Here Comes McBride (Journey's End Book 1) Page 8

  “Oh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry,” Ellie dropped her eyes to the floor. “I’m sorry, but I won’t do it again.”

  Lars snorted. “You might stay out of a dry riverbed, but will you obey without question?”

  Ellie nodded with such vigor her hair swung in a wild pendulum.

  “I’m mighty glad. It could save us a heap of trouble if you do.” He sat on a log and held his hand out to her.

  “You’re still fixin’ to spank me?” Her feet refused to move. Her hand refused to budge.

  “I do. Tell me, Ellie, were you disobedient? Did that disobedience put your safety at risk?” He shook his hand at her. “You knew you would be spanked for it. If I let it pass, if I’m not true to my word, how can you trust me? How will you know I mean what I say? No, Ellie girl, I plan to be as reliable as the sunset. When you deserve to be spanked, I’ll see to it.”

  “But I don’t want you to spank me,” she wailed.

  “Of course, you don’t. Nobody wants to be spanked, but it’s only that. I won’t ever beat you. I’ll never take my fists to you. I will only redden that sweet bottom.” He leaned out and took her hand.

  In one pull of his muscled arm, she was standing at his side. A second tug had her lying over his thighs with her head dangling toward the dirt. The tickle of fabric passing across her calves as it made its way up to her back had her clenching her bottom.

  Lars laid the skirt over her back and chuckled. “Relax. No one ever died from having their bottom warmed.” He massaged her skin and squeezed the tight globes. “We’ll have to buy you another pair of bloomers, I reckon, but I’d rather have you bare under your clothes. Gives me something to think about.”

  His voice sounded a little like a spring wound too tight and ready to bust. She twisted to catch a glimpse of his face. His jaw was set tight, but his eyes sparked and danced. Well, at least one of them enjoyed the view. The dirty ground didn’t have much to recommend it.

  “Just a reminder. I don’t think you were trying to be sneaky when you went to the riverbed. I think you weren’t paying attention. Do you remember what happens if you try to be sneaky?” The hand continued to rub her exposed behind.

  “You’ll take your belt to me?” she gulped.

  “Well, I’m happy to know you listen some of the time. No belt, but I’ve got your hairbrush. We’ll finish the spanking with it. You nearly drowned in the river, and then you nearly died afterwards. I’ve never been so frightened, Ellie. Never. None of it would have happened if you had listened and obeyed.”

  His hand left her bottom, and she sensed it hovering, suspended in the air. Her bottom exploded in pain as his hand swatted her left cheek and then her right and then left and right again. She threw her hand back, but he caught it in his and held it captive at her back. More spanks rained down in quick succession. She twisted. She writhed, but he held her tight to his stomach. She changed tactics and bucked, but Lars simply increased the tempo and force of the spanks. He sent a message. The more you resist the harder the spanking will be, but how could she not resist? Her bottom screeched its pain.

  She bent her knees hoping to shield her poor buttocks with her legs.

  “Put your feet down, Ellie,” he commanded. He spanked the tops of her thighs until she understood that message. She lowered her legs, and he returned his spanks to her bottom.

  It did no earthly good to fight him. She kept her legs down and hoped for an end to the punishment.

  She deserved it. She must accept it.

  “Good girl,” Lars murmured. His praise sent ripples of pleasure to her heart even though her bottom burned like the seventh circle of Hell. “Eight with the hairbrush. Hold on to my leg.”

  He was quick, and she knew he held his strength in check, but the pain was an explosion of hot agony. Tears ran down her face to puddle on the ground. She wiped at her nose with her sleeve.

  Lars lifted her to his lap, letting her punished bottom rest between his legs. He fished a clean handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her face. “Here.” He put the square of cotton in her hand. “Blow your nose.”

  Yesterday, she’d seen him washing the handkerchief in the river. He had this spanking on his mind then and took a care for her comfort. She sank into the warmth of his hard chest, and her tears shuddered to a stop. With one last quivering breath, she relaxed in his embrace. Lars soothed with words low and soft. He patted her back, rubbed her bottom and stroked her hair. She felt… she felt loved, cared for, protected. This man cared enough to keep her from harm. She nestled her head into the spot between his collarbone and his shoulder, a place designed precisely for her.

  Lars set her carefully on her feet and dropped to one knee. He took her hand between both of his. His pale eyes were beams of determined hope.

  “Ellie McBride, will you marry me? When we put this mess behind us, will you be my wife, have my children and stay by my side? I’ll be true to you always if you say yes. You can count on me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I suppose this is a funny time to propose. Right after I spanked you, I mean. But the thing is, I wouldn’t spank you if I didn’t love you. Strange as it may seem, you standing there with a burning bottom, it’s my love you’re feeling. I love you, Ellie. Marry me.”

  “I’ll marry you, Lars. I love you, too.” She rubbed her backside. “It would be fine by me if you found other ways to show me that love. Like kissing. I like kissing just fine, and I think I’ll like what comes next.”

  “Girl, I can’t wait to show you all the ways we can love each other. Those are some lessons I can’t wait to teach. If you don’t want to be spanked, the answer is easy. Don’t disobey. Don’t put yourself in danger. Don’t do anything that’s bad for our marriage or our family.”

  Ellie sighed. “Lars, I think your list of rules grows longer every time we talk about the rules.”

  “Only because I love you and want you happy and safe,” he replied. “We’ll leave in the morning for the Kennett Mine. It’s higher into the mountains.” He paused. “I think it would be best if you dress as a boy. Mining is hard work done by rough men. I don’t suspect there are many women around. You’ll be safer if they don’t know. I’ll say you’re my little brother, and you’re on the sickly side. That will explain why you don’t go into the mine with me. You’re puny for a boy, so they’ll believe me.”

  Ellie swallowed around the lump in her throat. Lars was right. They couldn’t stay in their mineshaft forever, but it hurt to leave their own Garden of Eden. She leaned into his warm embrace, and he dropped a little kiss on the top of her head.

  “I know, Ellie girl,” he whispered into her ear. “I hate to go, too. Not much choice. Winter comes early in the mountains, and we would be in a world of hurt.” He gave her bottom an encouraging pat.

  They spent one last glorious night in the mineshaft. Lars moved the bedding so they could look up at the velvet sky as each star appeared and twinkled. When Ellie woke, Lars was soothing the horses as he saddled them.

  She was dressed when he returned. “Do you have your trousers on under that skirt?” he asked.

  Ellie tried to smile, but her lower lip trembled. “I do. Let’s go.”

  They climbed for three days always higher, always deeper. The jagged outline of the mountain range stood stark against the clear blue sky. Daylight faded to deep purple by late afternoon in the shadow of these giants.

  “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” Ellie sighed. “These trees reach straight to heaven. I wonder what they are.”

  “I believe they’re Sequoias,” Lars told her. “Might even be called Giant Sequoias. Seems a sin to cut one down, but I know loggers are at work.”

  After guiding their horses around an outcropping of rock, Lars reached out and took hold of Ellie’s bridle. “Look there,” he breathed.

  Ellie sat, stunned speechless, and gazed at the waterfall pouring down the rock face before them. Water thundered, crashed, and splashed into a sea of mist and spray.

  They dism
ounted and moved toward the edge of the chasm churning with white water.

  “Stay back,” Lars laid a restraining hand on her arm. “I couldn’t save you if you fell in.”

  Ellie nodded. “It’s loud,” she shouted.

  Lars leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. “We’ll camp here tonight. I believe we’ll arrive at the mine tomorrow. This is an amazing sight, Ellie girl. Let’s enjoy it while we can.”

  She circled his arm with both of hers and squeezed tight. “I love it here, Lars. It feels, oh, I don’t know. It feels… holy. That’s it. God made this beauty for us to worship him.” Her eyes swept the foaming water and followed the tumbling froth to the top of the stone cliff.

  “I’ll gather some wood,” she said, before stooping to begin her nightly collection.

  Lars went about his business with the horses and unloading their supplies. In their traveling days together they had developed a quiet partnership. Each fulfilled their duties without talk or fuss and then shared that one, long kiss before sleep.

  Lars woke first the following day and elbowed Ellie in the side, “Lord have mercy, look at that.” He tipped his head in the direction of the waterfall. The morning sun threw its beams across the tumbling water and created prisms of color that danced and flitted and wove their way up and down the face of the mountain.

  “Oh, Lars,” Ellie breathed the words like a prayer. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful, have you?” She turned to find him staring not at the beauty and bounty of nature but at her.

  “Well, I believe I have.” He pulled her tight to his chest. “Yes, sir, I do believe I have. I plan to break our one kiss rule, Ellie girl. I aim to steal an extra this morning.”

  His hand cupped the back of her head and guided her to the position he had in mind. “Close your eyes,” he demanded.

  Ellie obeyed and waited, hovering on the edge of desire and eager all over. He sealed his lips over hers and swiped his tongue across her lips. Well, setting up camp wasn’t the only routine they’d perfected. She knew what he was asking for with that little lick. She let her mouth open and their tongues began a skirmish. He pulled her onto his lap, and she felt his hardness beneath her hip. She squirmed a bit just to let him know she was aware of his condition.

  He growled, “I can barely control myself as it is. Stop that wiggling.”

  Setting her between his legs, he enfolded her in his arms. She was safe here in his embrace. For years, she hadn’t felt safe. Even though her mother protected her at the hotel, they hadn’t been safe. Even as a small child, she’d felt her ma’s tension and worry. After she’d passed, her fright increased. Somehow, luck or fate or fortune had brought her the gift of Lars. She relaxed into his warm chest.

  “You best dress as a boy. We’ll reach the mine today. I’m going to call you Al. That’s close to your own name, so it should work.” Lars stood and helped her to her feet. “Let’s break camp. Daylight’s burning.”

  Ellie reached into the saddlebag and removed pieces of her disguise. “I need help binding my breasts.” She frowned at the roll of bandages.

  “Lord, I hate to do that. I love to watch them bounce.” He lifted one in each hand and let them drop. He exhaled a disgusted sigh. “Hold the end, and I’ll wind it around you.”

  When she was dressed, she turned in a slow circle. Lars watched and winced. “Tuck your hair up a little more. If we were smart, we’d cut it, but I can’t bring myself to do it. You’ll just have to be careful and keep your hat pulled low. And your bottom is too round. If any man took a good look, they’d see that sassy behind. It’s the best we can do, though.” He put large hands on her shoulders and gave a little shake. “This is going to be tricky. When we get there today, I’ll have a chance to look around. I need to find some place for you to be safe while I’m working. You must mind me. No questions. Understand?”

  “I do,” she affirmed.

  “You’re my little brother, and I’d be just as likely to warm his bottom as I would yours. Don’t you forget it.” He gave her another shake before drawing her close to his chest and hugging her tight. “I want a life with you, Ellie girl. We have to wait Simon out. Then we can find Sven and Caroline.”

  Wait Simon out? She turned that over in her mind a time or three. Hell would freeze over before that happened, but what were their choices? Run or fight, and she didn’t like their odds either way.

  Halfway through the morning, they heard the sound of men. Their voices and their industry insulted the quiet peace of the mountains.

  “Stay with the horses,” Lars instructed. “I’m going to see if I can find the foreman.”

  Ellie pulled her hat down and took the reins of their horses in her hand and waited.

  Lars’ return sent a jolt of hot relief throbbing through her body.

  “Well, I can start tomorrow. The pay is thirty cents a day and work goes Monday through Saturday.” He rubbed the back of his neck and pulled his hat off. “We’ll have to sleep rough. We’re broke. Once I get paid we can rent one of those shacks.” He gestured to a row of run-down buildings that didn’t look fit to house a donkey. “Costs two day’s pay.”

  “Two days?” Ellie gasped.

  “Right. Then there’s the store, which is owned by the company. Prices are high there. I’d say supplies cost double what they should.” He slapped his hat against his leg and stared, blue eyes snapping, over her head. “The saloon is next to the store and also company owned. Prices double there, too. It’s got some working girls. I didn’t ask, but I bet the miners pay dearly for their services.” He paused. “The miners pay for a shack and supplies. Then they blow what’s left at the saloon on whiskey and a girl if they’re lucky. Old man Kennett has them damn near working for free.”

  “What can we do?” she asked, worry flitting like fireflies across her eyes.

  “Do you think you can keep on sleeping out?” he inquired.

  Ellie nodded. “Better than sleeping in one of those tumble-down shacks.”

  “If we don’t pay for a house, that saves two day’s pay. We’ll need to buy some supplies from the store, but I can fish and maybe snare a rabbit. We’re used to cooking over a fire. I won’t go to the saloon. Hell, why would I do that when I have you to keep me company?”

  “I think it’s a good plan, Lars. We need some ready money so we can move on. We didn’t come here to stay.”

  “If you weren’t my brother, I’d kiss you good and proper,” he laughed. “Let’s find a place to camp by the river. We need privacy.” Lars took the reins from her small hand and turned the horses toward the water.

  “What will I do during the day?” Ellie’s gut churned. Without Lars, she was scared. What if Simon found her?

  Lars gave her a brotherly shove. “I talked to the fella that runs the store. Name’s Burt. I said my little brother was a mite on the puny side and didn’t take to being left alone. Anyway, Burt said you could sit in the store or outside on the bench, and he’d keep an eye on you.” He shrugged. “It’s the best I could do.”

  Ellie stopped herself just before she took his hand into her own. “Thank you, brother, that will be fine.”

  When the whistle blew in the morning, Lars was given a pick and a bucket. He followed the rest of the men into the gaping hole in the side of the mountain. Ellie watched until his broad shoulders and white blond hair disappeared into the darkness. She sat on the bench and watched the entrance to the mine. At dinner, she pulled a piece of the rabbit they’d cooked for dinner and ate without tasting. When she needed to relieve herself, she wandered into the trees until she was sure no one would see her drop her pants to pee. Then she returned to her post.

  As the sun sank, Lars emerged from the mine. He was covered in dust and grime, and his blond hair was turned to gray. He straightened when he saw her waiting, but he’d been stooped with fatigue. Her heart clenched.

  “Nielson,” Burt called from the door of the store. “Your brother is more faithful than any dog or woman I ever did
see.” He chuckled at his own joke. “He sat on the bench near all day and stared at the mine. Anyway, if you need an advance on your pay, you can buy on credit. Boss allows it.”

  “I bet he does,” Lars muttered. “Thanks, Burt, but we’re all right. After I get paid, we’ll pick up a few things. Come on, Al, let’s get back to camp.”

  The walk to their campsite was made in silence. When they arrived, Ellie reached for his hand, but Lars pulled away. “I don’t think anyone can see us here.” She reached again.

  “It’s not that. My hands are sore from working that pick all day. They’ll heal up,” he said.

  Ellie turned his hand over and stared at the blisters covering his palm. “Oh, Lars,” she whispered.

  He snorted. “They sell gloves at the store for a hefty price. I swear, Ellie, I’m not getting sucked into their game. Most of the miners are in debt to the store. They can’t leave. Those men might as well be slaves. I won’t do it.” His anger infused voice tore a jagged piece from her heart.

  “How long do we have to stay?” she asked.

  “Three weeks to a month and then we’ll leave. If we’re careful, we’ll have three or four dollars. I want to get out of here before the real cold comes. It’s early September. I’d say we have a month or so before we have to have shelter. Maybe we can find an abandoned house to winter in or I can trade some work for a place in a hay loft, but we can’t camp out during winter in these mountains.” He pulled his dirty shirt over his head and headed for the water. “I need to clean up.”

  Ellie hated this place. She hated for Lars to be exhausted and angry. She hated the fact that she was the cause. He should be in Oregon with his brother making plans and planting crops. Not disappearing into the darkness of that damned mine sunup to sundown. She stamped her foot and gave a rock a good kick before bending to pick up fallen branches for their fire.

  After dinner, Lars fell into bed, pulled her close to his body and fell into a sleep so deep she feared him unconscious. But when the whistle blew in the morning, Lars was waiting with the other miners to acquire his pick and bucket. They’d torn off a piece of the bandage Ellie used to bind her breasts and wrapped his injured hands. Ellie spent another day staring at the opening to the mineshaft only venturing into the woods when nature insisted that she must.