Chapter 5

Amelia didn't knowhow anyone could be cruel to little Mandi, even when she wasn't Little. The redhead was the most adorable thing the librarian had ever seen, perfectly folding and putting away her clothes and stumbling through an awkward list of things she liked about herself.

She'd started off hesitant, as if she couldn't think of anything at all, but eventually came up with quite the list—even if Amelia had to prompt her a few times.

Apparently Mandi was very good at organizing books, a good listener, kind, a great cook, and she liked her hair.

Amelia liked her hair too. There were almost golden strands among the red that glinted when the light caught them, and it looked as if she were sparkling.

When room service delivered their lunch, they sat at the table and ate together in relative quiet. It was actually rather lovely. She was so used to having to hush all the exuberant Littles who came bounding into her library, that it was refreshing not to have her ear talked off. Although if Mandi was doing the talking, she didn't think she'd mind.

Once they'd cleared the table and popped the dishes on the tray in the corridor outside the door to the suite, they set off toward the Littles' Wing and the Littles' Library.

As they turned into the foyer, the noise level rose, and Amelia paused. "Are your earplugs in, petal?"

Mandi checked her ears and nodded and smiled.

"Excellent. Well, it's lunch time so a lot of the Littles will be coming out of classes and it might be a bit noisy."

Mandi's eyes got wide and slightly panicky, and Amelia found herself offering her hand to the other woman.

"You can hold my hand if that would help?"

Mandi stared at Amelia's hand for a long time, before cautiously accepting the offer, fingers entwining and interlinking. Mandi's skin was cool against her palm, and Amelia squeezed once to reassure the Little before they headed across the foyer.

There was a full giggle of Littles running around, causing havoc. Callie, Britt and Megan were heading toward the café, talking quietly, and Sadie was holding court over by the fireplace. She waved at them, and Amelia could sense Mandi trying to work out how to wave back without dropping Beau. When Mandi finally settled on letting Beau do the waving by simply wagging him up and down, Amelia had to smile. It was just too adorable for words.

But when they turned into the Littles' Wing, Nanny J and Miss Price were walking down the corridor together and both wore expressions that reminded Amelia of how thunder must appear before it let loose and roiled loudly across the sky. Amelia wasn't entirely certain which Littles had decided to prank two of the strictest Ranch employees, but she instantly felt empathy for the culprits' bottoms.

Mandi, on the other hand, froze and shrank back, her Beau carrying-hand creeping up until she was hugging Amelia's arm. The librarian could feel Mandi trembling.

"Who's this then?" asked Nanny J, and Amelia felt a twinge of annoyance at quite how stern the Head of the Littles' Wing sounded.

"This is Mandi Travers, who's coming to work with me in the Littles' Library." She didn't intend to step forward so that Mandi could slip behind her, but somehow it just happened.

Nanny J's face softened at Mandi's name, and she tilted her head to look around Amelia's shoulder. "Hey, Mandi, I'm sorry if we scared you. I'm Nanny J, and this is Miss Price who teaches the preschoolers."

"Hi there, Mandi," said Miss Price, equally as gently.

"He-hello," proffered Mandi, anxiously.

Amelia felt pride welling up inside of her. Her little girl was trying so hard.

Nanny J continued, "There was a prank, so we're off to find the troublemakers responsible. Master Derek said that Mandi's your charge during her stay?"

"Yes, that's right." Amelia squeezed Mandi's hand again, and she felt the body pressed up against her relax slightly.

"Great, we'll send her to the library if she gets lost. And, Mandi," she added, Mandi's body stiffening in response. "Welcome to Rawhide Ranch. You're in good hands with Miss Grayson, and everyone knows that she's looking after you, so you don't need to be scared of any of us. No one here's going to get angry with you—maybe just disappointed if you're naughty."

"I'm a good girl," said Mandi tentatively, her voice almost lisping slightly.

Amelia froze, not wanting to scare off this display of Littleness.

"Mommy Grayson says so."

Mommy Grayson.

Nanny J and Miss Price hid their surprise better than Amelia did, who looked down at the short woman next to her. "Mandi?—"

"I'm sorry!" she interrupted, the cute lisp disappearing. "I should have asked, we didn't talk, I mean I?—"

Amelia's index finger kissed Mandi's lips and the torrent of words paused. "No panicking, petal, I was just surprised. Master Derek said you weren't looking for a Mommy."

Mandi dropped her head and fiddled with her top. This time Amelia did place her finger under Mandi's chin and lift it until they made eye contact. "Chin up, princess."

"I'm afraid it just came out," said Mandi, apologetically.

"Nanny J, Miss Price, we're going to head into the library," said Amelia, determined to sit down and have this conversation someplace they wouldn't have other people listening. "Come on, petal, let's have this talk properly."