Here Comes the Judge.

Tomorrow Ray and I leave for a trip, so this will be short and sweet.  Have a good week.  I know we will. 

Janice wasn’t thrilled about what she knew was about to happen.  She had been warned many times and while she understood, that understanding did not surface when it came to issues about which she was passionate.  She waited patiently in the parlor, sitting at the edge of her seat awaiting the turning of the doorknob.  James would be coming through that door at any moment and with it went all hope of sitting comfortably for the next few days.

James was usually a sweet and understanding husband, he didn’t ask much, but he was adamant about this one thing.  As adamant as she was about the same issue, but on opposing sides. Her passion stemmed from her parents who were rebels, of a sort.  They didn’t like the way things were, so they came to America, to live a different way.  It wasn’t easy, but they persevered and taught their children to stand up not only for themselves but for others.  Janice saw this as living up to her parent’s teachings and expectations.  While James may privately agree, his position didn’t warrant him expressing his private opinions publically.

The rally was meant to be peaceful.  Janice, as well as a group of her friends, was to be joined by other members of the Woman’s Suffragette movement.  The neighboring state of Wyoming had passed a law the previous year giving women the right to vote.   Women in Colorado saw no reason why they too shouldn’t be granted that privilege.  Now that is was the summer of 1870, marches all over the territory were beginning to gather more supporters and Janice Smithson was one of them.

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James Smithson was a judge and member of the town council.  Although, he was progressive at home, publically he towed the conservative line along with his fellow council members. To them, there was no question that it was a patriarchal society and women belonged at home.  So when Janice began joining in the parades and rallies with the local women, James warned her that it would only cause trouble, not only in their home but in the homes of the other ladies. She assured him she knew what she was doing.  Her reasoning was that he depended on her logic and fair-mindedness in everything and even discussed some of his more arduous cases with her.  He agreed but said that if things got too rowdy, he would have no recourse but to bow to majority rule on the city council.

The ladies began getting more and more raucous in their fight for the vote.  Egged on my outsiders, newspapers articles and the fact that their neighboring stated had granted women the vote only urged them on.  The City Council had issued an edict that as long as the demonstrations remained peaceful and didn’t interfere with the business of the town, they would look the other way.  However, any interruptions of the towns business’s, or battles with other townsfolk would be looked at as cause for arrest.

The rally had gone very well until they reached the edge of town that housed the less desirable businesses, i.e., saloons, poker parlors,  houses of ill-repute, etc.  The locals had always avoided that particular part of the town but the outsiders said that was where they were likely to attract the most attention to their plight.

They attracted attention, all right.  The ladies were midway through this street when the jeers started.  Men, some drunk and some not, decided to have a little fun.  They began to spout obscenities and rude remarks.  At first, the ladies ignored them and went about their business but when one of the men grabbed at one of the leaders, other men joined in and soon the women were using their placards to defend themselves.  It wasn’t long before a free for all was in full swing with the marchers getting assistance from some of the more colorful ladies of the evening.

The Marshall and his deputies were finally called to break up the demonstration.  As soon as the Marshall arrived, the men began drifting back into the woodwork leaving the ladies to explain and take the blame for the fracas. The Marshall took it all in and herded all the ladies off toward the jail.  He put the outsiders in one cell and the locals in another. 

One by one as husbands began to hear of disturbance and began coming to the jail to collect the miscreants.  The Marshall told them they could be released but they would be due in court to appear before Judge Smithson the following morning.  As each husband collected his wife,  others could hear the threats of what they could expect when they returned home.  Some of the women were already shedding tears.

Finally, Janice Smithson was the only one left.  James was out of town and wouldn’t be back until late.  She hoped she wouldn’t have to stay here until he returned.  The other ladies were escorted out of town after they paid a fine and shortly thereafter, then one of the deputies escorted Janice home.  So here she sat, waiting and waiting. She knew that although James would hear her out, there would be no escaping the punishment he was sure to rain down on her bare backside.

It was dark by the time James appeared.  She heard him approach the door and watched the knob slowly turn.  She wasn’t afraid, she knew he wouldn’t really hurt her, but she felt sorry he would have to discipline her.  She knew he hated it, but a promise was a promise and she knew she wasn’t the only wife that would be sitting uncomfortably in the morning.

“Good Evening, Janice.  The town is buzzing with today’s events.  I heard it all the way here from the stage stop.”

“I’m so sorry, James.  Things got out of hand when some of the rough characters from the saloon started taunting and grabbing at the ladies.  After that, it was a free for all.  No one was seriously hurt.”

“Were you assaulted?”

“Not at first.” She answered honestly.

“So it was possible you could have remained apart from the fracas, turned and walked away.”

“Yes, I suppose I could have, but you know that’s not my nature, James.”

“No, I suppose not.  You remember my warnings, don’t you?”

“Yes, James.”

“Then, go upstairs and remove everything but your chemise, stand in the corner with your nose against the wall, your hands behind you and wait for me.”

Janice obeyed and slowly climbed the stairs.  James watched her closely, he could see she was truly contrite.  He hated what he had to do but he had warned, threatened and promised.  He knew full well there were a lot of sore backsides in town tonight and he couldn’t allow his wife to escape punishment.

He gave her fifteen minutes to undress and quiet herself before he climbed the stairs.  When he entered the room, the single lamp on the dresser showed his beautiful wife standing in the corner.  Clad only in her chemise he wanted desperately to take her in his arms and make love to her.  He shook his head and reminded himself he had to do something else first.

“Turn around.”  Janice turned around head down.

“Look at me.”  She watched as he removed his jacket and vest and placed them over the chair in the corner.  He moved to the bed and began piling the pillows on the edge.

“Take off your chemise.”  She slowly undid the buttons with trembling fingers.  He watched her nipples pebble and her body shiver, whether, from anticipation or cold, he knew not, as she slid the garment down her body and stepped out of it.

He rolled up his sleeves and then he removed his belt.  She shuddered as she watched the belt swish through the pant loops.  

“Come here and lie down over the pillows.”  His commands were stern with no softness at all.

“You know why you’re getting punished, so I see no need to lecture you, do you agree?”

“Yes, sir.”

Janice heard the belt buckle tingle as he doubled it around his wrist, then the displaced air as he swung his arm. She expected to feel the pain as it landed but heard it connect with flesh that wasn’t hers.  She felt the first tear gather at the corner of her eyes – he was testing the intensity of his swing before he began whipping her bottom.   He struck his palm three more times before he was comfortable enough to lash Janice.

The first strike of the belt hit her bottom with a ferocity she hadn’t expected.  It felt like it was a line of fire rather than a lash of the belt.  She tried staying still and not clench her cheeks when the second strike landed.  The third and fourth strike quickly landed and she moved off the pillows.

“It hurts so much James.”    He didn’t say a word, merely adjusted her on the pillows. 

The next two strikes of the belt landed across her thighs and she could feel the welts rising as it punished the virgin flesh.

James stayed his hand.  Seeing the red stripes on his wife’s white skin almost made him sick.  “I can’t do this.”  He threw down the belt and gathered Janice up off the pillows.  He sat down and took her across his knee and began spanking her with his hand.  He spanked and spanked, covering every inch of her bottom and the tops of his thighs before he deemed the punishment over.

Her backside was aflame and the tears were coursing down her cheeks as he took her in his arms. “Don’t ever make me do that again, Janice.”  He held her until her sobs quieted, then pulled down the covers and placed her gently in the bed on her side.

The following morning Judge James Smithson sat on the bench and watched each of the ladies b escorted into the courtroom by their husbands.  They all walked a little stiff legged and chose to stand through the inquiry. The judge smirked and winked at his wife, Janice Price Smithson, who was already present and standing very straight.  

Curiosity about the outcome of the hearing filled the courthouse with other citizens of the town.  Not wanting to cause the ladies any more embarrassment than he was sure they already felt, he addressed them as a group.

"Ladies, you all know why you're here.  I'm sure your husbands have reprimanded you.  I know Mrs. Smithson and I discussed it last night.”  He heard snickers throughout the courtroom. “I see no reason for any further punishment unless there is a repeat of yesterday's fracas."

The ladies all shook their heads in agreement.  One of the husbands spoke up.  My wife and I discussed it too, Judge Smithson and she won't be sitting anytime soon."

The courtroom erupted in laughter except for the ladies who stood silently with their heads bowed and looking very contrite.

See you later for more Aimless Rambings.