Sam swallowed hard, but told herself to calm down. The Chief seemed to be alone, and in a one-on-one she could defend them if necessary.
Trudy chose that particular moment to wake up. She spotted Water Bear, and then flashed Sam an "I-told-you-so" look. "Any more good ideas?" she asked Sam with a spunky grin.
"Okay, so it wasn't such a hot idea, but we don't have Comanche where I come from." Sam decided that Water Bear didn't look especially menacing after her comment. In fact, he seemed almost amused.
"Do they have angry husbands back there?" Trudy asked in a strange voice, and Sam turned her attention from the Indian to the direction Trudy was looking. To her surprise, Devlin and another man were standing side by side.
"Devlin! You came!" Sam cried out in relief, jumping to her feet and running to throw herself into his arms.
Devlin hugged the tiny redhead to him, closing his eyes against the sudden moisture that filled his dark eyes as he was overwhelmed with relief that she was truly safe.
"How did you ever find us?" Sam whispered, surprised at how safe she felt now that he was here.
"One of the Peterson twins saw you ride out," Dev replied, surprised by the question.
"Thank God," Sam whispered. "I cannot believe I did something so stupid. You must be furious with me."
"Thanks for reminding me." Dev abruptly realized he was angry, and that he had promised himself the satisfaction of impressing that fact upon Samantha's shapely bottom.
Sam was stunned when Devlin pulled her over to a rock jutting from the ground, sat down, then jerked her across his hard-muscled thighs. She knew what he intended to do, and automatically struggled to free herself.
Dev clamped his left arm tightly around his wiggling wife, and then brought his right hand down with a smack on the seat of her tight pants. Sam cried out, and he gave her a total of six stinging spanks before he turned her over to sit on his lap. "Don't you ever do something so damned foolish again!" he growled.
Samantha glared at her husband in a mixture of outraged dignity, temper, and embarrassment. She couldn't believe Devlin had actually spanked her in front of everyone else!
Water Bear was openly laughing at her, and the man she assumed to be Trudy's husband was nodding his head in complete agreement with Dev's highhandedness. "How dare you treat me like that?" she demanded in a fierce whisper meant for his ears alone.
"It was easy, Red. You have put me through twelve kinds of hell the last few days."
Samantha abruptly realized that the physical punishment was Devlin's way of expressing his fear. She had seen the same type of reaction out of mothers when small children ran out into traffic, and out of fellow officers when their partner took a unnecessary risk. The spanking was really an act of love. "I'm sorry. I simply didn't realize what I was getting into. It won't happen again."
"You have got that right," he told her firmly, then put her on her feet. "We will finish this when we have some privacy." Before she could answer, he walked away to go and talk to Water Bear.
"Are you all right, Sam?" Trudy asked with genuine sympathy.
'I would worry about your own backside if I were you, Mrs. Hart," Mason warned with a disapproving frown.
"Am I supposed to believe you actually care what happens to me, Mason Hart?" Trudy turned on the man, her blue eyes shooting sparks at him.
* * * * *
Riding all afternoon hadn't done one thing to calm Devlin's temper. The man didn't say one word to her as they made camp, or while they partook of the small meal she and Trudy put together. She made up her mind to try and talk to him as soon as they finished cleaning up their dishes. And one glance at Mason told her that he wouldn't object to a few minutes of privacy with his wife.
Devlin cast another furtive look in Samantha's direction, trying to gauge her mood. Spanking her in front of Water Bear, Mason, and Trudy had been a foolish move on his part. Even though she more than deserved the punishment, he doubted she would forgive him for administering it. As soon as possible he wanted to get her alone, and see if he could determine the depth of her anger.
"Devlin?" He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't seen Sam approach until she spoke to him.
"What?" he answered more abruptly than he intended.
"I was wondering if we might go for a walk?" Sam asked tentatively, positive he would refuse her. "I think Mason and Trudy need some time alone."
"So do we," Dev stated. He took Samantha's arm, then called over his shoulder, "Sam and I are going for a walk, Mason."
"I am coming, too," Trudy announced, jumping to her feet, and starting toward them.
"No, you aren't, Mrs. Hart," Mason said and he reached out and wrapped his arm around her tiny waist, lifting her completely off her feet. "You are staying right here with me."
"No, I am not!" Trudy argued, balling up a fist and taking a swing at the man.
Mason ducked, and then warned, "You are in enough trouble without making it worse, Trudy. Try that again, and you won't sit comfortably for a week."
"You wouldn't dare, Mason Hart!" Trudy unwisely taunted the big man.
"I dare, Mrs. Hart," Mason told her, and Sam automatically started forward to protect the tiny woman from her husband's temper when it became apparent that Mason fully intended to carry out the threat.
"Stay out of it." Dev tightened his hold on the redhead.
"I can't let him punish her, Dev," Sam cried out. "She has been so miserable—"
"If you want to help Trudy, give Mason some time alone with her to work out their differences," Dev insisted, pulling Sam away from the camp.
"They need to talk, not—" She broke off when she heard Trudy cry out in a mixture of outrage and temper.
"Mason won't hurt her, honey," Dev said reassuringly. "Mason is going to give Miss Trudy a long over-due spanking and insist she talk to him about what has been making her behave like a brat the last few weeks. And, while he is doing that, Mrs. Foster, you and I are going to come to an understanding."
"I know you are upset with me, Dev, and I will even admit that you have a right to be a little upset, but when I explain everything, I am sure you will understand that I am only doing what is right. I have proof that Winston's real name is Winston Deal, and he did hire two men from Blue Willow to terrorize Mary. Once I arrest them, they can testify to Deal's illegal activities, and I can put him away forever. He wrote all of this down in a ledger which I have in my possession."
"And how did you get this ledger?" Devin wanted to know.
Sam's chin went up in a gesture of defiance. "I searched his house."
"When?" Dev asked calmly, knowing full well exactly what day it was. It was the day he had forbidden her to leave the house, as a punishment, a punishment she chose to ignore.
"The day before Trudy and I left Pineville," Sam replied truthfully.
"The day you were supposed to say inside the house as a punishment for going to Winston's house the day before? After I expressly forbade you to go anywhere near the man?" Dev asked in a scolding tone of voice.
Sam bit her lower lip, and then walked a few more steps before nodding.
"Do you remember the promise I made you that morning at the breakfast table?" he asked softly, his dark eyes glittering with purpose as he reached out and pulled her to a stop and turned her to face him.
"I am not used to being told what to do," she reminded him. "Besides, I made certain that Deal wasn't home before we went inside."
"We?" He caught her slip of tongue. "You took Trudy with you, didn't you?"
Sam's eyes opened wide in dismay at his disapproval. "It was all my idea!"
"I can believe that."
"You said we needed proof before you could arrest Deal," Sam pointed out.
"I also said to keep your butt away from the man, Mrs. Foster," Devlin said.
"I did keep away from him, Dev. I waited until he was gone before I searched his house."
"And what would you have done if he'd caught you inside? Do you realize that you would be behind bars right now?"
"He couldn't make it stick. There are no laws preventing the type of search I conducted. You could even use the ledger in a court of law," she scoffed.
"Samantha, I have had it!" Devlin looked down at her, his dark eyes expressing his disbelief. "I have never met a woman who needed a good, sound spanking as much as you do."
Samantha swallowed hard, but didn't have to worry about saying anything. It seemed as though Devlin had finally reached his limit with her.
"You do exactly as you please without one thought to the consequences to yourself or the feelings of others. You regard any attempt on my part to control your impulsive, reckless behavior as a challenge to defy me."
"I do not!" she denied.
"Yes, you do. Did you even once consider the danger you put yourself in? Or Trudy? Not just from Winston, but from the Comanche? Or how Mason and I would feel knowing you two were out here all alone? And, what about poor Doris and Artie? Just what do you think they are going through right now?"
Sam couldn't dispute anything he said. "I am sorry for all of that. I didn't mean to put Trudy in danger, or to worry anyone. I am not used to people worrying about me."
"Not even Eddie?" Dev demanded.
"He was a cop and my partner. He understood."
"Yeah. That's why he was always threatening to smack your butt."
"He wouldn't have done it, though." Sam was quick to defend Eddie.
"More's the pity. I think you interpret any scolding as nothing more than a nuisance to be ignored."
"I do not!"
"Don't you, Red? Then why did you leave the house when you were being punished?"
"Maybe because I didn't feel you had the right to ground me like a child!" Sam's temper flared angrily.
"It sure as hell didn't have any effect on you," he agreed. "I have come to the conclusion that you see any form of leniency on my part as weakness."
"Devlin!"
"Admit it, Sam. What did you think I would do about this bit of defiance?' he demanded of her, curious. "Did you consider my reaction, or the consequences you would face for riding out here?"
"I hoped you would understand that I meant what I told you in my note. I can take care of myself. I have arrested—"
"Do you have Comanche where you come from, Red?"
"No. We have street gangs, and –"
He cut her off. "Those men molested Mary. Did you think they would come along meekly?"
"I certainly didn't intend to give them a choice in the matter."
"Did it occur to you that you have no authority whatsoever to arrest them?" Dev scolded. "You are so caught up in seeking revenge that you are taking the law into your own hands, Samantha, and I tell you, it is going to stop right now. Right now, before you get yourself into trouble I can't get you out of."
"I can't just turn my back and ignore Deal," Sam insisted.
"You can and you will," Dev stated firmly, then reached out and took hold of her hand. "And I intend to give you some incentive to obey me."
Sam gasped in shock and outrage when she realized that he meant to put her over his knee again. "Don't you dare!" she sputtered angrily. "You already spanked me, and in front of Water Bear, Trudy, and Mason," she accused.
"I warned you we weren't finished with that spanking, and now is the time to make sure you get a lesson to remember. You were just plain foolish, young lady. He pulled her over to a fallen tree, took a seat, and then jerked her down over his lap. Her pants and drawers were soon around her knees in spite of her struggles to maintain her dignity.
"What if Trudy or Mason comes out here?" she cried out in embarrassment.
"Then I guess they will see a naughty wife getting the spanking she has been begging for." Dev was through talking, and he brought his hand down with a loud crack on her left cheek. The spot colored immediately, and Sam kicked her legs in an effort to throw herself off of his lap and escape the spanking he planned to give her. He spanked her a few more times and then said, "Maybe by the time we have finished with this, you will understand the meaning of the word obey," Dev said.
"I will divorce you!" Sam threatened, knowing full well she would never do such a thing.
"No, you won't, Red, because no court in the country would find me at fault for taking you in hand."
"Stop, Dev! You are hurting me!" Sam insisted.
"You can kick, scream, cuss, and beg all you want, Red, but it won't do you any good. You are going to get a thorough spanking."
Samantha gasped when Devlin put actions to words, and she quickly discovered he wasn't going to be content with giving her a half dozen swats like before. The man intended to punish her thoroughly; her poor bottom was quickly on fire, and his arm showed no signs of tiring.
"Please! I'm sorry I frightened you."
"Are you really, or are you sorry you are getting a spanking?" he asked, making sure to redden her upper things. Sam cried out in pain, and did her best to evade his hand, but he had no trouble spanking her where he wanted.
"Stop!" Sam ordered, frantic to escape the punishing hand.
"I have barely begun, Mrs. Foster," Dev told her, wrapping his strong left arm around her waist to hold her in place. "I promised you a sound spanking, and that is what you are going to get." He smacked her fanny again. "This is for taking on the Comanche, not once, but twice," he scolded, applying his hand in stinging spanks mean to chastise. Dev wanted to make her so sore that the mere thought of doing something like this again would make her bottom hurt!
"I'm sorry!" Sam pleaded with him to stop. "Please! I had no idea!" Her pleas fell on deaf ears.
"As for leaving the house…" He spanked her again. "Since you didn't accept that punishment, you will get this in its place," Dev announced, whacking her bare bottom with renewed enthusiasm.
"I am sorry!" Sam tearfully admitted, ceasing her struggles in an attempt to placate him. "Please stop!"
"You have pushed me too far this time," Dev said quietly. "I have no intention of stopping until I am positive I have your complete attention."
"I said I was sorry, Dev!"
"Not as sorry as you are going to be," he promised, and Sam yelped when he swatted her stinging bottom again. "This is for going near Winston's house after I forbade it." He continued spanking her rounded bottom. "And this is for taking Trudy with you. And for stealing Winston's ledger!" He smacked her again and again, making sure she knew why she was being spanked. "Stealing is wrong and it is against the law."
"I know! I won't do it again!" Sam desperately promised. "I am sorry. Please, please, please stop!" She was crying so hard he could barely understand what she was saying.
"Are you through pushing me to the ends of the earth and back?" he asked with another volley of hard spanks to her smarting sit spots. "This little spanking is nothing compared to what could have happened to you at the hands of the Comanche. And Winston is little better. I want you to stay away from the Comanche and from Winston. Is that understood?" he scolded, but it was his hand doing most of the talking to her sore bottom.
"Yes! I won't do it again!" Sam promised. "I am sorry," she hastily agreed, sobbing as if her heart was breaking.
"Do you realize that I am not Eddie, and I won't merely threaten to wallop you, I will do it?" he demanded. "I am your husband. I will not permit you to put your life in danger… for any reason."
"I won't do it again! Please stop! I'm so sorry!" Sam was sobbing now, and lying limply over his lap. Her poor bottom was on fire.
"Do you realize that you deserved this punishment? And that I won't tolerate any sulking or pouting, or any getting even?" he asked in a gentle tone as he lifted her to her feet.
Samantha couldn't see his face through her tears, but she nodded her acceptance of his terms. The last thing on earth she wanted right now was another session across his knee. Her backside was on fire, and she was truly miserable.
Devlin couldn't help but feel sorry for his tiny redhead. He had given her a thorough spanking, and she would wear it for several days. "Come here, honey." He reached out to pull her into his arms. "Go ahead and cry it out."
His words were all the encouragement Sam needed. All the stress of the last few days poured out, as did the guilt she felt for risking Trudy's safety as well as her own, and for worrying Doris, Artie, Mason, and her own husband. As much as she hated to admit it, she had known exactly what Devlin would do to her for riding out of Pineville, and she wondered what it was inside her that prompted such behavior. Had she merely been testing him, as he seemed to think? No matter what her reasons were, she had gotten exactly what she deserved.
Dev continued to hold Samantha in his arms long after she stopped crying. He truly regretted making her cry in pain, and didn't doubt for one minute that she would make him pay dearly for spanking her, in spite of her promise not to sulk. He would be damn lucky if she didn't decide to leave him. He knew she didn't condone spanking an adult woman, but she was living in this world now, and if it took a spanking every damned day to keep her safe, then he would do it. He loved her that much.
Sam finally decided that she was in control once more, and knew it was up to her to make peace with her husband. She owed him a sincere apology for her behavior, and putting it off wouldn't make it any easier. Bravely, she forced herself to look up into his dark eyes. Thankfully, he didn't seem angry. "I am truly sorry," she said softly. "You had every right to be upset with me."
"I thought you would be mad as hell at me for taking you over my knee," Dev confessed with a tender smile.
"I am angry with myself for deserving a spanking," she said honestly, and then admitted, "No one has ever set limits for me, and it isn't easy for me to accept that you have that right. Even so, I knew the minute when Water Bear put us in that tepee to wait for you and Mason that I deserved your anger. When I tried to picture your reaction to the situation, I was fairly certain that my backside was in serious trouble."
"Guilt."
"Usually, when I get myself into messes, I am not stupid enough to involve anyone else," Sam said. "I nearly got Trudy raped, or married to some Indian brave. Mason must be furious with me!" She shuddered at the thought.
"He probably feels like putting you over his knee," Dev corroborated. "Just as I do Trudy."
"It isn't her fault," Sam defended the other woman.
"She knows how dangerous it is out here, Red. She should have come to me and let me put a stop to your foolishness. The fact she didn't is why I am furious with her."
"You wouldn't really spank her, would you?"
"No. Trudy is Mason's responsibility, just as you are mine."
"Does that mean you won't let Mason punish me?" Sam asked hopefully.
"Of course I won't let him punish you!" Devlin was shocked by the question.
"I am relieved to hear that." She reached up to pull his head adown so she could kiss him tenderly on the lips. "I must be absolutely crazy, but I want to make love!"
* * * * *
Mason waited until Dev took Samantha farther away from the camp before he gave his wife's upturned bottom another spank. "I am going to spank you for riding out here and risking your life, Mrs. Hart, but before I do, you are going to tell me why you ran away from home and came out here by yourself."
"You've been ignoring me!" Trudy stated. "Don't bother denying it, either. You simply ignore me no matter what I do!"
"I haven't been ignoring you, Trudy. I was trying to finish up a project I was assigned to complete. Then, when I came home, tired and in need of some peace and quiet, you were behaving like a shrew. Pepper on my food one day, salt another, and then sugar! Perfume on my shirts, and it is a wonder I didn't get a serious reprimand for that. Luckily the Colonel thought it amusing that my bride couldn't keep her hands off of me."
"You didn't say anything."
"I was trying to control my temper, brat. I wanted to put you over my knee like the bratty little girl you were behaving like."
"Why didn't you?" she asked.
"You wanted me to spank you?" he demanded, looking at her in disbelief.
"I didn't think I was marrying a man who would permit me to walk all over him. When I lost the money to pay our bill at Emerson's, you didn't do or say anything!"
"Did you lose it on purpose?" he asked.
"I saw a clock I wanted and I bought it instead of paying the bill," she admitted. "Father would have known I was lying and he would have insisted I tell the truth, and then he would have spanked me. I felt so guilty, and no matter what I did, I couldn't get you to pay attention to me."
"I see," Mason said, looking down at her. "I can see I have made a serious mistake, my darling, and I ask forgiveness. I will definitely pay more attention to you from now on." Without warning, he smacked her rounded backside with his hand and Trudy yelped in surprise.
"Mason! What are you doing?" Trudy demanded as she felt his hand fumbling for the buttons on her pants.
"I am baring my wife to give her a spanking she will always remember."
"No, Mason! Dev and Sam could return at any moment!"
"Too bad." He spanked her bared cheek on the same spot as before and earned a louder yelp of pain. "Do you need further explanation about why this is going to happen?" he asked.
"You can't spank me, Mason! It isn't fair. This all happened in the past. If we start over, it has to be from now," she said as she reached back to cover her cheeks with her hands.
Mason took her left hand and pulled it forward, and then he captured her right hand and pinned it against her side. His left arm pinned her squarely to him and gave him a clear target of her wiggling bottom. "We aren't doing this by your rules, Miss Trudy. We are doing this my way, and my way means you are going to have a very sore butt to sit in your saddle for a few days." He started spanking, slowly at first, while he scolded her for every last thing he could think of, and much harder and faster when he got to the part of her riding out with Sam. Trudy cried and told him she was sorry, but he didn't release her until every inch of her bottom and upper thighs were a scalding red and hot to the touch. Trudy was sobbing, and she didn't like it one little bit when he stood her up and pulled up her drawers and her pants.
"No, Mason! The pants hold in the heat and the sting!" She tried to push them down, but he lightly smacked her hands.
"Leave them up, wife. Maybe you won't be so anxious to wear pants the next time you are tempted."
Trudy looked at him, her eyes full of hurt, and then she ran from camp, in the opposite direction of Dev and Samantha. Mason followed her, and once she stopped running, he took her in his arms and pulled her close. Trudy sobbed. "I was so afraid you wouldn't come for me, Mason. I was so afraid you didn't love me anymore."
"I will always come for you, Trudy Hart. I love you with all of my being," he insisted, and then Trudy kissed him as though she were starving for affection.