Posted by shannon on September 01, 2003 at 23:20:51:
The ride to the next town was done in complete silence; both lost in their own thoughts.
Annie stared out the window wondering how in the world to explain to Luke that she didn’t normally take such chances. He’d never believe her and if she told him she’d just known he was the one for her and couldn’t bear to watch him drive away he’d really think she’d lost it.
She studied his strong profile. She’d been horrible to him earlier; the combination of disappointment that he wasn’t at all pleased to find her and fear he’d toss her out on her ear had made her brash and foolhardy.
Annie frowned and squirmed in her seat as she thought about his last comment. He couldn’t mean what she thought he had surely. He wouldn’t spank her. Would he? She shivered at the thought caught in a curious mix of fear, excitement and a little grain of hope that he’d follow through.
Just admitting it to herself made her blush.
When Luke glanced her way she hurriedly looked out the side window terrified he’d be able to tell what she was thinking with one look at her flushed face.
Luke shook his head as he studied his silent companion. Every time he thought of the risk she’d taken he got angry again. Part of him wanted to drop her and the trouble she was sure to bring off at the next stop. The other part wanted to give her the paddling of her life to keep her from ever doing anything so foolish again, then hug her tight and keep her around to see what would develop.
Sulky as she was now, he remembered the sunshine in her smile. It was a smile that could bring color and warmth on cold, rainy day.
He sighed, a man could put up with a lot too keep that brightness around, and the trouble was nothing a few trips across his knee couldn’t handle.
~~~~~~~
They pulled into a Love’s Truck Stop, just outside of El Paso. Annie quickly hopped down from the cab with nothing but the nearest bathroom on her mind.
“Hold it Sunshine.”
Annie turned back to Luke with a frown, anxiously shifting back and forth on her feet. “What?” Her level of discomfort made her a little short.
Luke’s eyebrows climbed into his hairline. “What did I tell you about that tone young lady?”
“Sorry, but I’m kind of in a hurry.” She said with a meaningful look in the direction of the building.
Luke almost smiled at her predicament but managed to keep a stern look on his face. “Just so you know I expect you back at this truck in fifteen minutes.”
Annie rolled her eyes and turned to run into the store with a shout of agreement over her left shoulder.
Luke followed her in with a different goal in mind. He bought a couple of sodas, a bag of chips and a paddle that he intended to introduce to his young friend before the day was over.
~~~~~~
Fifteen minutes later Annie climbed back into the cab of the truck, smiling when Luke handed her a cold soda.
“Thanks.” She leaned back in her seat and went to prop her feet up on the dash only to freeze with them halfway there.
A small paddle lay on the dash right in front of her. It was like a miniature fraternity paddle, the same shape but on a much smaller scale, but Annie was in no doubt that wielded correctly it could turn a sinner to a saint in a matter of minutes.
“What’s that?”
“What does it look like?”
“A paddle.”
“Good then I don’t need to tell you what it is.”
“Why did you buy a paddle?”
“Why do you think I bought a paddle?”
“Would you stop answering my questions with questions! Tell me why in the hell you bought that damn paddle!”
“First, I’ve told you before about the language. Second, I see no reason to answer a question you already know the answer to.”
Annie gaped at him like a fish gasping for air. Finally finding her voice she spluttered. “You can’t think that I’d allow you to … to … to well …”
“Paddle your butt?”
“Yes! I mean NO! I won’t let you!”
“I actually wasn’t thinking on getting your permission first Sunshine.”
“I can’t believe you!”
Luke smiled. “That’s all right, you will soon enough. In the mean time I think your time would be better spent reflecting on your actions and what you should have done differently.”
Annie looked away from Luke and back at the paddle. Funnily enough the paddle wasn’t any easier to look at so she turned instead to the scenery outside her window.
They were passing through some beautiful country as they climbed into the mountains, but Annie didn’t see any of it. She was too busy trying to think of what kind of explanation she was going to give the big man sitting next to her for her behavior.
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