Page 70 of On His Ranch

“I guess I didn’t think about that.”

“See? Now, let’s get you ready for bed.”

“Can I borrow an extra shirt?” Piper watched as Chase went to his closet, but when he returned he was carrying a hanger with a T-shirt dress hanging on it. “What’s this?” she asked, reaching out to touch it.

“Pajamas.”

Her eyes went up and down the garment. It was bubble-gum pink, with a large, colorful screen print of the Powerpuff Girls.

“I’m sorry, I guess I don’t really know what you like.”

The smile she turned on him was so wide it made her mouth hurt. “Well, there’s plenty of time for you to find out. Help me?” She lifted her arms, no longer shy, somehow finding it totally natural to be his little girl in fact as well as name.

He obliged by gently pulling the T-shirt gown over her head and helping her arms through one at a time. “Well, let’s have a look.”

Giggling, Piper bounced off the bed and twirled around again and again until she was clapping in excitement. “Well?” she demanded, giving him a curtsey. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re very vain.” But then he chuckled, while she propped her hands on her hips and stuck out her tongue. “And I think you need something fancier next time, longer, maybe, for those curtsies.”

“When did you get it, Daddy?”

“To bed with you,” he ordered, pulling back the sheet.

Piper climbed in eagerly, grinning up at him when he tucked the covers around her tightly. “Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“Remember when I went huntin’ for the missin’ stallion?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I had to stop by Walmart to grab some gas and I decided to have a look around the store—”

“You were thinking of me!” she squealed excitedly.

Chase’s brow knitted and he mock scowled. “Hey, who’s tellin’ this story?”

“Sorry, Daddy,” she said dutifully, even though she wasn’t.

“Well, anyway, Iwasthinkin’ of you. I guess I’ve gotten used to havin’ you around, and I thought if you were to stay around, you’d need some things.”

More pleased than she could have imagined by his explanation, she beamed at him and decided it wouldn’t do any good to tell him Patti had already bought her a nightgown.

“Now, it’s high time you got to sleep. We’ll have to do it all over again tomorrow.”

Her heart swelled at being included in his day—even if it included collecting sticks! “Tell me a story, Daddy?”

“Didn’t you just hear me? It’s time to sleep.”

Her lower lip protruded as her brow furrowed. “Story first, then sleep.”

“Baby, Daddy’s dog-tired and I’ve got to be up in five hours.”

“Stttooo-rrryyy,” she said in a singsong whine.

He frowned down at her, but when she smiled and batted her eyes, he ended up laughing. He reached down to tickle her ribs while she tried to squirm out of the way, but he’d tucked her in too tightly. “Alright!Onestory. And I wouldn’t try that too often if I were you. Not unless you want to go to bed with averysore bottom.”

Piper didn’t answer, but she couldn’t help think that it might be worth the risk.

“Once upon a time, there was a very naughty little girl. She didn’t know it, but she was lookin’ for a daddy…”

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