Sweet Town Love

by Maggie Ryan

  Looking around again, Matt noticed something in the middle of his table that hadn’t been there this morning. It was too dark to make out what it was, but it was fairly large. That was confusing. Apparently someone broke into his house, but instead of stealing anything, it seemed the stranger brought something.

  Although he wasn’t pleased, the situation didn’t seem quite as dangerous as he’d first thought it might be, so he doubted he would need to use his gun. He would still be cautious, though, until he knew who this man was and why he was in his house.

  Deciding the surprise element would be good, he quietly moved to the door to the kitchen, watching the man through the window the entire time. He planned to quietly unlock it, but this door was obviously how the man had gotten inside. The lock had been picked, and was now broken and would have to be replaced. He carefully grabbed the doorknob and flung it open, flipped the light switch on, and held his gun in the intruder’s direction. “Freeze,” he demanded. “Get your hands up where I can see them.”

  The man whirled around, looked at Matt, and went pale. “What the hell? Who are you?”

  “I believe I should be asking you that question. Who are you and what are you here for?”

  The stranger nodded toward the table, but kept his hands raised. Matt could now see the strange thing on his table was a rather large bouquet of roses. “I came here to see my girl. Who the hell are you?”

  Matt was totally confused. “I’m Sheriff Matt Byler, and this is my house you broke into. I’ll ask you one more time; who are you and why are you in my house?”

  The man’s eyes became huge as he looked at Matt. His arms dropped, as well, but Matt could tell it was from frustration. “Isn’t this 226 Oakwood?”

  “It is, but that still doesn’t tell me who you are.”

  The man scratched his head, seemingly not even hearing Matt’s repeated question. “Diane told me she’s at 226 Oakwood.”

  A light bulb came on in Matt’s head, and he started putting things together rather quickly. Diane, the flowers, coming to talk to his girl; they were all starting to make sense. Thinking quickly, he addressed the man while he was still looking perplexed. “Turn around and put your hands against the wall. We need to get to the bottom of this.”

  He seemed to suddenly realize, for the first time, the situation he was in. “Officer, I’m sorry. I sure didn’t mean any harm. This is all a misunderstanding. I can explain.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping. You’ll get a chance, but first, get your hands on the wall. I want to make sure you don’t have any weapons on you. Then I’ll give you a chance to tell me what’s going on.”

  The man was obviously upset, but did as Matt directed. He patted him down and checked his pockets. Once he was satisfied, he pulled his handcuffs out of his back pocket and fastened them around the man’s wrists.

  “Hey, what are you doing? I said I can explain this.”

  “And I said you’ll get a chance. But until I know who you are and why you thought it was okay to break into my home, the cuffs stay on. Now, sit down at the table and tell me what’s going on.” He grabbed one of the man’s arms and led him to the table, depositing him in the chair Matt pulled out. He stood, looking down at the man, who appeared to be nervous. Rightfully so, as far as Matt was concerned.

  He reached over and took the card from the flowers and opened the envelope. “Hey, what are you doing? Those aren’t for you.”

  “They kind of are now. You’ve broken into my house, breaking the lock I might add, so as I see it, these flowers and the card have now become evidence in a breaking and entering charge. Since you haven’t answered my repeated question yet as to your identification, maybe this will give me a hint.”

  He looked down at the card, while his captive objected. “But I wasn’t breaking and entering.” Matt looked around his house, then down at him, his eyebrows raised. “Well, okay, maybe I was, but I didn’t mean to be. Can you still charge me if I didn’t do it on purpose?”

  Matt answered, still looking at the card. “Absolutely. You broke my lock.”

  “I didn’t mean to do that, either. But I didn’t know this was your house. I thought it was someone else’s.”

  “Who obviously wasn’t expecting you, either. Yet, you thought it would be okay to break into their home. Is that what you’re saying?”

  He hem-hawed around a bit. “You don’t understand.”

  “Actually, I think I understand more than you realize.” He looked up at him. “You still haven’t told me who you are. Why don’t I take a guess? Paul Kline?”

  The stranger’s head flew up to look at Matt, and he frowned. “How do you know who I am?”

  Matt ignored his question. “Elsie didn’t answer your phone calls. I’m not sure how you got Dianne to tell you where she is, but you’re at the wrong house. More importantly, though, what in the world gave you the idea it would be okay to break into her house?”

  “I brought flowers.”

  “So you thought flowers and an apology would make breaking into her house, when she obviously doesn’t want to see or talk to you, okay? If this would have been her house I would more than likely still be charging you with breaking and entering.”

  Paul was quiet, but his next question was a bit of a surprise to Matt. “You really don’t think she wants to see or talk to me? And how do you know her?”

  Matt’s eyebrows shot upward. “Did she answer your calls, or return them?”

  “No.”

  “Didn’t that tell you anything?”

  “But I thought if I gave her flowers and apologized—”

  “That she’d forgive you for cheating on her and spreading false, embarrassing rumors? She’s right; you are a jerk. I don’t know what world you’re living in, but we’ll see.” Matt had taken his phone out and was ready to make a call, when Paul stopped him.

  He stood up, an angry look on his face. “How the hell do you know Elsie?”

  “Sit back down unless you want to finish this talk after you’re booked into the jail.” When Paul sat back down, Matt gave him a very brief explanation. That’s all he needed for now. “Elsie is staying at her grandmother’s house, who is a good friend of mine, and a neighbor.”

  While Paul considered his words, Matt called Elsie. “Hi, Elsie. Would you please come down here to my house? We have something we need to discuss. Okay, thank you.” He hung up and sat down across from Paul, who didn’t look too happy.

  Elsie hung up and grabbed her purse. She was ready for when he picked her up for dinner, but she had to pause a moment. Something was up, but she had no idea what it could be. He generally used an endearment of one form or another when addressing her, unless he was upset. She thought back to the last couple days, trying to remember if she’d done something he may not agree with, but nothing came to mind. She had to talk to him this evening about Paul, but since he probably didn’t even have the address yet, she had plenty of time. She hurried to her car, still wondering what was going on.

  Matt wanted to be able to meet Elsie at her car when she got to his house, so he had Paul stand up, and moved his chair between the table and his refrigerator. Then he unfastened one of Paul’s handcuffs and fastened it to one of the legs of his heavy wood table, and unfastened his other hand and fastened it to his refrigerator door. He moved to the door to watch for Elsie. It was only a couple minutes until she pulled in. He took one final glance at Paul. “Don’t move.”

  He went outside and met Elsie as she was heading toward his door. He leaned down and gave her a kiss, and quickly put a hand to her back and directed her toward the house. “I have to get back in there, but I have a situation I need your help with.”

  Elsie looked up at him, but couldn’t read his expression. She walked into his kitchen and froze. “Paul, what are you doing here?” She turned back to Matt. “Why is he here?”

  “I came home this evening to find who I thought was a burglar who had broken into my house.” He went to the flowers on
his table and picked up the card and handed it to her. “Apparently these flowers were meant for you.”

  She looked from Matt to the card, to the flowers, and back to Matt, who motioned to the card. “Read it.”

  She read the card, and Matt could easily see the outrage in her eyes. She turned an angry glare to Paul, and simply shook her head before turning back to Matt. “Now has he done something you can arrest him for?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Matt said with a grin. He got on the phone and called his office.

  Paul started arguing. “Oh, come on, baby, tell this sheriff you were only kidding, that you don’t want me arrested. What will everyone at home say if I get arrested?”

  She whirled around to look at him. “You’re worried about what people will say about you? Seriously? Well, maybe we’re even then.” She turned away from him.

  “Oh, come on. Didn’t you read the card? I said I’m sorry.”

  She turned toward him, hands on her hips. “And that’s all you said, is you’re sorry. What are you sorry for?”

  “You know, for upsetting you.”

  “What an ass.”

  “Elsie,” Matt said, turning her to look at him before she got too upset.

  She saw his serious eyes and the warning they contained, and took a deep, calming breath. “Sorry.”

  Paul missed the look that went between the two of them, and forged ahead in his quest for freedom. “Baby, I found out where you’re staying so I could come talk to you and apologize. I got you the flowers to show I’m sorry. Can’t we talk?”

  “We don’t have anything to talk about, which is why I never answered any of your phone calls.” She turned to face Matt. “Do you need a statement from me?”

  He guided her to the other side of the kitchen and leaned in next to her ear. “Oh, yeah; a complete statement.” Turning back toward Paul, he answered louder. “Yes, I will. I take it you didn’t know he was going to be here?”

  “No, I did not. I didn’t answer his phone calls because he’s a jerk and I didn’t want to talk to him. I still don’t, ever.”

  “Okay.” Paul continued to beg and plead, to no avail. Twenty minutes later Matt was helping one of his deputies load Paul into a sheriff’s cruiser. “Take him in and get him processed. Charge him with breaking and entering, and trespassing for now. I’m going to take a statement from Ms. Wintock, then I’ll be down. Thanks, Ted.”

  After they left Matt led Elsie into his living room. They got to his couch, but before he could sit down, she flung her arms around him. “Thank you, Matt. I didn’t think there was any way he could get here before tomorrow, so I planned on talking to you about it tonight. When I saw him sitting in your kitchen, I knew right away I’d made a huge mistake. I should have talked to you first, and I see that now. I was afraid you’d be really upset with me, and I knew I’d have no right to argue, because I totally understand why you would be. And I promise, I won’t argue with you if you try to spank me.”

  She had tears in her eyes, which caught Matt off guard, but he listened closely as she continued. “But you did something no one’s ever done for me before, and I can’t tell you how much that means.” She sniffled a couple times before going on. “You stood up for me. I know you were upset with me, but you still stood up for me. You told me before that you want to protect me, and I wasn’t quite sure what you meant by that. I mean, I didn’t know what you were going to protect me from. But now I know. It’s not so much the physical things, although I know you do that, too, but it’s the mental things, as well. You’re protecting me from everything.” She wrapped her arms around his neck to hug him again. “Thank you so much for that.”

  Matt was momentarily speechless. He pulled her in tight for a hug they both needed, and just held her for a couple minutes. When he finally pulled back to look in her eyes, Elsie wasn’t quite sure what she was seeing. “Baby, thank you for being honest with me. Now let me do the same for you. You’re right; I was upset when I found out who the man was who had broken into my house. But I also realized two things; that I’m glad you gave him my address instead of yours, and that the reason I’m glad of that is because the thought of you getting hurt tears me apart inside.”

  He gentled his voice and carefully captured her face in his hands. “And the reason for that is because I love you, Elsie. I know it hasn’t even been quite a month yet that we’ve known each other, but we’ve seen each other almost daily since we live so close. That’s given me plenty of time to get to know you rather well, and the more I get to know you the more I want to know you better and get closer to you. Seeing that man here today, knowing he thought he was breaking into your house, really got my attention. I don’t think he came here meaning to cause you any physical harm, but I know it would have scared you to walk in and see him there.”

  “It sure would have.”

  “And you’re right; he is a jerk. If you would have refused him, told him no, I’m not real sure what he would have done if you were alone with him. I’m real glad I didn’t have to find out, because I don’t trust him. He made me realize that I’d worry about you with any man like that, because I don’t just care about you any more; I love you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  The tears in her eyes escaped now and started running down her cheeks, as she leaned against him, with her cheek to his chest. He rubbed her back as he kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him. “Matt, thank you for telling me that. This afternoon I was thinking about what I’d done, giving Diane your address. I realized then that I should have talked to you about it before I gave it to her. The reason I didn’t is because I felt sure you’d be okay with it, that you’d rather have him come to your house than mine. As I thought about it, I realized how much it means to me knowing that you’re watching out for me like that. That’s the first time it occurred to me that I’ve fallen in love with you, too.”

  His hand stopped rubbing her back, and he looked down to meet her eyes. “Baby, you don’t have to say that because I did. I didn’t—”

  “No, you don’t understand. You saying that has nothing to do with it. Well, okay, yeah, I guess in a way it does because if you wouldn’t have said it first, I probably wouldn’t have yet, either. But it doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I didn’t realize it until this afternoon when I was thinking about you and why I didn’t worry that you’d be upset with me for giving Diane your address. I know now, after thinking it through better, that I should have talked to you before I did it to be sure you’re okay with it, but at the time I just wanted him to stop calling, and I thought this would do it. I could almost feel your strength around me when I thought of giving her your address, and for some reason, I knew you wouldn’t be upset with me about it.”

  He captured her lips with his in a kiss that was very physical, very demanding. He reached back to cradle the back of her head with one hand, as he held his other against her cheek. It was several moments before he could pull back to look at her. “I’m glad to hear that, baby. You’re right; I do like the idea of you giving him my address instead of yours, and I’m glad you feel my love and protection for you and were confident enough in that to know I would approve of the idea.”

  “So you’re not going to spank me?”

  “I didn’t say that. I’m glad you know I’m watching out for you and you’ve accepted that, even embraced it. But you’re right; you should have called me before you did it. We could have planned it better. I know you didn’t think he’d be here until at least tomorrow, but we would have been ready for him today, just in case.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. But do you really have to spank me?”

  “Yes, I do. The only way you’ll be able to count on me to always be here for you is if I’m consistent. You have to know that I’ll do what I say I’ll do every time. That includes spanking you every time you’ve earned it.”

  He sat down on the couch, pulling her down with him and straight over his lap. He reached underneath her to unfasten her blue jeans,
and pulled them down to her knees. He was pulling her panties down over her hips before she complained. “Wait. What are you doing?”

  “I’m pulling your panties down so I can give you a bare bottomed spanking. I told you the last time, your spankings from here on out will be on your bare bottom.”

  “I know, but I-I’ve never—”

  “I know, honey, and unlike the man on his way to jail right now, I will respect your wish to wait for your wedding night. I will not take advantage of you, but your spankings will be on your bare bottom so I can see how red you’re getting. I won’t take any chances of harming you.”

  He could tell she was a bit hesitant, but was glad she didn’t resist as he pulled her panties down to join her jeans at her knees. She whimpered a bit and flinched, but didn’t resist.

  He started the spanking, but it was pretty mild. He made sure she was certainly aware she was receiving a spanking, but it wasn’t harsh. He started talking shortly afterward and wanted to be sure she could hear and understand what he was saying. “Elsie, I love you and I plan on protecting you. I need your cooperation to do that. I like your idea to give him my address, and I’m glad you did that. I can deal with him easier than you, and you don’t know how glad I am that he didn’t show up this evening at your house. But you need to talk to me about things like this. You’re right; you should have told Diane you would call her back. You could have called me. We could have discussed it, come up with a plan, and you could have called Diane back.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I am, too, but I believe you know that now.” He paused the spanking a few moments, but kept his hand on her bottom. “I learned something, too, in this. I knew Paul calling you was upsetting you, but I wasn’t sure how much or why. I knew he did you wrong and you didn’t want to see or talk to him again, and I get that, but I didn’t know just how much his phone calls were bothering you. In my mind, you just ignore them and forget them. But I think I’m understanding it a little more now. It was you against him. I mean, you were there by yourself, with no family or friends. He became your friend, or so you thought. And I can understand why you reached out for his friendship, which he seemed sincere in. But then when he hurt you, it was horrible. He was supposed to be your closest friend and ally in the world, and he not only turned his back on you, but did it in a very unsettling way, a very hurtful way. That made it feel like it was you against the world, and when people there tended to side with the local boy, I’m sure it was horrible.”