Harte's Peak Read online

Dirty looks had no effect so she slapped his hand.

  His eyes widened and he grinned.

  “Consider yourself lucky I only hit your hand,” she said between breaths.

  He climbed onto the treadmill next to hers, and she did her best to ignore him. Still, she couldn’t help but notice that after five minutes, he barely broke a sweat. Until now, she hadn’t noticed that he had abs, much less that they were rock hard.

  “I happen to notice you speaking to someone who was parked in front of my house last night.”

  “Yeah. Same guy who was at the café.” His words didn’t come with the heavy breathing of someone taxed by a run.

  Show off. Another flaw. She’d call that strike two.

  “Kevin? What did he want?”

  “He said he was your ex-husband.”

  “To my eternal shame.”

  Ryan didn’t miss a beat. “Said he wanted to talk to you.”

  “Well, I don’t want to talk to him.”

  If that was all Kevin had told him she’d consider herself fortunate.

  “I got that idea.” He slowed his speed and hopped off the treadmill. “Come on. We have a lot to do.”

  From treadmill to stair stepper. Running nowhere to climbing nowhere. What joy. The person who’d invented these machines had a wicked sense of humor.

  By the end of their session, the sweat dripped profusely from every pore she owned and surely some she didn’t. Ryan threw a towel at her, and she slid down the length of the wall in a heap.

  He was treating her like one of the guys. Why, then, did she hate it?

  “Good work. Tomorrow we’ll step it up a little. I didn’t want to be too hard on you the first day.”

  Kyle ambled over to them, a sly grin on his face and a towel around his shoulders. He held out his hand to Vera and pulled her up. “I see you mean to give me some serious competition.”

  “You better believe it.” Vera caught her breath.

  She hadn’t noticed Kyle at the gym. Now she was glad Ryan had put her through the paces, and she’d kept up. Since she’d proven herself to Ryan, Kyle might take her seriously, too. She stood straighter and tried to still the rubber she used to refer to as her legs.

  “It takes a lot more than a few gym workouts to make you a pro, sweetheart. Don’t let this joker tell you otherwise.” Kyle snapped his towel at Ryan.

  Ryan’s jaw flexed, but he ignored Kyle and stared at Vera. “You did great.”

  “If you ever want a ski lesson from a real pro, I’ll clear my schedule.” Kyle was handsome in a gold-chain, hairy-chest way, and her skin crawled when he spoke.

  “No thanks.” Vera staggered toward the exit sign. All she could think of was a shower and an industrial size cup of coffee. If only her legs could hold her up.

  She’d made it through the workout. If Ryan thought he would discourage her, he would have to come up with Plan B. They would all be shocked at what she could do when she put her mind to it.

  

  He wanted to wipe that leer off Kyle’s face. Kyle’s intentions weren’t honorable, Ryan was certain. “How did you get in here, anyway?”

  “Ashley gave me a guest pass. It’s the least she can do since I make her breakfast every morning.” Kyle winked.

  Just as Ryan suspected. “Great. And you can lay off Vera,” he warned Kyle as he grabbed his backpack off the floor.

  Kyle ogled as Vera walk toward the exit sign. “Why? Are you interested in her?”

  Even if he was, he wouldn’t tell Kyle. That knowledge would ring like a challenge to Kyle. “You’re the last thing she needs right now.”

  “Are you sure, bud?” Kyle narrowed his eyes.

  “Yeah. Don’t play your games with her.”

  “That’s not what I meant. Are you sure you’re not interested in her?”

  Beautiful, brave, and funny. Smart. Vera had everything going for her, but he’d promised himself he wouldn’t ask anyone out again until it could be a serious relationship. No more fooling around. And Vera had some kind of anti-religion agenda that he didn’t quite understand.

  Especially since she was best friends with Maggie, who was as Christian a girl as one could ever meet.

  “If you’re not interested I might be.” Kyle shrugged. “I’m just saying.”

  Vera needed someone like Kyle in her life the way the gym needed more sweat. “Even if there’s a jealous ex-husband involved?”

  Kyle’s smile fell. Jealous ex-husbands happened to be a personal problem of Kyle’s, and there had been plenty of them, if the rumors were true. Kyle’s silence provided his answer.

  “See you tomorrow. We’re training every day.” Ryan turned to leave. He spied the backpack Vera had left behind. He carted it out.

  Vera stood by her car plundering through her purse. “I know I had keys or I couldn’t have driven myself here.”

  “You forgot something.” He handed her the gym bag.

  She snatched it from his hands, fumbled through it, and fish out a set of keys. “I’m not sure if I’m speaking to you yet. You’re some kind of sadist.” Vera narrowed her eyes.

  “Once you take a hot shower, you’ll feel like a new woman. You’ll see.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do. See you tomorrow?”

  “Not if I see you first.”

  She punched her key.

  The lock clicked, and he opened the door for her. “C’mon. You used to be a model. Didn’t they want you to keep in shape with regular workouts?”

  Vera laughed. “A water and lettuce diet doesn’t give you much energy for workouts.”

  He knew next to nothing about the fashion industry, but no one in their right mind could expect to survive on a diet of lettuce and water. “Tell me you’re kidding.”

  “I’m only exaggerating a little. Why do you think I like to eat so much now?’

  One could hardly tell by looking at her, but she’d certainly eaten a lot of pasta the night before, and it did seem a fitting tribute to enjoy food once you had been severely deprived of it.

  “Go home and eat a huge protein-laden breakfast. You earned it.”

  “That’s the wisest thing you’ve said to me this morning. I might be speaking to you again.”

  He tried to keep a straight face, but Vera made him want to smile.

  The financial problems were serious enough that she wasn’t backing off even with his punitive workouts. He’d tested her this morning to see how determined she was, and giving up didn’t seem to be part of her vocabulary.

  Whatever the financial problem, it had to be significant. But how would he get her to admit it so he could help in a real way?

  

  The men’s Bible study group had picked John chapter two for study. The first miracle of turning water into wine.

  Bible study helped Ryan make practical applications for daily life, but today he wondered how he could possibly apply this passage. Water and wine.

  Could this be about making the best of a bad situation?

  Ex-Sheriff Calhoun, the eldest in the group, spoke first. “I see this as Mary stating the problem: they had no more wine. At a wedding in the first century, that was a huge problem.”

  “That’s always a problem. First century or not,” a younger man quipped from the back row.

  “Well, I give you that,” Calhoun continued. “Mary put the problem to Jesus, and then she trusted in Him to solve it. I’m not even sure she realized this would be His first public miracle, though it was.”

  “So, basically, state the problem and then wait and trust in God,” Ryan said. Made sense. Ryan marveled at how Calhoun found bits of wisdom from the smallest things.

  “Exactly. He knows what’s on our minds so we might as well be honest,” Jack added.

  They ended with prayer in time to make it to the second service in the main chapel. During his own prayer, Ryan took the time to present the problem: Vera’s financial difficulty and his desire to help her with it.

&
nbsp; Ryan walked out with Jack and Calhoun.

  Maggie and Lexi were coming out of the church nursery where they’d both volunteered.

  Ryan hugged Maggie. She was about ready to burst with child. Although she’d always been pretty, now she looked almost ethereal.

  “I’ve been meaning to call you. We keep missing each other at church.” She let Jack and Lexi walk ahead.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m hoping that Vera came to see you?”

  He didn’t think Maggie knew that he had offered to train Vera for the tournament. “We started training today. I took her to the slopes a couple of days ago.”

  Maggie’s eyes widened. “Training?”

  “For the open ski tournament. She insists on entering.” He shrugged.

  Maggie shook her head. “I told Vera about the foundation. She has one of those interest only loans, and she can’t afford the payment any longer. I gave her a brochure and told her to call and find out more about it.”

  So that was the financial problem. The reason she was overextended. If she’d told him about it, they could have avoided this tournament business. The foundation was there to help people like Vera.

  “I don’t know why she hasn’t asked you about it. She said she would. But knowing Vera, she’s probably too proud.”

  “Crazy.” Ryan’s jaw tightened. “Instead, she’s entered a ski tournament with highly ranked amateurs and professionals. And she’s got a ways to go to be in the same league. I don’t think she stands a chance, but more than that, I’m worried she could get hurt.”

  “Oh, no.” Maggie covered her face with her hands.

  Ryan was sorry he’d told her anything. “You’ve got to convince her to take the assistance.”

  “I’ll try, but this is some kind of challenge to her. She hasn’t given me any hints of backing down.” If her best friend couldn’t convince Vera to ask for help, how was he supposed to make any headway?

  “It won’t be easy, but take it from my experience. Eventually, she does listen to reason.”

  The Vera he’d been working with hadn’t seemed all that familiar with reason. But now, at last, he knew exactly how to help her. He’d have to bring it up tactfully and let her know he realized this race wasn’t just a challenge to her, but a real need. One which the foundation could cure. If only she’d listen to him.

  

  The hardest thing Vera had found thus far about being Maggie’s best friend turned out to be planning the baby shower.

  She’d handled offering Maggie advice during Lexi’s rough patch a few years ago because she understood a little something about teenage rebellion.

  But when it came to babies she couldn’t offer anything. Babies were far too fragile for Vera’s sensibilities. Too helpless. And the memory of her greatest failure as a human being. But she’d leave that in the past where it belonged. She had to drum up some enthusiasm for Maggie’s sake because she had invitations to send out today.

  After the gym torture, Vera ate a large breakfast of eggs mixed with bits of bacon, sausage, and potatoes. She handed Stin a small piece of bacon. “Don’t tell the vet.”

  A long and luxurious shower proved Ryan was right. She felt normal again.

  She had finished addressing the last of the invitations to the baby shower by hand and risen to stretch out her legs when her gaze caught a byline in the Harte’s Peak Times that sat on her kitchen counter.

  In the Lifestyle section, an article on the upcoming ski tournament at Dodge Ridge listed the names of all contestants, including her own.

  The First Annual Dodge Ridge Open Ski Tournament, sponsored by Columbia under the direction of the Harte’s Peak Chamber of Commerce, promises to be a popular event. Next month, amateur ranked and professional skiers from Colorado to Utah will compete for the top prize of $25,000. A series of races before the tournament will determine whether the amateur can advance to the final. A professional ranking guarantees advancement.

  The names of the entrants and their short bios were listed. A long list of titles and awards followed Kyle’s name and the names of the other competitors. Shane Zelinski was a highly ranked amateur, one qualifying race from the pro-circuit and was second favored to win after Kyle. Ryan was right. Even all the amateurs listed had prior experience in tournament skiing.

  Except for her. Vera’s credentials were listed as a resident of Harte’s Peak and owner of The Bean Café. Her past high fashion modeling experience didn’t matter.

  The black and white typeset invited second thoughts. Sure, she could ski, but so could Ryan. So could Jack, Lexi, and almost every one of her friends. It didn’t mean that they could enter a ski tournament. They were at least smart enough to realize that.

  What had she done?

  Maybe she could still drop out and keep some dignity, although the damage was already done. Suddenly Kyle didn’t seem as egotistical as she’d thought. It was a wonder he hadn’t laughed her right out of the gym. He was probably humoring her. Big mistake.

  And Ryan–-no wonder he had tried so hard to talk her out of it. Looking back, he’d been kind.

  Shutting her eyes, she took a deep and calming breath. Maybe if she went out for a while and took her mind off it, she’d gain a fresh perspective. She still hadn’t found the perfect gift for Maggie—one in Vera’s price range.

  The phone rang, and she picked it up expecting to hear Maggie in shock after reading the paper. She’d probably cry until Vera gave in and dropped out.

  “You can’t be serious.” Kevin said, with a jovial tone.

  “What do you want?” she snapped.

  “I’m reading the local paper, and I come across this article that states in no uncertain terms that my ex-wife is about to participate in a ski tournament she doesn’t have a prayer of winning. Is this your plan to get out from under your obligations?”

  “What possible business is this of yours?” She held the phone tightly, considering whether she should hang up on him or throw the phone across the room.

  “Whether you believe it or not, I care about you. If this is your plan, I’m worried. Did you read the article and assess your competition? Didn’t I teach you better than this?”

  “Kevin, do me a favor and lose this number.” She hit the button to hang up.

  She needed to get out of the house and go shopping to take her mind off the tournament.

  As the best friend she wanted to buy Maggie the most expensive item on the register, a state-of-the-art stroller. But she might have to squash that generous spirit since her bank account didn’t line up with her motives. She’d made a partial payment to her mortgage lender hoping to appease them, though she doubted it would do much to delay the inevitable. At this point, the tournament couldn’t get here fast enough, if it was going to make any difference at all.

  She’d exhausted her savings and broken the cardinal rule to dip into the small retirement fund she’d started. None of it would be enough to dig her out of this hole. The house payment was eating her alive.

  The house wasn’t even worth what she still owed to the bank. In business terms, it would be considered a loss and she should write it off. But this was her home and Stin’s home, too. It couldn’t be written off like some item in an accountant’s liability column.

  She glanced down at Stin, her little shadow. Some apartments might take pets, but she didn’t want Stin cramped up in a small place with no yard.

  The place that used to offer her such comfort, with its large kitchen island perfect for cooking, now threatened to strangle her from the inside out.

  Vera grabbed her keys to drive over to Wee Ones and find out exactly how much that stroller Maggie wanted would cost.

  She pulled up into the parking lot of the small store and held her breath. The last time she’d been here was with Maggie, but now she’d have to walk in alone.

  She hated this place with its aisles of broken promises. Pictures of angelic looking babies everywhere, plump faced and healthy looking,
the way all babies should be.

  Blanche was more than happy to oblige when she asked about the stroller, looking it up on the baby register Maggie had signed up for a week ago.

  “Still available.” Blanche checked. “No one purchased it yet.”

  Vera stared at the tag. No wonder.

  Like a woman possessed, Vera whipped out her credit card. “I’ll get it.”

  Maggie deserved it. Buying it would demonstrate to Maggie how much she loved her. How much she missed working with her at the café every day.

  Blanche came back with the card. “It didn’t go through. Want me to try again?”

  Vera’s stomach dropped. They’d obviously lowered her credit limit, since she hadn’t hit the maximum limit on her emergency only credit card.

  Blanche stared at her and waited for an answer.

  “Oh,” Vera managed to say. There were no more credit cards. There would be no stroller for Maggie. Not from her anyway.

  She turned and marched out of the store without saying another word.

  Blanche kept calling her name.

  Vera ignored her. In her car, she sat and stared straight ahead. Babies were bad luck for her. Bad luck fourteen years ago and tough luck now.

  Two doors down from Wee Ones stood the ski equipment store, Xtreme Ski. One shop illustrated her past failures, the other her future ones. The chances she would win this tournament were non-existent.

  Eight years ago, she’d shed the last of her tears, and there should be no need to start again now. She’d get through this. She’d survived a lot worse and this bump only meant a smoother road lay ahead.

  Only this time the internal pep talk didn’t work. Big wet tears rolled down her cheeks without restraint, followed by a rumbling that began somewhere inside her gut and forced her to heave and shake against her will.

  When she thought to look at the clock on her dashboard, an hour had passed. She’d sat in her car alone and sobbed for an hour. And yet more tears kept coming. This must be what happens when you let it build up.

  She glanced up at a tap on her window.

  Outside her car, Ryan stared with a furrowed brow.