Posted by shannon on December 16, 2002 at 13:24:10:
I decided to try and brazen it out. I rolled down my window and gave him my most dazzling smile. “Hi sweetie!”
Landon just continued to frown.
I began to fidget under the piercing look in his eyes. “I…well…umm…How bout them Cowboys?” I finally asked lamely.
Landon rolled his eyes. “What about em? They lost again.”
I started to say something else frantic to lighten his mood but he held a hand up to stop me. “No. Don’t say anything else. Just go straight to your house and wait for me there. I’ll be along in a little while to discuss…this.” He indicated everything from my car to the tire shop with a wave of his hand.
“Landon I..”
“Go home Shannon. Don’t worry I’ll be there shortly.”
I rolled my window up with a frown and resisted the impulse to poke my tongue out at him as I pulled onto the road. Don’t worry indeed! Like I was worried he WOULDN’T come!
I fussed and fretted all the way home. My feet were like ice from being in flip flops in the December rain so I ran some hot water then sat on the edge of the bathtub and warmed them up.
I was still sitting there enjoying the feel of the hot water on my poor toes when Landon came in. He looked from the flip-flops on the floor to me and if anything his frown darkened.
“How many times have I told you not to wear those outside. It’s winter for crying out loud!”
“Well its not like I thought I’d be outside for any length of time! Things were just out of my control.”
“When was the first time you noticed your tire was low?”
“Last week sometime.” I covered my mouth. SHIT!
“Last week and you didn’t do anything about it?”
Quickly drying my feet I got up to stand in front of Landon. “I added air several times. I was watching it. I just hadn’t had time to have it looked at. This morning it was a little flatter than usual but when I added air again and it took it I thought it would be okay. I didn’t know it was just a ten-mile solution. It aired back up how was I supposed to know it would go flat again that quick? I…”
“Enough!” I raised startled eyes to his when his fingers pressed against my lips to prevent further explanations. “Do us both a favor…stop now.”
I blinked and nodded. Landon took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom. I followed in a state of relieved confusion. “Landon?”
I found him standing in the living room looking out the window. “Do you have any idea how dangerous the neighborhood you were in was?”
“But I’m okay. My tires fixed and everything’s fine.”
He took another deep breath and I couldn’t be sure but I thought he might be counting. I gasped when he spun to face me and placed his hand beneath my chin to raise my eyes to his. I’d never seen such intensity in his eyes before. I shivered, afraid of what it meant.
“The Carr Motel was raided at least six times last year for drugs and prostitution and the tire shop you were at has had its fair share of raids too.”
“But they seemed so nice.”
“Honey seeming nice doesn’t begin to cut it. Ted Bundy seemed real nice to a lot of people.”
I flushed guiltily and tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let me.
“I’m glad you’re okay, but when I think of what could have happened I feel sick inside. You took a huge risk with yourself today and what galls me the most is that you didn’t have to. You could have called me. You knew I would have come.”
“I was afraid you’d be mad at me.” I said softly tears filling my eyes.
“I would’ve been, but not near as upset as I am right now. I know you think most people are nice, but you can’t keep trusting so blindly. It’s not safe.”
I reached up and lightly stroked his cheek. “I’m sorry I worried you Landon. I didn’t think it through. I’m sorry.” I truly felt bad that I’d caused him so much worry.
Landon nodded and grabbed the hand I’d stroked his cheek with placing a light kiss on my fingers before letting it go and turning me towards my bedroom with a stinging swat to my bottom. “Go get your hairbrush and bring it to me.”
“What!?!” The man really knew how to take a sweet moment and tear it up!
“You heard me.”
One glance over my shoulder at his implacable face had me scurrying to do as he said. I frowned as I handed him the square backed wooden hairbrush. It was a wonderful brush, felt great against my scalp when I pulled it through my hair, but somehow it didn’t think I would get that same relaxed feeling from it being used on my backside.
Landon wasted no time; soon he was seated on the couch with me draped over his thighs bare bottom high and ready. He started in with the brush immediately. I cried out from the first searing contact.
Landon made sure not one inch of my bottom or upper thighs felt neglected. The brush was applied everywhere equally and repeatedly. I bawled and squawled and howled and screamed and still the brush fell. I caught patches of his lecture as he paddled me…flip flops…tire maintenance…following strange men…future call me…get a jack…proper spare…I’m sure he said more, but really how can a girl be expected to pay proper attention when her bottom feels like it could keep the super conductor running for a month with its heat?
I was a mess when he turned me in his arms and cuddled me close. He rocked me and stroked my back while I calmed. When he knew I was calm enough to listen he placed a tender kiss on my forehead. “You’ve got to learn to pay more attention to your car and your surroundings. I love you and I don’t even want to think about something happening to you.”
I cuddled closer and kissed his chin. “I love you too. I’m sorry I scared you.”
“I know. Tomorrow we are going to sit down and discuss what we need to do to keep you out of trouble.”
“But I don’t mean to have these little mishaps.”
“We’re going to find a way to stop them from happening, but one thing we need to be clear on now. You are never to follow a strange man anywhere. If you have car problems or any other problems you can’t solve you call me. And in the winter you wear shoes, no more flip flops.”
He was being awfully bossy, but it was kinda sweet. I smiled up at him. “Yes sir.”
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