Babies

The church wedding was due in two weeks, followed by a simple picnic surrounded by their friends. Ethan had written to Judge Williams and his son to invite as guests. The man had responded and thanked Ethan but his work didn't allow him a vacation now. He also replied, Tom's behavior at school was horrible and it was out of the question to give him such pleasure as a vacation.

A little disappointed but understanding, Ethan had replied that if he wanted to send Tom to him during the two summer months, it would not be a pleasure for the boy, he would be extremely severe and would straighten him up for the start of the school year. The boy, in his opinion, needed to relearn the meaning of values and hard work, rather than being spoiled in the city.

During breakfast, Amelia rushed outside to lose everything she had hardly swallowed. It had been the same every morning for the past week.

"Alright, that's enough," Ethan said, "I'm taking you to Dr. Read this morning. Kids hurry and go to school. Tess, I'm going to ask Marie to babysit you for a while, you'll be good and you will help her with Davy."

"Yes Papa" Tess replied.

"But Ethan, what of your job?" Amelia asked.

"The advantage of being the sheriff, I do what I want."

Once Tess was dropped off at Marie's, who was happy to be of service and keep her, the couple headed for the doctor.

"Ethan, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked.

"Of course, in my opinion, that's exactly it, but let's wait until we are sure before we rejoice, if you are not pregnant, don't be disappointed, it will come."

But the doctor confirmed their thoughts. Amelia was more than two months pregnant. She would soon get better. The morning sickness should subside with a tea he gave Amelia.

"Ethan, a little over two months? It goes back to the day we did it the first time at Marie's."

"You read my mind, I was also calculating. Shall we tell the children?"

"Let's wait until we reach three months Ethan, that's soon and you never know."

"You won't lose it, he or she will be as strong as me!"

"What if there are twins? It's possible, it's from my side, James didn't have any on his."

"Then we'll have twins! It doesn't matter Amelia, boy, girl, twins, you make me the happiest of men!" He kissed her tenderly and hugged her tight in his muscular arms.

"I love you, Ethan!"
"I love you, Amelia!"

Meanwhile, Marie looked after Tess while Dakota patrolled in town.
Tess was playing in Carry's bedroom, Marie was spreading out her sheets and Davy was sleeping in her little wicker basket on the outside table not far from her.

Quietly, Tess walked over to Davy, climbed into the chair, and hugged the baby. She wanted to play with dolls and a real baby would be perfect!
But the chair swung toppling Tess and the baby in her arms. Fortunately, she hadn't let go and her chest had protected the baby.
Marie came running, hugging her baby and putting him back in the basket.

"Tess! What did you do? You could have killed him!" She screamed angrily. She grabbed Tess under her left arm and let her right hand drop onto the little butt, over and over again with determined force.

Tess was crying and screaming, but she didn't care. She continued until her arm and hand hurt.

"Go to Carry's room!" She ordered "I don't want to see you anymore!"

Tess threw herself on Carry's bed and cried. What would her Pa do if Marie was already so angry with her?

Ethan and Amelia arrived a moment later to retrieve Tess. He knocked on the door, happy to break the good news to Marie, but was disillusioned when he saw her white face.

"What's going on Marie? Is it Davy? Tess?" He asked worriedly.

"Come in, I'll explain it to you, everyone is fine." She said to reassure him.

Marie explained what had happened, how she had lost her temper and beaten Tess.

"My God Ethan, I beg your pardon, I overreacted, but I was so scared! Sorry, Ethan!"

"Where did you hit her and with what?" The man asked.

"Right on her butt with my hand Ethan but I hit hard."

"Well, just on her butt with your hand seems okay to me, it's still just a spanking. You were angry, she could have killed him, but she's only three. It was a mistake, an accident, I'm sure that after the spanking that you gave her she won't do it again."

"I understand Ethan, forgive me."

Ethan said nothing, got up to go to Carry's room.

Tess was lying on her stomach still crying.

"Sorry, Pa! Are you gonna spank me too?"

"Shh, calm down my love, first I want to give you a big hug, then when you are calm we'll talk."

Tess knelt down and threw herself into his arms! Ethan hugged her so tightly, being careful not to touch her buttocks, bringing love and comfort to his baby until her crying turns into a sniffle.

"Well, I'm not going to spank you, Tess. I think you've been punished enough, but I want to look at the mess on your butt. Lay on my knees."

He lifted her dress and pulled down her panties. It was a good spanking, Tess's cheeks were bright red, but she wouldn't bruise, the clothes had protected her, if Marie had stripped her naked with it the same strength would have been different. He gently straightened her clothes.

"Well, let's talk now, get up in front of me and look at me, my heart."

Tess obeyed.

"I don't blame Marie for giving you such a spanking, you deserved it. A baby is not a toy Tess, you could have killed him. Marie was very afraid, and reacted quickly, but way too much. But it's legitimate, any ma in the world would have done the same, maybe even worse, she hit you with her hand and on your butt, for me that's a good controlled herself You understand? "

"Yes, Pa."

"Do you blame her? Are you afraid of her?"

"No, it hurts, but that's the point of spanking, that's what you say. You're right, I deserved it, Papa. I just wanted to play with dolls and a real baby seemed like fun. I was wrong."

"Yes, you were wrong. You can have fun changing a baby. Yes, it can be fun, I understand, but only in the presence of an adult. Only Adam and Claire are old enough to change a baby alone."

"Yes Pa, I wouldn't make the same mistake whenever we have our baby," Tess said.

Ethan laughed.

"I'm glad to hear. You're going to apologize to Marie for this, okay?"

"Yes Pa, but what if Marie is mad at me and still doesn't want to talk to me anymore?"

"It won't be the case honey, I promise you."

Ethan stood up and took her hand.

"Come on, we're both going, together!"

Tess threw herself into Marie's arms apologetically.

"I forgive you Tess, that was nonsense, a mistake, and I should have taken the time to punish you properly, for that I apologize Tess. It won't happen again, I promise."

"Pa said you controlled yourself by hitting only my butt with your hand. I deserved it."

"Yes, but not like that".

"Enough" Said Ethan. "Marie, you gave Tess a good spanking, severe, yes, but deserved. Tess, it was stupid, you learned your lesson and will not make the same mistake again. You have been punished, it's over, Let's stop talking about it."

"Come here Marie" Said Ethan by wrapping his arms. Marie accepted the comfort.

"I forgive you Marie. Never strike and I mean never, a child anywhere other than on the buttocks."

"Yes Ethan, I promise you."

"Well, the incident is closed between us as well."

In the evening Ethan had put Tess to bed, telling her a story holding her tight to his chest, he knew the child loved to snuggle up against him. She fell asleep quickly.

"Ethan, I love you!"

"I love you too my dear, come here."

And they loved each other passionately much of the night.