Caring for Citrine (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Alta Hensley

  “Wait.”

  Della looked over her shoulder at him. Was he going to try to save her from a spanking? Could he be her knight in shining armor about to save her? Would Gabriel and Jewel even stand for it? Maybe the doctor thought she was too sick and frail for a punishment. Whatever the case, Della tried her best not to smile or show any signs of relief. She may very well get out of a spanking. She actually considered coughing to really pull at the doctor’s heartstrings even more.

  “Since Della followed me and invaded my privacy, and I was the man who had to carry her all the way back here, I think it’s only fitting that I be the one to punish her.” He looked Gabe right in the eye. “If that is all right with you, that is.”

  Gabe paused and then looked at Jewel.

  “I assure you that I will teach her a lesson she soon won’t forget,” Anson added.

  When Jewel nodded in return to Gabe’s questioning stare, Gabe began looping the leather around his pants again. “Muy bien. I have no problem with you handling it.” He then turned his attention to Della and walked to where she stood and embraced her in a firm hug. “Don’t you ever pull something like that again. You scared us.” He tilted her head up with his finger pressed securely under her chin. “You will always be our little Citrine. Don’t ever make us feel like we may lose you again.” He embraced her once more. The one thing about Gabriel that would always remain the same, is that his heart always overshadowed all else.

  Della nodded against his chest. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

  Gabe pulled away and smirked. “Sí, I am sure the doctor here is going to make damn sure of it.”

  Della looked over at where Anson stood and nodded. “All right.” She remained in place, not sure what would be expected of her, but for some odd reason, the thought of Anson becoming her disciplinarian sent a delightful shiver through her body. She shouldn’t like the idea. In fact, she should be terrified. But she wasn’t. The thrill running though her body was anything but terror.

  In a voice that seemed to rumble from the depths of Anson’s belly, he ordered, “Go upstairs and get your nightdress on. Stand in the corner with your nose right up against the wall until I get there. Think about what you did and how much you scared the people who love you.”

  Without saying another word or looking at the disapproving faces watching her, she scurried out of the room, not sure how to take what happened and what was about to come.

  Chapter Seven

  Anson came up to her room not that much longer after she did, but it felt like an eternity while she stood in the corner uncertain of what was to come. Standing in her nightdress—as he commanded—with her nose to the wall, made her feel like an errant child. But after the way he spoke and looked at her, she wouldn’t dare go against his wishes.

  He strode across the room, and Della stole a peek to see that he was carrying his doctor’s bag. Focusing her attention back to where the two walls met in a ninety-degree angle, Della just waited as the butterflies fluttered against her belly. She could hear him digging around in his bag, but he remained silent until he walked up to where she stood with her nose pressed against the wall.

  “I need to take your temperature and make sure you didn’t get yourself sick all over again with that chill in the air.” Without waiting for a response, he reached underneath her nightdress and lowered her drawers. “Hold your nightgown up to your waist and stick out your bottom.”

  With shaky hands, she did so, feeling the cool air against her flesh. Anson had seen her bottom before, but this time was different. She was in trouble, and the shame mixed with anticipation of what was to come, made every sense of her body feel overloaded. Releasing a breath, she positioned her body so her bottom was pushed out and ready to have the thermometer invade her tight little hole.

  Anson spread her bottom cheeks apart and pressed the cold instrument against her puckered entrance. It slid in easily enough, but the intrusion caused her to whimper.

  “Now stand in the corner while it takes your temperature. Keep your butt exposed while your nose is to the wall.”

  She did as he ordered, while holding her nightdress bundled up at her waist. There was nothing but total silence for several minutes while she waited. She knew he was watching her, and the humiliation of being a naughty girl in front of him set her body on fire. Her only saving grace was that he couldn’t see her flushed face since it was pressed up into the corner. The wait seemed to take forever. Surely her temperature had registered by now, and yet she still had to stand. She fought the urge to wiggle her butt to expel the awful intruder. For something so tiny, the weight of it grew with every passing minute. It seemed to be growing inside of her, stretching her rosy flesh. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t focus on anything but the thermometer and the fact that Dr. Norwood was watching it rest firmly in her bottom hole. Oddly enough, she thought she might actually have preferred an honest to goodness whipping from Mr. Gabe over this form of embarrassing punishment.

  Finally, she heard the most wonderful words. “Corner time is over. Come here.” The tone in Anson’s voice gave no room for argument. She considered herself wise enough to know not to mess around when a man had that look in his eye, and that tone in his voice.

  Della thought about lowering her nightdress for a moment, but then decided against it since he didn’t give her permission to do so. She turned around, fully exposing her mound. Heat singed her cheeks as she took tiny steps—to assure the thermometer remained in her bum—toward him. She could feel his eyes on her, but she couldn’t bear to confirm it, so she watched the floor as she padded barefoot to where he sat.

  When she reached him, he spun her around, and pressed her lower back down so she had to bend over. He then slowly removed the thermometer, and then to her surprise, thrust it back in. He continued to move the tiny instrument in and out of her bottom hole, fucking her ass with it as she kept in position. She couldn’t help but gasp and release a little squeal at the invasion. Finally, after several more pumps in and out, he removed the medical device.

  “Good,” he said, “no fever.” He patted her bottom which was only mere inches from his face. “You can pull up your drawers now, and lower your nightgown. Sit here on the bed and let me listen to your chest.” He patted the bed beside him, signaling for her to sit beside him.

  Obediently, she did so and placed her hands in her lap. Anson got off the bed and kneeled before her. Reaching for his bag, he took out one of his medical instruments he used to listen to her chest all the times before. He gently pressed it against her heart. “Take a deep breath.”

  She did as he asked, silently praying she wouldn’t start to cough.

  “Another.”

  She took in another and was happy that a cough didn’t even threaten to come.

  He moved the instrument to her back. “Breathe in deeply, and let it out slowly.”

  When she did and he seemed satisfied, he sat back on his haunches and looked up at her face. “What about your knee? Does it hurt?”

  Without thinking, Della placed her fingertips to the swollen flesh and shook her head. “Not really, sir. Ain’t nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Does it hurt when you walk on it?”

  Della shook her head. “No.”

  Very gently, he started to twist and turn her knee around in different angles. Della watched as his large and rough hands delicately touched her leg, cautious to be extra careful. His jaw clenched as his eyes studied a forming bruise.

  “Fetch me your brush please.”

  Oh no! Was he going to spank her with her own brush? She got up and did as he asked, but her heart sank and her belly flipped.

  Anson reached out his hand and took the brush from her and then stood completely and led Della to the wooden chair that sat by the foot of her bed. And just as she was expecting for him to sit down and then pull her over his lap, he surprised her by instructing her to sit down instead. Just as gently as he had touched her knee, Anson scooped her
tangled hair into his hand and started brushing through the matted mess. Her heart skipped and tears threatened to form. Why was he being so nice? She was positive she had a butt blistering in store, and so far, all Anson was doing was caring for her.

  As he stroked over and over, taking time on the large tangles, he said, “So you never told me why you were spying on me.”

  Della quickly turned her head, stopping him from brushing. “Oh no! I wasn’t spying on you. I… I saw you loading the wagon, and I was curious. I… I don’t know why I followed you.”

  He placed his finger on her cheek and forced her head to face forward, continuing to brush the tangles away. “So I guess I have no choice but to explain what you saw.”

  She swallowed hard before saying, “You don’t have to tell me anything. I was being nosey. I’m sorry, I just—”

  “Della,” he interrupted firmly. “That cabin you saw was mine. I own it, but I don’t live in it, or at least not very often. I live in the room above my clinic.” Once he brushed the last tangle, he ran his palm over the back of her head then wove his fingers through, sending a shiver down her spine.

  “I saw a woman come out with a child,” she confessed in barely a whisper.

  “The child was mine. He’s my son, Stone.”

  “I didn’t know you had a son. Was that woman your… your wife?” What had caused him to marry an Indian woman? The boy—his son—did look partly Indian.

  He came around and stood before her, shaking his head. “No. That woman you saw was Stone’s grandmother. She cares for him.”

  Della looked up into his eyes. “I don’t understand.”

  “A little over four years ago I was helping a nearby Indian tribe that had an outbreak of smallpox. During that time, I met a beautiful Indian woman and got her pregnant. Obviously, the tribe was not happy but didn’t do anything other than banish her from their village. Her mother decided to go as well, refusing to abandon her only child.” Anson began pacing slowly while he told the story. “I took responsibility and built a homestead for them. I had accepted the fact that I had a family now, and I would provide for them the best that I could, regardless if they were Indian or not. But she died in child birth, even though I tried everything I could to keep her alive.” He paused and sighed heavily. “Luckily for me, her mother cared for the newborn like her own. And I let her stay in the house with Stone while I work and live in town. I visit and bring supplies every other day or so, which is what you witnessed today.”

  His words sank in, and Della felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for making him reveal his secret. It was his to keep, and because of her, it was no longer protected. “I am so sorry, Anson. I had no business following you.” She looked down at her feet, fighting back her tears. “You must hate me now.”

  He walked and knelt in front of her, tilting her chin up with his fingertips to force her to look into his eyes. “I could never hate you.”

  “I will keep your secret,” she assured. “Even though it shouldn’t have ever been mine to keep. I feel so awful.”

  He sighed again and closed his eyes for a brief moment. “It really isn’t a secret. Some folks know and some don’t. Stone is my son. I know there will be folk around here who won’t be too keen on the doctor having a half-breed child, but it’s something I will face head on. I will never be ashamed of my boy.”

  “So you aren’t mad at me?”

  “Oh, I’m mad at you. You shouldn’t have been that far into the woods alone. You shouldn’t have been out so late, especially since it was getting cold. And you shouldn’t have been sneaking behind the tree, causing you to almost get shot and to fall and hurt your knee. So you, little Della, are in big trouble.”

  She looked at him wide eyed. “Trouble? What are you going to do?” Deep down, she was sure she already knew the answer.

  He placed his palms on each side of her face and stared directly in her eyes. “What did I promise Gabriel I would do, Della? ”

  “You promised that… that you would teach me a lesson.” She could feel the quiver run through her as she gazed into his eyes.

  He nodded. “That’s correct, and tonight I am taking it upon myself to deliver your punishment. Tonight it will be me teaching you a lesson you won’t soon forget.” He gave her a smile and then said, “I am going to spank you, Della.”

  An odd sensation happened between her legs—one she had never felt before. Maybe it was knowing that she was about to be spanked by Dr. Anson Norwood tonight, or maybe it was the way he remained so close, but her body practically sizzled in anticipation.

  “You are going to spank me?” she asked, as if still unsure she’d heard him correctly. She had never been spanked by anyone but Gabriel. Beaten to a pulp by awful men, yes, but never spanked on her rear by another man.

  Anson chuckled. “A misbehaving girl will find herself over my knee.”

  A shiver ran down her spine, and her body involuntarily trembled.

  He kissed her on the forehead and stroked her hair, placing a loose strand behind her ear. “Are you afraid of me?”

  She shook her head. “I just don’t know what to expect. I’ve never been spanked by anyone but Gabriel. It’s the not knowing what it will be like that I am afraid of.”

  He kissed her forehead again, and then her cheek. Her body melted at receiving such a tender and loving gesture. “Well then, I reckon we fix that. Let’s take away your fear.”

  “How?” she asked as she pressed her face into his shoulder.

  He stood up and went and sat on the edge of the bed. “Remove your drawers, raise your nightdress, and place yourself over my lap.” He patted his lap to emphasize the point. “It’s time I give you your well-deserved spanking.” The way he gave the soft command only sent more tingles through her body, feelings far from fear. She had a suspicion that if she protested even a little, Anson would back down. But she didn’t want to. The idea of submitting to him sent powerful sensations from the tip of her toes to the top of her head.

  With shaky hands—more from anticipation than fear—she did as he asked, completing the task and lying over his lap in one fluid motion. The air of the room wasn’t exactly cold, but there was just enough of a chill that shivers ran up her spine and down her legs, making it very clear that her bottom was utterly exposed. Her fingertips gripped the quilt, helping calm her nerves, and she couldn’t help wonder if she weighed too much for his lap. The position didn’t exactly feel stable, but the minute he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer to his core, she knew he would never let her fall.

  His other hand rested on her naked skin, and he started rubbing small circles across her flesh. “It pleases me very much to see you are willing to accept my correction.” He continued to caress her bottom as he spoke in a low voice. “I don’t think I will have to spank you often, but I want you to rest assured that I will if you misbehave, disrespect me, or ever put yourself in harm’s way. I plan on watching over you, Della, from now on.”

  She remained silent. The words ‘yes, sir’ became trapped in her throat. The anxiety of what was to come muted her, until the first spank landed on her ass. An involuntary yelp escaped—not out of pain, but surprise.

  And just like that, the spanking began. He simply peppered her behind, pausing here or there to fondle her skin. The spanking caused a heat and warmth to build from the place his palm connected with her body, all the way to her core.

  With every spank, the heat deepened, and the sting intensified. Della tried to be strong and did her best to not cry out, but as the spanking continued, she couldn’t help the noises of distress from escaping her body. Over and over, Anson’s wide palm spanked, and just when Della didn’t think she could take anymore, he stopped.

  Holding her firmly to him, not allowing her to get off his lap, he asked, “Will you allow me to care for you as I see fit from now on?” He began the spanking again, one swat after another.

  “Yes, sir!” she cried out, even though she wasn’t entirely sure wh
at he meant by that question. Care for her as a doctor, or care for her as…

  More spanks continued to the point where she wanted to beg for mercy but held back. The force of his swats increased and what was uncomfortable, now became pain. It hurt, and she couldn’t help but cry out even louder, even begging for him to stop. As his palm cracked against her flesh, she kicked and wiggled to escape the pain.

  “Ow! Ow! Anson, it hurts! It hurts!”

  “You have to learn a lesson, Della.” He spanked even harder, over and over again. “I don’t want to do this, but I have no choice.”

  She wouldn’t be sitting comfortably tomorrow after this. His hand hurt worse than Gabriel’s belt, and she suddenly wished she had received the whipping in the kitchen over this. Anson didn’t hold back and walloped her butt until she all but screamed out for leniency. She knew juices from her pussy wet Anson’s pants as she squirmed for some sort of relief, but she didn’t care. She was near panic that she would die if she had to take one more swat of his large hand.

  “No more walks in the woods without my permission. Are we clear?”

  She nodded and let out a large sigh when he stopped the spanking and just rubbed her well-punished behind.

  “Who cares for you?”

  “You do,” she whispered.

  “I can’t hear you,” he said and swatted her again.

  She flinched and cried out, “You care for me, sir! You do.” And she really meant it. It was very clear that Dr. Anson Norwood cared for her… and she liked it.

  He held her in place and caressed her bottom while she regained her composure before saying, “All right, let’s get you to bed.” He helped her up and pulled up her drawers. He then turned down the covers and looked at her. “Do you need anything before you go to sleep?”

  She shook her head as he wiped away the tears from her face with his fingertips.

  “I’m sorry I had to spank you,” he whispered. “But I need you to know that if you do foolish things again in the future, I won’t hesitate taking you in hand.”