The Cowboy's Rules: 2 (Cowboys After Dark:)

This book is for adults only, and contains scenes of spanking, graphic sex, bondage, sensory deprivation, and are fantasies only, intended for adults. This book is not for children, nor does it condone corporal punishment of children. This book contains scenes of nonconsensual activities, BDSM and other nonconsensual activities. This book does not support nonconsensual spanking or any other nonconsensual activities, sexual or otherwise.

Copyright © 2014 Maggie Carpenter

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

S
pring had arrived at Horse Haven Ranch. It was Chad Douglas’s favorite season; the snow had melted, the days were growing longer, and the earth was renewing itself. His life with Cassie, the rebellious, mischievous, fearless girl with whom he’d fallen deeply in love a few months before, provided frequent surprises. Some were welcome, some not so much.

Sitting at his desk Chad lifted his eyes and gazed across the room at the large clock on the wall. It was old, Swiss made, and one of his favorite possessions. The large face sat in a beautifully carved horseshoe, and he often thought the artist must have taken his inspiration from the horses who pulled the carriages through the snowy fields in Switzerland. It was a romantic notion and one he clung to, though he wasn’t sure why.

“Almost time,” he mumbled as he set about straightening the papers on his desk.

Sitting on his rug in front of the fire, McTavish, Chad’s brilliant cattle dog nicknamed Mickey, lifted his head and yawned.

“Yep, Mickey, she’s gonna get her butt walloped this time,” Chad declared staring over at him.

In precisely five minutes, Cassandra, or Sassy Cassie as Chad called her, would meet him in their bedroom for the much anticipated
conversation
. They both knew it would culminate in punishment, and having committed an egregious sin it would have to be a sound spanking; Chad could not risk such irresponsible behavior happening again. Shaking his head he rose from his desk and headed for the bedroom.

Cassie and her best friend Hannah McCloud, a young woman who lived with Marty Clark, the ranch foreman, had driven into town for an evening out, while Marty, Chad, Jeb and Tommy, the two younger horse handlers, stayed at the ranch to play cards. It was a weekly event, and the girls took turns being the designated driver.

Hugging her warmly, Hannah dropped Cassie off at the back door of the ranch house, but as Cassie watched her drive away she decided the evening was too pleasant to waste.

I think I want to check on my lovely horses, give them each a goodnight kiss on their perfect little muzzles.

She started down the hill, making the trek to the barn without any trouble, then wandered into their stalls to hug them. As she leaned against Shelby, her thoroughbred jumper, she felt an unexpected wave of fatigue, and unsteadily ambling to the nearest bale of hay she plopped down and promptly fell asleep; she’d done so completely unaware that she’d neglected to secure the latches on the stall doors.

It was Marty who discovered Dominic, Cassie’s equitation horse, meandering around the property.

The motion light on his porch had flashed on, and running outside he’d seen the horse strolling around the cabin; he’d immediately sounded the alarm, clanging a large cowbell hanging from one of the porch rafters. Chad, with Mickey at his side, and Jeb and Tommy came rushing to help.

“Have you seen Cassie?” Chad asked urgently as he met up with Marty and caught Dominic. “She’s still not home.”

Hannah, standing on the porch in her robe, heard Chad’s question and ran across to join them, her bare feet freezing on the cold ground.

“I left Cassie at the back door,” she declared. “I thought she would have gone straight in. She was pretty wasted.”

“That girl,” Chad muttered. “Let’s get Dominic back in the barn. Maybe she’s down there.”

“Hannah, you go on home, you’ll catch your death,” Marty ordered. “Why didn’t you put something on those feet?”

“Please let me know as soon as you find her,” she pleaded, too concerned for her missing friend to be worried about her cold feet.

“Sure, hon, I’ve got my phone with me, now go on in,” Marty said firmly.

Teeth chattering Hannah ran home, but remained on the porch, her eyes fruitlessly probing the darkness for any sign of her wayward friend.

No longer needed, Jeb and Tommy returned to their cabin, while Marty and Chad began to lead the horse back to the barn.

“Can’t imagine where she could be,” Chad frowned as he and Marty trudged down the hill.

“Probably passed out somewhere,” Marty suggested.

“I sure hope not,” Chad replied. “It’s gonna be a cold night.”

As they entered the barn Chad flicked on the lights, and to his dismay discovered Shelby, Cassie’s thoroughbred jumper, was also missing. Thankfully Rembrandt, her third horse, was still in his stall in spite of his door being unlatched.

“Dammit!” Chad exclaimed. “I’ll go hunt for Shelby, but what the hell has happened to Cassie? Marty, could you give Dominic the once over, make sure he didn’t hurt himself, and Mickey, you stay. I don’t need any coyotes jumpin‘ you.”

Wandering through the dark, moonless night, Chad discovered Shelby by the round pen, happily munching on some discarded hay that had yet to be cleaned up. The mare stood quietly as Chad slipped on the halter, and as he started to walk her back his concern about Cassie grew. By the time he reached the barn he was worried sick, and it didn’t help when he found Marty standing in the middle of the aisle waiting for him, his arms crossed and sporting a deep frown.

“Now what?” Chad asked.

“Don’t worry, it’s good news, well, kind of,” Marty grimaced, nodding his head down the aisle. “Mickey’s the one who found her.”

Looking past him Chad saw Cassie fast asleep on a hay bale in the shadows of a corner, Mickey sitting beside her.

“I can’t believe it!” Chad exclaimed.

“She didn’t even bother to turn on the lights when she came in. I’d say she had too much too drink,” Marty remarked.

“I’d say you’re right,” Chad scowled. “I’m tempted to leave her there.”

“But you won’t,” Marty commented, a wry grin on his face, and taking Shelby’s lead rope from his angry boss he put the mare back in her stall.

“No, I won’t,” Chad mumbled.

Striding across he scooped her up, threw her over his shoulder, and as he listened to her groan and complain he headed out of the barn to hike up to the house, but Mickey’s barking caused him to pause; turning around he discovered the smart little dog sitting in the gator.

“Damn, Mickey, you are so right,” Chad declared.

“That dog of yours…” Marty chuckled, standing by the barn doors getting ready to turn off the lights.

Mickey jumped in the back of the gator as Chad deposited Cassie unceremoniously on to the passenger’s seat, then drove up to the house.

Cassie slept through the night until late the following morning, then hung over and miserable she spent the rest of the day in bed. Chad didn’t mention the incident, choosing to wait until she recovered, but after another good night’s sleep she seemed like her old self, and over breakfast Chad told her it was time to talk about what had happened.

“I know I screwed up really badly,” she said solemnly. “Would it help to say I’m sorry?”

“Not much,” he said sternly. “I have some work to do this morning, but I’ll expect you in the bedroom at eleven sharp.”

Cassie had no doubt Chad would be spanking her, and she deserved it. Shelby could be unpredictable, and though the mare had settled down since living at the ranch she could certainly have gotten herself in trouble.

Not knowing how to pass the two hours that loomed ahead, she wandered down to the barn and took both Shelby and Dominic out for a walk, and though she enjoyed the gentle warmth of the spring sun as it rose in the sky, she couldn’t help but think about what she’d done.

I just can’t believe it. I guess I just drank too much, and I don’t know why I did that either. I have to figure out what possessed me to be so irresponsible

The minutes ticked by slowly, and when it finally came time to put the horses in their paddocks and head up to the house she felt the familiar rush of butterflies, and her voices started in her head.

It’s been a while since he’s spanked me. Yikes. Oh, Lord, please don’t let him spank me too hard.

Maybe that’s the problem.

What do you mean.

Maybe he hasn’t been strict enough.

Shit.

Exactly, and I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that’s about to change.

Shit…again!

W
hen Chad entered the bedroom he found Cassie sitting in the armchair next to the fireplace. The absence of flames underscored that winter had passed, and though the nights were still chilly, he knew it would be autumn before he’d start the flames first thing in the morning.

“I’m gonna sit there,” he declared walking towards her. “On your knees in front of me. It’s where you belong for this conversation.”

“Yes, Sir,” she quietly replied, and dropped from the chair, looking up at him as he sat down.

“Knees apart,” he directed. “This is very serious. What can you tell me about what happened?”

“I’ve been thinking about it all morning,” she frowned. “You know how I care about the horses, and how conscientious I am.”

“So what happened?” he repeated.

“All I know is that I’ve been feeling a bit, I guess restless is the word. I thought it was being snowbound when we had those two weeks of crazy weather, and not being able to haul over to the covered arenas at the show grounds and ride, but I know it’s more than that. Anyway, last night I just kept drinking. I think I needed to let off some steam or something. When Hannah dropped me off I wanted to check on the horses, but after I’d gone inside the stalls I suddenly felt really tired and sat down on the hay bale to rest for minute. I must have passed out.”

“It’s inexcusable, Cassie,” he said sternly. “We’ll talk about why you might be unhappy, but right now I need to punish you,”
though I’m thinking it won’t be as severe as I first thought.
“It was a lapse and we all have them, but it can’t happen again.”

“I know,” she sighed.

“Take off your jeans, lean over the bed and wait,” he instructed. “I’ll be right back.”

Throughout the morning he’d considered her fate, and had decided the most appropriate discipline would be a few strokes of the cane, but after hearing the sincerity in her voice, and realizing her aberrant behavior had been borne from a vague unhappiness, he decided such harsh treatment wasn’t warranted.

Moving into the kitchen he pulled out his oversized, heavy wooden spoon, the one he used to stir his large pot of spicy chili. He’d not used it on her before, but guessed it would carry just the right amount of sting. Slapping it on the side of his thigh he nodded; his assessment was correct.