Unwilling Bride

by Joannie Kay

  "Will, I am sorry, and I know I deserved that spanking. Thank you for caring enough to do it!" she said in embarrassment, afraid he would make fun of her.

  "I do care, honey, and I assure you if you ever do something this foolish again, you’ll get the same!" The words were not

  threatening, but more of a comforting promise, and Bridget found

  herself feeling content and loved.

  It was all her fault, he fumed as he watched the redheaded man

  and the pretty blonde walk up the path to the house. Soon, she

  would be his, and he’d made her pay.

  Chapter Six

  "I just don’t think it was fair of your father to give Katie

  another spanking on top of the one Patrick gave her," she

  said with a frown, putting the letter from her sister-in-law

  on the kitchen table. "Especially after Patrick made her

  leave the next morning just as planned. I don’t know how

  she managed the ride into town, much less the stage coach

  ride home."

  "Pa doesn’t tolerate this type of behavior, Bridget, and

  Katie knew it before she decided to come here to rescue me

  from you!" Will chuckled, sipping his coffee and looking at

  his wife over the rim of the cup. "She got exactly what was

  coming to her."

  "At least your father approves of Patrick," Bridget changed the subject, knowing full well she’d never be able to

  change Will’s mind.

  "He will approve of you, too," Will smiled reassuringly, but Bridget didn’t answer. She just got to her feet and started

  clearing the table. He’d been patient, waiting for her to

  recover from the punishment he’d given her two weeks

  ago, but so far she hadn’t said one more thing about making

  their marriage real. He couldn’t help but wonder if she felt

  he was too hard on her, and had changed her mind about

  wanting to become his wife in the bedroom, too. It hadn’t

  helped matters any when he’d had to take Patrick’s side,

  and insist his little sister travel on a sore bottom. Bridget

  had been furious with Patrick… and consequently with

  him… stating that it simply wasn’t fair to expect Katie to

  sit for hours on a stagecoach when Patrick had done a

  thorough job of making it impossible for the blonde to sit!

  And the letter his little sister sent to Bridget upon arrival

  hadn’t helped matters any.

  "He will probably want to take a switch to me, too!"

  Bridget fumed under her breath.

  "Pa wouldn’t do that, Bridget!" Will replied softly, standing right behind her.

  "He shouldn’t have done it to Katie, either!" she stated firmly.

  "It’s really none of your business, young lady," Will felt his temper rise a bit. They’d discussed this to death and he was

  sick of defending his father’s right to enforce discipline in

  his own home. To Will’s way of thinking, Miss Bridget

  could have done with a great deal more of the same type of

  discipline from her father!

  "I beg to disagree! Your sister is engaged to my brother!

  That alone makes it my business!" she replied testily.

  "Don’t you have something else to do besides stand here

  and aggravate me?"

  "As a matter of fact, I do!" he replied sharply, then headed for the kitchen door. He turned as he prepared to shut the

  door, "Remember to keep your nose right inside this house,

  young lady!"

  "You can’t keep me cooped up forever, Will Bishop!" she

  protested. "Those Indians are long gone by now! No one

  has had a bit of trouble and I want to go riding!"

  "No. And that’s the end of it, Bridget. Not another word

  unless you have a hankering to feel the flat of my hand on

  your bottom!" Will glared at her to see if she was going to

  get lippy with him, but when she merely turned her back to

  him and started washing the dishes, he closed the door and

  went outside. The little termagant was making him crazy,

  he decided as he mounted King and set off at a brisk pace.

  The nerve of the man! Bridget fumed, then threw her

  dishrag into the pan of soapy water, not caring a whit that it

  splashed water all over. She wanted to go for a ride, and

  that is exactly what she was going to do! She hadn’t seen

  her father since that night two weeks ago, and Bridget

  decided it was past time to go and make peace with him.

  She changed into a riding skirt, then cursed under her

  breath and ripped it off and put on her worn pants. She’d be

  damned if she’d let Will Bishop dictate to her!!! If he

  didn’t care enough for her to make her his wife in more

  than name, then she sure as hell wasn’t going to obey him!

  He had no right to ask it of her!

  She wrote a carefully penned note, telling him that she was

  visiting her father, and might possibly stay for a few days.

  There, that should give him something to think about!

  Bridget took another minute to strap on her gun, and pick

  up her rifle, and then hurried to saddle Sampson. In another

  few minutes she was on her way to her father’s ranch.

  *****

  He was going to make the redhead pay for every goddamn

  insult he’d suffered since she married Bishop! He’d take

  her to the tiny cabin that wasn’t fit for a pig to live in, and

  while they were waiting for her rich daddy to pay the

  ransom he was planning to ask for, he would teach her a

  few manners. By the time he finished with her, Will Bishop

  wouldn’t want her back! Stealthily, he followed close,

  waiting for the opportunity to present itself.

  ******

  "Papa! I can’t believe you’re all cooped up inside here on

  such a nice day!" Bridget declared as she entered her

  father’s study to find him bent over the ledgers on his desk.

  "Girl, a good bit of ranching is nothing but paperwork,"

  Flynn said in disgust, throwing his pencil on the desk, and

  leaning back to look at her, his green eyes studying her

  thoroughly. "Did that husband of yours give you a good

  tanning, or am I going to have to take care of it myself?" he asked solemnly, then smiled when her green eyes filled

  with shock. "I did warn you, Girl. And I’ll have the truth of it right now. Did Will give you a lesson?"

  "Yes, Papa," she quickly replied, then added for good

  measure, "Today is the first I’ve been able to sit my

  saddle."

  "That bad, huh?" he didn’t look happy.

  "It was a bad one, yes." She wasn’t about to defend Will and admit she’d deserved the punishment. She was

  unhappy with the man, and would love nothing more than

  to move back home… at least until Will came to his senses.

  "Speak what’s on your mind, Girl. I can see something’s

  worrying at you…"

  "I’d like to stay a few days, Papa. Will and I are not getting along…"

  "Told you that I wouldn’t interfere between the two of you,

  Bridget. You disobey the man, and you take the

  consequences. You deserved that spanking, and if he hadn’t

  given you a good one, I would have!"

  "It’s not about that, Papa… Will doesn’t…" she felt her

  cheeks turn a flaming red as they flushed with

  embarrassment. "Will does
n’t want me as his wife."

  "He don’t? He send you home to me?" Flynn was instantly

  incensed.

  "No… I left him a note telling him where to find me if he’s

  interested… but given the fact we’ve been married for over

  a month now, and he’s not touched me, I think that speaks

  for itself," she confessed, her eyes filling with tears of

  unhappiness.

  Flynn got up and came around the desk to hug her. "Are

  you telling me he hasn’t consummated the vows, honey?"

  he asked in a shocked whisper. "Why the hell not?"

  "I don’t know, Papa. I told him I was willing… but he got

  so angry with me over being captured by the Indians… and

  he just ignores me. It hurts too much to live like that, Papa.

  Please, may I stay here?" she asked softly.

  "Well, sure you can, honey. I don’t rightly know what to

  make of this, but if he don’t want you, then we’ll get this

  marriage annulled."

  Bridget nodded, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "I’ll give

  him until the end of the week, Papa. If he doesn’t come for

  me by then, I’ll know it’s over…"

  *****

  Will crumpled the paper in his hand. She’d left him. Pure

  and simple. Spanking her the last time had been a big

  mistake. He’d let his fear for her safety cause him to be

  harsh with her when he should have let it go with a few

  swats. He was going to have the devil’s own time in

  convincing her to come home with him, but he had to try.

  He couldn’t imagine a life without Bridget in it. Resolutely,

  Will mounted King and set off for the O’Riley Ranch. He

  was going to be more understanding... even if it killed him.

  *****

  "This is really good cooking, Girl. Nice of you to help

  Consuela," Flynn praised Bridget, trying to find a way to

  cheer her up. She was pushing her food around on her

  plate, and not eating a thing. Damn it, where were the boys

  when he needed them? "Honey, do you want me to ride

  over and have a little talk with Will?" he offered again.

  "No, Papa. If Will wants me, he’ll come. If he doesn’t

  come, then I won’t have you begging him to take me

  back!"

  "Honey, it ain’t like that! You ain’t been here but a couple

  hours now. Wouldn’t do no harm for your Pa to have a

  talk…."

  "No, Papa! Please!" she gave him a look full of wounded

  pride, and Flynn felt helpless.

  "You need to try these potatoes, Girl. They’re real good!"

  He was going to ride over there and bounce that son-in-law

  of his on his ornery head a few times, Flynn decided. He

  was a man of action, and he wasn’t going to sit by and do

  nothing while his little girl suffered.

  "Something smells good," Will said tentatively from the

  doorway of the dining room. His dark eyes didn’t miss the

  look of surprise on Bridget’s face, and the flush that

  colored her pretty cheeks a bright pink.

  "I made plenty, Will," she said. "I’ll get you a plate…" she jumped to her feet, and immediately gasped as she

  remembered she was wearing pants. She glanced at Will,

  and saw his jaw clench in disapproval, but all he did was

  nod and take a seat at the table. She filled a plate for him,

  and poured coffee, and then returned to her seat, trying to

  force herself to breathe. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

  "Mmmmm. You made these, Bridget," Will smiled at her.

  "They’re really good."

  "Thanks," she replied automatically.

  "Yea, they are good, son. I was just telling her that. Hope

  you don’t mind that she came and cooked for her Pa?"

  Flynn was trying to gauge the younger man’s mood.

  "No, I don’t mind, Sir. I know she’s missed you the last

  couple of weeks, and I should have offered to bring her

  over. I was afraid to let her come alone because of the

  Indians," Will offered an explanation.

  "Haven’t seen any sign of them, son, and the boys have

  been keeping an eye out. I think it’s safe enough now, as

  long as she don’t ride after dark," Flynn added the last with a look of warning at his squirming daughter.

  "She won’t be doing that again," Will replied, and then

  wanted to bite his tongue. He was here to bring her home,

  not fuss at her and remind her that he’d whipped her too

  damned hard and long! "I’ll make sure to bring her over

  more often," he quickly added.

  Will wanted her to come home! Bridget felt her heart sing.

  Even if she got spanked for riding after he told her not to,

  and for wearing the pants, it would be worth it. He had to

  have feelings for her, or he wouldn’t be sitting here, would

  he? She looked at him, and was shocked to find him staring

  at her intently.

  The two men talked about ranching, and Bridget kept

  refilling their coffee cups. Finally, Flynn got to his feet, and

  when he stood, Will did too. "Bridget, are you coming

  home with me?" he asked gently, and she was shocked by

  the look of doubt in his dark eyes.

  "Yes," she replied simply, then smiled when he grinned at her. She knew that she was in for a good spanking, but was

  relieved that he wasn’t going to do it right here in front of

  her father. Maybe he simply realized he’d been too

  protective of her and would let her defiance pass? No…

  he’d never let the pants pass!

  Will watched the emotions play over Bridget’s lovely face.

  She looked happy, then frightened, then bit her lower lip.

  He was going to do everything possible to make her feel

  safe with him. Even if that meant letting her wear those

  damned tight pants!

  "Don’t you worry about these dishes, Girl. I’ll clear the

  table," Flynn offered, and Will almost laughed out loud at

  the look of shock on Bridget’s face. "You get on home with

  your husband, and put on a pretty dress!" he advised,

  giving her a meaningful look.

  Bridget felt herself blush, but she stood on tiptoe and gave

  her father a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Papa. I will," she replied dutifully. She wouldn’t have a choice in the matter

  once Will finished "setting fire to the seat of her pants".

  To her utter and complete surprise, Will didn’t comment on

  the pants, nor the fact she’d defied him by riding out after

  he forbade it. He didn’t even scold about the mess she’d

  left in the kitchen. He kept the conversation light all the

  way back to their ranch, then told her almost formally that

  he was happy she’d come home with him.

  Will followed Bridget into the kitchen, and reached for the

  small whip hanging on the hook beside the door. He heard

  her gasp, and felt like kicking himself. "I’m throwing this

  damned thing away, Bridget!" he announced, then marched

  outside and tossed it on the woodpile.

  She watched as he went to the corral and started working

  with one of the new fillies, and finally decided that he was

  giving her time to change into a dress and avoid a

  punishment. She hurried into the bedroom, and made

  herself
presentable, then straightened the room. Tying an

  apron around her waist, she dumped the cold dishwater,

  and then filled the dishpan with hot water from the

  reservoir. Soon the kitchen was spotless, and Bridget

  glanced outside to see if Will was still working in the

  corral. He was, so she busied herself making noodles, and

  while they were drying, she rolled out pie dough and soon

  had an apple pie in the oven.

  Will approached the house warily. He didn’t want to see a

  look of fear on Bridget’s face ever again. He wanted her

  warm and willing in his bed, and he was going to try and be

  nice… and understanding! Even if she was still wearing

  those damned pants! To his surprise, the lovely redhead

  was dressed in one of his favorite dresses, and she smiled at

  him shyly when he came inside. "You have plenty of time

  to wash up before supper, Will," she suggested.

  "I know I’m sweaty and dirty, Bridget," he agreed, and then headed for the bedroom. To his surprise, there was warm

  water waiting for him. Maybe there is still some hope for

  this to work! he told himself as he looked in the mirror to

  shave his face.

  Bridget smiled when Will entered the kitchen. He’d shaved,

  and looked so handsome. His long hair was tied back, and

  he was wearing his white shirt… the one that made his

  shoulders look so broad. He’d rolled the sleeves up a

  couple of times, and she couldn’t help but notice his hands.

  She wondered if he would touch her tonight? Surely he

  wanted her? He’d come after her… and he hadn’t said one

  scolding word.

  "Thanks for the hot water, Bridget," Will remembered his manners. "You look pretty this evening."

  "Thank you, kind Sir," she replied with a curtsy. When he chuckled appreciatively, she asked, "Are you hungry? I

  made chicken and noodles… and an apple pie!"

  "I’m always hungry for your cooking," he replied. Bridget served him, and then herself, and the meal passed quickly,

  discussing Patrick and Katie’s plans to wed, and Bridget

  was delighted when Will promised they would be attending

  the wedding. "I want the folks to meet you," he said simply, and was pleased when she didn’t protest.

  "I want to meet them, too, Will. Do you honestly think they