Miranda’s face fell—her bright smile disintegrated but threatened tears made her eyes appear overly bright, giving her the look of a vulnerable child. In a near whisper she pleaded, “Please Marcus, not tonight… not my first night out of my room.”
“Mandy, you know very well that arguing only ups the ante—this punishment has been delayed long enough.”
Miranda fled upstairs, embarrassed to already be in tears and humiliated that David and Dylan both were in the room. After she disappeared, David turned angrily to Marcus, “Dammit Marcus, did you have to do that tonight? She’s been a model patient—not complaining once in the last two weeks about being confined to her room. She finally gets a day of happiness, and you…”
Marcus cut him off, “That’s enough, David. This is not open for discussion!” He turned on his heel and left the house, slamming the door on the way out. Marcus headed to the old hickory tree by the barn to cut a switch. He had been dreading this moment for weeks, ever since he found out the danger Mandy put herself in that night with the renegades. He never liked punishing her, but he had been especially dreading this time because he knew he’d have to be severe with her. He thought back to those three days she lay unconscious, fighting for every breath of life, and was grimly reminded again why he had to follow through.
Marcus and Dylan had discussed Mandy’s punishment and agreed that one severe spanking was enough to make their point. Since Marcus had been the primary disciplinarian in her life up till now, he would be the one to do it. He remembered the look of relief on Dylan’s face when that decision was made.
Marcus smiled as he remembered the rest of the discussion. Dylan had asked for Miranda’s hand in marriage. He had never seen the Texas Ranger look so much like a skittish colt before its first saddle ride. Marcus of course consented and was very happy for both of them. He really couldn’t have asked for a better man for his little sister. It was like eavesdropping on an intimate love letter every time you looked into their faces when they were together. Marcus knew Dylan wouldn’t try to break her spirit—they’d be partners in life, but he also knew Dylan would take her in hand when that wild spirit turned reckless, or too bratty!
With a heavy heart at his upcoming task, Marcus headed back into the house and upstairs to Miranda’s room. As Marcus crossed the parlor, David saw the wicked looking switch in his hand and started after him, but Dylan grabbed his arm in a firm grip and shook his head no. He said quietly, “What if she were killed the next time because there were no consequences this time to make her think twice. Don’t make this any harder for your brother.”
David stopped at that and slumped down on the couch, suddenly feeling sorry for both Marcus and Mandy. Dylan sat across from him, also waiting for the sobs that would cut to his heart as well.
Marcus knocked and entered Mandy’s room. She sat on the edge of the bed looking for all the world like an angel in her white cotton bed gown, her hair long and loose and two crocodile tears rolling down her cheeks. There was no defiance in her look, just shame and a little fear.
“Mandy, I love you and I’m responsible for you. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you. That’s why I can’t just let what happened go. I want you to have a good reason to think twice before you act.”
Miranda didn’t say a word, she just kept looking down. “Miranda, look at me.” She looked up and felt a physical pain at the worry and disappointment she knew she put in his eyes.
“I want to you to bend over the bed and hold on to a pillow. I don’t want you getting up or putting your hands back. There will be no fighting or arguing. I expect you to take every sting of this switch like you know you deserve it.”
Mandy silently got up and turned around, pulled up her night gown and laid over the edge of the bed—her tears flowing freely now. Marcus saw she was bare beneath her gown and knew she was ready to accept her punishment. Now he just wanted to get it over with as much as she did.
Mandy heard the soft swish of the switch cutting through the air seconds before the first contact left an ugly thin red line across her buttocks. She clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut to the fiery pain. After what she’d seen in Marcus’s eyes, she was determined to take the switching as well as possible. By the tenth swish-crack of the switch she couldn’t hold it in any longer and was sobbing loudly, but still she didn’t move.
Marcus held nothing back as he striped her bottom thoroughly and then moved to the back of her legs. He knew she’d have welts for days, but he was proud of the way she refused to plead with him to stop—she just took it. Swish—crack! Swish—crack! Swish—crack!
The switch finally broke at 30 strokes. Marcus threw it to the floor and went to Mandy, gently rubbing her back and letting her cry out her pain. That’s when he realized there were tears on his own face. He got some cooling salve off her dresser and with a feather-light touch; he smoothed it over her red-hot buttocks and legs. Then he helped her up and cradled her just as he had done when she was spanked as a child. When her sobs settled down to sniffles, he helped her into bed, laying her on her stomach.
“All is forgiven, little sis. Go to sleep,” he whispered. She was asleep in minutes, as exhausted as he was. Marcus just went to his own room, intending to go right to bed himself.
When things quieted down, David and Dylan went upstairs. Dylan stopped in Mandy’s room to make sure she was all right, but David went on down the hall to Marcus’s room. He knocked and entered even though Marcus didn’t say come in.
Marcus looked like the last cowpoke in the bunkhouse after round up. Exhaustion was etched into his very being.
“David, I don’t want to talk about this right now—or ever for that matter. It’s done—now leave me alone.” It was very rare to see or hear Marcus’s normal calm control slip.
“I didn’t come in here to argue, Marcus. I just wanted to see if you were all right.”
“Mandy’s the one who was beaten tonight. Why don’t you save your concern for her!”
The self-reproach in Marcus’s voice startled David. He’d never heard his brother show the least sign of regret or doubt about anything he did, especially not when he’d punished either Mandy or David. David walked across the room, put both his hands on Marcus’s shoulders and forced him to sit down on the bed. He then squatted down so they were eye to eye.
“Now you listen to me for a change, big brother. Nobody was beaten tonight and I’m sure Mandy would be the first to agree with me. You spanked her—a spanking she richly deserved. I was wrong to challenge you earlier this evening. I’ll say to you what Dylan said to me, ‘How would you feel if she was killed the next time, because there were no consequences to make her think twice.’
“You’ve always been there for Mandy and me—always doing the right thing. We may not have always appreciated it, but you never weakened from your responsibility to us. Don’t doubt yourself now, but you need to let us be there for you once in a while, too.”
“Thanks, David. When did you get so wise anyway?”
David chuckled at that—no one ever thought of him as the wise one before. He left Marcus so his big brother could get some much-needed sleep. David saw Dylan heading out of Mandy’s room about the same time.
“How is she?”
“Sleeping like the well-spanked little girl she is. If the red lines I can see through her gown are any indication, I’d say this is one switching she’s going to remember for a long time.”
“I don’t know, Dylan. Are you sure you’re ready to take on our wildcat for a lifetime?”
Dylan smiled at the question, “Most definitely, the sooner the better—especially since I know the sure-fire way to tame that spirit when it gets a little too wild.”
Chapter Four
It was just on the edge of dawn about two weeks later when Miranda came bounding out of the ranch house headed down to the stables. She had been somewhat subdued since the night of her awful switching, but this morning her cheeks were rosy with anticipation and h
er eyes sparkled with a brilliance they hadn’t shown since before the shooting more than six weeks ago. Yesterday the doctor had finally given her a clean bill of health, and said she could resume all normal activities, including riding.
Miranda raced into the barn and went directly to the tack room to grab her saddle, but it wasn’t there. She figured maybe someone had hung it up outside of Windfire’s stall, so she headed there next—but found no Windfire either!
“What’s going on?” she muttered out loud.
“We’re out here, Mandy…” It was Dylan’s voice coming from the back of the barn. She ran around back and saw Dylan on Black Lightning, holding Windfire’s reins, all saddled and ready to go.
“I figured you’d be out early on your first morning ride, so I…”
“Oh, Dylan! You’re so sweet—I can’t wait to gallop fast and free out to the Double-R’s boundaries! Let’s go!” She started to climb up onto Windfire, and found Dylan’s hands at her waist lifting her. He had quickly dismounted to help her onto her tall stallion.
“Whoa there, young lady! You might want to take it easy this morning—after all, you haven’t been on a horse in six weeks. I would just as soon not see a repeat of your usual wild abandon when you get on that animal.”
“Dylan… would you relax! I’ve been riding a horse since I was old enough to walk—I’m hardly going to forget everything in six weeks. Hell, if four years back east didn’t stop me, six weeks in that prison of a bedroom’s not going to. Don’t be such a stick in the mud—in fact, if you’re going to nag—I’m going alone.” And with that she dug her heels into Windfire’s flanks and the mighty horse took off in a flash.
“Not likely, brat! If you don’t slow down and wait up, I swear, I’ll tan your hide!” Dylan swung back up onto Black Lightning and took off after her, chuckling as he went. It was good to see that spirit back that he so loved about her.
Miranda laughed out loud as she urged Windfire on to more speed. Her high musical laughter mingled with the morning song of the birds as she rode east toward the sunrise. She turned back once to see that Dylan was giving chase—but no horse was a match for Windfire when he ran full out.
“Catch me if you can, cowboy!” she yelled back at him just as she disappeared over a hill.
Dylan smirked at her challenge and pushed his horse for more speed. “When I do, it will be for good,” he thought to himself. “Well, at least she’s headed in the right direction for my surprise.”
It was nearly a half-hour before Miranda finally slowed Windfire down and dismounted by a stream. She felt alive again for the first time in weeks. The sun was up now and as she lifted her face skyward to drink in its first warming rays, she heard the thunder of hoof beats.
“It’s about time! Maybe I should call you slow poke instead of cow poke!” she teased. But she was also smart enough to start backing away, ready to turn and run as soon as Dylan dismounted.
“You will pay for that, my dear,” Dylan said in a low, threatening tone. He looked at her with a menacing grin, but the threat didn’t reach his eyes. There she saw only amusement and love. Nevertheless, fear being the stronger part of valor, she winked at him and took off.
“You still haven’t caught me!” she called recklessly over her shoulder. But on the ground, she was no match for his long legs and powerful stride, especially given how little exercise she’d had in the last few weeks. Within seconds she felt his steel grip around her waist lifting her off her feet. She kicked wildly in the air, laughing as he hauled her over to the nearest rock.
“Let me go, you big lug!”
“I believe you were the one who issued the challenge, brat! Well, now I’ve caught the wild spirit, I intend to do a little taming before I let her go.” With that, he put one foot up on the rock, turned her around and bent her over his thigh.
“Dylan… No! Don’t you dare!” But she was still laughing so hard she could barely get the words out. Then she felt the first slap to the seat of her jeans. Dylan wasn’t putting much strength behind his hand, so it didn’t really hurt—it just sent a warm sensation across her backside. It was a sensation she liked, so she decided to pout and encourage more.
“Let me up, you brute!” she whined.
“I’m not quite through with you, brat!” Dylan landed half a dozen playful swats to her rear while she squealed to be released and then he pulled her up into his arms and kissed away what remaining breath she had. There was no denying the fiery passion between them every time their lips met. Miranda’s legs were so weak by the time Dylan released her, she could barely stand.
“You sure do know how to turn a girl’s head, cowboy!”
“And you, young lady, are more intoxicating than fine whiskey.” His voice was husky and he gently took her hand. “Mandy, walk with me. There’s something I want to show you.”
They walked through the trees by the stream up into a beautiful meadow that overlooked the south pastures. Miranda couldn’t believe he’d brought her here of all places on the ranch.
“I discovered this little bit of paradise while I was investigating the renegades. It’s so peaceful and welcomes the new day better than any other spot on the Double-R that I’ve found.” He turned to look at Miranda and saw tears in her eyes.
“What is it, honey? I didn’t mean to make you cry—what’s wrong?” She just shook her head and buried her face in his broad chest.
“Mandy, you have to talk to me—when we’re married I want you to always be honest with me about how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking. That’s the only way a marriage survives.”
She looked up at him… “M…mm…marriage?”
Dylan blushed for the first time in his life. “I… uh… guess I skipped a step there…” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a lovely antique ruby ring.
“This ring belonged to my mother—its ruby reminds me of your fiery spirit. Miranda Marie Rollins, will you wear this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment to our life together? Mandy, will you marry me?”
Miranda was speechless—his words reached down to her very soul and she thought her heart would burst out of her chest. She could barely manage enough breath to whisper, “yes.”
Dylan put the ring on her finger and she leaned into him with her back against his chest for support to admire the perfect fit of the precious ring—just like their lives fit, perfectly. Dylan put his arms around her waist and held her for a while as they watched the sun rise high into the sky, giving the meadow a beautiful golden hue.
“I wanted to build our home here on this meadow, but when I asked Marcus about buying the land from him, he said he didn’t own it—just used it. He said he didn’t think the owner would ever sell.” Dylan sighed, thinking how wonderful it would have been to wake up every morning here with Mandy and watch the sunrise.
“Marcus is right, the owner of this land will never sell.” She turned to face him. “Dylan, this is my land—our land now. When I was only about five years old, my dad told me that in a few years I could pick out a piece of the ranch that I would like for my very own—land that he hoped I would someday raise my family on. David did the same, and of course Marcus got the rest, as Dad’s heir. The first moment I saw this meadow, I knew even as a small child, this was my place. It’s so amazing that you would bring me here to propose. I love you.”
Dylan chuckled. “Well, I guess that explains Marcus’s smirk and comment that everything would work out, when I asked about this land. Mandy, I will build you a wonderful home here and we will raise our family here.”
“You know, as I was growing up, I always wondered if the man with whom I’d want to share my life would take me away to his home or if I’d get to stay here. It means so much to me that you’re willing to stay at the Double-R.”
“Mandy, I’d never dream of taking you away from here—this ranch is part of you, and you’re part of it. Besides, I think if I tried to take you away, your brothers would lead a posse after both of us. This is your ho
me, and since my folks died, I’m not tied to any place. The life of a Ranger doesn’t really lead to putting down roots.”
“But you’re willing to do just that here, with me?”
“It won’t be easy—there will be times I’ll gone for days or weeks on a case. I won’t always be able to tell you what it’s about. But knowing you’re here, with your brothers to lasso that wild spirit of yours, I won’t worry so much…”
“Lasso my wild spirit!” Miranda cried in mock protest.
Dylan laughed. “Now, don’t get your back up, brat! If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you—it’s that you look out for your own safety last—and every other living critter first.” His tone softened again, “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I’d never forgive myself if I was away on a case and no one was here to protect you when you needed someone.”
“You know, thanks to my brothers constant fussing, I can probably shoot better than you, and I know Windfire can outrun anything on four legs. It’s not like I can’t take care of myself—I just wish you guys would let me!” Before she could spout off anymore, Dylan captured her mouth in a passionate kiss.
“Shut up brat, and kiss me before I decide to show you who’s boss over my knee!” he whispered into her ear as he nuzzled her neck.
“Damn you, Dylan, you just ruined the moment—go kiss your horse!” She whistled and Windfire was at her side in seconds. She pulled free of Dylan’s embrace and jumped astride the magnificent stallion.
“Race you back to the ranch!” she called and she took off, leaving Dylan choking on her dust with a somewhat bewildered look on his face.
“That woman can work up into a full temper faster than the quickest draw in Texas,” he muttered. He mounted Black Lightning and sped after her.
Back at the ranch house, Miranda dismounted and tied Windfire up at the hitching post out front. She bounced into the house to join her brothers for breakfast and share her exciting news. But before she could get a word out, Marcus, David and Jenna all applauded and surrounded her.
Miranda And The Ranch Hand (Domestic Discipline Romance) Page 7
