"My mom was a twin and grandmother was a twin, so maybe I will have twins. That is another reason why I don't want to have children right away because we needed to be settled before we have kids, as they might come two at a time."
"And I sense some fear, am I right? I can see it on your face even if you don't want to talk about it, my dear. Ah, well, however, it works out. You will always be supported because you are part of us. You are also my daughter now and you will learn to share when it is comfortable. Remember that Ciarán is one of my more tender-hearted children and he will understand even when you don't think he will. He will still be firm, but he will be compassionate and I believe you already feel him to be the gentler brother. Cián, I am still waiting to see who he falls for to see his real personality with those he is charged to love and protect."
"Ciarán seems to be gentler, he does try to understand more or I think he does some. However, when he is angry, he is like Liam, rock hard. How do you have such different sons? Even your girls are so different."
"I know. It is the bite that makes life exciting. Sean is like that as well, loving and easy going but if he is concerned and you are the one to worry him, I am sorry for you when he is through the trouble."
"Have you ever worried him?" she asked her new mom as she helped make dinner.
"My dear, I made him pace often the first few years of marriage and I found out that it never ended well for me." Siobhan smiled her and her eyes twinkled. "That is why he was irritable the night you came. He was worried that something might happen to you coming to his home. He would not have been able to forgive himself it were tragic. He would have delivered a sting on your end parts if you weren't hurt. The girls tell me he has never touched them since they found their husbands, but I would not risk it if I were any of you." She patted Katie's hand. Katie decided she was not going to put that hypothesis to the test.
Later in the week, Cheyenne was showing Katie around the community and took her to a local bar for drinks and some entertainment. Katie tried to deter Cheyenne from stopping, but she insisted, saying that Quinn hardly ever let her go out to places like that and she just wanted to relax. Katie wasn't interested in drinking, but when Cheyenne offered to get her a fruity concoction, she thought that would be nice.
"Cheyenne, I don't think you should have more than one because you are driving and well, Quinn isn't that different than the rest of the boys I bet. He won't like it."
"I'll just have the rest of this second one and then we will go. Quinn will hang me out to dry if I got behind the wheel with more and besides, he will be looking for us soon. He must have gotten home by now."
"How many do you normally have and still drive under the limit?"
"I don't know now because Quinn hasn't let me drive or drink much at all since we began seeing each other." After a few moments of enjoying their refreshments, Cheyenne asked. "How do you live with an O'Connor man? I mean they are so strict and run their households with an iron fist."
Katie just shrugged her shoulders. "Not really. It is more bluster than anything else. I love Ciarán because he is the most protective person I know. He takes care of me, Jocelyn, his sisters, helps his brothers, and now Liam's houseful of kids when his brother is gone. He is compassionate with animals and so much more. I think Liam is strict, but Jocelyn doesn't because she loves him. Ciarán just has a code that he lives by and he can be pretty predictable based on understanding that creed. I get him and he gets me. So, tell me what you like about Quinn." Katie leaned back and let Cheyenne share about her man.
"Hmm, well, he is a great kisser. There is nothing wimpy about that man's kiss. You know he looked a long time and dated quite a bit before we got together. We haven't talked about it, but I think it is because he likes what he likes and he isn't inclined to change. He is as protective as Ciarán, it sounds like, and when I am tired, he just takes over and leads the way. I like that in a man."
"Yes, Ciarán as well and I love it. I don't have to do the hard stuff if I don't want to and he lets me if I do."
Cheyenne nodded her head. "Quinlan demands a lot, though. He wants me to follow him in all things. I have little say in some situations and that can make me mad. We argue about it at times but in the end, I don't feel disrespected and I always know I am loved. It's like there are rules to live by and if I choose to ignore them, there is trouble ahead." Cheyenne played with the stir-straw in her drink before continuing. "And, um, what does Ciarán do when he is angry?"
"He gets quiet. He paces, goes for walks, talks sometimes, and he looks at me with that certain 'look' that I know means he is trying to cool down before he says or does something we will both regret."
"Well, I think that we have different brothers for sure, because Quinn, um, promise not to tell?"
Katie nodded.
"Sometimes, when he is very upset about something I did, he takes me over his knee. Like an errant child. I think Shane had done that with Alisha before."
"I knew already. Sorry, but remember, I said he was an O'Connor."
Understanding dawned on Cheyenne. "Oh, you meant more than they were bossy brothers, but you meant they all, um, you know."
Katie nodded sagely. "Well, they are all bossy in their own way, too. Did he ask you if you were okay with it?"
"Well, yes, sort of. Actually, he said that he was not going to put up with me hurting myself so he would either deal with it his way and I would allow it or he was not going to be able to continue in a relationship with me."
"Oh my, what did you do to make him say that?"
"Which time? The first time was traumatic in that I had hardly met him and he told me not to go to a particular club, so, of course, I did. I didn't go to defy him because I didn't really know him, but he took it as not obeying him. Like I had that obligation. I went with friends of mine but it was awkward without a date. So as I was leaving, guess who I saw? Yep, Quinn. He said I could stay if I let him spank me as punishment for disobeying. I don't know why exactly, but well, I guess I needed to test him. We've been dating ever since."
"Ooh. He spanks for punishment? Now that is something I don't have to worry about much and certainly not Jos because Liam gets torqued if someone calls it punishment. So what club was it? Can we go check it out?"
"The club was, well never mind. It turned out to be no big deal, but I can see it in your eyes that you want to check it out. No, believe me when I say I will not take you there. Both of us will be spanked within an inch of our lives as punishment from Quinn so just forget it. Besides, I am not allowed in without Quinn. It is too complicated to discuss so just know I am a very good girl where that club is concerned."
"Hmm. Please, are you sure we can't go to this club or you can't tell me what was so special about it?" Cheyenne shook her head adamantly. "Fine. What was the other tough one?"
"I was partying." When Cheyenne saw Katie raise her eyebrows and widen her eyes, she quickly continued. "I was only out with some girlfriends and the one driving had too much to drink, not like these two that I have had, but about six drinks. I didn't pay attention really. I had just climbed into the back seat ready to go home."
She paused to look at her melted ice for a moment before continuing. "We stopped at a convenience store and the owner saw my friend getting out of the driver's side and fall on her butt outside the car door. I missed that but had already had three drinks myself so I couldn't have driven. Anyway, he called the Sheriff's Department and low and behold, when they asked my name they pulled me aside. After chastising me for getting into the car, they called Quinlan. He was so angry that I could not say a word because I was afraid he would explode if I spoke at all."
"Wow, but you weren't driving. What was he so upset about?"
"That I had gotten into the car with someone who was over the legal limit and they were driving me. But how else was I to get home?"
"You could have called Quinlan."
"Hey, did he already tell this story?"
Katie grinned. "I'm m
arried to one of those guys, remember?"
"Yeah. Anyway, he told me that either he spanked some sense into me or he was not going to be able to see me anymore because putting myself in harm's way was unacceptable. So I thought about it for a while and then I said okay because I really do love him and was already pretty gone on him even then. I can't imagine life without him."
"So now you know the secret in this family that is really no secret. They all spank. From Da who probably would take any of his kids to include daughters-in-law over his knee if he thought his son or son-in-law wouldn't. No kidding. Now each family negotiates what is acceptable in their own home and it is a private thing. We wives all know it, but don't really discuss it. The guys know it and I have no idea if they discuss it."
Katie slid back into the story. "So, what did you say to Quinlan when he was so angry?"
"I said lots at first. Then I said, I didn't want to lose him so I guessed he could. Man, I thought he was stripping the skin off my butt. I really didn't know how hard his hand was."
"But I bet he wasn't angry by the time he started to attack your bottom, right?"
Cheyenne thought for a moment and then said, "You're right, I don't think he really was. He was upset, but the seething anger was all gone. I think he was really scared."
"Well, so why are you drinking right now? Are you looking to repeat that event?"
"No. I have had only two and they were not strong. Hey, let me blow into that detector and make sure so we won't get Quinn riled up."
"Good idea."
"Hey, just under the limit. Perfect. Let's go so we can get home before it gets too late and we give him reason to strip the skin off my butt again. Don't you ever wonder how professional women get hooked up with these over-testosteroned men who spank them?"
"I sure did at one time. Jocelyn did too, and probably the rest as well, but we love the take charge in them sometimes and how they just handle everything when we want them to and even when we don't. Jocelyn says, according to her psychology books or something, that powerful women like to release control when not in their professional roles because it relaxes them and the stress is off. Therefore, they get intelligent spouses who take charge and they love it. The spanking releases their tensions and relaxes them so that they can go back the next day and kick more butts. She said that the ones who make the best take-charge men are the type we have, kind, considerate and loving and each of us says they have a very compatible lover so no complaints there. And really, it is incredibly nice to feel so loved."
"I know, but I am an accountant and who would think of an accountant as being bent over her boyfriend's knee for correction? I mean, I didn't know anyone else who lived this way. Now I know a few more." Cheyenne smiled knowing that her knowledge went outside of the family men.
"That is why we don't tell. Another thing, you should watch that around Liam, he really says he does not punish his wife and will get a bit testy if you say that. Personally, I think it is just the idea of punishment he doesn't like. Because really, when you think about it, if he paddles her bottom because she did something he did not like, that is punishment, right?"
"Right, I'll try to remember that while attempting to avoid the experience of butt warming again. I don't think that Quinlan has that issue because he was not happy that I risked my safety."
"Yep, so far, trust and safety are the real deal breakers. Let's get out of here."
They jumped into the car, carefully pulled out of the parking lot, eased into six o'clock traffic and cautiously drove home. Once in the driveway at home, they went into the house relieved they had made it without incident.
"Hi, sweetie." Cheyenne greeted Quinlan with a slightly over-bright smile.
"Hello, ladies, what have you been up to this afternoon?" asked Quinlan as he walked into the kitchen where the girls had put their purses. He reached to kiss Cheyenne after he tousled Katie's hair. He is a lot more playful when he is not in the protective mode. He treated her like the little sister she was. While only three years older, he gave the impression of being much older, and she was becoming used to that with Liam, who was considerably older.
"Where have you two been?" The tone had changed and Quinn was no longer smiling but demanding.
"We were just riding around, sweetie, and I was showing Katie around Sheridan. Why?"
"Where did you stop to drink?"
"Oh, we had a drink at The Phase."
"Katie, how does Ciarán feel about you drinking and then driving?"
"Oh, but I didn't… um, he wouldn't be okay with it."
"How many drinks did you have, Katherine?" Katherine?
"One, I tend to fall asleep with more than one." So, I am a lightweight.
"Cheyenne, how do I feel about you drinking and then driving?"
"I was not over the limit because I checked before we left the club." Gotcha.
"Not my question." There goes the voice, deep, low, a force to be reckoned with. "I asked you—How. Many. Drinks?"
"Two, all right, just two lousy drinks."
"Did you have dinner first or at the same time?"
Both women shook their heads.
"So, you had drinks on an empty stomach and believed that if you blew under the limit it would be acceptable to drive. Right?"
"Right." The conviction that Katie heard in Cheyenne's voice was losing its power.
"Wrong. When you drink on an empty stomach, it goes to your head quicker and hits harder. Just because you blew under the limit right after the drinks doesn't mean that is what it is afterward."
"We came straight home and I was under the legal limit. You cannot be angry about that. Well, if you are, then you will need to live with it. I am a grown woman, we both are, and you can't be upset or you can, but I won't join you in your anger. Get over it."
"Cheyenne, don't feel like you need to cover for me. Honestly, Ciarán will be fine with me having a drink and then riding home with Cheyenne because we checked first. I cannot speak for the two of you, but I do not have to meet anyone but my own husband's expectations. I am going to take a shower."
"And I don't have to meet anyone's expectations, but my own because I am not married. I am not even spoken for so good night, Quinlan."
With that, Cheyenne turned to leave the kitchen with the intention of getting into her car and driving home. Quinn grabbed her upper arm and none too gently led her outside to his own car. Katie knew that there was going to be a much longer conversation after they drove away and she did not hold out much hope that Cheyenne would be sitting comfortably tomorrow. It was between Cheyenne and Quinlan. That she had at least learned from Ciarán and Liam.
After her shower, Katie felt hungry and came downstairs to fix a sandwich when Sean met her walking into the kitchen on his own quest.
"So how was your tour of Sheridan?"
"Nice. This is an interesting little community. It seems to be the size of Missoula, but the atmosphere is so different. I really like it." Both were quiet as they made two sandwiches and grabbed some milk before sitting at the kitchen table to share their meal.
"Called Ciarán yet tonight?"
"No, this is his night to meet with the volunteer firemen so he won't be available until about ten. I'll call him then. Did you want to talk to him?"
"No, just wondered which flight he was coming on tomorrow night. I need to go pick him up when he gets in."
"Oh, I was going to do that. Cheyenne showed me where it is and how to get there. I hope Cheyenne is okay. I didn't mean for her to get into trouble with Quinn. I knew that he was probably not going to be too happy with her, but we did what we were supposed to do. We checked her level of intoxication and it was under the limit so that is all we can do besides call someone. I don't think that Cheyenne wanted him to know she was drinking. I get the idea that something was going on around this drinking thing and maybe we should have handled things differently. What do you think, Da?"
Sean reached over, patted his new daughter's hand, an
d said, "Well, each of you have to learn what your man wants in his wife, fiancé or girlfriend and perform that way. I think that Cheyenne sometimes drinks too much and that is why Quinlan is harder on her because he knows there is the potential for great harm to come to her. He loves her. That kind of feeling makes a man possessive and watchful."
"I got the impression that Cheyenne might have a hard time sitting at her desk tomorrow and I hope she didn't drink because she was with me. I would feel horrible if she and Quinlan had a conversation…" Katie used her hands to indicate quotation marks, "about tonight because she was trying to impress me or something."
"You don't have to worry about anyone else's relationship. You just worry about your own and stay out of trouble so your man doesn't sensitize your own seat."
Katie smiled sheepishly. "So far so good, Da."
Chapter Four
She called Ciarán and told him what happened with Cheyenne and since Quinn wasn't back yet, she didn't know if they were all right. She felt worried that Cheyenne was having her backside warmed rather efficiently.
Ciarán asked a few questions and said that they needed to talk about this as well when he got there because he had his own opinion about things. Katie had some feelings of unease, but Ciarán was not using his 'watch out' tone. She still worried some about the tone he did use.
After a bit, Katie heard Quinn come home and called Cheyenne to check on her. Katie listened for any wavering in her tone or the telltale signs of a woman who had just had a straightening out 'conversation' with one of the O'Connor men. Instead, she heard a dreamy, very contented woman on the line.
"Wow, I guess you came out okay on that conversation with Quinn."
"Yes and no. I cannot bear the thought of sitting on anything right now, for obvious reasons, but Quinn asked me to marry him." There was a collective squeal of excitement.
Rancher's Creed (Ciaran O'Connor Book 2) Page 6