Page 16 of Deciding for Little Dallas
“Hi, Dallas,” Hayleigh said. “Is today your first day at the Ranch?”
Dallas decided Hayleigh had the prettiest smile she’d ever seen.?“Daddy and I got in yesterday.”?
“Will you be with the Butterflies?” Sadie asked, looking over her outfit.
Dallas guessed the Butterflies and Caterpillars didn’t wear uniforms. “No,” Dallas answered, swallowing her nerves. “I’ll be with the Caterpillars.” Her heart beat in her throat as she waited to see if the Little girls would be judgmental of her younger headspace.
“You’ll have so much fun! Have you met Nanny J yet?” Wren asked.
Dallas shook her head, thankful they seemed completely normal about it.
“She’s in charge of the Caterpillars and she’s really nice. She can look pretty firm and can be very strict, but she takes such good care of all of us,” Wren said.
“But make sure you’re a good girl because she will tell your Daddy if you’re not,” Hayleigh added in a softer tone as if conveying some dark secret even if she was smiling as she spoke.
Oh, Dallas was sure she was going to be on her best behavior. She didn’t want to be spanked by anyone on her very first day… or any day for that matter.
“Hello, new friends,” Pike said as he walked back to the table. He set their drinks down on the table and smiled at all the Little girls.
“Hello,” they all echoed politely.
“This is my Daddy, Pike,” Dallas introduced. A bell echoed through the air. It wasn’t loud but it still caused her to jump. Pike sat beside her and rubbed her back, comforting her with his silent strength.
“Oh, that’s our bell, but maybe we can play later? I’ll ask my Daddy to talk to your Daddy,” Sadie said.
Dallas nodded.
“Bye, Dallas, bye, Master Pike,” the trio yelled as they rushed to class.
“Walking feet, little girls,” Pike corrected.
“Yes, Sir,” they called, slowing down.
Daddy turned to her and winked.
She giggled.
He cut her breakfast up into tiny pieces and her heart swelled in her chest. She didn’t, even for a second, forget how lucky she was to have such a wonderful man in her life. Pike always had taken the best care of her, from the time her brother was diagnosed with cancer to now, he’d always provided her with whatever she needed, whether it be emotional or physical, or material.
“Are you okay, Bitty Baby?” Pike asked.
She shook her head, clearing it from its thoughts. “I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you, Daddy.”
He turned her sideways in her chair and took both her hands in his. “I am the lucky one, babygirl. I’ll never understand how someone as beautiful and sweet as you would want to be with a grumpy, stompy, growly man like me.”
“My shoe is untied,” Dallas said.
“Your shoe is tied, Bitty Baby,” Pike answered.
“I forgot my pants.”
“You don’t need pants, Bitty. You have on tights.”
“I forgot to brush my teeth.”
“We brushed your teeth this morning.”
“Teefs forgot to brush her hair.”
