by Elly Knight
When she got close enough, Ben reached out and cupped her chin with his hand, forcing her to look at him. “I love you Charli Rae,” he said softly to her. “Enough that I won’t allow you to continue to behave in this manner. You’re better than this and you know it. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to Matilda. I only have eyes for one woman and one woman alone. You.”
Charli knew he was right. Ben was loyal to a fault. Why else had he agreed to marry her to stop her going to jail? Why else had he put a stop to her notion to annul the marriage, knowing that if she did so, she would lose the most precious thing in the world to her. The farm.
Ben drew her close and wrapped his arms around her, making Charli feel safe and secure. “I want you to remember this while I’m burning up your bottom,” he said to her. “I only do this for your own good.”
Charli couldn’t help but sniffle as she allowed Ben to position her over his knees. He didn’t allow her to support her body on the bed like he had other times but had instead tipped her completely over both knees like one might a child. Charli felt humiliated and a little anxious. Ben held her firm but the position still felt precarious. Like she could fall at any moment.
Without another word, Ben began to land firm rapid spanks randomly across her bottom, taking care to ensure he covered every inch, including the junction between her bottom and thighs. It really hurt when his hand landed there and Charli was praying he didn’t go any lower. It didn’t take long for “ows” and “ouches” to begin coming from her mouth, followed by “please”.
After a couple of minutes, Ben paused and rubbed his hand over her burning flesh. “You are a beautiful person Charlotte Montgomery,” he told her, landing a firm spank to the back of her thigh when she snorted in response. “I understand that Matilda is good at manipulation and making herself look good but you play right into her hands when you behave the way you did. You need to rise above it and not stoop to her level.”
Ben’s words got Charli’s tears flowing in a way his hand never would. She didn’t really believe that she was a beautiful person but she had to concede that her husband had a point. Stooping to Matilda’s level was playing into her hands. It only served to make Matilda look good and Charli not so much. The fact that Ben seemed to understand Matilda’s tactics went a long way toward soothing her injured heart.
“Had you obeyed me when I first asked you to come in here, we’d be done now,” Ben informed her as he picked up the hairbrush he’d placed on the bed beside him. “However, it would seem you’re in need of a good lesson in obedience. When I ask you to do something, particularly when it comes to discipline, I expect to be obeyed immediately. Pretending to obey while planning to run out the front door was certainly not one of your best moves. One that’s about to cost you dearly,” he warned as he placed the back of the hairbrush against her warm bottom flesh.
Charli whimpered and tightened the muscles in her bottom in anticipation. The first blow of the hairbrush took her breath away. She’d forgotten how unforgiving that wood was as it left behind an intense sting. Before she could become accustomed to it, a second blow fell, increasing the level of sting exponentially.
Ben spanked with the hairbrush in slow methodical swats, tightening his hold on his wife when she began to try and twist away from the pain. “Yes, Charlotte, I know it hurts but you could have avoided this. I even gave you a warning,” he reminded her as the brush continued to build a blazing fire in her behind.
“I’m sorry Ben, I won’t do it again,” Charli begged. She hated herself for being so weak but it really HURT.
“I certainly hope so because I really do not enjoy having to do this,” Ben informed her as he continued to spank. “However, I will. As hard and long as I think you need to really learn the lesson,” he warned.
“I’ve learned!” Charli cried out earnestly.
“Not yet you haven’t,” Ben informed her. “But you will.”
Charli was sure he was going to spank the skin right off her bottom as the hairbrush continued its descent, over and over again. Her blushing pink skin slowly darkened to a deep red that throbbed and burned. Charli’s tears soon turned to sobs as she slumped over her husband’s knee, the fight literally spanked right out of her.
Ben stopped spanking her and began to rub her back, figuring even his soothing palm rubbing her bottom might be a bit much while it was so inflamed. He waited patiently until her sobbing subsided to sniffles. “Let’s hope we don’t need to do this again,” he said calmly to her.
Charli shook her head vehemently. She never wanted an encounter with that dreadful hairbrush again. In fact, thoughts of burning the thing went through her head.
“There’s just one more thing we need to address,” Ben informed her. “I cannot and WILL NOT put up with you putting yourself in any kind of danger,” he said firmly. “Running through the building site and then outside, while barefoot, was extremely dangerous. You could have cut yourself on any number of things,” he scolded.
“I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,” Charli pleaded, certain her bottom couldn’t take anymore punishment.
“Let’s just make sure,” Ben said seriously. He gave the back of each of her legs three hard swats with the palm of his hand.
Charli squealed and began kicking her legs in an attempt to get away from the sting. Ben had delivered the swats so quickly; it was over almost as quickly as it began. Charli dissolved into a fresh round of sobbing. Ben gathered her up onto his lap and held her tight while she saturated the front of his shirt with her tears.
“All done sweetheart, you did very well,” he praised her. Charli wasn’t so sure but for now she was content to absorb the warmth and comfort his embrace offered, all the while wondering what it was about a spanking that made her feel so secure.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Beautiful,” Martha said breathlessly as she stepped back to take in Charli’s appearance. She’d carefully curled her hair and piled it on top of Charli’s head, leaving several strands to fall gracefully around her face.
“Ben is hardly going to recognize you,” Henry said, finding himself choking up a little as he took in how ladylike and grown up Charli appeared. Taking her by the hand, he led her to the store’s makeshift change room that had a mirror in it.
Charli certainly didn’t recognize herself as she looked in the mirror. She’d been to dances with her papa but never had she had such an exquisite grown-up gown to wear. Money had always been tight and Charli hadn’t cared that she only had the one dress to wear. She bit her lip as she took in her appearance, wondering what Ben would think.
“I’m mighty glad I already have a piece of paper saying you’re mine Charli Rae,” Ben said as he entered the room. “Otherwise I’d be worrying some other beau was going to steal you out from under me.”
Charli couldn’t help but giggle. It was highly unlikely any other man was going to even turn his head to look at her. And even if they did, once they recognized who it was, their interest would soon wane. Charli was under no illusion that any man would want to be lumped with her for a wife. Other than the one in front of her that was. Charli didn’t understand what he saw in her but she was thankful he was hers.
She was so lost in her thoughts that Charli didn’t notice Henry and Martha leaving the room or the fact that Ben was bending down to kiss her, until his lips brushed against hers. As she responded, his lips pressed in harder, leaving her breathless. Charli was glad when his strong arms circled her waist just as her legs felt like they were going to give way beneath her.
“I guess we should get to the dance,” Ben whispered after kissing her senseless a few more times. Her lips were red and swollen from his own, making her all the more beautiful in his eyes.
“It would be a shame to waste this dress,” Charli agreed.
Henry’s chuckle could be heard from the doorway. “Come on you two lovebirds, you can smooch anytime. The town only holds a dance once a year.”
Charli blushed as
Ben took her hand and led her toward the doorway where Henry and Martha were waiting to walk with them to the church where the dance was being held.
“Oh, I thought Ben must have brought someone OTHER than his wife to the dance when I saw you,” Matilda gushed derisively when they entered the hall. It took all of Charli’s willpower, and the fact that Ben had a good firm hold on her, to prevent Charli gouging her eyes out. The woman really was vile. “Who’d have thought little Charli Anderson could actually look like a lady!” Matilda went on.
Charli took a deep breath as her husband’s words resonated in her head. Don’t stoop down to her level. “You’re looking lovely tonight Matilda,” she said graciously, earning her a loving squeeze from her husband.
Matilda was so surprised by Charli’s answer she was speechless for a few seconds. “Well, of course you do too,” she mumbled. “That’s what I meant.”
“I’m so proud of you,” Ben whispered in Charli’s ear as they made their way further into the hall, where a live band was playing dance music. He quickly whisked her onto the floor.
Charli was not a confident dancer but somewhere along the line, Ben must have been taught as he was proficient enough to make up for her own shortcomings. He soon had Charli laughing and smiling as he whisked her around the dance floor. She truly felt like a Princess in the arms of her Prince. Charli couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this happy.
Not accustomed to wearing slippers, it only took half an hour before Charli’s feet began to hurt. When she whimpered, Ben settled her in a chair. “I’ll get us some drinks and be back. You sit here and rest,” he said with a concerned frown.
Charli was content to sit and take in her husband’s handsome frame as he made his way to the other side of the hall, where refreshments had been laid out on a table. It didn’t even bother her when he stopped to converse with a number of the town’s top businessmen. Charli hoped they were talking business. Ben had confessed to her that his law business had been slower than he hoped. There wasn’t much call for an attorney this far west, where justice was often carried out outside of the law. She was confident it would grow in time but she wanted Ben to feel fulfilled now. If he didn’t, she feared he’d want to return East.
While Charli was reluctant to leave the farm, it hit her as she watched Ben conversing, that she would do it if that’s what it took to make him happy. Somewhere along the line she’d fallen in love with her husband. His needs were beginning to take a higher priority than her own. Charli knew it was time to tell him how she felt about him. She was ready to become his wife in all senses of the word.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched Matilda approach and strike up a conversation with him. While she knew Ben loved her, there was still that nagging doubt that she wasn’t adequate as a wife, particularly given she hadn’t completely given herself to him. Until they consummated the marriage, Ben could still choose to seek an annulment and there wouldn’t be a thing Charli could do about it. Not that Matilda would necessarily know that.
Charli was just about to get up and go to them when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Norman Banks with a worried look on his face. “I’m sorry to disturb you miss,” he said. “Martha has a slight problem she needs your assistance with. She’s out the back near the privy,” he told her, blushing slightly as he spoke.
“What’s happened?” Charli asked as she stood to follow the man out the door. It seemed slightly strange to her that he should come for her and not Henry. With a quick glance around the room, Charli couldn’t spot Henry. Perhaps he was already with Martha and they required extra help. Hurrying to catch up with Norman, she stepped outside and couldn’t see him anywhere.
Charli made her way toward the privy, scanning the grounds searching for Martha or Henry. It was dark outside and taking a while for her eyes to adjust. Charli frowned in confusion. She couldn’t see or hear anyone. Suddenly, she felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck, warning her of imminent danger.
It was the last thought Charli had before slumping to the ground. Someone had connected a plank of wood with the back of her head, knocking her instantly unconscious.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Charli groaned as the throbbing in her head woke her up. She opened her eyes but all she could see was blackness. It felt like she was upside down. And moving. As she went to try and change positions, Charli realized her arms were bound to her body. She had no way of moving.
“Welcome back,” a deep voice said from somewhere above her. It took Charli several seconds to place it and when she did, she groaned. This was bad. Really bad.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked, her voice high pitched with fear.
“Taking you on a little journey,” Stanley Bartholomew told her, his voice calm and somewhat smug. What Charli wouldn’t give to wipe that smugness off his face, even if she couldn’t see it. “That husband of yours has caused no end of trouble to my plans,” he told her. “I thought all I had to do was get rid of your papa but no, you had to continue to get in my way. Then just when I had you over a barrel, that annoying man had to come along and make things more difficult. I did think about getting rid of him too but Matilda has taken a liking to him. Once you’re gone, she can make her move and we can all live happily ever after.”
Charli felt bile rising in her throat as she listened to the crazy man’s tirade, doing her best to make sense of the rambling words. “What did you do to my papa?” she asked.
“He had a nasty fall from his horse,” Stanley told her with an evil laugh. “I may have spooked the horse a little to help things along, but it was really a lot easier than I expected it to be. I never laid a finger on the man. I’m a reasonable man Charli. I offered him a fair price for the land and he refused. I had no choice but to take things into my own hands then. Much like now. All you needed to do was accept my very generous offer. You could have taken the money and relocated. Started over. Then none of this would have been necessary.”
A sob lodged itself in Charli’s throat as fear spread throughout her entire body. She hadn’t misunderstood. The man intended to kill her. “Ben won’t sell you the farm either,” she told him.
“I don’t need him to,” Stanley informed her. “Matilda will help him through his mourning and he’ll fall in love with her. Everything I do is for that darling girl. Her owning the farm through marriage is more than enough for me.”
“Ben’s no farmer!” Charli responded.
“I’ll teach him everything there is to know,” Stanley said confidently. “Then one day, he’ll inherit my farm as well. It used to belong to his family you know. That prospect alone should make marriage to my daughter attractive.”
“I doubt it,” Charli snorted.
“If I have to, I’ll get rid of him as well,” Stanley responded with a shrug.
The thought of Ben losing his life because he’d married her made Charli begin to sob. She hadn’t even had a chance to tell the man she loved him and now it was too late. This was all too horrible to be true. Surely Charli would wake any moment to find this was all some terrible nightmare.
Stanley was fighting a war of his own as he listened to Charli sobbing. He’s never been able to cope with a woman’s tears and hers were beginning to erode his self-confidence that this was the right course of action. He patted her back awkwardly. “No need to cry my dear. This will all be over quickly.”
“Are you going to shoot me?” Charli sniffled. She didn’t know of any other death that was quite as quick.
“Heavens no!” Stanley responded loudly. “This needs to look like an accident. Otherwise I’ll have the sheriff sniffing around asking difficult questions. That’s what made your papa’s death so perfect. No one even considered it was anything other than an accident.”
Charli thought that perhaps death was the best thing for her. She had no idea how she was going to continue to live, knowing her papa had been killed so deliberately and callously. And all for a measly block of land! “W-
what are you going to d-do to me?” she asked.
“I have Mr Banks horse with us. You and he and are going to take an unfortunate ride over the edge of a cliff,” he informed her.
“Please let me go. You can buy my land and Ben and I will disappear without a word,” she begged.
“I’m afraid it’s a little too late for that,” Stanley laughed. “Now that I’ve told you about your papa, you know too much. If only you’d been smart and sold me the land when your papa died, none of this would have been necessary.”
Charli’s heart sank. Bound like this, there was no way she was getting away from this man. She very much doubted there was time for Ben to discover she was missing and find her before Mr Bartholomew carried through with his plan. Her life was over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ben watched out of the corner of his eye as the bank manager spoke with Charli and she rose to follow him from the room. It took him a few minutes to extricate himself from the conversation and when he did, his wife appeared to have disappeared. He did come across Norman Banks, on his way back to the building.