Elizabeth's Flight: a tale of loving discipline out west Page 11

  Henry finally broke free of her and began to remove her nightdress. Somehow, he made the simple act of lifting it up and over her head into a sensual dance that made her pulse race. Beth could feel Henry's member pressing against her. Freed at last from the mental shackles imposed by her mother, she reached down and took hold of his hardness. She felt it swell and stiffen even more. It was impulse, mad impulse, born of the passion she had released in herself that made her slide down his body and put his penis in her mouth. She heard Henry gasp even as she became aware of the strange salty taste. Having it in her mouth, she wasn't sure what to do with it, so she tightened her lips around it and moved her mouth up and down his shaft. Henry gasped again and took hold of her hair, pulling her tightly to him. She could hear his breathing become faster even as she sucked on him and she wondered just how long she could do this without Henry shooting his seed into her mouth. Should she do that? Beth was just so uncertain when, suddenly, Henry took her head in his hands and gently pulled her away.

  "No more, Beth. This was meant to be about giving you pleasure. That was lovely; now, let me help you."

  Henry moved to the bed and lay down on it. Beth could see his huge erection sticking up from his body; it seemed oddly exciting to her eyes but then she was puzzled. What was she meant to do?

  "Come on, Beth, come and sit on me. Place yourself on this." He took hold of his erection and looked at her encouragingly.

  Beth was astonished. Sit on that! She giggled and gave him a quizzical look. "Really?"

  "Yes, come on. You can enjoy yourself without your bottom getting rubbed against the bed sheets."

  Nervously she followed Henry's guidance and straddled him, lifting herself up as he helped her to sink down slowly on his shaft. They groaned together. Beth found it hard to believe how good it was to sink slowly down with Henry's hardness deep inside her.

  "Now wife, take your pleasure."

  Beth giggled again. How? How was she to take her pleasure? Henry smiled at the innocence of his wife; he took hold of her hips and began to move her himself. Beth grasped the idea and slowly began to move herself, uncertain at first, but with rapidly increasing confidence. It wasn't just the exquisite pleasure that it was giving her, but the novelty of being in control. She shut her eyes and began to grind back and forward, oblivious now to Henry who sank back on the bed enjoying seeing the look on her face. Beth suddenly went very still, her eyes tightly shut, and Henry felt her tighten around his penis in a strong spasm. A lovely relaxed expression came over her face, making her look even more beautiful in his eyes.

  "You haven't climaxed, Henry."

  "Just keep riding me."

  Beth wasn't sure but she began again, astonished at the feelings that rose inside her. She rode harder and harder with Henry gently smacking her bottom as she did so. She had thought herself too sore for that and almost protested, but it was oddly pleasant; each smack ignited the soreness, but it was tantalizing...a soreness that was pleasure. How could that be? Henry smacked harder and Beth began to gasp loudly...she felt as if she was boiling inside. Then she erupted. Her whole body convulsed on Henry; she reached back, clutching at the air as a huge spasm of intense pleasure-pain engulfed her. Henry lost control and spurted into her, laughing out loud at his amazing wife. So shy and timid to begin with, and now a woman of enormous passion.

  ---oOo---

  Beth and Emily capitalized on their spankings by asking for a family conference. So when Arthur was asleep the adult Spencers and Flights sat around the Spencer table and discussed the situation. They came to the conclusion that Beth was no longer in danger. She was married and whether she was found or not, Blake could no longer claim her and Jones was no longer able to use his authority as father. The danger came from trying to unearth the explanation for the separation of the twins. Did it really matter anymore? Nothing would change what was already done and, anyway, the twins were now together, as they should always have been, and not just together, but married to brothers. Their children could grow up together. No, the real problem was Arthur. Whatever happened he could not be allowed to go back to Blake. The cruelty he had endured and the death of his mother were enough to send a child bad, but somehow Arthur had not been tainted with it all. He had retained the essence of his mother, and his father had left only physical scars. They decided to protect Arthur come what may. The first sign of a hunt reaching Kirkham and he would be dispatched to the Hancock's lonely farm to be hidden there until danger had passed. As for the mystery of the separation of the twins, that would not be pursued anymore. Charles had sent a letter to a friend and if something significant came of it they would discuss it, but otherwise they'd let the matter drop and get on with their lives. Mary Spencer was the only one who disagreed.

  "I have a feeling that we are not done with this just yet and I don't think Arthur will be safe unless that father of his is dead or we can hide him until he's grown up. That type of man sees his wife and children as his possessions, much like he would a horse. His son has gone and Beth fled...he'll not accept either. I'm just saying what I think."

  Mary's worries were soon forgotten in the daily business of living. Beth was pleased with her school and quietly proud of the way she had managed to create such a happy place of learning without having any training. She was determined that she would only hand over to someone who would carry the school on from where she had left off. Although applications did come in, they were mostly badly composed or revealed attitudes that Beth did not care for, but then the reply to her questions came from Mrs. McWilliams, the widow with two children. Every single one of Beth's questions was answered to her satisfaction. The answers were not just theoretical but accompanied by detailed examples. It was clear that Mrs. McWilliams not only knew what she was talking about, but was thorough and meticulous in her work. One evening Beth sat and reported to the Town Council, going through each of the questions she had asked and explaining the answer given. The Town Council was duly impressed and a formal letter was written offering Mrs. Annie McWilliams the post. Beth felt a huge burden lifted from her. Soon she could concentrate on being a good wife and, eventually, mother.

  The relief of knowing her school would be in good hands freed her mind and made her think about her marriage. In a way, she was pleased that Henry had spanked her twice: once for going into the Hovels and once for going to Louise's farm. Pleased, because he had feared for her and from it had come his understanding that he had to discuss more with her in order to be a good husband. Just as she was learning to be a good wife, so he was learning his role. She also began to understand the value of his discipline. She was young and didn't really understand so much about life out here in the West. She was stubborn and apt to get on her 'high horse' and, if that led to Henry spanking her sometimes, then it was for her own good and she would welcome it.

  Strangely, Emmeline Philips helped her. One afternoon after school she appeared, looking very nervous. She apologized all over again for her behavior and told Beth that she was wrong and had been very judgmental in her attitudes and that she was trying hard to change. She said nothing about her husband taking her in hand, but that was the talk of the town. Beth felt a rush of forgiveness.

  "Well, I've needed correcting too and my Henry did that with both his hand and my hairbrush and it hurt considerably."

  It was a struggle for the older woman but finally she whispered, "My Josiah just used my hairbrush."

  Beth sensed how hard it was for the proud Emmeline Philips to say that and on impulse gave her a hug. Emmeline looked surprised but pleased. She went on to say that although she had founded the League of Moral Women on the wrong basis, women in Kirkham needed something. The men ran everything and the women needed some way of meeting, supporting one another and discussing women's issues to take before the men. Perhaps they should even campaign for women to be on the Town Council. Beth thought what she said was true, but they had to go about this the right way after the terrible 'battle of the women' that had gotten th
em all spanked.

  "We must get a firm idea of what we want to do but not mention the Town council.... we can fight that battle later. Perhaps we should meet some more before even talking to anyone else...well, excepting Emily that is."

  It was agreed, and Emmeline Philips began to come around after school so they could spend ten minutes or so discussing ideas which Beth then took back to Emily. It was those meetings that saved Beth from a dangerous situation and gave her the chance to see her husband at work. Emmeline was on her way to the school for her third 'secret' meeting with Beth, when she saw two very rough men lurking near the school. They were watching Beth and Emmeline became very anxious about their intentions. She turned on her heels and ran back towards town and the sheriff's office just as fast as she could. She burst into the office almost breathless and gasped out her concerns.

  Henry didn't wait for his deputy, he took off running, his long legs put on a tremendous burst of speed. He arrived in time to see one man trying to get Beth to give him a kiss and the other dancing around her, preventing any escape. Beth herself was fighting back unsure how serious these two were. Henry didn't draw a gun; he had a strong belief that taking life when there was no need was wrong. If he had to he would shoot and then he would shoot to kill, if necessary, but now he would just use his fists.

  He grabbed hold of the man trying to kiss Beth by the back of his hair and between his legs. The man yelped and then cried out in alarm as Henry lifted him up in the air and threw him hard against the school wall. The second man went for Henry, who simply hit him so hard he collapsed on the floor. He then lifted both men bodily by their hair, grasped the back of their necks tightly, and marched them off to his jail. Beth was astonished at his speed and power. She had guessed both, but the quick way he had dispatched the two men left her breathless with wonder. He seemed to think nothing of it and was far more worried about her and was extremely tender with his young wife once he had the two men safely locked away. The incident cemented the peace between Emmeline Philips and the twins and they began to regard themselves as friends.

  Chapter 11

  It was a week of letters, but only one had been expected. Decisions had been made about her parents, Blake, Arthur and her replacement as a teacher. Now Beth began to plan ahead as a wife and hopefully a mother. She felt loved and accepted, really for the first time in her life. To be sure, Martha had loved her and she had loved Martha, but other than that she had constantly felt disapproval without really understanding why. Now, she was loved by so many and accepted by everyone, even by Emmeline Philips was now a friend. Now, she and Henry discussed the sort of house he would build and Papa Spencer said that he would help both brothers with the building of their houses. Then the letters arrived.

  The first was from Mrs. McWilliams and was no problem. She was delighted to be appointed and would be on her way very soon with her two children, Harold aged seven and Amelia aged five. She had enough money to rent a property and Mayor Spencer was put in charge of finding something suitable for her.

  The second letter brought about another family discussion. It was from Charles' old college friend, Albert.

  My Dear Charles,

  How wonderful to hear from you again and congratulations upon your marriage. Do write and let me know when you become a father, and I will drink a distant toast to you all. How I miss those college days when we sat with Teddy and Frank discussing philosophy, politics and heaven knows what. Good times, but we must grow up and shoulder our responsibilities.

  Now I am intrigued. How is it that you, in your distant Wild West, are asking about Mr. Isaac Franklin Jones? And I notice some mention of Mr. Rankin Blake. I thought your only concerns would be Indian attacks and outlaws. You must explain at some point. I have in any event taken note of your urging to be careful and secret. Indeed, I need no urging as far as Blake is concerned and I will deal with him first.

  That man is a snake Charles. A wealthy and well-connected snake to be sure, but nasty and dangerous, with enormous influence. If you are his friend he has an open and generous hand, but oppose him and it does not bode well. I will not go near him not even for you. Beware of crossing Blake. My father-in-law fears him and says he is not sure the man is right in the head.... erratic and unstable is how he sums him up.

  Now to Mr. Isaac Franklin Jones. I have delved a little into his affairs. He is a shrewd businessman and known to be ambitious. It is unsurprising that he has made a friend of Blake. I think his political ambitions would be helped by such a friend although undoubtedly Blake would expect favors in return. He is from a poor background but at college he made a close friend of one Garret Stainsby, heir to the Stainsby fortune. On leaving college Stainsby put Jones in charge of his affairs. There was tragedy; first the new Mrs. Stainsby died and then, not long after, Garret Stainsby himself died. I have not enquired beyond that but perhaps Jones was left money by his friend. I have asked a contact of mine to look into the affairs of Garret Stainsby. He will write to you separately

  Your dear friend,

  Albert

  Other than providing them with the name Garret Stainsby this letter told them nothing they didn't know or suspect. In a way it confirmed the family in their decision to do nothing else. How the twins had been separated didn't matter; they had and that was that. Now it was time to move on. Beth in particular had a strong ambition to have a large family and bring up her children in a happy, loving home. It was the third letter that really upset them all.

  Dear Mr. Flight,

  My friend, and apparently yours too, Albert Ponder, has asked me to make some discreet enquiries into the finances of Garret Stainsby and Mr. Isaac Franklin Jones. What I have discovered has alarmed me and I am not at all sure what to do. As requested, I am writing to you, but my discoveries are such that I fear I must go to the authorities here and lay the information before them.

  Jones was a boy from a poor home. His talent came to the attention of a local businessman who generously sponsored his education. The information on that is on the separate sheet that I enclose. At college he made a friend of Garret Stainsby, a young man from a wealthy and privileged background. Stainsby did not have Jones' talents or abilities and depended on his friend to help him with his college work. Evidently, he came to trust Jones, and when his father died, and he inherited, he put Jones in charge of his fortune.

  I have no evidence that Jones did anything other than be an excellent steward for the Stainsby fortune. However, Garret Stainsby married young. Other than his wife was not from a well-connected family I know nothing about her. It appears to have been a love match. In due time Mrs. Stainsby gave birth to twins. The birth records state it was twin girls; Elizabeth Ann first born and Emily Jane second. I do not know what has become of the girls. Unfortunately, Mrs. Stainsby died a very short time after the twins were born of some sort of fever, probably connected with the birth. Only a few months later Garret Stainsby died following a local outbreak of influenza.

  Now my concerns arise from the fact that I can find no evidence whatsoever, that the Stainsby fortune was distributed to any relatives, including the twin girls. It is possible they died in the outbreak but I have no record of that. Jones has a daughter named Elizabeth although that in itself means nothing. However, it is a fact that Jones seems to have become wealthy at this point, a wealth on which he built his present sizeable fortune. I fear that the girls may have been done away with and that Jones has used his position to steal the Stainsby fortune.

  Your humble servant,

  David Linklater

  The family was in shock. Elizabeth, in particular, sat struggling to understand that her parents were not really her parents at all and that she had been deceived all her life. For Emily, it was not so bad; she had always known that she was adopted and had 'real' parents somewhere. In fact, it was reassuring for her that her birth parents hadn't simply abandoned her, but had actually died. However, it left a huge problem. Clearly, Jones had stolen the Stainsby money. It must have b
een skillfully done, but done nevertheless. He could not be allowed to get away with that. Then, there was the fact that the girls should have received an inheritance. They weren't entirely sure they wanted it, and Henry and Charles were adamant that they wanted no part of it; they would support their families themselves, but Jones couldn't be allowed to steal it. Charles was deputed to write to David Linklater and reassure him the girls were alive and well and requesting he stay his hand until such time as they decided what to do. The family opinion was that they needed time to reflect on what they now knew before coming up with a plan of action. They were not to know that matters would be taken out of their hands.

  ---oOo---

  Thomas Weatherspoon had been engaged by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Jones as a confidential enquiry agent to help track their daughter Elizabeth. Discretion was his watchword and he was extremely good at disguising who and what he was. Unfortunately for him both Flight brothers were alert to the possibility of a detective turning up, and Henry got rid of him very quickly. He pretended he didn't believe he was an honest man and saw him off before he had a chance to speak to anyone. Henry had a strong sense of right and wrong and didn't like telling lies, but in the circumstances he could see no choice. Thomas Weatherspoon was not in the least dismayed to be thrown out of Kirkham. Clearly, the sheriff wanted rid of him because there was something to be found.