Free Hidden Gifts (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance) by Elena Aitken Page B

asked, “Do you want a braid, Ella? You have to tell me. It’s okay to use your words, you know?”  
    Morgan moved around her so she was kneeling in front of Ella. She reached out and tipped up Ella’s chin so she was looking at her. Silent tears spilled from the little girl’s eyes and the familiar clench in Morgan’s stomach tightened but she ignored it, focusing instead on Ella. With her thumb, she softly wiped Ella’s tears from her cheek. “It’s okay to cry, kiddo,” Morgan said. “Do you want to talk about it?”  
    Ella shook her head and stuck her thumb in her mouth.  
    “Okay,” Morgan said. “Do you want me to stop doing your hair?”  
    Almost as fast as it went in, Ella’s thumb popped out of her mouth. “No.”  
    Morgan smiled and moved behind her again. She moved the comb easily through Ella’s hair. “Your mommy used to do this, didn’t she?”
    Ella made a sound that was a cross between a sob and a choke. But she nodded.  
    “And I bet you really liked it when your mommy did your hair,” Morgan continued, “didn’t you?”  
    Ella nodded again. A tear fell on her jeans, making a small wet spot. Morgan’s heart broke a little bit, but she trusted in her training, and kept going.  
    “When your mommy did your hair, what was your favorite style?”  
    It took a few seconds, but Morgan was patient. She kept methodically stroking Ella’s hair, using the comb to lift and separate the strands.  
    “A braid.” Ella’s voice was soft but clear.  
    “Would you like me to do a braid for you now?”  
    Surprising Morgan, Ella spoke again. “Yes,” she said. “Please.”  
    Morgan smiled to herself. It wasn’t a big thing, but it was something. And for a child who’d been wounded as deeply as Ella, it was huge. Without asking any more questions, Morgan carefully braided her hair and by the time she finished, Ella’s tears had stopped.  
    ~ ~
    The walk from the staff residence to the row of guest suites where Bo and Ella were staying was long enough for Morgan to collect her thoughts, but not long enough for her to properly prepare for the evening ahead. She had no idea how she was supposed to make polite conversation with a man who both aggravated her and compelled her at the same time. But maybe it wasn’t too late to cancel. She could go back to the apartment and call his suite. Better yet, she could get Astrid to do it. To say she’d come down with some sort of cold or flu or something. Anything.  
    But when Morgan thought of little Ella and how disappointed she’d be, all thoughts of canceling were out of the question. The poor child had been through enough heartbreak to last a lifetime, and Morgan wasn’t about to be responsible for causing Ella any more pain. Even if it was just a cancelled dinner.  
    She stumbled along the rocky path. Heels had been a bad idea. When she tripped for the third time, Morgan almost took them off. Even if she insisted she wasn’t trying to make an effort in her appearance, she had to admit that it did feel good to put a dress on again. Paying more attention to her footing so she didn’t sprain an ankle, Morgan still managed to enjoy her surroundings.
    The free-standing condo-style suites that Castle Mountain Lodge had were stunning. The sloping roof lines and cedar boards gave them a rustic chateau feel that blended into the woodsy surroundings perfectly and the imposing front doors looked as if they’d been hand-carved from old-growth trees. There weren’t many windows on the front sides of the suites, which was done purposely to give the residents privacy. All the windows were at the back, where the real view was.
    Morgan approached number three, noticing how the number was created from stone and positioned into the siding. She took a deep breath and rapped on the door with the wrought iron door knocker. No turning back.  
    As soon as the door flew open and Morgan set eyes on Ella, her hair pulled back into a lopsided