Unspoken Pleasure

Her right hand began to swing up towards my face but I was quicker and grabbed her wrist before she could slap me. She tried to slap me with her left hand but again I caught her wrist. I pushed both hands behind her back pinning them there. That forced her body up against mine. Slowly I lowered my face down to hers and stopped when my lips were only an inch from hers. Caitlin was watching my face with wide eyes but she wasn’t struggling.

“If you were my woman I would put you over my knee and spank your cute little butt,” I whispered.

Caitlin let out a loud gasp. “You wouldn’t dare,” she said as she tried to pull back. I suddenly released my hold on her and she fell backwards to landing on her cute little butt.

“It’s not that I wouldn’t dare. It’s that I just got rid of one woman who doesn’t care about me and I’m not about to waste my time on another one.” Up to now it had always been Caitlin who had been the one to stomp off. This time it was my turn. I walked out of the barn leaving her sitting on the ground with her mouth hanging open.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

I didn’t see her again until supper time. Of course she didn’t speak to me but I did notice her glance at me with a look I couldn’t understand. Not that I ever claimed to understand women anyway. I think my marriage to Janice proves that.

The next day I was in the barn mucking out the stalls when Bill came in. Being Sunday and the day he took off I knew he wasn’t there to work. He must be wanting to talk. I wondered if Caitlin had told him what had happened the day before and he was here to tell me to leave. I stopped what I was doing as he walked over.

“I understand you and Caitlin had a little showdown, yesterday,” he said. Well, that confirmed that she had told her father. But I did notice a twinkle in Bill’s eyes.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that. It was probably all my fault,” I said.

“Maybe, maybe not. I think her problem is she doesn’t know what to make of you. At first she thought you had to be here because you wanted something. Then you become the hero who saved her and the ranch. What she can’t figure out is why you aren’t chasing after her like all the other local young men. Just like her mother was at her age, Caitlin is used to having the boys wrapped around her little finger. She’s had a few boyfriends but they’ve never lasted. I don’t think she really had any respect for them. I just hope you don’t let her chase you off. In my book you’re welcome here for as long as you want.”

“Thanks Bill, that means a lot to me. As for Caitlin, I’ll quit teasing her and hopefully we can live and let live,” I said. Bill left the barn and I got on with my work. I had the rest of the day to think about what Bill had said. If Caitlin wanted to figure me out she ought to act civilly and just talk to me. As far as chasing her like the rest of the pack of suitors, wasn’t going to happen.

Caitlin didn’t join us for supper that night, something that no one mentioned and of course I didn’t ask. The next day I was up at five as usual, even though it was my one day off. It was easier to stick to the same schedule so I never slept in. I ate breakfast and after Sam and Bill headed off to work, I went and brought my laundry back. Bill had bought a large commercial washer and dryer. I could do all my clothes in one load. The laundry room was next to the kitchen so while my clothes washed I would sit at the kitchen table and drink coffee.

Colleen and I were talking at the table when Caitlin came in. She rarely had breakfast with us and ate later. “Got any plans for today?” Colleen asked me.

“Actually I was thinking of driving into town. Anything you would like me to pick up for you?” I asked her.

“Well, if you wouldn’t mind there are a couple of things you could get for me.”

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” I said.

“Could I ride into town with you?” I heard Caitlin say. I looked up in surprise. “It’s just that I was going to go to the general store for a couple of things and it seems like a waste of gas for us to both drive,” she said as if she needed to justify her request.

“Sure, I’d be happy to give you a lift,” I replied still surprised. After yesterday I hadn’t expected her to talk to me much less want to ride anywhere with me. “I’ll be leaving in about an hour and a half after my laundry is done and put away.”

“Okay, I’ll be ready,” Caitlin said. She finished fixing her something to eat and sat at the table but remained quiet while Colleen and I chatted.

Caitlin must have been watching for me because she came out the back door as soon as I stepped out of my cabin She looked marvelous wearing a turquoise sundress that complimented her red hair. The straps that held her dress up left her arms and shoulders bare. Her skin was unblemished. Unlike many redheads, neither Caitlin or her mother had freckles. She was the definition of grace as she glided towards me. As she crossed the yard she kept her crystal blue eyes on me. I was positive she was making sure I watched her. I held the passenger side door open for her and watched her slide in.

We started driving and for the first half to the trip she sat quietly watching the country side. “I thought you were going to kiss me yesterday,” she said out of the blue.”

I glanced over at her but couldn’t see her face as she appeared to be looking out the side window. “Well, whereas that may not have been unpleasant to do, I do have a rule about not forcing unwanted affections upon unreceptive females.”

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw her head spin around and I could tell she was staring at me. Again Caitlin sat quietly but I continued to see her glance over at me. I pulled into the general store and we went inside. I needed to pick up a couple new pair of jeans and shirts. Caitlin had the list of things her mother wanted and an hour later we had everything loaded.

I had one more stop to make at the hardware store to pick up a couple of things for Bill but it was lunch time and I was hungry. I suggested that we stop for a bite to eat and Caitlin agreed. I pulled into the same diner that I had first met Bill and Colleen at. We took a table sitting across from each other and ordered our food. We sat in silence again and I began to think that I should have just driven to the hardware store and then straight back to the ranch.