Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
That evening, Sage sat at the end of Rose’s bed with her knees tucked under her, drinking in every single word as Grady read the dragon story aloud.
His deep, rumbling voice was perfect for the dragon character, and it wrapped around her like the warmest, safest blanket in the world.
She made a secret little mental note to add “being read to” to her own bedtime routine.
She could already picture herself curled up against his broad chest, listening to that same gravelly voice tell her she was his good girl while he stroked her hair. Her heart did a hopeful little flip.
When he finished the story, Rose looked up at him with big light blue eyes and whispered, “Again, please.”
Sage’s heart melted into a warm, gooey puddle right there on the quilt. She had to press her hands together tightly to keep from clapping like an overexcited kindergartener. Now that Rose was speaking, Sage couldn’t get enough of her Rosie-girl’s soft, beautiful voice.
Of course, Grady read the story again. Sage knew he’d deny Rose nothing.
Every time Rose said anything, his voice seemed to thicken with emotion.
Sage watched him the whole time, her chest aching with how gently he treated his daughter.
The way his big, rough hands turned the pages so carefully, the way his stern face softened every time Rose leaned closer.
When Rose finally drifted off, Grady tucked the blankets around her with such careful hands that Sage’s heart ached. Then he turned to her.
Sage’s breath caught as he looked down at her. That stern, gruff expression was back, but there was something softer underneath it tonight. He held out his hand, and she slipped her smaller one into it without hesitation, letting him pull her to her feet and lead her down the hall to her own room.
They walked without a word. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, Grady cupped her face with both hands and kissed her goodnight—thoroughly.
Deep and slow and possessive, the kind of kiss that made her knees weak and her bottom tingle with remembered heat.
Sage melted against him instantly, whimpering softly into his mouth as her hands fisted in his shirt.
She wanted more. She wanted him to stay.
She wanted to be his good girl so badly it hurt.
When he finally pulled back, she looked up at him. Her heart beat so fast there was no way he couldn’t hear it. Would tonight be the night he would stay with her for a while?
Every night she asked him, and every night, he told her no. It was starting to give her a complex. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Daddy… can you stay? Just for a little while?”
Grady’s jaw tightened. She knew his answer before he even spoke.
Something dark and conflicted flickered across his face.
She wondered if he was concerned about how their intimacy would affect Rose.
She knew Rose’s welfare was above every consideration in his mind.
She felt the same way. But she thought Rose was probably tougher than Grady gave her credit for.
Of course, considering the last two years, she couldn’t really blame him.
To her disappointment, he brushed his thumb over her cheek.
“Not tonight, Wildfire.”
Sage’s heart hurt, but she refused to cry. The last thing she wanted was for him to stay because she had made him feel guilty. But it was still hard to understand why, after all they’d talked about, he wouldn’t stay for a little while.
She tucked her hands under her bottom so he wouldn’t see them tremble. She nodded, doing her best to put on a brave front even as confusion crept higher.
Was it something she’d said? Or done? Maybe she’d talked too much at dinner. Or maybe he was tired of her already. He probably went to bed every night regretting that he'd ever asked her to be his Little.
She climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.
“Would you at least tuck me in?” she asked.
“Of course, babygirl.”
Walking over, he gently tucked the sheets all around her. When he tucked them around her rear, she noticed a slight hesitation and felt a light tap to her backside.
Lying completely still, she waited to see if he might lie down beside her.
“Good night, babygirl,” was all he said before going out the door.
The tap on the rear was tantalizing. She kept imagining how it would be over his knee. To distract herself, she counted sheep, but that didn’t help. She hugged Kiwi tight to her chest and whispered into the stuffie’s ear, “He still wants me, right?”
Kiwi nodded, or she would have if her neck would bend. But even that didn’t help. The worry wouldn’t go away.
Then it struck her. The best way to show him how much she wanted to stay was to fit in better. And what better way to fit in on the ranch than to practice riding? If she could do that, he’d see she was trying. He’d see she belonged here with him and Rose.
Okay, it was against the rules. She knew that when she slipped out of bed. But she was only trying to do better. Surely he’d understand that. Besides, what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Or her, for that matter. She ignored the twitchy feeling in her bottom.
She tiptoed through the quiet, spooky house, leaving her boots off so she wouldn’t wake anyone. She didn’t need boots, anyway. Thankful for the full moon lighting her way, she hurried toward the barn, bare feet cold on the grass.
Just a little practice, she told herself. Then she’d come right back inside and be his good girl again. He’d never even know.
Once inside the barn, she looked down the row of horses.
Daisy was too mild, she decided. She needed more of a challenge. So instead of the sweet mare, she chose Buttercup. Buttercup sounded gentle. With a name like Buttercup, Sage should be fine.
In the dark, it was hard to find things, so she flipped on the barn light. Pulling the saddle off the gate was harder than it looked. That saddle was heavy. She stumbled back, saddle in hand, and knocked over a bucket filled with horseshoe nails, scattering them everywhere.
She froze.
As it turned out, a nail bucket falling could be very loud. The crash sent a clatter echoing through the barn like thunder. Not moving, she listened for the sound of the house door opening. When it didn’t come, she let out a relieved breath and continued on.
Sage walked into Buttercup’s stall and dropped the saddle inside the gate, her heart racing so hard she could feel it in her throat. Picking up the saddle, she lurched forward, trying to lift the saddle high enough to get it on Buttercup’s back.
She’d thought the palomino was gentle, but right now Buttercup was dancing sideways, hooves shifting nervously on the straw as if trying to avoid Sage. She clung to the saddle with both hands, trying desperately to keep her balance, while the heavy load made her lean sideways.
Choosing Buttercup had seemed like such a good idea. All she’d wanted was to show her Daddy she could learn to ride a horse so he would be proud of her and want her to stay. Now she was beginning to panic.
Buttercup was snorting and sidestepping. The horse had nearly knocked her off her feet twice already. As she tried to move out of the way this time, her bare foot landed on something sharp. What else could possibly go wrong?
It was about that time she heard the bang of the door against the barn wall. She looked up. There stood her Daddy holding a gun, and he looked… less than impressed with her plan.
Uh-oh.
This was not going to be good.
First putting the gun on top of a box, Grady moved toward her like lightning. He grabbed Buttercup’s halter with one big hand and calmed the animal with a firm stroke and a low, commanding voice. The pony settled almost instantly under his authority.
Sage lowered the saddle to the ground and stayed bent over, trying to breathe. Two boots walked into her field of vision. Turning her face up to his, she smiled and waved. “Wait till you hear my explanation. It’s really a funny story.”
“I am laughing already,” he said.
Strange, he didn't look like he was laughing, she thought. His face was a storm. Worry, shock, and pure, thunderous anger flashed across it in rapid succession. She felt very small all of a sudden, her bare toes curling into the straw as heat rushed to her cheeks.
“Wildfire,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous, “what in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Sage’s bottom clenched at the sound of that tone.
She shifted on her feet, feeling smaller and squirmier by the second.
“I… I wanted to surprise you,” she whispered, voice wobbling.
She paused for a minute. Standing up straight, she put her hands beside her face with fingers splayed, smiled as big as she could, and said, “Surprise!”
Grady’s jaw flexed. Towering over her, he didn’t seem amused.
That strict Daddy look pinned her in place like a butterfly on a board.
“Let me get this straight. You snuck out of the house, barefoot… in the dark. Then you tried to climb on a horse you don’t know how to handle, after I specifically told you not to put yourself in danger. And you did all this to surprise me?”
“Well, when you put it that way, anything can sound bad.”
His eyebrow rose at the same time as his voice rose. “It is bad.”
The rebuke stung. Her eyes filled with unshed tears, but something else was happening too. Underneath the shame was that familiar fluttery warmth—the one that always appeared when he got all strict and protective.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered, voice tiny and sincere. “I just wanted to make you proud of me so you’d want to stay with me when you put me to bed.”
Grady exhaled through his nose, rubbing a hand down his face.
For a moment, she thought maybe the warm, loving Daddy who held her close and kept her safe would overrule the strict Daddy ready to bust her bottom, not really sure which one she wanted.
She took a step forward to hug him, but when she did, the pain in her foot had somehow gotten permission to express itself and remind her of the injury.
“Ouch,” she said and started to falter.
He reached out and gently lifted her into his arms. He walked out of the area where the nails had scattered before setting her back on her feet in front of him.
“You’re going to be one very sorry little girl in about two minutes,” he promised. “First, I want to take a look at that foot,” he said, voice low and firm. He reached up and pulled a first aid kit off a bracket on the wall Sage hadn’t even noticed was there.
“And then, Wildfire, you and I are going to have a long talk about following rules.”