Heartfield Ranch (Communities of Discipline Book 2) (12 page)

Karen and Clay lay in the hayloft of the big barn, their arms and legs entwined. It felt good, she thought, to be here in this simple place. She rubbed her cheek against the flannel of his shirt where she’d nestled it and sighed.

It had been three months since she’d returned to Heartfield, but already her former life felt like a distant memory. Looking up at the cathedral-like ceiling of the huge barn where pigeons cooed in the rafters, she wondered what she’d ever found attractive in the dog-eat-dog outside world.

“You’re awfully quiet.” Clay leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

She looked up at him and smiled before nestling back into the crook of his arm. “I was just thinking how I wish I’d found you – and this life – sooner.”

“If you’d found it sooner you may not have been ready for it,” he replied. “Gifts are revealed to us when we’re prepared to accept them, Karen. Don’t waste your time on regrets.”

Karen closed her eyes and thought about what he had to say, and wondered if Clay knew how easy he made it for her to trust and obey him. As leader of Heartfield, Clay was used to being introspective and thoughtful. As a partner he was the same way, and his affirmation of her choices was comforting.

Karen knew walking away from her job on the police force and leaving all she had worked for had puzzled everyone who cared for her. She realized her decision worried longtime friends and co-workers like Jarvis and Clemmons. She understood that while her time investigating Heartfield had convinced her it was a sound and workable community, there were still people on the outside that saw it as a cult, and feared she’d somehow been brainwashed.

But she was determined to no longer live her life ruled by the suspicions and assumptions of others. For the first time since she could remember, she was truly content and happy. It felt good to have all the drama of her job behind her, and to finally be about the joyful work of loving. And living.

Clay tipped her face up to his and kissed her before sitting up, pulling her gently with him..

“It would be nice if we could stay here all day,” he said. He looked lovingly at her as he picked hay out of her hair. “But we both know we can’t.”

“You’re right,” she said. “I just wish we could be together at night….” She looked down so he wouldn’t see her look of disappointment.

“We will be,” he said firmly. “But once we’re married. Like it or not, one of the hallmarks of Heartfield is that we’ve adopted an old-fashioned code of conduct. Courtship first, then cohabitation.”

He tipped her chin up until he was looking in her eyes, his expression mock stern. “Got that, young lady?”

Karen grinned. “Yes, but you have to admit it’s not easy.”

He kissed her. “Baby, it’s harder for me than it is for you.” As he pulled her closer, Karen’s hand brushed against the obvious swelling in the crotch of his blue jeans and they both laughed.

“Apparently,” she said.

He pushed a strand of hair away from her face. “Don’t worry. Time will pass faster than you think. I can’t wait to marry you. You know that. But as leader I don’t want to appear to be rushing things for the wrong reason. I’ve advised couples here to test themselves, to be sure. I can’t afford not to live by my own message.”

Karen stood. “Of course not,” she said, admiring his dedication to principle despite her desire to spend a full night in his arms.

Clay helped her down from the ladder and they exited the barn hand-in-hand. As they walked past other Heartfielders, most smiled in the direction of the community’s newest declared couple. But not everyone looked pleased, and Karen knew that her history as a police officer who’d originally come into their midst to investigate them had aroused lingering suspicion. She also knew it would take time to earn their trust, but didn’t feel the kind of pressure she felt in the outside world, where winning the confidence of others had to be balanced with the demands of careers and professional expectations. Here at Heartfield, relationships were part of the fabric and the members were judged by their character, and not for political reasons.

There were exceptions, of course. It bothered Karen that Adam Blye’s
wife, Sarah, still disliked her, but Clay had convinced her that Adam would not allow Sarah to poison the community’s mind against Karen before she’d had a chance to prove herself.

Karen knew that Sarah had already been spanked for trying to stir up community opinion against both her and Ann Marie Markum, whose decision to join Heartfield led the former sheriff to have Karen investigate the group in the first place. Karen and Ann Marie had struck up a friendship, and Sarah’s continued jealousy of the two women was the only real worry Karen had. She’d tried to befriend Sarah, but had stopped after Ann Marie had advised her it was a lost cause.

“Don’t even try,” Ann Marie had said. “All she’ll do is stab you in the back.”

The advice was given out of earshot of both Clay and Ann Marie’s husband Jake. Ann Marie knew from Jake that Sarah’s husband had tried to subdue her. The plugging of wives was something Ann Marie had not mentioned. It was not her place to impart this information to Karen; the practice of anal training would be revealed to Karen by Clay when they were wed, should he think it necessary.

And besides, Ann Marie knew the men preferred the women to work out their differences, and both she and Karen agreed to avoid Sarah rather than try to fix a problem neither of them felt responsible for. Neither of them liked Sarah, and made a pact not to go out of their way to associate with her.

Before Heartfield, Karen couldn’t have imagined avoiding conflict. But then again, she couldn’t have imagined embracing a lifestyle where grown women were spanked for bucking male authority. Just as Ann Marie answered to Jake, Karen now answered to Clay, even though they weren’t yet living together. The concept wasn’t always easy to accept; Clay had spanked Karen twice since she’d been living on the compound.

The threat of it – the idea of knowing Clay could upend her over his lap at any time at his own discretion – frightened her. Within the bounds of Heartfield there was no authority higher than the man a woman answered to. Compliance and trust in that authority was integral to a woman’s success in the community. Karen knew she’d have to keep reminding herself that Clay was a man of honor, and that he would only chastise her if she truly needed it.

It helped that Ann Marie had to deal with the same thing and was there to mentor her, and Karen smiled now as she saw her friend walking in her direction. Turning, she said her farewell to Clay and walked over to the other woman.

“Where did you two lovebirds disappear to?” Ann Marie asked.

Karen giggled, blushing. “The barn. But don’t worry. Nothing inappropriate happened. We just cuddled a bit.” She sighed. “I just wish we didn’t have to be apart. It’s hard to wait.”

“Most couples don’t,” Ann Marie confided. “Jake and I didn’t. I mean, we didn’t live together right away, but we did start sleeping together before we were married.”

Karen grew quiet, feeling a seed of hurt implant itself in her belly. She and Clay had come close to having sex, twice. But both times he’d stopped. She suddenly wondered if something were wrong with her, then pushed it out of her mind.

“Clay’s really traditional, though,” Ann Marie continued, as if reading her mind. “He’s the kind to do everything by the book.”

“I suppose …” Karen said, suddenly wishing Clay would be a little less rigid in his principles.

She wondered if there were a way to convince him to change his mind about waiting, and smiled to herself. Perhaps there was. Even in Heartfield, women still had some power. Perhaps it was time to use it on the man she loved.

Jarrett Miller was born with two gifts. One was good looks, the other an ability to size people up. He could tell within minutes whether or not a person was worth his time. And the well-dressed, desperate woman sitting in front of him most certainly was.

“I know this is highly unorthodox,” she was saying. “And if I could count on the police to help me I wouldn’t be here.” She clawed through her handbag looking for a handkerchief.  “Apparently they’re not that interested in helping citizens who need it.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Miller leaned forward, flashing Melissa Fales a sympathetic smile. “We administer the justice the police refuse to.”

He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a couple of Kleenex tissues and held them out to her. She took them and sniffed loudly as she dabbed angrily at her eyes.

“If they only understood how distressing this has been for my family – how difficult it is to lose a daughter - the police would never have given up. Can you believe they say the case is closed? Closed! They sat right in front of me and told me that my daughter - my beautiful Ann Marie - joined that ridiculous group of her own volition. They ignored the fact that she assaulted me, which she never would have done before. And they refuse to even discuss how the officer they hired to investigate sided with the group!”

“More than sided, I’m afraid.” Miller opened a folder lying in front of him. Inside was a picture of former police officer Karen Patterson and a copy of her employment file  as well as a photocopy of her official letter of resignation. “It appears she quit her job after the investigation and joined the group.”

“See!” Melissa Fales said, as if his statement proved her point. “That Heartfield is a cult! A cult, I tell you. I want my daughter out, and those men and that crooked former cop arrested!”

“I don’t have the power to arrest anyone,” Miller reminded her. “We aren’t cops. All I can promise is that we’ll get your daughter out. And afterwards, perhaps we can convince her to admit to what she’s really seen there.”

He raised his eyebrow knowingly and Melissa Fales smiled. While she hated the idea of distressing Ann Marie, her daughter’s defiance in this matter had gone completely overboard.

“And the cop? I hold her personally responsible for what happened. If she’d just done her job instead of turning this into some interagency spat, then my daughter would be home.”

Miller was quiet for a moment. “Just what do you want us to do about her?” he asked.

“Make her pay,” she said. “Make her pay for what she’s done.”

Miller nodded. “Consider it done. But you do understand it will cost you extra.”

“I don’t care what it costs,” Melissa Fales hissed. “My daughter is gone, my husband has all but abandoned me over the issue, and this group has gotten away scott free. You do whatever it takes to avenge me on this. Money is no object.”

Jarrett flashed her a winning smile. That was just what he wanted to hear.

***

Ann Marie kissed Jake as she set a plate of chicken and dumplings on the table in front of him.

“Mmm,” he said. “My favorite. How did you know what I wanted?”

Ann Marie smiled at him as she settled in the chair across the table. “Women’s intuition,” she replied. “How was your day?”

“Good,” he said. “They keep getting better, now that I realize all that mess with your family is finally over.”

Ann Marie’s smile disappeared and she jabbed at her food with her fork.

“What’s wrong, hon,” Jake asked when he realized his wife wasn’t eating.

Ann Marie sighed. “I’ve been thinking, Jake. Maybe it’s time I went and talked to my folks.”

But Jake shook his head vehemently. “After what they did to me? After what they tried to do to all of us? No, Ann Marie. I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’ll just open things up all over again.”

“But that’s just the point!” she cried. “I don’t think they were ever closed.”

“They were,” her husband insisted. “The cops came, they investigated and they officially declared no wrongdoing by this community, no evidence of duress. After unfairly arresting me and having to apologize, they wouldn’t touch us without good reason!”

“Exactly!” Ann Marie said. “Which is why it would be an excellent time for me to go talk to my parents. You don’t know my mother like I do, Jake. Without some kind of closure this will just fester. Who knows what she’ll try next?”

“I don’t care to know your mother, Ann Marie.” Jake slammed his fork down beside his plate. “She’s gotten the police involved. She failed. The last thing I want to do is help her find some closure she doesn’t deserve.”

“You don’t have to go, Jake. I told you that. I’ll do it.”

“No.” He shook his head.

“You can’t just dismiss me on this,” Ann Marie began.

“I can and I will,” Jake said. “I have a responsibility not only to you, Ann Marie, but to this community. Your mother is nothing but trouble and she’s out of your life now. And I intend to see it stay that way.”

“Well, I disagree,” Ann Marie rose from her chair, her face flushed with anger. “I’ll decide whether or not to see this through.”

“It’s been seen-through,” Jake said, getting to his feet.

“I disagree,” Ann Marie said. “And tomorrow I intend to go to town and talk to her.”

“The hell you are.” Jake walked around the table and grabbed his wife by the arm. He didn’t want to spank Ann Marie, but he felt as if she were giving him no choice. He would not risk her poking the hornet’s nest that was Melissa Fales just as things were finally settling down. Ann Marie needed to understand that when he made a decision, it was final. He would not have her arguing with him after he’d issued an order, and he told her so as he took her into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Ann Marie, you are exhibiting a spirit of stubbornness that has no place in this house,” he said as he pulled her across his lap.

Ann Marie, still angry at being denied the chance to see her mother, struggled furiously. But her husband’s strength was superior to hers and Jake easily subdued her.

“You’re going to learn not to argue with me,” he said as he hauled up the thin, checkered fabric of her skirt. The skirt would have offered scant protection anway, but he chose to bare her backside to emphasize his dominance over her, and to make her aware of how seriously he took her actions.

“No!” Ann Marie’s hand flew back defensively, but he easily caught it and trapped it between their bodies as he pulled her panties down to the middle of her thighs.

Ignoring her protests, he began to spank her fervently, peppering the skin of her bottom with a pattern of red handprints that quickly turned the fair skin a ruddy pink. Ann Marie did not have a high pain tolerance, and was soon crying in earnest. But Jake did not cease in his chastisement and continued to punish his wife’s helpless bottom until her body heaved with sobs.

Only when she was limp over his lap did he stop.

“Are you ready to mind me, Ann Marie?” he asked sternly. “Or do I need to plug you?”

“I’ll mind you,” she said brokenly.

Jake sat her up in his lap and sighed, wondering if maybe he should just plug her against her will. But he decided against it. It always worked best when the woman was at the place where she needed to show that kind of submission. Tension filled Ann Marie’s body; she wasn’t quite there yet.

“Look, babe,” he said. “I know it’s tough for you, but trust me on this one. Nothing good can come from trying to make someone understand something they have determined is wrong. You know that. And as hard as this may be for you, part of living the Heartfield way is accepting my decision, even when you don’t want to.” He paused. “Unless you’ve changed your mind about this being what you want. Have you?”

Ann Marie, whose crying had slowed, sniffed and wiped her nose on the back of her sleeve. “That’s not fair, Jake. You know I haven’t.”

“Good,” he said, standing. “Then the matter is settled. And I’m going to finish dinner now.”

Ann Marie watched her husband walk back to the kitchen. She was being honest when she said she wanted to live the Heartfield way. She had promised to obey Jake when she’d joined the community. But no one was perfect, and she knew even as she stood there that this was one of the times when she’d end up letting him down.

***

Two new residents joined Heartfield the next morning. Karen and Ann Marie were up early to meet them.

“They’re just the most beautiful ladies I’ve ever seen,” Ann Marie gushed.

“Thanks.” Albert Thompson smiled as he ushered the two Costwold ewes from the back of his stock trailer and into a pen the women had prepared for them earlier that morning.

A few months earlier, Ann Marie had attended a workshop on spinning and was eager to add hand-dyed wool products to the craft items Heartfield offered.

“Here.” Ann Marie reached into her pocket and pulled out a check she handed to Thompson.

“Thank you,” he said. “I really appreciate it. It’s nice doing business with you folk.” He pulled off his hat and scratched the top of his balding head. “Yep,” he said. “I really do.”

An uncomfortable silence passed between the trio, and Karen looked at Ann Marie before addressing their guest.

“Mr. Thompson, is there something you needed to say?”

He looked down at his shoes. “Nah, well, yeah. I was just wondering how things were. I mean, what happened out here was all over the news, you know. Lot of talk about cults and crooked cops. Hard to know who to believe…”

Karen smiled. “I can understand that, but if it’s worth anything to you, I was a cop and was even part of the investigation and I quit the force to come here. And it wasn’t because I was brainwashed, either. It was because there are few places like this around, where people work and pull together.”

“Nope.” Thompson put his hat back on and nodded at the women, seemingly satisfied with the response. “Just wanted to be sure, is all. And if a couple of pretty little things like you say it’s OK, then I guess it’s OK.”

Ann Marie turned to the paddock. “Your sheep seem to like it here already.”

Thompson laughed. “Then that says it all.” He climbed back into his truck. “You two have a good day and if you have any questions about them ewes, then just give me a call.”

“We will,” Karen and Ann Marie called in unison.

They stood in silence, watching the truck disappear down the long drive.

After a few moments, Ann Marie turned to her companion.

“I still can’t believe all the problems my mother has caused. I don’t know how long it’s going to take for this to die down.”

“It will, eventually,” Karen soothed. “The news media is fickle. It’ll be history before you know it.”

“Maybe for them,” Ann Marie said. “But not for me.” She paused and then looked at Karen. “I tried to talk to Jake last night. About going to talk to my parents, to make peace.”

“How did he react?”

Ann Marie shrugged. “He spanked me,” she replied matter-of-factly.

“For wanting to talk to your parents?” Karen’s tone was incredulous.

“Not exactly,” Ann Marie sighed. “He feels like there’s no sense in stirring things back up again. He thinks my parents - well, my mother - is a lost cause. And maybe he’s right. But…”

“But what? You can tell me,” Karen replied.

Ann Marie threw her hands up in exasperation. “I realize there’s some truth in what he says Karen. Maybe I am tilting at windmills. Maybe talking to them wouldn’t solve anything. And I understand that he’s worried about the community. Last night he kept reminding me of my place in Heartfield. But I’m not just a member of Heartfield. I’m not just a wife. I’m a daughter, too, even if my mother is a controlling, manipulative harridan.”

Karen thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. “Sometimes I think the men forget how complex things are for women. I’m all for being loyal to the community, too, but it has to be balanced with loyalty to self.”

Ann Marie looked at Karen, and then looked around as if afraid someone else may overhear them. Lowering her voice, she spoke.

“Can you keep a secret?” she asked.

It seemed like an odd question to ask a former undercover cop, but Karen didn’t say so.

“Yes,” she replied hesitantly.

“I’m going to go see my parents, Karen. Even though Jake told me not to, I’m going to do it anyway.”

“Won’t he be mad when you tell him?” Karen asked.

Ann Marie cast Karen a sideways glance. “He won’t get the chance to get mad because I’m not
going
to tell him.”

Karen stopped in her tracks. “What do you mean you’re not going to tell him?”

“I can’t,” Ann Marie said miserably. “If I do, he’ll just nix the whole thing and I really need to do this. He’s forbidden me from even bringing it up again, so any avenue I had for convincing him is effectively closed. The way I look at it, he’s not giving me any choice.”