Page 25 of Dangerous Stakes

“I didn’t know the two of you were married.”

“We aren’t ...” started Susan.

“But we will be in the not-too-distant future,” finished Rory.

Another cheer went up with several “about times” ringing clearly forth.

Rory started to disperse the crowd, reminding them all it had been a long show and they all needed to get home. The horses and gear were loaded, and the farm’s students, parents and staff all headed back to the farm. Susan got in the truck beside Rory.

“So, we’re to be married in the not-too-distant future, are we?” Susan tried to sound annoyed, but there was a part of her that was secretly thrilled.

They’d never even discussed marriage. It wasn’t something she’d ever really considered, but now that the idea had been floated, she found she rather liked it.

“Susan don’t start with me. You’re in enough trouble as it is. And yes, you little hellcat, we’re going to get married.”

“Don’t you think we ought to talk about it before you announce it to the world?” she said now openly teasing him.

“We can add that to the list of items to be discussed when we get home. When we get everyone back to the farm and on their way home, you can spend some time in the corner contemplating just how hard I’m going to spank you.”

“You can’t spank me!”

“Watch me!”

“Rory, it’s our anniversary and you just sort of asked me to marry you.”

“I didn’t ask you, Susan, I told you. We’re getting married.”

“Irish …” she was quickly realizing that what she had meant to be a tantalizing anniversary present of sorts had backfired badly. “I need you to know that regardless of how much I pissed you off, I love you and I’d like nothing better than to be married to you.”

He shook his head. “While that’s a lovely thing to hear, I don’t want you to think it’ll get you out of the spanking you deserve.”

“I’m sorry, Irish. I really did want to show off just for you.”

He shook his head. “Risking your life isn’t my idea of a gift.”

When they arrived home, Rory helped her out of the truck and made it easy for people to believe that she was tired and needed to rest. He walked her up to the house and ushered her in.

“Now you go get in the corner and stay there until I come for you.”

“Rory?” she asked.

He kissed her roughly, capturing her mouth and pushing his tongue past her teeth – claiming what he knew to be his. “Go get naked and stand in the corner. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, but …”

“No, Susan. I warned you a year ago today what I’d do if I ever caught you doing the Airs Above the Ground from the saddle again. With the grace that you executed those maneuvers, it’s obvious you’ve been doing a lot of practicing. Which tells me that I haven’t been giving you enough attention. Trust me, you’ll have my full, undivided attention when I get back up to the house. Now, go.”

He turned her towards their bedroom and gave her backside a hard swat.

He left the house and Susan stood for a moment. Part of her wanted to defy him, but she decided that perhaps she had pushed the Irishman as far as she should for one day.

CHAPTER 10

Rory walked down to Tank’s stall. The big horse stared at him. “Aye, you big beastie, I mean to give your mistress a spanking she won’t forget any time soon. But you really were magnificent.” He pulled a dried apple slice out of his pocket to give to Tank, who deftly took it out of his hand.

Rory walked up to the house. He gave it a quick check, locked and closed it up for the night before joining Susan in their bedroom. She was standing quietly in the corner, naked as he had ordered. It had been a year ago today they had come together. They had rarely been apart since then. The only time she had returned to her row home in the fashionable part of the city was to get her things to move permanently to the farm and then to get it ready to rent.

Rory walked up behind her. He pressed his body into hers. “Do you remember what I told you I’d do if I caught you doing the Airs Above the Ground mounted?”

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