Montana Wrangler. Charlotte Carter

was reading a newspaper. Bryan lay sprawled on the floor in front of the fire playing a game on an electronic device.

      Pondering how she could break through Bryan’s reticence and make a connection with him, Paige sat down at the upright piano. She ran her fingers over the keys, running up and down the scales. She’d taken lessons and played all through high school, often accompanying the choir or student musicals.

      “Hey, Bryan,” she said. “Remember when we used to play ‘Chopsticks’ together?”

      He turned to look at her. “Uh-uh.”

      “Don’t you remember this?” Using two fingers, she tapped out the familiar tune. “You got pretty good at it.”

      She had his attention enough that he took the ear buds out of his ears. A tiny bit of progress.

      “You played the melody and I played the accompaniment.” She struck the appropriate chords, improvising a few swirling runs. “Come on. Let’s try it together.”

      “I don’t remember how.”

      “I’ll show you again.”

      Grandpa folded his newspaper. “Go on, boy. Give it a try.”

      Reluctantly, Bryan got up. He walked to piano and sat on the bench next to her. She caught a whiff of wood smoke and little boy sweat, and smiled.

      “Watch the keys I play, and you play the same ones an octave higher. Like this.” She demonstrated slowly, then asked him to try. He came close to getting it right and they practiced again.

      When she thought he was ready, she let him set the beat and added the accompaniment.

      They made it all the way through the song. “Magnificent!” she cheered. She held up her hand for a high five.

      He looked startled, then grinned and slapped her hand.

      A beginning, she thought. From little things, big things can grow.

      Glancing toward Grandpa, she discovered Jay leaning one shoulder against the kitchen doorway watching her. His brows were lowered in disapproval, his lips a straight line.

      Jay didn’t believe she could make a good life for Bryan. She did. For Krissy’s sake, and with God’s help, she would.