Reunion (Hunter's Ridge Book 3) (7 page)

Pastor Goodeman nodded to his wife, who stood and opened the door. He moved to lead his reluctant, naughty parishioners out of the church proper, his wife taking her place behind Louisa, who was last in the line. A moment before Louisa stepped through the door, she turned her head to find her Papa giving her a soft smile and a nod. Pastor Goodeman's children sat quietly in the front pew, and the calm looks and smiles on their small faces gave her additional courage. Surely if it were to be too horrid, his own personal flock wouldn't appear so relaxed and unafraid. Swallowing hard, she returned her gaze to her feet and accepted her fate.

The group of five girls was led down a corridor and instructed to turn and face the wall. No one spoke as Mrs. Goodeman prepared each by lifting their dresses and petticoats to button them at their shoulders or tuck them into waistbands. Louisa had discovered the convenience of such buttons after Lucy's Nanny Molly had written about the tailoring to her mentor, Nanny Bremmer. The moment Nanny Bremmer had guided her into a pair of open crotch drawers that morning, Louisa had known that today would be the first time she was to confess her naughtiness to another outside their small family.

"Charlotte, you may go to the pastor," Agatha Goodeman said after all the girls' clothing had been adjusted.

"Yes, Ma'am," Charlotte said in a soft voice, as she turned from the wall and opened the door on the opposite wall.

Noses pressed against the wall, the remaining four were left to contemplate their sins—though Louisa wondered if instead, they, like her, were contemplating what their bottoms would endure in that room. She jerked as a soft cry drifted out into the hallway, but when the cry did not become a ragged scream, she relaxed—if just a bit. One by one the girls were called, until the door opened to discharge Cynthia, the girl who had stood next to Louisa.

"Louisa, you may go to the pastor." Hearing the same words that she'd heard four times before, only the name having changed, Louisa stepped away from the wall and turned.

"Yes, Ma'am." She saw her fellow sisters standing against the wall behind her, all sniffling and shuffling on their feet a bit. Before she could fully process the fact that instead of seeing red, bare bottoms, she saw nothing but the backs of their dresses, she had stepped through the door, Mrs. Goodeman following behind, and turning to close the door.

Pastor Goodeman was seated behind his desk, a book open in front of him. "Come, child."

Louisa moved to stand in front of the desk, her hands at her sides, her heart pounding. He looked up from where he'd entered something in the book. "You need not be frightened, Louisa," he said as he looked across his desk. "I realize this is your first time coming to see me but I promise, my intention is not to frighten you. I wish to help you understand the pitfalls of choosing the wrong path."

She nodded, his gaze not the piercing hateful one she'd often seen on Pastor Reed's face. Instead, he looked as if he truly wished to set her at ease—well, as much at ease as possible when she was in that room to be spanked, or whatever occurred behind his closed door.

"Tell me, child, which of the Lord's commandments did you break to necessitate your Papa sending you to me?"

His question caught her off guard. She'd never heard any of her friends speak of being questioned before they were punished. Her brain seemed to freeze; everything she'd ever learned in church flying out of her mind.

Instead of screaming at her for her inability to answer, he leaned back in his chair and gave her an understanding smile. "Why don't you just tell me in your own words why you believe you are here."

"I-I was naughty." She paused, her face flushing as she realized how ridiculous that sounded. Of course she had been naughty, or else she'd already be in the carriage with her Papa instead of standing in this room with this man. Taking a deep breath, she felt a sense of calm descend over her. She'd been punished for her transgression, her Papa had forgiven her, and this was her chance to wash her slate completely free of any residual guilt. Straightening her shoulders, she met his eyes. "I attempted to deceive my Papa, and then lied when that deceit was discovered. I'm truly sorry, Sir."

"I'm sure you are, Louisa. It seems that you've broken both the fifth and ninth commandments. Can you tell me what those are?"

Her confession allowed her mind to unfreeze and she nodded. "Honor thy Father and Mother is the fifth, and Do Not Bear False Witness is the ninth."

"Very good. Now, explain what those mean in this situation."

Having to do so, being made to discuss her transgressions, was helping Louisa truly glean something from this time. "I didn't honor Papa or his rules when I attempted to hide the nappies and replace them with my stuffies. When I told the lie and accused Nanny Bremmer of thinking my Papa was the liar, I again did not honor Papa and I bore false witness against him."

"Exactly right. I expect you shall not be as quick to break those commandments again?"

"Oh, no, Sir. I learned my lesson," Louisa assured him, her bottom still tender from the punishment she'd received two days ago.

"I'm glad to hear that, Louisa. Do you understand that, as one of the people who care for you, one that wants to help guide you along your path, it is my duty to make sure you understand your transgressions?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Your Papa sets his rules and expects you to obey him. His rules are to keep you safe and to ensure you feel loved and cherished as his little one and as his wife. Deceiving him not only shows that you are deliberately denying his right to make those rules, it also goes against the vows you made before him and God. Using your tongue to be deceitful, to tell lies, hurts those who hear the lie, as well as your own heart. Tell me, even if you tell a lie and aren't discovered, does it make you feel good inside?"

"No, Sir," she answered honestly.

"That is because you have a kind and gentle heart. Your soul wants to obey, to be pure. Having regrets, even when not called to confess, is your soul asking you to repent—despite knowing the cost is a painful bottom. Do you understand that part of my duty is to give you not only my counseling, but a physical reminder of why you should follow the path that would keep you free of sin?"

Her heart began to pound a bit harder but she had to nod. "Yes, Sir."

"And do you accept the need for further chastisement? Are you ready to ask me to provide that lesson?"

"Yes, Sir. Please, may I have my…" not knowing what to specifically ask for, she completed her request using his own words, "my chastisement?"

"Very well. Go to the bench and make your confession to God. Say a prayer asking for his forgiveness at breaking his laws and for guidance as you leave here today."

Mrs. Goodeman led her to the prie-dieu on one side of the room and helped her to kneel. Louisa steepled her hands and lowered her head. The prayers she said relaxed her further as she accepted the fact that she was loved by several people, as well as God. She accepted his forgiveness, and when she murmured her 'Amen,' she was ready to accept the rest of her punishment.

Lifting her head, she met Mrs. Goodeman's eyes. At the woman's smile and nod, Louisa bent forward and gripped the rail in front of her. She felt her drawers being parted to bare her bottom and yet did not feel shame at the exposure.

Her pastor stood and picked up the paddle she had seen lying on his desk. "Six for your deceit hiding your nappies, six for dishonoring your Papa, and six for your lies. Keep your bottom lifted as best you can, and let each stroke cleanse you."

Though the count had her bottom clenching, she nodded. "Yes, Sir." She was surprised when Mrs. Goodeman took a seat on a small stool in front of her, placing her own hands over Louisa's. She wasn't gripping them, simply offering her comfort and support as she witnessed the paddling.

Crack…crack…crack…
Each stroke connected with a loud crack against her backside, the first set doing a very good job of reawakening the pain from her earlier strapping. Louisa bit her lip, keeping her cries inside, her eyes welling as she paid for the first sin.

"You are doing well, little one," Agatha said, stroking her fingers across Louisa's clenched fingers. "Loosen your bottom, Louisa. Accept the pain as you pay for your naughtiness."

After she'd managed to obey, the paddle descended six times in rapid succession, giving her no pause long enough to even think about the next stroke. Her bottom had been set afire and she could no longer contain her cries as the paddle rested against her rear, pausing briefly before delivering the final six strokes.

Without thinking, her hands turned to link with Mrs. Goodeman's, drawing courage to once more relax her cheeks and lift her bottom.
Crack…crack…crack…
Six harder blows had tears streaming down her cheeks, and yet her soul was clean as the last was accepted.

After a moment, Mrs. Goodeman rose and Louisa released her hands. She felt her drawers being closed to conceal the evidence of her paddling, and her clothing unbuttoned and smoothed down over her throbbing bottom before she was helped from the bench. Mrs. Goodeman wiped her face with a handkerchief and then bent to place a kiss on her cheek before giving her a hug. Releasing her, Louisa stepped to where the pastor was standing and, when he opened his arms, she easily stepped into his embrace.

"Thank you for paddling my bottom, Pastor Goodeman."

"You are welcome, Louisa. I love seeing you in church each week, but let's continue to pray that I don't see you in my office afterwards, okay?"

Louisa smiled, actually shocked that she was able to do so as she nodded. "I'll try, I promise."

"All we can do is try," Winston said, as he opened the door and gestured down the hall. "Let's get you all back to your Papas, shall we?"

The girls followed him, their bottoms heated but their hearts lighter. It had not been the horrifying ordeal Louisa had envisioned—not that she cared to ever repeat the experience. However, when she stepped into the nave and her Papa opened his arms, she flew into them, and knew without a doubt that it would be a very long time before she did something naughty again. When she informed him of that as he settled her on his lap in the carriage, he chuckled and bent to kiss her.

"I wonder how long my little one will keep that vow, especially knowing we leave for Hunter's Ridge tomorrow. I seem to remember a very sweet and saucy little miss will be waiting at the end of our trip."

"Papa!" Louisa said, and then giggled. "Lucy is a married woman now. I'm sure she is quite the obedient wife."

"Did your lesson on the ninth commandment not take?" Edward teased, as she squirmed a bit on his lap. "You, too, are a married woman, Lady Wintercrest, and yet I can feel your paddled bottom squirming on my lap. We all adore Lucy but, my love, even you must admit the likelihood of our precious Lucy turning into Saint Lucille is highly unlikely." He grinned and chuckled. "Besides, even I would miss the spirit that often causes my niece to have her own backside heated." He patted his wife's bottom, chuckling at her slight wiggle before she moaned and pressed her bum into his palm.

*****

Louisa almost earned a spanking the very next morning as she bounced on her toes after being hauled back once more from where the team of black horses were prancing a bit in their harnesses.

"Louisa, I've told you to stay back and let Mr. Gordon secure the team. Do you need to go sit in my study until we are ready to depart?" Edward asked.

Understanding being sent to the study would most likely mean she was given a spanking before being allowed to enter the carriage, she instantly stopped bouncing. "No, Papa. I'll be good."

Edward gave her a pat on her bottom, as if to ensure she would be. She watched as the horses were backed into the traces and the many straps attached. Her Papa had told her the carriage had undergone some changes in order to make their journey as comfortable as possible, but besides the additional ledge that had been built to the back of the carriage, she couldn't see any other modifications. Every inch of the conveyance had been polished to a bright sheen, the Wintercrest crest on the door standing in sharp contrast to the ink black of the exterior. Trunks had been lashed to the top as well as to the back. The carpet bag containing her nappies and a satchel containing her Papa's papers stood on the bottom step. Nanny Bremmer had filled another satchel with several books for her charge to read during the trip, as well as her basket of sewing items. Louisa hoped to finish the gifts she was planning on giving her sister, as well as her Uncle Lucas. The trip would take at least a week, and she'd need something to occupy her time.

"Maybe I should get some more books," Louisa suggested as she pulled her satchel open, smiling as she saw her doll, Nadine, on the very top.

"Don't fret, I'll make sure my little one doesn't become too bored. There will be plenty of time for all sorts of play." The look in his eyes as he accepted the large wicker basket their cook had prepared had her blushing. Though he hadn't been specific, her tummy was fluttering with the possibilities his assurance provoked.

Edward returned to her side, taking both satchels into his hands. "Go inside and tell Nanny Bremmer we are just about ready. Make sure she escorts you to the potty."

Louisa flushed but nodded, turning to dash up the stairs and burst into the house. "Nanny Bremmer," she called, as she ran down the hall.

"Gracious, Louisa, we do not run in the house, nor do we scream like fishwives," Anna admonished as she walked towards her. "Proper little ladies walk and speak quietly."

"I'm sorry, Nanny, but Papa wanted me to tell you it's time to go."

"Very well. I've gone through the list and hope I've not forgotten something."

Louisa knew the woman had been quite thorough in the packing. Lists had been written and checked, items marked as they were packed and loaded. It would surprise her if a single thing had been forgotten. Thinking of forgetting, she remembered her Papa's instruction. "Nanny, Papa wishes me to go potty before we leave."