Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
Poppy
Thanksgiving had become one of Poppy’s favorite days of the year at Rawhide Ranch in her very first year at the university. From the time she woke in the morning, she would always swear she could smell the delicious foods she’d indulge in later in the afternoon as the aroma of roasting turkey, sweet-potato casserole, and various pies wafted throughout the property on the winter wind outside.
And what was even more special was that this year, she was able to celebrate the day with her Daddy at her side.
Poppy smiled as the door to her bedroom opened. She had swiftly learned that it was against the rules to leave her bed until Daddy came to get her in the mornings. But even more than it being against the rules, Poppy found she loved the few quiet moments she shared with CJ before what was always a busy day ahead.
CJ had signed Poppy into the Littles’ Wing several times over the days leading up to Thanksgiving, giving Poppy the chance to do arts and crafts with other Littles as CJ explored more of the Ranch offerings, but today, they were spending the entire day together.
And Poppy was practically vibrating with excitement.
Lately, she had found a strange stirring deep inside her belly when her Daddy was near. And though it confused her most of the time since she had only ever felt that way about men in the past, she was fairly confident that stirring was desire.
“Good morning, sweet kitten.” CJ sat on the edge of the bed, pressing a light kiss to Poppy’s forehead as had become part of their morning routine. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
With a goofy, sleepy grin, Poppy looped her arms around CJ’s neck, holding the woman to her in a sweet, silly hug. “Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy!”
If CJ was surprised how easily Poppy fell into the habit of calling her Daddy, she didn’t show it. In fact, she’d told Poppy how it melted her just a bit more every time she heard the term of endearment—the term of trust —from Poppy’s lips. Poppy considered asking why but remembered CJ’s story and knew the woman liked being given a role where she could practice her desire to nurture another in a caring way. She had reminded Poppy several times that she was more than her anxieties and fears, that she could live a happy, full life just as she was. It made Poppy feel all warm inside.
Together, the pair made quick work of getting ready for the day, the energy of the holiday propelling Poppy out of bed faster than the days prior. Poppy squealed when CJ lifted her up around the waist and set her on the marble countertop in the bathroom they were sharing before handing Poppy her toothbrush already filled with the perfect amount of toothpaste on the bristles. It shouldn’t have surprised Poppy. She knew CJ was lean but strong and the woman had made it a point to visit the on-site gym almost daily, still Poppy was delighted with the moment of playfulness, with feeling tiny when so frequently she felt too big in too many ways.
Her emotions felt too big almost daily. Her fears had fingers and they were digging into her flesh with all they had. Only since she found some structure, some routine with CJ’s calming presence at her side, did those fears slowly begin to release the white-knuckled grip they had been holding on Poppy’s precariously balanced life.
Between evening bath time and morning routines, more and more of Poppy’s belongings ended up in CJ’s room every day until her own room was used for nothing but sleep, and Poppy found that it didn’t upset her one bit.
In fact, she almost asked CJ on several occasions if maybe she could just stay in her room. That maybe they could cuddle in bed at night just like they did on the couch during their now near-nightly Disney movie time. Yet each time she tried to say something to CJ, Poppy found herself shutting down, afraid of the strange, new feelings she was starting to develop for her Daddy.
“What are you most looking forward to today?” CJ asked as she put two perfect pigtails in her Little girl’s hair. Securing each side with a shiny gold bow, she gave Poppy a once-over before shooting her a wink and helping her off the counter top.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Poppy couldn’t help but smile at the reflection she saw staring back at her.
Thanks to her new nightly routine of writing down the tasks she wanted to get done the following day, Poppy was sleeping better at night. With her thoughts on paper, she didn’t have to sit awake until all hours of the morning worrying that she’d forget something, her brain seemingly calmer than it had been in years. The relaxed, rested version of herself in the mirror was just one of the ways her life seemed to have improved since her Daddy came into it.
Poppy’s dedication to seeing her Daddy smile had her eating her vegetables with every meal and drinking more water than she ever had in her entire life. She might now officially know where every bathroom on Rawhide Ranch property was, but it was a small price to pay for clearer skin, healthier habits, and the praise CJ showered her with in return for following the rules.
It was addicting.
And Poppy was terrified that it would all come crashing down when CJ left.
Still, they had a week and a half left together and Poppy was determined to make every second count, starting with today’s Thanksgiving feast.
“I can’t wait to show you some of the crafts I worked on this week! We made these beautiful tablecloths in our basic sewing class, and then we all got to color them with markers. I drew some pictures on one and wrote down all the things I was thankful for. Sadie said her Daddy thought they were so beautiful that they’re gonna be used for the feast today!” Poppy said as she fiddled with the sweet satin dress she wore. She’d begun to more easily sink into Little space with ease in everything from the way she was becoming more comfortable in her childlike dresses and skirts to how her speech shifted when she was feeling particularly silly.
Hitting her just above the knee, today’s dress was a pretty rust color and had fall-colored leaves embroidered around the hemline. Poppy loved the little white-lace socks and pristine sparkly shoes, and the sight of her Caregiver’s smile reflected in the mirror tugged at something deep inside Poppy’s heart.
“I can’t wait to see all of it, kitten,” CJ said as she ran some styling product through her hair.
“Are you sure? You don’t look too excited,” Poppy said, trying not to let the fleeting look she’d seen run across CJ’s face threaten her joy of the day.
“I’m quite positive,” CJ assured her, turning from the mirror. “I was just wondering if the Ranch has an on-site barber shop I could visit. My hair grows so quickly, and while I’m pretty easygoing, when it comes to my hair, I can be a bit meticulous.”
Poppy smiled in relief. “There’s a salon if that will work, though I’d like to say you’re beautiful no matter how your hair looks, Daddy.”
This time, CJ’s smile lit her entire face. “Aren’t you just the sweetest Little ever.” Holding out her hand, she added, “Lead me to these beautiful tablecloths.”
It felt like it took forever for the pair to reach the lobby. Of course, Poppy knew it didn’t take any more than the few minutes it always took to get to the heart and soul of the Ranch from their guest suite, but with the excitement in her belly, a day filled with her friends, yummy food ahead, and her Daddy at her side, she was beyond ready to get the festivities started.
She tugged at CJ’s arm, impatiently hurrying toward the oversized double-sided fireplace where several of her friends stood in various forms of equally adorable attire.
There were Littles in diapers and with sippy cups standing with their Caregivers. One young person wore an adorable puppy collar and matching ears while another Little she had yet to meet had on the most appropriately themed onesie reading gobble till you wobble . Throughout the lobby, stations had been set up hosting everything from a craft station with colorful tissue paper and handprint turkeys for Littles to create to a cookie-decorating station manned by Rawhide Ranch’s esteemed chef, Connor Blackburn.
Poppy briefly hoped that Chef Connor’s famous chocolate mousse was on the Thanksgiving dessert menu—she’d happily snack on that over pumpkin pie any day. And, for the sake of any misbehaving Littles, she also hoped that the man had left his often-complained-about wooden spoons back in the kitchen where they belonged.
Hayleigh, Chef Connor’s Little, came bounding up to Poppy and CJ, throwing her arms around her friend with a squeal that had several guests looking their way while chuckling fondly over the antics of the two girls who were acting like long-lost friends. While in reality, it had been less than twelve hours since the friends had last seen one another. Regardless, their energy was infectious and CJ laughed at the pair.
“Come on,” Hayleigh chirped like a happy little bird. “Let’s go make turkeys together before it’s time for the feast!”
With hopeful eyes aimed at her Daddy, Poppy looked to CJ for permission. And when her Caregiver granted it with a gentle nod and firm reminder that she would be watching Poppy from across the room, the pair of Littles scampered across the lobby to meet up with Sadie, Billy, Seth, and a few other Littles Poppy had been getting to know over the last week and a half.
CJ
The giggle of Littles was doing simply that—laughing and squealing with such joy that it nearly broke CJ’s heart. Already, she was thinking of reasons to stay at Rawhide Ranch past her check-out date. Grasping for any reason to keep Poppy in her life.
“You look like you’re in way over your head over there. Need a friendly ear?”
A woman with coppery-red hair and piercing blue eyes walked up to CJ where she was standing idly off to the side. It wasn’t that CJ was uncomfortable around people she didn’t know well, she just preferred to take her time, dipping a toe into the water to test its temperature as opposed to jumping in feet first. CJ gave the newcomer a small, tentative smile. “Just a lot happening here today. I tend to be a little more on the low-key side of things.”
Holding up a clear plastic party cup full of a dark-red punch, the woman clicked her cup against CJ’s. “I’m Amelia. I run the uniform department and help the theater teacher with costumes when they need an extra hand. I also sometimes help with stage productions at the university.”
Instantly recognizing the name, CJ’s smile grew into something genuine. “So you’re the infamous Miss Amelia. I’ve heard a lot about you in my short time here at the Ranch. Poppy has chosen to wear her own clothes while exploring the Littles’ Wing so far, but she has mentioned you on several occasions as going out of your way to help her both in the past and as she’s explored this new side of herself.”
“You know,” Amelia replied with a coy smile. “I could say the same thing about you. Seems you’ve captured the attention of quite a special young lady. She has spoken very highly of you.”
CJ knew better than anyone to assume someone’s gender, sexuality, or preferred kinks. Hell, with her short hair, athletic build, and non-existent chest, she sometimes felt more like a teenaged boy than a fully fledged woman. And while she loved her role as a Caregiver, it was still frequent that she was mistaken as a submissive based on her gender alone. Still, the way Amelia radiated a calm, caring composure in the briefest of interactions, CJ would almost have put money on the woman being a Caregiver, too. It made her feel wonderful to know Poppy had someone else in her corner, someone to help look out for her Little when CJ wasn’t around.
Glancing across the lobby to where Poppy was seated at a table with her head thrown back in side-splitting laughter, CJ responded on a long sigh that told of her internal exhaustion. “Actually, it’s that special young lady who has captured my attention.”
CJ knew their time was running short, still she couldn’t hold back her true feelings for the woman.
Amelia gave her a gentle smile and CJ could tell why Poppy gravitated to the young woman. “I know it isn’t my place to say anything to you,” she said almost shyly, “but you should know that she cares for you. Even if she doesn’t show it in the traditional sense, I can tell that she cares about you deeply. I can’t help but feel like you might be the first person who has ever put this much faith in her. And finally, after three years here at the Ranch, her confidence is slowly starting to show.”
CJ’s initial plan for her time at the Ranch was to escape her past—to escape the hurt the end of her last relationship had caused. And now, after less than two weeks with Poppy, CJ wasn’t any closer to figuring out her next move after leaving the Ranch than she’d been when she’d arrived. But one thing was for sure, she couldn’t lose Poppy.
Not because Poppy needed CJ.
But because CJ needed Poppy.
She needed her Little girl with the sleepy early morning smile and soft, green eyes. CJ needed cozy nights cuddled on the couch, quiet meal time of new and favorite foods, and lazy bath times full of bubbles and giggles in equal amounts.
People had platonic relationships all the time, CJ thought to herself. She could find intimacy outside of her dynamic with Poppy and continue to care for her special Little kitten. If there was any place to find everything she needed, Rawhide Ranch was it. And if Poppy wanted to seek out a romantic relationship outside of their dynamic, well, CJ would just have to be okay with that.
After all, it would mean she could keep her Little, her kitten, her Poppy.
Almost on instinct, CJ began to look for Master Derek as a plan started to form, feeling the need to talk to the man right away. Surely, the Ranch owner would be able to point her in the direction of a place nearby that was open, welcoming, and accommodating to those in the lifestyle.
She had enough savings that she could start a new photography studio and live comfortably for at least half a year. And though her heart was in erotic and boudoir photography, she would gladly take family portraits for the rest of her life if it meant she could keep Poppy nearby.
As fast as she had begun to look for the man, she stopped, realizing there was one huge part of the equation that needed to be factored into her plan before she could begin to put it into place. CJ needed to talk to Poppy, to see if she even wanted CJ in her life longer than the few days they had left together. Because if Poppy didn’t want to continue their dynamic, all of CJ’s frantic planning would be for naught.
The soft, melodic laugh of Amelia had her turning her head back to the other woman she had momentarily forgotten existed. “Slow down there, friend. I can see the smoke coming out of your ears. Look around, CJ. Take in the magic of this place and enjoy the holiday. Everything has a way of working out exactly as it’s supposed to. Especially at Rawhide Ranch.”
And CJ wanted to believe her.
But when she turned back to where Poppy had previously sat, the chair was now vacant, and she couldn’t help the sinking feeling that settled in her stomach as her entire world came crashing down.