Chapter Two: Who Will Blink First

Flying back to the cabin String had time to think about the events of the day. He came close to seeing Caitlin and Kevin crash. He was angry with Cait for her decision to go to Bluestone Flight Service without backup but he was also relieved they were both ok. Feeling drained from the day he decided to turn in early. He hadn't given much thought to putting Cait over his knee until now. It was going to be awkward tomorrow at the hangar. He was sure she would be angry. Now that he had time to cool down he found the whole ordeal rather amusing. He did feel a little guilt sink in when he thought about her standing there rubbing her butt trying to hold back the tears. She could always get though to his heart and this time was no different. Only this time he wanted to do something about it. One thing he did know he was not going to apologize. She had it coming to her. This was not the first time she had disregarded her safety. He thought back to when she waltzed into the Pope County jail without backup, he had to rescue her that time as well.

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Cait was getting dressed for bed. It had been a long stressful day. She fixed some soup for dinner and took it into her bedroom. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and forget that today ever happened. Carefully sitting down on the bed she was reminded again of being hauled over Strings lap and spanked. He had been angry with her on other occasions but they would just say what they both had to say and that would be the end of it. So many times she had imagined what it would feel like for String to take her into his arms. This is not the way she had wanted it to happen. He didn't see her as a desirable, capable woman. He saw her as a little sister that had done something wrong and needed to be taught a lesson. Turning the light out and snuggling in for the night she decided she would set him straight tomorrow.

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Dom cleaned up the last of his dishes before going to bed. He was tired. He was getting way too old for the trouble the three of them seemed to always find. He was worried about Cait and String's relationship. Cait was upset when she left not to mention embarrassed. He knew they were both equally stubborn. Knowing that neither one was likely to give in he dreaded to see the morning come. Somehow he knew he was going to be pulled into this. It was about time they both stop dancing around each other and say how they feel. Maybe this was not a bad thing after all.

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Cait walked into the office like a women on a mission. She looked around for String and spied his legs sticking out from under the jet ranger he was working on.

"Stringfellow Hawke, I got sometin to say to you." She said standing with her feet planted firmly hands on her hips.

He smiled as he heard her. When she was mad her Texas twang was more prominent. Sliding out from the jet ranger he decided to beat her to the punch. "So I take it you're ready to apologize for yesterday."

"Me, I need to apologize, of all the nerve." She stammered as she put both hands on her head in disbelief. "You are by far the most infuriating man I have ever met" as she stomped off to the office.

String watched her walk off as a grin crossed his face. He decided he was up for the fight and headed for the office.

Walking into the office Cait slammed the door. Dom shaking his head went to the door to fix the blinds that were now tangled.

"I wish you and String would stop taking out your anger on my door."

"I'm sorry Dom; he just makes me so darn mad. He won't apologize for yesterday. And get this, he's waiting for me to apologize."

"And you thought he would? This is String were talkin about ya know."

String walked into the office wiping his hands reaching for a cup of coffee.

"Are you going to tell him he was wrong Dom?"

"Oh no ya don't, I'm not takin sides" he said as he left them to work it out on their own.

Cait was waiting for String to say something and when she was met with silence as he continued to sip his coffee she turned and plopped down in the chair forgetting that she still had a tender behind. Her face giving it away.

String tried to suppress his laugh.

"You think assaulting me is funny?" She is now standing pointing a finger in his chest.

"Is that what they call it now days, assault? Growing up my folks called it a spanking" he said following her angry finger with his eyes.

Cait was so mad she could have spit nails. Grabbing her purse she stormed out of the hangar.

Dom came back into the office. "Now where did she take off to?"

"She didn't say. Probably just went to cool her heals."

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Monday morning as String was flying in he found himself looking forward to seeing Cait. Even though they ended things Friday with Cait leaving angry he was sure they could work it out. He couldn't help smile when he pictured her in the office, eyes flashing and finger wagging at him. Damn she was cute. Admitting his feelings for her was not something he was accustomed to but the past two days had changed all that. He was actually getting used to the idea of having feelings for her. That was a big step for him.

"Hey Dom, where are you?"

"I'm in the back straightening out the supply cabinets."

"I thought Cait always does that?"

"Well if Cait was here she would be, but because you two couldn't work out you differences she's not."

"You mean she's not coming in today?" He asked trying not to show his disappointment.

"No, I mean she's not here as in this state. She went home to Texas."

"Did she say why?"

Dom stopped what he was doing and gave String a face that said that was a dumb question. "All she said was she needed to get away to think."

"Did she say if she was coming back?"

"No, she called me Saturday morning sayin she had a flight home and not to expect her back this week, she said she would call me later. Boy when you screw something up kid, you really screw it up."

"Sorry Dom"

"Well what are you going to do about it?"

"I guess I'll go get her and bring her back." String turned to leave.

"Ah String"

"Yeah Dom"

"Ya think you could ask her nice and not go charging in there like some cave man?"

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String was standing on the porch of the O'Shannessy ranch. He had been there before with Cait. He actually liked her family. He respected her dad. He was an honest man who loved his family.

"String, what brings you here?" Her dad said as he opened the screen door. "I take it you came to see Cait."

"Yes sir, is she here?"

Her father stood for a moment smiling. Cait said she came home because she was home sick. He wasn't buying it for a minute. String showing up at the ranch confirmed his suspicions. He liked String and had a feeling he was the reason his daughter had not been herself since she came home.

"She's down at the stable with her horse Blue." He said pointing the way.

String thanked him and headed to find Cait. She was in jeans and a white cotton T-shirt brushing her horse. He stood thinking how good she looked in her jeans.

"So, you get your butt spanked and you run home to mommy and daddy."

She turned around to see him standing there with his arms crossed over his chest leaning against the door watching her.

"Seriously Cait, you took on Horn but can't take a spanking?"

"What are you doing here?" She sounded angry but that was not her true feelings. Her heart was beating faster and she was never happier to see anyone in her life.

"We never did get to finish our conversation. As I remember it you wanted to tell me something."

"What, so you can laugh at me some more. No thanks."

"I promise I won't tease you or laugh. Go ahead and say what you wanted to say."

Cait hesitated thinking if she should tell him what she was feeling. He did travel all this way to listen; the least she could do was tell him.

"I know what I did was wrong, it wasn't one of my finest hours, I get that. But you made me feel like I'm some little sister that you need to be responsible for. I'm not a little sister; I'm a woman in case you haven't noticed. And another thing, sometimes you take dangerous risk and no one spanks you."

Cait was silent waiting for him to respond with his part of the apology.

String started to giggle, "I'll tell you what Cait, if you can catch me and hold me down you can spank me all you want."

He wasn't going to apologize. Now he was just making fun of her. Throwing the brush down she headed for the door. String pushed off the door frame he was leaning on blocking her exit.

"Where do you think you're going?" He said as he held her close. "We're not done here."

Cait tried to break free but she couldn't. "Let go String, I don't have anything more to say."

"Good then, because I don't want to talk anymore either."

String pulled her in holding her tight to his body as he kissed her. He was hoping she would return the kiss. It took her a moment to gather her composure as she closed her eyes and kissed him back with all the passion she had been saving for this very moment.

String was the one to finally break the kiss. "I would much rather be doing this with you then fighting."