Eager to get to her and apologize, my first instinct was to run so I could close the distance between us as quickly as possible. But, I didn’t want to startle her. I’d already caught her by surprise once that day and had no desire to do it again.
However, I did pick up my pace and with my longer stride I was only a few feet from her in a matter of moments.
She was so engrossed in her pique of anger that she didn’t even realize I was behind her. I kept pace with her, but remained a couple steps back. But close enough to hear what she was saying.
“Should have known better. He’s just like everyone else.” She kept repeating those two phrases over and over. There was anger in her voice, but also a great deal of hurt.
It was obvious that the ‘he’ she referred to was me. Which meant I was the one who’d caused that hurt to her.
Not that it was a shock. Of course I’d hurt her.
I just wasn’t sure how to go about wrangling her now. Chester the bull would have been easier.
Taking a deep breath, I called out to her, “Minnie. Minnie, wait.”
She kept going. It was entirely possible she was ignoring me, but I persisted. “Minnie!” I said in my sharpest law-and-order voice.
She stopped in her tracks so suddenly I nearly ran into her. She spun around and looked at me, almost like she was in a daze. Then realization set in.
“You!” she said, voice heavy with ire. “What do you want? Have you made other plans for me without my permission?”
Whew. This was not going to be quite as easy as I had expected.
Because you’re an arrogant prick.
Well, that seemed a bit harsh, but not necessarily wrong. At least as far as this situation was concerned.
When I looked into her brown eyes, they flashed with fury. And disappointment.
Damn. Not disappointment. I’d rather she hated me than to know I’d fallen short of her expectations.
But it was all true.
All the fancy words I’d been rehearsing in my mind while I raced around town looking for her vanished. I held my hands up in surrender and gazed steadily into her eyes.
“I was wrong, Minnie. One hundred percent, totally and completely wrong. And I am sorrier than I can say.”
I don’t think I’d ever spoken a truer statement in my entire life.
I reached out and touched her upper arms, resisting the urge to draw her to my chest and beg her forgiveness. I was fully prepared to do so, I realized as I stood there waiting for her to respond, but I needed to give her the chance to tell me to go to hell first.
She took in a ragged breath and blew it out. Some of the spit and vinegar fell away as she exhaled.
I held my own breath as I waited for her to say something.
I stared into her soulful eyes trying to glean what might be going on in her mind. Was it over for us? Over before it really even got started?
When I was ten, Peter Bolger and I were walking along a railroad bridge and he dared me to climb to the top. Never one to back down from a dare, I shimmied to the beams overhead and looked down, wondering what it would be like to fall into the abyss below.
This was worse.
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “I thought you were different, Roy. Different from the rest. But you’re not,” she said, forlornly.
It would have been better if she’d yelled at me. But I stood there and let her say what she needed to say. What she deserved to say.
“When I was four, my mama died. I didn’t have a pa. They took me to an orphanage run by the nuns.”
She paused and looked into the distance like she was picturing the scene and it wasn’t pleasant.
“The nuns said mean things about my mama. I didn’t really understand it then, except to know they didn’t approve. Now that I’m older, I have a better understanding of what they were talking about. What my mother was.”
I reached for her then, compelled to comfort her and take away her pain, but she held out her hand to stop me. “I need to say what I have to say, Roy.” She brushed at the tears on her cheeks.
“When I was six, the nuns sent me to work for the Pendletons, Lizzie’s family. I lived at the big house and they were better than the nuns. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized I’d never gotten paid for my work. Not that a scullery maid got paid much and they did feed me and give me hand me down clothes. When I asked, I learned that all my wages, such as they were, went to the nuns.”
She chewed at her lip then went on. “At fourteen I became Lizzie’s personal maid. She stood up to her father and forced him to stop sending my wages to the nuns and paid me directly. It wasn’t much, but the most important thing was that she stood up for me. No one had ever done that before.”
“That’s why you came out here to warn her,” I said.
“Yes. Lizzie, Miss Elizabeth as I called her then, was always very kind to me, though I was still her servant. I’m a very loyal person.”
“That’s one of the things I like best about you,” I said.
“When I got to Juniper Junction, it was the first time I felt like a real person. Until then, I’d always been invisible. Just the girl who scrubbed the pots or peeled the potatoes. Sometimes I thought ‘hey, you’ was my name.”
Oh Lord. I thought about the servants I’d grown up with in my parents’ home. Shame filled me when I recalled my treatment of them.
“Here, I have a job and people know me. They call me by name and talk to me like I’m a real person. Do you have any idea how wonderful that feels after all those years?”
“I-I don’t, Minnie,” I confessed. “I’ve never experienced that sort of thing, but I will tell you how profoundly sorry I am that it happened to you. I would imagine you feel very free now, here in Juniper Junction.”
“Yes,” she said and smiled for the first time since the box social. “Free. My own person. Did you know that in Wyoming Territory women can vote? I’m going to vote, Roy! Can you believe it?”
I took her hand and led her over to sit on a tree stump just off the path. To my relief, she allowed it and even moved over to make room for me to sit next to her.
“I don’t suppose you still want to marry me—or even ask—now that you know those things about me and my past. But, can you understand why it made me so mad when you just assumed things about me?”
“Yes,” I said, my heart flickering with a glimmer of hope, “it is completely understandable. It seems that if we are going to be married, we might want to talk about a few things first.”
* * *
Minnie
I was rather shocked that he still wanted to marry me. Or at least talk about it. And he still hadn’t asked.
Sitting next to Roy on the big tree stump sure felt good. When we’d been near each other at the box social, that had felt good too, but in a different way. This felt more like we were… partners.
This was the first time I’d ever stood up for myself like that and I couldn't believe he’d actually agreed with my point of view. Maybe I’d misjudged him.
Roy took my hand in his and shifted around so we could face each other better on the tree stump. “I promise,” he said, his voice solemn, “to always respect you, Minnie. No matter what.”
Tears returned to my eyes. “Thank you. That is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me. Maybe it is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to anyone.”
He squeezed my hand and smiled at me. My heart melted a bit and the anger from earlier completely vanished.
But I still had one nagging thought. I was tempted to ignore it, but I was this deep in the conversation, there was no point in holding back now.
“Roy,” I said, gathering up my courage, “at the box social you said you’d put me over your knee and swat my bottom.”
“Yes,” he replied. “I will discipline you if I think it’s necessary to enforce rules.”
“Rules? I never knew anyone who was married until I came here. I guess I don’t k
now much about how it all works.”
“Well,” Roy said, rubbing his thumb over the top of my hand in a most distracting manner, “I suppose it works however we agree that it will.”
“So what if I don’t agree to being spanked? Or I don’t want to agree to your rules?”
Roy looked up at me, surprised. He still had a few things to learn about dealing with me, but at least he was willing to listen to my concerns.
He paused and thought for a moment before replying. “As a husband, it would be my duty and my honor to care for my wife. To make sure she was safe and behaved in a way that reflected all her finer characteristics. If she endangered her health or safety, was disrespectful of me or herself—and doing things like gossiping, lying or being rude is a form of disrespecting yourself. And if she broke those rules, I would impose discipline.”
“Like a spanking?” I asked and to my horror, my voice quivered.
He tipped my chin up so we were gazing into each other’s eyes. “Yes. On your bare bottom. I believe,” he brought his face even closer to mine, “that when I mentioned turning you over my lap earlier today, you found the notion a bit enticing, didn’t you?”
My pulse raced and I could feel a flush working its way up my face.
“Remember what I said about lying, Minnie. I believe that’s what started this discussion at the box social. You denied talking to yourself, but we both know you do, don’t we?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “But I’m not always aware that I’m doing it. So maybe that wasn’t really a lie.”
“But you were aware that you were going into Chester’s pasture when you picked those Juniper Jewels for your basket today, weren’t you?” His gaze narrowed on me and I squirmed on the hard tree stump.
“Well, how else could I be sure you’d know which basket was mine? As it was, Matt had to sneak up to the table and move the baskets around so mine was toward the end because you weren’t even there.”
“I’m sorry you were worried about me getting there on time and I’ll try to do better in the future, but as deputy sheriff, there are times when I won’t be able to just stop and leave people high and dry while I attend to my personal business. Even if that’s what I’d rather do.” He squeezed my hand.
“So, in a way, it’s your fault that I had to go into that field?” I suggested.
“Regardless of the reason, I told you not to go there. For your safety.” He patted his lap and gestured with his head. “Come on.”
“What are you talking about?” I had an idea what he meant, but I was stalling.
“You’re all concerned about being spanked and you’ve earned a spanking, so let’s kill two birds with one stone. You’ll get your punishment and also find out what it’s like to get a spanking. Now, since we aren’t married, or even engaged, I’ll spank over your clothes. But, after we get married, it will always be on the bare. Remember that.”
All this talk about my bare bottom and his hands on it sent wild shivers through me. I could have walked away, but I wanted to make amends with Roy. I had gone against his orders to stay out of the field and I have to admit that Chester was no happier to see me the second time than he’d been the first. It was scary.
I took a deep breath and then laid myself over his thighs. They were nearly as firm as the tree stump. My heart thundered. This was a very intimate position and I felt vulnerable.
And excited in a womanly way.
Roy’s hand skimmed down my back and rested on my bottom. “You’re going to get ten swats for disobeying me.” He adjusted our bodies so my legs were pinned between his, with my bottom on his left knee while his right leg held my shins down. “This is so you don’t kick me.”
“All right,” I said.
“You might want to hold onto my calf to steady yourself.”
“You sure know a lot about spankings,” I said.
“I have a feeling you’re going to become an expert at getting them,” he said with a chuckle before landing the first swat in the middle of my backend.
It had a bit more bite than I’d expected, especially with the layers of my skirt. Three, or maybe four, more swats followed rapidly alternating left and right. Roy was methodical.
My rear end stung and heat spread across it with each additional swat.
“Ouch, that hurt,” I said, fighting back tears. I’d longed for Roy to hold me close, but not like this.
“Just a couple more, Minnie. You’re being very brave.”
I sniffled. I didn’t feel brave.
The spanks stopped and he tucked me into his lap, with my head pressed to his shoulder, his arms circled around me. Just the way I’d longed for him to hold me.
I squirmed a bit on my sore bottom, but the sting faded compared to the pleasure of being tight against Roy’s body. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked gently.
“No, I suppose not,” I admitted. “And I like this part.”
His arms tightened around me. “I like it too.”
We sat that way for a few moments, just quietly enjoying each other’s company.
Then Roy disengaged from me and stood, setting me down on the stump before he knelt down on the ground in front of me.
“Minnie,” he said, his voice husky, “will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise to love and respect you for all the days of my life.”
“Yes! Yes!” I leapt into his arms and we toppled over until I was laying on top of him. His arms circled my waist and his lips captured mine in a kiss that sealed us together for all time.
Chapter 4
Minnie
“The train? Roy, where are we going?” I gazed up at my new husband—it had only been a few hours since our wedding—in surprise. He seemed to be full of surprises lately. This was a side to Roy I hadn’t seen very much. I liked it.
Usually he was rather serious. Being a deputy sheriff, even in a small town like Juniper Junction, put him in contact with some of life’s most unpleasant circumstances and sometimes I thought he carried too much of that burden.
As his wife, I hoped to make a pleasant home for him, where he could relax and enjoy himself. Enjoy himself with me.
We were standing on the train platform surrounded by our wedding guests who had followed along in order to see us off. It had been like a small parade down Main Street with Roy and me as the grand marshals.
What would the other maids back in St. Louis think if they could see me leading a parade? What a change my life had taken. All for the better, as far as I was concerned.
I thought the guests were simply following us on the way to our new home, but Roy steered us toward the train station.
I continued to gaze into Roy’s handsome face and nearly felt faint with wonder that this incredible man was now my husband. That he’d picked me, of all people, to be his bride.
Until death do us part.
“Well, Mrs. Gantry,” he said with a smile.
I liked hearing him call me Mrs. Gantry.
“We are taking the train all the way to Black Clover where we are going to spend our honeymoon at the Grand Hotel.”
“What?” I took a step back. I’d only ridden the train once, that was the three-day trip from St. Louis to Juniper Junction when Roy and I met. I most certainly had never spent a night in a hotel.
“But, what about—”
“Your clothes? I have them here. Lizzie was kind enough to pack a bag for you. She said it was the least she could do after all the times you’d packed for her travels.”
A travel bag which I recognized as Lizzie’s appeared next to Roy’s feet. I had no such luggage. I’d traveled to Juniper Junction on a whim.
The best decision I’d ever made because I’d met Roy.
“And what about—”
“Your job? Mrs. Campbell will be just fine without you. Besides, if all goes well on our honeymoon, you’ll soon be too busy tending to our babies to work for Mrs. Campbell.”
“Roy!” I shrieked with embarrassment and looked around to see if any of those gathered near us had heard. Based on the way they were grinning, the answer was yes. My face heated.
And so did my lady parts.
The engineer called out “All aboard!” and the train whistle screeched, making me jump.
A honeymoon. That was quite a step up for someone who was a lady’s maid just a few months ago.
Insecurity got the better of me. “Roy,” I whispered, not wanting to embarrass him in front of our wedding guests, “I know you feel bad about the box social and everything, but is this really necessary? No one is mad about that anymore, especially not me. It’s not like you’ve got anything to prove.” I glanced around again and then stared at the train. “Doesn’t this all cost a lot of money?”
Roy tipped his head down and gave me a stern look. Beneath the brim of his dark hat his eyes flashed and my tummy flip-flopped. “You wouldn’t be trying to interfere with a man who is taking care of his wife, would you, little girl?”
A squeak of something, though I’m not sure what—fear, anxiety, desire—maybe all three and a few others, escaped my lips. “N-no, sir,” I replied.
“Good. Because it’s time for us to get on the train. Mrs. Gantry.” He grinned when he said my name and I grinned too.
He lifted me into his arms and we boarded the train. Everyone on the platform cheered. I gazed up at the blue Wyoming sky and thanked heaven for my many blessings.
Roy carried me up the steps like I weighed nothing. His strong arms held me securely and I could feel his muscles bulging. Once we were up the steps, I expected him to set me on my feet, but he kept walking with me in his arms, like it was the most normal thing in the world to do.
Glancing out the window, I saw Matt, Lizzie’s husband, hand our bags over to the porter since Roy’s hands were busy.
They really were. Not only was he carrying me, but one of his palms gripped my backside in a most provocative way.
“Roy,” I whispered, “you can’t do that on a train.”
He just grinned and ignored me, his palm giving my bottom a squeeze.
Cowboy’s Demands: Brides of Juniper Junction, Book Five Page 3
