Page 65 of Finding Little Fiera

Her cheeks heated, but she wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or excitement. “I’ll wear them, Daddy. And we will be the first ones in the tent. You’ll see.”

By the time they’d finished their pancakes, washed their hands, gone back for Fiera’s sunglasses, and made their way to the campgrounds in a route that took them by the courtyard swimming pool, Daisy’s room to get her summer camper hat, and the petting zoo that was only open for an hour that morning, there were almost no spaces left in the art tent.

Mace was already there and waiting for them because, of course he was. After glancing pointedly at the time on his phone, he glared at her and held up one finger. Well, that gave her two more strikes to play with before serious consequences ensued. That shouldn’t be a problem since she was practically an angel ninety percent of the time. It was just that the other ten percent could come out some days to bite her on the butt.

She’d just have to make sure today wasn’t one of those days.

Together, the girls picked up a canvas and paints—red, blue, yellow, white, and black–and headed to the tables. Unfortunately, the sole large table left had only three empty seats.

Master Gavin Doyle, the art professor at Rawhide University, stood behind a podium at the front of the tent. He didn’t look any happier than her Daddy. Sheesh! “Sadie, Wren, Daisy… one of you take the single seat table. Everyone else take a seat at that table.”

Fiera didn’t want to separate the three amigos, as she thought of them. “That’s okay, Master Gavin. I’ll take the single table.”

Master Gavin nodded, ready to get things rolling. “That’s fine. Fiera, you sit at the single-seat table over there.” He pointed to the small desk-sized table on the opposite side of the tent from her friends.

Even though it meant she wouldn’t be able to get suggestions from her friends, it would be easier for her to concentrate at a table by herself. With a contented sigh, she made her way across the tent, navigating tables while trying to keep her paints from sliding off her canvas. At least her Daddy was on his way to help her.

Just the thought of him being near him made her feel better. That was until she heard a familiar but unwelcome voice. Glancing around the nearby tables, her heart sank when she spotted Laura sitting at the large table right next to hers.

She froze in place. Her Daddy must have noticed because before she could throw her supplies to the ground and stomp on them, he was there. Why, of all the tables in the tent, did she have to sit at the one right next to her archenemy? It wasn’t fair. She couldn’t paint a pretty picture sitting next to a table of people who hated her.

Mace had stopped in front of her, blocking her view of Laura’s table. “Let’s get you seated, naughty girl. If you hadn’t been late, you could have sat with your friends. As it is, you’ll have to make the best of it. Next time you need to listen to Daddy.”

“But, Daddy, I can’t?—”

“Fiera Danielle, Master Gavin is waiting for you to sit down so he can start his class. I suggest you get a move on and take your seat. Unless you’d rather head back to the cabin and discuss the meaning of the phrases ‘don’t be late’ and ‘or else’.”

Her bottom tingled. If she wound up discussing things with her Daddy, she wouldn’t be able to paint the picture she wanted to paint for him. She’d thought about it all morning. It wasgoing to be a painting of him, riding his horse across a field with mountains in the background and a storm on the horizon.

She wanted to give him something as a “thank you for being my Daddy” gift. She’d do anything, even put up with sitting next to Laura the Loudmouth Loser, if it meant she could give the painting to her Daddy. After the art contest, of course. She’d try her best to get a ribbon, but the best reward would be the look on his face when he saw it.

When he had everything on her table, he turned it so that she wouldn’t have to even look at Laura. He wasn’t just a hot, macho cowboy Daddy. He was a smart, hot, macho cowboy Daddy.

Leaning close, he said, “If the noise gets to be too much, firefly, turn your hearing aids down or to noise blocking. I’ll stay in the tent as long as I can, but I have to teach another lasso class. But I’ll be back as soon as I can. Are you going to be all right?”

Warmth swept through her. He was the perfect Daddy. “I’ll be fine, Daddy. I already know what I’m going to paint.”

“Can’t wait to see it, babygirl.” He kissed her forehead.

It wasn’t her favorite place for him to kiss her, but it was definitely in the top three.

Master Gavin scanned the tables, making sure he had everyone’s attention before he spoke. “All right. Now that we’re all in place, let me go over the rules. You should all have your blank canvas….”

“That’s her,” Laura says, her words deliberately loud enough for Fiera to hear. “She’s the one who ran into me and butted my head. You need to be careful around her. And have you seen her crazy hair? I mean, who does that? Who wants to look like a Disney villain?”

Turning in her chair, Fiera glared at Laura. “For the last time, I didn’t run into you on purpose. And you better stop talkingabout me, or you’ll be sorry.” She looked to the place her Daddy had been standing moments earlier, but he wasn’t there.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Fiera glanced at her friends’ table. Wren and Daisy were listening to Master Gavin. But Sadie was staring Fiera’s way, and she looked mad.

“Ooh, listen to her,” one of the girls at Laura’s table said. “She doesn’t sound so tough to me. What’s the matter, skunk girl? Eww! Do you smell that? I think she gets stinky when she gets scared. Are you scared, skunk girl?”

“Yeah, I don’t guess you’re as tough when the person you’re aiming for knows you’re coming, are you?” a different voice called from the same table.

Everyone laughed, and it took all Fiera could do not to shrink in on herself. She’d never done anything to any of the girls sitting at Laura’s table. Those girls knew nothing about her except what Laura had told them.

Master Gavin caught her attention. “All right. You have up to two and a half hours to complete your work. When you finish your painting, you can bring it up to the drying table, and one of the camp helpers will dry it for you before you turn it in. I’m starting the timer… now!”