Clifton County Fireworks

by Joannie Kay

  “Better than you, you poor dear! I cannot believe that horrible Johnny Tanner spanked you again! Are you in much pain?” She asked with sympathy, but Jennie Rose was quick to realize that Ginger was only seeking details to gossip with. How dare Johnny tell people what happened? She walked off without speaking another word to the blonde, not caring one whit if she offended her. She was going to find Johnny Tanner and give him a piece of her mind!

  “Miss Jennie Rose, it sure is good to see you.” Ed Coleman took off his hat to speak to her. “Now don’t take this wrong, but you earned that spanking Johnny gave you yesterday! If you don’t know better than to fire a gun without knowing who you are firing at, then you shouldn’t be carrying a gun!”

  Jennie Rose turned red from her toes to the ends of her hair! How dare Johnny embarrass her in this way! She went to find her father, hoping he would give Johnny Tanner a sit down he’d remember forever! “Daddy, I need to talk to you.” She said when she found him.

  “I’m busy now, girl, but you and me are going to have a serious talk before this day is over. I can’t believe you nearly killed Tanner after he saved your life! What were you thinking?” Robert scolded, his eyes snapping angrily.

  “Doesn’t it bother you a bit that he told the whole town?” She asked furiously.

  “It matters that I had to hear it from Stuart’s youngest boy.” Robert replied. “You should have told me yourself.”

  “Quiet now, folks. We’re going to open our Fourth of July celebrations with our annual picnic, and that means it’s time to auction off the baskets the young ladies have brought. We have quite a few this year, and I’m sure each one is filled with great food. I hope you young men brought your wallets and will be generous. The proceeds will go toward buying a new piano for the schoolhouse.”

  Jennie Rose tried to see if she could spot Johnny Tanner, but she simply wasn’t tall enough to see over all the people crowded around. She stood there tapping her toe as the baskets were auctioned off. Maybe he got called out of town? Maybe he just didn’t dare to show his face! He was going to regret telling even one person about the way he treated her yesterday. She would get even with him for that! Some way!

  ********************

  Johnny had no idea why Jennie Rose would tell anyone what transpired between them yesterday morning. As far as he was concerned, a spanking was personal, unless she was purposely goading him into spanking her? No, she didn’t act like that. She shot at him out of fear. She was still frightened over what happened a few days ago, and she didn’t even know it was him she’d shot at until it was all over. Still, it didn’t make sense that she would tell what happened, unless she was looking for sympathy?

  One thing was certain; he was going to get his answers once he bought her basket. He’d seen her from a distance when she handed the Mayor her basket, and he knew exactly which one it was. The pretty blue bow on the handle was just like the one from two years ago. He didn’t even care if the food was edible, just as long as she spent her time with him and not some other guy.

  Johnny wasn’t a fool. He was in love with Jennie Rose Clifton, and those feelings hadn’t dimmed one bit in two year’s time. He wanted to ask for her hand back then, but they both needed time to grow up. If he went away from Clifton this time without asking, he wouldn’t get another chance; he was sure of it. Jennie Rose was a beautiful woman, and another man would snap her up if he was foolish enough to let her go. Johnny Tanner was not a fool!

  ********************

  Jennie Rose was very disappointed when she didn’t see Johnny anywhere. She wanted him to buy her basket; she’d learned to cook and bake just to please him, and he’d darn well better show up and bid so she could raise hell all over him for telling people that he’d spanked her! She was wounded and angry, and he’d better have a good excuse.

  “We have a real pretty basket here with a big blue bow. Why, I believe this one belongs to Miss Jennie Rose. Honey, we’re happy to have you home in Clifton with us once more. Do I have an opening bid of a dollar?” The Mayor asked.

  There were several bids, but none of them were from Johnny. When it seemed as though the bidding was all done, there was one more bid called out, and the amount was enough to buy the piano by itself! People cheered, the bid was accepted, and the Mayor handed the basket to Johnny Tanner!

  Johnny took Jennie Rose’s hand and pulled her along with him, doing his best to ignore the jibes coming their way. He could see that Jennie Rose was all upset, and he felt like shaking her.

  “I am furious with you, Johnny Tanner!” Jennie Rose whispered angrily. “I feel like kicking you!”

  “I wouldn’t advise it unless you want another spanking!” He promptly replied. “I’m not happy with you, either!”

  “So why did you buy my basket?” She demanded. “And why did you pay that much for it?”

  “I wanted everyone to know that I consider you my girl.” He told her, his expression telling her that the answer to her question was obvious.

  “I don’t belong to anyone but myself!” She argued, even though she was thrilled.

  “You are fast on your way to earning another tanning.” He said through gritted teeth.

  “I wouldn’t advise you try it. I’ll yell for my father.” She promised, and was abruptly aware that all eyes were on them. “Let’s just find a spot to eat. We are being watched, thanks to your big mouth!”

  “My big mouth! You’re the one who told about yesterday, Jennie Rose. I thought that was between us.” He scolded her as he looked for a fairly quiet place where they could settle and eat without curious ears overhearing their conversation.

  “I most certainly did not tell anyone, Johnny Tanner! Don’t you dare blame me, when I didn’t talk to a soul!” She put her hands on her hips to glare at him.

  “Jeremy.” Johnny whispered. “Drat that kid. He and Georgie were out looking for turtles, and he saw us, Jennie Rose. I’m sorry. I warned him that it was personal between the two of us, but he probably already told everyone. I’ll have his hide for it, too.”

  “You really didn’t go around bragging that you spanked me again?” Jennie Rose looked up at him, and then leaned her head against him. “I’m sorry I got so angry with you, Johnny. It didn’t even occur to me that someone was watching! Oh, noooo!” Her cheeks flooded with scarlet and her blue eyes went wide.

  “They left before that part of the spanking, honey.” Johnny said right away. “Jeremy knew he’d get in trouble if they stayed and watched. Thank goodness he had some sense.” He finally found a spot to sit that was far enough away from others they could enjoy their privacy. “I couldn’t imagine why you would tell someone; I should have realized right off that it was my kid brother.”

  “We’ll survive the talk.” She took out the tablecloth and spread in on the ground, and then knelt on it. She wasn’t about to sit down unless she absolutely had to.

  “Are you still pretty sore?” Johnny asked.

  “Yes! My skin is very tender.” She confessed. “I hope you like what I fixed.”

  “I’ve eaten my own cooking for two years; yours will be wonderful in comparison.”

  To the disappointment of the watchful townspeople, the young couple quietly ate their meal and smiled at each other throughout. Johnny managed to snag Jeremy between the Greased Pig Contest and the Three Legged Race. The eight-year-old apologized to Jennie Rose and to his brother, tears filling his eyes. “You should have told me right off that you’d told, kid. I would have gone to Jennie Rose and warned her to expect some teasing from folks. She thought it was me, bragging to people.”

  “Johnny wouldn’t do that, Miss Jennie Rose.” He defended his brother. “I’m awful sorry I embarrassed you.” He said contritely.

  “You are forgiven, Jeremy.” Jennie Rose said with a smile, and the boy took off again, happy that he wasn’t in trouble.

  “That was real nice of you, honey.” Johnny leaned down and stole a kiss. He was about to ask Jennie Rose to marry him w
hen the Sheriff came on the run.

  “I need help, son. The bank…”

  “You stay right here, young lady.” Johnny said firmly, praying Jennie Rose would listen to him, and took off running to catch up to the Sheriff. He was thankful he was wearing his gun. “Someone robbing the bank?” He managed to ask the older man, and got a nod for his efforts.

  The would-be thieves came running out, and the Sheriff told them to halt. They pulled their guns and opened fire, and Johnny was surprised to realize there was a third gun firing from behind him! He was shocked to learn it was Jennie Rose, and felt his temper kick into gear immediately. The robbers were taken into custody; one with a bullet in his arm and one with a bullet in his leg. Johnny locked up their prisoners while the Sheriff went to find the Doctor, who was judging the Pie Contest.

  Jennie Rose took one look at the expression on Johnny’s face and decided she would be safer milling within the crowd. She’d only wanted to help him and save her father’s bank, but she was pretty sure that Johnny wouldn’t hear a word she said if she tried to explain it right now.

  Once the Sheriff returned with the Doctor, he thanked Johnny for his help and demanded to know who the third gun belonged to. Johnny answered him and the Sheriff shook his head. “You need to settle that girl down, son. She could have been killed. Those were real bullets flying out there!”

  “Yes, sir. I know.” Johnny agreed, and then he went searching for Jennie Rose. He spotted his brother, and Jeremy had no idea where the redhead was hiding. But, he and his buddies fell in behind Johnny to look for her. It wasn’t long before Johnny had quite a following as he searched for Jennie Rose, and when he approached Robert and explained why he was looking for her, the man nodded in approval. “I also want to ask her to marry me, sir, with your blessing?” Robert gave it, and then joined the crowd. One thing was certain, there was going to be fireworks for sure this night!

  Jennie Rose was looking at the quilts and voting for her favorite one when she heard Johnny and the group of people following him. She debated on running, and taking the time to do that, but Johnny was at her side in mere seconds. “You are in so much trouble, young lady!” He growled.

  “Johnny Tanner! What is the meaning of this?” Abigail demanded, stepping from behind the pile of quilts she was judging.

  “Ma, Jennie Rose interfered in a bank robbery. She could have been hurt or killed. Those were real bullets!” He repeated the Sheriff’s words.

  “I only wanted to protect you, Johnny Tanner! There’s no need to get all huffy with me over it!”

  “Your father gave me permission to turn you over my knee.” He announced.

  Jennie Rose hollered bloody murder and tried to get away from him, but he sat down on a bench and pulled her over his knee and started spanking her rounded bottom. “Don’t you ever risk your life like that again, Jennie Rose!” He scolded while he rained spank after spank on her tender bottom.

  “Stop it, Johnny! You apologized for doing this two years ago, remember?” She reminded him.

  “I apologized for spanking you publicly, but I sure didn’t apologize for giving you a spanking. You had it coming then, and you have it coming to you now! And I guarantee my hand will outlast your backside and you admit it.”

  “I won’t!” She yelled. “I won’t!”

  “Yes you will, little girl!” He argued.

  “Okay! Okay! I shouldn’t have tried to protect you! I just couldn’t help myself!” She cried. “I don’t want you to get killed, Johnny!” She started crying in earnest.

  “I don’t want you killed, either, honey.” He picked her up and held her on his lap. “Don’t cry now. If you’re going to be my wife, you’re going to have to get used to the work I do. I’m a lawman, honey, and that means stopping criminals when they decide to break the law.”

  “Wife?” She raised her eyes to look at him in confusion.

  Johnny picked her up and sat her on the bench while he got down on one knee, “Miss Jennie Rose Clifton, I love you with all my heart. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Yes, I will! Oh Johnny!” She kissed him just as the first fireworks of the night went off. The people ooohhed and ahhhhed! Johnny and Jennie Rose missed most of the fireworks because they were creating their own, uncaring that the entire town knew exactly how they felt about each other.

  One year later…

  “I thought you were supposed to be at home, Mrs. Tanner?” Sheriff Johnny Tanner growled as he slipped up behind his wife. He’d taken over the job when the Sheriff decided to retire after the attempted bank holdup last year. “We agreed you could come to the picnic, but you should be at home in bed right now, getting some rest.”

  “Oh, Johnny, I just didn’t want to miss the fireworks, and I wanted to spend some of the Fourth of July with you!” Jennie Rose smiled up at him. “I know you have to work, but I can still be with you for a bit!”

  He leaned down to kiss her, just as the fireworks started and had to chuckle. The Fourth of July always meant fireworks of one sort or the other to them.

  “Oh, Johnny! I’m all wet!” Jennie Rose said in dismay. She felt a sharp pain and gasped. “The baby is coming!” She looked up at her husband who looked panic stricken.

  Johnny spotted Jeremy and said, “Kid, go find Doc and have him come right away. Tell him it’s Jennie Rose’s time, and then find Ma and have her come, too.”

  It wasn’t long before baby Jeffrey David Tanner was born, and crying loudly as he made his entrance into the world. Downstairs in the parlor, Jeremy looked at Jennie Rose’s father and said with a grin, “Johnny and Jennie Rose always make fireworks of their own on the Fourth of July!” Robert chuckled and told the boy he was quite right.

  The End

  Blushing Publications hopes you enjoyed this spicy, romantic spanking novel. We have lots of other erotic novels and novellas available.

  Bethany’s Woodshed has been publishing erotic and romantic spanking novels since 1998. Each week the website is updated with six new novels or short stories, featuring adult romantic and erotic spanking stories. Every story published on Bethany’s Woodshed is original, exclusive, brand- new, and all are written by paid professionals.

  Bethany’s Woodshed is located at: http://www.herwoodshed.com