Peppermint Sticks for Susie (17 page)

He went to see Clyde and discussed the plan with him. When they'd returned the stolen cattle to David Bodey, they asked him to keep quiet about the O'Malley spread, and only the rustlers knew that where the cattle and the man they captured were supposed to be. Clyde agreed it was a good plan to make the man in jail sound like he was stealing the cattle from the thieves. "Let's go get us some pie and coffee and discuss where we caught that boy. It'll be all over town by tonight," the Sheriff predicted.

Stephanie told them to take a seat wherever they pleased and then filled their coffee cups and left the pot on their table. After telling them what kinds of pie they had left, Clyde and Alex made their selections, and then Clyde started talking about the rustling going on. Alex pretended to be interested, and a couple of the other patrons taking an afternoon break joined in the conversation. Alex wanted to grin at how easy it would be to get the news out there. Stephanie brought their pie, and then poured more coffee for those who wanted it, staying busy in the small dining room while they talked. Alex figured she would be passing on the news to anyone who wanted to listen during the supper hours. By the time they left, word was out there as to where the Sheriff took the man prisoner, and that he wouldn't so much as give them his name, or explain why he took David Bodey's cattle. Clyde answered questions he wouldn't normally answer, lying with the ease of someone who made their living bluffing at cards.

Alex rode out of town a bit later, after telling the Sheriff that David Bodey had hired him to keep guard at night. He wanted to make it sound like he was working out of town and had a viable excuse for leaving every day about the same time. Hopefully the rustlers would make a move and he would capture them soon.

* * *

Yes, Jennifer admitted as she pinned up her hair the next morning, she heard Alex, but that did not mean that she agreed with him or that she was going to obey him. She'd made no such promises, and she was sick and tired of sitting at home, twiddling her thumbs, just in case Lefty Bridges was somewhere close by. Jennifer decided that as soon as she arrived at work she would buy a smaller gun that she could put in her pocket. She would take that one precaution, but she refused to live in fear of something that might or might not happen. Alex would be furious with her, but that was too bad. They weren't married yet and she did not have to obey him. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, and her room was neat as could be, she went to face Alma.

"Good morning, Jenny. Breakfast is on the table. Peter is already at work, and I need to get Susie ready for school. Help yourself!" Alma told her as she hurried to Susie's room.

Jenny took the coward's way out and left her friend a note telling her that she was returning to work and she'd be home in time for supper. She grabbed a biscuit from the pan, and she drank some coffee in a couple big gulps before grabbing her bag and rushing out the door, taking care to close it as quietly as possible. She was so thankful not to have to argue with Alma. Jenny wasted no time covering the distance between the Beckley home and the Mercantile, and she was relieved that everything seemed very normal.

"Lass, what are ye doin' here?" Angus MacGregor asked, his Scottish brogue pronounced as he walked over to confront her.

"I am coming back to work, Mr. MacGregor, but first things first, I wish to make a purchase." She walked straight over to the gun case, and she chose a small Remington 95 over/under derringer, and a box of bullets. Once the small gun was loaded, she concealed it in her pocket. "I will pay you now, Mr. MacGregor, and then I would be pleased to get back to work. It looks as though the yard goods need my attention!" she said brightly, trying to make the dour man smile.

"Does Alex know ye are here, lass?" he demanded.

"Not yet, but I am sure he will figure it out, and we will argue, but I can't stay cooped up in that house one more day! I need to work, and I can't live in fear. If I so much as see Lefty Bridges, I will shoot. Now, let's settle up for this derringer."

Angus shook his head, but he sold her the small gun, hoping she didn't accidentally shoot herself... or him. He also braced himself to have the young man who loved Jenny come through the doors and raise all sorts of hell. "Ye know that your man is going to skelp you proper for defying him?" he muttered as he put her money in the drawer.

"I won't have it, Mr. MacGregor. I'm doing nothing wrong. I came back to work is all, and it pleases me to do so. I've missed you and everyone else," she admitted.

"I've missed you, too, hunny. And, you can start by sorting out the fabrics. Them women don't care what a mess they make for me. I'm glad you're here, and I'll keep an eye out for the likes o' Lefty Bridges, and I'll blow him to kingdom come if he sets foot inside here. Ever since Harold Scott died, Lefty has been a dead mon. It's just a matter of time before someone shoots him down like the rabid dog he is."

"I feel terrible about Harold. He was a nice man," Jennifer stated as she crossed the room and started sorting the piles of dry goods and sorting them by fabrics and color. It was so good to be working again. She knew that Alex wouldn't agree, and she could only hope he wouldn't make a public scene. Lefty was gone, and he needed to stop being over-protective. She needed to work, see people, and feel free again. She needed to be normal. Surely Alex would understand...?

* * *

"What do you mean, 'she isn't here'?" Alex demanded. He saw Alma back up a couple of steps and he forced himself to be calm. "I'm sorry, Alma. I didn't mean to frighten you. Where did that headstrong woman of mine go?" he asked, holding himself in check. She merely handed him the note that Jennifer left on the table. Alex quickly read it and then looked to the Heavens for support. "Miss Jennifer Shelley is one stubborn young woman," he stated with feeling.

"She was going crazy here, Alex," Alma defended her friend. "She helped me as much as she could, but she was bored. She didn't think that Lefty was a problem anymore."

"Jenny is wrong about that. He's merely feeding his hatred and waiting for an opportunity to attack. He wants us to become complacent and let our guard down. Jennifer is doing exactly what he wants her to do."

"I don't want her to get hurt, Alex!" Alma's blue eyes filled with tears. "I would have stopped her if I'd known what she was planning to do."

"It isn't your fault, Alma," he quickly reassured her. "Jenny is the one who disobeyed me and now she is going to find out what happens to young ladies who behave like bratty little girls who have to have their way at all costs." He turned on his heel and strode out of the house, shutting the door with a firm click behind him.

Alma sighed, then sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of coffee. She felt bad for Jennifer, but she also understood that Alex was merely concerned with her safety. Those two were going to have a marriage full of fireworks, she thought, smiling to herself as she sipped her coffee. Unlike her and Peter; they were both calm and it was rare that a harsh word passed between them, and Alma liked that just fine. She wondered how soon Alex would return with Jennifer in tow... and she decided that she would be busy in the parlor whenever that happened... or better still, it would be the perfect time to put a few things in a basket and go and pay elderly Mrs. Crabtree a visit. Alma didn't want to hear Alex paddling Jennifer, and she knew without a doubt that that was exactly what was going to happen. She got to her feet and packed a basket full of goodies and left the house, happy with herself for avoiding what was sure to be a huge argument between the two fiery people.

* * *

"Yes, Mrs. Iams, it is so good to be back to work. I'm enjoying helping customers again," Jenny said with a big smile. She'd missed these good people so much, and everyone seemed happy to see her, too.

"Angus just isn't able to help me pick out kitchen curtain yard goods like you can, dear," Mrs. Iams stated, giving the Scot a meaningful look. "I am glad you are back."

Jennifer was so pleased by the compliment that she looked around to see who she could help next. Her green eyes fell on one man who was looking very unhappy. She swallowed hard, but met Alex's gaze bravely. "Do you need to buy something, Alex, or are you here to complain and scold?"

"You are in big trouble, little girl."

"Maybe so, but you'll have to wait until this evening to discuss the matter. I'm busy right now."

"There won't be much discussing going on, Jenny..."

Chapter Twelve

"Young man, you wait your turn!" a red-cheeked, big-boned woman spoke up. "I've been waitin' my turn for quarter of an hour and you can go to the end of the line."

"Ma'am, I'm afraid you don't understand," Alex attempted to explain. "My fiancee..."

"Is busy workin', which is what you should be doin' at this time o' day. My Horace would tell you that iffen he weren't workin', which he is!" she declared. "Now, I don't have time for you to thrash out your troubles, which you should be doin' private-like, anyhoo!"

Alex tamped down his temper and glared at his impossible redhead when she giggled. "I'll be back at noon, Miss Shelley, and you'd best be ready to leave for the day."

"Sorry, Alex, but I won't be. Mr. MacGregor needs me." As soon as the words left her mouth, Jennifer knew she'd made a huge mistake. Alex turned to face her, and there was fire in his dark eyes.

"Now, see here, young man!" the farmer's wife spoke up immediately. "It is my turn, which is right now!" She planted herself between Alex and the petite redhead, her indignant expression telling Alex he would have to go through her to get to Jenny.

Alex was fed up. He stepped forward, put his hands on the woman's sturdy waist, easily lifted her and then set her down on the other side. The look on the farmer's wife's face would have been comical at any other time, but right now he had a feisty redhead to deal with. He scooped Jennifer up, and dumped her over his shoulder. His hard hand connected with her conveniently placed backside and he said. "You are going to regret baiting me, young lady." She cried out and then whacked his back with her fist. Alex spanked her again, and called out, "Angus, I am taking this saucy brat with me. If she comes back here before I tell her it is okay, I hope you'll take your tawse to her until she can't sit for a month of Sundays."

"I ken ye, laddie," Angus said with a chuckle, and then turned to the fuming lady Jenny had been planning to wait upon next. "May I help you, Mrs. Donnier? The wee lass is going home with her mon."

"How can you stand here while that beast carries her away, Angus?" she asked, looking about for something to use as a weapon.

"Oh, Alex! I near forgot!" Angus exclaimed. "Jenny bought a gun and it's in her pocket; be careful she don't shoot you!"

"Shoot him...?" Mrs. Donnier questioned, looking at the Scotsman.

"Aye. The lassie means business," Angus told her. "Now, what can I help you with today?"

To his surprise, the woman actually blushed before saying, "You cain't help. I need Miss Jenny."

"This is me own store, woman!" Angus bellowed. "I was workin' here before she left the schoolroom!"

"You ain't no woman, Mr. MacGregor. I'm a lady," she insisted, her cheeks a bright red.

"Who do you think orders in all the female trappin's if it ain't me?" he roared, insulted.

"You might do that for them fancy women at the saloon, but I'm a respectable lady and I won't buy pantaloons and corsets from a man! I'll be back when a woman is working, Angus, and since my best petticoat is fit for the rag bag, which it certainly is, I expect to find a woman working soon!" She turned around and marched for the door, giving it a slam behind her.

Angus was incensed, but he had other customers waiting and he was too busy to worry about Mrs. Dunnier, and he didn't give Jenny a thought either. He figured she deserved the skelping she was going to get.

* * *

"Alex, put me down!" Jennifer demanded the instant he carried her from the store. She was aware that they were receiving stares from everyone on the street, and she even heard a couple of men laugh out loud.

One man chortled and told his wife, "Now I know how to stop your spendin' too much, Pearly. I'll just do like that fellow and carry you out of the store when you start buyin' stuff we don't need!"

"You try that, Claude, and you'll be sleeping in the parlor on the new sofa."

"We wouldn't have that new sofa if I'd carried you out of the store before you bought it," he reminded her, grinning unrepentantly in spite of the light jab in the ribs she gave him.

"Oh you! Stop funning me," she ordered, but the smile in her eyes told Claude she was amused by his teasing.

"Alex, I mean it! PUT ME DOWN, DAMN IT!" Jennifer balled her hand into a fist and started pounding on his back. It was her second huge mistake. She'd underestimated his outrage with her! Alex stopped right in front of the jail, dropped her to her feet, sat down on the bench and then jerked her over his lap. He then started spanking her, hard, and she was humiliated beyond belief! "Stop! Stop!" she cried out.

"You're the one who wanted to be put down." He continued to paddle her with his hand that was as firm as any board.

"Please, Alex, no more! You're hurting me!" she told him, trying her best to keep from crying. "You are embarrassing me!" she added when he showed no sign of stopping.

"You are the one who wanted me to put you down, little girl. I gave you what you wanted."

"I didn't ask you to start spanking me!" she whimpered. She was aware of people gathering around them to watch. Several of the men called out encouragement, and it was too much. She burst into tears.

"Son, this isn't the place for a tanning," Clyde came out of his office and leaned down to speak softly to Alex. "Let her up and take her home."

"She is the one who wanted put down, Clyde. I gave her what she asked for," Alex insisted.

"You're going to regret this later, when your temper cools," the Sheriff insisted. "Enough now." He firmly stopped Alex's hand from landing again on Jenny's stinging bottom. He waited until Alex's eyes met his. "Are you calmer now, son?" he asked.