Colorado Christmas

by C. C. Coburn

  Will’s heart rate kicked up again. He did not want to go skiing. Not in this lifetime, anyway. “Want some coffee?” he asked, needing to stall, giving him time to make up an excuse for not skiing.

  “You’re kidding, right? I’ve only got this morning off.”

  “I…can’t. Got some campaigning to do.”

  “At eight in the morning? Tell you what—we’ll do some campaigning up on the slopes. I’ll ride one chair and you can ride another. That way, we get to ski and campaign.”

  Will messed around making coffee. What could he say to that? Matt’s suggestion made perfect sense. Except Will was not going up the mountain. “I can’t, okay?”

  “Oh, please, you’re the guy who was always dressed and ready to ski before seven, even though the lifts don’t open till eight. What’s got into you?”

  With an unsteady hand, Will poured the coffee into two mugs, spilling some of it.

  Matt grabbed paper towels and mopped it up. “You haven’t skied since you got home. What’s up?”

  “I’ve been busy doing my community service, campaigning, walking Miss P.’s dogs, helping Mrs. C. and…things. Plus, I’ve got to buy a car today, so I won’t have time to ski.”

  “What a crock of excuses! This is me you’re talking to. Since when has anything come between you and a pair of skis?”

  “Since I decided to settle down and make a go of living in this town.”

  “Not buying it, buddy. Being part of this town means participating in winter activities, and that means skiing. What’s really going on?”

  Will wiped the perspiration from his upper lip with the back of his hand. He couldn’t run away from this anymore. There was nothing else he could do; he’d have to admit the truth.

  “I…quit the movies…because I nearly died in an avalanche.”

  “What? When?”

  “A couple of months ago. I’m so spooked by it, I can’t even face getting on the chairlift, let alone going to the top of a mountain I’ve been up a thousand times before.”

  Matt shook his head. “What happened?”

  “We were filming over fifteen thousand feet high in the Chilean Andes. I was responsible for checking out the snow conditions, but I miscalculated, came off a cornice and the snow started to slide. I fell over four thousand feet down the mountain.”

  Matt emitted a soft whistle and said, “Thank God you’re alive! But predicting avalanche danger isn’t an exact science. How long were you buried?”

  “They got me out that night.” He’d been half-frozen by then, but it wasn’t the cold that had terrified him, it was the sensation of slowly suffocating to death and wondering if he’d ever be found. “I kept remembering the statistics drummed into me when I worked on ski patrol—more than half the people buried in avalanches don’t survive. I’ve been in dozens of avalanches and gotten out before—avalanches other skiers died in. But this one had my name on it from the moment I felt it move. If only I’d checked more carefully, I’d still have a career and still be able to face going up the mountains here.”

  “You’re worried there might be an avalanche in Spruce Lake? You know that won’t happen because the resort blasts potential danger spots every morning.” As if hearing Matt’s proclamation, several deep booms sounded from the mountains, signaling the ski patrol was at work. “It’s not like a film set where they want deep, pristine snow on film.”

  He knew Matt was right. But the mountains had always been a living, breathing thing for Will. They spoke to him in ways other people couldn’t understand. Since the avalanche, what the mountains had to say wasn’t something Will wanted to hear.

  “I don’t expect you to understand, Matt, but the thought of going up there makes me sick to my stomach.”

  “So let’s play around on the kiddie slopes to get your confidence back,” Matt suggested.

  “Right now, I’m not sure I can strap on skis without panicking. What if I never ski again? What use am I to anyone?”

  Matt clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey. Don’t be so hard on yourself. C’mon, you want to have a snowball fight?”

  Matt was offering him a chance to get back on his skis in a nonthreatening environment. Will knew he’d be crazy not to at least give it a try. Plus, after vowing to teach Nicolas to ski, he couldn’t let him down. “Okay, I’ll try the kiddie slopes,” he said. “But I’m not promising anything more.”

  BECKY TOOK AN EARLY LUNCH to follow up a lead for a caregiver for Nicolas and drove to the ski-ticket office at the base of the mountain. However, Sammy-Jo Parsons wasn’t available for the upcoming Christmas vacation period as she’d be working full-time at the office. Becky headed back to her car, even more desperate to find someone who could look after Nicolas on an ongoing basis. No…she was more than desperate, she was becoming frantic.

  In an attempt to calm her frayed nerves, she concentrated on the beauty of the day. The sun was shining, the air was clear, the mountains majestic. There could be no prettier place in the world on a day like this.

  Then she saw the O’Malley brothers horsing around in the snow. On the children’s slopes.

  They were laughing like kids. Will O’Malley was making a snowball. But unlike the wet snow back east, the Rocky Mountain snow was so dry and powdery it was nearly impossible to form into a good snowball.

  He hurled his missile at Matt, hitting him in the face, but the snowball crumbled like talc. Matt tackled him to the ground and the pair wrestled in the snow while the ski-school children cheered them on.

  It must be nice having a sibling you could horse around with like that, she reflected. Although their personalities were very different, she suspected the brothers’ upbringing had forged a bond that could never be broken.

  Family. Becky hadn’t spoken to her parents since the day she’d left their rented double-wide trailer in some nondescript town—like so many of the other nondescript towns they’d lived in over the years. With only a tattered suitcase packed with equally tattered clothes, she’d hitchhiked all the way to Atlanta.

  “Look out!”

  A snowball hit the side of her face and the pulverized snow sifted down underneath the collar of her coat and shirt. She looked over at the culprit. Will O’Malley! Damn that man.

  “Sorry, Your Honor,” he said as strode up to her. “I tried to warn you when that chickensh—er, brother of mine ducked instead of taking my supersnowball like a man. Are you okay?”

  Becky dusted the snow from her clothes, cursing herself for not wearing a scarf and not buttoning her coat for the short walk back to her car. The snow filtered down inside her shirt and was now melting against her bare skin, chilling her. She resisted the urge to shiver.

  “Get away!” Becky batted his hands aside as he attempted to help her brush away the snow around her collar. Then she noticed his gaze falling to her breasts.

  He swallowed.

  She glanced down.

  Her shirt had turned nearly see-through from the melted snow. Her lacy black bra was clearly outlined beneath the fabric. She pulled her coat across her chest and closed the top button. Unfortunately, that only forced the cold snow against her bare skin. This time she did shiver. She glanced up at Will O’Malley again. His gaze was still fixed on her chest. She cleared her throat.

  “Sorry, Your Honor,” he said and raised his eyes to her face. “It’s been a long—I mean…ah, hell!” he said and looked away. If she wasn’t mistaken, his cheeks were flaming.

  That was interesting. Will O’Malley lost for words and blushing!

  His brother joined them. “I’m sorry, Judge. I shouldn’t have ducked. Will’s snowballs can pack a punch.”

  “I’m fine,” she assured him. “You seemed to be enjoying yourselves.”

  “It’s been a while since we’ve played in the snow like that,” Will said, smiling broadly. A couple of the children who’d been enjoying their antics came over.

  “Are you Will O’Malley?” one of them asked.

  “Yeah. What
can I do for you?”

  The kids crowded closer. “The ski-movie star?”

  “Ah, yeah,” he agreed—with little eagerness, she noted.

  “Can I have your autograph?” they all asked at once.

  “I don’t have a pen.”

  Matt produced one from inside his ski jacket and handed it over.

  “I don’t have paper, either.”

  More children joined the crowd. Matt handed over a notepad. Even off duty the guy was organized to a tee.

  “Thanks,” Will O’Malley told his brother without enthusiasm. He seemed embarrassed by the attention.

  Matt drew Becky away from the excited children so she wouldn’t be elbowed by them. Some held up cell phones and snapped pictures of themselves with their hero.

  “I didn’t realize your brother’s fame was so, er, widespread,” she said.

  “We don’t have many celebrities in town,” Matt explained and looked fondly at his brother as he posed for photos. “You can see why he’s known as the pied piper of Spruce Lake. Kids love him. Dogs, too.”

  Touched by the attention he bestowed on the children, she said, “You were right. He is kind, to animals, the elderly and children.”

  Matt laughed and said, “You gave me such a disbelieving look that day in court.”

  She shrugged in apology and he asked, “Do you ski?”

  “Definitely not. My one and only attempt resulted in me upside down among the trees lining the ski run.”

  “That shouldn’t have happened during class.”

  “I wasn’t in a class. My college friends convinced me I didn’t need to waste money on lessons. The experience was so mortifying, I spent the rest of the vacation curled up in front of the fire with a book.”

  “Any time you want to learn properly, give me a call,” Will said as he joined them.

  “Thanks for your generous offer, but I lack the courage to try again.”

  “I thought you said nothing scares you, Your Honor?”

  “I don’t care to try again,” she said, irritated he’d called her on it and held up her hands as he began to speak. “Forget it. I won’t be taking you up on it.”

  “Aw, Judge. I’m only trying to show you what an upstanding citizen I am.”

  Becky was almost tempted to relent. It did look like fun….

  “Come to dinner with me tonight?”

  “You don’t give up, do you? My answer is still no.”

  “No to dinner? Or to me? We can eat anywhere you’d like.” He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Your place or mine.”

  She grinned, flattered despite herself. “No, Mr. O’Malley. No, no, no.” Becky got into her car and lowered the window. “However, I would like to thank you very much for all the flowers. But may I make a request?”

  “Anything!”

  “I’ve asked you once and now I’m telling you. Please don’t send any more!”

  She started her car and drove off, leaving Will and Matt staring after her.

  “She smiled at me. That’s a good sign,” Will said pointedly, knowing exactly what his brother was going to say.

  “Correction. She smiled at something you said.” Matt glanced at his watch. “I’m on duty in two hours. Let’s get changed and go buy you a vehicle. I’m done with you borrowing mine.”

  “HEY THERE, CHAMP!” Will waved to Nicolas as he arrived at the pool.

  “Hello!” The boy waved back and walked over with his awkward gait.

  Will eased himself out of the water and stepped onto the pool surround.

  “Can you teach me to do that one of these days?” Nicolas asked, his eyes glowing with admiration.

  “You keep up the therapy, Nick—can I call you Nick?” He smiled at the boy’s vigorous assent. “Anyway, Nick, you could be doing it in no time.” He picked up his towel and they walked to the hydro pool area and sat on the benches provided. “Let me help you with those,” Will said and bent to unclip Nick’s leg braces.

  “You’ll really teach me to swim?”

  “Sure.” Will helped him walk to the pool. “Maybe I can ask your mom at the fundraiser we’re having at the ranch this weekend. You were planning on coming, weren’t you?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for anything!”

  The kid was so darned enthusiastic. And, as Jessie had said, smart as a whip. He’d pulled a face when he’d told Will he was two grades ahead of the other kids his age. He’d also revealed that some of his classmates picked on him. Will’s heart had gone out to the little guy. Nick would be an easy target for bullies. It made Will doubly determined to spend time with him, to try to build up his self-confidence so he wouldn’t be such an obvious mark.

  “Maybe we could start those swimming lessons during the holidays,” Will said.

  “I don’t know if I can get to the pool. My mom is looking for an after-school and vacation caregiver for me, but she hasn’t got anyone yet. The problem is, she expects everyone to be as good at everything as she is, so I don’t think she’s ever going to find anyone,” he said and sighed like an old man.

  Will fought to keep a straight face. The kid was eight going on eighty.

  “I wish she could find someone who’s fun to be with.” His features brightened as he gazed up at Will. “Someone like you would be perfect.”

  Jessie waded over to them. “Hey there, Nicolas. Will. You two are becoming friends, aren’t you?”

  Nick giggled and held out his hands to Jessie.

  “You’re doin’ so well, buddy,” Will told him. “You’ll be swimming in no time.”

  Nicolas squealed with delight. “D’you really think so?”

  “If only all my clients had such a positive attitude, my job would be a breeze,” Jessie said, grasping Nick’s hands. She eased him off the side of the pool and into the water.

  “Will you be here when I’m done?” he called as he was towed down the pool.

  “Sure, buddy.”

  Will watched Jessie taking him through his routine for a few minutes. The kid had spunk. He wanted to try everything, too, even though his physical disability precluded him from most sporting activities. Will believed the unbeatable combination of enthusiasm and determination would see Nick learn to swim—and ski. The ski boots would support his legs in a similar fashion to his leg braces, and if they didn’t, Will was sure he’d be able to rig something that would work.

  Of course, first he’d have to get over his stupid fear of going up the mountain and, second, he’d have to speak to Nick’s mom. The little guy said she didn’t like him doing anything too physical in case he got hurt. Will wondered why, if she was so protective, she wasn’t at the pool every afternoon, supervising his therapy.

  WILL MANAGED FIFTY LAPS without expiring, then joined Nick at the conclusion of his therapy session.

  “Maybe you could apply for the job,” Nick suggested as they sat together on the edge of the pool. “I don’t want to go to the vacation program run by the town.”

  Will pulled his feet out of the pool and wrapped his arms around his knees. “Why not?”

  “’Cause…the bullies will be there,” he said, wiping his face with a corner of his towel and draping it around himself as if seeking protection.

  “I’m sure the program’s got good supervisors,” Will said in an attempt to quell his anxiety.

  “Yeah, right! Just like they’ve got good teachers who always see what the bullies are doing at school.”

  Will had never been bullied, thanks to having older brothers who’d looked out for him. But he was aware that bullies targeted kids who were smaller, physically weaker and unlikely to tell on them for fear of retribution. It wasn’t Nick’s fault he was so smart he was several years ahead of his age group. And it wasn’t Nick’s fault that he had a physical disability. But the combination would be irresistible to schoolyard thugs. Unfortunately, no amount of lecturing about ignoring the bullies was going to work for a kid like Nick, because they’d zero in on his physical disability and taunt
him about it till they completely broke his spirit.

  Unable to bear the fear in his eyes, Will put a comforting hand on Nick’s thin shoulder. “You know,” he said, “bullies are weak people who’re trying to make other kids feel worse than they do—the bullies, I mean—about themselves. For instance, some kids come from really unhappy homes where bad things happen.” Will couldn’t tell how much Nick knew about domestic violence, so he hedged around the subject and said, “They’re in situations where they have no power and they get very angry about that and want to lash out. But instead of lashing out at the person they’re really angry with—usually because that person is much bigger than them—they take out their anger and frustrations on smaller kids. It gives them a feeling of power.” Will shrugged. “It’s screwed up, but it happens.”

  The kid gazed up at him with something akin to hero worship. “I guess that makes sense. But I wish it wasn’t happening to me.”

  Unable to think of anything else to comfort him, Will said, “Me, too, buddy.”

  “I wish my mom could throw them in jail.”

  Will couldn’t help smiling. “I doubt you can make citizen’s arrests on bullies. But the idea has merit.”

  “My mom can throw anyone she wants to in jail.”

  And now the kid was fantasizing. Will let it slide. If it made Nick feel better to believe his mom could throw people in jail, then what was the harm in that?

  They sat in silence for a while, watching the other swimmers. What was it with his mom that she couldn’t come to the pool to see how he was doing? Will was going to give the woman a piece of his mind when he met her.

  But, for now, he needed to lift the little guy’s spirits. “Would you like me to apply for that job?”

  Nick’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and he hugged Will around the neck so fiercely he was nearly strangling him. “Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes! When?”

  “How about at the fundraiser tomorrow?” he said, disentangling Nick’s skinny arms so he could breathe. “Your mom will be in such a great mood after eating some of that barbecue, she’ll think it’s the best idea she ever heard.”