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Authors: Vanessa Brooks

Tags: #submission, #spanking, #cowboy, #ranch, #vanessa brooks, #dominant male, #over the knee, #alpha male, #spanking romance

Cowboy Caveat (4 page)

BOOK: Cowboy Caveat
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I’m fixin’ to see Max
about Duke. He needs to school him for me today if’n I’m gonna be
in town all day!” With that, the screen door banged and she was
gone.

Lucy swore quietly and set to clearing the
breakfast. Ed swallowed his coffee and stilled when he heard his
wife swear softly under her breath. He didn’t like to hear her
using language like that, and he’d noticed her doing it a lot more
of late. Ed remembered Ethan telling him about his Pa’s rules, the
ones that he and Lucy had lived by under their parents’ roof, so Ed
knew that Lucy had not been used to swearing like that before she
was married.

Ed sighed. He would have to talk to Lucy and
find out what was making her so riled up that she felt the need to
swear. He downed the dregs of his coffee because he had to find Max
his foreman and discuss splitting the herd ready for the stock
yard....now where in tarnation did he put his hat last night?

* * * * *

Lucy, Millie and Amy came out of the store
with a bag of ribbon, a length of lace and some sticks of
peppermint candy, which Millie was already enjoying. The happy,
chattering group was making its way along the sidewalk to the St.
James Hotel for a bite of lunch when a shout slowed them down, and
looking around, they saw Jim from the R.P.O. running toward them,
waving a piece of paper.


Telegram and a letter for
you, Mrs. Campbell!” Jim said, handing over both and then heading
off with more letters in his hand.


Who could these be from?”
Amy asked Lucy curiously.

Lucy studied the addresses, “Well, actually
they are addressed to you and Millie, ‘The Misses Campbell
Sisters,’” Lucy said, handing them to Amy.

Amy studied the writing on the letter. “It’s
from Grandma,” she said, surprised.


No, don’t open them here,
Amy. Wait until we reach the hotel and are sat down,” Lucy said as
Amy begun to rip the letter open.


Good idea. . . Hurry up,
then. I wonder what she wants?”

Once they were all settled at a table and
their lunch ordered, Amy opened the letter, scanning the contents
quickly.


What’s it say?” Millie
asked, leaning forward and twisting her plait with one hand while
trying to read the letter upside down from across the
table.


It seems she wants you
and me to go stay with her for a time in Dallas to keep her company
and broaden our education. She sent us tickets for the
train!”


Do what?” Millie
exclaimed. “You can’t possibly go, Amy. You’re gettin’ hitched on
Sunday!”

Amy looked crestfallen. “Oh, what a darn
shame! Maybe I could talk to Ethan about postponing....”


Not an option, sorry!”
Lucy interrupted firmly.

Just then, their food arrived and all went
quiet for a while as they all tucked into the delicious lamb.
Millie spoke up, “Ed would be so mad if’n he knew we were eating
lamb!”

Amy nodded. “So would Eth, but you know, I
wouldn’t mind running some sheep after we’re wed. This is real
sweet meat!”


Yuh know, I do want to go
to Grandma’s even so.”

Lucy looked at her little sister-in-law and
sighed, saying, “I don’t see how, honey. You can’t travel
alone.”

Suddenly, Amy had a wonderful idea. “Ethan
and I can take her, stay a couple of days as a honeymoon and come
right on home, leaving Millie with Grandma!”

Lucy looked pensive; she knew her brother
Ethan and she didn’t think he’d take kindly to Amy’s plan.


I suppose,” she said, not
sounding very encouraging.

Amy ignored Lucy’s tone, deciding she would
convince Ethan and Ed. She knew just how to get around the both of
them.


Alright everyone,
finished?” Amy looked at her sisters in turn and got up to leave.
Lucy went to settle the bill and met Amy and Millie in the hotel
foyer.


Where we fixin’ta go
now?” asked Millie.


The Reverend Norman has
arranged to meet Amy in church,” Lucy told them.


What...
why
?” whined Amy, horrified. She did not like the Reverend and
his pious ways, especially his Sunday sermons which dragged on for
ages!


He has to see you and
discuss the marriage with you before Sunday.... Amy, it’s the law!
Come along, it won’t take long and then we can go home and I can
start work on altering my wedding dress so that it fits
you.”

Amy rolled her
eyes.
Oh, joy,
she thought irreverently.

The three women walked away from the busy
part of town, along the boardwalk toward the church. A large man
suddenly rounded the corner of a building and pushed through the
middle of them, knocking Millie right off the walk.


Millie, are you alright?”
Lucy exclaimed, jumping down to the prone girl.


Hey you....varmint!” Amy
yelled after the man, who had carried on regardless.

He slowed his pace and turned to face her.
“Are you addressing me girl?”

Amy gasped: it was
Henderson himself...
the
bastard
!


You knocked my sister
over, you big oaf!”

Henderson took a menacing step toward Amy,
removed his cigar and sneered at her, “We-ll now if it ain’t Daniel
Campbell’s spawn and all decked out in their cheap finery. Been
buying shiny little gee-gaws have you? Come to think of it, it’s
Saturday night tomorrow. Maybe you’re tarting yourselves up for all
the cowhands comin’ into town?”

Amy felt inside her
reticule for her small palm pistol, the Derringer that Ethan bought
her last Christmas. Feeling a sense of cold, calm detachment roll
over her, Amy lost all normal, sensible behavior and pulled her gun
out smoothly. Shooting fast, Amy felt a deep satisfaction as
Henderson fell to the ground, screaming and clutching his shoulder.
Amy lowered the gun. Finally, she had done something to avenge her
parent’s death. She had known all along that this evil man was
behind what happened.
She just knew
it
!

Lucy stared in shock at Amy from her
position kneeling beside Millie. There were footsteps running from
both directions, and Lucy realized she had to get them all out of
town as quickly as possible. After ascertaining that Millie was
unhurt, Lucy quickly yanked a tearful Millie to her feet and jumped
up onto the walkway next to Amy, just as Sheriff Leason arrived
with another man who went straight over to Henderson and shouted
for someone to call for the Doc.

* * * * *


Right that’s
enough,
just pipe down
, I can’t hear any of you all talking at once!” The Sheriff
ran a distracted hand through his hair, frustrated by the gaggle of
high-pitched women all chewing his ear off. He was wondering if he
had been wise to bring the three girls back to his
office.


Look Sheriff,
Henderson
threatened
Amy and so she fired at him so if’n he claims otherwise, he
is just lying, the low-down rattlesnake that he is!!!”


Well I don’t rightly know
‘bout that, ma’am. I think this is a real serious matter, real
serious and I have to keep Miss Campbell here at least for tonight,
that’s the law.” The Sheriff reached out to take hold of Amy’s arm,
but Amy stepped back quickly and hid behind Lucy.


You would say that, Grant
Leason
... the law
!!! You mean that’s what Henderson’s law says! You’re just in
his pocket Sheriff!” Lucy sneered and swept a disdainful look up
from the Sheriff’s toes to his head.

The Sheriff shifted uncomfortably. “Now see
here, Lucy, you can’t say things like that! I’m the Sheriff and
you’ll do just what I say, dammit!”

Lucy took a deep breath and calmed herself
down, realizing she wasn’t helping matters and that she had to stay
calm. “I’m sorry, Grant. You’re right, of course. This is very
serious, and Ed will be punishing us all tonight, I don’t doubt!
He’ll want to bring this very bad girl to see you tomorrow morning
and straighten this whole mess out. So we’ll do exactly what you
suggest right now and go straight on home. Ed will bring this
naughty girl into see you first thing in the morning as agreed.
Come along, girls!” Lucy turned and swept a stunned Millie and Amy
out of the Sheriff’s office and clanged the door shut behind them
before Grant Leason realised that they’d gone.

He slumped in his chair, drew out his
handkerchief and wiped his damp brow. He let out a sigh of relief;
they’d gone. Then he jerked up in his chair. Hang on a cotton
pickin’ minute! He hadn’t suggested they go...had he?

The women ran as fast as they could until
they reached a quiet street near the station and stopped to catch
their breath. Amy recovered first and said, “That was quick
thinking, Lucy, telling Grant that Henderson threatened me.”


Oh God, Amy, what have
you done?” Lucy groaned, clutching her side where a painful stitch
had formed.


I’m glad I shot the
bastard. I just wish he was dead!” Amy declared.


You silly,
stupid girl....
if
Henderson dies you’ll hang!!” Lucy cried. Then Millie burst into
tears and Lucy put a distracted arm about her thin shoulders. She
wasn’t sure what to do next. They couldn’t go back home because if
Henderson insisted that Grant Leason lock Amy in the jailhouse, the
Sheriff would be there soon.

Amy said firmly, “I’ll use the train tickets
and go to Grandma’s. I’m sure she’ll know what to do. Lucy, you
explain to Ethan and he can come on later.”

Lucy went cold at the thought of her brother
Ethan – he was going to go insane and she wouldn’t put it past him
to larrup her for this mess. If only Ed were here; he would sort it
all out! “Okay, yes, I can see that is a good idea, but I warn you,
Amy: Ethan is going to blister your butt for this and probably
mine, too!”


That’s alright, Lucy, I
know Ethan’ll be madder than a box of frogs but Ed won’t let him
lay a finger on you - you’ll be just fine so don’t you worry none
bout that.”

Just then Millie piped up with, “I’m going
with Amy. She can’t travel alone anyhow! I want to go to
Grandma’s!”

Lucy was beyond caring at that point and
just wanted everyone safe so that she could go home to Ed and their
boys. “OK, let’s get on down to the station and see when the next
train is due out.”

The rail line had just recently opened, and
it would take the girls all the way to Dallas, where Grandmother
Hilda Campbell lived. It seemed the next train was due in the
morning at eight o’clock. Lucy made sure they had booked seats in
the best carriage using their pre-paid tickets from Grandmother.
Lucy then took the girls to her old school friend Rose, who lived
near the station. Her husband worked nights for the railway, so
Lucy planned to beg beds for Amy and Millie to stay overnight.

Once the girls were settled at Rose’s with
all explanations told to Rose’s satisfaction, Lucy went back into
town. Keeping a very low profile, she bought each girl a store
dress that she put on Ed’s account. Lucy added underwear and
stockings with garters, a nightdress, soap and brush for each and a
travel valise for the goods to be packed in. Lucy also put in the
newly bought ribbon and lace purchased for Amy’s wedding dress.

Lucy hurried back to her friend Rose’s house
and delivered the valise to Amy. They all hugged a tearful goodbye
and Lucy walked slowly back to where the trap and horses had been
stabled in the livery all day. When she got there, she set off home
with a heavy heart. There was a lot of explaining ahead and Lucy
dreaded the telling of it, and the consequences that would surely
follow.

 

CHAPTER 4

Ed was surprised that the girls had been
gone so long, but he was not overly concerned because a wedding was
an exciting time for womenfolk, and he knew there was a lot to
organize before Sunday. He was only worried when he saw the trap
arrive back with just his wife on board.

Lucy had time to think about what to tell Ed
while she drove the buggy home. The hands that worked for Ed
wouldn’t go into town until Saturday night for a drink and so it
was unlikely that Ed would find out about what had happened in town
today. So when he met her as she slowed the walking horse to a stop
outside the ranch house, she gave him a wide smile and although she
was tense inside, she hoped Ed wouldn’t realize something was
wrong.


Hi, honey, where are the
boys?” Lucy called as she tied the reins up.


I was just going to
ask
you
where the
girls are,” Ed replied, helping his wife down and kissing her as he
set her down on her feet.


Oh, they are staying at
Jayne’s overnight, talking weddings!” Lucy said, moving toward the
stoop.

Ed frowned. “Jayne Littleton? But I thought
she was after Ethan and Amy loathed the sight of her.”


I-I know. Isn’t that the
oddest thing? They were at school together so maybe they were
friendlier than we thought. Jayne has set her hat at Max, now that
Ethan is engaged, and Max seems smitten with Jayne.”

Lucy turned her head away lest Ed see her
blushing; goodness, she hated all this lying! If she told Ed what
had happened now, Lucy was sure he would fetch the girls straight
home. If Henderson pressed charges against Amy, the Sheriff would
come and take her into town and lock her up. No, the best thing was
to get the girls away before that could happen, then she’d tell Ed
later in the morning. Lucy played with her boys all evening,
finishing up with a game of checkers, and after bathing them, she
tucked them into their beds.

BOOK: Cowboy Caveat
6.66Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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