Lupe blushed. Manuel laughed and headed for the bunkhouse. Megan and Lupe cleared the dishes and set the kitchen to rights while the men paraded buckets of water from the pump to the two houses.
Megan sluiced cool water over her naked body. She felt wonderful, treasured, happy. She anticipated the dance like a child waiting for her birthday. Tonight, they would enjoy, and tomorrow she would clear the slate. Blarney would no longer lie between them like a cottonmouth snake coiled to strike.
She laced a light corset and dropped her dress over her head. The small ivory buttons marched from the waist to the scooped neck. An edging of lace enhanced the rounded collar and cuffs while the skirt whirled free and wide around her legs. The forest green fabric was sprinkled with flowers of yellow and light blue. Megan gave herself a hug. She had never had such a pretty dress. Her uncle, penny-pincher that he was, had left his kin in near rags.
The look on Michael’s face rewarded her hours at the sewing machine. His dark eyes deepened with lust. She recognized it now.
“If we weren’t expected at the Waynes’, I’d take you right back up those stairs. You look a treat.” He gulped and pulled at his pants. “Look what you do to me.” He pulled her into a tight embrace, and she felt his eagerness pressed against her, throbbing and insistent.
Megan giggled. “After the dance, Michael?”
“After the dance,” he agreed. “You stick with me tonight, darlin’. Hear me? I didn’t think I was a jealous man, but maybe I was wrong.”
He pulled her close and led her to the buggy. They rode in happy silence, contentment needing no words.
They pulled in behind a wagon with four children nestled in the back. “That’s Tom and Amanda and their kids,” Michael explained.
John waved a friendly hand. “Leave the women at the house. Marcie’s inside wound up like a top to have women folk around.” He waited while Amanda and Megan were lifted to the ground. “Bring your wagons to the barn. After we settle your horses, I have some new stock to show you. I bought them last week in Abilene. Come on, you two.” He motioned at his twins who were waiting on the porch.
Megan smiled as the twins ran beside the wagon laughing and talking to the Thornton children still sitting in the back of the wagon. The little parade disappeared around the corner of the house.
Marcie stood on the porch. “Come in. I’ve been looking forward to company all day.” She met them at the bottom of the stairs. “Megan, this is my sister, Amanda. Amanda, this is Mike’s wife, Megan.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Megan said.
“Thank you. I’ve been looking forward…” Amanda lifted her face. Her skin was mottled red and tears left trails down her cheeks. She choked and placed a little fist to her mouth.
Marcie threw a protective arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Now. Now. Don’t you worry. Come in the house and tell us what’s wrong.” Amanda’s shoulders heaved in her distress, but she nodded her head.
Marcie brought lemonade and a plate of cookies to the living room. As soon as the women were seated, she patted Amanda’s knee. “Tell me. What happened?”
“Tom spanked me,” Amanda wailed.
“Tom spanked you.”
Amanda nodded her reply.
“On the way to town.”
Another nod.
“Mercy. Whatever for?” Marcie continued to pet her sister’s hand. Her eyes met Megan’s. “Our husbands have a direct way of expressing their concern and displeasure. It involves a bare bottom and a hard hand. But they are fair, our men. Now, Amanda, Tom wouldn’t spank you for no reason. What happened?”
Amanda shuddered before taking a deep breath and then another before trying to speak. “Oh, I’ve been awful.” More tears sluiced down her ravaged face, and her voice wavered. She paused to wipe at her tears. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s got into me. All morning, I was just nagging and picking at Tom and the children. Nothing would satisfy me. Tom gave me that look. You know the one. He even gave me a little warning spank. Now, that should have been enough. We’ve been married long enough that I understood the message.” She gave a trembling sigh and shook her head. “But I kept right at it. Nag and snip, snip and nag. We were part way to town when I snapped at Patrick. I told him to settle down or I’d warm his behind.” She glanced at Megan. “He’s our youngest. He’s six just like Ava and Adam, and he wasn’t doing anything terribly wrong, just being a little boy.”
Marcie nodded and sipped her lemonade. “And then?”
“Tom pulled the wagon to the side of the road. He asked Tommy to watch the other children for a bit. He lifted me from the wagon and took me off a piece where the children couldn’t see us, but I think they heard.” She gulped. “He said that I’d been asking for a spanking all day. He said he’d tried to warn me, and he had. Damn, I don’t know why but I just keep pushing and pushing. He’s right, I guess. I was asking for it. He said he wished he’d taken care of it before we left the house, but he aimed to take care of it now.”
“And he spanked you.” Marcie supplied the words.
“Yes, he knelt on one knee and pulled me over his other one. He lifted my skirt and pulled off my drawers and spanked me right there in the open where anyone could see.” Her distress morphed into anger. “Oh, that man. He spanked me good and proper, too. Tom never does anything half way. Oh no, it’s all or nothing for him.”
“Amanda, just listen to yourself. You said you were acting like a spoiled child. Nagging and snapping. Don’t get all worked up and angry just because Tom did what you knew he would. This attitude will only get you spanked again, and you know it. Admit that you deserved it and move on.”
Amanda’s lower lip trembled. “You’re right. I better settle myself before Tom does it for me.”
“Why don’t you lie down in our room for a bit? Megan and I will see about getting supper on the table.” She waited for a reply.
“Thank you, Marcie. I’ll wash my face and lie down. I want to enjoy dinner and the dance with all of you.” She took a few steps before turning to Megan. “Megan, I’m sorry for all this drama.”
“No apologies necessary, Amanda. In truth, I’m a little glad to hear that my backside isn’t the only one that gets spanked.” She rubbed her backside. The other women laughed.
“Men in the west don’t take to foolishness,” Marcie said. “I would say most wives in this town are kept safe, healthy and respectful over their husband’s knee.” She pointed at the door to her bedroom and looked at her sister. “Go. You’ll feel better after a little nap.”
The door closed with a click. Marcie sighed. “I hope that’s the end of her attitude. Tom won’t stand for it.” She bustled into the kitchen.
“What can I do to help?” Megan followed close behind.
“Would you set the table? I’m going to bring in a bench for the children to sit on.” She handed Megan a stack of plates with knives and forks lying on top.
The table was ready and food simmered on the stove sending wave after wave of delicious smells throughout the house. Boots stomping up the stairs brought their attention to the door. Three large men and six excited children had happy sounds echoing off the walls.
Tom looked around the room. “Where’s my wife?” he asked.
“She’s having a rest in our room. She was pure tuckered out.” Marcie gestured toward her room.
“I’ll go get her. She had a bit of a rough morning. You children stay out here with Aunt Marcie and Uncle John. Mama and I will be out soon.” Tom disappeared behind the bedroom door.
Marcie put her arms around her twins. “Megan, you met Ava and Adam the other day. These are Tom and Amanda’s children Tommy, Jeanette, Joe and Patrick.” She smiled at each in turn. “Children, this is Mrs. Manning.”
“Oh, please call me Megan. It’s nice to meet all of you.” She looked down at the youngest one, Patrick, who pulled on her skirt.
His eyes were saucers in his little face. “Pa spanked Ma. We heard it.”
“Patrick, you know better than that. Spanking is private business. No teasing or talking about it unless you want the same,” his older brother scolded him.
Patrick’s lower lip trembled. “No, no. I don’t want Pa to spank me.”
“Then hush.” Tommy took the sting from his words with a gentle pat on the smaller boy’s shoulder.
Megan’s eyes misted. Oh, she missed her brother, Brian. He had tried to look out for her. That’s why he’d left Boston, after all—to find a way to save her from their uncle and his plans.
Marcie clapped her hands. “Children, sit on the bench. Megan and I will bring in the food.” Soon the table groaned with the weight of fried chicken, cornbread, pickles, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy.
The children wriggled on their bench. Their eyes glued to the steaming platters.
John cleared his throat. “We’ll just wait another minute before grace.” He sent a quelling glance at the row of hungry children.
The door to the bedroom opened, and Tom emerged with Amanda in his arms. He sat down on an empty chair and held her firmly in his grip. When she tried to stand, he pulled her back against his chest. “Stay here with me, honey.” She relaxed, melting into his embrace.
“Hold hands.” John ordered, and waited while the children each found a hand to hold. “Dear Lord, thank you for this bounty. Marcie said to thank Megan for the cornbread and Amanda for the pies, so thank you Lord for good friends who bring not only themselves but food to our table. We thank you for bringing Megan to our house. May she and Mike have many happy years. Lord, these children are about to eat the table cloth, so I better end this prayer. Amen.” The adults chuckled.
“Hand me your plate, Megan.” John sent a little glare towards the bench. “Guests first.”
He filled her plate and continued around the table until each and every one had food steaming before them. He picked up his fork, and with this signal quiet descended on the house while the serious business of filling empty stomachs began.
Megan watched as Tom fed his wife from his plate. They looked more like newlyweds than parents of four children. Megan laid her hand on her husband’s thigh. Michael placed his large hand over hers and gave a gentle squeeze.
She had found a good man, a good life, good friends. Please, she sent a silent prayer winging, please let Michael understand about her uncle and that man. Tomorrow… when she told him the truth.
Chapter 11
Mike
The wagon stopped in front of the barn, and the children tumbled from the back. Calling to friends, waving frantically, they disappeared through the open doors.
“I’ll take the wagon to the livery and get the horses settled.” Tom leaned down and planted a kiss on his wife’s upturned cheek. “Stay with John until I get back.” Amanda nodded, and the wagon disappeared down the street.
Mike and Megan walked hand-in-hand toward the sound of stamping feet and clapping hands. They paused at the entrance of the building. Michael watched his bride’s excited eyes absorb the activity before her. The barn was a swirl of color, movement, and music.
“Oh, Michael. Look at the dancing.” The music of two guitars and a fiddle filled the air. The notes leaped and chased and rose and fell. A man in a brown plaid shirt stood at the front of the stage calling the steps while dancers responded and moved hand over hand, walked with hands joined in a circle, changed partners, and found their new partners. “I don’t know how, Michael.” Her little chin dropped toward her chest.
“Don’t you worry none, darlin’. I aim to teach you.” He leaned closer. “You’re my quick learner. Isn’t that right?” He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her near. “Now, see how they walk around in a circle? That’s a promenade. When Harry, the guy on the stage, calls promenade we do that.” They walked to a spot by the far wall. From this vantage point they could observe the swirling dancers without being in the way.
Mike continued to explain the intricacies of a square dance, and the two of them tried the moves from their sequestered spot.
“Come on,” Marcie called. “We can make up three sides of a square. “You’ll catch on in no time.”
“Ready?” Mike asked.
Marcie’s brilliant smile was focused their way, and she beckoned with her hand.
“Yes. It looks like such fun.” Mike escorted his wife to the barn floor. True to Marcie’s promise, she and John took a side. Amanda and Tom took a side. Mike and Megan formed the third. Mike frowned as Sally Ann arrived with a partner to complete the square.
The fiddle set the pace, the guitars followed along, and the caller called. It was a giggling group that swung and turned and weaved. Gentle hands corrected Megan if she went left instead of right or reached for the wrong partner. Mike glowed with pleasure watching his wife as she laughed and learned dancing the western way. She was something, his girl. Blue eyes sparkling, red hair flying—he was a lucky man.
“Do-si-do.” Megan passed on his right and came around on his left. She stood in front of him, eyes shooting sparks of victory.
“Right and left grand.” The call rang clear and true. Michael reached out with his right hand as the other pairs began weaving their way around the square. Megan hesitated, confusion writ plain on her furrowed brow. He stretched his hand further and made a grab for her right hand, but before he could secure her little hand in his big one, she turned and ran into Sally Ann’s body as the bigger woman barreled around the corner.
Mike saw the collision coming. Felt it in his bones. It reminded him of the time when, as a boy playing around, he dropped a large rock and knew it would smash into his bare foot but could do nothing to stop it. The two women would crash as sure as the sun would set and rise again the next morning. But, just before the women made bone jarring contact, he saw a flash of emotion cross Sally Ann’s face. It disappeared as quickly as it had come, but the look had been one of contempt, satisfaction, nasty meanness pure and simple. She had intended this. She had joined their square intending to find an opportunity to embarrass, humiliate, and possibly injure his wife.
Megan did not see the larger woman until she was bearing down upon her. Instead of attempting to stop or turn, Sally Ann picked up speed. Contact sent his little Megan spinning across the floor where she ran into another square and stopped their progress. One of the men held out his arms and prevented Megan from falling in a heap on the barn floor.
Dance around the room ground to a stop as people strained to see the cause of the disruption.
“Are you all right, Megan?” Mike retrieved his wife from her rescuer’s arms. He pulled her tight to his chest.
“I’m sorry. I guess I turned the wrong way.” She glanced an apology around the room.
“No harm done, little lady.” A man in the disrupted square sent her a wink and a smile.
Megan drew a shuddering breath and snuggled into Mike’s sheltering arms.
“Well, did you see that?” Sally Ann’s voice rose shrill and sharp.
“I certainly did see it. You ran my wife down on purpose.” Anger, hot and burning, shook his voice.
“Why, she shouldn’t even be on the floor with the rest of us. She’s nothing but a little upstart, a stranger, a foreigner. Coming to town and acting like she belongs here.” She stood with arms akimbo and glared. “I never saw such gall. Some little Irish…”
“That’s enough, Sally Ann. Stop right there.” Mike’s angry words echoed in the cavernous barn. “It’s not my place, but if it was…”
“It’s my place, Mike.” Sally Ann’s father took the girl by the arm. “I apologize for my daughter, and she will apologize for herself.”
“I will not.” Sally Ann stomped her foot.
“You will.” Father and daughter glared at each other. “I should have kept her at home, but she told me she would behave.” He gave Megan a polite nod. “I’m mighty sorry, Mrs. Manning. Sally Ann had no call to be so mean and nasty.” He returned his gaze to his daughter. “Would you care to apol
ogize now?”
“I would not.” Sally Ann gave a snort.
“We’re going home to have a discussion on the matter. She will be in a more apologetic mood in the morning.” He directed his daughter toward the door.
Sally Ann sputtered. “I will not have a discussion with you. I am far too old for discussions, Pa.” A wave of tittering swept the room. Megan looked up at her husband who shrugged his broad shoulders.
“A girl’s never too old for a good old-fashioned discussion. You had a chance to apologize for your behavior, and you decided not to take it.” He pa said as they neared the door.
“I’ll apologize. I’ll apologize, Pa.” Sally Ann pulled on her captured arm.
“Too late.” The duo disappeared out into the dark night.
“Well, no harm done. We were about to take a break anyway.” The caller moved to the edge of the stage. “Desserts provided by the good ladies of this town are waiting on the table, and I aim to enjoy them. More dancing in a bit.” He jumped to the floor and strode in the direction of a table piled high with cakes and cookies.
Mike led Megan to a seat by the wall and pulled her close to his side. “Don’t pay Sally Ann any mind, darlin’. She’s jealous, I guess. I knew she had her eye on the ranch, but I never thought she would be so low down.”
Marcie and Amanda joined them and soon their husbands arrived with cups of punch and a plate piled high with treats. Townspeople dropped by singly, in pairs, and small groups to say howdy and pass a little time. Mike’s arm around her shoulder made a statement loud and clear, and the courtesy of their visitors made another as they welcomed his little bride. He exhaled. What a night this was turning out to be.
“All right, folks. Form squares. Thank you, ladies, for the desserts, and now we are ready to play.” The squeak of the fiddle tuning accompanied his words.
Bill Taylor approached with his brothers close behind. “We want to thank you, boss. It’s right nice to be back in town. Lots of folks remember our parents and have made us feel welcome. We appreciate that you didn’t tell the tale of our activities. We’re getting a fresh start. I’m not sure we deserve it, but we thank you for it.”
Troubled Water: Lone Star Love Book One Page 9
