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out.
Maddie s face alternated expressions between
frustration and confusion and then finally fell.
Angelina almost felt sorry for her. You didn t think
of that part, did you?
I don t want punishment, Angelina, argued
Maddie. There s no reason why I can t have what I
want.
What about what Heath wants?
Maddie jumped to her own defense. Ha! He
always says he doesn t like punishing me, so now
he doesn t have to, she finished triumphantly.
Angelina shook her head. It s intertwined,
Maddie. And besides, there s one important point
you seem to have missed.
What s that?
The real reason our men spank us.
Maddie cocked her bright head sideways. And
what s that?
Angelina laughed lightly. You think about it for
a while. You know the answer. You ve heard the
answer over and over, but you ve chosen not to
internalize it. You ve kept fighting it for the last four
years.
Think what you want, Angelina. I m happy
now, replied Maddie smugly. The hint of
uneasiness in her stomach was ruthlessly
squelched.
All right, Maddie, have it your way, replied
Angelina. But don t say I didn t warn you.
Nothing could take the wind out of Maddie s sails
all evening, and when she and Heath finally left the
party, she was in high spirits.
112
Oh, Heath, isn t this just a perfect night?
Maddie s eyes were twinkling like the night stars,
and Heath smiled down at her. You re what s
perfect, darling.
On impulse, Maddie grabbed his hand. Come
on, let s walk home. It s not far.
Heath laughed. And just what are we supposed
to do with Eggs and Bacon? Leave them hooked up
to the wagon in the churchyard all night?
Oh, I forgot about them. Well, let s just give
them their head and let them follow us, she replied
eagerly. You know they will, if you let them.
Heath hesitated. Maddie, its over two miles to
the house, and it s very cold out here. We still have
our own New Year s party to celebrate in private,
remember? You ll be worn out after walking two
miles in this cold.
Maddie s full pink lip dropped into a pout. Okay,
fine, let s just walk for a while then. We can get in
the wagon, if we get tired.
Heath agreed, and they set out. Their boots
made crunching sounds in the crisp snow that
covered the moonlit landscape. It was a beautiful
evening, the air still and clear. In spite of the cold,
they both enjoyed the walk, but it wasn t long
before Maddie s fingers and feet began to get cold.
Heath whistled up Eggs and Bacon, and they
clambered into the wagon and huddled together
while the horses took them home.
It wasn t long after they arrived that they were
settled down on the sofa in front of the fireplace, a
glass of wine in their hands.
Heath had put Eggs and Bacon away, and
Maddie had made sure the baby was still sleeping
after Mr. and Mrs. Perkins had left. The older couple
didn t have any children of their own, and they
enjoyed helping out the younger couples of the
Parrish now and then with child tending.
113
Maddie s eyes were dark in the firelight as she
sipped her wine and looked at Heath over the edge
of the goblet. Did you really mean it? She asked
finally, the subject of spanking still on her mind.
She was still finding the idea hard to believe even
though she felt joyously free.
Mean what?
That you agreed to no more spankings. Did you
really mean it, Heath?
Heath nodded. Yes, I really meant it. If it truly
makes you unhappy, Maddie, then I ll stop.
Why? Something perverse was driving Maddie,
but she didn t know what it was.
Why? Heath echoed the question.
Maddie considered him through her lashes. Yes,
why did you stop when Sam told you to? Why do
you always listen to Sam? Why couldn t you stop
when I asked you to?
Heath s eyes narrowed impatiently. Maddie,
what s the deal with Sam? Speaking of which, you
shouldn t have slapped him tonight. That was very
unladylike. Aside from that, you act almost jealous
of him.
I ve just never liked the influence he s always
had over you, that s all. You do everything he says.
Maddie s eyes flashed. Even in triumph, she still
resented Sam.
Heath stared at her. Maddie, you know I ve
always looked up to Sam like the older brother I
never had. He has more experience and wisdom at
his disposal than I do. So far, I ve found the
majority of his advice right on target, until now.
What s that supposed to mean?
It means, I don t believe he was right about not
spanking you. I think you need to be spanked,
especially for your behavior tonight.
Maddie hedged. Well, no, he was right tonight.
I thought Sam was never right.
I never said that, cried Maddie stubbornly.
114
I see what s really going on, Maddie. The
problem is, you just want things your way all the
time. For the last four years, you ve blamed my
spanking you on Sam. Did it ever occur to you that
I do have a mind of my own? And that perhaps
while I listened to Sam in the beginning, I soon
found out he was right. And now I spank you
because I think it s the right thing to do?
Maddie huffed away from Heath on the couch.
No, it s not the right thing to do! I hate it!
That s funny. I thought you seemed to like it
most of the time. I just think you don t want to be
held accountable for your actions, Maddie. Even
when I punished you, I thought you realized it was
only because I love you so much. I don t want to
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