Over the next couple months, Dr Richards kept his word and called me every week - twice most weeks. Toward the beginning of haying season, I was feeling a lot better, with no or minimal pain. The doc kept calling, though, and then called every day once haying started.

On the day we started loading the wagon with the baled hay, I finally got to do more than drive tractors. Walt, the farmer, and his adult sons Ben, Matt and Charlie, used to try to talk me into just driving and not tossing bales onto the wagon or catching them and stacking them, but they had given up a couple years ago, knowing that their efforts were futile. Walt was from a generation where women did not do such work, and his sons were evidently chips off the old block. I insisted on taking my turn doing the heavy work right alongside them. This year was no different.

That day, I forgot to take my cell phone with me to the fields and when I got back to the house at night, I was so tired, I had a quick shower and fell into bed. It didn’t occur to me to check my messages.

The next morning, Friday, I was up and out the door at 5am to feed the horses and clean stalls before going back to the fields. My pain was back, and I was not happy about that. At least it wasn’t as severe as it had been and I was sure it would go away again once haying was done. In my haste to get out to the fields, I forgot to put sunscreen on.

I drove the tractor all morning. “The Boys”, as I affectionately called all 4 of them, had insisted. They knew about my arthritis and thought that was why I was a bit sore. I hadn’t told them about the cyst - I knew if I did, they’d not let me help at all. At noon, we piled into Walt’s truck and went down the road to his house, where his wife, Martha, had prepared a traditional farm lunch for us. It was hard to not overindulge on the delicious food, but I couldn’t or I’d be useless in the fields the rest of the day.

After lunch, I drove for a while, then Walt needed a break from throwing hay bales around. Being in his 60’s, it was amazing he didn’t need more breaks. So, he drove and I helped Matt toss bales onto the wagon for Alex and Ben to catch and stack. After a while, we switched roles and Alex and Ben tossed bales for Matt and I to catch. My pain was getting worse, but I was not going to tell them. The boys could see it in my face, but I wouldn’t let them relegate me back to driving, especially when Walt needed the break. They made me promise to take my arthritis meds when I got home.

Around 6:00, just before we were going to break for supper, I was on the wagon and noticed a car turn off the road and start down the lane beside the field we were in. We didn’t usually get visitors out there. I wondered who it was.

As the car got closer and I could make it out better, I noticed that it looked familiar. When it got parallel to where we were, it stopped and a man got out and started walking toward us. It was Dr Richards. How the heck did he find us? I wondered. And why is he here? Then I remembered forgetting my phone the day before and realized he probably had called and received no answer.

Walt saw the doc coming and stopped the tractor. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched him approach the wagon. “I called you a few times yesterday and you didn’t answer”, he said to me.

“Sorry, Doc”, I replied. I forgot to bring my phone with me.”

“I left a couple messages asking you to call me no matter what time you got home.”

“I forgot to check my messages, I was so tired I went to bed right after my shower. I’m sorry, Doc. But I got home hours after your office closes, so I couldn‘t have called back.”

“I left you my cell number on the second message.”

The Boys were no doubt wondering why my doctor was A. calling me numerous times, B. leaving messages to call regardless of the time I got in and C. giving me his cell number. I had no idea how I was going to explain this without telling them about my cyst.

“Like I said, I’m sorry, Doc. I didn’t check my messages and still haven’t. Why didn’t you just call today? I have my phone with me.” I took it out of my pocket to show him.

“I want you to show me that you have not listened to the message”, Dr Richards said. “Come down off that wagon, I‘m not getting up there.”

I jumped down and was hit by a bolt of pain in my lower abdomen when I landed. I couldn’t help but wince and bend over for a second. The doc was beside me faster than a speeding bullet and put an arm around me. “Geez, Doc - you’re bad luck. I was doing fine until you showed up”, I got out between gasps.

“Don’t let her lie to you”, Walt said. “She’s been in pain all day.”

“Gee, thanks, Walt”, I said sarcastically. “I am fine, just need to catch my breath.”

“That’s a load of horse manure”, Matt said. He had jumped off the wagon after me. “Dad is right, she’s been in pain all day. She tries to hide it but we can tell. If Dad didn’t need the break so bad, she’d still be driving the tractor, not throwing and catching hay.”

I glared at Matt. I did not want the doc to know how bad I was. At least Doc couldn’t tell them anything about my medical situation due to privacy rules. “I just told the truth”, Matt said. “What’s wrong with you anyway that your doctor is calling you and then coming out to find you when he didn’t get an answer?”

“It’s nothing”, I said. “Just a little cyst.”

“A little one?” Matt looked at the doc for confirmation.

“Sorry, I can’t answer that”, Dr Richards said. “Privacy rules.”

“Meredith, be straight with us”, Walt said in a stern, fatherly voice. My parents were deceased and Walt and Martha treated me like one of their own. “Tell us what is going on or we won’t allow you to help with the haying anymore.”

Not wanting to risk my relationship with The Boys or Martha, I looked at the doc and sighed. “You can tell them about the cyst.”

“First, you need to sit down, young lady”, Walt said. Young lady, ha! But he called me that all the time. He and the doc had been holding on to me, one on each side. He guided me over to the tractor and helped me up. “This is easier to get on than the wagon”, he explained.

When I was seated, Dr Richards told them about my cyst, it’s size and my refusal to have surgery. Upon hearing what could happen without having it removed, Walt got that stern voice again and said “You need to have that removed, Meredith.”

“It’s not happening, Walt. You can threaten me with anything, it won’t work. I’m not having surgery.” Walt knew me well enough to know when to back off and he let it drop. Good. I didn’t want to have to tell any of them how terrified I was of that surgery - and I had cause to be, given what had happened to an acquaintance years earlier. I didn’t want any of them, including my gynecologist, to think I was weak for being so afraid. Dr. Richards took him aside, out of range of my hearing.

A few minutes later, they came back and the doc said “I’m taking you home now, Meredith. You are done for the day.”

“We aren’t finished yet”, I replied.

“YOU are”, Walt interjected. “You are on leave for the rest of this haying. You can help with the next crop if you are feeling better.” Walt was in the army many years ago, so he tended to use military lingo. He addressed the doc “You can drive your car through the field so she doesn’t have to walk to it.”

Dr Richards set off at a jog toward his car. “I’m sorry for letting you down”, I said to The Boys. “I feel like crap for not being able to finish”.

“You aren’t letting us down,” Ben replied. “The cyst isn’t your fault. Just get better.”

When the doc returned with his car, they all gave me a hug before I got in. I waved to them as we drove away. Leaning back, I laid my head on the head rest.

“What number?” Doc asked, without even asking if I was in pain.

“7”.

“Do you have any of those pain meds I prescribed left?”

“Yes.”

“You are taking one when we get to your place.”

I didn’t argue. I was too tired and too sore. My arthritis pain was flaring, too. Bad genetics, I got it at a younger age than most.

A minute later, we were turning into my driveway. “Thanks for the lift, Doc”, I said. “You don’t have to call me every day now that I won’t be haying anymore. I’ll see you after my ultrasound next month.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Meredith. I’m coming in the house with you.”

“Why?”

“To make sure you take your pain medication and I want to talk to you.”

“Doc, I will take it, don’t worry. It’s Friday, I’m sure you want to get home and get ready for your hot date.”

“Ha. No hot date, though I wish there was.”

“Surely the women are lined up at your door, Doc.”

“Hardly. Though there is one that I wish was.”

“Well, ask her out.”

“I can’t bring myself to.”

“Why not?”

“She has no idea how I feel about her and I would die if she said no.”

“Doc, you will never know unless you ask her. If her answer is no, then you can move on to someone more deserving of you.”

He ignored my comment and opened his door. “Come on, let’s get you inside.” We got out of the car and he walked around to the trunk. I waited for him. He took something out and shut it. When he walked back around to where I was, I saw he had his medical bag and another bag with him.

“What’s that for?” I asked.

“In case I need it.” He looked at me. “Meredith, your arms are sunburnt. Don’t you put sunscreen on?”

“I usually do”, I answered. “But I forgot to this morning.”

“You are getting very forgetful, Meredith.”

“So, spank me”, I said in a sarcastic tone.

“I might just do that.”

“I dare you.”

He chuckled. “Let’s get into the house.”

When we got in the house, Jessie was all over him. Someone new, she had to check him out. After sniffing his legs for what seemed an eternity, she set off down the hall to the back door. “She approves of you”, I said to the doc.

“That’s good, right?” he asked.

“Yep. If my dog doesn’t like someone, they aren’t welcome here. I trust her judgment.”

“She sure sniffed my legs out thoroughly”.

“She probably recognized your scent from it being on me after I’ve had an appointment with you.”

“I’m impressed she didn’t jump up on me.”

“She’s well trained.”

“Is she a rescue?”

“Yep. She was tied up in a yard all the time and neglected. Though they did at least feed her. I guess they finally got sick of buying dog food because they called a dog rescue group and their foster homes were full, but one of them knew of the horse rescue I get horses from, called them and they called me. She was supposed to be a foster, but my old hound dog had just died, and I fell in love with her, so I ended up adopting her. I better go let her out before all that training goes out the window and she has an accident.”

I let Jessie out into the fenced in backyard, then turned around and Doc was right behind me with his medical bag in his hand. “In the bedroom”, he commanded.

“Why? What are you going to do?”

“You will see. Get in there.” There was a bit of a stern tone to his voice.

I went to the bedroom and sat down on the bed. The doc sat beside me and put his bag on the floor. “We got sidetracked out in the field”, he said. “But now I want to see that you have not listened to my messages.”

“How can I prove that?” I asked.

“Go to your voicemail, put it on speaker and select to hear new messages.”

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and followed his instructions. He listened to the messages, and seeing that they were new, unheard messages, said “Ok, you are off the hook for not checking your voicemail, given that you were so tired and probably hurting. You are not off the hook for forgetting your phone when you knew I would be calling, or for forgetting sunscreen today.”

“What do you mean by ‘not off the hook’?”

“You are about to find out. Stand up.”

“Doc, I’m not in the mood to play games.”

“I know you are in pain, we will deal with that in a bit. Since it didn‘t stop you from slinging hay bales around, it can wait a few more minutes while I administer your punishment for your forgetfulness. ”

“Punishment? Ummmm…..no.”

“You don’t get a choice. Stand up. Now.” I stood up reluctantly.

“Pull your pants and panties down to your knees.” I just stood there in astonishment. “Now!” he commanded in the sternest voice I’d ever heard him use. I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to say. I did as told and pushed my jeans and undies down.

“Lie down over my knees.” Oh crap, is he really going to do it? I thought as it dawned on me what he was going to do. I lay over his knees. “Now, Meredith”, he said in a mildly stern voice. “You need to learn to not be so forgetful. Hopefully, this will teach you.” I felt his hand come down on my bare butt, then again and again and again. It seemed to go on forever but I’m sure it was just a couple minutes, if that. It stung, but was certainly nothing compared to some of the pain I had experienced. I think my pride was wounded more than anything.

When he stopped, I breathed a sigh of relief and turned my head to look up at him. My face was red, I’m sure. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“You issued the invitation and then dared me to. And you did deserve it. Not only for your forgetfulness, but also for your disregard of your own health and working so hard when you are in so much pain.”

“Aw, Doc…” I said, and started to get up.

“Don’t ‘Aw, Doc’ me, he said. “And not so fast. Stay right where you are.” He put a hand on my back, preventing me from rising.

“What now? You are finished, right?”

“Finished spanking you, yes. But let me put some cream on that red ass of yours.”

“Doc, I don’t have to be over your lap for you to do that. Come on , let me up. I’m not feeling so hot.”

“What’s wrong? Is it your pain?”

“No, I just don’t feel good. I’m nauseous and getting a headache.”

He brushed aside the hair that had fallen over my face and placed his hand across my forehead. “You’re warm and sweaty. A bit on the pale side, too.”

“Of course I’m sweating, I was out in the field in the sun.”

"You're inside now, where it's cooler." I had left my central air on while I was gone as I knew it was going to be a hot day. "I was going to take your temperature anyway due to your sunburn." He reached for his bag.

“Let me up, I said. You can’t take my temp with me lying across your knees.”

“Oh, yes I can!” he laughed.

Then I realized *how* he was going to take it. “Oh no you don’t!” I tried to get up, to no avail. His hand was on my back again, holding me down. With his other hand, he opened his bag and took some things out.

I heard the snap of gloves being placed on his hands. Then I felt him part my butt cheeks with his left hand. Cool lubricant was placed on my anus and he spread it around with the forefinger of his right hand. Next, I felt pressure and clenched up. “Relax, Meredith”, he said in a quieter voice. “Remember from the clinic? Deep breath in and bear down.” I did as instructed and he pushed his finger in, and lubed me on the inside. Then he withdrew his finger.

“Now, you will feel the thermometer being inserted. It won’t hurt.” I felt the cold bulb penetrate my sphincter. This was so humiliating, even though there was nobody else there. “It needs to stay in for 3 minutes”, the doctor said. He took a glove off one hand, pulled my shirt up a bit and rubbed my back while we waited. I admitted to myself that it (the back rub) felt good.

When the 3 minutes were up, he withdrew the thermometer and said I could stand up. “It’s 38. 7”, he said. As you know, normal is 37. It seems you have a mild case of heat exhaustion.”

“What does that mean, Doc?”

“It means you are over heated. You need to get cooled down and hydrated. Come on, I remember seeing a bath tub in your downstairs bathroom.” He took off his other glove and put it in the waste basket by my bedside stand with the other one and started out of the bedroom. I pulled my pants up and followed. In the bathroom, he told me to take all my clothes off while he drew a bath.

“You want me to get undressed with you here in the room?”

“Yes. It’s not like I haven’t seen your body before, and I just saw your bare butt.”

“This is different than in the clinic. Besides, I have a gown on when I’m there.”

“Pretend we’re in the clinic. This is a medical need.”

“Okay, Doc. You win.“ After I removed my clothing, I walked out of the bathroom. “Where are you going?” he asked.

“Just to the laundry room to put these in there”, I answered. I’ll be right back. When I got back to the bathroom, Dr Richards told me to get in the tub. It was about a quarter way full. He turned the taps off and I started to step in.

“Whoa, Doc!” I exclaimed upon putting the toes of one foot in and feeling the cool water. I withdrew my foot. “Sorry, I prefer hot baths.”

“You are getting a cool one tonight”, was the reply.

“No way, man”.

“In the tub. Doctor’s orders.” There was that stern tone again. “It will help cool your body down, hon”. I hesitated. “Meredith, why does everything have to be a battle with you?” he asked with exasperation.

And it happened again. I melted and stepped in the tub. As I sat down, I said “It‘s just the way I am, Doc.”

“Hon, everything I do or ask you to do is for a reason and it’s for your own good.” He took a washcloth from a rack and knelt down by the tub.

“Even when you just spanked me?” I asked.

He blushed and put the washcloth in the water, then gently ran it over my back without wringing it out. After a few more times, he did the same on my front. It was my turn to blush as he ran the cloth over my ample breasts and then my abdomen. He did this over and over again.

“Do you have any energy drinks, Gatorade or something?” he asked.

I thought a moment. “There might be a couple in the back of my porch fridge. I had a house guest a couple months ago who drinks them. I don’t, but never bothered to throw the leftover ones out.”

“When we are done in here, I want you to drink one, and I am going to give you your pain medication and put something on that sunburn and that red butt. Then I will make something for you to eat and put you to bed. I will stay the night with you to make sure you are okay.”

“Doc, you don’t need to do all that or stay, I’ll be okay”.

“No arguing, Meredith. Just once, will you please not give me a hard time about something?”

“Ok, Doc”, I relented. “Have it your way.”