Rebecca had to admit that her Papa didn’t go out of his way to embarrass her, and Michael Rich was honest and told him that he couldn’t afford to pay much for her services, but she was being paid the same amount he would pay a man he hired for the same job. Connie asked how much that was, and then nodded his head. Rebecca personally thought the amount was extremely fair. She promised Connie she would be home on time, and then stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek and politely thank him. She knew he loved her, and would do the same to make sure any of his children were treated fairly… Connie Webster paid his hands well, and he expected them to work hard… Rebecca understood that he expected her to earn her pay, and she would. She was his daughter!
Michael wasn’t sure what he should ask Becky to do first, but she seemed to have it all figured out. She told him to go ahead and work on anything he needed to tend to, and she would start by sorting and filing papers. When the clock chimed the hour at noon, she was startled when Michael told her to take her lunch break. She put her hat on her head, and picked up her purse and went outside, shocked to find all of her sisters standing there, waiting for her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“We’ve come to take you to lunch to celebrate your new job, Becky!” Abby gave her a hug, and Becky was pleased… and touched. All of her sisters had beaus, but they were treating her as though she’d done something truly wondrous and special. She didn’t let on that she would gladly trade places with them… She longed to have a man who loved her and thought her special, but she was tall, and most men did not give a woman who was taller than them a second glance.
Michael grew to depend on Rebecca the next couple of weeks. His office was neat as could be, his papers all filed, and she could make that typewriter work miracles. Michael was very pleased, with the exception of one thing… Rebecca spoke her mind, always. While he didn’t mind it so much when they were alone, it was embarrassing in front of a client when she scolded him for not putting a paper in the right folder on his desk… And it was worse when she told a client to stop being foolish and shut up and listen to him. He’d had to scold her several times, and he was fast losing patience.
“Becky, Mrs. Grayson is coming to see me today at two o’clock. I would like for you to be polite to her.”
“I’m always polite, Michael.”
“The last time Mrs. Grayson was in here you told her to stop wasting my time… That is not being polite.”
“She was wasting your time. She had no idea of what she wanted to put in her will… How can she expect you to write it if she can’t decide how to divide her estate?”
“It’s my job to guide her… and you did offend her.”
“Okay, I will be nice.”
“I hope so, or you aren’t going to like the consequences.”
“What consequences?” Becky promptly asked the handsome man, but before he could reply their first appointment of the afternoon showed up.
Becky sat at her desk, trying her best to ignore the conversation Michael was having with Billy Hatfield. He wanted to sue his neighbor over some water rights, and the discussion was boring. She decided it was more fun to wonder if Michael would ever realize she was a woman. The Sweetheart Dance was next week, and she so wanted him to dance with her. She was coming to care for him very much… and there were times she thought he felt the same way about her. But, she despaired, she was simply too tall. Most men wanted petite women like Maddy and Abby and Nattie. Even Franny and Dottie were a good bit shorter than she was… Becky knew that was why she had no beaus, and it just wasn’t fair!
All the while that Michael was with his client, his mind was on Becky. It was getting harder and harder to be with her everyday and not want to kiss her… After be pulled her down across his knee and spanked her to a better disposition!! Most of the men in town were terrified of her, and so were the women. His little Becky was too quick to criticize and tell people how foolish they were. She was too sweet to act like such a shrew, and he was going to have to make her realize that.
However, Rebecca Webster was NOT like most women. She was smart, maybe even smarter than he was, and she was absolutely beautiful. She carried herself proudly, and he liked the fact that the top of her head came right to his nose! He hated dancing with women who were so short he had to bend over to take them in his arms. Becky was a woman he could hold in his arms, and kiss over and over… if only she would stop acting like a shrew. Michael made a face; Miss Becky’s razor-sharp tongue should have earned her a dose of razor strop long ago, and once she was his, that is exactly what would happen.
He smiled when he saw her tap her pencil impatiently on the desk when Billy Hatfield’s words became too boring. It was a sure sign she was losing patience and becoming irritated. It was time for him to end the conversation with Hatfield.
Rebecca was relieved when Michael interrupted the long diatribe, and explained the water rights on Billy’s land in language he could understand. Billy got to his feet, and offered Michael his hand, completely satisfied with his explanation, and his mind relieved.
Billy walked over to Rebecca, and smiled at her, “Miss Becky, you be sure an’ tell your folks I said howdy. Your Pa is a good man, and I’ll never forget how he helped me out when I lost my barn.”
Becky smiled graciously, feeling a bit peeved with herself for being so impatient with the man earlier. He was a good person, just not very well educated. “Papa thinks highly of you, Mr. Hatfield, and Mama is always telling us that Mrs. Hatfield makes the most beautiful quilts.”
“She sure does, girlie, and when you get yourself married up, she’ll be giving you one she made special…” His face turned a fiery red, then, and he stammered, “I wasn’t s’posed to tell you that, Miss Becky. My Mary wants to surprise all you girls…”
Becky smiled warmly, touched deeply, “It will be a wonderful secret to keep with you, Mr. Hatfield. We wouldn’t want to spoil her surprise, would we?”
“Naw, we wouldn’t. She can’t wait to see you girls open them,” he nodded his head, and then bade them both goodbye.
“Now, why are you looking so sad, Becky?” Michael noticed as she took out her handkerchief and surreptitiously tried to wipe away her tears.
“It’s not easy being the ugly duckling in a bunch of lovely swans, Michael,” she allowed her control to slip.
“I hope you are not talking about yourself, Rebecca Webster?” Michael felt his own temper coming to the surface. “You are breathtakingly beautiful.”
“Oh sure I am… That is why I have so many beaus!” she scornfully stated, feeling sorry for herself. “I’m taller than ninety percent of the men in Red Scarf, and the other ten percent all want little women like my sisters.”
“That’s not true, and you are this close to a sound spanking,” he held his thumb and forefinger a scant quarter inch apart.
“If it’s not true, then why hasn’t anyone ever called on me, Michael? I’m twenty-one years old, and no man has ever wanted to kiss me… except Papa… and he has to because he’s my father!” she jumped to her feet in agitation.
“Have you ever considered that it might not be your height, Becky? Or have you looked in a mirror lately? You are as beautiful as your sisters, and to me, even more beautiful.”
“Okay, Michael… I’m beautiful, and I’m not too tall!” she said, her blue eyes filled with anger and simmering rage. “So what IS wrong with me?” she demanded, her hands on her hips, and her whole demeanor threatening.
Michael stood up, put his hands on his hips, and gave her the angriest glare he could muster. He watched her eyes widen in shock and surprise, and then fill with trepidation as she took a step backwards. He was clearly frightening her, just as he intended to do. “This is how you treat people, Becky,” his words were gentle. “You use your height to intimidate them, just as I am doing to you right now. Your father should have spanked you silly a few times for pulling that crap.”
“How do you know he didn’t?” she deman
ded.
“Because, honey, you don’t pull it on him because he’s your father, and he is bigger than you are. You bully people, Rebecca, and it is not attractive, and guess what, honey, you are going to get spanked each and every time you do it from now on… unless there is one damn good reason for it.”
“Oh really, and just who is going to spank me?” Becky demanded, taking up her defensive stance once again, and unable to believe she was having this conversation with Michael. Why, he was truly acting as though he cared about her… and he’d said she was beautiful!
“I’m going to spank you, and I’m going to start right now,” Michael decided.
“You wouldn’t!” Becky backed up a few steps.
“I would. I am.” Michael hoped her smaller desk would support his weight as he snagged her wrist and pulled her behind him. He sat on her desk, mindless of the papers he was squashing, and pulled her over his knee. “This is going to get a bit embarrassing for you, Rebecca, so I’m going to tell you up front that I consider you mine. And if your Father and Mother agree, we’ll be married soon…”
Rebecca was stunned when he abruptly put her on her feet and placed his hands on her shoulders to look her directly in the eye.
“I am going to spank you, but it occurred to me that I should tell you first that I’ve fallen in love with you during the last few weeks. I love your fire and spirit. I love the way you smile. I love how you dress and wear your hair… I love how you make me more comfortable each and every day. I am in love with you, Rebecca Webster, and I do want to marry you… But I need to know how you feel about me? Would you consider marriage to me, Becky? Do you feel the same as I feel?” Michael knew his heart was in her hands, and he wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she dropped in on the floor and stomped it to death.
Becky felt tears of joy fill her eyes. “I love you, too, Michael, and I was hoping you were feeling the same about me. I just didn’t think it was truly possible…” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, very sweetly.
Michael kissed her back, and held her close, only letting her go when the door opened and Mrs. Grayson walked into the office without knocking first, as the sign clearly stated.
“Hello, Mrs. Grayson. Please come inside,” Michael invited her.
“Hello, Mr. Rich. How are you today?”
“I’m fine, ma’am, and yourself?”
“I’m getting on. Rebecca, how is your sweet Mama doing?”
“She is fine, Mrs. Grayson. She’s hoping you will be attending the Sweetheart Dance…?”
“Well, I certainly would like to attend, but it will be so late when it is over, and my eyes aren’t that good to get home on my own,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Ma’am, that won’t be a problem. I’ll make sure to tell Mama you will need an escort home, and we’ll see to it that you are safe.”
Mrs. Grayson smiled, “That is very nice of you, Becky. Thank you, dear.”
Michael was proud of Becky, and his smile and warm look told her so. The warm feeling lasted for about half an hour, and when Mrs. Grayson couldn’t seem to make a decision yet again, he could feel Becky losing her patience. Ten minutes later, the inevitable happened.
“Mrs. Grayson, Mr. Rich has another appointment scheduled in a few minutes. You need to make up your mind. Frankly, I don’t know why you are so worried about what other people think. It’s your property, and your money. You should leave it to whomever you want to, and hang what anyone else thinks. If you think Jacob is going to squander Lucy’s part, then put it in trust for her. If you want Michelle to inherit, then do it… It truly doesn’t matter… You won’t be here to have to deal with any fallout, and it is their problem then.”
“Rebecca, apologize immediately to Mrs. Grayson,” Michael got to his feet, ready to paddle her right in front of the elderly woman if she didn’t comply.
Becky looked at the hurt expression in the elderly woman’s eyes, and felt her cheeks flood with shame. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Grayson. I’ve been told I have a sharp tongue, and I guess I just proved it to myself. I was raised better than that, and I apologize. It’s none of my business what you choose to do with your estate.” She looked up at Michael. “I’m sorry…” He was going to spank her, she realized with a start. There wouldn’t be a reprieve the next time he took her over his knee… and what’s more, she deserved a spanking. She’d been so unbelievably rude.
“Mr. Rich, Becky may be outspoken, but in this instance she is quite correct. I wish to leave the sum of one dollar to my reprobate son-in-law, and one thousand dollars to my daughter, in trust, with you as administrator. Meaning, you will approve any money she asks for… and it is not to be used for foolishness. If she becomes widowed, then she can have control of her money. I wish to leave the balance of my estate to Michelle. If you have the papers drawn up, I will sign them next week when I come to town. Will the same time be acceptable?” she turned to Becky to inquire.
“Yes, ma’am.” Rebecca wrote down the appointment in the book… and walked over to the door with the elderly lady. “I am so sorry for being so rude, Mrs. Grayson.”
“From the look in that young man’s eyes, and the fact he was kissing you when I walked in here, I’d say you are in for one doozy of a spanking when I leave…” Mrs. Grayson predicted, and then added, “A spanking is just a firm expression of love, dear. I’m so happy you found the right man to love you… And don’t worry, dear. I am not a gossip. But, I hope you will permit me to tell everyone I know that I was the first to know about your romance…”
Michael overheard the whole conversation, even though Mrs. Grayson was trying to whisper, and he couldn’t help chuckling at Becky’s expression. She was dumbfounded, but she gave the woman a big hug and said, “I respect the truth, ma’am… and you truly are the first to know. Why, Mama and Papa don’t suspect a thing…”
“Now, I’m sure you are wrong about that, dear. You’ll see.” She looked at Michael and bade him good day, and promised to see them both next week. “You might want to lock the door so someone else doesn’t just walk in. My Thomas spanked on the bare…”
Michael chuckled once more when Rebecca turned the lock on the door and leaned against it breathlessly. “You really are going to spank me, aren’t you?” she asked of him.
“You’re a very smart woman, Becky; what do you think?”
Rebecca squirmed uncomfortably, but looked Michael in the eye and said, “I think I certainly deserve a spanking.” Her face had to be an uncustomary red, but Becky prided herself on being painfully honest, always.
“I happen to think you are right,” Michael agreed with her. He took a seat on the front of his own desk this time and motioned for her to come to him.
Becky didn’t want to, but she walked over to Michael. “I don’t want people to dread seeing me come into a room, Michael. I’m ashamed of myself,” she tearfully admitted. “Will you please help me change?”
“That’s what husbands who love their wives do,” he gave her a reassuring hug. “I do love you, Becky, and I promise I’ll take the edge off your sharp tongue.” He guided her over his knee, and promptly tossed up her skirts. It didn’t take him much longer to untie her drawers and lower them to her knees. He was sure that Connie Webster would pound him into mud if he learned that Michael bared his daughter’s bottom for a spanking before they were married, but Michael didn’t believe a spanking on a grown woman did a bit of good unless it was given on her bare backside. Rebecca wasn’t protesting, and knowing her as well as he did, she agreed with him, or she’d be raising twelve kinds of hell all over him.
Rebecca wasn’t surprised that the first spank hurt like the very devil. She hadn’t been spanked in years, in spite of her Papa’s threats. And, if she were honest, she’d certainly earned a few spankings since her last one. Michael loved her, and she wanted and needed this correction at his hand. Still, it was going to hurt, and that part scared her a lot.
Michael spanked Rebecca soundly, raising bright
red handprints on her delicate skin. She cried out often, but she didn’t beg him to stop, even though he heard her say how sorry she was. He made sure that her upper thighs were just as red as her bottom, and he finally picked up a ruler from his desk, and applied it to her tender sit spot. Becky took the spanking well, staying in place, and not putting her hands back to cover her lovely bottom. Michael knew she was sorry, but he wasn’t sure if she’d had enough. “Are you going to behave now, Rebecca?” he asked sternly.
“Yes, Michael. I’m so sorry…” Becky was crying, and praying he would stop soon. She wasn’t going to be able to sit comfortably for several days!
Michael carefully pulled up her drawers, and pulled down her skirts, then gently lifted her to her feet. “I won’t permit you to act like a sharp-tongued shrew, Becky.” He kissed her tenderly, and held her for a very long time.
********************
Connie wasn’t a bit surprised when he saw the man riding in the buggy with his most difficult child, and he walked into the kitchen and gave his wife a playful smack on the bottom, ignoring the giggles from Abby and Maddy, who were helping Lenora fix supper. “There’ll be one more at the table tonight, honey.”
Lenora looked at her husband and smiled. Connie loved being ‘right’, and while she hadn’t believed him, it certainly seemed he knew their Becky better than she did. A few minutes later, she saw with her own eyes the love shining in Becky’s eyes as she looked at the man carefully lifting her from the buggy.
“Papa and Mama, this is the man I want to marry. He’s promised to make me a sweet-tempered Angel…”
Chapter Eight
February 14, 1880
Sweetheart Dance Page 8
