your backside for putting me to the trouble.â
Chapter 11
Tanyaâs eyes were still wide with disbelief after Stefan closed the door behind him, for the second time leaving her alone in her room. Heat her backside? Did that mean what she thought it did? Sheâd like to see him try it. On second thought, sheâd rather not.
She glanced at the washbowl that he had shoved her toward before leaving. Since heâd already found her out, she had no reason not to wash her face cleanâexcept one. She simply didnât want to, and that was an excellent reason as far as she was concerned. No one had the right to order her about anymore, and the freedom sheâd tasted since Dobbsâ illness was too precious to give up. Dobbs might still think he was in charge, but Tanya did whatever needed to be done because it needed to be done, and she did it in her own time, not when ordered to.
Now here was this devil acting as if he had some kind of right to assume control of her life, taking away her freedom and choices, even the choice of how she wanted to look, and threatening dire consequences if she didnât jump to obey him. A spanking, for crying out loud. God, that was rich. Sheâd suffered beatings that had laid her low for days, sometimes barely able to move, and she was supposed to be frightened now of a measly childâs punishment? Not even a little, but she still didnât want that devil anywhere near her backside again, to spank her or to do anything else.
However, she didnât doubt for a moment that the man would do exactly as he said. And heâd already proved how easily his strength could force her to his will. So sheâd just have to make sure he didnât have the opportunity again.
She set to motion, first retrieving her knife, then sticking her head out the window on the slim chance that something might be different out there. But the view was just as she knew it to be: the ground too far down for her to jump, and the tree just out of reach, even if she pushed off the windowsill and leaped toward it.
She turned to face the door, and sent up a little prayer as she approached it that Stefan wasnât waiting for her on the other side. There was only the one stairway that led downstairs, but there was another room across the hallway next to Dobbsâ room. Both rooms faced the street and had windows only a few feet above the sloping porch roof, a roof she was well acquainted with, since sheâd replaced several of its shingles. And from that roof it would be easy to swing down to the ground. Then sheâd simply disappear until those four devils got tired of waiting and went off to dupe some other poor girl.
As a child, sheâd often take off for days at a time, once for a whole week, when she knew Dobbs was looking for her with his stick. She came home each time to an even worse beating than she would have had, not because she couldnât survive in the wilds, but because she got too lonely being by herself. But she wouldnât have to be gone long this time, a few hours at most. And even if she had to stay away for a few days, now that she was older, she was sure loneliness wouldnât be a problem at all.
Briefly she thought of telling Dobbs about her dilemma, but she just as quickly dismissed the notion. Even if he would help her, what could he do in his present condition? He was, in fact, more likely to aid those devils than her if the price was right, and sheâd already seen how quick Stefan was to toss money about.
With knife in hand, Tanya put her ear to the door, but could hear nothing. Best as she could figure, she had about two minutes left to make herself scarce. Would he have gone downstairs to wait?
She wanted to open that door stealthily so she could determine if her own window might be the better option after all. But the damned hinges on her door squeaked, giving her no alternative but to yank it open suddenly, using surprise to
Chapter 11
Tanyaâs eyes were still wide with disbelief after Stefan closed the door behind him, for the second time leaving her alone in her room. Heat her backside? Did that mean what she thought it did? Sheâd like to see him try it. On second thought, sheâd rather not.
She glanced at the washbowl that he had shoved her toward before leaving. Since heâd already found her out, she had no reason not to wash her face cleanâexcept one. She simply didnât want to, and that was an excellent reason as far as she was concerned. No one had the right to order her about anymore, and the freedom sheâd tasted since Dobbsâ illness was too precious to give up. Dobbs might still think he was in charge, but Tanya did whatever needed to be done because it needed to be done, and she did it in her own time, not when ordered to.
Now here was this devil acting as if he had some kind of right to assume control of her life, taking away her freedom and choices, even the choice of how she wanted to look, and threatening dire consequences if she didnât jump to obey him. A spanking, for crying out loud. God, that was rich. Sheâd suffered beatings that had laid her low for days, sometimes barely able to move, and she was supposed to be frightened now of a measly childâs punishment? Not even a little, but she still didnât want that devil anywhere near her backside again, to spank her or to do anything else.
However, she didnât doubt for a moment that the man would do exactly as he said. And heâd already proved how easily his strength could force her to his will. So sheâd just have to make sure he didnât have the opportunity again.
She set to motion, first retrieving her knife, then sticking her head out the window on the slim chance that something might be different out there. But the view was just as she knew it to be: the ground too far down for her to jump, and the tree just out of reach, even if she pushed off the windowsill and leaped toward it.
She turned to face the door, and sent up a little prayer as she approached it that Stefan wasnât waiting for her on the other side. There was only the one stairway that led downstairs, but there was another room across the hallway next to Dobbsâ room. Both rooms faced the street and had windows only a few feet above the sloping porch roof, a roof she was well acquainted with, since sheâd replaced several of its shingles. And from that roof it would be easy to swing down to the ground. Then sheâd simply disappear until those four devils got tired of waiting and went off to dupe some other poor girl.
As a child, sheâd often take off for days at a time, once for a whole week, when she knew Dobbs was looking for her with his stick. She came home each time to an even worse beating than she would have had, not because she couldnât survive in the wilds, but because she got too lonely being by herself. But she wouldnât have to be gone long this time, a few hours at most. And even if she had to stay away for a few days, now that she was older, she was sure loneliness wouldnât be a problem at all.
Briefly she thought of telling Dobbs about her dilemma, but she just as quickly dismissed the notion. Even if he would help her, what could he do in his present condition? He was, in fact, more likely to aid those devils than her if the price was right, and sheâd already seen how quick Stefan was to toss money about.
With knife in hand, Tanya put her ear to the door, but could hear nothing. Best as she could figure, she had about two minutes left to make herself scarce. Would he have gone downstairs to wait?
She wanted to open that door stealthily so she could determine if her own window might be the better option after all. But the damned hinges on her door squeaked, giving her no alternative but to yank it open suddenly, using surprise to
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