PLEASE SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS
Sorry for the short chapter, but it seemed a natural place to break.
"Get your ass down here!" he ordered his voice low and threatening.
The girl jumped only to be caught in Chris's arms prior to reaching the ground. Cold green eyes assessed the scratches and bruises, noting one deeper cut running from her right temple to her ear. "Ya tryin' to break yer damn fool neck?" he demanded giving the girl a shake.
"No sir," she mumbled, avoiding his angry glare. He set her down and gave her a solid swat to her backside then picked her up again and carried her into the boarding house.
"I can walk on my own," she mumbled in embarrassment, though ceased any argument or struggle upon having the infamous Larabee glare leveled at her. She swallowed hard. This was not good. Not good at all.
Chapter 2
Torie silently watched as Nathan carefully finished wrapping her wrist. He had already washed her various cuts and scrapes, as well as bandaged the deeper one on her head. Having already reassured everyone that none of the injuries were serious, Nathan worked without disrupting the quiet tension in the room.
"There," the dark skinned man said gently. "Might be sore for a day or so, but I think you'll be just fine. No climbing trees or jumpin' outta windows for awhile, though, okay?"
The girl didn't answer, but rolled her eyes.
"Man just patched you up," Chris stated, his voice dangerous, "Don't you have somethin' to say to him?"
Not meeting her father's eyes, Torie quietly offered her thanks to Nathan.
"Now get your tail up to your room," the blond man growled.
Torie was quick to obey and her footsteps could be heard pounding up the stairs. Josiah winced when the door slammed, glad that the proprietress of the boarding house was a heavy sleeper.
"You gonna deal with her tonight?" he queried.
Chris nodded.
"Chris," Nathan started.
"Nathan she's more than got this comin'."
"Ain't arguin' that, but she's plum worn out and has just had a fright."
"Which is why it needs to be now before she's reinforced all those walls she has built up inside of her. Might actually get through to her."
Green eyes met gentle brown ones until Nathan finally gave a nod. Chris then looked at Josiah and finally Vin before exhaling forcibly and heading for the stairs.
Upstairs, Torie flopped onto her bed with a huff, unable to believe that she'd blown the perfect opportunity to escape. Tired and frustrated, the girl couldn't decide if she was more angry with herself or with Larabee. Fighting tears, Torie squeezed her eyes shut willing herself to be strong and not cry.
"Mama, how'd this get so messed up?"
Ysebella had told Torie about her father, years ago, explaining simply that he was a good man, but was unable to be with them. Her child's mind had made him bigger than life. As a little girl she would fantasize about meeting the man and about having a daddy. When her mother was diagnosed, everything had changed.
Devastated by her mother's illness, Torie's focus was steadfast on the parent that she knew and loved. Life became much harder as Ysebella became unable to work. They had to find a new home and in fact had to move several times, but the singer had assured her daughter that she had made investments that would carry them through.
Ysebella told Torie when she located Chris Larabee for the second time, and finally divulged the whole truth about their relationship. In her gentle French accent she had explained about the loss of his family and even discussed the possibility of Torie going to him. The girl wouldn't hear of leaving her mother. Then Ysebella was murdered. For Torie, nothing now mattered other than revenge.
The door opened and the girl sat up steeling herself for the inevitable lecture. She had heard it over and over in the past six months. Nothing this man could say would sway her, even though he was her father. Downstairs she had been intimidated by the black-clad man, but Torie strengthened her resolve. She wasn't afraid of him. She wasn't!
Chris entered the room and shut the door leaning up against it with his arms crossed staring at the girl on the bed. Her hair was a jumble of dark brown, light brown and honey blond and reminded him of her mother's. She'd cleaned up pretty, and if it weren't for the permanent glower on her face would be almost angelic.
"Are you going to start your lecture or just stare at me all night?"
Yeah, real angelic. Chris figured she wasn't ready to listen to a word he had to say.
"Neither."
"Well, then perhaps you'd leave so I can go to bed," she answered back smartly.
Chris's lip quirked. Kid really had no idea what she was in for. With slow even steps he approached the bed, taking his hat off and tossing it on the dresser as he passed. To her credit she didn't run or shy away, of course she had no idea what he had planned either. Upon reaching the bed he took hold of her uninjured right arm and pulled her up, taking the place she left vacant.
"What the hell!" Torie exclaimed pulling her arm to free it from the man's grasp.
He held tight and with a gentle tug pulled her across his lap, capturing her right hand at the small of her back, her injured left one secured between their bodies.
"You can't do this!" She screamed, finally realizing what he was about. Despite the stinging swat he'd delivered outside, she really had not anticipated this move.
Chris Larabee's answer was a resounding SMACK! Right in the middle of her rear.
"You Bastard!" She bucked and kicked for all she was worth, but the gun fighter held her easily.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"Let me up!"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"Fils de pute! Je n'y crois pas! Tu es fou!?"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"Retournez à la pute qui t'a accouchée!"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"Okay, okay, stop," she gasped, unable to stop the flow of tears. Torie felt like her backside was on fire. She had never been so much as swatted before and had never expected to be punished like this. It really hurt!
"You ready to listen?" he asked.
She nodded, hoping he would finally let her up.
"You don't try to run away." SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! "You don't disobey me." SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! You don't do foolhardy dangerous things like climbing on roofs or jumping outta windows." He tilted her forward and landed several swats on the undercurve of her bottom. "And if you don't clean up your mouth and start taking a more respectful tone you're gonna find out if you like the taste of soap." Chris gave her a final volley of swats. "Do you hear and understand what I'm saying?"
Torie nodded her head vigorously, all the fight gone for the moment in her desperation for the painful spanking to come to an end.
He landed another swat. "I wanna be able to hear your answer."
"Yes, sir," she sniffed through her tears.
Standing her up in front of him, Chris looked the girl in the eyes, "I hope you do because this is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, compared to what you'll get if I catch you doing anything like this again."
He pulled her into his arms, planting a kiss on her tousled head. Torie remained stiff and unresponsive, more in shock than anything else. Despite the man's earlier threats she had never really expected him to spank her. No one ever had before.
"It's my job to keep you safe. You've got some pretty mixed up ideas in that head of yours and if you aren't careful, you're gonna end up getting yourself killed." With that he let her go well aware she was not going to accept any comfort from him at this moment. No speeches on what her mother would think. No admonitions about how good little girls should behave. No recriminations about how her actions affected all those around her. Just a very poignant warning.
A hand crept back to rub her flaming backside as she watched Chris head for the door. He turned, before leaving, "Best get some sleep, kiddo."
Torie stood watching the door in confusion for quite some time before plopping down on her bed, turning over quickly with a hiss. "Ow!" Her mind was reeling with the events of the day and most especially this evening. Tired beyond belief she closed her eyes for just a moment and was soon fast asleep.
Chris peeked in on her later and couldn't curb his smile. In sleep her face softened and she looked young and innocent like a little girl should. With quiet ease he removed her boots and squared her on the bed before covering her with a blanket. He blew out the lamp and then placed a kiss on her head, his heart constricting as memories of his son came unbidden. "Night, angel," he whispered hoarsely with tears in his eyes.
TBC