by Lola Starr
Pastor Mike nodded thoughtfully before speaking.
“First of all, I want to commend the two of you for taking this step. So many couples let hostility build up to the point that it becomes destructive and it’s very difficult to repair the damage to the relationship at that point. I’m glad you guys recognize that you need some help. And, of course, I’m happy to help. Can you give me some idea of the types of disagreements you’re having?”
Dawson gestured to Cailyn for her to go first. She felt uncomfortable sharing such personal things with others but knew it was necessary to deal with the problems they were having.
“Like Dawson said, Pastor, it’s hard to put into words. I feel like...we’re not on the same page with a lot of stuff. I’m a very social person; I always have been. And I love our home. I’m so proud of it. I really enjoy having friends over and having fun get-togethers. I don’t think we do it too much, but Dawson does.
“Another big issue is my spending. We worked so hard when we first got married to save up for the down payment on our ranch and I feel like we should be able to enjoy ourselves a little now that we have it. I know it’s important not to overspend, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with buying nice things. And vacations—I mean, we can afford it so why not go away a few times a year?
“One more thing that we’ve been arguing about a lot is sort of related to the spending. I’d like to hire a housecleaner. Not a maid, but just someone to come in once a week to help do more thorough cleaning. We agreed that since I’m not working outside the home that I’d do the housework, and I don’t have a problem with that. But it seems much nicer to have a professional to help out as well. So, after Dawson said it was a waste of money, I went ahead and hired someone anyway. We had a huge argument about that and how to work out our disagreements, and that’s what led us here, basically.”
“Okay,” Pastor Mike said, with a look of concern. “Why don’t you tell me your side now, Dawson?”
“Well, it’s not so much the amount of money as it is the waste. I feel like we should still be careful with our money, you know? Something could happen and we might need our savings to fall back on. I don’t mind occasional treats and fun, but it seems like what Cailyn spends is going overboard. And, yeah, I kind of lost it when I found out she had hired someone to clean even after I told her not to. I mean, she just flat out ignored what I had to say. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of her overspending.”
“What about the frequent entertaining?” Pastor Mike said, nudging him to continue. “What are your feelings about that?”
“I’m just not a very social person. We’re opposites in that regard, I guess. I need time to recharge when I’m not working and I can’t do that if our place is filled to the brim with other people every weekend. I don’t mind once in a while. That’s what I think Cailyn meant by us not being on the same page. What I think is excessive, she sees as reasonable, and we can’t seem to get past our disagreements because of it.”
Pastor Mike leaned back in his chair, keeping silent as he chose his words. His face wore a caring but pensive expression. He was a pastor in the truest sense of the word, viewing his congregation as a flock under his care. It always pained him to see young couples having trouble in their marriages, especially in a time when society treated marriage like an article of clothing to be worn or discarded at a person’s convenience. It was so hard nowadays to encourage strong marriages. Finally, deciding on the words of advice he wanted to give, he spoke:
“First of all, I want to tell you both that these types of disagreements are very common in marriages. It’s difficult to learn how to give and take, and some couples simply need a longer time to get the hang of it. To be honest, I don’t think any couple ever genuinely masters it. But it’s important to treat your marriage in a way that brings harmony rather than conflict.
“As I’m sure both of you remember, when you got married I told you about the importance of living as partners in support of each other. One of the hardest things for many couples to realize is that in a partnership, you can’t always find a solution you’re happy with. Where marriage differs from other partnerships is that there must be someone in charge. Someone must get the final say when a disagreement cannot be resolved. And the other person needs to be willing to submit to the other spouse’s authority when that happens. Are you with me so far?”
They both nodded, although Cailyn was beginning to feel uneasy. She didn’t care for the direction this discussion was heading.
“With that in mind,” Pastor Mike continued. “I am a very strong advocate of the husband being the head of the household. I believe a marriage does best when the husband leads and the wife supports his leadership. What you guys have here is a marriage where two people want to be in charge and, as you’ve seen, that doesn’t work too well. My advice may be a bit difficult, but I hope you’ll take it.
“Dawson, you are the leader in your home. Cailyn, when Dawson gives the final word on something, you need to respect his decision and obey it. Otherwise, you are going to keep butting heads. Now, Dawson, that doesn’t mean you stop discussing things with her. You need to listen to what she has to say and make sure her feelings are valued, but that does not mean giving her whatever she wants. After hearing why she disagrees about something, you need to make a fair decision about what’s best for your marriage and be able to trust that she will accept your decision.
“Here comes the hard part. There need to be clear consequences for not following your leadership, Dawson. Discipline is a necessary part of guiding those you oversee. It can be difficult to understand this in today’s world, but a lot of women find comfort and security in knowing their husbands will enforce their authority. In the beginning, you’ll find Cailyn testing the boundaries as your relationship adjusts to this change. When that happens, she must be firmly punished—each and every time.
“I’ve found that the most effective way to do this is with spanking. It’s a quick form of discipline that leaves a lasting reminder. Dawson, you should take Cailyn over your knee and spank her bottom as often as necessary to help her learn to submit to you. Make sure it’s good and red when you’re done. Afterwards, she can either stand in the corner or remain bent over, but she needs to be still and think about why she was spanked. When you feel it’s time, allow her to rub her bottom to soothe it—or better yet, rub it for her. Remind her that she is loved and that you feel no bitterness towards her because of her disobedience.
“I think you’ll both find that you are much happier without the pent-up hostility and the tension of not being able to resolve disagreements. And, Cailyn, don’t be surprised to find yourself wanting a spanking when you’ve done something wrong. You’ll discover that sense of comfort and security I talked about. What are your thoughts? Are you both willing to give this a shot?”
Cailyn glanced at Dawson to gauge his reaction. He seemed to be seriously considering it. Cailyn groped for the words to try and change his mind before he got committed to it. One thing about Dawson—once he had made up his mind, there was no changing it. Before she could speak, Dawson piped up.
“I think it might be a good idea. Not that I want to hurt you,” he reassured Cailyn, sensing her reluctance. “I just can’t stand all the arguing. Something that brings harmony to our home must be a good thing, right?”
“I don't know about that,” replied Cailyn. She did not like the idea of being disciplined by Dawson. She knew that some couples in their church used domestic discipline in their marriages and they always seem like very happy couples, but it just seemed so alien to her. She hadn't been spanked since she was a little girl, and hadn’t ever expected something like that within her marriage. On the other hand, they had come here out of desperation. Things were getting worse in their marriage and she didn't like that either. Maybe it would work.
“It is a concept that some people have a hard time understanding,” Pastor Mike. He really hoped they would consider it. H
e wasn’t exaggerating when he said it had been very helpful for other couples.
Cailyn glanced at Dawson and felt saddened by the look on his face. He is just as worn out by all this as I am. That convinced her it was worth a try. “Okay, pastor,” she said with a deep sigh. “We’ll take your advice.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re willing to cooperate with this Cailyn,” Pastor Mike replied with a relieved tone. “I believe this really will help you guys.”
“I think so, too, Pastor,” Dawson said, rising from his chair and extending his hand. “Thank you so much for meeting with us and for your advice. We really do appreciate it.”
“No problem, guys. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. Good luck.”
Dawson and Cailyn walked out to the parking lot and got in their pickup truck in silence. As they drove, it seemed neither of them knew how to break the silence. Finally, Dawson spoke up.
“I just want our marriage to stop suffering, sweetie. I love you so much. I can’t stand the thought of things not working out.”
“Me neither,” Cailyn replied, with tears filling her eyes. “I love you, too.”
She reached out her hand and he pulled it up to his mouth to kiss it. He then held it tightly in his hand for the rest of their ride home.
Chapter 2
It had been cloudy and dreary all day, but the sun had finally started to peek out from behind the clouds as they pulled up to the house. Dawson dropped her off at the door and then pulled around the side of the house to park as she went in. It was only 6 p.m. but Cailyn felt ready to drop into bed right then. She wished she had thought to grab something for dinner while they were out. She stepped into the kitchen to look for something quick and easy just as Dawson was coming in through the patio door.
“I didn’t thaw anything for dinner,” Cailyn said with her face buried in the refrigerator, looking through it for some leftovers to throw together. “Do you feel like going back out to grab something?”
The loud sigh she got in response told her the answer to that question.
“We’ve got some chicken left over from last night. I could make a quick stir-fry, or something,” she offered, remembering his words earlier about her so-called overspending.
“That sounds good,” he replied. “I’m gonna finish up some paperwork while you do that. Call me when it’s done.”
He gave her a quick kiss before walking out of the kitchen. Caitlyn set about making dinner and thinking over the advice they had received. Part of her was a little scared of what would happen during a spanking. But another feeling was lingering within her that she didn’t quite understand. There was something almost erotic about it. She giggled to herself picturing him spanking her during sex. As she finished cooking and called him in to eat, she decided to put it out of her mind. She’d just work harder at avoiding arguments—surely that would be solution enough.
By the end of the week, however, she was ready to pull her hair out. She had spent the past 4 days cooking each meal rather than eating out, doing her best to stay on top of the housework, and hadn’t gone shopping or anything. She had mulled over in her mind whether she should cancel the cleaning service that was scheduled to come out to the house that day. Dawson had made it clear that he considered it a waste of money, but surely he’d appreciate her need for some help. And it wasn’t that much money. Or so she wanted to believe.
Midday Friday, just as they were finishing up lunch and Dawson was ready to head back out onto the ranch, the doorbell rang. Caitlyn stiffened nervously. She had hoped he would be gone by the time the maid had arrived so that she wouldn’t have to discuss the issue with him again. They had done so well avoiding arguments that week and she genuinely did not want everything to go back to the way it was.
“Are you expecting someone?” he said, with a puzzled look on his face.
“No,” she lied. “Oh, darn! I forgot to call the cleaning service to cancel for today. That’s probably the maid at the door.”
“For crying out loud, Caitlyn, now we’ll have to pay. We can’t just cancel on them like this, after they’ve already sent someone out. How could you go the entire week and not think of it?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, avoiding his eyes. “I’ve been working really hard and just forgot about it.”
“You have been working hard,” Dawson said, gently pulling her chin up with his hand so she would meet his gaze. “I realize that. Go ahead and let her come in. But I want you to cancel the service this afternoon. Before you forget again.”
Caitlyn nodded with a faint smile as he headed out of the door and she went to the front of the house to let the maid in. She decided to put off the cancellation until next week, still hoping she would be able to talk Dawson into it. Coming home that night to a professionally cleaned house was sure to put him in a different frame of mind about it.
With all the housework taken care of, she planned to spend that afternoon relaxing. They were going to meet some friends for dinner that night—plans that had been arranged before they’d gone to see Pastor Mike and Dawson had agreed it wouldn’t be nice to cancel on everyone. Delighted to be free of chores for the first time since Monday, she crawled underneath the fleece throw on the sofa and watched TV as she thought over what else she’d like to do that weekend. A trip to the mall was definitely in order, after her hard work all week. Content with how everything was going, she let her eyes close for a short rest.
Chapter 3
“Wake up, sleepy head,” she heard Dawson’s voice whispering into her ear. She opened her eyes and realized she had slept a lot longer than she had meant to.
“What time is it?”
“Almost 5. Did you have a nice nap?” he said with a soft kiss on her forehead as he sat down next to her.
“Mm hmm,” she said as she stretched and sat up. “I think I slept too much.”
“Well, while you wake up, I’m gonna go take a shower and get changed. Did you remember to call the cleaning service?”
“No, I meant to once I was done resting,” she lied. “I’ll try to catch them before they close, though.”
He headed upstairs while she sat in the living room with a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. She hated lying to him, but it was crucial for her to find the right time to discuss it so it wouldn’t cause problems. Giving it some more thought, she went upstairs to pick out an outfit to go out in. As she thumbed through dresses in the closet, her stomach continued to twist and turn as she agonized over the way she had lied to Dawson. Twice, in one day. When she heard the water in the bathroom turn off, she decided she couldn’t keep putting it off. She readied herself for a discussion with Dawson—not an argument. He came out of the bathroom, wet hair clinging to his head and a towel wrapped around his waist. His muscular frame always looked so good to her.
“The house looks so nice, doesn’t it?” she said, hoping it didn’t sound as awkward to his ears as it did to hers. “The maid did such a wonderful job.”
“It is nice,” he agreed as he walked across the room, gathering his things. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”
She took a deep breath before continuing.
“I think it would be nice to start the weekend with a freshly cleaned house. You know, so we can just enjoy your time off together before getting back to the grind on Monday.”
“Yes, it would be nice,” he replied, looking straight at her. “But it’s nicer not to waste money on help we don’t need.”
She fumbled for the right words. I can’t let this turn into an argument. The twisting in her stomach was becoming painful.
“Maybe it’s not actually a waste,” she finally replied. “It would keep our house so much prettier than I could do on my own. I mean, I think it was easier for me this week to keep the house clean since all the harder work was already done.”
She bit her lip as she waited for a response. He was pulling on a clean pair of jeans, yet kept his eyes on hers the whole time. When he finally spoke, hi
s tone was soft but serious.
“Cailyn, when we got married and moved here, the agreement was that I would manage the ranch and you would take care of our household. There is more than enough time in a day to take care of the house and still have time to relax or have fun. I go out each day and do my work. I don’t take days off so I can go see a movie with friends. I think it is more than reasonable for you to manage the housework on your own. We are not going to pay for people to clean our home. Am I being clear?”
“But it’s not that much! And you have staff to help you on the ranch—why can’t I have help too? I’m not asking a lot!”
“Cailyn,” he said firmly. “Come over here to me.”
Cailyn approached him cautiously, unsure of what was happening. Normally by now they would be yelling at each other. But anyone looking at him at that moment would never guess he was having a disagreement with his wife. He stood with his hands in the belt loop of his jeans waiting for her to come near. She stopped less than an arm’s length away from him, and he reached out to her chin, lifting it up so she was looking straight at him.
“Did you call the maid service to cancel for next week?”
A voice in her brain told her to just lie and get this conversation over with. But the way his gaze pierced through her, she couldn’t bring herself to deceive him.
“No,” she responded in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Did you lie about forgetting it earlier?”
She couldn’t make her mouth form the words so she simply nodded her head. This unflinchingly calm but disappointed reaction was something she had never seen from him before. It was clear that he simply was not going to argue or yell. Nonetheless, she felt more uneasy than she had ever felt during an argument. Before she could put her finger on what was so unsettling to her, his leg was propped up on the bed and she was bent across his lap. His hand landed on her bottom with a swat that stunned her more than it hurt her.
