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“The SEC?”

“Alabama played Texas A&M last weekend.”

“Perfect.”

He started the game and propped the phone on his knees. He rested his arm on the back of the couch, and Remi snuggled closer.

The game was a blowout, but not much could have held his attention when Remi was this close. She gave her heated two cents through the first two quarters, but her comments waned in the third hour. Soon, her soft snores were rhythmic against his shoulder.

He paused the game and tossed the phone onto the couch. Wiggling his arms under her, he lifted Remi and cradled her against his chest. She didn’t weigh much more than the kids, and he laid her gently on top of the made bed. He ducked back into the main room and grabbed the blanket he’d been using on the couch every night out of the closet.

Remi’s breaths were deep and even as he draped the blanket over her. She slept so soundly to be such a wildfire whenever she was awake.

“Good night, princess.” Colt bent to kiss her hair and brushed a hand over the softness. With a whispered, “I love you,” he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Chapter19

Remi

Remi focused on the quilt square in her hands. It had been over a month since she’d been to one of the Tuesday night quilting get-togethers at Stella and Vera’s place, and apparently, quilting wasn’t like riding a bike. It was more like being thrown back into high school five years after graduating.

Stella leaned over and whispered, “How’s she doing?”

Vera had disappeared with Abby into the kitchen with the promise of hot chocolate, but the little girl had been guarded all evening. She was usually so friendly. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Abby’s nightmares had doubled up this week, and Remi was starting to feel the exhaustion too.

“She’s okay. It’s been a hard week. Probably the hardest yet.”

“Bring her to me tomorrow. She can help out in the gift shop, and she’ll be a friendly face for all the kids at check-in.”

Stella manned the gift shop at the ranch, and the job was perfect for her. She loved talking to strangers and helping them get the most out of their vacations. It was no wonder she’d become fast friends with Abby.

“I’ll do that. Most of the kids in my group this week are older, and I can tell she’s getting left out.”

“Remi!”

Abby speed-walked into the living room carrying a lidded mason jar with a straw sticking out of the top with both hands. “Miss Vera gave mewhitehot chocolate. See?”

Remi studied the white liquid in the clear glass. “Is it just warm milk?”

“No! It tastes like white chocolate. It’s super sweet.”

Glancing at Vera, Remi ignored the warning in the back of her mind. Super sweet within an hour of bedtime sounded like a sign. There wouldn’t be any sleep tonight. “I bet it’s yummy.”

Abby lowered her bottom onto the edge of the couch cushion and gently wiggled herself back onto the seat.

“What’s your favorite thing to do here?” Ava asked.

Abby swallowed a big gulp of her drink. “I like playing. I get to run, and play hide-and-seek, and feed the horses, and roast marshmallows, and swing, and–”

“Wow,” Jess said. “So, you get to do everything fun?”

“Yep.” Abby went back to drinking herself into a sugar coma.

“How are things with you and Colt?” Stella asked with a wink.

Remi looked down at the stitch, but there was no way she could focus. “Good. Things are good.”

“Good? That’s it?” Jess asked.