Page 71 of Finding Little Fiera

Master Mace shook Master James’s hand. “I wish you the best of luck, James. I wish things had worked out differently.”

With a grimace and a nod, Master James grabbed Laura by the hand and dragged her from the room.

Master Mace gave Fiera’s arm a reassuring squeeze. Fiera’s head was spinning with the turn of events. Laura was gone. Fiera had a Daddy who was going back to Wilder with her. And she had three totally awesome friends.

Fiera was twitching with excitement. All eyes were on Master Derek. “This meeting is over. Master Mace, you and Fiera are free to go. Master Gavin, please let the ladies waiting outside know that I will be with them shortly.”

With a squeal of glee, Fiera ran to her friends and hugged each of them. “Thank you so much! You three are the best friends ever!”

“You too,” Sadie said. “I guess all those lip-reading lessons I’ve been taking from Moses paid off.”

“I’ll say,” Fiera said. “It sure paid off for me.” She was smiling so hard it made her cheeks hurt.

“I’m glad it all worked out,” Master Derek said, looking over at Master Mace.

Master Mace walked over and shook his hand. “I appreciate you taking care of this situation. You really know how to cut to the chase.”

Master Derek gave a grim smile. “It comes from a lot of practice.” Turning to Fiera, he said, “I’m very sorry you had to deal with that, Fiera. This Ranch is supposed to be a safe place. I should have stepped in sooner.”

That’s when it occurred to Fiera that she hadn’t felt unsafe at all. Master Derek had done a great job. “But you did, Master Derek. You gave me my Daddy. And he’s been by my side, keeping me safe the whole time.”

And just like that, she missed being in his arms. She moved back to his side, and he held her close.

“I’ll always take care of you,” her Daddy said. Looking down at her, he gave her a quick kiss, “Now, I think I promised you a ride, babygirl.”

Oh, he had. And if she was lucky, it wouldn’t be on Giddy.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Fiera squealed as Giddy danced around with her, sitting alone in the saddle.

Master Mace patted Giddy's neck, and the horse calmed. “I’m right here, babygirl. Giddy isn’t going anywhere without me.”

She couldn’t remember any of the songs she’d learned in Sunday school, so she settled for singing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”. Maybe Giddy would recognize some of the words and understand that Fiera came in peace.

When her Daddy said they were riding his horse, she didn’t know he meant they were riding his massive, woolly mammoth-sized beast. Giddy hadn’t looked like a Clydesdale when she’d fed him a carrot, but it sure felt like that now.

It wasn’t that she’d never ridden a horse before. Of course, she had. But it had been a very long time. Shetland ponies might have been involved. She wasn’t sure how her Daddy had gotten his hands on one of the Jolly Green Giant’s horses, but he obviously had.

Leaning forward, she clutched Giddy’s dark, silky mane. “Hey, Giddy, what do you say we agree to shake and be friends? My Daddy can be your rider, and I’ll be your carrot dealer.”

After Master Mace mounted Giddy, he settled behind her and bracketed her ribs with his arms and took the reins. That was all it took for her to forget about where she sat as heat sizzled through her body. How could he get her so turned on so fast? Desire spiraled through her like a windstorm breaking loose beneath her skin. A rush of bright sensation followed, shimmering outward in a thousand startled sparks.

He leaned forward, whispering against her ear. “Relax, babygirl. Daddy’s got you.”

Her nipples pebbled, and the world blurred at the edges. God, what he could do to her. Her breath quickened as a fierce, breathless longing coursed through her.

The horse huffed.

Her Daddy’s arms wrapped around her as his strong, calloused hands took the reins. She bit back the moan fighting to be released.

When he leaned forward, his beard tickled her neck. “All right?” His breath teased her senses.

She couldn’t help pressing herself against his muscular chest as she nodded.

“Giddy will do whatever we tell him to. To control him, we have to hold the reins tight and squeeze with our thighs.”

Oh, come on. How was she supposed to do anything when he talked like that? Now all she could do was wonder if her thighs would work on him, too. She already knew his would work on her.