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Excerpt:
Sophia nodded in agreement. She could certainly see that that was true. "Isn't it abuse?" She had been spanked as a child, certainly, but that was discipline—and it had been few and far between. Mollie and Beth Anne were grown women that seemed to be allowing their husband, her baby brother, to hit them! She was dumbfounded at the thought, and tried to wrap her head around it as she waited for Beth Anne to answer.
Sophia nodded in agreement. She could certainly see that that was true. "Isn't it abuse?" She had been spanked as a child, certainly, but that was discipline—and it had been few and far between. Mollie and Beth Anne were grown women that seemed to be allowing their husband, her baby brother, to hit them! She was dumbfounded at the thought, and tried to wrap her head around it as she waited for Beth Anne to answer.
Beth
Anne sighed heavily, and took Sophia's hand from across the table.
"No, Sophia, it's not abuse. For one thing, Mollie and I consent
to it. Think about it. Did Ben grab Mollie and drag her upstairs
screaming and crying?"
Sophia
frowned, scrunching her eyebrows together in deep thought. Beth Anne
certainly made a good point. All Ben had done was calmly request that
Mollie join him upstairs. Mollie had followed him willingly. She
hadn't looked terribly happy about it, but she hadn't protested.
Sophia shook her head and motioned for Beth Anne to continue.
"Also, I'm a little surprised that you seem so shocked by it, honestly. It's a common way of life among families around here." Beth Anne paused and the corners of her mouth twitched a bit, as if she were trying to decide how much to say. "Most of the wives in the community are spanked wives, Sophia, and it has been like that for a long time. Probably since before we were born. Probably much longer even." Beth Anne looked as if she had more to say on the topic, but she stopped there, and switched gears. "And, Ben's not hitting us, Sophia, he's spanking us, and there's a huge difference. Hitting is done out of anger, it's not controlled, and it can be anywhere. Ben would never lay a hand on me anywhere besides my bottom, and even then, it's always with love. He's not beating me for goodness sake! Ben is always careful, and kind and loving. It's discipline, not abuse, and it's to make us better, not harm us."
"Also, I'm a little surprised that you seem so shocked by it, honestly. It's a common way of life among families around here." Beth Anne paused and the corners of her mouth twitched a bit, as if she were trying to decide how much to say. "Most of the wives in the community are spanked wives, Sophia, and it has been like that for a long time. Probably since before we were born. Probably much longer even." Beth Anne looked as if she had more to say on the topic, but she stopped there, and switched gears. "And, Ben's not hitting us, Sophia, he's spanking us, and there's a huge difference. Hitting is done out of anger, it's not controlled, and it can be anywhere. Ben would never lay a hand on me anywhere besides my bottom, and even then, it's always with love. He's not beating me for goodness sake! Ben is always careful, and kind and loving. It's discipline, not abuse, and it's to make us better, not harm us."
Sophia's
expression was sour. Although she loved her baby brother, and knew he
had grown into a good man, she still wasn't a hundred percent
convinced. "Discipline is for children," she insisted
emphatically. "How can you consent to your husband treating you
as he would a naughty child?"
Beth
Anne was silent for a few minutes, her lips pressed together tightly,
and Sophia worried that she had hurt her feelings. "Everyone
needs to have discipline, even if it's not in the physical sense of
the word. And as far as him treating me like a child, well, I just
don't feel that way at all. Ben and I are equal partners, and he very
much respects my role in our relationship." Beth Anne paused
thoughtfully before continuing. "Obviously, I can only speak for
myself and not for Mollie, but truthfully, I cannot imagine mine and
Ben's relationship without that aspect. I kind of like it." She
ginned conspiratorially. "It makes me feel like a lady. It makes
me feel feminine and sexy. I mean, maybe not in the moment when it is
happening, because it hurts like hell, and I have all these emotions,
and I can't wait for him to be done, but afterwards…" Beth
Anne trailed off with a shy smile before continuing. "I like
what spanking does for us. I like the connection it gives us, and I
like the way I feel the next day. I feel feminine, protected, and
cherished. I like what it does for me in other ways as well. After
Ben spanks me, it almost has a therapeutic effect. I feel calmer,
centered, and more productive. Sometimes I think about asking Ben to
spank me just for the stress relief." Beth Anne stopped
abruptly, as if she realized she was beginning to ramble a bit.
Sophia
just stared at her dumbfounded. She was still trying to wrap her mind
around Beth Anne's claim about spanking being therapeutic. Sophia
couldn't fathom a spanking being anything other than painful and
humiliating. Yet Beth Anne spoke of it as if it was just a good
workout. Maybe that's what Beth Anne needed, Sophia mused. She just
needed a more acceptable way to get the same results. Sophia had
taken weekly yoga classes for years before Robert had gotten sick,
and it had given her all the same feelings Beth Anne was describing.
She decided to suggest it. "Couldn't you just do yoga?"
Sophia was enthusiastic, sure she had found a promising solution.
Yoga was definitely the answer. She was honestly surprised Beth Anne
hadn't thought of it. It had health benefits too, so that was an
added bonus. Sophia resolved to find a local class to join as soon as
possible, and to have Beth Anne and Mollie join her. She was getting
more and more excited about the idea, until she saw Beth Anne's face.
For
the first time since they had begun talking, Beth Anne looked truly
upset. In fact, she looked like she was about to cry. Sophia
instantly began looking for a way to backpedal. "I'm sorry, that
came out all wrong. All I meant was—"
"It's fine, don't worry about it. I know how it sounds, Sophia. I guess it's one of those things you have to experience to understand." Beth Anne's face was drawn and her tone was short. "I hope someday you get a chance to really understand what I'm talking about. I have to work in the morning. Good night, Sophia."
"It's fine, don't worry about it. I know how it sounds, Sophia. I guess it's one of those things you have to experience to understand." Beth Anne's face was drawn and her tone was short. "I hope someday you get a chance to really understand what I'm talking about. I have to work in the morning. Good night, Sophia."
Sophia Randall had no intention on returning to her home in the polygamist community she grew up when she left Hiram Jefferson just hours before their wedding. Though she cared deeply for Hiram and his family, she was young and impulsive.
Ten years, two children, and one monogamous marriage later, returning to Green Valley after the death of her husband is the only option left.
Hiram was devastated when Sophia left him at the altar. With everything already on his plate-- between his job as the district superintendent, his large family, and one sick wife, the last thing he needs is the headache of Sophia being back in town.
When his wives go behind his back and form an alliance with Sophia, what is left for him to do but show them the error of their ways with a little old fashioned discipline. But what will happen when he finds out the true reason Sophia left him in the first place?
Find Rayanna Jamison online:
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Thank you Joelle!
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome, Rayanna :) I loved this book, especially this scene, and can't wait for the next book :)
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