Return to Wilder

by Carl Hamlin

  Mark cleared his throat dramatically. “So you’re able to sit down. And how are you, this morning?”

  Jessica pursed her lips and stared straight ahead, not looking at him. “Oh, I guess that around ninety-five percent of me is just fine.”

  Mark nodded. “What about the remainder?”

  Jessica still stared ahead. “Rather pink. Kind of sore.”

  Mark heaved a loud sigh. “Had it coming.”

  Jessica slowly turned to look at him, and a slight smile creased her face. “Maybe I did.”

  Jessica began to lift her coffee cup, and then sat it down. “Where did you learn to do that so well?”

  Mark cocked his head. “Learn to do what?”

  Jessica leaned closer. “Where did you learn to paddle a lady’s bottom like that?”

  Mark laughed. “I had never done anything like it before. I guess you just inspired me.”

  Jessica murmured, “I see.”

  Mark elbowed her playfully. “I had absolutely great material to work with.”

  Jessica whispered, “Thank you. I guess that, in your warped way, that was meant as a compliment.”

  “Oh, yes, indeed. Those famed, beautiful legs, those award-winning news anchor buttocks….”

  Jessica’s face flushed. “Please, just shut up.”

  Mark snickered. “I think I did one fine job.”

  Jessica rubbed her bottom discreetly, but so that Mark could see her movements. “Yah, you uh... you seem to have finally found something you’re good at.” She hesitated, and then kicked his shin under the table. “I bet you enjoyed doing that, didn’t you?”

  Mark leaned close and whispered as Jessica again took a sip of coffee. “To be honest, yes, I did. And, I bet that last night you couldn’t stop thinking about it.” Jessica spewed coffee over the table in front of her, and both grabbed napkins and began to mop up the mess.

  Mark gathered up the debris, then rose and leaned down near to her. “You just reminded me. I have some spraying to do today.”

  Jessica felt her face turn warm again as she watched Mark drop the napkins into the trashcan and go out the door. Against her own will, she found herself laughing. A few minutes later, she closed her eyes and began massaging her forehead due to the sudden headache she developed. Once again she was startled by someone sitting down next to her, but to her relief, it was Helen, holding a cup of coffee.

  Jessica patted Helen’s hand. “Good to see you this morning. How did you get away from the store?”

  “I told my husband to make himself useful. I needed a morning off. Uh, Jess. I saw Mark walking away. Have you had another uncomfortable encounter?”

  Jessica’s face turned red. “Uncomfortable would be the understatement of the year.” She shook her head and managed a smile.

  Jessica leaned closer to Helen. “He did it. It was my fault. I pushed his buttons and he did it.”

  Helen shook her head in confusion. “He did what?”

  Jessica leaned closer, lowering her voice and her face. “He came over last night. Well, actually I invited him in. I said the wrong things, and he gave me that spanking he always wanted to give me. He pulled me over his knees and whacked me so hard and so many times.….” Jessica lowered her face. “It still smarts.”

  Helen stared for a moment, and then struggled to contain a grin. “Oh, my!”

  Jessica nodded. “Yes, indeed, he really let me have it. I can’t imagine how many times he must have mentally rehearsed that event. He was too damned good at it.”

  Helen arched her eyebrows. “So, how are you feeling about it all?”

  Jessica sighed. “I should be so angry. I should hate him. But I was rude. I insulted him. I don’t want to say that I deserved it.”

  Helen looked straight into Jessica’s eyes. “The bottom line. Just how do you feel about him? You know that he may never get over you. Just one messed-up date or twenty, it makes no difference to him. He will always carry a torch for you. Here you are, both of you are fifty, and neither of you ever married. Does that have some meaning you may not have considered?”

  Jessica’s eyes became moist. “I’ve had boyfriends and I’m no virgin, Helen. I just never found anyone I wanted to spend my life with.”

  Helen smiled. “Are you certain that is factually correct?”

  “You think I’ve spent my life yearning for Mark? No, not at all. Come on, our worlds are so different. I love coming back to Wilder. I love you and all the other people here. But to do what I do, I can’t be in Wilder. And I am not ready to give that up. What Mark does, he can’t do in Chicago. So the whole thing is a non-starter.’

  “Besides, he spanked me. In my own house, on my parents’ sofa. He turned me over his knees and whacked my butt over and over again like he owned it.”

  Helen began to giggle. “I’m sorry Jess, but if only you could see the expression on your face.”

  Jessica’s face flushed. “Well, I can’t tell you how humiliating it was. And it hurt like hell.”

  Helen nodded. “Forgive me for laughing. There’s just something….”

  Jessica began to laugh as well. “I know. The situation was just oh, never mind.”

  Helen stood, and then patted her friend’s hand. “If you need to talk, any time, I’m there.”

  Jessica stood and gave her a hug. “I know. And I’ll take you up on that.”

  Helen went to the counter to pay for her coffee, but Jessica lingered for another cup. Her mind was reeling from emotions and questions, and she needed some time to sit and take a breath.

  Not wishing to be alone quite yet, she walked to the hardware store to say hello to another classmate whose husband owned the business. They chatted for a while, and then Jessica left to finally go home and continue her reading.

  She read all day, stretched out on the sofa. Each time she saw her legs protruding from the short skirt, she would consider how much the rude and bullying Mr. Walters would appreciate the scene.

  She relished yet another evening meal of a sandwich, chips and cola, and then settled in for a couple of more hours of reading. Her body clock was still adhering to her routine of going to bed early, but just as she closed her book and was about to head upstairs, she heard a knock on her door. After taking a few steps toward the entrance, she was shocked to see Mark decked out in khakis and a dress shirt, holding something behind his back.

  She walked to the door slowly and hesitantly, and spoke through the screen. “Yes? Now what?”

  Mark cleared his throat. “I have something just for you.”

  Jessica theatrically rubbed her bottom. “You didn’t bring over a paddle to spank me with, did you?”

  Mark held up the flowers in an ornate vase he was hiding. “How about a peace offering? Or, is that too corny and traditional?”

  Jessica forced a smile and opened the door. To her surprise, she felt a tingle of excitement. “Thank you. Come on in.” She took the flowers and walked to the end table next to the sofa. “They’re very pretty.”

  She heard Mark begin to speak. “So are….” He halted. “I hoped you would like them.”

  She gestured toward the sofa and sat down, and Mark rested next to her.

  Jessica shook her head and managed a weak smile. “I don’t know about this. The last time I was on the sofa with you, I ended up face down getting my bottom really whacked. You did not hold back, did you?”

  Mark grinned. “I still think you had that coming.”

  Jessica peered at him through narrowed eyes. “Oh, gosh. I hate to admit it, but I suppose I did. But I still can’t believe you did that to me.”

  Mark moaned softly. “That’s a loaded comment.” Jessica’s temper began to rise, then she took a deep breath and leaned back against the sofa with her arm up on the back.

  Mark tossed his hands up. “I guess I just don’t know what to say to a woman after I’ve spanked her. How’s your butt? Want me to get you some cold cream, and can I put it on for you? Should I kiss it and make it bett
er?”

  Jessica held up a pointed finger. “You got that last one right. You, Mark Walters, can kiss my ass. And I don’t mean that in a romantic way.” She finally allowed herself to laugh.

  She looked directly into Mark’s eyes, then down. “Mark. We’re not the kids who live across the road anymore. Life has moved on. I have moved on. There’s just not anything.…”

  She stopped and peered at Mark and laughed. “You know, you’re sitting there like a lovesick puppy.”

  Mark responded with an exaggerated frown, and then let out a mournful howl. They both laughed, but found themselves leaning closer together.

  Mark reached out and ran his hand through her hair, subtly pulling her closer. Without a word, they found themselves nose to nose, and Mark lifted her chin and kissed her lips. He heard Jessica murmur, “I don’t know.” And then they kissed again, a deep, long kiss that made Jessica feel stirrings against her own will and better judgment.

  She pulled away and whispered, “This can’t go too far.”

  Mark smiled and nodded. “Well, we may not be kids anymore, but how about we just make out like a couple of kids?”

  Jessica felt her pulse begin to race, and then she nodded. “I think that would be fun.” She followed willingly as Mark reclined on the sofa, pulling her on top of him. She could not deny that she was suddenly feeling very aroused, and his arousal was immediately evident to her.

  She had not seriously kissed in a few years, had not felt a man’s embrace, and had not felt her body yearning for release as it was as it pressed against Mark Walters of all people. They kissed, caressed and laughed. As Mark’s hands moved down to roam the seat of her brief skirt, she commented that such gentle contact between his hand and her bottom was much more desirable than she had experienced the previous evening.

  Suddenly their movements stopped, and Jessica looked down at Mark. “Damn, I wish I could like you. I wished I liked you enough to go all the way with this.” She lowered her lips to his again and pressed her body against his, then giggled. “But I can’t allow you to remain in that pathetic condition. It would be cruel. I have to fix that thing. If you don’t mind, that is.”

  Mark nodded slowly and emphatically, and Jessica slid aside to lie next to him. She unbuckled and unzipped and reached beneath the waistband. She softly stroked and teased for a while, then got serious and thoroughly took care of business.

  As Mark’s breathing slowed, she reassumed her position on top. She lowered her lips to his again, then snuggled her head beside his. He whispered, “Ready for me to return the favor?”

  Jessica sighed. “Oh gosh, yes. Please, feel free to roam and massage.” She reached to the side of her skirt and unzipped the short garment before pushing it down and tossing it to the floor. She leaned back down to nuzzle his neck as his hands began to move toward her waist. “That should make it easier.”

  She moaned in pleasure as Mark’s fingers slipped beneath the elastic waistband of the white panties trimmed in lace, and revisited the bottom he had soundly smacked repeatedly the previous evening. However, this time his hands were tender and inviting, stimulating and exciting. He took his time, as Jessica allowed him to touch and caress her in places where no man had in some time. And Mark felt a heightened sense of closeness to her as she spasmed and moaned in climax. She was somewhat shaken that while she was in the throes of ecstasy, she was primarily recalling the events of the night before, on that same sofa. As he held Jessica close, Mark whispered, “Could we do this every summer when you come back to Wilder?”

  Jessica giggled. “I think we may arrange that. That was delightful. My toes are still curling.” The silence returned, and they simply kissed some more while discussing how good each was with their hands.

  Neither seemed to want to break the spell, but finally Mark began to sit upright. He shook his head and smiled, then leaned over and kissed Jessica again. “I know we have to keep our limits. I understand and accept that. But my, my.” He stood up, fixed his trousers, reached down, and caressed her neck. He winked and strolled to the door.

  Jessica followed, her skirt still discarded and unneeded on the floor. As Mark walked out she purred, “Thanks for the flowers and the great fingertips.” She whispered to herself, “And the spanking.”

  She watched him walk home, the limp just barely noticeable on that night. She turned out the living room light, and went upstairs and fell into her bed. She was ready to sleep, for her mind and body (especially the middle section) had experienced a lot of action in the past two days, by her own hands and Mark’s.

  Jessica woke late the next day. She felt rested and clear of mind, and she knew that she would need to be so to understand everything that was going on.

  She could no longer deny a physical attraction to Mark Walters, although she still would never like him. She was amazed that he could so light up her libido the night after he had given her a spanking.

  She had wanted the make-out session on that sofa, and to be honest with herself, she would have enjoyed having a full sexual marathon with him. She now realized that the only reason she had not done so was to avoid the inevitable emotional baggage. She was confused enough as it was.

  Chapter Four

  It was Friday, and Jessica had no plans other than to do nothing. That was, until the evening. It was to be the first Wilder community festival honoring those largely forgotten pioneers who had founded the community generations ago.

  This would be a chance to mingle with more old friends, and to say goodbye to some she would not see again prior to her leaving. She also assumed she would see Mark. After the romp on the sofa, that could be a little awkward.

  She had no more than gotten out of the shower and into her wrap when she heard a knock on the door. She moved slowly and carefully to the door, considering that her wrap was quite scant in coverage, not something she would want to be wearing while greeting a man at her door.

  Through the door, she saw that her visitor was Kathy Sembridge, who she knew from school as an upperclassman. She opened the door and invited her in.

  After exchanging pleasantries, Kathy got to the point of her visit: “I know this is short notice, but would you mind saying a few words this evening? You’re the most renowned native Wilder has ever produced.”

  Jessica nodded. “I would be honored. Of course, I have nothing planned. It would be off-the-cuff.”

  Kathy gave her a hug. “Anything you say would be fine. We’re all fans. Just a couple of minutes would make everyone happy. See you this evening.”

  Jessica closed the door and took a deep breath. She knew that this was not a difficult task for her. She had been forced to ad-lib on camera when a teleprompter had ceased functioning on more than one occasion. She also had a ton of experience reporting from a news scene as a story was developing.

  This would not be as much of a challenge. These were friendly faces. She retrieved a note pad and pen from her purse, and placed them beside her so that she could make notes as she settled onto the sofa to read.

  After a few hours, she had made her notes and mentally rehearsed her words. She knew that she would be snacking at the festival, so she skipped an evening round of her unhealthy delights. She had not packed any clothing for public speaking, so she put on the one sundress with a colorful floral pattern that had made the trip. It was much shorter than one would usually wear for addressing the public, but she knew that the men in attendance would appreciate it.

  When early evening set in, she drove to the small community park on the other side of town, next to the school grounds. The turnout was obviously good for the inaugural celebration. The tempting aromas of hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecued chicken filled the air.

  When Kathy Sembridge saw that Jessica had arrived, she waved to her to come to the small stage where a microphone was in place. Jessica wound her way through the crowd, exchanging greetings with many along the way.

  Kathy went to the microphone, and spoke. “Could I have your attention pleas
e?” She halted for a moment as the voices settled down and the crowd turned toward her.

  “I am pleased to announce that Wilder’s favorite daughter, Jessica Marin, has agreed to say a few words.” Cheers and applause broke out. “I caught her totally by surprise this morning by asking her to address us tonight, but being the trooper that she is, she agreed to speak to us. By the way, Jessica’s book, Return to Wilder, is at the library, and of course, can be obtained online. And now here she is, our own beautiful and talented Jessica Marin.”

  Jessica stepped onto the low stage and waved to the crowd, acknowledging yet another round of cheers and applause. She leaned toward the microphone and began speaking:

  “Thank you so much for your warm welcome. It is such an honor to be back home in Wilder as we celebrate and honor those who founded what was once a frontier settlement, but grew into the town we all hold so dear today.” More cheers and applause arose from the crowd.

  “The records of those settlers may be sparse, but there is no doubt that they had to be people of great courage to come to a land where danger lurked, and survival was far from certain. They had to clear the land we now farm, and live and work at the mercy of the weather and the availability of wild game. They made those sacrifices so that those of us who came later could reap the benefits of what this land has to offer.’

  “I remember that my parents held the land in great reverence. Their life consisted of hard work, and they made many sacrifices so that I could have a good life. I hope that I have lived up to their expectations.” Again, cheers and applause filled the air.

  “I am honored that the land my parents farmed is now mine. It is where my heart is.” A voice shouted out, “And Mark’s across the road.” The shout was greeted by a mixture of laughter and boos. Jessica forced a wide grin and replied, “Apparently, I missed seeing the beer stand on the way in.” The crowd erupted in laughter and applause, and then Jessica continued.

  “The people of Wilder are dear to me. The land of my parents still calls me to return. I do not know what the future may hold, but one thing in my life is constant: Wilder, Indiana, will always be home to me. Thank you for your kindness, and join me in enjoying the first Wilder community festival.”