Page 31 of Lion's Little Scamp

“Wow,” Irish breathed as she studied the paper that now hung in two pieces from the line. “You’re really good with that.”

Sullivan grunted an acknowledgement as he finished coiling the whip. Once he finished, he walked past her into the barn. She turned and followed him to his office. He did not speak until he hung the whip on a hook just inside the room.

He then stepped behind his desk and stared at her. His expression was so grumpy, she wondered if she should go find Harrigan to protect her from his anger.

Taking a deep breath, she held her ground and held his gaze. He would not hurt her because she was now mated to Harrigan. She was certain that by now everyone in Bratburg knew that little fact.

He sniffed the air, as if he could smell her terror before nodding. “About damn time he claimed you. Now, Miss Irish, are you here to work or just stand there like a statue?”

Irish swallowed down her fear and said, “Work, sir.”

“Good girl. Get started mucking out the stalls.” Having given the gruff order, Sullivan turned his back on her in an obvious dismissal.

“Oh, Master Sullivan? My Daidi, um, well, Master Harrigan said to tell you he would be here soon to talk to you about my punishment for yesterday afternoon.”

Though he didn’t turn to face her, she watched his head dip once. “Get to work, girl, or I’ll be adding dillydallying to the list of your naughtiness,”

“Yes, sir,” Irish said as she slipped out of his office.

She headed straight for the closet that held the rakes, shovels, and wheelbarrows. In just a few minutes, she was hard at work cleaning the stalls.

“She’s a special girl,” Sailor said.

The comment drew Harrigan’s attention as he watched his mate walk away. “Yes, she is, though I don’t think she realizes how special.”

Sailor nodded his agreement. “That’s true. She had a shitty childhood, and after being kicked out of foster care, she’s had a shitty adulthood. You’re going to change that, right?”

Harrigan tried not to get offended at the other man’s words, but it was difficult. Like his beast, he was a proud man, and to be questioned about his intentions toward his mate had him riding the edge of anger. “Of course, I’m going to treat her well. She is my mate, and my Little girl. I will care for her, protect her and keep her safe. I will lay down my life for her.”

Sailor stared hard at him before nodding. “I’ll be watching. If you ever mistreat her, I will take her away from you and we’ll leave this place, and you’ll never see her again.”

Harrigan growled low in his throat. “Try it and die. She is my mate.”

Sailor merely grunted in response as he continued to eat. Harrigan had a feeling they would be coming to blows at some point, he just hoped it would not be in front of Irish. He did not want his mate to have to choose between him and her friend. He also had to settle his lion who wanted to burst free and chop the gorilla shifter to bits, thereby ending the possibility of any future confrontation.

Once they both finished eating, Harrigan escorted Sailor to Lonergan’s office on the second floor of the administration building and left him in Jaxon’s capable hands. The gazelle shifter looked nervous as he studied Sailor but gave him the go ahead when he said he needed to talk to Sullivan and deal with his naughty mate.

He took his time walking across the large clearing that housed Bratburg. He stopped and lifted his face to the sun, as he enjoyed the scent of the flowers in bloom. A deep breath washed away the last of his frustration with Sailor and he was able to shift his mindset from protective mate to Daddy.

As he approached the barn at the back corner of their little village in the mountains, the wind shifted and carried Irish’s scent to him. He breathed deep and picked up pace, suddenly anxious to see his Little girl.

Entering the barn, it took a moment for his eyesight to adjust to the dimmer light. Once they did, he frowned when he did not see Irish. Stalking forward, he stepped into the barn manager’s office. “Where is she?”

“If she’s not in a stall, she’s probably taking the wheelbarrow out back to dump it,” Sullivan answered without looking up from the paperwork on his desk.

“I wanted to talk to you about Irish’s punishment for yesterday.”

Sullivan put down his pen and sat back, his chair squeaking under his weight. “I figured you had already handled it.”

Harrigan shook his head. “Since it happened while she was working for you, I wanted you to be present for the punishment.”

“Does that mean I get to spank that sexy little ass of hers for being naughty?”

“No, and stop looking at my mate’s ass,” Harrigan snarled.

Sullivan just chuckled at his attitude as he waved his hands in front of him. “Don’t worry, I’m not interested in your mate. A good spanking and an apology are all I required. Well, plus a promise that she won’t take off again without telling me where she’s going.”

Harrigan nodded his approval. “Sounds appropriate to me, though I have a feeling she’ll have a hard time releasing the guilt of abandoning her work and then getting lost in the forest.”

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