by Ashe Barker
“You were right about that. These borders are no place for a wench to be wandering around alone. A band of reivers might easily pass this way and they won’t pander to your delicate sensibilities, lass. Nor would those wolves if you’d been on your own. Unprotected, you’ll not last the day, lass.”
“Reivers? I don’t understand. What are reivers and why would I need to be protected from anyone? Except you two of course.”
The two of them regard me oddly, exchanging quizzical looks. Robbie is next to speak.
“Girl, you say some odd things, and you have a most peculiar attitude toward your own safety. You seem to be in mortal fear of us, yet you have no regard for the very real danger presented by hungry wolves or lawless raiders from north of the border. Be that as it may though, we can’t leave you to fend for yourself in this wilderness. You’ll be remaining with us until we reach a town where you have kin, or failing that you can return to Stirling with us and we’ll find a place for you there. The MacBride keep can always find room for a decent serving wench, especially one with skills in healing as you seem to possess. And before you start your bloody protesting again, please be assured your virtue is safe from us. Neither one of us has ever found it necessary to take a lass against her will, and you’ll not be finding yourself to be the first.”
I latch on to the one thing that stands out from Robbie’s little pronouncement. “Stirling? I’m not going to sodding Stirling. I’m going to Glenridding, then home to Manchester. I’m due back at work on Tuesday.”
Will’s brow crinkles. “Manchester? We know of Chester, we just came from there. Is this place, this Manchester in that direction then?”
I nod, frantic to be away, to be allowed to return to my safe, ordered, ordinary life. “Yes, sort of. South of here. I know the way. I’ll just…” I start to back away, even now clinging to some shred of optimism that I’ll be permitted to leave.
“You’ll come with us to Stirling. Then, next time we have to return to England, if we’re travelling in the direction of Chester, we’ll take you along and return you to your village.”
“Village?”
“Your village. Manchester, did you say?”
“Manchester isn’t a village. It’s a, a …” I stop, mystified. This conversation is just too bizarre. They appear to be familiar with Chester, and with Stirling. Carlisle even, yet neither one has heard of Manchester. I set that aside and return to my main point. “I can’t go to Stirling with you.”
“You’ll do as you’re told, lass. Which brings us to the next matter we need to address.” Robbie glances around, his gaze coming to rest on a small stone building about a hundred yards from us. Beside it stands a sturdy oak tree, already tall enough to be spreading its branches over the solid-looking roof. He turns to Will. “That should do fine, do you think? That bough sticking out to the side?”
Will nods. “Good choice. Best sling a blanket over it though. We don’t want her getting all scratched, after all. Striping her arse is punishment enough, I reckon.”
“What? What are you talking about?” I so do not like the sound of this. Any discussion of my arse and punishment surely heralds disaster.
As Will peers into his saddlebag, presumably in search of the blanket he mentioned, Robbie continues the explanation.
“Well, lass, there’s the matter of honesty. And truth, you understand. We set high store by it, and we will have it from you. Always. And from your argumentative tone I daresay your obedience is soon to become an issue too. It’s time for you to learn what the consequences will be when you lie to us, or if you fail to obey an instruction. With luck, and if you prove to be a fast learner, it may not be necessary to administer another punishment spanking for some time. But right now, we have no real alternative.”
“Spanking! No way. You are not spanking me.”
Robbie grins, his expression unrepentant. And determined. “We are, lass. Right here and now. See yonder oak beside the stock shelter there? You’ll be bent over the branch that stretches out to the side, your wrists and ankles tied together to make sure you don’t shift from where we place you. You’ll be naked of course, your arse tilted up for easy reach. Then you’ll take six strokes of the switch. From each of us.”
“No! No, you can’t do that. That would be… it would be—assault.”
“Aye, you could call it that, I daresay, since you’ll not be acquiescent by the sound of things. Don’t look so stricken, lass, it’ll soon be done with and we can all be on our way.”
“You promised I wouldn’t be hurt. Last night, you said that.”
“I think what we actually promised was that we would do you no harm. And we won’t. A little firm discipline though, now that’s another matter entirely. I’ve yet to meet the woman whose disposition was not the better for a well administered paddling. And most are truly thankful for it too, in the fullness of time of course.”
“You’re mad. The pair of you. You should be locked up. If you lay a hand on me, just one hand, I’ll report you, and, and…” I give up my attempt to reason with them and fall back on the only remaining option that makes any sense to me. I turn and I run.
I get all of three paces before I’m grabbed from behind and swung around in Robbie’s powerful arms. I’m kicking, screaming, biting, putting up all the fight I can muster and more besides. My situation may be hopeless, but instinct has taken over and I’m fighting for my life. Or so it seems to me. At some level I’ve registered what he said about hurting and harming, and his references to all of us getting on our way suggests I’m not to be too seriously injured. But even so, I’m not taking this quietly.
My struggles avail me nothing, and in a few moments I am carried bodily over to the ancient oak where Will awaits us, a blanket in his arms and a length of rope coiled at his feet. I soon join the rope as Robbie lets me go, and I collapse onto the heather, panting from my efforts.
"We'll get her stripped and tied in place. Then if you wouldn't mind, you can go and find a decent switch. Would you like me to deliver your strokes for you in view of your recent incapacity, or are you up to the task?"
"I'd appreciate your assistance, cousin. It's improving, but I don't want to find myself gasping for breath again at a vital moment. Especially as I doubt our little companion will be so generous in her ministrations should she be called on to stab me in the chest a second time."
“Too right I bloody won’t. I should have left you in pain, you bastard.”
Robbie crouches beside me, his features stern. “Every time you swear at one of us, you’ll receive an extra stroke. So you’re on six from me, and now seven from Will. You can scream all you like, I expect that, but I’ll be having no more profanities from you. Is that understood?”
I glare back at him and seriously contemplate slapping his face. By now I have no illusions about who is to come off worst in this encounter, but even the smallest measure of satisfaction is an alluring prospect. My self-preservation instinct wins out though, and I keep my hands to myself and settle for glowering at him.
“Answer me, Charlie. Do you understand the rules about swearing? And about honesty and obedience? You’ll take your punishment now for what’s gone before, and from here on you’ll behave yourself. Yes?”
I don’t answer, so he takes my chin in his large hand and tips my face up to his. “Yes?”
“Yes,” I whisper, knowing when I’m beaten. Or about to be.
“Good. So will you undress, or do we need to strip you?”
“Why? Can’t you just… do it as I am?” I’m no longer protesting the act itself, just the manner of the doing of it.
“A woman should be naked for any punishment. It helps to drive the lesson home, I always think. Would you agree, Will?”
“Oh, yes. And so much more enjoyable too. For us I mean, though of course you may find the experience an arousing one also, wee Charlie. In which case we’d be happy to oblige you in other ways too.”
Here it comes, the sexual abuse I feared
. Why else would they want me naked? I gaze from one to the other, tears pricking the backs of my eyes.
“Enough. She’s already scared. We’ll just do this, then we’ll be off.” Robbie is usually the harsher, the more gruff of the two, but on this occasion he seems more attuned to my terror. And ready to alleviate it. He crouches beside me again. “I’ll be the one taking the switch to you. If you offer no resistance, and do as we ask, I’ll be quick about it and I swear I’ll do you no lasting damage. Fair enough, lass?”
It’s a measure of my rapidly shifting perspective that this seems like a decent offer. I nod, my gratitude almost pathetic.
“Good girl. Stand up then, and remove your clothes.”
“All of them?”
He inclines his head.
“It’s cold.”
“Chilly, to be sure. But not freezing. And as I say, this need not take long. A few minutes if you cooperate, that’s all. You’ll share my mount after, and I’ll make sure you aren’t cold as we continue on our journey. I have extra plaids in my saddlebags and you’re welcome to the use of them.”
As Robbie has been speaking to me, Will has arranged the thick blanket over the rough surface of the branch. The bough they have selected sticks out more or less vertically from the trunk and is maybe three feet from the ground. Waist height, I suppose. Very convenient for what Will and Robbie have in mind for me. Reluctantly I scramble to my feet. I glance from one to the other. They are both quite relaxed, watching me. Waiting.
In a last act of futile defiance I turn my back on them and unzip my quilted jacket.
I shiver as I slide it from my shoulders and drop it on the springy heather at my feet. The crisp early morning air only partially accounts for it. Next I bend to untie my stout hiking boots and toe them off, followed by my thick socks. The ground is frigid under my bare feet, but this is the least of my worries as I grab the hem of my fleece and drag it up over my head. My remaining layer, a thermal long-sleeved vest, is clingy and leaves nothing to the imagination. I pull that over my head too. The sports bra I am wearing is practical and far from sexy, but the supple bright lilac nylon does nothing to conceal my nipples, already swelling and hardening in the cool morning air.
“Turn around, girl.”
I consider refusing, but they will probably just add to my punishment if I do that. I turn and meet first Robbie’s intent gaze, then Will’s.
“Strange garments, wee Charlie. What fabric is that—item—made of?” Will eyes my colourful underwear with a degree of suspicion.
“Some sort of Lycra, I suppose. May I keep it on?” Hope springs eternal.
They both shake their heads. I grit my teeth and will my fingers not to shake as I reach behind my back to undo the row of small hooks that secure it. The bra slips forward and I allow it to drop at my feet. Determined now not to cower I stand before them, my hands by my sides, naked from the waist up.
Robbie’s lips curl in the faintest of smiles. Neither man makes any comment. They simply wait for me to complete the task they gave me.
My hiking pants have an elasticated waist so it takes just a moment to shove them to my knees and step out of them. The pile of my garments is growing, and I note that the pair of them seem almost as interested in what I am taking off as they do in my increasingly exposed body. Nothing about these two should surprise me now, but still this is odd.
I pause, briefly contemplate stretching out the moment just a little by peeling my leggings and knickers off separately, but opt to get the whole thing over at once. This is going to be awful. Period. Humiliating. Period. It’s going to hurt like fuck, and on top of that I’m bloody cold. The sooner I’m allowed to get my clothes back on, the better.
I hook my thumbs into the elastic waistband, haul both layers down my thighs, and slip them off. I prefer to wax my pubic hair, and I am acutely aware of my unusually naked state as I stand before them. I drop my gaze, unable to bring myself to look either one in the eye. I shiver, my teeth starting to chatter.
“Truly exquisite. You are a lovely woman, wee Charlie.” Will’s remark is oddly comforting, despite my lingering uncertainty regarding his real intentions. “I can see you’re feeling the chill though, so I’ll be getting that switch cut. Robbie, while I do that you can see to making the wee lassie comfortable, aye?”
I glance up and catch Robbie’s sharp nod. Will saunters off in the direction of a stand of trees, his lethal-looking knife in his hand.
“Where’s he going?”
“He’ll cut a good, supple branch from one of those trees. Something nice and narrow, should make a decent whistle as I swing it. He’ll remove any twigs to leave a smooth finish—we don’t want to break your pretty skin; that would be a great shame. Then I’ll use the switch to lay those sweet stripes I mentioned across your delightful arse. And talking of which, shall we get you ready then?”
“Ready?”
“Yes. If you could just step over to the branch here and lean over it. It’s solid enough to take your weight so don’t you be fretting about falling, and the blanket will protect your stomach and thighs.”
Very considerate.
I take a step in the direction of the blanket, then stop. I can’t do this. I just can’t. Robbie takes my elbow and shifts me forward with a gentle but firm shove. I find myself standing in front of the bough, the rugged wool of the blanket grazing my abdomen.
“On your toes, and lean forward. Do you need me to help you?” His voice has dropped, the tone gentle now and almost sympathetic.
“Please don’t do this. I’m sorry, for everything. I won’t lie to you anymore, and I’ll come to Stirling. Please…” It’s hopeless, I know that, but I can’t help making one last, desperate plea.
“Lass, this gives me no real pleasure either, but we have to establish the way of things between us. If you accept, and submit, it will be easier for you. Now, do you need my help or will you—?”
“I can do it.” I place my hands on the blanket and lean over, stretching my shivering body over the bough. It shifts and dips a little under me, but I have no doubt the oak will bear my weight.
“On tiptoe, if you would, to lift your arse up for me.”
With a groan I comply, intensely aware of the view I now give him of my bare bottom, uplifted and positioned for spanking. I squeeze my legs together tight, hoping that nothing of my pussy is visible, though I know he has only to part my buttocks to see all he wants.
Robbie crouches behind me and picks up the rope. “Can you clasp your hands behind your knees, Charlie? Then I’ll tie your wrists together. That way you’ll not be moving and I won’t hit anything delicate by accident.”
“My bottom is delicate.”
“Ah, well, perhaps it is and it’s true you’re a slender lass, but you’ve enough meat on there to bear what I’m planning for you. If I catch your quim though, now that would really smart. Your hands, please.”
Obedient, I reach back and manage to cross my wrists behind my knees. Robbie loops the rope around them and fastens a quick slipknot. I’m unable to resist testing the effectiveness of my restraints, and find I am quite immobile. I could perhaps kick my heels up, but nowhere near enough to be able to protect my poor bum from the coming onslaught.
Robbie straightens, and places his palm on my buttock. He digs his fingertips into the soft flesh and gives a slight squeeze.
“What are you doing? You said you wouldn’t…”
“I’m finding the fleshy part. I’ll lay the strokes here, and here.” He trails his fingers across my bottom, over the widest part of my buttocks, and then the backs of my thighs. “Ah, here’s Will and that’s a fine switch he’s carrying. It looks like he’s done you proud. Soon be finished now, love.”
Chapter Three
In my current position I can’t see Will so have no opportunity to inspect the switch for myself. I hear his footsteps though, and I know the moment is here.
“She makes a fine sight.”
“Aye, she does.
The lass is shivering though, and more scared than she’s letting on. We need to get on with this. Hand me the switch.”
“Here. I’ll keep an eye on her, check how she’s doing. If you need to stop, I’ll tell you.”
“Good. Ready then?”
Will kneels beside me, and cups my chin in his palm. He turns my face toward him, and with his free hand he strokes my long hair back. He coils the length of it around his hand and holds my head still.
“Open your eyes and look at me, girl.” His voice is soft, as Robbie’s was a few moments ago. I obey. I have no alternative.
Will glances up at Robbie and nods his head.
There’s a shrill, breathy whistle, then an explosion of fire across my left buttock. I scream and jerk on the branch, as far as my bound state allows. Will has the grace to wince too, but in the next instant he is once more giving Robbie the nod to continue.
Another sharp whoosh of displaced air, and the switch lands across my right buttock. Again I scream as the pain simmers and sinks into my flesh. I groan in silence as Will indicates I’m fine for the next, then the next. I’m counting the strokes, four already. A third of the way there. Almost, but for that extra one I earned for swearing. My bum feels to be on fire.
Will gives another sharp nod, and Robbie shifts his position a little, then lands the fifth stripe across my left buttock, this time slightly lower than the first two. It hurts, the pain ratcheting up fast. My screams are less though, as the shock is wearing off. I do at least know what to expect. It’s the enduring that’s the problem. I’m not at all convinced I’ll come out of this unscathed, whatever Robbie might have promised.
I close my eyes, but Will gives my chin a sharp squeeze with his hand. “Look at me, love.”
I force my eyelids to open, but his image is blurred by tears. He seems to be frowning though. Oh, God, please don’t let me have done something to displease them even more. I try to speak, but can only mouth the words. “I’m sorry.”
