Page 43 of Deciding for Little Dallas
“It was just an accident. I’m not even really hurt, and I don’t want you to feel bad about it anymore, okay?”
Billy sobbed into her shoulder. “I-I’m r-really sorry!”
“I know and it’s okay. I forgive you.”
Much later Dallas sat munching on the last of? her dairy-free, smiley-face pizza. Her belly was full and so was her heart. Rawhide Ranch really was the most magical place in the world.
CHAPTER 17
MONDAY
Pike smiled while his Little girl sucked on a pacifier as she rocked on the rocking horse Niki Rope and Danica had left her that morning. The naughty ghost and her fuzzy sidekick had hidden most of Dallas’s diapers and the couple had spent the morning looking for them. Dallas thought it was the silliest thing ever. Host a Ghost had taken off and now a lot of the Littles were hosting ghosts. He had to admit, he was proud he’d been creative enough to make up the whole thing.
Pike and Dallas had a busy weekend on the Ranch. They’d gone to the Big House for lunch on Sunday—the Big House was? where Sadie and Derek lived. Dallas had been relieved to know they weren’t having lunch in jail and had told him so. Her childlike innocence delighted him. The Little girls had played for hours and it had done Pike’s heart good to see Dallas so happy. They’d called Emily Friday night and he realized just how much the best friends were missing each other. Next time they visited the Ranch, they would invite Emily and her Daddy too. Not that Pike regretted not inviting them this time. He was glad he and Bitty had this time together.
Over the weekend, they’d? gone horseback riding, taken a hayride, and even visited a pumpkin patch. After choosingthe “bestest, most perfect pumkin ever growed,” as Dallas had informed him proudly, they’d entered the pumpkin carving event. Together they’d not only carved what he considered a masterpiece, the judges, made up of any Little and Big who’d like to vote, apparently thought so as well. They’d won the prize for most creative carving and he’d watched his Bitty Baby beam as she accepted the ribbon and then wrapped the string around the stem of their pumpkin.
Though, in this case, the stem wasn’t on top, it was sticking out from the corner of the pumpkin’s mouth, exactly where any dignified little zombie would tell you it belonged. The flickering LED candle inside illuminated through the big, slanted eyes and huge snarling, multi-fanged mouth of their spooky entry. Though he’d questioned his Little’s directions, he’d given her full rein and had carefully drilled several holes in the long thick stem. When she’d began poking multi-colored gummy bears in the holes, he had to admit, it made quite the impressive illusion of bears marching their way to their demise. Especially when half of a black gummy bear appeared to be writhing where she’d impaled it on one of the jagged teeth. Several Littles had stood before it wide-eyed. He’d expected to see confusion in their expressions, but to the one, they appeared to know instantly what his Bitty Baby’s vision had been.
“It’s Danica!” declared Eloise.
“She’s Dallas’ ghostie kitty guest,” Tommy explained. “I can tell ‘cuz Danica loves gummy bears.”
“And Dallas loves all things zombies,” Nanny J proudly shared with the Bigs standing with their Littles admiring Dallas’ rendition of a jack-o’-lantern.
It had been a busy, but wonderful weekend. He didn’t have any classes today, but he was still sending Dallas to the Caterpillar Room so she could interact with her friends. It was also the day they were going to? paint pumpkins? and hedidn’t want her to miss out, though despite her triumph with her zombie pumpkin carving, he wasn’t sure her “killer clown” pumpkin painting idea was nursery-appropriate. Then again, it was Halloween and the spookier things were, the more his Little girl enjoyed herself.
“You ready to go to the nursery, Bitty?” he asked from the door.
She startled and then giggled.
“Yeth, huh,” she lisped around the pacifier’s nipple.
He helped her off the horsie and picked her up. They’d had a quiet breakfast in their room and Pike had enjoyed their uninterrupted time together. He was amazed at how much Rawhide had soothed their souls and once again he was so damn thankful for the Ranch.
Pike grabbed her backpack and slid it over his shoulder. Teefs dangled from Dallas’ arms as Pike carried her to the elevator. She didn’t seem ready to give up her pacifier and Pike wouldn’t ask her to. She seemed to enjoy it and he was once again glad the Ranch Store came so well stocked. When he’d seen her almost suck her fingers in distress, he’d known immediately he would be purchasing a soother for her as soon as possible. He wasn’t sure if seeing other Littles with pacifiers had created her need for one or if it was something buried deep inside her, but allowing her to explore the mindset had given her the freedom to realize some deeper needs she had. He didn’t care either way.
“Daddy?” she babbled around the nipple, bringing him from his thoughts.
“Yes, Bitty Baby?” he asked, pulling the pacifier from her mouth.
“Today?” she asked, looking extremely hopeful.
“Today what, baby?” He thought about her words, trying to figure out exactly what she was asking.
“Costume?”
He grinned and then pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Do you want to try on your costume again?” She’d tried it on every day since they’d purchased it, not that he minded of course. He was just glad to see her so happy.
They had found her the most adorable mermaid costume from the Ranch store. It was purple and green with a shiny sequin tail. The Ranch store had a huge selection of western gear so finding her a cowboy hat and matching boots hadn’t been a problem. She loved her boots so much she’d almost gotten a spanking for wanting to take them to bed with her the night before.
He’d ordered his own costume with expedited shipping and it was scheduled to be delivered today, along with her spooky baby doll, not that she knew about it. That would be her big surprise from Niki Rope and Danica on Halloween morning.
“No. Your costume?”
“Oh, yes. It will be here today.”
“So cute,” she said, nodding her head confidently.
