"My toes are curled, husband," she whispered with a giggle.
"I am most satisfied, wife. Now go to sleep, honey. Morning will come all too soon."
Thankfully, the next few days were uneventful, and Caroline continued to earn her husband's praise as she did her very best to follow his lead and do what she could to make his load easier. They endured some terrible weather, and both of them caught colds. Still, they moved on. Once or twice they encountered settlers who were eager to see them and asked them to stay the night and talk. It was midday when they saw smoke ahead.
"I am going to scout ahead before we go any further, Caroline. I want you to stay right here with the wagon. I shan't be gone long."
"Would you like for me to fix a meal, Jacob?" she asked.
"No, honey. If we can see smoke ahead, then someone else could see the smoke from our fire. I do not wish to attract trouble. If you hear anything, hide yourself."
"Very well, Jacob. Please be careful."
"I have every intention of that, pretty lady," he said with a wink at her.
Caroline wanted to take her whip from the wagon and follow Jacob, but she knew that if she disobeyed him he would punish her with a switch. He would claim she disobeyed him, and put her life in danger. Caroline did not wish to be punished for disobedience ever again, especially as regarded her safety.
Fortunately, Jacob was back a few minutes later, his face wearing a big smile. He climbed up on the wagon and said, "The smoke is friendly, Caroline. We shall stop early today and visit with this couple. The woman longs to see another white woman, and it will be good for us to see others and visit, too. Does this meet with your approval, wife?" he asked with a smile.
"Oh, yes, Jacob! I shall enjoy a visit very much," Caroline replied. Jacob noticed that her green eyes were sparkling and he was pleased he was able to offer her such a small pleasure. He started the oxen moving toward the other couple's cabin.
Caroline immediately realized that the people waiting on them were trying to settle right here. They lived in a cabin, and she wondered how long they had been there.
"Please, step down and make yourselves at home," a man stepped forward to welcome them. He waited until Jacob lifted Caroline from the wagon and then said, "I am Geoff Crawford, and this is my wife, Faith."
"I am Jacob Willis and this is my wife, Caroline. We are surely pleased to meet you both."
"Are you looking to settle hereabouts?" Geoff asked curiously.
"I think we shall travel on a few more days. I shall recognize the spot when I see it."
"That is why we picked here, Mr. Willis. Mr. Crawford saw this land and he said we were home. Please come inside. I am preparing food for us, and it has been at least six or seven weeks since we had company."
She looked so hopeful that Caroline moved forward and impulsively linked her arm through Faith's. "It will be lovely to have another lady to visit with, Mrs. Crawford."
"Oh, please, call me Faith."
"And I am Caroline," the redhead said with a warm smile, liking the other woman. They went on inside, leaving the men to talk about whatever men talk about. They started chatting like old friends, talking about where they came from, and family left behind. Faith confided that she was with child and Caroline was excited for her. Caroline offered to help prepare their meal, and Faith firmly said 'no', citing that she was 'company'.
Time seemed to fly right by and soon it was time to call the men inside to eat. The talk turned to politics, and both Jacob and Caroline listened with interest as Geoff told them that both the French and the English were claiming to own Ohio Country. There were both French settlements and English settlements... forts where people could go to trade. Even the Indians seemed to take sides. Both the English and the French made all sorts of promises to get the Indians to take their side. "So far we have been fine here. The Indians are friendly enough, but I would never leave Faith here alone if I needed to make a trip to the Trading Post for supplies."
"Are there many other women out here?" Caroline asked.
"Not many, Mrs. Willis," Geoff answered. "When you and your man go to the settlements, you need to stay at his side."
"I shall remember that," she replied, glancing at Jacob. The determination on his face warned her that they would be having a discussion on that particular subject very soon.
Faith tried to turn the conversation to lighter things and soon they were laughing like old friends. By the time they finished eating, Jacob promised to help Geoff with something that required two men. Caroline helped Faith with the dishes, and then Faith said, "I know where there are some wild strawberries, Caroline. Would you like to go and pick some?"
Caroline agreed, and the women took a basket and headed towards the wooded area behind the cabin. "It is not too far, is it?" she asked the blonde.
"Oh, not too far," the other woman said with a dismissive wave of her arm.
They talked and talked and Caroline completely lost track of time... and of how far they walked. When she suddenly realized how long they had been talking, she stopped and looked at Faith. "Jacob is not going to be happy that I have wandered so far away from him, Faith."
"Oh, please, Caroline...? I am so hungry for berries, and Geoff will not permit me to walk so far alone. Let us hurry, and when we return with berries for a dessert, the men will be so happy they will not think to scold." She giggled happily, and pulled Caroline along with her at least another mile.
The berries were thick, and they were sweet and delicious. Both of the women ate as many as they picked, and neither of them noticed the Indian braves sneaking up on them.
* * *
"I am surprised that our wives have not come outside. It is much cooler out here than inside the cabin at this time of day," Jacob said with a smile.
"It is unlike Faith to remain inside unless she has work to do, and there is nothing so important it could not wait until tomorrow." Geoff walked to the cabin and opened the door to look inside. He called out, "Faith?" She did not answer.
Jacob instantly realized that the other man was concern. He helped him search around the cabin, and the wagon, and there was no sign of either female.
"Wild strawberries," Geoff suddenly stated. "Faith has been craving them, and I forbade her to go berry picking alone. She probably asked your wife to go along. Let's go find them." He was already reaching for his gun and tucking a knife into his belt.
"How far away are those berries?" Jacob asked as he broke into a run to keep up with Geoff. The other man had told him earlier that he had seen signs of Indians in the area, but figured they were just hunting.
"Too damned far," was Geoff's succinct reply. "My wife thinks she is beyond feeling my displeasure because she is with child, but she is wrong. She needs a thrashing to remember for sneaking off without saying a word to me. I would never have permitted her to go with just Caroline for company!"
They ran fast, but when they reached the strawberries, there was no sign of either of the women. "Look!" Jacob exclaimed, pointing to a basket lying on the ground. Berries were spilling out on the ground.
"At least they are not dead, Jacob. We will need to move swiftly and quietly and hope neither Faith nor Carolyn give the braves any reason to stop and harm them."
* * *
"I am sorry, Caroline," Faith whispered as they moved along. The two Indians had tied their hands and were pulling them along as fast as they could walk and run. Caroline had tried to slow them down, but the brave had simply pulled his knife and growled something at her. His meaning was clear, even if she could not understand what he was saying to her.
"You had no way of knowing this would happen, Faith." Once again the Indian who had her on a long leash spoke harshly. Caroline decided to be silent and pray that Jacob would somehow come to her rescue. The farther they traveled the more difficult it would be for him to find her.
A few minutes later one of the men said something to the other, and Caroline and Faith were shoved to the ground and tied
to a tree. The men drank water and ate something they took from pouches they wore around their waists. They talked quietly, and Caroline did not like the looks they were giving her and Faith. One of them would point and say something, and then they would laugh. After they finished eating, they looked at each other and argued for another minute or so. Caroline was afraid she knew why they were arguing, and she was suddenly terrified when they got to their feet and walked toward them.
The scary situation was over as quickly as it started. Carolyn vowed she had never been so happy to see Jacob as she was now. He cut the strips binding her while Geoff released his wife, and Carolyn threw herself into Jacob's arms, crying. He held her close and then said, "You are in serious trouble with me, Mrs. Willis."
"It is not Carolyn's fault, Mr. Willis. I did not tell her how far we would have to walk to find the wild berries. I am sorry."
"Not half as sorry as you shall be, Faith. I am going to take a leather strap to you."
"But, Geoff, you cannot! I am with child!" she remonstrated with her husband,
"All the more reason for you to use common sense, but did you? Did you even tell me what you intended?" When she merely looked down, he continued, "No, you did not. Why? Because, my dear wife, you knew I would forbid you to walk so far without me along to offer protection."
"I am very sorry, Geoff. Please do not be angry with me."
"We can talk about this at home. Come along," he stated, helping her rise.
Jacob remained silent for the long walk back to the cabin. If it was not so late in the day he would put Caroline on the wagon and they would leave. He had no way of knowing if those two braves would wake up and bring others to the cabin, or if they would simply leave them alone as Geoff seemed to think they would. The braves were of the friendly tribe that populated the area at times. They traded with the British, and for the most part, lived in peace with the settlers. Still, Jacob was worried the two braves would try to steal Caroline and Faith again.
Caroline was sorry she had followed Faith without speaking to Jacob first. They were just having so much fun, and it turned out to be so wrong. Jacob had every right to be furious with her. She just prayed he would not punish her here where the Crawford's could overhear. Even if they did not hear Jacob's hand smacking against her bare flesh, they would certainly hear her cries of pain and remorse.
Once they reached the clearing where the cabin and small barn were situated, Geoff Crawford turned to Jacob and said quietly, "I regret that you shall have to excuse us for a while, Jacob. I need to speak to my wife privately for several minutes. Please feel free to make yourselves at home inside if you wish."
"Thank you, but we need some time in the wagon to discuss what transpired." Caroline felt her cheeks turn red with shame and embarrassment. There could only be one meaning to the word 'discuss', and all of them knew what that meaning was.
"Please, Mr. Willis. Do not punish Caroline. I made it sound like the berries were right outside the door and behind the cabin. I knew better and I tricked her into going along with me. I am the one responsible for our getting captured. I am so sorry," Faith said, crying openly as she faced her husband's wrath. "I did not think we would be in danger," she added, looking at her husband.
"Did I not forbid you to go and pick berries unless I was with you?" he asked quietly.
"You said I could not go alone, and I did not," she said.
"Since I am the only other person who lives here, wife, I assumed you knew that I meant myself. Now come along. I believe a good strapping will ease your guilt." His expression was grim and Caroline felt sorry for the blonde.
Jacob took her arm and within a couple of minutes they were inside the wagon. "Should I spank you, Caroline?" he asked quietly after looking at her for a full minute without speaking.
"Yes, Jacob," she responded.
"Why?" He was truly curious.
"Because I stopped and questioned what we were doing when I realized we were going too far, and I permitted Faith to talk me into going further when I knew for a certainty you would not approve. I did not use common sense, Jacob. And no wild strawberries on earth are worth being separated from you forever." She started crying. "I was so frightened! I did not know if you would find me in time to keep that Indian from forcing me."
"Hush now," Jacob whispered, pulling her on his lap and holding her tightly. "You are safe now, and as long as I have breath in my body I will come and find you, wife. I love you." He spent the next several minutes holding her and reassuring her.
"I behaved badly, Jacob, and I was foolish. I deserve a punishment. Will you please give me a spanking so that I always remember this day and this lesson?"
Jacob was touched by her words, and he suspected that it was her guilt that needed punished more than her spirit. "Lie over my lap and pull up your skirts, Caro."
The wagon was crowded, but Caroline managed to do as he bade her. The spanking started immediately, and Jacob reddened every inch of her backside. He did not stop until his hand hurt, and then it was to ask if she had forgiven herself yet. She nodded, and he helped her up so he could kiss her tenderly and tell her how much she was loved. Jacob decided there were exceptions to the rules John made for his marriage, and he took his time make love to Caroline and letting her know that she was truly forgiven. Neither of them cared if they were missed by the Crawfords.
* * *
"I feel so terrible, Geoff. Neither Caroline nor Jacob will ever forgive me... and because I simply had to have strawberries! I am selfish!" Faith declared as soon as they entered the small barn they had built to provide protection for their animals and the hay they grew to feed them.
"You were wrong, Faith. I shall not deceive you on that account, but I shall also remind you how long it has been since you had the company of another woman. You were in high spirits, and you wanted to celebrate with a special dessert of berries. I share some of the blame because I did not make time to take you when you kept asking."
"You had work to do, and I know how much each day means. If we do not work hard, we could starve through the winter... or lose our child. I honestly feel disgusted with myself."
"I think I can take care of that, Faith. You know what to do."
"Do you not worry about the child?" she asked fearfully.
"It is your lovely hind that will feel my hand and the strap, wife. Our babe is well protected inside you. Now prepare yourself for a punishment." His voice was suddenly very stern and firm.
Faith had not been punished for nearly six months and she dreaded the next few minutes. Geoff never did anything by half measures. Her backside would be raw and she would be sobbing by the time he stopped. He always started by spanking her with his hand. She had to lie over his lap and submit to a spanking while he scolded. It was always shameful, and it always took her back to the very first time he found her needful of correction.
Geoff had been courting her for six months and she was growing tired of waiting for him to ask her Father for her hand in marriage. Faith arranged for Geoff to see her talking to a friend of his, and when she spotted him out of the corner of her eye, she threw her arms around Timothy and pretended to kiss him. Geoff was angry and stomped off, and he most certainly did not come forward to declare she belonged to him and he carried an undying love for her. Nor did he get down on bended knee and beg him to marry him! In fact, Timothy told Geoff he had not one idea why the woman he was courting kissed him! Geoff did not come and see her for the next two weeks and just when she was certain she had ruined everything, he caught her alone on the path to town. She confessed why she had done what she did, and he had promptly gone down on one knee as she had always dreamed he would, but instead of offering marriage, he spanked her... hard! Then he marched her to her father and suggested her father finish the spanking he started. Her father sent her to bed with an even sorer bottom than Geoff gave her, but when Geoff came the following week to ask for her hand in marriage, he smilingly placed her hand in Geoff's and gave his blessin
g.
Faith had been spanked several times during the eighteen months they had been married, but this time she really deserved to suffer for what she did. Without argument she raised her skirts and once Geoff was seated on the bench they kept in the barn, she placed herself over his lap and squirmed until she was comfortable. Her belly was not rounded yet, so it was not difficult to find a position that would place her bottom where he wanted it.
Geoff started spanking, lightly at first. Faith's skin tended to bruise easily and he did not wish to harm her, just let her know that her actions were foolish to the point of being dangerous to herself as well as their child... and to their guest. Once he was sure she was starting to feel the spanking, he scolded her. He could tell by her posture and by her answers when she was ready to feel the strap he kept hanging on a peg for times like this one. "Are you ready to face the rest of your punishment?" he asked, just as he always did.
"Yes, sir," she replied through her tears of shame and remorse.
"Very well. You may rise and get the strap and hand it to me and tell me how many you deserve."
Faith hated that Geoff made her give him a number. She never knew what to say. If she made the number too low, he would put her back over his knee and spank her until her bottom was burning even more before asking her if she was ready to be serious. If she told him a number that was too high he would ask her what else she had done deserving of punishment he did not yet know about. She always got the full amount, too.
A Man of Dreams, a Woman of Passion Page 9