The Rancher's Bride

by Dina Chapel

  Josephine disappeared into the mudroom at the back of the kitchen and Marie heard a screen door slam. She looked around the large, comfortable, and clean kitchen, complete with all the modern conveniences. This Mr. Carter must be well-off, she thought. She certainly wouldn’t mind working in this kitchen. Marie smiled at the boys who both sat quietly drinking their lemonade.

  The screen door slammed again a few minutes later and Mr. Frank Carter walked through the mudroom and into the kitchen.

  Marie’s mouth went dry at the sight of him. He was a very large and imposing man, with dark hair, piercing black eyes, and a strong dark brow.

  “Mr. Carter?”

  “Yes. Marie is it?”

  She nodded as Josephine came back into the kitchen.

  “If it’s alright with you, I’ve asked Josephine to keep your boys company in another room while we talk.”

  Marie nodded. “That’s fine.” Marie smiled at the boys as Josephine led them from the kitchen.

  “I do believe that we have some playing cards in the front parlor here and we could play a game or two if…”

  Josephine’s voice trailed off as they moved farther from the kitchen and Marie turned back to give Frank Carter her full attention. She was so nervous that her stomach was in knots. What if she didn’t get the job? What if the boys couldn’t stay here? How would they get back to town? Where would they sleep tonight?

  * * *

  The young woman that sat at the table in front of him looked to Frank like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. The second he’d entered the kitchen and met her, he knew he was in trouble. She was sweet, soft-spoken, and pretty, and she caused every protective instinct within him to come racing to the surface.

  Earl Mannings had already told him a bit about her, having delivered her to Frank’s doorstep himself, but Earl couldn’t always be relied upon to be completely accurate about much of anything, so Frank had taken his description of her with a grain of salt. Earl did mention the boys, though, so Frank already knew about them. He didn’t really mind that so much, as long as they were well-behaved. He was just so glad to have someone come for the job.

  Frank leaned against the kitchen sink, facing Marie, to talk to her. With his arms crossed and his legs straight, feet planted firmly apart and flat on the floor, he assumed the stance he always took when he was about to discuss business.

  “Why don’t you tell me what kind of experience you have and then I’ll tell you what will be expected of you, if’n you decide that you’d like to take the job.” Frank noticed Marie did not make eye contact with him, preferring instead to stare at the hands she had folded neatly in her lap.

  “I grew up the oldest of seven children, so I’ve been around babies my whole life, feeding, changing, playing, soothing—whatever the need be. I’ve also been in the kitchen most of my life and can make most anything you have a taste for. I grew up on a farm, so I’m accustomed to farm chores, milkin’, gatherin’, and what-not. Making cheese and churning butter.” Marie paused and glanced up at Frank. “I’m a hard worker, Mr. Carter, and I’d do my best to fill Josephine’s shoes.” She quickly looked back down at her hands.

  Figuring Marie was done, Frank spoke then. “You’ll be expected to do a few early morning chores, such as gathering the eggs and milking the cows—we have two milk cows. Also, making the cheese and butter. Preparing the meals and cleaning up after. Just for the members of the household; I provide the hands with food, but they’re responsible for cooking for themselves. Then, doing the laundry, and keeping the house clean and neat, and caring for my daughter Emmeline all day. I’m working the ranch all day and most times into the early evening—as long as there’s daylight—so I need you to do for her from morning till night. I’ll pitch in with any of these things whenever I’m able, but you can’t rely on me for anything. I can’t guarantee my help.” Frank paused to try to gauge Marie’s reaction. She didn’t appear to be fazed by any of it. “Does this sound like something you would be able to do?”

  Marie looked directly at him then. “Yes sir. I’m sure I could manage it.” A quizzical look came over Marie’s face then. “Where is your daughter, Mr. Carter?”

  “I believe she’s down for a nap. This is her usual nap time. I’ll offer you the position then, Marie. The job is yours if’n you want it.” Frank didn’t miss Marie’s hesitation at accepting his offer, and her next words helped him understand why.

  “Mr. Carter, sir, those two boys are my boys. They have to stay with me. I know this is a live-in position, but I’m guessing that you weren’t counting on more’n one person.”

  “I have a room that would suit them two boys just fine and then one for you. Of course your boys will stay with you.” Frank had softened his tone of voice as he spoke about Jack and Henry and how they were welcome. Frank had a soft spot for children. But then he got right back to business. “Josephine will be here for another week and she can show you everything you need to know. Do you want the job, then?”

  “Yes sir, thank you.”

  “It’s settled. One of my men can give ya’ll a ride back to town to gather your things and Josephine can help you get settled in.” When Marie spoke next, her voice was so soft that Frank had trouble hearing her.

  “We have everything that’s ours with us already,” Marie stated. “We don’t need to go back to town for anything.”

  Frank was about to ask how she managed to bring all their things with her, or why she had maybe assumed she would get or even want the job once she got here, then thought better of it. He realized she could mean that they had so little it was easy enough to bring it along. He would find out soon enough how true that was.

  Chapter Two

  Marie was in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner, singing softly as she flitted from one part of the kitchen to another, enjoying the security of routine. She and the boys had settled in nicely in Frank Carter’s home and, as far as Marie could tell, he was satisfied with her skills as a nanny and housekeeper. The boys’ presence wasn’t any issue at all, either. Frank seemed to enjoy them, taking a little time every now and then to show them things around his ranch.

  Marie hadn’t really been too concerned about them in the first place, since she already knew that they were good boys, well behaved and respectful of their elders. She had worried a bit that maybe he wouldn’t like her cooking or Emmeline would not take to her. Neither of those things happened. Mr. Carter thanked her for every meal that she prepared and more often than not told her that it was “very tasty.” He definitely was a man of few words, but Marie thought that meant she was doing okay.

  And Emmeline was the sweetest baby Marie had ever had the pleasure to care for. She had an easy disposition and was a pretty good sleeper too.

  Overall, things seemed to be working out so far, and Marie was grateful that they had a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. She looked at Jack, Henry, and Emme and sent a small prayer up to God, giving thanks for her blessings.

  The three children all played on the kitchen floor, which, thanks to Marie, was now so clean that you could probably eat off it. Still, she had put a small blanket under Emme, who was banging away on a pot with a spoon. The boys were pretending they were horses and chasing each other around the table on all fours. Marie was keeping a close eye to be sure they steered clear of the baby. It was noisy and busy and, Marie thought, just wonderful. It reminded her of home, always someone about, always the smells of good food being prepared, always a few children playing.

  At least, home before things changed. Home before the money was gone and the food was scarce and tensions ran high. Marie could remember her mother crying when she thought no one was in earshot.

  The boys suddenly stopped their play and Henry piped up. “Marie, are we going to eat soon? I’m awful hungry.”

  His brother turned on him angrily before Marie had a chance to say anything. “We’re not supposed to call her that, re
member?” Jack glared at his little brother. “We have to always call her ‘mama.’”

  “Why wouldn’t you both always call your mother ‘mama?’”

  None of them had heard Frank enter the room. It must’ve been Emme’s pot and spoon music that drowned out the sound of the back mudroom door opening. Frank did not look happy, although he never really looked happy. Marie was frozen to the spot. She tried to find her voice—and quickly.

  “I think that Henry just sometimes—” Marie started but Frank cut her off immediately.

  “I’m talking to the boys. Don’t interrupt.” Frank held up a hand at her. He pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat down, motioning the boys to come over to him.

  Henry was already crying, probably because he thought he did something really wrong.

  “Come here, boys.” Frank motioned for them to stand in front of him and they obeyed. “You both know that this is my house and I make the rules in this house.” Frank paused as both boys nodded. “One of my most important rules is that there will be no lying in this house. Do you both understand that?”

  The boys nodded again and Emme banged the pot loudly. It would have been amusing if the mood in the room had not been so tense.

  Marie grabbed Emme’s rag doll from her high chair, handed it to her, and used the distraction to remove the pot. Much quieter.

  “I’m going to ask you boys a question and when you answer me, I want you to both remember my rule. No lying. If you tell the truth, you will not be punished. Is that clear?”

  Both boys nodded again at Frank, while Marie’s stomach flip-flopped. She knew that the boys should tell the truth, but would that truth put them all back out on the street?

  “Is Marie your Mama?” Frank looked at both boys sternly as they each glanced at Marie for something—direction, assent, she wasn’t sure.

  It took all she had to smile at them and nod encouragingly.

  “Jack. Henry.”

  They both turned back to Frank at his bidding.

  “Answer the question.”

  They seemed to shake their little heads at exactly the same time.

  “No, sir, she isn’t.” Jack, being the elder of the two, spoke for them both, as he always did. “But she treats us like she was our mama.” Jack was starting to cry now too. Henry hadn’t really stopped. “She’s been awful good to us and we love her.”

  Henry then ran over to where Marie stood and threw himself against her. He wrapped his little arms tight around her. “Sorrrrryyyy!” Henry cried into her apron. “I’m sorry I spoiled the secret.”

  Marie knelt in front of him. “Shush, shush, sweetie, it’s okay.” She hugged him tight. “It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong. This was all my fault.”

  Jack then joined them (Marie hadn’t seen Frank motion for him to go to her) and Marie was hugging them both and crying. It wasn’t very long at all before Emmeline picked up on the mood in the room and began crying herself. Frank was the only one who wasn’t crying.

  He picked the baby up from where she had been playing on the floor and addressed Marie. “I’m going to calm her down and put her in her crib for a bit to rest.” He paused as the group on the floor all stopped crying to look at him as he spoke. “I want you to bring the boys upstairs to their room in a few minutes. I’d like to speak with them privately.”

  What does he mean by ‘speak with them?’ Marie thought. He had told them if they told the truth they wouldn’t be punished. She sincerely hoped that he was a man of his word.

  Marie stayed in the kitchen with the two boys for a while, calming them down and drying their tears. But she was a nervous mess on the inside. She could not read this man at all and had no idea what he meant to do. Would he punish the boys? Would he throw them all out on the street?

  Finally not able to wait any longer, Marie ushered the boys up to their room and sat on Jack’s bed with them, waiting for Frank. When he came to the doorway, she practically jumped out of her skin, she was so nervous at that point.

  “Marie, I’ll ask that you go back down to the kitchen and tend to the food. Make sure none of that fine dinner I smelled when I first came in gets ruined. I don’t cotton to wasting food when there are so many going without these days.” Frank looked at Marie and raised one eyebrow. “Plus, I’d like to speak to the boys alone.”

  The boys looked nervous and Marie was hesitant to leave them.

  “Now, young lady.” Frank’s tone was harsher and brooked no refusal.

  Marie squeezed the boys’ hands and left the room.

  * * *

  Back in the kitchen, Marie checked on all the dishes. Nothing was burned, yet, but if they didn’t eat soon, it would all be a bit dried out. But dinner was really not concerning her at the moment.

  The room that the boys shared was above the parlor and Marie kept going to stand in the room, trying to hear if Frank was actually physically punishing them. She would intervene if she heard something that disturbed her. But she didn’t hear anything save for the soft sound of voices, a deeper voice and two higher voices—Frank and the boys. He was talking to them.

  Suddenly the voices stopped and she heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. Marie raced back to the kitchen so as not to be caught eavesdropping. When Frank entered the kitchen, she was adding some milk to the potatoes.

  He stood in the threshold of the door to the kitchen and folded his arms over his chest. “I’d like to hear your version of the truth now, girl.”

  Marie whirled around from her place at the stove and immediately began to stammer. “I…I…um…” She couldn’t get a sentence out. He was more than a bit intimidating standing there with his arms crossed.

  “That’s what I thought,” Frank said as he pulled a chair out and set it in the middle of the kitchen. “Tells me all I need to know.” He then sat down and, looking straight at Marie, patted his lap. “C’mon then.”

  Marie got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach when she realized that he meant to physically punish her. “Did you punish the boys?” She just had to know.

  He shook his head. “I am a man of my word, young lady.” He looked at her with what appeared to be disappointment. “I told them two boys if they told the truth they would not be punished. And I meant it.” Frank paused for a moment, seeming to be choosing his words. “And if I don’t miss my guess, those boys didn’t think to lie to me on their own. Someone told them to do it.”

  Marie just stared at the floor, afraid to even look at Frank Carter. “Are you going to put us out?” She glanced up at him in time to see him look out the window for a moment, and then right in Marie’s eyes. He was choosing his words again.

  “Later on, after all the young’uns are asleep, you and me is gonna have a long talk about things, how they’ve been and how they’re going to be. I am not going to put any of you out. You have a job here and all three of you have a home here.”

  Frank rubbed the palms of his hands on his hard thighs, a gesture not lost on Marie. “Right now, Emme is napping in her crib and the boys are playing quietly in their room. I told them not to come downstairs until I came to get them for supper. I want you to be clear on how I run things in my home. I am fair and just. But I don’t take kindly to lying. You lied to me, Marie. And I’m going to punish you for it.” Frank then patted his lap again, a grim and determined look on his face. “Come here.”

  “Are you fixin’ to spank me?” Marie shook her head. “I’m not a child, Mr. Carter.”

  “I’m not going to talk any more about this, young lady.”

  He sounded really serious. He didn’t really mean it…did he? Maybe he was just trying to scare her.

  “If I have to come and get you, then I’m going to bare your bottom.”

  Marie just stood there, shaking her head in disbelief. He couldn’t really mean to punish her that way, could he? Spanking was for children. She had thought he might sternly lecture her or take some of her wages away. But t
his…

  With that, Frank rose from the chair, interrupting her thoughts with his swift movement.

  One minute she was standing by the stove, pondering her punishment, the next she was face down over Frank Carter’s strong thighs, feeling the hem of her dress being lifted up and pulled toward her waist. She came to her senses then.

  “No!” Marie tried to reach back to pull the dress back down. It was an exercise in futility. “Please, Mr. Carter, please! Leave my dress down.”

  He not only ignored her as he gathered the dress at her waist and held the fabric in place with the same hand that held her in place, but he then proceeded to pull down her drawers, down to her knees, rendering her completely naked from her waist to her knees. Then he started spanking her bare behind with his hard, calloused hand.

  Marie was horrified. Her entire backside was completely bare! He had no right to take her clothes down; it just didn’t seem decent. But Marie was in no position to argue that point with him. He had her pinned to his lap and, even though she was bucking and squirming to be released, she could hardly move. He was very strong and she was no match for him.

  And, by golly, did his hand hurt! It felt like his huge hand covered her entire backside. And he spanked hard. If he hadn’t been holding her so firmly, she felt as if she might just go head first off his lap every time his hand connected with her behind. Marie felt the tears threatening and she wasn’t sure if she could hold back much longer.

  “Please, Mr. Carter…” she begged. “Please stop. It hurts! You’re hurting me!”

  “A spanking, if’n it’s done right, is supposed to hurt, girl.” Frank had stopped spanking to speak, so then he gave her behind two hard spanks for emphasis. “I want you to understand how things are here in my home.” Two more spanks. Marie’s backside was red and hot, but it seemed Frank wasn’t done yet.

  “I…I…can’t take any moooorrre!” Marie finally burst into full sobs, the tears running down her face.