The Lady and the Sheriff Page 12

  “My wife was accidentally shot during a gun fight in town. She simply got in the way without even knowing it.” Bob’s voice broke with emotion as he shook his head, appearing to still not quite comprehend what had happened to his beloved wife. Emma squeezed his hand affectionately and reached out to stroke his cheek. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know,” she whispered. “You don’t have to tell me this if it’s too painful.”

  “No,” Bob replied, “you need to understand why I’m so protective of you. I’m terrified I’ll lose you too, and you just don’t seem to see the danger in anything. You remind me so much of my wife in many ways. I often threatened to spank her for disobeying me. If I had, maybe she wouldn’t have wandered into town without permission that day. Maybe she’d still be here now,” Bob whispered as his hands trembled.

  Emma suddenly felt very guilty. He’d been protecting her and she had acted like a complete brat. No wonder he got so angry and spanked you in public, she thought, squirming as she recalled the spanking once more and the humiliation and pain she had felt. He must have been past himself with worry when he realized what danger you had put yourself in.

  Emma broke down in tears as Bob continued. “Emma, my life has been so much happier since you came along. I’d only been married for a few months when my wife was taken from me. I never expected to get a second chance at happiness. I can’t bear the thought of losing you too. If you decide to return to England after this, at least I’ve told you how I feel. I won’t stand in your way, but I won’t be happy. I don’t want you to go.”

  Emma gripped his hand, wondering what to say.

  Bob continued. “I wake up in a cold sweat at night, thinking how I would feel if something happened to you. I couldn’t live with myself if you came to any harm because I hadn’t taken proper care of you. I love you with all of my heart. I want you to stay in Great Bend and marry me, become my wife and let me love and care for you forever. I’m sorry I’ve made you so unhappy recently, but I was only trying to keep you safe. Please try and understand why I did what I did, and why I will do it again if you make it necessary.”

  “Yes,” replied Emma tearfully.

  Bob frowned. “Yes you understand?” he asked her, puzzled at her response.

  Emma smiled and shook her head. “Of course I understand why you spanked me. I deserved it and I’m so sorry I made it necessary, but I meant yes, I’d love to marry you. I love you too, more than you could ever know. I’m so sorry I have behaved so badly.”

  Bob pulled Emma into his arms and kissed her. They stayed under the tree until sundown, just holding each other.

  They returned home later and Emma reluctantly accompanied Bob into town to tell their friends their good news. Emma was embarrassed as she had avoided most people since her public spanking, but everyone was thrilled with their news and no-one mentioned the embarrassing incident that had happened a couple of days previously.

  Bob hugged Emma and whispered “See, they’ve forgotten all about it, but please be a good girl as I don’t want to have to do that ever again.”

  Bob and Emma enjoyed an evening of celebration with their friends, and Bob even allowed Emma a glass of wine to toast their engagement, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, a brawl inside the bar broke up the party and Lee and Becky took a reluctant Emma home, leaving Bob to sort things out.

  As Emma returned home and dreamed of their upcoming wedding, relishing the thought of being able to plan everything this time, Bob threw a couple of men in jail who refused to stop fighting. He was furious that they had ruined his evening with Emma and he thought a night in jail might cool their tempers.

  As Bob went back to the bar to say goodnight to his friends, keen to go home to join his fiancée, Percy and Richard were riding into Great Bend. Richard had eventually persuaded Percy to cover the last five miles of their journey but it had taken most of the day as Percy had constantly whined and walked alongside his horse for a large part of the journey, complaining he was too sore to sit on the saddle. Richard was relieved to have finally arrived, a lot later than anticipated. They entered the bar, Percy still whining as he trailed behind Richard.

  “We’re looking for the sheriff,” said Richard, glancing around the bar.

  Bob turned to face them. “You’ve found me,” he informed them, resenting this further disruption to his evening. “Can I help you?”

  Richard stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m Richard Morrison, from Pinkerton’s Detective Agency. We’re looking for Emma Bell from London, England. We understand she’s staying in town?”

  “Yes, that’s right,” replied Bob. “What business do you have with Miss Bell?”

  Although Percy had promised to let Richard do the talking, he suddenly stepped forward. “Out of the way, I’ll handle this,” he ordered Richard. “I’m Percival Woodhampton,” he told Bob, “and I hope you realize, sheriff, that you’re harboring a common criminal in your town.”

  Bob was shocked but did not react as he waited patiently for Percy to continue.

  “She was due to marry me but the night before our wedding she assaulted me, knocking me unconscious and breaking a very precious family heirloom in the process.” Percy shuddered as he once again recalled the vase and its contents. He had never felt totally clean since that night.

  “She also stole the family silver as well as a large quantity of expensive jewelry. She sold it all for a fraction of its value, including the very expensive engagement ring I bought for her,” he complained.

  Bob was surprised by the man’s allegation and didn’t believe Emma was capable of the things of which he was accusing her.

  “I hear what you’re saying, Mr. Woodhampton, but I’m not prepared to do anything this late at night,” Bob told him. “Emma is probably at home in bed. I’m not going to disturb her at this hour. I suggest you stay in one of Great Bend’s inns overnight and I will speak to Emma about this in the morning. I will put your allegations to her and see what she has to say for herself. Meet me back here at noon tomorrow,” said Bob, suddenly dreading going home to speak to Emma, hoping that the man’s accusations were as false as he assumed them to be.

  Bob pointed Richard and Percy in the direction of one of the better inns in town before reluctantly heading home to speak to Emma.

  When Bob arrived home he found Emma chatting with Lee and Becky about the wedding. She jumped up and ran to greet Bob with a kiss, telling him that Lee and Becky had suggested she should stay at their home the night before the wedding and Becky could help her to get ready. Emma smiled as she told Bob that Becky was going to help her make a wedding gown.

  Emma was excitedly telling Bob of her plans when she suddenly realized something was very wrong. Bob was quiet and pale and he barely seemed to be listening to her. She took his hand and was horrified when she realized he was trembling. She looked up at him and anxiously asked him, “Bob, whatever’s wrong? I hope you haven’t had second thoughts about marrying me?”

  Bob shook his head immediately. He felt bad ruining her night but he had to know the truth. He blurted it out before he could change his mind. “Emma, I’ve just had a very strange encounter in town with a Richard Morrison from the Pinkerton’s Detective Agency. He was looking for you.” Emma visibly paled and Bob closed his eyes, fearing that Emma knew exactly why these two men were in town looking for her.

  Bob continued. “A rather obnoxious man was with him, Percival Woodhampton. He claimed to have been engaged to you and alleged that the night before your wedding you assaulted him and robbed him. He said that you then effectively broke off your engagement as you ran away and left him unconscious. Please tell me it isn’t true,” he pleaded.

  Emma sat down and put her head in her hands, sobbing quietly. Bob sighed deeply as he sat down beside her and took her hand. He felt physically sick. He was certain there must have been some misunderstanding, but it seemed by Emma’s reaction that the man’s story was indeed true.

  “He’s lying,” sobbed Emm
a. “Part of it’s true, but he’s missed out the bit where I caught him having sex with one of the maids the night before our wedding. I guess he also forgot to tell you that after sleeping with her, he then came upstairs and attempted to rape me. I was so frightened. I managed to push him away but he kept coming for me,” Emma sobbed.

  “I picked up a vase and smashed it over his head, and then collected a few of my things to take with me. I realized that I would need money to escape from him, and I admit I did steal a few items. My father had only died a few weeks before and I felt trapped. I didn’t want to marry Percy but I had nowhere else to go, but after he had tried to rape me I had to get as far away from him as possible. I was afraid no-one would believe me,” she wailed. “I couldn’t tell you. I was terrified you would lock me up in jail.”

  Bob was relieved that Percy wasn’t telling the whole truth, but he was horrified that Emma hadn’t felt able to be truthful with him and had obviously carried this worry around since arriving in Great Bend.

  Emma became hysterical, begging Bob not to hand her over to Percy. “Please don’t make me go back with him, please,” she begged.

  “Emma, I have absolutely no problem with what you did to Percy back in New York. You did what you had to do under the circumstances. He had it coming to him,” Bob told her calmly.

  Emma breathed a sigh of relief.

  “But I’m very disappointed in you for lying to me for so long. There is not a chance in the world that I would give you up. I love you more than anything, but I’m afraid I must deal with you very severely for not being honest with me when you promised that you would. Go to your room and wait for me,” Bob ordered.

  Emma sobbed as she looked at Lee, hoping he might intervene. When he put his arm around Becky and turned away, Emma fled, running up the stairs as Bob walked out into the garden.

  Lee and Becky decided it was time to leave and as they headed outside and watched Bob cut a switch, Lee approached him. “Don’t be too hard on her, Bob,” he urged him.

  “She has to learn to trust me,” replied Bob, with a pained expression on his face. Lee nodded understandingly and patted the sheriff on the back affectionately before leading his wife away.

  Bob reluctantly made his way up to Emma’s room and knocked on her door before stepping inside, where she lay face down on the bed sobbing into her pillow. Bob swallowed the lump in his throat.

  “Let’s get this over with,” he told her.

  Emma got up from her bed and looked in horror at the switch in his hand. Oh my God, no, she thought. You can’t hit me with that. You’ll kill me! Looking at the determination on his face, she slowly moved towards him. Oh why couldn’t I have talked to you? I know you would have understood. Emma lowered her head as she approached Bob, feeling guilty for not having confided in him.

  “I want you to strip completely and bend over the blanket box at the foot of your bed,” he stated flatly as he stepped to the side of the box. He waited patiently for her to comply with his instructions.

  Emma nodded and sobbed as she removed her clothing, blushing and turning away from Bob as she removed her undergarments. She felt immense shame at being naked in front of him, but she felt just as ashamed of the lies she had told him. Why couldn’t I have trusted him? she thought as she reluctantly approached the bed.

  Bob had placed a pillow on the blanket box and Emma leant across it, propping her hips over the box and laying her upper body on the bed.

  “Stay still and don’t get up until I tell you to. I promise you that this is going to hurt, but I don’t ever want you to keep something so important from me in the future. Let this be a lesson to you, young lady,” Bob told her sternly.

  Emma squeezed her eyes tightly shut and waited. She gripped the bed as she willed herself to be strong, but she howled loudly as soon as the switch cut into her bare buttocks. She had never felt such intense pain and it took great self-control to stay in position.

  Bob took his time, working his way slowly down her bottom, ensuring that every inch of Emma’s buttocks were striped from the switch. Emma whimpered and squirmed as she tried her best to take the punishment Bob believed she deserved—and despite the pain, Emma needed it too. She would take whatever was necessary for Bob to forgive her. She loved him dearly and she felt bad for keeping such a huge secret from him.

  Be strong, she willed herself, as the switch was lashed against her bottom once more. Show him how sorry you are. Emma genuinely was sorry for not confiding in Bob, but as he moved on to her thighs with the switch it became too much.

  Emma screamed and rolled from side to side, throwing her hands back to cover her bottom. “No more,” she yelled, “please Bob, I’m so sorry, I can’t take any more, please”.

  Emma sobbed with relief as she glanced over her shoulder and saw Bob throw the switch to the floor, before immediately helping her up and covering her nakedness with a thin white nightgown. Bob then took her into his arms and rocked her gently.

  After a few minutes, Bob sat down and pulled Emma onto his lap, covering her face with kisses. He gently wiped away the tears that streaked her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry,” sobbed Emma. “I’m so sorry. Please, can you ever forgive me?”

  Bob got up and helped his sobbing fiancée into her bed and kissed her gently. “You’re forgiven,” he said soothingly, “but please don’t make such a harsh punishment necessary ever again. I love you very much and I couldn’t bear to lose you. If you’d told me about this I could have helped you.”

  Bob watched Emma sobbing into her pillows for a while, stroking her hair and whispering words of comfort to her, until eventually he left her room and went to his own bed, cursing himself for being so harsh with her. He had been absolutely furious that she hadn’t confided in him, but now he felt guilty for punishing her in anger.

  Bob was surprised when Emma entered his room a little while later and climbed into bed beside him. “Please hold me,” she pleaded, recalling the way Bill had held her close the night he had spanked her. She had felt some comfort that night and she needed to feel it now too.

  “I need to know that you still love me, please,” she begged.

  Although Bob felt it wasn’t right for Emma to share his bed before they were married, he pulled her into his arms, reaching down to gently caress her bottom. Emma wept loudly as his fingers traced the painful scratches that covered her entire bottom.

  Tomorrow they would deal with Percy, thought Bob, but for now he needed to let Emma know that he adored her and would always stand by her. He would always love her and he would always be there for her, and right now she needed to know that more than ever.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next morning Emma and Bob woke later than usual. They were both initially surprised to find themselves in bed together, but both quickly recalled the events of the previous evening and the reason for them sharing a bed. Bob pulled Emma into his arms and held her as she immediately started to cry, recalling the painful switching he had given her. She was still very sore and she clung to Bob as she whimpered her apologies. She couldn’t believe how much a switching had hurt and she hoped Bob would never ever do that to her again.

  “Come on,” he said to her, kissing her once more. “Let’s get up and have some breakfast then go and get this over with. I told Percy and Richard we’d meet them in town. Don’t worry. They’re not taking you with them. I’ll shoot them both dead before that happens, I promise you. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, but I think it’s better that you do.”

  Emma nodded and went to get dressed. She was terrified of Percy, but she knew she was safe with Bob by her side. She was nervous about seeing him again, but she agreed with Bob that Percy had got what was coming to him. She regretted not confiding in Bob and she was very relieved that it was all now out in the open. When they were ready to leave, Emma hesitated. She was extremely sore and tearful after her switching the previous night and the thought of riding a horse into town filled her with dread. Se
nsing her fears, Bob took her hand. “It’s OK, we’ll walk.”

  Emma smiled up at him as they headed into town. Bob reassured her as they walked, saying she was forgiven and he loved her as much as ever. He squeezed her hand gently as they strolled into town, taking it at a nice leisurely pace as they had plenty of time. When they finally reached the bar where they were to meet Percy, Emma threw herself into Bob’s arms, shaking with fear at the thought of seeing Percy again.

  Bob kissed her softly on the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her and offering words of comfort to his trembling fiancée. “He’ll be gone soon, be brave for me. He can’t hurt you anymore, I promise. Let’s go and get rid of him.”

  Emma nodded and let Bob lead her by the hand into the bar. She held her breath as they approached Percy and she looked nervously at the floor as Bob confronted him with Emma’s version of events. “It’s quite a bit different from what you told me last night,” Bob said accusingly.

  Percy became flustered and turned to Richard. “Do something. This is slanderous. Why on earth would a man of my stature need to rape a woman? I’ve never been so insulted in my whole life,” Percy huffed. “I told you she’s a liar, a thief, and a whore. Do what I’ve paid you to do and get hold of her,” he said to Richard. “She’s coming with us and after I’ve dealt with her personally, I’ll see to it that she’s thrown into jail.”

  Emma sobbed as she cowered behind Bob and gripped his arm. “Please don’t let them take me,” she begged.

  “You’re going nowhere,” Bob consoled her, “and if this worthless bastard doesn’t get out of my town I’ll make him sorry he ever set foot here,” Bob warned. “If you don’t go willingly I’ll put word round town about what you are and what you did to Emma. I’ll then enjoy watching you get horse whipped to within an inch of your pathetic little life.”