John was having a very successful hunting trip; he had stalked and shot a young male deer on which there was plenty of meat to last them at least for a while. He was completely unaware that his movements were being tracked. Breaking his camp in a clearing of the forest, John packed up and prepared to leave. He tightened the girth on the horse and turned to collect his bedroll, but when he straightened up he sucked in his breath sharply, realizing he was surrounded by three Indian braves.
They were each similarly dressed in deerskin leggings, all of them bare-chested except one, who had a breast plate made of some sort of thin bone or quills. The middle Indian was an exceptionally tall and well-built man. He sported a necklace of what John guessed were bear claws. All had shaved heads with a line of hair running from the front to the back of their heads, the hair standing upright like the feathers of crested birds.
John held out both hands at waist height, palms upright to show he held no weapon. He nodded to them once and then stood quite still and waited. The large Indian raised his hand first in greeting and nodded at John. He touched his eye and pointed to John, then held his hand out at about knee high. John followed this pantomime and realised straight away these men were looking for something of that height, probably a child, and they were asking him if he had seen one. John shook his head. The Indian, still using sign language, mimed hunger, rubbing his belly in circles, and he gestured to the deer carcass. John nodded and drew a line across the haunch of the animal with his finger, gesturing the Indian forward to cut the leg for their use.
It would have done him no good to have refused their request, John realised. He was outnumbered three to one.
Linnett had spent a better night with her young charge. She had made a bed in the tin tub for the babe, and he had snuggled down comfortably. She had slept all through the night, waking at dawn feeling much refreshed, thanks to her undisturbed slumber. She had only just finished feeding the child his breakfast when she heard the blowing and stamping of a horse. Opening the door a crack and peeking out she saw John dismounting and Linnett was about to run and meet him, when the child gave an excited cry and called out. He toddled over to Linnett at the door and grabbed onto her skirts; Linnett swept him up and into her arms.
Then Linnett saw them, the three native males. They sat silently mounted on their horses, staring at her with an unblinking gaze. Instinctively, she clutched the child, clasping him to her in a protective gesture that was not lost on one of the natives watching her.
Linnett stood still frozen to the spot but the child called to the natives in an excited babble, his small hand reached up and wound itself in Linnett’s loose hair and he bounced excitedly on her hip. John watched from the fence where his horse was tied, he was startled to see his wife emerge from their home carrying a small native child. John was now terrified for Linnett’s safety but he could only stand and observe, fearful that any sudden move on his part might trigger an attack. One of the men rode forward a few paces while the other two hung back. He stopped and waited. Linnett looked down at the child’s glowing face he was still bouncing up and down in her arms oblivious to the tension surrounding him.
Linnett took a deep breath and walked up to the native man, who was large and muscular, golden skinned with black eyes that betrayed nothing of his inner thoughts, let alone his intentions. His nose was slightly bent as if it had been broken at some point. Bizarrely, his head was shaved, save for a middle strip of hair that ran from his forehead to his neck this was coloured with ochre paste and stood up stiffly. He wore a necklace of what looked like animal claws strung around his neck. One ear sported an earring of silver from which hung three small white feathers.
He stretched out his arms to take the child, Linnett searched his face to assess his intentions but she could read nothing, his face was totally blank. Linnett realised there was nothing else to do but hand the child over; she held the child up to the terrifying man before her but the babe suddenly grabbed her around the neck and snuggled his face into her, holding on tightly.
Gently, Linnett withdrew his arms and kissed his cheeks before she swiftly handed him up to the native, who smoothed the child’s hair back and spoke gently to him in a soft deep tone. The child twisted in his arms and called to Linnett. “Ko si, Ko si, Mi he wi!”
Linnett held up her hand to the Indian. “Wait please, wait!” She ran inside quickly and came out again clutching the carved wooden horse.
The natives were in the process of turning their horses to leave and Linnett had to run alongside them and put a restraining hand on the large Indian’s leg as she held the carved horse up to him. The child reached out for it and also grabbed a fist full of Linnett’s hair. The native Indian spoke sharply to the child but he hung on tightly and began to wail. With a swift movement, the Indian withdrew a large dagger from his hip, and before Linnett even had time to register any fear, he cut off the length of hair the child was holding. Man and horse moved off swiftly, the child waving the toy horse and a long gleaming rope of Linnett’s hair in the air as they rode away. A thin wail carried back to her as the child suddenly realised that Linnett was not attached to the hair he clutched so hard in his tiny hand.
Linnett stood still staring long after the Indians had disappeared. Silent tears slipped unnoticed down her cheeks. She was startled out of her reverie by John, who slipped his arms around her from behind, holding her close, his chin resting on top of her head. After a while he turned her around and held her close before gently guiding her indoors. John led Linnett to a chair and bid her sit. He hunkered down at her side, taking one of her hands in his. “How did you find the child?” he asked her gently.
Linnett told him her tale, and John nodded thoughtfully. He told her of his meeting in the forest with the three native Indians and of the sign language conversation that they had. “Hans told us there were no natives living nearby; I wonder where these came from?” Linnett pondered.
John shook his head. “I have no idea where they came from, but I think they were Abenaki. We were lucky; they are the most warrior-like tribe in these parts. I had the shock of my life when I turned around and there they were. They made no sound at all.”
Linnett nodded. “I know, the baby was so quiet at first and not at all like any other children I have seen,” she sighed. “Oh John, he was so sweet! I am going to miss him so!”
John pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. He looked down into her miserable face. He hated what he had to do next, but Linnett had disobeyed him once again and the consequences of her actions had put them both in grave peril. John went to the bed and sat down, then he patted his knee. Linnett stared at John, astonished, for there was no doubting his meaning and he was going to spank her!
“John, I do not deserve this.”
John quirked his brow and said, “Really? I told you not to leave the cabin and...”
“If I had stayed inside that poor baby might have died out there, John!”
“Linnett do not interrupt me again! As I said you should have stayed inside; you have put us both in peril and all because you did not listen to me yet again! Now show me that you have changed by doing what any other biddable wife would do and place yourself over my knee for your punishment. It is either that or your hairbrush, the choice is yours darlin’.”
Linnett struggled internally with the need to flee and the desire to please her husband. She secretly loved the power that he held over her and found John an exciting and sensuous mate but she didn’t want to be spanked! She had saved that child! She did not deserve this! Linnett stamped her foot and glared at John, but he simply crooked his finger at her, his mouth tight and unsmiling, his eyebrow quirked and questioning. Linnett took a shuddering breath and a faltering step. She sidled towards him her hands clasped behind her, already protecting her threatened derriere.
John patted his knee again and Linnett took a deep, shaky breath before bravely placing herself across her husband’s lap. John flipped up her skirt and petticoat loosening her drawers and parting them, baring Linnett’s curvaceous bottom. He rubbed her soft peachy flesh and began peppering her with small spanks, landing the swats ever faster and harder over the whole area of Linnett’s bottom, turning her from blushing pink to hot red.
Linnett had been determined to stay proudly silent throughout her ordeal but as the spanking progressed and John landed more and more spanks on the tender spot at the top of her legs, Linnett gave into her grief. She wept at having to say farewell to the lovely little child and cried because of the stinging spanks landing on her bare bottom. Very soon she felt sorry for herself and began to wail.
John grinned. He knew that his wife had planned to be noble and silent during her spanking but he also knew she was too damned wilful. Linnett needed to learn that there would be consequences every time she disobeyed him. John had to admit that he enjoyed spanking his wife. John loved the way the flesh of her pretty bottom shivered as he spanked the bouncy cheeks of her delectable derriere.
John also thought that perhaps Linnett needed the release of a spanking to cry about the child she had given up. It was not a long spanking however because John was so delighted that his wife had come so obediently across his knee. Perhaps this might be a turning point for them both and his wife would be more obedient from here on in.
Soon Linnett’s wails turned into earnest sobs and John tipped her upright, into his loving arms. He smoothed her hair away from her hot, wet tearstained face. He kissed away her tears and held her safe in the circle of his arms.
Finally, John wiped Linnett’s wet cheeks with his thumbs. “It looks as though I shall just have to give you a baby of your own to play with. Would you like a baby, my dearest girl?”
Linnett’s mouth curved into a sweet smile, “Ohh...I should adore a baby John! I expect you would want a son?”
John’s eyes twinkled, “I would love a son....or a daughter, but what I shall really enjoy is conceiving one with its very beautiful mother!”
John lowered his head and kissed her with all the passion of a man who has abstained for a number of days. Linnett clung to John, amazed by the desire she felt for this man who had just spanked her. They tipped sideways onto the bed entwined together, and Linnett prayed that their lovemaking would bear fruit.
The days passed in a whirl of activity, there were so many preparations to make before the snows came. Both of them were so tired when they fell into bed at night that all thoughts of making babies were forgotten.
The day came when they awoke to a white covering of powdery snow. Linnett was thrilled with how pretty everywhere looked. The air had a scent to it that only a fall of snow can produce, sharp, clean, brittle and bright.
After the animals had been seen to, they went for a walk together. “We won’t be able to walk through the snow soon, not when it falls heavily,” John told her. “It will be far too deep and very, very cold.”
Linnett skipped ahead of him and gathered up a handful of the soft snow, throwing it at his head but hitting his chest. John charged after her and there followed a fierce snowball fight which left Linnett gasping for breath from giggling so much. They trudged home, wet, tired, and blissfully happy.
During the next few weeks, the weather became freezing, and thick snow covered the ground. As John had predicted, the snow was so deep it was difficult to walk at all, even over to the barn to tend the animals. John struggled daily to see to their needs and kept clearing the never-ending falls of snow from the path he had dug to the barn and outbuildings. Despite the struggles, Linnett was enjoying the closeness brought about by the harsh weather, and the covered landscape was stunning in its cloak of dazzling white.
Inside the cabin it was always cosy, and the aromatic smell of Linnett’s daily baking wafted through the warm indoor air. The fire was kept constantly in, giving a cheerful glow to the small abode, and the thick snow on the roof insulated the cabin from the worst of the cold. The evenings were spent happily in front of the fire when John would read aloud to Linnett or he would continue her lessons in the game of chess. He had started to teach her on the ship, but it had been some time since their last lesson and Linnett had forgotten many of the moves. John had to begin again and teach her from scratch once more.
He watched her as she frowned in concentration, her teeth catching her bottom lip. Her lovely thick hair swung loose as she moved forward to place her bishop in jeopardy, and her hair caught the light from the fire, turning the silken locks into liquid gold. John’s eyes travelled downwards to the soft swell of his wife’s breasts, and all at once he wanted the game over. He moved his queen out and took her bishop.
Linnett flung up her hands and sighed, shaking her head. “I’ll never understand the moves that each piece can make!”
John moved the board aside and stood behind her. “You will, given time. You already know most of the pieces. I am very impressed with how quickly you’ve mastered the game, my love.”
John bent forward and kissed her neck, running his hands through the soft honey gold of her hair. He slid his hands down, cupping her breasts through the fabric of her dress. Linnett turned her head and met him in a lingering kiss. John pulled her to her feet and sat on the chair, trying to pull her onto his knee but instead Linnett slid to the floor and knelt between his parted knees. She placed her hand over the swelling in his groin. “Hmm..have you another sort of game in mind perhaps?” Linnett giggled.
“Most certainly, my love. I think you need much more tutoring in the art of pleasing your husband.”
Linnett cocked her head to one side. “Really?” Her hand slid boldly downwards, massaging the hardened bulge inside his breeks. John pulled her hand away and loosened his breeches, releasing his throbbing organ. He guided Linnett’s head downwards towards his groin.
Linnett understood what it was he desired from her and without hesitation took his firm shaft into her mouth. John cradled her head in his hands, groaning in pleasure and wondering how long he could withstand the waves of exquisite pleasure that the suction of her mouth was creating. Jerking suddenly, he was almost unable to contain the rush of release. He yanked Linnett away before it was too late and she gave a soft, deep chuckle, revelling in her power to arouse him to such a fever pitch.
Swiftly he turned Linnett away from him and pushed up her skirts, uncovering her long slender legs and creamy bottom. John fondled and parted her between her legs, his fingers readying her, reducing her to a quivering wetness. With a sharp tug backwards he pulled her down onto his lap, impaling her with a quick upward thrust. Linnett gasped as she sat back and felt him sink deep within her soft flesh.
Holding her firmly, with both his hands either side of her waist, he lifted her up and lowered her again onto his thrusting shaft. He pushed himself deep up inside her slippery mound until Linnett was moaning and writhing with her head flung back against his shoulder.
John took his hands from her waist and lifted them to the fastenings at the neck of her gown. He unlaced the front of her dress and her breasts spilled into his waiting palms. John teased and tormented her aching nipples, and Linnett began to gyrate on his lap, abandoning herself to the delicious sensations that were flooding through her body.
John lifted Linnett up and off him and held her high in the air, turning her so that she faced him, and then lowered her slowly back over him, letting the erect length of him slide back into her wet and welcoming womanhood. Linnett shivered as she felt him slide up slowly inside her once more, deeply filling her, pleasuring her. He lowered his face to her bosom, suckling first one breast and then the other, biting and nipping each budded nipple in turn.
Linnett wound her arms around his neck and he raised his head to kiss her, stifling the little cry she made as he moved his hips more demandingly. John’s tongue moved in and out of her mouth, matching the steady rhythm of his internal onslaught. Linnett threw back her head, arching her back as John increased his tempo.
Suddenly, they were both thrown to the floor as the chair gave way beneath them. They clutched one another, rolling away from the chair and giggling helplessly. Linnett lay on top of John. He raised himself up and gently smoothed the snarled mop of hair away from her face.
Linnett lowered her head to John’s lips, and his hands held either side of her face, stopping her hair from falling forward. His thumbs caressed her cheeks as they kissed languorously. Their passion rekindled, Linnett slid down the length of his hard body and sat astride him. Then, raising herself above his staff, she lowered herself onto him, enjoying the moment of entry and slipping down him slowly until he filled her completely.
Linnett rode him hard as John grasped her waist, grinding himself upwards into her yielding softness. The exquisite sensations building within Linnett flooded through her, finally exploding into a kaleidoscope of fathomless delight. John gave one last deep thrust, convulsed with a shout and relaxed into a shuddering release.
He pulled her down to lay beside him, his arm circling her, his hand cradling the back of her head. Gently, John stroked his wife’s hair, letting the burnished curls slip through his open fingers. When he could speak again, he whispered into her ear, “Your secret is out Mrs. Foster! You are nothing more than a wicked hussy!”
Linnett gave a low throaty chuckle and turned her head on his shoulder, giving him a soft nip with her teeth. John wrapped his arms tightly around her and she shivered, saying, “Ooh it’s turned so cold!”
John lifted her up onto the bed. “Tuck your hands under my arms.” Linnett did as she was bid and pushed her hands deep into his arm pits, which were cosily warm. John held her tight and wrapped the covers close about them, and gradually Linnett grew warmer, savouring the delicious heat and security of her husband’s loving arms. They gazed into the hypnotic flames of the fire before drifting off to sleep, still entwined.