Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“I can’t really picture him spanking Ma honestly. I mean … can you?”
He closed his eyes and sighed. It wasn’t an image he wanted in his head. “No, definitely not.”
“So … you think she’s the one who spanks then?” From the lilt of amusement in her voice, he could tell she knew how uncomfortable the whole topic was.
He wanted to ignore the question, but that would just give her more ammunition and he’d never hear the end of it. “If it has to be one of them … I’m betting on her, yeah.” Ma was, after all, the sterner of the two, at least in public.
“Huh.” Her hands settled on her hips as she considered that. Finally, she shook her head, saying, “I guess we should probably go to bed.” Just the word bed made her yawn, and it was contagious.
“I think that’s probably a good idea.” Carter drew in a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “I have a feeling breakfast is going to be awkward.”
“Because you’ll be picturing them spanking each other?” she asked with an oh-so-innocent tone to her voice.
“I—” He stared at her, eyes narrowed. “You know, you can go right back over that rack for another spanking. We’re supposed to take a long ride tomorrow afternoon. Do you really want to be sitting on a sore butt for that?”
Her eyes widened and both hands went behind her back immediately. “Um, I’d rather not.”
“Then let’s drop the conversation of who’s doing the spanking around here, because as far as you’re concerned, it’s me.” He narrowed his eyes, brows dipping down as he gave her a hard look.
Her mouth twitched and he could tell she was fighting a grin and probably some other comments that would get her in trouble. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out the door, before she could say anything that would get her spanked again. “Just wait until we get our own cabin, sweetheart. Just wait.”
He’d been too interested in other things earlier, but now that the excitement had drained away…the exhaustion was kicking in. The walk back to the bunkhouses seemed longer than it should have been. He was yawning his head off when he dropped her off and waited until she was safely inside before heading to his own bed.
Chapter Ten
“I’m just not getting it,” she complained, as she angrily yanked the knot out of the rope. “It doesn’t look anything like yours.” Her eyes narrowed as she stared at his rope. It was the fourth time he’d shown her how to tie it, and she was still getting it wrong.
“That’s because we’re going for the cow hitch and you’re tying a clove hitch. They aren’t that different. Here, like this.” He took her hands and guided her through the process again. “There, now you do it.”
All around them other couples were learning the basic knots of ranch life. A lot of them were quick release for safety, and it was important to make sure they were right. She got that, but at the same time … she wasn’t a boy scout and tying knots was boring.
Ma and Pa were walking around supervising, and occasionally they’d stop and talk to a couple for a while. Ally had finally tied the cow hitch right enough times that Carter let her move to the next knot, but she was glad to take a break when their hosts finally worked their way over.
“How are you doing, honey?” Ma said, leaning in to look at the rope.
Allegra wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think I’m a natural at rope tying. Is there some reason we’re doing this?”
Pa laughed. “We use a lot of knots on a ranch. They all have different uses, and every cowboy knows them by heart.”
“Right but … I mean, what good is it going to do us?” She understood why a cowboy would need to know, but they were, in the end, only tourists.
Pa’s mouth quirked up at one side. “You never know when a good knot will come in handy, especially these quick-release ones. I expect people find them useful in a lot of ways, even… recreationally.”
Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing as she tried to decide if he was making a reference to catching them in the barn the night before. Not that he was wrong. Carter had used some of these knots in the bedroom, she’d just never really thought about why he knew them. But she wasn’t going to be tying anyone up. “I guess…”
Ma smiled and patted Allegra’s shoulder. “Now, I’d like the two of you to try something for me. Are you ready?”
“Sure.”
Carter’s reply seemed good enough for both of them, but Ally added her nod when Ma seemed to be waiting for her.
“Okay, stand side by side, arms touching and hold hands.” When they turned and moved together, Ma took Ally’s short length of rope, lifted the touching arms and tied their wrists together. “Which knot is this?” she asked.