Ty rounded the corner of the building just in time to see a freshly scrubbed young cowboy stoop and give Annalise a kiss on her cheek. “Miss Annalise, this is the cleanest I’ve been in weeks. Thank you. I’m heading over to the Blue Bonnet to have some supper and I’d be right honored if you’d join me.”
“Thank you, kind sir,” Annalise replied, giving a curtsey, “but I still have quite a bit of work to do here. I’ve put your dirty clothes in the wash tub, but they should be done tomorrow afternoon if you want to stop back and get them.”
“That would be fine, Miss Annalise. I sure do appreciate that. Your soap is a darn sight better smelling that what the fellows are getting down at the livery. Will I see you later?”
“I don’t know,” Annalise replied with a blush. “I don’t usually work the floor of The Duchess. I prefer to keep to the background, but maybe I’ll see you tomorrow when you come to pick up your things.”
“I understand, what with you being a lady and all. Well goodnight then,” he said, tipping his hat.
Before the next man in line could get his towels and enter the bathing room, Ty appeared out of nowhere and wrapped an arm around Annalise’s waist. Her feet barely touched the ground as she was hustled inside. Locking the door, Ty released her and looked around.
There was a tub filled with dirty water, a bureau, and a straight back chair.
“What in hell’s creation is going on around here?” he demanded, startling her with his accusatory tone.
“I think that’s pretty obvious,” she replied.
“Yes, I can see that Callie Mae has once again pushed the limits of propriety. I’m talking about that young man kissing you! Did I or did I not tell you that I would not tolerate such a thing?”
“Ty, it was a friendly kiss,” she said, backing up a step in the small quarters. “He meant nothing by it.”
“A kiss is a kiss, young lady, and I will not have my bride-to-be allowing such familiarities. You should have slapped his face.”
“He’s just a boy, and I thought he was sweet,” she sighed.
“Oh, he’s sweet,” Ty drawled, bending down to look into her eyes. “He wouldn’t be the first ‘sweet’ man to take advantage of an inexperienced woman.”
“One minute I’m a young lady and the next I’m a woman. Which is it, Ty?” she asked sarcastically.
Ty softened as he thought about that. “I guess you’re a little bit of both, darlin’. You have the body of a woman, but not enough experience to know what’s best for you.”
“And I suppose that’s why I need a husband,” she said, growing angrier by the second.
“Exactly,” he replied, satisfied that they were in agreement and rolling up his sleeves.
“What are you doing?”
“Why I’m doing exactly what I said I would do if I caught you kissing another man. I’m going to spank you.”
“I didn’t kiss him, he kissed me,” she explained through clenched teeth as though she were talking to someone not quite right in the head.
“Don’t matter, a kiss is a kiss. I wouldn’t want to have you thinking I don’t mean what I say.” Sitting down on the chair, he motioned her to him. “Come on, sweetheart. Take your licking like a good girl and this will be behind us.”
“You’re crazy if you think I will allow you to spank me just because some young man kissed my cheek,” she hissed, stomping to the door and reaching for the lock.
Ty moved quicker than lightening. Before she could speak, he wrapped an arm around her waist, carried her to the chair, and upended her over his knees.
“I’m not spanking you because of something he did,” he said calmly. “I’m spanking you because you didn’t reprimand him. You should have told him you were engaged to be married and that his behavior wasn’t proper.” Flipping up her skirt, he shoved her petticoats to her waist and softly patted her behind over the thin pantalets. “Had you done that, I would have been perfectly satisfied.”
“You don’t know these men, Annalise. Half of them are probably wanted by the law and signed onto a drive to make a little money and get away. They can be mighty dangerous, honey. The fact that for the time being your place of residence is a saloon makes you easy prey as far as they are concerned.”
“Now, if you be a good girl and take your spanking in the spirit it’s offered, I won’t bare you, but if you fight me, I’ll separate this here slit and you’ll be mighty sorry I did. What’s it to be?”
Annalise was out of options. Despite her squirming and wiggling, she wasn’t able to move an inch. The thought of Ty seeing her naked bottom was too embarrassing to contemplate and she found herself going limp over his lap.
“I’ll be good, Ty,” she whimpered.
“That’s my girl,” he said with approval, giving her a crisp smack on her quivering cheeks.
Ty spanked her with a firm hand, not enough to cause her true pain, but surely enough to teach her a lesson. His hand fell on every inch of her bottom, the thin underwear offering minimal protection. When he could see the pink color of her skin through the fabric he picked up his pace and delivered ten hearty slaps, listening for any sounds of genuine distress. Obviously he meant business, but he didn’t want to injure her or frighten her in any way. A few sniffles were to be expected and when he heard those begin, he rubbed her sore bottom briskly before helping her to her feet.
Standing he kissed her forehead. “I hope you understand why I had to do that, honey,” he said sadly.
Spinning away from him, she moved to the foot of the tub and refused to look at him.
“Now, Annalise, let’s have none of that or I’ll think I’ve let you up too soon,” he teased. “You do understand, don’t you?”
“I understand that you’re a bully and a brute,” she spat, facing him, her face on fire with embarrassment and anger. “And you better understand this; I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth, Mr. Wainwright!”
Bending, she butted him in the breadbasket with her head and sent him flying into the tub. Dirty water sloshed over the sides as the big man went under and came up sputtering.
“Dammit, I knew I should have spanked you harder,” he grumbled, climbing out of the tub as she unlocked the door and ran.
Annalise had heard a lot of really bad words today, but she used the only ones she could think of. “Go to hell across lots!” she yelled over her shoulder.
Chapter Sixteen
Looking up, Ty noticed there was going to be a full moon. Figures, he thought as he walked in the back door of The Duchess and stomped up the stairs, his boots squishing with every step. His grandma always said people act mighty strange during the full moon and he reckoned it was so.
Opening doors as he went, he finally found Annalise’s room. She was lying across the bed, sobbing. Well that was good because he was definitely in the mood to give her something to cry about.
She hadn’t heard the door open so when he plopped his wet ass on her bed and dragged her across his lap she was shocked speechless. That was fine with him; he didn’t intend to do much talking anyway.
Flipping up her skirts and petticoat, he reached under her, untied her drawers, and pulled them to her knees before she could put up much of a fight. Shit, he thought, she’s not even pink. I should have done this right the first time. Immediately he began spanking her. No easy little taps this time, he reminded himself. If she was going to break their engagement over this, it better damn well be worth it.
Annalise was fighting for all she was worth and screaming like a banshee. The struggle had freed her hair and Ty paused to move it out of his way, refusing to let the luxurious strands distract him. His big hand moved rapidly, reddening from the top of her cheeks to the crease at the top of her thighs. When the entire area looked good and red, he began again, ignoring her pleas.
“Please, Ty, no more!” she screamed, trying to cover her throbbing cheeks. “I’m sorry I shoved you in the tub,” she blubbered.
Ty gathered bo
th of her wrists together and continued spanking her, not saying a word.
“Oh my God, it hurts!” she wailed.
“Good.”
Annalise continued to struggle, to no avail. A thousand bees were stinging her bottom and still he wouldn’t stop. It wasn’t until she stopped fighting him and collapsed limply over his lap that he paused.
“Are you going to behave?” he questioned sternly, his hand resting on her flaming behind.
“Yes,” she sobbed, wiping her nose on her quilt. “I will never do anything like that again.”
“Are you going to honor your commitment and marry me?” he asked.
When her answer was slow in coming she felt his hand leave her body and she screamed out, “Yes, yes, yes!”
“You’d better,” he drawled, “or you’ll find yourself back in this position.”
“I will marry you, Ty,” she said softly. “I just need time to get used to your ways.”
“I understand that, sweetie, but when I say something, I mean it. Once you grasp that concept, we’ll make out just fine. I do adore you, honey. I think you’re the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said sincerely. “I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy, however, you will not defy me without paying the piper,” he continued, administering five heartfelt smacks.
“Oh no!” Annalise squealed, kicking her feet.
Neither of them heard the door open, but Ty clearly heard the click of a gun.
“Let her go,” Callie Mae ordered.
Ty looked at the beautiful woman in the short black dress with a red feather in her hair, holding her gun pointed at his chest. He wondered briefly if she would, in fact, shoot him, and he doubted it.
“Don’t make me shoot you, Ty Wainwright. Your mama wouldn’t like it,” she said, her lips smiling but her eyes cold.
“No, ma’am, she wouldn’t,” he admitted. Spinning Annalise in his arms, he ignored her squeal when her bottom scraped across his wet jeans and he kissed her.
Callie Mae looked away in embarrassment as he devoured Annalise’s lips until her hands threaded into his hair, pulling him closer. Her whimpers sounded remarkably like the sounds Callie Mae herself had uttered when Morgan put his lips to her nipples in the kitchen.
When her friend was a pliant bundle in Ty’s arms, he lifted her from his lap and set her on the bed, smiling as she grimaced. Standing, he tipped his hat.
“Ladies,” he said politely before exiting the room, his boots still making a squishing noise with each step.
“I’m not going to ask you what that was all about,” Callie Mae said as she collapsed against the door. “It’s none of my business. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
“So do I,” Annalise whispered back, her fingers gently touching her lips as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Lie down and let me see how bad off you are,” Callie Mae instructed, approaching the bed.
“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” Annalise said with a hiccup.
“Of course you can. We’re both female, aren’t we? Don’t be such a prude, especially after what I just witnessed,” she insisted, shaking her head. “Now lie down, maybe I can help.”
With a groan, Annalise lay on her tummy and felt Callie Mae lift her skirts.
“Hell’s bells,” Callie Mae gasped, inspecting Annalise’s bright red bottom. “He sure got you good, honey. I can see every handprint and he didn’t miss an inch. I don’t see any bruises though, that’s a good sign. Does it hurt terribly?”
“Only like I sat on the stove,” Annalise groaned out.
“Well,” Callie Mae sighed as she straightened up, “if you’re really gonna marry that man, honey, you better plan on more of the same. I’ve known Ty Wainwright for a long time and if he says something, he means it.”
“Sort of like Morgan?” Annalise asked, looking over her shoulder.
“Yes, like Morgan,” Callie Mae replied softly, staring at her reflection in the mirror. “I’ll send Jane up with some ice; I have to go change.”
“Why? That’s a beautiful dress. I wish I was brave enough to wear something like that.”
“I’ve decided I’m not that brave,” Callie Mae said, glancing at Annalise’s fiery bottom one last time. “I’m beginning to think some things are not worth the price. You rest for a while. I imagine Ty will be back to make-up once he gets some dry clothes on.”
*
Morgan ran into Ty in front of the Sheriff’s office.
“You fall in the creek?” he asked, leaning forward on his pommel.
“Yeah, something like that,” Ty replied. “Where’s Hank?”
“He just went over to the café for supper. Anything I can help you with? I’m giving him a hand now,” Morgan offered, indicating the tin star on his chest.
“Not really, unless you want to go arrest your sweetheart.”
“Callie Mae?”
“That’s the one. That little wildcat pulled a gun on me tonight.”
“What?”
“Yes, sir, she did; threatened to shoot me, if I didn’t let Annalise go.”
“Why? What were you doing to Annalise?” Morgan asked carefully. In any case Callie Mae could not go around threatening to shoot people, but he wanted to know if she was justified.
“I was blistering her fanny,” Ty explained without an ounce of regret.
“I take it that had something to do with you being slightly ah… soggy?”
“Partly, but it all started when she allowed another man to kiss her. Now it was just on the cheek, but we both know those kinds of liberties lead to other things. The point is Callie Mae. She came in the room dolled up in a black dress up to here,” he said, shaking his head and holding his hand near his waist, “and a red feather in her hair. I swear, Morgan, she got the drop on me and I didn’t recognize her for a moment. That little pistol was already in her hand and when she cocked it, I was reaching for my gun. Now, I know she wouldn’t have pulled the trigger, at least I don’t think so,” he continued, his eyes narrowed, “but another man might have shot her.”
Morgan grew angrier by the second as he listened to Ty’s story. He’d already heard about the bath house from several others, but this was far worse. His jaw clenched as Ty went on.
“I don’t know what you’re gonna do about that little gal, Morgan, but you’d better do something before she gets herself hurt, or worse. You know how quickly gun play happens. Lots of men wouldn’t take kindly to a woman pulling a gun on them. I know I didn’t. If I hadn’t already had my hands full, I might have taught her a lesson myself, but seeing everyone knows she’s your girl, and I’ve got Annalise, I thought it best you get it right from the horse’s mouth.”
“I appreciate that, Ty.”
“Well, I certainly don’t want any of the other women to get hurt either. I’m going over to the mercantile and buy some dry duds. Then I’m going to get cleaned up and head back to The Duchess. I don’t like to be too far away when the town’s full up like it is tonight.”
“Then I’ll see you later,” Morgan said, turning to walk away before stopping short. “Hey, Ty, let me ask you something. If there ever comes a time when we have to get the girls out of there, say for a few days, you got any ideas where we might take them?”
Ty thought for a moment and smiled. “We got a bunk house that’s pretty near empty. It’s got all the conveniences and it’s too far out to hoof it back to town. Would that do?”
“It would,” Morgan agreed. “You know they wouldn’t come willingly?”
“I reckon that’s true, but it wouldn’t stop me if I thought Annalise was in danger. Is there something I should know about, Morgan?” he asked, no longer smiling.
“No, just a gut feeling I have.”
“It would take more than the two of us,” Ty warned.
“Mead and Matthew would help if it came to that,” Morgan said. “And I think I can count on Cole.”
“Then this isn’t something off the top o
f your head. You’ve been thinking about this for a spell,” Ty said as he nodded in understanding. “I have to admit I’ve thought about tossing Annalise over my saddle and carting her away from here. It’s seems a mighty dangerous place for an eighteen-year-old woman on her own for the first time.”
“Agreed. Let’s keep this under our hats. Technically it would be considered kidnapping,” Morgan said quietly.
Ty smiled. “There’s not a man in the territory who hasn’t been hearing about the goings on at The Duchess. I think they’d be hard pressed getting a jury to convict us.”
“Good point and we’d need one more man, maybe two depending on Fancy. She’s a scrapper.”
“I’ll think on it and let you know,” Ty said thoughtfully. “Maybe Doc. He was at the bar with me one night when Jane came downstairs wearing that red dress and about had a fit. Said she was much too young to even be in there, let alone work there. I think he wanted to pull her out of there right then. He called her a little girl playing dress-up or some such thing.”
“Sounds like he’d be a good choice then, Ty, we’ll talk later.”
Ty nodded and rode off as Morgan headed to The Duchess. Having a back-up plan made him feel better.
Callie Mae wasn’t surprised to see Morgan walk through the swinging doors, but he was surprised to see her. The black dress Ty warned him about was gone, replaced by a pair of jeans, a red and white gingham shirt, and boots. Around her hips was a gun belt, complete with a matched pair of 45’s and she had a red bandana tied around her throat. Her long hair was worn in a single braid that ended at her waist.
For Morgan, this look was one he’d seen a thousand times, mostly minus the guns, but in some states he might see those too. In fact, if he thought she had any skill at using them, he might feel better.
Grinning, he walked to the bar and asked Marilee to get him a coffee. When Callie Mae came to stand beside him, a full smile broke out. “I see you changed your clothes,” he drawled, his eyes twinkling. “Cute outfit.”
“How…?”
“Ty stopped by the Sherriff’s office. I think he was looking for Hank to arrest you. Said you pulled a gun on him,” Morgan remarked smoothly, turning his back to the bar and surveying the room.
Callie Mae and the Marine Page 16