Page 49 of Hearing Little Hadley

“Hey, is she here?” Master Travis asked.

“Yes, she’s with Mindy. She’s got her cards and I’ll be back really quickly,” Finn said.

“No worries, we’ll take good care of her. Miss Samantha from the preschool is actually going to come down and help some of the Caterpillar Room Little ones, so she said she would pull Hadley into her group, and I’m sure Mindy as well.”

Finn’s eyes burned with tears of gratitude. Rawhide Ranch really was like a family and they’d taken such good care of his baby. “Thank you, Travis.”

“No worries, and good luck tonight.”

Finn blew out a breath. “Thank you.” Leaving the barn, he walked across the snowy grounds, and back to the Christmas party.

Sadie waited for him inside one of the smaller rooms.

“Hi! My Daddy has everything ready for you. Are you so nervous?” she asked, bouncing foot to foot.

“I am. So nervous. I think I might throw up.”

The Little giggled so hard her bow shook. “That would not be romantic.”

“I remember the feeling well,” Derek said, walking in wearing a Santa suit. “I was very nervous to ask this one to marry me as well,” he explained.

“I said yes, though,” Sadie reminded, trying to encourage Finn.

“You did and I have a been a lucky man ever since.”

“Thank you for doing this,” Finn said gratefully. “Thank you for doing all of this. I couldn’t have pulled it off without you all.”

Derek laughed. “Are you kidding me? A chance to be Santa again? I live for this.”

Moses entered the area wearing red long johns and holding a Santa beard. He handed it to Derek.

Finn watched as the man’s hands formed shapes in the air, recognizing Moses was communicating using ASL.

Derek chuckled and nodded, “Yeah, he always complains but we all know Jared secretly loves playing Santa. Thanks for bringing the beard.”

From previous conversations, Finn knew Jared was Erika’s husband and the head of Derek’s legal staff.

“What happened to your elf costume?” Sadie asked.

Moses signed again. “Well, you make a terrific elf, Moses,” Sadie praised, wrapping her arms around his waist to give him a huge hug.

When she released him, she giggled. “Moses said he’s glad to be out of the costume. He said it’s hot as… well, I don’t think I should repeat what he said.”

Moses sent her a mock glare and she giggled as she helped her Daddy adjust the beard to fit his face.

“Ready?” he asked Finn.

“You have the ring?” Finn asked him.

Derek patted the toy bag he was carrying. “I do.”

“Alright, let’s do this,” Finn said.

“I think maybe you should fix your face first. You look like Daddy after we went on the tilt-o-whirl three times in a row.”

“Sadie!” Derek scolded.

“Sorry, Master Finn, but you look a little green.”

---