Two Guardians for Little May (8 page)

"Pop
had a pretty powerful arm. That would have been one spanking you would never
have forgotten."

"I'm
sure. I have to confess that, coming from a fucked up home where I had no
parental modeling, the concept was rather appealing. Last night, when Caine,
you know…"

"Spanked
you?"

"Yeah,"
May reddened, "he spoke to me in a way that made me feel like a little
girl. Not in a demeaning way, though. It was kind of nice and I felt safe. I
told you that."

"So
it really didn't bother you in how he acted towards you?" Layton asked,
flipping the pancake on the griddle and then turning the bacon.

"No.
In fact, that was what made me feel so secure with him. I also liked it when
you had me sit next to you to cuddle afterwards. And the talk we had made me
feel like I was okay and not a total wacko," May admitted. "Dr. Adul
said I was starving for male attention and that I would seek it out however I
could get it, but then my attitude would drive them away. She said my Little
personality helps me break down my walls, but not in a psycho mental way."

Layton
chuckled. "I know all about the psycho mental personality. An unpleasant
attitude gives a person a false sense of control. Pop used to tell me that a
bad attitude is 90% of what makes a successful court attorney."

"That
explains a lot about you." May wrinkled her nose. "The problem is
that my need for male attention has gotten me into a lot of trouble. I could
have been killed that night, instead of just injured," May said in a flat
voice.

"What
they did was not your fault, sweetheart."

"I
could have refused to go with them. If I hadn't let them convince me to drink,
I would have had the brains to say no," May said, with a casual shrug.

"Honey,
they were predators. They had their hunt planned the minute they saw you. They
hurt you by their own volition, May. Nothing you said or did will ever justify
or excuse their actions against you."

"Tell
that to my brain. It keeps blaming me for the whole mess."

 
"We will work on that, okay? Were
they prosecuted?"

"Yeah.
Two of them are in for ten to twenty, and the other one is trying to get an
appeal. Lyle brought me to the lake house to get away from the area. He wanted
me to have a whole new beginning."

"You
sound rather disconnected about that." Layton observed. "Have you
ever talked with anyone about it?"

"Just
Lyle. He knew how to calm me down when I got panicky. He was an amazing man. He
made me feel like I had value and worth," her voice choked. "I tried
to be mad at him for dying, but I can't. I really miss him."

"Me,
too." Layton placed the plate of food in front of her and sat down.
"He was a great father. I consider myself very fortunate to have been
raised by him. Eat."

May
stared at it and then looked up at him with confusion. "Seriously? A happy
bacon smile, scrambled egg hair, and butter-ball eyes?"

"There
weren't any blueberries," Layton laughed.

"I
thought you said Caine was the age-player."

"He
used to beg me to make happy cakes for breakfast when he was little."

"I
like your laugh. It's like your dad's."

"I
don't laugh very often anymore. I really haven't had a lot to laugh about in a
long time. Pop used to laugh all the time, too, although I hadn't heard it much
over the last five years."

"You
should laugh more. It makes you more approachable. You are somewhat of a
grouch, you know."

"So,
I've been told. May I ask you what your nightmares are about?"

"I
don't want to talk about them. This is really good. Thank you," May said,
stuffing the pancake into her mouth.

"Slow
down before you choke yourself. Maybelle! Do I have to feed you?" Layton
scolded.

"Only
if you want to."

Layton
raised his eyebrow, and made a decision. He moved next to her and took away her
plate. "Table manners, young lady, start with putting that napkin in your
lap. What are you doing?"

"Making
an origami penis," May giggled, folding the napkin to resemble an
erection.

"Little
girls do not do things like that." Layton took the napkin from her, his
eyes twinkling with delight. This was actually pretty fun, he admitted to
himself, and Little Maybelle was a natural.

"Open
your mouth," he ordered, cutting a piece of pancake and holding it out to
her.

May
obeyed, giggling again as he held up a second forkful of food. Syrup dripped
down her chin and he quickly wiped it off. "You're pretty good at feeding
people," she said, accepting another helping.

"My
mom got to the point where she couldn't feed herself, so we learned how to do
it. Open."

"It's
kind of silly, but I like it."

"Don't
talk with your mouth full. Oh, no you don't." He took her coffee from her
hand and replaced it with a glass of milk. "Little girls don't get
coffee."

"Hey!
I'm just pretending to be a little girl. I want my coffee."

"I
said no," Layton announced, finding it easy to immerse himself into the
role. "Drink your milk. If you finish all your breakfast and mind your
manners, I have somewhere I can take you that you will enjoy."

"Yeah?
Where?"

"It's
a secret."

"I
don't know you well enough to be bribed with secrets."

"The
stable."

"You
have horses?" Her eyes widened with excitement.

"Only
for well-behaved young ladies who finish their breakfast."

"Gimme
that," May said, scarfing down the remainder of her food and gulping away
at her milk. She belched and reddened, covering her mouth. "Oops.
Sorry."

Layton
smiled cheerfully. "They say that is a compliment in Japan. Toss the
dishes into the dishwasher, throw on some jeans and let's vamoose."

"What's
wrong?" Layton asked, as they lumbered down the trail.

"Do
you really want to know?" May wrinkled her nose. "My freaking ass
hurts. This saddle is awfully hard. I didn't think I would still be
aching."

Layton
shrugged, turning his mount towards the wooded path. "I guess Caine made
quite an impact on you then. How's the cut?"

"Throbbing.
It's really swollen around the outside of the bandage."

"Did
you take the antibiotics this morning?" he asked. "May? Answer
me."

"I
forgot."

"Make
sure you do that when we get back."

"I
can't. I kind of left them at the lake house."

"The
doc is not going to be happy about that. He told you to bring them when you
bagged up your clothes."

"I
forgot. I was a little distraught last night, remember?"

"That's
not an excuse. He specifically reminded you, and you said that you would pack
them up right away. Did you deliberately lie to him?"

"Not
deliberately. I just forgot."

"I'm
glad I'm not in your shoes. Caine is going to, well, raise cane. Speaking of
the devil," Layton said, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.
"Hey, Bro! Is there a baby yet?"

"This
mom changed her mind last minute and decided she wanted a puppy," Caine
laughed. "I had to tell her about the no return policy. How's Miss
May?"

"I
took her out riding for a bit after breakfast."

"And
her leg?"

"She
says it's hurting, as expected. She also noticed some inflammation around the
area."

"Yeah,
it didn't take long to develop an infection. Did she take her meds like I told
her?"

"I
think I will let her answer this. Maybelle? Caine wants to speak to you. I'm
putting you on speaker."

"Maybelle?"
Caine's voice had adopted a different tone. "Did you take your
medications?"

"Um,
no, sir." May shrunk in the saddle.

"Would
you care to explain to me why not?"

"I
sort of forgot." She wrinkled her forehead as she looked at Layton and
mouthed the word 'help.' He shook his head.

"Then
take them when you get back. That wound is too dirty and is already showing
signs of infection."

"I,
uh, well, I can't." May stuttered.

"You
can't? Are you experiencing a side effect or allergic reaction?"

"No,
sir."

"Enough
with the games. Why can't you take your medications, Maybelle? Out with
it."

"I
sort of left them in my room at the lake house. I meant to get them, but I was
so messed up after yesterday. I'm sorry."

"You're
sorry?" Caine repeated. "Are you telling me that you managed to toss
together a bag with a change of clothes, but conveniently forgot the
medications that I emphasized were a necessity? We will have a very long talk
about this when I get home, young lady. I am not pleased with you right
now."

"I'm
sorry," May whispered, biting her lip.

"Layton?
Make sure she does a hot Epsom salt soak immediately when you guys get back.
Then you and I are also going to have a talk. In private."

Layton
and May stared at each other upon hearing the phone disconnect without even so
much as a goodbye.

"It
sounds like you're in trouble too," May stated, breaking out in a sudden
giggle.

"I
don't know for what, but I assure you, he does not frighten me in the least.
Let's get you back and do that compress. I know that tone of voice. He is not a
happy camper."

"I
was under the impression that you were the more serious one," May stated
as they trotted back to the stalls. "He doesn't tolerate any excuses, does
he?"

"We
both have different areas that we pinpoint. His is health and manners, mine is
behavior and responsibility. As long as you behave the way you did today, you
won't get any hassle from me."

"Layton?
This sounds super weird, but would you mind helping me with my leg?"

"Sure.
Let me help you down," he said, reaching up to catch her by the waist. She
placed her hands on his shoulders and stared into his eyes. They froze, looking
at one another in silence, until Layton broke the spell. He removed his hands
from her waist and beckoned the stable-hand to take the horses. "Let's get
you back before Caine comes home and strangles both of us."

May
nodded, and accepted his outstretched hand. Layton frowned as she limped by his
side, and finally swept her into his arms to carry her back to the house. He
placed her gently on the kitchen table and began to prepare the compress.

"Those
jeans are going to have to come down," he commented, placing the bowl on
the table. "Either that or you can go change into that skirt you were wearing."

"I'm
not shy," May said, hopping off the table and unzipping her jeans.

Layton
swallowed dryly as he watched her skim the snug, boot-cut jeans down past her
slender but shapely thighs, showing off a pair of ivory lace boy shorts. May
resumed her place on the table and slowly kicked her legs while waiting for him
to proceed.

"That
looks nasty," he said, after gently peeling off the bandage. "Caine
is going to have a major fit."

"Missing
one dose of antibiotics didn't make it swell up like this," May argued.
"Damn! That hurts."

"The
purpose of a hot soak is to draw out this garbage. Stay still!"

"Screw
that. It's too tender." May pushed the compress away and covered the wound
with her hands.

"Your
butt is going to be tenderized again if you don't let me take care of you. Hold
this in place."

"But
it hurts! I don't like it."

"I
know, but it's needed. Maybelle? Did you really just kick me?" Layton
asked, after the toe of her boot flew against his shin. "Are you insane?
You are sitting here with only a fine layer of lace to protect you, and you
decide to kick me?"

"Stop
hurting me, then."

"When
we are done here," Layton changed the compress, "you are going to
spend some time in the corner."

"I
certainly will not and you can't make me!" May scowled, smacking at his
hand.

"Watch
me. Hit me again and my belt comes off. Is that what you want?"

May
quickly shook her head, taking his threat to heart. She sat on her hands,
content with making faces every time he changed the compress, and muttered
unintelligible words under her breath. Neither spoke for the next fifteen
minutes. Satisfied that he had done what he could to her wound, Layton took May
gently by the earlobe with his right hand and made her shimmy off the table. He
ignored her protests as he picked up the chair with his left hand, set it in a
corner and then guided her firmly to sit herself in it.