by Joannie Kay
"Jenna, I know you feel terrible about Deborah; we all do; but I cannot and will not permit you to use yourself as bait. If I have to finish the spanking that Linc started, I will, and I promise I won't stop until you are too bruised to dress like a tramp in clothes like these!" He could see how red her upper thighs were beneath the short skirt.
"I already have his attention, Jake. Those were his men who tried to kidnap me, and I am in over my head," she admitted, her lower lip trembling. "If Linc hadn't been there, I would have been in so much trouble I can't bear thinking about it. I wanted to help you, and I went about it all wrong. I'm sorry, Jake, and I promise I'll do what you say now. My word on it," she said emotionally. She turned to Linc and said, "I'm so grateful to you for helping me tonight. I'm sorry I made it more difficult, Linc, and I apologize for slapping you. I was embarrassed because I knew you were right to scold, and I was angry at myself... and I took it out on you. I really am sorry I hurt you. You, of all people, didn't deserve that," she tearfully proclaimed.
"I understand, Jenna," Linc got to his feet and gave her a hug. "Now, I'm not going to apologize for spanking you, little girl. You needed that... but I am sorry it was necessary. It wasn't how I planned for us to get acquainted," he said earnestly.
"Were you in the military?" she suddenly asked. "Like in special forces of some kind? You did not learn to fight like that at the police academy," she said.
Linc nodded. "Marines, and proud of it," he answered. "And I was in Special Forces," he admitted.
"I'm glad," Jenna said softly. "Those three were dangerous, and they meant to kill you."
"You handled yourself well, Linc, and on a personal level, I want to thank you for protecting Jenna. We love her and would be devastated if anything happened to her," Jake admitted.
"I understand, sir," Linc smiled. He'd seen the love in Jake's eyes as he'd scolded his sister, and the pain in them when he thought he'd need to arrest her for carrying a concealed weapon. Yes, Jenna was loved... and he was pretty darn sure that he was falling hard for the pretty young woman himself!
Jake returned to his seat behind the desk and was all business as he asked questions to determine exactly what happened and how it happened. He told the Officer to write it up and submit it by the next morning, and then he asked him to take Jenna home and see to it she stayed there. He promised to relieve him in a few hours, once he went to the hospital and interrogated the three men who tried to abduct Jenna. Then he leveled his gaze on his sister, "When I get home tonight I expect to see your license to carry a concealed weapon, and the proof that you took classes. You have them ready, young lady. We will be discussing this further."
Jenna knew what that meant, and she wanted to cry. She knew full well how Jake felt about civilians arming themselves, but she went about it in the right way! Still, he was more than likely going to set her bottom on fire for the second time that evening, and she was already very tender and sore. Sitting wasn't impossible yet, but it would be if Jake decided to spank her again!
Linc was just as happy as Jenna to get out of Jake's office. He knew how lucky he was that he wasn't sitting in a cell because he'd taken things too far with Jenna by spanking her. Jake could have had his badge, but instead he'd thanked him and said he understood his spanking Jenna. Of course, the pretty brunette deserved a spanking, but it wasn't the best way to start a relationship. He was alert as they left the building and went to his car. He knew that other cops had been attacked in the garage as they left work, and he wasn't about to give someone a chance to get the drop on him, especially when he was responsible for Jenna. No one was lurking about, and he put her in his car and left to drive to her home.
"I don't normally dress like this, or wear this much makeup, Linc," she startled him by saying after a couple minutes of silence.
"That's good to hear, because you're done with it as of tonight, sugar," he looked at her. "You are too sweet a girl to dress like a hooker, or a cheap pickup."
"You think I'm sweet?" she asked.
"I surely do," Linc answered. "And, I understand you wanting to go after the ones who hurt your friend."
"I love her, Linc, and she is so shattered, so frail. I'm so afraid for her. She feels so dirty now, like she's done something to be ashamed of. They did all sorts of things to her... to break her. They beat her when she fought them, and they used her over and over and over," Jenna said, her voice breaking. "She didn't tell Jake and the others all of it. She was too embarrassed. They deserve to die for what they did to her. She was saving herself for marriage, and now she thinks no man will ever want her because she's so hurt and terrified of being touched."
"Is she in counseling, sugar?" Linc asked, his voice full of sympathy.
Jenna nodded. "I've gone with her... until Jake sent Jason for me today!"
"He's trying to keep that from happening to you, Jenna."
"I know... but what about Deborah? She needs me to be with her right now! She's so afraid they'll come after her again."
"She's being watched," he told her. "The Lieutenant isn't taking any chances. She has a female officer with her at all times, and there are others working undercover. If Darles tries to take her, they'll catch him."
"I didn't know that!" she said, her eyes snapping with temper. "Jake could have told me so I wouldn't worry so damned much!"
"He's got a lot on his mind, sugar, and I'm sure he would have said something if he knew how upset you were."
"I suppose," Jenna answered, and then she groaned. "Oh no! Ma is home, and she's going to be really upset with me!" She turned to him and said, "Couldn't we go to your place instead?"
"Do you want the Lieutenant to kick my butt, literally and at work?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, of course not, but are you sure you're ready to face Ma? She's going to be upset with you for spanking me, and you can't keep anything a secret from her. She's one of those people who can look at you and just know things."
"I can't wait to meet her," Linc said with a grin.
"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you," she folded her arms across her chest while he parked the car.
Linc got out and looked all around. It seemed safe, but he wasn't taking any chances. "Do you have your door key?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Give it to me," he ordered. Once she handed it to him, he reached inside the car and pulled her out, and then tossed her over his shoulder for the second time that night, and ran toward the house.
"What are you doing, you moron! Put me down!" she screeched, earning herself a hard whack on the backside.
"Trying to keep you safe, and you'd better settle down, or isn't your butt sore enough yet?" he gave her another spank for good measure... and to hear her squeal.
"Okay, okay! Please stop spanking me," Jenna begged. "I just find this embarrassing," she admitted as he put her key into the door lock.
"I'm sorry," he said, putting her on the floor in the foyer, and quickly shutting the door and locking it. "I'm going to check out the house just to be sure it is locked up tight." He took two steps and was facing an irate woman with a gun in her hand.
"You stand right there, handsome, and tell me who you are and why you are here, and just why my daughter is dressed that way!"
"Ma, he's a police officer; put the gun down," Jenna moved to stand in front of Linc. "He saved my life tonight, and you're going to want to feed him and hug him, not shoot him, and does Jake know you have a gun?" she demanded.
"No, he doesn't, and it isn't any of his business, do you hear me, Jenna?" Molly said firmly.
"Yes, Ma, I hear you. Please put it away now. Linc is a nice guy."
"I'm sorry, Linc, is it? Jacob warned me to be careful, and I am doing just that, and you, Miss Jenna, were supposed to be in this house and not out gallivanting all over the place, and what is with those trashy clothes and the makeup?" she demanded without taking a breath.
"Ma, may I please change first, and then I'll answer all of your millions of
questions," Jenna answered, and then said the magic words, "Ma, Linc and I haven't eaten and we're starving... Could you fix us something?"
"Of course, I'll fix you something. Young man, just where do you think you are going?" she demanded when Linc started to follow Jenna to her bedroom.
"I'm assigned to protect Jenna, Mrs. Tobias. I'm going to make sure her bedroom is safe, no one hiding in the closet or under the bed. I'll step outside while she is changing her clothing," he promised with a smile.
"Very well," Molly gave over. "Are you a picky eater?" she asked as he walked away.
"No, ma'am, I am not a bit picky."
"Handsome and not picky. That's two!" he heard Molly say and looked to Jenna questioningly, but she was blushing.
He stopped her from going into her bedroom until he searched thoroughly, his gun in his hand. He wasn't taking any chances. The bedroom window was unlocked, and he quickly locked it. "Did you have this window open, Jenna?"
"No," she answered. "Do you think that someone was in here and unlocked it to come back later when I was home?"
"It's possible. Grab up your clothes and what you need, and go on into the bathroom. I'm going to sit right here while you are dressing, sugar. If someone tries to come in that window, they're going to get a big surprise."
Jenna scrubbed her face and took off the offending garments. She also slid down her panties and looked at her still-red bottom in the full length mirror on the door! She was definitely sore. She pulled her panties back up, and decided they were much too tight. She took them off, tossed them into the hamper, and then pulled on her flannel sleep pants and a sweat shirt. She brushed her hair, and tied it back with a scrunchie, and when she felt more like herself, she padded barefoot into her bedroom. She felt Linc's eyes on her and blushed.
"Now you look really pretty without all that goop on your face," he said with a smile.
"Thank you," Jenna smiled in return.
"I thought you were planning to step out of here while my daughter changed, young man?" Molly was standing in the doorway and she wasn't a bit happy.
"Mrs. Tobias, did you notice anything out of the ordinary when you got home today?" Linc asked seriously.
"The front door was unlocked... but I just assumed that Jenna left and forgot. We've both done that before," she said, but when Jenna paled, she whispered, "Was someone inside, do you think?"
Chapter Ten
"I think it is very possible that someone was inside the house, Mrs. Tobias," Linc answered. "Jenna's bedroom window was unlocked. We'll stake it out tonight," he promised. "I'm going to check all the other rooms to make sure the windows and doors are locked," he told them. "Jenna, do you seriously know how to use your gun?" he asked. When she nodded in reply, he said, "Keep it with you, please. If anyone tries to come inside that you don't know, use it."
"You have a gun!" Molly looked at her youngest child in shock as the handsome young police officer went to search the rest of the house.
"I do, and Jake knows, and he is not happy," Jenna answered, taking her weapon out of her purse and leading the way into the kitchen. She checked the locks and closed the blinds over the windows to prevent anyone from looking inside, and then turned off the bright overhead lights. "We don't want to be silhouettes on the blinds, Ma," she said.
"I'm coming into the kitchen, sugar," Linc called out as a precaution against startling the women and getting himself shot. He knew they were both frightened. "Your bedroom window was the only one unlocked. "Did you check these locks before you closed the blinds?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I called the Lieutenant and let him know about the door and your window. He said to tell you both not to worry. He's on his way here." He looked at Jenna. "Do you have your permit to show him, Jenna?"
"Yes. It's in my bag." He got her bag and once she found it, he looked it over, and nodded. "Good for you, sugar. This will go a long way toward easing his worry." Linc looked at Molly and asked, "Ma'am, do you have a permit for your gun?" he wanted to know.
"Would you arrest me if I didn't?" she asked in a testy tone of voice, and Jenna wanted to laugh at the startled expression on Linc's face.
"No, ma'am. I wouldn't dare. But, the Lieutenant might," he added with a spark of humor.
To Jenna's relief her Mother laughed, and then said, "I have a permit. I've had this gun since my kids were small, and I do know how to use it."
"I believe you."
"So, Jenna, would you care to explain to me why you were dressed like a prostitute tonight, and why you were out of this house after your brother made it so clear you were to stay right here?" Molly turned her eyes on her squirming daughter.
"Can't it wait until after we eat, Ma?" Jenna pleaded.
"Oh, I'm going to be so mad at you!" Molly exclaimed.
"I've already been spanked and Jake took away my car keys, too, and grounded me!" she blurted, pouting just a bit.
"Jake spanked you?" Molly was surprised.
"No..." She was too embarrassed to continue.
"I did, Mrs. Tobias, and I'm not going to apologize for it, either," Linc told her, his voice firm and full of conviction. "Jenna had a spanking coming to her, and I did a good job of setting her backside on fire! If that chair didn't have a soft cushion on it, she wouldn't be sitting down," he added with a touch of sympathy for the young woman.
"Jenna, what on earth did you do?" Molly actually turned away from the stove and the food she was cooking to look at her daughter, a sure sign she was very upset and concerned.
"I tried to draw out Darles so Jake could arrest him," the pretty brunette told the truth. Lying to her Ma never worked, and she'd just find herself in more trouble with her family, who all loved her.
"Jenna! What were you thinking? That man has no scruples whatsoever! Look what he did to Deborah!" Molly exclaimed, and when she saw the look in her daughter's tear-filled eyes, she said, "I see, honey. You were trying to see justice done. Oh, baby, that wasn't a smart or safe thing to do," she gently scolded.
"You're right, Ma. I got in over my head, and three of Darles' men came after me. Linc saved me, and it is a miracle he wasn't killed or hurt. I expected Darles to come, not to send three of his men..." she admitted tearfully. "If Linc hadn't been there... One man, Darles, I could have handled... maybe... Linc saved me, Ma, and I was so awful to him. I slapped his face," she confessed.
"Oh, Jenna! Why did you do that?" Molly asked her daughter.
"He was scolding, and I knew I had it coming, but I was so angry with myself... You know me, Ma. I take my temper out on anyone foolish enough to be within proximity of me. I'm not proud of it, either," she confessed. "I earned a spanking for sure." Coming from Jenna, it was a huge concession.
"Yes, I believe you did," Molly agreed, and then her worry took over. "Oh, Jenna, you have to promise me right now that you won't try anything like that ever again!"
"I won't, Ma," she promised. "I've learned my lesson. I'm so fortunate Linc spent hours searching for me tonight, and that he was willing to risk his life to protect me. Jake and Nevin both think highly of him," she said with a smile for the man.
Linc was blushing at Jenna's praise, and he was proud of her for accepting responsibility for her actions. She wasn't the spoiled brat he first thought her to be.
"Thank you, young man, for saving my little girl," Molly said emotionally, putting down her wooden spatula long enough to give him a big hug. "Jenna is precious to me, and to all of us. I just can't bear to think of her in the clutches of that horrible man Darles!"
"We won't let that happen, Mrs. Tobias," Linc promised, meaning every word. He wanted a chance to get to know the brunette better. She was pretty, spunky, and smart, too.
There was the sound of a key in the front door, and Linc was immediately alert. He motioned for the ladies to stay where they were while he covered the door. He was fairly sure it was the Lieutenant, but he wasn't taking any chances.
* * *
Kelly looked up fro
m her knitting to see Kari sitting motionless, looking off into space, her own knitting lying in her lap. When Kelly learned that she and Kari would be staying at the isolated farm, she decided to bring knitting needles, yarn, and a few pattern books, thinking that learning to knit would be a fun project for the two of them. But to her surprise, Kari already knew the craft, and was more than willing to teach her how to cast on, and Kari made perfect sense of the directions that Kelly found confusing to read, but much easier to do when Kari showed her how. Kelly was now making a pair of bootees for the new little life she was carrying inside her, and Kari was working on a matching sweater and cap. It was going to be a very pretty little outfit, and done in white, it would be perfect for either a boy or a girl. Kari said that she'd show Kelly how to make a blanket, too, and Kelly was excited. Knitting and talking was a good way to pass the time while they were waiting for Darles to be captured and arrested. When she looked up again, Kari was still staring out into space. "You're missing Jake," she smiled at Kari.
"I am," Kari admitted with a deep sigh. "It's only been a few hours since I kissed him goodbye, but I already miss him so much. I would love to talk to him," she admitted, and then jumped when her cell phone rang. "Oh, that has to be Jacob!" she said enthusiastically, setting her knitting aside and jumping up to grab her cell.
"Don't answer it, Kari!" Kelly raced to grab the phone before Kari did something foolish that could lead to Darles finding her. "It's not Jake, honey. I don't recognize the number, and it's not your Dad. Let it go to voice mail. Darles could find out where we are if he gets you to answer. I don't understand all the tracking stuff, but we do it all the time to find people."
"It didn't occur to me that Darles could use my phone to find out where I am," Kari admitted sheepishly. "What would I do without you, Kelly?"
"It's my job to know these things. Just try to be patient and give Jake time to catch Darles. He will; he's a good cop."