“What about hunting?”
“Unfortunately, you missed hunting season, but there’s always next fall. I’m going to bet that a year from now you’ll be an old pro at hunting, fishing, skiing, maybe even snowmobiling. In the summer you can go hiking, kayaking, and canoeing. Easton Estate has all kinds of cool stuff for you to do.”
“But who will go with me?”
“I will, and so will Brett. Besides, something tells me you won’t have any trouble making friends.” She turned into the Locke Pointe Bed-and-Breakfast’s parking lot and shifted into park.
Hopping out of the driver’s side, she met Tristan near the front. “Don’t forget your snow pants.”
He ran back to the SUV and grabbed them. “Maybe we could build a snowman.”
“We could.” Morgan flung her arm around his shoulders. “I learned how to build one last year. I’m no expert, but I think between the two of us we’ll give Frosty a run for his money.”
They reached the porch and found her pup’s furry little face pressed against the storm door, his tail wagging ninety miles an hour.
Tristan spotted the pup and clambered up the steps to let him out. Chester danced in circles while the boy petted him, ruffling his ears. “Chester missed me.”
“He sure did,” Morgan said, ushering them inside. First things first, they slid their boots off and placed them in the bin before traipsing down the hall to the kitchen to let Tina, Locke Pointe Bed-and-Breakfast’s cook, know they were there.
Their next stop was the office. “I have a few quick things to take care of and then we can head outdoors,” Morgan said.
“Okay.” Tristan wandered around the office, studying several works of art hanging on the walls. It was an eclectic collection. Her grandmother, Elizabeth, had given her some of the pieces. Others were gifts from her best friend Quinn. The rest had belonged to Laura Locke Easton, Morgan’s mother.
While Tristan patiently waited, she sorted through her emails, approved a handful of expenses and finally turned the computer off.
Her nephew was no longer roaming around. Instead, she found him sprawled out in a wingback chair, his feet dangling over the side with the upper half of his body wedged into the cushions. He held a book in his hand, quietly turning the pages.
“What did you find?”
He flipped it over so she could see the cover. “Learning how to draw.”
“I’m not sure where the book came from. It probably belonged to my mom. Would you like to borrow it?”
His eyes lit. “Can I?”
“For as long as you like.”
“Thanks, Aunt Morgan. I’ll take good care of it,” he promised.
“I’m sure you will.” She motioned to the jacket, hat and gloves he had dropped by the door on his way in. “Are you ready to head outside?”
“Yeah.” Tristan closed the book and set it on the table. “I’ll leave this here. Don’t let me forget it.”
“I won’t.” Morgan tracked down her ski pants, scarf and ski gloves and joined Tristan, who was already suited up.
Chester took the lead. Down the steps and through the yard they traipsed, sticking to the path Greg had cleared from the main building all the way to the carriage house.
Tristan followed his aunt inside. “You have lots of stuff in here.”
He was right. Greg, the bed-and-breakfast’s handyman, kept the storage building tidy and organized. Crossbows, snowblowers, gardening wagons, toolboxes and workbenches filled the space.
It took a minute for Morgan to find what she was looking for. “There they are.” She crossed the room and lifted a wooden sled from the hook. “Can you take this?”
“Sure.” Tristan grabbed hold of the sled. “We’re going sledding?”
“We are. One for you…” Morgan plucked the second sled from the hook. “And one for me.”
“I’ve never been sledding before.”
