by PK Corey
“They made me bith my thung,” Victoria lisped. Blood was dripping from her mouth.
“Not another word,” the housemother snapped. “They don’t pay me to put up with violence. All of you go to the sitting room and don’t open your mouths.”
Jenny stewed as she sat waiting for whatever was coming next. She doubted they’d call her parents. The college wanted their precious money too badly, Jenny mused. She was pissed but not worried, she could easily prove her version of the story.
When the campus cop walked in Jenny looked up with amusement, this should be easy. Olive, Victoria, and Madison all began talking at once with the housemother chiming in. The rent-a-cop was trying to ask questions and obviously no one cared what the others were saying. Jenny sat trying to ignore all of them. Her lip was still bleeding and she fingered it gently to see how swollen it was. Her stomach hurt, but she knew she looked better than those three. Olive had scratches on her neck and face and a carpet burn on the forehead and even from across the room she could see that Madison’s knee was swelling.
Jenny was barely listening to the four of them when abruptly the room went silent. Looking up, Jenny saw Cal standing at the door. Damn. He did look hot in his uniform! But seeing the deadly serious look on Cal’s face made the situation real and serious for the first time.
“You didn’t have to come sheriff. We can handle problems on campus,” the young officer whined.
“I was in the neighborhood when a report of an altercation went out over the scanner. Just thought I’d come by to assess the situation. We don’t want parents saying we didn’t take good care of their children. You start,” Cal ordered pointing toward Madison.
Madison gulped then taking a deep breath started talking fast. “Jenny got mad at Olive over something this morning and slapped her. Then when she got back tonight she asked us into her room to talk things over and when we went in she went crazy! She started kicking and scratching and punching. I think she broke my knee and she butted Victoria in the head before she chased Olive down the hall and jumped her as she tried to get away.”
“That’s exactly what happened,” Olive chimed in. “She should be arrested.”
Victoria nodded vigorously, but didn’t try to speak.
“You’re telling me this young lady,” he pointed at Jenny, “thought she’d be able to handle all three of you at once? Interesting. Anything else?” Cal asked looking back and forth between the girls. All three remained silent. Jenny thought it was simply Cal’s presence that seemed to shut them up.
Finally, Cal looked toward her, “What’s your side of this?”
Jenny looked at Madison, “Is that an official statement to the police that you want to stick with?” she asked. Then turning to speak only to Cal she continued, “They burst into my room this morning laughing about a stupid trick they pulled on me and I slapped Olive. When I came home tonight they, or somebody, had written fucking bitch on my door. When I went in they threw something over my head and started punching me.”
“You’re such a liar!” Olive spat out. “That never happened.”
Turning to Cal, Jenny continued, “The second week I was here someone took a twenty off my desk so I bought a nanny cam for my room. You want to see what it got today? Give me minute.”
Madison, Victoria, and Olive seemed stunned as Jenny came back in attaching the camera to her phone.
Cal, the campus cop, and the housemother all watched intently as the camera showed the three girls waiting in Jenny’s room to attack her and then the attack itself. Jenny stayed quiet as Cal raised his eyes to stare at the culprits.
“So far you three are guilty of defacing school property, breaking into someone’s room, assault, and giving a false report to the police. Looks like you’ve had a busy night.”
“Miss Anderson,” Cal said formally, “would you like to press charges at this time?”
“Whether I do or not, nothing is going to happen to them, their parents will buy them out of anything. They’re not worth the trouble. I just want out of here.”
“Fine, that’s what you’d indicated earlier today. There is a small boarding house at the north edge of campus. The owner has worked with me before and I know she’ll be happy to let you stay for a few days while other housing can be arranged. If you’ll pack what you’ll need for tonight, I’ll take you over.”
Cal turned to the housemother and the young officer. “I hope what Ms. Anderson said isn’t true, but I’ll leave the discipline to the college. I’ll expect Ms. Anderson’s room to remain untouched until she returns tomorrow for the rest of her things.”
Cal followed Jenny to her room silently. Jenny grabbed a few things before glancing back at him. “You looked pissed. Are you mad at me? I didn’t do anything.”
Ignoring her questions Cal said, “Just hurry.”
Jenny grabbed make-up and her toothbrush and crammed them in with the clothes, computer and cords she’d packed and quickly followed Cal out of the building. Still he remained silent and Jenny began to feel uncomfortable.
“Are you sure this place is going to have room for me this late?”
“She’ll have room,” Cal answered briefly.
What was wrong? Was this his work mode? Whatever it was she didn’t like this side of him. Quickly she blurted out, “If you’re mad at me tell me why. If you act like you’re pissed all the time you’re working, it’s no wonder everyone hates cops.”
Cal glared at her just before pulling up to a large clapboard house. “You didn’t tell me how bad it was. You never said you got in a fight this morning and slapped someone. When you said you wanted to move you never told me they were violent.” Cal’s voice got louder, “You never said that I was sending you back into a dangerous situation.”
“Don’t yell at me!” Jenny snapped back. “It wasn’t violent until tonight so don’t take that tone and try to blame me. You don’t need to get your panties in such a wad.”
Cal realized he was blaming the wrong person and his face showed it. “All right, I’m sorry. And I don’t wear panties,” he growled.
“Really?” Jenny grinned, “Me either sometimes.”
Jenny was happy to see a slight blush on Cal’s face before he exited the car. “Let’s get you settled for the night,” was his only comment.
“Why sheriff, any friend of yours is a friend of mine, I’m happy to give her a place to stay. Y’all come on in,” was Mrs. Tanner’s greeting as Cal introduced Jenny and explained the situation. “You take her things on up for her, second door to the left. Breakfast is from six-thirty until nine and it’s included. This is my room right here, honey,” she indicated a door. “You need anything you just knock.”
The room was small but crisply clean and Jenny was relieved to see a small attached bath. Cal sat her bag on the chair.
“You’ll be fine here for a couple of days. I’ve got friends in housing. I’m sure we can find you another room soon.” Jenny nodded without answering. Cal continued, “You need anything else before I go?” Jenny shook her head no, still not looking around.
“Jenny?”
Jenny’s sudden sobs startled Cal, “Whoa, whoa. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Jenny answered sobbing harder. “I never cry, this is stupid!”
“Come here,” Cal told her pulling her into a bear hug. “You’ve had a hell of a day. You broke into the sheriff’s house, nearly got arrested, got your butt spanked, slapped someone in your dorm, found out all you’re going to have to do for me, had another fight at the dorm and moved into a strange place. Heck, you even had to do laundry. No wonder you’re a little emotional,” Cal told her, laughing.
Jenny laughed a little too. The hug felt amazing. Her parents didn’t hug and the few hugs she had gotten from boys were basically attempts to cop a feel. This was different—protective, caring—and she stifled the need to sob again as Cal broke off the embrace.
“You going to be all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine
. Like you said, it’s been a weird day.”
“You should go to bed early, you’ve still got class in the morning. All this is no reason to be late.”
Jenny laughed, “Is there any reason for being late, in your book?”
“Sure,” Cal told her grinning, “compound fractures, arterial bleeding… , hm, I can’t think of anything else at the moment. I have to go. You go to bed and I’ll be in touch tomorrow.” There was another awkward pause at the door and again Jenny felt like this would be a good time for a kiss, but Cal just gave her a smile and left.
Chapter 6
Two weeks later Jenny woke in such a good mood she wondered who she was. Anger had been such a part of her for so long she couldn’t get used to its absence. It was Cal plain and simple. Did she just have the hots for him or was it something more? She woke up thinking of him, and she was still thinking of him when she went to bed—especially when she went to bed. She thought of the boys she’d dated in the past; they’d catered to her every whim. They would beg for her favor and give her expensive gifts. Cal had her cleaning his bathroom and doing his laundry. This was crazy.
Lying in bed she thought back to watching a movie at Cal’s. All the work was done, and all the stupid studying he insisted on, and he invited her to stay for a movie. It was almost like a date. Cal had popped popcorn for them to share as they sat on the couch under a light throw. Jenny hadn’t been paying close attention to the movie until something jumped out and it gave her an excellent excuse to snuggle closer to Cal. He’s laughed a little and put his arm around her.
Everything about him excited her—his looks, his smell, the very hardness of his body. As the movie ended she’d put her hand on his thigh rubbing it gently. She could sense a change in his breathing. She brought her hand up to the top of his thigh and tilted her face up to him.
His hand suddenly clamped on to her wrist. “Stop,” he’d commanded. “You’re working off a sentence the same as if I had taken you to court. Trying to come on to me during this time is inappropriate.”
Jenny had been stunned and embarrassed, and sorely disappointed. But thinking back now she went over what he’d said, that coming on to him during that time was inappropriate. Did that mean it would be appropriate after her so called probation was up? They spent nearly all their free time together and she knew he enjoyed it. He enjoyed teaching her about cooking and how to do other domestic chores. He even seemed to enjoy studying with her. But was she just a project to him or could it be more?
“Probation” as Cal called it was coming along fine for the most part. It wasn’t that she enjoyed laundry, cleaning bathrooms or cleaning the kitchen, but often Cal was there while she worked and it felt like playing house. And although she resented his parent-like obsession with her homework and studying, it wasn’t hard to see how much the extra time and attention to the work paid off. History had come up from an F to a C. If she got a really good grade on her English research paper and she could end up with a B. Jenny lay there wondering why the hell she suddenly cared if she got a B or a C. Sighing to herself she said out loud, “Because Cal cares.”
“Shit!” Jenny cried, “What time is it?” She was going to be late for sure, she realized, trying to come fully awake from her daydreams about Cal. She flew to get ready and out the door. Looking and feeling like a hot mess, she slipped into class nearly twenty minutes late. Professor Wright acknowledged her with a raised eyebrow and Jenny returned it with an apologetic wave.
When class was over at ten thirty Jenny headed to the library hoping to get a true start on the stupid English research paper. She was barely settled in front of a computer when her phone chimed. It was Cal, Can you be at my house at twelve thirty?. That was weird, she usually never went over before three or four. She hadn’t seen him in three days, maybe he missed her a little and he’d planned a special lunch. She was free until two o’clock so she texted back, I’ll be there.
No time to work on the paper now. She rushed back to her new dorm. For this luncheon, what she needed was a shower and a nice outfit. Maybe the time had come.
Cal sat at his house waiting for Jenny. Closing his eyes, he could almost feel her hand on his leg again. What was this girl doing to him? He couldn’t see her without wanting to kiss her, to hold her, to touch every part of her. But it wasn’t right, he told himself angrily. He was too old for her, and she was too much of a spoiled little rich girl for him. Sorority princesses and small town sheriffs were not a good mix and he knew it.
Though to be fair, she didn’t really act all that spoiled. She hadn’t balked at any of the jobs he’d given her. Whether it was cooking, laundry or scrubbing his toilet she’d been doing it without complaint. Hell, she seemed to almost enjoy it. He sure as hell enjoyed seeing her whenever he could. He’d never known anyone quite like Jenny.
Cal’s parents both believed in discipline for their children, but it had come wrapped in such a big blanket of love it had never seemed oppressive. Lying, back talk and shirking responsibility simply weren’t tolerated and in his family by the time you were three or four you just accepted it as normal. He never could understand why everyone didn’t feel the same way. But he realized Jenny had been reared totally differently. She hadn’t said much about her parents, but she obviously didn’t like or respect them. The fact that she had been easily talked into breaking into his house, that she would blow off doing her assignments, and her habitual lateness all showed a complete lack of respect for herself and others. It wasn’t too late and he was determined she was going to have a chance in life.
He stood as he heard Jenny pull up. He had a job to do and he was going to do it. His Jenny wasn’t going to fall between the cracks because she’d never had anyone to guide or discipline her. He knew he could provide those things and he was going to do it.
Chapter 7
Jenny smiled as she pulled up to Cal’s house. Her new sweater, tight jeans, and boots should make an impression. She hoped he was wearing his uniform. God he looked hot in it. Maybe he could take the whole afternoon off, she’d be happy to cut her afternoon classes.
Jenny let herself in and saw Cal standing in the living room, uniform on. With just a look she felt her panties dampen. Smiling she went towards him. But the look on his face wasn’t what she’d been hoping for.
“Hey,” she greeted him a little hesitantly. “Is anything wrong?”
“Yes, there’s something wrong. What time did you get to your first class this morning?”
Shit! “Umm… I might have been a few minutes late this morning.”
“Try twenty minutes and you were ten minutes late Monday, but Professor Wright didn’t call me Monday since you’d been doing so much better. What happened?”
“My phone died, I didn’t wake up,” Jenny got out.
“Which time, Monday or today?” Cal demanded.
“I… well, it…” Jenny stammered. Stopping she took a deep breath try to fight the disappointment she felt. He’d only called her over to yell at her for something stupid.
“What’s the big deal?” she flung her words at him angrily, “I overslept, okay. I hit the snooze and didn’t feel like getting up. I made it to class both days and that old fart has no right calling you if I’m late or just decide not to go to class one day. It’s nobody’s damn business but mine.”
Cal let a half minute of silence pass as he stared at her. “Your teenage brat side is showing,” he observed. “Nearly three weeks ago you made, and signed, our agreement when you were thinking like a grown woman. You agreed to go to all your classes and to be on time. That woman impressed me with her willingness to do what’s right. Now who are you, a woman who does what’s right or a teenage brat?”
Damn him. He would fight fair. He used reason and logic. What kind of a fight was that? But he was right. She had agreed to all he asked. It had seemed so reasonable at the time.
Jenny raised her chin, “I am a woman, Cal. I understand how serious you take this being on time business. I’ll do
better, I promise.”
“Good, that’s what I wanted to hear. Now, there’s a paddle in my nightstand drawer, go get it and bring it to me.”
“What? No! You don’t need to spank me. I’m listening, I’m listening. I get it now, you’ll see. I won’t be late again,” Jenny told him beginning to panic. That first spanking had hurt like hell and that was with his hand. She wanted nothing to do with a paddle.
“You’d better not be late again, but this spanking is for being late these two times. Go get the paddle now. I have to get back to work,” Cal told her firmly.
Jenny continued to stare at him in shock. Cal said no more, he simply stood waiting. Jenny turned and stomped into the bedroom. In the nightstand she saw the paddle. It looked like a paddleball paddle on steroids. This was not made of plywood, but something definitely more solid. Someone had made this horrible thing. The wood grain would be pretty had it been made into something else. This thing was going to hurt. Not quite able to keep her anger under control she slammed the drawer and went back to the living room.
Cal seemed perfectly calm as he took it from her and sat on the couch. He held his hand out for Jenny’s. With the scowl still on her face she let Cal position her across his lap. “I’m keeping your jeans on this time, but if I have to spank you for being late to class again they’re coming off. You need to be thinking how that would feel.” Cal readjusted her on his lap before saying, “Give me your hand.”
“What? Now you want to hold hands?” Jenny asked sarcastically.
“Honey, you better be glad I’m not spanking you for your mouth right now. I just need to be sure you won’t reach back. I have a feeling you’re going to want to,” Cal explained as he captured her free hand and held it to the small of her back. “Since you have pants on we won’t bother with a warm up. Now, how many minutes were you late Monday?”
