The Demure Bride (7 page)

Amanda struggled, too angry for words, but the gentle pressure of his lips on hers all too quickly turned her anger into passion, and she found herself returning his kiss of her own free will. She was attracted to the handsome man, even though she did not wish to be. She wanted to be married to a gentle man, one who would permit her to do as she pleased, when she pleased, and Robert Thorne was not that man. He was a strong man, like her Papa, and he would rule his household. He also felt no qualms about spanking a grown woman, and yet, the spanking was all but forgotten as she melted against him and returned his kisses, the rest of the world and its problems disappearing while she enjoyed his touch.

Robert heard riders approaching and he quickly drew his gun and pushed Amanda behind him protectively. "It is your father," he announced a few seconds later, relieved that he wasn't going to have to deal with four men by himself.

"Oh no," Amanda whispered forlornly. "Papa is going to be furious with me, Rob," she stated. "I don't think I can deal with another spanking!"

"Don't expect me to interfere, young lady. You disobeyed your father and nearly got yourself ravaged and murdered. You are lucky to come out of this mess with nothing but a sore backside."

"What happened?" Matt asked, and it was clear as could be the man was livid. "Girl, what are you doing out here alone?"

"I just wanted to go for a ride, Papa, and you've been too busy to take me. I found the rustlers. There were three of them, but one of them rode off in that direction," she said, hoping to distract her parent, and it worked. "His name is Striker."

"You get her home, Rob, and me and the boys will see if we can catch up to the fellow." He mounted his stallion and then said, "If you haven't already tanned her, make sure you cut a switch and stripe her until she agrees to burn those damned britches!"

Chapter Five

Rob was not happy that Matt left him to deal with Amanda. He wanted to question the remaining rustler.

"Just go on; I will see myself home!" Amanda declared, her green eyes flashing at him.

"I will do no such thing, Amanda. You should never have ridden out here alone, and I will not compound your foolishness by permitting you to ride home by yourself. With your penchant for landing in trouble, I have no doubt whatsoever that you would stumble across another group of rustlers." Rob mounted his stallion and then held out a hand. "Come and I shall pull you up behind me."

"No. I do not feel like riding, thanks to your highhandedness. I prefer walking."

"Do you have any idea how far it is to your home?" Rob demanded of her. "Stop being so foolish and allow me to escort you safely home so that I can join your father."

"If you desire Papa's company then go after him right now. I do not wish to spend another moment in your company."

Rob gave her a look that would send most who knew him well scurrying for cover, but not the stubborn, sassy redhead. No, she dared to return his look with every bit of cheekiness she could muster.

Amanda smiled. She was going to get her way. She turned on her heel and started walking toward home. In the next second Rob came up beside her, reached down to put one arm around her waist and pick her up, and then he dropped her face down over the saddle in front of him. He nudged his stallion to a fast pace, and Amanda screamed at him to stop.

Rob decided the redhead needed a firm lesson. He was appalled by her defiance and disobedience. He kept one arm around her to keep her from throwing herself off, fearful she would be injured or trampled, but when she did not stop fighting, he decided he had had enough and gave her upturned bottom another hard spank. She yelped and then renewed her struggles. His mount finally gave in to his confusion and fear and reared, nearly unseating Rob. It was only by the Grace of God that he was able to bring the powerful stallion under control and keep Amanda from being thrown.

Amanda suddenly realized that they'd had a close call, but it was too late to tell the angry man that she was sorry, or that she would prefer to ride behind him. Robert Thorne had had more than enough of her childish temper. He dismounted and dragged her off the horse, and it took him all of five seconds to find a bush that looked promising. He quickly broke off one of the branches, then knelt on one knee on the hard ground.

Amanda tried to prevent him from tugging her over his bent knee, but she was no match for his strength. Rob laid into her with the switch and she couldn't keep from screaming in pain. Her poor rear was already sore and the switch was leaving fiery welts on her tender skin. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please stop!" she desperately begged. "Please... I am sorry, and I'll behave. I promise!"

Rob gave her another ten hard strokes before he asked, "Are you going to stop this preposterous tantrum throwing, young lady?"

"Yes!" She didn't hesitate to answer. "I'm truly sorry!"

"You should be, Amanda Chambers. You behave like an undisciplined child most of the time." He stood her on her feet and gave her a hard look. "If you give me the least bit of provocation I will strip those britches from your body and thrash you every inch of the way home."

His brown eyes were flashing and Amanda knew he was serious and would do precisely as he threatened. Subdued, she accepted his hand and allowed him to swing her up behind him. "Hold on," he ordered, and once her arms were around his middle, he headed to the Circle C.

Once his temper cooled Rob was aware of two things; Amanda was quietly crying and she felt good pressing against him. It scared him to realize how close he came to losing her today. He stopped, and stood in the stirrups to remove a clean handkerchief from his pocket. "Here," he offered the square of white linen to her. "Wipe your eyes now and stop this crying."

"I can't. I hurt," she told him, sounding pitiful. "Why are you being so mean to me, Rob?" she wanted to know. "I didn't mean to run into those rustlers. I was so frightened and I thought that one was going to..." She cried even harder. "And then... you... were so... mean..."

"You gave me a bad scare, Amanda," he said softly. "You are safe now," he told her. When she cried even harder, he slid her to the ground, and then dismounted so that he could take her in his arms and hold her close. "You are safe. I promise no one will harm you while I have a breath left in my body." He spotted a rock and led her over there so he could sit and hold her on his lap. He felt terrible when he realized she was actually shaking. It was a reaction to what happened with the rustler who tried to attack her... and instead of realizing that she was upset, he had lost his temper and thrashed her.

Amanda did feel safe in Rob's arms, and she was finally able to stop shaking. "I am sorry, Rob. I should have listened to Papa, but I was tired of being cooped up in the house, and he's been so tired and grumpy and short-tempered... I just wanted some freedom, and I really messed up. I am so thankful you came along and saved me from that horrible man."

"So am I, Amanda," Rob assured her, and then he kissed her again, and it was just as exciting this time as it was before. She must have thought so, too, because she didn't try to get away, and he was sure that when he tried to pull away, she was the one who deepened the kiss. When they finally broke apart he said, "You turn me inside out, Amanda Chambers."

Amanda smiled. "You do the same to me, Robert Thorne."

"I had best be getting you home. Your father will have words with me if he arrives before we do." He reluctantly put the pretty redhead on her feet, and after he mounted his stallion again, he carefully lifted her and sat her sideways in front of him. "Is this more comfortable?" he asked.

"Yes," she lied. Her poor bottom was throbbing and she had no one but herself to blame. She did her best not to complain for the rest of the ride home, but was more relieved than she permitted to show when Rob helped her down. "Would you like to come inside and wait for Papa, Rob?"

"No, Amanda. I will ride out and see if they have captured Striker. Do yourself a favor and get out of those pants before your father comes home. And, Amanda, do not let me catch you dressing inappropriately again. You will not like what happens if you do so."

To her surprise he dropped another quick kiss on her lips, and then took off at a gallop.

* * *

It was well after dark when Matt Chambers walked into the house. He was tired and hungry and not looking forward to dealing with Amanda. He was surprised when she came running down the steps and hurried toward him. He'd expected her to be asleep by now. "Why aren't you asleep, girl?" he growled.

"Because I was worried about you," she answered, and then gave him a hug before saying, "Come into the kitchen and I will heat some stew for you."

"Thank you, daughter," he said tiredly.

"Did you catch Striker?" she asked as she hurriedly worked to heat food. She poured a cup of coffee for Matt, and carried it over to the table, and put some biscuits on a small plate and sat it in front of him, too.

"No, he got away. Rob ain't a bit happy about it, either."

"Who do you suppose hates him so much he would hire someone to rustle his cattle?"

"How do you know that?" Matt looked at her in surprise.

"It was what that horrid man said before he died. He told Rob he had someone who hated his guts."

"I didn't know about that," Matt admitted while she dished up his stew. "Thank you, Mandy," he said appreciatively.

"Papa, I know I was foolish today. I was tired of being cooped up and I let my temper talk me into going riding alone. I thought I would be safe dressed like a boy and taking a gun with me," she added, pouting.

"Girl, those pants were so tight they were like a second skin on you. You'd best burn the damn things and give me your word here and now you won't be wearing them again, or I'm gonna have to paddle you."

"Please don't even threaten to do that right now, Papa. I acted like a complete idiot with Rob and he lost his temper with me. I can't sit right now!" she said, blushing. "I am sorry I disobeyed you and rode out alone, and you don't need to worry about the pants. Rob hates them, too."

Matt stuffed a biscuit in his mouth so he wouldn't get caught smiling. His eyesight was still better than most people's, and he'd seen the two of them kissing. He wouldn't mind at all having Rob for a son-in-law... at least as long as he wasn't
too
quick to put a hand to Mandy!

"You'd best get on up to bed, daughter. It's late."

"Okay, Papa. You need to get some sleep, too," she told him.

"Darn right I do, but I'm gonna finish my coffee first, honey. Now go on... Oh, Mandy, I seen that Glimmer is in her stall. She come back on her own?" he asked.

"Yes, she did. Whitey and I looked her over and she's fine, thank goodness."

"I don't want you riding out alone, Amanda. That is a firm order until I say otherwise."

There was no mistaking the threat behind his words and Amanda knew it was a time for compliance. "Yes, Papa," she answered as meekly as possible, and then went on up to bed.

The girl would have had a regular fit if she knew that Rob had confessed to spanking her and warned him against raising a hand to her, Matt chuckled quietly, sipped his coffee, and then put his dishes in the dishpan. Thankfully her temper cooled before he got home, and she had the good sense to say 'sorry'. He was glad it wasn't him who made her too sore to sit this time.

* * *

"Bloody hell!" the tall man swore viciously as he crumpled the telegram in his fist. Did nothing ever go well when dealing with Robert Thorne? He was furious, and someone needed to pay for the fools' incompetence. He went to the door of his study and called for the downstairs maid.

"Sir?" She curtseyed as she had been taught to do, thinking the English custom was a little silly, but she needed the job if her Pa was to have the medicine he needed to control his pain.

"Did you dust in here today, Martha?" the tall man demanded, disapproval in his voice.

"Why, yes, sir, I did!" She'd dusted every little bit of wood and made the room as tidy as could be.

"You moved my personal papers?" he asked, his dark eyes raking over her, enjoying the fear that leaped into her blue eyes when she realized she was in disfavor.

"I picked them up to dust and put them back exactly as they were. I didn't read them, sir!" she added the last, her stomach muscles clenched in fear.

"How do I know that?"

"I wouldn't lie, sir. My Pa and Ma taught me better."

"Did they also teach you it was acceptable to snoop through personal correspondence?"

"No, sir! But, I didn't!"

"You are dismissed. And I will withhold your earnings for the past week as compensation for your snooping."

"But, sir, I did not snoop, and I need my wages and my job! Please, sir. My Pa is ill, and he needs medicine."

The man stood and looked down his nose at her, smiling coldly when he saw the fear in her eyes. He kept her in suspense, letting her dwell on the enormity of losing her position. Finally, when a tear leaked from one eye and ran down her cheek, he said, "Very well. I will permit you to keep your position, provided you will accept another punishment."

"I need my job, sir."

"Then you will pull up your skirts, and bare yourself, and lie across my desk for a taste of cane."

"Cane...?" she repeated.

"A cane is used to administer an unforgettable punishment, young lady. I expect you to obey me immediately or leave my house."

Martha was shocked, but she moved to do as he said. She needed the job too badly to protest. And, if wasn't as though she hadn't been whipped before. Her Ma used a switch or her hairbrush, and her Pa used a wooden ruler. She was grown now, and she could handle a tanning. It was baring her bottom that gave her the most embarrassment. She hadn't been spanked in over three years now, and she was aware that her employer was not related to her in any way. Still, her Pa's pain was terrible and she couldn't bear to see him suffer. She could take a little whipping if it would spare her Pa.

The man took a cane from the cupboard, walked up behind Martha and swished the cane through the air. It whistled, and he knew it would hurt like the very devil when he brought it down on her very pretty bottom with a vicious swing. The girl screamed at the unexpected severity of the stroke and she tried to rise. He put his hand on her back and asked, "Would you rather lose your position in this house?" he asked pointedly.