Harte's Peak Read online

  “No.” She reached for him and pulled him close in a hug. “I’m the one who’s sorry. Thank you for everything. My hero.”

  He closed his eyes and breathed in her intoxicating scent. He ran his fingers through her silky hair. When she lifted her head to stare into his eyes he traced the curve of her lips. He might be in uncharted territory, but even he realized this was not the way friends behaved.

  “You’re such a good friend,” Vera whispered.

  He released her. Vera’s feelings for him were friendship alone. Anything else he read in her eyes was wishful thinking.

  11

  After a restful night’s sleep in her roomy queen-sized bed, Vera decided to ignore the doctor. The next morning she asked Annie to pick her up and take her to the café. Sooner or later, she would find a way to drive with the big boot on her foot, but for now, accepting a ride instead of driving herself was her version of a compromise to the doctor’s orders.

  “Are you sure about this?” Annie grimaced and stared at Vera’s foot. “That looks painful.”

  “I’ll be fine. Besides, I want to keep busy.” And keep her mind off Ryan.

  After last night, that was hard to do. She kept picturing his smoldering brown eyes and the tender way he’d touched her. Even though he’d had plenty of opportunity, Ryan was always the perfect gentleman.

  “How did it happen?” Annie turned the key in the glass door and opened up the silent and dim café. They’d arrived before the sunrise to beat the crowd expected on the way to the slopes to observe or compete.

  “A ski accident and my own stupidity.” Vera sighed. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I should have taken Ryan’s offer before this got out of hand.”

  “His offer?”

  “He offered to take my place in the tournament.”

  Annie smiled. “Wow. Well, I thought he had it bad for you, but I had no idea he was that far gone.”

  “You’re wrong. That’s Ryan. He would do this for any one of us. He’s the best man I know.”

  Annie elbowed Vera. “And now I see that it’s mutual.”

  Vera flushed. She’d hoped her feelings were not that obvious. Regardless, a relationship with Ryan was impossible. He deserved someone much better. Someone more like Maggie.

  Annie now performed opening tasks with the expertise of someone who had been doing it for years. With an ache, Vera realized that if she was forced to sell the café, Annie would be out of a job, too. No. Not going to happen.

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” Annie said as she tied on her apron.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been around. I’ll be here from now on.” At least, that was the plan. She hoped one way or another it would happen.

  “I’ve enjoyed working here so much. The locals are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I think I might know the whole town by now.”

  Everyone said that about Harte’s Peak. Even those passing through affectionately called it Little Mayberry.

  “In fact, that was how I met the principal of the new private school opening this fall.” Annie filled the sink with sudsy water.

  “I heard something about that.” With so much to do she’d been absent from the weekly Chamber of Commerce meetings, but her e-newsletters had mentioned the private Christian school.

  “We really hit it off. She’s from Texas, like I am. Anyway, one thing led to another and she offered me a job starting in the fall,” Annie said.

  Vera shuffled over to Annie and grabbed her in a bear hug. “I’m so happy for you.” Annie had been searching for a teaching job for a long while. Even though Vera would miss her, she couldn’t help but be proud that Annie had accomplished her plan.

  “I won’t have to leave you right away,” Annie stared at Vera’s foot. “Plenty of time for you to recover.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ll manage.”

  “Of course you will. And with a hunk like Ryan on your side, you won’t be lonely either,” she teased.

  “Annie, we’re not dating. We’re good friends.” Very good friends. Hopefully life-long friends.

  Annie rolled her eyes, “If you say so.”

  The morning rush arrived within the hour and kept them both hopping. They worked out a system in which Vera did the least amount of moving, making the drinks while Annie worked the register and also helped fill orders.

  Kyle appeared with three young women he introduced as his snow bunnies. “How’s the ankle? I heard about what happened.”

  “Don’t worry about me. You should worry about Ryan,” Vera called out from behind the espresso machine.

  “I’ve been meaning to thank you for that. After Ryan entered the contest it finally got interesting.” The arrogance might be well placed, but Vera doubted it. Kyle probably saw his easy win evaporating like the steam out of his hot cup of latte.

  One of Kyle’s bunnies sidled up next to him. “You can listen on the radio. WXPX is going to have live coverage. So you can be among the first to hear about it when Kyle wins.”

  Vera didn’t respond, but she had a radio around here somewhere. She wouldn’t miss a minute of the coverage.

  After the morning rush, the till was overflowing.

  “It’s been that way every day,” Annie announced.

  Vera’s spirits buoyed. As she had anticipated, the tournament had been great for business. If only it could be enough. Even so, she’d have to plan adequately for the slow down after the contest. One thing she would never do again is over extend or forget to plan for difficult times.

  “Go ahead and enjoy the rest of the day. I can handle things here. I imagine it’ll be slow all day. Seems like the whole town has gone out to support the skiers.”

  “Are you sure?” Annie asked. “I’d love to watch the competition. If you’ll be OK.”

  “Get me the radio, would you? I think it’s in the office. I don’t want to miss the play by play.” Before she left, Annie set everything up for her, including the radio on the counter, tuned to the right station.

  She would have to picture Ryan flying down the slopes, his long and steady legs conquering the hill.

  

  A major portion of the population of Harte’s Peak had come out to watch the tournament. Great. All the more pressure not to face plant after catching air.

  “Ryan, you’re a planker? Are you in this race?” Katie, the manager from the bookstore, stood in the viewing aisles with her boyfriend, David, who owned the hardware store in town.

  Ryan nodded.

  “I’m a last-minute add. I’ve got to qualify with my time first.” Right now, he reconsidered the whole idea. But Vera’s face flashed in his mind, the beautiful blue eyes and kissable lips. No, he wasn’t giving up.

  Kyle approached. “Believe me. He’ll qualify. This guy used to be a free rider at heart, like me. He wasn’t afraid of anything.”

  That much was true. Back then he’d used the anger he’d felt against the world to drive him. And until the accident it had worked.

  “Lucky for you there’s no acro in this competition.” Kyle jeered. The acrobatic part of the competition was always where Ryan had been edged out. Linking jumps, flips, and spins were not his style. Pure, unadulterated, freeing speed was his calling card. Always had been.

  He made his way through the crowd of well-wishers and joined the line at check-in. The disorganized desk was crowded with contestants yelling out skiers’ names as the entrants were assigned random numbers for the first qualifying race. Clearly, the lodge had been unprepared for the overwhelming turnout of amateurs hoping to get a chance at the final race. Not to mention the purse.

  Some familiar faces were in the crowd of amateurs, locals who were hoping for a chance at the brass ring. Vera would have been here, but right now he thanked God she wasn’t. She was safe at the café, waiting for him to report back with his qualifying times. At least, he hoped they’d be qualifying times.

  Lord, help me to do my best. The words of Proverbs 3:4 came back to
him. A favorite verse after a particularly long and trying day at work when the occasional thanklessness of his job seeped through to his bones.

  Whatever you do, be it in word or in deed, do it heartily as unto the Lord.

  Maybe that was what he’d been missing here. Yes, he wanted to do this for Vera, but more than that, he wanted this race to be won for the Lord. And since it would be the first time he’d ever won a race with that in mind, he’d give it everything he had and then some.

  A downhill race, each contestant would start off alone, a straight shot down the mountain. A digital counter would begin the moment a skier pushed off and end the second they breezed through the finish line.

  Like every other amateur hoping to qualify, he’d have three attempts, –and the best times would advance to the final race.

  He’d been keeping track of his time on his runs with Vera yesterday, and they had been better than he would have expected.

  By his calculations only one prospective amateur out of the crowd would be allowed to place. The rest of the spots would probably be taken by amateurs who were already ranked and more than qualified.

  He had to have that spot.

  Ryan counted about thirty contestants as together they rode the ski lift to the advanced hill where the first race to the bottom would begin. At the top, they were met by some of the media and officials. The judges were situated about the midway point where they would have the clearest vantage point to the finish line. Even so, they wouldn’t be able to see every leg of the competition and would be advised via walkie-talkie from sightseers at different points of the race.

  Spectators were gathered below, some holding binoculars and others wearing sunglasses. The early February weather was unnaturally warm and sunny and some in the crowd were already peeling off layers of clothing.

  Several amateurs went ahead of him, and Ryan gaged his competition. But this wasn’t where his biggest concern lay. If he got the spot, he’d have to contend with Kyle, Shane, and the others.

  Finally, his name was announced and Ryan lined up at the starting gate. He fought to keep his focus off the pounding beat of his heart. All he could think about was a day seven years ago when he’d experienced the most agonizing physical pain of his life. When he’d been too full of himself.

  Someone from the crowd shouted something which he did not hear and did not care. He held his focus entirely on the next few seconds of his life. This is it. It’s just You and me now, Lord.

  He adjusted his goggles in place and waited for the signal from the coordinator, heart positioned firmly in his throat. At the sound of the chiming bell indicating it was time, he pushed off. The steady weight distribution on the sole of the outside of his foot gave him the control he required as he raced down the hill, pushing the bottom wind.

  Midway through the course he felt the old surge of adrenaline kick in. A strange thing happened—he had a partner in this race, and for the first time in his life he wasn’t doing this alone. He’d take care of getting across the finish line, and God would take care of the rest. The cold wind whipped through as he sailed past a tricky turn, catching air.

  The swoosh of the skis against the snow, the snow spray whipping against his face, they were all welcome memories. Not the stuff of nightmares. While he’d expected nothing but fearful reminders of the accident, all of that was gone now as he reconciled with an old friend. He could feel the speed, his time had to be good, and as he recognized the last flag before the finish, all doubts were gone.

  The crowd roared as he crossed the finish line.

  Now the moment of truth. He stared up at the digital clock that would flash his time and listened for the announcer’s voice over the speakers.

  The time flashed one minute and forty seconds and Ryan winced. In his competitive days, it would have been far from his best score. But today it might just be good enough.

  “Time comes in at one minute forty seconds by our very own Deputy Ryan Colton,” the announcer’s voice rang. “Folks, that’s easily a pro’s time, which by the way, Ryan used to be. Good luck, everyone. I think this score is the one to beat today.”

  He found Kyle waiting to congratulate him. “Good job. I think it’s safe to say you’ve got this.”

  “I’m not counting on it, but I’m pretty happy with that time. Maybe I’ll do better next time.”

  “You’ll have to do a lot better if you want to beat me.” Kyle flashed a smile. “My last time on a similar course came in at one o’ nine. Beat out my competition by a tenth of a second.”

  “A tenth of a second? That had to hurt.”

  “Winning is winning. And it’s all that matters,” Kyle said.

  Once Ryan would have thought the same thing, and now he made up his mind to watch Kyle very carefully. Ryan wanted to win again, and even if it was by a tenth of a point, he’d take it.

  “Right,” Ryan admitted. “See ya later, I’ve got two more runs. Who knows? I may get an even better time next. Remember, I’ve been out of this for a while. But I’m warming up.”

  He hoped that Kyle heard the challenge in his voice loud and clear. Ryan had a new edge Kyle might never have, or understand. The advantage Ryan had since he realized this was about much more than winning.

  By the time the qualifying times of all amateurs seeking to rank were averaged later in the day, Ryan’s best time had clocked in at one thirty.

  All contestants gathered to hear the final announcement.

  “By determination of times, the amateur to advance and hold a spot for the final race will be Ryan Colton.”

  Ryan was flanked by his friends, many of them clapping him on the back.

  In the distance, Kyle raised his thumb in his direction.

  Yes, thank you, Lord. By the grace of God he’d taken the spot. Now he only had to win the race.

  

  Vera whooped when she heard the announcement. Ryan had qualified for the final race. She pulled her cell phone out of her apron, hoping to see a text message or a call. She’d begged him to check in with her at every opportunity, but either reception was lacking on the mountain or he’d been too busy to do so.

  Lexi walked in alone and surveyed the empty café. “Where is everyone?”

  “The race. How’s your mom?” Vera tried to tone down her enthusiasm.

  Ryan had made the qualifying, but the final race would be the biggest challenge. Still, he had a good chance.

  She’d seen him fly down that hill first hand. Now all she had to do was pray that he wouldn’t get injured in the process of helping her. “Jack sent me here for a triple shot Americano. Mom says he’s being a wimp, and that sleep is overrated. She’ll have a hot chocolate.” Lexi fished through her purse.

  “Put your wallet away. This one’s on the house.” Vera started to fill the order. “How is John?”

  “Jack says we don’t need the doctor to tell us that his lungs were fully developed. They let him go home with mom.”

  The best news she’d had in weeks. John was out of the woods.

  Lexi edged closer to the radio. “Is Ryan winning?”

  “He just won the spot he needed to be in the final race.”

  “I can’t wait to tell mom and Jack that the race is on the radio. We need to listen to this at home.” Lexi rushed out as soon as her orders were ready.

  After a few more minutes, the announcer’s voice boomed over the radio.

  “The line-up of final skiers include Kyle Grant, Ryan Colton, and Shane Zelinski. After a fifteen-minute break the contestants will line up for the last leg…”

  Vera didn’t hear the rest.

  Ryan would soon be lining up for the final leg of the race, an intense run of uneven terrain, and big turns at high speed. This part required not only speed, but precision, to avoid serious injury. Injuries much worse than her broken ankle.

  She tried to get Ryan’s old accident out of her mind. After all, he’d admitted to being under the influence that time and he no longer drank. Other
things could go wrong, though. And she didn’t want to think about them.

  Instead, she closed her eyes and silently offered up a prayer for Ryan’s safety. Since she’d prayed for John, talking to God had become easier.

  She pictured Ryan—his beautiful brown eyes, dimpled chin, tender touch—and tears formed in her own eyes. He would do his best, and she no longer cared whether he won, but only that he would be kept safe. Please God, I won’t ask for anything more. Ever again.

  The peace she felt after her prayer was quickly disrupted by the sound of the tinkling bell to the door, announcing she had a customer. Opening her eyes, her peace was further shattered by the presence of the man standing before her.

  Kevin.

  Vera took a deep breath. Kevin was the last person she wanted to see. Ever.

  “Can I help you?” She gnawed at her bottom lip. Better to remain pleasant and not reveal the bitterness that his very presence inspired.

  “That’s better than your last greeting.”

  “I don’t mean to encourage you.” She stared daggers at him.

  He held a newspaper under his arm. “That much is clear. I’ll have the flavor of the day, whatever it is.”

  She filled a to-go foam cup with the dregs of the drip coffee and placed it down in front of him, hoping he’d take the hint. “I hoped you’d be gone by now. Haven’t you got the message yet? The café will never be for sale.”

  He ignored her remark. “I see you gave up on the foolish idea of the ski tournament. I’m still interested if you’ve run out of options. We can talk about it.” The man would never give up until he was run out of town. Surely he had better places to be.

  “Not quite. You’re wasting your time here.”

  “I’d almost like to know what you have up your sleeve.”

  “Get used to being disappointed.”

  “Does your plan have anything to do with that overzealous deputy you hired as security? Bryan—Ryan—what’s-his-name? Not necessary and a waste of your money.”

  She swallowed the hot, burning sensation in her throat. Kevin shouldn’t even be allowed to speak Ryan’s name. “None. Of. Your. Business.”