Page 31 of Guiding Little Gabi

Turn? What does that mean?

Gabi was just as curious as Beetlebrenda, and from the looks on her friends’ faces, they were as well.

Chef Connor ignored the Littles, passing the can to Pippi’s Mommy instead.

Guilt crawled through Gabi and she took a step forward. “Please, Chef Connor. It’s not fair that you or the other Bigs clean up our mess. I can do it.”

“And you will, but not before we do a bit of cleaning of our own.”

Gabi wondered if Hayleigh had some sort of special degree in communications because this man was about as clear as mud to her.

“Let’s let Chef Connor do the talking, shall we?”

Since that request came directly from the man who owned the entire Ranch as well as who knew how many armoires full of nasty little butt biters, Gabi was more than happy to oblige. “Yes, sir,” she said with respect, though she did sneak a glance up at Raleigh, who just stood there, a rather cryptic grin on his face.

Gabi remained quiet, but Pippi asked, “Is that shaving cream?” when another can was passed to her Daddy. Or maybe Gabi was hearing things as no one offered an answer. The Littles exchanged glances, but Sadie’s shrug spoke for all of them. They’d just have to wait and see what was going to happen next. They didn’t have to wait long.

“Littles, step forward and line up, please,” Chef Connors said after every Big had a can. Once the girls had shuffled forward to form a line, Gabi felt a flash of comfort run through her as Pippi grabbed her hand on one side while Wren took her other hand on the other side. The girls formed a line, hands linked in support in front of their Bigs at the very scene of the crime.

“Drop your hands and step apart until you can all hold your arms out straight without touching each other.”

So much for solidarity.

“Shhh,” Gabi hissed softly but not quietly enough as Hayleigh’s Daddy shot her a warning look.

“What was that, Gabi?”

“Nothing, sir, sorry, sir,” Gabi managed, making sure to take an exaggerated step to the side and forcing Wren to move down further until all five Littles had their arms extended straight out to their sides.

Chef Connor gave her a last look before glancing at the line of culprits. “That’s good. Now, legs shoulder-width apart if you please.”

And even if youdon’t,please.

“Shut up, Beetlebrenda. Or are you just looking for a burning butt?” Of course, Gabi was smart enough to keep her side of that conversation silent this time.

It was sometime during that inner dialogue that the Bigs must have stepped forward because when Gabi felt a shadow cover her, it was to look up and find her Daddy standing just a few steps away. She might have been worried but the twitch ofhis lip told her he was trying not to smile. Maybe he wasn’t as angry as she’d thought?

“When I was at culinary school,” Chef Connor began, “we did a lot of work with food coloring. And as it turns out, there are ways to get it off your skin.” He paused and turned to Hayleigh. “Let me demonstrate.”

Hayleigh’s high-pierced shriek of “It’s cold!” instantly followed Chef Connor’s announcement as her Daddy aimed the can at her outstretched arm and pulled the trigger. A stream of white flew from the nozzle to land on Hayleigh’s skin.

“The best creations often start out cold before they become piping hot, now, don’t they, jellybean?”

“Yes, Daddy,” Hayleigh said and then giggled as another stream landed on her other arm.

Gabi soon forgot about Hayleigh’s giggles as well as the other girls’ laughter and cries as a burst of white landed on her chest. “Eeeek!” she squeaked, not sure of what was going on. It wasn’t until several more spurts were delivered to coat her skin that she understood the can did indeed contain shaving cream. When ordered to turn around and face the other way, she obeyed. The move gave her the opportunity to see the other girls, mostly covered head to toe in white foam, turning as well.

“It looks like your Daddy has iced you all over, Hayleigh,” Sadie said with a giggle.

“Indeed. But no dessert is done until a bit of sugar has been dusted on top, right, jellybean?”

Gabi wasn’t sure she was following the conversation correctly but stopped attempting to decrypt it when Hayleigh giggled and nodded.

“Sprinkles are better, Daddy.”

“That may be, but I’m afraid pure granulated sugar is all I’m dusting you with today.”

The words proved true when each caregiver began to sprinkle their Little with globs of white that sparkled in the sunlight before sinking into the depths of the foam covering their bodies. Gabi did indeed feel rather like she was some sort of fancily frosted cupcake—until the next step began.

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