Page 11 of Guiding Little Gabi

Derek motioned to a large leather chair in front of a massive desk. “Have a seat, Raleigh. Can I fix you a drink?”

Raleigh settled into an incredibly comfortable leather chair. Derek Hawkins, it seemed, was a man who didn’t do anything by half measure. “That would be nice, but just one. I’ve found it’s better to have my mind sharp when dealing with Gabi.”

Derek smiled. Pouring two tumblers of whiskey, he handed one to Raleigh. “I know what you mean. My Sadie is my world, but she’s never met a prank she didn’t like.” He raised his glass for a toast. “To men who must stay sharper than their very sharp Little girls.”

Raleigh raised his glass, too. He could drink to that. Gabi wasn’t one for pranks. She’d be worried she’d hurt someone’s feelings. No, his Little girl screwed up with the very best of intentions.

After sipping the exceptionally fine whiskey, Raleigh took the lead. He understood Derek needed to make sure things were handled correctly, but Raleigh wanted to get to his girl.He’d wasted enough time. That was what led to their current situation.

“So, why the change of heart? I was expecting to be examined and cross-examined before the topic of room keys came up.”

Derek nodded. “I thought so, too. But, as I said when I called you, I’m very good at sizing people up. And you must know, in the current situation, I checked your references thoroughly. You have quite a few admirers in Darling, Stevens. I think I can trust you with a room key. So long as Gabi agrees, of course.”

“Of course.” Raleigh wished he had more confidence in what that decision would be. “I did most of the talking in our last conversation. Can you tell me exactly what Gabi did? Other than lying to her friends about being a lawyer, that is.” And they would definitely be having a discussion about lying by omission.

“I can see that Gabi is a very compassionate person. She overheard some of the other Littles, my Sadie included, complaining about a punishment they’d just received. When they noticed Gabi and joined her at her table, she listened to their complaints before devising what the girls called a Freeze Out the Fourth Protest. They all treated their Daddies and everyone else to the silent treatment. It nearly brought the entire Ranch to a standstill. As I have guests who pay quite a bit to vacation here, I’m sure you can see the problem. Not to mention the disrespect to people who had done nothing to them.”

Raleigh shook his head. What had Gabi been thinking? He didn’t even want to know what the girls had been upset about. “Just tell me this. Was tequila involved?”

Derek blanched. “Um, no, I don’t believe there was. Should I check for that?”

“You’d already know. It’s been my experience that when a gaggle of Littles gets snockered, it’s hard to miss.”

Laughing, Derek said, “At Rawhide, we refer to a group of Littles as a ‘giggle’ rather than a ‘gaggle’ for obvious reasons.Your story sounds like one I need to hear before you leave. But right now, we have more somber things to discuss. Lying is a serious offense here at the Ranch. It would set a bad precedent if Gabi faced no consequences for her actions. Not only that, I don’t think it would help her relationship with the girls either, since they all did have consequences.”

“I have no problem with that. Gabi has done whatever she wanted for a long time now, and that’s on me. I should never have let things between us get to the point where she needed to ask my intentions. Suffice it to say, moving forward, it will be very obvious to Gabi and everyone else I’m her Daddy.”

“Even though our Littles would like real life to be like those romance books they read, they have to realize Daddies are people, too. Even though we do our best, we make mistakes. Lord knows I’ve made my share. I think what we have here is an opportunity to move forward in the direction it sounds like you meant to be headed all along.”

Raleigh was beginning to realize how Derek ran such a large Ranch and kept everything going so well. The man was wise, and he cared about the people who came to Rawhide.

Derek set down his empty glass. “So, how are you going to handle the situation this afternoon? I have to be honest. You seem like a good man, and I think you’ll make Gabi a fine Daddy. But I don’t know you, and as you said, I care about the people who come to my Ranch. So, I have a stipulation.”

This should be interesting. “By all means.”

“Each of the other girls who participated in the silent protest received three swats with the implement of their caregiver’s choosing here in my office. Those who planned it received four. After those swats, you are free to take your Little girl to your room and further her discipline or not. That is up to you. Are you willing to do that?”

Raleigh slowly nodded. It didn’t sound like he had much choice. But still, he appreciated Derek making sure he wasn’t some abusive asshat who would harm Gabi. By the time their time here was over, he’d know Raleigh was someone he could trust.

Clearing his throat, Raleigh said, “I can agree to that. Though, as the instigator of the chaos, it only seems fair that Gabi receives five swats. I also intend to make sure Gabi tells her friends she is not a lawyer and apologizes for lying to them.”

“That sounds like a good plan. I had planned to have her apologize as well.” Derek gestured across the office. “There are implements and just about everything else you can name, either in the closet or the armoire in the adjacent corner. You’ll find a similar armoire in your suite. I also have a sofa for cuddles and aftercare.”

That wasn’t going to happen. He understood Derek wanted to ensure Gabi’s consequences were enough without being too harsh. But that was as far as Raleigh was willing to go. “If we make it that far, we’ll do our cuddling and aftercare in our room.”

“Well then, I guess we’d better tell Erika to fetch your girl.”

CHAPTER 4

For the love of ghosts and gremlins, what was taking so long? She’d been in this room for most of the day, on pins and needles, waiting for the summons to return to Master Derek’s office.

She felt like Dorothy in the outer chamber, petrified of the Great and Terrible Oz. Why didn’t she just march out to her car and drive away? It would save them both the awkwardness of Master Derek kicking her out.

Never again would she play the role of Gabi the Problem Solver. All she ever did was ruin things. Glancing around the room, she noticed the glow from her window. With a gasp, she ran to gather her magic flowers. The fact that she’d overlooked them proved she was in a state.

As she passed the round oak table, she remembered the papers she intended to take with her to Master Derek’s office. Not that she thought it would change his mind, but she’d written lines all day, promising to never lie by omission or commission ever again. She wanted him to know how truly sorry she was for getting everyone in trouble.

When the papers were stacked neatly in numerical order, she carried them with her as she returned to her perch on the bed.Before she’d even rumpled the covers, a gentle knock as loud as a shotgun blast echoed through the room.

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