Welcome To Corbin's Bend

by Thianna D

  "Talk to me, Elly. Tell me what's wrong," he urged gently.

  "The nurse just came in. I have to go. Bye." She hung up.

  Jerry stared at his phone in disbelief. A part of him wanted to hop in his car and rush back to the hospital, but she didn't seem to want him with her tonight. Why? What had changed? He called the main number and requested to speak with the fifth floor station.

  "Fifth floor nurse's station," a woman answered.

  "This is Jerry Douglas, Eleanor Benson's brother."

  "Oh, Hi, Dr. Douglas. It's Debby."

  "Debby. Is Elly all right?"

  "She's fine, sir. Her blood pressure was a trifle elevated when I took it last, but she ate her dinner and said she wanted to go to sleep early."

  "Who's in with her now?"

  "No one, sir. She's my patient tonight."

  "Odd. I was just on the phone with her and she told me a nurse had stepped in, so she had to disconnect."

  "I'll check, but I don't believe anyone is with her now. Maybe she had to go to the bathroom and didn't want to say so aloud."

  "Maybe. Look, I'm a little worried, but she's not eager to have me with her tonight. Would you call me if something happens? I believe you have my number listed as an emergency back-up?"

  "We do. I'll definitely reach out if we suspect a problem."

  "Great, thanks. Bye." Next, he called Brent.

  "Carmichael."

  "Brent, it's Jerry. Sorry to disturb you so late, but I think something happened this afternoon that you should know.

  Chapter 12

  Jerry pulled into the hospital parking lot at 8 AM, but stopped by the nurse's station to get a report on Elly's status before he joined her.

  Jayne glanced at the computer. "Debby, Mrs. Benson's night nurse didn't list anything unusual, Dr. Douglas."

  "Good. Mrs. Benson advised me she was going to be released today. Have her doctors put through the request for her paperwork?'

  "Not yet, sir. They'll probably release her during morning rounds."

  "Okay. Thanks."

  He strode into Elly's room to find her struggling to get into a pair of sweatpants. "What are you doing?"

  She gave him a startled glance, then smiled. "Hi. Getting dressed. Would you bring the car around front, so we could leave right away?"

  Seeing she was tangling up her tubing as she struggled to dress, he swatted her hands aside. "Stop that. You'll pull out your IV. Here, I'll help." He straightened out the crimped line; made sure her pants didn't press too tightly against her still bruised and swollen tummy, then lowered her gown. He cupped her cheeks in his hands. "You haven't been released, yet, Elly. So, what's this urgency all about?"

  Her face crumpled in dismay. "The paperwork is merely a formality. Can't we just leave?"

  "No, we can't. Now sit down and tell me what's wrong."

  She shook her head, her breathing growing rapid and shallow. "Help me get my top on."

  Grasping her wrists, which were no longer bandaged, he held them captive in a gentle but unyielding grip, careful not to hurt her. "Elly, you're starting to hyperventilate. Now calm down and tell me what's got you so upset."

  Though she gave another shake of her head, she quieted under his tender restraint. He remembered the way she'd panicked the first time he tried to touch her wrists, so she definitely did trust him more now; however, he wasn't pleased she was still trying to keep something from him. Something that had frightened her.

  "You're not being honest with me, so we're going to go over to the chair—"

  "No!" Despite her instantaneous rejection, she didn't try to pull free, so he continued.

  "Where I'm going to pull you onto my lap and—"

  "No." A softer protest this time, but instead of stepping away, as he'd suspected, she moved closer to him, as if seeking comfort and protection. She thought he intended to spank her for being difficult, except she wasn't resisting him as much as letting him know the prospect frightened her. Lowering his voice to a mere whisper, he continued.

  "Hold you in place until you tell me what's bothering you. And I don't care who comes in and sees us."

  She glanced up at him with a look of confusion he found adorable. "You're not going to spank me?"

  "Elly, you're scared. Why would I spank you for that?"

  She shrugged, but he suspected Arthur didn't take into account her state of mind when he punished. The man had an objective, and Elly's feelings were of little or no concern to him.

  "Come on," he said, giving her hand a tug. He helped position her IV poll, then sat and pulled her onto his lap. "Go ahead and tuck your head beneath my chin, if you want," he suggested as he drew her close.

  Letting out a soft sigh, she complied. He wrapped his fingers about her wrist and measured her pulse as his other hand stroked her side. Her pounding heart slowed to a normal rhythm.

  "Better. Now tell me what has you so upset."

  She pressed her nose into his neck. "I don't want to. You'll get angry."

  "With you?"

  Another shrug. "Maybe."

  Releasing her hand, he tugged her closer and curled his arms around her in a secure and confining hold.

  "Are you frightened what I'll do if I get angry?"

  She stilled. "A little." She spoke her confession so softly, he barely heard her.

  "Are you scared I'll hurt you the way Arthur did?"

  Toying with the buttons on his collar, she rested her head in the curve of his shoulder. "No."

  "Then what has you so jumpy you want to run out of here before the doctors have released you?"

  "Promise you won't get angry?"

  "I promise I won't do anything to hurt you, but I can't promise I won't get upset until I learn what the problem is."

  "Arthur tried to get in to see me yesterday?"

  Though he didn't expect Arthur to be the reason for Elly's panic, the knowledge seemed to fit neatly into the puzzle of information he'd put together. "What happened?" he asked, keeping his voice calm and indicating only a slight interest in her revelation, though he wanted to know every detail.

  "He got off the elevator, and I heard him yelling he would check all the rooms on the floor if the nurses refused to tell him where I was."

  "What time did this happen, do you remember?"

  "Around 2 PM." She drew back to gaze at him. "He was so furious, Jerry, he threatened the staff. I could hear him throwing things and a few women screamed, though I couldn't tell if they were nurses or patients. I'm such a coward, I hid in the bathroom."

  He considered her smart to get out of the man's way, not a coward. "Did someone call security?"

  "Yes. But if he got up here once, he'll be able to do it again. I know him."

  "I doubt it; however, I wouldn't put it past him to try. I'll double-check with the staff."

  "Are you angry with me for not telling you sooner?"

  "Disappointed, not angry."

  "Are you going to punish me for lying?" Her voice sounded small and uncertain.

  Interesting she viewed her reaction that way. He regarded her omission as a desperate attempt to avoid an unpleasant complication, but she had lied, and he had admitted he'd suspected she wasn't being honest with him. He'd also told her he'd punish her for lying if they were together in a relationship, since he refused to tolerate lies in any form. So, how should he handle this? His decision was put off when his cell buzzed. Shifting her a little to the side, he drew the device out of his pocket. Brent.

  "Discover anything?" Jerry asked without preliminaries.

  "Yes. At least I think so. The car was a midnight blue Lexus LX SUV. Must be new since we don't show a record of one in our database."

  "Hold on." Placing the phone against his chest, he turned to Elly. "What kind of car does Arthur drive?"

  "He bought a new Lexus SUV. Why?"

  "Color?"

  "Dark blue. What's happened?" She started to rise off his lap, but he tightened his hold and raised one eyebrow. She i
nstantly quieted in his arms. "Sorry."

  He gave a nod and spoke to Brent again. "We've got a confirmation of a newly purchased Lexus."

  "I thought that would be the case. I'm calling in the Boulder police. Neglecting to report a hit and run is illegal in Colorado. If you run over a domestic animal, you can be cited for willful destruction of property. Unfortunately, that's not a felony in this state, but it's enough to get the police involved and Arthur arrested. He could deny seeing the dog, since she was small, though several witnesses reported he aimed for the beagle. Add a case for domestic abuse on top, and I'd say Arthur Benson is going to need a very good lawyer."

  "Thanks. Elly is due to be released today. However, she's in a spot of trouble at the moment, which may require an inventive punishment before she leaves."

  "What did she do?"

  "She deliberately lied to me, and you know my position on lying."

  "Okay, but remember you're dealing with a woman who's suffered some serious abuse. She might panic and fight you."

  "Right now she's sitting on my lap awaiting my verdict, so I don't think that's going to be a problem, but thanks for the advice."

  "I'll leave you to it, then. Hope to get this other situation resolved by this afternoon."

  "Thanks. That would be a very special coming home present, I think. Bye."

  Jerry kept eye contact with Elly as he put his phone back.

  "You're not going to tell me what Brent said, are you?"

  "Maybe later, not now."

  "What do you intend to do?" He heard the unease creeping into her voice, but she remained on his lap.

  "Have you eaten breakfast, yet?" At her nod, he said, "I consider lying to be a serious offense, as I've told you more than once. Normally, I'd turn you over my knee and spank your pretty little butt until it glowed a bright pink, then make you stand in the corner with your arms over your head for at least fifteen minutes before we discussed why you chose to break my faith and trust in you. However, for many reasons, I don't consider that an option right now. So…."

  She held her breath and regarded him through worried eyes, but remained silent.

  "Instead, I'm going to put you in the corner and have you stand, with your arms straight at your sides, for five minutes." He adjusted the time considering her weakened state. "After that, you'll sit on your bed in silent confinement for fifteen minutes. When your confinement is over, we'll talk about why you chose to lie to me and how doing so might have put you in even more danger."

  Her brow furrowed. "May I ask a question now?"

  "Go ahead."

  "What's silent confinement?"

  "Basically, it means you sit and stare at the wall. No talking, reading or watching TV. You are to remain still and silent."

  "What happens if a nurse or a doctor comes in to ask me something?"

  "If I can answer their query, I will. If you need to answer it, look to me first. Once I give a nod, your time out will be put on a temporary hold and you may speak. When they are gone, the clock will resume. I'll keep time."

  "And if I break the timeout?"

  "If it's for anything other than medical reasons, the first time, you'll get a warning. Do it again and I'll start adding minutes. If I suspect you are deliberately breaking the rules, I'll double the length of your punishment."

  She glanced down at her entwined fingers. "What if I choose not to comply?"

  "You sure you want my answer to that?"

  A single nod, but she declined to meet his gaze. She was testing his resolve. Normally, if a woman refused to accept his correction they were through. Except that would never be the case with Elly; however, he could make it so uncomfortable for her she'd change her mind.

  "Do you know what shunning is?"

  She met his gaze then. "Isn't that an Amish practice involving ostracizing?"

  "Yes. The individual becomes a non-person who no one in the community will speak to or look at. It's a silent treatment of sorts, but includes rejection steeped in disapproval in addition to no communication."

  "You would shun me?"

  "Essentially, yes."

  She considered his answer for a moment, then asked, "Where do you want me to stand?"

  Giving a light tap to Elly's hip, Jerry said, "Stand up, and I'll help you." A huge weight pressed on Elly's shoulders as she rose and let him position her in the corner by the window. As punishments went, this was nothing, and yet her entire frame trembled as he placed her arms at her sides. Once she stood the way he wanted, he pressed his body into hers as if in silent support. She leaned against him.

  "Shh," he whispered, placing a kiss near her ear as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'll be right here the entire time. If you feel dizzy, raise a hand or call my name, either way I'll come get you and help you sit. I don't think standing for five minutes will be a problem for you physically, but you're still healing, so we need to make allowances. Though this is a punishment, it is not intended to cause you pain or discomfort, merely time for reflection. I want you to consider why you thought lying to me was your best or only course of action. What you hoped to gain and what you lost instead. All right?"

  His words and presence reassured her, but she still felt like she'd let him down. When she gave a nod, he took a step back. She could still sense him standing less than a foot away, waiting to catch her if she grew unsteady for any reason, and his consideration for her well-being wrapped her in a warm blanket of concern. Jerry Douglas was so unlike Arthur in so many respects. He even applied his punishments with a caring hand. For all the times Arthur had said he intended his corrections as loving reminders, she'd never received an ounce of care from him, except the one time she had fainted. What radiated from Arthur during a punishment was disappointment in her inadequacies and disapproval of her actions.

  Though Jerry had expressed disappointment in the choice she'd made, nothing in his words or actions indicated he found her lacking. Even her apparent weakness was only a condition for concern, not rebuke. So, why were tears running down her cheeks?

  Though he remained less than sixteen inches from her small form, Jerry grew concerned when Elly continued crying. He didn't consider his punishment terribly onerous. In fact, as punishments went, corner-time was one of the lightest he administered, but Elly stood hunched against the wall, shuddering with silent sobs as if he'd caused her true torment.

  A part of him wanted to wrap his arms around her and reassure her with kisses and caresses, while another part reminded him she had tested his resolve and giving in now would send the wrong message. He needed to be strong and resolute, which he rationalized was still possible standing a foot away.

  Another doubt that raised its ugly head was the suspicion she wouldn't ask for help if she needed it. She certainly hadn't with Arthur. The lady possessed a lot of pride, and he admired her backbone, but he wanted her to learn she wasn't invincible, nor did anyone expect her to be. Requesting assistance did not bring shame.

  Crossing his arms over his chest in an effort to avoid reaching out to her, he kept an eye on his watch as the second hand made its slow revolution around the dial. Her five minutes were almost up when Jayne walked into the room and halted at the sight of Elly standing in the corner.

  "I came in to check Mrs. Benson's vitals. Is there a problem?"

  "No. Everything's fine." Jerry placed his arm about Elly. "You're done, sweetie. Let's go get your blood pressure checked. Okay?"

  Elly nodded and came with him without resistance or complaint. She'd stopped crying, which was good, since Nurse Jayne already glared at him as if he was the sort of man who got his jollies from kicking harmless puppies.

  He assisted Elly back to the bed and sat down beside her. Jayne glowered at him. Yup, he'd been classified as a puppy kicker all right. However, the lady could glare all she wanted; he wasn't leaving Elly's side.

  The nurse secured the cuff on Elly's arm, placed her stethoscope and started pumping. Elly watched in silence as the sleeve inflated.
<
br />   She hadn't exactly been a chatterbox during her stay in the hospital, but she'd been more conversational than the mute sitting beside him now. He began to suspect she didn't think she was permitted to speak, and Jerry wasn't sure how to signal otherwise.

  "Do you feel all right, Elly?" Jayne inquired as she walked a few steps away to write Elly's blood pressure on the whiteboard. Returning, she waited for a reply before putting the thermometer probe in Elly's mouth. Elly merely nodded.

  When the device beeped, Jayne scribbled the results below Elly's BP. "Any pain or discomfort anywhere?"

  Elly shook her head.

  Finally, the nurse stared directly at Jerry. "Would you step outside with me for a moment please, Dr. Douglas. I'd like to have a private word with you."

  Nodding, he gave Elly's fingers a squeeze. "Go ahead and relax, sweetie. I'll return in a minute.

  With a compliant nod, Elly lay back in bed.

  The moment he stepped out into the hall, Jayne shut Elly's door and turned on him. "I don't know what sort of game you two are playing, but she's still a very sick young woman who's only been out of ICU for three days. Did you forbid her to talk?"

  "No. She can talk if she needs to; however, it appears she neither wanted nor needed to."

  "So, why did you have her standing in the corner? I assume you made her do that, since I never saw her pose there on her own before."

  He tilted his head. "Were you here yesterday afternoon?"

  "No, I was off. Why?"

  "Read through the notes on her file. I had to leave, but when I called and checked on her, she sounded odd. I asked her what was wrong, and she said 'nothing.' Except 'nothing' turned out to be her abusive husband out in the hall, throwing things about as he demanded to see her. He was subsequently escorted out by security, but not before scaring her so badly she hid in the bathroom. That man represents a threat to her as long as he is walking about free, and she lied to me about him being here, so I had her stand facing the corner for five minutes. She'll spend the next fifteen on her bed staring at the wall. No talking, TV or reading."

  "Her physicians will be making rounds in a half-hour."