by Joannie Kay
"I meant to give you a lesson, but I didn't mean to go as far as I did, honey. I will never take a belt to you again. You have my word on that," he said firmly. "Goldie was right when she told me a strap was too harsh for a delicate girl. Can you forgive an old fool, Mandy?" he asked so sincerely that Mandy was hard-pressed not to smile.
"Papa, how many times have you forgiven me?" she asked. "Of course I forgive you; you only spanked me because I was horrible, and it was my own fault for acting like a spoiled brat. If I'd served a normal piece of pie I wouldn't have ended up over the table for a strapping. Can we put this behind us now, please?" she asked. "By that I mean, please don't punish me further by asking me to sit at the table right now. I promise you I am not sulking and pouting or trying to punish you for punishing me."
"We'll put some pillows on your chair, Mandy," Matt promised. "And I'll ask Goldie what we can do to make your belly feel better, and if she knows of something to help with the bruises," he added guiltily.
"I already have something for that, Papa," she admitted, blushing. "Please don't be angry. I bruise easily," she told him matter-of-factly. "I wasn't trying to be defiant by asking Goldie for something... It just hurt so much after you spanked me the first time."
"I wish I'd paid attention to that. Your Papa made a big mistake, honey. I'll take better care of you now, I swear to that."
"I feel much better already," she said, smiling at him. "I couldn't bear having you so angry with me. That hurt more than my bottom."
Matt gave her another hug, and he was relieved when she hugged him back. He knew he was forgiven, too. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and told her goodnight before strapping on his gun and going out to hunt rustlers.
* * *
Two weeks! Amanda fumed. She had been cooped up for two weeks now, and she didn't like it one little bit! Her Papa was adamant that she not go riding alone, and then said he couldn't spare anyone to go with her. He was staying up most of the night hunting for rustlers and his mood was grouchy as could be. Amanda had seen Robert Thorne twice, and both times he practically ignored her. That did not do one thing to improve her mood. She was going crazy, and she was not going to stay inside this house with nothing to do one more day!
Goldie said nothing as Amanda entered the kitchen, but got up to fix her something to eat. "Where is Papa, Goldie?" Amanda asked, pouring herself some coffee.
"Out already today."
"That tears it," she muttered angrily. Amanda ate her breakfast and thanked the older woman for cooking it. Just as she was ready to leave the kitchen, Goldie spoke.
"Better not do what you're thinking, Missy."
"I'll consider myself duly warned, Goldie." Amanda hurried upstairs and changed her clothing. She remembered her father's scathing remarks about her riding habits, the ones she wore back in Boston, and wondered what he would say now. She grinned as she pulled a pair of denim pants over her drawers. She added a white shirt, which she tucked into the pants, and a jacket that hid her curves from view. She plaited her hair into one braid, and then tucked it under her new hat. She pulled on her boots and then surveyed herself in the mirror. She looked exactly like a young boy, and she doubted her father would recognize her if he spotted her, and that suited Amanda just fine. If he wanted her to dismiss her upbringing, then she would do so.
She took the time to arm herself and then made her way to the barn. The hands were all busy and there was no one there to prevent her from putting a saddle on Glimmer and riding out. Sweet freedom! Amanda felt joy in the simple pleasure of riding her little mare. Unconsciously, or consciously, she headed for Robert Thorne's ranch. All of the rustling incidents had occurred on his ranch, and no one else seemed to be affected. Perhaps she might see something she could report and make herself useful to the investigation, Amanda reasoned. She did not stop to consider that she just might be putting herself at risk. If the rustlers wanted cattle, they certainly wouldn't notice one small woman going for a ride!
* * *
"Where is Mandy, Goldie?" Matt asked as he walked into the kitchen. He was agitated and if that fool girl didn't have a damn good excuse for taking her mare out for a ride, he was going to warm her backside.
Goldie shrugged.
"She didn't tell you where she was goin'?" he demanded, wishing for once his housekeeper was more like other women and talked too much!
Goldie looked at him and shook her head no, and the look in her eyes warned him to leave her alone. Matt wasn't a fool. Besides, he had to find his disobedient daughter. He mounted his stallion and went looking for Amanda, three of his men trailing along in case there was trouble. God knows Amanda had a talent for getting in over her head.
* * *
Amanda tried and tried to work her hands free of the ropes binding her so she could untie her feet. The men had taken her by surprise and she hadn't been able to get to her gun before one of them swept her from her saddle and held her. Two of them tried to catch Glimmer, but her little mare was fast and she ran for her life. Amanda hoped Glimmer went back to the ranch and caused her Papa to come looking, like the last time she was unseated. Of course, he couldn't come if he wasn't home to know that Glimmer returned without her. She cursed under her breath when the ropes proved stubborn.
"She's seen us; we have no choice but kill her," one man said, his voice low.
"I don't hold with hurting females," another replied.
"The boss said no more killing."
"The boss isn't the one who's going to hang," the first man sneered. "If you two are afraid to do the job, then it falls to me. But I aim to have me some fun first," he told the other two. "You boys can ride on out. I'll make it look good and no one will connect us to her."
"You ain't gonna hurt that girl, Amos."
"You gonna stop me, boy?" Amos asked in a surly voice.
"If I got to, yes." Those were the last words the man would say; Amos shot him between the eyes and he fell over, dead.
"What about you, Striker? You got any objections?" Amos demanded, the meaning behind his words clear.
"Nope. But I ain't having none of it on my conscience, either. You shouldn't of killed off Willie. The boss is going to be mad." He tossed down the piece of grass he'd been chewing on and headed for his horse, half expecting the other man to shoot him in the back. Luckily, he mounted and rode off. But, instead of waiting at the appointed meeting place, Striker kept right on going. He was done with Amos... and with the man behind the rustling and murders. Taking a few cattle was one thing, but killing was something Amos enjoyed too much. Striker felt sorry for the poor girl; she didn't have a chance against Amos, but he wasn't a fool. If he tried to help her he would end up like Willie. He kicked his gelding and rode even faster, trying to put a lot of distance between himself and what was happening back there.
* * *
Rob heard the gunshot and headed in that direction. As far as he knew, none of his men were working that area of the ranch. He rode to the top of a hill, took out his field glasses and looked around, and spotted Amanda Chambers' mare running toward her home. Rob headed in the opposite direction, his heart in his throat. What if someone shot Amanda? The possibility didn't bear contemplation. He pushed his stallion as hard as he could and heard screams. He hurried faster and when he spotted the little hellcat she was trying to fend off a man with her hands tied! Enraged, Rob galloped closer. The man attacking Amanda finally heard horse's hooves and went for his gun. Rob drew without hesitation and fired.
Amanda burst into tears when the horrible man fell at her feet. She expected Robert to come to her immediately and untie her and hold her, but instead he knelt beside her attacker.
"Who put you up to this, and why?"
"I ain't tellin' you nothin', Dude. You got someone who hates your guts."
"Who?" Rob demanded, but Amos just cursed him and died.
Only then did Rob approach Amanda. "You little fool, what are you doing out here?" he demanded, pulling his knife and cutting the ropes from h
er wrists. She'd rubbed them raw trying to escape and Robert was furious with her. "I have a good mind to thrash you soundly!" he declared, putting his hands on her shoulders and giving her a shake. "Do you have any idea what that bastard intended to do to you, Amanda Chambers?" Another shake.
"I am not a fool, Robert Thorne; I figured that out when he cut the ropes on my feet and told me I could scream all I wanted because he would enjoy it! And you can just stop being so mean to me!" She drew back her foot and kicked him on the shin. Robert cursed in pain, and grabbed the injured spot, jumping on one foot. Amanda stood there, her hands on her hips, glaring at him, and when he turned his furious gaze on her she belatedly realized she should have been running. Now it was too late! He advanced on her and she backed away, but not quickly enough. "Don't. You. Dare!" she warned, but Robert paid her no heed. He grabbed her arm and just that quickly she was lifted off her feet with an arm wrapped around her middle to hold her in position for the spanking he intended. "No!" The cry was an order and a plea for mercy at the same time.
"You are an impossible hoyden, Amanda Chambers. You have the temper of a hellcat, and I am just the man to tame your wild ways." He dealt her a hard slap over the seat of her pants, and then another. "How dare you dress yourself as a boy?" Another hard swat left a stinging handprint where she sat, and she couldn't keep from crying out in pain and outrage. "Do you realize these pants show how womanly you are?" he scolded, sounding very scandalized. "You will not wear these ever again, do you hear me, young lady?" he demanded, spanking her soundly.
"I will wear what I damned well please!" Amanda raged. "Papa forbade me to wear my riding habits!"
"I am willing to gamble this ranch that he did not give you permission to wear pants!" Rob stated with conviction, spanking her sit spots and upper thighs with enthusiasm. She would not enjoy the ride back to her father's ranch, of that he was certain. "I will not permit you to dress immodestly."
Amanda kicked her legs helplessly, and swung her arms, trying to hit him. "You have no say in how I dress!" she pointed out. "Stop it!" she yelped when he spanked her sore left cheek again. "You are hurting me, Robert Thorne!"
"I am not nearly finished with this lesson, you little hellcat! You were told by your father to keep to the house, and yet, here you are! You disobeyed and found trouble... and if I had not been close by and heard a shot, you would be dead by now. That man intended to kill you!" he stated bluntly, continuing to spank her backside, and not caring one little bit that she was screaming bloody murder and cursing him for all she was worth. Finally, Rob released her and put her on her feet. "Damnation, Amanda. You frightened me!" he whispered, and then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
Amanda struggled, too angry for words, but the gentle pressure of his lips on hers all too quickly turned her anger into passion, and she found herself returning his kiss of her own free will. She was attracted to the handsome man, even though she did not wish to be. She wanted to be married to a gentle man, one who would permit her to do as she pleased, when she pleased, and Robert Thorne was not that man. He was a strong man, like her Papa, and he would rule his household. He also felt no qualms about spanking a grown woman, and yet, the spanking was all but forgotten as she melted against him and returned his kisses, the rest of the world and its problems disappearing while she enjoyed his touch.
Robert heard riders approaching and he quickly drew his gun and pushed Amanda behind him protectively. "It is your father," he announced a few seconds later, relieved that he wasn't going to have to deal with four men by himself.
"Oh no," Amanda whispered forlornly. "Papa is going to be furious with me, Rob," she stated. "I don't think I can deal with another spanking!"
"Don't expect me to interfere, young lady. You disobeyed your father and nearly got yourself ravaged and murdered. You are lucky to come out of this mess with nothing but a sore backside."
"What happened?" Matt asked, and it was clear as could be the man was livid. "Girl, what are you doing out here alone?"
"I just wanted to go for a ride, Papa, and you've been too busy to take me. I found the rustlers. There were three of them, but one of them rode off in that direction," she said, hoping to distract her parent, and it worked. "His name is Striker."
"You get her home, Rob, and me and the boys will see if we can catch up to the fellow." He mounted his stallion and then said, "If you haven't already tanned her, make sure you cut a switch and stripe her until she agrees to burn those damned britches!"
Chapter Five
Rob was not happy that Matt left him to deal with Amanda. He wanted to question the remaining rustler.
"Just go on; I will see myself home!" Amanda declared, her green eyes flashing at him.
"I will do no such thing, Amanda. You should never have ridden out here alone, and I will not compound your foolishness by permitting you to ride home by yourself. With your penchant for landing in trouble, I have no doubt whatsoever that you would stumble across another group of rustlers." Rob mounted his stallion and then held out a hand. "Come and I shall pull you up behind me."
"No. I do not feel like riding, thanks to your highhandedness. I prefer walking."
"Do you have any idea how far it is to your home?" Rob demanded of her. "Stop being so foolish and allow me to escort you safely home so that I can join your father."
"If you desire Papa's company then go after him right now. I do not wish to spend another moment in your company."
Rob gave her a look that would send most who knew him well scurrying for cover, but not the stubborn, sassy redhead. No, she dared to return his look with every bit of cheekiness she could muster.
Amanda smiled. She was going to get her way. She turned on her heel and started walking toward home. In the next second Rob came up beside her, reached down to put one arm around her waist and pick her up, and then he dropped her face down over the saddle in front of him. He nudged his stallion to a fast pace, and Amanda screamed at him to stop.
Rob decided the redhead needed a firm lesson. He was appalled by her defiance and disobedience. He kept one arm around her to keep her from throwing herself off, fearful she would be injured or trampled, but when she did not stop fighting, he decided he had had enough and gave her upturned bottom another hard spank. She yelped and then renewed her struggles. His mount finally gave in to his confusion and fear and reared, nearly unseating Rob. It was only by the Grace of God that he was able to bring the powerful stallion under control and keep Amanda from being thrown.
Amanda suddenly realized that they'd had a close call, but it was too late to tell the angry man that she was sorry, or that she would prefer to ride behind him. Robert Thorne had had more than enough of her childish temper. He dismounted and dragged her off the horse, and it took him all of five seconds to find a bush that looked promising. He quickly broke off one of the branches, then knelt on one knee on the hard ground.
Amanda tried to prevent him from tugging her over his bent knee, but she was no match for his strength. Rob laid into her with the switch and she couldn't keep from screaming in pain. Her poor rear was already sore and the switch was leaving fiery welts on her tender skin. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please stop!" she desperately begged. "Please... I am sorry, and I'll behave. I promise!"
Rob gave her another ten hard strokes before he asked, "Are you going to stop this preposterous tantrum throwing, young lady?"
"Yes!" She didn't hesitate to answer. "I'm truly sorry!"
"You should be, Amanda Chambers. You behave like an undisciplined child most of the time." He stood her on her feet and gave her a hard look. "If you give me the least bit of provocation I will strip those britches from your body and thrash you every inch of the way home."
His brown eyes were flashing and Amanda knew he was serious and would do precisely as he threatened. Subdued, she accepted his hand and allowed him to swing her up behind him. "Hold on," he ordered, and once her arms were around his middle, he headed to the Circle C.
> Once his temper cooled Rob was aware of two things; Amanda was quietly crying and she felt good pressing against him. It scared him to realize how close he came to losing her today. He stopped, and stood in the stirrups to remove a clean handkerchief from his pocket. "Here," he offered the square of white linen to her. "Wipe your eyes now and stop this crying."
"I can't. I hurt," she told him, sounding pitiful. "Why are you being so mean to me, Rob?" she wanted to know. "I didn't mean to run into those rustlers. I was so frightened and I thought that one was going to..." She cried even harder. "And then... you... were so... mean..."
"You gave me a bad scare, Amanda," he said softly. "You are safe now," he told her. When she cried even harder, he slid her to the ground, and then dismounted so that he could take her in his arms and hold her close. "You are safe. I promise no one will harm you while I have a breath left in my body." He spotted a rock and led her over there so he could sit and hold her on his lap. He felt terrible when he realized she was actually shaking. It was a reaction to what happened with the rustler who tried to attack her... and instead of realizing that she was upset, he had lost his temper and thrashed her.
Amanda did feel safe in Rob's arms, and she was finally able to stop shaking. "I am sorry, Rob. I should have listened to Papa, but I was tired of being cooped up in the house, and he's been so tired and grumpy and short-tempered... I just wanted some freedom, and I really messed up. I am so thankful you came along and saved me from that horrible man."
"So am I, Amanda," Rob assured her, and then he kissed her again, and it was just as exciting this time as it was before. She must have thought so, too, because she didn't try to get away, and he was sure that when he tried to pull away, she was the one who deepened the kiss. When they finally broke apart he said, "You turn me inside out, Amanda Chambers."