by Susan Thomas
"Well Jacob, I don't know how she has done it but she has outwitted us. The Lord alone knows what is happening to Alice. I cannot bring the girl up as a lady if I don't have her under my control. Well, we'd best go home and think out what to do. I wanted to go weeks ago and we have achieved nothing by lingering in this awful hotel. Home Jacob, home."
Chapter Nine
Monday morning and Cecelia was walking along Main Street on her way to the surgery when she saw Marta's little cart. The girl gave her a wave and pulled up.
"Mrs. Masters, I'm so pleased I saw you. Papa has given permission for me to come into the surgery two mornings a week in preparation for my marriage to Iestyn. There will be times when Iestyn is out on calls, and you are off duty, so I need to be very familiar with what to do. I'd like to start tomorrow. You won't mind me being around and asking endless questions, will you?"
Cecelia laughed. She didn't mind in the least but even if she did, nothing could blight her happiness now. "No of course not. I saw you in church yesterday so you know our news."
"I do. Congratulations to you and Mr. Hoctor. It's wonderfully happy news. So lovely that Julia and Alice will have both a mama and a papa again. Do you know, the other day one of my customers was quite insistent that you must marry Dr. Davies, not me. Really upset she was. Honestly, some people are strange. I told her it wasn't her business."
Cecelia laughed and they parted company. Saturday and Sunday had been wonderful. They had sat down with Julia and Alice and asked the girls how they felt about the potential marriage. The girls were quite calm. They had already decided that was going to happen and were just rather surprised it had taken the adults so long to get there. All four of them had been to see Pastor Daffern and he had been delighted. A date had been set for a month hence. The announcement had been made in church on Sunday, along with the announcement that Paul Hoffman was to court Matilde Hartman, and Dr. Davies to court Marta Hartman. It was not considered appropriate to cheer or applaud in church but, such was the pleasure at these announcements, the congregation did applaud.
When Cee arrived at the surgery it was to find Dr. Davies singing. He had a beautiful tenor voice and was singing a song in what she guessed to be the Welsh language.
"That's beautiful," she said when he had finished.
Dr. Davies blushed. "It's an old Welsh love song. I shall sing it for Marta on our wedding day. Thank you, Cecelia, for your help in bringing us together. On our little walk, yesterday, she told me about your exchanges. Sunday was such a happy day. Paul Hoffman was a little shy but once he warmed up we had such a lively time. Carl, I think, is now very happy with the way things have turned out. Marta and I were able to walk together and share so much. I am so very happy. But wait! Where are my manners? You are to be congratulated too. Does that mean you will leave me so soon?"
"No, Sam and I have decided that for the time being at least I shall continue. The Rev. Daffern explained how his wife carried on teaching after marrying him. She only stopped when she became with child. I will be honest, we both would like to have children together so it won't be forever, but I am sure we can find someone to replace me.
"I am also still staying with the Spencers since this attacker is still not caught. I find it hard to believe it's a woman."
"In my opinion it is a woman who has sadly lost her mind. I was asked by Henry Flight if I knew of any woman in the outlying farms or houses that might fit the bill but I don't. Everyone seems eminently sane to me. They're not rich but hard working, decent people just trying to raise their children."
"Well there are some strange people around. Marta was telling me that one of her customers was insistent that I should marry you, not her. Got quite upset about it apparently."
Dr. Davies looked at her hard. "Marta told you this?"
"Yes."
"Did she say who this person was?"
"No, only that it was a woman. Oh, well, she didn't even say that exactly... I'm not sure now. Just that it was a customer."
"Now why would someone be upset about Marta? If this person was keen that to have you marry me it could be because they don't want you marrying Sam. I think these attacks are rooted in an insane jealousy, and, since they started with you, and arguably include you no less than four times, you could be the locus."
"The what?"
"The place or point where all these events come together. Is Marta still in town?"
"I doubt it. She doesn't spend too long. I had the feeling she was near the end of her round when I saw her but she will be in tomorrow morning. Even if you're not here I can ask her and I'll get more detail this time. You know Iestyn, it could just be some woman who said something like, 'It would be much better if the nurse married the doctor.'"
"True, no point in getting too dramatic. We'll wait until tomorrow."
Later, at the end of her day, Dr. Davies had left on an urgent call. He had forgotten to let Sam know so she wandered over to the livery stables to find the two girls being taught how to care for the little pony (Horace) by one of Sam's men. He was so patient and gentle with the two girls that Cee just stood watching in admiration. She was watching when Sam found her.
"How did you get here, Cee?"
"I walked from the surgery."
"Unescorted?"
"Yes, Dr. Davies went off, and no one came, so I walked here to find you."
Cee found her elbow taken firmly and she was walked briskly to a quiet, rather dark, corner of the stables.
"What are you doing?"
Sam didn't answer. He just plonked himself down on a small barrel and pulled her over his lap.
"Sam! Stop! Someone will hear and I've done nothing wrong."
"You should have waited at the surgery. Mayor Spencer made that clear. I would have come to collect you in any event so you should have waited. As your husband-to-be, I am asserting my right to discipline you. I suggest that you keep quiet while I do so or the girls will hear and coming looking."
Cee's face was burning with embarrassment. Although it was a quiet and almost hidden part of the stables it was not private. One of the men could walk in and see this. Of course, most wives were disciplined like this in Kirkham so Sam's employees would see nothing strange in it but...
She squealed when she found Sam lifting her skirts. "No, Sam, please. This is so embarrassing. I'll go with you later to my rooms and I won't fight it... please."
Sam paused. "If I delay the spanking, Cecelia, I will spank you harder because there will be no danger of being heard."
"I accept. You're right I should just have waited for you. There haven't been any attacks in daytime though."
"There hadn't been any attacks indoors until poor Mrs. Craddock. How many wounds did she have?"
"Fifteen. Luckily none of them too serious but very painful all the same. I understand your point and I do accept that you have a right to discipline me. Do it later this evening, please."
"Very well Cee, but expect to sleep on your front tonight."
That evening as the two adults listened to Alice and Julia chatter excitedly about their day Cecelia's mind kept drifting to her forthcoming spanking. She had talked more with Mary Spencer about the whole issue and Mary was clear that it was a valuable part of life in Kirkham. The men took their responsibilities very seriously and Mary believed that it made marriages stronger. Cecelia thought about Ralph and how he took no responsibility in their marriage. She had to manage everything. He was like an irresponsible boy in most respects. Good in the marriage bed... when he was there, but not much else. If having a good man and good husband meant getting spanked sometimes, so be it. That didn't mean she had to like it.
Later, when Alice was asleep, she slipped her hairbrush in her bag (at Sam's command) and told Mary that Sam was coming to take her for a walk. Mary clearly thought that a euphemism for making love and told her to be careful. After they let themselves into the kitchen of the rooms at the dressmaker's shop, Sam barred the door and they went upstairs to Cecelia's b
edroom.
"I want you to understand that this is discipline and we shall not be making love. I'd like to but I'd be failing you if I let you get away with disobeying Mayor Spencer again. If I told him he'd undoubtedly paddle you again, only harder, but this is now my job. Give me your hairbrush. You women wear too many layers of clothing. I'm not fighting with your skirts and petticoats, not to mention your underthings, so I want you to take them all off. When you've done that I want you to put your nose in the corner like a child. Think about your safety. Think what would happen to Alice if you were to be killed."
Cecelia did exactly as she was told. She undressed, leaving her clothes neatly on the bed and then went to stand in the corner. She remembered standing in a corner as a child (clothed of course) for the most part thinking it very unfair. Now, looking back, and as a mother herself, she could see that nothing had been unfair. She began to think about herself and realized her problem. As a nurse, as wife to an irresponsible man, and as a mother, she'd had to carry all the responsibility. Now the men of Kirkham, and her husband to be, were taking responsibility for her safety. She had to learn to let go and let them carry the weight. Her part lay in simple obedience.
Sam called her to come out of the corner. He was sitting on the only chair with the hairbrush on the floor beside him. She stood, with her head a little down, and apologized. "I'm sorry Sam. I was acting like a silly, rebellious girl. You're all just trying to keep me safe. I deserve to be disciplined."
"You do indeed. Come and stand by me. Good, now lower yourself over my lap and put your hands down on the floor. Cecelia found lowering herself over Sam's lap both awkward and embarrassing. She decided it was being held accountable for bad decisions that caused the embarrassment; having to acknowledge you were in the wrong and submitting to the punishment decided for you. She reached down and put her hands flat on the floor.
"Don't move them, keep pressing your hands into the floorboards. My mother used this with us as children and it was very effective."
Cecelia responded with a meek, "Yes Sam."
"Aaaah!" There had been a fierce blow a fierce blow to her right cheek. Landing, as it did, on her bare bottom it stung and burnt furiously. "Aaaah!" she yelled as her whole body jolted with the shock of the second smack. She desperately wanted to lift her hands off the floor but apart from losing her balance over his lap she knew her bottom would suffer for it.
Another smack of the hairbrush cracked down hard on her right cheek again. She cried out and decided that this was likely worse than being paddled. She'd have to be very careful to mind Sam once they were married. Mary had said the hairbrush was a good teacher, and now she knew why.
The hairbrush smacked down on her bare bottom in a steady right cheek-left cheek rhythm. One, two, one, two... like soldiers marching except each smack was harsh and painful. Being spanked unnerved her and she began wailing early on.
Her soft and vulnerable bottom was scalded by each smack of the hairbrush. It seemed to reach deep down, burning, stinging and sending her body jolting and writhing. Cecelia tried so hard to take her spanking as a penance for her silly independence which could have put her in danger. However, as the spanking continued, the hairbrush landed on an already spanked bottom multiplying the pain and heat unbelievably.
Her world became a place where her bottom was being set on fire and she was unaware that her legs were kicking as she writhed continuously across Sam's lap. Cecelia began to babble out incoherently.
"Sorry, sorry...I'm so sorry. Sam, forgive me. Sorry." It was to no particular purpose, just a way of easing her distress.
The spanking Sam was giving her built and built until her bottom hurt in ways she had not thought possible. Cecelia was crying and screeching pretty well continuously with little peaks when the brush landed again with another crisp smack. Then there was a most blessed pause. Cecelia sighed with relief. A break in the storm of punishment.
"Have you learnt your lesson Cecelia?"
"Yes Sam, I won't ever do that again until you say I can."
Smack! Smack! Cecelia screeched at the unexpected smacks of the brush
"Good."
"Now tell me what will happen if you ever do disobey and potentially put yourself at risk."
"I'll get another spanking, Sam."
Smack! Smack! Smack! Cecelia shrieked and writhed again over Sam's lap.
"Correct."
"Oh, please stop spanking me Sam. It really hurts. I won't do it again."
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
"Your spanking will end when I decide. Is that clear?"
"Yes Sam. I'm sorry."
"Right, well it has ended now." With that announcement, he helped her off his lap and she fell into his arms sobbing and crying. He was very gentle and loving with her and she discovered a whole new world. It was the world where a loving husband could discipline and care. They did not make love. Sam told her he would never muddle discipline with his marital rights. When she had dressed they went downstairs again.
Cee's bottom was burning hot and very sore but she felt an extraordinary love for the man who had spanked her. She, in return, could feel his love for her. It showed in his gentleness and the tender touches and kisses he gave her. Sam opened the kitchen door that led out into the yard. Suddenly he froze and pushed Cee back inside. He drew his gun and stared hard down the yard. There, near the privy, was a figure in black.
"You there. I don't know who you are but you're not going to hurt my fiancée. You need to stop all this. You'll be caught you know, or killed, you've been lucky so far."
There was an unnerving animal like screech that simply shattered the peace of the night. Sam reacted by firing twice and the figure did its acrobatic leap and turn, hit the fence and was over even as he fired twice more.
---oOo---
Jacob McMorran was frustrated and angry. He had spent a fortune on private detectives and for absolutely no return. It was as if Cecelia and Alice had climbed aboard the New York train and then vanished into thin air. His wife was frosty to say the least and the atmosphere at home was now poisonous. The detectives had assured him that she had not fled by sea, and that they had found no one who had known Cecelia, who now had any idea where she might be. The notion she might have gone west to a friend had been ruled out as they had found no trace of anyone she knew who lived out west.
Jacob McMorran was not satisfied. Cecelia had gone to the Basetti house and had been taken by Marco Basetti to the station. The damned man had bought the tickets and Jacob sensed that he knew more than he was telling. He decided that he would pay Basetti another visit and see if he could have it out with him. This time he would contain his anger and be polite. He was shown into Marco Basetti's office and took the seat offered.
"Mr. McMorran, it's not often you come to see me. Is this business or personal?"
"Personal, Mr. Basetti. I regret that I have been unable to find any trace of my daughter-in-law or granddaughter. I have spent a fortune on private detectives, the best in this great land of ours, and all to no avail. They were staying with you before getting on that train. Is there anything you can tell me?"
"I can only tell you what I told you before. I bought two tickets for New York and saw Mrs. McMorran onto the train with Alice, her daughter. I have to say that, even if you accuse me of knowing more, I would not give any more information than that."
Jacob was surprised at this honesty. "Why ever not?"
"McMorran, I never once hear you say one good thing about your daughter-in-law. You use such expressions as 'whore' and 'gold digger' as if she were some no-account from the back streets. She is not. She is a highly-trained and highly-regarded nurse who nursed your son. Let's be honest, McMorran, your son was a wastrel. He was a drunk, a gambler and given to reckless pursuit of pleasure at the expense of your money and all good sense. You know that as well as I for you stopped all further monies to him. Oh, don't look so surprised. I am a businessman. I too was told you would not honor any further debt
s. He dazzled Cecelia with his good looks and charm but when he tired of her he was back to his whores. If he hadn't been killed in one of his reckless races he would likely have died of a pox he picked up from his whores."
Marco Basetti looked at the face of the man sitting opposite and saw he had gone a nasty shade of white. Without a word, he went to a cupboard, fetched out a brandy bottle and two glasses, poured two stiff drinks and handed one to Jacob McMorran. He waited while McMorran drank some before continuing.
"As for Cecelia, she never once complained. She was a good and loyal wife who did her best to manage everything despite your son's profligate behavior. When it comes to Alice, what interest did Ralph ever take in his daughter? Why none. Did he even remember he had a daughter? Now you want Alice. Why? So that you can ruin her with your overindulgence and then marry her off to someone who will help your interests along? Is it any wonder that Cecelia McMorran has evaded your clutches? If you had been loving and caring parents-in-law, or even grandparents, why on earth would she want to leave? I see you've gone white again McMorran, but the truth needs speaking. The truth is you and your wife need to do some deep soul searching. My hope is that Cecelia will find a decent man to marry. A man that will love and cherish her as your son never did, and one that will provide for Alice, although she is not his child. Would you like another brandy?"
When a somewhat shrunken Jacob McMorran left, Marco Basetti walked out of his office, informed his staff that he was going early, and went home.
Chapter Ten
Dr. Davies watched as his extremely efficient and caring nurse, Cecelia Masters, sat very carefully at the small, cheap desk he had provided for her. He didn't need to be very clever to work out she had been spanked.
