Maisie Jane burst into tears. “You love me?” she asked. “Jake, you never said you loved me.”
Jake shook her again and then pulled into his arms and rested his chin on her head. “How can you not know that I love you?
“Because you never said you did! You never said the words, Jake,” Maisie Jane cried. “Oh, Jake I love you so much.”
Jakes anger dissolved. “I know you love me, Maisie Jane. And, I should have said the words to you. Sometimes I get caught up thinking like a man and forget that women think different. Those words are not so hard to say. I love you.” He pulled her in close and just rocked for a while. “We had a rough start, but you should know this. I married you because I wanted to marry you. If I’d given it more thought I could probably have found a way around Judge Lement, even if I’d had to kill the evil bastard. I would have, for you. I would have, to protect you. I jumped at the chance to marry you. Maybe I didn’t save you. Maybe I took advantage of you. But, I wanted you so much and nothing was going to stand in my way of having you.”
Maisie Jane raised her face to him and he kissed her and tucked her head back under his chin.
“Jake, I’m so glad you love me,” Maisie whispered. “And, I’m so sorry I keep doing bad things.”
Jake grimaced although Maisie didn’t see it. “Remember, because I’ve already told you this several times. A husband has right to teach a wife what she needs to be taught, and husband has a right to correct his wife when she does wrong.”
Jake took two steps backward, sat down in the kitchen chair, upended Maisie Jane, sweep her dress and petticoats over her head, pulled down her bloomers and spanked her.
Chapter 16
Jake lifted Maisie Jane up and off the horse and dropped her down on the ground on her feet. It was mid-morning and she was hours late showing up to Cora’s.
Maisie Jane eyes were red-rimmed from crying and her bottom was aching but when she looked up at her husband no fear or anger showed in her eyes, only love.
Jake smiled back and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “Behave yourself.”
The moment Maisie Jane entered her kitchen Cora knew something was wrong. “What’s wrong, child? You’ve been crying.”
Maisie Jane burst into tears and ran across the room to be enveloped into the older women’s bosoms.
Levi Campbell came into the kitchen and having raised two daughters in addition to a son, took his leave at his wife’s shooing motion behind Maisie Jane’s back.
“Oh, child, what’s wrong?” Cora cooed. “Did you and Jake get into an argument?”
“Yes, no… yes,” Maisie Jane cried and wiped at her tears.
Cora led her to a kitchen chair, and she started to sit but with a cry jumped back up. “Maisie Jane has Jake hurt you. Did he beat you?” Cora demanded.
“No…” Maisie wailed. “Jake spanked me this morning!”
“Oh,” Cora said softly and she sat down at the table. “Did you deserve it?”
Maisie rubbed her tears away and nodded. “He said I did.”
“He said?” Cora repeated raising her eyebrows. “What do you think“?
Maisie Jane nodded again, and Cora got up and tucked her into hug.
“Now, honey, sometimes it takes a while for new bride to understand what is acceptable to a husband and what isn’t. I’m sure whatever you did, it wasn’t that bad.” Cora soothed.
Maisie Jane blushed. “Yes it was. The Madison’s left some books behind and I found them. I knew I shouldn’t read them but I did anyway. Then Jake found them.” She lowered her eyes and whispered. “They were dirty books.”
“Oh my,” Cora exclaimed. “Well, I’ve heard of such things, but I’ve never seen or read one. I think even my Levi would be furious if I did. No, I don’t think it; I know it for a fact. If that’s how you misbehaved I have to agree with Jake. I’ve got a good mind to take a hairbrush to you myself, young lady, and would if you were my daughter.”
Maisie Jane’s eyes flooded with tears. “Cora, why can’t I think things through right? Why do I do bad things when I know they’re bad?”
“You’re a sweet child Maisie Jane, but someone has done you a great disservice and spoiled you rotten. It sounds to me like Jake is doing his part as your husband in trying to unspoil you. Now, let’s be done with this. We’ve got work to do.”
Maisie Jane rested her head on the woman’s shoulder for a moment longer. “I wish you were my mother, Cora. I never had a mother.”
“You had one child, but she was taken too early.” Cora said shaking her finger at Maisie Jane. “You best not want me for a mother Maisie Jane. I was very strict and put up with no nonsense!” Cora laughed. “A lot like that handsome husband of yours!’
Maisie Jane, put apple pies in the oven and went back to her task of mending a sock. “I hope these pies turn out, I think Jake will like them.”
Cora looked up from her sewing. “There’s not a man alive that doesn’t like sweets. They’ll tell you they don’t care for them, but put a piece of pie or cake in front of them and its’ gone in two shakes. Honey, why don’t you go lie down for a little while, you’ve been standing up all day.”
Maisie Jane smiled but it was a weak one. “It hurts to much to sit. How old do have to be before you’re too old to spank?”
Cora chuckled. “I’d think that’s about the time, you’re spanking your own grandchildren.”
“Really?” Maisie Jane gasped.
Cora laughed and shook her head. “No, not really, honey. The spankings will stop when you grow up enough that you don’t need them.”
Maisie Jane didn’t look too thrilled with that answer.
Snow was coming down in big fat flakes when Jake arrived. He came inside and had a cup of coffee with Levi. The men talked cattle, and the winter feedings as Cora was finishing up her husband’s supper and Maisie Jane was packing up her basket.
“As soon as this storm is over I’m going into Elco,” Jake told Levi. “I’ll be taking the wagon in for another supply run before full on winter hits. I’ve got good idea now what staples we’ll be using the most. If you make up a list I’ll be glad to pick up what you need.”
Levi nodded in agreement.
Maisie Jane was wrapping up in a shawl when Cora went scurrying off and came back with a sheepskin lined boys coat. “Put this on Maisie Jane,” she ordered. “I found this tucked back in some old stuff, keep it, we don’t have any use for it.”
Jake ducked his head. “I’ll be getting Maisie Jane a winter coat when we go to town. I hadn’t forgotten.”
Cora touched Jake on the shoulder gently. “I wasn’t shaming you Jake for not providing. But, she can’t keep running around in the cold with just a shawl. This will do until you can get to town or afford better. It’s a good coat, belong to our boy before he outgrew it.”
“Thank you, Cora you’re a thoughtful woman.”
Maisie Jane stood by Jake’s horse waiting for him to lift her up, but instead he took the shawl from over her arm and wrapped it around it around her head and shoulders and rubbed her cheek with his knuckle.
“I’m sorry,” Jake said. “I should have gotten you a coat on my first trip to town. I should have realized that you didn’t have one.”
“Cora didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Jake,” Maisie Jane said. “She gave me the coat as an act of kindness.”
“I know, but I am ashamed that I didn’t think of your comfort first.”
Maisie Jane leaned forward and kissed him. “You’re thinking of it now, and that’s all that matters.”
Jake lifted her up into the saddle, and Maisie Jane ‘ouched!’ before he handed her the basket and swung up behind her.
“If you’re really thinking of my comfort, Jake,” Maisie said as they rode off. “How about no more spankings. It hurts sitting on this hard leather!”
Jake chuckled. “Nice try, little darling, but no. I guess I could add some padding to your bloomers.”
“Eighteen
inches so far,” Jake said coming into the kitchen the next morning. “We’ll be sitting this out for a bit.”
“How long?” Maisie Jane asked.
“It will stop when it stops, darling.” Jake said pulling her close. “I’ve been looking forward to some time with just us.”
“We can’t spend all our time in bed, Jake,” Maisie Jane said.
“We can try,” Jake said guiding her backwards toward the bedroom. “How’s the bottom?”
“Almost as sore as it was last night,” Maisie admitted grinning at him as she walked backward.
“Well, we know how to work around that problem,” Jake said very determined. “That’s one of the reasons I bring the saddle in every night. I never know when it’s going to come in handy.”
Maisie Jane wiggled out from under the covers, lying on her stomach. Except for a few trips out of bed to stoke up the fires Jake was making good on his promise to spend the day in bed. Only, this last time he’d stoked the fire up too hot and the bedroom was overly warm. They’d just had a marathon bout of… sex. Maisie Jane knew the word from the dirty books and Jake had used it a few times but again, it was one of those words that she couldn’t say because she was supposed to be a lady. Jake was spread-eagled across the bed as he was prone to do when he was had exhausted himself and his penis was shrunken again. Jake had his eyes closed and he’d stopped breathing so hard. She thought he was asleep. She wiggled down to where she was eye level with his penis. It looked kind of funny all shriveled up. She knew it would get big again. At first she’d been afraid of it, but not now and she kind of liked how it jumped and grew when he got near her and she had touched it the other night.
Maisie Jane scooted closer and bent down and kissed it. It gave a little hitch but that’s all. She kissed it again, and stuck out her tongue and touched it and then withdrew her tongue back into her mouth. It didn’t taste nasty.
Jake’s eyes opened the second Maisie Jane’s lips touched him. He closed them so he could barely see her through his eyelashes. His beautiful little Maisie Jane… so curious, so receptive to new ideas and new ways to play.
Her little red tongue came out and rolled around his head, and there was a major jolt of response. Her eyes widened and she tried it again and again. There was an immediate reaction. She took her fingertip and stroked it up and back and he went to half-mast. Then, she cupped her hand around his shaft and went up and down and bent down and kissed the head again. He went to full arousal, hard, stiff and aching.
Maisie just looked at it and smiled with an amazed look of discovery.
Jake opened his eyes. “You made it come up, what are you going to do about it?”
Maisie sat up on her knees. “What can I do?”
“Climb on and see?” Jake suggested.
Maisie looked hesitant and Jake reached for her. “Come on, darling, I’ll show you how. Put your knees on each side of my hips and straddle me. Now take me inside, slowly, slowly so you don’t hurt yourself. That’s a girl, take me all in,” Jake crooned. “Now ride me darling, up and back, up and back. Harder, harder, baby.” Jake reached down and went after her little nubbin with his thumb and she became a wild woman.
Maisie lay spread-eagled on top of her husband, panting as hard as he was and wishing she had something to take off because she was so hot.
Jake pulled her upward so he could kiss her. “Woman! How can such a tiny little thing as you pack such a big wallop?”
Maisie didn’t answer she burrowed into his chest feeling a bit of satisfaction herself.
“Jake, can I ask you something?”
“Anything, darling.”
“Why does your… you know… look different from other boys?
Jake stiffened and raised his head. “And, just how do you know my ‘you know’ is different?” he demanded.
Maisie Jane propped her chin up on her hands, still lying on his chest. “Because I’ve seen what boys look like, and you look different.”
Jake sat up and dumped her on the bed looking furious.
“Maisie Jane Maddox you’re about two seconds from the ass paddling of your life. Explain, now!”
Maisie Jane rolled a little distance to protect her backside. “Babies, and little boys, Jake. I’m a girl, I’ve helped change baby diapers.”
“Oh,” Jake said nearly collapsing with relief. “So you haven’t seen… you haven’t…”
Maisie Jane giggled. “I’ve never seen any boy except you, over the age of two. But, Jake you do look different.”
Jake lay back against a pillow and dragged her back to him, and gave her a light swat. “I look different because I was circumcised.”
“What’s that?”
“A bit of skin was removed and pulled away. It was done when I was baby. I had some kind of infection and that’s what the doctor did to cure it. I was told it’s something they do to all Jewish baby boys. This is where I was cut.” Jake pointed to the cut lines on his penis.
“Poor baby,” Maisie Jane said looking closely.
“You can always kiss and make it better,” Jake teased.
Maisie Jane laughed and threw herself around his neck. “Tell me you love me!’
Jake kissed her soundly. “Yes, little darling I love you!”
Chapter 17
“Two feet solid,” Jake said as he shucked his clothes and burrowed under the covers.
Maisie Jane gave a screech when he touched her but he just grinned. “Maisie Jane, you’ve got to stop being a lazy wife and get up and fix your husband some food.”
“Me!” Maisie Jane protested. “You were the one who wouldn’t let me out of bed yesterday. Every time I tried to get up, all you wanted to do was cuddle and…”
“Darling, I was just teaching sweet little Maisie Jane how to be proper wife,” Jake teased. “How’d I do?”
Maisie Jane giggled. “Why sir, I think you did a proper fine job of it. Now what was your name again?”
Jake growled and gave some time to kissing, and then gave her a swat. “Brat! Up and at ‘em gal. We have a homestead to run and I need some food.”
Jake stoked up the stove in the kitchen and made a fire in the front room, letting the fire in the bedroom stove go out. They didn’t need to be burning wood in three stoves. It took the better part of the morning for Jake to shovel paths to the barn, the chicken house and the privy out back. Except for that big brass tub, that fancy water closet was a waste of space. It was nice not to have to go out in the cold to run to the privy at night, but someone had to empty the pot and that someone was him. With all the animals taken care of Jake finally returned to the house. Maisie Jane had baked up some cinnamon rolls that almost made his eyes roll back in his head. She’d gone from trying to kill him with her cooking to now trying to turn him into a fat man.
“Hide those things, darling, I can’t stay away from them,” Jake told Maisie Jane and then spent some time showing her how much he appreciated her efforts.
Maisie Jane was curled up in one of the big chairs reading when Jake started going through all the drawers in the big desk. He finally found what he was looking for and set out some paper, an envelope, an ink well, and a fountain pen.
“Who are you writing too?” Maisie Jane asked.
Jake sat down at the desk. “I figure it’s about time to write that letter to Brett. He’s had time to work through his mad and maybe rethink giving this place to us. I’m also going to tell him I burned those books and that I didn’t appreciate my wife’s mind being fouled by those things. If they’re his, I reckon that his business. But, if they belong to his wife, he should know about it.”
“Maybe he already does.”
Jake looked over at her. “If he does, he’s not the man I thought he was, because no decent man would want his wife reading that trash.”
“Don’t get mad again, please.”
“It might take me a while to get past all that mad, Maisie Jane. But, you’ve already been corrected for that so we don’t need to revis
it that again.”
“Jake I need to write a letter too,” Maisie said.
“To who?”
“I need to write back home and tell people I’m okay.”
“I thought you didn’t have any people left back there,” Jake said frowning.
“I don’t have any family left, but I do have friends. I left over three months ago, and they don’t know what happened to me. I was supposed to go back to Baltimore.”
“You’re right, you’ve probably got people worried sick.”
Jake wrote his letter and sealed it without telling Maisie Jake what he’d written. Maisie Jane waited until Jake went outside to do a chore and she wrote her letter, praying that he wouldn’t ask to read it, and sealed it quickly.
When Jake came back in he picked up her letter and looked at the address. “This is to a lawyer?”
Maisie Jane nodded. “He was a friend of my brothers. He’ll know how to spread the word.”
Jake propped the letters between two of those china figurines on the top of the mantle to mail next time he got to town.
The next piece of business was for Jake was to set his accounting book. He’d been a man of action for the last twelve years, bookwork wasn’t something he wanted to do but he was smart enough to know that he had to keep accounts. He pulled out the receipts from his last trip to town and wrote down all the amounts he’d spent during his last trip to Elco. Then, he pulled out his money pouch and counted it. He did some figuring, refiguring and recounting again.
Maisie Jane had gone back into the kitchen to do whatever women did in there.
He called for her and she hollered back that she’d come in minute she was in the middle of something.
Teaching Miss Maisie Jane Page 14
