His Sweet Amber (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Sue Lyndon

  “Come,” he said, leading her to Abraham. “We’ll finish this discussion back home.”

  They rode in silence and reached the cabin just as total darkness descended. Misty was lingering by the stable, thankfully, patiently waiting on their return. Stars sparkled overhead and the moon appeared as only a sliver of white in the sky. Callie would have had a difficult time finding her way through the darkness and she felt fortunate her husband had found her in time. She felt utterly exhausted from all the excitement and worry she’d experienced today, especially the fear she’d felt walking through the darkening woods alone.

  She stood outside the stable while Lawrence got Abraham and Misty inside their stalls and fed. Once he finished, he grabbed her hand without a word and led her into the cabin. It was dark inside, and Lawrence immediately set about lighting the lanterns that were scattered about the downstairs.

  She remained as still as possible near the front door, expecting him to start raging at her at any moment. She certainly deserved to be yelled at. And punished. Her bottom tingled at the thought. Surely he would take his belt to her. As upset as he was, she doubted she would sit comfortably for a month.

  “Callie, come sit down by the fire.” He looked up as he got a blaze going in the sitting room hearth. “Callie.”

  After he called her the second time, she managed to cross to him, though her legs felt so weak with fear that moving was slow and difficult. He nodded at a plush chair that was in front of the fire. She sat in it and tried to meet his gaze but couldn’t hold it for more than a second.

  He took a long breath and then exhaled slowly. “Callie, what you did was incredibly foolish. Even if you were an expert rider, I would not have let you venture off on your own on a trip that would take several hours.”

  “I-I told you I thought it was closer.” She forced herself to look into his eyes, but regretted it at once. He appeared more livid than he had moments ago, with his jaw clenched tight and a mixture of anger and disappointment gleaming in his eyes. The disappointment killed her. How could she have done something so stupid? “Lawrence, please forgive me. I promise I’ll never do anything so foolish again.”

  “You risked your life. What if I hadn’t been able to find you? There are cougars and black bears up here.”

  “I know, I know, and Lawrence please believe me when I say I’m sorry.” She wept into her hands. Matthew had warned her about snakes all the time, but he’d also warned her about the cougars and the bears. She had never disobeyed Matthew and wandered off alone. She was so ashamed to have disobeyed Lawrence, especially so soon after they’d gotten married. She had promised herself she would try to be the perfect wife and not even a week after their wedding she had gravely erred.

  Lawrence reached for her boots and pulled them off her feet. To her utter surprise, some of the fire left his gaze and he commenced rubbing her heels. “You’re in a lot of trouble, little girl. By the time I’m through with you, you will never, ever think of doing anything so foolish again.”

  “Are-are you going to spank me right now?”

  He shook his head. “You’re exhausted, Callie. I’m not going to spank you right now, but tomorrow after breakfast I expect you to meet me in the woodshed. I will mete out your punishment there.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” She lowered her head, chastised from his scolding.

  “Now,” he said, standing up. “I’m going to get you something to eat, and then we’re going to bed.”

  He disappeared into the kitchen before she could protest.

  *

  Lawrence awoke to the smell of flapjacks cooking on the stove. He crawled out of bed and got dressed quickly, his heart heavy. Callie had not only disobeyed him yesterday, but she had risked her life in the process. He needed to make her understand that such behavior wasn’t acceptable, and he planned to take a switch to her bottom in the woodshed. Though he had spanked her with his hand before, and even taken a belt to her once, he knew the searing pain of a switch impacting on her bare behind would probably be a shock to her. He decided not to tell her about the switching until after she was already in the woodshed.

  Husbands were supposed to lead, and wives were supposed to obey. That was how God intended it, and he took his duties as her husband seriously. He would love, honor, and cherish her, but he would also guide her when she had gone astray and done something to harm herself or their marriage. Her actions yesterday warranted a severe punishment.

  They ate breakfast in silence. Callie didn’t appear to have much of an appetite, and she kept pushing her food around on her plate, only taking a small bite whenever he gave her a concerned look. Truth be told, though, he didn’t have much of an appetite either, but he forced his breakfast down anyway, since she had gone to the trouble to cook it despite knowing what awaited her in the woodshed.

  She rose up to gather the dishes from the table, and his heart ached when he saw her bottom lip quivering. She blinked hard and was obviously trying to hold back her tears.

  “Callie, let’s worry about the kitchen later. I think we need to get your punishment out of the way.”

  With shaking hands, she set the plates back on the table and stared at him pensively. “Why must we go to the woodshed? Why can’t you just spank me here? I-I know I deserve it, Lawrence, and I won’t fight it. I will submit to my punishment, I promise.”

  “Because your offense was a serious one, Callie, and serious punishments will always be carried out in the woodshed. Now go and wait for me. I won’t be long.”

  After she left the cabin and headed for the woodshed, Lawrence walked to the nearest patch of trees and cut three thin branches off one of them. Using a knife, he removed the leaves and smoothed the wood down on each switch.

  He found Callie waiting in the middle of the small woodshed, twisting her hands together in a nervous fashion in front of her, her head bowed submissively. She peeked up as he entered the woodshed, and her eyes filled with dread as she stared at the switches. But she didn’t try to talk her way out of a switching, nor did she plead for him to be lenient in any way. There was a look of acceptance on her face, and he loved her all the more for not making this more difficult. Hurting her—punishing her this severely—was not something he would enjoy.

  He placed the switches down on a stool and leveled his hands on Callie’s shoulders. He waited for her to meet his gaze. “You know what you did wrong yesterday, Callie, so I am not going to spend a long time scolding you for it. But I want you to know that I love you. Your happiness and your safety mean everything to me. Do you understand?”

  “Y-yes, s-sir.”

  “I would never deny you the opportunity to visit Matthew’s grave, and I would have gladly taken you there. And I will take you there, soon. Did you worry I wouldn’t want you thinking about him or paying your respects to him now that we are married?”

  She nodded. “Yes, sir. I worried you might not want me dwelling on my late husband. I thought I could quickly visit Matthew’s claim and be back long before you returned. I know I did wrong.” Her face crumpled. “I-I know I deserve a switching.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her against his chest, stroking her hair and giving her comfort before he had to cause her pain. He wouldn’t go easy on her. By the time he broke the last switch across her bottom, she would probably be weeping and struggling to hold still. Yet he had to do it. If he let her off with a warning, she wouldn’t learn her lesson and it would set a bad precedent.

  “Very well, Callie,” he said, pulling back. He started working open the buttons on the front of her dress. “It will be easier with this off. Besides, it’s not very cool this morning.”

  Once he had her dress off, he placed it atop a table he had tools scattered across. He allowed her to keep her chemise, stockings, and boots on, but he did not allow her the protection of her drawers. He unfastened the tie holding them up and let the white fabric fall to her ankles.

  He moved the switches from the stool and plac
ed them on the table with her dress, then dragged the stool in front of her. He patted the seat of it. “Bend over and place your hands here for support. I expect you to remain in position during your switching, Callie. If you move your hands from the stool, I will start your switching all over again. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.” Sorrow gleamed in her eyes, but she obediently bent over and placed her hands where he’d indicated.

  He moved behind her and looked at her bare bottom. Her legs were shaking and her pale cheeks were quivering. Goose bumps rose on her exposed skin, but he suspected it was more from her fear of the punishment than from the temperature in the woodshed. He moved to her side and cupped her bottom. After giving each cheek a few preliminary rubs, he started spanking her with his hand. He smacked her cheeks, alternating from right to left, until her bottom was a dark shade of pink.

  She whimpered now and then, but she didn’t start crying until he reached for the first switch. “If you ever lie to me, or directly disobey me, Callie, you can expect a switching. Are we clear on that?”

  “Yes, sir.” Her answer came out as a sob, and her shoulders heaved.

  He gripped the switch tightly in his hand and swung it against the center of her bottom cheeks. She rose up on her toes and struggled for her next breath, but she didn’t try to stand up, nor did she remove her hands from the stool. A thin welt appeared where he’d just struck her, and he worked down her bottom, landing the switch in lines down as far as her upper thighs, when it finally snapped.

  Her shoulders heaved harder and she kept apologizing over and over again, though she didn’t beg him to stop. The second switch, to his relief, wasn’t as sturdy as the first one and broke the fifth time he brought it across her bottom. He picked up the third switch and decided to start on her thighs, still trying to avoid the welts that had already risen. He gave her two final strokes to her sit spot, and then he threw the switch down. She’d had enough. And by God, so had he.

  He picked her up and carried her into the cabin, not bothering to dress her first. No one would see her, and he wanted to get her comfortable in their bed as soon as possible. Her tears broke his heart, but he didn’t regret punishing her. It had been necessary, but thank goodness it was finally over and they could put this ordeal behind them.

  He laid her on her stomach and sat down beside her on the bed. He stroked the tear matted hair from her face and rubbed her back as her sobbing faded to soft sniffles. He pressed a kerchief to her eyes and nose, and his heart contracted when she met his gaze and gave him the smallest smile.

  God, he loved her. It tore him up that he’d had to punish her so severely, and here she was giving him a comforting smile in the midst of her own tears and sorrow.

  He glanced at her poor, punished bottom. Most of the thin welts that had risen up were already starting to fade. He cupped her backside and rubbed gently for several minutes, before he reached for the quilt folded at the end of the bed to cover her up with.

  “It’s over now, Callie.” His words were meant to reassure her, but also himself. “I still love you, my sweet wife.”

  She gave him another reassuring smile, and it was all he could do to keep from lifting her and holding her in his embrace, but he left her be on the bed, knowing she needed to recover from the switching. “I love you too, Lawrence.”

  “Close those pretty green eyes of yours and try to sleep. You got up very early today, and I imagine you’re still exhausted from yesterday’s adventure.”

  “Thank you, Lawrence.” She yawned and nestled further into her pillow. “I just hope I don’t dream about woodsheds.” A little laugh floated up from her, and then she closed her eyes and appeared peaceful for the first time that morning.

  He stayed and watched her sleep. After spending hours searching for her yesterday and fearing the worst, he wasn’t ready to let Callie out of his sight.

  Chapter Eleven

  Callie walked out of The Red Petticoat, leaving from the kitchen exit, so as to not be seen at the saloon. Lawrence had granted her request to visit her friends, but she still wished to salvage what was left of both their reputations, if it were possible. She strolled toward the main street and headed for the mercantile, where Lawrence was checking on the status of some mining equipment he had ordered.

  A commotion near the bank caught her attention. People were gathered around someone lying on the ground. She hurried toward the crowd and spotted Lawrence kneeling near a middle aged man who was clutching his chest and gasping for breath. Dr. Norwood was kneeling on the other side of the man. She stood on her tiptoes and realized the man who was unwell was Mr. Crisfield, the owner of the mill.

  The doctor motioned for Bo Mangusson, the owner of the stables, and another burly man forward out of the crowd. They helped Mr. Crisfield to his feet and carried him in the direction of the clinic, with the doctor leading the way. Meanwhile, Lawrence had moved to console a crying woman and child. Callie felt saddened when she realized they were Mr. Crisfield’s wife and daughter.

  She observed as Lawrence spoke gently to the woman and child, and though she couldn’t discern his words from this distance, she sensed he was ministering to them and promising that God would be watching over Mr. Crisfield. When he knelt to peer into the frightened little girl’s face as he offered comfort, Callie put a hand on the slight swell of her stomach—their little gift from God that Lawrence already insisted must be a girl—and her heart went out to the woman and child. Eventually, an older lady approached from the crowd and led the child away by the hand, and Mrs. Crisfield said something to Lawrence, before she hurried down the street after her ill husband.

  Most of those who’d gathered around were staring at Lawrence, as if for guidance. He stood in the middle of the crowd for a moment, looking as if he wanted to say something, though he remained quiet for a while. When, finally, he seemed to summon his courage, he called out for anyone who wanted to join him in a prayer for Mr. Crisfield and his family to close their eyes and bow their heads. Almost everyone in the crowd did.

  Callie took a few more steps in her husband’s direction, and then she also closed her eyes and bowed her head. Part of her had always suspected this was coming. Though Lawrence had shut himself off from God for the last two years, he had admitted to her that he’d recently started speaking to God again. Why shouldn’t he minister to the people of Culpepper? If he felt called to serve God again, she would hold her head high and stand by his side. It wasn’t a secret that Lawrence had met her at The Red Petticoat, and if the townspeople could look to him for guidance despite his past, then maybe this was meant to be.

  “Heavenly Father, we ask that you look over our brother, Gregory Crisfield, and help him during his crisis of health. We ask that you guide the doctor’s hands as he tends to Gregory, and we ask that you bring comfort and peace to his wife and daughter. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

  A chorus of amens floated from those who’d joined Lawrence in prayer. After a few seconds, the crowd started to disperse, and finally Callie was left standing in front of her husband. He moved to her slowly, his expression wary.

  “I know I promised you I wouldn’t become the preacher in Culpepper.”

  She smiled. “Yes, but perhaps it’s a promise that you aren’t meant to keep. Perhaps God is calling upon you again.”

  “I-I have often wondered it myself, but I would never wish to cause you to feel uncomfortable. I can’t guarantee that all of Culpepper will accept both of us, but there’s a big part of me that believes we should at least try.” He stared down the street at the church steeple.

  Callie realized it might not go smoothly at first, but she didn’t want to hold him back from his calling. Besides, she wasn’t weak. She could endure the ugly looks and the snickers that might come from some of the townspeople. If it became too much and it didn’t appear to be working out for either of them, she trusted in Lawrence to realize it and make the best decision for their marriage.

  As if reading her though
ts, he said, “You come first, Callie. Don’t you ever forget that. You’re my wife. I promise you, if we try and the gossip is too much for you, we can pack up and head back to the cabin, or somewhere east far from Culpepper altogether.”

  “I’m willing to try.” She squeezed his hand. “I want to try. And you know, tomorrow is Sunday. Why don’t you tell a few people in town you plan to hold a service tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens. I’ve considered what it might be like to live in town, and to be honest, I rather like the idea. I can’t explain why, but I have a good feeling about this.”

  “I bet if I only tell one person, the whole town will find out and show up.” He chuckled and then gave her hand an affectionate squeeze in return. “Thank you for understanding, Callie. I’m a lucky man to have found a wife as sweet and understanding as you.”

  She flushed. Even after all they had been through together, his compliments could still make her blush hard. “Of course. Would you like me to arrange for us to stay at the Bentley Inn tonight? Then, depending on how tomorrow goes, perhaps we will start staying in the parsonage?”

  “You really won’t mind living in town?”

  “I promise I’ll tell you if it becomes a problem.”

  He looked to the sky for a moment and gave a deep sigh. When he gazed back at Callie, there was moisture in his eyes. “Praise be to God,” he said. “All right. You go to the inn, and I’ll go visit the mayor first and tell him the news. After how many times he’s badgered me about becoming the town preacher, I’ve a feeling he will be most pleased that I’m at least going to give it a try.”

  He kissed her hand before releasing her to walk down the street. With a smile, Callie hurried to the inn, where Mrs. Bentley was overjoyed to hear that they’d be spending the night, and even happier to learn that Lawrence was contemplating becoming the town preacher.

  “I’ve been praying for the right man to come minister to the people of this town, though I’ve long believed that man to be Lawrence Black. I’m glad to hear he’s finally realized it too. You can count on me to be at church tomorrow morning, sitting in the front row with Mr. Bentley.”