Page 187 of Snap Shot

“You're doing pretty good out there.”

She huffs and pushes her helmet up from where it falls over her eyes and squints at me. “It's hard work.”

“I know, eh? That's why I'm taking a break.” I lean into her. “I can show you a trick if you want.”

Her ruddy face sparks with a nod.

I skate backward from the edge so she can see. She toddles after me, walking one foot on the ice after the other. “Now try it like this.” With bent knees, I push off my right leg, releasing the weight from my left, and then switch, resulting in a series of glides that aren't nearly as much effort.

Sadie doesn't look convinced.

“Here.” I offer both my hands. “Hold onto me while you try. Don't be afraid to push me.”

Her strides get longer and quicker as her confidence grows, and it's only been a few minutes.

“I'm gonna let go, but I'm right here, okay? And you can hold your stick if you want.”

“I'm doin' it! Look!” She laughs and awkwardly turns after a dozen feet.

I clap as she returns to me. “Youare! Awesome job.” I lower to her level and lift a hand for a high-five. The sweet girl gives it to me.

“I'm gonna show my Mommy. She said she'll let me play when I'm five!”

“Before you go, can I ask you a question?”

“Uh-huh.”

“What did your uncle tell you yesterday?”

“That we're still babies?” Her confused expression makes me chuckle.

“After that. When you asked who I was.”

“Ohhh, what Uncle Landy whispish in my ear?” The loud volume of her exclamation has Landon abandoning the game and hustling over to us. His teammates complain loudly.

“Aw, come on! Where ya goin'?”

“He said hereallywants you to be hi—”

A black glove muffles the rest of her sentence as Landon cuts her off. “Nananananana!” He spins her until she's behind him, out of my sight. “Kids, eh?”

Sadie protests from behind, smacking her stick between his skates. “Heyyyyy!”

“Don't 'hey' me, young lady. Secrets are supposed to besecret.'Scuse us.” He skates her away from us, tapping his stick on her helmet. “You tryin' to get me in trouble?”

“Nuh-uh! I was—”

Landon shushes her. The thorough glance he takes over his shoulder at me has my heart racing.

His grandfather backpedals upon the prodigal grandson's return.

“Where you off to, Dêda?”

“To clean off the shed behind the cabin. Last snowfall was heavy.” He nods upward at the graying sky. “It's supposed to snow again tonight. Can't risk it collapsing.”

“I'll take care of it.” Landon's chest puffs. “Anyone wanna see the Snowmaster at work?”

Delaney scoffs. “No one calls you that.”

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