A Real Man for Ruth: a mail order bride romance

by Susan Thomas

  "Why Amos, I am puzzled because Elizabeth and I have been spanked, not for what we have done, but for what we might do."

  I felt Elizabeth go rigid. Her hand gripped my arm like a talon, but I sat smiling as if slightly bewildered and waiting for Amos to explain. His grip on the reins was very tight, and he looked like thunder, as he sat glowering straight in front of him.

  After a while he spoke. "Very well. There will be no more weekly spankings for you two but don't expect me to go easy on your rear ends if you misbehave in any way."

  I heard Elizabeth gasp in shock, and I must be honest I was relieved. I had judged my husband's character correctly.

  "So, before we get to the church, are there any other little matters you wish to raise?"

  "No Amos, you have been must kind in resolving all my little concerns."

  He glanced suspiciously at my humble tone but I just looked innocently ahead, not daring to glance at Elizabeth, who was now trying to stifle laughter.

  Amos handed Elizabeth down and she ran off to her fiancé. As he helped me down he said, "You are quite some woman, Ruth."

  "Well Amos, I said I wanted a real man, but I didn't say I wouldn't be a real woman."

  He laughed, and we walked into church with me holding his arm and the pair of us laughing.

  ---oOo---

  Before we got out of the door after church I found that the Ladies' Guild had decided I would be the ideal person to help make and distribute food to the poor and needy. That was, of course, the respectable poor and needy. It was on an area basis, organised by one of those indefatigable women, that some refer to as busybodies and others as saints. Mrs Brown, Pastor Brown's wife, was the nominal president of the Ladies' Guild but the real power was held by Mrs Thornton and Mrs Kelly. I escaped these formidable ladies, who promised me that they would call and explain everything, and linking arms with Amos stepped out onto the sidewalk. I could see why they called it a sidewalk as it was utterly different from our pavements back home. The road too was different in that it wasn't cobbled and I could see that any rain would make it hard to cross on foot. Then I felt Amos go very stiff and he stopped walking.

  There were three men in our path. I could see at a glance that two of them were just ordinary rough thugs, but the third one, who was in the middle, was very different. For a start he was most smartly dressed, but it was his face that told me more. It was a cold, hard face with eyes that seemed to look right into people but in no very kindly way. I felt sure that this was a very cruel man, but when he spoke his voice was smooth and he was very polite.

  "Well, well, Mr Masters and his new bride. Are you not going to introduce me?"

  "McBride, there is no need to introduce my wife for you will have no contact with her. You and your men are not welcome on my property at any time. In fact, you're not welcome in this valley or town as you well know. Good day to you."

  I was astonished at this outburst for Amos was normally a most courteous man. As we walked away I asked him who the man was and why he was so rude to him.

  "Ruth, that's man's business and not for a woman."

  "I thought we were married, Amos."

  "We are, don't be foolish now Ruth. I wouldn't want to have to chastise you."

  "Amos, because I am a woman doesn't mean I cannot understand a man's business. What worries my husband is something I must know about otherwise our wedding vows are meaningless. I vowed to support you, for better or worse, richer or poorer, and in sickness or health. I can't do that if you don't share your worries with me."

  Amos seemed very tense at the end of that speech and I thought for a moment I might have pushed him too hard for one day. I had, after all, managed to get an end to the weekly spankings. However, he relaxed, smiled and nodded his agreement.

  "You're right Ruth. I am too used to deciding matters for myself and have forgotten I am now married. It will be good to share the burden a little, though you are not to worry, wife. I am more than capable of dealing with these men."

  As we drove home he explained what was going on. The valley was quite fertile and farms had done well. There was a good market for the products as Colorado was rich in coal and minerals and miners need to eat. Amos' land stretched down the valley and onto an open plain. It was the largest of all the farms and because of its nature was very mixed in farming styles. The valley had been peaceful, and the people, although not rich, had been thriving. Now trouble was looming. Mine owners, who specialised in coal, believed the valley to have seams of coal beneath it and had tried to buy everyone out. The farmers refused. They didn't believe the price they got was fair and didn't relish the prospect of starting again elsewhere. No one wanted to see their lovely valley turned into a mining area with its tips and rough towns.

  Amos further explained that mine owners did not have a good reputation and that violence around the mines, between miners and owners, was not uncommon. He gave a very nasty report to me about the activities of the mine owners and I could easily believe it. We have coal mines in my home of Lancashire; the mine owners there are often overbearing bullies, and the colliers a rough lot. I, too, would hate to see the peaceful valley become a place of pit heads and soil heaps. He went on, that having met resistance the owners had sent McBride and his men to 'persuade' a change of heart. They were using threats, intimidation and buying up debt to achieve this, and Amos was leading the resistance.

  To be honest, even as I asked it, I thought my question a little silly, "And is there coal under the valley, Amos?"

  "I've no idea, and of course a mine can run under a property but that's not the point. They need land for their pit head activities, transport and so on. All that would destroy our valley and all the hard work families here have put into building farms out of a wilderness. Why should we move so they can rape our land?"

  I thought of the buildings and pit-head wheels in Wigan and other towns in Lancashire: the heaps of soil around, the piles of coal waiting for shipping, the rail lines with all the soot and steam of the engines; and I thought of that transposed on this farming community and understood the resistance. "Has anyone actually done a survey, Amos?"

  "I don't know."

  "Well wouldn't it be a good idea to commission one so that we know the real situation? If there is coal, then you could use that to drive a hard bargain or even start your own mines. If there isn't coal, then the owners are wasting their time and money."

  Amos looked at me as if I was some kind of genius. To be honest I was shocked that no one had actually thought of this. McBride and his men were at their work, Amos and his friends were fighting back, and not one of them had apparently started with a survey. Amos congratulated me and said that he would talk to his neighbours and get agreement to have a survey done. At the very least it would help them drive the price up if there was coal there and end the problem if there wasn't.

  I was proud I had been of assistance; if only my father had been willing to listen to suggestions. Still, I suppose I was only a daughter but was now a wife... a wife to a real man. And what a man: big, strong, kind hearted but a real leader among men. Yes, he was also stern and demanding and I knew he would not hesitate to chastise me if I was disobedient or disrespectful. On the other hand, he did listen and accept when he may be in the wrong; and he took suggestions from me, even about matters he considered rightfully the concern only of men. I knew now that he would, without doubt, spank me or even switch me if he felt I deserved it, but he was a real man and I was pleased with him. In fact, I was sure I was falling in love with him.

  Chapter 5

  Amos took his religion very seriously. Other than work that could not be left, Sunday was a day of rest, so he did nothing about obtaining support for a survey until the Monday, when, bright and early, he called Peter, his foreman, and briefed him on the day's work before setting off to talk to others. As soon as he was gone Elizabeth and Martha wanted to discuss with me the challenge I had made to Amos. Elizabeth was dancing with glee at how I handled it a
nd Martha was amazed.

  "Ruth," she said slowly, "your children will be something to be reckoned with. I never thought that Mr Masters would ever stop spanking Miss Elizabeth, at least not until the day she was married."

  "Martha, he hasn't said he would never spank either of us, but what he will stop are the regular weekly spankings. I know I will most certainly be chastised if I am foolish enough to disobey him. I can accept that as a consequence of marrying a real man. Had I married Josiah Browning I would never have been spanked; but I would rather be spanked every week than marry that fat, pompous man."

  Having enjoyed our moment, we then got on with our duties. Martha and I worked out a calendar for the year. There are many jobs to be done to ensure the house ran smoothly and Martha's experience in a large, well-run house was invaluable. The slaves ran the house so she was in a much better position to advise me than the mistress of the house would have been. Martha was generous in giving her advice; she showed none of the bitterness I am sure I would have felt had I been a slave. We incorporated into the calendar when certain crops would be planted in our garden, and when they were to be harvested, and how and what would be bottled or made into preserves. I think good organisation is essential for any enterprise and I was determined to be a really good wife.

  Later that day Elizabeth asked me if I had worn a wedding dress. I explained I had mine back in England and brought with me. I showed it to Elizabeth and she fell in love with it and asked if I could make one for her. To my surprise she had few skills as a needlewoman. I was shocked because a wife and mother really needs to be able to make clothes, and mend and patch old ones. I had left my sewing machine (a Jones made in Guyde Bridge in Manchester) with Mrs Bancroft, along with some books, and other items, I had saved from our old home. I had given her a sum of money to ship them to me when I was settled. They had arrived only a few days earlier with a lovely letter congratulating me and telling me her prayers had been answered. She had been most worried about me.

  Now I unpacked the Jones, and, after giving it a little tender care, gave Elizabeth her first lesson. We also hunted various catalogues to find the materials to make her dress and put an order together. I was beginning to feel like a proper wife; a wife who was in command of her household. They say pride goes before a fall and it was certainly true for me.

  Much later, when the day's work was done, I remembered the gun collection. Amos had a huge cabinet and it was filled with various weapons. I had been so busy, and also so worried about my weekly spanking, I had no time to examine it. Now I decided to spend a little time on his collection.

  I was astonished to find a British, Baker muzzle loading rifle, which dated right back to, I think, around 1800. It was a standard British army rifle at one time and I wondered what on earth it was doing here. I guessed Amos' collection must be a family one and they had accumulated many weapons over the years.

  There were two Burnside carbines which must be from the Civil War; two Colt Navy revolvers; a new Colt 45 (and I knew Amos sometimes carried another one with him); a Winchester repeating rifle and an older Henry; and many, many more revolvers and rifles of various types. Some would not be of much use today as design had improved so much, but in their day they were highly regarded. With my small hands many weapons were hard for me to fire... not repair, obviously. So my attention was taken by two small revolvers. One was a Cooper Pocket revolver which is a double action. It is an excellent and reliable weapon with the one drawback that it does not use modern cartridges. Loading it is a chore involving black powder and ball. However, it was perfect for my hand, but then, just as I was about to take it down, I spotted a Colt New Line.

  Why Amos would buy such a small weapon I wasn't sure, but it was perfect for my hands, and it used modern cartridges. I was about to remove it from the rack when a loud voice made me jump.

  "What on earth are you doing Ruth?"

  Now I, like a fool, should have used this moment to do something I had not done before... tell Amos about my knowledge of the gunsmith's trade. We hadn't really talked about my past at all; well, to be fair to us, our minds were on a lot of other things. Of course, I did not, I just replied literally, "Oh Amos, how lovely, you're back. I was looking at your collection of weapons."

  "Ruth, haven't I told you not to go near those?"

  "No Amos, you haven't."

  "Oh, well I'm telling you now. Guns are dangerous and not for a woman. I don't want you even touching them."

  I know I should have said, "Do you know I am a trained gunsmith?" I didn't. Like a fool I said, "But Amos..."

  "Ruth, no buts. I'll not broke any of your clever words on this one. You are to leave them alone."

  "But Amos..."

  "Are you arguing with me, wife?"

  My reply was out before I could stop it. "I'm trying to explain but you won't listen."

  "Enough, wife. I will not be disobeyed and you will show proper respect for your husband. I think perhaps I have been too understanding. A wife must be disciplined and it is time for me to correct my mistake. Go up to our bedroom and await me."

  I realised with horror that I had pushed him too far. He believed that women would quickly get out of hand if a man was not alert to it. He was brought up in a tough way, had a big farm with a great many employees to manage, and was dealing with some major problems. The last thing Amos wanted was a contentious wife and I knew I was in for a spanking. It might not be fair or right but to argue further would only make matters worse. With my eyes filling with tears (a mixture of outrage and worry about getting spanked) I marched out of the room.

  Martha saw me as I walked to the staircase and, in spite of all her early training in concealing her true feelings, gave me a sympathetic and supportive look. Martha's attitude to any discipline, for either Elizabeth or me, was that it was a part of marriage and family life. Mr Masters was a good man and if he felt it necessary to discipline his sister or his wife then that should be accepted. A wife must accept that she would be chastised occasionally. I kept my back straight and my head up because my pride would allow nothing else. As I mounted the stairs a strange thought entered my head. I wondered if those fine Southern ladies in their huge houses had also been disciplined by their husbands. I resolved to ask Martha; I was sure she would know.

  I went into our bedroom and sat on the bed keeping my back straight and trying hard not to cry. I decided I would not argue but simply take my spanking. I had, after all, wanted a real man and this was what real men did in these parts. I wondered if Amos should wish to have me after he had finished disciplining me. It took very little to arouse him; if he saw me partially undressed he would often become quite amorous. In truth, I liked him finding me attractive, and my wifely duties were a pleasure for me, but would I feel the same way after being spanked? I heard Amos' feet on the stairs and my heart began to race. I would soon find out just how hard my spanking would be and whether he would want me afterwards or not.

  When Amos entered the room his face was a curious mixture of expressions: there was irritation that his wife had dared to argue with him, regret at what he had to do, and stubborn determination to carry out the discipline.

  "Ruth, it gives me no pleasure to do this but in Denver I explained to you the need for you to be obedient and respectful. Arguing with my instructions regarding the guns is both of those. Do you understand, wife?"

  I didn't argue but just said simply, "Yes Amos."

  "You must bare yourself, Ruth."

  To be frank, I didn't want to be wearing my dress while having to go over his lap like a child. I worried that, apart from anything else, it would crease and I would have to get the flat iron to it. I also worried that if I struggled my dress might get torn. In the most contrite voice I could manage I asked, "May I take my dress right off, Amos? I don't want it getting creased or torn."

  He gave his permission and as I began to undress he, to my horror, reached for my hairbrush. It has a solid wooden back and a beautiful metal handle. It was a g
ift from my mother. The thought of that wooden back hitting my bottom was awful and I pleaded,"Oh please Amos, can't you just use your hand? I won't argue again, I promise."

  "No Ruth. Obedience is the most important lesson for a wife and I regret I must teach it to you."

  I was struggling with my feelings. I know obedience in a wife is prized as a virtue and I wanted to be a good wife. I also knew that I had been pushing Amos quite hard: I'd challenged the weekly spankings and persuaded him to reveal his problems to me. My mother had rarely challenged my father's rulings. I also knew I had handled this business badly but it was too late... I had already been disrespectful. On the other hand, I was a gunsmith and to bar me from even handling them was ridiculous. I decided to accept my spanking without further argument although I knew I was going to plead for mercy. I'd heard Elizabeth's hairbrush spankings and seen her squirming afterwards. I would be pleading.

  To help the pleading, I showed contrition. "Shall I also remove my petticoats, Amos?"

  "Yes Ruth, that is a good idea."

  Eventually I had next to nothing on and stood looking at my husband.

  "Drawers, Ruth."

  I felt stupid. I'd left my drawers up and of course Amos was going to spank my bare bottom. Amos sat himself down on my dressing table chair and I stepped forward and loosened the ties on my drawers. They slid slowly down my legs which, in spite of the intimacies of married life, I still found embarrassing. Amos took hold of my arm and pulled me down and over his lap supporting me so that I did not fall. He took me in a very firm hold indeed and I heard myself whimper. I felt such a terrible coward; I told myself that Elizabeth had endured many of these without complaint and that I must be brave.

  What little bravery I had disappeared when the back of the brush smacked down hard on my bottom. I had thought Amos' calloused hand hard when he spanked me, but the hard wooden back of the brush was far worse. I screeched and jerked so hard even Amos nearly lost his grip. I cried out, "Oh please, Amos, not so hard!"