Page 12 of Earning Tia’s Trust

TWELVE

Rainer joined the moving efforts after Robert pounded on his door and told him to get off his butt and help. Rainer scolded Francine for not asking for help and jumped into the wagon to help unload the furniture. Mrs. Eugena Mason, Francine’s mother, directed the men to the second-floor rooms where the furniture had originally come from.

While the men were unloading the wagon under the supervision of her mother, Francine walked back to the schoolhouse and began loading boxes and crates she’d borrowed from the mercantile. When she finished boxing items from her two second-floor rooms, she went downstairs and started to box the books and the prized set of encyclopedias.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a harsh voice screamed.

Francine turned around to face Martha Higgins. “What does it look like? I’m packing my belongings to move.”

“You can’t remove anything until you have permission! And you most certainly cannot remove the books from the school! They are school property!” Mrs. Higgins screeched.

“I’m following your directive. You told me to remove my belongings and leave the school house. That’s what I’m doing!”

“You’re stealing school property! I’ll have you arrested!”

“Is there a problem?” Robert demanded suddenly from the doorway. Rainer was standing behind him.

“She doesn’t have permission to remove anything from school property. Once something is brought into the school, it becomes school property. She is stealing! I’ll have all of you thrown into jail!” Mrs. Higgins threatened.

“That’s strange,” Robert said. “I’ve never heard of that particular law.”

“It’s in her contract,” Mrs. Higgins screeched.

“No, it isn’t,” Francine said.

“I’ll have you arrested!”

“You can try,” Francine said. “But, I keep excellent records and have receipts of every book I have purchased for my students’ use since I took the job. I paid for the books, not the school board, and when I brought it up with you, you claimed I had no right to claim compensation when I hadn’t had permission to purchase the supplies. I should have brought these problems up in the board meetings long ago, but strangely, I was not allowed in those meetings!”

“If you haven’t been reimbursed for what you purchased for school supplies, I’d like to know what the bank’s sizable donations to the school board were used for,” Rainer asked.

“Are you accusing me of stealing?” Mrs. Higgins gasped and demanded.

“If the shoe fits,” Francine said.

“Well, I never!” Mrs. Higgins exclaimed. “I would never...”

“Then you won’t mind producing a detailed account of what the town’s school donations were used for,” Robert said, interrupting Mrs. Higgins rant. “I will also speak with Judge Bentley about auditing the town’s finances.”

“You can’t do that!” Mrs. Higgins exclaimed.

“Yes, we can,” Robert said.

“We’ll see about that!” Martha Higgins turned and stomped out of the building.

“Thank you,” Francine said. “She’s been running roughshod over everyone in town since the last election when she was voted to be the School Board President three years ago! I’ve suspected for years that she’s been appropriating the school funds.”

“Why didn’t you report it?” Rainer asked.

“To who?” Francine asked. “Judge Thatcher? He was corrupt. The Mayor, Thomas Higgins, is her husband, and Sheriff Briggs, is her brother.”

“I see your point,” Robert said. “I’ll have a talk with William when he returns.”

“He’s back already,” Rainer said. “I saw him riding in late last night.”

“Good luck,” Francine said. “As much as I love teaching, I’m going to enjoy my new job and not dealing with people like the Higginses.”

“They have a substantial account at the bank,” Rainer said. “But, if they come in, just tell me, and I’ll deal with them. If they are playing dirty with the town’s money, we need to investigate.”

“Thanks,” Francine agreed with a smile. “Thanks for everything.”

Once the moving was completed, Rainer suggested lunch at Nell’s restaurant. They enjoyed a late meal, and Robert rode home, having accomplished his duty as an attorney, and arrived at dusk. He cared for his horse and checked on Jerry before going to the house, where he was nearly knocked off his feet by Billy and Jenny latching onto his legs.

He gathered the children in his arms, hugged them, and set them back on their feet, and they ran off chasing each other.

Tia joined him, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek. “Was it a good case or a bad case?”

“Neither; it wasn’t a case at all,” Robert said. “Mr. Carter received a cautionary letter, reminding him that his prove-up date on his homestead is approaching. The problem is Mr. Carter can’t read, and the letter scared him. All I had to do was explain the letter to him. The Carters are nice people. Most of my day was spent moving furniture from Francine’s rooms over the school house to her mother’s house. By the way, Francine is the new clerk at the bank.”

Tia smiled. “I knew she would be. She’s brilliant.”

“Rainer thinks so,” Robert agreed. “William is back, and we think some questions need to be asked about how the school board is being run.”

Tia’s smile broadened. “I’d love to see Martha Higgins knocked off her pedestal. When Hayward died, she told me I should put Sammy in an orphanage because I wasn’t capable of caring for him. Who did she think was raising him?”

Robert’s eyebrows rose. “What did you have to say about it?”

“I told her to pull her head out of her ass, mind her own business, and I didn’t use nice words. I don’t think she’d ever been cussed out before, but she got an ear full!”

“I’ll give you a pass on your language, as you were protecting Sammy, but remember my warnings. No swearing!” Robert said with a smile. Then, he went to play with the children before it was time for them to go to bed. Sammy was allowed to take a book with him but was told to turn out the lantern in an hour. Protesting, Sammy was sent upstairs to his room while Tia made sure Mrs. Putney had left the kitchen.

“We can call it a night,” Tia suggested with a smile.

Robert blinked and smiled. This was the first time Tia had made a suggestive gesture toward him.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asked.

Tia blushed and nodded.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We’re married. I’ve been hoping that you would take the initiative. You are learning to enjoy sex, aren’t you?”

Tia’s face blushed a deeper red, but she nodded, and Robert took her hand and placed it against his hardening crotch.

“I need you, as a man needs his wife,” Robert said gently. “I’ve been hoping that you would feel the same. It’s a normal reaction to someone you love.”

Robert took her hand and drew her into the office, closing the door and turning the lock. Then, he turned his full attention to his wife as shirts and undergarments were tossed aside. They became frantic about releasing their bodies from the restrictive clothing.

Tia had been having relations with Robert for some time now, but she was feeling a strange desperation to join their naked bodies together.

“I need you so much!” Robert gasped.

“I feel the same way,” Tia admitted as Robert bent her over a chair, separated her legs, plunged his sex deep into her body, and began pounding deeper into her womanhood.

Tia couldn’t control her gasps as their bodies were thrashing together, and then suddenly, Robert pulled out, spun her around, lifted her into his arms, and laid her down on the carpet in front of the fireplace. He laid her down carefully and entered her body again while kissing and stroking her breasts.

“I think about this a thousand times a day,” Robert whispered as he wrapped her legs around his waist, kissing her long and sweet.

Tia didn’t know what had changed, but she was enjoying every second of her husband’s attention. Robert teased her nipples with his tongue, lowering his mouth to one and then to the other. When he heard a soft “Oh!” he smiled as Tia’s body jerked and shivered under his touch. Feasting on her lips, he moved slowly down her neck. Suckling and nibbling until he felt her body give another shudder.

Separating her legs and stroking, Robert touched and filled her with two fingers that never stopped moving inside her.

Robert’s sex was hard, and he needed to be released. Hovering over Tia, he decided it was his turn. Turning her over, he positioned her on her knees, taking a firm grip on her buttocks and separating them. He slid his sex into the wet lips of her sex. He knew he could be rough, but he hoped she would enjoy his being more aggressive.

Fully aroused, Robert knew his penis was significantly larger than most men. He knew that from going swimming with his brothers and his college mates. He’d purposely not fully exposed himself to his wife. He’d been careful not to scare her during their nightly romps.

It didn’t take long for him to relieve himself. This time, though, he exposed himself on purpose.

Tia’s eyes widened as she saw his still-enlarged appendage.

“I’ve been hiding this part of me so you wouldn’t be scared.”

Tia gulped. “It’s really big! It felt big. Is it normal?”

Robert smiled. “I am big, but a woman’s body is built to accommodate a man’s size. I haven’t heard any complaints.”

“I’m not complaining,” Tia said, shaking her head. “I’m just surprised it would fit.”

Robert reached for her and twisted so he was lying on his back, and she was straddling his lap. “Have I ever hurt you?”

Shaking her head, Tia scooted backward, stroked his penis, and watched as it jerked and grew in size again.

“You’re asking for it again,” Robert teased. He aligned his length against her body and began to stroke her.

Tia whispered, “Oh!” as sensations rippled through her.

Robert smiled. “Relax, we have all night to ourselves.”

Tia was enjoying what Robert’s fingers were doing to her. Ripples of pleasure were making her gasp for breath.

Then suddenly, there was a knock on the office door.

Robert sat up. “What?” he shouted.

“Jenny woke up screaming,” Sammy shouted. “And now Billy is crying too!”

“Go sit with them!” Robert ordered. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.

Tia was already pulling on her clothes, and Robert grabbed for his clothes, too. They dressed quickly, and Tia finger-combed her hair and braided it with flying fingers.

They dashed up the stairs to attend to the younger children when they were presentable. It didn’t take long to settle them, and they fell asleep.

“I’ll sleep in here with them. In case they wake up again,” Sammy volunteered. “I think Jenny was remembering when their folks were killed. She was crying, Momma and Papa.”

“You’re a good big brother,” Robert said proudly.

“He has always been a good brother,” Tia agreed, hugging the boy. “Come and get us if either of them wakes up again.”

Robert and Tia undressed for the second time that evening. This time, they didn’t bother wearing night clothes. Without discussion, they knew it would not be a restful night of sleep, as they would awaken every few hours to enjoy each other.

Tia suspected she would be sore in the morning, but she liked how it felt when her husband was inside her. Robert knew a lot about making love, but she wouldn’t ask him where he’d learned his skills. He made her feel desired and cherished. Those feelings were new to her, and she liked them.

The following morning, there was a knock on the door. Robert answered after hastily pulling on a robe while Tia dived under the blankets.

It was Sammy again.

“Is everything all right?” Robert asked.

The boy nodded. “I have to do my chores, and the little kids are still asleep. I thought you might want to know.”

“Thank you,” Robert said. “Sammy, what do you get as an allowance?”

“What’s that?” the boy asked.

Robert frowned. “It’s money you earn for doing your chores.”

The boy shook his head. “Tia sometimes gives me some pocket money if she’s got extra.”

Robert nodded his head. “She has extra now, and if you continue to do your chores, you’ll get two bits every week as an allowance.”

Sammy looked surprised and then suspicious. “Do I have to save it for clothes and stuff?”

“No, your clothing will be supplied by Tia and myself. The allowance is yours to use as you please, but I suggest you save it for something you want and not splurge on candy.”

“Wow!” Sammy exclaimed with a smile. “Wow!” he said again and ran down the stairs.

Robert stepped back and reentered the bedroom. “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked, kissing Tia.

“A little embarrassed,” Tia responded. “I didn’t realize we could do some of the things we did last night.”

“Why?” Robert asked. “We are married. Sex is an important part of being married.”

“I know, but last night was different.”

“Good different, or bad different?” Robert asked.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Tia answered.

Robert chuckled. “We’re married! Did I do anything that scared you?”

She shook her head. “It was kinda exciting.”

Robert kissed her. “Yes, it was, and I know of a few other things we can try. All in good time.”

* * *

Mrs. Putney didn’t cook on most Sundays unless visitors were expected. She called Sundays her days off, and that meant the meals had been leftovers.

Since this was the middle of the week, she had awakened at dawn and fixed biscuits and sausage gravy, which were her favorite. The food was hot when Sammy finished his chores, and the children were dressed.

Tia filled their plates and then gently sat at the table. She’d received a lesson the previous night that she wasn’t sure she liked. One of the aspects of her sexual lessons had been that Robert had spanked her. He’d told her that he enjoyed spanking her bottom while satisfying his sexual appetite.

She had been warned to expect spankings as his wife. He believed a man had the right to punish his wife for misbehaving. She hadn’t known spanking was part of sex.

Tia hadn’t minded the sexual instructions the previous night. She had enjoyed most of it. It was only when he included spanking her that she had been surprised. The burning sensations on her bottom had been a surprise until she realized it also made her want him to be inside her again.

Until that moment, she hadn’t realized women could be creatures of desire. She had thought only men enjoyed it, and women went along with it because they had no choice. Robert had taken her body several times over the previous night and had spent hours teaching her what to expect. She’d been happy to follow his lead, only now she had a very tender bottom.

Sammy ran inside, washed his hands quickly, slid into his place at the table, and gobbled his breakfast down.

“Are you in a hurry?” Tia asked.

“Yeah, Randy said he’d teach me how to lasso!”

“That’s a skill every rancher needs,” Robert agreed. “But, good manners are important too. You should thank Mrs. Putney for breakfast.”

Sammy looked surprised at the request. “Thanks, Mrs. Putney,” he said, jumping from his chair and running outside.

“I’ll have a word with him later,” Tia promised.

“It’s not important,” Mrs. Putney said. “I ain’t heard those words from you very often either!”

“I apologize for that,” Tia said. “Both of us need to remember our manners.”

“We will work on that problem,” Robert promised.

“Thank you,” Mrs. Putney said. “Manners haven’t mattered for a long time around here. Having you around seems to be having a good influence on everyone.”

Over the next few days, Robert spent most of his time working with Hank and the wranglers, learning their names and responsibilities on the ranch.

Tia was still reading her father’s business papers and minding the children. In the evenings, Robert would go through the documents, separating them into piles of what needed to be kept and filed for safekeeping and what could be discarded. It felt strange not to be actively working on the ranch. Suddenly, she did not need to work in the barns or ride the fence lines.

Mrs. Putney didn’t want or need her help in the kitchen and shooed her away when she offered assistance. It was probably for the best, as Tia had never paid attention to what was happening in the kitchen, although she was a fair cook over a campfire.

Jim Hawthorn returned to the ranch a few days later with revised drawings for the new house. The builder and Robert put their heads together and walked the property to a section of land a quarter mile from the current home. Tia went along because Robert wouldn’t let go of her hand.

Robert pointed Tia to the two gentle land slopes, with a small stream running through the property and surrounded by weeping willow trees.

“We can build the main house on that hill, wipe out that sagebrush, and plant a decent grass lawn. There could be a springhouse straddling the creek and under the shade of those trees and a laundry shed behind the house,” Robert explained.

Jim Hawthorn nodded and made notes on his drawings. He tapped Robert on the shoulder. “I’ll need the down payment we agreed on before I start ordering materials.”

“I’ll meet you at the bank when it opens tomorrow morning,” Robert agreed.

When the builder walked back toward the house and his horse, Robert kissed Tia. “Can you imagine our new house?”

“It’s fancy for a ranch house,” Tia said. “Are you sure you can afford it?”

“I’m sure,” Robert agreed. “You’ve had a hard life, sweet wife, but that’s over now. My job is to keep you happy but not spoiled.”

* * *

Rising from a tired sleep, Robert realized someone was pounding on the bedroom door.

“Who is it?” Tia asked, sitting upright.

“I don’t know yet,” Robert exclaimed. He motioned for her to cover herself before he opened the door.

It was barely daybreak, and Mrs. Putney stood in the hallway, still dressed in night clothes.

“Mr. Bishop and Mrs. Mason are here demanding to see you,” the housekeeper said.

“I’ll be down as soon as I get dressed,” Robert said, belatedly realizing he was bare-chested and bare-footed as he closed the door.

Tia sat up in bed, the covers falling away and not hiding that she was naked. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know yet,” Robert said, pulling on a shirt and trousers. “Rainer and Mrs. Mason are here.”

Tia jumped out of bed, pulling on a long robe, but Robert left the bedroom before her. Running down the stairs, he saw Rainer and Mrs. Mason standing in the foyer.

“What’s wrong?”

“That horrible Sheriff Briggs has arrested my daughter!” Mrs. Mason cried.

“Why?” Robert demanded.

“He’s claiming that Francine stole books, encyclopedias, and school supplies from the schoolhouse. That’s not true!” Mrs. Mason cried. “She bought those books with the pittance the school board paid her for teaching. He searched my house and told me I had to return the furniture that my daughter used in the attic of the schoolhouse. Furniture that belongs to me!”

“He didn’t find the books because Francine thought Mrs. Higgins might try raising a stink,” Rainer said. “Those were her words, and she was right. She stored the books, her journals, and other things in the backroom of the bank,” Rainer said.

“Does she have proof that she purchased the books?” Robert asked.

“She does,” Rainer agreed.

“Head back to town, and I’ll catch up with you,” Robert exclaimed. He turned and almost ran over Tia.

“I’m coming too!” she exclaimed.

“No, you need to stay here with the children. There’s nothing to worry about,” Robert promised. “We’ll stop at William’s house before taking on the sheriff.”