He opened the door, carrying her out to the car, loading her into the passenger seat.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling up at him as he pulled her seatbelt over her, “Daddy.”
13
Alison
The entire drive back to the ranch, Alison sat in a daze. Had that really happened? Had she left home for good?
She wanted to go back. The pull to her old life was strong like a magnet. The further they drove the stronger the pull.
She belonged back there. She couldn’t leave. She wasn’t old enough. She wasn’t ready. She could go back and forget all of this. That way her father wouldn’t be hurt.
She had hated seeing the anger in his face but the pain behind his eyes hurt her far more.
“He doesn’t like the fact you’re an adult,” Marcus said as if he’d read her mind.
“Who?”
“Derek. I could tell. He’s pissed that you don’t need him to run your life anymore.”
“You really think so?”
“Pissed at me too. He’ll be more pissed soon.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I’ve just remembered where I’ve seen his girlfriend before.” He swung a left, the trees flashing past as they headed further into the countryside.
“Where?”
“Remember I told you we had a theft problem at the ranch?”
“Vaguely.”
“She was the thief.”
Alison sat upright. “What? You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. Saw her on the cameras watching the barn. Reckon we should tell him?”
“Of course we should tell him.” She dug out her cellphone. “He’s not answering.”
“Too busy sulking. I’ll get Jack to ring him later. Might listen to his old commanding officer.”
Alison looked out the window for a while, not sure if she’d done the right thing.
“I still love him,” she said at last. “My father, I mean.”
“Despite him kidnapping you from the ranch? Despite him locking you in your room? Despite him trying to control your entire life.”
“Isn’t that what daddies are meant to do? What’s best for their daughters?”
He glanced her way. “Not at all. Daddies guide, that’s what they’re for. To guide their Littles through life, to protect them from harm.”
She groaned. “I wish there’d been some other way of doing all that.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll calm down eventually.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’ve known Derek a long time. He’s always had a temper on him but it never lasts.”
The car turned into the ranch. As they brought it to a stop near the main house, Alison looked at the verandah and recalled arriving the day before, seeing Holly in Jack’s lap, her ass being spanked.
So much can happen in a day, she thought to herself. She’d gone from pissed at having to leave home to rescued by a Daddy.
She still had the welts on her ass from the crop. She only had to close her eyes to remember how it felt to have Marcus inside her.
The man who’d disappeared from her life three years ago, the man she’d never stopped loving. He had carried her out of her house and brought her to the ranch where a job was waiting. All in one day.
Holly was sitting at the dining room table eating a pile of raisins, flicking through a comic book on top of a pile.
“I need to tell Jack about your father’s girlfriend,” Marcus said, kissing her forehead. “You stay here for now.”
Holly slid one of the comic books across to her. Alison turned the first page automatically but didn’t start reading.
“Everything all right?” Holly asked.
Alison explained what had happened, starting with her being snatched off the ranch and ending with the drive back. “I guess this is what happens when you fall in love,” she said when she was done. “People always get hurt.”
“Give your father some time,” Holly said, hugging her. “He’ll come around eventually.”
“That’s what Marcus said. Doesn’t stop me feeling shitty right now though.”
“You know what helps me when I feel like you do.”
“What?”
“Go into little space.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re a Little, right?”
“I guess so.”
“So act like one. Little space is a safe place to relax from the troubles of the world, an escape from the tension you’re feeling.
“Remember what it used to be like when you got a new comic or a new toy? All you cared about was playing and everything else wasn’t important. No bills to pay back then, no one to please. You should try it.”
“I’m not sure I know how.”
“You ever acted like a Little at home?”
Alison went to lie but made a decision that showed her she was changing. “I guess,” she said, confessing the truth to another person for the first time in her life. “Sometimes.”
“What did you do?”
“I put cartoons on and got my sticker book out. Used to put stickers on me sometimes, that was kind of funny. Then I’d do some drawing, that always made me feel good.”
“Then we need stickers.” Holly got up and took Alison’s hand. “We’re going to the playroom.”
“The what?”
“You’ll see.”
They headed out of the dining room and up the stairs, taking a second flight to the top of the house. A large dark wood door in front of them gave no indication of what was on the other side. Holly pushed the door open and skipped in.
“What do you think?”
Alison smiled as she entered. “I think it’s wonderful.”
“That’s the games console corner,” Holly said, “if you’re feeling grown up enough. Coloring in over there and that’s the reading nook. I spend most of my time there when I’m in here but there’s also these which I reckon is what you need right about now.”
She picked up two water pistols, tossing one to Alison. “What do you think? Battle to the death?”
“I don’t know.” She shrieked as a spray of icy cold water hit her face. “Did you just shoot me?”
Holly ran off laughing into the attached bathroom. Alison ran after her squirting as she went.
“Alison,” a man’s voice called from the stairs. “you screamed, what’s wrong?”
Alison turned in time to see Marcus appearing in the playroom. “Don’t you dare,” he said, looking at the water pistol pointing his way.
“Do it,” Holly said with a giggle. “Make Mr. Serious smile for once.”
Alison couldn’t resist. She pulled the trigger and water sprayed over Marcus’s shirt. He marched over in fury, yanking the water pistol from her hand.
“I told you not to,” he said, sinking into the nearest chair and pulling her onto his knee, ignoring her attempts to free herself from his grip. “I think my bad little girl needs a spanking to remind her what happens when she doesn’t do what she’s told.”