I Love You

Scott climbed the stairs to Sam's room, knocked and entered.

She was looking out the window but turned around when she heard him.

He sat on her bed and pointing to the floor in front of him said "come here".

"Sam, look at me!"

She looked up from the carpet.

"I forbid you to ignore me when I speak to you and slam the door! Is that clear?"

"Yes sir, sorry!"

"I will accept your apology this time, but if you start again, I won't be so nice! You are to stay here until I call you as

punishment for challenging me."

Ten minutes later, the sheriff entered the Lancer property. Knocking and being asked inside he greets his friend.

"Hello Scott!"

"Hello Val! Thanks for coming! You want some coffee?"

"With pleasure! Thank you! Johnny quickly explained to me why you

I wanted me to come by. Where is the child? What information have you been able to learn about her?""

"Oh, it's a long story! Come, sit and I'll tell you,"

They settled in and Scott told him absolutely everything, how he found Samantha,

his suspicions for her parents and also her nonsense. He mentioned why he had to

resort to spanking and despite that, she has been constantly challenging him!

"She is looking for authority, Scott! It is clear, she is testing you! I have already seen this in children who are left to their own devices."

"Yes, that's what I thought, she found me as authority! Believe me! I understood that she had never been spanked before, I did not put any force at all, I used the shame of being spanked,more than the blows, and she sobbed!"

"She may have been alone for a long time, without limits and she unconsciously misses it "

"Yes, besides it's been a while since she was punished, I'm going to go get her."

"Scott? I have something to say before you do."

"I'm listening to you, Val."

"This morning in town I saw Johnny with Jason. They were smoking behind his baI wanted to intervene, but felt it's up to you to punish him. I just watched to see that they were not going to burn the barn!

"Jason's father is away, he must also have consequences! Would you mind seeing his mother and taking care of this for her? "

"Yes Scott, I will go over there when I return to town. Now may I meet the child?"

"Give me a minute, I'll get her."

Once again in Sam's room, Scott tells her "I lift your punishment. Will you do what I say in the future?

"Yes Scott! Don't ignore you and slam the door! Sorry, Scott!"

And, to his surprise, she threw herself into his arms!"

"Good," he said, returning the strong hugs. "I forgive you! The sheriff is here, come and say hello. He is a friend."

Back in the living room, Scott sat on the couch and Sam immediately climbed on his lap.

"Samantha, let me introduce you to my friend, Sheriff Val, Val, this is Sam."

"Hello sheriff," said Sam, glancing at Scott to see if it suited him.

Scott nodded.

"Hello Sam, what can you tell me to help me in my research? Do you remember your parents? What happened to make you end up in the Lancer's barn?"

Scott automatically wrapped his arms around her as she hid her face in his shirtfront..

"I know it's difficult Sam, but can you answer please?" Scott asked.

"They both died in an accident. I no longer remember the city, I was small."

"How old were you?"

"Maybe five years old." She looked at Scott again, "Very good", I'm proud of you!" He praises.

"And what happened after that?" Asked Val.

"I don't want to say. You're going to bring me back there!"

"Back where? "

"At the orphanage"! She covered her mouth with her hand.

Scott spoke: "You told me that you had never been spanked before, so were you treated nicely at the orphanage?"

Why go? "

"They didn't often punish children under the age of six,

with more than a hand spanking, I never got caught! But bigger children, it was terrible, I heard them being whipped with switches! One day, when I was six, I broke a window, without doing it on purpose! I was going to be whipped, that was for sure!So, I saved myself by running away!"

"How old are you Sam?"

"I am eight years old."

"For the past two years, did you live alone?"

"Yes"

"How did you do it? You are so young to survive alone."

"I was doing fine until I got caught here."

"You were not fine you were lying and stealing!" Said Scott "I think if you had broken one of my windows,I would not be happy either!

"You will spank me Scott but not the whip or switch!"

"Exactly right."

"No other family to your knowledge?"

"No."

"Well, it will be difficult, I will first go around the orphanages in the region, it's going to be long, Scott, weeks! Can we put Sam in an orphanage while we wait?"

"No Val!, Sam will stay with us until you find her family. I promised to protect her and I will!"

Sam turned around and threw herself on Scott's neck!

"Thanks Scott!"

"I promised it, right? Know that I am a man of my word! If I promuuse, I kerp it."

"What will your father say, Scott?"

"He won't be here for several weeks and, anyway, I know he will support me and respect my decision."

"Okay, I'm going to go Scott, I'll keep you posted on my findings."

"Thank you Val! Goodbye. Sam? Will you say goodbye, please?"

"Goodbye Sheriff."

"Goodbye Sam! Be wise and don't test Scott. He has every right to discipline you!He is responsible for you and you must do what he says! Okay?"

"Yes, Sheriff, I will be wise and obey, he will be proud of me!"

Scott nodded. "I'm already proud of you!"

After Val has gone, Scott offers Sam to go swim at the creek.

"Is it true? Oh yes Scott! Please! But ... I can't swim!"

"I will be there! Do not worry."

Scott hadn't forgotten Johnny, but, after thinking about it, he would wait for the boy to tell him by himselfand confront him tonight if he didn't.

So he called Johnny outside for the attendants.

They had fun all afternoon!, Scott threw them one after the other into the water, tickling them, having fun.

John and Sam laughed!

Scott showed Sam how to paddle with her arms and legs at the same time, she was gifted!

"Well done Sam," encourages Scott! "You moved from there!"

After a while, exhausted, Scott sat by the water.

Thirty seconds later, two wet children threw themselves into his arms! "Easy there, don't hurt me." he said, laughing!

"Scott?" Said Johnny

"Yes?

"Uh ... thank you for this day!, I love you!"

"Me too, Johnny." said Scott hugging him.

"I love you, Scott!" Repeated Sam, then added "I'm sorry!" and covered her mouth with her hand.

Scott grabbed her before she could escape. "No, sweet. Don't apologize, Sam!You have the right to say this, I will not scold you for it!"

"But I know I can't love you ... not for real. I am only visiting!" Her eyes looking at the ground.

Scott thought to choose his words carefully:

"Sam, look at me," he said.

She looked up, her eyes wet.

"I am the authority here, the adult! I am the one who plays, who protects, who cuddles, who scolds you, who punishes you and even spanks you! What you feel is normal! You may love me for those, you can not do otherwise! I am happy to play this role in your life, I accepted it in the second I found you in the barn! Do not be ashamed or afraid of this feeling! Never!"

Tears ran down Sam's cheeks and Scott, blinking his own wet eyes, struggled not to cry!

"I love you too Sam! For the same reasons that you love me! I'll always be here for you ! Like an uncle, even if we find your family!"

"What if there is no one?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"If there is no one, would you want to ... keep me?" She asked softly, "I wouldn't do anything bad or stupid, I promise you! "

"Don't make a promise that you can't keep!" He said, hiding a smile.

For he had already been having these thoughts, but did not want to give Sam false hope.

"We will wait to see what we find, and then we will talk. Okay?"

"Yes Scott" she said.

He hugged her powerfully, responding to the hug she gave him!

"Well, it's getting late, let's go back."

On the way home, Sam was running ahead, so Johnny took hold of his courage in both hands.

"Scott?"

"Yes?"

"I have something to say, but you're going to be furious." he said softly.

Scott stopped, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm listening," he said.

And Johnny told him everything! Jason, cigarettes, lying about his reason for being late….

"Where did you get that cigarette?"

"I received it from a friend's dad a few weeks ago, it had fallen out of his pocket."

"You had this behavior all planned! You realize you lied to me? Your actions disappoint me greatly, John!"

John was fighting tears.

"When we get back, you take your bath and then you stay in your room! I'll bring you your dinner, then we'll talk in the barn when Sam is asleep. By that time I will be calmer. I can not discuss it now!"

"Yes sir! I'm sorry, Scott!" Johnny replies losing his fight with tears.