“Sure.” Morgan squeezed the throttle and took off, cruising at a comfortable speed until reaching the turnaround point. She and Quinn sat idling, patiently waiting for Brett, Tristan and Chester, who were traveling at a much slower pace, to catch up.
Brett swung the sled around in a wide circle. “We should start heading back.”
Tristan’s shoulders slumped. “Bummer.”
Brett climbed off and surveyed their stopping point. “This is mostly even terrain. Why don’t you take the sled out for a quick spin?”
“By myself?” Tristan scrambled to his feet. In his excitement, his boot got caught, and he fell face first in the snow.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He sprang to his feet. “My boot got caught.”
Morgan and Quinn stood off to the side while Brett gave his son instructions on how to operate the snowmobile. With Tristan in the front and Brett in the back, they took the sled for a test run before returning.
“Do you think you can handle the sled?” Brett asked.
“Yes, sir. I mean…yes, Brett.”
“Are you sure?”
Tristan nodded enthusiastically. “The most important thing is remembering the throttle is on the right and the brake is on the left.”
“And how fast can you go?”
“Twenty miles or under,” the boy said. “When I get to the end of Aunt Morgan’s property over by the trees, I’ll turn around.”
“Correct.”
With a look of awe on his face, Tristan scooched forward and gripped the handlebars. “This is my new best day ever.”
“Be careful,” Quinn said.
“I will.” Tristan started to hit the gas and abruptly stopped. “Can Chester ride with me?”
“I suppose, as long as you go slow.” Morgan placed her pup on the back of the snowmobile. “If you turn too quickly or move too fast, he might fall off and get hurt.”
“I promise I’ll drivereallyslowly.”
Morgan gave her pup a pat on the head. “Stay with Tristan.”
She braced herself, watching as her nephew pressed the throttle. The snowmobile lurched forward and then smoothed out. Off they went—Tristan and Chester, creeping along at a snail’s pace.
Brett placed a light kiss on Quinn’s cheek. “Thanks for being a good sport and agreeing to come along.”
“I had fun. Tristan’s enthusiasm is rubbing off on me.”
“Me too.” Morgan elbowed her brother. “So far, so good, huh?”
Brett crossed his fingers. “We’ll keep taking it one day at a time.”
“You’re handling it perfectly,” she said. “I’m sure there will be a few bumps along the way, but with the love and support of all of us, Tristan will be just fine.”
Chapter 17
“She’s back.” Grace’s cryptic message popped up the next morning while Morgan was planning her day and wondering if there was any word on Jason’s whereabouts.
So far, the private investigator Jax had hired hadn’t been able to locate Jason, and with each passing hour her concern grew. He could be anywhere…even on Easton Island.
