Page 15 of Cozy Cabin for Two
“Hey, Little Miss, will you dance with me?” I offered.
Ro’s smile split her face, and she grabbed myhand, pulling me toward the improvised dance floor where others were swaying to the gentle guitar melody.
Dancing with a little one her size required some creativity, though. I placed her feet on mine and held her hands at first. She giggled as I maneuvered us around, despite my clumsiness. Usually, I’m all hands on a woman’s ass swaying in place and that’s about the extent of my dancing abilities. Obviously, I needed PG-rated dancing lessons for my niece.
“Pick me up! I want to be tall like the grown-ups,” she demanded.
So I lifted her, wrapping my arms around her waist to keep her steady. She squealed with delight as I moved, her hands clutching my neck for balance. With each step, she laughed harder, the sound bright and infectious in the evening air.
“Faster!” she announced. With a huge grin on my face, I spun us around, watching hers light up with pure joy.
“More!” This time I dipped her, then tossed her a little in the air and caught her. Her squeals echoed around us. If this helped give her peace inside, then I was here for it.
More than just uncle duty or being polite to a child, as Ro’s face flushed with happiness, a fierce, protective vibe spread through my veins.Immediate and overwhelming and terrifying, I realized bone-deep that I would do anything—anything—to keep this little girl safe and happy and loved.
Because Scott should be here doing this. He should have taken her to the second grade dance, made her laugh, and been the steady presence she could count on all her life.
But Scott wasn’t here anymore. I was.
For years I ran from the guilt of surviving when Scott didn’t. Blamed God for taking him away from us too soon when a deer had run out into the road in front of him, causing his fatal crash. But looking down at Ro’s trusting face, her small arms wrapped around my neck, I understood something I’d been too afraid to acknowledge.
This wasn’t about replacing Scott or filling some impossible void. This was about being present for the people who mattered. About choosing to show up instead of running away.
“Thank you, Uncle Ash.” Ro’s tiny words muffled against my chest as she hugged me.
My throat tightened. “Anything for you, kiddo.”
I made a silent vow right then to Scott and to Ro and to myself that I would be here for her. Whatever that looked like, however complicated things got with Willow, however much the situation scared the crapout of me—I would be the man Ro needed me to be. The father figure Scott would have wanted her to have.
I searched across the way for Willow. She sat there staring at us, her hair beautifully aglow in the firelight. When I locked my gaze with her teary eyes as she watched me dance with her daughter, she pressed her hand to her heart and mouthedthank you.
NINE
Fevered
WILLOW
“I think I have cabin fever,”I announced with a sigh to Ro over our lunch of bologna sandwiches on Tuesday.
“A fever? I hope I don’t catch it. I’m supposed to start school tomorrow.” Ro’s worried face got to me, despite how excited she was about school.
I chuckled, wanting to share this cute moment with Ash. Although we hadn’t seen Ash since Sunday night as he had some meetings in Lewistown for ranch business.
My ankle was healing, less swollen, and about the only other thing I did was make a few phone calls to get Ro registered for school. As lovely as this cabin was, I needed fresh air and sunshine before I went out of my mind.
“Cabin fever is simply a saying, honey. It means I’ve been cooped up inside too long.”
“Oh. Whew. Eli says the playground at school has a huge fake bull kids can climb on at recess. I can’t wait.”
I could hardly believe her change in attitude, when all summer long in California, she’d dreaded having to face the mean girls again at her old school.
In my heart, I believed that coming to Montana had been the right decision for us. No matter what happened between me and Ash. No matter what the future looked like.
A knock came at the door and Ro bounced off her seat to answer it. She peeked out the window and then opened the door. “It’s Daisy. Hi.”
“Hey, Ro. I just stopped by to tell you that Colt saddled Marshmallow if you’re ready to ride after lunch.”
“Can I, Mom?” Ro would practically live on Marshmallow now if she could.
