The wind blew so fiercely that Cindy bent against it and would have fallen if she had not had the support of the stranger. Though even he had difficulty remaining upright; he staggered on, bowed by the wind, resolutely dragging her after him.
And then, when the fear and terror of it all threatened to topple her into despair, they reached the sanctuary of the cave, half hidden on the hillside. He pulled her in after him and led her further inside into the gloom. Immediately, she felt safe. Cocooned, with the sheer comforting weight of earth above and below her. Gratefully she sank to her knees, her chest heaving with exertion as she regained her ragged breath.
Outside the cave the storm wreaked havoc, the wild wind keening and howling with rage, but in this place, they were safe.
She looked up. He was standing, leaning against the wall, his arms folded, looking down at her. And as her eyes locked with his green gaze, she felt a frisson of recognition.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
"Luke Daniels."
"I've seen you before somewhere." She frowned, trying to remember.
"Down town. A couple days ago. You and your friend were coming out of the bank."
"Oh! Yes - I remember now. You smiled at me."
"You smiled back."
"But - I still have a feeling... have we met before that? I'm sure we have, a long time ago."
"Nope." He shook his head. "If we'd met before, I would have remembered."
"Is that so?" She cast him a sidelong look. Getting stuck in some cave with a gorgeous cowboy was a real stroke of luck.
"You have a name?"
"Cindy." She flashed him a bright smile as she brushed the rainwater that trickled down her face from her sodden hair. "Cindy Frances Spencer."
"Cindy." He tested the word on his tongue. He liked it. "Nice name. Cute. It suits you."
"Thanks." She beamed at him. "And thanks also for rescuing me."
"I was only just in time. What were you doing out there?"
"Riding. I'm staying at the Armstrong ranch for a few weeks. I borrowed a horse."
"Borrowed?"
"Yes," she grinned. "Actually, they said they didn't want me to ride out alone, but I did anyway." She flashed him a cheeky smile. "I never did like being told what I can and can't do. Gabe said he could sniff a storm coming - can you believe that?! I didn't believe him."
"So - no one knows you rode out? Four."
"No. Well - I guess they will know by now, seeing as I'm not there."
"And they'll be rightfully concerned, not knowing where the hell you are."
"Ah. I suppose so," admitted Cindy. "Still, I'll head right back as soon as the tornado wears itself out," she said brightly.
"And just how do you propose to do that?" He fixed her with a green-eyed stare.
"On horseback of course. Oh. Darn thing bolted. She was scared by the storm."
"I know. I saw it happen. Five."
"You were spying on me?" Cindy stood up and stood with her hands on her hips. "I was quietly minding my own business, and all the while you were spying on me?"
"Just watching your back. If I hadn't, you'd likely be dead by now."
"Oh," she said flatly, aware of the truth of his words. "Well, even so, I still think you're an old snoop," she said defiantly.
"Old snoop, huh?" His green eyes glinted. "Six."
"Yes. Some old perverted Hillbilly spy," she sniffed. "And why are you counting?"
"Hillbilly spy makes seven," he announced.
"Huh? Seven what?"
"You'll find out real soon."
Cindy felt one of her tantrums coming on. She stamped her foot angrily, unfortunately the squish her wet boots made diminished the effect she intended to create. "Are you being deliberately cryptic? Or are you showing off just because you can count?"
"Eight."
"Gee - you'll be in double figures soon. Do you think you can manage more than 10?"
"Hell yeah," he said.
He smiled then - well, it was a kind of a smile, thought Cindy. In fact, it was the smile a hungry crocodile would make when it sees dinner approaching. Cindy wasn't quite sure she liked that smile.
"What are you grinning at?" she said crossly.
He didn't answer, just stood there with that devilishly sexy look of his as he surveyed her.
"You and I are going to get better acquainted," he said. "And I'm going to enjoy that. You're not."
"What do you mean, you annoying lump of a man?"
"Nine."
"Grrr. There you go again with this stupid counting. It's .. oh! Hey! What ya doing?!"
To Cindy's surprise, Luke grabbed her arm and pulled her over to a recess set into a section of the cave wall, against which was set an upturned wooden crate. He deposited himself on it and then hauled her over his knee.
"Get off!" she squealed.
"I think not," he said, slapping his hand down on the seat of her jeans. "I'm going to spank the sass right outta you, Missy."
"What? Spank me?! Hell no. I don't think so!" spat Cindy indignantly. She wriggled, trying to get off his lap. Unfortunately, her wrigglings gave him ample opportunity to reach round and unzip her jeans, and tug them down to her knees - along with her panties! For a long moment Cindy slumped, motionless and shocked as the cool air connected with her bare bottom. "Shit!" she shrieked. "You can't do this!"
"Just watch me," he said, and brought his hand down firmly across the centre of her jiggling buttocks.
"Arrgh!" yelled Cindy. "Stop it! Stop it at once. Do you hear me?"
"I hear you, little lady," grinned Luke, as he spanked her some more. She had a nice well rounded butt with full, fleshy buttocks. Her butt was perfect for spanking. He proceeded to do it justice.
"Yeow!" howled Cindy, as the spanks landed hard on her exposed flesh. "This can't be happening!" she wailed. "Why are you doing this?"
"I'll tell you exactly why I'm doing this, Cindy Frances. I'm doing this because you deserve it." He peppered her buttocks with hard spanks, noting with satisfaction that her cream cheeks were developing a wonderful pink hue.
Cindy continued to wail and buck over his knee. Little did she know that her actions made her upturned bottom even more appealing.
"Okay. Number one - you 'borrowed' a horse without asking." He gave her a hearty slap.
"Number two - you didn't tell anyone where you were going." He delivered two stinging blows, one on each cheek. "Number three - you deliberately ignored Gabe's advice about the oncoming storm." Three hard slaps fell dead centre of her wiggling buttocks.
"Ow! Oweeee! Ok, I'm sorry," yelped Cindy.
"You will be," he said grimly, then continued. "Number four - you rode out alone, without a chaperone." Four more spanks descended.
"Oweeee! Well - I'm a good rider!" squealed Cindy.
"Not good enough. Number five - you rode out without proper clothing and equipment." Five spanks descended, this time they fell right in the crease where bottom meets thigh.
Cindy howled her protest.
"Number six - you didn't hurry up the hill fast enough - we could both have been blown into the tornado." Another six stingers fell. "Hmm, colouring up here nicely, Cindy Frances. Red suits you."
"You... you bastard!"
"I'll add another one to the tally for that. Number seven - being generally unconcerned and unrepentant about causing folks to worry about your safety." Seven more spanks descended upon Cindy's bouncing bottom.
"Shit! That hurts," wailed Cindy.
"Good. It wouldn't be a proper spanking if it didn't hurt. Now, where was I? Number eight -
you called me an old snoop," grinned Luke, as he gave her eight spanks. This time, he delivered four to her right thigh and four to her left thigh.
"Ohhhhh!" shrieked Cindy, outraged that her tender thighs were stinging as though they had been stung by a swarm of bees.
"Number nine - the perverted Hillbilly spy remark gets you nine zingers." His hand moved up to her by now well-reddene
d bottom. He struck each cheek in turn, his hand cracking down on bare flesh with a resounding thwack.
"Aiieeeee!" squealed Cindy. She kicked and flailed. She kicked so hard that her jeans slid right down to her ankles, giving her oppressor a lewd display of her more intimate parts.
"Number ten - you called me a rude name. What was it now?" he mused. "Bastard? That's it. You called me a bastard, didn't you."
"I didn't mean it!" wailed Cindy.
"Well that's too bad Cindy Frances, as it's cost you another ten."
He proceeded to dish out the remaining ten, taking great delight in the way her buttocks depressed and then bounced back as though asking for more. "Such a pretty butt - I could spank it all day."
"Noooo!" howled Cindy. "I hurt real bad," she sniffed, in a contrite little voice. "And I said I was sorry." She sniffed again. That spanking had brought tears to her eyes. Her poor butt felt as though it was on fire and monstrously swollen.
"Let that be a lesson to you, girl," said Luke. He ran his hand over her bright red bottom, smoothing her sore buttocks, his fingertips creating quite a different sensation.
Cindy blinked. Her mouth gaped as she realised with a start just how turned on she was with all this. Her bottom throbbed and burned - but now that the spanking had stopped - she felt all warm and toasty and tingly and... sexy. Very, very sexy. She couldn't understand it.
"It's all over now," Luke said. "You had that coming, and a good spanking won't kill you."
"It doesn't feel that way. My poor ass is on fire."
Luke chuckled. He had a nice laugh, and it was contagious. Against her will, Cindy found herself smiling too, without really knowing why.
He sat her upright and deposited her on his lap. That she was naked from the waist down didn't seem much of an issue now - but she winced as her well spanked bottom came into contact with his jeans. He put his arms round her, and she found herself leaning against his chest, snuggling up, one arm thrown around his waist.
"You're forgiven. For now, anyway," he added with a grin. "I have a feeling it won't be too long before I have to discipline you again."
"Now just wait a second - if you think you're going to do that again, you... oh... mmmmpf."
Cindy's words were muffled. How can one possibly have a decent conversation when one is being kissed. And what a kiss. It quite took her breath away.
When the kiss ended, she broke away and looked up at him. Then she acted on impulse and with her arms around his neck, pulled him down into another passionate kiss.
"If this is what happens after a spanking, you can spank me again any time, cowboy," she eventually mumbled.
"Now there's an offer I can't refuse," said Luke. He was painfully aware of his throbbing erection. He had to shift position before he did himself an injury.
Lifting Cindy off his lap he got to his feet. "Right. I'm going to make a fire and we're going to dry our clothes."
"We are?"
"Uh huh. Don't worry. Your modesty will be preserved. I have blankets."
"Oh," said Cindy, somewhat disappointed as the idea of being totally immodest was suddenly very appealing.
She watched as Luke lit a fire between a ring of stones, blowing on the kindling as it took hold. In a few minutes, the fire crackled merrily. He threw more wood on from a pile stacked in one section of the cave.
"Hey - you don't actually live in here, do you?" Cindy asked.
"No. I don't."
"Well, how come you have all this stuff? Isn't that a bedroll wrapped in oilskin over there?"
Cindy watched as he produced a metal kettle and fixed it over the fire on a stand. From a metal box he produced a jar of coffee and a packet of cookies."
"I hang out here sometimes. That's all you need to know for now," said Luke firmly. "Coffee? Black of course - I don't have a refrigerator in here to keep the milk fresh," he said with a grin.
"Black coffee's just what I need right now," said Cindy, taking the proffered cup.
"Cookie?"
"Please." She took three, much to his amusement. "What are you doing now?"
"Rigging up a drying rack for our clothes. Take your wet things off and put this on." He threw her a blanket, then turned his back. "Go on. I won't peek."
Cindy was about to say she wouldn't mind in the least if he decided to peek, but thought better of it and remained silent. However, when it was his turn to strip and wrap himself in a blanket, she certainly DID peek. Oh my. What a guy. She grinned in delight, thinking she would really like to get better acquainted with Luke Daniels.
Their wet clothes hung up to dry, the pair sat side by side on the upturned crate. It was an incongruous situation, being naked underneath a blanket, next to a total stranger, and yet there was an easy familiarity about it. It seems quite a natural thing to do, passing the time of day with a stranger who has just blistered my butt, thought Cindy wryly. His proximity was tantalising, and when he put his arm around her shoulders, she felt like she was in heaven.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Ok? I have coffee, cookies and a nearly naked cowboy snuggling me up. Of COURSE I'm ok."
Luke threw back his head and laughed. "I like you, Cindy Frances Spencer - more than like you - but I'm not about to take advantage of the situation."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Oh," pouted Cindy. Damn.
"What I want to know is..."
"Yes?"
"Everything. I want to know everything there is to know about you, Cindy... where you live, what you do for a living, your favourite books, films, music. Hey - you're not married are you?" he asked suddenly.
"No I'm happily single," she giggled.
"Thank the lord for that," Luke sighed in relief. He deposited a kiss on the end of her nose. "Now - shoot. I'm listening."
---oOo---
Cindy was quiet for a moment. There were things in her life that she just didn't talk about, even to her best friend Rose. But why? Why the silence over things that had happened in the past - things over which she had no control? She made a snap decision. She wouldn't lie or be evasive; she would tell this man everything he wanted to know. In some respects, it was easier to talk to a comparative stranger than a close friend - although she felt an affinity - a connection, with Luke, and knew that he was rapidly becoming a special person in her life.
"Ok. I guess I'll start at the beginning."
"As good a place as any."
"I was born here in Texas, 27 years ago. I never knew my mother. She died giving birth to me. I was a premature baby. There'd been some sort of argument before mum went into early labour; she'd been upset and stressed."
"What was the argument over?" Luke asked gently as Cindy lapsed into silence.
"Um... well... prior to my birth, mum's parents were trying to marry her off. They had someone in mind for her - a Mexican guy - older, respectable, and very wealthy. She wasn't interested and wouldn't be dictated to - I guess I take after her! Well, they put so much pressure on her she upped and left for a six week vacation in England. And when she got there, she met and fell in love with Jack Spencer - my dad. They started a relationship, and apparently mum wrote letters home and telephoned her folks, telling them about the new man in her life and how happy he made her. They weren't interested. They just demanded she return home and marry this rich guy they'd found for her."
"I take it she didn't," said Luke dryly.
"Absolutely not. She extended her vacation and she and dad got married. They decided to tell her parents when the time was right, and were determined not to let them spoil things. When mum found she was pregnant, she was delighted. Kids were very much on the agenda - they wanted lots of children. Anyway, mum was determined to win her parents round, so she and dad went to visit them to tell them they would soon be grandparents. Mum was six months pregnant at the time." Cindy paused, chewing her lip thoughtfully.
"The visit didn't go well. The Bridgewater's - my grandparents - were hostile. Mum kept he
r coat on, and it pretty much disguised the fact she was pregnant. I doubt they ever knew she was carrying their grandchild. Before mum and dad could give them the news, my grandparents told mum they would disown her if she married dad. They didn't realise how serious she was about him - and they also failed to realise she had already married him. There was this almighty row and a lot of hurtful things were said. Mum stormed off with dad in tow. They drove off and unfortunately she went into labour prematurely. By the time dad got her to a hospital, there were complications. Thanks to the medical staff and the special care baby unit I survived. But mum... mum died. Dad was heartbroken."
"Aw hon, that's tragic. I'm sorry to hear that. Things must have been very hard for you and your pa. He raised you alone?"
"Yes he did. He took me back to England a few months later when I'd grown some and got the all clear from the hospital to travel. I couldn't have asked for a better father. He never did tell me much about my background though. I had no idea I was born in America. All I knew was that he and mum had been very happy, and she died giving birth to me. I don't know how it's possible to miss someone you've never even met, but I missed her. I still do. I wish I'd known her."
Luke said nothing, just nodded and gave Cindy's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Dad was marvellous. We were very close. I had a wonderful childhood. We lived in the country and I grew up with horses - so you can imagine how delighted I was to see Hank's stables when I arrived over here! Dad worked from home, so he managed to spend quite a lot of time with me and we did lots of stuff together - hiking, riding, swimming, reading the same books, watching movies. He was an architect - quite a successful one. When I left school, I had no clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life, but I loved working with figures. So I ended up doing the bookkeeping for dad, and as time went on, for a couple of his acquaintances too. I studied accountancy at night school. It maybe sounds boring, but I loved it. Life was good. I was happy. Then, a few days after my 22nd birthday, dad died."
"Sorry to hear that." Luke's arm tightened around her shoulders as he hugged her close.
For a moment, Cindy allowed herself the comforting luxury of resting her head on his chest. Then she continued. Having started, the words were pouring forth of their own volition. She had held them back for far too long.
Love on a Ranch Box Set Page 16
