Page 26 of Rekindling Little River (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #14)
River
River snuggled in with their Daddy and thought about how easy it would be to get used to this. His strong arms wrapped around them, his warmth at their back, surrounded by his safety and protection. It was the stuff dreams were made of.
They lay there, pacifier in their mouth, swaddled in a diaper, and feeling the most carefree they’d ever felt.
It would be hard to go back to being alone when they got home.
They didn’t want to think about that right now.
All they wanted to think about in that moment was…
that moment. Right then there was no future, there was no past, there was only now and the glorious feeling that they were experiencing.
“I can hear you thinking, little one. You’re supposed to be sleeping.”
Daddy‘s voice was soft and deep and just a bit sleepy. River wasn’t sure they had ever heard a more beautiful sound.
They rolled over so they faced Daddy and touched his cheek, just staring into his face and taking in the warmth and comfort of his expression. Their eyes drifted closed, their breath evened out, and with their hands still placed on their Daddy‘s face they slipped into a sweet, dreamless sleep.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.”
River groaned and snuggled deeper into the mattress.
“It’s time to get up, babysaurus.”
“Don’t wanna,” they grumbled and pulled a pillow over their head to continue sleeping.
“Uh-uh, baby. You signed up for the guest class this morning in the Butterfly Room. It’s time to get up and change if you’re going to get breakfast before class.”
With a loud groan, River rolled over and tossed the pillow.
They really did want to go to the class.
“Too early…” Daddy chuckled at their proclamation, which they could understand since only a couple of days ago sleep was something they rarely got more than a few hours of.
Still, there was something about being surrounded by Daddy that made them sleep more and they liked it.
“Well, I wouldn’t say early considering it’s after ten, but if you still want to sleep more after class we can come take a nap.”
“What if I want to come to bed but not to sleep?”
The way fire lit in Daddy’s eyes made goosebumps rise on River’s skin and told them Daddy’s answer before his mouth did. “That could be arranged too, baby.”
River tossed back the covers and said, “Well, what are you waiting for, Daddy? The sooner I get to class, the sooner we can get back in bed.”
Daddy chuckled low and deep as he placed a hand on their shoulder and prevented them from springing up. “First things first, baby,” he said as he placed a hand on their diaper-clad abdomen.
River’s tongue poked out the side of their mouth as they carefully sprinkled glitter over the lines they’d drawn in glue.
They wanted their picture to be perfect because it was for their Daddy, and after everything he’d done for them this week, he deserved the best. Golden sprinkles drifted onto the swirls of the sun, giving it the perfect amount of sparkle to nourish the flowers of the garden River had drawn for it to shine on.
“Earth to River,” Tay teased, making River aware of the fact their classmates had been trying to get their attention.
“Sorry, I was focused.” They felt their cheeks heat in embarrassment, but their new friends didn’t seem to mind the fact that they’d hyper focused and missed something. They just continued on as if they hadn’t had to get River’s attention.
“What are your plans for the rest of the week?” Quinn was also sprinkling glitter but with much more abandon than River.
“I’m not sure. Daddy is taking care of everything for me, so I don’t have to think about it.”
“Well, maybe you could gently suggest being at the bonfire tomorrow night? We're all planning to be there and make s’mores and watch the Bigs play with fire and stuff.” Tay’s suggestion sounded like so much fun, and River knew they’d absolutely be making the suggestion to go.
“And we’re planning a swim day for the afternoon before we head out to the fire,” Quinn added.
“I’ll make sure to mention both to Daddy when he picks me up,” River assured them.
Tay turned their head and muttered, “Speak of the devil.”
River looked in the direction Tay indicated and found Daddy making their way into the room. Had it already been so long? Apparently, time flew when one had friends.
“Ready to go, baby?”
River nodded their head enthusiastically and held up their art project for Daddy to see.
His gaze took in the picture, pride lit up his face, and when he gushed praise about the quality of the picture, River knew for certain he wasn’t just humoring them, he genuinely loved it.
If the man got any more perfect, River wasn’t sure what they’d do.
Dave
There was a clock ticking in Dave’s head.
One that seemed to move faster with each passing moment.
With each individual tick, fear and dread rose in equal measures.
He felt like Captain Hook, developing a phobia of clocks.
But unlike Hook, whose biggest worry was losing another hand, Dave was well aware that the ticking clock he feared could very well shatter his heart. Still, every moment was worth the risk.
As he watched River splashing and playing with their new friends, he marveled at how easily his Little one had gone from fearing they’d never be Little again, to having not a care in the world.
He was honored to have been given the chance to provide them with the security they needed to hand over their worries and sink into that carefree mindset.
“Don’t even think about it,” he called out as River poised to run for a cannonball dive. He didn’t want to stop them from having fun but he’d learned quickly that Little River was not the most coordinated and the last thing they should be doing is running on the wet ground around the pool.
“But, Daaaaaaaaaaddddyyyyyyyy …” River’s pout was one for the records but Dave wasn’t about to be swayed. Not when it came to the safety and health of his Little one.
“Babysaurus,” he explained reasonably, “it’s not safe to be running on the wet ground and, besides that, the signs clearly state no diving in the shallows.”
“I’m not. It’s a cannonball. Absolutely no one could call that a dive . It’s a jump at best.” River’s sly grin had his lips twitching. Their headspace was clearly shown in their logic.
“No diving, no jumping, no hopping, and most definitely no slipping. Your health and safety are important, so be a good baby and go back in on the steps.”
River looked at the water, then at Dave, then back at the water and Dave wondered if this was the moment.
Was River about to finally test their boundaries?
Were they going to see what their Daddy was made of?
While most of him hoped not because he wasn’t kidding about the dangers of what River was contemplating, he couldn’t deny that part of him had been waiting anxiously for the moment River would feel comfortable enough to test their limits.
He didn’t speak or interrupt their contemplation time, he simply sat patiently, brow raised, waiting for River to determine their own fate.
Seconds passed, while Dave’s heart picked up speed.
Part fear and part anticipation. River took a halting step toward the pool stairs, before pausing and stepping back, glancing at Dave then back at the water.
They once again stood and contemplated, taking a step toward doing the right thing and backtracking again.
They repeated the pattern a few times before determination steeled their spine and defiance lit their expression.
Before Dave could even open his mouth to issue another warning, River took off toward the water shouting “ cannonball, ” as they went. Dave’s heart stopped in his chest as they leapt from the edge, tucked their legs up with their knees on their chest and landed in the water with a mighty splash.
Dave was out of his seat and at the water’s edge before the waves River had created even settled. River rubbed a hand down their face and pushed loose hair back, glancing at Dave’s now empty seat.
“Um, I don’t think you should have done that, River,” Tay wisely pointed out. Wisely, but perhaps a bit too late.
Dave watched River’s eyes follow the direction of Tay’s gaze. He knew the moment River found him standing there, wearing what he was sure was a thunderous expression.
“Uh, oh.”
“Uh, oh indeed,” he responded, hands on his hips. “Time to go, baby.”
“But…” Their bottom lip poked out and Dave had to remind himself of the moment of unadulterated terror he’d just experienced to keep from caving in to River’s pout.
“But nothing. Out. Now.”
River’s head bowed and they sulked with each step to the pool stairs. They paused at the top, turning to their friends and, in a display of utter dramatics declared, “Goodbye, my friends. If I don’t make it, just know, you were the best mates a pirate could hope for.”