“Mom’s wearing one, too. Lookin’ festive, Mom!”
“Let’s make sure we’re front and center.” Mila tried to figure out the best place to stand. “I think?—”
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Cole’s voice boomed out over the sound system. “Please direct your attention to the front of the barn!”
She turned toward the loft and crossed her fingers as a motor began to hum. Would the revolving stage revolve? It had to. Except it wasn’t. She held her breath, and slowly it began to swivel.
Soft murmurs turned to gasps and then shouts and applause.
“Presenting…the Beaver Bunch!”
She stared at the display. He’d inserted her little Christmas tree into it! It sparkled away, making the Santa hats even more appropriate.
A guitar riff signaled the beginning of a tune that hadn’t been on Cole’s playlist when she’d listened to this group. Much to everyone’s delight, the Beaver Bunch played and sang Feliz Navidad.
Halfway through, Cole came back on the mic. “Everybody join in!”
And they all sang. The Damsels began to dance and soon everyone joined them, dancing, singing and clapping to the music.
When the song ended, the cheering was nonstop along with cries for Cole to come down and take his bows.
He arrived grinning and flushed. He was immediately surrounded and peppered with questions. Was that the only song? Was it a permanent installation they could enjoy all year? Could it be decorated for Fourth of July?
“Play us another one!” Rio called out.
“Yeah, we need to hear it again!” That was Monty, followed by a chant of we want more, we want more.
“Okay one more.” Cole glanced her way. “Want to come up this time?”
“Yes.” She matched her stride to his as they hurried back to the stairs. “You’re a hit.”
“Not me. Those critters. And the Santa hats.”
“You used my tree.”
“Just what that display needed.” He followed her up the steps.
“Where did you find that version of Feliz Navidad? I heard a fiddle in there.”
“You can locate almost anything online if you look long enough.”
“What are you playing next?”
“I found a good version of Run, Run Rudolph. I want to keep it upbeat. Danceable.”
“Could you see everyone dancing?”
“A little bit. I have a peephole I can open but the view isn’t great.”
“Well, we were all dancing, and singing, and watching those cute beavers do their thing. You knocked their socks off.”
“Good.” He ushered her through the door, hurried over to the control box and grabbed the mic. “Thanks for your patience, folks. I’d like to introduce the members of the Beaver Bunch. Rufus is on fiddle, Buster’s on the washboard and Shorty’s on the washtub bass.”
Cheers and whistles drifted up from below. Made her smile to be up here enjoying the reaction.
“Hey, Rufus!” Cole addressed the fiddle player. “How about playing Run, Run, Rudolph for the folks?”
“You’ve got it, boss!”
