Surrendered on the Frontier (20 page)

I had to believe him. I had to trust him. And I knew then, in that moment, when he held me in his arms, what I needed. For the first time, it all seemed to fall into place.

I needed someone strong, someone just that much stronger than I was, as Aaron had said, to tame the wild torrent within me. I needed stern. I needed uncompromising and rock solid. I needed someone who could handle my sass.

But it was hard to admit. It was hard to accept, until I had little choice. Run, or give in.

I would run no longer.

“All right,” I said. “I’ll trust you. Help me find my girl.”

* * *

“Where is it, Samuel? Do you know?” I asked.

“Just up ahead,” he said. “I remember exactly where it is. I know you were in no position to see where we were goin’ at the time. But I know where it is.”

I sniffed. Of course he did. Aaron, Phillip, and Geraldine had gone into town to join up with the search party. We were all to meet back at my home in an hour to see if anyone had any details. It only took a few minutes before we made it to where I remembered running from Samuel. I recognized the broken pine, with the limbs askew, only now the branches were drier and the needles a rusty orange. That was it. We were near.

“This! Here! Stop the wagon!” I shouted. Samuel drew up the reins.

I was just about to jump out, when I stopped. “May I get out? Please?” I asked him. It felt different asking permission like this. But I’d decided to trust him. He would lead.

“You may,” he said solemnly. “But as we’re walkin’, if you feel faint, you’ll come back to the wagon. Won’t you? You remember the tally?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

His eyes warmed at that. He jumped down from the wagon ahead of me, reaching his hands to me. He grasped me about the waist and swung me down. I tried to walk quickly. If Hannah and Matthew had gotten lost by the cave, we would find them, and if not, maybe somebody back at the house had good news for us. I would stay calm. Samuel wanted me to stay calm.

As I walked in the direction where I knew the cave was, something bright yellow caught my eye.

Hannah’s hair ribbon.

The hair on my arms stood on end as I raced ahead, plucking it from a cluster of ferns near the foot of a large oak.

“It’s her hair ribbon,” I gasped. “Oh, Samuel. It’s Hannah’s! I think we may be near them!” I turned back around. “Hannahhhh! Matthewww!” I shouted. Samuel’s deeper voice joined in with mine, and as we shouted their names, we finally came to the mouth of the cave.

“This is it,” I whispered. “Oh, Samuel, I hope my instinct is right, that they came here for shelter. Please, God.”

I came up to the mouth of the cave and shouted. At first, I thought I heard something and my heart gave a great leap, but I realized quickly it was merely an echo. “Hannah! Matthew!”

Samuel walked ahead of me with the lantern. I followed. The second time I shouted, I heard something in return. Wide-eyed, I turned to Samuel. “Was that my imagination? Tell me it wasn’t just in my mind.”

He was already moving into the cave. “No, I heard it, too,” he said.

He’d taken the lantern from the wagon Ma’d insisted we bring, and the light now shone brightly within the cave. We called their names again, and heard, louder this time, a resounding reply. My heart raced. They were here. We just had to find them. I felt myself growing woozy but I couldn’t leave now, no matter if I’d promised him I would go. I had given my word, but we were just on the cusp of finding them. The lantern threw light into the inky darkness, and Samuel turned a corner, ducking low, as he held my hand tightly.

“Ma!”

I heard it louder now, Hannah’s little voice. She was calling me. My girl was alive. We walked on and on, rounding bends and curves. It grew colder and darker, but the light of the lantern shone on.

“Hannah, where are you?” I shouted. My head grew light and I thought I’d faint, but I plowed on. And there, in the darkness, with nothing but the light of the lantern, I saw my little girl. She was crouched beside Matthew, who looked like he was asleep. I ran to her, dizzy with nausea and weakness, but stronger when I finally held Hannah. I knelt down beside Matthew, but Samuel had gotten there before me.

“What happened to him?” Samuel asked as I inspected Hannah. She appeared unharmed. His voice was laced with worry, though he kept calm.

“We were running out of the rain, Mr. Stanley. And there were these men, I don’t know who or what they were about, but Matthew spied Aaron’s saddle on one of their horses and he lit after them.”

Samuel swore under his breath as Hannah continued. “They hit him across the head and someone knocked into his leg, and he fell over. They took off and he was madder than a hornet, but it was pouring by then, so we ran to the cave. That was last night, after dusk fell. He fell asleep, and has been mumbling in his sleep. Keeps telling me to stay safe and stay in the cave.”

Samuel shook him gently. “Matthew?”

Matthew’s eyes fluttered open. “Samuel,” Matthew mumbled, trying to sit up. He put his hand to his head. “Ohh, my head. I think my leg’s busted. Those confounded—” He suddenly noticed me and Hannah there, and he shook his head, biting his lip. “I found the lowlifes that took Aaron’s saddle, and they hit me, then took off. Like as not they’s the ones causin’ all the trouble in town, but they’re gone now. Hannah went lookin’ for help but got caught in the rain again, and came back here and I tol’ her to get back on in here cuz she didn’t know where she was and was like as not to get lost alone in the forest. She left her hair ribbon out there, just about the only smart thought she had all day, because that girl—”

“That girl’s my daughter that you’ve had in a cave all night, young man,” I said sternly, raising a brow. He looked sheepish, and looked up at Samuel.

“I’m not so sure what I done wrong ‘cept didn’t come home last night. Couldn’t find our way back, but I’m sure I got myself in trouble some way, didn’t I?”

Samuel looked as relieved as I did. He still looked stern but his lips quirked. “I think this time you’re lucky to be alive, boy,” he said. “And we’ll let you off the hook
this
time. But don’t you go gettin’ lost again, or I’ll wear you out good. You hear?”

Matthew smiled sheepishly. “Yessir.”

We walked together, ready to go home, as the sun peaked out of the clouds. My heart soared with joy and relief. I’d found my little girl. With Samuel holding one hand and Hannah the other, I walked toward the wagon, holding everything that was precious to me in my own two hands.

* * *

“Well, now, wigglin’ that little backside’s only gonna earn you more licks, little lady,” Samuel said, but it was mock sternness this time, and none of the serious lecturing I’d gotten on previous sessions over his knee. It had been several days since we found Hannah and Matthew, and Samuel was now making good on his tally.

I wiggled my bottom even more. Since I was straddling one of his knees while lying over the bed, it served a dual purpose. I moaned out loud just before his hand connected to my bare skin.

Swat!

“Naughty little thing,” he growled, but my punishment a second later was a finger thrust into my core, and I knew he wasn’t really angry with me. It seemed Samuel had more than a spanking in mind.

“What happens to my girl if she disobeys?” Samuel asked. I could feel his hand poised over my vulnerable bottom.

“She gets a spanking,” I moaned, in a voice thick with desire.

“That’s right, honey,” he said softly, another sharp swat landing, stoking my desire for him. His fingers probed my sex as I writhed against him, reveling in his power and strength.

He spanked me harder, each stroke making my need for him grow, until I was on the edge of losing all control.

“Pretty little, naughty little girl,” he whispered, his hand smoothing over my warmed skin just before it rose and fell again. The sound of the spank echoed in the room, mingling with my moans and his heavy breathing. I felt his hands about my waist, lifting me up, placing me on my back. I opened my arms, welcoming him to come closer to me. As he lowered his body down upon mine, I knew then that I’d surrendered, not just my body, not just my will. No more did I doubt he loved me. I was wanted, I was cherished, and I was loved.

Epilogue

The sun shone on the day Hannah released the little birds from her room. It was fitting to see their little wings unfold and fly, as they soared away, her eyes filled with tears. They’d come to us when we were as broken as they, and now they were set free. Now they’d grown stronger. Now they would fly.

She tied the bow on the back of the lovely dress I’d borrowed from Geraldine for my wedding. I didn’t know it would fit, but it did. It was an ivory silk, the likes of which I’d never laid eyes on, much less worn. But it seemed fitting I’d wear a dress befitting a queen on the day I would say “I do” to my Samuel.

Hannah helped me into the matching kid slippers, while Pearl affixed the white roses in my hair. I stood, looking at my reflection in the mirror. I hardly recognized myself. My eyes shone brightly, my cheeks full and flushed, my dark hair gleaming in the sunlight that streamed through the window.

“Oh, you’re pretty as a picture,” Ma whispered as she kissed my cheek. She tucked a stray hair behind my ear, and smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from my skirt. “Just lovely. Samuel is fit to be tied waitin’ for you, darlin’. Let’s get you to your groom.”

My groom.

I walked out to him gingerly, lest the flowers fall from my hair or I’d wake and find it was all a dream. I followed my pretty little girl, bedecked in a new dress of her own, as she tossed rose petals on the floor in front of me. Ma’s cabin was barely recognizable, it had been adorned in so many flowers. It was a simple affair, Samuel’s family—
our
family—standing by, holding flowers and babies while I walked to my future husband. Samuel was handsome in his Sunday best, and as he reached for my hand, he drew me close.

“You’re too pretty to be seen in public,” he whispered.

“Well, now, isn’t that romantic,” I quipped.

He kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear. “Addin’ that to the tally, little Ruth. It means a lot more once you’re my wife.” His eyes danced. Though he’d already made good on that tally, it seemed he’d be starting up another, but I didn’t care a lick.

I laughed with abandon and joy as I whispered, “I love you.”

He leaned into my ear and whispered one final time to me before we took our vows. “I love you, little Ruth, and I’m pleased to make you mine.”

The End

Stormy Night Publications would like to thank you for your interest in our books.

If you liked this book (or even if you didn’t), we would really appreciate you leaving a review on the site where you purchased it. Reviews provide useful feedback for us and our authors, and this feedback (both positive comments and constructive criticism) allows us to work even harder to make sure we provide the content our customers want to read.

If you would like to check out more books from Stormy Night Publications, if you want to learn more about our company, or if you would like to join our mailing list, please visit our website at:

http://www.stormynightpublications.com

More Stormy Night Books by Jane Henry

Claimed on the Frontier

Pearl has fended for herself since she was orphaned at a young age, but on the night she meets Aaron Stanley her life is thrown into chaos. The handsome pioneer and his brothers are headed west to stake their claim on the frontier, and when an unfortunate turn of events leaves Pearl without a roof over her head it is Aaron who comes to her rescue, offering to bring her along provided that she agrees to mind him.

As they begin their journey, Pearl soon discovers that Aaron is a force to be reckoned with. Though he quickly proves more than willing to take her over his knee for a sound spanking when her behavior warrants it, she is drawn to his stern, uncompromising dominance, and when circumstances force them into a hasty marriage she is happy to promise him her obedience.

Despite her headstrong nature, Pearl finds herself submitting willingly to her new husband’s mastery of her body. But even as their passion blossoms into love, Aaron is determined to be as firm as necessary to keep his bride safe in a hard, dangerous land. Can their bond survive the harsh realities of life on the frontier?

Buy on Amazon

Jane Henry Links

You can keep up with Jane Henry via her blog, her Twitter account, her Facebook page, and her Goodreads profile, using the following links:

https://janeandmaisy.com/

https://twitter.com/janehenryauthor

https://www.facebook.com/people/Jane-Henry-Author/100010937346139

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/237501.Jane_Henry