Page 67 of Play With Me

“You mean like when they sell out of her favorite lipstick?” she asked, but that was more of a nine.

“No, I mean when she tries on her size one dress and discovers that it does not fit her newer curves and she vows not to eat another cupcake again but then decides on a full tub of ice cream before bed.”

“Oh! That is pretty dangerous.”

“And, Sophie – Lola’s here. She still thinks you’re my niece.”

“That’s perfect! I don’t mind being your niece again. That’s a very fun game to play. I can show her what a great uncle you are and how well you’re able to take care of your bad niece who ran away from home.”

That did sound pretty good.

“Daddy, please don’t send me back home. I promise to be good. You won’t even know I’m here and I can be your silent helper.” She took hold of the woven basket of twigs and branches and lifted it as high as she could. About half of them spilled to the ground in the process.

“Oopsies.” She giggled, and I crouched to her side and helped her pick them up.

“Ouch.” She prickled her thumb on one of the thorns, and immediately put it in her mouth, saying, “Noth’in happen. I phomihse.”

I shook my head. She wanted to appear strong. Shewasstrong, and while no part of me thought that keeping her here was a good idea, with the moonshiners on the move with their supplies, I was afraid that getting her back home the way we came would be much more difficult. Besides, going back could give us away and place us all in danger.

“Sophie, did you come because you wanted to see a bear?”

“There are bears here?” Her widened eyes gave me the answer to my question.

“Big ones, and they’re not friendly. If you stay, I can’t even tell you how important it is for you to keep a low profile.”

“Daddy, I’m small. I can definitely keep low.” She bent her knees a little and lowered her voice.

That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but it would have to do for now.

“Just wait until Lola sees you. She’ll be so mad.”

“But I didn’t do anything.” Sophie shrugged.

“You snuck out of the house, I assume climbed in the back of my truck, and rode on your own for thousands of miles.”

“Okay, maybe I did do something. I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I pulled the whistle out of my pocket and handed it to Sophie.

“Here, only once, and make sure it’s loud. It will tell Lola to head back to camp.”

“Got it.”

She blew one loud and deep breath into the whistle, then handed it back to me with pride. “Was that good?”

“It was perfect.”

Moments later Lola replied with her own whistle.

“Sophie, remember Lola still thinks you’re my niece.”

“Because she doesn’t like kids and you like her, so you want her to like you too, right?”

“Right. Does that upset you?”

“No, I understand. Kids can be rough. Anna explained it to me on the way here. She was taking care of me, but we got separated when I found some berries.”

“Anna’s here?”

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