Rocky Mountain Daddy

by Lois Richer

  Gabe accepted Eli’s goodbye hug, reminded him softly about the phone in his backpack and nodded at Eli’s assurance that he wouldn’t need it. Then he watched the group leave, singing a happy song as they went. He stood there watching until he couldn’t see either Eli or Olivia anymore.

  “Separation anxiety, dear?” Tillie threaded her arm through his. “Olivia’s a fantastic director. She’ll take care of Eli, don’t you worry.”

  “Yes, she will.” On his other side, Margaret sighed. “I wish she could stay. It’s been so wonderful to have her logical brain smoothing out all the issues that snarl things up.”

  “Then what would Victoria do?” Gabe asked, reminding them of their other foster daughter.

  “Oh, my dear. There’s so much to do. Victoria would be over the moon if Livvie stayed. She’d like to share the job, leave the office running to Livvie.” Tillie’s voice died away.

  “But Olivia wants to go to her job in Edmonton,” he guessed.

  “You know, I don’t believe she does.” Margaret shook her head. “I believe she’s found her confidence here. That’s why she can take that group today. Her fear is gone. She’s trusting God to meet her needs and direct her. She’s grown so much.”

  “We’ve been praying for our Livvie to let go of the past and allow the love she keeps bottled inside to spill out.” Tillie smiled at him. “Isn’t it wonderful to see it happening? Especially with your little Eli. My, she does love that child.”

  “I think leaving him behind will be hardest of all for her. And you, of course.” Margaret smiled. “You’re fond of her, too, aren’t you, Gabe?”

  “Yes, I am.” What was the point of denying the truth? Gabe swallowed. Though “fond” hardly seemed strong enough for what he felt. “I love Olivia.”

  “But there’s a problem.” Tillie nodded. “I’ve seen it.”

  “We both have,” Margaret agreed. “And from what little our dear girl has confided, we think it has to do with your past. Is there anything we can do to help you?”

  Gabe was fed up with feeling like he’d done something wrong. His anger at Eve wasn’t wrong. It was well deserved. But here was his chance to get some more advice and he wasn’t about to waste it.

  “I talked to you about forgiveness before and you suggested some things, but, well, they don’t work. I can’t forgive my ex-wife.”

  “Oh, my dear boy.” Tillie laid her head on his shoulder. “You must.”

  “Why?” he demanded. “She doesn’t deserve it. She lied, cheated, stole Eli’s childhood. Because of her I’ve missed all the milestones in my son’s life,” he blurted, desperate for a sympathetic ear that would understand his battle.

  “My dear man. Forgiving isn’t about her,” Tillie said with a shake of her head. “It’s about you. It’s about freeing yourself from that burden.”

  “Besides, it’s because of your wife that you have a son,” Margaret said, her tone just the tiniest bit severe. “A boy whose mother made certain he knew he was loved. Do you understand what a legacy that is to a child, Gabe? Do you understand how many children never receive such love?”

  They didn’t understand his position, either.

  “Olivia says it doesn’t matter what I feel about Eve,” he snapped.

  “No, it really doesn’t. God says forgive. You don’t get to pick who.” Margaret looked quite severe.

  “The thing you must keep foremost, my dear, is to balance what you gain by forgiveness against what you lose.” Tillie shrugged. “It’s really no contest.”

  “But forgiving Eve means she gets off scot-free.”

  “And not forgiving her means you’re punishing her?” Margaret raised her eyebrows. “She’s beyond your reach, dear. You’re only punishing yourself.”

  Frustrated, irritated and feeling alone in his misery, Gabe made an excuse and went home. Of all the days off he’d longed for, this wasn’t one he wanted. He cleaned the house, did the laundry and made a popcorn dessert his dad used to make for him. It was one Eli loved.

  But thoughts of Olivia filled every moment. In Eli’s room he dusted the treasure box she’d made him from an old shoebox covered with gold foil and decorated with stars. Gabe unloaded the dishwasher and stared at the big white platter she’d given him as a housewarming gift because she’d said he’d need it for his Thanksgiving turkey. He watered the tubs of cascading red petunias she’d helped Eli choose and plant.

  Chores completed, Gabe sat in his living room with a steaming cup of coffee, trying to come up with something else to keep busy. That’s when it hit him. He was alone and that’s how it was going to be from now on. Eli would grow up, play with his friends, make a whole world for himself. And Gabe would be alone because Olivia was leaving.

  He’d have nobody to talk things over with, to help make decisions, to laugh with at Eli’s goofiness. No one to encourage Gabe with a salty comment or a challenge. No one to press him on whether he’d based his decision biblically.

  Loneliness swamped Gabe as he realized that Olivia was rooted inside him. Whether she was present or not, the aunts’ organized foster daughter now filled every niche and corner of his world. The artwork he’d chosen at Chokecherry Hollow’s local fair reminded him of her smile. The stove reminded him of her laughter when he’d burned an expensive roast in it. His mind repeated the prayer he’d overheard the day he’d moved in. She’d thought she was alone and had asked God to bless him and Eli as they became a family.

  How could they be a family without her?

  Olivia was a necessary part of Gabe’s world. Avoiding her this past week had proved just how integral she’d become to his life. He thought about her when he made coffee exactly as she’d shown him. He thought about her when he was making dinner, whether she’d approve of his meal plan, and if she’d approve of the new school clothes he’d bought for Eli. It was Olivia who’d made this home a reality for him and Eli.

  But mostly Gabe thought about what she’d said, how she’d dissed his claim of love.

  There’s not enough room in your heart for me. It’s crowded with the past and with hate for the woman who left you. I think you’d always be afraid I was going to do what Eve did. That’s not love, Gabe.

  If only he could shed this unyielding chunk of bitterness inside, but even the aunts couldn’t help him with that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Olivia was ecstatic. The treasure hunt hike was going so well. Of course, it hadn’t been without its issues, but she’d handled them with Jake and the newbie counselors’ help. Her pleasure grew as the kids laughed with each discovery. She was thrilled to hear their giggles when they took time to shed their shoes and socks and dip their toes in the cool creek. It felt so good to share these moments without worrying.

  “I know we had lunch, guys, but it’s so warm I think we need another break. Let’s share a snack. Then you can lay out all the items you’ve collected so we can make sure everyone has one of each. After all, we need every single item on our lists if we’re going to get that treasure.”

  “You’ve done an amazing job here,” Jake praised as the kids finished off their juice boxes and the cereal treats she’d brought. “There’s a big variance in age in this group, yet you’ve managed to make it fun for all of them.”

  “It’s nothing,” she demurred breezily. But Jake wasn’t buying.

  “Yes, it is, Olivia. You relate to every kid. You make each one feel appreciated and that gives them a sense of accomplishment. You’ve done an excellent job for The Haven.” He crushed his box and put it in the trash bag they’d brought. “You have a lot to offer your aunts’ ministry. Why not stay?”

  Olivia noticed Eli had curled up on his backpack and was now sleeping. So were three of the other younger children. The rest of the group seemed content to quietly discuss their treasures, comparing them and musing about what the final treasure might be.

&nbs
p; “There won’t be anything for me to do when Victoria returns,” she murmured.

  “But you wish you could stay?” Jake pressed, then nodded. “This place does that to you. You think that you’re only here for a little while and you end up staying.”

  “That’s what happened to you?” Her curiosity rose. Jake was such a major part of The Haven that it was hard to remember he hadn’t always been here. The aunts had never explained why Jake had come or why he’d stayed, and Olivia had never asked.

  “I was just going to help out for a while, to pay the aunts for caring for me.” He shrugged. “I guess it’s never seemed like quite the right time for me to leave.”

  “It never will be,” she said, aghast at the thought of Jake leaving. “This is your home.”

  “It’s yours, too,” he said quietly.

  “Yes.” She shrugged. “I’ve struggled to forget my past. I always thought leaving here, getting as far away as I could, was the answer. But being here, the responsibility of having to take over this ministry while Vic gets better—that’s what has helped me deal with the dragons in my past and learn to depend on God.”

  “That’s The Haven effect. And your aunts’.” He twiddled with a thread on his shirt. “Somehow they seem to just know what each of us needs.”

  “They’d tell you that’s the God effect,” Olivia said with a chuckle.

  “Will it be hard for you to leave? Especially Gabe and Eli?” he asked soberly.

  “Very.”

  “He loves you,” Jake said quietly.

  “But not enough,” she returned sadly. “I’m trying to trust that God has a plan for my life. I guess Gabe and Eli aren’t part of it.” She checked her watch.

  “Yeah, time to go.” Jake pulled a bit of straw and stuck the stem between his teeth. “Sometimes it takes a lot to knock sense into the heads of stubborn cowboys,” he mused in a twang straight from Texas, then smiled at her.

  “Well said. I—”

  A noise from the shrubs ahead of them made Olivia freeze. She recognized that sound. Jake did, too.

  “Stay put,” he whispered. “Tell the kids to do the same while I check it out.” He unzipped his pack to show her the butt of his rifle.

  “But a black bear—” she began, but Jake read her thoughts.

  “I know. The law says I can only shoot if it attacks us. If we don’t do anything threatening, I doubt it will. But I’ll have a better idea what we’re dealing with when I get a look,” he finished. “Call the wildlife authorities and explain our situation.”

  “Okay. Be careful, Jake.”

  “Pray,” he murmured, then crept away, his steps almost soundless in the green underbrush.

  Olivia quickly made the call, grimacing when she was told the officers were attending to another call and might take a while to arrive. As quietly as possible she gathered the children around her, heart thudding as she wakened Eli and cuddled him close.

  She was the one responsible here. With her Father’s help, she was not letting one of them be hurt. Please, God, help us.

  A moment later Jake returned. His tight face said all she needed to know.

  “A mom and her cub. They’re right in the middle of our path, feasting on the berries. We can’t back up or go around so we’re going to have to wait it out.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” She quietly addressed the children. “I need you to pay close attention. There is a mother bear nearby with her baby. They’re eating berries to fill up before they have their long sleep all winter.” The children’s eyes grew huge.

  “What do we do?” one of them asked, voice panicky.

  “Will that bear eat us?” Eli asked.

  “No. This is a mommy bear with her baby. She isn’t interested in us. She just wants her baby to eat his berries so he’ll be able to sleep during the winter. If we’re quiet and leave her alone, she doesn’t care about us. She only wants the food,” she emphasized.

  Jake stepped away to the edge of the clearing. He peered into the forest. Olivia knew he was monitoring every moment of the bear and her cub. Because she was watching him, the kids were watching him. She could feel their fear mounting.

  “The first thing we’re going to do is ask God to help us,” she told them, and then began praying. Several children added their own prayers. When silence fell, she lifted her head and smiled. “God has heard us. We can depend on Him to help us. Now, I’m going to tell you some of the things I know about bears while we wait for the people I’ve called to come and help us. But you must remember to be very quiet. We don’t want to scare the mother.”

  Olivia told them story after story, everything she’d read about the Rockies wildlife, studied in school, learned from the aunties and later from Jake. As she did she thought of Gabe, trusting her to watch the son he’d only just begun to know. Her heart sent up another plea for help when she remembered how she’d chided him for doubting she could handle this treasure hunt. Why hadn’t she asked him to come along instead of attacking him?

  Please, God, help us. Please send someone.

  “They’re coming closer,” a little girl whispered.

  “It’s going to be dark soon,” one of the eldest kids noticed.

  We need to get out of here, God!

  “We’ll be fine.” Olivia met Jake’s glance. She tried to place a second call to the wildlife service and found her cell phone was dead, despite the new battery she’d installed and fully charged since her new phone hadn’t yet arrived. Jake had no cell phone, but he had a walkie-talkie to reach The Haven, but it made a lot of noise and he was hesitant lest it startle the bears.

  Lord, I’m trusting You to keep these children safe. Please help us. I’m the responsible one. I suggested this treasure hunt as a way for the younger kids to participate in The Haven’s program. Don’t let me be the cause of this ministry failing, of children getting hurt. I’m trusting in You to deliver us.

  The words spilled from Olivia’s heart in a steady stream until a very soft, very plaintive voice penetrated her consciousness.

  “Daddy? There’s a bear. Can you help?”

  Olivia blinked. Eli held a tiny cell phone. Two things hit her at the same time.

  Daddy. He said “Daddy.”

  He’s asking Gabe to help us.

  Olivia’s heart swelled with praise. Two answers to prayer.

  “Sweetie, let me—” She froze when Eli clenched the phone tight to his ear, listened and then nodded his head.

  “Okay, Daddy. I’ll do it. Then can you come and get me?” the plaintive request came. “I want to go home.” Another nod, then Eli handed her the phone.

  “Gabe?”

  “Tell me where you are, Olivia. Exactly.” His gruff voice made her heart swell. She trusted him, knew he’d save his son. Gabe loved Eli.

  “There’s a little map on the wall in my office. Just follow it.” She recited the landmarks they’d passed, the small glen and the path they’d taken to get here.

  “You know the rules,” he said, sounding angry. “Stay quiet, in one place and together. And wait. I’ll get there as quickly as I can.”

  “What am I waiting for?” she asked, confused.

  “You’ll know,” Gabe said.

  She wanted to thank him, to tell him she loved him, that she needed him in her life forever.

  But Gabe had hung up.

  “Olivia.” Jake’s urgent whisper got her attention.

  She twisted, saw the mother bear lurch to her hind feet and sway for a moment before her eyes fixed on Olivia’s little group.

  “Oh, Lord—help!”

  Stark fear overtook Gabe as he grabbed his truck keys and drove to The Haven. He took the map, had a short conversation with Victoria, then climbed on a quad and set off on the path Olivia had charted for the treasure hunt. Heart in his throat, he drove quickly, offering desperat
e prayers for the little group’s safety.

  For as long as he lived he would never forget Eli’s scared voice calling him Daddy. How sweet that sound. Yet how terrorizing to hear his son beg him for help. No way was he going to disappoint his child.

  Branches slapped Gabe in the face as he drove. The sting against his cheeks, the damp of a light rain trickling down his neck and the discomfort of jarring over the trail barely registered as truth began to dawn inside his hardened heart.

  Olivia was right. The past didn’t matter. Eve, her deceit, all the wrong she’d done him—they were immaterial now. Gabe could lose the future with his son, could lose the woman he cared for more than his own life. He’d gladly be hurt a hundred times over if it would protect Eli or Olivia. Nothing mattered as much as they did.

  So what if loving Olivia broke his heart? Wasn’t that better than never loving her? And anyway, who said he’d get hurt. Olivia didn’t hurt those she cared about. She protected them. She would gladly lay down her own life if it would save any one of those children she was with.

  That couldn’t happen!

  Gabe couldn’t lose her or Eli, not now, not when he’d finally realized the past didn’t matter. God had gifted him with two special loves, a future, a chance to watch his boy grow up, to teach him about God and love. A chance to love Olivia and be loved. Was he going to lose his chance to grab happiness because he couldn’t let go of the past?

  “You’re a fool, Webber,” he muttered, jaw clenched in determination.

  Olivia was going to leave because he hadn’t told her that nothing mattered more than her, that she would always be the most important person in his world. Could he stand back and let her go? Could he live each day without remembering the memories they’d made, thinking of new ones they could make? No! But he’d messed up so badly. Would she forgive him, take a chance on him? Was there a way to make it up to Olivia and Eli?

  Love them.

  Gabe smiled at the voice in his head. Love was always the answer. How silly to forget that.

  “Hang on, Eli. Hang on to Olivia. I’ll be there soon.” It was slow going now. The quad didn’t fit on the walking path, which meant he sometimes had to ride leaning to one side. But Gabe wouldn’t even consider giving up on his beloved ones.