Peppermint Sticks for Susie (10 page)

Alex crossed to the writing desk and opened it to take out ink, a pen, and paper. He then sat her on the chair with a thump. "Owwwww!" she cried out.

"Get busy, young lady. It is going to take you several hours to do your assignment, and I guarantee you are going to need to sit still to write this neatly, and yes... Neatness counts, as does spelling. You will redo this assignment tomorrow after work if you don't take the time to do it right this time." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, then walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Jenny jumped up from the chair and looked around her 'jail cell' with disdain. This punishment was not warranted, and she was not going to accept it. She took away the sturdy stick in her window that kept anyone from being able to raise the window to get inside, and then she unlocked the lock. Jenny carefully pushed it up. Now that Lefty was in jail, she was perfectly safe, and she needed to be alone... and not trapped inside a room! She didn't want to be recognized, either, so she did something she hadn't done since her parents died when she was sixteen. The clothing seemed to fit her better than it did then, and she put a hat over her hair so it couldn't be seen. She also put her father's gun around her slender hips and made sure it was loaded. She took good care of the weapon, and she knew how to use it. She was going hunting for rustlers.

Chapter Seven

"What is wrong, Alma?" Peter Beckley asked his wife, reaching for her hand to detain her when she would have returned to the kitchen to check on the cake in the oven. He hated being confined to bed most of the time, but his health was terrible and he tried his best to follow the doctor's orders in the hope he would actually get better and live to help raise their little girl. In the meantime, his wife was troubled and he wanted to know why. Just because he was in bed it did not mean he did not notice when she was upset, and he wanted to care for her. "Sweetheart...?"

"It is really none of my business, Peter," Alma told him.

He smiled and said, "But...?"

"But Alex brought Jenny home and said she was being punished and had to stay in her room all alone until tomorrow morning. He asked me to take her a supper tray, but told me I was not to visit with her at all. He didn't shut the door to her room when he took her in and I heard him telling her she had to sit and write a five thousand word essay on accepting a punishment. And he threatened to switch her again if she doesn't obey him!"

"It is best you stay out of it, Alma." He spoke gently, hoping she would simply nod in agreement and promise to do just that. Peter was a firm believer in staying clear of other couples' disagreements. Apparently Jenny did something to earn Alex's displeasure and he did not want Alma mixed up in it, whatever it was.

"I cannot stay out of it, Peter," Alma said, looking at him guiltily. "I know how warm it is in her room, especially with that window closed and locked the way Alex insisted it be kept, so I made some lemonade and fixed her a glass, and put a couple of sugar cookies on a plate. I tapped on her door and there was no answer. I thought maybe she was upset and embarrassed... or perhaps crying. I felt she might need comforting from another woman, so I opened the door and went inside... and she isn't in there, Peter! The window is wide open, and she must have climbed out!"

"Oh boy... She is just asking for a hiding," he said. "I'd better go and look for her. She might be in danger." Peter tossed the blanket aside and threw his legs over the side of the bed.

"Darling, you can't go; I will," Alma said in determination.

"If you want a good spanking, just say something like that again," Peter told her. "I will not permit my wife to walk into a dangerous situation. Is that clear?"

"Yes, but Peter, I am worried about you."

"I will try to find Alex, and tell him what Jenny is about. But, if I can't find him, then I will need to do so. I am still a man, Alma, and I do have some pride left. She is a female, living under my roof, and I will give her my protection."

"But, Peter..." Alma made the mistake of arguing, and Peter decided a demonstration of who was in charge of their household was in order. He took hold of Alma's arm and pulled her down over his lap and he started spanking.

Alma was shocked. It was only the second time in the ten years they'd been married that Peter had raised a hand to her, and she was mortified. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she cried out, bursting into tears. "I'm so sorry, Peter! I won't do it again!" she promised.

"Alma, I don't like to be so firm with you, but I must do what is right. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well." He released her with one more hard spank, and then he was on his feet. He pulled her into his arms and held her shaking body close to his. "Now, don't cry, sweetheart. I didn't spank you that hard, did I?" he asked.

"No, but it did hurt. It hurt my heart even more," she told him. "I hate upsetting you, Peter. You are such a good husband, and I don't deserve you."

"I am the one who doesn't deserve you, Mrs. Beckley. Now, please stop crying or I will feel like a monster for giving you that little spanking."

"You aren't a monster; I kept questioning you after you asked me not to. I was deserving of a spanking," she whispered.

He held her even closer. "You are a good wife, Alma, and you were only expressing your worry. Put it behind you now. I am not upset with you." She nodded. He tipped her face up and then he kissed her tenderly. "Alma, sometimes I think the reason I grow weak is because the doctor insists I rest too much of the time. I want to try this my way and see if I am right. I want to be more of a husband to you and a Pa to Susie. I want to be able to buy her those peppermint sticks she loves so much."

"We'll do whatever you think is best, husband. If you find that you get weaker from being up more often, then we can go back to the old way," she suggested, smiling at him, and offering her support.

"Thank you, Alma. I cannot believe that Miss Jenny climbed out that bedroom window. What a foolish thing to do."

"She was very upset with Alex. He embarrassed her by telling me she was being punished. I wouldn't like it if you did something like that to me," she said firmly, shaking her head.

"I couldn't imagine you doing anything serious enough to warrant that kind of punishment, Alma," Peter was wise enough to say, earning himself a grateful smile. Within minutes he was dressed and on his way to try and find his missing boarder.

* * *

The pants seemed to hold in the heat from the switching even more than her skirts did, and once Jenny looked all around her to make sure she was alone, she reached back and rubbed the stinging, itching welts. Her bottom was in complete misery, and not for the first time she wondered why she thought leaving her bedroom was a good idea. If she were there, she could simply put on her nightgown, and even put some cold, wet washcloths on her behind and give herself some relief. And, what was she thinking, walking all the way out to the O'Malley place by herself in search of the rustlers? If Alex found out about this, he would switch her again! And, this time she would actually deserve it. She felt like kicking her own butt!

"Hide, girl!" She heard an eerie whisper from right beside her, and the next thing she knew, Jennifer was crouched down behind a large rock, and it felt like there was a hand on her shoulder, but she couldn't see anyone at all! Knowing it had to be Kieran, she obeyed him. It was just a few moments later when two men came riding by her.

Her ears burned as she heard them talking about one of the girls that worked in the saloon. Suddenly, one of the men shuddered and said, "This damn place gives me the creeps. I hate it here."

"Yeah, I do, too, but the boss says the place is perfect because no one comes near here."

"They don't come near here because this place is haunted. That's why!"

"Don't talk of that, Morrison. It makes me even more nervous. I tell you, it feels like we're always bein' watched."

"The boss said we ain't gonna be able to work this area much longer 'cause someone is gonna catch on. That Patterson is tired of losin' his cattle and has offered a price, dead or alive, for any of us caught. His men are combing the range around here lookin' to make some easy money. And that Sheriff is nosing around, too."

"Why don't you and me just up and pull out, Morrison? Ain't no amount of money worth dangling at the end of a rope and if Patterson catches us, he won't wait for no trial."

"You sure you want to do that, Hank? If the boss puts out the word, we're as good as dead no matter where we go."

"Not if we go far enough," Hank said wistfully. "I've got a hankering to see other countries. We could sign on a ship."

"You serious?"

"Yeah. This place gives me the creeps and I want no more of it. You don't see the boss babysitting those stolen steers. It's always you and me, and it's you and me who will get caught with them, and who the hell is going to believe us when we tell them who the boss is?"

"Yeah. It's kind of stupid for us to stay here and take all the risks. Let's go, Morrison. Right now. I reckon we can pick up clothes when we get to another town."

The two men took off riding and Jennifer let out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. "Go home now, girl," came the eerie voice once again. Jennifer nodded and took off running toward town. She had to find Alex and tell him what she'd heard.

* * *

Alex was beside himself with worry. Why in hell would little Jenny climb out her window? he asked himself. Because she wasn't used to being told what to do! was his answer. Or, he did his best not to panic, someone came to her window and pointed a gun at her and forced her to open the window or get shot. He tried to convince himself that wasn't the case; that Jenny was simply having a tantrum because she was being punished. Maybe he was too hard on her? he asked himself once again. His brain had been whirling in circles ever since Peter Beckley came and found him and told him that Alma discovered Jennifer wasn't in her room where she was supposed to be. Peter was apologetic, but it was not his fault, and Alex was quick to reassure him of that. He sent the man home, knowing that the exertion of finding him was about all the man could handle in his weakened state. Alex went searching for the little redhead. He didn't find her anywhere in town, nor had anyone seen her. Alex wondered if she wandered out of town. She'd told him that first night that she liked to go walking alone when she was upset.

He finally mounted his horse to ride out of town and see if he could locate her. Alex didn't know what made him ride toward Kieran O'Malley's ranch, but he did. He was almost at the ranch when he spotted a boy running toward him. Alex shook his head, but he smiled at the thought of the kid getting a good scare. Kieran O'Malley did a very good job of keeping people away from his ranch... But, for some reason, Kieran liked Jenny. Alex thought the ranch was exactly what he'd been looking for, and it would be the perfect place for him to start his life with Jennifer... Unless she made good on her threat not to marry him. Was he too hard on her?

Jennifer spotted a rider and didn't know whether to hide or not. She needed to get to Alex as soon as possible, and she would have to trust that her disguise would keep her safe and unrecognizable. It wasn't until she was closer that she recognized the rider as Alex. She was so relieved she felt like crying. He stopped and just waited for her to run toward him.

Alex could see the boy was frightened and he stopped to see if he could calm him down before sending him on home. He also wanted to caution him to stay away from the O'Malley place. Maybe he'd seen something other than a ghost...? It wasn't until the 'boy' called his name that Alex realized it was Jennifer running toward him. The little redhead was dressed in pants and Alex felt anger sweep through him at the sight. Pants were not suitable for a young woman of her years, and he would be damned if he would permit his woman to dress like a boy! She was also wearing a gun! Alex dismounted in one fluid movement and then he reached out to grab her shoulders and give her a single shake. "What the hell do you think you are doing, young lady? Climbing out the window of your room, wearing pants... and a gun? I am going to wear you out with a leather strap for this foolishness!"

"Alex, yell at me later! I have information you need to hear." To his credit, he stopped and listened to her report. "If you want to go after those two, I can get myself back to town...?" she offered. "They will be able to tell you who the Boss is!" Her green eyes were shining with excitement. "Did I help you, Alex?" she asked of him.

"Help me? Woman, do you realize that you were in danger? Do you have any idea what those two would have done to you if they'd seen you? One little sneeze. One little movement... You are so lucky you weren't found. I am so furious right now that I don't dare spank you!"

"Alex, we can discuss this later. Don't you need to go after those men? Do you want me to come with you? I do know how to use this gun," she informed him. "My Dad taught me. He thought women should know how to protect themselves. He insisted on Mama learning, too, but she hated guns. I like shooting and I practice every so often to keep in practice." She looked at him and finally seemed to realize how upset he was with her. "Alex, I can explain. I know I was wrong to leave, and I know I earned another spanking. I have a temper," she admitted in a small voice. "Sometimes it takes over and I do something foolish and stupid before I realize what I am going to do. I regretted it by the time I got out here, and I was ready to turn back when Kieran told me to hide and he shoved me down behind a rock just as those two men came riding up. He saved me, Alex," she confessed, and then looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Alex. Please don't be angry."

"It's too late for that, little girl," Alex replied, controlling his voice. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been? I didn't know if you were defying me and leaving the room by way of the window on purpose, or if someone put a gun on you and made you open the window." Her green eyes opened wide.