. Are you Zachariah’s children? Where are Zachariah and Hannah and the others?

Both Jacob and Penelope shook their heads sadly. They passed on the trip down. I’m afraid we are all that’s left of the northern Culverins.

I am very sorry to hear that. While I didn’t know Zachariah well, Hannah and I were close when we were young. We once visited together. She was like an older sister to me. She held out her hand to Jacob. I’m your Aunt Abigail, but you can just call me Abigail. I was younger than Hannah and I don’t see a need to stand on formality. She looked up at Penelope, still seated in the wagon, and said, Well, come on down from there and make yourself at home.

Abigail turned towards the cabin and waved the two girls forward. To Jacob and Penelope, she quietly said, I am afraid that Ezekiel’s plan to bring the families together has come to naught. There has been much sickness in the last year, and we five are the last of the Culverins. Ezekiel died of a fever shortly after sending out the letters of invitation last year. This is our daughter Martha - she’s twelve - and our niece Elizabeth.

Call me Liz! interjected the girl.

Abigail smiled. Lizzie is eleven. She’s the daughter of Zachariah’s sister, Mary Smith. They died shortly after getting here in the spring. Cholera.

Both Jacob and Penelope smiled and hugged the two girls. Both were young beauties, with blonde hair, brown eyes, and intelligent expressions. Abigail, on the other hand, also looked very intelligent, but she had hair and coloring more like Jacob, dark haired and dark complexion.

Provisions in the cabin were meager, and Jacob and Penelope supplied food for the evening meal from their stores. Over dinner, Abigail told how the property had been declining since the spring, with no men around to work the farm and not enough money to purchase supplies. For their part, Jacob and Penelope described their long trip south. Abigail continued to pretend that the siblings were man and wife and let them place their blankets on a straw tick in the corner. Lizzie and Martha fell asleep on their own tick quickly, but Abigail stayed awake in her bed listening to Jacob and Penelope pleasuring each other into the wee hours. Listening to them excited her immensely, and she used her own fingers on herself multiple times, something she hadn’t done in years. She and Ezekiel had enjoyed their marriage greatly, but Jacob seemed to pleasure Penelope more than any man she had ever imagined.

The next morning, after a small breakfast of porridge, the girls were sent off to do their chores and Jacob unloaded the wagon. Abigail and Penelope took time to talk about Penelope’s condition, and the events leading up to it. Abigail decided not to be judgmental about what must have happened between brother and sister. It must have been a very long and difficult trip, and judgment was best left up to God. Besides, watching Jacob moving around the cabin in nothing more than his breeches and boots affected her as well. He was a most handsome man, and she felt a stirring inside her she hadn’t felt since Ezekiel was young.

Jacob was oblivious to the looks both Penelope and Abigail were giving him, being far more interested in what needed to be done to the cabin and the property. The cabin needed to be expanded; it was far too small for five people, with a sixth on the way. Likewise, fencing needed to be cut, supplies needed to be laid in, and the barn needed repair. Once the wagon was empty, he washed up at the well pump, and then put on a clean shirt. To Abigail and Penelope, he announced, I’m taking the wagon into town. We need some supplies, food, lumber, and such. I’ll be back before dinner, or at least before nightfall.

Do you need help? they both asked.

Jacob simply smiled and shook his head. You two stay here and relax. I know you have much to talk about. He went out to the barn and hitched the team up to the wagon and went on down the hill.

After Jacob headed down the hill towards Springwater, Abigail took Penelope on a tour of the property. She told how they owned the entire hill but needed money and manpower to fully develop the property, and how both were almost nonexistent. We could do so much here, but I think you’ve arrived just in time to see it all collapse around us, said Abigail.

Penelope replied, I wouldn’t say that just yet. I trust Jacob, and I think he might disagree with you.

From your lips to God’s ear!

Later in the day, Abigail asked, I know that you and Jacob are having a child. I mean, it’s pretty obvious. Did you really plan on that, or was it an accident?

Penelope gave her aunt a confused look. What do you mean?

Well, did you try to enjoy your time together in other ways?

I don’t understand?

Abigail gave an exasperated sigh. When you and Jacob are together, do you only do it the one way?

Penelope smiled at that. Well, at night, yes, mostly I get on my back and he takes me that way, but sometimes, during the day for instance, we might get the itch and he pulls my dress up and, well, you know.

Abigail returned the smile. She could remember her times with Ezekiel. Still, there was more to ask. Is that the only way you know to enjoy each other?

I don’t understand.

Abigail took a second to try and figure out a delicate way to ask the next question but couldn’t come up with anything. Mentally shrugging to herself, she asked, Have you ever sucked Jacob’s cock?

Penelope’s eyes snapped wide open. Oh, my God! Isn’t that sodomy? That’s a sin!

And what exactly do you consider incest? Abigail asked, an amused look on her face.

Oh, yes, well…

Penelope, I am simply making the point that things aren’t always black and white. I just want you to know that there is more than one way to pleasure each other. There are ways that don’t end up with a baby in nine months.

It took Penelope a few seconds to think about that, but then she smiled. Like?

For the next few hours, Abigail and Penelope talked about what a man and a woman could do to pleasure each other. If Penelope was surprised by talking about what she and Jacob could do with their mouths, she was even more astonished when Abigail talked about the third way for Jacob to enjoy Penelope, and how Penelope would almost certainly enjoy it as well. Then they discussed various positions that would be necessary as Penelope continued to grow over the next few months.

They decided that Penelope would begin trying some new things with Jacob that night, but as the afternoon progressed, he didn’t return. He didn’t come back after dinner, and he didn’t come back before they went to bed. Penelope was very worried, but Abigail told her there was nothing they could do until the morning. Jacob may have had an accident with a horse or the wagon, and if he didn’t come home the next day, Abigail would saddle a horse and go down the hill. In the meantime, since Penelope was so nervous, she went to bed with Abigail, and the two women fell asleep hugging each other.

Jacob returned early the next afternoon, driving the team pulling the wagon up the road, and leading another wagon with a pair of young men riding. When he saw Penelope, Abigail, and the girls running towards him, he gave them a very sheepish look. Sorry I’m late, he yelled to them.

Penelope ran up to the side of the wagon. Jacob! What happened?

Give me a chance to pull these wagons to the barn, and I’ll explain.

Jacob!

Jacob waved his sister to the side and flicked the reins, putting the team into motion again. The women followed along with the two wagons over to the barn, and then hugged Jacob as soon as he climbed down from the seat. Jacob ignored the questions and said, This is Matthew and Mark Patterson. I hired them for a few days to work on the property. I’ll explain later. He turned to the two men and gave them orders to unload the wagons into the barn and then to start rebuilding the barn itself. Afterwards, he led the four women back towards the cabin.

First, I’m sorry about not getting back here last night.

Jacob, what happened? We were so worried! exclaimed Abigail, beating Penelope to the question.

He nodded. Give me a chance to explain. I took the wagon down to Springwater with the idea that I would trade it and a couple of the horses for a smaller wagon that only needed two horses. Then I would use the money I made for some supplies and lumber to work on the barn. The others nodded in understanding; it was a reversal of the strategy that had enabled Jacob and Penelope to make it to Culverin Hill. So, that worked out fairly well, and I had a few dollars left in my pocket, and the owner of the livery stable invited me to the tavern for a drink.

Jacob? asked both Abigail and Penelope questioningly.

He gave a very sheepish look at that. He nodded and said, Yes, I know, that was probably a mistake. No, not probably, definitely. I promise, it won’t happen again.

Jacob, what happened? asked Penelope.

Jacob grimaced, but then he shrugged and said, You might as well learn everything. You know I’ve never had spirits before, only beer. Well, that one drink became two, and then three, and then I was invited to play cards.

Jacob, no! protested Abigail and Penelope. Martha and Lizzie just stared.

He nodded. Jacob, yes. Fortunately, I got very lucky. I didn’t lose any money but made enough to get back our wagon and team and hire another wagon and buy more supplies.

Jacob!

I promise never to do it again, but there is no reason not to put the money to good use. We’ve got enough lumber, nails, and paint to rebuild the barn so that it’s not about to fall in on itself. After that, we can start rebuilding the cabin and make it bigger.

At that, the others started talking excitedly. Jacob explained his plans and what he considered the best way to improve the property. Then he went back outside to the barn, to help the Patterson brothers. They stayed two nights and drove their wagon back down the hill on the third day, leaving the barn in a considerably better condition than they had found it.

While the Pattersons were on the property, Jacob had them sleep in the barn. The cabin just wasn’t large enough for seven people. Penelope was very happy to have her husband home and pleasured him repeatedly once they got to bed each evening. Still, she didn’t try any of the new things that Abigail had told her about, being nervous about them. What if she did them incorrectly? The