The next day when Beth got up Simon
had already started the chores so she went out and took him some Lemonade. “Morning
Miss Beth”
“Morning Mr. Simon, I brought you
some lemonade.”
He looked at her with a smirk “Mr.
Simon huh?”
“Well you keep calling me Miss Beth
and it seems strange so I thought I’d show you.”
He chuckled “ok Beth…..the chores are
almost done.”
“You didn’t have to do the chores all
by yourself. I could have helped you. I have
been doing them myself for a long time now.”
“Well from here on out I will be
doing most of them.”
“I can’t pay you much.”
“You won’t pay me anything. Room and board is all I need. I’m not here for money; I am here to help you.”
“No, that wouldn’t be right. I will
pay you.” She then stomped of to milk the cow and take care of the chickens. She
was not about to be beholding to any man.
No matter who he was. Somehow she
would manage to pay him back once the farm was operating better. After finishing the milking and gathering the
eggs, she put them in the house and went to hitch up the team up so she could
begin to plow the fields.
Simon saw her working with the horses
and the plow and went over to her. “Woah,
what are you doing Beth?” He took the reins from her.
“Well the fields don’t plow
themselves.”
“I told you I would do most of the
farming the chickens and cows you can do. The rest is man’s work. Besides the baby needs you. You can’t tend to him while you are plowing
the fields.”
“MAN’S WORK!?” She put her hands on
her hips squaring up to him. “I will
have you know Mister this woman can do man’s work better than some men. And I tie a sling around me and take the baby
with me when I am going to be away from the house for more than a few minutes.” He let go of the reigns squaring up with her. He had a scowl on his face from her attitude
but she didn’t back down. “Also I don’t have much money to pay you and if you
think I’m gonna pay you in other ways then you should get on your horse and
leave.”
He started walking towards her
grabbing her harm “First of all WOMAN I don’t need or want your money and
secondly” He paused as he sat down on a bucket pulling her over his knee.
“What are you doing?” Beth demanded trying to pull out of his iron
grip.
“Secondly I don’t take kindly to you
thinking I’m gonna do you wrong.” With that he started smacking her bottom over
her thin worn dress.
“Owww, stop you’re hurting me. I’m
sorry I shouldn’t have said that.” He gave her a few more swats and he stood
her up.
“Those were just love pats you will
mind me and do as you’re told or you will be a sorry little girl.”
She huffed, “I am a grown woman. How dare you spank me?!” She was furious at him for taking such a
liberty with her. No one had ever dared
spank her and she was not about to let this man do it now, not that she could
really stop him if he had decided to.
He gave her a look that made her
question herself for a moment. “I am
here to take care of you, even if that means I have to protect you from your
own foolishness. So if you want to push
me now you know how I will deal with it; don’t you? Now, Elizabeth I’m going into town and
getting a few things I will be back to plow and I better not catch you plowing
do you understand me? If you touch this team while I’m gone I will make that
spanking I just gave you feel ten times worse do you understand?”
“Yes” She huffed, in a none too
respectful tone.
“Elizabeth Jane” He said as he
grabbed her arm “You best listen to me.”
Something about him saying her full
name and the heat still coming from her back side made her feel loved and cared
about for the first time in years.
“Yes sir I understand.” She stomped
off. “Who does he think he is riding in
here with his spankings and threats and taking over my farm?” She kicked her
foot on the ground kicking up dirt.
He chuckled she was cute all
sassy. She was talking to herself and
not him but he overheard every single word.
“I’m Simon Andrews. Us Andrews
take care of a pretty lady in need and I’m here to take care of you. That is how my Pa raised me.” He called after her.
She jumped as she hadn’t expected him
to hear her. Quickly recovering herself she
just stomped into the house and yelled “I’m not a woman in need MISTER!!” then
she slammed the door.
He just tipped his hat and rode of
that with a grin. “No you are a little girl in need of a very good spanking.”
He chuckled to himself.
While in town he got a lot of
greetings. When he told them where he was staying of course the women started
gossiping right away. They always
thought Beth was poor and too lower class to be around and then she had that
baby. He was glad when he ran into his uncle.
“Hey Simon; how are things with
Beth?”
“She sure is a handful but I like the
spit fire. The way the town’s folks talk about her you should’ve just sent her
to us. Especially since she has a baby.”
“I tried but she wouldn’t go. Me and
your aunt were supposed to take the baby and we still might. She gave him to us
at birth but he wouldn’t drink cow’s milk or even take a bottle at all.”
“Give you the baby? Why on earth
would she do that?”
“Son do you know how she got that
baby? She’s never had a husband not even a beau for that matter. That’s why I
didn’t say anything about the baby in my letter. I didn’t want the whole family
knowing her business and the baby was supposed to be with us. The baby doesn’t
even have a name.”
Simon shook his head. “I figured as
much that she never had a beau. I’m ok
with the baby and I’m glad she didn’t give him up. We will figure it all out.”
“You are a good man Simon.”
“Thank you sir. I’m just gonna try
and do want any good man would. She is a woman in distress that needs someone.”
“That she is son.”
“I best get back to the farm and see
what she is up to. I’m very glad you sent for me she needs me. I also think I she
could be good for me in a way.”
“Does she think that?”
“No but she will in time.” They both
chuckled as they rode off to their respective destinations.
