Lost and Found Read online

  “Ladies, I’m warning you. If I find out that either of you teach Noelle more bad habits, you will both find yourselves over my knee for a serious tanning. Don’t do it.”

  “Lance, you really know how to make your threats sound like a challenge. I’m sorely tempted to defy you," Meg grinned, winking at Julie.

  “I agree, Meg. A good spanking sounds like it could be fun, Dr. C. Should we set a date?” Julie teased. His staff loved getting a reaction from him whenever they could, and they jumped at every chance. Lance blushed, saying nothing as both women squeezed his arms and then retreated to their work.

  “Sir Lancelot! How’s fatherhood treating you? Get into her pants yet?” Stuart asked, crossing him in the hall. He found himself held by the front of his shirt, pushed into the wall and lifted to his toes.

  “Don’t you ever speak that way to me again, Hart. I’ve had enough of your miserable comments and sick remarks. I have Noelle because I care about people, not to get laid. And, unlike you, I don’t have to pay for my bed partners.”

  Stuart’s face turned red as Lance let go of him. “You will hear from my lawyer, Callahan.

  Just wait!” he threatened, scurrying off like the rat he was.

  Lance turned as he heard someone clear his throat. “Sorry about that, Lou. He pushed the wrong button this time,” Lance looked abashed.

  “I saw it all. It was self-defense, right? He shoved you bodily into the wall,” Lou grinned, “Come sit a while and catch me up on things. I need to talk with you, too.” Lance nodded, following his boss to the administrative office where they both sat down.

  He started to spill his frustration and expressed his conflicting feelings, trusting Lou for advice.

  The older man was quiet, listening carefully. So, the brilliant, self-controlled, guarded, and purely rational Dr. Lance Callahan finally met his match. The man was falling in love and did not even know it!

  “Lance, I’ve known you since medical school,” Lou said softly. “A tough, arrogant little prick who thought that he walked on water because he played for the Lakers. I’ve watched you change over the years. Helping and healing is in your blood. It’s who you are, not what you do.

  Stop fighting and just go with what comes naturally. Admittedly, your involvement with this woman is highly unusual, but you seem to be blossoming because of it. I’m sure she is, too. If you feel she is as cognizant as you suspect she is, just see where it goes and stop fighting it.”

  “I just don’t know.”

  “Dress her up like a woman and take her out on a real date. See how she responds in public. Now, to serious matters. There was a gentleman hanging around here asking questions yesterday. Did you see him?”

  “No. What type of questions?”

  “The type that made your nurses immediately send him to psych. He was questioning the staff on information leading to the whereabouts of a young woman who might be claiming amnesia. His description of her coloring was different, but the height and weight was the same as Noelle’s.”

  “Damn. Who is he?”

  “He refused to divulge any personal information. Eileen tried to get his name under the guise of contacting him if anything was discovered, but he left.”

  “What did he look like? What else did he say?”

  “He was dressed in a suit, older guy. Gray hair, lean, glasses, well-groomed.”

  “No one told him about her?”

  “Not that I know of. I don’t have your sixth sense, Lance, but this guy felt like he was trouble. Has your brother filed for emergency conservatorship yet?”

  “Yes, but we’re waiting for the hearing. It’s next week.”

  “Let’s see if there is any way to push it up. I’ll make some calls. I want to make sure this little girl is protected. From what you tell me, it doesn’t sound like that is a home she’ll want to go back to.”

  “Thanks. Lou? Do you mind if I take the rest of the day off? I can work on my reports at home.”

  “Go on, son. Keep your phone nearby in case I need you.”

  “I will. I appreciate it. Thanks again for everything.”

  *

  *

  *

  Kathy firmly led Noelle into the house, closing the door loudly behind her. Noelle had repeatedly admonished her for being mean and unfair, and that she was no longer liked. Kathy felt absolutely terrible and more than a little angry with the girl’s mean-spirited remarks.

  “Go to your room, Noelle. Right now. I’m seriously thinking about spanking you myself.

  Don’t think I can’t, either.”

  “Screw you!” Noelle yelled, racing upstairs and slamming her door shut. Kathy stared.

  Where did she hear that? Lance walked in to find his sister on the couch, an ice pack on her head and drinking a glass of wine. He silently sat next to her and wrapped his long arm around her shoulders.

  “I have a headache,” she whined, looking at her brother with tension in her eyes.

  “I guessed so. And wine? You never drink. Let me guess, Noelle?” he asked kindly.

  “She hates me,” Kathy was close to tears.

  Lance kissed her cheek, “No, she’s testing you. I promise, after tonight, we won’t have any more problems like this one. What she did was unacceptable and she will be punished severely for it. I won’t have her being nasty to you either. It’s hard enough for you having to deal with Maggie’s garbage.”

  “You know about Maggie? Alan always acts like it’s my fault that we fight so much.”

  “She’s his wife, you know he can’t take sides in front of her. Trust me, Katherine, she pays dearly for her behavior once they get home. I suspect this is why she circumvents our family get-togethers. He’s not happy with how she treats you, and neither am I. You don’t deserve that.”

  “Thanks, big brother. It makes me feel a little better. I’m sorry I couldn’t control Noelle today. I felt so helpless.”

  “You were right to call me. Hey, it’s only been a couple of weeks. Now listen up, this is serious. There is a man looking for her. Please be careful and do your best to avoid him,” Lance said, giving his description.

  Kathy leaned against his shoulder with a sigh. “I promise. Make sure Todd knows so we can get an ID on him.”

  “Katherine, you should really talk to Todd about getting involved in his PI work. You’re very intuitive, pay attention to details and draw excellent conclusions based on found evidence. I think it would match with your strengths well.”

  “Really!” Kathy brightened. “Do you think so?” His praise made her glow.

  “I do. But you still need to tell him about your snooping. I’m going to shower and change, and then have a long talk with my little lady. Don’t interfere.”

  “I won’t. For once, I agree that you know better than anyone else does when it comes to what to dish out. Never thought you’d hear me say that, huh? I’m just glad it’s not my butt that’s getting slam dunked by you this time.”

  Lance looked grim as he stood in the doorway to Noelle’s room. She sat on her bed, bunny in her arms, staring out the window. She sensed him standing there and turned to smile, which quickly vanished as she saw the look on his face.

  “Noelle, we need to have a long talk,” Lance said, closing the door behind him and pulling up the chair from her desk. “You know what you did today was wrong, disrespectful and completely inappropriate. I need you to think like a big girl right now and talk to me. Can you do that?”

  “I’m sorry, Daddy. Don’t make me go away. I’ll try to be better,” she beseeched him.

  “I would never make you go away, honey. But I can’t let you act like this, either. You hurt Aunt Kathy’s feelings very badly today. I told you that we are to be mindful of each other in this family and you disobeyed me.”

  “Why is she so sad all the time, Daddy?” Noelle asked after a few moments of silence.

  “Because she wants to have babies and can’t. That’s why she was so excited about being able to help m
e with you.” Lance was surprised that she had picked up on that. Kathy, for the past few days, had been very upbeat and seemed like she was again back to normal.

  “I didn’t know that. I’ll tell her I’m sorry.”

  “Yes, you will. But not until you and I are done here. Do you remember my promise to you after you threw that fit about the bath?”

  “Yes, Sir.” Noelle buried her face in Bunny’s head.

  “Put Bunny down and come over to me. You will be getting a very long spanking for breaking your promise and then another for your disrespect and disobedience.”

  “I don’t want a spanking. I promise to be good. Please let me keep Bunny,” the girl looked frightened as she met Lance’s eyes.

  “You broke that promise to me. Do as I tell you, Noelle. Bend over my knee and get your bottom in the air. No Bunny,” he said, gently wrestling the purple rabbit out of her arms and placing it on the pillow next to him.

  Noelle slowly and reluctantly obeyed, shaking as she rested her stomach on his hard thighs and clung to his jeans. She buried her face as she felt his fingers in the waistband of her pants and slowly dragged them past her thighs, falling to a puddle on the floor.

  “Please, not those too,” she pleaded as her purple cotton underpants found their way to her ankles. Embarrassment flooded through her, knowing she was exposed and very vulnerable to this pillar of a man whom she called Daddy. In this position, she felt the child meeting the adult. It terrified her.

  “Yes, these too. Tell me why you’re here, over my knee, with your pants pulled down and your bottom bared for a spanking, young lady.”

  “I broke my promise. OWWWW!” The first smack came, hard and heavy, his strong palm covering her left cheek.

  “Continue,” Lance ordered, tightening his hold around her tiny waist, hand raised for the next strike.

  “I threw a tantrum in the parking lot. NO! That hurts!” Noelle yelped, struggling to escape the next two swats that burned her right cheek.

  “It’s supposed to hurt. Keep talking.”

  Noelle fought back her tears as she repeated back the day’s misgivings, each one ending up with more blows to her already reddening buttocks.

  “Anything else, young lady?”

  “No, Sir. Are you done?” she asked hopefully.

  “I’m truly sorry, my love, but this is only the beginning.” Tears poured instantly as his hard hand methodically laid a series of sharp smacks to the delicate creases of her sit spot. Noelle howled, kicking furiously to escape the next spank, but found herself pinned in place. Lance quietly concentrated on the discipline, watching her very pale, silky smooth skin quickly change into fire-engine red. He covered every white inch of her shapely little bottom, his hand not once showing mercy as he set himself to make this lesson be a good and proper one. He fought to ignore her pretty pink cunnie beckoning to him from between her kicking legs. His mind knew to focus, but his troublesome cock wasn’t as self-controlled.

  Noelle began to plead for him to stop, sobbing breathlessly as the burning in her backend grew to a fiery high. He paused, letting her cry as she laid over his knees. He placed his hand upon her hot flesh, letting it rest there to remind her that she was still in his control and would be going nowhere until he said she could.

  “That was for breaking your promise, sweetheart. We aren’t finished yet,” he announced firmly, producing a wooden spoon that he had acquired from the kitchen. “When Kathy was little, Alan decided that she needed a little more reminder than just his hand when he punished her. He used a nice, wide wooden spoon for years until he finally got a real paddle. I will do the same for you, Noelle. Kathy did not deserve anything you gave her today and this will serve to remind you that you are to show respect in this home to everyone.”

  “No, please, Lance. I’ll be good. I swear. Please, no more.” Lance? So there was an adult in there somewhere. “Right now, I’m Daddy and you are being spanked like an ornery, stubborn child. When I’m Lance, your spanking will be much, much worse.”

  Another shriek echoed from her lips as Lance applied the back of the spoon to the underside of her bottom. A white blotch appeared and then turned a deep, angry red. He knew her delicate skin couldn’t take much more punishment, but he needed to drive this lesson home.

  The spoon fell again, on the opposite side and Noelle wailed, lifting her head high. Downstairs, Kathy cringed. She was very familiar with that yell. It had come from her own lips for years when she displeased her brothers.

  The spoon crashed against the lower part of Noelle’s bottom four more times, promising some slight bruising and no sitting for a while. He did not stop the spanking until her kicking ceased and she was left bawling pathetically into his pants leg. Sighing, Lance rubbed his hand over the tortured flesh, saddened by the condition he had been forced to put it in. Her little bottom shimmered a deep crimson with some purpling blotches. He prayed that this punishment would help her choose to avoid any future incidents.

  With another deep, regretful sigh, he gently reached down and pulled her clothing back up and over her flaming hot bottom. Lance smoothed the material carefully while rubbing her back. “It’s over, Baby Doll. I hope you’ve learned something from this,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms and sitting her carefully on his lap. Still crying, Noelle was unable to speak and just curled up in his embrace. “I promise you, I won’t ever send you away. And never make you leave me if you don’t want to go. But this is how I will take care of disobedience for now on.

  Try not to make me do this too often, ok? I don’t like to make you cry.” He thought of how the spanking had taken her to being an adult for a short time. His mind also drifted to the image of her soft, pink bare pussy as she laid across his lap, begging to be touched and tasted, and how her lovely pink bud cried out to be nibbled. No, stop it! he reprimanded himself.

  “Lance?” her little voice whispered into his neck.

  “Yes, Noelle?”

  “I’m truly sorry for my behavior. Please forgive me.”

  “You’re forgiven. I…” she interrupted him by pressing her lips hard against his, forcing her tongue between his teeth and boldly tasting him. Lance, surprised, slowly returned the embrace, his own tongue probing and seeking her sweetness. He pushed aside his confusion and, like the hawk soaring on the thermals, relaxed and enjoyed the moment. She kissed him hungrily, shamelessly and without reservation. She started to pull off his shirt, but he stopped her.

  “What are you doing? No, Noelle. Not now. And never after punishment. I’m kind of old-fashioned and will not have sex without a commitment. No,” he forced out, fighting back the throbbing erection that longed to sink inside of her softness. Damn, he thought, I should apply for sainthood!

  “Don’t you want me?” she asked sexily, her violet eyes still wet from tears, but filled with longing.

  “You have no idea how much. Dear Lord, you have no idea. But, now is not the right time. This little girl thing… why?”

  “Until this moment, I didn’t know what it felt like to be a big girl. I’m not lying to you, Lance. I’ve always been a child until you… you woke up this other thing. It scares me. It’s too hard. I’m so confused,” she began to cry again, hiding under his chin.

  He gently kissed her forehead. “Then stay a child. It becomes you.”

  “Will I be allowed to grow up and be with you?”

  “One day. But now, there are things that need to be taken care of. I need to know where you are from and what happened to you. I’m seeing you grow mentally day by day and it’s confusing me. I’m not the type of man who does well with unanswered questions.”

  “I don’t remember having a life until you found me,” she paused, her face leaning against his shoulder as she shifted gingerly on her aching behind. “Everything seems so new and different, like I’ve never seen it before.”

  “Let’s not dwell on that right now. Bottom sting?”

  “Yes, Lance,” she said shamefully.

  �
��I really liked you calling me Daddy.” Lance said quietly, holding her closely.

  “I like it too. I’ll try to be good. Sometimes, I just do things that I can’t stop right away.”

  “Were you able to control your actions this morning?”

  “Yes, Sir, I think so. I don’t know. I really hate doctors.”

  “You paid the price for your naughty behavior, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Noelle rubbed her bottom with a sniffle, reaching for Bunny and holding it tightly against her.

  “Was it worth it?”

  “No, Daddy.”

  “Maybe next time you’ll make a better choice. I still need to check you out and get that blood sample… Noelle?”

  She suddenly jumped from him. “No! No needles. They hurt!” her little girl voice squealed.

  “Ok, this back and forth thing is going to drive me insane. Where did my big girl go? I need you to help me and cooperate. It will help us find out where you’ve been or where you might have been going. I’ll be gentle, I promise. You need to trust me.”

  “But they hurt!”

  “Let Daddy take care of you. Please. Then we need to apologize to Kathy.”

  “But…”

  “Isn’t yours sore enough right now? Or do I need to reinforce myself?’ Lance asked sternly. “Come sit down. Carefully. There’s my girl. Look away… I’m pretty good at this.” Noelle squeezed her eyes shut as he drew her blood. He popped off the tourniquet and then removed the needle before kissing her temple. “That’s a good girl. I didn’t hurt you now, did I?”

  “Not as bad as the spanking,” she admitted, watching him put a band-aid on her arm, followed by the wrap and a kiss on the spot. “I’m sorry I’m such a bad girl, Daddy.” There it was. With Bunny in her arms and a little pout to her lower lip, she had slipped back into the role of child so naturally he didn’t know it was coming. He wondered if she had a touch of schizophrenia, yet she was unlike any of such cases he had ever dealt with.

  “Noelle? Do you know that you go back and forth between being a big girl and a little one? Is it something you can control?”

  “I don’t know, Daddy. If I try real hard, I think I can be a big girl, but it makes me too tired.”