“Please!”
“You won’t lie anymore, will you?”
He slapped her bottom repeatedly, then stopped. “Will you?”
“No!”
“And you won’t steal anymore, will you?” The spanking started again.
Ruby was sure that her bottom must be a crisscross of red marks from where his hand had fallen.
“No! No! No! I won’t. Please stop.”
He delivered a few more hard smacks, then rubbed her bottom.
“I think I’ve made my point, have I not?”
She snuffled, then jerked against his lap.
“You have made your point. Let me go!”
“Not yet. Just stay where you’re at for a little while. Relax.”
“Relax? Are you serious? You’re not the one whose bottom is on fire.”
“You brought it on yourself. And I warn you, if you act up again, I will spank you again. Do you understand?”
Her tears had dried and she nodded.
“Please let me up.” Her voice was low. “I’m relaxed now.”
“Not quite. This is part of your punishment, to lie here with a reddened bottom.” He rubbed her behind again and she didn’t fight him. Maybe, just maybe, if she relaxed a little bit he would let her up.
Finally, after a few long minutes, he gently lifted her to her feet. She stepped away from him and he stood and turned his back to give her enough privacy to pull her drawers back up.
Her behind burned more as the fabric came into contact with her cheeks. She settled her skirts back down, and then he turned to her.
“I can’t believe you just did that to me.”
“And I will again, if necessary.”
“No, there won’t be a need.”
“Then you behave yourself, understand? You will start work tomorrow morning at nine. You will be here and work until five or six each night. One week for seventy-five dollars.”
“And you will keep my secret, you will tell everyone that I’m Ruby Monroe, going to Texas to be with relatives after the death of my husband?”
“Yes. And I will deal with Miss O’Brien. You will be the model employee. Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Very good. Then we can help each other.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you serious? You just struck my bottom repeatedly and you think that’s helping me?”
“Yes. It does.”
“And just how do you think it does that?”
She wanted to slap the smile off his face. “It’s easy. It reminds you that I’m in charge, that you have to do what is right, and that I won’t let you get away with things that you do wrong. Is there a question about that?”
“No.”
The anger in her voice was very apparent, and she hated the look of mischief that he gave her.
“I’ll walk you back to the hotel.”
“I can walk myself.”
“That wouldn’t be proper, to let a lady like yourself walk the streets alone at night. I will walk you back, and then I will talk with Miss O’Brien and explain the situation to her.”
“So, she will know that I’ll be working for you?”
“Yes, everyone will. I will tell her that you needed the extra money, since you’re so strapped for cash, and I needed the help and we came to this arrangement.”
She nodded and rubbed her bottom.
“I wouldn’t do that in front of her if I were you. She’ll know that you’ve been punished, and she’ll want to know why.”
Ruby turned her face away from him, then looked back at him with a scowl on her face.
“There’s a mirror over there, and water from the pump. Wash your face and clear away your tears, and then we’ll go.”
She nodded and stormed away from him. When she’d done as he said, she walked toward him and stopped.
“I hate you.”
“Fine. Just remember that I will spank you again, if necessary.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and moved towards the door, angry when his laughter rang out. She burned with anger, and with the desire to get back at him. One way or another, he would pay for spanking her.
Chapter 3
Ruby stuck her tongue out at Corbin, and then turned to the ladies at the counter, a huge smile plastered on her face. If she had to deal with one more nosy woman who wanted to see Corbin’s new assistant, she would throw up all over them. She could hear him chuckling behind her and it just made her madder.
All day, ladies had been coming in and out of the shop, supposedly to see if there were telegrams for them or to see if they could buy a copy of the latest newspaper. But Ruby knew differently. They’d come to see the widow who was now working for Corbin.
She was sure that word of her new job has passed down through Miss O’Brien, who was thrilled last night when Corbin told her that Ruby would be staying in town.
Her eyes had lit up and Ruby was sure that she’d been planning a wedding.
If she only knew. There was no way on God’s green earth that she would marry a cretin like Corbin MacAllister. In fact, if she got the chance, she’d tie him up and spank his bottom, see how he liked it.
Her behind still ached from last night, and the knowing looks he gave her didn’t help matters. But the day hadn’t been a total loss. He’d taught her how to send out telegrams, and how to receive them and transcribe them. Those skills would help her when she went to look for employment after she left this horrible town.
And it didn’t help matters that Corbin was acting as if he were cock of the walk, smiling at everyone and just having a dandy old time. He was suffering no ill affects from last night. If there were any justice in the world his hand would hurt from hitting her behind so much. But it didn’t seem that way. He was just smiling and laughing like there were no tomorrow.
Ruby glanced at the clock. It was close to four. One more hour and she could leave, and not have to see him again until tomorrow. Unless he was coming to dinner at Miss O’Brien’s, and she was pretty sure that he was. In that case, she would ask if she could take a tray in her room. Being very, very tired would be an excellent excuse for not sitting at the table.
She was on the downhill now, and that was a good thing. She heaved a sigh of relief, then took a sharp intake of breath when the door opened and a dark-headed, muscular man stepped inside. He seemed huge, and he was wearing a star.
She remembered that Corbin told her his brother was the sheriff. So, the man with the star must be Corbin’s brother. He smiled at her, but she could tell that he was assessing her, trying to figure out if she was a good thing, or if she was trouble.
“Hello.” She tried to put conviction behind her voice, to show that she was happy to see him when happiness was not what she was feeling.
“Howdy. You must be Ruby. I’m Ben.” He stuck out his hand and she shook it. The movement made him smile, as if by shaking his hand she’d passed some sort of test.
“Ben!” Corbin came around her and patted him on the shoulder. “Come to see Mac’s Crossing’s newest resident? Only for a little bit, though. She’s just raising some money for her trip down to her relatives.”
“Really? Well, I’m glad that Corbin could be of help.” Ben turned to a woman who stood nearby. “Mrs. McKinney, how are you today?”
“Fine, Sheriff, just fine. I came in for a newspaper. I hear Mr. Wicks has a good story in there about his relatives visiting.”
“So I heard,” Ben said, smiling at her.
She walked to the door and he hurried over to open it for her. “Have a good day, Mrs. McKinney. Say hello to Eugene for me.”
“I will do that, Sheriff. Corbin, Mrs. Monroe, y’all have a nice day.” She left and Ben turned to them with a smile.
“Well, Corbin, you’re right. Ruby’s father has reported her missing. And he’s offering a substantial reward for her return, which means that people will be looking for her. The fliers came in on the stage this afternoon and were delivered to m
y office.”
Ruby wheeled on Corbin. “You told him! I can’t believe you!”
“Yes, I did. I wanted to know if your father was looking for you. And he is.”
“I’m leaving. Right now.” She ran to the back room and picked up her reticule. She headed for the door and stopped dead in her track when Ben’s voice reached her ears.
“I would advise against that. The fliers are going out to several places. The next town you come to might not be as friendly as we are.”
Ruby bit back a cry of distress, then turned to Corbin and Ben. “What does it matter? If they are here, people will see them. I might as well go home and face the wrath of my father.”
“Is that what you want?” Corbin’s voice was soft.
“No! If it were, then I would have stayed there.”
“Then stay here,” Corbin said. “We can protect you.”
“The fliers won’t be put up here,” Ben said. “They were sent to me, the sheriff. I decide what gets done with things like that, and I decided not to put them up. So, the only people that know are you, and me and Corbin. You’re safer here than further down the road. And only we three should know. The more people who are let in on the secret, the more chance of your father finding out where you are.”
She looked at Corbin, who lifted his eyebrows. “It’s true. You have to trust us.”
“Trust you? You spanked me last night.” She put her hand over her mouth and looked at Ben, who looked astonished, then laughed.
“Well, we MacAllister men always were ones to take matters into our own hands. But I can promise you that if you don’t want to go home, you don’t have to.”
“If I wanted to be at home, I would have stayed there.”
“True. So, you’ll stay here.” Corbin’s voice was full of relief and Ruby raised her eyebrows at him. What was that all about? Did he need that much help at his little store?
“Yes. For one week, as we planned.”
“I would suggest longer than that,” Ben said. “After a month or so, the buzz over your ‘disappearance’ might have died down.”
Ruby shook her head. “No. We agreed on one week. After that I’m taking the stage to Texas. End of discussion.”
“If you’d just allow us to…”
“Mind your own business, Sheriff. I am a grown woman.”
“If you’re so grown, why did you have to run away from home?”
“Listen, I don’t have to answer to you, only to your overbearing brother. I appreciate you not putting up the fliers but don’t for one minute think that I think you did it to help me. You did it only to help your brother, because he needs my help.”
“Not true. I would never force a lady into a situation she didn’t want to be in.”
“I doubt that, if you’re anything like your brother. I didn’t want to be over his knee last night and he forced me. I have no trouble believing that you would do the same.”
She clutched her bag to her chest and stormed out the front door.
When she was on the street, she turned and walked toward the hotel. People were smiling and nodding to her, and somehow it lightened her mood. This really was a nice little town. And the people in it were nice, even if they did love to gossip. But that didn’t mean she was staying here, especially with someone like Corbin MacAllister.
She stopped partway to the hotel and sighed, her shoulders slumping. They really were trying to help her. Still, she didn’t want their help. The more people who knew who, and what, she was, the more chance of her being discovered. She began to walk again, hoping against all hope that she could convince Miss O’Brien to bring her dinner to her room tonight.
* * *
Ruby closed the door to her room. She’d been unable to find Miss O’Brien when she’d arrived at the hotel that afternoon. Finally, she’d found a note on the table that the older woman had gone to visit a friend and would be back before dinner.
Ruby had decided that leaving a note asking for dinner in her room would be rude. So she’d gone upstairs, and had promptly laid down and fallen asleep. Now, it was close to seven. If she played her cards right, she would hopefully find the woman in the kitchen. Then she could fix her own tray and go back upstairs without having to look at Corbin.
She’d made it to the bottom of the steps when Miss O’Brien’s voice rang out from the dining room.
“We’re in here, dear. Come inside.”
Ruby steeled herself for the coming fight, and stepped into the room. Her eyes widened at the number of people sitting at the table. There were four men, including Ben and a man who looked a great deal like Corbin. Two other men with ladies, and several children, ranging in ages from a newborn to at least sixteen.
Corbin stood and walked toward her. “My family wanted to welcome you to town, even if it is just for a week.”
She smiled at him and he laughed. She knew he could see the daggers in her eyes.
“You know Ben, of course, since he came into the shop this afternoon. This is Win and his wife, Vanessa, and their son, Jacob. He’s really Winthorp the third, but we call him by his middle name. And this is Rob and his wife, Dawn, and their sons Frank, Anthony and Mark, and their newborn, Charity. And the ugly one is my twin, Josh.”
“Ugly. Right.” Josh stood and kissed Ruby’s hand. “He’s just embarrassed to say that I got the looks, and the smarts, and he got nothing when the egg split.”
Ruby blushed furiously and Corbin slapped his brother’s arm.
“Behave.”
“Just wanted her to know she was working for the wrong twin. My clerk’s off visiting relatives. You can come and help me at the general store, if you like.”
Ruby shook her head. “Thank you, Josh, but I’m happy where I am.” Plus, there’s too much chance that someone from out of town might see me at the general store, like the stagecoach driver. That would be huge trouble.
“Well, the offer stands.” He walked back to the table and sat down.
“Come and sit by me,” Vanessa said, patting the chair next to her. “I’ll try to protect you from the heathen crowd.”
Ruby laughed. She sat down and put her napkin in her lap, her hands shaking. She didn’t want to have to talk to them about her ‘former’ life. There was too much chance of slipping up, too much chance of one of them finding out that she wasn’t who she said she was. She knew that Ben had been right about one thing, the more people who knew, the more chances of her father finding out where she was.
Corbin sat down next to her and she leaned in to him and whispered, “Why did you invite all these people here?”
“They wanted to meet the most famous woman in town. It’s not often that Mac’s Crossing gets a new resident.”
“Did you tell them that I’m only here for a week?”
“Of course I did, so they were in a hurry. I think they want to see what they can do about making you stay around.”
“For what?” She stared at him, and then realization dawned. “You’re kidding me. They think that you and I… Who gave them that idea? You?”
Corbin turned away from her long enough to take food from Josh, put some on his plate and pass the bowl to Ruby. Bowls started moving quickly and soon she had a full plate of food in front of her.
“No, I didn’t give them that idea,” Corbin said when the bowls stopped moving. “They came up with it all on their own. Vanessa and Dawn are both very stubborn women. Since they married my brothers, their main goals in life have been to find wives for the rest of us.”
“Well, set them straight. Now.” She glared daggers at him and he laughed.
“Hey you two, no private discussions,” Dawn said from the other end of the table. You need to let us all get to know her, Corbin. So tell us, Ruby, did you grow up in Wyoming?”
Ruby shook her head. “Denver.” Best to stick as close to the truth as possible.
“Oh I love Denver,” Dawn said. “It’s such a fun place to be. They’re having a great party for the Fourth of
July, but ours will be better.”
“You’re having a big party?”
“Huge,” Vanessa replied.
Win laughed. “My wife has set up just about everything you could want to do on a holiday. We’ll have lots of free food, horseshoe tournaments, horse races, buggy races and pie sales. She’s even scheduled a scavenger hunt where people go search for hidden prizes.”
Ruby smiled. “That sounds like so much fun.” Then, her smile lessened when she realized that she was going to be gone by then, since it was still two weeks away. There was no telling where she would be, or who she would be with.
“Then, you’ll just have to stay,” Vanessa said with a smile. “We won’t take no for an answer, will we Corbin? She’s staying here until after the Fourth. Corbin won’t find a new worker until then, so he’ll still be able to use you, and you can always use the extra money he will pay you.”
Vanessa took a bite of her food, then smiled at the newcomer.
Ruby knew that she’d been cornered but good, by someone who knew how to work people into any situation that she wanted to. If Ruby said no, she seemed rude. After all, Vanessa would say, Ruby really had nowhere to go. Just some relatives that she seemed in no hurry to get to. If she were in a hurry, she wouldn’t have agreed to stay for the week.
She looked at Corbin, who took a sip of lemonade and smiled at her. She used her eyes to plead for help, and he dropped his gaze to his plate.
“It’s settled, then,” Vanessa said. “You’ll stay around for the Fourth of July party and we’ll all have a great time. You’ll love it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Ruby said, taking a small bite of food. “It will be a lot of fun.”
“Do you cook?” Dawn looked at her with eager eyes. “I’m making quite a few pies for the event and some extra hands would be great.”
“And I can’t cook worth a darn,” Vanessa said with a laugh. They both looked at her in expectation.
“Yes, I can cook. I’m sure Corbin wouldn’t mind sparing me for an afternoon to help make some pies.”
Heart and Home: The MacAllister Brothers Page 18