Chapter 2
Chapter Two
“I know what you’re doing, Derek.”
He cocked a brow, then grinned. “Just hear me out. I know very little about Sage aside from his father working for my grandfather. I could tell by his answers on the questionnaire that Sage has zero clue what the Ranch is about and as soon as I spoke to him, that was confirmed. I accepted the application as a favor to his father. Now, after what I just witnessed, I hope to never meet that man in person.”
“Jesus, how old is this kid?” And how broken, I nearly asked but managed to refrain. Many were broken and as a Dom, it was my job to help put those in my care back together.
“Not a kid, he’s twenty-one and very lost.”
“Derek, you know I’m just getting my footing here and I’m not in the right place for a relationship.” The infamous master of pairing people up wasn’t working his magic on this sworn bachelor.
Nope.
No way.
No how.
“Understood. If you’d have seen how he reacted when I mentioned the word punishment, it would’ve broken your heart.” He shook his head. “Burst into tears and gripped his rear to protect it. I’ve added a note to his file about it.”
“What do you expect me to do with him?”
“Well, he’s your new apprentice. My intuition has led me to believe he’s a Little, but since he knows nothing of our lifestyle, I’ve taken it upon myself to move him from employee housing to the Littles’ Wing and signed him up for 101 courses.
Travis has set it up so Sage will work in the stables with you in the morning and attend classes in the afternoon. ”
Good god this man just completely upended this boy’s life. “Are you sure that’s for the best or even what he wants?”
“Are you questioning my decision?”
Open mouth, insert size twelve boot. “No, Derek, of course not.”
“Good. Sadie is showing him around and getting him settled in. Figured you could take him to lunch, then give him a tour of the stables and where he’ll be working. Oh, and this is his first job.”
I groaned. “Great.” No use fighting a losing battle or risking my employment here. First job I’d had in a long time that I actually liked. Even if my boss was hellbent on pairing singles up.
Not. Happening.
“There you are,” Master Derek said as he smiled at his girl. “Sadie Marie, how did you get your pretty dress so dirty?”
She tried and failed to wipe it off. “I dunno.”
A head of blond curls peeked around her. “Are we in trouble?” His bright blue eyes filled with tears.
“No, Sage, you’re not but my naughty girl is a different story.”
“Sorry, Daddy.”
She was anything but sorry. That girl had an ornery streak a mile wide, and that was one of a million reasons why Master Derek adored her.
“Sage, I’d like you to meet Warner. He’ll train you in the stables where you’ll work in the mornings then he’ll walk you over to the school for your classes after lunch.”
Yup, Master Derek was leaving no stone unturned. He’d have this boy glued to my side—purposely. Still hiding behind Sadie, he was either shy or indeed the Little Master Derek perceived him to be.
Or both.
As I rose, he slipped further behind her the closer I got. “It’s nice to meet you, Sage.” He stared at my outstretched hand. For a moment I wondered if I’d forgotten to wash it, but a quick glance confirmed otherwise.
Finally, he placed his hand in mine. “N-nice to m-meet you, Warner.”
And a stutter to boot. Freaking Master Derek. When I turned and looked at the proud peacock perched behind his desk, his knowing grin said it all.
I’d been played.
No wonder the entry questionnaire was an extensive as it was. Bet the ones for established couples were half the size the singles were.
Sadie giggled, but poor Sage was beyond lost, his eyes darting between the three of us. How’s that old saying go? Just suck it up, Buttercup. With a deep sigh, I relented, though exactly what to, I hadn’t a clue.
“Let’s grab lunch in the cafeteria and get to know one another. Thank you, Miss Sadie, for showing Sage around. I’ll take it from here.” I didn’t even bother to look at Derek again knowing full well he was still wearing that shit-eating grin.
Silently, Sage followed me across the hall and into the cafeteria line. “Afternoon, this is Sage. He’s a new hire working with me in the horse stables.”
“Afternoon, Warner. Sadie brought him by already and introduced him. Welcome to the team, Sage,”
“Thank you.”
“Alright, let’s start a list of things you need to get. Pull your phone out and make a note.”
“I-I don’t have a phone.”
“First thing on the list, get you a phone. Otherwise, I’ll have no way to get ahold of you. Do you have other shoes besides the ones you’re wearing?” He shook his head. “Add boots to that list. Your tennis shoes won’t last a day mucking a stall.”
“Mucking a stall?”
Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
“We do them every morning. I’ll show you how tomorrow. Grab a tray and let’s get you fed.” Had a feeling we’d be in the Ranch Store for quite some time after this.
“This is all free?”
Our cafeteria selections were nothing to balk at. You could pretty much find anything you wanted to eat here.
“It is. Make sure you get a meat and veg.”
“Can-can you help me?” He turned those big blue eyes on me. Sage was clearly unaware of the depth in the weapons he harnessed. Curls to wrap my fingers around, large, pleading sapphire eyes begging me to take care of him.
F.M.L.
“I can. Since it’s your first time let’s go down each row, then you can get an idea of what they have.” In the end he wound up with a burger, fries and a small salad. “Good job. If you finish it all, we can go back for dessert.”
“Really?”
Wonder if they’d let me give him a whole pie?
Gallon of ice cream?
All the chocolate chips they had?
Shake it off, Warner. You can’t afford to give away the effect Sage has on you. That’s a big ‘ol Daddy no-no. Yeah, well, when I pull him onto my lap and feed him, he’ll know.
“Absolutely. Good Littles who eat all their meals earn a sweet treat as a reward.” It appears the way to see that brilliant smile of his was to bribe him with sugar. Duly noted.
“I-I’m a good boy.”
“I’m sure you are.” Tread lightly with this one, Warner. “Come on, let’s grab a table outside. The weather is too perfect today to spend our time indoors.”
Sage was in awe of our beautiful grounds.
Being an outdoorsman myself, I shared that love with him.
His head darted this way and that. His burger narrowly missed his mouth, dotting his cheek with mustard.
Had his parents kept him in a box? How was all of this so new to him?
I reached over and wiped his face, the beautiful blush on his cheeks was a wonderful thank you.
“Butterfly!” he squealed and nearly jumped out of his seat. “S-sorry. May I be excused?”
“Can you take two more bites of your burger first?”
His head bobbed. “Yes, Sir.”
Well, at least he had the manners part down.
Two quick bites and two burger stuffed chipmunk cheeks later, he was off, following the butterfly at a respectful distance. The second that beautiful monarch landed on his shoulder, his giggles filled the open-air garden space.
I slid my phone out and snapped a picture.
Most of the Littles I’d played with as of late were living the lifestyle in one form or another.
To watch this, for lack of a better term or perhaps the perfect one, butterfly emerge from the cocoon he’d been tucked in, well, this was something else altogether and I found myself in quite a conundrum.
Trapped between denial and acceptance of what could possibly be.
The internal battle was real.
Jesus, I’d only known the boy for an hour. What the hell was wrong with me?
I shook it off. Maybe my sugar levels were low?
Yeah, that had to be it.
I dumped our trash and put the dishes and trays in the proper bins. “Sage, let’s grab dessert.” And the most sugar-filled treat we could find for me.
He wandered back over, all smiles. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Not yelling at me for being silly.”
“Sage, you never have to thank me for that. You’ll soon find that at Rawhide Ranch, you’re not only allowed to embrace your true self, but you’re encouraged to do so.
” Getting into too many details may be a bit much for his first day.
Plus, the 101 classes Master Derek had enrolled him in may do a better job of explaining the lifestyle to him than I could, though I’d be there for any questions he may have after.
Sage grabbed two chocolate chip cookies and I snagged a brownie.
“Let’s head to the store.”
“That’s the biggest fireplace I’ve ever seen.” Sage’s head tilted back as he followed it to the ceiling. “Do they use it?”
“They do and they put an equally huge Christmas tree up in front of it for the holidays.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Afternoon, Warner,” Becky greeted us as we stepped inside the store. “What brings you by today?”
“Howdy, Becky. This is Sage, a new ranch hand, and he’s in need of quite a few supplies.”
“Welcome, Sage. Take a look around and if you don’t see something, come and find me. If we don’t have it in the back, we can order it for you.”
“Wow. Th-thank you.”
Sage wandered around and I watched, waiting to see where he’d stop first. Would he go for the toys or straight to the clothes? Huh, guess it was the wall of stuffies for the win.
“What kind of toys do you like?” He flinched at the sound of my voice. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I um, never really had any.”
How was that possible? “What did you play with when you were younger?”
He shrugged. “With whatever I found outside. When I wasn’t out in the yard, I stayed in my room and read.”
Immersing himself in fantasy worlds I’d imagine was a way to escape what was quickly coming to sound like a personal hell he survived.
“If you got to pick one stuffy from the wall which one would it be?”
His fingertips nimbly traced the soft fur of a couple of bears then over a butterfly on the end of an adorable brown one’s nose. “This one.”
I’d figured as much. “Which others do you like?”
“That’s easy, all of them.”
I chuckled. “Silly boy,” slipped out, far too easily. “Come on, let’s get you clothed.”
Boots, jeans, t-shirts and flannels. He even needed socks and boxers. While he tried on the pile we’d gathered, I snuck off and bought that bear. He emerged from the dressing room shortly after I’d returned with a pile of clothes taller than he was.
“Um, how much money do I have?”
Great question. “What did your parents leave you with?”
“Nothing.”
No surprise there. “Let me take those while you ask Becky to scan the card Miss Sadie gave you earlier to see what’s loaded on it.” Hopefully, Master Derek had the forethought to do that.
I followed him to the register, fully prepared to pay for everything when Becky’s words shocked us both. “Master Derek said for Sage to get whatever he needed for work and we’d deal with it later.”
Note to self, make sure and thank him for that.
“Is that okay?” Sage asked me.
“Whatever Master Derek says is always right. You’ll quickly learn that here.” I winked.
Sage’s cheeks pinked and he glanced away. “Thank you, Becky.”
“Why don’t you take the boots and hat up to your room, Sage, and I’ll send the rest to laundry for you. One of the submissives will deliver the clothes to your room later and hang them up.”
“Submissives?”
Becky’s eyes met mine.
“He starts 101 classes tomorrow.”
“Gotcha.”
“Master Derek also ordered this for him.” She handed us a phone box. “Sadie added all the important phone numbers into it including yours, Master Warner.”
Of course she did, at her Daddy’s request, I’m sure.
“Can you show me how to use it?”
“Absolutely. Thank you for everything, Becky.”
“You bet. And, Sage, if you have any questions, or need anything at all, feel free to ask me or anyone wearing a Rawhide Ranch shirt. Consider this Ranch a safe space.”
“Th-thank you, Becky.”
I had a feeling it was gonna take a bit for Sage to get settled in, let alone trust anyone enough to ask the millions of questions swirling through his brain.
Earn his trust.
A goal my errant mind just set for us to achieve.