Page 3 of Promising Little Poppy

Along with a lengthy summer break, the university had a winter break that lasted from just before Thanksgiving up until after the first of the new year. And while no one was asked toleave the dorms during holiday break, many chose to visit family and friends during this time. Poppy, however, was not one of the students who fell into the latter group.

It might have stung in the past to have someone ask her of her holiday plans. But by now, it was just part of life she quickly brushed over. “No, Sir,” she replied quietly. “I’m going to be staying at the Ranch. I’m excited to see everything as the holidays approach. I really do love the winter, so I can’t wait to see what the staff does with the place. Every year, I seem to be more excited than the last.”

Derek smiled again, waiting until she returned her gaze to him before he spoke. “Have you ever helped out at the Ranch around the holidays? We have quite a few events we plan annually and we’re always looking for volunteers...”

A knock on the door interrupted Derek. Glancing at his wristwatch, he called out to the person on the other side of the heavy door Poppy had burst through just a short time earlier. “Give me just a second, please.”

Turning his attention back to Poppy, he asked for permission to give her a hug as they stood before wrapping her in strong arms that seemed to settle her even more. She knew Derek was a Daddy, but that was as much as she knew about the Caregiver and Little dynamic. Still, she couldn’t deny that the warmth in his hug was much different than the way the men in her past had hugged her.

“Would you do something for me this weekend, Poppy?”

Ever eager to please—somehow feeling her self-worth was tied to making others happy—she nodded her head.

“Now, now, darlin’,” Master Derek said. “Hear me out before you go committing to something you don’t know anything about.”

Poppy bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry, Sir.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for, Ms. Miller. Well, except for maybe barging into my office earlier, but I think under the circumstances, all can be forgiven. I apologize for worrying you as badly as I did. Truly, that was not my intention.”

She smiled, knowing that Derek honestly meant it. “Thank you, Sir.”

“You are welcome, darlin’. Now, what I would like from you this weekend is to spend a little bit of time reflecting on your time here at the Ranch. Write down what have been your favorite classes and least favorite classes. It doesn’t have to be anything formal or tidy. Just something we can go over together on Monday afternoon. I would really like to help you to feel more settled, Poppy. Whether that be with a future here at Rawhide Ranch after you graduate or outside of our gates, I want you to feel like your time here was beneficial.”

“I can do that, Sir.” Her answer was confident and sure. A tone that betrayed the anxiety swirling in her still-unsettled tummy.

“And it doesn’t have to be limited to just the activities at the university. Anything you’ve enjoyed or disliked during your time here could be beneficial to us discovering your true path.”

As she headed toward the door, Derek passed her a small card with Dr. Catherine Denten’s details on it. And while she wasn’t sure she was ready to reach out to the psychologist, she did feel a bit more confident that she had a plan and even more grateful Master Derek seemed to know exactly what she needed.

CHAPTER 2

CJ

It was nearly the end of lunchtime on Monday by the time CJ bumped into Master Derek. Standing in line in the cafeteria, she was pushing her tray along, choosing from the many delicious-looking options offered at just one of the numerous dining locations at the Ranch. Over her first weekend as a guest at Rawhide Ranch, she had tried the Mexican and Italian restaurants for dinner, loving the options at both places. Today, though, she was ready for something lighter. Her tray was overflowing with a selection of expertly crafted salads that had no worldly decency looking as fresh as they did at this time of year and her mouth watered as she took one last look at the afternoon’s offerings.

“Ah, Calliope Jane Winters! I was wondering when I would have a chance to finally meet you face-to-face.” Derek’s tone was warm as he approached, a hand outstretched in her direction. Sneaking a glance at her tray, he nodded approvingly at the leafy greens and crisp piles of vegetables.

Taking his offered hand, she met him with a firm handshake of her own. “Thank you, Sir. And please, call me CJ.” Thinking back, she couldn’t remember the last time someone called her Calliope. It was a name given to her at birth by her mother and father, though she always felt that CJ suited her better. Calliope was flowery and feminine while CJ had always felt more angular and tomboyish, much like she felt herself.

The Ranch owner looked over CJ as if taking her in for the first time. It wasn’t in a way that made her uncomfortable, though she wasn’t sure what the man was trying to find with his gaze. “I hear from Sebastian Waters at Styx that you’re quite the photographer.”

CJ’s eyebrows raised, surprised to find out that Derek had called around to ask about her. Then again, Rawhide Ranch was as exclusive as it got and it shouldn’t have shocked her to discover the man was serious about the security of his Ranch with the type of clientele who frequented his establishment.

Styx, much like Rawhide Ranch, was the name of the lifestyle club CJ frequented in Florida. Owned by an openly queer ex-military man in a polyamorous relationship with his wife and their male partner, the place was accepting of all types of relationships.

Knowing Master Derek was at least on speaking terms with her previous club’s owner put her more at ease about the Ranch. Sure, she knew from friends who had visited over the years that it was open and inclusive. But there was something to be said in knowing that level of inclusivity ran all the way to the top of Rawhide Ranch’s ownership.

Still, it made her desperately long for Styx.

It was CJ’s home away from home.

The place she felt loved.

Until suddenly, she found herself unsure of her home and her future.

Until she was unsure of herself.

Shaking the thoughts of her past from her head, she tried to focus on the man in front of her. Besides, she was here to relax for a few weeks while she figured out her next move, not to look for love when all it had brought her was pain in the past. When what had once been sweet and pure turned rancid and hurtful.

---