Count This Cowboy In (18 page)

"
Okay.  Both times now when you hold me and we cuddle after you've spanked me I've felt so content, I guess is the word I want.  I couldn't figure out why, but I think I finally got it.  When I was growing up Mom and Dad taught me right from wrong, so when I messed up I knew I'd messed up.  I felt bad afterward.  For a long time afterward."  She paused, trying to think of a way to describe what she was trying to say.

Trevor saw her struggling for words and thought about what she
'd said.  He asked, "You mean you felt bad for a long time because your dad, who spoiled his little girl, never gave you any consequences?"

Her face turned that adorable shade of red again and she looked up at him and sheepishly said,
"You guessed it."

Going on, talking to himself now as much as her, he said,
"So you felt bad about whatever you'd done, with no way of atoning for your mistake."

"
Right.  Like I got away with something without paying for it.  Now, with you, afterwards when you're holding me I feel like before the spanking I'd been off kilter, but now I'm back to normal again, somehow balanced."

"
I understand what you're saying.  Let me ask you something.  How do you feel after you've been spanked, right afterwards?"

"
Sore!"

He kissed the end of her nose and said,
"Besides that, you little minx?"

She thought a minute, before saying,
"Humbled and chastised, but stable again."  After a minute she added, "And happy."

"
Good."  After another hug, he asked, "So, I have to ask, are you going to be bratting, trying to earn a spanking again?"

"
No."

"
Why?"

"
Because you don't like it."

"
You're right, I don't.  But even if you do, I don't think you'll feel the same way afterwards."

"
Why not?"

"
Because when you mess up, your spanking is your punishment and you feel better afterwards.  If you were trying to get a spanking, it would be more like a reward than a punishment.  You got what you were after.  That being the case, knowing I don't like bratting, you'd feel like you got what you wanted, without paying the price.  It wouldn't serve to balance you out again."

After thinking awhile she agreed,
"You're probably right."

"
I hope so."

"
What?"

"
If you ever do decide to test the theory, I hope you don't feel balanced again.  Part of that balanced feeling, after all, is knowing that we're good again, nothing between us any more.  If you've manipulated me there'll be something big between us and I don't think you'll have that balanced, content feeling.  I hope you don't, anyway.  At least not until you come to me and confess what you did."

"
Then what would happen?"

"
Then you'd get the spanking of your life, young lady.  Probably with something more than just my hand, like a wooden spoon, or my frat paddle."

"
You have a frat paddle?"

"
Yep.  Do you want to see it sometime?"

"
I don't know.  I know I don't want to feel it."

"
Then no bratting," he said in a stern voice.  "Understand?"

"
Yes."

Softening again quickly, he said,
"Good."  Pulling her in against him a bit tighter, he said, "Sam, thank you for sharing your feelings with me.  That means a lot to me."

"
Thank you for listening.  You always seem to be able to help me understand my feelings and I appreciate that."

After holding her a few more minutes, he said,
"Sweetheart, it's late and I hear you have a horribly demanding boss, so you'll want to be on time to work tomorrow."  She smiled, until he added, "And I happen to know he's going to ask you to do something tomorrow that won't be fun."

Sam looked up at Trevor.  "What are you going to ask me to do?"

"
The prosecutor's office called me Friday and asked if I could go into the courthouse tomorrow.  They're having a pre-trial conference for Gary and Shirley Henderson and they wanted me to be there."

"
What for?"

"
They're going to go over the facts of the case with the judge and they're planning on offering a plea bargain.  They want me there to answer any questions they may have about the facts and they want to make sure I'm okay with any plea bargains they may offer, before they offer them."

"
That's good."

"
Yeah, but any questions they have about the facts, you'd be the person to answer them.  I'd also like to have you there with me for moral support, a second opinion maybe."

She smiled and said,
"Hey, if it gets me away from the office and my demanding boss, I'd be happy to go with you."

He leaned down and kissed her. 
"Seriously, you'll go with me tomorrow?"

"
Yes, I will, although I know you don't need a second opinion or the moral support."

"
I may not need it, but a second opinion never hurts.  And I'd much rather spend time with you than a bunch of smelly cattle."

"
Gee, I feel so honored."

He laughed, standing up and taking her with him, setting her gently on her feet. 
"We're supposed to be there at 9:00, but I'm not familiar with the courthouse, so let's leave around 8:00."

"
Okay.  I wonder what kind of plea bargain they'll offer."

"
I've been wondering that, too."

"
If they take a deal, we don't have to testify at a trial; right?"

"
Right.  I'm hoping they accept a deal so we don't have to testify personally, but I guess it's not really my choice."

"
I'd rather that happen, too.  I don't really want to testify.  But what do you think should happen to them?  What kind of an agreement would you approve of?"

"
I'm not really sure.  I guess we'll just have to see what the prosecutor has to say."

"
Yeah, I guess."

"
You get some sleep now.  Lock the door when I leave and I'll see you in the morning.  Be dressed and ready to go by 8:00."  He left after another passionate kiss and waited outside until he heard her lock the door before going back to the main house.

 
* * * * *

The next morning they sat in a small conference room at the courthouse, talking to the prosecutor, Karen Andrews.  She asked several questions, which Sam answered.  She then asked Trevor what kind of outcome he was looking for here.  They talked about the possible sentences and the chances of him getting his money back.  Ms. Andrews promised to keep them informed
and they left to go back to the ranch.

Trevor went to work outside, while Sam went to take care of placing some orders for supplies for the ranch.  When he came in for lunch he told Sam, Grant and Consuela that he
'd heard from Ms. Andrews and they'd reached a plea deal and there would be no trial, a relief for both he and Sam. 

"
I'm glad I won't have to testify, but are you okay with the agreement?" Sam asked.

"
Yeah, I am.  They actually have some of the money they stole still in the bank.  Apparently it was going to be their retirement.  Anyway, they're giving that money back to me.  Then they're both going to prison for two years and will have to work and make monthly payments toward paying back everything they took, plus interest.  If they don't make the payments they'll go back to prison for five more years."

Everyone was surprised when Consuela said,
"I'm glad to hear you will get at least some of your money back, Mr. Trevor, but two years is not enough."

Trevor said, 
"I'm glad I'll get some of it back, too.  That never would have happened if I hadn't hired the prettiest bookkeeper in the county."  He reached over and patted her hand.  "Thank you again, Sam."

"
Just doing my job," she said lightly.  More seriously she added, "Thank you for giving me a job."

Grant said,
"Oh, come on.  It was good for everyone that you hired her, boss.  Consuela's got another woman in the house she can talk to, the men and I have a happier boss, she's got a job and a good man; you've got a bookkeeper and a good woman."

The four of them were good enough friends that they all laughed at his boldness.

Trevor even admitted, "I won't argue with any of that.  They're all points well taken.  It is nice, though, that this was discovered and is now taken care of.  I'm glad we don't have to worry about a trial.  We can put it behind us now and get on with our breeding program.  Which reminds me, are the men ready to start branding the calves and heifers tomorrow?"

Grant assured him they all knew what their part in it was to be and were prepared. 

Sam asked, "You said you were a hand or two short right now and looking to hire someone.  Do you have enough for the branding, or do you want some help?"

Trevor looked at her suspiciously. 
"From who?"

"
From me.  I've helped with it several times.  I've never done the actual branding, but I've helped with the rest of it.  It takes a lot of hands to do it efficiently."

Trevor wasted no time in assuring her,
"Oh, no.  Branding is a tough job.  I'm not saying you're not tough, or that you couldn't do it, but Sam, if you were out there working I wouldn't be able to focus on my job and that would be dangerous.  It's easy for someone to get hurt in this process if they aren't totally focused."

"
But Trevor, I'd love to be able to help on the ranch somehow."

"
You just saved us a ton of money, Sam.  That's not helping?"

"
You know what I mean."

"
Yes, I do, but I didn't know you felt that way until now.  Let me give it some thought, okay?  Let us do the branding tomorrow, but now that I know how you feel I promise I'll think about it.  Will you do that for me?"

She was pouting as she said,
"You're the boss.  I don't really have much choice, do I?"

"
Actually, you have more of a choice than you realize.  We'll talk about it this evening after supper.  Right now Grant and I have to get out there.  We've got work to do."  Grant went on outside and Consuela took some dishes into the kitchen. 

Sam always seemed to smile when she saw him in his cowboy hat
and he put it back on before leaning down to whisper into her ear, "I saw you doing some squirming during lunch.  Are you still a bit sore?"

"
A little, especially when I have to sit."

"
It's supposed to be a reminder the next day when you sit, you know.  We'll talk some tonight.  I love you."  He reached down and gave her a quick kiss before going out to meet Grant and the other hands.

She thought about their conversation all afternoon.  She
'd love to be able to help out on the ranch some.  She wasn't asking to be a ranch hand, but she was as capable as about any of them and would love a chance to prove it to Trevor.  He still hadn't even approved her going riding by herself, which was absurd in her opinion.  She'd been riding since she was three.  She decided to talk to him about it later.

* * * * *

That evening when they talked Trevor told her, "Sam, I'm going to ask for your understanding tonight.  I really didn't have any idea that you wanted to get involved some here and I promise I will give it some thought.  Serious thought.  But I really do want to be able to concentrate fully tomorrow because I have a couple young hands that are still learning and I need to watch out for them.  I will readily admit you're probably more qualified right now than they are, but this is their job and I need to teach them how to do it."

She sighed, but said,
"I understand."

"
Thank you.  After we finish the branding I'll give it some serious thought.  Until then, you do have a choice here.  You can understand my situation and accept it and let me concentrate on the job at hand tomorrow, or you can pout about it and complain and then I'll have to warm your bottom again for you and worry about you instead of having my mind on my work.  So yes, I am your boss, but you do have a choice.  What's it going to be?"

Sam was a bit startled at the seriousness of his words and expression
and how stern he was being.  Her dad was never like that.  She could always talk him into about anything.  But she didn't want Trevor to get hurt because he was thinking of her and not concentrating fully on his work.  And once again, he was trying to look out for her and he did promise to think about it.  She looked up at him and said, "I understand and I don't want you to get hurt because of me.  I'll give you time to think about it."