LENDING A HAND
Sandy woke up and looked at the clock. It was only 4:30 and the household seemed
alive. She could hear pots and pans
clanging, water running and the smell of bacon frying assaulted her nose. Her hands went to reach out for Chris and all
she found was emptiness. She looked
around the room and noticed his jeans and boots were gone. She pulled the covers up and tried going back
to sleep but the smell of coffee and bacon were just too inviting. Hopping out of bed she put on her robe and headed
to the bathroom only to find it already occupied. What is it with these people, she
thought. 
It’s o’dark thirty and everyone
seems to be up and about. She stumbled
back to the bedroom and a few minutes later Chris came in with two steaming
mugs of coffee.
“Why is everybody up so early?” she asked.
“It’s not early for them,” he told her. “This is a working farm and there are chores
to be done from sunup to sundown”.
Chris told her that was the reason he chose to become
something other than a farmer. It was a
hard life, rewarding but hard. This farm
had been in his family for generations and had been passed down from father to
son. Luckily, the chain didn’t need to
be broken by his decision. His younger
brother Seth was more than willing to carry on the family tradition. Chris remembered the day he told his dad that
farming wasn’t for him. He thought he
could see his dad age right before his eyes. He told his Dad that Seth was
always more farmer than him and that he would always come back and lend a hand
when necessary.
That was why they were here now. His Dad had an accident and had broken his
arm. This was harvest time and they
needed an extra hand. When his Dad
called he didn’t hesitate. His job
allowed him the flexibility to work from wherever he was as long as there was
internet availability. He told Sandy he
was leaving the next day and although her job wasn’t as flexible she told him
she wanted to do her share too and she would make arrangements to accompany
him.
Chris told Sandy to drink up and get ready for the day. She could give his Mom and sister-in-law,
Mindy a hand in the kitchen. The
farmhands and pickers would be needing a hearty meal at noontime and then
supper to be cooked later in the day.
Sandy wasn’t sure she heard him right.
“You mean I have to get up this early every day and work in
the kitchen with Mindy”
“Yes, that is what I mean”.
She and Mindy did not get along.
She wasn’t sure why but she was sure that Mindy didn’t like her and made
it perfectly clear she didn’t think she was worthy of Chris.
“Aw Chris, isn’t there something else I could do”
“No, now get going” and when he dragged her off the bed he
gave her a sharp slap to her bottom and directed her to the bathroom. She gave him an over the shoulder smoldering
glance that made him rearrange his jeans.
Sandy was a city girl, born and bred. They met in college and had been together
ever since. With the exception of Mindy, she loved his family and felt they
loved her too. She and Chris had come to
the farm a couple of times for a weekend but mostly his Mom and Dad would come
visit them when time allowed. They would
go on a vacation cruise every year and would usually work in a weekend with
them then. This was the first time she and Chris would be at the farm for an extended period. Chris’ dad, Matthew, would be unable to work
for months and this year money was tight
and extra farmhands were not in the budget.
While Sandy dressed, Chris made the bed and Mindy happened
to catch him doing it. She made a remark
about city girls not being able to pull their weight.
“Excuse me, I don’t think I heard you Mindy. Would you like to repeat that?” Chris said
Mindy reddened and continued
walking down the hall. Sandy had overheard the remark and Chris’ response but didn’t
let on. She told Chris she was ready and thanked him for making the bed.
“Good Morning, Mom, what can I do to help?” were Sandy’s
first words as she entered the kitchen.
Mindy said that maybe it would help if she got up earlier so she could
be down here helping to get breakfast started.
Lydia told Mindy to hush and told Sandy she could set the table and get
the water glasses filled and not to pay any attention to Mindy that she must
have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. When Sandy finished, the men just started
coming in to sit down to breakfast.
Afterward Mindy went out to pick the vegetables for the noon meal while
Sandy assisted Lydia in the clean up.
“Can I ask a question Mom?
“Sure honey, what do you want to know?”
“Mindy doesn’t like me and I am not sure why”. Can you give me any clues?”
Lydia said it probably had something to do with the fact
that Mindy always had a crush on Chris. Chris never even gave her the time of
day, to him, she was just like a little sister. When Chris went away to school, she and Seth
started dating. Lydia said that Mindy
loved Seth but she didn’t think she had ever really gotten over her school girl
crush on Chris. Lydia told Sandy not to
take it personally because it wouldn’t have mattered who Chris had married
Mindy would not like her.
Sandy felt better after talking to Lydia. At least now she knew it wasn’t her
imagination. Mindy didn’t like her. She determined to stay out of Mindy’s way and
not cause any problems.
Sandy helped wherever she could and the following week took
on the laundry. Unfortunately, she put
one of Mindy’s blouses in with the bleach items. When she realized what she had done she went
to Mindy, confessed and offered to replace the blouse. Mindy was not at all gracious about the
accident. She told Sandy she probably
did it on purpose. Sandy went up to
their room in tears. Sandy stayed there
for the rest of the afternoon and when Chris came home Lydia filled him in on
what had transpired. Chris sought out
Mindy and read her the riot act.
“How dare you accuse my wife of deliberately ruining one of
your blouses? She has done nothing but help out and go out of her way to be
nice to you. You deserve a good hiding and if I were your husband you would be eating dinner standing up”.
“If that’s how you treat your wife I am glad I am married to
Seth” Mindy spat out.
Unfortunately for Mindy, Seth had been in the kitchen
listening to this whole conversation. When
he came into the room Mindy blanched.
Seth told her he had heard her and asked Mindy for her side of the
story. When she was finished he told her
to apologize to Chris and then to go find Sandy and apologize to her also. Mindy stomped her foot and refused to
budge.
“Mindy, do what you were told to do right now” Seth told her
calmly.
Mindy turned to Chris and apologized and then went storming
up the stairs. Seth heard a door slam
and knew that Mindy had gone into their room.
He went right after her. Chris
went up to Sandy and found her asleep.
He started to change his clothes when he heard a noise and went to
investigate. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop
but he heard his brother telling Mindy that he had warned her to behave around
Sandy and what the consequences would be if she didn’t. He walked away just as Mindy must have felt
the first bite of his belt because he heard her cry out.
The next morning when Sandy was alone in the kitchen getting
breakfast started, Mindy came in carrying the basket of eggs. Laying them on the counter she told Sandy she
was sorry for acting out yesterday.
Sandy said it was okay and that she was sorry she had ruined her blouse
and that maybe they could go into town later and find a replacement. Mindy said she would like that.
That night when Sandy crawled into bed next to her beloved
Chris, she told him about Mindy’s apology and their trip into town. She said maybe she and Mindy had turned a
corner and could be friends after all.
Chris told her he thought it had more to do with the strapping Seth had
delivered yesterday.
“What do you mean? She asked.
Chris told her what he had heard and when he
asked Seth about it today Seth admitted that he spanked her sometimes when she
got out of hand. Sandy didn’t know what
to say. Chris gave her a few spanks now
and then but nothing like what he had just described. She couldn’t imagine getting a spanking with
a belt. She shuddered and Chris asked
what that was about.
“I was just thinking about getting spanked with a belt, it
must really hurt” she replied.
He told her that yes it stung like the dickens. He said his father had whipped both he and
Seth with a belt when they were naughty and his mom would switch them now and
again too but they survived and he respected them both for being strong enough
to discipline them.
“Would you ever spank me?” she asked.
“If you were naughty ”
“I know that when you slap my butt I get all tingly but I
don’t know about a real spanking” she answered, “especially one with a belt”.
“I’ll be very happy to spank that cute little butt anytime
you say the word” he told her.
“How about now”, she responded.
“Are you sure” he asked.
“Do you want a written invitation” she quipped.
"Well that sass will definitely get you spanked. Roll over"
"Well that sass will definitely get you spanked. Roll over"
“Ooh, being naughty has its rewards. I might have to try it more often" Sandy cooed.
