Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
She hadn’t made it five steps into the lodge before the smell of bacon, pancakes, and syrup wrapped around Fiera like a hug she hadn’t known she needed. Her stomach growled in response.
Mace’s warm, steady hand settled at the small of her back as he guided her toward the serving line. “All right, firefly. What’s it gonna be?”
She spotted the pancakes first. Golden, fluffy, and stacked like little edible clouds. Her mouth watered.
“Pancakes,” she said instantly.
He didn’t even blink. “You can have pancakes.”
Her heart leapt. “Yay!”
“But,” he went on, reaching for a plate, “you’re also gonna have somethin’ that sticks to your ribs.”
She should have known it was too good to be true. She tried not to pout but failed. “Daddy,” she whined dramatically, “pancakes will stick to ribs. Everyone knows how sticky syrup is.”
He angled his head down at her. “Eggs.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
“And ham.”
She gasped. “This is tyranny.”
His lips twitched. “Scrambled or over easy?”
“Scrambled,” she muttered, shuffling forward in line.
He loaded her plate with two pancakes, a scoop of scrambled eggs, and a thick slice of fried ham. “See, balanced and delicious.”
She pretended to be angry that he was being so bossy, but she wasn’t. To have a Daddy who ate with her and actually cared what she was eating was a dream she’d never thought would come true. But it had. Temporarily.
Mine
Her brain kept whispering her claim again and again. When he got her juice instead of soda. When he carried it toward the tables instead of letting her juggle it.
A voice called out, “Over here!” When she followed the sound, she spotted Sadie waving wildly from a corner table.
Wren and Daisy were already digging into their food, eyes bright with mischief.
Fiera slid into the chair between Sadie and Master Mace. She was hyperaware of his knee brushing against hers under the table when he insisted on tucking a napkin into her shirt like a bib so she wouldn’t get syrup all over her.
Sadie leaned in immediately. “Okay, first of all… the piggyback race? Iconic.”
Fiera blinked. “Piggies are gonna race?”
Sadie nodded vigorously right back at her even as Wren shook her head just as enthusiastically. Daisy giggled, and when her Daddy chuckled, Fiera’s confusion grew and had her throwing her hands up.
“I declare a do over! Are piggies racing or not?”
Sadie giggled and made circles with her head until Fiera’s narrowing eyes had her straightening “Sorry.” She took a deep breath. “Didn’t you read your schedule for today?”
Before Fiera could answer, Daisy gestured with her fork at Master Mace. “Why would she when she can go straight to the horse’s mouth.”
Sadie appeared puzzled for a moment and then grinned. “Ah, good point. Okay, no piggies are involved, though we really ought to consider one of those races where you try to catch a greasy piglet. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“Yes!” Daisy agreed while Wren shook her head and Fiera would swear she heard her Daddy mutter something about God helping him.
“We don’t have enough piglets for that or sheep for that matter which is why it’s not a mutton bustin’ contest either. Maybe next year?”
Fiera’s head had been on a constant swivel attempting to keep track of the conversation. When the three girls paused, she saw her opportunity. “So, no piggies or sheep which means…”
“Broncos,” Sadie threw in. “Littles riding their Daddies like a horse and that’s just one of the events!”
Wren bounced in her seat. “I have been stretching since six a.m. I refuse to cramp mid-glory.”
Fiera’s stomach flipped. Not from fear, but more anticipation. She glanced at her Daddy.
He was already halfway through his eggs, eating like a man with a mission. “I told you you’d need to fuel up,” he murmured without looking at her. “You’re gonna need to dig into those eggs and ham.”
“I am perfectly fueled by pancakes,” she informed him.
“There’s nothing perfect about being fueled by nothing but sugar and spice,” he corrected calmly.
Sadie snorted.
Fiera elbowed him lightly. “That’s rude.”
“But accurate. And we’ll be talking about elbowing Daddy in the ribs later.”
He finished his coffee, then looked at her plate. “Eggs.”
She made a face and groaned. But when his eyebrow lifted, she forked a bite into her mouth.
“That’s my girl.”
Mine.
The word hit her again, quiet but steady. It did something warm and quivery in her tummy.
Temporary.
The other voice in her head was a downer, so she ignored it.
Wren leaned across the table. “So? You never answered. Are you two gonna do the bucking bronco event or not?”
Fiera swallowed her eggs. “I—”
Master Mace cut in smoothly. “That’s up to her.”
All three girls turned to her like she’d just been handed a crown. Heat crept up her neck.
“I don’t know,” she hedged.
Sadie gasped. “You have to! It’s the best part. Well, one of them. Everyone will cheer, and it’ll be chaos, and somebody will probably fall off.”
Daisy grinned. “Last time I came, someone lost a boot.”
Wren pointed at Master Mace. “You look strong.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I manage.”
Fiera pictured her arms around his shoulders, the world bouncing beneath her, laughter and wind, and being held up high where everyone could see. Her pulse skipped.
“I’ll do it,” she cried out.
Master Mace nudged her knee with his under the table. He checked his watch, then stood. “All right. I gotta make sure the field’s set and the bulls are aired up.”
Sadie perked. “The real ones, right?”
He gave her a look.
Sadie was persistent. “Right? My Daddy said we could.”
Fiera was pretty sure that trick wouldn’t work, but she crossed her fingers just in case.
“If it’s up to me, we’ll be using bouncy balls. And don’t think I’m not stopping by your Daddy’s office on my way out and double-check his suggestion.” He leaned down slightly toward Fiera, voice lowering. “You stay put. Finish your food. I’ll be back.”
She straightened automatically. “Yes, Daddy.”
His mouth curved just a little before he brushed his knuckles along her shoulder and headed out. The second he was gone, all three girls leaned in.
Daisy lowered her voice as if she was sharing state secrets. “They’re doing stick horse barrel racing too. With actual cones and timers.”
Sadie glanced at Wren before turning to Daisy. “That sounds like fun. I dare you to run the race backward.”
Daisy’s eyes narrowed. “I will if you will.”
Sadie grinned. “Wren and I accept.”
“Hey!” Wren glared at her friend. “Did you not just hear my whole stretching since six a.m. thing? I can’t win if I’m running backward.”
“I knew you’d be too chicken,” Daisy said. “I guess it will be the rest of us then. You’re in, right, Fiera?”
If they had to ask, they had a lot more to learn about her. “I’ll do anything that makes it more challenging and exciting.”
“Woo-hoo!” Daisy said. “Everyone who’s in give me a high five.”
Sadie, Daisy, and Fiera all slapped each other’s hands as high as they could.
Wren sighed and raised her hand. “Fine,” she said. “I’m in. Who needs a medal anyway?”
Sadie’s eyes went wide. “Okay. Now on to the good stuff. Laura.”
Fiera’s stomach dipped.
“What about Laura?” she asked lightly.
Sadie lowered her voice. “Did you see her face?”
Wren perked up. “Oh, I saw it.”
Daisy stabbed her fork into her eggs with purpose. “She looked like someone told her the rodeo was canceled.”
Fiera laughed, unable to help it. But under the laughter, a knot twisted low in her belly.
She didn’t want her friends to be looking for trouble with Laura. After all, Fiera was the one who’d started everything by not wearing her sunglasses.
She’d been defensive the day before, but she could admit it now. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw what Sadie was talking about. Laura glared at them from across the room. Fiera had hoped Laura would feel better today, and it seemed her attitude had only gotten colder.
“She keeps glaring,” Sadie continued. “Like she’s waiting for something.”
Wren leaned closer. “We could put salt in her orange juice.”
Daisy’s eyes lit. “Or ‘accidentally’ spill syrup in her hair.”
Sadie gasped. “Oh my gosh, syrup would be legendary.”
Fiera burst out laughing but shook her head. “You guys are terrible. But we shouldn’t—”
“Strategic,” Wren broke in to correct.
Someone cleared their throat softly. Someone with a deep Daddy voice. All three girls froze.
Master Mace glared at the girls at the table. Wow, her Daddy had a good glare and how had he gotten back so fast? “Nobody’s puttin’ anything in anyone’s drink.”
“Yes, Sir,” Sadie muttered automatically, and everyone else at the table echoed her agreement.
Fiera ducked her head. She hadn’t wanted them to do it. Not really. Fiera had thrown the first stone, and Laura’s pride had taken the hit. Fiera couldn’t blame her for looking for payback. And that worried her.
She cut into her eggs, appetite dimming slightly. Master Mace noticed. Of course he did.
“Eat, little one,” he murmured low enough that only she heard.
“I am eating,” she whispered back.
He nudged her plate closer. “You’re pickin’.”
She stabbed a piece of ham and popped it into her mouth to prove him wrong.
Satisfied, he turned to Sadie. “I still have to go check on the game setup, but Master Derek asked me to tell you he’d like to see you as soon as you finish eating.”
Sadie leaned across the table, planting her head on her folded arms with a groan. When she lifted her head, she looked at Fiera. “But seriously. She keeps watching you.”
Fiera shrugged like it didn’t matter. It did. There had been something in Laura’s stare. It wasn’t simple anger; it was calculation.
Wren tilted her head. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Fiera said automatically.
Master Mace pressed a kiss to the top of Fiera’s head, a silent reminder he was always there for her.
She exhaled. “I just don’t want drama.”
Daisy snorted. “Honey, you walked into a Ranch full of Daddies and Littles. Drama is part of the decor.”
Sadie nodded solemnly. “Like antlers.”
Despite herself, Fiera laughed, but her chest felt tight. She didn’t want to be the reason for tension. She didn’t want Master Mace dragged into something messy because she broke a rule.
She risked a glance at him. He was relaxed, talking to one of the camp helpers about the game schedule. He didn’t seem to be bothered. And why should he be? Her Daddy was strong.
Your Daddy is temporary.
The word pricked again. She took a bite of pancake, chewing slowly. Laura could glare all she wanted. Fiera wasn’t backing down, but she also wasn’t going to start anything. Not unless she had to.
Sadie bumped her shoulder. “If she does anything, you tell us.”
Wren nodded. “We’ve got you.”
Daisy lifted her fork like a sword. “Ride or die.”
Fiera’s throat tightened unexpectedly. She hadn’t had this before… girls at her side, her Daddy at her back. She swallowed and managed to grin. “No syrup sabotage.”
Sadie sighed dramatically. “You’re no fun.”
“Strategic,” Fiera echoed, and this time, she meant it.
Master Mace placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. He was already such a steady presence in her life. He couldn’t be temporary. He just couldn’t be. With him, she was safe. If Laura was planning something, Fiera wouldn’t face it alone.
The sun shone bright as they left the lodge to head back to the campgrounds.
Fiera stumbled, grabbing Master Mace’s arm.
He steadied her, then eased her sunglasses from the top of her head.
“That’s one,” he said, tapping her nose.
“You really don’t want another spanking today for not wearing your sunglasses. ”
The field beside the sundrenched campground spread wide, with the mountains standing like quiet sentinels, watching over the chaos about to unfold. Fiera felt it in her bones before her Daddy even called everyone together.
She couldn’t wait to start the first race. This was going to be so much fun, and if she didn’t run around soon and release some of this energy… well, things didn’t usually go smoothly when she had too much energy.