by Misty Malone
Joe nodded. "And that's something you should probably bring her here to an empty house to show her, so that you have privacy, don't you think?"
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Chase agreed. "So you don't mind going down to talk with Pete a little while?"
"Not at all, son." As they drove to Pete and Cece's Joe said, "Chase, I'm not going to tell you how to show Cece the puppy, but just remember it might be pretty painful for her – to see the puppy growing up, of course. Make sure you give her plenty of time to sit on your lap afterwards and cuddle – the puppy, of course."
"Of course," Chase said with a grin. After a second he asked, "Dad, I know you held Mom on your lap and let her cuddle after a painful experience, but my question is does it ever get any easier?"
"It's never easy, and I never enjoyed it," Joe answered. "And I always had to remind myself it was for her own good. It's hard to keep them safe if they won't listen to you. But as time went on I could see the progress we were making, and that made it a little easier. She started to realize she'd been doing some dangerous things, and once she saw that and started listening to me more it became easier to keep her safe. When you see the results of your hard work, and sore hand, it makes it a little easier."
Chase nodded. "That's good to hear."
"You're in the beginning stages and it's harder, I know, but hang in there, son. She's a good lady. She's worth the extra time and effort."
"Thanks, Dad."
Joe nodded as they parked the pickup and went to the front door.
Fifteen minutes later, after greeting Pete and a little small talk, Chase helped Cece into his pickup and they headed back to The Circle M.
They were pulling up to Chase's house when Cece said, "You haven't said a word, Chase. You're not going to show me the puppies, are you?"
"No, I'm not," he admitted.
"Am I in trouble?"
"Should you be?"
"No." He glanced sideways at her with one eyebrow raised, and she said, "Well, maybe a little, but do I get to explain?"
"Of course. Cece, I told you you'll always get to explain anything you want to explain, but the final decision is mine."
"And you've already made that final decision?"
"No, of course not. I haven't heard your explanation yet. But I will say you've got a lot to explain." He turned the truck off and said, "Wait right there."
When he got to her door to help her down she asked, "Why did you tell me to wait right here? Did you think I was going to run?"
"No. I just thought you might be nervous and try getting down before I got here. I didn't want you to get hurt." She looked skeptical, but before she could say anything he picked her up and set her on the ground and said, "Cece, that really was my concern. I didn't want you to get hurt. You've been making that job awfully hard for me all day, so if I were you I wouldn't argue with me right now. Let's go in the house and we'll talk in there."
He took her straight into his office and sat down on the couch, pulling her down beside him. "Okay, I'm ready to hear your explanation," he said simply.
"For what?"
He sighed. "Okay, we'll do it that way. Did I tell you last night if you saw someone in a black SUV that you were to stay away from it, and not to approach the man?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"And did I tell you to stay home where you were safe and that I'd come down when I could?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"And have we talked before about why you need to listen to me so I can keep you safe?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"Okay then. Now I'm ready to hear your explanation."
She sat up, straightened her shoulders and puffed out her chest. "Chase, I was just trying to help you."
"By putting yourself in danger?"
"All I did was tell him there wasn't a gas station close up that way and ask if he needed some help."
"And you don't see a man who could possibly be up to no good, that's hanging around my ranch for some unknown reason as a possible danger risk?"
"How was he dangerous? He was just walking back to his vehicle."
"Where did he say he'd been?"
"Looking for a gas station. I told him there weren't any back that way."
"He was pulled off to the side of the road?"
"Yes. He was having car trouble."
"Or so he said. Which way was he headed?"
"Toward the ranch."
"Which means he'd driven past where he claimed to have walked, looking for a gas station. So he would have known there were no gas stations back there. Or am I missing something?"
She was quiet as she thought about that. "I guess he did know."
"So you don't know where he'd actually been or why. Did you say he was parked there when you went into town this morning?"
"Yes."
"Did you look at him when you went past?"
"I got the license plate number, but there was no one in the car when I went past." She was getting frustrated as she said, "Chase, I was safe. I didn't stop at the car, I drove past and waited until I was around the corner before I stopped and wrote down the license number."
Chase was getting frustrated, as well. "Honey, we don't know what he's doing here, or what he's up to. He may be out to get me for some reason, I don't know. Until we do know, I don't want him seeing you and thinking you have anything to do with me."
"But how could that have been—"
"Honey, he wasn't in the SUV. We don't know where he was. He could have been hiding somewhere, watching the ranch with binoculars, scoping it out for some reason. If he was hiding somewhere and watching the ranch he would have seen you drive past in the morning. Then he saw you again when you stopped to see if he wanted help. Until we know what's going on and if he has anything to do with what's been happening around here I don't want you doing anything to draw attention to yourself. I don't want him to know how special you are to me."
"Chase, now you're just being ridiculous. Binoculars, really?" She thought he was just getting carried away now, and she was angry.
"Honey, when I found him today he was sitting in the SUV, watching the ranch with binoculars."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. Honey, I'm trying to keep you safe. I'm not saying—"
Still angry, she asked, "And why would you think he has anything to do with what's been going on around here?"
"Remember when I told you Leah showed up last week and I wasn't sure why?"
"Your old girlfriend?"
"I dated her once, but yes, her. The guy in the SUV is her brother."
"What's her brother doing here?"
"I don't know. That's what I've been saying."
She was quiet. "I didn't know any of that."
"Neither did I, but I asked you to stay away from him because I didn't know who he was. Honey, you have to learn to listen to me. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you coming up the lane."
"I wanted to know what was happening. I thought maybe you forgot to come tell me."
"I hadn't."
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I am, too. Is there anything else you want me to know before I give you the spanking you've earned?"
"I don't want you to do this," she said quietly, looking down.
"We're even then, because I don't want to have to do it, either. But until you learn to listen to me, I guess we'll both have to deal with it." Without saying another word he pulled her over his knees, letting her upper body rest on the couch. He reached underneath to unsnap her jeans. When she reached her hand back to stop him he sternly said, "Cecelia Louise, move your hand." She whimpered, but he was happy to see her hand go back down to her side.
He handed her a pillow and said, "Hold on to that and don't let go. I don't want to see your hand back here again." He pulled her jeans and panties down to her knees and rested his hand on her adorable little bottom.
"Okay, Sugar, while I set your rear end on fire I want you to think about som
ething. I know you think I'm being too cautious, but I told you swimming alone could be dangerous, even if you are a good swimmer, but you didn't believe me. After you fell in the water did you change your mind?"
"Yes."
"Today you thought it was crazy to think he'd watch the ranch with binoculars, but that's exactly what he was doing. You thought he seemed nice and was just out looking for a gas station, but now you realize he lied about looking for that gas station, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"And he's Leah's brother. So we don't know what's going on. Do you understand now why it would be safer for you if he doesn't know you're my girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"Think about those things, and why you need to learn to trust me and listen to me when I'm trying to keep you safe." He didn't say anything more, just started spanking. He gave her solid swats from the beginning, hoping to impress upon her his seriousness when it comes to her listening to him.
To his amazement, she didn't fight him this time, as she had in the past. She yelled, she wriggled, she kicked and she even apologized, which she hadn't done before during a spanking. But she didn't try to get up off his knees, and she didn't reach her hand back again. He continued the spanking, but wondered if maybe his dad might be right. Maybe she was learning.
He continued the spanking to the point where he knew she was sore. Her bottom was past pink, and pretty deep into red. He quickly reviewed the importance of her listening to him and reminded her that he wouldn't allow her to put herself in danger. When he asked, "Do you understand what I'm saying?" she surprised him yet again.
She very quietly answered, "Yes, sir. I'm really sorry."
She said that in a way that he knew she meant it with respect. Bless her little heart! That did it for him. After she adjusted her jeans, he gently lifted her up onto his lap and wrapped her in his arms. She snuggled right in next to him, leaning her head against his chest as she cried. "I really am sorry," she repeated.
He used his handkerchief to wipe her eyes and help her blow her nose. "I know, Sugar. I know. You're forgiven. You are so special, Sweetheart." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him with watery eyes and smiled. He returned the smile and tightened his arms around her. That was when he first realized he'd fallen in love with her. He didn't want the first time he told her that to be right after a spanking, though, so he just tucked the new discovery into his mind and held her a little tighter.
Chapter 12
Chase held Cece on his lap, snuggled tightly in his arms for almost half an hour, while she calmed down.
"We should be getting back to our dads pretty soon, Darlin'," he said with some reluctance. He would have been content to stay just like they were for a while longer.
"Yeah, I suppose we should," she agreed.
"Do you want to stop in and see the puppies a minute before we do?"
She giggled. "I guess we probably should, huh?" Still not offering to move, she looked up at him and asked, "Why is it that as much as I hate it when you spank me, I feel so, so—"
"So good?"
"So different, so content, so—"
"So good?"
She looked at him and frowned. Then she sighed and said, "Okay, so good afterwards?"
"Because you're not fighting any guilt any more, and you know I've forgiven you and we're good again." He paused, looking at her with a grin before saying, "And because your endorphins have kicked in."
"My what have kicked in?"
"Your endorphins; the chemicals in your body that kick in to fight pain. They make you feel better, happier."
She nodded, but after a few moments she said, "I think my endorphins need some fine tuning. They work, but their reaction time's too slow. They kick in, but not until after it's over. They've already lost the battle with pain by the time they appear."
He threw his head back and laughed at her antics. "Darlin', you are so special." He leaned down and gave her a kiss, which lasted longer and became more passionate than he'd planned, but it seemed they could neither one hold back right then. When he was finally able to pull back, he said, "Whoa. You, my dear, are making it harder and harder to respect your wishes to wait until your wedding night."
"And you're making me wonder if I should rethink those wishes."
"Don't rethink them, Sweetheart. I respect you for them. Besides, hopefully I'll be the one with you on your wedding night."
His words stopped her short. She looked up at him and saw the sincerity in his eyes. He said, "I'm not going to lead you on, Honey. It's too early for us to be seriously thinking of marriage, as in committing now. But our relationship is heading in the direction that could have us discussing it down the road." He paused a moment before adding, "At least I feel that way."
"Thank you for telling me that, Chase. I feel that way, too." After another kiss he stood up, taking her along with him, and set her on her feet. "Let's go look at those puppies and get back to your place. I don't want our fathers starting to worry about us."
As they stepped into the barn the two fat little butterballs came running over to them, accompanied by their parents. She knelt down right there and picked both of the puppies up and gave them a kiss, then handed one up to Chase. "They're so cute. And look, I think they've grown some since I saw them last." Chase had to smile, thinking back to when he and his dad had talked.
* * * * *
The next morning at breakfast Chase and Joe talked and decided to call Sheriff Green and let him sort out who was behind the pranks on the ranch. They busied themselves around the barn so they'd be close by when the sheriff came to take the report.
Chase called Cece mid-morning to check in with her. "How's my happy lady doing this morning?"
"Happy lady?"
"Last night when I dropped you off you were happier than I've seen you in a long time. You were smiling and laughing about everything."
"It was those endorphin things. They kick in too late to block the pain, but then they last longer afterwards."
Chase chuckled at her, but turned serious when he asked, "Are you okay today?"
"I'm fine," she assured him. "Sore, but I'm okay."
"Are you working on your next book?"
"I am, sort of. It hurt to sit at my desk, so I decided to go outside to work for a little while. But I can't go to my favorite spot because I don't think I could sit a saddle that long, so I'm sitting out under a tree with my computer."
"You need a nice, soft meadow somewhere," Chase suggested.
"Oh, you're right, and I know just the place. It's on your land, but it's not too far from here. I can walk that far, if you don't mind if I sit in that meadow of yours that's overlooking the pond and the smaller pasture you have?"
"Be my guest, Sugar. You know you don't have to ask. There are heifers in that smaller pasture, but nothing in the pasture you're talking about, with the meadow. Make yourself at home. There's a grove of trees there that should keep you cool."
"That's what I was thinking, too. I think I will go there and sit in the tall soft grass under those trees." She chuckled and said, "I don't know how much writing I'll actually get done, but it sounds nice, anyway. I think I'll make Dad's lunch and charge up my computer, and go there right after lunch."
"Sounds like a plan to me," he said, smiling.
"Has the sheriff been there yet?"
"Not yet. He said since it's not an emergency it would probably be this afternoon before he gets here."
"I hope he finds out who's been doing this and can get them to stop," she said. "I just hope if it's someone you know they don't get in a bunch of trouble."
"If it's someone I know and they're doing this, they deserve to get in trouble."
"Yeah, I guess, but—"
"I know, Sugar. I hope it's not Uncle Ralph because he's family, but if it is, he's been warned several times. If he gets in trouble it's his own fault."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Whoever it is, I hope the sheriff can stop it qu
ickly."
"Me, too," Chase agreed.
* * * * *
Mid-afternoon Chase got a call from Cece. "Chase, did you get a new bull?"
"What? No, I didn't get a bull. Why?"
"Because someone just pulled up to your little pasture and backed up to the gate. They opened the trailer, and there's a little bull in there. He's trying to unload it now."
"A little bull?"
"Yeah. I'm not much of a cattle person, but it looks awful little and scrawny to me, but it's definitely a bull. Why would he be putting it in with your heifers?"
"I'll explain it later," he answered quickly. "Are you at that grove of trees?"
"Yes."
"Out of sight of that truck?"
"Probably. I could maybe move closer to the center of the grove."
"Do that, but do it slowly, and try to stay behind trees as much as you can. Dad and I will be there as soon as we can. Be careful, try not to let him see you. If he does, call me right away, and play dumb. You were there writing and didn't see him do a thing."
"Okay, but—"
"I'll explain later. Just trust me."
Thinking back to last night and his concern that she needs to trust him, she answered, "Okay."
"Thank you."
She gathered her things and, staying low, crawled slowly closer to the grove of trees. She got to a position where she was able to watch what was happening, and tried to take a picture of the truck. There was a lot of brush in front of her and it wasn't a real good picture, but she didn't want to upset Chase again, so she stayed concealed.
She watched as the man unloaded the bull. He was having some difficulty, as the bull didn't appear to be anxious to leave the trailer, and the man didn't appear to be anxious to go in after him. He pounded on the side of the trailer, trying to scare the animal out. When that didn't work he looked around the area and found a long thin branch and stuck it in through the air vents in the trailer.
When that didn't work, either, he went to the pickup truck and got a pitchfork. Cece gasped. She loved animals, and knew it would be hard for her to stand by and do nothing. Trying to stop him would be putting herself in danger, though, so she willed herself to stay still and not utter a sound. She watched, and luckily it didn't take much to convince the bull to leave the trailer. He poked it, but it was more of a tap, and the bull left the trailer on the run. The man quickly closed the trailer door and pulled away.