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She stopped in the doorway and watched, wilting wearily against the doorpost.
Jolie’s bottom was bared and her small feet danced on the dusty floor as Daniel laid the thick leather razor strop across the tender underside of the girl’s behind.
“Ooo, ouch! Ouch! Stop!” Her cries became more frequent the more Daniel hit his target. Jolie stomped her feet vehemently, and thrashed about in an angry stew. The strikes just kept on coming. The girl didn’t dare put her hands back to cover her flesh from the blows. Anyone who’d submitted to a punishment from this man knew that he wouldn’t stop regardless of such a move. It was better to have a hurting ass than the razor-like cuts to the hands.
The last time Hannah had seen her sister punished it was Eldon Tremaine’s belt pummeling Jolie’s tender skin. What had been a gross violation in one instance was justified punishment in another. What irony this life contains!
Numbed by a night of extremes, of horror and passion and physical hurt, Hannah felt little now as she watched her sister suffer under each strike, but a continuing resentment toward her absent parents. Her own life was difficult on its own, but if it were not for a no-account brother and a foolish sister, she might know some peace.
She almost turned away from the scene as if she didn’t care, but then the punishment was over and Daniel turned to her. “You have anything to add?” he asked, as he held the strop for her to use.
She brushed his hand away. “I don’t need that,” she said. “I have only to add that Jolie will be leaving here as soon as it can be arranged with Aunt Grace. I will post the necessary letter tomorrow.” That said, Hannah tiredly turned away and returned to the house, leaving Daniel and Jolie to digest this piece of information. Daniel was surely relieved—if his wife hadn’t suggested the move herself, he would have.
Jolie stood stunned. The tears from her punishment had dried on her cheeks, but there remained a look of wonder and sorrow on her face that spoke plainly. She was troubled by her own misconduct, but there was more. What was that she’d seen in Hannah’s eyes? Something else, she could not quite name. She hadn’t seen such an expression on her sister’s face since the day Jarrett Cain had his way with her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Hannah stayed at home while Daniel took Jolie to the train station in Springfield. Although he urged his wife to accompany them, she was adamant in her refusal.
“It’s going to be difficult enough to let her go. I’ll say my goodbyes here and avoid the tears in a public place.” She smiled as if this was a desperate plea. “Besides someone has to look after the farm.”
“Agreed, but Travis can take of things for a few days.” Daniel reminded her that his good friend had returned after being away for several months.
“But who will cook for him, and put up the fruit for winter? My goodness, there’s are so many things to do here now. We can’t both be away.”
She wouldn’t budge from her decision, and o
n this matter Daniel decided not to insist, though he did wonder why on this point Hannah was so unyielding. “You can stay, wife,” he said, “as long as you stay clear of Beau and his sorry friends. Mind you, I’ll have a report from Travis should you leave. Understood? Unless you want to earn a trip to the woodshed on my return, you’ll behave yourself.”
Hannah assured him, “I’m sure Travis will watch me like a hawk.” She smiled again in hopes of assuaging his fears. But there was little way to assuage her own. Part of her knew that she should be going on this trip. She would be safer in Daniel’s hands. But she hadn’t the strength for such a long excursion, the painful goodbyes and a difficult trip home. She imagined that Daniel would want to extend the trip several days to buy up stores for winter and visit his cousins in Springfield, who she didn’t particularly like. In his place, their friend and hired man Travis Runyon would certainly do. He was as strong and fierce as her husband, as protective of the farm as she was, and there’d be little to worry about with him close by—Cain wouldn’t dare approach her with so formidable a man at her side. Still, she harbored some misgivings about her choice, even as she assured Daniel that she was doing the right thing by staying home.
Hannah was aware that she took some risk in leaving her husband and Jolie together for so many hours, but she was willing to rely on her sister’s sworn promise to keep the incident with Cain a secret. It was, in fact, the topic of their last exchange.
“I’m afraid for you… that man is dangerous,” Jolie furtively admitted. Jolie had rightly noted that part of the reason she was being forced to live with her Aunt had to do with the threat Cain posed to them both.
“It was an isolated incident, Jolie; I haven’t heard from him since,” Hannah lied boldly without batting an eye.
“But with Daniel being gone—?”
“I have Travis here, dear. Please don’t worry. And don’t you go saying a thing to my husband and upset him with your unwarranted fears. I swear I’ll come after you if you do.” She peered deeply into the girl’s eyes. “Tell me your promise stands, Jolie.”
The girl eyed her sister carefully, then reluctantly replied, “I promised I wouldn’t say a word and I won’t…I just wish you were coming with us.”
“That’s been decided. I don’t travel well…and your leaving makes it all the worse. I’ll be all right here. I will.” She held her sister at arm’s length; their eyes were filled with tears. “Oh, you’ll have a fine life with Auntie and I’ll come see you in the spring.”
“You will?”
“I will. I promise.”
Jolie’s countenance suddenly took on a child-like expression and she wistfully said, “Auntie seems like such a stranger.”
“But a kind one. I remember her as a warm, gracious woman, so much like father. It’s too bad… well… you know…”
“Too bad mother couldn’t have been as nice as Aunt Grace?”
“Yes, I guess that’s what I meant.” She smiled lovingly, and as the tears streamed down their cheeks, she gave her sister a hearty hug. This was the first time they’d been separated from each other. Spring was a long ways away. Her heart was heavy, but Hannah was certain this drastic move was the right thing for them all.
***
