Rocky Mountain Faith (Roberts of Silver Springs Book 10)

by Ciara Knight

  Chase saluted him. “Yes, sir. Permission to dress sir?”

  Rex clicked his heels together. “Permission granted.”

  Mia rolled her eyes. “You sure you two are grown men?”

  Chase sauntered by her. “Yep, I have my man card to prove it.”

  “Oh, one more thing. David returns tomorrow. We told him he could stay here. There’s plenty of room.”

  “That sounds good. Heck, you keep going like this, and you’ll be a half-way house for returning vets.” Chase headed upstairs, showered, and changed.

  “Chase, you in there? I could use your help if you are,” Mia called through the door.

  He opened to find Mia looking even a little more tired. “What can I do for you? Chase Roberts at your service.”

  She snagged his shirt and yanked him towards Frank’s rom. “He’s even a little weaker today. I could really use your help getting him down the stairs.”

  Chase followed her to Frank who leaned on two pillows to remain upright. “Are you sure you want to make this trip today?”

  Frank pushed up to sitting. “It’s the only reason I’m still here. I want to make sure these kids have a good Christmas. I want to know what they want for their celebration.”

  “I tried to talk him into staying in bed, but he refuses. Rex told me to let him do whatever he wanted.”

  “It’s not like the trip is going to kill me.” He laughed and then coughed and then held his stomach and groaned.

  “Not funny Frank,” Chase reprimanded.

  Mia shot him a sideways glance with a quirked brow. “Seriously? Hypocrite much? Mr. Jokester, commitment avoiding, player, with a massive coping mechanism being humor? You are going to say that to him?”

  Frank chuckled. “You still ain’t got her to kiss you yet, have you? So much for your game.”

  Chase anchored his right arm behind Frank’s back and used his left hand to tug him to stand. “You know I’m about to help you down a flight of stairs old man, you best curve that attitude.”

  “I go down, you go with me. I might be old, dying, and frail, but I still have some fight left in me.”

  Mia grabbed the other arm and draped it over her shoulder. “Alright you two. Stop trying to one up the other. I don’t know who’s worse here.”

  Frank couldn’t talk and walk at the same time, so Chase kept silent. He enjoyed the playful banter with Frank, it made him believe the man still held on to life.

  They reached the bottom of the stairs where Ally and Rex waited. “The truck won’t start, so we’ll have to take Ally’s car. We’re gonna go to the B&B, and then you can take the car. We’ll ride with Ally’s cousins.”

  “I’ll meet you guys at the opening. I’ll take Frank and Mia to the center. I’ll wait with them, bring them home, then join you guys. I don’t think Frank will be there too long.”

  Mia nodded her agreement. Frank huffed. “I won’t be there at all if you people don’t get me to the car. I’m punching a time card here.”

  “Frank, stop that,” Chase scolded.

  Frank grumbled all the way to the car. They settled him inside the back seat, and then Mia climbed in the middle and Chase sat at the other door. They were smooshed tight together, and Chase didn’t have a complaint about that.

  Frank leaned forward. “Go ahead, she’s trapped, this is your chance to get that kiss.”

  Chapter Ten

  Their time at the children’s center was cut short when Frank collapsed. Chase wanted to race him to the hospital, but she had to explain he had a DNR and all they could do was take him home. She practically had to push him out the door to go to the event, but she managed.

  Mia sat by Frank’s bedside and dabbed at his forehead. She’d given him enough pain medicine to help him sleep. All the sudden, the large, empty house felt lonely. She saw why Ally and Rex invited people to live here with them.

  It was tough to know that Frank’s time was getting shorter. In only weeks or days, she’d have to leave for another job. She’d take off Christmas though New Years to get some rest before she took another job. Her boss had urged her to take some time off after her last assignment, so Mia knew it wouldn’t be a problem.

  “Water?” Frank asked.

  “Yes, of course. I thought you’d be asleep for a while.” Mia jumped up and grabbed the fresh pitcher she’d already placed in the room. She held a straw to his mouth, and he took a few sips before he relaxed back into the pillow.

  “Read to me?” Frank asked.

  She retrieved his bible from the nightstand. “Yes, I’d be happy to, but you should try to sleep.”

  “I can sleep when I’m dead.” He tried to smile, but it faded before it ever took root. She read for a few minutes until he reached out and touched her hand. “You and me need to talk,” Frank rasped.

  Mia settled in for a long conversation about past regrets and confessions which most patients felt more comfortable telling her than family. “Go ahead Frank, I’m here to listen.”

  “You’re a fool.”

  Mia sat back. “What?”

  “You heard me, you are a hypocritical fool who judges others and doesn’t face her own demons,” Frank narrowed his cloudy gaze at her.

  “Not what I was expecting you to say.” Mia thought perhaps he was starting to get confused, disoriented.

  Frank patted her hand. “Let me ask you something. When did you have your last serious relationship?”

  Mia shrugged. “What does that matter.”

  Frank swished his lips one way and then the other. “I see you’re gonna be difficult, and I’m dying so I don’t have time for your denial.”

  “Stop that,” Mia scolded.

  Frank rolled his eyes. “You serious? We both know it’s true, so let’s get to the point. I haven’t heard you talk about any man since arriving, no ring on your finger and that boy Chase has got the hots for you. What’s your issue?”

  Mia’s chest tightened at the conversation. “Frank, you don’t understand.”

  “Don’t I? Please, you like him, he likes you, what’s the problem?” Frank went into a coughing fit, and Mia sat him up until it passed. She took the oxygen mask and put it over his face, but he only removed it. “No, not until you listen.”

  Mia sighed. “Okay, Frank. I don’t have time for a romantic relationship, I will be leaving eventually. Why start something that I won’t stay around to finish?”

  “Why do you have to go when I die? You can stay here. Rex told me you could.”

  Mia patted his hand. “You’re sweet Frank, but I have to work for a living.”

  “Get another type of nursing job. There’s a hospital not too far from here. I know, I was there enough. Why don’t you start helping the living instead of escorting the dead?”

  Mia winced at his words. “I’m meant to be a hospice nurse, it’s my calling.”

  “Nonsense, why don’t you want Chase?”

  “It’s not that I don’t want him.” Mia rubbed her forehead trying to alleviate the tension building in her skull. “If I did want to stay it wouldn’t be for Chase. He’s never had a serious relationship in his life. We’ve known each other a couple of weeks, that hardly means we’re meant to be together.”

  “When was your last relationship?” Frank put the mask over his face and took a long inhale.

  She fixed the covers so they were nice and snug around him. “College.”

  “What happened?”

  “I graduated, and we went our separate ways.”

  “And high school?”

  “I guess the same thing, what’s your point?”

  He paused and took another long breath of oxygen before removing it to speak again. “My point is, at least Chase never promised those girls a happily ever after. He didn’t stay in a relationship only to walk away. Maybe he’s been saving himself for the right woman. Maybe that right woman is you.”

  “Are you saying I led my previous boyfriends on?” Mia bit her bottom lip, trying to stop the st
ring of harsh words that wanted to escape.

  “Only you know that.” Franks eyelids were fluttering open and closed and she knew he was exhausted. “Okay, Frank you win. When he walks in here I’ll plant a big wet kiss on him,” she teased.

  He drifted to sleep, and Mia had nothing else to do but think. Did Frank say the truth? Had she led her ex-boyfriends on? Charlie had wanted to get married after college, but he wanted to settle in Boca Raton. That didn’t work for her. Should she have gone some place that wouldn’t make her happy? Besides, he didn’t want her to travel, and he wanted her to stay home and raise children. That wasn’t right for her, or was he not right for her?

  For a few hours, Mia sat by Frank’s side contemplating her past, thinking about the present, and dreaming about the future. Frank had put so many ideas in her head, she tried to shake them free, but all she could think about was Chase Roberts and the kiss that would never be.

  ***

  Chase trudged through the snow to the mass of people outside the lodge. He’d made it, if only for the tail end of the opening. His mother shot him an evil glance, but he knew it had less to do with him being late and more to do with the fact he’d only seen her once, briefly, since he’d returned.

  Reporters were asking questions at the front of the group, but he slid his way through the crowd trying to get to Ally and Rex. Mike, Spike’s twin sister, stood at the front with a mic and a small amp.

  Zach, leaned into Mike and said something not really audible over the mic. She graciously told a reporter she was sorry and excused herself. Before he could reach Ally and Rex, the entire Roberts clan, plus a few extra filed inside the lodge. He tried to catch them, but they flooded into a ballroom before he reached them. He wanted to get back to Mia…to Frank. Something wasn’t right. Mia seemed down and Frank was looking rougher than normal.

  He reached the ballroom doors, but security was politely telling the press to stay out. “Hey man, I’m a Roberts.” One of the security guards waved him in.

  “What’s going on?” Chase asked a bystander in the back of the room.

  The man shrugged. “They brought all the Robert’s in here for some sort of big announcement.

  “Spike, Amy, Mike and I wanted to do something special to show our appreciation, but we had a hard time coming up with just the right thing. Amy thought a family brunch would be nice.”

  “Thanks for saving us, buddy!” someone shouted from the crowd at Mike and Zach at the front of the room.

  “You’re welcome. Of course, Mike thought we should all go skiing to celebrate.”

  A few gasps erupted in the room. Chase wanted Spike to get to the point so he could get Rex and Ally and head home. He didn’t want to be rude. He wanted Mike to enjoy here ski camp opening, but he just didn’t want Frank to pass without Rex there, and he didn’t want Mia to be alone.

  “Again, you’re welcome,” Zach said.

  “So the girls left it to us, if you can believe that,” Spike said.

  Groans and gasps erupted once more, and Bekah acted like she was going to faint. When she lifted her arm, Chase spotted Ally’s hair. He shuffled through the crowd.

  “Spike and I put our heads together and came up with a perfect solution. A ‘kill two birds with one stone’ kind of a thing. Do you want to tell them?”

  Spike put a hand to his chest and his eyes shot wide. “I thought you wanted to tell them.”

  “Well, I don’t want to steal your thunder.”

  “And I yours, bro.”

  With Chase’s gaze darting between Spike and Zach and Ally he didn’t notice the empty chairs in front of him, and he sent them tumbling with a loud crash. The room fell silent, and all eyes fell on him. He regained his footing and shouted, “Somebody tell us, please!”

  Zach held up his hands in surrender and grinned at Spike. “Together then?”

  Spike nodded and turned to the crowd. “On three. One…two…three!”

  “We’re getting married!” they shouted in unison.

  Mike entered with Amy already dressed in white from a side door.

  So much for making a great escape. He couldn’t leave now, and he couldn’t tell Rex and Ally, not with a spontaneous wedding about to start.

  “Pastor Johnson?” Spike called

  To Chase’s relief, the pastor did the marriage quickly, with rings exchanged and sealed with a kiss. A hot kiss. One that made him imagine Mia in his arms. He shook it off and finally reached Rex.

  “Geesh, you know how to make an entrance,” Ally scolded.

  Chase bowed his head. “Sorry, I was trying to get to you guys, but then the wedding announcement turned into a ceremony. Listen, the trip to the center was rough on Frank.”

  “How rough?” Rex asked. “Did Mia send for us?”

  Chase shook his head. “No.”

  Rex clapped him on the shoulder. “Then it isn’t time. She would send for us if it was.”

  “I don’t know, she looked worried, tired, a little frightened.”

  Ally glanced at Chase. “You probably said something to scare her off. That humor is going to get the best of you someday.”

  “It wasn’t like that. I helped get Frank to bed, and then I headed here. It was tough to get him back upstairs, he’s on oxygen, and Mia is at his side.”

  “Chase, Mia has already explained to us everything that will be happening. We understand the different phases of his illness and what to expect in the end. Mia is an excellent nurse and we trust her implicitly.”

  “Don’t you think she works too hard? I mean, she doesn’t sleep, she is always at his bedside.”

  Ally sighed. “We’ve tried to get her to take days off. She said she can rest later. She wants to stay with Frank. They’ve become really close. I think Frank thinks of her as the daughter he never had. We’re not abusing her generosity. Listen, tomorrow I will make her leave. You take her some place nice.”

  Chase jolted at her proposition. “I’m not telling you to let her off so I can take her on a date. I’m just saying she works too hard, that’s all.”

  Ally put a hand on Chase’s shoulder. “I know you don’t want to date her, you’ve never wanted to be serious about anyone, but look around you. Don’t you think it’s time for you to start thinking about a future with someone?”

  Chase shook his head. “I thought I was being a good friend and cousin by telling you about Frank.” He rubbed the back of his neck and stepped away. “I’m gonna go get some fresh air. I’ll meet you guys at the car when you’re ready.” He bolted from the happily-ever-after and found his way back to his car and his life. It didn’t matter if he wanted to date Mia or not, she’d made it plain that she’d be leaving. He had no job, no direction in life. She deserved better. Besides, he’d only known her a couple of weeks. Five minutes after she left he’d forget about Mia Alvarez. No woman had ever stayed in his mind longer than that, why would she?

  Chapter Eleven

  The front doorbell rang so Mia grabbed the monitor and left Frank to sleep. She hurried down the stairs to find David Kelley standing outside. “Good afternoon. How are you?” Mia stood back and let him enter. He’d been kind to her when she first arrived at the house before he had to report for his last few months of duty.

  “I’m good, how are you?” David scanned the parlor and up the stairs.

  “Good.”

  David sat his duffle down at his side. “Rex around?”

  “No, they went to the grand opening of one of the Roberts’ businesses. A ski training thing from what I understand.”

  “Ah, right. Rex told me about Spike and Mike doing that.” David removed his gloves. “I hope you don’t mind if I wait. Rex said I could crash here for a while.”

  Mia led him to the parlor. “Here sit. I’ll make us some hot tea.” She sat the monitor down by the lamp and went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. “So, you did decide to return to Silver Springs?”

  David appeared at the entry way. “It seems like the place to be. And
sounds like Rex could use some help with his security business.”

  Mia blinked at him. She’d been so caught up in caring for Frank she hadn’t even thought about mentioning that to Chase. There had to be something at Rex’s company Chase could do. “Sounds like a good opportunity. Maybe he can mention something to Chase. You know him, right?”

  “Chase Roberts? Oh, sure I know him. He stole my girl away for about a minute in high school.”

  “Your girl?”

  David rubbed his hands through his hair and chuckled. “Well, she was my girl. Might be again. You probably know her.”

  “You’re talking about Melinda, Ally’s business partner?”

  “Yep, that’s her.” David’s eyes went soft and distant as if he could see her right in front of him. Oh, he had it bad for Melinda.

  The tea kettle sang so she poured water over a tea bag in each mug then handed David one and they returned to the parlor. They sat in the two chairs near the fireplace. “Does she know you’re here?”

  David nodded. “Yes, but I’m still not sure I want to date her. I’m in this kind of internal war over it.”

  Mia took a sip of her mint tea and then sat the cup back on the saucer. “If it helps, Ally says she has pined away for you since she screwed up. I don’t know the details, but it sounds like she broke your heart. It also sounds like she knows it and wants to fix it.”

  “You’re a wise and perceptive woman.” David smiled. “Enough about me and my girl problems, how are you? You look tired. I can help with Frank now that I’m here. Rex told me you’ve been working night and day. They worry that you should take some time off.”

  “Everyone seems to be worried about that, but I’m fine. Seriously.” Mia took another sip of her tea to avoid eye contact. She was never a good liar, and truth be told, she was not just tired, she was exhausted.