The Haunted House

by Joanne Locker

Chapter One

Bethie giggled as she looked around her new home. Her plans for the scariest Halloween ever were coming together, and since Halloween fell on Friday this year, it was the perfect opportunity to have a weekend party that her guests would never forget. It was payback time.

The house that she’d bought behind Alex’s back, managing to keep it a complete secret from everyone until it was a done deal, was allegedly haunted. And, it was perfect! The old mansion was three stories high and had ten bedrooms. The downstairs was made up of the public rooms; a huge living room and dining room, a library, and an office, and a kitchen that was spectacular! Bethie still couldn’t believe her good fortune in getting the old mansion for what she paid for it. Alex wasn’t too happy that she’d bought a home he considered a ‘monstrosity’, but they weren’t married yet, in fact, they weren’t even engaged yet, and he had no control over her finances. The house was a good investment, and if she and Alex should someday be married, he ought to be delighted that they would have a house to live in that was completely paid for. Oh, there were some things that needed doing, and the acreage needed some serious landscaping. Bethie intended to take her time doing all the work, but in the meantime, the house was all hers, and it was in decent enough shape to have overnight guests for a very special Halloween Party.

She looked around at all the boxes the movers had dropped off just an hour ago and then turned up her sleeves to get busy. She had approximately seven weeks to get settled into her new home and make all of her arrangements for the party. She picked up the first box and opened it, deciding she would take a box at a time and deal with the contents. There was a timid knock on the front door, and Bethie smiled. It was probably a neighbor coming to welcome her to the neighborhood. She fluffed her short red hair and then put a smile on her face as she opened the heavy old door, which creaked. After the party, she would oil the hinges, but for now, it was simply too perfect.

To Bethie’s surprise, Mrs. Wilkes was on the other side of the door. The house was purchased furnished, but the former owners had left behind at least one box that Bethie knew of. Obviously, those items were already been missed by the Wilkes, and Bethie was relieved she wouldn’t have to deliver it to them. Bethie smiled and said, “Hello, Mrs. Wilkes. Please come inside. I’m sure it feels awkward knocking on the door of your old home?” she said lightly.

“If Carl learns that I’ve been here, he will…” she broke off nervously, and looked at the door. It was easy for Bethie to see that the older woman was wishing she hadn’t come, but suddenly she stiffened her back and said, “I came to warn you, Ms. Jamison. This house is truly evil. It’s haunted.”

“Is that why you moved out?” Bethie asked curiously.

“Yes! I wanted to tell you but Carl wouldn’t let me. It just terrifies me to think of you living here all alone.”

“I’ve lived on my own since I was seventeen, Mrs. Wilkes. I promise I won’t be afraid. This house is just perfect.”

“You don’t understand, dear. Strange things happen here. The house seems to come alive at night…! I just hated selling this place to you! It should have been burned to the ground, and believe me, I considered it… but Carl would have…” She looked again toward the door and said, “I really do need to leave, but I just had to warn you.”

“Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Wilkes,” Bethie said politely, wondering if the other woman wasn’t just a bit ‘off’. She walked her back to the door, completely forgetting about the box upstairs because she was thinking about what she’d been told about her home. They both jumped when there was a knock from the other side. Bethie recovered first, giggled, and then answered the door, wondering if it could be a new neighbor. No, it was Carl Wilkes, and he was not a happy man.

“I thought I would find you here, Judy,” he said in obvious disapproval. “I’m sorry, Miss Jamison. Judy has strange ideas about this house. I’m sorry she bothered you.”

“Oh, it’s no bother,” Bethie immediately insisted. She didn’t like the look in Carl’s eyes, and Judy was shaking nervously. Why was she so afraid of her husband? “Are you all right, Judy?” she asked in a low voice, trying not to be overheard by Carl. “Are you afraid of him?” She wouldn’t permit Carl to take her away if Judy was frightened of him.

“Judy isn’t afraid of me, Bethie,” he used her given name, and his eyes were sparkling in good humor when she blushed at being overheard. “She’s afraid of the spanking she earned by disobeying me. Bethie is supposed to be home today, unpacking boxes and fixing up our new condo.” He didn’t seem to care whether or not his words caused embarrassment to his pretty wife, which, of course, it did.

“I just had to tell her, Carl!” Judy stomped her foot in a show of spirit, and Bethie was even more surprised when Carl smiled in amusement.

“I can see that, dear.”

“Ohhhhh, you are so inflexible! You always think you are right!”

“No, I don’t,” he said in a serious tone of voice. “But think about this from Bethie’s point of view. She just moved in here today, and you’ve probably frightened her. The first little creak she hears tonight is going to make her wonder at your words instead of realizing that the house is old and settling. Old houses make noise, especially at night when it’s quiet. This house is not haunted, honey. It never was… except in the old tales you wouldn’t let be… Now come along.”

“No! I don’t want a spanking!”

“Well, unless you’ve made a lot of progress at home today with all those boxes, that is exactly what you are going to get. And there is a matter of disobedience to take care of, too.”

“But, Carl, I had to do this!” Judy explained, but Bethie noticed she didn’t seem as nervous as she did earlier.

“Yes, I suppose you did,” he nodded, and then grinned wickedly, “And now you know what I have to do, don’t you?”

“Not fair!”

“Bethie isn’t interested in listening to you try and talk me out of turning you over my knee. Now, come on, or I’ll give you that spanking right here and now. It wouldn’t be the first time you were paddled in this foyer…” he reminded her, and Bethie felt herself blush, imagining the spanking. Would it have been on the small settee, or over the old table? she wondered curiously.

Judy’s eyes went to the settee, remembering the time she came home to find Carl waiting for her, a leather paddle in his hand. He was very upset with her, and asked where she’d gone. She answered, and his next question let her know why she was in trouble. It wasn’t that she’d done anything wrong by leaving or going where she went… it was because she hadn’t called him or left a note to let him know where she was. When he left that morning, she had no plans to leave the house. It was upsetting when he got home to find her gone, and no note. He checked his voice mail, and learned there were no messages either. He pulled her over to the settee and pulled down her jeans and panties before taking her over his knee and spanking her for the exact same amount of time that he’d been home worrying about her. She’d tried to tell him that it wasn’t fair because he could have called her! He pointed to the table in the foyer where her cell phone was laying, completely forgotten when she left. He spanked her for exactly seventy-three minutes, and by the time the paddling was over, she didn’t want to sit down for nearly a week! Her bottom was so sore she could barely walk! And, she hadn’t forgotten her cell phone since then, nor had she failed to call him or leave a note. That was how he found her today…

“I left you a note!” she defended herself. “You wouldn’t have known I was here if I hadn’t told you myself! That should count for something. Besides, you are supposed to be at work!” Judy accused.

“I decided to take the day off and give you a hand with the unpacking since there is still so much to do. Imagine my surprise when I got home and found your note… Especially after I expressly told you not to come here and fill Bethie’s head with a bunch of nonsense.” He was clearly out of patience and Bethie was positive he was going to spank Judy any second now.

“I’m so glad that Judy stopped by,” she quickly inserted. “I found a box upstairs that I’m sure the movers missed… I’ll run upstairs and get it.” Although she wasn’t gone more than a couple of minutes, Judy was in tears when she returned. Carl was extremely polite and thanked her for the box and then took a peek inside.

“Judy, you’d better hope this wasn’t intentional,” he said quietly, but when she looked at him blankly he relaxed. “No, I guess you didn’t. Sorry, honey.”

“What is it, Carl? I didn’t pack that box because there’s no label,” Judy told him with confidence. She walked a bit closer and peeked inside the box, and then looked at him, a wounded expression in her eyes. “No, I didn’t pack this, and I didn’t leave it on purpose. I’m not that petty, and I know you loved Virginia.” She turned to Bethie and said quietly, “Those are mementos from when Carl was married to his first wife. She was killed by a drunk driver a couple of years before Carl and I met. Those things are precious to Carl, and I thank you for returning them to him.”

“No problem at all, and if I come across anything else I’ll be sure to get it to you.”

“Thank you, Bethie. You’re very nice.”

“And thank you for the warning,” Bethie grinned. “I actually hope this house is haunted, at least a little bit. I’ll be disappointed if it isn’t.”

Judy’s eyes went wide. “You’ve got to be kidding!”

“No, I’m serious. I’m going to give a Halloween Party to some very deserving people, and I want to scare the pants off them!” she giggled.

“Are you saying you bought this place because it’s scary?” Carl asked in a strangled tone of voice.

Bethie nodded and then grinned at his expression of disbelief.

“You like ghosts?” Judy whispered.

“Well, I haven’t exactly met any ghosts, but I’m certainly not afraid… at least not yet. I love the antiques in the house, and the kitchen is spectacular. It’s perfect to run my business from, and I was delighted with the office. The natural light in there is perfect.”

“Carl and I redid the kitchen,” Judy smiled. “I’m so happy you like it. I was concerned that it might be too professional for most people. Our realtor was convinced he would have to market this place as a Bed and Breakfast or we wouldn’t sell. You’re going to have a business here?”

“Yes. I market all sorts of homemade jams, jellies, cakes, cookies. All sorts of goodies. I sell locally and on the Internet. The kitchen is absolutely perfect, and I won’t have to waste precious time remodeling it and I won’t have to rent a kitchen somewhere else while it’s being done. The office connected to the kitchen is just wonderful, and one of the major reasons I bought the house, besides it being haunted,” she added, just to watch Carl’s face. He looked like he would like to shake her for some silly reason.

“I’m so excited for you, Bethie,” Judy said enthusiastically. “What is your marketing name?”

“My Kitchen,” Bethie answered with pride.

“Oh….! I’ve tried some of your jam, and those mints you make are simply the best ever,” Judy told her. “When I open my restaurant, I would very much like to feature some of your products, if you would be interested?”

“Of course. Just give me a call, and we’ll set up a meeting to discuss the details,” Bethie agreed.

“We won’t be opening for another six months, at least,” Judy confided. “I’m still dealing with the contractor and trying to get him to listen to me. I’m ready to sic Carl on him.”

Bethie giggled at the mental image of Carl, paddle in hand, telling a big, burly contractor to bend over and take down his pants for a paddling. She suddenly realized that a giggle was NOT the proper response to what Judy said, and she collected herself and said, “I’m sure you’ll get it all worked out, Judy. Just give me a call when you’re ready to discuss business, and I’ll be happy to work with you. She went to the table by the door, where she kept her handbag, and reached inside to take out a card. “Here is my card. I just got these new ones made with my new information,” she said proudly.

“Thank you, Bethie. I’m so glad the kitchen is going to get used by someone who appreciates it. I am happier now,” she admitted, but then added, “The house is haunted, though. If you ever need to talk about anything give me a call.” We left our telephone numbers in the kitchen on the island just in case you have questions about the house,” she smiled.

“I’ll do that. Thank you, Judy.” Bethie was happy the other woman came to visit. Carl, however, was a different story. He made her a bit nervous with his talk of spanking, and she was squirming at the mental picture of him paddling Judy. She’d always wondered what it would be like to have a man spank her. To simply take charge and when she threw a fit, as she did far too often according to Alex, to take her over his knee and spank her bottom until she learned a good lesson. Alex would never do something like that, and it was a pity. She walked all over him all the time, and it was probably why he hadn’t asked her to marry him.

“Judy, are you finished here?” Carl asked, one eyebrow raised in obvious disapproval for his wife’s insistence that the house was haunted.

“Yes, I am, thank you very much,” Judy added a touch of sarcasm to her words, and immediately flushed when his head turned slightly to one side.

“Head on home, then, and wait for me in our bedroom. You know what I expect,” he told her in a firm tone that made Bethie squirm even though the words weren’t directed at her.

Judy told her goodbye, and then left. Carl looked at Bethie and said in a soft tone, “I’m sorry if Judy has upset you, Bethie. This house isn’t haunted; my wife has read too many horror stories, and listened to too many old tales about this place. I finally realized that we weren’t going to have a moment’s peace living here because she kept hearing noises all the time and convinced herself it was ghosts. All it is are the branches brushing against the house at night, and the house settling. You’ll be safe here, especially if you use the security system I had installed to keep Judy safe when I was out of town on business.”

“I’m not afraid,” Bethie assured him, and then added, “I am really happy that Judy stopped by today.”

He grinned at her. “It won’t work, young lady. Judy earned a spanking and she’s going to get one just as soon as I get home to tend to it. I ought to cut a few switches to take with me,” he mused.

“Don’t you dare start cutting on my trees!” Bethie’s temper rose to Judy’s defense.

He chuckled again, and then commented, “My Judy isn’t the only one who could use a good spanking, young lady.”

Bethie was shocked, and she could feel the color flood her face. She didn’t know whether she should be angry, or just assume the man was teasing her. “I think you just enjoy spanking helpless females!” she retorted.

“Judy certainly isn’t helpless, Bethie. And, she would be more upset if I didn’t spank her. We believe in Domestic Discipline. Google it, and do some research. It’s a good tool for helping to make a marriage work.”

“Do you mean that Judy agreed to let you spank her?” Bethie asked, her green eyes wide.

“She asked for this lifestyle,” Carl winked at her and then said good-bye.

Bethie looked after him as he walked to his car and didn’t know whether or not she should worry about Judy. What would make the other woman ask for spanking to be part of her marriage? Would Carl really take Judy over his knee and spank her as a punishment? Bethie nodded. Carl would definitely spank Judy, and for some reason she couldn’t explain, she felt a pang of jealousy. She didn’t think a spanking was abusive, and she had to admit that she found the idea extremely exciting. Her body was reacting just to the thought of a spanking, and how much more intense would those emotions be if she were really spanked? And how on earth to find a man who would spank? It wasn’t as though a man walked around with a sign on his forehead proclaiming him a ‘spanker’.

Her telephone rang and she hurried to answer. Alex was due back in town from his business trip, and she couldn’t wait to tell him she’d moved into the house and her plans to have the scariest Halloween party ever! And, she wondered what he would say when she told him that she’d met a couple who believed in spanking!