Deciding for Little Dallas (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #15)

Chapter 1

MONDAY

“Daddy, where are we going?” Dallas, Pike’s Little girl and wife, asked him. She held her zombie stuffy close to her face and rubbed its green leg across her nose. Her actions let him know she was feeling anxious which was common for her.

“We’re going to go on a secret adventure, Bitty Baby,” he said, trying to encourage her by using her special nickname. Pike had given her the name when she’d first come to live with him after her brother died.

“A surprise adventure?” she asked, as he buckled her seatbelt and handed her the iPad. He’d already queued up her favorite horror movie about a scary clown, hoping it would keep her entertained on the three-hour drive to the airport.

“Yes, a super special trip for just me and you, baby,” Pike said before pressing a kiss to her wrinkled brow.

He could understand her nerves as this was the first time in their marriage he’d planned something without asking her input about it.

But his Little girl had been struggling and he knew he’d needed to step in.

She seemed to light up a little at his words and her shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit. “Just us?”

Pike thought about all the support they had.

Their large “found family” was wonderful, and he and Dallas usually adored being around them.

Occasionally, though, he knew they needed a reset where it was just the two of them.

They loved their friends, they really did, but Pike had a feeling that they were a part of the struggle Dallas was going through.

“Yes, Bitty Baby. For two weeks it will be just me and you.”

“Two weeks!” she exclaimed, her excitement contagious.

“Yes, fourteen whole days! I’m so excited to spend so much special time with my special girl.

Uncle Travis, Uncle Maddox, and Reagan are going to keep an eye on the house and feed Mr. Sparklebutt for us,” he said, talking about their good friends who would care of their home and Dallas’ beloved beta fish.

“That’s so nice of them,” she said, smiling.

“And Uncle Axel and Uncle Onyx are going to take good care of the bar while we’re gone, so I won’t even need to take work calls.

” Axel and Onyx both worked at the bar Pike owned, and they’d agreed to cover much more than their share, so he and Dallas could have their special time together. They really were great friends.

“No work calls?” she said, looking extremely shocked, which was fair. Pike was always taking work calls. Owning a bar came with so much responsibility, but Dallas was such a sweet girl that she never complained which was something he was feeling guilty about.

“Nope, I want to spend all of my free time loving on my babygirl and giving her everything she needs. It’s going to be the best Halloween ever.”

She clapped her hands and grinned. “I love Halloween!”

Pike knew she did. It was her favorite holiday. Their house had been decorated in spider webs and ghosties since the beginning of September. She had a Halloween countdown stuck to the fridge and was very diligent about marking off the days.

Flushing, she looked down, a soft smile settled on her lips. “I love spending time with you, Daddy.”

Her words caused a tenderness to bloom in his chest. Pike was a tough man—rough, gruff, and possessive to a fault, but there was never a day Dallas didn’t do something beautiful to soften his sharpness.

“I love every second I get with you. I could live a lifetime, and it wouldn’t be enough.”

“It’s gonna be fun,” she said, nodding confidently. He knew she was talking herself through her anxious feelings.

“It’s going to be so fun, babygirl,” he promised, pleased she was excited even with her obvious nerves.

He’d heard about Rawhide Ranch and its magic, and he hoped it could help his Little one.

Rawhide Ranch had originally started as a horse ranch but had become a safe haven for young women who had no place to go.

The owners of the Ranch realized the need those young women had.

They had taken pride in feeding them, clothing them, and even educating them while they worked on the property.

Two years after the Ranch had opened, good fortune literally found them—or rather they found it—by discovering a sapphire mine on the property.

The now wealthy men had been able to update and expand the ranch to help many more women.

Currently, Derek, the great-great-great grandson of the original founders, directed Rawhide Ranch.

It had changed over time, but the values still stayed the same.

It still served as a safe haven—now for submissives and Littles.

Derek, or Master Derek as his Rawhide family called him, understood—as did his staff—how the sweetest hearts were always the biggest targets for predators, and they all worked together to make sure everyone at Rawhide would remain safe, loved, and cared for.

Dallas was safe, loved, and cared for by Pike, but something was troubling her, though Pike had a very strong feeling he knew what it was.

Dallas had always been confident in her Little side and had been a Little since she’d learned what they were.

She often played at an age of five or six.

Pike had accepted that was her age when they first started their relationship, but now he wished he had given her the chance to explore other ages.

He had a feeling his babygirl wanted to play in a younger headspace but was too scared to ask that of him.

The devoted Daddy loved her no matter what her headspace age was; he only wanted her to be happy. Pike hoped their time at Rawhide would give her the encouragement and confidence to explore her needs.

“Is it a long drive?” Dallas asked when Pike had climbed into the driver's seat of his truck.

“It would be a very long drive, so we’re actually going to fly.”

As expected, Dallas' eyes grew wide. “In an airplane?”

He chuckled. “Well, I don’t have wings and neither do you, so I think a plane might be our best option.”

She giggled at his silly words and Pike hoped that would ease some of her nerves.

“I know riding on an airplane is a new experience for you, but we will be together and it will be so fun,” he encouraged.

“Maybe a new frame?” she asked.

Dallas loved to craft and often made shadowboxes of fun things they’d done together. Pretty frames with baseball tickets, concert wristbands, and photos of them together hung on a large wall in their living room. The mementos had become very precious to the couple.

“I think that’s a great idea, baby. I’d love for you to make us a beautiful frame for our first plane ride together.”

She smiled and nodded. “I’m really nervous, but I’m excited to have the adventure with you, Daddy.”

Pike took her hand and pressed the back of it to his lips. “I love you, Bitty Baby.”

“I love you too, Daddy.”

Pike grinned as his Little girl gasped at every sight she saw through the rental car window.

She’d squealed when they’d reached the famous Rawhide Ranch gate.

Even though they’d never visited before, the tall, wrought iron gates with the double Rs was famous in the DDLG community.

Proudly, she’d sat tall when he’d handed over their identification to the guard in the guard shack.

She’d clapped at every pasture and animal she’d seen on the long drive up to the main building.

“Is there, Daddy!” she squealed, almost bouncing in her seat and pointing to the resort. “Rawhide Ranch!”

“I see it, Bitty,” he chuckled.

“This was the best ‘cation idea ever, Daddy!”

“Aw, I’m glad you’re so excited, baby,” he said, pulling to a stop in front of the three-storied main resort building.

Once he’d applied for Dallas and himself to visit, the staff had done a background check.

After their background checks had come back cleared, he’d been sent an email with a personalized pin so he could explore the website.

Not only were the efforts the Ranch underwent to ensure their guests’ privacy very much appreciated, Pike found the whole process fascinating.

The sound of Dallas unbuckling her seatbelt drew his attention to her as she put her hand on the door handle.

“Dallas Kate,” he warned, his tone stern and firm.

She sat back in the seat and folded her hands in her lap contritely. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

“I know you’re excited, but you always wait for Daddy. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Seeing two men, one tall with long black hair in a braid and a younger man in a cowboy hat coming down the steps that led up to a wide covered porch that spanned the length of the lodge, he opened his own door to meet them.

“Welcome to Rawhide! I’m Dax and this is Moses,” the younger man said as Moses offered his hand.

Pike noticed both his silence and his firm grip, but most of all the man’s smile as he looked into the car to see Dallas staring out at them.

Witnessing Dax’s hands moving and Moses nodding, his hands dancing in the air as well, Pike understood the tall man was deaf and the two were conversing in sign language.

“Moses will take your bags in and I’ll park your car in the visitors’ lot,” Dax said.

“That will be great, thank you.” Pike made sure to include his appreciation to both men by using the ASL gesture for “thank you,” pleased to see Moses smile in acknowledgement of his appreciation.

“Just let me spring Dallas,” Pike added and walked around to let his Little out.

She took his hand and stood, giving the two men a shy smile and a small wave which they each returned.

While she took the opportunity to look around the large acreage, he straightened her white ghost dress.

It was probably one of Pike’s favorites.

It was white with a ruffled hemline and ruffled sleeves.

The ghost’s black eyes and mouth sat in the middle of the dress and a pink applique bow sat on the shoulder.

She wore black leggings under the long sleeve dress with black boots.

Her long bangs were clipped out of her face with a black bow that a ghost sewn into the middle.

Dallas wasn’t just dressed as a ghost because of the upcoming Halloween holiday.

She was just a spooky-loving Little girl.

Her nursery was done in a black matte and gray gothic theme with a shelf full of creepy horror figures, not that Pike minded.

He loved every one of them because they brought her so much joy.

“Ready, Bitty?”

“Yas, huh,” she said, taking his hand again after she tucked Teefs under her arm.

He guided her to the steps that led up to a large porch. He could see the double entrance doors from where they stood. “Hold the railing, Bitty,” he instructed, still holding her other hand.

“Good girl,” he praised when they’d reached the porch. He knew his actions were probably overkill as it had only been six steps, but she was the most precious person in his life and he would do everything in his power to always keep her safe.

He opened the door and escorted her inside.

“Whoa,” she breathed as she took in the main lobby.

Pike would admit it was beautiful. Exposed logs made up the walls, the expanse broken up by floor-to-ceiling windows that offered breathtaking views.

Wide oak planks made up the hardwood floors, and a beautifully beamed ceiling soared overhead.

Large leather chairs and sofas invited guests to sit and relax.

The dark of the wood along with the soft-colored area rugs and knickknacks provided pops of color, and a beautiful double-sided stone fireplace really did give the area a ranch house feel that Pike admired.

“Wow, indeed, Bitty,” he said, leading her to the check-in desk.

“Good afternoon,” a petite woman with short dark hair and brown eyes said, greeting them.

“Good afternoon,” Pike greeted.

“You must be the Millers.”

He nodded, passing her their registration information. “We are.”

“We’re so glad you’re joining us at Rawhide Ranch. My name is Erika and I’ll be checking you in today,” she said, tapping a few buttons on her keyboard.

“Thank you for helping us, Erika. We really appreciate your time,” Dallas said.

Pike had known his Little would meet the woman’s eye and use her best manners.

She was a big believer in being kind to people who worked with the public.

As a bartender, she knew how much easier her night went when everyone was kind, so she tried to make sure she took time to be kind to everyone she encountered to make their shift a bit easier.

Erika placed her hand over her heart. “Well, you have the sweetest manners, Little one.” Erika grabbed a basket off the counter and asked Pike if she could give Dallas some candy. Pike nodded, proud of his babygirl and her big heart.

Dallas picked out a skeleton lollipop. “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome!”

Erika turned back to Pike. “You’ll find a map of the Ranch and surrounding areas as well as a brochure and listing of the month’s activities in here.

I’ll get your keycard for the room and by the time you get there, I’m sure Moses will already have left your bags inside.

Moses is deaf, but he can read lips, so feel free to ask him if you need help with anything. ”

“Thank you, Erika. We met Moses and Dax outside,” Pike said, accepting the folder Erika extended toward him.

“Daddy?” Dallas said, tugging on his shirt with the hand Pike wasn’t holding.

“Yes, baby?”

“Can I go look at the ghosties?” she asked, pointing to the fireplace where a family of ghosts had been set up.

“Yes, but don’t move from that spot. You wait for Daddy right there,” Pike instructed, “and wait to eat your lollipop until Daddy can watch you, okay?”

“Yes, sir. I promise.”