Excerpt from Saving Beth

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.