by Patty Devlin
“I’ve missed you,” she blurted, interrupting him.
He smiled sympathetically. “Thank you. Have you had much trouble over our picnic? I know the town gossip can be brutal.”
She shrugged. “It will pass. I hope it’s not a problem for you.”
“No. But it doesn’t work that way for a man.”
“No, I suppose not.” He would probably be lauded for an assignation with a woman so much younger.
“I should go,” he said, sadness in his voice.
“Please don’t. I want to spend more time with you.”
“I would like the same,” he said. “But your mother remains stubborn. I have tried to approach her since that day, and she turns away from me every time.”
Sunny sighed. “I can’t even talk to her about it. She won’t listen to me. She’s threatened to send me away, east to her cousin’s home.”
“We are at an impasse. You should set your sights on someone else, li’l girl. It pains me to say so, but aside from thief-sneakin’, there’s not much we can do.”
“Perhaps we could meet at night.” Romeo came to Juliet’s window to court her, after all. Why couldn’t Abel do that, too? Of course, it hadn’t turned out so well for Juliet.
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “That would certainly be unwise.”
Frustration welled up. “I don’t care!”
“I do.”
“Why are you so afraid? Are you a coward?”
His lips thinned and a frown formed on his brow. “I am protectin’ your reputation, miss. Pray do not forget it.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that?”
“Because you’re young. You don’t know what it would be like to be spurned by the townsfolk.”
“And you do?” Sunny wanted to snatch the words back as soon as they were out of her mouth, but she tilted her chin up and resolutely listened.
“I most certainly do. I had to withstand scowls, harsh words, looks that should have turned me to stone, for eight long years. Believe me, you’d find that difficult to deal with. And think of what Martha Diggins has to go through, Sunny. Do you want that for yourself?”
She mocked him. “Martha Diggins. Martha, Martha, Martha. I don’t give a damn about Martha!” It was the very first time she’d ever used that word, but it made her feel powerful.
“Watch your language, and keep your voice down.”
“Or what? You’ll spank me again? Here, during a church social?”
“There are outbuildin’s here, and spankin’ you wouldn’t take long.”
“I dare you! If we’re caught you’ll be forced to court me.”
He removed his hat and combed his shaggy hair with his fingers, placing the hat back when he was done. “I don’t have to be forced, darlin’; it’s not me that needs to be convinced. And you, yourself, said your mother would send you away. Is that what you want?”
“I won’t go. I’ll-I’ll run away. You and I can run away together.”
“Sunny! Do you hear what you’re sayin’? We can’t run away together.”
“Damn you anyway for a craven! If you really care about me-”
“That’s enough.” He took her by the arm and, after looking around for observers, pulled her away toward a small building, toward the east side of the church. “This time on the bare, li’l girl. No more cursin’ from you.”
* * *
By the time they reached the outbuilding, Abel knew it was the wrong thing to do, and that his threat was a huge mistake. But he was drawn to the girl like a moth to a flame. He needed to let her go, but he couldn’t. It wasn’t in him, though he was fighting himself and her all the way.
Sunny struggled a bit but said nothing as they hurried along and into the cool, dim storage shed. Crates were stacked neatly at the corners of the small room, and there was a narrow space for them to occupy in the middle. A few beams of light shone in through loose boards in the walls. There was enough light to see by, but the shadows added a more clandestine feel to the encounter. Once again, Abel reminded himself that he ought to let it go. She might have earned a spanking for being so stubbornly determined to thwart her mother, and for cussing, but was he the right man to deliver it?
“You can’t do this,” she hissed.
“I reckon I am doin’ this.” Stupid though it might be. He sat on a crate and pulled her over his lap. Sunny struggled, but she kept her voice down.
“We’ll get caught.”
“If you don’t want to get caught, best you keep your voice down. And, remember, if we do get caught, your mother will send you away.”
That got her silence, and he understood why. Being sent away meant there was no chance at all for them to find a way to be together. They both knew that, and some forlorn hope still drove them onward. He could feel it from her, and he was sure she could feel it from him as well.
While Sunny gripped his lower leg and squirmed, fighting him without a verbal protest, Abel raised her skirts and pushed her bustle out of the way. Her pantalettes were between him and his target. He’d foolishly said he’d spank her on the bare this time. He wanted to kick himself a thousand times, even while he reached to open her undergarment and pulled it aside, baring her bottom cheeks fully.
Sunny gasped and squirmed all the harder. “Stop it!” she hissed.
He didn’t answer—couldn’t, as he beheld her perfect buttocks and had a glimpse of her sex between her struggling thighs. All he could do was groan softly, right before he began to spank her. He started off slowly, using moderate strength at first. She was unused to this, after all, and he didn’t want to harm her. At the same time, he did want her to understand the error of her ways and remember this chastisement for a long time. So he increased the impact of his spanks, making them harder and quicker until she was making muted squeaks with each blow.
Sobbing, low and plaintive, gave him pause. He nearly stopped, but her bottom was barely red, and only in spots, bright blotches of color muted by the gloom of the shed. Abel was distracted by the sound and his aim was off, so he caught her between the legs instead of on the bottom proper. The sound was muffled, not the sharp slap that proved her bottom was target. Instead, she sounded wet. How could that be? He wanted to touch her there, to find out whether she truly was excited by this situation, by her bare behind showing blatantly and the heat on her backside. Had all of that been titillating for her? Instead of touching her gently, exploring the curiosity that was before him, he smacked her again there. Her body tensed, and she moaned low. He looked at his hand and saw moisture there. Abel’s cock got immediately hard. He had a nineteen-year-old female on his lap, wet, ready for a man, and there was nothing he could do about it. He was so annoyed at their situation, he stopped spanking and brusquely pulled her pantalettes back over her reddened bottom.
It took them a moment to reconfigure themselves, but soon Sunny was perched upon his lap and he was holding her while she sniffled. Fortunately, she hadn’t cried long or hard, because going back to the social with red-rimmed, teary eyes would have caused some talk. Abel handed her his handkerchief, and she used it delicately, her small hands white and graceful in the weak light.
“No more cussin’,” he whispered, his voice gravelly. He cleared his throat. “And this is the end of your defyin’ your mother. If you get sent away, we have no options. I’m willin’ to try, but you have to fight less and cajole more.”
“Yes, Abel.”
“I don’t want your thoughtless agreement, Sunny. I want you to consider this seriously. We must do things aboveboard or you’ll be sent away.”
“Yes, Abel.”
He growled. She wasn’t listening to him. “You let me handle this,” he told her sternly. “You just mind your Ps and Qs.”
“Yes, Abel.”
“Damn it, Sunny.”
“I’ll be good. I’ll let you handle it the right way,” she said, though the tone of her voice said she wasn’t convinced. Well, he’d have to let it go now. Hopefully, she
wouldn’t pull the roof down around their ears and get them separated forever.
He patted her back and watched as she tucked the last few strands of her hair back into place. The dark gold mass had tempted him. He’d very much have liked to wrap his hand in it and pull her down for a searing kiss. But they’d gone far enough into dangerous territory for one day.
“You go eat your food,” he told her, helping her to stand.
“Where will you be?”
“I’m headin’ back to the smithy. My absence at the gatherin’ will have already been noted by my friends. Hopefully, you’ll get away with it.”
“Probably. Mother seemed interested in socializing anyway.”
“Good enough,” he whispered, opening the shed door and looking both ways. “No one around,” he told her. “You hurry back and I’ll leave in a moment so that we’re not seen comin’ from this direction at the same time.”
“Yes, Abel.”
If she said that one more time, he’d take her over his lap again. “Don’t ‘yes, Abel’ me again. Just be a good girl and do like I said.”
“Yes…I mean…”
“Go.”
Before he could stop her, she gave him a peck on the lips and then hurried out the door. He watched her from the shadows until she got back to the big tree. She paused there as though she’d just stood up, brushing off her skirt and arranging it becomingly. He was grateful that she’d didn’t look back toward the shed. Instead, she sallied forth into the crowd.
Abel saw her reconnect with her mother, and it appeared that their absence had been undetected. He hoped her bottom would be sore for a day, just to impress upon her the need to leave it up to him to try to do the right thing.
He could, if he wanted, do the best thing and leave her alone. But he didn’t want to, or maybe he didn’t want to enough. He was compelled to try the high road again, as many times as necessary to wear her mother down and make her see his way.
They were, perhaps, dreaming of the impossible, but he was stubborn. Somehow, they had to be together.
Chapter 5
Deceit
Sunny and Mother were sitting in the front parlor reading novels from the Carrollton lending library, absorbed in the fiction, when there was a knock on the front door. Mother put her book down and rose to answer.
It was probably someone for Aunt Elizabeth, but soon, Mother came to the front parlor with a young man in tow.
“Sunny, Mr. William Steinbocker has come to call.”
Sunny stood immediately to greet their guest, a tall, handsome fellow with slicked back hair and bright blue eyes. Sunny recognized him from church. He appeared confident, a bit peacockish, a little self-important in his carriage and demeanor.
“This is my daughter, Sunny.”
Sunny offered her hand and he took it, giving a cursory bow over it as he’d done for her mother. His smile was polite and warm. “Miss Winslow,” he said. “It’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Flustered, Sunny withdrew her hand. “Thank you, sir. Won’t you sit down? We were about to make tea. Would you join us?” They hadn’t been about to make tea, of course, but it was polite to say so.
“I’m afraid I don’t have time for tea, much to my dismay. I would very much like to stay longer than I can.”
Mother spoke up. “I’m sure a town councilman like yourself is quite busy. Please sit, while you visit, even if only for a few minutes.” She exchanged a telling glance with Sunny and made it clear that Sunny was to be at her best or else.
He nodded and sat on the chintz settee, making himself comfortable on the soft, well-used cushions. Mother took her seat in a chintz-covered wing back chair, and Sunny remained standing near her elbow. There was a pause as they arranged themselves, each to his or her own best advantage. Sunny thought it was shallow, but she played along.
They made small-talk for a few minutes, but Sunny noticed his attention on her more than was strictly proper. “It is such a pleasure to have newcomers in Carrollton,” he told them. “Our town is small, but I hope you’ve received a warm welcome.”
Sunny didn’t mention the encounter with the town matrons. “Oh, yes, Mr. Steinbocker. Everyone has been so lovely. We feel very at home here.”
“Kansas City must be quite different,” he pointed out.
“Yes,” Mother answered. “But having family close by makes all the difference.”
His glance moved to the ormolu clock on the mantle. Perhaps twenty minutes had passed. “I really must be off. I hope I might come to call again soon. Perhaps Miss Winslow and yourself, Mrs. Winslow, might join me for a luncheon at the Rosewood this upcoming week.”
Mother answered for the both of them. “We would be pleased to accompany you.”
He smiled brightly and stood. Sunny offered her hands, as did Mother, and they all said their goodbyes.
Once the door had closed behind him, Mother turned and frowned at Sunny. “He’s a town councilor,” she repeated. “You must be on your best behavior when we meet him in town. I think he might be a good prospect for you.”
“Mother…”
“I’ve cultivated his attention over a few weeks now. It’s clear that he’s interested in you. This was just a chance for him to make your acquaintance properly. He had to set eyes upon you. I’m glad you wore your yellow dress today. It shows you off to good advantage. He is a most amiable gentleman. You would do well to set your cap for him.”
“But Mother, you know my interests. Why do you persist in this when you know my happiness lies elsewhere?”
“That blacksmith you mean? Absolutely out of the question. He’s divorced! It’s plain foolish for you to even entertain the idea. You must get that man out of your head, Sunny. I will not allow you to associate with him. Quit asking.”
“Please, Mother.”
Mother’s voice was clipped with anger when she replied. “Are you deaf? I told you no and I meant it. I will send you to my cousin’s home in Peoria if you keep insisting. She’ll certainly make sure you make a proper match.”
Frustrated, Sunny turned and ran back to their room, throwing herself on the bed and trying to still the tears that sprang to her eyes. “I will have Abel,” she muttered to herself. “I will.”
Sunny didn’t see Abel at all that week, and Mother practically had to drag her out the door when William Steinbocker came in his fine buggy to take them to the café in town. Sunny couldn’t help but compare Abel’s hired buggy to William’s Brougham. Clearly, he was prosperous and came from a good family. Sunny could see that before they’d come to Carrollton she might have been interested in the dashing young man, even despite his cocksure attitude, but a man was more than a nice buggy and a polite disposition. Abel was a little rough, more masculine, kind and caring and mature; she loved all those qualities in him. His kiss had made her almost swoon, and even his hand on her bottom brought butterflies to her belly. As she gazed at William while he drove, she wondered if he’d be the kind of man who spanked, and came to the swift conclusion that he would not. His hands were too fine, his appearance too dandified to suggest that he would expect more of her than a subdued and polite wife. She’d be expected to be nothing more than an attractive hostess, perhaps a bit spoiled, but never taken to task for foolish behaviors. In other words, she would not be expected to improve and grow. She’d stagnate in such an environment. She’d be bored and lost. There would be no excitement. Soon she’d be out of control and causing mischief in order to stay alive. It would not do.
Unfortunately, Mother had other ideas.
William helped her out of the buggy in front of the café, his hands lingering on hers as she alighted. It was nothing like the strength Abel showed by lifting her down. Although William was fit, he was no match for a blacksmith’s hardened muscles.
They entered the café and sat at an agreeable table by the window. After they talked about the blazing hot weather for a few minutes, they made their order for tea and finger sandwiches, William got to
the point Sunny suspected he’d been leading up to all along.
“Mrs. Winslow, I wonder if you would allow me to call upon your daughter in the future.”
Mother smiled a cat’s satisfied grin. “Chaperoned, of course.”
“Of course.”
“Sunny would be delighted, wouldn’t you, dear?”
Sunny most definitely would not be delighted. She ventured to share her honest opinion and risk her mother’s wrath. “I wonder if that’s entirely wise. We are so new here, and a person of your upright position would surely be expected to call upon ladies of similar stature in the community.”
Mother kicked her under the table. “What she means is that it would be an honor to be so singled out for your attention, Mr. Steinbocker.”
“Call me William, madam,” he said with a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Miss Winslow, I invite you to call me by my first name as well.”
“Likewise,” Mother said. “We should all be on a first name basis if you will be visiting us with any frequency.”
“Oh, yes, I do intend to visit frequently. As frequently as you’ll allow.”
Sunny sighed. She felt cornered and irritable. “I do have other social commitments,” she said.
William chuckled. “Of course. A young lady of such beauty and refinement would be most popular in Carrollton.”
“We are finding our way,” Mother said as the food arrived.
Sunny had had enough of her mother’s obsequious fawning over the man. She’d had enough of William’s penetrating stares. He was polite, but there was something unsavory about him. He was hiding something—something that only a long-time resident of Carrollton might know. His attention was too strong, based upon their short acquaintance. She’d have to ask Dani about William Steinbocker.
Feigning discomfort, Sunny fanned herself.
“Are you well, Sunny?” William asked.
“I’m afraid I feel slightly faint. The weather is so oppressive here. It will take me some time to get used to it. Mother, would you mind very much if we return to the Taggarts’?”
Mother’s eyes glittered with anger. “Have a sip of water to revive you, Sunny.”
