Daddy’s Little Innocent (Daddy #38)

Chapter One

Thomas walked beside Percy, the manager of the cattle sales barn, and discussed the herd of cattle he’d brought in for the auction.

“Do you want one of my guys to auction your cattle, Mr. Howell? I already know how much you want for them,” Percy said.

“I’ve got a bit of time, so I’ll stick around. If I have to leave, I’ll text you,” Thomas said.

Percy nodded. “Good enough...”

Thomas grabbed hold of the little person’s shoulders when they barreled into him. If he hadn’t, the person would be on their ass.

“Scrappy, I’ve told you before, you have to slow down and watch where you’re going,” Percy admonished.

The person looked up. “I’m sorry, Mr. Percy. Mr. Malcomb needs something, and he said to hurry.”

Thomas had yet to let go of the person and was quite shocked to see it was a woman. He would have guessed child, but the breasts, although small, told him she was definitely older.

“What is your name?”

The girl turned her attention to him, and her eyes widened.

“Scrappy.”

“Your real name?” he asked.

The woman’s chin rose. “Scrappy.”

He scowled.

“How old are you?” Thomas asked.

“Answer me,” Thomas said when she pressed her lips together.

“Twenty-one or two, I think,” the woman said.

“You don’t know?”

She shook her head. “How old are you?”

Thomas heard Percy snort.

“I’m thirty-two.”

Scrappy shrugged and nodded. “Okay. I have to go.”

Before he could stop her, she tore out of his arms and raced away. He watched until she was gone.

Percy cleared his throat to get his attention. Thomas turned his way. “Who is that?”

Percy frowned as he watched the woman disappear.

“She showed up about five weeks ago. I could tell she hadn’t eaten and looked exhausted, so I offered her a job.

All I know is she goes by the name Scrappy, and that’s about it.

She’s a hard worker and doesn’t ask for anything, but from what I’ve seen, she has nothing or no one.

I’m waiting for the day I come to work, and she’s gone. ”

“She stays here at the lot?” Thomas asked in shock. This was no place for a young woman to be during the day, much less at night.

“Yes. I’ve tried to take her home with me. Lucy wants to meet her, but she won’t leave Ranger and Jaxx.”

“Who?” Thomas asked.

“Ranger is a horse that was brought in for auction. One look at him, and Scrappy fell in love. She spends all her time with him. Jaxx is a dog that showed up here about a week after she did. The mutt won’t leave her side now.

She takes really good care of both. In fact, I’m guessing she spends most of her money on them and nothing on herself.

Both animals came in looking thin and defeated, but now look healthy and happy. ”

“She bought the horse?”

Percy frowned and shook his head. “No. The owner wants the horse sold, but I know it will break her heart, especially when she finds out it’s going to slaughter.

She’s trying to make payments, but she won’t make it in time for the auction next week.

I’ve talked to the owner about the situation, but he’s a real prick and wants the horse destroyed.

I guess it bucked him off, and now he hates it. ”

“Who owns it?”

“Kyle Langly,” Percy said.

“Fuck.” The man was a bastard with a capital B. “How much is the horse?”

“He’s asking two thousand, but if it goes to auction, he won’t get even close to that, and he knows it.”

Thomas nodded. “Show me the horse.”

He followed Percy through a couple of barns and down the aisle of the last one, stopping at one of the stalls.

The gelding immediately poked his head out. Thomas reached out and stroked the animal. “He’s attractive and looks sturdy. I hate the idea of it going to slaughter.”

“I do, too,” Percy said.

Thomas stiffened when he heard a growl from inside the stall. “What the hell?”

“That’s Jaxx. He can’t be with her when people are here, so he stays here until she comes and gets him.”

“I’d like to take a better look at the horse. Will there be a problem?”

“I don’t think so...”

“Hey!” Scrappy said as she ran down to them. “What are you doing?”

Thomas studied her. He could see a layer of dirt covering her, and her hair tucked into the back of her shirt. The hat on her head hid the rest. “Percy was telling me about the horse, and I wanted to check him out. Is that okay?”

She studied him. “If you want him, what will you do to him?”

“I’ll take him back to my ranch, and he’ll be ridden but well taken care of.”

Her shoulders drooped, but she nodded. She unlatched the stall door, snapped a lead on his halter, and walked him out. She held onto him, her gaze fixed on everything he did to the horse.

“He’s a beauty,” Thomas said.

Scrappy relaxed even more. “You don’t hurt animals, do you?”

Thomas shook his head. “No. Never. He’ll be pampered.”

Scrappy stroked the horse’s nose. “Okay. Will you buy him?”

Thomas hid a smile at the wistful look on her face.

“I think I should. Don’t you?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, yes. He needs a good home. He deserves it.”

Thomas nodded. “All right. I’ll have Percy take care of it, and I’ll have some men come get him tomorrow.”

Her eyes widened, and he could see her struggling to hold back tears. He had to fight himself not to pull her into his arms and reassure her that Daddy was there. Jesus, where the fuck did that come from?

“That will be good. The sooner the better,” she said.

Thomas looked behind her to see a large dog standing and watching his every move. “What’s the dog’s name?”

“Jaxx.”

She looked up at him, and he could see the turmoil in her expression, but also hope.

“Would you take him, too? He needs a good home.”

“Won’t you miss him?” Thomas asked.

She nodded. “Yes. But his future is all that matters.” She blinked away her tears.

He thought it took a lot of guts to try to find her pets good homes, even though it was clearly breaking her heart, and he couldn’t help but be impressed and very proud of her.

“What will you do?” he asked.

She looked startled for a moment. “I’ll move on once I save up some money.”

He studied her. “Will you go back to your family?”

“No. These two are my family.”

“You have no one else?” he asked. He hated the thought of her on her own.

He could tell she was starting to get anxious.

“No, sir. But I’m used to it this way, so it’s no big deal.”

Damn, this little-bitty person was braver than most people he knew. The dog moved out of the stall to lean against the girl’s leg. He was about as big as the girl. He caught sight of a bundle of something, maybe clothing. “What’s that?”

She looked over her shoulder. “That’s my things.”

“Everything?”

She nodded and frowned. “Why all the questions?”

How did he explain that he’d had an instant connection with her? “Where do you sleep?”

She looked at Percy, stricken.

“It’s okay, Scrappy. He’s a good man. I think he wants to help.”

“He will be taking my family to his home,” she said.

“Answer my question,” Thomas demanded in a stern but gentle tone.

She pointed to the corner in the stall. “There.”

His eyes widened. “Don’t you have an apartment or something?”

She shook her head. “No. I need the money for these guys, and I actually don’t know how to get an apartment. I’m used to living this way. I like it.”

He didn’t believe a word she said. Jesus, this little woman didn’t belong by herself. He was surprised she hadn’t been hurt or killed.

Thomas nodded into the stall. “You can put him away. I’ll be back tomorrow to get them.”

Her expression brightened. “You’ll take both of them?”

“Yes.”

She nodded. “Good. Thank you.”

He watched her turn the horse around and pull him back into the stall. He heard her talking to both animals before walking out and closing the door. “I have to go, but I’ll see you tomorrow. I want to be here to say goodbye.”

Thomas nodded and watched her run away. “This situation is fucked up.”

Percy nodded. “I agree, but it’s next to impossible to get her to listen to me and let me help.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Thomas said and started walking out of the stables.

Percy looked surprised. “You’ll take her with you?”

Thomas nodded. “Yes. She can help Daisy around the house.”

Percy smiled. “That makes me feel so much better. Thank you.”

Both men watched Scrappy talk to one of the officials, but Thomas noticed the three guys off to the side, leering at her.

“Who are they?” he asked, pointing.

Percy turned his head and scowled. “They work for one of the ranchers. They haven’t caused trouble yet, but I don’t trust them at all.”

“I don’t either. I’m going to have a few of my guys watch over her until I come back in the morning.”

“Good. I don’t like the way they’re looking at her.”

Thomas’s face darkened. “I don’t either.”

“Take care of the horse sale for me. Tell him I’ll give him the two thousand dollars he wants for it.”

“I’ll have it taken care of.”

“I’ll stick around until my guys are here.”

“Good. I’ll call later,” Percy said and walked off.

Thomas took his phone out and called home. “Hey, Lowden, send a few guys to the sale barn. I’m going to have them watch over a woman tonight. I’ll tell you the whole story later, but she’s coming home with me tomorrow.”

“You got it, Boss.”

Thomas stuck his phone back in his pocket and followed Scrappy around, watching over her until his guys got there. Fuck, that name had to go. No woman should be called Scrappy.

His men arrived with bedrolls, and he explained the situation before pointing out the person they would be protecting.

“We’ll take care of her, Boss.”

Thomas slapped one on the shoulder. “I know you will. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Call if you have any problems.”

“Yes, sir.”

Thomas took one more look at Scrappy before turning and heading home.