O
n that eighth day at the Castle, Rylee clung to her Daddy’s hand as the bus of departing guests pulled away from the front gate to the Castle. She could have been on that bus going back to cry in her battered car that would have returned her to the disheartening existence that her life had been. Only in comparison to her happiness now did Rylee realize how much of herself she had been losing each day in that small town.
Looking up at Dallas next to her, her heart melted just a bit more. Her Daddy was taking care of everything. Her battered car had been driven from the guest lot to the hidden employee parking area, and their things had been moved from the guest room into the employee housing. The Castle was becoming their home.
The final steps dissolving her ties to her old life were underway. She had faxed her letter of resignation to the town council, notifying them that she would not be returning to the local library. She would have to go back to empty her apartment eventually, but her lease required a thirty-day notice, so she had time to settle in here first. The manager had been sorry to hear that his least troublesome renter would be leaving. It was comforting to know that someone would miss her.
Rylee squeezed her thighs together tightly. She was a bit tender from her Daddy’s special treatment with that foreign-sounding vibrator he had purchased on their first day here. He had plans to return to the store today. Something in the display had caught his eye. She had a feeling that she would enjoy anything he selected as long as he was taking care of her.
For his part, Dallas compared the shattered young woman he had rescued from the bus with Rylee now. Her inner strength had helped her fight through all the challenges that could have kept her from living her fantasy, if only on a short vacation. Now, looking at the glowingly happy Little next to him, he thanked the Castle and its inhabitants for offering them a chance to live out their dreams together. Only here could Rylee have been restored to her optimistic self.
As the black kitten jumped up, Dallas caught her easily and helped her ease onto his broad shoulder. Rylee always giggled at this favorite perching spot. Laughing with his Little at the antics of the small fuzzy kitten, he tugged on the thick braid lying over Rylee’s shoulder. Dallas knew that the Castle had been helped by Karma as well.
The End