Jackie Draws A Straight: The Journey Series Book 5 (2 page)

"But, Ace…"

"I mean it. Do as you're told."

Mouth turned down in a pitiful expression, Gabby edged around the chair, dragging her feet as she approached her glowering spouse. "Do I have to? Anyone could come in
.
"

Apparently, Jackie had been totally forgotten. That was alright with her. This was like watching a train wreck. You were cringing inside but too fascinated to turn away.

He nodded. "Mind me."

"Yes, sir." Slowly, trying to drag out the seconds, Gabby unfastened the front of her jeans and pushed them down over her ample hips. Gabby had been a large-size model before marrying Ace, and she was still lushly curved, but at twenty-two—the same age as Jackie, which Jackie found rather unsettling considering the circumstances
—
she had the firmness of youth to go with it.

Gabby's panties came down with the jeans until the clothing was wrinkled around her knees. Ace patted his lap again. "Come here."

"
Are you mad at me?"

"Is the Pope Catholic? Of course I am!"

"Don't do this while you're angry, Ace."

He arched a dark eyebrow at her. "Have I ever harmed you?"

Gabby shook her head. "No, sir."

"I won't harm you now, either. But damned if I'm gonna let you get away with destroyin' my work hat.
You keep tryin' to make me some kind of cover for GQ, but that's not me, Gabby.
" He patted his lap firmly. "Now get your fanny over here. Right now!"

Sighing, Gabby shuffled over to her husband and bent herself over his lap, presenting her round bottom for punishment. She'd barely gotten settled
before
his big, hard hand came down firmly on her butt.

Jackie drew in a gasp at the pink handprint Ace left behind. Gabby cringed and tensed, but didn't make a sound. Another slap hit her behind, and another and another. Soon Jackie lost count.

"Did I tell you I wanted to get rid of that hat, Gabby?"

"N-no, sir."

"Did you ask me if you could throw it away?"

A little sob escaped her throat, but she answered. "No, sir."

"That was my favorite hat, woman," he said, spanking steadily. Gabby's behind was getting past pink and right on into red
. The spanks traveled down her upper thighs.

Jackie stood there, aghast, and at the same time, she was a little jealous. Obviously, Ace cared enough about his young wife to discipline her.
Jackie had sometimes wished her father had pushed her toward better behavior like that. It was a loving thing to do, even though it looked rather painful.
Ace
was teaching
Gabby
not to behave so badly in the future, and letting the woman know that he wouldn't tolerate bratty behavior.
He
was making the consequences suit the crime. Jackie knew that she
, herself,
had a bratty streak, but it was so unlikely that she'd find someone who cared about her the way Ace cared for Gabby, that it was depressing.
Her father, who cared for her deeply, hadn't done it. Why would anyone else?

She wanted a husband, a home, a solid marriage with a man who wouldn't let her get away with every little thing. Jackie knew she was a bit spoiled. Well…a lot spoiled. Her father and older siblings had treated her like a precious treasure after their mother died. Jackie had been two, and growing up under the indulgent eyes of the Journeys had made her what she was today. Being loved so much was a good thing, but maybe a little discipline was a good thing, too.

Ace's hand
smacked a steady rhythm on her sister-in-law's bright red rump, and Gabby was sobbing now and apologizing after each hard spank.

"Are you ever gonna do such a fool thin' again, li'l girl?"

"N-no-" hiccough, "—sir."

He spanked the junction of her bottom and thighs and Gabby squirmed and tried to get away. Ace firmly held her in place with his free hand. "You bet you won't!"

"I'm sorry!"

Jackie couldn't imagine what that would feel like. Gabby's butt must
be
hot as a fireplace log by now. She was crying loudly, sniffling and sobbing, squirming and clutching onto the couch and Ace's leg with white-knuckled fingers.

"Don't you ever,
ever
let me catch you doin' that kinda thin' again!"

The spanking stopped. It was a relief to Jackie's ears, though Gabby's continued sobs tore at her heart. Truth was, Gabby deserved to be punished for destroying Ace's hat. Jackie had never
witnessed such a stunning display before, though, and although she sided with her brother, she also felt sorry for his wife, who was no older or more jaded than Jackie.

Ace helped his wife onto his lap and held her close to his chest as she cried. He rubbed her back and nuzzled her hair and ear. Jackie couldn't hear what he whispered in Gabby's ear, but the woman nodded and gave him a slight, watery smile.

He patted her back. "Go on now."

"Yes, sir." Gabby rose and gingerly pulled up her jeans and panties. Jackie noted that her panties were pink with white polka dots. It was a funny detail to note, but Jackie was a little overwhelmed, so she made allowances for herself. She shrank back into the shadows
as
Gabby rushed by, heading for the stairs, and presumably, for the suite she shared with Ace.

Ace sat on the couch for a minute, rubbing his hard right hand on his thigh. Jackie thought, rather smugly, that it ought to hurt, all things considered. It surprised her when he spoke.

"You can come out from
lurkin'
, Jackie."

Jackie gulped, and slowly came into the light. Her coat had dried some, but she knew she still looked waterlogged and bedraggled by the storm. Didn’t matter, though. Ace was eighteen years older than
she
; he'd seen her with skinned knees and hay in her hair, dirty from falling behind the manure spreader once. He was her brother and, even disheveled
as she was
, she knew he loved her.

"Ace."
She drew the word out in her usual drawl.

He was calm, and it didn't appear that he was mad at her
. His warm brown eyes twinkled though he put on a fierce frown
. "
I ought to tan your hide, too, for sneakin' around in doorways."

The idea made her gasp. "You wouldn't!"

His moustache lifted a
t
the corners and his face cleared. "Naw. 'Tisn't the same, li'l sis."

Relief flooded Jackie's limbs. The whole idea of being spanked was anathema…sort of. But by her brother—ew! "No. I guess it wouldn't be." She peeled off her coat and let it drop to the
wooden
floor, approaching the
fragrant
fireplace with outstretched hands. The warmth was soft and pleasant on her chilled hands. "Are you still mad at her?"

"Nope. She knows that."

Jackie gave him her best impish smile. "What did you whisper in her ear?"

He laughed, the rich baritone sounding so like her father. "That ain't none of your business. How did the interview go?"

She turned back toward him, the spanking mostly forgotten in her excitement. "I got the job!"

"
Good for you, li'l sis! How did you like the new doc? Is he young, old, kind, grumpy?"

A little flame trembled in her belly as she thought about her new boss. "Dr. Kaminsky is pretty young.
I reckon a
bout thirty. He seems like a decent guy.
He's from Lubbock.
The questions he asked were intelligent." She sat down in the wingback chair Gabby had tried to hide behind. "His office is still full of boxes. I'm
gonna
help him unpack tomorrow."

Ace arched a brow. "Tomorrow! Wow, you're startin' real quick."

She nodded. "It's
gonna
be fabulous. He wants the practice to be a lot like
Doc
Ford's was, but more modern." Sighing, she remembered their long-time family physician fondly. "I'll miss Dr. Ford."

"Me, too. But I'm sure he and his wife will
enjoy their retirement in Seattle
."

Jackie nodded. Seattle seemed like a long way from Texas. "
Yeah. I guess so."

They sat companionably for a few moments, the fire the only sound in the room. "So you'll be startin' out your nursin' career. Bet you can hardly wait."

It was hard not to clap her hands in glee. She'd applied herself for four years to get to this point, and it was finally time to step into her profession. Jackie tried to tamp down a niggling disappointment that she'd have to focus on a career
though
she really wanted to
fall in love,
get married and start a family. The feeling was fleeting, however. One thing at a time. She'd eventually meet the right man and things would click. She had time. If only she could stop thinking about it
how sweet it would be to be part of a couple
.

"I'm plumb dizzy over it, Ace!
"

He rose from the couch and grinned. "Congratulations, Jackie." Ace spread his arms for a hug and Jackie happily stood to give him a squeeze.

"Thanks, big brother."

Stepping away, he
ruffled her hair
like he'd done since she was three. He was more than a foot taller than her, so the gesture always made her feel like a toddler again. "
Best you clean up all the water puddles you left on the floor. Consuelo will have your ears for supper, if you don't."

Jackie tended toward messiness, but their housekeeper, Consuelo, was fastidious and didn't let any of the Journeys get away with being sloppy. "Okay."

"I'm gonna go have…words with my wife. I'll see you at supper."

Picking up her soggy coat, Jackie gave him a quick smile. "'Kay."

* * *

It was 10:00 PM, but Pete Kaminsky wasn't ready to stop unpacking the boxes in his office yet. He hoped to get the practice up and running as quickly as possible. It would be good to add the nurse, Jackie Journey, to his little staff. With the office manager and a nurse, he could hit the ground running. Dr. Ford had already sent letters to his previous patients, informing them of the sale of his medical practice to Pete, so things ought to work out well. He'd already had one page from a patient who needed to be seen the next day for a
stomachache.

He straightened his M.D. diploma on the wall behind his desk and stepped back. It was a warm feeling to know that he'd made it this far and was finally starting a practice of his own. He'd been a junior partner in another practice in Lubbock after his residency in Houston, but his goal throughout had been to take over a small country practice. He had never liked living in the city, though that's where he grew up. Living out where the air was fresh and the most prevalent sound
was
birds
ong
would
be fantastic.

The
heavy
hammer made a hollow thud as
he pounded a nail
through the wallboard in his waiting room. He wasn't sure if it was totally professional to put up pictures of
himself and
his family
, but Pete thought it was a homey kind of touch. Staring at a recent photo, he wondered if he was going to age as well as his father. Brown eyes stared back at him from the picture, his dark hair tousled in the wind at the lake. His father and he could have been brothers, they looked so much alike, though Pete was a couple of inches taller at six feet.