“What for?” Sophie reached for the paper in Daniel’s hand.
Daniel pulled it out of the way, his eyebrow raised as he glared at her. “I’m not done reading it yet. You’ll wait until I am, and then I’ll hand it over to you. You don’t grab things from my hand.”
She was so upset, she’d forgotten her manners. Taking a deep breath, she clasped her hands in front of her, waiting until Daniel had finished reading the note. Finally, he turned it over to her. She tried to read it, but her anger kept her from really understanding the words on the page.
“I don’t know what this means!” she said, stabbing a finger at the page. “I gave you twenty five dollars for seventy miles. It’s more than enough. I refuse to give you another ten dollars. It’s just robbery, Angus. You should be ashamed of yourself, trying to take money from a widow like this.”
Daniel turned to Sophie. “I want you to get in the wagon and wait for me. I’ll take care of this. Just the men. Now, go on.”
“I... but he’s talking to me! I don’t wanna get to the wagon.” Sophie crossed her arms over her chest. How did he think her walking away would solve this? She’d been taking care of things since Clive had died, and she didn’t feel right just walking away and letting a man she barely knew take care of it.
“I asked you nicely to please wait in the wagon.” He pointed to his buggy. “I won’t ask again. If I gotta tell you again, you’ll be sorry.”
Was that a threat? Did he just threaten me with a… spanking?
“Wait. Are you… this can’t be. This isn’t your problem...” But she could tell by his face that he’d made it his problem. It was the same face that Clive had given her when he was nearing the end of his patience. She couldn’t just walk away without giving Angus one last piece of her mind though. “You’re despicable. I don’t understand how you can sleep at night. How dare you! Taking money from a widow — a ridiculous amount of money. I just—”
“Go to the wagon. Now, Sophie!” Daniel’s strong hand took hold of her shoulder, and pushed her toward the wagon, giving her a hard swat to her bottom.
She hadn’t wanted her time with Daniel to start this way, so she swallowed her next retort and walked to the buggy. She climbed up, sitting on the bench, listening to their deep male voices but too far away to make out any of the words. It was hard enough being Daniel’s mail order bride. But how was she going to be able to make a life with a man who thought it perfectly acceptable to swat his wife’s bottom in public?
The mens’ conversation concluded, Daniel hopped up onto the seat. “Let’s go home.”
Judging by the set of his tightened jaw and the way he stared forward, silently, Sophie guessed the conversation hadn’t improved their situation. He either had a problem with Angus, or her — or both.
“What happened?”
“What do you mean ‘what happened?’ I paid him. He said you owed him money. It said on his papers there and since I was the man pickin’ you up at the station, that meant it was my job to pay him. It’s taken care of.”
He slapped the reins on the horses and they started on their journey to Grantville, which according to Angus was only ten miles from Topeka.
“You paid him? You weren’t supposed to pay him, you were supposed to fight him! Angus is a horse’s ass. You did the wrong thing!” Sophie knew she was screeching, but she couldn’t believe what he’d done.
“What did you just say? Did you just call that man a ‘horse’s ass?’” He apparently had never heard of the term horse’s ass — or he’d never heard a woman say it. Either way he looked like he’d seen a ghost.
“Well, yes. I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t polite or mannerly. But I’m used to speaking my mind, and he made me mad!”
“I’m betting he did make you mad. But sure as shootin’ you’re gonna find out that I don’t tolerate it, girl. You can speak your mind, but you better be sure to have a fast horse when you do. And since the only horse here is the one I’m controllin,’ it appears that you’re in a heap of trouble.”
“Well, you can drop me back off at the station. I’ll find a way back to Independence if you don’t want me anymore.” She played with her skirt, pleating the material. She worried that she’d ruined any chance with Daniel and might have to go home and start over.
“Oh, no. I’m keeping you. I like a lil’ fire and you appear to have a whole lot of it. I’ll enjoy taming you and keeping that fire under control. When we get home, you’ll see how I manage that.”
Great, Sophie. Now you’ve done it. Looks like you’re getting paddled on your first night at his house.
She wanted a man like Clive. She’d hoped, even prayed, that God would send her a man like Clive. Now she’d have to deal with the fact that she’d been given a man with principles — and a firm hand.
Chapter Four
Daniel watched her out of the corner of his eye. She seemed nervous, picking and chewing at the skin on the side of her nails. Everyone he knew spanked their wives. It was just the way things were done. He’d bet that Clive had spanked her in their marriage too. It was time to find out.
“So tell me what Clive would’ve done, and how he would’ve acted if you did this when he’d been here.”
She looked over at him warily. “Swearin’ was never allowed, so I’d be in trouble for that.”
“What about confronting Angus?” He watched her, knowing facial expressions often betrayed the truth, even if the words didn’t.
“I probably wouldn’t have said anything to Angus. Clive handled things like that.”
“As it should be. That’s how I am too. So, why’d you jump in to handle it this time?”
“Because I’m the person who paid for the wagon ride, and I guess… I’ve gotten used to being alone and doing this by myself already.”
Daniel understood this. In just a few months since her husband’s death, she’d had to sell her house and most of her belongings, bought a ticket for the Widow Wagon, answered an ad for a mail order bride, and booked transport to Topeka, Kansas. All of that would reinforce independence — but he liked to be the one in charge. She’d answer to him, and he’d handle all the problems and issues in their lives from now on.
Whether she liked it or not.
“I understand that you’ve done a lot in a short time. But you need to know I’m someone who likes being in charge. I won’t have my woman handling my business. If there’s arguing to be done, it’s gonna be me that’s getting riled with a man, not my wife. Clear?” He reached over, squeezing her knee through her dress.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. Let’s talk ‘bout our marriage. Hopes, wants, likes, and dislikes. You know, get to know each other better. You first.”
“Clive went huntin’ and got himself killed by Indians. I didn’t know where he was, or what happened for more than a day. I didn’t leave the house until I was pretty sure something terrible had happened.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Why’d you wait so long?
She dropped her gaze to her lap, suddenly looking distinctly uncomfortable.
Interesting.
“Due to the Indians I’d been told to never leave the house while he was gone. I’d been spanked for it before, and didn’t want another trip to the barn for a leathering. But I finally decided I had to get a neighbor to find him.”
“He cared for you, watched out for you. Indians are nothing to mess around with, as you know. I’m sorry you lost him that way, darlin’. It’s nice to see that you have a healthy respect for authority though. It’ll make my life easier knowin’ you know how to behave. What’re you hoping for, Sophie?”
A little smile played at the corners of her mouth. “I’m hopin’ to laugh and be happy again. I wanna love a man who cares about me and what I think, feel, or do. I wanna have children some day. Clive and I wanted children, it just never happened. Now, I’m glad, I guess. At least this way, I’m the only one sad.
You know?” She looked up at him with misty eyes. He understood how that felt. He’d been glad that there weren’t children missing their mother.
“Yes, I understand. Mary and I tried for years too. I can’t imagine how hard things would have been if I’d had a baby or babies to take care of during all of this. But part of me wishes I had a part of her. Does that make sense?”
Sophie nodded. “It does. It’d ease the pain, at least a little.”
“Like your Clive, I ran my house. Mary was a good woman, just I’m sure you are. She didn’t struggle with obeying, but if she did, she got her butt tanned.”
Sophie’s cheeks darkened with a pretty blush.
Daniel chuckled. “It’s nice to know that just hearing about a spankin’ gets you all flushed. Makes me to know that it’ll be easy to keep you minding.”
“It’s embarrassing,” she said, peeking over at him through her lashes.
“It is. It’s supposed to be that way.” He paused and then continued. “I’m like you. I want to be happy and laugh again. I miss that. I haven’t laughed in a while. But I definitely want children. I’m hoping it’ll work this time around.”
After a few more moments, they both fell silent, the only sounds across the prairie the squeak of the wheels, and the clomping of the horse’s hooves. In the distance, Daniel’s home finally came into view. It was a small cabin that he’d built for he and Mary after they’d gotten married. They lived in a newly minted town called Grantville, named after General Ulysses S. Grant. Daniel had been growing wheat and had a few oxen to pull the plow, a cow for milk, horses, and his dog, Sam. Their closest neighbor, Andrew and Lena Gipson lived about a mile down the road. As a result, owning a gun and exercising safety were of paramount importance to a man like Daniel.
He parked the buggy in front of the large red barn. The field was behind the house and visible from the windows.. His black dog Sam came up to Sophie wagging his tail. His paws were all white.
“C’mon, it’s time we had our discussion.”
He jumped down and came around to find a very nervous Sophie reluctantly waiting for a helping hand out of the wagon. Taking hold of her by the waist, he lowered her to the ground. Taking her by the hand, he led her in silence inside the building. He pushed the door open and walked her to the back where there was a small stall. Just at the entrance of the stall was a small chair. And a few feet away was a sawhorse and a kneeling bench of sorts. Along the wall behind the furniture a variety of items dangled from hooks, and several other instruments of corporal punishment.
Sophie had stopped just outside the stall her hand on her throat, face paled looking at the wall of implements.
“Ah. You’re seein’ what’s in store for you if you decide not to mind me. As I reckon you guessed by now, this is the spankin’ area — The Spankin’ Spot. I have a corner over here.” He pointed to the stall. Its worn wooden walls were high enough to hide any occupant from view, but a miscreant standing in the corner inside would find herself directly in front of the chair inside the stall — affording a perfect view of a spanked bottom. He loved the way he had the area set up.
He walked over to the array of instruments of correction. “This is the spanking wall. Whenever I send you to get an implement this is what I’m talkin’ about. Sometimes, I’ll let you choose. Other times, I’ll send you to pick your particular spanking item. Spankings will happen here. It seems when you’re sent to the barn to wait — or wait naked — for your spanking, it’s as good as gettin’ an actual paddling.”
“But it feels so... I don’t know.” She looked around the whole Spankin’ Spot her fingers twirling a ribbon on her dress in her fingers, nibbling her lip nervously. “It feels unloving or something. I’m used to being spanked over Clive’s lap, or the bed. I think it’ll feel harsh this way.”
“It’s supposed to be ‘harsh.’ Spankings aren’t meant to be fun, darlin’. If you’re sent here, you’ll be sure to know that I mean business. I believe someone asked for a lickin’ today, so let’s get started. I want you to untie your drawers and step out of them. Now, stand in that corner there with your bare bottom showing.” He sat down on the chair, smiling at her. “Get going, girl. I’m waiting.”
Her face paled, staring at him silently. She bit her lip again, obviously something she did when she was unsure. He figured she hoped he’d let her stand with her modesty intact. She was wrong.
“Pantaloons down, darlin’. Don’t make me do it. It’d be a bad move on your part.” He crossed his ankle over his knee, tilting his chair back to watch.
With her pretty blue eyes swimming in tears, she threw him a pitiful look before turning back to the corner and pulling her skirts up. The sight of the milky globes of her bare bottom made his cock leap. Her soft buttocks were unblemished and gloriously full, and he fought the urge to squeeze them in his hands. The day would come soon enough when he would be able to knead them to his heart’s delight. His cock would fit beautifully in the seam of her bottom, gliding and teasing her bottom hole as it eased through that divide. Fuck! He needed to think about wheat… and plowing... and rain. Anything but that beautiful backside that practically called to him.
After what seemed like an eternity, he cleared his throat. “Sophie, you can drop your skirts. C’mere and stand in front of me.”
She quickly obeyed and walked to him, reluctance in every step. He grabbed her hands and sat silently staring at her, waiting for her to make eye contact. When she finally met his gaze, he lightly shook her hands. “I think you’ve had enough fer tonight. I ain’t gonna paddle your bottom. Just wanted you to see what it felt like, and by lookin’ at you it seems like you’re feelin’ mighty sorry. Am I right?”
“Yes, Sir. I’m sorry. I know I’m not to behave that way. Clive would’ve paddled me. Thank you for not doing that today though. This day has been hard enough as it is.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’.” He took hold of her chin between finger and thumb forcing her to look him in the eye. “But let me warn you, next time you swear you’ll be in this barn. And don’t even think of arguin’ with me — or any other man — like that again. Do you hear?”
“Yes, Sir. I won’t. This lil’ room here… kinda scares me.” She looked around taking it all in with wide eyes.
“Good. It’ll be your incentive. Now, let’s get you inside the house. I’ll bring your stuff in soon. I have some stew cooking for dinner. It’s the only thing I know how to cook.” He shrugged “Hope you like it. Please say you can cook.” He clasped her small hand inside of his and marveled again at how delicate a woman could feel, just by holding her hand.
“Yes, Sir. I love to cook, and Clive said I was excellent.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day, Sophie.”
Chapter Five
Sophie was surprised at how clean the cabin had been. The floors looked freshly scrubbed, curtains were on the windows, and the fireplace swept out. Even the linens on the beds looked clean.
One big room contained the living area and kitchen. Against one wall, a large fireplace had a cast-iron pot off to the side. The savory smell of the simmering stew made her mouth water. Sophie looked at the pictures displayed on the mantle. Pictures weren’t often seen and she was curious to learn who might be in the photographs.
“This is you, Daniel.” She held the small frame in her hand, turning to Daniel. “Is this Mary?”
“Yes. The day of our wedding, her parents had our pictures taken by a photographer in Topeka. We both grew up there, and moved here after the wedding. It was a huge difference moving from the city to this rural area. Like I said earlier, this town didn’t even have a name until this year. We’re brand new.” He pointed to a picture at the other end of the mantle. “The other picture is of her parents. It was taken the same day my wife and I left Topeka.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders staring at the floor. “They look so nice on the mantle. But if you don’t like ‘em feel free to take ‘em down.”
“Oh, no. I love ‘em and agree they look mighty fine up there.” She gently put them back on the mantle. She meant what she said too. They looked nice, made the room feel homey. And she assumed that Daniel would like the reminder of Mary, just like she liked her locket with Clive’s picture. She wouldn’t want someone telling her to get rid of that either. They each needed their mementos and reminders of their first spouses.
He walked over to the two rooms that were side by side down a hallway. “Over this way we have a couple bedrooms. One is ours, and one is for children — when and if they come.” A big feather bed occupied one wall of their room, a crib and smaller bed comfortably filling out the children’s room.
“You’ve thought of everything haven’t you, Daniel?”
“I try, ma’am. I tend to be organized. A planner, I reckon. How about you?” He raised an eyebrow apparently anxious for her answer.
“Oh, I think you’re going to be a tad disappointed. I’m not very organized at all. I forget everythin’ and I tend to be absent-minded, I think.”
“Great.” The disappointment was plain in his voice. “That’ll be a bit off a problem. I tend to not be patient with that. I’ll work on it — if you promise to work on it too.”
She nodded but in her heart, she feared this wasn’t going to bode well for her. At least Clive understood, even if it was mainly because he’d been just as disorganized.
“Let me get some bowls, and we can start eating dinner.”
* * *
Daniel handed her the bowl of stew and sat down at the head of the table. “I want you to know that I don’t expect us to sleep together until you’re ready. And when it’s time, we’ll go to the preacher in Topeka and get hitched. I plan on respectin’ you and doing right by you.”
The Widow Wagon: Second Chances Page 4