A Man of Dreams, a Woman of Passion

by Rebecca Jacobs

  "What is going on, Little Fawn?" Caroline asked nervously.

  "The French are not happy with us. They do not want the English traders here and have told us they must leave. Our Chief is not going to run off the English to please the French. The French are talking to the Ottawa Indians and trying to convince them to fight against the Twightwee. Strong Tree thinks we should attack them now but Memeska says we should build a stockade."

  "Is Pierre still here?" Caroline asked worriedly.

  "He is," Little Fawn said. "Would you like to see him?" she asked, and when Caroline nodded in agreement, the two women set off to find Pierre.

  They left the Twightwee village and chatted of other things. Caroline was delighted when Little Fawn confided she was with child. She asked if Strong Tree was happy with the news and Little Fawn giggled and nodded. Caroline made a silent promise to herself to make a blanket for the little one, and suddenly realized they were quite a distance from the Indian Village. "We should head back, Little Fawn. Jacob does not want me to venture far away from him when we come here. He is cautious."

  "Very well, I do not see Pierre where he normally resides." They started back when Caroline noticed there were three men following them. She took Little Fawn's hand and said, "We need to hurry, Little Fawn. We are being followed."

  "We should run," Little Fawn said when she turned and saw the men. "Those men are not good." She urged Caroline to hurry, and they ran as fast as they could.

  The men ran faster, and Caroline heard Little Fawn emit a sharp noise. The men stopped suddenly when several of the Twightwee came running in their direction. Caroline was happy when she spotted Jacob and Strong Tree among the other men.

  Jacob reached her and demanded, "What happened, Caroline?"

  "We were going to find Pierre and three men started chasing us!" she said, clinging to him. Suddenly, she turned to Little Fawn and asked, "Are you all right, Little Fawn?"

  "I am fine. Those three are just bad men and they should be made to leave this settlement."

  Several of the braves returned, dragging the three men toward them. Jacob instantly recognized them as the ones who attacked him the first time he made a trip to Pickawillany.

  "What would you have us do with these three?" Memeska stepped forward to ask.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Caroline was still shaking as the three men who had threatened her and Little Fawn were held securely by the Twightwee. While she had no doubt as to the three men's intentions toward her and her sister, she did not wish to see the men killed, and she was positive that Memeska was about to order it done. She turned in Jacob's arms and looked up at him, pleading with her green eyes for him to speak calmly and prevent death. To her surprise and shock, it appeared as though Jacob was just as determined to see the men punished by losing their lives. "Jacob...?" she whispered.

  "Quiet now, Caroline. This is to be decided by men."

  "These women were looking for a good time!" one of the captive men dared to say, and before Caroline could stop him, Jacob planted a fist in the man's mouth.

  "You are speaking of my wife!" he angrily declared.

  "Take Caroline Willis with you to our lodge, wife," Strong Tree ordered Little Fawn. "As Jacob Willis has stated, this is man's business."

  It was obvious that Little Fawn did not wish to obey, but Strong Tree spoke sharply in his native language and she immediately took Caroline's arm and hurried her away. "We must go now, sister," she whispered. "My husband is not to be disobeyed when he is this angry."

  "I have never seen such a look on Jacob's face," Caroline admitted. "It is not like him to be so angry!"

  "He knows as Strong Tree does what those men intended to do to us."

  "You saved us by calling for help," Caroline praised her friend.

  "We were not running fast enough," Little Fawn said with a small smile. "Let us prepare food for our men. They will be hungry, and it will be necessary to lessen their anger with us for walking alone."

  "Is it always so dangerous here, Little Fawn?" Caroline asked fearfully.

  "Women must always be careful when there are so many men and so few women. Many white men do not consider Indians people, and the women are to be used for their pleasure. Other white men might shake their heads when a woman is attacked, but few will hold another white man responsible. That is why my husband and the other Twightwee are so angry right now. Those three men are responsible for the dishonor of several Twightwee women."

  "How awful!" Caroline said, shuddering.

  "Come, and we will busy ourselves. Our men will do what they must."

  Caroline permitted Little Fawn to order her about while she fretted and worried about what Jacob was doing. By the time the meal was ready to serve, the men walked into the lodge. She hurriedly ran to Jacob and hugged him tightly. The look on his face was grim.

  "I want to know what you were thinking to leave the village and walk off the way you did, Caroline!" Jacob asked, his tone of voice scolding and full of recrimination.

  "I asked about Pierre and Little Fawn was taking me to find him. I was worried for him with all the talk about the French. I wanted to be sure he was all right," she explained. "When he was not at his residence, we turned to come right back here, but those horrid men followed us!"

  "You should never have gone so far!" Jacob gave her a shake.

  "Caroline had no idea it was so far, and we should have been safe!" Little Fawn spoke up, her voice sharp. Once more Strong Tree scolded in the Twightwee language and she bowed her head in apology.

  Caroline felt her own temper flair. "Why should we not be able to walk within a settlement without fear, Jacob? Those men were in the wrong, not Little Fawn and not I! We were seeking out a friend who was not home, and we turned around to come back here. That is not a crime, and I am tired of being told I am never safe!" Caroline glared at Jacob and said, "And, just because you two were frightened by what those men intended is not a good reason to come in here acting all self-righteous. We did nothing wrong! They did. That is the end of this discussion. The food is ready to eat, so sit down and eat or I swear I shall throw it to the dogs!"

  "You shall apologize right now for your rudeness, wife, or I shall cut a switch and stripe you raw!" Jacob was furious and was refraining from doing exactly as he threatened by sheer control. "Speaking to Strong Tree within in own lodge in such a manner is unacceptable and I shall not tolerate your disrespect to either of us."

  Caroline looked at Jacob and tears filled her eyes. "You promised you would never use a switch, but the moment you get upset you forget all about your promise!" she accused.

  "I am more than upset, Caroline. You risked your safety again!" He was nearly shouting at her.

  "I did no such thing! You are overreacting because of what happened. If Little Fawn and I walked to Pierre's home and back without incident, you would not be one bit upset. You would not think twice about my doing something so normal. How could I know those men would do as they did? Why can men not behave as they should? The men back home do not behave as animals!" Caroline was livid. "I am angry, Jacob. Very, very angry! You have no right to be angry with me, and I am going for a walk to calm down!" She turned and walked through the doorway.

  "You must go after Caroline, Jacob Willis," Little Fawn spoke again.

  "And take a stick to her," Strong Tree added meaningfully.

  "That shall not be a problem," Jacob muttered as he followed after his wife. When he stepped outside she was running toward the woods beside the Indian village. Jacob gave chase. When he caught up to the hot tempered redhead, he was going to set fire to her bottom! She gave no thought at all to possible danger. He had spanked her several times for this same thing, and she still thought she could do as she pleased. She was no longer living back home where it was fairly civilized and neighbors looked out for each other. She was living in the wilderness with him, and she simply refused to obey him in this one matter. After today, she would do as she was told. He ran even fas
ter, anxious to deal with his disobedient wife.

  Caroline was so angry she was crying. At the moment she wanted nothing more than to tell Jacob to go straight to the devil! How could he possibly hold her accountable for what happened with those men? She did nothing wrong. Anger fueled her temper and she ran, not caring where she went as long as it was away from Jacob and his silly and unfounded accusations! When she heard someone behind her, she fearfully looked over her shoulder and spotted her husband. The look on his handsome face needed no interpretation. The man was just as angry as she was! Without considering the possible outcome or the consequences, she put some real speed into running away from him. There was no way she would permit him to give her the switching he was clearly planning to administer.

  Jacob could not believe Caroline's nerve when she actually ran from him! They had been down this road before, too, and he warned her what to expect if it happened again! Apparently there was something faulty with Caroline's memory! Or else she was simply trying to rile him...? No matter her reasoning, he was a man of his word. She was in for a reckoning she would never forget... just as soon as he caught up with her! He lengthened his strides and ran faster, too, gaining on her by the second.

  Caroline was running out of breath, but she kept running. She knew what would happen if she stopped, and she did not relish sitting on a wagon seat for the trip home with a sore hind! That thought gave her another burst of speed, but it was not enough! Jacob caught her by the arm and pulled her to his chest, bringing both of them to an abrupt stop. Her chest was heaving as she tried to catch her breath, and the dratted man did not have the grace to look a bit winded! "Let me go!" she gasped.

  "And have you take off running again? I should say not!"

  "All I wanted was some time alone to get past my anger!" she declared. "Must you intrude on even that?" Caroline's voice was sharp and her intent was to chastise him for following her.

  "Your anger is misplaced, wife. You were rude to Strong Tree and disrespectful to me."

  "You both were accusing Little Fawn and me of wrongdoing when we did not deserve to be scolded. We were in the settlement, not wandering aimlessly about the wilderness. We should have been safe."

  "Caroline, how many times have I told you to stay at my side when we are here at Pickawillany?" The question was meant to make her think. "How many times have I warned you that this settlement is not safe for a woman alone?"

  "I was not alone! I was with Little Fawn!" she declared.

  "Little Fawn is another beautiful woman, Caro. She has also been told by her husband not to leave the Indian village without him. Do you know how many Indian women have been grabbed and used against their will by some of the trappers who come here?"

  "Little Fawn did not tell me of this when I asked to see Pierre. If she had I would not ask her to take me to see him. I thought it was safe, Jacob. Those men frightened us! And Little Fawn does not need to be frightened now that she is with child! Both you and Strong Tree are blaming us when it is the men who are at fault!"

  "You seem to fail to realize that both of you women were told not to wander; Little Fawn was told not to leave the Indian village, and you were told to stay close to my side. We expect you to obey rules made for your safety and protection."

  Caroline's lovely green eyes filled with tears. "You are telling me that I do not even have the freedom to walk to the trading post without you at my side because men are animals who cannot control themselves...?"

  "There are few white women out here, wife. Men get lonely, and while most of them would never touch you, there are a few who would take you captive and use you."

  "That is so wrong!" she stated vehemently.

  "Yes, it is wrong, but it is a fact of life out here right now. And you have disobeyed me on this matter for the last time, Caroline. You have given me your word so many times now, and yet, you feel no shame in breaking your word over and over again. Now I am going to break my word and give you a switching you shall never forget as long as you live. Perhaps a striped hind shall give you a reason to think the next time you are tempted to defy my wishes and disobey me."

  "No, Jacob!" Caroline was horrified. "Please do not switch me again. I could not bear it! I promise I shall obey you in the future. I have already been punished with the knowledge of what would have happened to Little Fawn and me if she had not called for the Twightwee to come to our aid. I am sorry I failed to understand that we should not have left the village and I promise I shall not do it again in the future. Please do not switch me," she tearfully begged.

  "It is too late for remorse and promises, wife. You were rude and defiant, refusing to apologize immediately. You scolded both Strong Tree and myself, and then you ran from me rather than face the consequences of your actions. You earned a serious punishment, and you shall have one to remember." He took his knife from his belt and held it out to her, hilt first. "Take this and cut four switches."

  "No!" her voice squeaked in denial.

  "Yes. If I have to cut them, I shall cut six, and I promise I shall use each one to its fullest." He once again offered Caroline the knife and she reluctantly took it. "Make sure the ones you choose are suitable, Caroline. If you hand me one that is too small, you shall cut two to replace it."

  Caroline's entire body filled with dread as she looked around her. There were entirely too many switches to choose from! She grabbed one and decided it was too big. Another was so narrow she knew it would snap the first stroke. Finally, she found one she thought might work. She looked at Jacob for his approval, but he was not about to help her. If she cut it and handed it to him and he rejected it, then she would have to cut two to replace it, and that terrified her. Reluctantly, she cut the branch and held it out. He accepted it and then nodded for her to continue.

  Jacob knew that the little redhead was stalling and examining each branch carefully. He probably should not have threatened her with cutting two if she made a mistake, but he was not about to argue with her all day. She slowly handed him another switch, and he gave his approval.

  Only two more, Caroline told herself. Her insides were churning and she felt as though she would be sick at any moment. The last time Jacob switched her she was unable to sit for days without hurting. Her skin was tender and even a hand spanking made sitting very uncomfortable for a while. The thought of a switching frightened her. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked for the third switch. As she handed it to him, she asked, "Jacob, could this be enough, please? I am truly sorry I lost my temper."

  "You may now cut two more, Caroline. I shall not accept excuses for your behavior, nor shall I lessen the punishment you have earned."

  Caroline stomped her foot and said, "You do not have to be so cursed mean, Jacob! You said four, and four it shall be. I shall not cut a fifth for asking you to be considerate and I hope you shall enjoy doing for yourself until I heal from this!"

  "Caro, do you think that having a child's tantrum right now is in your best interests?" Jacob asked solemnly.

  She refused to answer him as she cut a fourth switch and handed it to him. He accepted it and then said firmly, "One more, wife, and do it promptly and without further argument or I shall cut two more in addition."

  Caroline gave him a heated look, her green eyes flashing with pure temper, but she did as she was told and cut the fifth switch.

  "Peel the leaves and the bark from it, Caroline."

  "I do not wish to do so," she said, her eyes were full of hurt and pain as she looked at him. "I cannot bear the thought of a switching, Jacob. Please do not treat me so! Do not go back on your promise!"

  "You have given me your promise many times now... on the same issue, Caroline. You have broken that promise each time you have given it. It is time you learn how that feels. Peel the switch. I do not wish to be out here all day."

  Caroline was crying so hard she could barely see the switch and Jacob was afraid she was going to cut herself with his knife. After she peeled the first one, he took back his knife an
d swiftly stripped the leaves and bark off the other four. He felt almost sick to his stomach as he saw the fear in her eyes. He knew of no way to offer comfort when he knew the punishment needed to be serious and hurt like the very devil to impart the lesson she needed to learn. She was making it hard, though.

  "Up with your skirts, Caroline and push your stockings down to bare your legs. You shall wear stripes from your backside to your ankles."

  "No, please. Can you not just spank me, Jacob? Please? I beg you for mercy this one time. I have truly learned my lesson, and I am so afraid right now. I fear I shall never forgive you if you break this promise." She threw herself in his arms, sobbing.

  Jacob held her and permitted her to cry. When she finally quieted he said, "Caroline, you have earned a switching and it is my duty as your husband to see it done. Nothing else has made an impression on you, and I would rather risk your anger than see you harmed or dead. Now, do as I said and pull up your skirts and push down your stockings. I want a bare hind over my leg right now."

  Caroline finally realized she was not going to prevent the switching, no matter how much she begged and pleaded. Her only hope lay in accepting the punishment and hoping he would show her mercy if she cooperated. She pushed down her stockings, baring her legs for the switch, and then she pulled up her skirts. She did not know where Jacob wanted her, but it soon became apparent when he knelt on the ground with one leg and patted his left thigh with his hand. She was more than a little bit relieved when she realized he was going to hold her. His touch on her back would make her feel safer.

  Jacob was relieved when Caroline placed herself over his bent knee. He hated the thought of using the switches and decided to start off by using his hand and spanking her pretty bottom. He needed to touch her, reassure her, and let her feel his displeasure.