Cinch Your Saddle (The Widow Wagon Book 3)

by Megan Michaels

  She nodded her head vigorously. He slowly took his hand off, and she turned to face him. He said in a low voice, “They’re here to arrest them. They’re going to tell them that we already left without them this morning. That way my cover won’t be broken as a U.S. Marshal.”

  “Hey! Wait a damn minute!” Red shouted out in the hallway, over the sounds of a struggle. “Where the fuck is Silas? Are y’all arresting Silas too?”

  The sheriff shouted, “Nope, heard from the innkeeper that he and the woman he was with left in the middle of the night.” Their voices came closer to their door. “Looks like he abandoned you guys and went off to marry the girl.”

  She looked up at Silas and he waggled his eyebrows at her. “See, we done run off and got hitched.”

  She smiled at him, not sure what to say.

  Kane shouted at Red. “Those sons-a-bitches! I knew we couldn’t trust him, Red. I told you, and told you that something wasn’t right about him. He took that woman and now we’ll get nothing for her, but jail.”

  The Marshall shouted, “You men won’t have to worry about any of this for a while. You’ll be in jail or hanging soon. We’ve been hunting you down for years.”

  Finally, their heavy boots could be heard clomping down the stairs. Minnie held a hand to her chest. It was over. She’d made it — thanks to Silas — and she’d be fine.

  “Minnie, where the hell are you?”

  Angus!

  She opened her mouth. “An—”

  Silas slapped a hand over her mouth again, giving her backside a swat so hard that she shouted under his hand.

  Jesus, my ass will never heal with this man around!

  “I told you to keep your mouth shut. Do you ever follow directions, or do you need to feel the heat of a strap or switch every hour of the day to get it through to you?” He frog walked her to the privacy screen, taking his hand away from her mouth. “Stay put.” He wagged a finger in her face. “Don’t move. Don’t say a word!”

  He stomped to the door, opening it and leaning into the hallway. “Sir, can I help you? Are you looking for someone?”

  She heard Angus walk up to the door. “I’m here to rescue someone who was stolen from those two renegades the Sheriff just arrested. Minnie Johnson? Have you heard of her since your stay here?”

  “Well, that depends on who’s asking. Who are you, sir?”

  “I’m the wagon master for the Widow Wagon. Miss Minnie was kidnapped by those outlaws and we’ve been worried sick about her. As wagon master, I sure would like to get her back to safety if you know where she is.” The strain in Angus’ voice made tears spring to her eyes. He cared. She wasn’t sure he’d care whether or not she ever came back.

  “It’s good to make your acquaintance, sir. The name is Silas Stone, U.S. Marshal. I can—”

  She bounded out from around the privacy screen, bolting for the doorway. “Angus!” She threw herself into his arms. “I missed you. Oh, God! I’ve never been so happy to see you.”

  “Jesus, you’re a sight for sore eyes. I thought we’d lost you!”

  Silas yanked them both roughly into the room, slamming the door behind them. He glared at Minnie. “I told you to stay put behind that privacy screen, and to keep your mouth shut! Damn you!”

  Angus put his hands on his hips. “I see some things never change. Since you already have a reckoning from me, I’ll just add Silas’ reckoning to it too.”

  Silas looked at the wagon master. “I think—”

  Angus cut him off with the wave of a hand, hauling Minnie roughly over his lap.

  “Angus! Don’t please, I don’t think I can be spanked again.” Her ass had been through so much in twenty-four hours, and she knew the gruff man didn’t go in for half measures.

  He lifted her skirts up, pulling her pantaloons over her bottom and whistling loudly. “What the hell happened here?”

  “Well, sir, she had tried to—” Silas started to defend himself, his hesitancy plain — something she’d never heard in his voice before. Was it remorse? Guilt?

  Minnie spoke then, knowing it would be better for Angus to hear it from her mouth. “Angus, I kind of asked for all of this. I was trying to escape and I bit Silas in the leg so hard that I tasted blood — and then ran into the desert to try to get away.”

  She looked over her shoulder to see the shock on Angus’ face. He glanced at Silas for confirmation.

  “I can show you, sir,” Silas said. “I’ll have a scar for the rest of my life. I’ve been putting ointment and alcohol on it several times a day to keep it from festering.”

  “No need. I have no doubt if you’re both sayin’ it.” He helped Minnie to stand. “Keep your skirts up. Continue.”

  She shuffled her feet, knowing that her backside was facing Silas with her drawers at her ankles. She made sure her skirts drooped in front to hide her sex from Angus though. “And then I wanted to escape before I’d be forced to sleep with him. I didn’t know who he was, Angus. I tried to escape, and I ran from the room in just my chemise down the stairs into the saloon area.” She stared at the floor in front of her, too embarrassed to look Angus in the eye.

  “Good God, woman. Do you have any idea what could’ve happen to you in a room full of drunken saloon men?” He shook his head. “It looks like Silas here knows how to tan a backside, I got to say. But how in the name of hell did you decide, with an ass that already looks like that, to still disobey him?”

  “I don’t know.” She glanced over her shoulder at Silas who smiled at her. “I guess, I just didn’t think. I was just so happy to see you.” She reached out, grabbing Angus’s hand.

  Angus smiled up at her, then looked around her at Silas. “Marshal, I think you and I need to talk.”

  “Sir, before you even say it, let me speak. Minnie didn’t know I was a marshal. She didn’t know I was going to keep her safe, all of these incidents were to keep her safe and I needed her to fear me enough to listen. And I know that she’s been compromised by me paddling her bare bottom. I swear I didn’t take her sexually, but either way, she’s been compromised.”

  He walked up to Minnie, taking her hands into each of his. She wondered if she was in trouble again. Between Angus and Silas, a girl didn’t feel like her backside was ever safe. “Minnie, I know you were supposed to meet your mail order husband in Idaho, but if you’ll take me, I would like to be your husband and have you live here in Wyoming.”

  She stared back at him. He’d kidnapped her, belted her, paddled her, laid with her as a man does with a woman — yet without violating her. He’d also protected her from Red and Kane. He’d stayed up all night to keep her safe. He’d gotten the renegades arrested, reunited her with Angus, and very likely saved her life. But she didn’t know him — at all. She didn’t know Tom Ferris, her soon-to-be mail order husband either. The truth was, she knew Silas much better than Tom Ferris, regardless of what had happened between them.

  “You did your best to protect me — even from myself. And I don’t know you very well, at all. Would we have to marry right off?” She bit her lip, wondering if she was pushing too far. But she wanted to be sure that he wasn’t… mean. She wanted to be sure that he would treat her right.

  “We have several days travel to get to my home in Green River. You can watch me and see if this is what you really want. If you don’t, I’ll bring you to meet Tom Ferris in Idaho. You have my word on that, Minnie.”

  Angus cleared his throat. “If it makes either of you feel better, we’ll be traveling most of that way. At least to Sublette Cutoff. He can ride along with us and then you’ll feel safe and I can rest assured that you’re safe too.”

  Minnie stared into those deep green eyes and knew she’d take a leap of faith. “Yes, I’ll take a chance and see if this is for us.”

  He pulled her in for a hug. “You won’t be sorry, Minnie. I’m a good man. You’ll see.” And then holding her hand, he pulled her over to the bed, sitting down and tossing her over his lap. “And I regret to say that
the next task falls to me rather than Angus. You have a habit of disobeying his rules for the Widow Wagon. Your poor little bottom is very sore, so it won’t be a long spanking. But it will be memorable, I’m sure.”

  “Silas! No!” She didn’t know where the energy came from, but she’d be damned if he laid another hand on her buttocks. She rocked and kicked, flailing her legs and arms, screeching and yelling. To no avail, of course. He rucked up her skirts, yanking on her drawers so hard she heard fabric rip. “You will stop this feral temper tantrum, now!”

  His hand smacked the crest of her bottom so hard that she rocked forward on his lap, grasping his ankle for balance. His hand began to rain down slaps, hitting every stripe and bruise already decorating her poor hind end. Desperate situations called for desperate measures though, and she dug her nails into his leg.

  “Minnie! Drop your hand immediately or I’ll grab my belt. Are you missing the sting of the leather this soon?”

  He held her tightly with one hand while the other unbuckled it, the jingle of the tooth on the metal buckle was like an electric shock to her system.

  She stilled, her ass and legs tingling in response to the sound. “No, no, oh please no! No, no, Silas!”

  “That’s what I thought. You’re a smart girl, Minnie. But we’ll keep it unbuckled just in case.” He pulled her into his hip again, resuming her spanking, his hand punishing her fast and hard. Her legs stiffened straight behind her and she blubbered like an eight-year-old. She couldn’t remember the last time she cried so hard — well, at least not since yesterday in the desert.

  The punishment didn’t last long and soon his hand stilled, though her sobs continued to rack her body. She felt so exhausted. For the third time in twenty-four hours, she promised herself that she’d listen to every single order that Silas uttered.

  “I’m very impressed, Silas. That is a tough woman you’re taking on — but you seem to know that already. I have to say, you seem to have a really good handle on how to apply discipline — consistently and firmly.” Angus came over, clapping Silas on the shoulder. “Good man.”

  Minnie glared at him.

  Who’s side is he fucking on anyway?

  Smack! “You will not glare at him,” Silas barked. “You just received a spanking for not obeying him. He needs your respect. This man just delayed his wagon for you and came in the middle of the night to rescue you. Apologize now, or you’ll stand in the corner with your red tail exposed until you’re properly humbled.”

  Silas definitely wasn’t the type of man to budge an inch. She’d have to figure this out quick, or she’d never be riding horses or wagons again.

  “I’m sorry, Angus. Really, sorry.” Looking up, she saw him smiling at her.

  “I have no doubt that you’re sorry, girl. I have a feeling you’ll be in a sorry state for a while too.” He chuckled, walking toward the door. “You two settle things here. I’ll be downstairs at the restaurant for some breakfast, and then we’ll make our way to the Widow Wagon.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Minnie sat with her arms crossed in front of her. She wasn’t happy with either of the men she’d been forced to travel with back to the Widow Wagon. She stepped out into the bright sunlight in front of the hotel, only to find Silas patting a pillow laid across his lap and the saddle horn. She was touched that he’d made such an effort, trying to find a way for her to ride on her spanked bottom in some sort of comfort. Minnie certainly wasn’t going to let him know that though.

  “You must be a diagnosed idiot if you think I’m sitting on that pillow all the way to Devil’s Gate. I might as well wear a sign that says, ‘Yes, he paddled my ass raw. Thank you for asking.’”

  She stood with her arms crossed. She’d simply refuse to leave until it was gone. Several passersby had gathered watching once they heard her voice raised in anger and the pillow sitting on the saddle horn. Their laughter and snickering could be heard behind her.

  “Wilhelmina Louise! You’re riding this horse. You’ll be sick if you have to lie over my lap the whole way.”

  “Wait! Who told you my name?”

  She shot an accusing glare at Angus, who held his hands up in surrender. “He forced me to. I had no choice.”

  “I bet.” She glared back at Silas. “I’m not sitting on a pillow. Everyone will know why I’m on it.”

  She heard the laughter of some small boys and grown men behind her. She swiveled on her heels, marching toward them. “I suggest you all find something to do besides listening in on others’ conversations!” They all scattered, obviously seeing the rage in her eyes.

  “If you don’t straighten up your attitude, Miss Johnson, you’re going to find your little backside being paddled with my riding crop here in front of the whole town.” Silas fingered the end of the crop and then swished in the air next to him. The ensuing whistle made her shiver a little. It wouldn’t be worth it. She’d toss the pillow out along the trail at some point. She’d just ride along until she could have her way.

  Angus chuckled as she stomped her way over to Silas. “That is one cantankerous woman, Silas. Are you sure you know what you’re signing up for?”

  Silas picked her up as if she was a small child, placing her softly on the pillow, adjusting it until he was satisfied that she was comfortable. “Oh, she’s not cantankerous at all, Angus. She’s quite malleable once she knows who’s in charge. She just hasn’t met someone as stubborn as she is. “

  “Oh, I beg to differ. I’m as stubborn as she is. Ask my wife.”

  “Of that, I have no doubt. She’ll learn though. I have a lifetime of spanking that gorgeous plump ass until it sashays and sways to the beat of my drum.” He patted her bottom. “Isn’t that right, Miss Johnson? Or should I say soon-to-be Mrs. Stone?”

  “We’ll see. I may change my mind.”

  He lightly kissed her temple. “You may, but I sincerely doubt it. I’m pretty charming when I want to be.”

  She snorted, muttering, “Aren’t you all?”

  They both laughed at her, and they started their journey to Devil’s Gate. They’d be there by sundown.

  * * *

  She’d fallen asleep, leaning back on his chest. He couldn’t imagine a better feeling in the world. Her slow, steady breathing relaxed him, the burdens of the day melting away. Minnie had been through a lot in the last day and a half, and he avoided jostling her as he could. He still felt bad for how her bottom looked, but he’d never seen such a stubborn woman in all his days. And when Angus told him that they’d dropped off a woman whose personality overshadowed the strength of Minnie’s for weeks, he shook his head in amazement. The wagon master needed an award — or sainthood.

  Feeling the press of her soft buttocks on his stiff cock didn’t make the ride any more enjoyable for him either. He remembered the feel of her slight body under him, even though he didn’t get to experience her completely. He remembered the warmth of her and the press of those pointed nipples against his chest and the thought had him as hard as he had been the night he’d lain with her. His penis had brushed against her moist pussy and he’d been barely able to restrain himself from pounding into her, thrusting into her slick juices. In spite of the obvious danger she’d been in, she’d been excited, her quim drenched with her excess.

  He had to make her his wife. He’d been wanting a family, been more than ready for a while. His highly educated, cultured mother would be more than pleased with Minnie. He chuckled, thinking of how his father would enjoy her sassy mouth and ability to rile his normally calm and cool exterior.

  Angus spoke, breaking Silas’ thoughts away from sexual relations with his future wife. “So I need to ask you, while she’s sleeping. What did she mean that you laid with her ‘like a man does with a woman, but didn’t violate her?’”

  Silas took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. This wouldn’t be easy. “Well, sir, to protect her, I told Red and Kane that she was mine. That, as she’d tell you, I’d be ‘fucking her’ that night. They knew and the
y expected it. From past experiences that those two have had, they knew to listen for screams and cries, and I also knew from being with them for a while that they wouldn’t hesitate to sneak a peek through a window or door to see if we were actually naked in bed.”

  He stopped stroking her hair off her face, giving her temple a soft kiss. “So, after she tried to escape, running into the saloon dressed in only her chemise, and giving me a heart attack.”

  “I bet. I almost had a heart attack hearing about it today. Christ, she really could’ve been hurt by any of those men in the saloon.”

  “So, you understand how the fear made me paddle her bottom? In hindsight, I probably should’ve waited a day or two after the strapping she’d received for biting me.”

  “Oh, hell, Silas, don’t beat yourself up over that.” Angus dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “I would’ve done the same. She deserved it for putting herself at risk.”

  “I know, but Christ it bothers me to see her little ass so bruised. I don’t want her to feel bad and in pain, at my hand. I’m gonna have to learn how to discipline her in a more measured way, because apparently she can’t go more than a few hours without tangling with someone.”

  “I can attest to that. I truly don’t know how she held it together until Daisy left. But Daisy was like five hellcats put together. Her poor husband, Noah, must go to bed at night dead tired.”

  They both laughed, shaking their heads, just imagining how awful it would be. “Anyway, after I paddled the hell out of her ass, I told her it was time to do the next task of the evening. I stripped, and laid on top of her, but I swear I didn’t penetrate or even come close to taking her.” He stroked his hands over her arms, pulling her closer to him. “I immediately put my hand over her mouth and whispered that I was a U.S. Marshal and that we needed to do this in case Red and Kane were watching. I promised her that I was there to protect her and that I’d get her back to the Widow Wagon. As soon as she calmed down, I got off her, we got dressed; and I sat watching her sleep the rest of the night until y’all came to arrest them.”