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“Alastair,” she said.
“I like the way my name sounds when you say it, Dora. Thank you.”
An hour later, Alastair was sitting beside Lawson Berringer in the ranch’s CCTV room. To protect the safety and security of residents, small cameras were discreetly positioned in public spaces across the Ranch.
“I appreciate your checking,” Alastair said. “Dora’s new here and quite timid. I’m convinced something happened between her leaving Dr. Weston’s house and arriving at the lodge. Maybe something got caught on camera.”
“Are you sure she didn’t have a fight with Bobbi?” Lawson asked. “I like Dr. Weston, but that Little of his can be quite a handful from what I hear.”
“I thought of that. I called Cord and talked to both him and Bobbi. Bobbi said Dora seemed in good spirits when she left. She’s as puzzled as I am.”
“Well, let’s have a look starting from here.” Lawson pointed to the monitor. He’d rewound the tape and tapped the screen just as Dora came into view. The men watched the screen as she walked toward the lodge then stopped, turned, and walked to a group of Littles.
Maribel. Alastair felt his jaw clench. He should have known. Anger welled in his chest as he watched Maribel take the sticker and tear it in half, saw the pain on Dora’s face. He watched as they tripped her then pantomimed falling down around her. He could see the distress it caused Dora, then the fear as Maribel obviously threatened her.
“I think I’ve seen enough,” Alastair said.
“She didn’t say anything?” Lawson asked.
Alastair recounted what Dora had said and Lawson agreed that she was likely intimidated by Maribel and her friends.
“School policy is clear on bullying,” Lawson said. “It’s grounds for expulsion. It’s a shame Maribel never found a Daddy who could nip that kind of behavior in the bud.”
Alastair didn’t say what was on his mind, which was that Maribel’s behavior was probably why she didn’t have a Daddy. He’d seen difficult Littles. Bobbi was a perfect example, but deep down she had a conscience and was never cruel like Maribel. He agreed with Lawson that Maribel needed to be punished. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t want to see her in his class again. But it would require Dora’s assistance for justice to be done. Would she be brave enough to speak up about what had happened?
Chapter 9
She hoped she hadn’t done something wrong.
Dora knew it wasn’t healthy to default to the worst-case scenario, but why would she be called to Master Derek’s office unless it was bad news? She ran all the possibilities through her mind. Maybe they didn’t want a student who required special uniforms. Maybe she didn’t fit in. Maybe her medical exam had showed something dire? With each step, the dread grew as she imagined appearing back at her mother’s house, suitcase in hand. She imagined the tiny bedroom with the single, small, high window. She imagined having to dress like an adult, being afraid to show her emotions. She imagined taking out a blade…
By the time she got to the office, her heart was thumping so loud she wondered if Master Derek would hear it when she walked in. But it wasn’t just Master Derek she saw when she entered the office. Alastair Robinson was also there, along with Lawson Berringer who Bobbi had pointed out was head of security. And sitting between them, sullen-faced and teary-eyed, was Maribel.
“Come on in, Dora,” Master Derek said, and she realized she had stopped a few feet into the office.
“You can sit here, beside me.” Alastair’s voice was gentle as he indicated a chair to his left. Dora walked over, feeling nervous and puzzled. She murmured a thank you as she sat down. When she did, she felt Alastair’s warm hand on her shoulder, the reassuring squeeze of it.
“Good morning, Dora,” Master Derek said. “Sorry to call you in so early but we needed this handled before school today. I assume you know everyone here?”
“Yes,” she said. “I mean, I’ve met everyone but Mr. Berringer, but I know who he is.”
“Hello, Dora. Nice to meet you.” Lawson Berringer walked over and extended his hand. His embrace of hers was warm, his eyes and smile kind.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Dora said, then turned her attention to Master Derek. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m afraid so. Rawhide Ranch is an inclusive environment. We accept all kinds of people. Everyone here has a backstory that led them to this place. Everyone has had their own trials and struggles with being misunderstood, with feeling different. For that reason, we have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. It is strictly dealt with.”
Master Derek leaned forward and placed his hands on his desk. “Something happened yesterday by the big oak on the lawn, something caught on the Ranch security cameras. There was an incident of obvious bullying to you by Maribel and some other girls. Everyone is being dealt with, but as the ringleader, Maribel has something to say.”
Alastair stepped aside, giving Dora a full view of Maribel, who was sitting a few feet away. She looked over at Dora, who knew what was coming. She knew what was being asked of Maribel but wished it hadn’t been. As a bullied child, she’d been the recipient of enough forced apologies to know bullies never meant it.
“I’m sorry,” Maribel said. “I’m sorry our legs got tangled up and you fell.” She narrowed her eyes, a warning to comply.
Alastair’s hand was back on her shoulder, reassuring. Giving her courage. “Our legs didn’t get tangled. You tripped me.” Dora’s words were barely audible, shaky. She’d been wronged yet she’d been conditioned to be afraid, even when she was the victim. But she could sense Alastair wanted her to set the record straight and underneath all that was going on, the desire to please him was strong.
“I…” Maribel began, but Master Derek raised his hand. “Maribel, before you refute what Dora said when we have high-definition evidence of exactly what happened, I suggest you pause and think what it will cost you. As it is, you’re being expelled from Professor Robinson’s class. But we believe in redemption here, and rehabilitation, but only if you’re honest can that healing begin. If you can’t be, then you have to leave the Ranch.”
Dora had never seen someone’s face so red as Maribel’s. She looked like she wanted to scream. She was digging her fingers into the leather padding on the arm of her chair. She looked down and Dora remained silent as her antagonist focused on composing herself.
