The Cowboy's Rules: 2 (Cowboys After Dark:) (2 page)

Returning to the bedroom he found her as he’d instructed, and sitting beside her on the edge of the mattress he placed the makeshift paddle beside him, then moved his hand over her cheeks.

“Extremely irresponsible. I don’t care how tired or drunk you are, makin’ sure stall doors are secure should be automatic. If you have any doubt about your presence of mind you shouldn’t even be around the horses. What if you’d fallen over in the stall because you’re were so wasted. You know how fast horses can move.”

“Yes, Sir, you’re absolutely right.”

“Next time you go out cavortin’ with Hannah, you come right back in the house, but the next time won’t be next week. That’s cancelled. You can stay in the bedroom while I play cards.”

“Yes, Sir,” she replied, feeling like a teenager who’d just been grounded.

“I think I’ve made myself clear,” he declared, “now my hand can do the talkin’.”

He began smacking her slowly, watching his handprint stain her soft pale skin, idly wondering what could be the cause of her restlessness.

“Owwww!”

Her unexpected wail caught him by surprise, and he paused, staring down at her burnt bottom.

“Somethin’ you wanna say?” he asked.

“You’re spanking me hard,” she complained.

He paused, a frown furrowing his brow, and thought back to the last time she’d been the recipient of his discipline. When she’d first moved in she was over his knee at least once a week, but as time had ticked by, and Christmas had come and gone, he’d had less reason to punish her.

Have I been too lenient? Have I been lettin’ her get away with crap I shouldn’t?

“Cassie, when was the last time I punished you, I don’t mean a tinglin’ sexy spankin’, I mean punished you, like I’m doin’ now, and what was it for?”

“February, right before Valentines,” she muttered. “You caught me going through your closet trying to find what you’d bought me.”

“But, that wasn’t very hard, was it?”

“I guess not, not like you’re spanking me now.”

“I have a sneakin’ suspicion I’ve not spanked you as hard or as often as I should,” he remarked. “Come to think of it, there have been several times I’ve let things slide. I didn’t spank you when you and Hannah came home an hour late from shoppin’ recently. You gals didn’t even bother to call in and let us know you’d be late. Seem to remember that Hannah got her butt roasted for that. Is my memory servin’ me right?”

“Um, you did give me a few swats,” she bleated.

“But I didn’t spank like I should have,” he grimaced, “and wasn’t there somethin’ about losin’ your wallet and not tellin’ me?”

“Uh-huh,” she mewed.

“I think I know exactly why you’ve been feelin’ restless. I’m sorry, Cassie, I’m partly to blame. I love you so dang much I’ve let you get away way too much. From now on the rules will be the rules, you break ‘em, you get your bottom spanked,” he exclaimed, “just the way things were when we first met, and when I say spanked, I mean spanked.”

“But-”

“Hey, rule number one, none of your sass,” he said firmly. “I’m gonna wallop you good and hard for bein’ so irresponsible the other night. I think you did it on purpose, not consciously maybe, but you did it ‘cos you need me to do exactly what I’m doin’ right now.”

Reaching for the paddle he brought it down with a hard swat on her right cheek, then her left, then directly in the center of her bottom.

“OWWWW,” she wailed. “That really hurts!”

“Yep,” he agreed, “as it damn well should.”

He continued the delivery of the three swats, right cheek, left cheek, then the middle, landing each with the same degree of force. When she kicked out he placed his leg over hers and continued the punishment without pause, determined to deliver his message loud and clear. As he dispatched the last whack with the spoon, making it a total of twelve swats, he dropped it beside her and reigned a series of rapid slaps with his hand. She squirmed and howled and protested, and by the time he’d finished her bottom was hot pink.

“There,” he exclaimed, rubbing her fondly, “that should see you right.”

“Oooh, Sir, you spanked me so hard,” she wailed.

“Yes, I did, and you can expect more of the same if you break the rules,” he promised.

“Owwww,” she whimpered, “okay, I’ll be better.”

“Come on up here and get your cuddle,” he sighed, pulling her into his lap.

“Sorry, Chad, I was such an idiot,” she mumbled.

“Just remember what I said; I meant it,” he said firmly, stroking her hair. “You might wanna read the list of rules again, so you have them fresh in that head of yours.”

“Thank you,” she sighed, “maybe you’re right, maybe I did need to find my place with you again.”

“And did you?”

“Hell, yeah,” she groaned, “I can’t think about being restless, all I can think about is how much my butt hurts.”

“As it should,” he remarked. “I’m gonna hold you for a bit, then you’re gonna stay in here and think about things. If there’s anythin’ else you need to talk about, somethin’ that’s not quite right for you here, you’re gonna tell me. Don’t you come outta this room until I come back.”

“How long?” she asked, lifting her large eyes and gazing up at him.

“You’ll know that when I get back,” he frowned. “There’s that pad of paper and a pen in my nightstand. Whatever you think of, write it down, and remember, you stay in this room! No sneakin‘ out. I have some stuff to do around the barn.”

“Yes, Sir,” she nodded, “I won’t go anywhere.”

“Your butt will be redder if you do,” he warned.

“I know, I swear I’ll be good.”

He held her tightly, then laying a soft kiss upon her lips he moved off the bed.

“Can Mickey stay with me?” she asked as he headed out the door.

“Nope, just you and your thoughts,” he smiled. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

As the door closed Cassie turned on her side and closed her eyes.

Wow, I think I’m falling in love with you all over again.

C
had stared at the few scribbled notes Cassie had made, relieved to see there wasn’t a laundry list of complaints. At the top was a note about her unhappiness at not being able to ride much during the winter, and except for some broken tree trunks she’d found in a back paddock, she nowhere to jump.

“I can understand this. I’m sure it’s been tough not being able to ride the way you did at home,” he frowned. “I like haulin’ over to the covered arena at the show grounds. It gives the horses some stimulation, but I know there are no jumps there for you. I guess it has been pretty frustratin’. You should have said somethin’ sooner.”

“I just didn’t want you to think I’m not happy here, because I am, but not riding as much as I’m used to has been difficult.”

“Hmmm, well, with spring here let’s see if we can’t do somethin’ about that. We could get some jumps in here for you, and I know the manager over at the show grounds real well. Maybe he’ll agree to bring some in for the winter months so you can keep your hand in. Not many folks use that arena in the winter, so I’m sure he’ll be amenable.”

“Chad, that would be so great, thank you,” she beamed.

“Hey, I love you, girl, I want you to be happy. Now what’s this about Hannah?”

“Um, well, that’s a bit tricky,” she frowned.

“Just tell me,” Chad pressed. “Did she do somethin’ Marty should know about?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing like that. She, uh, she really misses working with the horses, and-”

“Hang on a minute, sweetie,” he interrupted, holding up his hand. “You know why I had to fire her, bringin’ weed on to the property and havin’ the nerve to smoke it, I can’t bring her back into the crew. I can’t do it.”

“I know,” Cassie said hastily, “I have another idea.”

“Go on, let me hear it,” Chad frowned.

“I have Dominic, Rembrandt and Shelby here, and at home I had a groom. With the show season starting I can’t do everything myself. Maybe Hannah could help me. I need someone and it’s much better that it be a person I know and trust. The horses know her, and she really wants to start jumping again. I could teach as a bonus. I’d pay her whatever I would have pay a groom of course.”

Though Chad had known what Cassie was asking after the first sentence, he had listened patiently as she pleaded her case, using the time to make a decision. Cassie had made good points, and he had to admit that Hannah had been great with the horses.

Hannah has probably been real unhappy not havin’ the same kinda time with them as she used to, and if she starts resentin’ that, then Marty won’t be happy, and that’s the last thing I want or need.

“Call Jerry Golden and make sure you get whatever extra insurance we need, and Hannah can help you as much as you want,” Chad smiled.

“Really? That’s fantastic. She’ll be so happy, and I’m so relieved.”

“You can’t tell her, I have to make sure Marty’s okay with this, and he may have some rules of his own. I’ll call him, then he can talk to her about it first. Not a word, you understand?”

“Yes, Chad, of course. My lips are sealed,” she promised, “but it won’t be easy.”

“I have an idea,” he frowned. “We’ll be finishin’ the house now that spring is here. You know, Cassie, I can’t wait to move in there with you. Lookin’ over at the lake every day, it’ll be a special home for us.”

“I know,” she sighed. “I can’t wait either, but what’s your idea?”

“Why don’t we put up a six stall barn for Dominic, Shelby, and Rembrandt, and a ridin’ ring behind it? There’s that big flat pad, won’t need much gradin’, then you and my boys won’t be gettin’ in each other’s way as we all start ridin’ again.”

“That’s brilliant,” she beamed, “and if it’s a six stall barn there’ll be enough room for another horse.”

“Lordy, please, no,” he chuckled. “Don’t you be gettin’ another horse without talkin’ to me first.”

“I’ll try,” she sighed.

“Tryin’ I’m not buyin’,” he said firmly. “You talk to me first.” She stared back at him, and he could see the challenge in her eyes. “You gotta a problem with that?” he asked.

“Kind of,” she replied. “I mean, if I did find another horse I’d be buying it, I’d be responsible for it, why would I need your permission? What if you found another horse you wanted, would you need my permission?”

“That’s a fair question,” he nodded. “Let’s see, I have two full-time cowboys, a foreman, and Mandy takin’ over my show schedule this year. I have a dozen horses here, maybe more, another one is no big deal. I only deal with it when they need me. If you bring in another horse, what will that mean for you?”

“One more wouldn’t be too much,” she argued.

“You’d be trainin’ it, as well as gettin’ your other three ready for the shows, and from what you just said, teachin’ Hannah as well. Sweetie, managin’ time is tough, and if you bought a fourth horse I think you’d be a bit overwhelmed.”

“Then I’ll hire someone else to help,” she frowned.

“You would? You’d bring someone in here, pay worker’s comp, get their insurance, and you’d trust them with your horses? What if I didn’t like the person you brought in? What if I felt that person didn’t belong on this ranch? You see what I’m sayin?”

“I guess,” she pouted.

“Hey, if you find another horse you really want we’ll talk about it. I’m just askin’ that you don’t do anythin’ impetuous. Okay?”

“Sometimes I like to do things on the spur of the moment,” she said quietly.

“Are you already plannin’ on another horse? Is this already in your head?”

“Maybe,” she sighed.

“Tell you what, let’s get the barn built and the arena done, and then see where we’re at. Is that fair?”

“Sure,” she frowned, “but I still think-”

“You know what I think,” he interrupted, “I think the spoilt Cassie is rearin’ her head right now, and considerin’ her butt is already a nice shade of tender pink, she might not want to press her luck.”

She stared at him, a crimson flush crawling up her neck.

“You’re right,” she admitted. “I was beginning to stamp my feet.”

“There you go,” he grinned. “Okay, the last thing on your list is that you’d like to go out more. Me too, let’s make it a point to go into town for dinner or a movie every week.”

“Wonderful,” she bubbled, and wrapping her arms around him she kissed him on the cheek. “I love you, Chad, so much. I know I can be difficult sometimes. Thanks for putting up with me.”

“Hey,” he grinned back, “I love you too, but remember, from now on, difficult means a sore backside.”

“If I don’t, I’m sure you’ll remind me,” she grimaced.

“You’re darn tootin’, I will,” he nodded, “so you’d better behave yourself.”

“Will you call Marty now?” she begged, pulling back and staring up at him. “I’m dying to talk about things with Hannah.”

“Nope, now you’re gonna go in that bathroom, take a shower, then walk back in here totally naked. It’s time I’m reminded you who’s in charge around here.”

Cassie felt a warm shiver tremble down her spine. The glint in his eye told her exactly what he meant, and already feeling the quivering anticipation, she dropped her arms and moved slowly from the bed.

Chad watched her walk into the bathroom and close the door, then quickly stripped, donned his black cotton robe, and pulled back the bedspread. Moving quickly to his large dresser he unlocked the bottom drawer and studied his collection of naughty toys; selecting several he placed them carefully on the bed ready for Cassie’s eyes as she as she returned.

You’ve become a very naughty girl of late. I share the blame, not keepin’ as firm a hand on your butt as I should’ve, but that’s gonna change.

Picking up the various implements he held them in his hand, deciding which he would put to use, exactly how, and the positions he would have her assume, the decadent thoughts moving his own psyche into the right frame of mind.

When he heard her turn off the shower he rose from the edge of the bed and ambled across to the fireplace, leaning against the mantle. He wanted to watch her as she caught sight of the implements, and there was no better spot from which to view her reactions. He knew that as she toweled off and brushed her hair, her stomach would be churning, and even before she opened the door her pussy would be glistening with a nervous need.