Birches, Cowgirls & Angels Read online

  Hank was about to console her more, but there was suddenly so much commotion going on outside the closed office door that both of them bolted out to look.

  “You friggin’, lying, bitch,” Cissy Riverton snarled, pushing Midge McKenna’s shoulder hard enough that the brunette stumbled off balance.

  Midge recouped quickly and went after her, flying towards her head, grabbing a fistful of hair. “You conniving tramp!”

  The two were tussling on the ground by the time Amanda and Hank pulled them off.

  “What the hell’s going on!” Hank was furious. Holding Midge tightly at the shoulders, the angry young woman was struggling against a grip too steely for her to break.

  At the same time, Amanda had a firm grasp on Cissy Riverton. “Let me go!” the young woman wailed.

  “Not until you tell us what you’re doing,” Amanda snarled.

  The two angry women refused to say a word, but glared, eyes shooting daggers.

  Midge tried again to shake loose of Hank’s grasp, her temper moving her far beyond reason.

  Hank, pissed-off, abruptly turned the young woman around, clutching her under his left arm, while his right hand pelted Midge’s denim-covered behind.

  “Ouch! Ow, ow, yeeeeeeouch! No!” she cried.

  “You don’t stop your hollering I’m not stopping,” the inspired Hank informed her tersely.

  After another few swats, Midge finally eased. “I’m sorry, please.” Her struggling ceased, but not the nasty sting inside her pants.

  Hank stopped, turned her around, but didn’t let her go.

  “See what you get for being such a bitch!” Cissy sassed.

  “Oh, I think you’re going to get exactly what your friend here got,” Amanda informed her.

  “Like hell!” Cissy snapped back.

  “You want your job, you get spanked, too.”

  “But it’s her fault.”

  “I don’t care who’s at fault. You’re both grown women and you know better. But, since you choose to act like children, that’s exactly how we’ll treat you.”

  Amanda pushed her toward Hank, who, letting go of Midge, put the cocky redhead under his arm, and repeated the treatment he’d given her friend.

  It was Midge’s turn to gloat.

  “Make sure she feels it,” Amanda said. “I have a feeling this one started it.”

  “I did not!” Cissy blared.

  The comment only inspired the determined cowboy.

  “Ouch, so, stop, pleeeeeessssss……” Hank’s broad flat palm packed a mean punch, his swats focusing on the round centers of Cissy’s cheeks making certain they burned, regardless of how well-padded they were inside her blue jeans.

  She was soon apologizing as though her life depended on it, “Please, ouch, no, I’m sorry.”

  “You’re damn right you are!” Hank added. He laid on another few meaningful swats. And when he finally stopped, both were out of breath.

  “Now, I’ll see you in my office,” Amanda snarled. “We have a few things to discuss.”

  Minutes later, Midge and Cissy, still glaring—though much less overtly—stood stock still in front of Amanda’s desk, Hank behind them just for good measure. His arms were crossed, his face as grim as an itinerant preacher’s on Sunday morning. There was no sheepish, sexy grin anywhere around. And there wouldn’t be.

  “I should fire you both,” Amanda started.

  “No!” Cissy immediately interrupted.

  Amanda fixed her with a lethal stare. “I didn’t ask you to speak.”

  “I’m sorry,” she backed off.

  “I should fire you both,” Amanda started again. “I’ve never had any employee, ever, act so irresponsibly as you two have. I trust this is just an isolated incident. It will not happen again. And, if there is any intimation of another confrontation, you’ll both be dismissed. Is that clear?”

  “Yes,” they both managed to rely.

  “That is, yes, ma’am. I think I’m due a little more respect around here.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Midge promptly corrected herself, while Cissy followed with a belated mumble.

  “Hank,” Amanda looked to the man behind them, “you’ll keep an eye on these two. If necessary you can repeat the spanking—though if they need it again, be sure it’s with their pants down.” She eyed the two a moment longer. “Now get busy, you have a morning’s work to get done before you can take a break.”

  Midge and Cissy fled the room fast, moving quickly in opposite directions. Brushing past Hank, an embarrassed Midge couldn’t even look at him she was so ashamed of herself.

  Later that afternoon, Midge was tossing hay into a feed trough. Though there was no sting left on her behind—that had disappeared almost within minutes—her feelings were still smarting from the humiliatingly public scene with Cissy. She ran it through her mind a dozen times, trying to figure out what went wrong, but she couldn’t shake the truth that she’d been just plain jealous when she went after Cis.

  That morning she’d arrived at the ranch, quarter till seven, sure she’d have plenty of time with Hank alone, only to find that Cissy had arrived first. The little tart was batting her eyelashes, sidling up to the cowboy as though the two were old friends. When Midge walked in on the scene, she felt like an intruder in the middle of an intimate moment. How could she! How could her best friend be so damned obvious?

  Though she’d expected the move all along, knowing Cissy so well; it was still a shock to see her friend’s manipulative schemes right there before her eyes. She certainly didn’t waste any time.

  Midge fumed, putting a good deal of emotional energy into pitching hay from one stall to the next, until she turned about finding Hank staring at her amusedly.

  “Little pissed, are we? Thought I knocked some sense into you.”

  She blushed, her anger having immediately disappeared seeing Hank’s handsome face replace the vengeful picture of Cissy in her mind.

  “I’m so sorry; that was completely stupid.”

  “You want to tell me what’s got you so riled.”

  Oh, damn! This was bad. What could she say? “I-I, uh,” she stammered much too long. “Ah……we have a few differences of opinion.”

  He nodded pensively as though he was thinking her upset might be something else. “Just wondered.”

  “We’ve been friends for years.”

  “Have you?” He almost seemed a little surprised. “Cissy always try to take your boyfriends away?”

  Her blush expanded until her whole face felt as though it was throbbing. Her ears were hot and she knew she was red as a beet.

  “Am I wrong?”

  “About her taking my boyfriends away? No,” she conceded.

  “Well, you really shouldn’t worry, Midge. If I were choosing between you two, I’d certainly pick you over that package of trouble.”

  “You would?”

  “Hell, yes. You’re a hell of a lot softer than she’ll ever be.”

  Midge’s heart responded happily. What an amazing man, that he could read the two of them so easily.

  “Thanks for saying so,” she answered with a grin.

  “No problem. And about the spanking?”

  “Yes?” She drifted back toward embarrassment feeling a wild flurry of feelings suddenly appear—arousal, longing, and intense shame being just a few.

  “I rarely spank a woman’s behind unless it’s as bare as a babe’s. Remember that.”

  Another thrill of expectation darted through her system, and her pussy clenched as a result. But why would he tell her this?

  “So you think I should be warned?” she asked.

  “I’d say so.”

  “And you’re warning Cissy, too?”

  “No. But if Cissy earns another punishment, trust me, I will blister her behind until it’s raw, and you can’t do that over blue jeans.” His smirk was both playful and devious, and she wanted to laugh—though she kept that to herself. “Now, you’d better get back to work, or you’ll
have Amanda and my leather belt breathing down your neck.” Without bothering to see her reply, Hank turned around and ambled toward the stable door.

  The swoosh of excitement pulsing through the pretty brunette couldn’t have been more vivid and alarming. He was warning her, not Cissy, making so many suggestions she wanted to jump right on them, hoping with her whole heart that Hank Devlin wanted her. Was it really possible? And about the spanking? And his clearly dominant character? It seemed that if she really wanted a relationship with the man, she’d have to accept all that. Then again, would that be so bad?

  Perhaps that was the real purpose behind his warning. She could only hope.

  Returning to work, Midge let her mind roam free, going to all the places that a relationship with Hank would suggest.

  She daydreamed of going over his lap, a careful hand pulling down her jeans; and then that hand stroking the skin of her naked ass with a tender touch until she was squirming like a fish gone aground. Would his cock respond? Poke against the fly of his denim? Press into her tummy or side? Would he be as aroused as she was now? Midge dreamed of his dominance, and that same startling, forceful command that had thrust her under his arm that morning and spanked her sassy ass. His power to subdue her was amazing—her mind working at a feverish pitch to understand why something so humiliating could be so wonderful. Her body was bursting with desire, her brain teaming with confusion; and the fact remained, there was no man she’d ever wanted more than this one.

  At five o’clock that afternoon, just as it was time to finish for the day, Midge was surprised again to find Hank Devlin staring at her as she moved from the paddock back into the stable.

  “Ready to go home?” he asked.

  “Yes, I think I finished everything.”

  “Good work. Amanda piled it on today.”

  “Her revenge, I’m sure.”

  Hank chuckled and walked with her toward the rack on the wall where she kept her backpack.

  “How about going out for a beer tonight?” he said.

  Midge instantly frowned. “Oh, gosh, I wish I could,” she said despondently. “I have this family thing, my brother’s birthday. Maybe you could…” she stopped. No. Not yet. She couldn’t invite him home yet. “How about tomorrow? I’m free?”

  “Sure.” His seductive grin seemed to blanket her with more lust. “We can go from here. Grab a hamburger at the diner.”

  “Yeah. I’d like that very much.”

  Midge had no doubt that he could read her desire. If he could figure out her relationship with Cissy so easily, certainly he sensed how much she liked him. But what should that matter? He is a direct sort of fellow, hasn’t pulled any punches about who he was, and apparently, he liked her.

  Maybe she had Cissy to thank for this. Drew the guy right out of the water when it might have taken weeks before they would get to this point. Seeing him walk away, there was a self-satisfied expression on her face.

  “What the hell has you so happy?” she heard Cissy’s caustic sounding question, and she turned about pleased to see that she’d noticed.

  “Nothing, really? But I have to cancel our plans for tomorrow.”

  “You aren’t carrying some grudge about this morning?” Cissy wondered.

  “Oh, heavens no!” She smiled broadly. “I have a date.”

  Refusing to elaborate, Midge pulled her backpack off its hook and took off toward her car, shaking her lovely behind as sassily as she could.

  Chapter Three

  Grimaces, Scowls And

  Mischievous Grins

  Cissy Riverton smoldered at a low burn all the way back to Grey Gulch Ranch. Hadn’t been her day. Between the stupid fight with Midge, that deplorable spanking, and Amanda Plover’s cheap shots, she was about to spit at anyone who tried to cross her. How the hell had she been picked to work with her boss all day? She was sure it had something to do with Hank and Midge—and what looked like a budding relationship between the two. What’s worst of all, she couldn’t figure how that could happen. All she’d done was come in early just so she could get a head start on her day. She had an innocent conversation with Hank, only to have Midge picking a fight, so she’d end up spending the rest of her day with a very disgruntled Amanda. All the while Midge was off on her own, no one to bother her.

  Cissy took the stairs to the ranch house, letting the door slam shut as she marched inside.

  “What’s eating you?” Jake saw his cousin grimace and sensed her upset.

  “Bad day. Don’t ask,” she retorted.

  “Sorry.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Hey, I haven’t seen you all day.”

  “But you’re one of them!” She opened the refrigerator door looking for something to eat, spying what was left of the ham they’d cooked for dinner two nights before. She grabbed it, a loaf of bread, and the jar of mayo.

  “One of what?” Jake probed more.

  After depositing the makings of her dinner on the counter, she turned to him with one hand on her hip and scowled, “A man—you know, two legs with a dick inside their pants.”

  “Ooo. Trouble with a man?” he gibed.

  “Indirectly. But like I said, don’t ask.”

  “I thought you and Garth were moving along rather well.”

  “Garth?”

  “This isn’t about Garth?”

  She looked at him surprised. “No, it’s not.” Cissy proceeded to make her dinner.

  “Well, if it’s not about Garth, maybe you want to put a smile on your face before he gets here.”

  “Gets here?”

  “Yeah. I saw him in town, said he wanted to check up on you—officially, I think. But I’m sure there’s more behind it.”

  Cissy’s foul mood eased. “At least someone cares,” she said.

  “A lot of people do, Cissy, you just need to let them.”

  Cissy humphed and went back to her ham sandwich. Grabbing a paper plate from the shelf, a beer from the fridge, she then swiped a chocolate chip cookie from the jar and she fled to the porch to eat her meal.

  Nearly an hour later, Cissy heard the familiar sound of the county truck driving into the ranch yard. She’d been napping, trying to let the day fall away around her, hoping she’d feel a little more hospitable by the time Garth showed.

  “Hi, Cis, how are you doing?” He ambled up the steps looking happy to see her.”Fine, just fine,” she said with a broad smile as though the rest of her life was completely forgotten.

  “Good. Just wanted to stop by and see if everything is okay.”

  “Yeah, Jake said that. You know, you could have called.”

  Garth looked a little surprised.

  “You have plans, or something?”

  “No, but I could have.”

  He nodded. “Sorry. It is my job to check on you,” he started sounding more official. “Just following the judge’s orders.”

  “I know.”

  “Got your ass in a twit about something?”

  “No. Why would you think that?”

  “I actually thought we could go for a drive.”

  “Really?” This was the first decent thing she’d heard all day. “Ride where?”

  “Anywhere you want.”

  Thinking the look in Garth’s eye actually looked mischievous, Cissy hopped up. “Then how about the lake.” Her mind was already clicking with the possibilities.

  Garth smiled, and they were off.

  Even the lake didn’t do much to change Cissy’s mood, though at least she was getting away from the ranch, and perhaps her own life for a while.

  “How’s the job?” Garth asked her as they were sitting on a low rise looking toward the water waiting for the sun to set.

  “Don’t ask.”

  “Some problem?”

  “I hate it.”

  “Really? I thought this was going to be good for you. Get you away from Jake a little more often.”

  “Yes, that was the idea. But the working conditions are kinda mise
rable.”

  “Ah, I see. Like getting your bottom paddled when you start fighting with Midge?”

  Cissy turned to him with her heart suddenly racing ninety miles an hour. “How did you know that?”

  “I ran into Amanda in town.”

  “And she told you!”

  “I had to ask about your job, how it was going.”

  Cissy was livid.

  “Damn….” she didn’t know what to say. But she was pissed.

  “Routine, Cis,” he did his best to ward off her anger with the reminder. “If you want me to, we can start filling out regulation probation reports?”

  She didn’t want to hear that. “So, I suppose the entire town knows about the fight?”

  “Not that I know of,” Garth replied.

  “Yeah, but this is exactly how things get out. Before long, everyone knows and I’ll be the laughing stock of the county.”

  “It’s not going anywhere,” Garth said, getting frustrated by the crabby young woman.

  “So, what did Amanda say?”

  “That you and Midge had a fight, she had to pull you apart, and for good measure she had Hank Devlin paddle your behinds to make you sane.”

  “The bitch,” Cissy seethed under her breath, though Garth heard her clearly.

  “Maybe you deserved it?” he suggested.

  “I did not! It’s all Midge’s fault anyway.”

  She started to rise from the ground in a huff, but Garth pulled her down. “You know,” he leveled her with a glare of his own, “if you don’t watch your temper…” he didn’t finish.

  “You’ll do what?” she snapped the question as a direct challenge.

  “Maybe you need a repeat performance of what happened this morning,” he snapped right back.

  “So, maybe I do,” she said shaking him off. “That seems to be all any man around here can do is spank a woman’s behind.”

  “Maybe that’s because you deserve it!”

  “And, of course, you’d be more than obliging.”

  While Garth seethed angrily, Cissy crossed her arms in front of her and pouted, which only made him madder.

  Enough was enough. “You know,” like whistles going off, bells ringing in his brain, the signals were loud and clear—”that’s exactly what you’re going to get—spanked.” Picking himself from the ground, Garth reached down to grab her arm, and drawing Cissy with him, dragged her to a fallen log nearby. The fractious young woman—though having baited him mercilessly—was visibly shocked by the sudden move. But seeing the firm set of his jaw, and his muscled arm commandeer her handily, her body was quaking in fear. Though she’d have to struggle to get away—after all, that’s what he’d expect her to do—she put little effort into the task. The energy between them was having a decided effect on her and much to her surprise, she hardly gave him much fight at all.