Sam’s Little Girl by Pepper North

Chapter 11

Hope had spent four days with Sam before he’d been deployed again. That call had come in the middle of the night as she had lain cuddled next to his warm body. Hope had stayed at his house just in case he’d return quickly. On the third evening alone, she’d tidied up and cleared out the refrigerator. It was time for her to make plans.

When she arrived back home, her parents hadn’t asked any questions, but Hope knew everything was different now. With a clear focus, she’d reviewed all her job possibilities. There was only one she really wanted.

“Thank you, sir, for this opportunity,” Hope spoke confidently into her cell phone. She’d called the general from her old room at her parents’ house. She wouldn’t call it home anymore. Her heart belonged somewhere else now.

She’d accepted the job with the military. The ability to work with a team as she had been doing was a big lure, but the deciding factor was that she could do it from anywhere. She would be able to stay with Sam. That’s where she wanted to be.

Packing her clothes and technology, Hope tried to keep busy. She had a million things to do before being settled at Sam’s. The government would send a specialist to the small home to connect a secured line with a ton of bandwidth to make her communication with the other teammates seamless and protected.

Hope kept waiting for the feeling that she was doing the wrong thing to hit, but it didn’t. She wanted to be with Sam. He wanted her safe in her nursery or in his arms. Before he left, he’d paused long enough to ask her to be ready to move in when he returned. To surprise him, she wanted to be there already.

“Hope,” her mother spoke softly from the doorway. “Would you like any help?”

“Hi, Mom! I’d love it if you’d just scoop up the stuff in those drawers and throw it in a box.”

The two women worked in silence for several minutes, making steady progress. Hope peeked over at her mom several times. Was she worried?

“Hope, I never told you the story of how your dad and I met.”

“Sure you have, Mom. You ran into each other at a dance and you fell in love,” Hope recounted with a smile.

“That’s not quite the first time that we met.”

“Really?” Hope stopped packing her art supplies to sit down on the bed. “How did you actually meet?”

“I was driving home late at night—much later than my curfew. I’d snuck out the back window of my bedroom to go out with my friends to a party. They used to have enormous bonfires in the woods and all the kids hung out together.”

“Mom, you rebel!” Hope was astonished.

“Now you know why we were so strict with your curfew,” she commented before continuing her story. “My tire went flat in the middle of an abandoned road that no one drove anymore. It was too far to walk, and there was no one to help me. When a car pulled up behind me, I panicked and ran into the woods to hide. It didn’t take your father long to find me.”

“I bet it was a relief to have a handsome military guy rescue you,” Hope suggested.

“My bottom wasn’t. Your dad spanked me for putting myself in danger before changing my tire and followed me home.”

“He spanked you?”

“Yes. He made quite an impression on me. So did the letters that began coming every day. By the time we met officially at that dance a week later, I loved your father with every ounce of my being. He was the one.”

“So why tell me now?”

“Sometimes, it helps to know that you aren’t crazy. That it’s smart to listen to that voice in the back of your mind that tells you he’s special. I did and we’ve been together for thirty years.”

Hope nodded as her thoughts tumbled over each other. She and her mother worked quietly together to pack the last of her belongings. There was only one last box to seal when Hope hugged her mom. “Thanks for always knowing what I need to hear.”

“Good or bad, I’ll always tell you the truth,” her mom promised. After giving her one last squeeze, the older woman left her alone.

Rushing to the shelf, Hope picked up the blue box. It was heavier than it looked and rattled a bit. Quickly, she stowed it in the open box and sealed it closed. Marking the box with fluorescent marker, she would know to open that box first. Carefully, she added it to the stack just as the doorbell rang. Her friends had arrived.

Within a couple of hours, they finished moving her things into Sam’s house. Hope had celebrated with her friends by treating them to the same cheap delivery pizza that they’d enjoyed in college. Her friends never changed. They still loved beer and had consumed all the cans Sam had stored in his refrigerator. Hope made a mental note to replace everything before he got home.

* * *

Hope lugged the heavy twelve-pack of beer into the house. It took the rest of her lagging energy. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but her throat was scratchy and she ached all over. Instead of coming home to crawl into her crib, she’d stopped to pick up something special in case Sam was home.

The man working in the liquor department had steered her toward this choice when Hope had shared she wanted something special to replace the beers her friends had polished off during the move. I hope Sam will like this brand.

Pausing just inside the door, she held her breath, hoping to hear a sound in the quiet house. Silence filled the small space. With a sigh, Hope dropped the carton on the table. Every time she returned to Sam’s house or heard the smallest sound, she held her breath, hoping that he’d be home. Busying herself to keep from thinking, Hope pushed her sweaty bangs off her forehead and used the last vestiges of her energy to fill the rack in the door with the new beer.

The front door opened with a whoosh of sound, and four large men exploded into action. At the sight of weapons drawn with her as the target, Hope threw her arms over her head and babbled, “I’m Hope! Sam told me I could move in. I promise. He wants me here. Look, I just bought him beer. I don’t drink beer. It’s for him.”

“Calm down, Hope. I’m sorry we scared you.” Doniphan walked forward as everyone put away their guns. “It’s my fault. I called in an intruder alert when I saw the car in the garage. Everyone responded. I guess it was a bit of overkill.”

“Doniphan? These are the other guys in the squad?” Her heart still pounded as she peered at each face, trying to match them with the stories Sam had told her about them.

“Wait! Where’s Sam?” she panicked. “Is he hurt?”

“Sam’s fine, Hope. He got the short end of the stick and had to fill out all the paperwork. If I know him, Sam will be looking for you soon. Want to text him that you’re here so he doesn’t head to your parents’ house?”

“All we heard from him was how much he needed his little girl at home,” said a big guy Hope hadn’t ever met.

Those words echoed in her mind. Sam had told all his squad that she was his Little. Was he making fun of her? Hope stared at the military guy without knowing what to say.

“What’s everyone doing in my kitchen?” Sam suddenly asked, as he tried to elbow his teammates out of the way to reach Hope.

“You told them? Did you all laugh at my stupidity in thinking I was Little? I trusted you, Sam. I can’t believe you shared our private time together with them.” While he was blocked by the others, she bolted. Sobbing, she ran from the room out the back door. Her cell phone dropped from her hand as she pelted through the gate into the woods behind Sam’s house. Hope couldn’t think about anything but getting away.

She ran as fast as she could until her lungs burned. Finally collapsing at the base of a wide oak tree, she allowed the tears that threatened to fall. What kind of game was he playing? Hope’s heart felt torn in half.

“Hope! Where are you, candy girl? Talk to me. This is a big misunderstanding. Let me explain.” Sam’s voice sounded close.

Trying not to make a noise, Hope squeezed herself as small as possible. She didn’t want to hear his excuses. Nothing could ever make up for him telling her most private secrets to a bunch of strangers. She bet they’d laughed hard at her. Poor defective woman who wanted to be Little.

Sam’s footsteps faded into the distance. She didn’t know how much time had elapsed as she hid. Hope didn’t move—even when the clouds opened up above her and chilly rain pelted down. She couldn’t get much more miserable. Wrapping her arms around her bent legs, Hope rested her forehead against her knees and tried to figure out what to do.

* * *

“What the hell did you say, Hank?” Sam demanded of the team’s bomber when the group reconvened emptyhanded to gather flashlights and organize the search.

“Sorry, Sam. I didn’t mean to scare her or make her uncomfortable,” the large man apologized as the men gathered on Sam’s back deck.

“We frightened her by bursting in with guns drawn, Sam. She thought you’d gotten hurt. Doniphan reassured her that you were filling out the reports from the mission and calmed her down. He suggested she text you to tell you she was at your house. Hank blundered into calling her your little girl. She panicked.” Mark ran through the events with systematic thoroughness to make sure Sam knew everything.

“Who knew she’d be able to run that fast? Is she part rabbit?” Hank joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Slam!Sam’s fist struck Hank squarely in the nose, shattering it with a spray of blood. The team moved fast to separate the two trained soldiers. The well-deserved punch could have launched a dangerous fight.

“Get out of my house,” Sam growled as Doniphan and Mark hauled him back.

Hank yanked off his soiled T-shirt to mop up his bleeding nose. He turned to leave and hesitated. Pivoting to face Sam, he apologized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause your Little any anguish. I forget that Littles have soft hearts and tend to be shy. It’s been a long time since I lost my Angie. Can I help search for her?”

“I think it’s best that you leave, Hank. We’ll have a team meeting after we find Hope,” Mark answered for Sam.

With a devastated expression, Hank turned and walked through the house. The remaining team members were quiet, waiting to hear the car engine start and fade into the distance. As soon as he left, the team sprang into action.

“This wooded area isn’t too large. Let’s divide it up into sections and search thoroughly,” Mark instructed.

With a clap of thunder, cold rain cascaded down. The team exchanged glances before darting from under the eaves into the rainstorm. The stakes had just gotten higher. They needed to find the little girl.

Nearly thirty minutes later, Doniphan crouched next to the shivering woman. Pressing buttons on his watch, he communicated with the team, giving their location. Breaking a glow stick, he dropped it to the ground to be able to see her better. Quietly, he spoke to the feverish Little. “Hope, it’s okay. I’m here to help. I want to get you somewhere dry.”

* * *

“Go away. I don’t need your help,” Hope croaked. Her throat hurt from her sobs, and she struggled not to cry in front of the member of Sam’s team.

“I think Sam shared with you I’m a nurse. I can’t leave you here without making sure that you’re okay.” Thundering footsteps sounded in the distance.

Doniphan spoke quickly. “We’re all Daddies, Hope. That’s why Sam shared the good news that he had found his Little. We all have been searching for our special little girl.”

Hope stared at him, unable to process his words. Her head pounded from crying and she didn’t feel well. Her mind struggled with the loss of all her dreams and Sam’s betrayal. “It doesn’t matter. I’m glad you all had a good laugh over my stupidity.”

Gathering her shredded dignity around her, Hope struggled to her feet. To her annoyance, her balance was wonky. Doniphan reached out to support her as she swayed unsteadily. “I’m okay. I don’t need your help!”

She pushed away and faltered again, this time catching herself with a palm against the tree. The footsteps halted in front of her. Lifting her head, Hope stared into Sam’s green eyes.

“Why?” she croaked.

“Candy girl, I’m sorry I’ve hurt you. Will you let me explain?” Sam wrapped his arms around her, pulling her shivering form against his warmth.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. My keys are on the rack by the garage door. Let me get them and I’ll be on my way.” Heavy sobs racked her frame as she rested against him. Then, realizing that she was making a fool of herself again, Hope pushed herself away, scrubbing at the tears that coursed down her cheeks.

“I’ll have to come get my stuff… Next week, okay?” She could hardly understand her own words. She felt so bad. Her fingers clung to Sam’s shirt for strength.

“I don’t want you to leave, Hope. You’re my little girl. You should be with your daddy.” Sam scooped her up in his arms and carried her back toward the house.

Hope dropped her face onto his wide shoulder. She could hear the voices, but couldn’t process the meaning behind the words. If only Sam could be my daddy for real. Fresh tears escaped her closed eyes at that thought. If only…

“Doniphan, she’s really sick. Her body is radiating heat. She looked feverish when I saw her earlier. The rain must have made it worse.”

“Let’s get her back to your house and I’ll see what I can do to help.”

“Thank you.”