by Pepper North
At Bart’s nod, he continued, “I’ll keep you updated on the proceedings. The coroner is here to take Shaffer away, and my deputy will take Mr. Frennon back across the county line. The city police are waiting to take him to the hospital for treatment before they process him for jail. I don’t think he’ll get out soon. There are several warrants out for his arrest.”
With a tip of his hat, the sheriff turned to confer with his deputies. Looking at the bullet holes riddling the truck and its lopsided position on one battered rim, Rita looked up at Bart, “Can we drive the truck? How will we get back home?”
Bart smiled. “I’m glad you’re ready to go back home, Ritagirl. We won’t be able to drive the truck. That wheel and rim have had it. I’ll have to call someone to tow it to the repair shop. If I’m not mistaken, someone will be here in just a few minutes to take us home.”
He took advantage of their time alone to brush as much of the glass out of their hair and clothing. Bart had gotten the worst of the spray, but some small shards had reached Rita’s position on the floor. He could shake his head and body quickly to rid himself of the most superficial bits of glass, but he didn’t want his Little girl to do that with her head injury. Using the comb from her purse she’d abandoned in the truck, Bart had stroked through her soft hair as she leaned over before he’d carefully brushed off her clothing.
Before the police cars had even turned off their lights to begin transporting the men, a large SUV pulled up to the truck. Two men stepped out and shouted greetings to the sheriff who waved at them. Turning to the damaged truck, they both shook their heads.
“Sorry, we didn’t get here in time to help. I bet you’re ready to go home,” the tall man with black hair peppered with silver commented as they approached. The men looked over the shot-up truck with a sad shake of their heads. No one wanted to think of a Little inside that vehicle.
“You have my thanks for being here now. Even if I could fix the tire, I don’t know what else has been damaged. I’ll have the mechanics look over it carefully before my Little gets back in that cab. We appreciate the ride home,” Bart said, shaking their hands. His other arm remained wrapped securely around his Little girl. “Ritagirl, this is Greg Oldweiller and Josiah Davis. Josiah and his Little girl, Lindy, live at SANCTUM.”
“Lindy?” she echoed, smiling at the two men. Even exhausted, she was thrilled to hear about the other Littles living SANCTUM.
“Lindy is my Little,” Josiah answered. “She’s very concerned about you. Priscilla told them how nice you are, and now the other Little girls are jealous that she got to meet you first. At the gathering this evening, all the Littles worried about you both. I’ll be glad to tell her you are okay. How about if you pile into my car, and we’ll take you back to SANCTUM? We’ll arrange for someone to come pick up your truck later.”
Five minutes later, Bart sat in the back seat with his Little stretched out on the seat with her head on his lap. Rita tried to stay awake, but the smooth ride of the truck and the murmur of the deep voices lulled her exhausted mind to sleep. She slept as soundly as a baby.
Chapter 24
Stirring on the soft sheets, Rita’s eyes drifted open. She was so warm and comfortable that she considered going back to sleep, but then she remembered! “Daddy?” she questioned sleepily.
“Yes, Ritagirl. I’m right here,” the familiar warm voice answered as the bed dipped down in front of her.
Last night, she had been barely able to keep her eyes open when the SUV pulled up in front of Bart’s home in SANCTUM. Her Daddy had carried her into the house. After a shower to make sure all the glass was gone from her body and clothing, Bart had tucked the barely functioning Little into his bed.
“We’re safe now, right?” she asked, pushing herself up to her knees to look into his eyes.
“Frennon is in jail. Sheriff Underwood texted to tell me that the charges against him are growing. They’ve searched his house and found illegal drugs and weapons. It doesn’t look like he’ll ever get out of jail. You may not even need to testify,” Bart said as he wrapped a hand around her shoulder and pulled her forward to kiss her.
“Mmmm!” she murmured against his firm lips that pressed against hers so tenderly. Rita loved the taste of Bart’s mouth. Warm and slightly coffee-flavored, she knew that he’d been up for a while. Lifting her lips, she said, “I’m sorry I’ve been such a lazybones.”
“It was very late when we got to bed, honey. It was way past both of our bedtimes,” he answered with a smile.
“Do you have a bedtime, Daddy?” she asked with a skeptical look. Surely Daddies didn’t!
“I needed sleep, too. But you’re right, I don’t need as much as a Little girl. My job has me used to staying up for long hours. Animals don’t get sick just during office hours,” he said with a wink.
“Umm… Can I ask you a question?” she asked, plucking at the comforter that covered her knees.
“Of course.”
“Are you still going to be a vet? If we live here and your office is back in town, how’s that going to work?” she asked in a jumble of words.
“I have a partner in the city. We’re going to rotate our care of the office. We’ll go back to the veterinarian clinic every two weeks for a while to give her two weeks off. Meanwhile, I’ve already started helping an overworked country vet while I’m here,” he patiently explained.
“I get to stay with you wherever you are?” she clarified eager to make sure that her Daddy wouldn’t leave her in the city or in SANCTUM all by herself.
“I want you with me always, honey. Will you be okay being a vagabond and traveling back and forth?” he asked, watching her face carefully to judge her reaction.
“If I can be with you, I don’t care where we are. Being together is the most important!” she declared.
“Give your Daddy a kiss, Ritagirl,” Bart answered.
His voice dropped slightly, making her smile as she leaned in toward him. Rita had already noticed that her Daddy’s voice lowered when he was aroused. She still gasped when he pulled her forward to hug her chest against his. When Bart took advantage of her open mouth to sweep inside in a pulse-raising kiss, she leaned against him fully and encircled his neck with her arms.
Bart’s hands shifted to sweep under her nightshirt to caress her soft skin. Slowly, he pushed it up to her shoulder and then over her head. The Little shivered against him slightly as the cool air flowed over her body. She forgot about being cold when his lips captured hers again.
Holding her tightly against him, Bart distracted her with kisses as he unfastened the tape at each side of her diaper. When he lifted her slightly with one arm around her body to carry her back to lie on the mattress, she felt her diaper slide from her body. As soon as his arm loosened, the Little girl began to push his t-shirt up his muscled torso.
Bart was happy to oblige. His shirt flew across the room to land on the floor with hers. His hands began to explore her body as she wiggled in pleasure underneath him. The pleasure he brought to her body erased any embarrassment that she might have felt. Her hands roamed freely over his body as she tried to please him. The heat between them grew to an intolerable level.
With a groan, Bart ripped himself away from her caresses to stand by the side of the mattress. Quickly opening the drawer on the nightstand, he opened a sealed box of condoms and pulled one out to drop on the bed. As he rapidly unzipped the front of his bulging fly, Rita smiled at the thought that Bart had not made love with anyone else in this room. It was their private space.
She watched him, enjoying the sight of her Daddy as he removed his clothes urgently. Knowing that he wanted her as much as her body craved his was reassuring and arousing at the same time. Her eyes devoured his naked frame when he finally stood unclothed before her. Impulsively, she lifted the condom to hand it to this amazing man, watching the heat flare in his eyes at her eagerness.
“Open your thighs, Little girl. I want to see how wet you are,” that husky voice commande
d.
Shyly, she spread her legs apart, allowing him to see the glistening arousal fluid that coated her intimate folds and the tops of her inner thighs. When he breathed deeply to inhale the hot scent of her arousal, Rita could feel the wetness growing between her legs. His eyes fixed on the erotic scene in front of him as he rolled the condom over his thick shaft.
Deliberately, almost as if he was stalking her like prey, Bart loomed over her. He knelt between her thighs as his lips descended first to devour hers and then to press scorching kisses along her neck. One hand pressed into the mattress next to her to hold his body inches above her. She could feel the heat radiating from him and shivered at his desire.
When finally Bart fit his erection at her wet entrance, Rita arched upward to mesh their bodies fully. To her delight, her Daddy didn’t continue to tease her. He glided slowly into her body, possessing her fully. When he paused, pressing deep into her tight channel, she began to beg for him to move.
“Please, Daddy. Please now!” she urged as her hip rose and fell underneath him.
“You are mine now, Little girl,” he swore, capturing her eyes.
“Yes! Yes, Daddy. I’m yours!” she agreed with him, knowing that even a Daddy needed reassurance that her emotions echoed his.
“Wrap your legs around me, Ritagirl,” he commanded. It was the only warning she received as he began to thrust fully into her body. Waves of pleasure crashed over their bodies, cementing their bodies and their future together.
Chapter 25
Rita felt suddenly shy. Priscilla’s Daddy, Mitch, had invited everyone over for a welcoming party for the newest Little. There were so many new faces. She ducked slightly behind Bart’s body.
Everyone knows I’m Little, she realized with a flash of embarrassment. They knew how he cared for her and that she was wearing a diaper he’d just started to make her use. Rita wasn’t sure that she was ready for everyone to know all the embarrassing details of her life. Maybe their Daddies don’t ask them to be Little like mine does?
Bart’s arm reached around her shoulders and drew her out from her hiding spot. Leaning over, he whispered, “It’s okay, Ritagirl. These people accept you for who you are - a precious Little girl.”
She looked at him skeptically. A burst of laughter drew her attention over to her friend, Priscilla. Rita didn’t like that she was laughing at her.
“Oh, don’t get mad. I’m sorry. It’s just that we had a bet,” Priscilla pointed to the four women standing with her. “We wondered how long it would take you to look at your Daddy just that way. Like he was an alien from outer space speaking some kind of weird language. We don’t understand them either some days.”
The others nodded and smiled at Rita. Instantly the newest Little relaxed a bit. Maybe they’re really just like me? Rita smiled back and immediately was surrounded by the Little girls who rushed forward to hug her.
Everyone was so excited to see her. They’d even put on nametags they’d decorated to help her learn their names. Priscilla, Shelby, Lindy, and Poppy all lived at SANCTUM all the time, but Samantha and her Daddy had come for the occasion as well. Rita peeked over her shoulder to look for the sheriff that had saved them from the two horrible men. He waved cheerfully with a big smile.
“When my Daddy told me he’d already met you, I was sooo jealous!” the full-figured Samantha informed her, stressing the one word to express just how jealous she had been. “Then, he told me you’d had bad guys after you. I’m sorry you met him that way. I’m glad I get to meet you at a party. Now, we get to have fun!”
“And Priscilla got to meet you and feed the new calves with you! I’m super jealous that I haven’t gotten to see them yet,” Shelby sent a reproving glance over at two men that stood together with the Daddies.
Beau noticed and replied, “I promise Shelby, tomorrow. Now that your tummy feels better after being cleaned out, you’ll be able to enjoy seeing the new calves so much more.”
Shelby’s face turned a deep red color. She turned back to the Little girls who all huddled around her in sympathy.
“I hate enemas too, but I always feel so much better after Daddy treats my tummy,” Lindy said in an embarrassed whisper.
Me too echoed around the group, and Rita knew that all their Daddies were as dedicated to taking care of their health as Bart was. She smiled at the Littles. “I’m glad to meet you. I was sure that I was the only Little in the world!”
“We all did! But we’re not!” Poppy rushed to reassure her. “Come on. You need to make a name tag. Then, we’ll introduce you to our Daddies, so you know who goes with whom.”
“Then we’ll make s’mores!” Shelby enthused.
“For dessert, Little girl. You have to eat your veggies and hamburger first,” a deep voice came from behind them.
“Yes, Daddy!” Shelby agreed before turning back to the Littles. She leaned in and whispered, “They hear everything!”
“You have two Daddies?” Rita asked wide-eyed.
“Yes. It’s wonderful… and dangerous for my behind,” she winked at Rita. “Come on.”
The Littles pulled Rita to a low table surrounded by chairs with short legs on the deck outside. Priscilla explained that it was her craft table where she colored and painted. She created beautiful things outside because “Daddy says glitter is dangerous inside!” They sat down to help Rita decorate her nametag. When it was proclaimed beautiful by all, Rita put it on with a huge smile.
Next, they escorted her over to the group of Daddies gathered around the barbecue grill. After all the introductions, Rita’s brain couldn’t remember everyone’s name. When she looked to him with confusion apparent in her gaze, Bart added, “Rita is recovering from a concussion. She’ll need to ask everyone’s name a few more times before she’d be able to remember.”
Rita beamed at him for understanding how she was feeling and making sure that everyone didn’t think she was being rude if she didn’t know their names. When all the Daddies decided that they needed to make nametags, the group of men moved over to the craft table. Sitting in the low chairs with their knees up around their ears made all the Little girls laugh. Their giggles continued when they watched the nametag creations that the Daddies were concocting.
Fun activities entertained the Littles as the badge-wearing Daddies began to put together the meal. Shelby taught everyone to make daisy chains, and they each made one for their Daddies to wear like crowns on their heads. They looked so silly as each Daddy tried to balance one on his head. Mitch ended up grilling his with the hamburgers when he forgot and looked down to flip the patties. By dinner time, they had all disintegrated.
Sitting on their Daddies’ laps, the Littles ate until their tummies were bulging. No one thought they could eat another bite until Priscilla whispered the magic word, smores. Then, everyone could find room for one of the gooey desserts that had become a tradition at their cookouts.
With the last bite of her smore clutched firmly in her hand, Rita fell asleep on her Daddy’s lap. Bart plucked it from her hand and chewed as the conversation of the men around the fire pit continued for another hour. The Daddies enjoyed getting together as much as the Littles.
Finally, it was time for everyone to return to their homes. Smoothly rising from their chair, the Daddies all said a quiet goodbye as they set off down the paths to their homes or back to trucks to drive home. Sheriff Underwood and Samantha’s house was still in the construction phase. They would spend the night at Mitch and Priscilla’s home.
The two remaining Daddies laid their Littles down for the night in Priscilla’s nursery. A mattress on the floor served to cradle Samantha comfortably. A few minutes later, they met in the kitchen for a cup of coffee and some time to talk.
“Do you think Rita will have to testify against that scumbag?” Mitch asked with a scowl.
“No. I’m afraid he was targeted by a group of inmates in the city prison and killed. He’d escaped his last jail sentence by informing on the ringleaders of a large dr
ug smuggling group. The warden had believed he’d be safe with the small population of felons waiting for their case to go to trial. Unfortunately, the communication links between inmates are more extensive than he realized. Carl Frennon was fatally stabbed in the showers,” Ben informed him.
“I’m glad she won’t have to go through that stress,” Mitch commented after a pause.
“Me, too,” the sheriff answered. The kitchen was quiet for a few minutes as they each considered the path that had brought each of the Littles to SANCTUM.
Finally, Ben mentioned, “I was interested to see that Greg Oldweiller came with Josiah to help Bart and Rita.”
“Yes, he was here. He’s been here a lot when we have loads of hay being delivered from the farm bordering SANCTUM to the east. Someday, we’ll have enough men here full time to bale our own hay, but for now, we can buy it from a woman who lives next door,” Mitch shared. “We all think she needs the money.”
“And Greg’s up here each time she delivers a load?” Ben asked with a spark in his eye.
“He is,” Mitch answered with a big grin.
Chapter 26
Bart escorted Rita back to the bar to thank the waitresses who had reported her missing. The previous bar owner had repurchased the establishment from the bank when Eddie Shaffer’s heir had defaulted on the loan. He’d profited greatly between the amount he’d sold the bar for and the cost to reclaim it. And he’d had a long vacation with his wife. He considered it a win-win, and all the employees were glad to have him back.
Those staff who had worked with Rita greeted her with hugs and lots of questions. Over a plate of her favorite bar food, nachos, and a tall glass of iced tea, Rita explained all that happened that night.
“Why didn’t you yell? We would have helped you!” one waitress demanded with her hands on her hips.
“He had a gun and threatened to shoot anyone that intervened. It was better that I go with him so you all would be safe,” Rita tried to explain.
