| Madoc, Book Two of The Cutler Brothers |
© Paige Tyler and ABCD Webmasters, 2007
After attending his brother’s wedding, U.S. Marshal Madoc
Cutler knows one thing for sure – there is absolutely no
way he would ever fall for a woman as quickly as his
brother did.
But he can certainly appreciate an attractive woman, and
when he comes across a beautiful waitress at a small-town
diner, he can’t help but notice her. However, things become
complicated when he recognizes her as the runaway
fugitive, Shayna Matthews. Even though he is in the middle
of nowhere, she’s wanted for embezzlement and suspicion
of murder, and it’s his job to bring her in. Shayna puts up
more fight than he expects though, and he has no choice
but to put her over his knee for a sound spanking until she
agrees to come quietly.
His plan to quickly transport her back to Denver to stand
trial goes awry however, when a snowstorm forces them to
take shelter in tiny, secluded cabin in the woods. Madoc’s
vow to maintain his professionalism is sorely tested the
more time he spends with the alluring fugitive.
Madoc is torn. Should he do his duty and turn Shayna in, or
should he follow his gut instinct and risk his career and
freedom to help her clear her name? And could he possibly
have been wrong about not falling for a woman as quickly
as his brother did?
Cutler knows one thing for sure – there is absolutely no
way he would ever fall for a woman as quickly as his
brother did.
But he can certainly appreciate an attractive woman, and
when he comes across a beautiful waitress at a small-town
diner, he can’t help but notice her. However, things become
complicated when he recognizes her as the runaway
fugitive, Shayna Matthews. Even though he is in the middle
of nowhere, she’s wanted for embezzlement and suspicion
of murder, and it’s his job to bring her in. Shayna puts up
more fight than he expects though, and he has no choice
but to put her over his knee for a sound spanking until she
agrees to come quietly.
His plan to quickly transport her back to Denver to stand
trial goes awry however, when a snowstorm forces them to
take shelter in tiny, secluded cabin in the woods. Madoc’s
vow to maintain his professionalism is sorely tested the
more time he spends with the alluring fugitive.
Madoc is torn. Should he do his duty and turn Shayna in, or
should he follow his gut instinct and risk his career and
freedom to help her clear her name? And could he possibly
have been wrong about not falling for a woman as quickly
as his brother did?
Excerpt
Shayna’s hands trembled as she hurriedly shoved what little clothing she had into the
small overnight bag she’d brought with her when she’d left Denver. Of all the men in
the diner she could have flirted with, she had to pick a U.S. Marshal!
Tall and broad-shouldered, not to mention ruggedly handsome, she had noticed the
Marshal the moment he’d walked into the diner, and had been disappointed when he
had chosen a booth instead of taking a seat at the counter. So when Madge, the other
waitress she worked with, had suggested she serve lunch to him, she had not only
jumped at the chance, but had openly flirted with him. She’d figured that he was
probably only passing through town, but had toyed with the idea of trying to convince
him to hang around for awhile. Little did she know that he was there to arrest her, she
thought bitterly. And if Madge hadn’t learned that he was a U.S. Marshal from her
conversation with him earlier, then Shayna would still be at the diner obliviously going
on about her business.
God, she had been so stupid! Stupid to stay in Flint Rock for so long instead of going to
Canada like she had planned. Stupid to think that a pair of ugly, non-prescription, black-
framed glasses would be enough of a disguise to alter her appearance. Stupid not to
dye her hair like her sister had suggested.
Still silently berating herself for her stupidity, Shayna grabbed her coat from the bed
and put it on. If she hurried, maybe she could catch one of the truckers down at the gas
station near the freeway and bum a ride with him. Anyone heading north would be fine
with her.
She picked up her suitcase from the bed, and was just about to cross the small room she
rented at the boarding house when there came a loud banging on the door.
“Federal Marshal!” a man’s voice called. “Open up!”
Shayna froze, her hand tightening reflexively on the handle of her overnight bag as she
stared at the door. Oh God, he’d found her, she thought. She couldn’t go back to jail!
She had to get out of there!
The Marshal banged on the door, louder this time. Heart pounding, Shayna looked
around wildly for some other escape route. Her gaze immediately locked on the
window on the other side of the small room. Not having to think twice, she dashed over
to it. Instead of opening easily like it should have, however, the window didn’t budge.
Dammit, the darn thing was stuck!
Tears of frustration welling in her eyes, Shayna dropped her bag on the floor and tried
to force the window open, but it did no good. The stupid thing probably hadn’t been
opened in ten years! Spotting a heavy bookend sitting on the low shelf beside the
window, she grabbed it and was just about to use it to break the glass when the door
burst open.
Still holding onto the bookend, Shayna whirled around with a startled gasp to see the
handsome Marshal from the diner standing in the doorway, his weapon drawn and
pointed at her.
“Shayna Matthews, you’re under arrest,” he told her. “Drop that and put your hands
up.”
Shayna knew she should obey, especially since the Marshal had a gun pointed at her,
but she couldn’t make herself do it. “You’ve got the wrong person. My name is Jane,”
she said, her voice trembling. “Jane Cooper.”
His golden-brown eyes went to the bag sitting on the floor beside her. “Nice try,” he
said sarcastically. “Now, drop what you’re holding and put your hands up.”
She swallowed hard, but still didn’t do as he told her. “You’ve got the wrong person,”
she insisted.
The Marshal clenched his jaw. “I’m not going to tell you again,” he warned her. “Drop
what you’re holding and get your hands in the air.”
Shayna didn’t move. She couldn’t let him arrest her. Running had only made her look
more guilty, and if she went back to jail, they weren’t likely to let her out on bail this
time. The thought alone was enough to make her stomach churn.
Her gaze darted to the door and she wondered if she could somehow get past the
Marshal. Apparently, he must have read her mind because he started toward her even
as she tensed to make a run for it. Shayna’s hand tightened on the bookend and before
she even realized what she was doing, she drew back her arm and threw it at him.
Shayna just had enough time to see the Marshal’s eyes go wide before he ducked.
Knowing she would only get one chance at escape, she immediately ran for the door.
But she didn’t get more than a few feet before a strong hand closed over her arm and
spun her around. With a cry that was half frustration, half rage, Shayna balled her hand
into a fist and took a swing at the Marshal.
“What the...?!” he began, catching her arm before her fist could connect. “Dammit, take
it easy!”
But Shayna wasn’t about to take it easy. If she didn’t get away from him, she was going
to be spending a very long time in prison, maybe even the rest of her life. With that
horrific thought motivating her, Shayna savagely tried to jerk free of the Marshal’s hold.
“Stop it!” he ordered her, his grip tightening on her arms. “Dammit, I don’t want to hurt
you!”
“Then let me go!” she shot back, still struggling against him.
But it was obvious that the Marshal wasn’t going to let her go, and Shayna fought him
wildly. Once she even managed to get her arm free long enough to try to scratch his
face, but he quickly captured her wrist in his hand again.
Frustrated, Shayna tried to shove him away from her. To her surprise, she actually
managed to catch the Marshal off balance long enough to knock him back onto the bed.
She didn’t catch him that unaware, however, because instead of releasing her like she
hoped he would do, he tightened his grip on her wrists and pulled her down with him.
Ending up sprawled across his lap, Shayna was so stunned for a moment that she didn’t
even realize the Marshal had let go of her arms sometime during their fall onto the bed.
As soon as she did, though, she immediately tried to push herself upright, but a strong
hand on her back pushed her down again. She started struggling as hard as she could,
anything to keep him from grabbing her arms again. She knew the moment he did, she
would end up in handcuffs.
But Shayna was surprised when the Marshal didn’t even try to jerk her arms behind her
back so that he could handcuff her. She thought for a moment that she might actually
have a chance to get away, only to gasp in surprise when she felt his free hand come
down hard on her jean-clad bottom. She stilled, her eyes going wide. Had he actually
just spanked her? What the hell did he think he was doing?
Before she could say anything though, he brought his hand down again on her other
cheek, harder this time, and she yelped.
Her face flaming from embarrassment and anger, Shayna tried to push herself off his
lap again, to no avail. “Let me up, you jerk!” she demanded.
The Marshal gave her ass another hard smack. “Not until you agree to behave
yourself,” he growled.
Shayna cried out as his hand connected with her bottom yet again. “Owwwww! You
have no right to spank me!” she told him.
“If you had just come quietly like I told you to, then I wouldn’t be forced to do this,” he
retorted, punctuating each word with a sharp slap to her derriere. “But you leave me no
choice. Trust me; spanking you into submission is a lot better than the alternative.”
Shayna didn’t know what the alternative might be, but she had certainly never been
spanked in her life, and she couldn’t believe how much it stung! But every time his
hand came down on her ass, it felt like her cheeks were going to catch on fire.
“Now, if I let you up, are you going to behave yourself?” he asked, pausing
momentarily.
Shayna gritted her teeth. Damn the man! “Yes!” she hissed. “Just let me up already!”
Taking Shayna’s arm, he set her back on her feet. Though she really wanted to slap his
handsome face, she settled for rubbing her sore bottom instead, only to stop when she
realized that the Marshal was reaching for his handcuffs.
small overnight bag she’d brought with her when she’d left Denver. Of all the men in
the diner she could have flirted with, she had to pick a U.S. Marshal!
Tall and broad-shouldered, not to mention ruggedly handsome, she had noticed the
Marshal the moment he’d walked into the diner, and had been disappointed when he
had chosen a booth instead of taking a seat at the counter. So when Madge, the other
waitress she worked with, had suggested she serve lunch to him, she had not only
jumped at the chance, but had openly flirted with him. She’d figured that he was
probably only passing through town, but had toyed with the idea of trying to convince
him to hang around for awhile. Little did she know that he was there to arrest her, she
thought bitterly. And if Madge hadn’t learned that he was a U.S. Marshal from her
conversation with him earlier, then Shayna would still be at the diner obliviously going
on about her business.
God, she had been so stupid! Stupid to stay in Flint Rock for so long instead of going to
Canada like she had planned. Stupid to think that a pair of ugly, non-prescription, black-
framed glasses would be enough of a disguise to alter her appearance. Stupid not to
dye her hair like her sister had suggested.
Still silently berating herself for her stupidity, Shayna grabbed her coat from the bed
and put it on. If she hurried, maybe she could catch one of the truckers down at the gas
station near the freeway and bum a ride with him. Anyone heading north would be fine
with her.
She picked up her suitcase from the bed, and was just about to cross the small room she
rented at the boarding house when there came a loud banging on the door.
“Federal Marshal!” a man’s voice called. “Open up!”
Shayna froze, her hand tightening reflexively on the handle of her overnight bag as she
stared at the door. Oh God, he’d found her, she thought. She couldn’t go back to jail!
She had to get out of there!
The Marshal banged on the door, louder this time. Heart pounding, Shayna looked
around wildly for some other escape route. Her gaze immediately locked on the
window on the other side of the small room. Not having to think twice, she dashed over
to it. Instead of opening easily like it should have, however, the window didn’t budge.
Dammit, the darn thing was stuck!
Tears of frustration welling in her eyes, Shayna dropped her bag on the floor and tried
to force the window open, but it did no good. The stupid thing probably hadn’t been
opened in ten years! Spotting a heavy bookend sitting on the low shelf beside the
window, she grabbed it and was just about to use it to break the glass when the door
burst open.
Still holding onto the bookend, Shayna whirled around with a startled gasp to see the
handsome Marshal from the diner standing in the doorway, his weapon drawn and
pointed at her.
“Shayna Matthews, you’re under arrest,” he told her. “Drop that and put your hands
up.”
Shayna knew she should obey, especially since the Marshal had a gun pointed at her,
but she couldn’t make herself do it. “You’ve got the wrong person. My name is Jane,”
she said, her voice trembling. “Jane Cooper.”
His golden-brown eyes went to the bag sitting on the floor beside her. “Nice try,” he
said sarcastically. “Now, drop what you’re holding and put your hands up.”
She swallowed hard, but still didn’t do as he told her. “You’ve got the wrong person,”
she insisted.
The Marshal clenched his jaw. “I’m not going to tell you again,” he warned her. “Drop
what you’re holding and get your hands in the air.”
Shayna didn’t move. She couldn’t let him arrest her. Running had only made her look
more guilty, and if she went back to jail, they weren’t likely to let her out on bail this
time. The thought alone was enough to make her stomach churn.
Her gaze darted to the door and she wondered if she could somehow get past the
Marshal. Apparently, he must have read her mind because he started toward her even
as she tensed to make a run for it. Shayna’s hand tightened on the bookend and before
she even realized what she was doing, she drew back her arm and threw it at him.
Shayna just had enough time to see the Marshal’s eyes go wide before he ducked.
Knowing she would only get one chance at escape, she immediately ran for the door.
But she didn’t get more than a few feet before a strong hand closed over her arm and
spun her around. With a cry that was half frustration, half rage, Shayna balled her hand
into a fist and took a swing at the Marshal.
“What the...?!” he began, catching her arm before her fist could connect. “Dammit, take
it easy!”
But Shayna wasn’t about to take it easy. If she didn’t get away from him, she was going
to be spending a very long time in prison, maybe even the rest of her life. With that
horrific thought motivating her, Shayna savagely tried to jerk free of the Marshal’s hold.
“Stop it!” he ordered her, his grip tightening on her arms. “Dammit, I don’t want to hurt
you!”
“Then let me go!” she shot back, still struggling against him.
But it was obvious that the Marshal wasn’t going to let her go, and Shayna fought him
wildly. Once she even managed to get her arm free long enough to try to scratch his
face, but he quickly captured her wrist in his hand again.
Frustrated, Shayna tried to shove him away from her. To her surprise, she actually
managed to catch the Marshal off balance long enough to knock him back onto the bed.
She didn’t catch him that unaware, however, because instead of releasing her like she
hoped he would do, he tightened his grip on her wrists and pulled her down with him.
Ending up sprawled across his lap, Shayna was so stunned for a moment that she didn’t
even realize the Marshal had let go of her arms sometime during their fall onto the bed.
As soon as she did, though, she immediately tried to push herself upright, but a strong
hand on her back pushed her down again. She started struggling as hard as she could,
anything to keep him from grabbing her arms again. She knew the moment he did, she
would end up in handcuffs.
But Shayna was surprised when the Marshal didn’t even try to jerk her arms behind her
back so that he could handcuff her. She thought for a moment that she might actually
have a chance to get away, only to gasp in surprise when she felt his free hand come
down hard on her jean-clad bottom. She stilled, her eyes going wide. Had he actually
just spanked her? What the hell did he think he was doing?
Before she could say anything though, he brought his hand down again on her other
cheek, harder this time, and she yelped.
Her face flaming from embarrassment and anger, Shayna tried to push herself off his
lap again, to no avail. “Let me up, you jerk!” she demanded.
The Marshal gave her ass another hard smack. “Not until you agree to behave
yourself,” he growled.
Shayna cried out as his hand connected with her bottom yet again. “Owwwww! You
have no right to spank me!” she told him.
“If you had just come quietly like I told you to, then I wouldn’t be forced to do this,” he
retorted, punctuating each word with a sharp slap to her derriere. “But you leave me no
choice. Trust me; spanking you into submission is a lot better than the alternative.”
Shayna didn’t know what the alternative might be, but she had certainly never been
spanked in her life, and she couldn’t believe how much it stung! But every time his
hand came down on her ass, it felt like her cheeks were going to catch on fire.
“Now, if I let you up, are you going to behave yourself?” he asked, pausing
momentarily.
Shayna gritted her teeth. Damn the man! “Yes!” she hissed. “Just let me up already!”
Taking Shayna’s arm, he set her back on her feet. Though she really wanted to slap his
handsome face, she settled for rubbing her sore bottom instead, only to stop when she
realized that the Marshal was reaching for his handcuffs.
