“I’ve got all I need right here,” Callie Mae insisted, patting her thigh. “I…”
“In about five seconds, I could flip up your skirts, take that gun away from you, and blister your ass besides,” Morgan said as he snorted derisively.
“You could also pull back a bloody stump,” Callie Mae snapped, getting to her feet. Even she heard the snickers coming from upstairs. “Regardless,” she said, straightening as she smoothed her dress, “I’m prepared to deal with any trouble myself. If things get out of hand, I’ll certainly send for you, Marshal Riley. After all, that is your job. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I do have work to do so kindly see yourselves out,” she spat over her shoulder as she swept from the room.
In the kitchen, Callie Mae heard the door open and close. Breathing a huge sigh of relief, she clutched at the small table for support as she waited for her tremors to subside. The huge hands that settled on her shoulders shouldn’t have been a surprise, but they were and she neatly stiffened her spine.
“Was there something else you required, Mr. Whittaker?” she asked stiffly.
“Just this,” Morgan replied spinning her around and taking her into his arms. His firm lips claimed hers with a proprietary insistence that both angered and thrilled her. He left her no room to struggle as one large hand cupped her head, holding her in place, and the other slipped to her bottom, pressing her against him.
Callie Mae felt her resistance wavering as she sank deeper into the kiss. She was burning; her breasts seemed to rub against him of their own volition. His lips left her mouth and scalded a path down her neck and when he stopped just above her collarbone and began to nibble and suck, her knees went weak. His hand, cupping her bottom, seemed to be the only thing holding her up. At some point her feet left the floor and she was totally in his strong grasp, her heart fluttering wildly as she fought to regain her senses.
It was the sudden gush of liquid dampening her drawers that had her fighting for release. Knowing it was not her time of the month, she was frightened and anxious to get to her room to investigate the strange phenomenon.
Morgan reluctantly released her, his head resting momentarily on hers as he struggled with his own rampant desires. In his world this would have led straight to the bedroom as they tore off their own clothes, and it was difficult to remember that the sexual revolution was nearly one hundred years away.
“I’m sorry, Callie Mae. I guess I got a little carried away,” he sighed, watching her scurry to the other side of the table and stare accusingly at him.
“I guess you did, maybe we both did,” Callie Mae admitted softly, her hand resting over her heart, “but this can’t happen again. I told you the other night I won’t keep company with a man who uses his physical strength against a woman to win an argument.”
“I didn’t spank you to win an argument,” Morgan insisted, fascinated as he watched her blush. “I spanked you for a number of reasons including your sassy, disrespectful attitude. You needed a lesson about the proper way to talk to a man who cares deeply for you, but mostly I did it to spank some sense into that pigheaded brain of yours.”
“You see, we’ll never agree. In my opinion a man who cares deeply for me would never raise his hand to me,” she sighed, her clear gray eyes locked on his.
“Believe it or not, Callie Mae, there was a time I would have agreed with you,” Morgan said wryly. “I’ve never had much respect for a man who would hit a woman, for any reason. I considered it abuse and totally uncalled for. However, since coming here, I mean returning home, I’ve reconsidered. While I would never take my fists to a woman or do anything that would cause injury, I think a good hard spanking now and then, when it’s called for, is a different matter.”
“Would you care to explain the reasoning behind this change of attitude, although I don’t recall that you were ever above handing out a spanking when you thought it was deserved? In fact, you had quite a reputation as a man not to antagonize, and what do you mean ‘coming here’?” she asked, baffled.
“A spanking can be used to establish a clear chain of command, or head of household, if you will. It can be a way of ensuring appropriate behavior, as well as a way to clear the air, or wipe the slate clean. I see it as a useful means of communication when words won’t work. You absolutely refuse to listen to anything I have to say, or any advice I give you when it’s clearly in your best interest to do so. You get a belligerent, bossy attitude and I won’t have it. I will bare your sweet, sexy little bottom and spank it until I gain, if not your compliance, at least your willingness to listen. And you can take that to the bank.”
“Oh, you will, will you?” Callie Mae gasped, shocked to feel another gush of liquid heat between her thighs. Her hand slid unconsciously to her belly and pressed, until she noted Morgan’s interest and his slight smile.
“Yup,” he said decisively. “Now come here and give me a kiss. I’ve got to get back to the farm and I still have some supplies to pick up.”
“No,” Callie Mae whispered, backing away.
“I said yes,” Morgan growled, reaching her in two strides. Snagging her wrist, he pulled her into his arms and tipped her chin up with his index finger. “I’ll have no more sass out of you,” he informed her before his lips claimed hers.
It wasn’t until Callie Mae was sagging in his arms, tiny mewling sounds escaping her throat, that he released her. After studying her bewildered expression, he smiled and gave her a firm pat on the bottom. “I’m going to talk to Hank. He needs a part-time deputy and I’m going to ask for the job. That way I can keep an eye on you and the girls. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. I hope you know that if things get out of hand around here and you try to handle it yourself, I’ll be teaching you a thing or two about that chain of command I mentioned earlier. See you later, sweetheart,” he said, kissing her cheek.
Callie Mae stood frozen until she heard the door close. Quickly, she hurried upstairs to her room, ignoring the questions of the girls as they waited for her in the hall. Locking the door, she lifted her skirts and pulled off her drawers, inspecting them carefully. There was no sign of her monthly flow, just a clear, shiny fluid that seemed quite slippery as she washed up before putting on clean drawers. Briefly, she wondered if she might be ill, but she pushed the thought away. She was quite well and had always had a strong constitution. No, this was entirely different and it had something to do with Morgan, she was sure of that.
Unfortunately, her mother passed away when she was just a child and there was no one to ask. It was hardly a conversation topic suitable for the girls and she certainly wouldn’t consult the young male doctor in town. No, she would wait and see if it happened again before she worried about it. Her main problem right now would be placating Marshal Riley and the man who was likely to be his new deputy.
CHAPTER 11
The first wave of drovers hit right around dusk. Suddenly the quiet little town was full of dirty, exuberant men anxious for three things, a bath, a home cooked meal, and a drink, preferably served to them by a pretty girl. The dust in the street was atrocious and Callie Mae covered her mouth as she hurried to the Blue Bonnet Café. Bursting through the back door, she quickly closed it and leaned against it.
“Good grief, Laurie, I’ve never seen so many dirty men,” Callie Mae said.
“I know,” Laurie replied. “They are standing in line out behind the barbershop waiting for a bathtub to become free and I hear even the livery is offering hot baths in the back of the stable. Thank goodness the men in the dining room took the time to clean up or I’d be days getting the dust out of here. Did you come for your order?”
“Yes, I did. If it’s all right, I’ll send Annalise back to get the pies. Gosh, I hope I ordered enough,” Callie Mae said peeking into the dining room. “Heavens, you haven’t got an empty chair in the place. How are you going to keep up?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll just have to do the best I can,” she answered somewhat fretfully. “It’s a good thing I got the neighbor girl to mind the children. At least I don’t have them underfoot.”
“That’s true, but I heard there’s another drive right behind this one so I don’t think it’s going to calm down soon. I better take the sandwiches and get out of your way. It’s starting to fill up over at The Duchess too, but if I can spare her, I’ll send Annalise over to give you a hand.”
