“How could I? What I want is not exactly the sort of life every young girl dreams of,” he snorted.
“Some do,” she whispered back. “You wouldn’t know the kind of man I’ve been waiting for, because you never asked me,” she continued sadly.
“Jane…”
“Now you hush, Horace,” she scolded. “Of course I want what other young women want, a home of my own, and a husband who loves and desires me. I want a man who will make love to me tenderly and show me what truly happens between a man and a woman.”
“Yes, of course you do.”
“But if I’m honest, and believe me, I’m trying to be and it’s not easy. When you threatened to spank me and put me to bed, I felt something wonderful sweep through me. I expressed my anger at you, but there was a part of me that realized how comforting it might be to have someone care for me that way. Was there a man who could give to me all that I’ve missed out on? One who would hold and cuddle me, rock me to sleep, tuck me in and watch over me during the night. One who would be there to hold me when I have a bad dream? A man who would tolerate my tantrums, punish me if necessary, but still love me more than anything when it was over,” she continued while avoiding his eyes in embarrassment.
“Oh Janie, my darling little one, I can be that man. I am that man!” he insisted vehemently.
Sighing, Jane tipped her head up for his kiss, shocked when he stopped and gently grasped her chin.
“Look at me,” he ordered.
Wide-eyed, Jane obeyed.
“Can you accept that you will be my wife and my cherished little love? Can you give yourself to me completely, now and forever?” he asked. “There will be times you’re angry with me and you feel I’m a hard taskmaster, especially when it comes to my work, which I will ask you to help me with. Can you trust my judgement and mind me? I will assuredly still love you after your temper tantrums and sassy fits. The question is, will you still love me once I’ve paddled your bottom and shown you the error of your ways?” he demanded. “I want you to be happy with me, and I want your love more than anything in this world.”
“I believe I can honor you and all of those things,” Jane answered, lifting her lips for his kiss once again.
“Let’s just see, shall we?” he replied with a slight grin.
Before she could protest, Jane found herself once again facing the floor and over his knees. His hand gently patted her bottom.
“What are you doing?” she screeched. “I thought we had an understanding.”
“We do. Now we’ll see how it’s going to work out,” he reasoned.
The hand that began to swat her left a sharp sting blooming on her bottom.
“But why?” Jane cried. “I thought we settled everything. Oh, Oh!”
“We did, other than you getting this spanking for your behavior tonight. You deliberately teased that cowboy in order to annoy me. It could have turned out badly, very badly indeed.”
“Oh, it has,” Jane sobbed, wiggling to get away.
Horace smiled and continued to administer sharp slaps to her rapidly reddening cheeks.
“It could have been worse,” he insisted. “Suppose that young man had argued with Morgan? Or worse, drawn a gun! No, little girl, you need to be taught a lesson and I’m the man to do it. You say you can accept my discipline, and I aim to find out if that’s the case.”
“I’m sorry,” she wailed out pitifully. “I’m so sorry.”
“As you should be,” he scolded.
After that he stopped talking. Jane was convinced it was his intention to spank her until her bottom burst into flames. She tried begging, threatening, and told him in no uncertain terms that she took back every word she’d said, but when it was over, she found herself seated on his lap, his shirt soaking up her tears as he comforted her.
His gentle caresses and soothing words soon had her eyes feeling heavy, and he carried her nearly limp body into his room. Doc undressed her down to her chemise and placed her in his bed, on her tummy. His hand smoothed her hair from her cheek. Then he leaned down and kissed it.
“Go to sleep now, my little love,” he whispered softly, on his knees beside the bed. “I’ll get word to Morgan that you’re spending the night here.”
“Yes,” she breathed, snuggling into the feather mattress.
“Are you going to marry me?” he asked.
“I have to,” she replied sleepily. “You’ve seen my naked bottom.”
