by Jillian Hart
Granddad blushed a little, taking a bite of muffin. “Didn’t come here to hear the truth. Would’ve rather gotten some sympathy for my wounded pride. Not told I was wrong.”
“You’re not wrong. You’re in love.” Julie pushed the sugar bowl across the table. “Forget plowing the driveway. I’ll take care of it. You go find Nora and apologize.”
“Maybe I can use your phone. Give her a call or something.”
“You know where it is.”
Julie flipped open her devotional as he left the room. She wanted happiness for him, more than anything. This would work itself out. Noah was a good man, and he hadn’t come here to interfere. He’d given his word.
In the living room, at the far side of the house, she heard Granddad’s rumbling voice as he spoke to his fiancée. The furnace kicked on, breezing warm air across her slippered feet. The cat, curled in his cat bed next to the vent, stretched and yawned, content. The storm outside buffeted the windows but couldn’t touch him.
Julie turned her attention to the opened page in her devotional. “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the man.”
She thought of Noah. Maybe, she’d give him a call. Find out if he was back from his appointment, see if he needed a friend.
Tough morning. Noah spotted the neon window sign that read Espresso in blue lettering and pulled off the main road through town. There wasn’t any traffic so he didn’t need to wait. Snow crunched beneath the tires as he slid to a slow stop against the curb.
His hands were still shaking. The doctor will be in touch, they’d said. What did that mean? Good news? Bad news? Either way, he was forced to wait for it.
How was he going to go home to Nanna like this? She’d see through him this time, for sure. Two weeks ago, he’d been able to write this off as a bad case of stress and too many chili peppers in his enchilada. He couldn’t make excuses today. The visit to the doctor was as real as it got. They’d taken blood tests to detect invasive cancer.
Please don’t let it be that. Noah rubbed at the sudden pain behind his temple. It was too much to think about. He wasn’t going to do it, tear himself up inside worrying over what was out of his control.
No, he was going to be proactive. Go about his life as usual until he heard from the doctor. He’d stay in Montana at least another day. Maybe spend time with his grandmother, or give his sister a call…
That wouldn’t work. Nanna and Hope would take one look at him and know something was wrong. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to figure out what to do. He could get ahold of Julie and see what she was up to today. She’d been great to him last night. He owed her. Big-time.
Thank goodness he’d gotten ahold of her. He’d buy her a cup of coffee and thank her again. It was the least he could do.
Taking it easy, he climbed out of the car. This small piece of Montana seemed like another world. Right here, in the middle of town, silence met his ears. Peace filtered around him. The air smelled fresh and crisp, like something wonderful that could never be bottled or packaged. Snow shifted over him as he locked the car door.
“Hey, city slicker.” Julie Renton tromped through the snowy street without even looking for traffic. Her hiking boots kept her from slipping as she headed his way. “Around here nobody locks their doors.”
“Guess I’m not blending in.” He tucked the keys into his wool trousers. “I didn’t have time to hit the Western store and buy a Stetson and jeans.”
“And boots.”
“Are you ready for some coffee?”
She tossed the fringed end of her scarf over her shoulder. “Are you kidding? I’m always ready for coffee.”
“My kind of girl.” Noah headed for the shoveled sidewalk.
“So, are you going to tell me what happened this morning?” Julie led the way up the sidewalk, where the coffee shop gleamed like a beacon of light and modern heating. “What did the doctor say?”
“Since it’s Saturday, he’ll have to get back to me.” Saying it that way didn’t sound scary at all. He could be awaiting the results of a sore throat or a rapidly growing wart. It didn’t have to be anything as grave as cancer. “They told me he’d get back to me by Monday.”
“Monday? That’s too long to wait. I saw you last night, Noah. I can’t believe they let you walk out of Emergency.”
“I’m a persuasive man when I want to be.”
“I bet you can be, Mr. Billionaire.”
“The way you say that sounds as if you don’t like billionaires.”
“I can’t be that judgmental—it goes against my faith. You are the only billionaire I’ve ever met, and all I can say, is frightening.”
“I’m that bad?”
“Absolutely.”
He grabbed the door for her, the bell tinkling merrily as she swept past him.
She smelled of strawberries and vanilla and snow—awesome and sweet. With the faint scent of strawberries lingering on his coat, he followed her into the shop.
“You’re nice to your grandmother, kind to strangers and you’re buying me a latte. What’s not to like?”
“I’m buying you a latte? I thought you were buying.”
“No, no. I’m sure you said you were paying.” She was laughing as she reached in her coat pocket. She sauntered up to the counter and called to the young woman behind the counter. “Michelle, I’ll have a special, please.”
A little white eraser board was propped up behind the cash register. Apple Pie Latte, 2.00, it said in curly handwriting. “Sounds good,” he added. “Make it two.”
Julie unsnapped her wallet.
He tugged a bill from his pocket and laid it on the counter. “My treat. I mean it. You’ve done enough for me. It’s time I started doing something for you.”
“We’re even, Noah.” Her hand brushed his forearm with the gentlest of touches. “Let’s find a table.”
He dropped another bill in the tip jar as Julie wove through the nearly empty room, calling out a hello to a group of women in the corner.
What would it be like to know everyone in the coffee shop by name? It was an alien concept.
Julie chose a table along the long wall of windows. “How about this?”
“Looks good.” He could see the main street, cloaked in peaceful snow. Couldn’t be more than four blocks to the town. It looked like something out of a Western movie. “What do you people do here? There’s no sports arena. No museums—”
“Hey, we have the historical museum directly across the street. Except it’s closed today.”
“I must have missed seeing the sign on the way in to town.”
“It happens.” Julie shrugged out of her coat. “For your information, buster, there are a lot of things to do here. Wonderful, exciting things you can’t find in your basic major city.”
“And that would be…”
She rose to the challenge, all fire and life. “Aside from our historical museum, you mean? Well, there is every winter sport you can think of.”
“The luge? Bobsled? Curling?”
She gave him her schoolteacher look. “I expect you to behave, Mr. Ashton, and stop thinking you’re so smart. I’m talking about cross-country skiing. Downhill skiing. Snowshoeing. Snowmobiling. There’s the weekend high school basketball game, but it was away this week.”
“You’re living the high life, Julie.” Noah slung his coat over the back of his chair. “I’m not sure I can keep up with you.”
“Is that a challenge?” She lifted her chin, as if she wasn’t afraid of him. Not one bit.
“Sure. Exactly what are you challenging me to? A wild walk down Main Street?”
Her schoolteacher look darkened. “I think you definitely need to be taught a lesson, Mr. Ashton. Do you ski at all?”
“Downhill, but I haven’t been in years. I never have the time to fly to Colorado for the weekend.”
“Well, I’m one up on you. I don’t have to fly anywhere for the best skiing I’ve ever found.”
He couldn’t resist asking. “Have you ever been out of Montana?”
“Once, when I went to Yellowstone Park, which is about a hundred miles south of here. It’s in Wyoming.” Her eyes sparkled at him, full of mirth and humor and real friendship.
That was something he didn’t get often. “The best skiing, huh? I’m there.”
“Great. I’ll take you home with me. You can borrow Granddad’s skis. You two are about the same height.”
“You live with your grandfather?”
“Near him.” Julie turned to talk to the waitress who brought their coffee in tall white paper cups.
“Thanks for the great tip, Mr. Ashton.” The waitress was probably just out of college. She looked so young.
His ten-year college reunion had been a few summers ago. Over a dozen years had passed since he was that age. Where had the time gone? Noah didn’t know. His life had become a blur of work, meetings and loneliness.
It felt pretty great sitting here with Julie. She chatted with the waitress a few minutes. He didn’t notice what she was saying. Only the friendly way she treated everyone. It was the same way she treated him, and he liked it.
Noah popped the top off the cup and tossed the slim red straws onto a napkin. He drank from the brim. The sweet, apple-and-cinnamon-flavored coffee was different. He always ordered his latte without flavoring. Change was nice, he decided. Different, but nice.
“Okay, your time off for good behavior is up.” They were alone, and Julie swirled the plastic straws around in her drink. “Confess.”
“Maybe I don’t want to.”
“Then I’ll have to torture it out of you.” She looked angelic in a soft cable-knit sweater. Her dark hair was drawn back into a bouncy ponytail, leaving airy wisps to frame her heart-shaped face. “Don’t smirk at me like that. I’m tough enough to get the truth out of you, mister.”
“I’m sure you are.” Noah tried not to laugh. She was a pushover—anyone could see that—and in the nicest way. He liked that about her, too. “I’m not smirking. I’m trembling with fear. Don’t torture me. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“I thought so. When my kids misbehave, they have to put their heads down on their desks until I say they can get up.”
“Brutal. I wouldn’t want that happening to me.” Noah winked at her, more charming than any man had the right to be. Then his cell phone rang and he reached into his coat pocket for the phone. “Wait—it’s not the doctor. I’ll let the voice mail get it.”
“They didn’t give you any hint about what was going on?”
He shook his head. Dark shocks of hair tumbled over his brow as he leaned forward to tuck the small phone into his coat pocket. “They didn’t say anything, and I’m a pretty persuasive guy.”
Julie could hear the low, quiet tone of fear in his voice. The humor on his face had drained away, leaving lines around his eyes and mouth, and showing how pale he was. “Are you still in pain?”
“Not much. It’s down to a low throb. I keep telling myself it’s just an attack of some kind. Like heartburn or something, but…” He shrugged, falling silent. What he didn’t say rang loud and clear between them.
He was afraid. She understood. “If you need anything, ask.”
“I appreciate that.” He swirled the foam around in his cup. “Do you know what I need?”
“I’m clueless. What?”
“To get my mind off this.” He squared his wide shoulders. “Want to teach me how to cross-country ski?”
“It’s going to cost you. Big.”
“How big?”
“Huge. Enormous. I’m a teacher, sure, but right now I’m off-hours. I don’t just teach anyone anything for free.”
“How about another cup of coffee to go?”
“You’re on.” Julie reached for her coat. “But first, prepare yourself. You’re in for the time of your life.”
Chapter Seven
Julie wasn’t kidding. Noah stopped at a turnout on the path between tall, snow-bound firs. His breath rose in great clouds in the cold air as he trekked close to the edge.
Wow. Those were some of the best views he’d ever seen. Mountain peaks close enough to touch rose straight up into the clouds. Snow fell in a misty curtain from sky to valley floor, far below, draping endless stands of trees. He breathed in the cold air and felt peace.
Out here, there were no demands. No deadlines. No pressure. Nothing. Just God’s beauty.
Julie glided up next to him, stopping expertly with a slight turn. “How are you holding up?”
“Great.” Better than great. “I know this pain attack I had is just stress. I get away from my problems for an hour, and every bit of pain is gone.”
“I’m glad.” Julie knocked snow off her cap. “Can I make a suggestion? Get rid of your stress.”
“I’ll take that under consideration.” He couldn’t get enough of this view. Of this peace shifting over him like the snow. Or maybe it was because of Julie. He couldn’t tell. He only knew that he felt as light as the snow tumbling from the sky when she smiled at him.
“Are you ready to go? Or do you need more rest, city boy?”
“This city boy can beat you any day of the week.” Noah wasn’t sure about that, but he liked the way challenge gleamed in Julie’s eyes as she tugged her cap lower over her ears.
“You’re on. I’ll race you over to that meadow down there. See? The one waaay down there?” She pointed with her mittened hand, leaning close.
His chest tightened, quick and hard, like a punch to his midsection. For a split second he thought the pain was coming back, faster than before. But it wasn’t pain. It was something else.
“Come on. I’ll give you a head start.” Julie trudged back to the trail, leading the way. Pine boughs rocked, heavy with snow, in her wake and knocked against him.
“I’m such a fantastic skier, you’re the one who’s going to need a head start.” He winked, and she laughed.
“Right. Fine. We start together, but you’re going to be sorry, Mr. Billionaire. C’mon. Line up.” She motioned him close, digging in at an imaginary starting line. “Ready?”
“Ready.” He dug in beside her.
And they were off at the same moment, shoulder to shoulder. The silence shattered as they crashed along the tree-lined path, knocking limbs. Snow tumbled to the ground. Noah tried to cut over, but he couldn’t. Julie was right there, arm braced to keep him right where she wanted him.
She was pulling ahead! “You come back here.” He caught her by the back of the jacket and stopped her just enough to take the lead.
“Cheater!” She was laughing.
A snowball pelted him in the middle of the back. “Good aim.”
“That was a warm-up, so watch out.” She was behind him, skiing hard. One pole was tucked under her arm because there was another snowball in her hand.
He recognized the look in her eye. Okay, he hadn’t grabbed her to cheat. He just wanted to grab her. Now he was going to pay for it. “I’m in trouble.”
“You bet your bootstraps, buster.” She took aim like a major-league pitcher with the bases loaded. Total concentration. Complete confidence.
There was nothing he could do but take the hit like a man. The snowball caught him square in the back of the knee. He went down in an instant, skis flying into the trees, rolling in the snow. He didn’t mind the cold creeping down the back of his collar as he climbed onto his feet.
Julie dug in and stopped. “Cheaters never prosper.”
“I wasn’t cheating.” The snow gathered naturally in the palm of his hand. As if it was meant to be. It sailed in a perfect arch, as if he were meant to throw that snowball at this exact moment in time. At this one woman.
The snow broke apart in midair, showering her before impact. Icy crystals rained over her head and knocked her cap off to the side.
“You want trouble? You just got it.” She tossed her poles and filled her gloves with snow.
He was on his fe
et, but it wasn’t fast enough. Cold powder hit him square in the face.
“Oops. I didn’t mean—” She shrieked as he took off after her.
She was quick, but he was faster. He tackled her from behind, bringing her down in the soft snow. Powder flew as they hit. Her skis shot into the trees as they rolled to a stop.
She landed beside him, laughing. “No fair. You can’t tackle me to keep me from winning. Just because you were clumsy and fell down—”
“Clumsy, huh?” He didn’t feel like teasing her back. His heart was thundering, he was breathing hard, exhilarated from the cold and the exercise. He reached out and brushed snow from her face with his thumb.
Warmth filled him. Tenderness burned in his chest so hard it almost hurt. It was great being here with her. Having fun. Letting go of his troubles and his responsibilities. And it was because of Julie. He felt real with her. He felt as though she saw the real Noah, when no one else did.
“I’m glad we’re friends.” He meant it. Down deep. Because he felt a connection to her, he stroked his hand over the curve of her face.
“Me, too.” He couldn’t interpret the gleam of emotion in her eyes. She climbed to her feet and brushed at the snow caked to her jacket. “As my friend, you’ll help me find my skis. Right?”
“Don’t be too sure about that.” Because one of her skis wasn’t that far away from him, he snagged it before she could circle around him. “We’re still racing. I intend to win.”
“What are you going to do? Hold my ski hostage?”
“Knowing you, it wouldn’t stop you. You can probably take this hill on one ski.” He handed the thing to her, as he’d planned to do all along.
It was incredible, this way he felt inside. And the scenery… The wind ebbed away, leaving silence in its wake. It was like finding a corner of heaven, new and beautiful and untouched. So far from every unhappiness he felt in his life. So close to the nicest woman he’d ever known.
Noah believed that everything happened for God’s reason. The Lord had given him this day, so what was He trying to say?
Noah thought that maybe he already knew.