“It’s nice to meet you, Dallas. And you too, Teefs.? Is this your first time at the Ranch?”
Dallas nodded.?
“I thought so. I didn’t recognize you two.”?
“D-do you know everyone who visits?”?
“Most of the time,” she said. Her tone wasn’t boastful, though, just matter-of-fact. Dallas imagined if her Daddy ran Rawhide Ranch she’d know most of the people too.?
“Are you going to be in the school-aged classes?” Sadie asked Dallas.?
Dallas didn’t know. “I’m not sure. I didn’t know we were coming here until this morning.”
“Oh! It was a surprise?” Sadie asked, bouncing foot to foot. Her excitement caused Dallas to finally notice her skirt and shirt. She was dressed in a school uniform. How cute!?
“Yes, a surprise.” Dallas nodded.?
“Well, if you come to the school-age classes, I’ll be there and we can play together. I’ll introduce you to my friends! But if you’re in the Butterflies, I’ll maybe see you too. Sometimes I go to preschool. It depends on what Daddy decides based on my mood.”?
“I’m six. I’ll be wherever the six-year-olds are.” Dallas said, but the lie tasted yucky on her tongue. She’d thought she was about six which was the age she played at since she’d realized she was a Little girl, but lately she wasn’t so sure. Her heart and her Little were crying for something softer, younger, an age where Daddy was in control of everything and she didn’t have to makeany yucky decisions. An age where her weary soul could rest some.?
When she first started having all of these feelings, she thought that maybe she just wanted more discipline so she’d started acting out, but that hadn’t helped her heart either, it had only made her sad because she’d been naughty. She didn’t like to be naughty.?
“Oh, then you would be in the school-aged classes with me,” Sadie answered, studying her, like she knew she wasn’t telling the truth. “But the nursery? rooms are so fun too. You’ll get to have Nanny J snuggles or Ms. Price cuddles. It’s nice to just have a snuggly day in the nursery, but don’t tell my teachers. I don’t want to hurt their feelings. They’re fun too.”?
Dallas nodded. “I promise.”? She felt compelled to assure the petite woman she wouldn’t spill her secrets.
Dallas caught her Daddy’s unique scent of citrus and fresh mountain air before she saw him and instantly the butterflies in her tummy settled down.?
“Hello,” her Daddy said, smiling at Sadie.?
“Daddy, this is Sadie. Her Daddy is Master Derek. Sadie, this is my Daddy, Pike.”?
“Pike’s such a cool name!” the Little girl complimented, making Pike chuckle.?
“Thank you.”??
“Sadie,” a firm voice with a country accent said as a large man walked across the lobby toward them.?
“Uh oh,” Sadie said, instantly covering her bottom.?
“Didn’t Daddy tell you to get back to class?”?
“Yes, Sir,” she said, “I was just greeting our new guests.”?
He raised his eyebrow and she took a few steps back. “I’ll see you around,” she said, running off after giving a small wave.?
“I’m sorry,” Dallas apologized, feeling guilty.?
Master Derek smiled at her. “You don’t need to be sorry at all, little one. My sweet wife has a naughty side and she was dismissed from class so that I could spank her naughty bottom. She was supposed to return immediately to the Littles’ Wing, but she disobeyed again.”
Pike chuckled and stuck out his hand. “Pike Miller.”?
“Ah yes, we’ve been expecting you,” Derek said, extending his own hand. “I’m Derek Hawkins. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well, this is my Little girl, Dallas.”?
“Nice to meet you, darlin’.”?
