“Yes, sir.”
“Good. How are you feeling?”
“A little fuzzy headed now.”
“Ahh. The pills are starting to take effect. Well, we can’t stay here all night. One of us actually works for a living.”
She’d wanted to continue working as a receptionist after they married, but he wouldn’t let her. He’d said her duty was to him and their home, not some outside employer. However, he did say he’d be willing to consider her involvement with an approved charity or community project once they were more settled in Corbin’s Bend.
Gripping her shoulders, he pressed her forward. “Move onto your stomach.”
Her back instantly rebelled with a jolt of pain and she grit her teeth. “No,” she protested, fearing he meant to continue punishing her.
His hands stilled. “What did you say?”
“Please. No more tonight. I don’t think I can take any additional pain.”
“Is that your decision to make?”
“No, sir, but I hurt so much already. Please, Arthur. I’m begging you. I’ll do whatever you ask, but no more.”
“That wasn’t my intent; however, I’m displeased you believe it’s in your province to make that determination.”
“I’m sorry.” She drew her trembling hands up to her face. “I realize it’s not my place, but I—”
“Stop there, Eleanor. It’s not your place to decide anything about your punishment, or your pleasure, so there is no ‘but.’ I have full authority over what you can do, say and possess. Since you seem to have difficulty grasping the concept, I’ll need to establish a few more controls to restrict your activities, and you’ll have to earn each freedom back through a merit system I’ll put in place. In the meantime, I want you on your stomach now.”
Letting out a sob, she obeyed him by clumsily draping herself over his knees. But rather than strike, his fingers stroked her hair and the unexpected tenderness so startled her she burst into tears.
“Quiet. That’s enough. Now try to move up on your hands and knees.”
Though both her arms and legs trembled and her back screamed in protest, she managed to obey.
“Good. Now I’ll help by holding your shoulders, but I want you to rise up onto your knees.”
With his support, she managed to straighten, but was unable to hold back a cry of anguish when her muscles seized and contorted again. Ignoring her outburst, he shifted to his feet and placed his hands under her arms. “Now, stand up.”
She tried, but the agony in her back was so great her legs wouldn’t support her and the room started to spin, so she shut her eyes and let out another sob. In the next moment, he’d lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He placed her on her right side, facing away from him, and covered her.
“I’ll put your water on the table here beside you. Get some sleep.”
Then he walked to the door, turned out the light and left her. Unfortunately, now she needed to pee, but doubted she could manage the walk to their bathroom without help. If she called Arthur back, he’d only get angry again, so she had to try on her own.
Gingerly rolling onto her stomach, she inched herself around until her knees hung over the edge of the bed and she slowly backed off the mattress to stand up. The movement to vertical gave her dry heaves, but she managed to remain upright. With her hands braced against the headboard, she remained motionless until the furniture stopped spinning and the ache in her cramping muscles subsided.
Walking with slow, deliberate steps, Elly wended her way to the bathroom and over to the toilet. Unable to sit, she straddled the porcelain fixture and peed standing up. When she was done, she turned and caught the image of her face in the mirror. The moon was full, so the room had just enough light pouring through the window for her to make out the black circles under her eyes and her matted, sweat-soaked hair. Then she caught a glimpse of her backside from the mirrored tub enclosure. Both her cheeks were covered with seeping red welts outlined by purplish bruising. The sight made her stomach turn.
Her wrists were in similar condition. They had been bruised and puffy from her session last night, and now they oozed blood. Realizing she needed to bandage them, she bent to gather the supplies from the cabinet under the sink when everything started spinning again and she had to grab one of the doors to keep from collapsing to the floor. Her stomach lurched and she gasped for breath. She remained bent over with her fingers clutching the cabinet until the vertigo passed. After the dizzying whirls stopped, she gingerly picked up a roll of gauze along with some antiseptic cream.
It took her over a half hour to bandage her wrists since she had to take several breaks, but once they were covered, she felt better. Rather than risk putting the supplies away, she moved them to the side so they wouldn’t be in Arthur’s way, then carefully returned to bed.
As she lay on the sheets, waiting for sleep to claim her, Elly wondered if Arthur took pride in punishing her. She knew she’d made him angry, but this seemed excessive even to her. However, afterward he’d held her, then carried her to bed. He was normally distant and cold after a punishment, and yet tonight he’d been almost gentle. A change?
She briefly considered the women who’d visited her earlier, and their desire for her company. Next, as if drawn by an invisible magnet, her thoughts fastened onto Jerry. She suspected he’d be furious if ever he found out what Arthur did to her tonight, which might cause problems for both her and Arthur, so she had to keep the inquisitive and insightful vet from suspecting the truth by pretending nothing had happened. She could manage that. She’d had so much experience at convincing others everything was fine, she even fooled herself, sometimes.
Pride was a two-edged sword. It’s what made her determined to succeed with Arthur, and what kept her from letting others know how harsh he needed to be with her. She didn’t keep her windows open like Carrie Ann Nelor and Danelle because doing so would expose too much of her vulnerability to outsiders. Admitting she was a failure as a wife and a proper submissive wasn’t acceptable, though she suspected others in the community harbored their own suspicions. That meant mingling with other women in the center might present a few difficulties for her. Questions may be asked she would need to either deflect or avoid. She’d have to pretend to be happy at all times, which was difficult and exhausting. But she’d enjoyed the women’s visit today, and staying locked in her house did nothing to fulfill her aching desire to socialize with others.
She knew how to be careful. Perhaps tomorrow, she could broach the project with Arthur again. Maybe once he realized how repentant she was, he’d change her mind. She didn’t hold much hope of gaining his permission, but unless she was willing to remain a prisoner in her own home, she at least had to try.
Chapter Six
Elly awakened several times throughout the night. Twice to pee and once because she’d mistakenly rolled onto her side and a brilliant, white zap of pain had jolted her awake. Then when Arthur came to bed, she’d awakened to feel his hand on her forehead.
“You’re too warm. I’ll get you a couple more pills.”
She didn’t reply, but accepted the medicine along with the water he offered and fell back into a deep dreamless sleep.
In the morning, she woke to the steady patter of running water. She was normally up and fixing breakfast before Arthur rose, so she usually wasn’t upstairs when he showered.
Her entire body ached, but she struggled to get out of bed. Maybe if she had his egg and toast ready by the time he came downstairs he’d be in a more congenial mood. Perhaps he’d even agree to let her go to the community center to catch a glimpse of what the women were planning. She so badly wanted to spend time with other people that she was willing to face the risks involved. Catering to him a little certainly couldn’t do any harm, and it might aid her cause. Besides, Muffin needed to go out and she knew taking care of her dog wouldn’t even occur to Arthur.
Though her dizziness seemed better today, she’d have to take things slowly. A
fter putting a tank top on her upper half, she eased her arms into her velour robe and hissed as the smooth fabric brushed against her backside. She was going to be sore for at least a week.
Knotting the tie about her waist, she returned to the bed and gasped at the smears of dried blood streaking across the sheets on her side. With a shake of her head, she ripped off the soiled linen, dumped the pillows out of their cases, stuffed the top and bottom sheets into the pillowcases and took the laundry downstairs with her.
Muffin whined loudly, so Elly opened the front door to collect Arthur’s morning paper and went into the laundry room to let her poodle out, but extended her hand palm out as a signal for Muffin not to jump. Setting the filled pillowcases on top of the dryer, she opened her arms and said, “Up.”
Muffin promptly jumped up into her embrace and whined as she laved kisses all over Elly’s face. The small poodle had clearly been worried about her.
“Outside?” Elly asked, when she could part her lips long enough to speak without getting a doggie tongue in her mouth. She loved Muffin to pieces, but drew the line at canine French kisses.
When Muffin gave a short bark as a yes, Elly carried her to the back door, opened it, and set the poodle down in the doorway. “Go on. Mommy’s not dressed for outside, yet, so you’ll have to go by yourself.”
Muffin looked up, tail wagging expectantly as if asking Elly to change her mind. “No, I can’t. Go on.”
Her pleas unanswered, Muffin went outside by herself. Elly shut the door, put the newspaper by Arthur’s place and started his breakfast. He came downstairs about fifteen minutes later, just when Muffin gave one scratch and a bark.
Arthur scowled at Elly. “I didn’t expect you up, yet.”
Elly smiled at him. “I thought I’d make you breakfast and Muffin needed to go out.”
Giving a single nod, he stepped over to give Elly a kiss on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore, but better.”
“Good. I still want you to make an appointment with Dr. Devon.”
“Yes, sir.”
Acknowledging her reply with a pat on her arm, he sat down and opened the paper. She set his juice and coffee by his plate, then served up his usual soft-boiled egg and buttered toast.
He offered an absent nod, but didn’t glance up from his paper, so Elly went to let Muffin in.
The moment the door opened, the tiny dog growled.
“Muffin, up,” Elly commanded, and the poodle obediently leapt into her arms, but continued her low growls at Arthur.
“If your animal can’t be civil, I want her back in the laundry room, Eleanor,” Arthur insisted, still not looking up from the newspaper.
Elly knew she should obey him, but instead began feeding Muffin bits of buttered toast to keep her quiet, since she didn’t want Arthur to leave before she’d had a chance to talk with him.
“Arthur, would you please reconsider and allow me to participate in the Halloween event?”
“I believe I already gave you my decision on that. Perhaps you’ll be better behaved and able to work on the next project. Not this one.”
Though pushing Arthur was never a good idea, a part of her felt he was being unfair. “Didn’t you say you wanted us to be more involved in the Corbin’s Bend community?”
He glanced up from his paper. “That was before you showed me how irresponsible and disobedient you could be. Right now you’re not fit company for anyone else.”
“The other women seem to think I am. They want me to work with them.”
“You’re nagging, Eleanor, and if you continue I will punish you for it. This is the last warning you’ll get.”
Elly tucked Muffin under her arm and leaned against the sink as she regarded her husband. Provoking him further would not be wise, but as sore as she already was and as concerned as he appeared to be, she didn’t think he’d hit her again. He wasn’t a cruel man, just determined to ensure his wife obeyed him in all respects. She’d learned her lesson about obedience last night, so she decided to let the subject drop. The concession didn’t make her happy, though.
He continued to meet her gaze as if waiting for something, then she realized what he wanted.
“Yes, sir.” Her response was sullen, but it was correct.
He shook his head. “Even if yesterday hadn’t happened, your first duty is to me, is it not?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ve been here a month already and you still have boxes in the garage you’ve left unpacked.”
“Those are our fine china.”
“I realize that. So, tell me why you haven’t you put our more expensive items away yet.”
Her mouth dropped open. “The china cabinet.”
His brows drew together in a frown. “Pardon me?”
“You promised we’d go pick out a china cabinet so I could unpack my figurines and our dinnerware, but you’ve been too busy with work, so we haven’t gone, yet. That’s why the boxes aren’t unpacked.”
“Are you complaining because I have to earn our living?”
“No. I’m explaining why we still have items in crates from our move. They aren’t in the garage because I’m neglecting my duties. I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me, even though I get no recognition from you.”
“I don’t care for your tone.”
She closed her eyes and shut her mouth. Angering him would only get her in trouble again. She tried to be the docile and obedient housewife he wanted, but a part of her simply didn’t fit that mold. That’s why she was always getting punished. She couldn’t measure up to the woman he desired and deserved, no matter how hard she tried.
Angry with herself and him, she muttered, “You’re right. I am being disrespectful. I’ll go finish gathering the laundry.”
“No, you won’t. You’ll stand there and apologize to me, then you’ll fetch a wooden spoon and meet me in the living room for your punishment.”
“Go to hell,” she grumbled under her breath as she stomped past him toward the stairs, but he stood and grabbed her arm to stop her. Both of them had forgotten Muffin was still cradled in her arms, so neither were prepared when the tiny poodle sunk her sharp little teeth into Arthur’s hand.
His reaction immediate, Arthur backhanded the small dog to the floor. At Muffin’s surprised yelp, Elly, seeing only red, attacked.
Arthur merely grabbed Elly’s wrists and jerked them behind her, but let out a yell when Muffin leapt forward and bit him on the leg.
“Get off me, you mangy rat.” Arthur kicked the animal toward the front door and bodily hauled Elly back to the stove where he grabbed a wooden spoon, then dragged her into the living room and shoved her over the end of the couch. He was lifting her robe when Muffin launched at him again to clamp her needle-like teeth on his ankle. He tried shaking the dog off, but when he couldn’t get her to release him, he let go of Elly, grabbed the poodle by her scruff and tossed her to the other side of the room.
At Muffin’s pain-filled yelps, Elly surged up and attacked Arthur with her nails. He backhanded her to the floor without hesitation, but she hit the edge of the coffee table on the way down. This time when Muffin charged, Arthur kicked at the animal. Except Muffin dodged, so the toe of his shoe found Elly’s stomach instead. Instant pain had her curling away from him and drawing up into the fetal position.
When Muffin rushed in again, Arthur swore and lashed out once more with his foot, catching Elly in the back. With a moan, Elly tried to crawl out of the line of fire, but as she struggled to rise onto her elbows, Arthur’s kick caught her in the ribs. Unable to breathe or move she collapsed flat onto the floor.
Teeth bared, Muffin bravely made her fourth charge, except this time Arthur’s shoe connected with the small, fierce poodle and launched her like a football into the next room.
Unable to move, Elly could only lie there, robbed of breath, while her dog screamed in pain.
Tossing down the spoon he held, Arthur’s voice came out cold and bitter. “Y
ou finally made me lose my temper, Eleanor. And for that, I’ll never forgive you. You are my wife, and you will learn to respect and obey me if I have to beat it into you on a daily basis. And trust me, my dear; I am fully capable of ripping into your hide every night if you refuse to curb your insolent tongue and prideful manner.”
His displeasure expressed, Arthur pulled down his cuffs, picked up the briefcase he’d left by the door and walked out as if a screaming dog and his wife lying moaning on the floor hadn’t fazed him in the least.
* * * *
Once she’d caught her breath, Elly dragged herself over to Muffin who hadn’t stopped screaming. She reached out, but couldn’t tell where her pet was hurt. “It’s okay, baby. He’s gone. He’s gone. Mommy’s here.”
Muffin lay on her side, her eyes wide with pain and fear as she continued to yip out in distress. Afraid the poodle might have a broken rib or worse, Elly struggled to her feet. She had to get her dog help right away.
Fighting the blackness that threatened to overwhelm her, Elly fetched a clean towel from the laundry and grabbed a skirt to cover the lower half of her body, then slipped on a turtleneck sweater. She didn’t bother with underwear since she doubted she could bear the pain of wearing panties anyway.
Towel in hand, she returned to her whimpering dog. “I’ll take care of you, little one. Don’t worry. We’ll go visit nice Dr. Douglas and he’ll fix you right up. Muffin yelped out when Elly tried to lift her, but didn’t attempt to bite. Realizing she had no choice, Elly ignored Muffin’s cries, picked her dog up and walked out of her house, not even bothering to gather her purse or keys.
When she limped into Jerry’s clinic, the receptionist rose with a look of alarm.
“I think my dog’s badly hurt,” Elly announced, trying to hold back the panic building like a tidal wave inside her.
“I’ll get Dr. Douglas immediately, Mrs. Benson. Come with me and we’ll put you in Examination Room One.”
Barely aware of what she was doing, Elly followed the other woman to an examining area and gently laid Muffin on the stainless-steel table.
A Simple Misunderstanding (Corbin's Bend) Page 7
