I pouted. They always seemed to think they were so funny.
“But if that did occur, we would have to watch him and make sure he did it correctly,” Mark added.
“Kinky bastards,” I muttered, shrieking when Jace landed a smart smack to my backside for my language. He laughed at my scowl and we all went inside to unwind from the trip.
“So, back to the routine. I need you to read that chapter I assigned you last week, I’m quizzing you tomorrow on it,” Mark-the-Teacher, said.
Jace laughed at the look on my face. “Welcome home, Kiddo. Go take a dip in the pool to cool down your bottom then you can get your homework done.” He turned to Mark, “You’re relentless.”
“You and I just have different areas that we are insistent about. Academics are mine, behavior is yours,” Mark shrugged, knowing Jace was teasing. “It’s a good balance for her, you know. I do feel bad for that bottom though,” he added.
“Yeah, me too. It’s one thing getting sadistic on a grown adult who likes it, another thing on an eighteen-year-old kid who needs it. I’m just glad she’s responding to it the way she does. We’re a good team, Bro. I really appreciate your help with her.”
“You’ve thanked me enough for it, J. Don’t you get it? You guys are the only family I have here, and my best friends. I trust you with my life, and my secrets,” Mark added.
Jace hugged him. “Me, too. Chinese and movie?”
“Actually, I’m going over to see Gayle a little later. Apparently, she’s having some problems with one of her bio classes and needs a tutor,” he said, grinning and elbowing Jace with a wink.
“Yeah, right. Don’t forget the new hairbrush I bought for you,” Jace snickered.
* * *
I yawned, trying to focus on the stupid math problem Mark gave to me. Why the hell would I care if a train got there before a bus? I don’t ride in either of them. Mark was typing on his laptop, focused on whatever. He had his back angled toward me and didn’t see me get up. I slung my arms around him from behind, putting my cheek against his ear.
“Mark, I’m bored and can’t focus. Please, can we get out of here?”
Mark didn’t miss a word as he continued to type and talk. “Finish up that paper and we’ll take a break.”
“I can’t concentrate. Please? I’ve been good all week.”
“Good, because it’s Friday and time for us to discuss the remainder of what happened last week,” he said firmly, punching the save key and tilting his face against mine while he rubbed his scratchy cheek against me. “You know better than to mix our personal relationship with class. It’s disruptive.”
I crawled around to face him. “Please?”
“Oh, alright. Just don’t bother Jace, he’s recording.”
“He’s always recording,” I groaned.
“He’s the Guitar God. You can’t interrupt the genius when he’s working,” Mark said in all seriousness.
We left to grab some frozen yogurt in town, which was about twenty minutes from the estate. Then we roamed around, looking in windows.
“Mark? What’s going to happen to me tonight?”
“Ah, so that’s what’s on your mind. I’m not certain yet, not completely.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well…” He opened the car door for me and watched as I buckled my seat belt. “To start: one, or both of us, will definitely be giving you a switching.”
My mouth hung open as he closed my door and walked to the driver’s side.
“I’ve never had that before.”
“There is a lot that you have never had which, if you keep behaving, you might never have to get introduced to. This time, however, you need to take your discipline to heart. You have no idea how much you frightened us. Did you know people die from alcohol poisoning? They also fall down stairs and break their necks. They suffocate while puking their guts up. What if that happened and there was no one there to help you?”
“I never drank before. I didn’t think of that.”
“Nor did you think of the implication of stealing. Forget that, let’s go to the next level. Do you realize the courts could take you from Jace for something like this? This could have been your one-way ticket to the slammer.”
“What?!”
Mark nodded. “Oh yeah, it would look like he leaves you unsupervised and without rules. That’s why he’s so uptight about this stuff. He doesn’t want to lose you and neither do I. Has he told you what he’s trying to do?”
“No,” I said quietly. This was all news to me. Someone who actually wanted me enough to be afraid of losing me? It got even harder to comprehend.
“Jace is trying to push the paperwork through for independent conservatorship and get you released from being a ward of the state. He wants to make sure that nothing can ever happen to you. He also wants to make me a legal guardian as well. His attorney recommended it to protect you because of that conditional contract that the court set that basically doesn’t recognize you as an independent until you’re 21.”
“I-I didn’t know. I mean, I heard them mention something the first day I was here, but nothing after that.”
“It’s not a secret. He probably hasn’t said anything because he likes things to be finished.”
“Wow. I honestly don’t know what to say…” The news stunned me and took a few minutes to sink in. Jace was exiting the studio as we pulled up to the house and I raced over, tackling him to the ground and covering his face with kisses. He flipped me to my back on the grass, pinned me down and sat on me.
“I gather Mark mentioned the conservatorship,” he stated bluntly. “Are you okay with it? I didn’t think to ask you.”
“That means they can never take me away, right? Oh, I promise to be good forever!”
“Come on, you know damn well not to make promises you can’t keep. And you know I always keep my promises, good and bad ones. Getting you out of the courts clutches will simply help us in the event you do something unwise and hopefully keep you from going to jail,” he said with a tweak to my nose and a warning tone in his voice.
All too soon, dinner ended and Jace herded Mark and me into the living room to begin my ‘trial.’ Once again, they ignored my shame-filled protests as I was ordered over the arm of the Royal Lounge and my shorts and panties were pushed down to my knees, exposing every private part of my body. I tried to hide my embarrassment, but still felt that terrible flush rising to my face as they talked nonchalantly as though I wasn’t there.
“There is still a little bruising, but nothing significant,” Mark stated, pushing a feint purple mark with the sole intent of irritating me.
Jace repeated the same gesture. “I think it’s safe to continue with our plans. Okay, young lady, stand up. Go get a pair of scissors from the kitchen and head out to the yard. I want you to cut us four branches off that small shade tree near the kennel. They should be straight, about 3 to 4 feet long and about as thick as a pencil and no thicker than your thumb.”
Mark continued, “If we both aren’t satisfied, you will keep going out there until you find the right ones. Go on now.”
Trembling, I left to obey. Cut my own switch? How cruel is that? I relived that moment of sheer panic when I thought something had happened to Jace to prevent him from coming back, and admitted to myself that my actions were even more painful for them. Ashamed of my behavior and very repentant, I searched through the branches. It took me about fifteen minutes before I came back in, handing two each to my executioners.
“This is acceptable,” Jace said. I was taken into the kitchen and stood before the sink with instructions of how to clean the switches. Adding one more degree of humiliation to the situation, Jace yanked my pants back down to mid-thigh and stated it would give me something more to think about as I proceeded with my task.
When the switches were cleaned to their satisfaction, Jace had me hobble to the couch, my shorts and panties still around my knees, and positioned me over the high, rounded,
back. My toes barely touched the floor and I struggled not to fall forward.
“We are both going to switch you at the same time,” Jace announced. “We will stop when we both feel you’ve been thoroughly chastised and will never again consider stealing anything, let alone alcohol. If you move, I will be getting the cane and administering twenty strokes. Understood?”
I nodded and whispered “Yes, sir,” into the leather, then held my breath.
I don’t know, and I don’t care who did what, but every stroke that slashed across my backside felt like a blade of fire. My shrieks echoed off the walls and I felt like I was being stung by a million wasps at once. There was no rhythm, no tempo… every stroke landed in an unexpected place between the back of my thighs and the crown of my cheeks, kissing my flesh with agonizing, lashes of fire. There was only pause to check for damages to my bottom or to check the switch. I had never felt so helpless before, unable to move in any direction.
I prayed for my mind to go into that special place where the pain wasn’t felt, but to no avail. The tempo of punishment was too irregular, the strokes too sharp and the position too impersonal. I was unable to move and barely able to breathe through my breathless sobbing. Finally, the strokes slowed, followed by inspection.
“Well, My Love, you managed to wear out four switches tonight,” Mark commented gently, patting my back.
Jace went to sit down on the couch, calling me to him. I tripped into his arms, falling face down across his lap and crying harder than before into the cushion. He gently rubbed my welted bottom, and moved over a bit to make room for Mark.
“I am also very proud of you. You did very well for your first switching,” Jace actually sounded pleased.
“Hopefully, your last,” Mark added, stroking my hair. “I think it’s safe to say that you have learned your lesson today?”
Jace scooped me up in his strong arms and carried me upstairs to bed, kissing and cuddling the entire way. While tucking me in, he looked at me with those light blue eyes. “You okay?” he asked. “I’m really sorry I had to be so severe. I had no other choice.”
Wow, my bottom must look like it felt— like mush. “I know. It’s my fault. I promise, I will never do that again,” I said sincerely. “Thanks for everything, Jace. You… well… you saved my life.”
“I know there was a time you didn’t think it was worth saving, Sweetheart. I hope you are starting to believe differently now.” He stroked my hair and cupped my face with his big, strong hand. He really did understand me.
“I am. I love you so much it hurts,” I admitted, kissing his palm.
He planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Me too, Kiddo. Me too. Good night.”
Chapter Seven
Camp Border-Collie
I watched as Mark packed for his vacation. I had finally worn him down about taking a break from school and he decided to go spend two weeks with his folks back east.
“I think I’ve got everything,” Mark said absently. “Gonna miss me?”
“Maybe a little…” I shrugged. “You grow on people, you know. Like a wart.”
That earned me a tackle and a smack on the backside. Mark sat on me, poking my side. “Well, I’ll miss you a lot. You’ve been so good lately that I’m itching to see what my little sister is going to pull.”
What he meant was that I have gone two months without being spanked. Oh, I got grounded from TV for a late assignment, and stuck in the corner for stomping my foot at Jace (who felt since I acted as though I was five, I should be treated as such). But that was it. The formal declaration regarding permanent conservatorship came through, so I truly attempted to show my appreciation by behaving appropriately.
“Poor Lisa. Are you as hard on her as you are on me?” I asked, letting him pull me to my feet.
“Harder. And she has to deal with Dad. She just turned twenty and she still can’t keep out of trouble!” he laughed. “You’re probably going to be just like her, you little spitfire.”
I grunted. “Lucky me. Can I carry anything for you?”
“Nope, got it.” We walked outside to the limo that Jace had called for his friend. Mark shook his head, giving the driver his famous grin. “J spoils me. I’ll never get used to this.”
“He loves you. You know how generous Jace is to the people he cares about. At least you don’t have to go all the way down to LAX this time,” I commented as Jace approached us.
“You sure you don’t want me to drive you, Bro?” Jace asked, hugging Mark good bye.
Mark shook his head. “No offense, man, but this is a sweet ride. Thanks again.”
“Glad to do it. Have a safe trip and we’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Give Lisa a special hug for me,” Jace said, winking. Mark gave him a thumbs up and climbed into the limo. We watched him drive off and then turned to the house.
“Ow! Cut it out, butthead! What’s wrong with you?” I squealed, trying to escape. He chased me through the house, catching me with a tackle to the floor and the customary sitting on top of me to pin me down.
“Hey, I found a solution to that Tahoe problem,” Jace announced, straightening my hair to look like Frankenstein’s bride. He had a three night show scheduled in South Tahoe with some old band buddies next week and had been debating what to do with “the brat”. I wanted to stay home (alone) but he quickly put an end to that request.
“Get off of me. What?” I slapped his hands away as I sat up, fixing my ponytail.
“They have a special training camp in North Lake that new handlers can bring their dogs to and work on obedience, agility and dock jumping. I thought you and the puppies might like it. It’s very exclusive.” He made a face.
“That sounds like fun. Except do I have to share a room with anybody? I want to be by myself.”
“Listen, as much as I empathize with you there, Mark is right. You need a little bit of improvement in your social skills around people your own age. I figured that this would, at least, provide you with kids of the same interest.”
He looked so pleased with himself that I couldn’t bear to argue and remind him that I was an adult, not a ‘kid’. And the puppies (now eight months old, brilliant and beautiful) would certainly love it.
“Alright, I’ll go. How long is it?”
“Five days, next Wednesday through Monday. We could go up there, get you settled and give me time to practice with the guys. And I’ll be really close by, in case you need me,” he added, eyeing me. Oooh, I knew that look.
“I’ll be good. I won’t burn anything down. Promise.”
“No fighting,” he warned.
“I won’t start anything.” That’s about all I could promise on that. I had some misgivings. This was a “private” camp, which implied it would be attended by snotty, rich spoiled kids with their show dogs.
He eyed me suspiciously and merely grunted. We left Tuesday afternoon in his RV, which was nothing less than a hotel on four wheels and the only means in which Jace would ever consider ‘camping’. Tahoe was only about four hours away, but he thought it would be fun to have an overnight at the lake before we went our separate ways. The girls settled down after a few minutes and went to sleep on the benches in the back while Jace and I chatted and listened to music.
I was awed by the beauty of Lake Tahoe with the tall pine trees lining the lake’s edge and crystal clear turquoise water. The scent of mountain air and fresh pine was intoxicating as well, and the breeze gentle and warm. We spent the night at a lovely campground and then went to the AKC Agility Training Camp the next morning. It looked like the entire border collie population had arrived with mixes of Aussies, corgi’s and other breeds. The girls were beside themselves. PLAYMATES!
We were greeted by an older man in tiny gold rimmed glasses. Princess immediately gave him her “eye” while Diamond hid behind Jace. They didn’t like him and neither did I. He shook Jace’s hand and rigidly explained the rules.
“The animals are to be crated at night and will be fed after the campers
eat. The handler is responsible for walking them, cleaning up after them, and their control. There is to be no dog fighting under any circumstance; such displays call for immediate removal,” he clicked down his list.
Jace didn’t seem to be paying much attention as he watched the A-frame practice. Like me, he wasn’t keen on ‘rules’ or being dictated to.
The man continued, “Training starts at 6:00 am with a strict schedule according to your animal’s ability. Since you have decided to bring two of them, I must emphasize that tardiness will not be accepted. The show ring is no place for amateurs.”
I looked up at Jace nervously. His eyes narrowed as he slowly turned to stare at the man with his most intimidating expression. “I’m sure all my girls will do just fine. They have already achieved progression points into titles in obedience.”
“Then we have an understanding. Please sign here. Amy will show you to your cabin.”
Jace put his hand on my back and walked with me to the cabins along the lake edge.
“The cabin sleeps four, plus the crates. Since you have two dogs, we assigned you with only two cabin mates. My,” Amy said, watching Jace unfold the crates, “those are large for this breed.”
“Would you like to sleep in a box, Miss?” Jace asked. He stacked them on top of each other and then spread out the bedding and bowls.
Amy looked uncomfortable under his glare. “Well, no, I mean, most people bring appropriate size-travel crates. These are designed for extra-large dogs.”
Jace looked at her carefully. “I don’t know why people think dogs need to be stuffed into shoeboxes, but I don’t. I also let them have free run of my RV when we travel to shows. That’s how I do it, and I don’t give a damn about anyone else. And MY dogs eat first.”
She looked shocked. I guess that was unheard of in this world. Jace believed that he was responsible for making sure his family was taken care of before he would even get anything for himself, and to do anything less was pure selfishness.
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