Ghost Town by Annie Bryant Page B

gotta get a move on.”
    Outside the game room, Nik smiled gratefully, then slapped a hand on Katani’s shoulder. “Thanks for rescuing us, Katani!”
    â€œYeah! You should be a band manager or something.You’re really good at getting people to listen,” Sam said, slapping her hand on Katani’s other shoulder.
    Katani smiled. Band manager. She liked the sound of that. As long as the band manager could design costumes and do all that creative stuff, too.
    When the girls reached their floor, Nik whipped out her key and unlocked the door to the twins’ suite.
    â€œWhat’s this?” Sam asked when she saw how the room had been transformed.
    There, in front of the huge window that overlooked the resort lawn and the fabulous backdrop of Lone Mountain, were four sleeping bags with four fluffy pillows.
    â€œHi, girls,” said Nik and Sam’s mom. “
This
is a slumber party, Big Sky Resort style. I got the resort concierge to rustle up some sleeping bags to make it more like the real thing.”
    â€œA slumber party with a major view!” Isabel exclaimed. She couldn’t take her eyes off the majestic, snowy mountain framed by the glow of the moon.
    It was fairly dark, but the girls could still see that the snow was swirling and whirling in the darkness between the window and the mountains.
    â€œI hope Mr. Ramsey and the girls are safe,” Isabel whispered softly, folding her arms in front of her and shivering a bit.
    â€œDon’t worry, Isabel.” Nik slung an arm around Isabel’s shoulder. “I bet there are a ton of motels and restaurants off the interstate for them to get out of the storm.”
    Isabel gazed over at Nik’s guitar in the corner. Nik followed her gaze. “Do you play the guitar?” she askedIsabel, jumping at the chance to take Isabel’s mind off her worries.
    â€œI’ve always wanted to take guitar lessons,” Isabel admitted. “I can only play a little bit, though—just a few chords.”
    â€œWell, there’s no time like the present.” Sam pushed the guitar in her direction.
    â€œReally?”
    â€œWhy not? We only started playing a couple of years ago,” Nik said.
    She handed Isabel the guitar and picked up the mandolin. Sam began strumming softly on her banjo. Nik patiently showed Isabel some basic chords and then went to get her backup guitar. As they strummed together, all three began to hum sweetly. Sam and Isabel strummed a chord, and Nik broke out in her lonesome, melodic voice, “There’s a little girl with a barrette in her hair bouncing on her daddy’s knee . . .”
    Isabel joined Nik and Sam in the ballad’s refrain:
    Hold on and don’t let go
    Put one step forward, two steps back.
    No one ever learned to dance without getting just a little off track.
    When your feet get tangled up,
    you feel just like a fool
    Remember I’ll be there taking every little step with you.
    â€œHey, Katani. Join in!” Sam invited as Nik started in on the second verse.
    Katani shook her head and clamped her mouth shut.
    â€œCome on, Katani,” Sam tried to convince her. “What’s the problem? Just sing along!”
    Katani shook her head again and pressed her lips together. She locked eyes with Isabel and the two broke into uncontrollable giggles.
    Nik put down her guitar and stared at the two giggling girls. “Is there something weird going on here?” she asked.
    Isabel choked back another giggle and shrugged.
    â€œWhat?” Nik asked.
    â€œWHAT?!” Sam demanded.
    â€œWell, it’s just that Katani isn’t . . .” Isabel hesitated.
    â€œIsn’t what?” Sam pressed.
    Katani and Isabel looked at each other and let the giggles flow again.
    â€œKatani is known for her organizational skills,
not
her singing skills,” Isabel finally managed to spit out.
    â€œThat’s putting it mildly!” Katani blurted.