Read Online Peppermint Sticks for Susie by Joannie Kay - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Joannie Kay
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Miss Stephanie. Thank you kindly."
She smiled at him and then winked at Jennifer. "He's real sweet, sugar. Hang on tight now!"
Jennifer felt her cheeks turn a bright pink, and she noticed that folks were openly staring at her and Alex Martin. Of course, they didn't know he was a U. S. Marshal, sent here to deal with all the rustling that was going on, and thought him a rancher looking to buy and settle down... with her! He would leave soon, and she had to remember that so she didn't get her heart broken.
"You said you wanted to mount your defense, Miss Jenny, so go for it. I'm in a great mood right now since this food is excellent."
Jennifer shook her head, but between bites she said, "What happened this morning was entirely your fault, Alex. I waited until the last possible second to leave; you can ask Alma if you don't believe me. But, when I knew I would be late if I waited any longer, I left and practically ran to get here on time. I didn't see anyone, except Jeffrey, and he had been in the store badmouthing me to Mr. McGregor and told me I didn't have a job anymore. The beast tried to get me fired, but fortunately Mr. McGregor didn't believe him! Anyway, Mr. McGregor cannot abide tardiness, and after Saturday, I didn't want to upset him again so soon. I never believed he would take that tawse to me, but he did, and I don't want that ever again. It was too upsetting to have my employer treat me like he owned me in some way. He isn't a parent... or close to me... not like you are. Does that make sense?" She looked at him hopefully.
"It makes sense, Jenny," he agreed. When she visibly relaxed, he warned, "But it still doesn't change anything, honey. I didn't give you that order to wait for me just on a whim; I gave it to you to keep you safe. I expect to be obeyed, and after work today you are going to get a good switching."
"But, that is so unfair!" she argued and then pouted.
Alex found her adorable, but knew he needed to remain firm. "Eat your food," he bossed. "It's really good." He changed the subject and soon Jenny was giggling and acting like herself. The waitress brought coffee and cherry pie, and when they were finished with the meal, Alex was stuffed. "Now that was good food," he told Stephanie as he paid her for both meals.
"Martha is a good cook.... Most days," Stephanie said quietly. "You don't ever want to order the meatloaf, though," she whispered. "You working this afternoon, Jenny?" she asked the redhead.
"Yes, until close."
"Tell Angus I'm saving a big ole steak for him."
"I'll do that. I'm sure he's starving by now," Jenny said with a big grin,
Alex walked her back to the store, frowning, and wondering if Jenny was going to tell him that she would be alone in the store while Angus was taking his noon meal? If she asked him to stay, then he would forget all about the switching and simply spank her with his hand. If she didn't, he would be cutting a second switch and wearing it out, too.
"How was your lunch, lass?" Angus asked from behind the counter as they walked in.
"Wonderful. Stephanie said to tell you she is saving a big steak just for you."
"I'm on me way. We've been slow all morning, so I sent Gert home, lass," he called as he hurried to go and eat. He was a hungry man.
"Oh," Jenny looked up at Alex. "Mr. McGregor almost never leaves me alone in here, but the bottom line is money with him. I'm sure you don't want me here alone, do you, Alex?" she asked with dread and certainty.
To her absolute surprise, he bent his head down to kiss her tenderly. "I'm proud of you, Jenny. You told me what I needed to know. I'll stay right here until Angus returns. Is there anything I can do to help you out?" he asked, and then grinned when she handed him a feather duster.
"I'll happily put you to work, Alex," she giggled. "All those knick-knacks need dusting."
"What will you be doing?" he asked suspiciously.
"Refolding the shirts that someone went through and messed up, and then making sure the
She smiled at him and then winked at Jennifer. "He's real sweet, sugar. Hang on tight now!"
Jennifer felt her cheeks turn a bright pink, and she noticed that folks were openly staring at her and Alex Martin. Of course, they didn't know he was a U. S. Marshal, sent here to deal with all the rustling that was going on, and thought him a rancher looking to buy and settle down... with her! He would leave soon, and she had to remember that so she didn't get her heart broken.
"You said you wanted to mount your defense, Miss Jenny, so go for it. I'm in a great mood right now since this food is excellent."
Jennifer shook her head, but between bites she said, "What happened this morning was entirely your fault, Alex. I waited until the last possible second to leave; you can ask Alma if you don't believe me. But, when I knew I would be late if I waited any longer, I left and practically ran to get here on time. I didn't see anyone, except Jeffrey, and he had been in the store badmouthing me to Mr. McGregor and told me I didn't have a job anymore. The beast tried to get me fired, but fortunately Mr. McGregor didn't believe him! Anyway, Mr. McGregor cannot abide tardiness, and after Saturday, I didn't want to upset him again so soon. I never believed he would take that tawse to me, but he did, and I don't want that ever again. It was too upsetting to have my employer treat me like he owned me in some way. He isn't a parent... or close to me... not like you are. Does that make sense?" She looked at him hopefully.
"It makes sense, Jenny," he agreed. When she visibly relaxed, he warned, "But it still doesn't change anything, honey. I didn't give you that order to wait for me just on a whim; I gave it to you to keep you safe. I expect to be obeyed, and after work today you are going to get a good switching."
"But, that is so unfair!" she argued and then pouted.
Alex found her adorable, but knew he needed to remain firm. "Eat your food," he bossed. "It's really good." He changed the subject and soon Jenny was giggling and acting like herself. The waitress brought coffee and cherry pie, and when they were finished with the meal, Alex was stuffed. "Now that was good food," he told Stephanie as he paid her for both meals.
"Martha is a good cook.... Most days," Stephanie said quietly. "You don't ever want to order the meatloaf, though," she whispered. "You working this afternoon, Jenny?" she asked the redhead.
"Yes, until close."
"Tell Angus I'm saving a big ole steak for him."
"I'll do that. I'm sure he's starving by now," Jenny said with a big grin,
Alex walked her back to the store, frowning, and wondering if Jenny was going to tell him that she would be alone in the store while Angus was taking his noon meal? If she asked him to stay, then he would forget all about the switching and simply spank her with his hand. If she didn't, he would be cutting a second switch and wearing it out, too.
"How was your lunch, lass?" Angus asked from behind the counter as they walked in.
"Wonderful. Stephanie said to tell you she is saving a big steak just for you."
"I'm on me way. We've been slow all morning, so I sent Gert home, lass," he called as he hurried to go and eat. He was a hungry man.
"Oh," Jenny looked up at Alex. "Mr. McGregor almost never leaves me alone in here, but the bottom line is money with him. I'm sure you don't want me here alone, do you, Alex?" she asked with dread and certainty.
To her absolute surprise, he bent his head down to kiss her tenderly. "I'm proud of you, Jenny. You told me what I needed to know. I'll stay right here until Angus returns. Is there anything I can do to help you out?" he asked, and then grinned when she handed him a feather duster.
"I'll happily put you to work, Alex," she giggled. "All those knick-knacks need dusting."
"What will you be doing?" he asked suspiciously.
"Refolding the shirts that someone went through and messed up, and then making sure the
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