Cassie's New Plan(24)

“How long have you felt this way?”

“From the day you stepped into myhouse and informed me that I was too old to live at home and needed to move out. You then took over the TV.”He chuckled.

Cassie blushed. “I was only eight. And you guys had a bigger television than mom's.”

“You were so cute then. But there was something about you that I needed to protect. It wasn't until you started college that I started seeing you as a woman, and that’s when I bought this farm.”

“But this…when did you get all this done?”

“I started two years ago and worked every waking moment. I wanted this to be a place to take you to and have you call home.”

Cassie was silent. The house was as gorgeous as Rob, and truly was a product of love. She couldn’t shake the fear, though.

“Rob, what if you, well, get tired of me? Then what? And the family?”

“How could I tire of you? For 12 years you’ve occupied my mind and, yes, have given me more than one reason to want to tan your bottom. My brothers approve whole-heartedly and I believe Pop will, too. They all want what’s best for both of us. I think we are best for each other. What do you think?”

“I need to process this, Rob. It’s too much. I mean, I don’t know how to feel what I’m feeling.”She looked scared.

He nodded. “I understand. I’ve had all this time to think it out and, until recently, you thought I hated you. My fault again. Take your time. But, remember this: with me, you will get more love and attention than you could ever need. And that includes discipline. I can’t stand by and watch you destroy yourself, Cass.”

She was very quiet for a moment. It was too much to hope for. Yet, she wanted it more than anything. She had pushed it away for years, covering her desire for Rob with ugly, mean words and defiance because she never believed HE could want HER as much. She gathered her courage.

“Do you promise to never leave me? Even if you’re mad? Like the other night?”she asked timidly, her heart pounding.

Rob nodded sincerely. “I promise. I need to control my temper at times, too. I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m only human.”

“I…I want to try. But, I’m scared.”

“I know, honey. I’m strong enough for both of us and I understand your fears. In time, you’ll trust me to do what's best for us. You might not like all my decisions, but you’ll always know that it’s because I believe it’s needed. I’m warning you, though, I refuse to let you go once you agree.”

“Promise?”

“You have my word. You also have my word that all discipline I administer will be with love. You won’t appreciate it in the least bit, but you will always know how much I love you by the discipline you receive. I don’t want you to ever feel that you are ignored or neglected in any way, good or bad. Do you want to agree to my terms to obey me and let me decide what’s best for you and for us?”he asked firmly. Cassie hesitated before nodding as she looked at the floor.

“I don’t want to be spanked,”she whispered after a few moments of silence.

Rob lifted her chin. “Not all your discipline will be spankings. In fact, you have a soaping coming to you. Into the bathroom with you,”he ordered.

“But you swear all the time and so do Bry and Glenn. It’s not fair.”

“You’re a lady and I expect you to behave like one. You also swore at me, which is off-limits. Do I call you nasty names?”

“No,”she whispered. He tilted his head and walked into the bathroom. Cassie trembled as she followed him. He picked up a big bar of yellow soap off the dish next to the sink and ran it under warm water.

“Open. More,”he ordered, pressing the brick into her mouth. She immediately gagged, her eyes watering.

“Go stand in that corner until I tell you to come out. This is what happens to young ladieswho chose to use unseemly language, especially directed at the men who love them,”he scolded, pointing to the empty corner at the far end of the room. Cassie tried so hard not to swallow the putrid soap, her gag reflexes going haywire and her mouth burning with the nasty taste. How humiliating! She was not a child, yet he was treating her like she was, well, eight again! And he swore all the time! It wasn’t fair!

Tears dripped down her cheeks when she realized that had this been done when she was a child, she would probably not be there today. Cassie loved her mom, but both she and Bill had let Cassie do whatever she wanted without any consequences. Her anger shifted to shame and her shoulders sagged with remorse. That was Rob’s cue.

“You can go rinse your mouth out, Cass. Hurry now. There’s a new toothbrush in the cabinet for you.”