Chapter One

The battered blue-and-yellow bus wheezed to a halt beside a lonely concrete shelter that passed for a bus terminal. Dust swirled in the late-afternoon sun as the doors folded open with a tired groan. Four young women stepped down onto the unmaintained pavement, each clutching a small suitcase and a canvas bag. They wore identical modest dresses of soft floral cotton that reached well past their knees, white blouses buttoned to the throat, and flat leather shoes polished that morning in Salt Lake City. None of them had a trace of makeup on her face, and their hair remained pinned in tidy buns or braids beneath their wide-brimmed straw hats.

McKenna Thompson led the way. At twenty-one, she already carried herself like the senior companion she had been called to be. Sunshine blonde hair peeked from beneath her hat, and her natural curves pressed gently against the fabric of her dress. She turned back to the others with the bright smile that had won her every school and Church talent show since she was six.

Kayleigh Jensen followed close behind, holding her suitcase with both hands. Her own blonde hair fell in a single thick braid down her back, and her wide blue eyes took in everything with open wonder. She looked barely eighteen, although her papers said she was twenty. The gentle slope of her small breasts beneath the blouse gave her the innocent silhouette of a girl who had never ventured outside of her small commune before.

Heloise Carter came next. The fiery redhead kept one hand on the worn leather cover of her quadruple combination, murmuring a quiet prayer of gratitude for their safe arrival whilst simultaneously judging the poor beggars sitting on the ground a few feet away from them. Freckles dusted the bridge of her nose, and her green eyes shone with the menace of someone who knew exactly how to play the ‘good girl’ whilst enjoying the thrill of getting others into trouble.

Cadence Wright brought up the rear. Athletic and tanned from years of hiking the Utah canyons with her father, she moved with easy confidence. Being the youngest in the group at eighteen, and relatively new to the religious community, Cadence had a lot of work to do to preach the Lord’s work in the manner her sisters expected.

A warm breeze lifted the hems of their dresses just enough to reveal their pale ankles above the sensible shoes. McKenna shaded her eyes and looked up and down the empty road. “The mission office promised someone would meet us right here.”

Kayleigh hugged her bag to her chest. “Maybe they are running late because of the traffic.”

Heloise sniffed and stared down the dusty, empty road. “In this place, I imagine the traffic is one mule and a chicken.”

Cadence laughed despite her better intentions and set her suitcase down. She rolled her shoulders, already eager to stretch her legs after the long flight and longer bus ride into this tiny Colombian town.

The four of them had come to the tiny mountain town of San Isidro for what the mission department back home called a “humanitarian working vacation.” Two weeks of light teaching, helping at a church-sponsored clinic, and distributing copies of the Book of Mormon in Spanish sounded like the perfect bridge between the Missionary Training Center in Provo and their full eighteen-month missions later in the year. They had raised the money themselves, paid for their own flights, and arrived full of the particular glow that only comes when young women believe they are doing precisely what they were called to do.

McKenna glanced at her watch and then at the empty road again. “President Flores promised a driver would be here at four sharp.”

Cadence shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Maybe he got held up at the border checkpoint. They were asking a lot of questions on the bus.”

Kayleigh parted her full lips to chime in, but a low rumble interrupted the conversation. A white Toyota Land Cruiser appeared around the bend, moving fast enough to kick up a tail of red dust. It slowed and pulled alongside the four women with deliberate grace. The driver’s door opened, and a man stepped out who looked as though he had been poured into his clothes by a loving hand.

He stood well over six feet, broad through the shoulders, narrow at the hips. A crisp white linen shirt lay open at the collar, revealing smooth bronze skin and a hint of dark hair beneath. His black hair curled just enough to look artfully careless, and his smile flashed bright against several days of stubble. They sure didn’t make men like him back in Utah.

“Good afternoon, hermanitas.” His English rolled out smooth and rich, with only the faintest caress of the accent you’d expect from a man living in his home country. “I am Diego Alejandro Restrepo, your guide for the next two weeks. The Church asked me personally to look after you.”

As McKenna noticed the redheaded Heloise grin with mischief, she slapped the woman on the shoulder. “You’re late, is what you are,” she told the good-looking Colombian man. “Now, can you help us with our luggage?”

Diego’s laugh rolled out low and easy. He stepped forward and took McKenna’s suitcase from her hand without waiting for permission, his fingers brushing hers just long enough to make her blink. “You must be the leader of the group, Sister Thompson,” he said smoothly. “My deepest apologies. The road from the finca was rougher than I expected, and I refused to arrive looking anything less than presentable for four such lovely representatives of the Church.”

He moved to Kayleigh next, lifting her bag as though it weighed nothing. Kayleigh’s cheeks turned the same pink as the flowers on her dress when his gaze lingered on her face. “You must all be exhausted after that journey,” he said to the group. “I have fresh water and air conditioning waiting in the truck.”

Heloise stepped forward before anyone else could speak. She tilted her head and gave Diego the same sweet smile she used on male authority figures when she wanted a little more leniency. “Your vehicle looks expensive,” she said. “Does the church pay you to drive visitors around, or is this your personal car?”

Diego’s smile never wavered. “This is all mine, Sister,” he boasted. “The Church gives me a worn-down bus to ride you around in, but I think visitors should be traveling in style when they visit San Isidro.”

Cadence snorted softly. She bent to pick up her own bag instead of waiting for him. “I can carry my own luggage,” she said rudely. “I’m not a helpless little girl.”

The tanned man lifted both hands in mock surrender. “Of course you aren’t. I only wanted to spare your pretty hands from the dust.”

McKenna shot the brunette a quiet look that said, “Behave,” then turned back to Diego with an apologetic smile. “We’re all a little tired and a lot excited,” she explained. “Please forgive us if we seem out of sorts.”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” Diego answered. He opened the rear door with a flourish, and cold, welcoming air rolled out. “After you, hermanitas.”

Kayleigh climbed in first, sliding across the cool seat with a sigh of pure relief. Heloise followed, smoothing her skirt with care before settling in the middle. Cadence hesitated for half a second before taking the final back seat. McKenna settled herself in the front passenger seat before closing the door behind her.

Diego slid behind the wheel and pulled the door shut. He glanced at McKenna beside him, then let his gaze drift to the rear-view mirror where three pairs of curious eyes watched him. The engine turned over with a satisfied growl, and cool air poured from the vents.

McKenna folded her hands in her lap and offered a polite smile. “We cannot thank you enough for coming all this way to collect us. President Flores said our guide knows every village in these mountains.”

Diego eased the SUV onto the road, one wrist draped casually over the wheel. “I am a man of the people,” he boasted smoothly. “These are small communities with interesting stories, and we help each other to keep our economies booming.”

Behind them, Kayleigh let out a tiny, involuntary sigh at the rush of cold air across her flushed cheeks. Cadence simply stared out the window at the fading light on the picturesque hills, already planning her next hike in her head.

Diego shifted gears, and the Land Cruiser surged forward as the vehicle disappeared around the first bend toward whatever awaited the four young women in the mountains ahead.

❖

The midday sun poured through the open windows of a tiny cafe perched on the edge of a mountain village so small it barely earned a name on most maps. Diego held the door for the four sisters and ushered them inside with the easy confidence of a man who could talk his way out of a traffic ticket. The place smelled of strong Colombian coffee and fresh-off-the-griddle arepas. A handful of older men glanced up from their domino game, their eyes lingering a fraction too long on the pale foreign girls before returning to their tiles.

McKenna stepped in first as always, smoothing the skirt of the pale-yellow dress she had changed into that morning. The others followed in lighter cotton dresses chosen for the heat, still modest, buttoned high, and below the knee. They had spent the morning drifting through quiet dirt lanes while Diego pointed out colonial doorways painted bright blue and women selling mangoes from baskets balanced on their heads. He had bought them fresh coconut water straight from the shell and let them take photographs beside an ancient stone cross. Nothing strenuous, he had said. The real work would begin tomorrow. Today was for settling in and having a little fun.

Now he guided them to a wooden table beneath a lazily turning fan and pulled out each of their chairs in a gentlemanly fashion. Kayleigh slid into her seat with a grateful sigh, cheeks already slightly sun-kissed. Heloise set her bag carefully on the floor as though the tiles might bite. Cadence stretched her legs under the table, secretly delighted to be off her feet for the first time in hours.

A teenage girl in a faded apron brought tall glasses of fresh limeade without being asked, before addressing the group in Spanish. Diego spoke to her, and the young woman softly giggled, then nodded to him and rushed off. The interaction prompted Heloise to chuckle. Pretty much no one in these rural towns seemed to speak any English.

McKenna lifted her glass and took a long drink. “This morning was perfect,” she said. “Thank you for the tour, Diego. You really know your stuff.”

Diego leaned back in his chair and rested one arm along the top rung. “I grew up in these hills,” he said. “Every corner had a story to tell, and I love making pretty girls smile.”

Kayleigh laughed softly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Cadence took another long drink of limeade and set the glass down with a satisfied sigh. “I still can’t get over the view from that little bridge. I could have stayed there all day taking pictures.”

The teenage waitress returned with plates of various pastries, along with bowls of black beans and slices of avocado glistening with lime. Conversation paused while everyone dug in. The only sounds for a few minutes were the forks against the plates’ ceramic and the occasional murmur of appreciation.

Kayleigh closed her eyes after her first bite. “I love the food here. Everything is just so rich with flavor.”

The stubbled man watched her with quiet amusement, “Wait until you try my mother’s sancocho. It will ruin all other food for you.”

The blonde McKenna wiped traces of cheese from her lip and looked at him. “You keep mentioning family. Do they live nearby?”

He nodded toward the mountains visible through the window. “My mother’s house is only an hour away. The rest of the family is scattered, but we all come back for Christmas and Easter.”

Cadence leaned forward, wanting to get in on the conversation. “Do you have siblings?”

“Three sisters,” he said. “All married now with children running wild. They would love to meet you.”

Before anyone could reply, the bell above the door gave a soft jangle. A woman stepped inside, and every head in the cafe turned, including the old men at their dominoes. She wore a knee-length cream linen dress that clung in all the right places, the neckline somehow managing to be modest and daring at the same time. Thick black hair fell in well-rehearsed waves over one shoulder, and a simple gold cross rested against her chest. Red-soled Louboutins clicked across the tile floor as she walked.

Diego suddenly rose from his chair in one fluid motion. The woman’s gaze locked on him immediately, and her full red lips curved into a slow, private smile.

“Diego, carino.” Her Spanish flowed like warm honey. She crossed the short distance and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his for a heartbeat longer than the greeting required. She kissed each cheek with deliberate care before pulling back just enough to let her perfume linger between them.

The tall man returned the embrace, his hand settling low on her back. “Valentina. I thought you were at the hacienda today.”

She answered in rapid Spanish, too soft and quick for the girls to follow, then switched back to flawless English. “I had to sign papers at the church and decided to pop in for a quick bite.” Her dark, confident eyes swept the table and softened. “I’d join you, but I see you are already keeping far more interesting company.”

Diego stepped aside and swept one hand toward the table with easy courtesy. “Valentina, allow me to present the four hermanitas from Utah who arrived yesterday. They are here to do the Lord’s work for two weeks.”

Valentina’s smile widened until it lit the entire cafe. She moved forward and outstretched her hand to shake each of the four young women. “I heard we were receiving some American visitors soon. It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I hope Diego has been behaving himself.”

McKenna took the offered hand first, her fingers briefly enveloped in warmth. “We have only wonderful things to say about Diego. He has made us feel so welcome.”

Valentina’s grip lingered a moment, her thumb brushing lightly across the blonde leader’s knuckles before releasing. “I am glad to hear it. A man should always treat guests like family, especially followers of the Lord like yourselves.” She scanned her eyes across the wide-eyed, naive group. “You should pray with me at my private chapel sometime.”

Kayleigh’s eyes went wide at the mention of a private chapel. “You have your own chapel?”

The standing woman laughed, a low, musical sound that made the old men on the other table glance up again. “My grandfather built it on the ranch before I was born. The stained glass came all the way from Italy. On Sundays, the nearby ranchers attend Mass there. You would be most welcome any time.”

Heloise leaned forward, unable to hide her excitement, “That sounds incredible. We would love to see it.”

Valentina’s gaze settled on the redhead with gentle approval. “Then you shall. My family owns a hacienda only twenty minutes from here: gardens, stables, and the chapel, of course. Come the day after tomorrow. Spend the morning and pray with us. Ride the horses if you like. Diego will bring you.”

McKenna glanced at the others and saw nothing but eager agreement. She had no reservations about speaking on behalf of the others. “We would be honored, Valentina.”

The dark-haired woman smiled wider and patted Diego on the shoulder. “Ten o’clock,” she told him. “I will have lunch waiting.” She glanced down at the women once more. “Wear something comfortable. It is a ranch after all.”

Valentina softly kissed Diego’s cheek and turned toward the door without waiting for a response. The bell chimed as she left, and every eye in the cafe followed the dangerous sway of her hips until the door closed behind her.

Heloise let out a long, excited breath. “She is stunning. I like her.”

Diego grinned and sat back down on his chair, lifting his glass in a small toast. “To new friends and beautiful places.”

The girls raised their limeades in return, clinking their glasses gently, blissfully unaware of what was in their future.

❖

Two days later, the white Land Cruiser crested the final ridge and began its descent down a private road lined with flowering jacaranda trees. The four sisters pressed their faces to the window like children on Christmas morning. Below them sprawled an estate so grand it stole their breath. White walls rose three stories high beneath a roof of red clay tiles. Bougainvillea spilled in violent purple cascades over the balconies and arches. A fountain of two artfully styled, naked mermaids danced at the center of a circular drive, and beyond the main house lay manicured gardens that seemed to stretch clear to the mountains themselves.

Kayleigh let out a soft gasp. “It looks like something from a fairytale.”

McKenna rested her hands on the back of Diego’s seat and leaned forward. “You never said it was this beautiful.”

Diego guided the vehicle down the winding drive at a snail’s pace so the young women could take in their surroundings fully. “Valentina’s family has supported this area for six generations. They are a big deal in these parts.”

They passed the long white stables on the right, doors standing open, revealing pristine aisles of fresh straw and polished leather fittings. Cadence leaned toward her window and frowned. “There are no horses in the paddock,” she commented.

Diego grinned and lifted one shoulder in an easy shrug, but didn’t respond. The SUV rolled to a stop at the foot of the wide marble steps of the manor. Valentina waited at the top, sunlight catching the red PVC dress that wrapped her body like a second skin, nothing compared to the more modest attire she wore in the cafe. The dress shimmered with every breath, clinging to the swell of her C-cup breasts and the dramatic curve of her hips before ending several inches below the knee. A thin black belt emphasized her tiny waist, and the neckline dipped just low enough to reveal the shadowed valley between the estate owner’s breasts.

She descended the steps with the slow confidence of a woman who knew every eye followed her. The red PVC caught and threw back the sunlight in wicked flashes, molding itself to her body with every movement. Valentina reached the bottom just as Diego opened the passenger door for McKenna.

The blonde leader stepped out first, smoothing the skirt of her pale-green cotton dress with automatic modesty. Valentina greeted her with both hands, drawing her into the customary kiss on each cheek. “You came,” the PVC-clad woman murmured with satisfaction. “I hoped you would not disappoint me.”

McKenna smiled pleasantly. “We have been looking forward to this ever since you invited us, Valentina.”

The host released the blonde and moved down the line, kissing Kayleigh, then Heloise, then Cadence with the same lingering warmth. When she reached Cadence, she let one hand rest lightly on the younger girl’s waist, thumb tracing the curve just above the belt. “You wore blue,” Valentina observed softly. “It suits you.”

Cadence managed a polite nod as she began to blush. It was a weird thing for the older woman to say, but she didn’t want to be rude and call the host out.

Valentina released Cadence and turned toward the house with a small, satisfied smile. “Come. I promised you a tour. We’ll start with the gardens and grounds before moving into the house.” She grinned as she glanced at the girl’s escort. “Diego, be a dear and wait in the car. You’re making the estate awfully messy.”

Diego lifted both hands in mock surrender and stepped back toward the vehicle. “As you wish, Doña Valentina. I know better than to argue with a woman who always gets what she wants.” He slid behind the wheel again and closed the door with a soft thud, leaving the four sisters alone with their hostess.

Valentina started up the marble steps. “This way, mis queridas. The gardens are lovely this time of day.”

She led the four religious women along a gravel path beside the manor, which curved between tall hedges heavy with white blossoms. The scene hung thick in the warm air, sweet enough to make Kayleigh sigh aloud. Valentina glanced over her shoulder and smiled at the sound.

McKenna walked closest to the host, trying not to stare in shock at the way her dress caught the light each time the woman moved. “Your home really is breathtaking,” she commented, as if to distract herself.

Valentina’s laugh floated back to them. “Of course. We have even hosted royal weddings on the premises. Come, the maze is this way.”

She guided the four modestly dressed women into a tall hedge maze, the leaves brushing their bare arms as they followed through the twisted paths. Valentina never hesitated, turning left or right with absolute certainty as though she had navigated the route a million times, as the girls trailed behind, half-laughing as they hoped the host truly knew the way out.

Heloise spun in a slow circle when they reached the center. “I could stay in here forever and never want to leave.”

Valentina chuckled and rested one hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. “Be careful what you wish for, princesa. Rumor has it that many thought the same and never did find their way out.” She winked at the young redhead jokingly before moving on.

They emerged from the maze onto the same gravel path that led past the stables. The open doors revealed empty stalls once more, brass nameplates above the door, but void of names. Heloise cleared her throat. “Where are the horses?” she asked quietly. “You mentioned that we could ride them today.”

The black-haired woman didn’t break her stride as she smiled softly. “They are just hiding inside the stable. They get a little shy when strangers come to visit.”

A rhythmic thud echoed across from the courtyard ahead. A large man swung an axe against a stack of logs, his muscles rolling beneath browned skin with every powerful stroke. Sweat gleamed across his thick chest and arms, darkening the fabric of a worn work shirt that clung to his torso. He paused when he noticed the group and leaned on the axe handle, his eyes moving over each young woman.

Valentina lifted one hand in greeting. “Carlos, come say hello to our guests.”

The man set the axe aside and walked over, his boots crunching on the gravel. He stood well over six feet, broad and heavy with muscle, a faint scar cutting through one eyebrow. His gaze lingered on McKenna’s chest, then drifted down to Kayleigh’s slim waist before settling on the other two.

The raven-haired woman placed a proprietary hand on his thick forearm. “Carlos is our head maintenance man. Nothing happens here without his strong hands touching it.”

Carlos gave a low grunt and nodded once, his eyes never leaving the girls.

McKenna stepped forward first, offering a polite smile as she outstretched a hand. “It is nice to meet you, Carlos,” she said nervously.

Another grunt served as his reply. The weight of his lingering stare made Kayleigh take half a step closer to Heloise.

Valentina laughed softly and steered them away. “Carlos is a man of few words, but he’s harmless. Come, the chapel is this way.”

The PVC-clad woman guided them through a side door and down a cool stone staircase that curved beneath the main house. At the bottom of the passage opened into a small chapel no larger than a large walk-in closet, yet every detail felt sacred. Vaulted ceilings rose to stained-glass windows that poured artificial light in as though they were on the ground level. One panel showed Christ in Gethsemane, another depicted Moroni lifting the golden plates toward heaven, the colors so vivid the girls stopped breathing for a moment.

Heloise slipped in front of the altar and dropped to her knees, hands clasped automatically. “It is perfect,” the fiery character whispered.

Kayleigh followed, sinking onto the cushioned kneeler beside her. Cadence softly bit her lower lip before joining them. McKenna knelt last as the four of them bowed their head in a moment’s prayer.

Valentina moved to the simple altar and knelt as well, the red PVC of her dress stretching tight across her thighs. She bowed her head and began a soft prayer in Spanish. The girls did not understand a single word, yet the Cadence wrapped around them like warm arms. When she finished, she remained still a moment longer, then rose with fluid grace.

The host grinned down at her guests. “I haven’t felt a moment like that in a long while. You four have certainly brought the spirit of the Lord with you.”

McKenna opened her eyes and found Valentina watching them with an expression that felt almost hungry. A strange warmth spread through her chest, the same peaceful certainty she had known inside the temple. She rose slowly, brushing the knees of her dress.

Valentina extended one hand to help Kayleigh to her feet, letting her fingers linger around the young girl’s wrist. “Lunch will be served soon,” she said. “First, we will take tea in the conservatory. The hibiscus was freshly picked this morning.”

She turned and led them back up the stone stairs, the red dress shifting over her body as she walked. The girls followed in a hushed, reverent line, the sacred monument of the chapel still clinging to their skin as they stepped out into the bright corridor and the waiting sunlight beyond.

❖

The sunlight poured through the glass walls of the conservatory as Valentina led her guests inside. The woman gestured toward a low arrangement of white wicker furniture arranged around a glass table. McKenna and Kayleigh sank into the plush sofa, their knees pressed modestly together. Heloise and Cadence lowered themselves to the floor, their backs resting against the front of the couch, their legs bent beneath them.

Valentina moved to a silver tray already waiting on the table, then lowered herself into the matching armchair opposite the girls. She lifted a delicate china teapot painted with tiny roses and poured four cups of deep pink hibiscus tea. She filled a crystal glass with water for herself, then handed the cups around with the effortless grace of a woman serving honored guests.

McKenna accepted herself with both hands, “I am not much of a tea drinker, but this smells wonderful.”

The PVC-clad woman sat back in her armchair and crossed her legs so the red dress rode higher above her knees. “Drink. It’s my own blend. I apologize for my nosiness, but we don’t often have Americans drifting these lands, and I’m curious. Tell me about your lives back home. Families, studies, all of it. What’s it like living in the US?”

Kayleigh cradled her cup and smiled shyly. “My parents have eight children back in Utah. I’m the oldest girl, so I’ve been helping raise the little ones since I was twelve.”

Valentina’s dark eyes softened with interest. “Eight children. Now that is a house full of love. And you, McKenna? You carry yourself like the one in charge.”

McKenna took a careful sip of the tea, letting the tart sweetness settle on her tongue. “My father teaches early morning seminary. Mom homeschools my four younger brothers. I finished an associate degree in family studies earlier in the spring.”

Heloise spoke from the floor. “Both my parents served missions. They met in the MTC. I grew up hearing stories about South America, so being here feels like I’m living those tales.”

Cadence stretched her legs out in front of her and balanced her cup on one knee. “My dad’s a park ranger. We spent every summer hiking Zion and Bryce. I’ve put college on hold until I decide what I actually want in life.”

Valentina smiled as she listened attentively. “That explains the toned physique,” she commented plainly before changing the subject. “And how is life in the United States? I have visited a few times for business, and it’s always felt so vast and spacious. Does it ever feel lonely?”

Kayleigh shook her head at once. “Not when you have family and the gospel.”

The older woman’s smile spread approvingly on her face. “Well, tell me about your time here so far? I heard you visited a homeless shelter yesterday. How was that?”

McKenna set her cup on the table and leaned forward with genuine enthusiasm. “The shelter was a humbling experience. The children had so little, yet they sang hymns with us like they had known them forever.”

Cadence nodded. “One little boy gave me a crayon drawing that I’ll keep forever.”

Valentina’s expression warmed. “You are making a positive impact on those children already. What about this place? What do you think of my estate now that you’ve seen it with your own eyes?”

Kayleigh answered first, her voice soft with wonder. “Honestly, it feels sacred. Like, that chapel down there actually gave me chills.”

Heloise glanced around the conservatory. “Everything is perfect here. I could stay here forever.”

Cadence laughed lightly. “Honestly? Part of me never wants to leave.”

Valentina could help but let out a subtle chuckle at the coincidence of the woman’s words. She bided her time, as if she was waiting for a signal, and she received it when McKenna tried to shake the sudden cobwebs from her head. “Well, it’s funny you should say that.”

McKenna’s smile faltered. The warmth that had spread through her chest now felt heavier, as though someone had placed a hand on her sternum and pressed down. She set her cup on the table with exaggerated care and tried to stand. Her knees folded like wet paper. The blonde leader fell forward, her palms slapping the tile enough to sting, yet her body refused to rise again.

Kayleigh’s cup slipped from her fingers and shattered against the floor. Her petite frame sagged sideways into the sofa cushions, eyes wide with sudden terror. Heloise attempted to push herself upright from the floor and only managed to roll onto her side.

Cadence fought hardest. She braced both hands against the sofa and tried to level herself up, her muscles straining beneath the modest cotton dress. Her arms gave out halfway, and she collapsed face-down, her cheeks pressed against the cool floor as her breath came in sharp, panicked bursts. None of the women had fallen unconscious. They had full mental capabilities and were as alert as ever, except their bodies wouldn’t respond, as if they were exposed to a paralytic agent.

Valentina rose slowly from her chair, the red dress shimmering like fresh paint. She stepped around the table and crouched beside McKenna, brushing a strand of blonde hair from the girl’s frozen face with gentle fingers.

“Shh, querida,” she murmured. “No need to struggle. You are home now.”

She straightened back up and turned toward the doorway where one of her henchmen, Raul, already waited. “Raul. It’s time to put your skills to the test,” she grinned. “Gather your crew and prepare the new mares.”

The man nodded once and vanished down the corridor without a word.

Valentina looked down at the four motionless girls, her smile slow and satisfied, and the conservatory filled with the silent, frightened sounds of their breathing.

❖

Raul stepped back into the conservatory, followed by seven other men who moved with the practiced silence of people used to handling valuable cargo. Two of them carried a long black case between them. They set it on the glass table with a heavy thud and flipped the latches open. Inside lay rows of gleaming metal, leather, and folded black rubber, every item arranged with medical precision.

Raul surveyed the four motionless girls spread across the floor. “Line them up side by side,” he ordered in Spanish. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

The men moved quickly. Rough, calloused hands seized the girls’ ankles and wrists, dragging them across the tile until they lay shoulder to shoulder on their backs. McKenna’s blonde hair fanned out across the floor, Kayleigh’s braid had come half-undone, strands clinging to her forehead. Heloise stared upward with wide green eyes, lips parted in silent pleading as she tried hopelessly to regain control of her limp body.

Raul walked the line slowly. He stopped between Heloise and Cadence before kneeling. “Hmm, the boss said she wanted two perfect pairs of twins,” he said nonchalantly before caressing Cadence’s dark hair. “This one’s hair is wrong. Get her up so we can match it like her friend’s.”

Two men seized Cadence under the arms and hauled her upright as though she weighed nothing. They dropped her into a rolling salon chair that had seemingly appeared from nowhere and tilted it back until her head hung over a shallow basin. A third man produced bottles of dye, the exact shade of Heloise’s bright red. He began working the thick liquid through Cadence’s dark strands with quick, professional strokes. The sharp chemical smell stung the former brunette’s nostrils, but there was nothing she could do about it. The eighteen-year-old had never colored her hair before, never received a tattoo, nor had a piercing. She believed it was a woman’s duty to be proud of what God gave her, but all of that pride was being washed away in a sea of bright red.

Valentina watched silently from her chair, her legs crossed, as though she was enthralled in a good movie. She lifted her water glass in a small, private toast to no one in particular.

When the dye had set, the men rinsed the eighteen-year-old’s hair with cold water until the basin ran clear. They hauled her out of the chair and dropped her back into the line beside Heloise. Two identical heads of fiery hair now lay side by side, and Raul stood above them with his arms folded.

The lead henchman gave a satisfied nod. “Perfect twins. Now, strip them all and place them on the tables.”

Knives flashed in the sunlight. The men sliced through the girls’ cotton dresses with quick, practiced strokes. The fabric parted and fell away in pale ribbons until four completely naked, immobile bodies lay exposed on the hard floor. McKenna’s fuller breasts rose and fell with panicked breathing as Kayleigh’s small pink nipples tightened instantly in the air.

Four low metal tables on wheels rolled forward. The men lifted each girl and laid her face up on the cold surface, their arms sitting limp at their sides.

Raul headed over to the case and removed four black rubber hoods before distributing them to his team. He led the way with McKenna. The thick material slid down her head and molded itself to every curve of her skull. A reinforced rubber tube at the crown forced her blonde hair upward and out in a high, tight ponytail. The front of her face remained completely open, leaving her terrified blue eyes fully exposed.

One man moved to Kayleigh next and pulled an identical hood over her head, gathering her now loose blonde strands into the same stiff ponytail. Heloise and Cadence followed, their newly matched red hair forced through the tubes until four perfect ponytails bobbed above four frozen faces.

As the men were completing the hoods, Raul reached for four small plastic cases and handed them out. He opened the first case to reveal a pair of black contact lenses. He pinched McKenna’s eyelids apart with his rough fingers and slipped the first lens over her right eye. The blonde leader tried in agony to keep her lids closed, but her lack of physical strength was no match for the strong Colombian man. He repeated the motion on her left eye. Suddenly, McKenna’s vision collapsed to a narrow tunnel straight ahead. The conservatory walls vanished as she could see only what lay directly in front of her, with a terrified gaze. The same was done to Kayleigh, Heloise, and Cadence until four pairs of eyes stared at the ceiling in perfect, helpless focus.

Raul set the empty contact case aside and picked up a piercing gun loaded with a thick silver ring. The women were unable to see what the man had planned for them because of their limited vision and inability to turn their heads, but they didn’t have long to find out. The man pinched McKenna’s tongue between two fingers, pulled it forward, and drove the needle through in one smooth motion, leaving a noticeable silver barbell in her mouth. He swiftly moved to her left nipple, clamped the flesh, and pierced it cleanly with new barbells, then the right. “I love this part of the process,” the stoic man allowed himself to joke as he watched the cold metal settle against the blonde’s skin.

He repeated the process with the other three young women, preferring to complete this task himself, until eight silver rings glinted on four sets of nipples. Raul paused over McKenna’s chest and let out a low whistle before rubbing the conservative woman’s bosom openly. “These are the only decent tits in the bunch,” he said, flicking one ring so the nipple jumps. “Although if I know the boss well enough, she’ll fix the rest soon enough.” His comments were in Spanish, meaning McKenna and her friends didn’t understand, but his joke prompted the man’s crew to chuckle.

The henchman leader stepped back and wiped his hands on a cloth. “Get them in the harnesses next,” he barked.

The men produced four identical black leather ponygirl harnesses, rows of straps that made no sense to the untrained eye. They started with McKenna, as always. Two workers lifted her torso just enough to slide the central belt beneath her back. The leather cinched tight around her ribcage, forcing her pierced breasts forward and upward. Narrow straps crossed between her tits and locked behind her shoulders, leaving her chest completely bare and framed. A thick leather posture collar with an enticing O-ring attached to the upper strap of the back harness, allowing Raul to wrap it around her neck and fasten it tightly in place. The blonde also felt two circular rings position themselves flush up against her pussy and ass as the henchman tightened the straps, ensuring there was no escape.

The same harness locked around Kayleigh’s slim waist and framed her small breasts cruelly. Heloise and Cadence followed until four sets of naked tits jutted forward invitingly, nipples ringed in silver, framed by black leather that left nothing to modesty.

Raul instructed the head harnesses to follow. Thick leather straps circled each forehead and dropped blinkers that narrowed the tunnel vision even further. A cold steel bit slid between the girl’s teeth and buckled behind the neck with a decisive click. The metal tasted of iron and compressed their pierced tongues down.

Raul lifted two bulbous metal plugs from the case, one rubbed and thick, the other slightly narrower but longer, the latter crowned with a flowing blonde horsehair tail to match McKenna’s hair color. He coated both plugs generously with clear lubricant before grinning widely.

The man moved toward McKenna. One man spread her thighs wide while Raul pressed the larger plug against her virgin, untouched entrance. The blonde leader’s eyes widened in pure horror as the cold metal stretched her open inch by inch until the base seated flush against the supporting harness ring with a metallic click. The second plug followed immediately into her virgin ass, the blonde hair spilling between her legs as he squeezed it in. The man struggled as he twisted, pushing it further as he fought against the resistance before her ass accepted the invading toy and allowed it to slide in. Raul gave the base a final twist to lock it.

Raul patted the base of McKenna’s tail with satisfaction. “Do they feel good?” he asked the helpless blonde in broken English, before readdressing the room in Spanish. “These are no ordinary toys. They collect any human waste and store it inside for easy emptying. No cleaning, no mess. The mares will stay pretty all day.”

He moved to Kayleigh next. The smaller blonde’s eyes rolled in terror as the same thick plug pressed against her untouched pussy. The henchman pushed steadily until her body yielded and the metal seated deep with a soft click. The matching tail followed into her ass, blonde hair spilling between her thighs.

Heloise and Cadence received identical treatment, red tails now swaying from both redheads. The men worked in practiced silence, twisting and locking each plug until four long horsehair tails brushed the tables.

Raul wiped his hands on a towel, cleaning off the lubricant from his fingers. “Secure the arms, now.”

The Colombian men effortlessly flipped each girl onto her stomach. McKenna’s sore, pierced breasts pressed against the cold metal table while two workers seized her arms. They crossed her right wrist to her left elbow and her left wrist to her right elbow behind her back, folding her forearms tight against each other. Thick leather cuffs attached to the back of the blonde’s harness snapped around each wrist and elbow, securing them in place. After they were tightened further, the padlocks closed shut with a final, heavy click. The position forced the blonde’s shoulders back and thrust her pierced breasts harder against the table.

Soon after, Kayleigh received the same treatment. Her wrists locked tight to opposite elbows until her shoulders strained and her small breasts flattened against the table. Heloise whimpered through the bit as the cuffs cinched her arms together, forcing her own chest out. Cadence fought the only way she still could, her mind screaming while her body stayed limp, and the man simply folded her arms behind her back and snapped the padlocks shut.

The lead henchman grinned at his boss before making his final order. “The hooves.”

The powerful men prepared the black hoof-boots as they removed them from the case. Each boot had a cruel ballet point with the heel completely removed. The sole curved upward into a thick steel plate shaped like a horse’s hoof, edged with a narrow horseshoe of cold iron.

Raul took the first boot and knelt at McKenna’s feet. He forced her right foot downward until her toes pointed straight at him and her arch locked into the unforgiving curve. The boot swallowed her foot to the ankle, the leather creaking as he yanked the laces tight. A wide strap buckled over the instep, and another just below her calf. He repeated the process on the blonde American’s left foot, then snapped two small padlocks shut at each ankle. The metal horseshoes shimmered gleefully as the helpless woman lay on the table.

Predictably, the same treatment followed for the other three women. Each girl felt her feet forced into the brutal arch, their calves already burning from the unnatural angle. When the last padlock clicked, four sets of black hooves gleamed beneath four bound bodies, ready to carry their new owners wherever they were led.

Raul stepped back and folded his arms. He surveyed the line of ponygirls: rubber-sheathed heads with high ponytails, tunnel vision eyes wide with terror, bared breasts rising and falling in frantic rhythm, arms folded tight behind their backs, tails hanging loose from their ass, metal-shod hooves locked in place.

Valentina finally rose from her chair, pacing around the helpless, bound women. “Excellent job, Raul, as always,” she complimented him. “Now, take them to their new home.”

The men moved at once. Four of them bent and slid their shoulders beneath the bound bodies, lifting each ponygirl as easily as a saddle. McKenna felt herself hoisted upward, her bound arms pinned between her back and a hard chest. Another man lifted her immobile hooved legs, and the pair carefully moved to carry her out of the conservatory. The other men followed, each holding up one of the bound, transformed women as they took the religious girls to their new home.

❖

McKenna woke on her side in the dark, damp structure that smelled of fresh straw and worn leather. The stable door stood open just enough to let a slice of late-afternoon sun cut across the floor. Her body ached everywhere the harness touched, and the steel bit pressed her newly pierced tongue flat. She tried to push herself upright and discovered her arms remained locked tight behind her back. The hoof boots forced her feet into a cruel point, her arches screaming the moment she tried to put weight on them.

She managed to roll to her knees. The blonde ponytail atop her head swung between her shoulder blades like a leash. Across the narrow aisle, Kayleigh stirred on her own bed of hay, her small breasts heaving forward by the strict leather harness. Further down, Heloise and Cadence lay curled on their sides, red tails protruding from their asses. Each woman was inside an individual stall, isolated from her friends.

The paralytic had begun to loosen its grip as the four young women slowly regained the strength in their bodies. Feeling returned in slow, prickling waves as McKenna rocked forward and tried to stand. The hooves betrayed her instantly. She toppled sideways, her shoulder striking the straw with a dull thud that jarred her breasts against the harness and forced a muffled cry around the bit.

Boots sounded on the concrete aisle as a man appeared in the doorway, thick reins dangling from one fist. He approached the terrified blonde leader and attached the reins to various points on her head harness. Without a word, he tugged viciously on the reins and hauled her upright. The sudden pull wrenched her head back and forced her weight onto the very tips of the hooves. She stumbled and wobbled, and balance only came when McKenna widened her stance. She had only ever worn high heels once, and after the pain in her ankles all night and her mom’s comment that she looked like a harlot in them, she vowed never to wear them again. Now, she was forced to support herself in the most unusual, menacing footwear one could imagine.

The same happened in the other stalls. Kayleigh whimpered as calloused hands dragged her to her feet. The two redheads followed until all four ponygirls stood in their individual aisles, ready to be led out into the pasture.

The men led them out into a fenced training field of packed dirt, the sound of their hooves audibly clip-clopping as they tried to stay upright. Valentina waited in the center, still wearing her red PVC dress. She held a long dressage whip loosely at her side.

“Good afternoon, mares,” she spoke proudly as she grinned at the four religious women struggling to stay on their feet, unable to use their hands for balance. “You asked earlier where all my horses were. Well, as you can see, I have obtained a few since the tour.

The dark-haired matriarch stepped forward and casually groped Kayleigh’s exposed breast. The young blonde tried to pull away, but the sudden movement prompted her to fall backwards, and she fell onto her plugged ass. One firm tug on her harness from Raul soon returned her to her feet.

Valentina continued. “There was one area of my estate I forgot to show you. It is the reason my family has become the wealthiest people in the area over the last sixty years. We operate the largest cocaine farm in the country.” She cupped McKenna’s chin. “The US is our largest trading partner. You yanks can’t get enough of the stuff.” She stepped down the line and groped the new redhead, Cadence’s, breasts. “I wanted to experiment with the logistics because traditional vehicular means of transport are, well, boring. You girls will be trained to be obedient transport ponies, ready to taxi people and product whenever you’re called upon. How does that sound, my pretty fillies?”

The four muffled their whining protests through their gags, bringing joy to Valentina’s face. “Now, I don’t enjoy talking your language, so you mares are going to have to learn Spanish. I will even allow your bits to be removed periodically once you have learnt to behave. We are going to have so much fun breaking you in.” Her smile turned sadistic as she turned to Raul. “Take the redheads and start their training. I will deal with the blondes.”

Raul snapped his fingers. Two handlers seized the reins of Heloise and Cadence and led the red-haired pair away toward a distant paddock, separating the group for the first time since they arrived in Colombia. Their hooves clattered in a frantic rhythm as they tried to keep balance on the uneven ground.

Valentina turned to the blondes with a smile that held no warmth. She flicked her wrist, and the dressage whip uncoiled like a serpent.

“My golden twins,” she said softly. “You will learn to move as one creature, like real dressage ponies—high knees, straight backs, perfect Cadence. Now begin.”

She stepped in front of McKenna and raised the whip. “Trot.”

McKenna narrowed her eyes defiantly and planted her hooves to the ground. She wasn’t going to trot like some animal. The bit cut into her mouth when she shook her head in refusal. She would not degrade herself further. She was a daughter of God, not livestock.

The first lash landed across her thighs with a crack that echoed across the field. Fire exploded across her skin. Before she could draw breath, the second stripe followed, then the third, each one precisely across the back of her thighs. Eventually, the young woman couldn’t take it any longer, and she stepped forward, moving her knees up high in a desperate attempt to stop the pain. Tear blurred her tunnel vision as she stumbled into the motion.

“You, keep pace with her,” the black-haired woman directed her attention to Kayleigh, giving her the same painful strike against the back of her thighs as the young blonde hesitated. The whipping continued until the ponytailed Kayleigh caught up with her religious sister.

“Knees higher,” Valentina ordered as she walked beside them, correcting their actions with flicks across their exposed ass and legs. Eventually, the two blondes moved in perfect, agonized synchronization, their knees rising high as their hooves clomped audibly into the dirt.

Hours bled away beneath the sinking sun. Valentina never tired. She varied their pace and pattern, forcing the girls to circle, to reverse, to halt and start again on command. She even had them trotting in a pacy jog. Every hesitation or muffled complaint earned the whip. Their feet were killing them, but the two blondes knew better than to let it show if they didn’t want to compound their pain.

Eventually, Valentina lowered the whip and watched her ponies circle her in perfect unison. “Good girls,” she said proudly. “That’s enough for today. Let’s get you back into the paddock.”

A pair of the matriarch’s henchmen appeared at the edge of the field and clipped reins back onto the pair’s head harnesses. McKenna and Kayleigh were led away at a slow walk, their knees trotting high with every step, their blonde tails swaying as their ass jiggled.

Back in the stable, the men unclipped the reins and pushed each blonde into her separate stalls. Heloise and Cadence had already returned, lying exhausted on a clump of straw. As the door clanged shut, McKenna collapsed onto her own straw bed, every muscle in her body aching. The bit kept her jaw stretched, and the taste of metal filled her mouth. In the stall beside her, Kayleigh curled into a tight ball.

The night settled quickly as the stable plunged into total darkness. Exhaustion dragged at McKenna and her sisters’ limbs. Despite the ache in their bound arms and feet and the constant pressure of the plugs inside them, sleep finally took over.

As they slept, a shadow moved between the stalls. Gentle hands lifted McKenna’s head just enough to slide padded headphones over her ears. The same happened to Kayleigh in the next stall, then to the redheads on the opposite side. Soft static filled McKenna’s world, and beneath it, words too low to grasp began sinking into her mind as she remained in a deep, dreamless sleep.

❖

The following morning, the stable door creaked open as the pale dawn light spilled across the straw. McKenna jerked awake, her heart hammering against the leather harness she still wore. The headphones were gone. She had no memory of ever wearing them, nor of anybody removing them. What she did notice, with sudden, shameful clarity, was the steady pulse between her thighs that had grown stronger throughout the morning. A dull, insistent throb now centered deep inside her plugged pussy, a heat she had never allowed herself to name before. She was horny, and she had no idea why. The young blonde shifted on the hay, and the movement pressed the metal plug harder against her swollen flesh. A helpless whimper escaped around the bit.

Across the aisle, Kayleigh stirred with a soft, confused moan. The same restless heat flushed her skin. In the next stalls, Heloise and Cadence shifted on their hay beds, their red tails twitching as their bodies grew warmer in unwanted, unnatural heat.

Four men stormed into the stable, their boots thudding urgently against the cold concrete. They seized the reins still dangling from each head harness and yanked the girls up to their hooves’ feet in one rough motion. McKenna staggered on the cruel footwear, the sudden pull wrenching her neck back and driving the plugs deeper. A sharp cry escaped around her gag as the men dragged them out into the blinding morning light.

They were marched to the front of the manor where a heavy wooden cart waited, its bed already stacked high with tightly wrapped white packages. More men worked quickly, securing the load with ropes. The henchmen guiding the women gave them no opportunity to resist or escape, with their arms still tightly bound and padlocked behind their backs. The blondes were positioned in front, and the redheads were placed directly behind. Shafts were locked to the girls’ harnesses at the hip and shoulder until all four stood hitched in perfect twin pairs.

McKenna twisted against the restraints, her hooves even stepping harshly on a man’s foot, prompting him to cry out in agony and giving the blonde leader a small sense of satisfaction. However, a short whip snapped across the defiant woman’s thighs without warning, causing a fiery avalanche of pain that stopped McKenna in her tracks instantly. The blonde turned her head to witness the wielder of the whip: it was Valentina.

Valentina stood in crisp white jodhpurs and tall black boots, the short crop still warm in her gloved hand. She stepped close enough for McKenna to smell her perfume and to feel the heat radiating off the new ponygirl’s body.

The dark-haired matriarch traced one finger along the fresh sting in McKenna’s freshly swatted thigh. “Good news, fillies. I had a late shipment order that must reach El Cartador Port before nightfall, and I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to show off my new assets. We have twelve million dollars of product sitting behind you, and I need my ponies to deliver it.”

She moved down the line, stopping before the pair of redheads. “It’s a fifteen-mile journey to the port, but I think you can make it there and back before midnight. Don’t fail me on this, girls, or else I may have to tell my men to stop being lenient on you.” Cadence and Heloise’s eyes widened, and both tried to fidget against their bindings. Easy on them? That bitch had kidnapped them and transformed them into human ponies.

The manor owner stopped in front of McKenna again and delivered a sharp smack to the blonde’s bare ass. The impact jolted the plugs inside her and prompted the girl to cry out a muffled whimper once more. Valentina’s gaze dropped to the flush spreading across McKenna’s bare chest and thighs. She slid a gloved hand between the blonde’s legs, pressing firmly against the metal base seated deep in her pussy.

“Already excited, mi reina rubia?” she murmured. “Rich little religious girl getting hot and bothered over becoming my new pony? How hot.” She grinned.

A thick-set driver in a black shirt vaulted onto the narrow seat at the front of the cart, his weight almost sending the tottering ponygirls backward. He gathered the long reins that ran from each girl’s bit and wrapped them twice around his fists.

Valentina stepped close enough for McKenna to feel the heat of her body. She rested one gloved hand on the blonde’s bare shoulder and leaned in until her lips almost brushed the rubber hood.

“I am trusting you with twelve million dollars, Diego,” she told the driver without taking her eyes off McKenna. “Do not fail me or the family.”

The driver cracked the reins across Cadence’s shoulder with a sharp snap. “I never fail you, Dona Valentina.”

The lash landed like fire. Cadence lurched forward, her red tail flicking, and the entire team was forced to stumble into motion. McKenna’s hooves scraped the gravel as the cart’s weight dragged at her harness. She lifted her knees high on pure reflex after the previous afternoon’s training, the metal horseshoe clanging against the stone as it returned to the floor. Kayleigh matched her stride instantly, then the redheads behind. Four sets of bound, naked bodies obediently trotted down the driveway in perfect, terrified synchronization.

Valentina watched them go, her arms folded beneath her breasts as a slow smile spread across her face. The cart disappeared around the first bend, dust rising in a red cloud behind the trotting ponies.

The woman turned to Raul, who stood by her side. “Call the doctor, Raul,” she said. “Tell him to prepare for tomorrow morning. I want all four of my new fillies prepped the moment they return, and upgraded as soon as possible. Doctor Gonzales knows what I like. Tell him that money is no object.”

Raul dipped his head in reverence. “It will be done, jefa.”

Valentina’s gaze lingered on the empty driveway where the last echo of hooves had faded. She lifted her crop and tapped it once against her palm, already imagining the final product. She needed to call Diego, she thought to herself, and thank him for delivering her new ponies. When she was through with them, there wouldn’t be an ounce of conservative Mormon left in any of them. The lady chuckled to herself as she stepped inside.

End of Chapter One.