Katie's Maverick (Strasburg: The New Generation Book 2) Read online

  She'd made this trip many times, but not with the tell-tale headache that remained. Gleason had been right. The ominous clouds in front of her were intimidating, and she kept an eye on them with trepidation. She was sure Nick was home by now.

  Flame ran with all his might, until a bolt of lightning split the sky and he reared. Katie screamed but held on. The rain in the distance, however, had begun to fall now and was soaking her. Within seconds, her gown was plastered to her skin.

  The second bolt hit a nearby tree. But she was close to the Wellington orchard, now, and knew she'd be there before long. Thunder rolled over their heads, and when Flame began a rapid gallop through the orchard, he was in fright. Katie felt the low branches of the trees striking her face.

  "Flame!" She cried out toward him. "Whoa, boy…" But Flame kept on, as if he knew they were headed for the Pembroke stables and shelter.

  Another low branch swept toward her, and it was only a moment before she was lying on the ground, flat on her back. She lay there a moment, trying to get her breath back.

  "Damned horse," she grumbled, but as she raised her head, she realized Flame was nowhere to be seen. "Flame!" She called and whistled as the heavy rain pelted her.

  A few minutes more, and the rain had turned to hail. She tucked her head downward beneath her arms to protect herself.

  At least it didn't last. Her hair and skin were coated, however, before very long. Another clap of thunder was heard in the distance, and Katie crawled back up under one of the apple trees and leaned against it, deciding to wait, and hoping the lightning didn't strike the tree she was under.

  Nick was sitting down to the dinner table, when Lizzie looked up at him.

  "Nick? You look as if you've seen your worst enemy and you're about to strangle someone."

  He didn't answer, but his mother was eyeing him with concern. His father bowed his head for the prayer. It was just after they had finished saying grace that he noticed everyone's gaze move to the doorway behind him.

  "Isaac? What is it?" Geoffrey Wellington stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth.

  The groom looked toward Nick, who had turned to glance backward over his shoulder. Isaac's face seemed pale, and his words fell over each other. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he said quietly. "But I thought you'd want to know that Miss Katie's horse has just arrived."

  Nick stared at him. "Katie's here?"

  "No, that's the thing." Isaac shook his head. "Flame is saddled, but she wasn't on him."

  Nick bolted from his chair and ran out the back door, toward the stable. Geoff and his father were right behind him.

  "Which way did he come from?"

  "From the orchards, sir. I'll saddle Hunter for you—"

  "No need." Nick ran into the barn and shouted backward over his shoulder. "I'll take the orchards. With the rain, she should be easy to track."

  "I'll start toward her house, then."

  "Right." Nick nodded. Within seconds, he emerged from the barn, bareback, on Hunter, the fastest horse he had. His father was saddling up, and so was Geoff, who shouted that they'd check the grounds. He nodded and leaned down toward Hunter, growling.

  "Katie's out there somewhere, Hunt. Let's go find her."

  A whinny from the horse answered. Nick was surprised when the horse nearly rode out from under him. He leaned forward, holding on to the mane. The tracks from her horse were easy to follow.

  Only patches of white from the hail were left on the ground, and the rain was now coming down hard. The flash of lightning wasn't far away, followed by the rumblings of thunder.

  "Katie?" he bellowed. He rode from one row to another, looking up and down. "Katie!"

  The little brat. Why in hell had she gone out in this?

  The rain lightened, and he listened. "Kaitlynne!" He was nearly to the end of the apple trees when he noticed Hunter's ears had perked up. He pulled to a stop.

  "Hear something, Hunt?"

  Then he heard it; the sound of her voice coming from down the row. He squinted, hard, and saw her, huddled up under one of the trees, with her knees pulled up to her chin and her arms wrapped around them. Jumping off Hunter, he ran toward her.

  "Stay, Hunt," he called out. He could see her better, now, and reached her within just a few seconds. Lightning struck again.

  "What the bloody hell are you doing out here?" He found it impossible to keep the anger out of his voice.

  "Please don't yell at me, Nick. I just came to apologize."

  "Did you fall from your horse? He came to the stables without you."

  "I was knocked off by a branch."

  "It figures." He didn't try to hide his fury. But as soon as the sky looked as though it had lightened a bit, he tugged her to her feet and put her on Hunter's back. Climbing up behind her, he pulled her back against him. He could see Isaac, in the distance, and waved.

  "I've got her!"

  The groom waved back, and Nick took off toward the stables.

  Katie was shaking, in his arms. "Is Flame all right?"

  "Flame is fine. You, however, are in big trouble. Did your father know you were coming?"

  "He told me to. Nick, I wanted to apologize to you for the awful way I acted this afternoon and—"

  "And you couldn't wait to do that until after the storm? I'll bet he didn't send you off in the middle of an oncoming storm." He tightened his arm around her. "Good God, Katie. What am I going to do with you?"

  She hung her head. "I don't know."

  Nick brought her into the barn, to see a relieved Isaac behind him.

  "My father and Geoff? Where are they?"

  "They're coming back."

  A soft whinny from Flame called to them.

  Nick turned Katie by the shoulders to face him, brushing his thumb across her cheeks. Warm tears were mixed with cold rain, and he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside the house.

  Miss Hazel met them in the kitchen. "Poor lamb. Shall I have a hot bath prepared?"

  Nick nodded, turning toward the staff staircase. "Please. I'll take her to the rooms on the second floor."

  Katie was leaning against him, but he could tell her trembling had not eased.

  "I'm sorry," she whispered.

  "You seem to spend a lot of time repeating those words, Kaitlynne. You might try behaving yourself and thinking ahead, for a change, instead. Especially when it comes to your safety." He took her to the settee and plopped her down on her bottom. "Stay here."

  He rose to his feet and stood there. She was forlorn and soaked to the skin, her hair wet and curling down her back. But her blue eyes were as beautiful as always.

  "You look like a little street urchin."

  "So do you." Katie was sorry she'd said it as soon as the words were out. But Nick seemed to ignore them.

  "We'll get you warm and dry and then you'll wait here. I'll send a warming pan for the bed, and Lizzie probably has something you can put on. We'll send word to your father and let him know you're here. I'm sure your parents are worried sick." He stood there, eyes blazing for a moment longer before saying in a voice she'd never heard from him before, "And then, young lady. I'll be back in, and we're going to have some honest, straight talk. You're going to answer some questions. Do you understand me?" He watched as her eyes once again brimmed with tears and spilled over.

  "Yes, sir." Her small whisper was barely there.

  The urge he had to take her in his arms was overwhelming, but he needed her to be thinking about what she wanted before he came back in to see her again. Forcing himself, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

  She burst into tears as soon as he left; he could hear it from outside the door. He stopped and leaned against the wall outside the room, fighting to keep from going back in.

  "Sir?" It was Hannah, his mother's lady's maid, standing before him with fresh towels and a robe in her hand. "Lady Angelica sent me to help Miss Katie with her bath."

  Lizzie was right behind her, and he nodded to them both
and turned to leave. He had to get away and calm himself. But Lizzie stopped him and put a hand on his arm. "You're soaked, too, Nick. Go get yourself warmed up. I'll talk to Katie."

  He frowned. "She doesn't need to be talking. She needs to be thinking." With that, he disappeared down the stairs.

  Lectures

  Katie wept all the way through the bath, and even when she was warmed and dressed in Lizzie's nightgown, she couldn't seem to stop. When she was finally able, she sat in silence, unable to make herself speak. Lizzie sat silently on the edge of the bed with her but didn't attempt to speak.

  It was an hour later, when Nick appeared in the open doorway. Katie watched him. He was dry, with the exception of his hair. But his expression was troubling. She wanted—she needed—to know if he still cared or if she had angered him to the point that he was ready to be through with her. She pulled the coverlet up closer to her chin and watched him warily as he entered the room. She barely noticed when Lizzie rose and nodded to him, leaving and closing the door behind her.

  Katie knew her eyes were red; she could feel them burning. She knew she must look as miserable as she felt. Her head was hurting even worse than it had before she left.

  "You're going to stay here, tonight." His words were curt. "Kimbrow went over and told your parents you're here. According to your father, you were supposed to have taken the carriage, and you were not supposed to have left if the weather looked bad."

  She nodded and lowered her head penitently. "Yes," she whispered.

  "All right." Nick moved toward the bed, stopping only to pull a chair over from the secretary and set it down, facing her. "Now I want to know what you have to say for yourself."

  The tears were falling again; she couldn't help it. "I'm horrible."

  He watched her face. "And why do you think that?"

  "Because I treated you so badly. You've been nothing but good to me, Nick. You don't deserve the way I acted."

  He stared down into her eyes. "Katie, I want an answer. Let's forget for a minute about the way you acted. I want to know how you felt—how you feel now. Do you honestly want me to withdraw my request for your hand?"

  She thought the tears were gone, but she was mistaken. Choking out remorseful, stuttering sobs, she tried to speak. "No, no, Nick. I-I would d-die if you did that."

  "Then I'm listening. The truth. I want to know if you love me, Katie? I will no more push you into marrying me if you don't want me, than I would—"

  "Yes! Nick I'm s-so sorry. Yes, I love you. I-I've always loved you, and I c-can't bear the thought of losing you now." Her voice was broken, and he watched her, his face giving nothing away. Finally, she let out one more cry of anguish, looking up with pleading eyes. "I n-need you," she whispered.

  Nick's expression softened as he stared down into her face. After a moment, he held out both arms for her. "Come here."

  Katie threw back the coverlet and launched herself into his arms, nightgown and all, beginning to sob all over again.

  "My little sweetheart," he whispered into her hair.

  She was snuggling against his neck and holding on. "Hold me, Nick? P-please don't let me go?"

  He tightened his grip around her, holding her closely to him, and let her cry. "Katie," he whispered, finally, "Shh-sh. We need to do some talking, you and I. And to set some guidelines and get some things straight, if this is going to work. And I need to know if you can agree to them."

  She nodded into his neck, sniffling and feeling suddenly full of relief that he was giving her another chance. When he held her back from him, the bereft feeling she had at the loss of his touch was awful.

  "I'm so sorry. Please, tell me what to do, and I'll do it."

  He turned her and settled her into his lap, cradling her and rocking her gently. "I probably should allow you to eat, first, but I'm not going to. You're going to listen to me before we do anything else."

  Another nod.

  "The first thing I'm going to tell you is this. I will demand respect from you. I want no more hurtful things said between us. Clear?"

  She looked penitent. "Yes, sir. Clear."

  "If you ever—ever pull a stunt like you did this afternoon again, riding out in a rain and hailstorm, you'll find yourself a dreadfully sorry girl. Is that clear?"

  "I won't do it again." When his expression did not change, she added, "I promise. I only did it because—"

  "No, Katie. No excuses. It had better not happen again, ever. I'm telling you, I'm down to seven lives now. You just scared me out of the eighth."

  "That's not funny."

  "It wasn't meant to be."

  She paused. "Yes, sir."

  "This is at the top of the list of things I'll spank you for. Putting yourself in danger is never all right. I'll also do it for disrespect. For disobedience. And for anything that puts our relationship in jeopardy. I expect you to repeat those things back to me."

  "Now?"

  "Now."

  She gulped, trying to remember. "Putting myself in danger."

  "And?"

  "Disobedience…" She hiccupped. "And disrespect."

  "And? The last thing?"

  She frowned. "I-I don't know?"

  "For doing or saying things that hurt the relationship between us."

  She nodded. Another tear spilled its way down her cheek, and he hugged her closer.

  "And because of what you did today, you're about to be spanked."

  Her eyes met his, alarmed. "Be-because of what I said in Papa's study?"

  "Because you took off riding out alone, with a storm coming. Because you were disrespectful to your father and to me. And I believe it's time you learned a lesson in trust. I'm not known to lie, Katie. If you're paying attention, you'll always know when you're getting yourself in trouble."

  Her arms tightened around his neck. "I'm sorry."

  "I appreciate that, but I think you'll be sorrier when I'm finished with you. Are you ready?"

  She took a deep breath. "No?"

  He stood her on her feet in front of him, and she gasped. He was reaching down and unfastening his belt. She felt her eyes grow round.

  "Nick? Please, not the belt!"

  "Yes, young lady, the belt. I mean to make an impression this time that you won't forget within twenty-four hours. But I'll start with my hand."

  Her breath hitched in her throat, and she began to pant.

  Nick rose from the chair and turned, doubling the belt in his hand, and she watched him with wide eyes as he sat down on the bed and laid it beside him and then reached out his hand for her.

  Katie was frozen in place. She gulped and stepped back as he reached toward her, her breath coming in heaving gasps.

  "Katie? Are you going to make this worse?"

  She shook her head but was unable to speak.

  "Come here," he said softly, motioning her toward him. "Katie, if I have to come and get you, it will be worse for you."

  A whimper escaped, and a tear trailed down one cheek. Nick rose and grasped one wrist in his hand, pulling her toward him. A moment later, he lifted her and gently put her face-down across his lap. She was in much the same position as she had been the last time he'd spanked her, but there was something about this one that was different.

  "Remember what I told you about reaching back?"

  "I remember."

  Keep your hands in front of you. Hold on to the covers if you like. Don't worry about kicking. I'll keep your legs still. I won't even ask you to count, because I don't think you'll be able to. Are you ready?"

  "No."

  That's too bad. And I should warn you, being sassy won't help your case."

  Katie closed her eyes and grasped the coverlet tightly in her fists, breathing rapidly. She gasped when Nick pulled her nightgown up over her bottom, baring it, and held a hand over her, pressing on the small of her back to hold her still.

  "Y-you can put my gown down." She tried to peek at him over her shoulder.

  "No. I think not. I want yo
ur bottom bared."

  She gave a keening sound, just before his hand came down the first time.

  Katie stiffened and wailed. This hurt far worse than the last time he'd spanked her.

  "I told you it would hurt. I want you to think, young lady. Think about the things you said in your father's study today. Think about the fact that you were told to look out for the weather and to take the carriage, and you came alone on your horse in the face of a storm. That was blatant disobedience."

  "But I didn't mean to. Oh, ow!" she wailed again.

  "You can yell as loudly as you want, if you don't mind them hearing you downstairs and in the kitchen.

  "But you don't have to spank me this hard—oh! Oh! Nick!"

  "Kaitlynne, this is what I told you I would do. Breathe. Deeply."

  She gasped and took a breath, then another, as six more swats landed, one after the other. Pounding her fist onto the bed, she begged him to stop.

  "You have my permission to pound with your fists if you wish. However, it's not going to stop me."

  "Nick, why are you being so mean to me?"

  His hand paused in the air, just above her bottom. "Mean? Do you really think I'm being mean, after your behavior today?" When she didn't answer, he added, "I'm waiting, Katie."

  She buried her face into the covers. "No."

  "Should I let you continue to put yourself in danger?"

  Her voice was small. "No, sir."

  "Should I allow you to be hateful and disrespectful?"

  She shook her head.

  "And disobedient?"

  "No, sir," she whispered.

  The blows began again, harder this time, and she began to squirm and cry out again. He paused briefly and rubbed his hand across her lower backside before he began again. There was a rapid succession of blows to her lower bottom and thighs this time, and her squeals filled the air.

  It seemed forever before he paused and lectured, but when he began spanking the next time, it was harder, and her cries were louder. Now, she understood why he hadn't demanded she count. She'd lost track of how many times his hand had landed, long ago. She realized his leg covered both of hers, holding her still, when he paused and began to lecture again.