Chapter Nineteen
It was Sunday, Josephine’s self-proclaimed favorite day of the week, but not this time.
Supper sat on the stove too dried out for even a dog to eat. She was in a fine state and ready to do battle.
Exactly how long did it take to check fences? Logan left early in the afternoon and still hadn’t returned home. Sully, Tiny, and Jake had gone into town hours ago. Where was he? Had he gone into town for a drink too? Was he with the Red lady?
Josephine paced the length of the kitchen. It couldn’t possibly take him most of the day to check fences. Well, actually she didn’t know how long it took. Logan owned a lot of land.
What she had to do was stop acting like a jealous shrew. He probably had a good explanation. A horse whinnied and she ran out onto the porch. He waved and disappeared into the barn.
Now that he was home, Josephine waited patiently. A horse was a precious commodity and required tending before settling in for the night. Logan reappeared whistling a happy tune as he approached the house.
He took off his hat and tossed it on the porch. It landed on one of the chairs. “Hello, wife.”
Josephine stood with hands fisted on hips and one foot tapping. His dark brows drew to a V. He clearly didn’t have a clue as to why she was furious.
“Who put the burr in your britches?” He propped one foot on the lower step and crisscrossed his arms over one knee.
“Where were you all day?”
“I told you where I was going.”
“I wasn’t aware that you had so much land that it’d take you most of the day to check fences. Were you in town at the saloon?”
“Jealous?”
She stamped her foot. “Don’t flatter yourself… Supper is ruined. Care to explain?” Logan’s eyes narrowed into slits and Josephine immediately regretted her harsh words.
A tic bounced alongside his jaw. He slowly straightened to his full height and climbed the wooden steps. “Say again?”
“I, um, was worried, is all.” Josephine frantically looked around. There was no escape. He closed the distance between them and soon she was trapped with her back against the railing and his arms on either side of her body caging her in.
“You gettin’ all wifey on me?”
He was way too close for comfort. Her breath quickened. “Of course not.” She offered up a half smile. “I suppose I could have phrased the question better.”
One strong arm caught her around the waist and yanked her against his chest. “Yeah, you could have.” His jaw showed a hint of stubble even though he had shaved that morning. With his dark hair and smoldering eyes, he reminded her of an outlaw intent on punishing his recalcitrant captive.
“It appears you need a spanking to curb that nasty tongue of yours.” He sat on the swing and pulled her across his lap.
In the wink of an eye, her skirts were thrown haphazardly over her head. Rough fingers yanked down her bloomers and she felt her face grow hot as a cool breeze drifted over her bare flesh.
Mortified, she kicked out with her legs. “Good heavens, Logan, someone might see me naked.”
“It’s Sunday, remember? Everybody left for the day. It’s just me and you, Mrs. West, along with a couple of horses in the corral and they don’t look interested.”
Whack.
The stinging blow to the center of her ass made her shriek. She twisted this way and that, in an effort to get away, but a heavy hand pressed between her shoulder blades thwarted any chance of escape. He landed another smack and she sucked in her breath. He wasn’t wasting any time delivering this punishment. The next swat caught her sit spot and brought tears to her eyes.
“Your cheeks are turning a pretty pink, darlin’.” His palm moved over her heated flesh in a circular motion and when one finger slipped lower to lightly brush her clit she nearly exploded into a million pieces.
“Like that, hmm? I could sit here all night and caress your beautiful ass, but you’re a naughty wife in need of correction.” He struck her left cheek then the right. Back and forth he punished her ass. Josephine was certain no part of her flesh had been spared.
By the time Logan finished, she had turned into a blubbering idiot. He deftly pulled up her bloomers and brushed down her skirts before flipping her over onto his lap.
Josephine winced when her bottom connected with his hard thighs. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. “I’m sorry for snapping at you.”
“Is that so? Does that mean you’ll give me a chance to explain before jumping all over me next time?” The deep rumble of his voice vibrated against her breasts.
Although she was a grown woman, he made her feel much like a little girl at times. His strict manner seemed to fill a void deep inside she never knew existed.
“I’ll try,” she mumbled against his neck.
He ran his hand up and down her back in a soothing manner. “That’s all I can ask for, darlin’.”
Josephine snuggled closer, quite content to remain nestled on his lap. “By the way, I apologize for being late for supper. One of our neighbors had some trouble with a cow stuck in the mud and I stopped to help.”
Josephine felt a rush of guilt for jumping to the wrong conclusion. “You must be hungry. Let’s see what I can salvage for supper.” She scrambled off his lap and they both went inside.
* * *
Later that night as they lay in bed, Josephine stared at the ceiling. “Logan, are you awake?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Have you ever thought about having children? I mean, is having children important to you?”
“I suppose so.”
“Danny really likes you. You’d make a good father.”
“If this is your way of telling me you want a baby, we’ll have to get a hell of a lot closer than this.”
Josephine knitted her brow. “My aunt couldn’t have children. Maybe if I had been a boy, Jed would have been happier.”
He snorted. “And it’s possible he would’ve treated you like a work horse.”
“So, being a father is really important to you?”
“I think most men would like a son to carry on his name.”
It wasn’t the answer Josephine had been hoping for. If only he would have assured her that although children were important, the love between a man and a woman was just as important too.
“True. Um, have you any idea how much money I owe you yet?”
“I’m sure it’s not much. The only other way you could earn the money faster is in the saloon and that’s no longer an option.”
Logan began snoring so she rolled on her side, drew her knees up to her chest, and tucked her hands beneath her chin. An idea began to take form. It was a reckless idea and she had no clue how he would react, but if his past behavior was any indication he’d jump on it.
After her secret had been discovered, Logan made no attempt to hide his desire. Call it lust on his part because he hadn’t made any declaration of love.
She, on the other hand, had made peace with her feelings for him some time ago. But if they happened to make this marriage work only to find out that children were not in the future, he may just grow to despise her in much the same way Jed had despised Hedy.
Josephine couldn’t take that chance. She had to leave, but not before she experienced what it felt like to be with a man.
* * *
The next afternoon Josephine pushed open the screen door and stepped out onto the porch. A fresh breeze was blowing and felt good on her heated face. Spring had arrived and with it the weather had changed from cool to rather warm. She took a deep breath, exhilarating in the sweet scent of damp earth and flowers starting to bud.
She went to the swing and sat down. Her mind had been racing with unsettling thoughts from the time she awoke that morning. She had acted like a jealous shrew yesterday. Demanding to know where he’d been all day. Logan might be crass at times, but when he gave his word he kept it.
The man had honor. Just another trait she loved about him. Before she fell any deeper to the point she couldn’t dig her way out, she had to leave. He had agreed to let her go once her debt had been settled.
There had been a time not so long ago when she couldn’t wait to be on her own and now just the thought of leaving made her heart ache.
Josephine heard a noise coming from the barn and looked up to see Jake with Logan’s stallion in tow. He led the horse to the corral and closed the gate. She’d been meaning to apologize for her stunt that day in the bunkhouse. Since then, the only one who spoke to her was Sully. Jake and Tiny kept their distance. An apology on her part was in order.
She got to her feet and stepped off the porch. Hopefully, she wouldn’t blush while talking to him. She had seen him naked after all.
When Jake saw her walking toward him, he looked ready to bolt so she stopped where she was and said, “Hi Jake, I’d like a word with you, please.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Howdy, Mrs. West. I’m kinda busy at the moment. Can it wait ‘til later?”
“No, it can’t. It’ll only take a minute. I promise.”
He straightened, but didn’t make eye contact. “What is it?”
“I want to apologize for playing such a dirty trick that day in the bunkhouse. I never meant to fool you, or Tiny or Sully on purpose.”
He toed the dirt at his feet. “It’s me who should do the apologizing. I shouldn’t have talked the way I did and…” He cleared his throat. “I shoulda put some clothes on.”
“But you didn’t know any better. You thought I was a boy.” The more she talked, the redder he got. “Why don’t we start all over?”
“I sure would like that.”
Josephine held out her hand. “Friends?”
He clasped her hand. “Friends.”