Page 2 of Rekindling Little River (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #14)

Dave put two fingers up, kissed the tips, and held it up in a salute he hadn’t done in years.

If ever there was a time to pull out the old prayer-salute it was now.

He climbed the ladder with an ease and lightness one would not expect to feel when climbing to their doom but something inside Dave was saying his world was about to change, and he was more than ready for it.

River

“River! River! River!”

A crowd had gathered around the dunking booth cheering River on as one ball after another flew toward the target. Chants rang out of their name as the ball bounced off the edge of the wooden bullseye.

“It’s okay, little one. It just wasn’t meant to be.

” Dave’s cocky voice rang out from the bench seat and River renewed their focus.

Dave would soon see what “wasn’t meant to be”.

It might have been years since they’d pitched, but that didn’t mean they’d completely lost their touch.

Sure, they’d thrown nine pitches so far that hadn’t hit their mark, but since they’d given all their tickets to the ball mistress, River figured their chances of dunking the smug man at least once were still pretty high.

Three fresh balls were placed on the table by River and they grabbed one up, kissing the sphere before focusing their attention and recalling all their early training.

Focus. Deep breath. Home in on the target. Don’t be the ball, command the ball. Wind up and let fly.

Cheers erupted around them, as River’s pitch sent the ball straight into the center of the bullseye.

The target flew back, the seat Director Dave sat on dropped away, and through the clear walls of the tank, River saw him go under.

There was no sign of malice or anger that River had succeeded, just sheer joy in his situation, and if River wasn’t completely mistaken, there was a healthy dose of pride in the man’s eyes when they locked on River’s, and he sent them a thumbs up before pushing up to the surface.

Huh. Who’d have guessed that small showing of pride would affect River more thoroughly than anything ever had before?

As Dave took his place back on the reset bench seat, River instructed the ball mistress to give the rest of their throws to the people waiting in line and made their way slowly through the hopping carnival in the direction the silent auction would take place.

The selection for the auction was interesting.

There seemed to be everything from art to kink paraphernalia, toys to furniture, date nights to all-out vacations.

It was the vacations that drew River’s attention.

They didn’t have a partner to take on a date night, there was no one to use the furniture and toys with and while one stuffy drew their attention, it wasn’t enough to place a bid.

Mostly because Big River kept asking Little River where they would put a five-and-a-half-foot teddy bear in their tiny apartment.

There was a vacation though. Two of them actually, but River decided to put all their money into one of them.

If someone bid more than River had put down, it wasn’t meant to be but if they won the vacation, they’d be going to the one place on earth where they could be exactly who they were twenty-four hours a day for a full week.

Maybe it would help them get that spark back in their life.

River placed their bid amount on the form along with their contact information should they leave before the winners were announced.

Afterward, River strolled around and watched others placing their bids.

If they didn’t win the auction they’d donate the money anyway.

That money was reserved to help pay for Holly’s surgery and one way or another, it would.

Dave

If he’d had a partner, there might have been more that interested Dave in the silent auction.

As it was, he’d put a bid on this massive teddy he couldn’t even believe he’d bid on.

He didn’t want it. But the money would go to a good cause and he could gift it if he won.

The only other thing he bid on was one of the vacations to Rawhide Ranch.

He wasn’t ashamed to admit he placed a ridiculous bid on it when he realized that it was the same dates as the vacation River had bid on for the same location.

If they both won, Dave was going to take that as a sign to finally make a move on the Little who had captivated him for months.

With his bids placed, Dave stood back and watched those around him.

He tried to keep his eyes from trailing to River every time they were in his sight, but it was like they were a magnet his eyes couldn’t resist the pull of.

Those bright-as-fuck overalls weren’t helping him keep his gaze elsewhere either.

“The winning bid for this cuddly buddy goes to Dave Shepphard!”

Dave raised his hand to let the announcer know he was here.

He stepped forward, but instead of accepting the huge teddy bear, he turned toward the crowd.

“How about we try to reach tonight’s goal?

I’m going to pay the winning bid amount, but instead of taking possession, I’ll let the next highest bidder win. ”

Beau, who happened to be that bidder, stepped forward and after slapping Dave on his back, handed over his bid amount and then offered the same option for the bidder beneath him on the form.

One by one, those who’d placed a bid on the bear all came forward, paid the amount they’d bid, then passed the bear along the line until there was only the original bidder left.

He followed the others’ lead and then, took the prize and returned it to Dave.

Dave grinned and with the bear tucked against his chest, raised the stuffie’s arm and used it to gesture to the wall where the money earned during the fundraiser was changing.

With the realization that the amount needed had not only been met, but surpassed, the entire crowd erupted in cheers and clapping.

For some, those cheers turned to tears as Dave walked to where Holly Joy was seated and presented the teddy bear to her from “all of her friends who loved her”.

Holly hugged the bear to her chest, too stunned to speak, but the glow on her face said it all.

The bid announcer had to clear his throat as he continued to present the winning bids until only the last two prizes were left unclaimed. Dave tried to tell himself not to hope too hard for a double miracle.

“Trip One to Rawhide Ranch, all expenses paid, goes to River Arrow!” As River’s face lit up at the prospect of going, Dave’s breath backed up in his chest. He wanted this more than he’d even realized.

“Trip Two to Rawhide Ranch, all expenses paid, goes to Dave Shepphard!” His joy was so expansive it caused a wave of dizziness in him.

Or, that might have been drawing oxygen after holding his breath so long.

Either way, he had his sign clear as day now and seven months to prepare to win an elusive Little’s heart.