Page 14 of Rekindling Little River (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #14)

River

The day before, River had tried going to the Littles’ Wing and doing some activities there under the supervision of several Bigs.

It hadn’t worked out, but they were excited to try again.

Something about Dave just holding their hand was already slipping them into a Littler mindset.

They thought that might mean today would bring better results.

Dave didn’t take them to the Littles’ Wing.

though. Instead, he took them downstairs.

River tried their best to remember what was on the lower level but the only thing they could think of was the Dungeon. Surely they weren’t going there. No, there were other things down there. River just couldn’t remember what right now.

Dave led them through a doorway and River’s eyes about bugged out of their head.

If that one famous fast food place thought they had the best play areas, they were sorely mistaken.

Nothing compared to the massive structure before them.

A floor-to-ceiling playground housed slides, tunnels, bridges, rope ladders, even multiple ball pits filled with plastic colorful balls.

And it was all sized for an adult Little.

River couldn’t wait to get in there and explore, but when they started to run across the colorful mats on the ground, Daddy stopped them.

“Shoes, sweetness.” He pointed to a wall where a shoe cubby held the shoes of several other people already playing inside.

They scurried over and removed their shoes in record time, setting them neatly into a slot in the cubby, then looked to Dave for permission.

Once he nodded his assent, they were off and running for the first rope ladder, shimmying upward until they reached the top and gripped bars to climb onto a platform.

A swirling tube slide was off to the side of the platform and River rushed over, ready to find out where it led the fun way.

By sliding down. They zoomed down the tube at lightning speed, a squealing giggle like they’d never let out before bouncing around the confined space, until they were suddenly dropped into a pit filled with colorful plastic spheres.

They grabbed an armload of balls and tossed them into the air as they turned in circles and laughed uproariously.

“First time?”

River looked around them, searching for the person attached to the voice. Finally, they spotted the head of dirty-blonde hair and hazel eyes fixated on them. They waded toward the other woman as they answered, “Yeah. I’m River.” They held out a hand to shake.

“Quinn. Nice to meet you.”

“Look out below!”

That was all the warning they got before another Little landed in the balls with them.

They came up giggling and proclaiming that it never gets old.

River could see how that would be true. They could also imagine the feeling could be addictive.

They wondered if they could get someone at Little Hearts Club to build something like this.

The tall, curvy brunette turned and caught sight of them and jumped slightly. “Crap on a cracker!” They held a hand over their chest and said, “I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s okay,” River assured her, “I just got here. I’m River.”

“Hi, River! I’m Hayleigh. How do you like the Ranch so far?”

“It’s amazing!”

“Are you joining the fun tomorrow?”

River wasn’t sure what Hayleigh was talking about, but they didn’t have to wonder long.

“It’s Pirate Day!”

“Oh, it wasn’t mentioned.”

“Well,” said Quinn, “it’s not an official thing. But tomorrow is International Talk Like a Pirate Day and we Littles all decided it’s Do Everything Like a Pirate Day.”

“That sounds so stinking cool!” River loved pirates and wanted desperately to join the fun. They hadn’t brought anything to make a good pirate outfit, though. “Do you think I could get a good outfit from the gift shop?”

“If anyone can hook you up, it’ll be there. Ask for Liam. He’s the best with outfits.”

“He really is,” River told Hayleigh, “I met him yesterday to get an outfit for dinner.”

“He’s gifted,” Quinn added.

“I told him he should work in Paris for fashion week.” River laughed at themself but the others just nodded, as serious as if they’d just given a solution for world hunger. “But tell me more about Pirate Day.”

The others explained the plans for the day and River found themself caught up in the fun of it and looking forward to meeting all the Littles involved in making the day happen. They had a feeling it was going to be a blastie blast.

River played with their new friends for a while, sliding, climbing, playing hide and seek. As they were running from Hayleigh, doing their best not to get caught, they suddenly found themselves landing on their knees. Hard .

Before they’d even taken a full breath, River burst into tears. It hurt. It hurt bad. Their new friends were at their side in mere moments, Quinn hollering, “River’s Daddy! Come quick!”

Daddy came rushing around the corner, stopping for a moment at the sight of their tears, before he rushed over to them, worry creasing his brow.

“What happened, sweetness?”

Dave’s hands were running over every inch of River’s arms and legs, pausing as he passed over their knee and they winced.

“I tripped and fell down and hurted my knee.” River was shocked at the high-pitched Little voice that slipped out, but it was the best kind of shock. Their Little was finally peeking out again!

“Let me see.” Dave tenderly felt around, asking questions and then carefully manipulated River’s leg to make sure it wasn’t broken or sprained.

Once he was satisfied it was nothing serious, he kissed River’s knee and asked if they wanted to continue playing with their friends, or if they wanted to go rest for a bit.

“I can play, Daddy.” No way was River giving up a chance to spend more time with their new buddies.

Dave

The sight of River in tears had torn at his heart.

He never wanted to see them hurting. On the other hand, it was a clear indication that their Little side was coming out to play already, and he couldn’t deny the joy it brought him to be able to give them the comfort and security to be able to let go like that.

They’d also managed to find new friends if the Little girls surrounding them and comforting them as they cried were any indication. Yes, it seemed the playground was a fantastic plan. He hoped his next plan was just as successful.