“I can’t,” she replied.”
“Don’t you know how to swim?”
“I can swim, but I am too bruised to put on a swimsuit.”
“Don’t lie to me, Freddy. If you don’t want to go swimming, fine. No one is going to make you do something you don’t want to do, but there is no need to make up excuses.”
“Who said I am making up excuses?” she asked, looking at him. “I am covered with bruises.” She watched his eyes narrow with something akin to anger.
“You just show me your bruises, Miss Freddy,” he ordered, taking her arm and propelling her to her bedroom. He kicked the door shut and then said, “If you don’t have bruises, then I guarantee you will have before I leave this room!”
“Don’t spank me again! Please! I truly couldn’t bear it!”
Barrett turned her face-down over her mattress and then unfastened her jeans and pulled then down to her knees. That was when he got a seriously unpleasant shock. Freddy’s upper thighs were bruised and he could clearly see the outline of his belt. He’d been much too hard on her the day before and it was no small wonder she hadn’t wanted to sit on the plush leather seats for the long drive. He was a jerk for insisting she ride. “I’m sorry, Freddy. I was much too hard on you yesterday. Stay right where you are, honey.” He left the room, but was back in a few minutes. “This will take away the rest of the hurt.”
Barrett squeezed a generous amount on his hands and rubbed them together before gently massaging the gel into her abused skin. He heard her harsh gasp of pain, but slowly the massage relieved the pain and she was able to sit down without crying her eyes out. “Your skin is delicate, Freddy,” he said, his face flushed with shame. “I am sorry I was so hard on you. I shouldn’t have taken my belt to you like that.”
“All I was doing was going to the bathroom, Barrett. I know how it seemed, but I wasn’t pushing you to see how you would react. Honest. At least I don’t think I was. I can’t go swimming right now,” she changed the subject right back to what they were discussing before.
“Maybe this evening?” he said.
“Come and eat,” Adele called through the door.
“Oh no! She probably thinks we were in bed together!” Freddy exclaimed.
“Adele has enough common sense that she would never say that out loud, even if she suspected it, Freddy.” He took Freddy’s hand in his and led her downstairs and into the dining room. It only took a glance for him to realize that Adele set the table with the really good china. She was doing her best to do a little matchmaking, and Barrett smiled happily. He really liked Freddy and he wouldn’t mind a little romance. They’d just finished eating and there was a call for Barrett. He frowned and made eye contact with Adele. I’m going to go and deal with a little ranching business, Freddy. Behave now and I’ll take you for that swim later on, if you would like to go.”
“I would love that,” she replied, smiling happily.
He left the house and Freddy got to her feet, smiling once again at the pillow on the seat of her chair. It had made sitting to finish dinner bearable. She picked up an armload of dishes and headed for the kitchen and caught Adele studying the monitors with an intent look upon her face. “Oh my,” Freddy breathed the words as she watched Jeff pull two men out of a vehicle and search them. They were both armed.
“You shouldn’t be watching this,” Adele scolded, reaching for a switch.
“Please don’t shut it off. I need to know what is going on, and that man works for my father. I have never liked him, or the way he looks at me. What will they do with him?” she asked.
Adele flipped the switch. “They’ll question him and then turn him over to the sheriff for trespassing on private property. It isn’t anything for you to worry about, my dear. Did you want more dessert?” she offered.
“No, I thought I would help with the dishes. It is the least I can do after such a lovely meal.”
“Thank you, Freddy.” Adele seemed genuinely pleased and she accepted Freddy’s offer of help graciously. It didn’t take long to set the kitchen to rights and make it spic and span again. “I wish that it was a simple matter to turn a kitchen inside out and learn everything that needed to be known.”
“He won’t tell them anything and my guess is that he is a diversion. He is to keep them occupied while some other men sneak on the ranch another way. There were beeps and whistles, and they were suddenly looking at the monitors again as a group of four men were surrounded by several ranch hands. The sensors on another part of the ranch were alerted next and two more trespassers caught. “My father is determined to get to me, isn’t he? How ridiculous is that! It would be different if love prompted his actions, but all he wants is to force me to bend to his will!”
“Don’t worry, Freddy. He won’t get close to you,” Adele said with confidence. “Why don’t we go into the media room and pick out a movie to watch. Barrett is going to be quite a while, I’m afraid.”
Freddy tried to calm the uneasy feeling that was bothering her, but it was impossible to do when Barrett didn’t return by the end of the movie Adele picked. The redhead was convinced that something was wrong, and she decided that she needed to leave the house and go and find Barrett. “Adele, could you make us some hot chocolate with marshmallows?” she asked, hoping to busy Adele long enough to escape her watchful eye.
“Of course, my dear,” Adele pleasantly agreed and hurried to do Freddy’s bidding. Once she was out of sight, Freddy jumped to her feet and hurried from the media room and to the dining room. The French doors there led to the terrace and it was an easy matter for Freddy to slip from the house. Now that she was outside she didn’t have a clue where to go to find Barrett, but she was determined to make sure he was safe. How could she live with her father for so many years and fail to realize just how evil he was? He certainly didn’t love her if he was willing to resort to such lengths to force a loveless marriage on her. And how would she ever forgive him, or herself, if Barrett or one of his men were injured because of her?
She looked around outside and then decided that the building with all the lights on had to be where Barrett was questioning the men who worked for her father. Freddy was going to send them back with a message for him to leave her the hell alone! The closer she got to the building the angrier she became until she was furious and ready to explode! Suddenly, a strong hand clamped over her mouth and another wrapped around her tiny waist, lifting her completely off her feet. Freddy sank her teeth into the hand over her mouth and then kicked for all she was worth when the hand was abruptly jerked away. It was a short-lived victory, however, when she found herself pinned against the barn. “You let me go, you worthless bastard. I’ll see you skinned alive if you try and take me back to Fred Jamison!”
“Freddy?”
The voice was full of surprise and she promptly found herself dangling over one very strong arm as Barrett’s broad palm made contact with the seat of her jeans! “Ouch! Barrett! Owwww! Stop! I was only trying to make sure that you were alright!” she explained. He dropped her to her feet and she immediately rubbed her stinging backside.
“What are you doing out here?” he demanded, anger in his voice.
“Looking for you,” she wailed. “I was worried, but I can see now that I was being foolish. You are too mean to be in any danger!”
“Damn, girl, you took ten years off my life. Where is Adele?”
“Right behind you, Boss.” The voice came out of the dark and Barrett jumped in surprise. “She sneaked outside while I was in the kitchen.”
“Take her back inside, Adele, and lock her in her bedroom. Young lady, if you give Adele one bit of trouble I will make you wish you’d never been born. Now go, and do not dare leave the house again. It’s a good thing it was me who came up on you out here… Now move!” He whacked her butt once again, and she cried out in pain. “Believe me, that is just a love tap, Miss Jamison.”
“Come along, dear. We don’t want to let anyone know you are actually here.�
� Adele gently led her inside and then took her to her bedroom. “I’m sorry it is necessary to do this, Freddy, but you will be safer if we all know exactly where you are.” The door closed on Freddy and she heard a click as she was locked inside.
She was furious with Barrett for having her locked inside the room, and she promptly walked over to the window only to find that it was covered with a screen that prevented any light from escaping the room, and while it kept intruders out, it also kept her locked inside. There was no way for her to call out of the house, either. Freddy was Barrett’s prisoner!
“Freddy, Barrett just let me know that he is going to be quite late. He suggests you try and get some sleep and he’ll see you in the morning. Good night, my dear. Sleep well!” The intercom was the last straw and she immediately turned off all the lights in the room. She wasn’t happy with the idea that they could see her pacing the floor on one of their monitors. She slipped into the bathroom, and didn’t turn on a light. She was Barrett’s prisoner! The idea that they could be staring at her every move kept her awake for hours, but try as she would, Freddy couldn’t stay awake after a while.
*****
“Did Freddy finally settle down and go to bed?” Barrett asked as he came into the house to find Adele sitting in the kitchen nursing a cup of tea.
“She turned off the lights in her room when I told her you would be late, Boss. She is going to be very angry come morning. I’m not so sure that locking her in her room was a good idea.”
“What else could I do? I couldn’t risk that she would come outside again. It’s pure luck that I found her and not one of Fred’s men. The man thinks that money can buy anything at all. He doesn’t care about Freddy.”
“You need to check on her and if she’s awake, reassure her.”
“Reassure her? She needs her butt smacked!”
“She needs a hug. Why is it you men all think a spanking will fix everything?” she exclaimed in disgust.
“Because it does ninety-nine percent of the time,” he said with a grin.
Adele shook a finger at him. “You think about what I said. I’m going to bed, and don’t expect me to get up until I’m darn good and ready!”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. Once she left the kitchen, he looked at the monitor for Freddy’s room. There was no sign of her anywhere in the room and he didn’t see her in the bathroom, either! His heart was thumping in his chest as he hurried to check on her. He silently threw the lock and eased into the room, his night glasses helping him see. Freddy wasn’t in the bedroom. He entered the bathroom, and finally found her lying on the floor between the tub and the toilet. He carefully picked her up and carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the turned down bed. He was so tired that he couldn’t take another step and he removed his shoes and lie down beside her, covering them both with the down comforter,
Freddy felt safe and warm when she woke up, but when reality returned she opened her eyes and looked around in disbelief. How had she moved from the bathroom and into the bed? A soft snore gave her the answer. Barrett was in her room. She should be furious with him, but how could she be when he was obviously so tired? She closed her eyes and went right back to sleep, smiling that he managed to move her into bed without waking her.
“Good morning,” Barrett opened one eye to greet her. “This is pretty darn embarrassing,” he muttered darkly. “Here I am waking up in bed with a beautiful woman and nothing at all happened!” He grinned when she giggled. “Are you hungry?”
“Not really,” she replied. “What did you do with all of my father’s men?” she wanted to know.
“Sent them to the Sheriff and filed trespassing charges on behalf of the owner of the ranch, Mr. Fox.”
“Do you think he will give up now?”
“I don’t know. I think they were all convinced that it would be easier to break into the Pentagon than to reach the house.”
“They had to know that something was up when you brought them up to that building to question all of them.”
“Honey, they didn’t make it more than a mile onto the property before they were caught.” He looked at her, and then chuckled. “You thought they were in the barn? Noooo. One of the mares was foaling last night. I radioed back and forth with the men, but when there was movement outside, Adele radioed me. We thought security had been breached, but it was just you.”
“I was trying to make sure you were okay.”
“You took ten years off my life, and I ought to spank you for it, but I won’t this time,” he promised.
Chapter Five
Freddy was tired of the ranch. She wanted to go home, but Barrett wasn’t yet sure that her father had given up on the idea of marrying her off to a man of his choice. Since that first night there hadn’t been any more of her father’s men snooping around, but neither had there been anything new in the romance department, either. Other than the first night when Barrett was simply too tired to go on to his own bed to sleep, he had sent her to bed alone. She’d done everything she could think of to encourage him to make love to her, but he was waiting…. For what, she didn’t know. She was in love with the man.
Barrett kept saying that the situation they found themselves in wasn’t real, and he wanted her to be sure before she gave her innocence to him. She told him over and over again that she was sure of her feelings, and she had been sure since the night she met him in the lounge of her father’s hotel casino. She was in love with Barrett, even though she felt he was much too particular for words. But, she simply didn’t know how to convince him and something needed to happen and soon. She wasn’t a patient person and she was running out of ideas to try.
“Why are you pouting already this lovely morning?” Barrett asked jovially.
“I’m not pouting. I am ready to go home. I miss my apartment and I miss my friends.” Hopefully, the thought of losing her would bring him to his senses.
“Really?” Barrett didn’t like being manipulated and Freddy was going to find herself over his knee very shortly if she didn’t watch herself.
“There doesn’t seem much point in staying here longer. You keep saying that I don’t know my own mind, so I figure that the sooner I go home, the sooner I can prove to you that I know what I really want… You!”
“You are a forward little thing,” he teased. “I still think you need a spanking.”
“The nice kind, of course.” She wiggled her hips at him and he shook his head.
“What would you know of that?”
“Adele has been educating me,” she admitted, keeping a straight face. He gave her a started look, and then decided she was teasing him.
“Honey, it hasn’t been long enough yet for you to head back. I seriously doubt your father is willing to give up his plans for you this soon.”
“But, while this place is lovely, I’m tired of being here. Maybe if we were to go into town…? Have a fun night on the town somewhere…?”
“No. Surely you know that isn’t a good idea.”
“None of my ideas are good according to you!” She flew to her feet, caught up in the fairness of the whole thing. You won’t make love to me because this situation isn’t real. You won’t let us leave because it isn’t safe. I am going out of my mind. I feel like I am being kept a prisoner. You can’t have it both ways, Barrett. Either you give me a good reason to stay here or I am going to leave!”
“Are you giving me an ultimatum?” His voice dropped and she knew that he was not happy with her, but she didn’t care. She was tired of doing things his way all the time. “I’m serious, Barrett. I want things to change. I want you to decide whether or not you want ne, If you don’t, then I want to leave here. It’s too painful to consider living like this indefinitely.”
He started to reply when his new phone rang. “Hey, Stanford, what’s up?” His whole demeanor changed immediately and he said, “I’m on it.” He hung up and got to his feet. “There is an emergency with one of our clients, Freddy. I expect you to stay here and b
ehave yourself while I am away.” He shook a finger at her and said, “Do not put me to the trouble of looking for you or you’ll wish you didn’t.” He gave her a quick kiss, and then stopped to speak quietly with Adele. Within a grand total of three minutes, he was on his way to wherever his work took him, leaving behind a very disappointed and very defeated Freddy. She felt the pain deep in her soul and decided she had to leave right now before she changed her nind..
“Is there anything I can get you, dear?” Adele asked from the doorway.
“A taxi…?”
*****
Barrett was anxious to return to the ranch, but the moment Jeff rode out to greet him he knew that something was wrong. “She’s gone, isn’t she?” he asked the other man before he could say anything.
“She slipped some sleep meds into a pot of tea and invited Randy in for a cup, and while he and Adele were sleeping it off, Freddy jumped into his jeep and took off in it. I tried to find her, but the jeep was at the gas station in town and she was nowhere to be found. I’ve tried her cell phone, but didn’t get an answer. Boss, that little gal needs a good spanking for taking off like that.”
Unanticipated Complications Page 4