Chapter 4 #2
She decided to go for a walk around the Ranch grounds before dinner. She liked the idea of getting the lay of the land before camp started the next day. Snatching up her sweater in case it got chilly, she grabbed the map of the grounds and headed out.
Fiera wandered the Ranch with no particular destination in mind, boots crunching softly over packed dirt as the late-afternoon sun stretched toward the mountains.
The place hummed with activity. Voices drifted on the breeze, laughter bubbled up and faded.
Someone was having fun, and no one liked fun more than she did.
She was debating whether following the delicious scent of something grilling counted as stalking when she heard it.
The high-pitched, excited chatter of other Littles, layered with sounds of frustration.
She smiled, veering toward the sounds of canvas snapping and poles clattering.
Then someone let out the most dramatic groan she’d ever heard.
The summer camp area spread out before her, a wide grassy clearing marked with neat flags and half-finished order.
And right in the middle of it were three young women, who were obviously Littles, wrestling with a tent clearly designed by someone who hated joy.
One corner stood proud and upright. Another sagged as if it had given up on life.
The remaining two appeared to be actively fighting back.
The girls all spotted her at the same time. All three froze. Then, as if someone had yelled go, they all ran toward her.
The first to reach her beamed as if she’d just won a prize.
She had brown hair in playful pigtails and a smile so big it felt like it should come with a warning label.
“Hi! I’m Sadie,” she said cheerfully. “My Daddy is Master Derek. He kind of runs everything. If you’re here for summer camp, we’re gonna have a blast! I love your hair! It’s so cool!”
Fiera blinked.
Sadie gestured behind her. “This is Wren,” she said, pointing to the girl with red hair in springy ringlets that bounced even when she stood still.
Wren wore bubblegum-pink knee-high cowgirl boots that looked like they’d been chosen on a dare.
“And this is Daisy.” Daisy waved enthusiastically, dimples flashing.
Her honey-blonde hair was pulled back in a messy braid, and she looked like the kind of girl who said yes first and thought later.
“Hi,” Daisy called out. “Now, who are you?”
Fiera laughed. “I’m Fiera,” she said. “And… do I want to know why you’re trying to set up tents the size of a small plane by yourselves?”
The three exchanged looks. Not innocent ones. No, these were the looks of girls who had a story to tell... a really juicy one.
Sadie cleared her throat. “Okay, so, hypothetically—”
“Very hypothetically,” Wren broke in to clarify.
Sadie nodded. “We might have gotten into a little trouble this morning.”
“Yeah, like we might have tried to start a game of hide-and-seek,” Daisy said, nodding seriously.
Fiera frowned. “That doesn’t seem like something that would end with you all having to put up tents.” She glanced at the large pile of tents on the ground. “A lot of tents.”
“Right? That’s what I said. I mean, I guess the things we hid were the tools the Daddies were using,” Sadie confessed.
“And maybe some of the important setup stuff,” Wren added with a grin.
“Ah,” Fiera said.
“But we left clues!” Daisy said brightly. “Really good ones.”
Fiera crossed her arms, delighted. “Uh-huh.”
Sadie pointed at Wren. “It was her idea.”
Wren gasped. “Excuse you, no, it wasn’t. That was Daisy’s idea.”
Daisy put a hand to her chest. “I would never. This was absolutely Sadie’s brainchild. You know I don’t come up with these things.”
Sadie grinned. “That’s true, but all we have to do is dare you, and you run with it. And it’s rude to blame others.”
Daisy glared at Sadie. “You blamed Wren first.”
“Let me guess,” Fiera broke in before a real argument began. “The clues were found.”
“Eventually,” Wren admitted.
“But not the tools. But we found them for the Daddies once they got upset.”
“Most of them,” Wren clarified.
“And now,” Daisy finished, “we have to set up all the sleeping tents. By ourselves.”
“We’ve been at this since early afternoon,” Sadie said. “And we’re only halfway done.”
Fiera glanced at the tent, then at the three girls, then back at the tent. “I see your problem. You have four corners on the tents and only three Littles to get them in place. The math doesn’t math. Want some help?”
Their faces lit up in unison.
“That would be awesome,” Sadie said, clapping.
“Please,” Wren added.
“We’ll share our snacks,” Daisy promised solemnly.
Fiera rolled up her sleeves. “Deal.”
They fell into an easy rhythm, laughter punctuating the work as they figured out poles and stakes and who was tall enough to hold what where.
Fiera found herself laughing more than she had in months—real laughter, the kind that loosened something tight in her chest. These girls were her kind of Littles.
They were fun and clever and bold. And maybe a little too curious for their own good.
When the last tent finally stood tall and proud, the girls collapsed onto the grass, triumphant and breathless.
“That,” Fiera declared, “was absolutely worth the consequences.”
“Right?” Daisy said happily.
Daddies began appearing not long after, one by one, ushering the girls toward dinner with promises and gentle reminders. Hugs were exchanged as they made plans for the next day.
Fiera waved goodbye, her stomach reminding her that she, too, was very hungry.
She paused, glancing toward the cafeteria. The thought of walking in alone made her shoulders tense. Instead, she turned back toward her room, already planning another snack raid. She could make do for tonight.
If she had a Daddy, he’d probably scold her. Maybe even spank her. A shiver wandered down her spine at the thought and settled between her thighs.
But what did it matter? She didn’t have a Daddy.
She wasn’t even here to find one. At least that’s what she kept telling herself.
As she curled into bed later, full and pleasantly tired, excitement buzzed through her.
Summer camp started tomorrow. There would be games, laughter, and, if she was lucky, maybe a little trouble.
And maybe, just maybe, she’d see the cute cowboy again. Fiera smiled into her pillow, already looking forward to morning.