Callie Mae was surprised the straw didn’t burst into flames her bottom was so hot, and she covered her face with her hands.
“Come on, Callie Mae, we both know you deserved that,” Morgan said softly, slipping his arm around her. “Now we’ll start with a clean slate and decide what to do about this mess you’ve gotten yourself into. I’m sure we can come up with a reasonable solution.”
Callie Mae shrugged his arm off her shoulders and inched away, her hands still covering her face.
“Honey,” Morgan sighed, picking her up and setting her on his lap. “It’s all right now, baby. I’m not angry anymore. Let me comfort you,” he said, prying her hands away and pulling her head to his chest. He could feel the heat coming off her butt and was pretty proud of himself.
“Oh, you’re not angry anymore,” she sighed, savoring the feel of his strong chest against her cheek. More tears fell as she realized that this was probably the last time she would feel his arms around her, smell his clean scent, or maybe even speak to him. It was sad and she was heartbroken. How could she have misjudged him for so many years?
“It’s good you’re not mad anymore, Morgan,” she whispered, “because I’m furious enough for both of us,” she hissed, shoving him back in the wagon and leaping to the ground.
Morgan sat up quickly and made a grab for her, but Callie Mae was too fast for him. She darted out of reach, cupping her bottom in both of her hands.
“How dare you spank me? What gives you the right?” she demanded as he hopped off the wagon and approached her much as he would a skittish colt.
“Now, honey,” he began, “I’m only trying to make you see reason. If you’d just listened to me things would never have gone this far. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“You stay away from me,” she ordered, backing toward the saloon door. “I don’t need protection, not from you or anybody else. In fact, I never want to see you again, you overgrown baboon.”
“Callie Mae, you don’t mean that. I’m sorry if I did it wrong and hurt you too badly. Next time I have to take you in hand I’ll…”
“There won’t be a next time. I mean it, Morgan. I thought I loved you,” she cried, a sob escaping as she scrubbed her face on her sleeve. “I thought you were something special. Now I know that you’re just like all the other men in this town. You think you know everything. You think women are stupid and we should just listen to you!”
“Of course I don’t think you’re stupid,” Morgan replied, holding out his hand to her. “I admire you. I really do, honey. You’ve done a fine job here,” he said, indicating the building at her back. “I just don’t think you should be running it with a group of inexperienced young women who have no idea how to defend themselves. I understand you wanting your own business, your own income, but this isn’t the right way to go about it.”
“Says you,” she snapped sarcastically.
“Yes, dammit, says me,” he growled back, losing his temper all over again. “Own it if you want to, but get a man to run it for you,” he ordered, planting his hands on his hips. “It’s not a job for a woman alone.”
“We’ll just see about that, won’t we,” she said curtly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going inside and locking the door. I’d like to thank you for a lovely evening, but that would be too big of a lie, even for someone of my low moral character.”
“Now just a damn minute,” he said walking toward her. “No one said anything about your moral character and it’s unfair of you to take it to that level. I’m just trying to reason…”
“Yes, I’ve seen how you reason. Please thank your mother for a lovely supper, and if I never see you again, it’ll be too soon!” she yelled before slipping inside and slamming the doors.
“Oh my God, are you all right?” Fancy asked Callie Mae as the girls hovered around.
“I’m fine,” Callie Mae answered, leaning against the locked door.
“I wish there was something we could have done to help,” Jane said.
“There will be next time something like this happens. The next time some big man comes in here throwing his weight and his opinions around, we’ll be ready for him,” Callie Mae insisted with a groan.
“How?” Marilee asked, patting Callie Mae on the shoulder.
“I’m going to teach you all how to use a gun. Annalise, will you bring me some ice, I’m going to bed.”
Annalise hurried to do what Callie Mae asked while the other girls looked at each other in shock.
Finally, Fancy smiled. “I think it’s a good idea; we should have a way to defend ourselves.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Marilee sighed. “I just never figured it was something I’d need to learn.”
“Me neither,” Jane added as they moved about the room, blowing out the lamps.
“Well, that didn’t go as planned,” Morgan sighed, picking up his hat and slamming it on his head.
“You went too easy on her,” Mead replied, unfolding himself from his position against a shadowed wall.
