Moving a Little Heart (17 page)

"I promise that he does not hate you. He doesn't even know it was you making the call. Give me that," Jake said, taking the phone from her and dialing. "Matt? Will you please call your baby sister and tell her that you aren't angry with her? She's letting her imagination run wild."

"Why would I be angry with her?" Matt asked, walking into the room.

Baylor rushed into his arms. "I'm so sorry I got you in trouble. Please forgive me."

"You didn't get me in trouble. My own reaction did. No biggie. Hey, why are you crying? And you are dressed in a nightie. Are you sick? Oh, my God—did I get her sick?"

"Calm down. She had a little chill last night and it was taken care of," Jake said.

"Damn it. I'm sorry, honey." Matt kissed her temple. "I forget how delicate you are."

"I am not delicate!"

"You are to me. I got you a present. Go sit on the couch, and close your eyes."

Baylor's hands flew over her mouth at the sight of the giant stuffed bear in his arms.

"Dude!" Hayden shook his head as he dished out breakfast onto plates. "That thing is bigger than she is."

"Do you like it?" Matt asked, raising his eyebrows in concern.

"He's beautiful. Oh, thank you!" she squealed, launching herself into his arms and kissing all over his face. "It's the most wonderful present ever. You are the best big brother in the whole world."

"Will you forgive me for provoking you?"

"Will you forgive me for smashing cauliflower in your face?"

"I hate cauliflower too, by the way," Matt admitted, spinning her around.

"Next time," she whispered, "let's smoosh it in Uncle Terry's face."

"I'm with you." Matt giggled back, squeezing her before putting her feet back on the ground. "Are those cheesy eggs and blueberry muffins? Let's eat. I'm starving!"

Baylor had to admit that her 'baby day' was more enjoyable than she had imagined it would be. After Jake had left to run his errands, the other three men watched movies with her, colored, played board games, and cuddled her to her heart's content. Everything went well… until Terry made the announcement that it was nap time.

Baylor hated taking naps. Even when she was really sick, she saw naps as the thieves of precious time. Fully immersed in her 'eight-year-old' self, she reacted. "I'm not taking a nap! I'm not tired, and it's not fair."

"Sweetheart, you've had a long morning, and we didn't get much sleep last night. Daddy will lie down with you, okay?" Hayden said, stroking her hair.

She crossed her arms and shook her head. "No. If you're tired, you can go by yourself."

"Baylor Anne Parish," Terry interjected. "Nap time is non-negotiable. Neither is your set bedtime, which will be enforced starting today. You need your rest."

"I'm not old like you. I can go without sleeping for a long time." She pouted.

"Ha ha, she called you old," Matt said, chuckling.

Terry looked at him darkly. "Would you like a repeat of last night, mister? No? Then put a sock in it. Young lady, you are going to bed."

"You can't make me sleep if I'm not tired." Baylor stared at him.

"This brattiness is unacceptable. Would you like a time out for a while to think about your attitude?"

"A time out? Are you serious?" She rolled her eyes.

"You've had your nose put in the corner before, and I will see it put there again," Terry told her.

"Daddy! Tell him that I don't need a nap!"

"This is between you and Uncle Terry, honey. I could use a nap myself, actually." Hayden suppressed a yawn. "I'm warning you, though. If you earn yourself a spanking, I don't want to hear any complaints."

"It's not fair!" Baylor stomped her foot and crossed her arms.

"You are cranky and irritable, little girl. Come on, it's time to sleep," Terry said, swooping her up in his muscular arms and carrying her up to Hayden's bedroom. He put her on the bed and pointed a finger at her. "You are not to leave this bed for at least an hour. If you do, your bottom will pay the price."

Baylor stuck her tongue out at him, then pulled away from his kiss. With a sigh, he left the room.

She was out of bed before Hayden had a chance to join her.

"What are you doing? Don't you understand that Uncle Terry isn't playing here? He's going to spank your behind for this. Go back to bed," Hayden said, turning her around and leading her back to the room. "Just lie down and cuddle me for an hour. It won't kill you."

"It's a matter of principle," she responded.

"Sweetheart, I am exhausted. Please, be a good girl and rest with me."

"No," Baylor protested. "I'm going to go get my tablet and entertain myself."

"It's your bottom, baby. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"He won't know unless you tell on me," she said, slipping out the door. She tiptoed down the stairs, peeking around the corners. Terry and Matt were on the couch watching TV. With a relieved breath, Baylor snuck out the front door and collided with Jake.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I, uh, well…"

"Shouldn't you be taking a nap about now? Get back in the house. You are still in your nightgown, and should not be running around outside."

"I don't want to take a nap. Daddy," she clung to his arm, looking up at him with pleading eyes, "Please don't tell Uncle Terry that you saw me. Please?"

Jake frowned. "Where's Hayden?"

"He's in his room. He wanted me to lie down with him but I'm not sleepy. I was just going to go get my tablet and then go back and sit with him."

Jake lifted an eyebrow. "Let me get this straight. Uncle Terry told you to take a nap. Hayden knows that you're sneaking out to get your computer. What did he say to that?"

Baylor looked at the ground. "He said it's my bottom and that he warned me."

"You're in trouble, you know."

"Please don't say anything. I hate naps."

Jake put the bag down and took her hands in his. "This is an issue we need to take care of, darling. You have not gotten the concept of obeying us into your thick little skull. I'm not going to disrespect Uncle Terry by lying to him or overriding his orders when I know they are for the best. Come on."

"No!" She smacked his arm as he reached for her hand.

"That's enough, young lady." Jake grasped her wrist and led her into the house. "Terry? Look what I found outside."

"I hate you!" Baylor hissed.

Jake grinned, unbothered by the outbreak. "I think you're about to find something else to hate, my love."

"Didn't I warn you not to leave that bed when I put you into it?" Terry demanded, hands on his hips.

Baylor was not feeling submissive or reasonable at that point. She ignored all the gestures Matt was sending her behind Terry's back, silently telling her to be quiet, stop, and surrender. He finally threw his hands up, placed them on top of his head and turned away.

"You can't make me sleep if I don't want to. You are not my daddy!" Baylor blurted, nose to nose with Terry.

"No, I am your uncle. And as such, I have less of an attachment to the state of that backside than your daddies do. Matthew! Bring me the hairbrush."

"Aww, T, that's gonna bruise her," Matt said.

"Would you like me to use it on
you
next?"

"No. You don't have to be so grumpy," Matt muttered.

"Do. It. NOW!"

"What's going on?" Hayden asked sleepily, leaning over the rail and looking into the living room below. "Baylor?"

"Tell him to leave me alone!" she called up to him, pointing to Terry.

"Unless you or Jake interfere, your girl is about to get a real paddling with a hairbrush," Terry said calmly.

Hayden frowned as Matt walked past him with the large, wooden brush in his hand. "I'm not happy about that, but from what I've been hearing, it's deserved," he said. "Baylor, I warned you."

"I hate you too!" she screamed, her back against the wall.

"I am giving you one more chance to apologize before I move up to a larger implement, like the school paddle," Terry said, smacking the brush against his hand.

"T, she's so tiny. You can't—"

"Shut it, Matt. Jake?" Terry raised his eyebrow.

"I'm not happy about it either, but I agree with Hayden. I hope the temper tantrum was worth it, Bay." Jake shook his head.

Matt shook his head too, as Baylor skirted behind him for protection. "Listen, sweet face," he said, turning to her. "I tried to warn you, didn't I? You pushed, and this is what happens. He won't touch you until he calms down, but I can tell you now that you are going to be miserable for several days."

Baylor looked at the carpet. She had gone a bit too far in her testing their patience this time. "I'm sorry. Uncle Terry? I really am sorry. Please, give me one more chance. I promise I'll be good."

"You have until the count of three to bend your bottom over my lap. One…"

Baylor slumped in defeat. The anger she had been feeling quickly dissipated to sorrow. "I'm sorry I ruined everyone's day."

"You didn't ruin anything. This is part of the life we lead," Jake said softly.

"Two…" Terry counted.

"I can't believe this is all because I wouldn't take a stupid nap," Baylor protested, crossing her arms.

Jake squatted on the floor in front of her. "It has nothing to do with the nap. It has to do with obedience, and dissuading you from taking excessive steps towards being defiant. This scenario," he gestured around him, "is allowing all of us to teach you that there is very little room for blatant rebellion."

"It's so unfair."

"Just mind Uncle Terry, and go get your spanking."

"Nobody loves me." Baylor pouted, reluctantly placing her body over the big man's monstrous thighs.

Terry slid the nightgown to her waist. "Quite the contrary. We all love you. Even when you're a very naughty little girl."

"Ow! That hurts! OOOWW!" She yelled as Terry brought the hairbrush down in the middle of her cheeks with a loud, resounding smack.

It only took ten swats before her legs were kicking frantically in the air and her slippers went flying off her feet. She reached behind her in a vain attempt to avoid the spanks, forcing Terry to pin her hand down before he continued to paddle her with determination.

"Ahhh," she gasped. "Uncle Terry, no! You can't! It's not fair! I'm not a baby. I don't need naps!"

"It's more than fair," Terry said sternly. "If you're old enough to deliberately ignore my directions, then you are old enough to suffer the consequences and get spanked on the bare bottom!"

"Daddy, make him stop! I'll be good. I swear I'll never be bad again!" The hairbrush landed fully across Baylor's left buttock. Her scream rattled the windows.

"Yeowww! You're killing me!" she howled as she writhed over his lap, and threw her other arm back to guard her burning posterior. Her desperate kicks grew harder, forcing Terry to capture her legs under his right leg and tilt her forward more to lift her bottom higher. He landed a barrage of crisp, cracking blows across both cheeks, turning her alabaster white bottom the hue of a deep fuchsia.

"No one has ever died from a good, old-fashioned spanking," Terry said calmly, cracking the brush solidly against her bare skin. Each blow produced a howl of agony and left a bright white oval impression that quickly turned purple before fading into a deep red.

Years of spanking bottoms, both male and female, had left Terry with the expertise to know exactly where to place the implement, and how hard, to make a long-lasting impression on his wayward victim's bottom and heart.

He spanked every inch of the soft flesh, painting her bottom fire-engine red and making certain that the plumpest area in the lowest portion was turned a dark crimson. Satisfied with the color brought about by the brush, he switched to his hand. Baylor's shrieking was no less powerful as his palm impacted the backs and innermost parts of her thighs and sit-spots.

He did not stop until Baylor's bottom sizzled with a fierce, glowing heat. Then he rested his hand over the swollen mounds and gave her a moment to register that the punishment was over.

"Have you had enough, Baylor?"

"Dear God, yes," she wept, coughing and choking as she tried to speak. "I'm sorry. I'll do whatever you want me to. Please, no more."

He stood her up. "Go put your nose in the corner and don't you dare touch that little bottom. If you do, I will give you another five minutes with the hairbrush."

Sobbing, she stumbled across the room and awkwardly stood in the designated spot, crying pitifully into her hands.

Several minutes passed in silence, the sorrow thick in the air around her. Instinctively, she knew that her family—these four men—were hurting as badly as she was.

"Baylor? Please turn around," Terry said at last.

She slowly obeyed, the look of contrition clearly marking her face.

"Are we going to have any more defiance like this again?"