Heart Song Anthology by Carolyn Faulkner (e reader pdf best TXT) 📕

wanted my own little one.” He reached for Sally’s hand. “Sally has agreed to come with me.”

Sally squirmed with excitement in her chair. “Come with us, Mindy. Please come too. I know Ike wants you to. He wants his own little girl.”

Ike took over. “We will cater to other Littles. It will be a special place where daddies and mommies can bring their little ones and not be judged. We can offer hikes and fishing and camping and other things.” Ike left his chair to come around to Mindy’s and to her surprise, he got down on one knee. “Please Mindy, will you be my little one forever? Marry me. Shaun and Sally are getting married on Valentine’s Day. Please agree to marry me alongside them.” He held out a ring, blushing slightly. “I got this yesterday when we were shopping.”

Mindy was astonished to say the least. “Oh, Ike! I would love to marry you! I know we haven’t known each other long, but I feel in my heart you are the daddy for me.”

Ike slipped the ring on her finger and reached up to give her a kiss, before he stood and returned to his chair, pulling her onto his lap. “Now will you go with me to Wyoming and start a new life with me? Or do we go somewhere else? I have to tell you I cannot stay here, it is too close to my stepmother.”

She hadn’t met his father or stepmother yet, but she knew he had reasons for refusing to see them. She looked over at Sally, who was squirming so much that Shaun had to give her a warning to sit still.

“Yes, sir!” was all she said. “I would be happy to come with you and to marry you on Valentine’s Day.”

Ike gathered her closer. “You have made me the happiest man, little one. We have a lot to do before then, like prepare our home. I need to introduce you to Clint and Adam. They will be joining us at the ranch when we get married. Can you be ready?”

“Of course. We’ll need to look over the infirmary and see what needs to be done and what supplies we will need anyway.”

Sally ran around the table and gave her friend a squeeze. “I am so happy you are coming. I won’t be so afraid if you are there with me.” She looked over to Shaun, before she whispered into Mindy’s ear, “We can share experiences and help one another.”

Mindy nodded her head.

Ike looked at Etta. “Will you come with us? I can’t leave you here with Mommy Dearest.”

Etta shuddered at the thought of Ike’s stepmother. “I would love to come. Maybe I can help with the other nannies.”

Both girls looked at one another in shock, but nodded. “She would make a great nanny. We made cookies and she showed me how to tuck in my dolly just right,” Mindy insisted.

The next month was a very busy one. The girls spent most of their time organizing the infirmary and ordering supplies. They met Shaun’s mom and pop, who were so happy to see their son as happy as they were. They planned to retire on the other end of the ranch, having already built a nice, little log cabin off to itself near a pond. The view was spectacular. The men worked hard every morning with the building crew, finishing their future houses. After the men had lunch, they would leave the workmen to finish the day, and take the girls on horses to ride around the ranch. A different place every day. It felt so good to be themselves. Either in the house or out and about, they could be their little selves.

Many times, the girls could be seen carrying dollies on their horse rides. Punishments were doled out in their rooms for now, since the girls were still shy.

Etta and Nelda were becoming great friends.

It was two days before their wedding, the twelfth of February when Shaun’s mom and pop moved out of the big house and into their new home. It was a sad day for everyone, but the girls understood at their age it was time for them to have space just for themselves, at long last. They were so excited to be in a place of their own with no other responsibilities. They would be back the morning of the wedding.

There was a blizzard the next day and the girls were told to stay inside by the crackling fire. Ike gave them both strict orders not to stick their noses outside. The men were going to be working on their new houses, alongside the ranch hands who were helping them build. The exterior walls and the roof were in place, which allowed them to work inside despite the snow. Clint and Adam were supposed to be coming that day, but flights were canceled, so no one knew for sure when they would arrive. Hopefully they would make it before the wedding.

Ike and Shaun shook their fingers at the girls while they explained, “You can very easily get lost out there, get turned around and freeze to death. Mind us, girls.” Ike laid down the law to both of them.

“Yes, sir,” they both echoed, their disappointment clear on their faces. One of the dogs had puppies in the warm barn and they wanted to go see them and play with them. Instead, they went to the kitchen and helped Nelda and Etta make heart cookies. The girls ate warm cookies with a glass of cold milk before wandering to the large living room with the crackling fire. Their coats hung on pegs by the door, their boots sitting in a row on a mat underneath them. Both girls looked at them longingly before Mindy nudged Sally. Looking around and not seeing anyone, the girls quickly put on their coats and hats and boots and snuck out the door to go to the barn.

It was blowing and snowing harder