The Farmer's Reluctant Bride (3 page)

Hank walked over to where Mandy
stood by the trunk. She was placing her brush back in her satchel when Hank sat
down on the trunk and patted his lap.

“Alright then,” he said. “Let’s get
this done now.” Mandy instantly started to back away, but Hank was one step
ahead of her. He must have anticipated what she would do, because he
immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. Mandy tumbled helplessly
over his lap.

“No, Hank, no,” Mandy pleaded.
“Please, don’t!”

Hank wasted no time working her
nightdress up over her hips.

“I promised a spanking, and a
spanking’s what you’ll get.”

Mandy squirmed and fought Hank as she
felt him tighten his grip around her waist while he bared her bottom.

“You’ll learn to mind me.”

Mandy threw her hands back
instinctively to cover her backside, which was still smarting a bit from Hank’s
discipline on the ride home.

“Amanda Rose. Move your hands right
now.”

“No!” Mandy’s feisty answer and
stubborn refusal to move her hands did not have the intended effect. It did not
cause Hank to decide not to spank her. Instead, he gave the back of her thigh a
good solid swat.

“Ow! You can’t hit me there.”

“I will spank you wherever, and whenever
for that matter, I see fit—your bottom, the backs of your legs—and I may use
something other than my hand if I think you’re being especially difficult.”

Mandy quickly pulled her hands back
in front of her.

Hank continued. “My belt, a switch.
You don’t want to go pushing me, young lady. It’s been a long day and I’m
reaching the end of my patience.”

“You just settle down and take this
spanking without any more fuss. Learn your lesson and we can eat supper.”

Mandy felt Hank’s hard hand land on
her bare backside and she cried out. Mandy hoped Hank didn’t plan on spanking
her every day. She’d never sit comfortably again.

When Hank stopped spanking and
lifted her off his lap, Mandy wiped the tears from her eyes. He hadn’t really
spanked her that hard or for that long, but she was just plain worn out. It had
been a very long day.

Hank stood then and, taking Mandy
by the upper arms, he leaned down and gently kissed the top of her head.

“Let’s eat.” With that, Hank headed
into the kitchen.

*  
*   *

“Are you fixin’ to beat me all the
time?” Mandy wasn’t looking at Hank, but down at her food, her finger fiddling
with the spoon next to the bowl of stew. Hank looked up from his food to
answer.

“That wasn’t no beating, little lady.
That was a spanking, that’s all.” Hank paused. “And whenever I reckon that you
need one, you’re going get one.” Hank turned his attention back to his supper. “Now
eat your stew.”

Mandy continued to focus her
attention on her spoon instead. She was trying desperately to figure what to
do.

Hank looked up. “Mind me now. Eat
your supper.” His tone brooked no refusal.

Mandy picked up the spoon and
proceeded to eat the bowl of stew that Hank had given her.

It was hot and tasty and Mandy
suddenly realized how hungry she was. She hadn’t eaten anything that day except
for the biscuit and jerky that Hank had given her when they stopped to rest the
horses and relieve themselves. As she ate, she cautiously looked around her at
the cabin.

It was one large open room, with
the kitchen and table to one side and a large bed on the opposite side. The
hearth was in the middle of the cabin and kept the entirety of it warm and
comfortable. It was neat and clean. Mandy’s eyes went back to that one bed. She
didn’t see any other.

Hank’s voice interrupted her
thoughts.

“I’ll be sleeping on my bedroll by
the fire and you’ll take the bed to start.”

Mandy felt as if she couldn’t look
him in the eye when he spoke of such things, like where they would both be
sleeping. She was looking everywhere but at him.

“I expect we need to get to know
one another a little bit before we share a bed as man and wife.”

Mandy was staring into her lap and when
she tried to speak, all that came from her mouth was the lowest whisper.

“You’ll have to learn to speak up, sweetheart,
or you’re going be repeating yourself a lot.” Hank smiled at her as Mandy’s
eyes shot up to his. Had he really just called her “sweetheart”? Mandy couldn’t
recall anyone ever in her life calling her “sweetheart.” Or any other term of
endearment for that matter.

This man was most surely confusing
the bejeezus out of her. One minute he was stern and unyielding, not hesitating
to punish her, and the next he was kind and caring, offering her the bed and
feeding her stew.

“I...I...um...need to...um..” Mandy
found herself unable to say what she needed to say to him. What was he doing to
her? Fortunately, Hank caught on quickly.

“It’s right out the back door,” he
stated matter-of-factly. “I’ll walk you out there and then I think it’s time
you got to bed.” Hank stood and headed for the back door. Mandy followed.

When Mandy had taken care of her
business and they were back in the cabin, Hank walked over to the bed and
turned down the covers for her. He motioned to Mandy to come to him. Her
still-burning backside prompted her to obey.

“C’mon now. I want you to get into
bed and get some sleep.” Hank raised one eyebrow as he looked down at her. “Is
that clear?”

Again, Mandy found that she
couldn’t meet his gaze. She was staring at one particular button on Hank’s
shirt, studying it for all it was worth. She nodded her agreement.

“Good girl.”

Mandy climbed into the bed and lay
down and Hank covered her with the quilt.

He turned toward the table. “I’m going
clean up from supper and then turn in for the night myself.”

Mandy curled up into a ball under
the covers and hugged her knees to her chest to comfort herself. The first
night in a new place was always the hardest. It wasn’t unfamiliar territory for
Mandy. Of course, that didn’t make it any easier. And the fact that they were
miles from another soul was unfamiliar. Mandy had always lived surrounded by
many and had taken some small comfort in that fact. That comfort didn’t exist
out here in the middle of nowhere on this small farm with this stranger of a
man.

And she was married to him. If she
was being honest with herself, Mandy had to admit that she didn’t feel as
afraid of him as she thought she might or should be, given the facts. Even
after the spankings, she didn’t get the sense that he would hurt her really. At
least not in the ways a man could really hurt a woman if he was of a mind to.
She recalled how the pastor had really seemed to like him and Mrs. Karlson had
whispered to her how lucky she was to be marrying Hank. No, now that she
thought about it, the pastor’s wife had wondered aloud which one of the girls
from the train would be the “lucky” one to wed Hank Meyers. There was something
familiar about him, if not this place. She lay still in the bed and listened to
the sounds of Hank washing up from supper until she just couldn’t keep her eyes
open another minute.

Hank had a plan for the two of them
to get acquainted. Hank almost always had a plan for things and this marriage
was no exception to that rule.

He had figured that they would both
find themselves wedded to a complete stranger. Neither one would want to
immediately consummate the marriage. But Hank found himself wanting her more
and more each day that passed. If he was being honest with himself, he was
really ready that first night when she stood naked in front of him, ready for a
bath. It hadn’t even been a full week yet since that time; he was ready.

But Hank had been married before.
He knew what would take place in that bed. He also knew that Mandy had no idea.
He was certain that she was coming to his bed pure and untouched. He had to
give her time. He wanted her to at least have a little bit of feeling for him. But
in the meantime, he would proceed with his plan.

It didn’t hurt none that Mandy was
very pretty. After she had bathed and brushed her clean hair, put on a clean
dress and didn’t act sullen almost all the time, Hank found she was quite
beautiful. She had glossy dark brown hair and blue eyes. Full pink lips, long
dark eyelashes and a creamy complexion made for a pleasing view on her heart
shaped face. He wondered what her life had been like before this that had
caused her to behave the way that she had when he first came to know her.

She was still a might thin, but
Hank was sure that a few more weeks of regular hearty meals would put some meat
on her bones and fill her out a bit. Mandy always seemed just a bit surprised
by the amount of food that Hank insisted she prepare for their meals—and just
how much of it he expected her to eat. She must have been rationed her entire
life. He made sure that she could eat her fill now. Those days were behind her,
as far as Hank was concerned. She was his now, and he would always make sure
that she got everything she needed. Hank would always take care of her.

He pulled the big rocker close to
the warmth of the fire. Winter had started settling in on them now and the
nights were getting cold. They were spending their evenings sitting by the fire
and Hank had found himself looking forward to the long cold winter, now that he
had a new wife for company, rather than just his ghosts of the past.

Setting himself down in the chair,
he looked over to where Mandy was just finishing with washing their supper
dishes. Hank waited until she was done, then spoke up.

“Mandy, come over here to me.” Hank
made sure to state it as an order rather than a request. Mandy was proving
herself stubborn as a mule and a request might not be honored. But she had
already learned that an order needed to be heeded or otherwise might result in
punishment. She had been over his knee several times already for refusing to do
as he told her. Mandy slowly walked over to Hank’s side.

“Yes, sir.” She stared down at the
arm of the rocker. She still seemed uncomfortable whenever she was close to
him.

“Are you alright? Was there
something you wanted to tell me?”

Mandy just shook her head.

“Well, alright then.” Hank patted
his lap. “I want you to come sit down here.”

Mandy immediately shook her head
vehemently. “Can’t I just sit on the hearth, like I usually do?”

“No, little lady, I want you to sit
on my lap. C’mon now.” Hank reached out and took her hand in his. “We need to
get used to each other, and this is a good way to start.” He slowly pulled her
over to him and then, without warning, quickly grabbed her around the waist,
lifted her and plopped her down in his lap.

Hank quickly put his strong arms
around her to keep her there, expecting a struggle. He got one.

“Please.” Hank couldn’t help but
notice the desperation in her voice. It pained him. “Please let me sit over
there.” Mandy pointed to the hearth. Hank tightened his grip as Mandy squirmed
in an attempt to free herself.

“You’ll stay right here where I put
you.” Mandy had started to cry. “You need to get used to me now. I’m your husband.
I want to be near you. I want to touch you.” Hank decided to stop talking and
began to slowly rock, holding Mandy tight the whole time.

Hank thought that, even if she
didn’t relax, it was a good start. This was part of his plan. Just to get her
used to being close to him physically.

“We’re not going to do anything but
sit here and rock and talk some,” Hank tried to assure her. “We need to get
acquainted. I know next to nothing about my new wife. “ Hank smiled at her. He
didn’t want to tell her just then that they would be making a habit of this.
His plan was to sit with Mandy in his lap by the fire every night for a spell.
Hank was already enjoying the feel of her in his arms.

“I don’t mean to frighten you any
more than you already seem to be, sweetheart,” Hank tried to speak in a gentle
voice. The last thing he wanted was for Mandy to be afraid of him. “But
sometime soon we’re going to share a bed. We can’t put it off forever.” Hank
smiled at her. “That’s what married people do. Is it me you’re afraid of or
what we’re going to do?”

*  
*   *

Mandy felt a bundle of nerves. Hank
was holding her in his lap by the fire and she just couldn’t relax for the life
of her. He was wanting to talk about the marriage bed and being a husband to
her.

She didn’t want to think about that
at all. She did not want to be sitting in Hank’s lap. Maybe he wanted to be a
husband to her tonight. Mandy felt nervous knots in her stomach.

She knew at some point they would
share a bed and every day that passed was one day closer to that day. It made
Mandy very nervous around Hank. There wasn’t anything she could do about it
either. It was going to happen. That’s what married folk did.

Mandy had never planned on
marrying, so she had never considered the possibility of having to deal with
this situation. Every married woman she had ever known had made what happened
between a man and wife in their bed at night sound like something to be
endured, never enjoyed. Mandy had never been witness to even one happy marriage
in her life.

Her own sister had told her that it
was a woman’s “duty” to spread her legs for her husband. She had told Mandy
that it hurt, but was usually over quickly and she would get used to the pain
after a bit. She had also explained to Mandy the excuses that a man would have
to accept for her not fulfilling her wifely obligations.

But she also knew that her cousin
Hattie’s husband actually beat her a few times when she had refused him. The
walls had been thin at that house and Mandy had heard first the pleading and
refusal, then the beating and sobbing, then the rhythmic creaking of the bed as
Hattie unwillingly submitted to her husband’s basest needs.

Although Hank wasn’t anything like
any of the husbands Mandy had met over the years or lived in a house with, for
which she was beyond grateful, she still couldn’t shake the feeling that, at
the end of the day, a man was a man. His needs couldn’t be any different than
the others’.

“I don’t want to force you, Mandy,”
Hank was saying. “I’d like you to meet me at least part of the way.” Mandy
couldn’t look at him when he talked of such things.

“But it is going to happen soon.”
Hank lifted her chin so that Mandy was forced to meet his gaze. “I can’t sleep
on the floor forever.” He smiled at her. Then, without releasing his hold on
her chin, Hank leaned in and kissed her, softly and gently. Mandy was surprised
to find that she liked it. She smiled at him.

*  
*   *

Taking her face in both his hands,
Hank kissed Mandy again, this time for a bit longer and a little less gentle
than the first time. Mandy remained completely receptive to his advances.

Hank was encouraged and continued
to kiss her, his hands at first holding her head and then working their way
down to her shoulders, then her arms and back up again. She still hadn’t
flinched or pulled away.

Hank had to wonder if she had ever
been mistreated in some way. Maybe she had been expecting mistreatment from him
and that was why she had been keeping her distance. He decided to proceed as
slowly as he could manage while remaining aware of her reaction at all times.

He pulled away from her lips and
she didn’t immediately pull back, as if she had been just tolerating the kiss. Hank
kissed her face and neck then and Mandy’s head fell back a bit, giving him more
access to her.

Hank kissed his way back up to her
lips, stroking her hair as he went, then pulled away. Best to take it slow, he
thought, as difficult as that would be for him. Every part of him wanted to pick
her up and take her right over to the bed. Every part of him wanted to have her
right now, wanted to claim her fully as his wife. He pulled himself back from
that precipice with great difficulty.

“Tell me about what brought you to
getting on that train to come out west here,” Hank smiled at her, “and be my
bride.”

Hank thought he may as well have
pulled a curtain down over her face by the way Mandy’s expression changed and
closed off. She tried to get up from his lap.

Hank held her there firmly. “Sit
still, now, Amanda.”

“But, I need to...” Mandy gestured
toward the back door of the cabin, the one that let out to the outhouse.

Hank knew that it was really just
an excuse to get away from him and the question he had posed, but he decided to
let her off the hook, this time. It would be a long winter. She’d talk to him
eventually, he was sure.

“All right, then, you see to your
business.” Hank helped her off his lap, then he stood also. “I just want to
check on things in the barn one last time before we turn in for the night.”
Hank followed Mandy to the back door and she opened it to the first snowfall of
the season.

“Oh, Hank. Look!” Hank noticed that
Mandy eyes lit up like a child’s at the sight of the delicate white flakes
floating down. There was already a light cover of snow on everything. “It’s
beautiful, isn’t it?”

Hank looked from the snow to Mandy,
then back again. He smiled. “It sure is, sweetheart. Just beautiful.”

Hank walked Mandy to the outhouse
and waited for her to come out again. He felt better knowing he saw her to the
back door and she was safely indoors before he went to the barn. Once all the animals
were settled for the night, Hank stepped back into the cabin to find Mandy
already in her night dress and sitting on the edge of the bed, brushing her
hair.

“Snow’s picked up quite a bit in a
short time,” he told her. “My guess is we’ll be getting a big fall.”

“Is that unusual for the first
snowfall of the season?”

“It happens every few years.” He
placed another log on the fire and noted the need for more wood. “I’m going to
bring more firewood inside, not just the usual for the night, but I’ll load up
just inside the back door, in case we can’t get at it in the morning.”

“I want you under the covers right
now. That wind I’ll be letting in will be cold for you with only your night
clothes on.” Mandy obeyed immediately, pulling back the quilts and climbing
under. When Hank meant business and wanted her to just mind him without any
discussion or questions, he made sure to use a certain tone of voice with
Mandy. She had learned quickly that this tone demanded complete obedience to
his word. A long session over his knee one particular day, when Mandy was
proving to be especially ornery, had driven home the lesson.

Hank looked over at Mandy sitting
on the bed with her knees pulled to her chest, her arms wrapped around them.
She was watching him cart armload after armload of wood into the cabin and it
was all Hank could do just to focus on his simple task.

Taking care of his new wife this
way was stirring up mighty powerful feelings in him that he knew he couldn’t
act on right now. Mandy wasn’t ready. But this act of caring for her and seeing
to her safety, warmth and comfort was what Hank felt he was born to do. He was
grateful that he once again had someone to care for.

Of course, he always took very good
care of his animals, but that still couldn’t compare to being the person his
wife relied upon. It brought out a primal need in Hank. He wanted nothing more
than to finish his task of stocking the indoor woodpile and then join her in
the bed—
their
bed, really—possessing her in the way he felt would let
her know she was his.

He looked over at her as he placed
logs on the pile by the hearth and smiled at her. She smiled back at him, then
looked down at her hands. Hank could see the blush creeping up her cheeks from
across the room. He looked away and chuckled to himself. She was getting there.

Hank finished stocking wood and
decided to set up the ropes. Whenever there was a bad snowstorm, he ran a
sturdy rope from the front door of the cabin to the barn and another from the
back door to the outhouse. Snowstorms such as this could easily turn to
whiteouts and as simple a task as going from the barn to the cabin could cause
a body to lose direction and wander off course, getting immediately disoriented
in the blinding snow and lost forever, overtaken by the snow and cold.

Once he had accomplished that task,
Hank headed indoors to thaw out and get to sleep. Time alone would tell how bad
this storm would turn out to be.

*  
*   *

Mandy awoke in the middle of the
night with a desperate need to use to the outhouse. She was sure that she
couldn’t wait.

She rose quietly from the bed and
peeked over at Hank, who was asleep on his bedroll by the hearth. She felt a
pang of guilt at the sight; even though it had been his idea to let Mandy have
the bed from that very first night, she still felt badly that he slept on the
floor. She was pretty sure he hadn’t intended that she would take this long to
be ready for him. Maybe she could suggest they share the bed before she was
ready. Just for sleeping, of course. The idea made her feel better as she
slipped on her coat and stepped into her boots by the back door.