The Renegade's Captive (The Widow Wagon Book 4) Page 7

  “You have eyes like a cat, Mr. Stone.”

  “I have the same eyes my mama has, don’t I, Ma?” He winked at his mother, pulling her into a bear hug, kissing her on the cheek, bending down to put their eyes side-by-side. “See.”

  And Minnie had to admit they were the exact same shade of green. “Yes, those are your mother’s eyes.”

  “All my good traits come from my mother.” He tapped his chin, pretending to be contemplating. “Now that I think about it, Ma always said that my bad traits come only from my father. Isn’t that right, Ma?”

  “Silas Henry! If you want to fight with me, you go right ahead.” Grace opened a kitchen drawer quickly, extracting a wooden spoon from it. “But I still have my wooden spoon. Do you want to reconsider teasing?”

  Minnie giggled out loud behind her hand. It was funny to think of Silas a naughty child being threatened with a wooden spoon.

  Silas turned to look at his wife in amazement, his eyebrows raised. “So you think this is funny, little girl?”

  “Yes. I do. Sorry.”

  Silas grabbed her hand tugging her to him, swatting her backside through the many layers of material. Minnie’s eyes skittered to look around at Henry, Grace, and the girls before trying to push away from Silas.

  “Silas! Leave that girl alone. Apparently, I need to get after you. Behave!” Grace waved the spoon taking a threatening step toward him.

  Silas quickly let go of Minnie, throwing his arms around Grace’s waist, lifting her off the floor, twirling her in a circle. “God, I missed you, Ma. I’ll behave. I promise.” He abruptly put her on the floor.

  Grace took that opportunity to swat his backside once with the spoon. “See to it you do!”

  It was at that moment that Angus came through the door, laughing at what he’d just seen. “That boy has needed his ass whooped since I met him. If you need help holding him down, Grace, you give me a holler, ya hear?”

  “I will do just that, Angus. Thank you.”

  Silas shook hands with Angus. “Traitor.”

  “Hey, I’m not an imbecile. I respect whoever’s filling my belly—especially if we’re having blueberry pancakes. You can smell them clear past the porch.” Angus turned toward the women. “Clara is getting dressed; she’ll be here in a minute.”

  “Why don’t we go out to the barn with some coffee and leave the women? Grace, ring the bell when it’s time for us to wash up.” Henry grabbed a cup of coffee for Angus before putting his hat on, the three of them walking out onto the porch, the white screen door slamming against the wooden frame.

  They had barely left when Clara came flying through the door. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I just… we were… I’m just… what can I do?”

  “Mama, where have you been? We’ve been waiting.” Nellie jumped up running to Clara, Rose following close behind.

  “You all leave your mama alone; she’s been right in the backyard, and you’ve had fun this morning, so don’t go making her feel guilty.” Grace was pleasant about it but after years of raising three boys, she knew just the level of firmness to demand respect.

  “Clara, you can set the table with Minnie, and strain and separate the milk for me.”

  Once in the dining room, Minnie nudged Clara. “Grace said she heard you getting spanked, and she heard,” she cleared her throat, looking down at the plates, “she heard Angus moan with his release.”

  “Oh dear Lord.” Clara put her hand to her throat, her eyes large. “How am I going to face her?”

  “Well, you already did. She didn’t care. She said she has a husband and three boys. She’s very open, Clara. It’s going to take some getting used to. My family in North Carolina would faint if they heard her.” Minnie looked over her shoulder to be sure that Grace wasn’t nearby.

  It was Clara’s turn to clear her throat, looking uncomfortable, and unable to make eye contact with Minnie. “Uh, Minnie? I have something to confess.” She peeked to be sure Grace wasn’t around, dropping her voice. “I said fuck twice during our lovemaking, and Angus punished me with his paddle until I confessed who I’ve learned it from.”

  “Oh, no!” Minnie’s heart began to race. She hated getting punished by Silas, he was so stern, and he liked using his belt primarily and after the whipping he’d given her during the kidnapping, she learned to dread and hate that damn strip of leather.

  “I know, I’m sorry. I had to tell; he kept hitting harder until I had no choice.” Clara reached over and grasped her hand. “Can you forgive me?”

  “Yes, of course. Can you forgive me?” Minnie’s eyes welled with tears. It looked like she’d be getting a spanking in the barn her first full day on the ranch.

  “Yes. Do you think Silas will spank you?”

  “Most definitely. He’s been trying to break me of swearing. It goes against everything my genteel southern mama taught me, but I picked it up after Beau died when I worked at the local hospital, listening to soldiers and doctors.” She exhaled, wiping her tears away. “It’ll be all right. Before I forget, did you tell Angus about the baby?”

  “Shhhh! No. God, he’ll be so mad if he knows you knew before him. Did you tell Silas?”

  Minnie shook her head vigorously. “No. God, he’d go straight to Angus.”

  “I’ll tell him, I promise. I just want a little more time because I know he’ll treat me like this fine china.” She picked a plate up putting it eye level with Minnie. “I have two girls, and we’re moving to Oregon. I can’t be treated like crystal.”

  “I think you should tell him today, Clara. It’s going to come out, or he’s going to guess.”

  “Minnie, I’ll do it when I’m ready. Don’t push me.”

  And that was the end of the conversation. Minnie felt backed into a corner. She wanted Angus to know so Clara wouldn’t overdo it. On top of it, now she’d be getting spanked for swearing and dragging her friend into trouble too.

  * * *

  Breakfast was made and eaten, kitchen cleaned, and dishes washed and put away. Silas nodded at Angus, both men rising from the table to get their women in the kitchen.

  “Minnie, I need you to come with me to the barn please.” Minnie’s crystal blue eyes widened, her body stilling before nodding resolutely. Silas grasped her elbow walking to the door onto the porch.

  He heard Angus’s deep voice behind him. “Clara, put the towel down. You’re coming to the barn also.”

  It was going to be another hot summer day in Wyoming. They stepped into the shadowed coolness of the barn, the smell of hay and horses filling their nostrils. Both women stood next to each other, both wringing their hands, skittishly looking from one man to the other, more than likely trying to figure out which was more formidable.

  Silas walked up to the women, bracing his hands at his hips. “It appears that Clara was paddled today due to your influence, Minnie. Do you know why?”

  Minnie quickly glanced at Clara before Silas pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You don’t need to look at her. Do you know why she was punished?”

  Her long white neck worked to swallow, and he pushed her long black hair over her shoulders, resisting the urge but wanting to kiss the soft hollow.

  “She started saying … the ‘F’ word because of me, Sir.”

  “Have we discussed your language before?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Silas sauntered to stand behind her, leaning into a whisper. “And what happened when we discussed your swearing, little girl?”

  Minnie stiffened, clearing her throat, stuttering. “I was s-spanked, Sir.”

  Silas patted her bottom through the dress and undergarments. “Yes, you were. Tell Clara and Angus how you were punished.”

  Minnie gasped, her face turning a pleasant pink. “I was spanked with Silas’s belt.”

  He stood in front of her again, crossing his arms over his chest, the muscles in his biceps bunching under the sleeves. “I thought it was pretty intense. If I remember correctly, it’d been the thi
rd time we’d discussed it and you received thirty lashes. You also wore bruises for a couple of days. Is that how you remember it?”

  “Silas—”

  “Sir. You’ll address me as Sir.”

  “Sir. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sure you think you are, but you’re going to be a might sorrier in a few minutes. Trust me. Turn around.” He waited for her compliance before unbuttoning the back of her dress, slipping it off her shoulders leaving her in her chemise and drawers. “Is there anything else Angus and I need to know before we start your forty lashes?”

  “Oh, no! Si—Sir, I’m not sure I can do that many.”

  “You knew the consequences. Is there anything else we need to know?”

  Her nipples hardened under the barely there sheer chemise, and if Angus and Clara weren’t there, he would have pinched them—hard. As it was, his cock twitched behind his pants at the prospect of baring her bottom and whipping her snowy white backside. Although he never liked causing her pain, administering a punishment never failed to make him hard.

  “There is something.” Minnie looked at Clara, who widened her eyes, barely shaking her head at Minnie in warning.

  Angus stepped up to Clara. “I saw that—the shake of your head in warning to Clara. And just what are you hiding and not wanting Minnie to say?”

  Clara’s strained voice trembled. “N-nothing.”

  “Speak, Minnie.” Silas deepened his voice, lacing it with a warning.

  “Clara is with child.” Tears rolled down Minnie’s cheeks as she threw her arms around Clara. “I’m sorry. They need to know, and I’m not going to chance more punishment.”

  Angus stood with his mouth agape, obviously more surprised than Silas. Angus hesitantly spoke, shock in his voice. “You’re carrying my child?”

  Clara pulled away from Minnie to hug her husband. “Yes. I don’t know how far but I’m thinking two months.”

  And just that quickly, Angus fired up. His face turned red, his jaw clenched. “And you told Minnie before you told me? I needed to know.” He raked his hand through his black hair. “My God, I paddled your ass last night. And you’ve been walking and lifting things.”

  “Angus. This is why I hesitated in telling you. I don’t want to be treated like fine china; I’ll be okay. This will be my third child. I know what I can and cannot do as a woman with child. I don’t need you coddling me.” She gently rubbed his upper arm, only to have Angus shrug her off.

  “Don’t you dare tell me how I’m supposed to treat you while you’re with child. I’ve also had two kids, but it’s the first time you’ve been carrying my child.” Angus took to pacing in front of them, up and down the short path in front of the currently empty stalls.

  He stood in front of his wife, wagging his finger at her. “We’re going to start a punishment log, and trust me, young lady, you’ll get a mighty harsh comeuppance when the doc says you’re healed after our child.” He exhaled loudly. “Our child.”

  “I’m sorry, Angus.”

  “Turn around.” He twirled his finger in a circle.

  Clara’s eyes widened, but she pivoted obediently.

  “We’re taking this dress off and spanking your naughty little ass. You’ve been spanked already, so I’m not afraid to do it again—it just won’t be as harsh as it should be.” He made quick work of the length of buttons, letting the dress pool to her feet. “Step out of it.”

  Both women now stood in their undergarments, and although the barn was sweltering hot, their skin goose-bumped in anticipation and nerves.

  Silas stepped forward addressing both women. “My father knew Minnie would be spanked with Angus and Clara present. He took Lizzie, Margie, and the girls to town for ice cream along with my mother. We’ll have the privacy we need to deal with you naughty women.”

  “If you don’t mind, Silas, I’d like to deal with my wife first.” Angus nodded toward Clara. “It’s not going to be a long paddling, but I want to put her down for a nap before we think about leaving.”

  “Y’all are welcome to stay until morning. By the time we finish here, and she takes a much-needed rest, you won’t be traveling far today. It’d be better to leave tomorrow. But the choice is yours, of course.”

  “You know, I may just take you up on that.”

  Silas pointed at the first stall. “You can use this stall. My father keeps this one clean, and it’s the one he used for this purpose when we were all kids.”

  The stall had no hay and appeared to be swept clean. A wooden, spindle-backed chair sat in a corner, leaving a corner to the right vacant for the miscreant.

  “Come along, Clara.” Angus’s hulking form entered the small stall, pulling the chair from the corner, placing it in the middle of the area. “I don’t want any undue pressure on your belly—and my baby—so you’ll bend over, placing your hands on the seat of this chair.”

  Silas saw Clara start an eye roll, and then she thought better, suppressing it. Her shaking hands gripped the edge of the seat.

  Angus gathered the length of her chemise onto her back, untying the pale blue ribbon on her drawers, slowly pulling the delicate garment down to puddle at her feet, leaving her bare and painfully exposed to Silas and Minnie.

  Rubbing his large, calloused hand over her bottom, Angus pressed on a couple of pink marks from her session last night with the paddle. The curly blonde hair on her pussy peeked out from between her cheeks. Although Clara squeezed her thighs tightly together, the position didn’t hide her sex from their view. Angus tapped his booted foot on the inside of her ankle, urging her to spread her legs, exposing even more of her.

  “Tell me why you’re being punished, young lady.”

  A little whine came from Clara, and Silas hid a smile behind his hand. Women were all the same. They know the consequences before misbehaving, but act surprised when the punishment is meted out.

  “I didn’t tell you about the baby.”

  “And…”

  Clara shifted her feet, stalling her answer. “Uhm… and I could have hurt myself?”

  Angus inhaled loudly. “Yes, that was a definite risk you took, and it won’t happen again. But the answer I’m looking for is—you told someone else before you told me. That won’t happen again either.”

  “I’m sorry, Angus.”

  “I’m sure you are. Let’s begin.” He wrapped an arm around her waist, tucking her to his hip, his large hand swinging out wide, crashing into her ass hard enough that Clara shouted. His handprint print vividly displayed on each cheek.

  Minnie jumped with each loud smack, turning her head away not wanting to watch, but Silas was having no part of it. She’d wait, dreading her upcoming retribution. “Eyes forward and watch, girl.”

  She startled, her eyes looking up at him, before refocusing on the scene before her.

  “Why are you getting spanked?”

  “Because I didn’t tell you I was with child, b-but I told Minnie.”

  Angus swung his arm out again, landing four crisp, hard blows to her backside.

  Clara danced on her toes, waggling her bottom to ease the sting.

  “Again, tell us why your backside is on fire.” Angus rubbed the inflamed flesh, squeezing and pinching it roughly.

  Clara coughed on her first sob. “I didn’t tell you I was with child, and I told M-Minnie first.”

  “It’s a lie of omission. Will you lie to me again?” He pinched a buttock harshly.

  “Ow!” Clara rose up, her hands flying to cover her rump.

  Angus’s voice dropped to a deathly whisper, growling. “In position.”

  “I’m s-sorry.” Clara bent over, pulling her chemise up onto her back again before holding the seat with her white-knuckled hands.

  “Are you going to lie again?”

  “No, Sir. N-never.” Her tear filled eyes sought her husband’s face, her lip trembling.

  Angus’s lips thinned, smacking the inflamed flesh with a renewed vigor, her now rosy hind-end turning crimson under th
e large man’s hand of steel. Silas had no doubt a swat from Angus would feel no different than a paddle. After about eight hearty wallops, Clara had begun to earnestly cry, no longer able to hold back her sobs.

  “Again!” Winded, Angus panted heavily with both hands on his hips staring at his now repentant wife, waiting for her response.

  Poor Clara.

  She sputtered through her cries, “I d-didn’t tell you I was w-with child.” She paused hiccupping. “And I told M-Minnie before you.”

  “You will not do it again.” He pulled the slight shift over her red bottom, easily seen through the sheer fabric. “Step out of your drawers.”

  Picking them up, he helped her stand straight, embracing her tightly, murmuring into her ear. Sniffling into his chest, Clara nodded her head, whispering before pulling away, addressing Silas and Minnie. “I’m sorry I dragged Minnie into this, and I’m sorry you had to witness my chastisement.”

  Silas walked forward, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m truly sorry you’re such a sore girl. But you deserved every bit of that; it’s never a wise thing to keep secret about being with child. What if something had happened to you? No one would know. You put yourself and Angus’s child at risk with your secrecy. It was a hard lesson to learn, and I’m glad I never have to worry about being on the receiving end of any of Angus’s discipline, but I think you’ll be straightforward with him from now on. Am I correct?”

  Clara hiccupped again, still struggling with her tears. “Yes, Sir. I’ll be a good girl.” She turned to look at Minnie. “I’m sorry, Minnie—for involving you in my bad behavior and for tattling that you were swearing.”

  Minnie swiped at her tears tracking down her cheeks. “This is my fault. I’m sorry too. I’ll see you for dinner tonight.” She blew Clara a kiss, watching Angus walk arm-in-arm with his wife back to their wagon.

  Chapter 10

  Minnie swallowed loudly, looking up at her husband. His eyebrows furrowed, the tic in his jaw pulsing. “I’m sorry… Sir.”