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Colt tickled both of them, moving back and forth whenever one seemed close to escaping.

Remi turned on the night-light and let the games continue for a few minutes. Finally, she clapped her hands. “Okay, folks. Bedtime.”

Abby whined. “Not yet.”

“I’m not tired,” Ben said.

Colt tossed the blanket over the kids’ heads. “Hold on. I have an idea.” He stalked out of the room and searched until he found two small flashlights in the bathroom closet. Not where he’d have picked to store them, but beggars couldn’t be choosers when his friends stocked the cabin.

He held up a flashlight for each of the kids. “When your dad and I were kids, we’d stay up flashing signals to each other on the ceiling.”

Remi threw her head back and groaned. “Way to teach the kids how to stay up past their bedtime.”

Colt leaned over and whispered to her, “Just go with it. Trust me, it gets boring quickly, and they’ll fall asleep.” He handed them the flashlights. “Use them wisely.”

Ben clicked it on and off. “What’s the code?”

“I’m not sharing the secret code. You’ll have to make your own.”

Abby flopped down onto her back on the bed and pointed the light at the ceiling. “I’m going to draw pictures.”

“Can we have a song?” Ben asked.

Colt grabbed his guitar from the corner and sat on the end of Ben’s bed. “Whose turn is it?”

“Mine!” Abby shouted. “The one about the snow and the snow and the snow.”

Colt looked at Remi, silently asking for help. She had her hand over her mouth, and the tilt in her eyes said she was fighting back a laughing attack.

“Um, I don’t know that one,” Colt said.

Abby flung her hand in the air. “You know. No place to go. Snow, snow, snow.”

“‘Let it Snow.’ I gotcha.” Colt played that one every Christmas in the church choir performance. “Only if Remi will sing the words.”

Abby and Ben placed their hands together in front of their faces. “Please,” they drawled in unison.

Remi settled onto the end of Abby’s bed and gestured for Colt to play. He played the chords, but she gave it a voice–a beautiful voice that captivated him, as well as the kids.

When the song ended, Abby yawned and said, “Again.”

“Tomorrow,” Remi promised as she pulled the covers over Abby. “Whose turn is it to lead the prayer?”

“Mine,” Colt said before bowing his head. “Father, we thank You for the day of happiness You gave us. We thank You for this home and everyone in it. I pray that You would continue to guide us and give us wisdom. And please help me answer Abby’s questions. They’re so tough, and I know nothing.”

That got him a few laughs from the kids, but it was the truth. Abby kept him on his toes with her quest to understand everything, and he hardly ever knew how to answer her questions. “In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.”

“Okay, kids. Flash your lights for a few minutes, then go to bed,” Remi said.

Abby grabbed her light. “Okay.” She popped back up. “Wait. What does insinuate mean?”

Remi threw her hands in the air. “Looks like we need a dictionary.”

Colt snapped his fingers. “Christmas present!”

Remi propped her hands on her hips. “What kid wants a dictionary for Christmas?”

“No, I meant me. You’re getting me a present, right?”