by Susan Thomas
Finally, Beth sniffled her way through, "I'm so sorry for what I did Henry. I hope you can forgive me. I wanted to be such a good wife to you."
Henry was astonished. "You silly thing. Of course I forgive you. You are forgiven. I always knew I'd have to correct your behavior sooner or later. I didn't expect sooner but it doesn't matter...it's all done with now except, of course, you'll not sit comfortably for several days."
"But I'm failing as a wife." It was more wailed than spoken and Henry had to stifle a laugh. Clearly Beth was serious.
"You're certainly not failing as a wife. You're a wonderful wife. When I was ready to take me a wife - that is, when I could support a wife and children properly - I didn't expect a love match. I just wanted a decent woman who would bear children and make our home a good place to raise the young ones. I knew I'd treat her right, care for her, look after her and always be faithful. Then John said you'd listen to a proposal from me. I felt lucky, Beth, real lucky. Doesn't take much to see you're an exceptional woman. You're smart, kind, everyone warms to you and the way you mange children is lovely. They adore you. It was wonderful you'd take me as your husband but now we're married something has happened I wasn't expecting. I've fallen in love with you. Beth, I love you. I may just have spanked you but I love you."
"Oh Henry." She buried her head in him. "I love you too. I realized after you came back from chasing that gang. Mary said if I was a good wife to you love would follow, but it came so quick Henry. I really love you... that's why I didn't want to disappoint you."
"You don't disappoint me. I don't think you could. I am one very lucky man."
Henry didn't make love to her that night; instead, he simply cuddled her, holding her close until he fell asleep. Beth wriggled free of him and lay face down for her bottom was still smarting from the spanking she had been given. She was surprised at her reaction to this first spanking. She had expected to have to wrestle with feelings of resentment and humiliation but she felt none of that. Instead she felt relief; she had done wrong, there was no question of that, but had been punished and forgiven. Henry may have spanked her but it had been for her own good. She'd think twice before behaving so badly again. She fell asleep feeling very warm and loved.
Beth's bottom was still sore the next morning. It was alright as long as she didn't sit down, but the moment she put her bottom on a chair she knew she had been thoroughly spanked. She was not looking forward to church and the long service spent sitting on those hard pews. As she walked arm in arm with Henry she noticed how quiet every couple was as they walked to church. Inside she looked around and it seemed to her that every woman already seated was wriggling or fidgeting on her pew seat. Cath O'Connor was having a hard time sitting still as she tried to keep her children sitting still for church. Mama was also wriggling, she noted. She looked on the other side and there were Emmeline Philips and Annabelle Beck, each sitting with their husbands. Both women were staring straight ahead and shifting uncomfortably from time to time while their husbands had grim smiles on their faces. Beth sat down and joined the squirming women trying to get comfortable. She didn't mind that she had been spanked. She deserved every smack of Henry's hand and the hairbrush. It was only her second spanking, but both had been deserved and both given in love. It was odd, her parents had never spanked her but they had never shown her any love. Their discipline had been cold, constant criticism. Better still, Henry had told her he loved her. That put any discomfort right into the shade and when the opening hymn began she rose to sing with joy in her heart.
On the Monday morning, as Beth made her way to the school she noticed a change. Members of the League of Moral Women returned to wishing her a good day. They were a bit stiff about it but there were no more sniffs, hair tossing or turned faces. Beth replied courteously to each one, but all the time she was worried about her lack of corsets. She figured that the Moral lot would now start being bitchy about that. Although she had a slim figure it was obvious she was not wearing a corset. Her breasts were not pushed up and her waist pinched in for the ideal figure. In fact, she had awoken this morning from a bad dream about how she was made to walk down the street while everyone pointed and chanted, "No corset. No corset." Her heart sank as she neared the school, for there was Mrs. Philips standing between her and the school door.
"Good Morning Mrs. Flight."
"Look I'm sorry. If it is about the corsets then I don't have time. The children will be here soon."
"Corsets?" Emmeline Philips shook her head, "I don't know anything about corsets. I came to apologize. I shall be seeing your sister also. I am at fault. I behaved in a disgraceful way and my husband has made his displeasure abundantly clear." A hand almost strayed to her bottom but she checked it in time. "I give you my unreserved apology and inform you that the League of Moral Women is being dissolved."
Beth was so relieved she almost burst into tears. "Well of course I accept your apology and I apologize too. I should have stopped our league from going so far. We behaved very badly and we too are dissolving."
There was an awkward moment when neither of them knew what to do, but Beth had to get into school and the two women parted... in peace if not friendship.
---oOo---
Ada Franklin Jones was tired. She was removing her corset and hoped that Isaac would not wish her to perform her duty as a wife. He was tiresome in that way and she liked to ration her excuses. They had been entertaining - not friends, but those that must be entertained to ensure his support when he ran for Governor. Rankin Blake had been there and she, her husband and Blake noticed their guests' little references to Elizabeth, couched in such a way that no offence could be taken but scenting a scandal brewing.
Where was the girl? All they knew for sure was that she had left on the train for New York but had not arrived there. She guessed she had changed trains but sought no refund. Clever, she had to admit. If she changed at a busy junction at a busy time there was very little chance of discovering her real destination. That lawyer had been a worry even though he was now dead. What set him off sniffing around? Was it the other one seeking her origins or had Elizabeth somehow started the hunt? She had expected the other one to be kept until old enough to be sent on an orphan train and then disposed of to some farmer who would work her hard before marrying her off to highest bidder. Many orphans ended that way but what if some better-off couple had taken her.... then she might be in a position to track her origins.
Isaac interrupted her thoughts. "Did you pick up the hints about Elizabeth?"
"I did. Blake's detectives have discovered nothing. However, I have been working on a little plan."
"My dear, you are a very clever woman."
"I believe Elizabeth will not be able to resist writing to that Martha creature. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she helped the girl get away. I have come to an arrangement with the mailman who delivers to that household. He holds back any personal mail for Martha..."
"You can't open US Mail. That's illegal!"
"Don't be silly, Isaac. I don't need to. I can recognize Elizabeth's handwriting anywhere. Sometimes a return address is written on the back of the envelope but in any event there is the postmark. Our excellent mail service marks the office from which it was sent. It may not give us an exact address but it will give us a very big clue as to where the girl is. A detective can do the rest. It would please me if our people were to find her and not Blake's."
Chapter 9
Henry was in a private meeting with Charles who had received a reply about Mr. Jones.
"My friend says that Jones was from a very poor and humble background. His ability and intelligence were spotted by a wealthy man who paid for a good education for him. Once his education was complete he seems to have become wealthy quickly and grows wealthier every day. He is known as a shrewd businessman with interests in cotton, shipping, textiles, property and much more. He is also known to be politically ambitious. He is a state senator and will run for Governor but is known to have an ey
e on the presidency. His wife is supportive and campaigns endlessly on his behalf. Blake was already wealthy and he too has a nose for a good deal. His interests are vast and complex; he is a man of considerable influence and can make or break a man's chances of high office."
Henry was thoughtful. "Well there's our reason why Jones was keen to marry Beth off to Blake. He wanted Blake's support for his political ambition and spotted Blake's lustful interest in her. It is disgusting because Beth was so young when he started taking an interest."
"What is lacking," Charles went on, "is an indication of how Jones built up his business and wealth so quickly or where the girls fit in. I can call another favor in from an old friend to do a little more digging, but should I? There was an attempt to murder me so it might be risky for him. Perhaps I should go myself."
"The attempt on your life was because they knew you were coming. That superintendent at the orphanage obviously wrote to Jones and told him. Probably in all innocence, just as a courtesy. The town can't spare you for any length of time but Jones now thinks you're dead, so make it clear to your friend he must do everything in secret. It crosses my mind that we thought Beth would be safe married to me but there is something they don't want to come out. So is Beth safe? Would they try and murder her too if they can't marry her off to Blake?"
"What about Emily?" Charles looked worried. "If they find out about her and come to murder Beth she could be at risk too."
"We must make sure the girls don't go anywhere much on their own. Keep within the safe parts of town. Don't explain why to avoid worrying them but make it a strict rule. We'll set limits about where they can go on their own."
Charles laughed. "They won't like that."
"It's for their own good Charles... until we get to the bottom of all this."
---oOo---
Beth was feeling very frustrated. She wanted to be a good wife and run her home efficiently and produce wonderful meals for Henry, as well as learn how make preserves, jams and jellies, but she had a school to run. It was all going wonderfully well but it was time consuming, and on top of that the Town Council had her vetting the applications for her replacement. Some were terrible, showing a very poor grasp of written language; one or two were acceptable, but the character that showed through was not the sort of person she wanted taking over her happy place of learning.
One Saturday she had left the school and was on her way to the general store when she came across two children she had never seen before. There was a boy of about seven or eight and a girl a bit younger. They were both very dirty and looking longingly into the store. Beth guessed it was the candy they were looking at.
"Hello children, I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new in town?"
The boy shook his head. "Nah. We live there." He pointed out of town to an area that was a thorn in the side of the Town Council. It was generally known as the 'Hovels' and was the center of a great deal of illegal and disreputable behavior.
"Why don't you come to school then?"
The girl stood silent. It was the boy who spoke. "Pa don't hold with school learning. Says it isn't worth spit."
Something in the boy's manner prompted Beth to ask, "What do you think?"
"Ma can read 'n' write a bit. She's got a Bible an' when Pa ain't aroun' she reads us bits. I wanna do that."
"You can't learn to read all in a day, it takes hard work. Do you think you could do that?"
"Yup. So could she," he said pointing at his sister.
"What are your names?"
"She's Ruth. I'm Jacob."
"Does Ruth speak?"
"Sure. She scared of you cos you're the teach."
Beth smiled. "I don't hit children and it is teacher not teach, but no matter. Well, if you'd like to go to school, I'd better buy you a stick of candy each and we go and see your pa."
Jacob shook his head. "He'll be mad at you. He'll hit you."
Beth felt her stubborn streak swing into action. No child should be denied an education by ignorant parents. "We'll see about that."
Soon the two children were sucking on a stick of candy each and she was walking with them towards the Hovels. Inside she was nervous not just of the children's father but of Henry. He had specifically banned her from going anywhere near the Hovels but this was important and part of her job. The shack that the children called home was set in among some trees - a setting that might have been quite pleasant except it was littered with garbage of many sorts. The shack itself was a rough looking thing made without much love or care. A tired, anxious and thin woman with a black eye looked worried the moment she saw them and a man came from the side where he had been splitting logs to stare at them. He was a rough, nasty looking creature that Beth would have crossed a road to avoid on any other occasion.
Without any preamble the man spoke. "Whaja want?"
"I am Mrs. Flight and I teach at the school. Jacob and Ruth have expressed an interest in going to school. It is free. I'd like you to allow them to attend on a regular daily basis."
"Another fucking busybody bitch. Git back to yer man, bitch, and git his grub."
Beth kept very calm. "I will do so once you have agreed they will attend school."
The man raised his arm and made as if to hit her with the back of his hand. Beth wasn't sure how she did it but she kept very still and stared hard at his face. "Do you want Jacob to grow up to be like you?"
"Wot?"
"Unable to read or write, living in poverty and hitting defenseless women."
Beth was fascinated by the cascading expressions that crossed the man's face. The prime one was astonishment but others flitted in and out including, she was sure, regret. Finally, he lowered his hand and then turned to his children. "Yer wanna go to school?" Both kids nodded eagerly. "Right woman. They'll be there Monday. Yer not to beat them if'n they give you trouble I'll do it."
"They won't give me any trouble and I don't hit children."
He stared hard at her then spat and walked off around the back of the shack. His wife, if that is indeed what she was, looked relieved.
"What do they need for school?"
"Just some food for their lunch. I'll provide everything else, but it would be good if they could..." Beth didn't know how to say the children stank and were filthy.
A weak smile crossed the woman's face. "I'll make em clean and tidy, don't worry. I went to school for a while. I know what to do. Thanks lady.... you're lucky he didn't hit you."
Beth smiled. "If I see the children on Monday it was worth the risk."
It was only when she got home again that Beth discovered that there had been more risk with her visit to the Hovels than being hit by Jacob's father. Henry was looking very displeased.
"You were spotted by my deputy going to the Hovels. I believe I made it real clear it was a dangerous area."
"I was doing my job, Henry. I found two children who live there who are not going to school. I took them home and their father agreed they could start Monday."
"He might have used you or murdered you, and I warned you not to go there."
"Henry, it was the middle of the day and I was with two children doing my job. Nothing happened."
"You disobeyed me Beth. If you'd come to me I'd have gone with you."
"Oh Henry, that really wouldn't have worked. That man would have been aggressively defensive if you'd been there. I was just the young woman schoolteacher and no threat to him. They are coming Monday and the important thing is both children want to learn to read and write. Parents do not have the right to restrict their children's chances like that. Until we get a replacement, it's my job."
In his heart Henry knew she was right but he was frightened for her. He wanted to keep her safe and the Hovels might just be where Jones' men would lurk... or worse, Blake's. It was fear for her that made him take a hard line.
"Beth, you disobeyed me. It's my job to keep you safe and it is your duty to be obedient. If you wished to go to the Hovels you should have talked wi
th me about it. I have no choice but to discipline you."
"Henry!"
"Beth, you are to remove your dress and petticoats. Do not argue with me. I warned you I would punish disobedience."
Beth began removing her dress. She was torn inside. She loved Henry and she had disobeyed him, but she just felt he was being unreasonable. It was the daytime when she had gone into that area with two children. There was no way anyone would have harmed the wife of the sheriff in that situation. It had a horribly familiar feeling, being clad only in her shift, drawers and stockings in the middle of the day. When she was ready, she turned and Henry was sitting on a chair with his jacket off and his sleeves rolled up. She breathed a sigh of relief that he didn't have the hairbrush. The sting of the hairbrush was so intense when it smacked on her bare bottom she earnestly hoped never to get a proper spanking with one.
"Come here Beth."
Beth walked slowly to stand by her husband. Her heart was pounding. The first time he had spanked her she had felt terribly guilty and knew she deserved her spanking. This time she lacked that certainty and it made it hard for her to submit so easily to be chastised. Henry reached up and undid the ties on her drawers. Beth's face burnt. It was a strangely embarrassing thing to happen and she wondered if she would ever grow used to having her drawers taken down to be spanked. When Henry began pulling her over his lap her breathing began to get faster, and her bottom felt very exposed and oh so very vulnerable.
Smack! Henry's hard hand smacked down very hard indeed on her right cheek and Beth squealed loudly while her right leg kicked up.
"Yes it smarts, doesn't it, Beth? I regret having to discipline you but when I make rules I expect you to obey them. I did warn you about that when I proposed."