Filling the House 

By Donna and Abby

Coincidentally, the first night they showcased their new find was the first time Montoya, wondering if he should ever get anywhere with Kazumi, decided to visit
the house. He had heard that his ex-Captain of the Guards was employed there, and of course it suited him to keep the secret.

It was crowded, as usual, and of course he wanted to be with the new girl – the only one permitted to choose her partners. Unfortunately, she would have nothing to do with anyone who looked like Kronos!  Montoya was understandably upset about this, but Lovelace, who had heard all about his “tastes” from Grisham, pulled him aside for a private chat.

“If we could find an Oriental woman for the house, you would certainly be one of her regulars. But where to find them?” the nobleman asked. He was banking on the off chance that Montoya would already know one they could turn, but he got more than he bargained for when the colonel told him about the village to the south.

“I had thought to go there and find a woman to work in my hacienda,” he said. “But currently I have enough help.” He thought of the young woman who would do
nearly anything for the small amounts of narcotic he slipped her. 

“Ah, but perhaps we could find one for our establishment. One you could have any time you wanted?” Lovelace paused, then added, “And in whom you might own a partial share?”

Montoya smiled slightly. “If I brought back such a woman, would I not keep her for myself?”

“You might. Or you might bring two, keep one and give us one. You would still make dividends off the one you gave to us.”

Montoya thought about this. If he brought a woman to his house he would have to curtail his dealings with the young drug addict. So it was actually beneficial to him to bring them a woman for his use. But he would have to go to the settlement in a ship, and then he would have to explain why he was not keeping her! For surely all the men would see that he was bringing home a servant!

Deciding he would work out these details when the time came, he took Raven to bed that night, and then made plans to get a berth on the next outgoing ship.

The next day, he rode down to the dock, where the Dochas was being provisioned for another trip. He frowned when he saw the first mate of the ship, John Blackthorn, directing the loading. The man, even though he was English, was wearing his Japanese
clothing and Samurai swords like he had been born to the life. 

"Can I help you?" a voice called out from behind him. He twirled his horse and saw the Captain himself, standing nearby. 

"I was wondering if you were going past the Oriental village to the south? I have been desiring a trip down there, to interview prospective employees," he added.

"I was planning on a trip there," the Highlander said with a nod. Normally he had anyone desiring passage on his ship pay for it by chipping in and helping with the regular crew, but somehow he doubted this man would agree to such a thing. "I suggest you bring some gifts to present to the headman of the village if you want him to allow it." 

“Of course,” Montoya said. He hadn’t expected to get a woman – let alone two, if he needed to cover his scheme with actually engaging a servant for his own home – for free.

"Be here at dawn tomorrow then," Connor said.

And so he was. He did not like sea travel, as a rule, but he was excited about what they might find, and that kept his mind occupied throughout the journey. Amazingly, though he thought he would have trouble finding suitable women for his purpose, apparently they had more than enough ladies of the evening there – more, perhaps, than they even needed. MacLeod was quite open about it, though he did not know this was Montoya’s quest.

The schooner made good time. Blackthorn now had a good ledger of most of the routes they normally covered, and was a superb pilot when they were maneuvering
closed to the rocky shoreline. And when they were out in the open sea, the sight of Connor MacLeod at the helm was impressive indeed. The man had had centuries
of experience of sailing, and it showed in the easy way he handled his ship, his touch as light as an attentive lover on the controls. Once they docked at the village, Connor made sure that Montoya was properly introduced to the headman, and then went back to his ship to go about his business.

His business, once the headman was appeased, sent him to the community brothel, or geisha house. Amazingly, more geishas survived than any other single profession, and they were more than happy to greet him. He came armed with gold, from Lovelace’s
profits, but found the girls were pretty much free to make their own decisions. The girl he was with, a sweet-faced young lady by the name of Midori, was more than happy to go back with him to work at a house near the fort, but there was one catch.

“My sister, Akiko,” she said. “She is one of the geishas, too, but she does not like the life at all.  I just cannot convince her to take other work. She says she has chosen this life and she will continue it until she dies.”

“I might be able to get her honorable work,” said Montoya.

“Being a geisha is no dishonor,” said Midori flatly.  “It is just that Akiko made a poor love match, and she does this because she feels there is nothing else for her to do. She is my older sister, and does not like for me to tell her what to do.” The young woman smiled. “I would only consent to coming with you if Akiko could come, and be given work other than the house.”

“She shall work in my home,” Montoya promised. Somehow he would continue to get information from Lila, without the cover of her work program.

“You keep your hands off of her, though!” scolded Midori. “If you want a woman, you come to me.”

Montoya agreed. And after telling her the arrangement he had made with Lovelace to share in her profits, a deal was struck.

He spent a pleasant evening, first in the Headman's house with the officers of the Dochas, then later in the arms of the girl he had just *hired*. So, when it came time to board the ship again, Montoya was in a very good mood. And, of course, it could hardly miss the crew’s attention that he had two very pretty Oriental girls with him. One was shy and refined, while the other, the younger one, was outgoing and flirty.

A stern look from the Captain though made the men behave. "I suggest that the ladies make themselves comfortable below decks," Connor told Montoya.

“I would appreciate that,” said the Colonel. “I have engaged Akiko to work in my hacienda, but she would not leave without her younger sister, who you can see
has quite a way about her. But she is young, no?” It made far more sense this way, Montoya thought; no one would ever believe it was the other way around!

"Looks to be about the same age as Kasumi," Connor said with a shrug. "I'm sure she will enjoy having these girls in town."

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” But Montoya and Midori already had their stories worked out. Through no fault of *his*, of course, the wild young woman would run away from the shelter and safety of his hacienda and take up with a bad crowd. Of course, no one would know he was going to be part owner of her!

So, till then, Midori would stay with her sister and behave. Especially while they were underway. The Highlander was much too observant to let her out with the men.

She did not mind, of course; the flirting set up the later event, but she did not feel any need to seduce any of the sailors yet. It was almost nice to have a bit of a break, though of course she enjoyed how they looked at her, and wondered how many she would get to know intimately once she took up her new position at Lovelace’s. She even wondered if any of them would come there just to see her; considering the looks they
were giving her, it was quite possible! And Midori was just young and vain enough to find pleasure in such thoughts.

The voyage was a little rougher heading back, but the short rainstorm they passed through didn't slow them down too much. Other than one stop along the way to
pick up some of the stones being mined in a cave near one of the coves, the Dochas flew across the open water like a graceful bird in the sky. Montoya enjoyed the journey like no other sea voyage he had taken before; although quiet, and generally sullen about being pressed into service, Akiko was quite enjoyable to look at, and her sweet soft voice was a balm to his soul. There was nothing like a beautiful Oriental woman to calm a man, he thought! And Midori was just feisty enough to make him a great deal of money, not to mention he need not worry now about his own physical needs. Of course, he was still assuming he would one day woo and marry Kasumi. In fact, he was wondering if he should ask her soon. He would certainly have the money!

The sun was starting to slip down in the sky as the ship sailed upriver past the fort to the dock outside of the town of Edan. "All ashore!" called out the Captain once the ship was securely moored. "Welcome to your new home, ladies," he said in perfectly accented Japanese as he bowed politely to the women as they passed.

“Arigato,” said Akiko softly, while Midori blew him a kiss and giggled. 

“Come, ladies,” Montoya said, “I shall show you to your new home.”