by Joannie Kay
“But—”
“Mary, enough. You know better,” Clay said firmly, although his eyes were closed in pain. “Doc told me all about Rachel while he was trying to keep me in bed. No more interference from you,” he warned.
Mary chewed on her lip. “She risked her life to help me, Clay!”
“Yes, she did. The man is right to take her in hand. He loves her. Don’t make him feel guilty.”
“But—”
“Mary Maxwell Carson, I have a long memory, and I won’t always be this weak.”
“Mary is a good friend to Rachel; I can’t fault her for wanting to protect Rachel.” Lance turned and left the room, fairly positive the pretty blonde was in for a scolding he didn’t wish to witness.
Lance saw the light coming from the open barn door as soon as he rounded the house. He moved quietly and watched as Rachel quietly took care of the horses. She gave them feed and made sure their water troughs were full, before picking up a brush and brushing their coats. He heard her singing softly to the animals and applauded when she was finished.
Rachel jumped, and then felt herself blush with embarrassment at being caught singing to the animals. And it just had to be Lance who caught her! That made her embarrassment that much worse. “You startled me, Lance!”
“I didn’t mean to do that; I was enjoying your singing. You have a pretty voice.”
“I sing well enough for an audience of horses,” she said with a short laugh. She was suddenly nervous as she recalled his earlier threats. He didn’t seem angry now, however, and that was a good thing. “Did you have any trouble with Arnie?” she asked.
“He is more intelligent than he appears, little one. I told him the truth, and I suspect he is very sorry he gave you an earful. Your father gave him what for, and then I told him why you came home and he felt like an ass for saying the wrong thing and earning your temper. If he shows up to say sorry, I would take it as a personal favor if you were gracious. I would rather he have my back than find something else to do if the entire Cane Gang comes to town.”
“Arnie is a royal pain.”
“He is concerned about you and your safety. He knows what Cane would do to you if he spotted you. I told him I asked you to remain in the house and out of sight.”
“I can’t do that, and you know it. I need to see Cane behind bars. I’m going to watch his girlfriend like a hawk when she gets here. He won’t leave town without her, and my guess is that he will sneak into town and into her room and stay hidden there. He will want her, unless her pregnancy repulses him.”
“You shouldn’t know these things,” Lance scolded. “Your father has been much too open and honest around you!”
“Nonsense! My mother made sure I was educated enough to protect myself from men who would try to force me or cajole me into doing things that belong solely in marriage. I learned basic anatomy from Papa, but Mama taught me that some men are not to be trusted.”
“Do you trust me?” Lance asked of Rachel, and held his breath as he waited for her to reply.
“I trust you implicitly,” she answered, and then smiled shyly. ‘You are a good, honest man.”
“I keep my word,” he said, nodding. “I promised you a spanking if you disobeyed me and left the house, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but there were extenuating circumstances. I felt it was important to tell you about Mary so we could help her. I didn’t disobey you just to disobey you.”
“I know you didn’t, but you did disobey me, and you put yourself at risk. I will not tolerate that, Rachel Waterford. I care deeply for you, and I will never permit you to put yourself at risk for any reason at all. Riding after me was bad enough, but when I told you to stay with the horses at the ranch, you defied me and followed me to the house.”
“Where I just happened to save your life!” she reminded him.
“Where you just happened to save my life,” he admitted. “I am grateful for that, Rachel, but you put yourself at risk in order to help me do what is my job. Why would you do that?”
“I wanted to help. There were three of them, and I am a good shot. They were shooting at you, not at me!”
“Thank God!” He breathed the words and then reached for her, taking her wrist in one hand and reaching for the heavy brush with his other. He took it from her and tossed it into the open box where those items were kept. “I told you to remain home; you didn’t listen to me. You put your life at risk without a single thought about the consequences, and I intend to make sure the consequences are serious enough you will think the next time you are tempted to disobey me and risk your safety by butting into something you shouldn’t.” He pulled her resisting form over to an empty bench.
“No! No, no, no!” Rachel pulled against him, trying to stop him before he could do as he intended, and she was sure it was his intention to put her across his knee and spank her, just as he’d promised earlier that evening! “No, Lance! You can’t!” she protested.
“I can and I will,” he said firmly, taking a seat and then pulling her resisting body down over his lap. When she started kicking wildly, he pinned her legs under the calf of his right leg, forcing her rounded derriere into the position he wanted, which strained against her clothing. Her bottom looked pretty in the tightened britches she was wearing. “This is long overdue, Rachel Waterford.”
“If you dare spank me, I’ll get even!” she threatened, and it was good she couldn’t see his face. He was laughing at her!
“You do that, honey,” he replied. “I certainly dare!” He brought his hand down on her vulnerable backside with a loud crack. “I dare to do it again, too!” He gave her another swat, and this time she cried out.
“I hate you!” Rachel shouted. “You are being hateful and mean!” Lance spanked her again and again, and Rachel feared she was going to start crying. Her bottom burned and hurt, and he showed no sign of stopping. “Let me go right now! You are hurting me!”
“A spanking is supposed to hurt, young lady. That is why it works as a punishment and a deterrent to doing things you shouldn’t be doing.” He did reduce the force behind the spanks, however. He didn’t want to bruise her, and as a redhead, she was likely to have delicate skin.
Rachel didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Her poor bottom felt like he’d lit a fire on her skin and she burned and hurt! “Please, no more!” she begged, and when his hand fell again, she burst into tears, crying loudly. She couldn’t help herself. The pain was so intense she simply couldn’t bear it in silence for another moment.
Lance was shocked that she was crying so loudly, her body shuddering with the force of her sobs. He’d gone too far, he quickly realized. He gently helped her to stand, and then he stood and pulled her against him to allow her to cry. Rachel sobbed as if she was suffering from unbearable grief, and Lance felt guilty as hell. “It’s all over now, honey. It is done. You won’t disobey me and risk your life again, now will you?” His words were gentle and meant to offer comfort.
“I thought it was important tonight, Lance. I wasn’t trying to be a brat,” she insisted. “I’m sorry you were so upset.” She started sobbing again, and he felt helpless to console her.
“Don’t cry, honey. I’m not upset with you now. I just want to keep you safe. Can you understand that?” he asked, wishing he’d talked to her a bit more before he spanked her. “Did I injure you? Was I too rough, too harsh with you?” he asked.
“No. I hate to cry in front of anyone because I am not dainty and ladylike about it. It really did hurt, but I knew I had it coming. I’m not upset now. Please don’t spank me again, Lance. I will try very hard to be good and obey you. I thought I was doing the right thing. I wanted to get help for Mary, and that seemed vitally important. I disguised myself as best as I could. Please forgive me.”
“You were forgiven the moment I saw you, honey. I wouldn’t have spanked you, but I can’t ignore outright disobedience, especially when it could place you in danger. Do you understan
d my point?” he asked, hugging her close.
“Yes, sir, I do. How on earth do children tolerate a spanking? I am a grown woman and it hurt so much I couldn’t bear it! It is much to harsh for a child!”
“A man spanks his woman much differently than his child, honey. I gave you a firm lesson. I would never spank a little one like that.”
“That is good to know. I didn’t know a simple spanking could hurt so much.”
“Be honest now; was it too much? Do you think me a brute?”
“No, you are not a brute. I was pushing, and you did what you promised to do. It really hurt, but the worst part was not knowing when it would stop.” Then she added, “I like being held like this. Please don’t let go,” she whispered, laying her head on his chest. “I feel so safe right now.”
Lance was humbled. He was pretty darn sure that Rachel’s meekness wouldn’t last too long, but it proved he was correct in assuming a good spanking was exactly what she needed to get her attention for a good talking to. He tipped her chin upwards so he could look into her eyes. “May I kiss you, Rachel?”
“Please do,” she answered, and almost swooned when his lips met hers and kissed her so sweetly. “Oh!” she breathed. “That was perfect, Lance. You kiss so well!”
“I could do this forever,” he admitted, claiming her lips again. His hands went to the seat of her pants and gently rubbed, wondering if he could be lucky enough to find a woman who got hot from a sound spanking. It didn’t take long to find out.
The little redhead was kissing him passionately and moaning as his hands massaged and caressed her backside. “That feels so good!” she gasped. “What is happening to me? I feel as though I want you to do something more, but I am not sure what I want or need.”
“Your body is responding to my kisses and my touch. You are growing wet between your legs, and your breasts feel heavy, right?”
“Yes!” She felt herself blush.
“That is normal when a woman wants to make love – which belongs in marriage for you, little one. We need to stop now before we reach the point that stopping is beyond difficult. I won’t make love to you until we are married. I know we just met, and it’s too soon, but I’ve never felt like this before. I want you, honey, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And I hope you are feeling the same about me?”
“I have never felt like this before, either. I wouldn’t allow any man to do what you just did. I think I am in love with you too!”
“Rachel, Rachel, Rachel! I’d better take you to the house right now. It’s very late and you need to find your bed before we get carried away.”
“Is that how it happens?” she asked so naively that he simply had to kiss her again. He did, and her response was nearly his undoing.
“Yes, little one, that is how it happens. Two people get so caught up in passion that their bodies take control, never mind what their common sense is trying to tell them. Let’s put out the light and get you inside; I don’t want you out here alone, either,” he warned. “It just isn’t safe for you right now.”
She squeezed his hand in understanding and he smiled. Caleb should have tried spanking her years ago. But then, he realized, she wouldn’t be so sassy and perfect for him if Doc had. Lance smiled, and looked around for any sign of trouble before he allowed her to follow him out of the barn. He silently walked her to her front door, gave her a peck on the cheek, and a gentle pat on the bottom. “You behave now, Miss Rachel,” he warned in a husky voice. “Go on to bed.”
Rachel went into her father’s office and checked on Clay, who was sleeping peacefully now that Mary was by his side. Mary was sleeping in the chair beside the bed, holding Clay’s hand. Things were as they should be, so Rachel tiptoed up the stairs, trying to be quiet and not wake her father, who needed sleep.
When she got into her room, the first thing she did was take off the boys’ pants that seemed to be holding in the heat and making her bottom miserable. The second thing she did was to light her lamp so that she could see her bare backside in the mirror. Her poor bottom was red as could be and her skin felt tight and stretched across her swollen backside. She was burning too! How could it hurt so much now, when it felt so good when Lance’s hands were caressing her?
She put on a soft nightdress, put out the light, and lay on her tummy in bed. She was suddenly exhausted and she went right to sleep.
It wasn’t the same for Lance. He was on his back because his manhood was swollen and sticking straight up in the air, demanding attention, and, of course, all he could think about was how cute Rachel’s bottom was in the tight, worn britches. She was a real handful too, and the memory of fondling her warm cheeks through those same britches was keeping him rock hard and aching with the need to plunge himself inside her sweet warmth. If he wasn’t careful, Caleb would be after him with a buggy whip! Lance vowed once again to put a ring on her finger before he claimed her in that way. Rachel deserved a proper wedding, a ring on her finger, and the protection of his name when they produced a child from their love. He would not take advantage of her. He was going to need to keep their alone time to a minimum until he could win Doc’s approval to propose to Rachel.
Finally, he closed his eyes in sleep during the gray hour right before dawn.
* * *
The sun was peeking in the window when Rachel woke and jumped out of bed. She put on her robe and slippers and brushed her hair, tying it back with a ribbon. Her poor father deserved a good breakfast and she was sleeping late without a thought to his comfort! She opened her door just as his door opened on the other end of the hallway. “Good morning, Papa!” she called to him.
“I thought you would be sleeping late this morning, honey! It’s still early!” Caleb claimed.
“I want to fix you a good breakfast,” she told him. “I am so happy to be home, Papa.”
“I think that Ranger Lance has something to do with that,” Caleb stated dryly as he followed his daughter downstairs.
“Does it show, Papa?” she asked, turning to face him. “I am in love with him! He feels the same way about me. He spanked me, Papa,” she confessed. “If I didn’t love him so much, I would be ready to shoot him, and you know I mean that!”
“Yes, I do know that. The only thing I ask is that you slow down and take some time to get to know each other a bit before making any decisions you will have to live with for the rest of your natural life. There is a saying that goes ‘Marry in haste, repent in leisure’ and you do not wish to learn too late that he is a mean one, or a philanderer.”
“I think Lance is exactly the man you see.” She smiled him. “Don’t worry, Papa. I am going to heed your advice. However, I now know the difference between infatuation and true love. Will you check on our guests while I start breakfast? I looked in on them right before I went to bed last night, and they were both resting and there was no sign of a fever.”
“We might get very lucky this time,” Caleb said as he hurried to go to his office. “If all goes well today, we will move Clay into the bedroom this evening.”
A few minutes later Mary came into the kitchen. “What can I do to help you, Rachel?” she asked, looking at the younger woman.
“Would you slice off some bacon, Mary?”
“Yes, I can do that,” she agreed. “I am not supposed to ask, but if you were to tell me what happened with Lance last night, I would be happy to listen.”
Rachel looked at her and giggled. “I don’t mind sharing. Lance spanked me, and I dread the thought of sitting at the table this morning! It really hurt, but I am confident that he did it because he really does care about me. He held me afterwards and we talked. The actual spanking hurt much more than I thought it would, but I wasn’t angry with him like I thought I would be. Is that strange?” She wanted Mary’s opinion.
“Not at all. Part of you would have been really upset if he’d let you off the hook. You know now that he keeps his word, and that he means to keep you safe. He is a good man, Rachel.” She put the s
liced bacon in the skillet and soon it was sizzling. “I love the smell of bacon,” she admitted.
“Me too, and it is Papa’s favorite. Perhaps we should fix a second batch when that is done? I am half expecting Lance to come by. Do you think Clay is up to eating this morning?”
“He claims he is starving. I don’t know if Doc will let him eat just yet, however.”
“We’ll see what Papa says before we make more. Of course, I could always put it on a baked casserole if we have some left.” They bustled about, and when things were in control, Rachel ran upstairs and dressed for the day. She put on a simple skirt and shirtwaist, and fastened her long hair in a knot at the base of her neck. She was also wearing an apron that would keep her clothing clean while she worked about the house or in her father’s office.
“Good morning. I came by to see how you are this morning?” Lance asked as he entered the kitchen with Caleb. “Hi, Mary.”
“Good morning, Lance!” Rachel’s smile was huge. “I am fine, and very happy to see you this morning.”
“She just told me she thought you might come for breakfast,” Mary commented.
“I wanted to make sure nothing happened here last night. I had a bad dream,” he admitted. “I got dressed and ran all the way here.”
“We are just fine, Lance,” Caleb said. “That must have been some terrible dream. I’ve found that talking about bad dreams takes away their power to upset you.”
“I dreamed that Jared Cane’s gang came here and took over the house, and Cane was planning to abuse Rachel. I kept trying to get here in time to help, but your house kept moving and I couldn’t find it.”
Chapter Five
“Cane doesn’t know I am here, Lance,” Rachel insisted, noting his somber expression.
“Do not assume that, honey. He could have had one of his gang go back and see if someone matching your description bought a ticket to go somewhere. It isn’t hard to trace someone’s whereabouts. You didn’t use a false name when you purchased your ticket, did you?” His dark eyes were full of hope.