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  Cherry simply licked Perl’s cheek and settled down against her leg.

  * * *

  Perl looked up from her place on the couch as the two men stood before her. Both carried equal expressions of anger and sadness. She felt herself sinking into the soft cushions, closing her eyes as she wished herself away from her situation. She opened her eyes and, once again, stared into their faces. Wishing was not working well for her right now.

  “Do you have something to say for yourself, young lady?” Hank asked, hands on his waist as he leaned over her.

  She bit her trembling lower lip as she shook her head, staring at the floor.

  “I can’t believe this behavior. Of all the dangerous, childish, and stupid stunts, this one outdoes them all!”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Sorry? For what? Having a tantrum? Being willfully disobedient? Breaking the law?” Dennis suddenly bellowed, startling even Hank. The sheriff was absolutely livid! “I have never seen a more irresponsible and reckless act in my entire life. You best be thanking the Good Lord that I’m not your father. I’d be blistering that bottom from here to kingdom come!”

  “Don’t worry, Den… you’re gonna get your chance,” Hank announced, seeing Perl’s eyes widen in disbelief. “This little lady failed to mind both of us and forced you to act in the line of duty as sheriff. I, as a county judge, have decided it would work best for this young lady’s interest if she received both a judicial and a parental session of discipline.”

  “I think that is a right and proper call, Your Honor.” Dennis glared at the terrified girl, ignoring the thunderous beating of his heart roused by fear for her safety.

  “Thank you, Sheriff. Perlita Maria Consuelo Moretti, you have been found guilty of the charges of willful rebellion and disobedience, personal and animal endangerment, and conducting yourself in a manner befitting a spoiled, rotten brat. I hereby sentence you to a session of parental corporal discipline to be administered by the local law enforcement, Dennis Wilson, as proxy. This is to commence immediately upon court dismissal.”

  Hank crossed his arms, staring down at her pale face. “In addition, you have been found guilty of charges of theft, reckless driving, and engaging a county vehicle in a high speed chase. You are sentenced to a session of judicial punishment which will commence in one week’s time and which will be administered by the local judicial authority, The Honorable Henry Joseph Billings, esquire.” He turned to Dennis. “It’s weird calling myself that.”

  “Just continue, Your Honor,” Dennis snorted, “I have an itchy hand.”

  “Very well. All rights to an appeal are denied—no bail will be posted. You, Miss Moretti, are confined to your room for the next two weeks and are to leave such room only upon the permission of either local authority. Upon release from confinement, you will serve the remainder of your days over the next two weeks assisting Butch and the hands in the horse corral upon completion of your regular chores.”

  He looked at her sternly, his eyes not wavering as he stared at her bold features. “Should this occur again, Miss Moretti, I will sentence you to public discipline in view of the ranch hands. Have you any closing statement to the court, ma’am?”

  Stunned into silence, Perl simply shook her head. Hank nodded. “Court dismissed. Sheriff Wilson, please consider her to be that daughter you mentioned earlier.”

  Perl was horrified when she realized that Hank was serious about allowing Dennis to take her in hand. Dennis pulled a straight back chair to the center of the sitting room, sat down, and began to roll up his sleeves as he considered the quaking girl on the couch in front of him. He patted his lap. The serious business of justice administered directly to Perl’s posterior was at the top of the Sheriff’s list of things to do for the day.

  “Perl, come here, please. You’re going to learn that outright disobedience earns much more than being grounded for a couple of weeks and being given some extra chores.” The girl felt bile rise to her throat when Dennis announced his intentions. “Get those britches down and put yourself across my knees for a good, old-fashioned, Texas-style spanking.”

  "Dennis, no!" she suddenly cried out, standing as her hands flew protectively to her rear. "Not a bare-bottomed spanking! PLEASE, it's wrong! Hank, I’m begging you! Don’t let him do this, it’s not decent!!" She shifted from foot to foot, plagued by the vision of her unprotected hind-end raised in full view and shuddering in anticipation. “Please, Dennis, you CAN'T spank me, I'm too old for that. You can't! It’s not right!"

  "You heard me, young lady," Dennis growled, his tone low and menacing as his expression hardened with irritation. "Now get those trousers down and bend over my lap!"

  Perl gasped in shock, turning to look at the stony expression on Hank’s face as she sent silent requests for help.

  "OK, Perlita, I would say that this is quite enough stalling," Dennis snapped, striding grimly towards the couch where she stood frozen in place. "You know you deserve this and you're going to be spanked long and hard on that naughty little bare rump of yours. Once I'm finished with you, I promise that you will think twice before ever challenging either of us again."

  Face scrunching with emotion, Perl collapsed into a heap on the floor, a fresh storm of tears pouring from her eyes. "No, Dennis, don't, it isn't fair. I'm not a child, you don't have the right to treat me like one! I'm nineteen years old, you can't spank me. You just can't!"

  "Don't you argue with me, young lady," Dennis replied firmly as he easily pulled her to her feet and towards the chair. "You're going over my knee, and that's the end of it. I don't care how old you think you are, Perlita. You have gone out of your way to earn yourself a good old-fashioned spanking, and that is precisely what you're going to get."

  "But Dennis," Perl bawled, stamping her feet in helpless frustration, "I don't want a spanking! It’s going to hurt!"

  "Yes, ma’am, you better believe it's going to hurt," Dennis agreed. "That much I can promise you. Now, no more stalling, little miss. It's high time I smacked your behind."

  Looking at his face, Perl knew better than to disobey. The consequences of refusal were unthinkable at this point. She teetered forward with faltering, tentative steps and stood before the man with a pathetic expression as she shamefully lowered her trousers.

  "That's better," the older man commented, scrutinizing the girl with a stern gaze. "We might as well get started right away. Perl," Dennis paused before speaking in a tone that tolerated no discussion, "take down those panties."

  "Nooooooo!!" Perl cried, shifting from foot to foot in childish consternation. Panic set in as she realized that her little bottom was literally seconds away from a sound hiding. "Let me keep them up, Dennis! Please don't make me bare my bottom! Just spank me over my panties!"

  Dennis had exhausted his supply of patience. Leaning slightly forward, he seared the young woman with a no-nonsense, steely glare. "I said, take down those drawers!"

  Weeping with humiliation, Perl bent over and peeled down her briefs and then straightened up, crossing her hands in front to preserve her modesty. She shivered as much from embarrassment as from the cold air of the room. Hank immediately noticed her discomfort and stoked a fire in the large, stone fireplace. His broad back faced her as he easily brought the blaze high and strong. She felt the heat suddenly touch her backside and it was, at this point, that her ordeal became horrendous. Her backside was completely exposed as she stood before Dennis and Hank with her panties stretched around her knees.

  A flush of disgrace heated her face. She could not deny the fact that she had been terribly naughty, but she could not conceive of anything worse that being forced to display her bare bottom for a spanking, especially at her age. It just wasn’t proper!

  Propriety was not Dennis’ concern. He dragged the girl across his bony knees and began to scold her while smacking her backside with a hard, open hand that had spent a lifetime handling reigns, ropes and firearms. The loud clap echoed through the room before he br
ought down another smack, and another, and another… Perl bit her lip as she squirmed, knowing that she deserved the punishment but hating every minute of it.

  “You should be embarrassed and ashamed of your behavior. I know that I am,” he added, delivering a few more smacks to her upturned, bare, rapidly reddening bottom. “After all Hank has done to help, you repay him by openly defying him! I have loved you like a daughter and you even go to the extent of rebelling against me as well! And taking off like that and making everyone worry… I will not let a spoiled little girl cause such embarrassment to my friend or this town. Do you understand, young lady?”

  “Dennnnniiis!! Please stop! I’ll be good! I promise!”

  “Oh, after this tanning, I’m sure you will be,” he said firmly, without stopping or altering the intensity of the series of smacks in the slightest. “While I am spanking you on your bare bottom, I want you to think about what you did, how it was wrong, and why you are never going to do it again, Perlita. Do you understand me?” he added with an extra hard swat to her upper thigh.

  “Yes, sir!” she wailed.

  With that he began spanking her with renewed vigor. First five smacks to her left thigh, then five more to the right. This was followed by a volley of sharp, stinging swats to both sit spots and the centers of her bright red globes.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “I didn’t mean to do it. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  He spanked harder now, moving to her sit spots and causing her to kick her legs wildly as the fire spread throughout her backside and thighs. Perl’s shrieks gradually dissolved into primal howls of pain and despair. Dennis’ spanks became much slower and more deliberate as he engaged her to respond.

  Spank! “Owwwwwww!”

  “Are you ever going to leave this house without permission again?”

  “No Sir” -Spank- “Owwwwww!”

  “Will this spanking help you to remember?”

  “Yes Sir” -Spank- “Owwwwww! Please, no more!”

  “What will you be doing to prevent getting another spanking like this one?” -Spank-

  “Obeying you and Hank and following your rules, Dennis!” Perl sobbed, no longer caring about the indecency of her situation.

  “What will happen if you disobey again?”

  “I’ll get another spanking on my bare bottom.”

  “Yes,” he said grimly, “just like this one, except that next time I’ll use a hairbrush.”

  With that statement, Dennis administered a final ten strokes, causing Perl to yowl uncontrollably. After allowing her a few minutes to cry limply across his lap, Dennis gently lifted her into his arms and gathered her in a long, loving hug.

  “I'm sorry,” Perl muttered, “I'm so sorry.”

  He cleared his throat. “Perlita…” he began, seeking out the words to express his feelings. “We both are very worried about you. I'm sorry if it seemed that I was too hard, but it's only because I care. About you and about Hank. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” Perl sniffed, her head resting against his shoulder.

  Clearing his throat again, he stood her up. “Get yourself straightened up now and go freshen up. You can have dinner with us, then you are going straight to bed.”

  “Do you mind if I skip dinner?” Perl asked, desperately wanting to be alone.

  “I’ll bring you something,” Hank’s low voice responded. He sounded miserable. “Go upstairs. I’ll be up shortly.”

  Without a sound, Perl gathered her clothing and walked away, her bright red back-end glowing in the dim light. She was asleep by the time Hank came to her room.

  “My love, you have turned my heart to mush. Don’t you dare leave me. I don’t know what I would do without you,” he whispered aloud as he gently stroked her hair. He kissed her forehead and silently closed the door behind him.

  He did not see the single, hot tear as it slowly crept down the girl’s cheek.

  Chapter Eight

  Perl discovered the true meaning of boredom during the week following her spanking from Dennis. Confined to her room, she was not permitted to engage in any activities outside of her chores. She flushed as the ranch hands ignored her attempts to converse and wanted to shrink out of view each time Dennis frequently arrived to check on her while Hank was at his office.

  She had only two comforts: Cherry, who continuously stayed by her side and lavished her with loving adoration, and Hank. The brusque, quiet man had become unusually attentive and overly concerned about her needs. Not enough though, she fumed, to forget the sentence he had pronounced upon her. In fact, he made a conscious effort every day to remind her of the passing time before she was to meet “the judge, jury, and executioner.”

  That day was tomorrow. She had no idea what he had meant by ‘judicial punishment.’ It sounded horrid and impersonal, and filled her heart with dread. She had one more trick up her sleeve and she prayed that it would work in her favor.

  Perl could not resist a feeling of pride as she removed her very first apple pie from the oven to cool. Cook had taught her how to make a crust and she had carefully followed the recipe for the filling. She also had spent the entire morning making pasta shells stuffed with home-made goat cheese, chopped meat, and vegetables, then baked them slowly in homemade sauce. She knew Hank had a soft spot for food, most men did, and she felt confident he would be pleased when he saw the effort she had made for him. She hoped it would earn her enough points to get her off the hook.

  “You are becoming quite the cook, Miss Perl,” Hank praised, rubbing his stomach after the meal. “You did all this yourself?”

  “I did. You really liked it?” she asked, eager for his praise.

  Hank held his arms out for her, smiling as she quickly climbed onto his lap. He hugged her gently and kissed the top of her head. “I am very proud of you, my dear. I wish I didn’t have to follow through with the sentence tomorrow.”

  Perl’s heart dropped. She pushed away to gaze at him, carefully choosing her words. “I assure you, Hank, after Dennis warmed my bottom, I have no desire to ever question either of you again. Please reconsider. I throw myself upon the mercy of the court.”

  He studied her carefully, his mouth set in a thin line. “I am committed to upholding the law and to following through on pronounced sentences. I’m sorry, but it must be carried out.”

  “Can’t I beg for an appeal?”

  “I already told you, all appeals are denied. We will address this issue tomorrow evening when I return home from work. Dennis will be my witness.”

  Perl’s face turned a crimson red. She did not dare argue with him—not with her sentence so close to being carried out. She allowed a tear to settle in her eye, closing her lids as Hank gently brushed it away. She had one more trick up her sleeve. Italian guilt.

  “I thought you loved me.”

  Her words caught Hank by surprise. He could not deny his feelings, yet he was not ready to confess them, either. He coughed uncomfortably.

  “I… care for you very deeply. And I am concerned for your safety. It’s because of this that I am obligated to fulfill my part in your punishment.”

  “Are you saying you don’t love me? After all we’ve shared and gone through? After everything I’ve learned just to please you?” her dark eyes blinked with a flash of anger and deep hurt.

  Unable to answer, Hank just stared at her. Humiliated, Perl slipped off his lap, threw her apron on the table, and stormed up to her room. Hank winced as the door slammed. He glanced down at Cherry.

  “Guess I messed up again, huh, girl? Let’s clean the dishes. Do you like pasta?”

  Perl kicked the wall of her room, feeling rejected and humiliated by his refusal to openly admit his feelings for her, and infuriated at his stubborn insistence on fulfilling his promise of judicial discipline. She also felt her stomach rolling in dread… what exactly would it entail?

  * * *

  The following evening came much sooner than Perl desired. Hank had called her
into his study to stand before him and Dennis.

  “You know why we’re here tonight, Perl. You’ve had one week to reflect on your behavior after the parental spanking that you received from Sheriff Wilson. Would you care to comment?” Hank asked, leaning against his large desk with his arms crossed.

  “No, not really,” Perl blushed, looking down. She still found it hard to look Dennis in the eye after he had seen her bottom in all its glory.

  “I don’t think that was a question, honey. Come here,” Dennis said, holding his hand out for her as he sat comfortably in the large, overstuffed chair. Hesitantly, Perl obeyed. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her onto his lap. “I think we both want to hear what you learned this last week.”

  “That I’m living with the meanest, most cold-hearted and stubborn man on the planet?”

  “Besides that,” Dennis chuckled, winking at Hank’s serious face, not missing his wince at the description.

  “That I’m not as invincible as I thought and that the two of you care for me.” She made sure to emphasize the word ‘care’ seeing Hank flinch. Good, he caught the jibe.

  “We more than care, baby girl. We’ve all fallen in love with you. Every last person in this town, including me and Old Hank here, love you as one of our own.”

  “Old Hank there has made it clear he does not love me, and that he only feels fatherly affection. Isn’t that right, Papa?” Perl asked sarcastically, glaring at Hank.

  “The love of a papa is one of the strongest you can get, girl,” Dennis scolded, not even phased by her reference to Hank. “We will die for our young ‘uns. Don’t ever mistake his acting like a father for anything other than the deepest and most committed type of love you will ever receive.”

  “What if I don’t want that type of love?” Perl demanded, pretending Hank was not in the room, listening to every word. “What if I want the type of love a man gives a woman?”