Chapter 3 #2
I shook my head at how stupid the courts could be in these situations.
They probably didn’t even look into it much, they would have seen the biological connection and prioritized it.
Especially if Jack had pulled in favors up the chain.
I was equally sure Jack would have pushed Calla’s autism diagnosis, otherwise since Calla was eighteen at the time, she should have been able to decide where she wanted to live.
Changing the legal and medical systems’ perceptions of neurodiverse patients was one of the main reasons I was so keen to come work at Rawhide’s research center.
Jacqui was partly responsible for my change in career direction.
While working in the ER in L.A. I’d seen more than my fair share of mental health patients who never should have gotten to the point where they needed an Emergency Room.
It was my time living at Pieces to Peace together with what I’d witnessed at a BSDM club I’d recently started attending prior to my capture that really showed me how misunderstood the neurodiverse were in the outside world.
The club’s clientele included clearly neurodiverse men and women who were thriving as Littles under the care and protection of a Daddy or Mommy.
When I’d finally begun to accept that my right hand would most likely never heal enough for me to operate again, I’d wondered about going into research even before I’d heard about the job at Rawhide.
It was more than I could have dreamed of, to end up working in a lab with someone like Derek, who was willing to put all the resources that were required into the center, backing it.
It was the perfect set up: state of the art equipment, guaranteed funding, and a colleague, Cord Weston, who was as passionate as I was about helping neurodiverse people live better lives.
But Cord and I weren’t only focused on grand goals like changing how the legal system treated neurodiverse people.
The bigger picture stuff ran in the background, while our main priority was working on things that would help those here at Rawhide.
This included women like Cord’s Little, Bobbi, who had Oppositional Defiance Disorder, and women like Calla who hadn’t arrived yet but needed what we offered.
It didn’t matter if she was a Little or not, she’d find a welcoming home at Rawhide.
“I agree that the courts definitely didn’t have Calla’s best interests at heart when they made that decision. But, Jacqui, if I’m doing the math right, that happened about eighteen months ago, meaning I doubt that is why you’re calling me. What else have you found out?”
As much as I wanted to know everything about this girl who I’d yet to meet but was already feeling overly protective of, a sense of urgency was building within me. An instinct I knew better than to ignore.
“When I checked my emails just now, I had one from Joe Marshall. I met him when he drove the Bosmans here to collect Calla. Quiet man, but he didn’t give off the evil vibe his boss does.
In his email he states that ever since Jack heard about how Rawhide’s new research program would be looking into autism a few months ago, he’s been tormenting Calla with threats of sending her there.
Joe detailed some of the nasty shit his boss has been telling her, I won’t bother repeating it out loud, you can imagine that for yourself. ”
Grabbing the back of my neck with my palm, I sighed, understanding why she’d rung me without stopping to think it through. I’d have done the same damn thing under the circumstances.
“And that’s why you called me in a panic like you did.”
“Yes, I didn’t think before calling you.
Didn’t have the time. Not after I read that the reason he was reaching out was because Jack had just given him the order that he would be accompanying them to Rawhide Ranch in Montana today and he hoped I had some way to intervene to help Calla.
I would have called earlier but I only check my emails twice a day; I didn’t see it until just now. ”
A hard knot formed in my gut. No way had Jack made an appointment to enroll Calla.
If he had, he would have mentioned her autism and Derek would have told me and Cord about her so we could join him in the interview.
That meant Jack intended to simply turn up and expected that his demands would be met.
Which wasn’t what would happen because that’s not how Rawhide worked.
In order to keep everyone safe, Derek made sure he knew exactly who someone was before he’d allow them entry to the ranch.
He made sure the front gates were never left open and that the gatehouse was always manned.
Anyone who lived or worked on the property was given a button for the gate but had to sign an agreement that made it very clear that they were to never allow someone to come with them on to Rawhide grounds unless they had permission from Derek to do so.
I hadn’t been joking when I said Derek took security seriously.
He was fully aware of how precious those who sought out the sanctuary at Rawhide were, and how important it was they were protected from anyone who might mean them harm.
He would not take kindly to an arrogant politician with a God complex rolling in unannounced.
“What time did the email come in?”
“Nine-thirty this morning.”
I mentally calculated how long it would take them to get from Denver to Montana.
Since Jack clearly was loaded, he’d fly private.
There was an airstrip about a forty minute drive from the Ranch.
Since he was bringing his driver with him, I assumed he’d arrange to have a car waiting at the airstrip for them to drive themselves to the Ranch, rather than calling for a pickup.
That meant roughly three hours for the flight up from Denver, together with however long it took to get from their home to the airfield plus the forty minutes on this end.
Glancing at my watch, seeing it was two in the afternoon, a sense of urgency filled me as I mentally added the four to five hours traveling they needed to do to the time the email was sent. A sour taste rose up my throat as I realized I was potentially already out of time.
“I need to run. If he sent that email just before they left, they could already be here. I’ll keep you posted.”
I didn’t wait for her to respond before I hung up and pulled up Derek’s number and hit the call button as I strode back toward 004.
“Hey, Eric, what’s up?”
“Just got off the phone with Jacqui, my therapist from Pieces to Peace. She’d received some disturbing news about a former patient who is on their way to Rawhide.
Girl’s name is Calla Lewis. She’d been enrolled in the facility by her mother and stepfather whose name is Jack Bosman.
Calla is non-verbal autistic and also has ADHD.
According to the email Jacqui received from Joe Marshall, Jack’s driver, Jack is bringing her from Denver today.
That’s not what had her calling me though.
Apparently Jack’s got all sorts of ideas about what we might be doing in the name of research and has been tormenting Calla with threats about us for months. ”
After a moment of shocked silence, Derek’s voice exploded through the phone.
“He did what? He dared to use the Rawhide name to threaten an innocent? I will have his hide for this.” He paused for a moment, sounds of him using his computer coming over the line. “I don’t have any new guests or students booked in this afternoon. What did you say his name was?”
“Jack Bosman, a councilman from Denver. I’ve never heard of him, but I have heard of Calla. Do you remember about four years ago, a case down in Louisiana where they went in to arrest a man and found his teenage daughter, that no one knew about, locked away in the attic?”
“Ah, damn. I remember hearing about that one but had forgotten any of their names. I’m guessing that poor girl was Calla?”
“Yeah, Calla is the daughter, and—”
Derek cut me off. “Hold up, I now recall I did receive a call from Bosman a while back and that it wasn’t a pleasant conversation.
When nothing ever came of it, I put him out of my mind.
Now you’re telling me that not only was Calla abused by her biological father, but her stepfather continued that abuse after she was rescued? ”
“From what Jacqui’s told me, that’s what I believe has happened.
Listen, I’m out in the mountains with 004 but as soon as I’m off the phone I’ll be coming back.
I’m calling because they could be arriving at any moment.
Jacqui called me as soon as she saw the email, but it was sent earlier this morning.
From what she’s told me, Jack is the type who’s used to everyone bowing to his every whim.
Definitely the type who doesn’t believe he needs to make appointments.
I suspect his intention is to turn up unannounced to drop the poor girl on our doorstep before running off back to his mansion.
I know this is way outside how you normally do things, but that girl can’t be turned away, Derek.
She needs Rawhide. I have no clue if she’s a Little—”
Derek cut me off again. “That’s irrelevant.
Rawhide Ranch’s original purpose was to protect and provide for any vulnerable young women who needed it.
We might have refined things some over the years, but the core of what we’re about here hasn’t changed.
Whether she turns out to be a Little or not makes no difference.
She’s entitled and welcome to claim the sanctuary Rawhide offers.
” He chuckled briefly. “And once Sadie finds out what Calla’s been through, she’ll demand we keep her here.
You may have some competition on being this young woman’s champion.
You’ve not seen my Sadie in full momma-bear mode yet.
While she may be a Little, she’s also a force to be reckoned with when she’s on a mission, and if I know my wife at all, which I do, she’ll see getting Calla settled in here as her most important mission yet. ”
Frowning as I pictured how energetic Sadie could be with her friends had me speaking again instead of ending the call like I’d planned.
“Warn Sadie that Calla will get overwhelmed easily; it won’t matter that Sadie’s acting out of love. She’ll scare easily and shut down.”
Derek scoffed, “No one needs to warn her, Eric. Haven’t you seen how Sadie and her welcoming committee of Littles are with newbies?
While every one of them is full to overflowing with love to give, they are also extremely observant and know how to temper their enthusiasm when required.
They’ll work out what your girl needs to feel welcome in no time and happily provide it.
Don’t worry about that. Once Calla settles in and gets more comfortable, I’m sure they’ll love showing her all the fun that can be had here at the Ranch.
I can’t imagine the poor girl had much of a childhood with how her dad kept her locked away.
The Rawhide Littles will make it their mission to make it up to her.
“For now, take a few deep breaths, Eric. Make sure you’ve found some calm before you drive—safely—back. Come straight to my office, and if you beat them here, we’ll make some plans. If you don’t, I’ll have your girl safely waiting for you.”
Something in my chest tightened at being included in the circle of those Derek cared about. I knew having a man with unending compassion and empathy in my corner was a blessing, and I would never take it for granted.
“She’s not my girl. But thanks, Derek. The world would be a much darker place without you, hope you know that.” Clearing my throat after the awkward confession I hadn’t meant to voice had apparently left Derek speechless. Desperate to move on, I blurted out the first thing I thought of.
“Ah, also, I’m willing to cover all her costs. Whatever I need to do to make sure she doesn’t leave the Ranch with that man.”
He muttered under his breath, “Not his girl. Sure.” Then louder he said, “As I’ve already stated, Eric, Calla will not only be provided for and protected, but also welcomed with open arms at Rawhide. Just make sure you get back here in one piece to do your part.”
He ended the call, not giving me a chance to respond.
Closing my eyes, I took a few deep breaths as instructed.
Feeling slightly calmer but still as determined as before, I reached forward and twisted the key, bringing 004 roaring to life.
The sound filled my ears as I pushed my foot down and spun her wheels in the gravel as I took off out of the rest stop much faster than I’d pulled into it.
Any paint that got chipped from the stones would be easy enough to fix, but not making it back in time to help Calla wasn’t something I could risk happening.
Not that I doubted Derek’s word. He was an honorable man who would follow through on his promises. He would welcome Calla and keep her safe from her stepfather. But for some reason I couldn’t pinpoint, I needed to be the one to welcome her home.
I knew in my bones that Rawhide Ranch was not just a place where Calla could thrive. It was also where she was destined to be.