When everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jane cleared her throat to get the teen's attention. They looked at Jane and heard, "After you three have reassembled the kitchen to Marie's satisfaction, change into your work clothes and clean out the stalls. If I might suggest, only take one horse out at a time and wait to pick up what's removed from their stalls until you return them to their stalls. In doing so in this manner, you run less of a risk of looking as though you three have played in the mud."

Jane watched as the three teens looked at each other before Francis spoke. "Um, Aunt Jane, thank you for the suggestion, we appreciate it, but we already decided to do it that way. Toby will mind the horses while Charlotte and I clean out the stalls. Once we have new straw in their stalls, food and water placed for them, and they're back in their stalls, then the three of us will scoop up everything and put it into the cart. We thought it would be quicker if three of us picked up everything instead of Toby doing it alone." Almost timidly, Francis added, "At least that is our plan."

Jane looked first at Francis, then at Charlotte and Toby in turn. "You three have devised an excellent plan, an excellent plan. But first, the kitchen. Go!" To the teens, Jane's 'Go' was the same as being excused from the table, and they wasted no time clearing the table and getting the kitchen work done. With a smile on her face, Jane directed her question toward Jill by saying, "Jill, why don't you take Thomas out to the stable and show him around? You two can use the time to watch Toby and assess his current condition."

Jill nodded her head, telling Jane, "That's not a bad idea, Janie. It beats sitting around this mausoleum waiting for those kids to return to the house."

"A mausoleum, is it? I'll have you know, Peters, this house is in excellent condition for its age. It's in better condition than your broken-down body."

With an indigent snort, Jill replied, "Broken down body? Broken down body? I'll have you know, Thompson, my body is far from… " but she never finished her sentence, as she looked at the four women and Thomas, all doing their best not to start laughing. "I should have known what you were doing, Janie. I should have known. Come on, Thomas, let's go look at the stable and leave these misfits to themselves." She abruptly got up from the table and hurried out of the dining room and through the living room to the backdoor, never waiting for Thomas. Just as she reached the backdoor, she heard laughter break out from Thomas and the four women. Smiling, she said to herself, "That damn woman. She gets me every time."

Jill stood on the porch for the backdoor, waiting for Thomas before walking to the stable. She didn't wait long, as the backdoor opened and Thomas stepped onto the porch. "Ready, Thomas? Did you get it all out of your system in there with those misfits?"

Thomas chuckled, then told Jill, "They think the world of you, don't they? It's the only reason they'd keep pulling your leg."

Noticing Jill's somber expression over what he said, he watched as she used the steps to leave the porch and start walking toward the stable. He hurried to catch up with her only to have her tell him, "Yeah, Thomas, we're close, really close. Sherry and I kept Jane from self-destructing back in college. And she almost did when I was away at medical school. If it hadn't been for Sherry… " and Jill wiped her eyes and cleared her throat, "If it hadn't been for Sherry, Jane Thompson wouldn't be here today. And I don't think Sherry or I would be where we are today. Jane's death would have devastated me and Sherry. I couldn't have completed medical school and Sherry might have dropped out of college. Jane meant that much to both of us."

Thomas was silent a moment longer as they walked. "You know, even if she had died, she might have wanted you both to continue your studies and get where you are today. She seems to be that type of person."

"Yeah, you may be right, Thomas. But I'm damn glad we didn't have to find that out." Jill remained quiet as continued their walk but became animated when they reached the stable. "Well, here we are, Thomas, the horsey barn. That black one there is Jane's mare. And that one over there, is the infamous Pinto, the stinker. The one who helped make those three teens look as though they'd been playing in the mud."

Thomas reached out and started rubbing the mare's muzzle, only to feel the mare press her muzzle up into his hand. "She's beautiful, Jill. Is Jane the only one who rides her?"

"As far as I know, Thomas. Those two have a bond I've seldom seen between a horse and the rider. She knows exactly what Jane needs and how Jane is feeling any time they're together."

As Thomas started walking toward Pinto, the horse started stepping backward into her stall. When Thomas reached the door to the stall, Pinto had backed herself into the corner where Charlotte had first seen her. Turning to Jill, Thomas asked, "Has Pinto been abused by someone? She seems scared."

A new voice coming from the entrance to the stable answered his question. "Yes, Thomas, she was abused before Jane purchased her. The man who previously owned her mistreated her using a bridle. She has scars at the corners of her mouth and pulled back because she equates you with that man."

Thomas turned and saw the three teens standing at the entrance to the stable. "Was that man punished for his mistreatment of this fine animal?"

Charlotte walked over to stand next to Thomas, who was standing in front of Pinto's stall. "Aunt Jane never said, but someone should have taken a bullwhip to him for what he did to Pinto."

Francis chimed in with, "Aunt Jane and Marie worked for three months to put Pinto at ease, and Miss Horse Whisperer standing next to you got her to come up to her in about ten minutes. Those two have been best buds ever since. After yesterday, I wish they weren't."

Thomas looked down at Charlotte and asked, "What happened yesterday?"

Pointing at Pinto, Charlotte said, "That stinker thought it'd be funny if she pushed all three of us into the muck we took out of the mare's stall. We pulled both horses out of their stalls, and started cleaning the mare's stall. Because the wasn't room for all three of us and the cart, Toby and the cart were outside of the stall and he would shovel the muck into the cart. He had shoveled one scoop into the cart when that stinker," and she pointed to Pinto, "Push him from behind, causing him to lose his balance and fall face first into the pile of muck. When Francis and I heard him cry out, we came out to see what had happened, only to find him lying face-first in the pile of muck. Francis and I went around behind Toby so we could help him up by lifting him by getting under his arms. That's when that stinker," and she pointed to Pinto again, "Pushed Francis and I and we ended up face down in the same pile of muck."

"Oh, but that was just the beginning. Toby went around to the other side of the pile of muck and had just put another shovel full of muck into the cart when he was pushed from behind again. Of course, he fell face down into that pile of muck again. His cry brought us out of the mare's stall, seeing him once again in the pile of muck. Francis stood in front of the mare and asked her if she pushed Toby from behind. But she ignored Francis, she looked completely over Francis' head, acting like she knew nothing about what just happened. So this time, we finished the mare's stall, put her back in her stall, then the three of us scooped up the pile of muck from the mare's side of the pile. We then started on Pinto's stall and had just pulled a large pile of muck from her stall. The three of us were between Pinto and the pile, when Pinto sidestepped to her left and knocked all three of us into that pile, causing all three of us to land on our backs in that pile. Francis and I pulled Toby out of the pile in the direction of the mare's stall, before the three of us scooped it all into the cart. That way, the pile would be gone and Pinto couldn't push us into it again. And the kicker?" Pointing at Pinto a third time, "That stinker was laughing at us the whole time. She was having the time of her life." Then looking at Pinto, Charlotte asked, "Weren't you?"<./p>

With her lips back, Pinto whinnied and threw her head up and down. Thomas couldn't help himself and was laughing loud and long. When he could speak again, he said, "I'm sorry, Charlotte for laughing, but that's a funny story. I bet you three looked a mess when you finished in here."

Charlotte, nodding her head, told Thomas, "We were such a mess, Aunt Jane had us take showers out here in the stable; there's showers through another door in the tack room. She even made us put our clothes in a plastic bag. Marie brought our robes to us to wear to the house." Charlotte turned her attention to Pinto by saying, "Why are you still standing in that corner? This man isn't the man who hurt you, he's here to help Toby. You remember Toby, right? You pushed him into the muck a couple of times." She then held out the apple she'd held below the top of the stall door. "She this? If you want it, you'll have to come and get it. I don't fancy having you push me and make me fall into your muck." Like a kid who was told to do something, Pinto dithered where she stood, stepping forward and then stepping backward. Handing Thomas the second apple she'd been holding, below the top of the stall door, she wiggled the apple she held out to Pinto. A kin to a kid stomping his feet then doing what he'd been told, Pinto stomped her feet, dropped her head, shook it, snorted, then slowly walked to Charlotte and gently took the apple out of her outstretched hand. Pinto stepped forward so Charlotte could rub her muzzle. "See, he isn't a monster, and he isn't going to hurt you."

Slowly, Thomas raised his hand holding the second apple. "I've another apple if you want it," he told Pinto. "I have two horses at home, not as big as you, but just as pretty." Pinto leaned back when Thomas raised his hand holding the apple, still unsure about him. When Thomas only held out the apple to Pinto and didn't try anything else, Pinto hesitantly leaned forward and took the offered apple. Thomas then gently stroked the side of her muzzle, telling her she was a pretty pinto. His gentle manner with Pinto won her over, as she stepped right up to the stall door and placed her head on his shoulder. "No one should have treated you as you were treated. You're too gentle of a spirit to be mistreated." What happened next caused Charlotte and Thomas to smile, as Pinto used her muzzle to rub Thomas' cheek.

"Charlotte, you gonna play with that misfit or help us muck out the mare's stall," Francis called. "The sooner we get this done the sooner we can return to our studies." When Pinto heard Francis call her a misfit, she lifted her head off Thomas' shoulder and slowly turned her head to look at Francis. After staring at her for a moment, she snorted then neighed at her. Francis just looked at Pinto and said, "Yeah? Well right back at you. We were a mess after you had your little bit of fun. See if I give you an apple any time soon." Pinto pulled her lips back and whinnied, shaking her head up and down. Francis walked over to the basket of apples, took one, then walked over to Pinto. Holding the apple out to Pinto, she told her, "Here you go, you crazy horse." After Pinto took the apple, she laid her head on Francis' shoulder, causing Francis to say, "Oh, now you're trying to butter me up, huh? Trying to get me to forgive you for the other day, huh?" Francis put her arms around Pinto's neck and added, "Well, I guess I can forgive you this time." Pulling back to look Pinto in her eyes, she told her, "But it better not happen again."

There was a gleam in Pinto's eyes that Francis missed but was seen by Charlotte and Thomas. "Francis, Pinto is like that pixie sitting over there on the haybale," and Charlotte pointed to Jill sitting on the haybale. "She'll always think of something when you don't expect it."

Jill was sitting on the haybale now, but the three missed her falling off the bale while laughing so hard at Pinto's antics. "Hey, we resemble those remarks," she called out. "It makes life more interesting."

Toby had walked over to stand next to Francis, telling Jill, "We'll bring both horses out of their stalls and muck out the mare's stall. Then you can start scooping the muck into the cart with your back facing Pinto. I'm sure Pinto would love having a fresh target to hit." The five stood there and watched as Pinto pulled back her lips, and started whinnying while throwing her head up and down. "See, even Pinto agrees with me." Just then the mare, who'd been standing at her stall door, whinnied and started throwing her head up and down. "Even the mare agrees with Pinto. They both want a chance to push you into the pile of muck." Looking at Francis and Charlotte, he asked, "Are we going to get all of this done today or do you two want to stretch it out through next week?"

Charlotte chuckled, then said, "Yeah, we better get this show on the road." They followed the plan they outlined to Jane, bringing out the mare, completely cleaning out her stall, laying down a good bed of straw, making sure she had food and water, before putting her back into her stall, and then scooping up the muck and putting it into the cart. They followed the same plan with Pinto's stall, and no one ended up face down or on the backs in either pile of muck. They were sweaty, and a bit smelly, but they didn't look as though they'd been playing in the mud.

When they finished with the one stall after Pinto's, there was no doubt they needed a shower and clean clothes. As the three started for the house, they called after Thomas and Jill. Jill told Charlotte, putting a big smile on her face, "You three go ahead, we'll wait for a moment until the air isn't so… pungent." The look Charlotte gave Jill made her laugh for a few moments until the three had turned and started for the house. "Everyone here will miss those three when they leave, Thomas. They're like a breath of fresh air and sunshine rolled into one. I can't remember three teens who've bonded quite like those three. It might have something to do with how Toby had been treated, or their misconception of him. I do hope there's something you can do for him, Thomas, otherwise, he may never take his shirt off in public ever again. Or let any girl he befriends and they become a couple ever see him naked. He may seem brave, Thomas, but deep down, it's the scars on his back he's self-conscious about."

Thomas sat looking down at the ground as Jill spoke. At her last statement, he nodded his head and told her, "We've had several patients who've been extremely self-conscious about their scars, especially burn victims. Some have had to see someone while we treated them, to accept the scars on their bodies. And some have accepted them and moved on with their lives. Based on what I've seen of Toby so far, I think he falls in the latter camp, though you may be right Jill. I think we've given the air enough time to clear and they should be clean by now. Let's go see what I can do for Toby, shall we?"

Before leaving, Thomas picked up three apples, giving one to each of the three horses. He and Jill chit-chatted as they walked back to the house, checking the soles of their shoes before stepping one foot into Jane's house. Jane and Susan were sitting at the dinner table going over some papers when Thomas and Jill walked in. With a questioning look on Jill's face, Susan pointed to the library, where the three had gone to resume their lessons. Walking to the library door, Jill lightly knocked on the door before opening it and she and Thomas walked in. After closing the door behind them, Jill said, "Toby, Thomas would like to look at the scaring you have to see what he might be able to do to lessen them." Toby stood up from the couch and started to remove his shirt when Jill added, "He'll need to see all of you. As in, birthday suit, naked, au naturel, peeled, unadorned, bare, in your nothingness, déshabillé (undressed), you get the picture. So we'd better go to your bedroom, because I don't think Jane would appreciate you flashing anyone going by that window," and she pointed to the big window in the library.

Toby had pulled his shirt up to his armpits but pulled it back down after Jill made it abundantly clear Thomas would need him undressed. The three looked at each other, all three rolled their eyes, then looked at Jill with Francis saying, "Gosh, Jill. You sure took your time telling Toby he had to be naked for the exam. I'd have offered him five bucks just for a peek." Charlotte and Toby slowly turned their heads to look at Francis, who sat there with an innocent look on her face. As Jill and Thomas watched, a pillow sailed in Francis' direction and was deftly caught by Francis. Francis then looked at Jill and Thomas, who were laughing at the teen's antics, and told her, "If this keeps up, I could play baseball. Now if I could only hit the ball." Having said that, Francis launched the pillow back at Toby, who wasn't paying attention, and it hit him in the head.

The pillow hitting Toby caused Thomas and Jill to laugh even more. "Alright, you monkies," Jill said, breaking the current joyful mood. "Toby, come on, let's get you naked and let Thomas have a gander." Nodding his head, Toby launched the pillow again at Francis, before following Jill and Thomas out of the library.

Toby had his hand on the doorknob to pull the door closed, when the pillow hit him in the back of the head. When he looked back at Francis, she appeared to be reading her textbook again. Giving Francis a death glare, Toby told her, "Vous allez payer pour celui-là, espèce de seau de crottes de porc (You're going to pay for this one, you bucket of pig shit.)." Being the mature person Francis was, she just stuck her tongue out at Toby, who laughed before closing the library door behind him.

Jill and Thomas had waited on Toby before walking to the stairs. As they walked by Jane and Susan, still looking over a set of papers, Jane said, "Toby, Bitte achten Sie in meinem Haus auf Ihre Sprache (please watch your language in my house.)."

Chuckling, Toby said, "Sorry, Aunt Jane." Jane just nodded her head and continued going over the papers with Susan.

With a gleam in her eyes, and as mature as she is, Jill stuck her tongue out at Jane. "I saw that, Jilly," Jane told Jill. "Very mature of you." But Jane had never once looked up from the papers she was examining.

Jill and Thomas followed Toby up the stairs to his bedroom, Jill keeping an eye on Toby as they ascended the stairs. When they reached his bedroom, Toby opened the bedroom door, then stood aside to let Jill and Thomas enter first. As Toby stepped into his bedroom, and closed the door behind him, Thomas asked, "Would you be more comfortable having Jill wait outside, Toby?"

Toby all but laughed, before telling Thomas, "Thomas, Jill has already seen me naked several times. I was naked the first day after I arrived here, napping, but naked."

A puzzled expression crossed Thomas' face, and he asked, "Why were you naked after you arrived?"

Toby pulled the chair by the closet door over to the bed, turning it so it faced the bed. He motioned for Jill and Thomas to sit on his bed and asked Thomas a question. "Have you ever heard of Petticoat Punishment, Thomas?" When Thomas shook his head no, Toby continued explaining. "Petticoat Punishment is used to alter a boy's behavior by having him dress and act as a girl. He wears everything a girl might wear, from a bra and panties to a garter belt and stockings, to slips, dresses, and heels. He's also taught how to apply makeup and eventually has to apply his own makeup. The mistress uses the boy's ego against him, asking for his word of honor to do what he's told without complaining. Here at Seasons House, Jane welcomes the boy after a long train trip, treating him to lunch and a small glass of wine to welcome him. What the boy doesn't know is that his small glass of wine is laced with a sleeping potion, which after the long train trip, makes him extremely sleepy. The boy is shown to his bedroom so he can nap after his long trip. During his nap, Marie goes into his bedroom and removes all the clothing he brought with him, including whatever he is wearing as he naps. After a couple of hours, Jane goes into his bedroom, wakes him, and if the boy is as most boys are at his age, he becomes embarrassed having a grown woman seeing him naked. Of course, after realizing he's naked, he uses the bed coverings to cover himself before Jane tells him she wants to see him in the study in a few minutes. It's at that point the boy brings up the fact he hasn't anything to wear, and Jane points out the robe lying over the back of the chair in the room; a chair like the one I'm sitting in. The boy tells Jane the robe is a girls robe, and Jane counters by asking him if it isn't clothing. The boy doesn't realize Jane never said anything about it being a girls robe, just that it's clothing. The question only has one answer and it's the one the boy gives, yes. Jane then tells the boy to wear the robe and slippers beneath the chair or come naked, it doesn't matter to her. Again, a boy that age would be embarrassed to sit in front of an adult woman naked, so he puts on the robe and slippers and goes down to the study. By wearing the robe and slippers, he has taken his first step into the world of Petticoat Punishment."

"There's already one of Jane's girls in the house when the boy arrives, and her job is to instruct the new boy, such as knocking before entering any room if the door is closed. This helps the new boy after being told to meet Jane in the study, as he knocks on the study door and waits to be told to enter or come in. He's told to sit on the bench near the backdoor until Jane can see him, causing his anxiety to build. After being allowed to enter the study, he's directed to sit in the high-back chair directly in front of Jane's desk. It's uncomfortable and meant to be, to keep the boy uncomfortable and wanting to get out of the chair. Jane will then explain she requires his word of honor to do what he's told and not complain no matter what he's told to do. And if he can't give her his word of honor, then she'll send him home on the train dressed just as he is in the robe and slippers. What he doesn't know is that she won't do that because it would be trouble for her if she did. Once he gives her his word of honor, she's got him, hook, line, and sinker. Marie then takes him upstairs and teaches him how to wear the girls clothing, which he has to learn quickly. There's a trip to the salon for hair and makeup, and a few other things, then he's taken to the Mall, so the boy can experience what genetic girls go through. He even gets to be a clothing model at a clothing shop in the Mall. If at any point he balks or refuses to do what he's told, Jane throws his word of honor in his face. It may seem strange, Thomas, but I would have liked to have gone through the experience. But as you're about to see, I wouldn't have been able to have the experience."

Standing up, Toby moved the chair back near the closet door before sitting down and removing his shoes and socks. He removed his shirt then his pants, saving his briefs for last. He walked over to Thomas and Jill, turned around, and told Thomas, "See why I couldn't have the experience, Thomas?"

Toby heard the intake of air from Thomas, before Thomas asked, "My word, son. Who treated you in this manner?"

In a soft voice, so soft Thomas almost didn't hear Toby's answer, Toby said, "My brother, Thomas. He started slapping me around after our mother walked out. Then it graduated to beating me with anything he could get his hands on. He did it all to force me to become involved in the shoplifting ring he belonged to. The newer marks are because I got caught the last time I shoplifted, and was arrested. He and the man that ran things drug me to two pipes in a warehouse, tied me spread eagle to those pipes, and my brother did what you see. I passed out after the third blow, so I don't know how many times he hit me." Toby reached up and wiped the tears hugging his eyes, causing Jill to get off the bed and hug Toby from behind. Toby reached up and held onto Jill's arms, using her to support him as he cried.

Jill held Toby tight, telling him, "It's okay, Toby. Everything will be okay." She held him until he stopped crying, then asked, "Better?" When he nodded his head, she let him go and sat back on the bed.

Thomas patted Jill's leg before asking Toby, "Toby, would you please step back a bit?" Toby took one step backward and heard, "That's good, Toby. Toby, do I have your permission to touch you?" When Toby nodded his head, Thomas then said, "I'll try to be gentle, but let me know if my touching hurts, okay?" After hearing, "okay" from Toby, Thomas began feeling the scars on Toby's back, working down to his butt, then to his legs. "Toby, may I have your permission to take pictures of your back, butt, and legs? I want to show them to my team so we can decide the best course to help you." Again, Toby nodded his head, then heard, "Would you take a couple of steps forward, that's good, thank you, Toby." Thomas pulled out his cell phone and began taking a series of pictures, long shots, and closeups. "Okay, Toby, you can get dressed. We'll see you downstairs and talk some more." He and Jill stood up and left Toby's bedroom, talking as they descended the stairs and walked into the living room. Thomas sat down hard on the couch, asking Jill, "Who in the hell treats a person like that, Jill? They could have killed him if the beating had lasted much longer. His body wouldn't have been able to endure the shock of the beating. I have my own opinion on what should happen to people who do that to kids, and it isn't nice."

Jill sat down beside Thomas, putting her arm around his shoulder. "Thomas, you're in good company with the thoughts you have on how to deal with those types of people. Some of us think a map, shovel, and a flashlight, are how to deal with those people. But rest assured, they are about to get what they deserve. Oh, and Toby's brother? The one who gave Toby those newest scars? They tried to kill him. Two policemen found him near the door of a warehouse they'd been using, he'd been shot three times. So in a way, he got what he deserved. He'll get more, of course, since he was involved in the shoplifting, but how much more depends on whether or not he cooperates. Ah, here's our Toby now."