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  “You could let me go,” Wade suggested. “Nothing all that bad happened. Not like I stole money or anything.”

  “I could, yes,” the marshal allowed, “but that would be irresponsible of me, don’t you think?”

  Wade’s irritation grew. He didn’t like being in suspense over his fate. He rose from his chair. “Look, Marshal, I’m sorry I stole the bread. I was hungry. Just give me a seeing-to and be done with it. I’ll move on and won’t steal again. Wasn’t planning on staying in this two-horse town anyway. I got better places to be.”

  “Sit your ass down,” the marshal ordered, more sharply than he had spoken previously.

  The harsh edge to the marshal’s voice caused Wade to obey immediately. He glared at him, now fearful once again in addition to being annoyed.

  “Believe it or not, I am giving you a seeing-to, just not the kind you expect,” the marshal explained, a bit more gently. “You are a child without a home. I don’t think it would be wise to put you back on the streets where you more than likely will steal again, either here or in the next town.”

  Wade’s hands formed into fists, and his heartbeat quickened with the news that the marshal had no intention of letting him go.

  The marshal must have seen the fear in his expression. “I’m not going to punish you, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m not in the habit of beating starving children.”

  Wade let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Life had afforded him few mercies, and he certainly hadn’t expected mercy at the hands of the severe-looking lawman.

  “I have five kids at home,” the marshal said. “The oldest is just a year or so younger than you.”

  Wade stared down at the faded denim covering his knees. He failed to understand the marshal’s reason for telling him about his kids.

  As though reading his mind, the marshal said, “I’m lenient with children, as I have a whole brood of them at home. I believe children should be given second chances, and third, fourth, and fifth chances too.”

  Wade gritted his teeth. He would never admit it to anyone, but the jealously he felt for boys and girls with parents was sometimes so painful he could hardly bear it. The nausea from earlier turned his stomach once again. “Good for you and your kids,” Wade mumbled resentfully.

  “Were your parents good to you before you lost them?” the marshal asked.

  The frank question took Wade aback, and it immediately made him defensive. “Of course they were,” he lied. “Why would you ask that?”

  “I’m trying to get a read on you. You’re very angry, it seems, and I know for a fact that not all parents are kind to their children. You wouldn’t be the first boy I’ve met who was unfortunate in that regard and who acted angry on account of it.”

  “You don’t know anything about me or my parents,” Wade spat, and turned his head to study the bare wall. He was alarmed to feel tears prickling his eyes, and he prayed the marshal didn’t notice. Wade never cried, not even when he’d dislocated his shoulder or when his ma had died of typhoid or when he’d been made an example of at the orphanage. Wade couldn’t understand why the marshal’s words had inspired such emotion.

  “Right.” The marshal cleared his throat. “You have two choices. You can either stay the night in the cell back there,” he said, jabbing a thumb toward the door behind him, “or you can stay the night at my house. I have an extra cot you can use if you want to stay at my place.”

  Wade’s gaze snapped to the marshal’s eyes. “You said you weren’t going to punish me. What do you call throwing me in jail?”

  “I call it keeping you safe and out of trouble.” His expression was implacable, and Wade could see that the man’s mind was made up.

  He wouldn’t admit it, but a small part of him felt pleased by the marshal’s invitation to his house. The marshal was the first person Wade could remember who wasn’t treating him as an annoyance to be cast aside.

  “Guess I’ll go home with you, if those are my only two choices,” Wade mumbled.

  “Jolly good,” the marshal said, standing. He walked around the desk and stared down at Wade. His eyes grew hard as he issued a warning. “You behave yourself at my house. No stealing, no brawling, no disrespect. That clear?”

  Wade swallowed. “Yeah.”

  The marshal held out his hand to shake on it. “That’s ‘yes, Mr. Shaw’ or ‘yes, Clyde’ will be fine too.”

  Wade placed his hand in the marshal’s. “Yes, Mr. Shaw.”

  For the first time, Clyde smiled, which caused the last of Wade’s fear to fade away. “And what’s your name, son?”

  “Wade Hunter.”

  “All right then, Wade Hunter. Come along. I’ll introduce you to my family.”

  ***

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  About Amelia Smarts

  Amelia Smarts is a USA Today bestselling author who writes kinky romance novels containing domestic discipline, spanking, and Dominance/submission. Usually her stories involve a cowboy, and they always involve a man’s firm hand connecting with a woman’s naughty backside. Amelia holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in creative writing and English. She loves to read, which allows her writing to be influenced by many different genres in addition to romance, including mystery, adventure, history, and suspense.

  Amelia’s accolades include:

  Golden Flogger Award Finalist for Best BDSM Book of 2017 (Emma’s Surrender)

  Voted #1 Favorite Historical Romance Author in The Bashful Bookwhore’s 2017 Poll

  Voted Best New Spanking Romance Author in the 2016 Spanking Romance Reviews Reader’s Poll

  Winner: Best Sweet Spanking Romance (Fetching Charlotte Rose) in the 2016 Spanking Romance Reviews Reader’s Poll

  Runner-up: Best Historical Western Romance (Claimed by the Mountain Man) in the 2016 Spanking Romance Reviews Reader’s Poll

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  ***

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  More Books by Amelia Smarts

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  As embarrassing as it is to be spanked with her panties down like a naughty little girl, it is when Jackson makes her call him daddy that Lydia's cheeks truly blush crimson. But a bright red backside is just the start of Jackson's plans for Lydia, and soon he is bathing her, baring her in the most intimate way possible, and bringing her to a shameful climax right there in the tub.

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