Page 13 of Guiding Little Gabi

“I never fit in. Not growing up. Not at the community college I attended. People knew just by looking at me, I wasn’t the kind of person they wanted to know.”

“Why do you say that, darlin’?”

Normally, Gabi would never share such a private part of herself. But there was something about Master Derek that inspired trust. And she’d never see him again after she left this office, so why not? “When people talk about rednecks from the backwoods of Tennessee, they're talking about me. My pop works in the local mine, and my mom sews clothes by hand and sells eggs for spending money. Don't get me wrong. My family is the best. I love them with all my heart. But kids are mean, you know?”

“I do, and unfortunately, sometimes grown-ups aren’t much better. How were the children mean to you?”

“As the youngest of eight children, I got all the hand-me-downs. We never had money for me to participate in things like sports, clubs, and overnight parties. Everyone at school decided I was trash. The kids either avoided me or called me names. You might find it hard to believe, but yours is not the first office I've been called to. Heck, I spent half my school years in the principal's office for getting in fights with people who said bad things about my family.”

Master Derek sighed. “I'm very sorry to hear that, Gabi. Sometimes people allow their ignorance to make them very cruel.”

“It’s all right, the people here have been great. But I learned young that if I wasn't Gabi… if I played a role, like a part in a play, everybody liked me. So, I listen more than I talk, at least at first. I figure out what the person I’m talking to needs, and that's what I give them. Are they sad and need me to be funny? Do they need me to be a shoulder to cry on?”

Gabi knew the minute he understood when he said, “Or do they have a problem they wanted someone to fix. Is that what you were doing, little one? Fixing the girls’ problem?”

“Yes, Sir, but it didn’t work out very well. I’ve decided to give up on problem solving. I always seem to make things worse.”

“I’m afraid it does if your solution involves the tactics you used yesterday. But now I have a better understanding of your intentions. That being said, I don’t have control over your intentions. I can’t control your actions either. I can, however, make you regret them. You should know, young lady, that the reason you broke the rules doesn’t change the consequences. I suggest moving forward, you focus on being yourself. I like Gabi Schwindler very much.”

She’d known it would end this way. Nothing good ever lasted long in her life. “Thank you, Sir. I appreciate you saying that. Before I go, would you promise me something? Will you tell the girls that I'm sorry? I really liked them, and I wish I'd gotten to know them better.”

With that, Gabi stood and turned to leave.

“Excuse me, little girl. You haven’t been dismissed. If you insist on being judge, jury, and executioner, I’ll be out of a job. We can’t have that. So why don’t you sit back down in that chair while you still can and let me tell you what I’ve decided to do.Then, if you still want to leave, there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”

Her tummy started quivering, and her throat hugged her windpipe so tight she could barely breathe. She scooted back to her seat.

“Now then, I gave your behavior a great deal of thought and decided if you are willing to follow a few conditions, you’ll be allowed to stay at the Ranch.”

Joy and hope burst inside her like firecrackers at a Fourth of July show. He was going to let her stay. She had so much she wanted to do.

Master Derek cleared his throat. Reaching into a drawer, he pulled out a very narrow, very thick ruler and placed it on the desk in front of her. “I call this my attention motivator. If you drift off and stop listening to me again, darlin’, I’ll show you how it works. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir. I’m sorry. I’ll pay attention. Promise.”

“I hope so. In order to stay, first you must promise not to represent yourself as a lawyer again while you are on Rawhide property. It could land you in a great deal of trouble, and I don’t just mean here on the Ranch.”

Gabi swallowed hard and nodded. “Are there other conditions?”

“There are. Second, you will tell all of the Littles involved in the silent protest you are not a lawyer and apologize for lying.”

She was nodding to that before he finished speaking. “I will, Sir.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Third, I will select a Daddy to be assigned to you for the remainder of your stay. He will punish you for your actions yesterday in any way he sees fit. You will mind him for the remainder of your visit. If he reports to me that you are giving him any trouble whatsoever, you’re gone. Do you understand?”

Could she have a Daddy who wasn’t Raleigh? Her mind said yes, but her heart wasn’t so sure. It should be. He didn’t want to be her Daddy. She couldn’t wait forever for someone who would never show up, right?

She had to at least try. With reluctance, she nodded. “I agree to have a Daddy while I’m here.”

Master Derek studied her and must have liked what he saw. Smiling, he looked at his phone. “We concluded our discussion at the perfect time. Your Daddy should be waiting. Just a moment, and I’ll bring him in.”

Gabi waited on pins and needles. Her tummy roiled, and not in a good way. She should never have agreed to the third condition. She couldn’t do it. She didn’t want just anyone to be her Daddy, not even for a week. She wanted Raleigh.

Then don’t just sit there! Go stop Master Derek!

Standing, Gabi rushed toward the door after Master Derek. “Wait! I changed my mind. I don’t want a Daddy here.”

And then both she and Beetlebrenda lost their minds. They must have because even her inner voice had nothing to say as Gabi stared at what she couldn’t be seeing. It was impossible.

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