by Carl Hamlin
Mike laid the paddle on the desk as the sobbing sound continued from the other side of the sheet. Once again Marlene whispered to him as he began to leave the office: “Good job.”
Mike left the room, walked through the small lobby and out into the hallway. He leaned his head back against the block wall, closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. Collecting his thoughts, he decided to look for Albert Watson and begin helping with matters of food production.
Mike had vague recollections of the area around Dragos Falls, but recalled one of the cattle ranches he used to visit with his grandfather. He drove to the east of the town, and made his way back to the long lane of the familiar spread.
He recalled that the ranch had a couple of ponds, so there should have been no problem with the cattle having water. It also appeared that the grass was sufficiently green and high enough to have provided food for the animals.
To his relief, Mike found that there were at least two dozen head of cattle just near the closest barn. He had feared that most of the best stock would have been taken away by the former residents, but the ones he came upon would be more than sufficient.
He went inside the barn and found some long heavy boards, then went to his truck and found the rope he always kept under his seat. He lowered the gate on the back of the truck, and then used the boards to make a ramp. He cut a length of rope, then walked cautiously up to one of the steers and put the rope around its neck. Fortunately, the large animal offered no meaningful resistance as it was led into the back of the truck. Mike tied the animal to a cargo handle on the truck bed, then went back to the herd, selected another steer, and repeated the process.
Mike began to drive slowly back to the village, with a good supply of beef riding where cans of gasoline had been before. As he made his way back to Dragos Falls, he began to plan out what would amount to an upcoming cattle drive.
As soon as he pulled back into the village, two other men joined him. They made their way to an abandoned and decrepit looking building that had served as an auto repair business. Being unfamiliar with the process of turning large steer into table fare, Mike gladly turned the two animals over to the men who had long been deer hunters, and were used to such chores.
He drove back to the end of the village where the new garden was being developed. The ground had already been worked thoroughly by the plow and repeated laps of the tractor pulling a disc around the plot. People were already beginning to plant corn in several rows, so Mike grabbed a free hoe and began to dig small holes for others to drop seeds into.
He had been working in the new garden for several minutes, one of nearly sixty of the new residents of Dragos Falls toiling in the warming sun, before he realized who was following several feet behind him planting seeds. The young woman repeatedly brushed the red hair from in front of her face as she bent over to place the seeds in the furrow.
When she was turned away, Mike would attempt to subtly glance at her. Even covered in clothing, the shape of that backside held Mike’s attention in a tight grip.
Feeling a sense of mischief, Mike began to slow down in his own labor until the pretty young redhead had caught up with him. When she was standing next to him, Mike reached his hand out to the lovely young woman whose face was now streaked with dirt. “Mike Powell.”
The young woman tilted her head and shook it back and forth. “Aubrey Carson. And don’t try to pretend that it wasn’t you giving me that unforgettable ass whuppin’ this morning. I’ll bet you enjoyed that, didn’t you.”
Mike shrugged. “How do you know it was me?”
The red haired beauty leaned her chin on the end of her hoe, then looked up and gave a betraying smile. “I heard about the meeting… and I recognize your voice. It’s hard to forget the sound of the voice of the man who recently whacked your bare ass with a paddle.”
Mike began to dig another planting furrow. “And how do I know it was you bending over the desk?”
Aubrey peered up at him and laughed. “I suppose if you spy on the women showering under the falls this evening, I would be the only one with red cheeks.”
Mike shook his head at her and began to dig another hole. “You need to stay out of trouble.”
Aubrey bent over to drop seeds into the ground. She knelt down and covered the seeds with soil before standing again. “I suppose that would be a good idea. You really let me have it this morning. My butt was on fire when you were done with me. Never had it hurt like that before.”
Mike felt his own face turning red. “I repeat… just stay out of trouble.”
Aubrey knelt to plant more seeds, and then once again stood next to him. “You never did answer my question. “
Mike shook his head. “What was the question again?”
Aubrey leaned closer and whispered. “Did you enjoy giving me that paddling?”
Mike again felt his face flushing. “Enjoy…? I’m not sure I would say I enjoyed it. But I do know this… when you started giving us all of that attitude… I certainly felt a lot more enthusiasm for doing the job.”
Aubrey stood silent for a moment just looking at Mike. Slowly, a grin spread across her face, before she resumed her work. Mike began to work his way to the end of the row, then down the next row and on and on, Aubrey following close behind him for the rest of the day.
When darkness fell on the second night in Dragos Falls, the several hundred exhausted but content new inhabitants began to nurse their aching muscles and joints with the help of a community cookout in a vacant lot next to the school building. Volunteers once again stood watch at each end of the village, and most of the adults still kept weapons at their side. They had heard too many horror stories of brutal roving bands overpowering innocent refugees in orgies of theft, murder and rape. They knew they would have to keep a vigil forever.
As one of the steers was being slowly cooked on a large spit over a bed of coals, first the women, then the men made their way to bathe under the falls. Mike was among the men able to feel clean for the first time in weeks. All the time however, he kept thinking about the problematic young Aubrey’s comment about how she still expected her bottom to look that evening.
When Mike made his way to the school grounds, he was captivated by the sight and sounds of the few children in the village laughing, squealing and playing on the swings and monkey bars next to the school building. Without warning, his eyes filled with tears as he wondered about the young people who had been his students.
He wiped his eyes as he neared the gathering of his new neighbors, sitting in a large circle around the fire. Many had found lawn chairs in their new homes, and many were content to sit on the ground, as long as they could be around other people in a place of safety.
Mike sat down on the ground next to Albert Watson. A moment after he sat down, Marlene, Aubrey and two other women approached with a cart full of plates from the school cafeteria. Two other women followed carrying tubs of silverware.
Although Mike had sat down next to Watson, he did not attempt to make conversation. He simply listened as the older man exchanged stories with others. They talked about family and friends from whom they were now separated, or who had died from the epidemic.
Mike sensed that it was finally acceptable for the refugees to speak of the epidemic and the massive loss of life in the past tense. He could only assume that the feeling of having arrived at a place they could now call home permitted them to reminisce. As he sat and listened, he heard tearful stories of the lost, interspersed with the still frightening tales of how quickly the epidemic had claimed its victims through the sudden onset of being unable to breathe, and the subsequent loss of consciousness from which none of its victims returned. There were also remembrances of those who had died from the epidemic’s side effects such as the absence of medicine and unavailability of medical practitioners.
The comments always reached the same conclusion: they may have cars and tractors for as long as the fuel could be found, and generators would provide some limited elec
tricity. But for all practical purposes, they were back to the days of the pioneers.
Mike was so lost in listening to the conversations going on around him, he was startled when Aubrey sat down on the grass next to him. She looked so different from when he had first caught a glimpse of her being taken from the back of a truck, her hands tied together with rope.
Her hair was obviously still damp from standing under the falls, and she was wearing a sheer white blouse and short denim skirt. Mike was so captivated by her appearance, he did not even notice that she was carrying a plate full of food. She held up two forks. “Want to share?”
The flustered Mike laughed and took one of the utensils. “Thank you. I’m surprised you even want to talk to me. But all day, you’ve been quite cordial.”
Both began to sample the shredded barbecued beef and baked beans Aubrey had brought on the plate. She looked at Mike and shrugged, then leaned over and spoke softly into his ear: “I always try to be polite and friendly to a man who begins my day by a wailing on my bare ass with a paddle.”
The startled Mike glanced at her in time to see her arch her eyebrows at him. Then she began to laugh. “What the hell… everybody knows now anyway. But I wasn’t going to miss showering under the falls just because I have a dark pink ass… with a couple of bruises.”
Mike cleared his throat dramatically. “Oh…”
Aubrey lifted a fork full of the beef to his lips. “You know and I know I had it coming.”
Mike savored the beef as he continued to listen in amusement. She reached to the side of his mouth and wiped away some barbecue sauce, then teasingly licked her finger before she continued. “All of my life, I’ve had this little side of my brain that found adventure in minor larceny. I can’t explain why. My mother sent me for counseling when I was a kid, but it never really stopped. Usually I just get a thrill from the thought of it. Most of the time, the fantasy itself is enough to make my heart race. Maybe three times in my life… before yesterday, did I ever actually take anything. I guess it’s been worse since the epidemic… I don’t know why. Maybe it helps me escape from reality for a little while.
“But it hasn’t been unusual for me to find myself in trouble. I know that Marlene told you. As for the paddling, it seems that all my life my mouth has gotten out of control, and the other end of me has ended up paying the price.” Aubrey began to giggle. “But never before like this morning.”
Mike looked over at her and shook his head. “Remember what I told you…”.
Aubrey lifted another bite of beef to his lips. “I know… I know… just don’t get in trouble.” She softly poked him in the ribs with her elbow, and leaned close to him once again. “Maybe the next time you could just give me a good spanking.” She again gazed at Mike with arched eyebrows as he looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Mike sat silent for a moment, then began to chuckle. This time, it was his turn to whisper: “You know… earlier today you asked me if I enjoyed paddling you. I am beginning to think I should ask you if you enjoyed being paddled. So did you?”
Aubrey slowly shook her head. “Actually, it was too intense to be called enjoyable. I’m not saying the experience wasn’t quite a rush. But I can’t say I enjoyed the paddling.”
Mike hesitated before speaking. “But you may enjoy a good spanking?”
Aubrey looked over at him and winked. “It would not be accurate to say that… I may… enjoy a good spanking. It would be more accurate to say I… definitely would… love to receive a good spanking.” She popped a morsel of beef in her mouth, and then reached for his hand. “Of course… not from just anybody.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “So just keep that in mind… the right time… the right place.”
Both sat in silence for a moment, listening to the chatter around them. Finally, Aubrey leaned her head against Mike’s arm. “Sorry if I seem awfully impulsive. I mean, I’ve always been impulsive, but ever since….”
“I know, Aubrey. Everything has been turned upside down. I find it ironic, that in this situation where we need to be especially cautious, we tend to want to throw caution to the wind. I suppose it’s only natural when we see everyone ripped away from us by this horrible disease. It makes us all feel mortal… it makes every day seem like it may be the last. I find it hard to hang on to my sense of right and wrong. I always seem to wonder if I’m preserving my own life at the cost of someone else’s.
“I just try to strike a balance I can live with. I try to take care of myself, but not to do it at the expense of others.”
Aubrey did not respond for a moment. “You mean like stealing from others in the group?”
“Sure… that’s one way. We just have to be able to trust each other. It’s the only way we can survive as civil human beings.”
Aubrey began to squeeze his hand tightly. “I suppose that Marlene and old Watson are going to wonder about us.”
Mike laughed. “Of course they will. I’m going to have to give them some assurance.”
“And what is that?”
Mike put his arm around Aubrey and drew her close, then put his lips next to her ear. “I’m going to tell them that no matter how attracted I am to you, and how impossibly cute I think you are, if you get in trouble again, I will paddle you even harder than I did this morning.”
Aubrey took a deep breath. “I think this is where I’m supposed to ask you if that was a threat or a promise.”
“And this is where I tell you that it was both.”
The beguiling young redhead began to giggle. “But what will it take for me to just get a nice spanking?”
Mike held her closer. “I think all you need to do is to just be yourself.”
Chapter 3
Much of Dragos Falls was asleep as Mike stood in the school hallway with Albert Watson telling him the obvious: he had developed a deep attraction to the problematic young Aubrey over the course of just one day, a day that had begun with her bending over a desk as he paddled her. The conversation had no more than begun when Marlene slowly and quietly emerged from the room she and Aubrey were sharing.
Mike crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. “I’m sorry… this just seemed to develop through the day.” Mike began to rub his eyes in his fatigue. “I even talked to her about how this situation alters our judgment. Now I don’t think I’m sorting things out very well.”
Watson placed his hand on Mike’s shoulder. “We trust you. I will say, you’re getting yourself into a complicated situation. And she is a complicated young lady. Relationships take on a whole new meaning in a situation like ours. We all have our responsibilities to each other, romance or not. At the same time, we are only human, and situations like this can make us even more human than normal. So just be careful.”
Marlene began to laugh. “After what I was witness to this morning… I never would’ve thought, not in a million years…” She began to laugh again. “Her bottom was glowing…”
The embarrassed Mike held up his hands. “I told her that I would give both of you my word… I will paddle her again if I have to, only harder.”
Marlene nodded. “That’s the only way it can be. We have to be able to keep order. And don’t worry, Mike. You have my total confidence. And now I am going to bed. Good night, gentlemen.”
Watson waited until Marlene had disappeared from sight and then reached into his pocket. He reached for Mike’s hand, and then deposited several shiny small foil covered packs. “I picked these up in an abandoned store. Mrs. Watson and I certainly don’t need them, but I had a feeling that someday someone else would.” He slapped Michael on the shoulder, and then turned to walk back to his own room, leaving the red-faced man alone to ponder his thoughts.
For a few minutes, Mike remained alone in the dark hallway considering the state of his life. His sense of loneliness had been relieved by the presence of so many people in a new community he already felt a part of. But he knew that difficult and harsh times lay ahead.
In just his second day in
the company of the new residents of Dragos Falls, he had begun to notice how many of the older refugees were in poor health. He also noticed that there were two pregnant women in the group, and at least one obviously disabled child. Unfortunately, Watson had told him that there were no doctors or nurses among them.
Life under such circumstances would have been vexing enough without his inexplicable and immediate attraction to the troubled Aubrey Carson. She was eighteen years younger than he with an admitted affinity for theft and general misbehavior. While he knew his attraction to her was most illogical, he was unquestionably physically attracted to her, and found her personality to be that of an irresistible and mischievous pixie.
She was just two years older than some of the students he had looked after at his school. In addition, she was the type of young woman he would have warned his own son away from, if he had a son. Still, as Mike walked to his makeshift bedroom, Aubrey was all he could think of.
At sunrise, Mike and Watson walked to the new, large community garden to resume the planting. There were rows upon rows of corn seed already in the ground. Now furrows were being prepared for planting several types of beans and melons.
As they worked in the garden, Aubrey and some other women and older children were seen going down the street with wheelbarrows. They were gathering laundry to be taken to the stream for washing, in order to free up others able to work in the gardens.
It was another long and backbreaking day. But so many had worked so hard that nearly every square foot of tillable soil in the village had been planted by nightfall. Everyone had pushed themselves harder as during the late afternoon, the sky began to darken.
As the large crew of gardeners left the plots in the dim light, a gentle rain began to fall. As he made his way back to the school building, Mike could hear cheers and some prayers of thanksgiving being offered up in response to the perfectly timed rain.
By the time he got back to the school building, Mike was soaked by his walk in the welcome rain. He was also starving, and was relieved when Marlene met him at the door with a plate of stale crackers and cold but tasty leftover shredded beef.
