His Errant Educator (Willamette Wives Book 3) (11 page)

"Everything good?" Ben asked.

"Everything is perfect," Roger assured him. The two men didn't need to speak further. Each had no doubt that punishment had been meted out and forgiveness given and accepted by the two beautiful young women who were now busy working together to clean up the mess they'd made.

Assuring Ben that he'd remain to keep an eye on the women, Roger watched as the older man put on his coat and hat and went out into the cold again. Roger didn't care if the man stayed and visited for a while before bringing Catherine back. He was perfectly content to sit, sip his coffee, and just watch his future bride.

While the Goldman girls were being reintroduced to corporal punishment, Catherine visited with her daughter and the other women. They had been pleasantly surprised at her arrival and listened while Catherine and Benjamin held a rather cryptic conversation in the doorway.

"I'll be back as soon as I've dealt with the situation at home—" Ben began, only to be interrupted by Catherine.

"I still think I should have started—"

"The girls will handle the clean-up."

"But, supper… everyone expects me to have—"

"Catherine, we've already had this discussion." Seeing her mother's color heighten as she gave a small nod, Agatha felt a visceral reaction to his stern tone. Her ma had lived for the past several years under a tyrant, and Agatha would be damned if she'd allow her to return to that terror.

She'd just managed to utter the word, "Ma," when Ben continued, his expression softening and his words giving her pause.

"I want you to relax and have a nice visit. I've allowed my girls to run you ragged and I owe you an apology for not stepping in before. I promise the next time you set foot into your kitchen, it will not only be spotless, you'll find two young ladies anxious to make their apologies." On that rather ambiguous statement, he said his goodbyes and left.

It didn't take ten seconds once he disappeared before Catherine found her cloak removed and her hostess guiding her to a chair at the table. Agatha sat, her hands twisting together as she tried to think how to address her growing concerns. Harriett was far less reluctant to pry as she pressed a cup of coffee into her guest's hands and asked the first question.

"What have those girls done now?"

"Oh, um, they had a little disagreement and…" pausing, Catherine looked around the table and gave a small smile. Sitting back in her chair, she continued. "A disagreement that turned the kitchen into a total mess. Goodness, I think Ben and I walked through less white on the way here than I did wading through the flour and sugar all over the floor. Ben is a very patient man but I think he's finally reached the point where he won't allow such behavior to continue." Her commentary had every woman squirming, giving quick glances at each other, every single one having had personal experience with pushing their own men to the point of no return—well, no return to their wives sitting in comfort for at least a few hours.

"So Roger might have been wrong," Agatha said. "He told Wyatt that Mr. Goldman took him to task about even suggesting that Teresa needed a… well, a spanking. I'm sure he'll be surprised if Teresa tells him her pa changed his mind."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure she won't have to tell him," Catherine said with a soft smile.

"Why, do you think he'll know just by looking at her?" Agatha asked, her brow furrowed as if trying to visualize how that could be.

"If her pa is as serious as Richard when I've pushed him too far, he'll probably be able to figure it out because she wants to stand instead of sit," Anna said with a giggle.

Catherine shook her head. "No, I meant that if I understood Ben's intentions, he's leaving Teresa's punishment to Roger. Roger was not only shocked at the girls' behavior, he looked very displeased when Teresa ignored his requests to stop. I'm positive he was quite ready to take care of her tantrum on his own."

"I thought Roger was with the others, helping out at the Colby farm?" Agatha said.

"I don't know about that but I do know he was right there in the kitchen when eggs were flying around," Catherine said.

"Eggs?" Agatha said, her eyes cutting to Anna who had started giggling. At Catherine's questioning look, Agatha shook her head, unable to keep her lips from twitching into a begrudging smile as she explained how she'd received her first spanking after pelting Wyatt with every egg their hens had laid one morning. By the time she finished the story, every woman was laughing.

After they had calmed a bit, Agatha continued. "It's funny now but, believe me, at the time I wasn't sure who I wanted to strangle more… Wyatt or Mr. Rooster."

"Yes, but if you think about it, that was the day when you and Wyatt really became husband and wife," Anna said.

Agatha nodded, turning pensive. "You're right, but I never would have guessed that it would take him turning my bottom as red as that rooster's comb to truly believe he loved me despite all my faults." Shaking her head as if to rid herself of the past memory, she looked around the table as she took a sip of coffee. "I know our intention is to help Teresa, but I'm afraid that she is likely to learn a difficult lesson if Roger is as upset as Wyatt was."

"You don't suppose Roger will stop courting her?" Charity asked.

"I don't think so. It's obvious he adores her, and he did promise me that he wouldn't give up on her," Agatha said.

"You know, a good spanking might be a blessing in disguise," Anna said, shaking her head when the other two young women looked at her in surprise. "Think about it. We all know that it took several weeks for Agatha and Wyatt to find their way, but if Roger makes it known that his adoration and love are accompanied by a tender rear if her behavior warrants, well, their marriage will start out from the beginning with her knowing what will happen if she is naughty."

"Wait, you really think that Mr. Goldman is going to actually allow Roger to spank his daughter?" Charity asked.

"From what Catherine said, I believe that's his plan, why?" Anna supplied. "It sounds like she is way overdue for a spanking if you ask me."

"I don't know," Charity said. "I mean, yes, he admitted that he wanted to spank her that day out at the pond, but they aren't yet promised, much less wed."

"I'm not sure that matters," Catherine said. "I had the distinct impression that Ben was taking the opportunity to… well, I suppose learn if Roger was going to be able to handle Teresa. She is lovely but you all know she can be rather stubborn. I believe you girls might have an opportunity to share some advice a bit earlier than you planned."

"I'm not so sure," Agatha said. "I wasn't even thinking about how our first attempt to become friends would be after a punishment. Teresa might be mortified to even see us if she thinks we know Roger spanked her. I know I was embarrassed when Anna knew that Wyatt was taking me home to tan my hide that day."

"I'd be far more embarrassed by people knowing I was rude and disrespectful than knowing I had a husband who took the time to remind me how to be a better person," Anna said, reaching across the table to give Agatha's hand a squeeze. "Besides, that was the day when we really became friends."

Charity nodded. "Embarrassment aside, if Teresa is to wed Roger and join us at Rose Ranch, she's going to discover the fact that our husbands don't hesitate to chastise us with way more than a lecture. We've all seen each other get swatted, and even share pillows when we visit and need a softer seat. I don't see how we could ever hide the fact that corporal discipline is a part of our lives."

"And, if we are being honest, I need the support of my friends," Anna said. "I love you both, and it helps to know that we can discuss anything and everything without feeling as if we have to hide our fears or feelings."

"You girls are very lucky," Catherine said. "You have all been blessed with wonderful men who want you at their sides as you all build a dream. But an even bigger blessing is finding kindred spirits in each other to share your lives."

"I know," Charity said, her eyes suddenly swimming with unshed tears. "I was so scared with Grace's birth and thinking we were going to lose her. I don't think I could have survived if not for you all. Not a day passed when one or both of you were right there, helping us and praying for our family."

Both Agatha and Anna immediately rose from their chairs to give her a hug. Not one to forego a chance to make her friends smile, Anna stood back and giggled. "And, as we all know, you, my friend, worked at being quite the naughty girl until you practically begged James to turn you across his knees."

"Anna!" Charity gasped and then giggled, the tears disappearing and yet her blue eyes still shimmering.

"Well, it's the truth!" Anna said with a shrug and another smile. She yipped when Charity reached out and popped the back of her skirts. The older two women smiled at the display and when they sat down again, Catherine nodded. "Friendship like you share is something to be treasured. I know I've said Teresa can be stubborn and a bit selfish, but I truly believe that with friends such as you three, she will discover that it is far more satisfying to help one another. Give her that chance, even if it is a bit awkward at first."

"We'll try because we promised Agatha that we would," Anna said. "Still, I can't help but wonder if Teresa will feel the same."

"Well, as I said, I think you'll all know the answer to that question by the time supper is over this evening," Catherine said.

The women continued to talk, the conversation moving to their children as the little ones awakened from naps. Though Agatha enjoyed the company of her friends, she couldn't help but wish she had the courage to ask her mother the questions that refused to go away. Was she blind to the fact that Mr. Goldman seemed far more friendly than his position as her employer warranted? Consoling herself with the fact that she'd keep her eyes open and learn as much as possible, she continued to smile, disguising her unease.

***

"You sure look chipper," Matthew said as the two men washed up and changed their shirts in preparation of going to the restaurant for supper. "While we slaved away, I suppose you were out courting your gal."

"Not just my gal, my fiancée," Roger said, his grin growing as Matthew's jaw dropped open. "Jealous?"

"Hell no! I just hope you know what you are doing," Matthew said. "Remember, a gal might be nothing but an angel when she's being courted but can turn on you once you've given her your name."

Roger chuckled again. "I assure you, Teresa hasn't been an angel, but that doesn't matter. She is the only woman I would be honored to share my name with and see bear my children. The moment I saw her, I knew she was the one I wished to spend the rest of my life with." As Matthew snorted, Roger turned serious. "Who hurt you so badly that you are against all women?" he asked, his smile slipping away with concern for his friend. "I couldn't be happier and wish you'd give some girl a chance. You deserve to be as happy as the rest of us."

"I'm happy just as I am," Matthew countered. "I'm happy and hungry. Ready?"

"Yeah, but I'd appreciate it if you'd keep what I told you to yourself, at least until—"

"No problem," Matthew said, waving off his concern as if the last thing he would even want to discuss was another man being trapped into the abyss of matrimony.

The two men joined the rest of the group to walk to the restaurant. It was a bit later than normal as Benjamin had served his regular customers first, wanting to have the restaurant empty but for those in their party. Roger hadn't given them the real reason for the later hour, only sharing that tidbit with Matthew. As they drew closer to the building, Roger remembered how he'd wondered if this supper would even happen only a few hours earlier.

Roger had been so impressed with how the girls had worked together to begin the chore of cleaning the kitchen that he'd surprised them both by volunteering to help. Barbara had giggled, telling her sister she was lucky to have found a man who looked handsome in an apron. Teresa's laugh had caused him to smile, but her words that she was just plain lucky to have found such a wonderful man had made his heart fill. He had trouble keeping his hands to himself, reaching out to touch her hand every time they came close.

"Who needs sugar when you two are around?" Barbara teased as she swept up the white mess on the floor.

"You do," Teresa said, holding the dustpan for her sister. "After all, there is still a cake to bake and you're the best baker I know."

"Shh, I thought you wanted your beau to think you made the cake."

"Ah, a secret revealed," Roger said, placing the broken pieces of the bowl into the trash. Standing, he wrapped his arms around Teresa's waist. "Tell me that you do know how to cook, at least."

"And if I don't?" Teresa asked, turning her head back to look at him over her shoulder.

"Then, my love, we are gonna be awfully hungry. All I can cook is beans and scorched rice."

"Don't worry, Mr. Morrison, she can cook, but for some reason can't bake a cake to save her life," Barbara said.

"That's because of all the stupid steps involved, but I can help," Teresa said, demonstrating by gathering the ingredients needed for the cake and placing them on the now clean work table. "We're going to have to add in some dried apples because the berries got, um…"

"Squashed on the floor?" Roger supplied.

"That's all right," Barbara said. "There may be rules in baking but that doesn't mean you can't bend them a bit. Apples and the last of the berries will be just fine."

"Ah, so rules are meant to be broken," Teresa said with a giggle, then squealed when Roger snagged her about her waist.

"Bent, my dear, not broken unless…"

"No, no, that's what I meant." She wiggled away and went to the pantry, returning with a jar of preserves and a basket of dehydrated apple slices.