by Patty Devlin
Linedrive tossed his head and let out a loud snort. "Easy, boy, I don't like him either." He patted the animal's strong neck to calm him down. "Believe me, I'd sooner see the back end of the asshole and I ain't talking about the horse."
Lloyd reined his horse alongside of Matt's and rested his forearm across the saddle horn. The shit-eating grin on his face set Matt's teeth on edge. "Howdy, Caine, headed for the Lazy D?"
"What business is it of yours, Sanders?"
"Just wondering. Annie Dobbs is looking mighty fine lately. If you're planning on calling on her you're wasting time. She ain't there."
Matt's eye gave a little twitch. If she wasn't at her house, then where the hell was she? He kept his features stoic. There was nothing Lloyd liked better than to see him get riled and he had no reason to get riled-yet. He cleared his throat. "Speak up, Sanders, it's clear you're dying to tell me what you know. I'd like to be on my way."
Sanders guffawed. "She's working at Sally's. Little pants wearing Annie's a whore."
Now he was riled. Matt roared and lunged from the saddle. He tackled Sanders and both men hit the ground hard. They broke apart and quickly rolled away from each other. Matt sprang to his feet and with a growl, he punched Lloyd in the face as the man struggled to get to his knees. Lloyd landed flat on his back and howled in pain. Matt yanked him up by the front of his collar and hit him again. "Don't ever call her that name, do you hear me?"
Sanders rolled to his side and pulled his knees to his chest. He coughed as he steadied himself on his hands and knees, then slowly stood up. Blood oozed from his mouth and nose and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. "I'm just telling you what I saw last night. I tried to take her home, but she wouldn't budge. You know damn well how stubborn she can be."
"Don't give me that load of shit. You probably pawed at her." Pissed, Matt plucked his hat from the ground, slapped it against his thigh and put it on his head. "If I find out you put your hands on her I'll beat you to a bloody pulp." He swung into the saddle and switched directions. If Lloyd was telling the truth, and that was a big if, Annie Dobbs was going to get the tanning of her life, only this time he'd bare her bottom and take a switch to her cute little fanny
* * * * *
Matt stabled Linedrive at the livery and booked a room at the hotel. His hand itched something fierce. Once he dragged Annie out of the saloon, he'd bring her to the hotel and give her the spanking of her life. He headed to Sally's with only one thing on his mind…find out why the hell she was working in a saloon.
He pushed through the swinging doors and stepped inside the smoke filled room. His gaze swept back and forth, searching for a longhaired redhead. He cursed. Stubborn woman wasn't anywhere in the crowd, which meant she had to be upstairs. He strode toward the stairs with rage in his soul at the thought of Annie in the arms of another man. She was naïve when it came to sex, he could see the innocence in her eyes, any man could. Her first time should be special, not just a tumble in the sheets with a horny tobacco-chewing cowboy. She belonged to him and after he addressed the issue as to why she elected to work in a saloon instead of coming to him for help, he intended to marry her.
"Evening, Matt. I missed you around here. Where've you been?"
The urge to ignore Millie was strong, but Matt was a gentleman. The blonde posed in front of him, one hand on her hip and the other trailing seductively along her collarbone. He got a clear view of her ample cleavage pushed high above her low-cut bodice, but the sight of all that flesh didn't excite him in the least. It had to be close to a month since he had used her services. Yep, just around the same time Annie's Pa had been laid to rest and he had held her close. Damn, the woman had spoiled him. He wanted no one else but her.
He clenched his teeth until his jaw hurt. "Not tonight, Millie." He reached inside his pocket and handed her a coin, which she promptly dropped down her cleavage. Millie flashed him a heartfelt smile and walked away.
He was halfway up the stairs and bumped into Sally. "Which room is Annie in?"
"She's not up there, Matt. She didn't want to service the men."
Relieved, he blew out a breath. "Then where is she, Sally?" he demanded as he made his way down the stairs. His eye began to twitch again. Great.
"Relax, Darlin'." Sally pointed to the roulette wheel in the far corner of the room. "She's right over there."
Matt nearly swallowed his tongue. No longer dressed in her usual boy's attire, Annie Dobbs was a vision in her purple dress. The creamy skin of her throat and shoulders was bare, tempting him to run his tongue along those delicate curves and valleys. Speaking of valleys, his gaze dropped to the magnificent pair of breasts pushed high above her gown. His breath lodged in his throat. If she bent over she'd spill those beauties. He tore his eyes away and skimmed her flat belly, gently rounded hips and tiny waist. Her legs were bare from the knees down to a pair of ankle boots. He backtracked up her body, allowing himself another lazy perusal until he reached her face and said, "She cut her hair."
He'd spank her twice as hard for cutting off those long locks of auburn colored tresses. His cock swelled as if in agreement. In his dreams, her hair was spread across the skin of his belly while her mouth... Damn! He had to get his head out of his pants. "What the hell's gotten into you, Sally? You hiring little girls now?"
"Open your eyes, Matt. Annie's no longer a little gal. She's a full-grown woman of eighteen. By now, she should have a couple of kids clinging to her skirts during the day and a hot passionate man at night."
Matt rubbed at his eye. Blast! No kids unless they were his and he'd be the one to show her some passion.
"Take Johnny over there. He'd make Annie a fine husband."
Another twitch. Not if he had anything to say about it. "What's this about marriage? Mary Beth Wegman is the same age as Annie and she ain't hitched yet. Of course, aside from a few pounds, she's the spitting image of her mother, so that could explain why she hasn't had any offers."
Sally moaned. "Just what this town needs, another pompous ass with her nose in the air."
"Look, you're a good friend, Sally, but I aim on taking Annie out of here, and I don't want any trouble from you or Hank."
Sally shook her head firmly. "Nothing doing. Not until you promise you won't take her back to the Lazy D. I know you're a stickler for keeping your word, Matt and if you say you won't, I'll believe you."
But Matt wasn't paying Sally a lick of attention. His thoughts were focused on the couple in the corner. He growled low in his throat. Annie looked way too comfortable with Johnny boy at that damn roulette wheel. Since when had the two become such good buddies? So what if Johnny came from good stock and was much closer to Annie's age, he didn't stand a chance against her fiery temper. She needed a strong man to handle her and he was that man. Matt caught the wide smile she flashed Johnny and his gut knotted. She didn't smile at him like that. "Okay, Sally, tell me exactly what's going on."
Sally set a finger of whiskey on the bar. "Taking that little gal back to her house will only put her in danger."
Matt rubbed at the knot of tension forming at the back of his neck. None of this made sense. What could have happened to make Annie leave her own home and take a job in a saloon? "Give me specifics, Sally."
She nodded to the whiskey. "Not until you down that drink cause believe me, you ain't gonna like it."
Matt grimaced at the burn coating his innards. "Okay, shoot."
Sally related word for word why Annie had come to her for help. "If she goes back to the Lazy D, her stepmother will force her to marry Lloyd Sanders. It's the only way they can get their hands on his money."
Matt was shaking his head even before Sally finished speaking. "The girl's eighteen. Eva can't make Annie do anything. What's this talk about a debt?"
"Deke put up the Lazy D and lost it gambling."
Matt muttered an expletive. "Well hell, she never told me anything."
"That's because the two of you are always fighting."
Mat
t rolled his eyes. "For Pete's sake, does the entire town know we fight?" He braced his hands against the edge of the bar and pushed until his arms strained taut. He'd marry Annie himself before he'd let Lloyd have her. He sucked in his breath, waiting for the imaginary noose to tighten around his neck, threatening to cut off his air supply, but nothing happened. Either his brain had taken a shit or he wasn't against the idea of marriage, especially to bratty Annie, as he had been in the past. He swung around and said, "She won't be marrying Lloyd so you can stop worrying. I don't give a damn what happens to Eva or that dandy son of hers, they're on their own. What I do care about is what happens to Annie." He grew silent for a moment. "Do you happen to know the name of the man who bested Deke?" He had his suspicions, but he needed to be sure.
Sally mentioned a name. "Hear tell he's been hanging out at the Muddy Gulch. Do you know him, Matt?"
"Yep, I do and it just so happens he owes me a huge favor." More determined than ever to marry Annie, Matt tossed Sally a grin. "Annie's coming home with me." And, if she gave him any trouble, he'd throw her over his shoulder and carry her out, but first he'd turn her over his knee and spank the stubborn sass out of her.
Chapter Six
Annie pretended interest as Johnny played the wheel, but inside she was seething. She liked Millie, otherwise she'd rip out the blonde's hair. Then she'd kick Matt in his shins. After that, she'd find somewhere to hide and bawl her eyes out. How could Sally call him a gentleman? Why, the low down dirty snake just about had his face buried in Millie's chest. Well, she'd show Matthew Caine a thing or two. Maybe she wasn't as pretty and well endowed like some of the other girls, but it was about time he saw her as a woman and not a little girl and she aimed to see that he did. She nibbled on her bottom lip. A little playful flirting was in order and Johnny would do perfectly for what she had in mind.
Annie inched closer to Johnny. It wasn't a chore to cuddle next to the nice looking young man. He was about her age with sandy blond hair and green eyes. She inhaled a breath. He smelled good too, unlike most of the men here who reeked of sweat and heaven only knew what else, so that was a plus. Annie peeked at Matt from beneath her eyelashes and resisted the urge to poke out her tongue. She'd bet every coin in her boot his left eye was twitching.
* * * * *
Matt pushed away from the bar and thumbed the brim of his hat. "Good night, Sally. Thanks for keeping an eye on Annie, but she's my responsibility now."
Sally smiled in approval. "Be good to her, Matt. I know she's sweet on you, but don't tell her I told you."
Sweet on him, eh? That was reassuring. Maybe it was inevitable that they'd end up together. He no longer looked at her as a little girl with a penchant for pulling pranks. She was a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a soft heart and plenty of pluck. She'd make a perfect wife for a rancher. He'd take her out of this saloon and show her exactly who she belonged to and who she should come to with her troubles.
Matt strode over to where Annie was putting on a show, most likely for his benefit, and crossed his arms over his chest. He cleared his throat.
Annie scowled. "What do you want? I'm busy."
"Not any more, you ain't." His hand shot out and he latched hold of her wrist. "Sorry, Johnny, but this here lady belongs to me." Annie sputtered in outrage, but Matt ignored her as he crossed the floor with her in tow. She tugged and squirmed, but he held fast.
"Let me go this instant, Matthew Caine. I'm not going anywhere with you." Matt kept walking and she kept yanking. "Did you hear me? I said let go. Johnny, will you please help me?" She called over her shoulder. Johnny just stood there with his jaw hanging open.
Matt whirled around so fast she slammed into his chest and nearly lost her balance. He gripped her upper arms and picked her up off the floor until they were eyeball to eyeball. "Don't go getting an innocent man involved in your childish games, Annie Dobbs. Now, you're coming with me real peaceful like," he set her on her feet, "or else."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah," he shot back and snatched hold of her wrist once again. "One more word and I'll turn you over my knee right here and tan you proper."
Annie pursed her lips and gave his arm another yank. "You wouldn't dare."
He chuckled dryly. "How long have we been neighbors, Annie?" She opened her mouth and he cut her off with a stern glower. "I've known you since the day you were born. You've pestered me from the moment you began to walk. You know darn well that whenever I threatened you with a spanking I made good on my threat, didn't I?" She rolled her eyes as if bored and he struggled to keep his temper in check. "You better rethink about whether or not you're coming with me under your own steam before I lose what little control I have left on my temper and believe me it ain't much."
The little brat retaliated immediately by kicking him in the shin. Matt's eyes widened in shock at her open defiance. "There, I rethunk it, and I didn't have to say a word," she declared with exaggerated sweetness. Raucous laughter surrounded him. By damn, when he got his hands on her, she'll be singing a high note soon enough.
"Let's see who's all smug and smart after I whip your butt." He dragged her over to one of the tables, toed out a chair and propped one booted foot on the seat. Annie wriggled this way and that and managed to squirm her way out of his hold. She dove under the table and stayed there.
Laughter erupted once again. "Wowie, this sure is the most entertainment we had in a long time."
"Hell yeah," someone else shouted. "Show her who's boss, Caine."
"Lookee, there, she's more slippery than a newborn calf."
Matt scowled at the crowd of onlookers. A few men grumbled at their source of amusement being taken away, but they relented and stepped back when he refused to back down. "Annie, come with me right now or it'll be worse for you when I get you home."
"I won't let you take me home." Her muffled pitiful voice floated up from beneath the table. "I ain't going back to the Lazy D."
Matt's head thumped along with his shin. Threats wouldn't work at this point if Annie believed he was bound and determined to escort her back to the Lazy D. He ran a hand down his face before he flipped up the red-checkered tablecloth. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. Holy shit! The little brat had a gun pointed right at him. His throat convulsed. Annie was a good shot, but in her frame of mind, there was no telling what she'd do. "Um, Annie, be a good girl and put down that gun." At the mention of a gun everybody scattered. Tables were overturned and Hank suddenly had a whole lot of company behind the bar.
A tear slid down Annie's cheek. "Please don't make me shoot you, Matt. I don't want to, but I will if you try to take me back there. Eva will drug me with sleeping powders and give me to Lloyd." She choked on a sob. "I don't like Lloyd. He scares me."
Matt tamped down his rage. Drug her? Jesus! "She ain't drugging you with nothing and you ain't going anywhere near Lloyd so get that thought right out of your pretty little head. Sally told me all about it, Darlin', and I promise I will not to take you to the Lazy D."
Annie's eyes were a vivid green against the paleness of her face. "Why'd you call me that?"
"Call you what?"
"Darlin'."
Matt shrugged. "It's just an endearment. Don't you like it when I call you Darlin'?"
She sniffled. "I'm not used to it. You always call me a brat or a nuisance."
She sure had a way of making him feel like shit. "A very wise man warned me that females tend to remember things best forgotten. I apologize, Darlin' for calling you a nuisance, but you are a brat. I'd love it if you'd be my brat."
"You would?"
"Yep." He held out his hand, palm up. "Life's too damn boring without you getting under my feet. Come with me, Annie. I want you by my side. I'll take care of you and I swear I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
She shook her head vigorously, tossing the short curls about her face. "But you hurt me all the time."
"How do I hurt you, Annie?" he asked softly. Damn, she was sexy as hell.
> "You spank me and it hurts."
His shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. "Yep, I do spank you and I won't hesitate to spank you again if you deserve it."
Her lips pressed together and the warring in her gorgeous eyes revealed the conflict that had to be swirling in her head. She was probably wondering how he could care for her and yet had no qualms about dishing out a painful spanking.
"Matt?"
"Yes, Annie, what is it?"
"Are you asking me to marry you?"
He scratched the side of his jaw. "Yep, I do believe I am, but this wasn't the way I planned it. I'm down on one knee though, so that should count for something, don't you think?" Sweat beaded his brow. He was struggling here and feared she'd turn him down. Perhaps Sally had been wrong. Maybe Annie wasn't sweet on him.
Sally's knee gave a loud crack when she knelt beside Matt. She winced. "Come on, Annie, git on out from under that table." She groaned. "This ole girl can't stay in this position for too long anymore." Matt cast Sally a sidelong glance and despite all the chaos, grinned wickedly.
Chapter Seven
Annie's hands shook so badly she almost dropped the gun. She couldn't believe what was happening. Matt had called her Darlin' and wanted her to marry him, but did he really mean to propose or was he just trying to get her to come out from under the table? She should be furious. He had threatened to spank her in front of all these people, but the fear of being placed in the clutches of Eva outweighed her anger. She slipped the gun inside her boot and stared at his outstretched hand.
"Please, come with me, Annie."
His deep drawl was doing strange things to her insides, like butterflies gathering there and fluttering their wings, spreading tingles of sensations that settled into her woman parts. Despite those delicious feelings, her brain was on the alert.