The Christmas Promise (Heartsong Presents)

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

  A knock drew her out of her thoughts. She opened the door. “Hi.” She smiled up at Pete.

  “You ready?”

  “I think so.”

  He nodded toward her pile. “Want some help?”

  “Love it.” She handed him her skis, slipped on her jacket and grabbed her boots. “Let’s go.” She followed him down the stairs, the whole time taking deliberate deep breaths. Her heart raced at the thought of going for another car ride. But she’d agreed to this.

  Pete slid her skis up the center of the 4Runner. “My place isn’t far from here. I haven’t been home yet, so I’ll need a few minutes to get ready.”

  “Not a problem. Have you eaten?”

  “No. You?”

  “Didn’t have time. I closed late.”

  “Let’s pick up a burger on the way, then.”

  She nodded and got into the SUV, then folded her hands in her lap, willing them to stop shaking. I can do this. She had to be strong. She refused to humiliate herself in front of Pete.

  Snores sounded in the backseat. Startled, Keira looked behind her and spotted Max and Molly. Pete must cart those two with him just about everywhere.

  Pete got in beside her and started the engine. “All set?”

  “Yep.” Her voice confidently filled the SUV, but her insides screamed for her to jump out before it was too late. He’d backed in, so all he had to do was pull forward. Just like when she’d been in Susan’s car, they bounced over several patches of compact ice and snow. She held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut.

  A few minutes later Pete pulled off the road into a parking lot. “McDonald’s okay?”

  “Sure.” The familiar scent of burgers and fries permeated his rig, and she felt her muscles begin to relax.

  * * *

  “How you doing?” Pete glanced at Keira. A moment ago, when she’d turned pale and had a death grip on the door, he’d thought she might pass out, but now she relaxed into the seat and breathed easily.

  She shrugged. “How far to your place?”

  “Ten minutes. Feel free to eat on the way.” His eyebrows rose when she unwrapped her burger and a smile touched his lips. At least she was distracted from the road.

  “Thanks for this. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

  “Why?”

  “Holly bailed on me so I was on my own and had no time for food.”

  “That must be tough working in a candy shop. I think I’d have eaten half the stock.”

  She chuckled. “I enjoy a piece every now and then, but I seldom indulge.”

  Based on her trim figure he knew she told the truth. “Do you cross-country ski often?”

  Keira shook her head and swallowed. “Not really. Michael and I used to, but until a week ago I never had the time and it didn’t occur to me to go at night.”

  He turned onto the road that led to his house and Keira caught her breath. “You okay?” She had a white-knuckle grip on the door again and had stopped breathing. “Keira! What’s wrong?”

  She just shook her head.

  He pulled off to the side, flipped on the dome light and took her face in his hands, forcing her to look into his eyes. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  A few tears dribbled out of the corner of her eyes. “It’s this spot.” She closed her eyes and shuddered. “This is the stretch of road where Michael was killed. I’ve avoided it since.”

  Pete sucked in a lungful of air and pulled her to his chest. Her body shook. He rubbed his hand in small circles on her back. “Do you want me to take you home?”

  Keira sniffled and pulled away. “No. I want to do this. It’s time.”

  “You sure?”

  She nodded, but her eyes lacked conviction.

  He gripped the wheel. “I’m turning back.”

  “No! I want to ski with you. Please, keep going.”

  A few minutes later he pulled into his driveway and parked. “Here we are. You sure you’re okay?”

  “I am, thanks.”

  He palmed her cheek. “I’m glad. Just give me a few minutes to scarf this food and change.”

  She opened the door and followed him inside. “Don’t rush on my account.”

  He quickly fed the dogs and himself, then hustled to his bedroom and changed. He’d had no idea that bringing Keira out here would dredge up memories of her husband’s accident, but she was making great progress overcoming her fear of winter driving.

  Keira stood at the mantel, looking at a picture of Pete as a child with his family.

  He cleared his throat. “Ready?”

  She whirled around. “Is this you?” She held the photo in her hand.

  He walked over and brushed his fingers against hers, taking the frame. “Yes.”

  “You were a cute kid.”

  “Thanks.” He placed the frame back onto the mantel.

  “So, are we really going to go out into the freezing cold and do this?”

  “Of course. And when we’re finished I’ll make you a steaming cup of hot chocolate and we’ll warm up by the fire.”

  “Now that part of the plan I like.”

  He took her arm and led her back to the front door, where he slipped into his boots and grabbed his skis and poles. “Come on, you big baby. This is going to be so much fun, you’ll be begging to come skiing with me every night.”

  “Ha. I doubt it, but I’m willing to give it a go at least once.” She clipped her boots into the skis and held a pole in each hand.

  “If you stay in my tracks it’ll be easier for you.”

  “Good thinking.”

  He led the way, the soft swooshing of the skis and Keira’s panting the only sound in the still night. He could do this for hours. “How’re you doing?”

  “Fine.” The word came out in a short burst.

  She didn’t sound fine if the strain in her voice was an indicator. He slowed a little and looked over his shoulder. “There’s a nice slope ahead, then we’ll come to a dense patch of trees.” He always enjoyed going downhill even if it was just a few feet.

  The trees were the only negative about the route, but they’d be in and out of them in no time. He switched on the headlight he wore over his ski cap.

  “Pete, I...”

  He looked over his shoulder to see what the problem was. Her eyes widened.

  “Look out!”

  Something smacked him in the head. Pain seared through him and everything went black.

  Chapter 13

  “Pete!” Keira dug in with the poles until she reached his side. She knelt beside him and touched his shoulder with her gloved hands. Blood streamed down the side of his face. “Wake up.” Unshed tears burned her throat. Her chest tightened and her pulse raced. He’d hit a tree limb that left a gash in his forehead and knocked off his headlamp. Thank goodness the light was still working. She’d hate to be totally in the dark. She balled some clean snow and placed it on the wound, then patted his cheeks. No response.

  “Pete Harding, don’t you die on me!” She couldn’t lose him. “Please wake up.” She took a tissue from her pocket and wiped the blood away, then kissed his cheek and whispered, “You may not realize this, but you’ve changed my life. Before I met you I lived in a tiny world and now, because of you, I’ve started to live again. You can’t die on me. I love you.” Tears streamed down her face and she swiped at them. She held in a sob and took several deep breaths. Crying wouldn’t do any good. Pete needed help. But she couldn’t just leave him here.

  She reached into her pocket for her cell phone, ripped off one glove and punched in 9-1-1. Nothing happened. She looked at the screen—no service.

  Lord, what do I do?

  She felt as if the Lord was telling her to just trust Him.

  Keira recogniz
ed that still, small voice and stood. “Pete, I’m going for help. Don’t move.”

  “My head hurts,” Pete moaned.

  “You’re awake!” She knelt beside him and cradled his hand in hers. “Where else do you hurt? Can you get up?”

  “My leg.” He winced. “My head feels like a bomb exploded inside.”

  “You probably have a concussion and need a few stitches. Any chance you can ski back to the house?”

  “Doubtful. Snowmobile’s in the garage. Key...kitchen drawer by the back door.”

  “I don’t want to leave you alone.” She looked over her shoulder toward where they’d come from and couldn’t even see the house anymore.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Promise?”

  “Hurry.” His teeth chattered. “Freezing to death.”

  Her heart stuttered. “Don’t say that!” She unzipped her jacket and laid it over his chest. It wasn’t much, but it would help ward off the cold. “I’ll hurry. Try to stay awake.” She stood and glided back over the trail they’d made getting there, leaving the headlamp with Pete so she could find him again.

  * * *

  Fifteen minutes or so later she found Pete’s house. The puppies raised their heads and let out a halfhearted yip, then promptly fell back to sleep.

  Keira grabbed a clean dish towel, then found the key in the drawer he’d mentioned and raced out to the garage. Minutes later she was flying across the snow on the snowmobile. Her hands tightened on the handlebars as the wind ripped through her shirt and burned her skin. She cut through the cold night air, teeth chattering. She’d always enjoyed snowmobiling, but not this time.

  Pete’s light shone ahead. She prayed she wasn’t too late. Letting off the throttle, she came to a stop beside him.

  She knelt in the snow. “How’re you doing?”

  He opened his eyes and grimaced. “Never better.”

  “Cute.” She pressed the towel to his forehead. “Hold this here. We need to stop the bleeding.”

  He did as she said. That was a good sign. She stood and held out her hands. “I’ll pull you up, then help you onto the snowmobile.”

  Pete grasped her hands and caught his breath when he started to rise. “Whoa. Hold on a sec.” He squeezed his eyes closed.

  “Come on, Pete. I know you’re dizzy and in pain, but you need to get inside and warm up.” She quickly retrieved her jacket and shrugged into it.

  “Okay. I’m ready.” His jaw tightened and he heaved to standing with her help.

  Wrapping an arm around his waist, she helped him limp to the snowmobile. Keira slid on in front of him. “Hang on.” She felt his hands wrap around her middle and she hit the throttle, propelling them forward in the wrong direction down a short slope.

  “Want me to drive?” Pete rested his head against her back.

  “Think you can?”

  “Nope.”

  “I didn’t think so, either. Just hold on tight.” She turned in the correct direction and maneuvered the sled up the slope and raced back to the house. She pulled up beside his SUV.

  Pete let go and somehow managed to struggle to a standing position.

  Keira helped him get into the passenger seat. “Where’re your keys?”

  He dug them out of his coat pocket and handed them over. “You know how to drive in snow, right?”

  “Of course I know how. I just don’t do it.” She ran around to the driver’s side and slid in. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel until they hurt.

  “You need to turn the engine on or it won’t move.” His mouth curved in a half grin.

  “Very funny.” She inserted the key into the ignition and listened to the engine purr.

  “You don’t have to do this. We could—”

  “No. Please be quiet, so I can get us to the medical center in one piece.” She glanced over and noticed the cut on his forehead wasn’t seeping blood through the towel anymore. One thing to be thankful for. “You’re gonna be fine, Pete. Cascade Medical Center isn’t too far away.”

  “Why not go to Wenatchee? We’re halfway there.”

  “We’re just as close to Leavenworth and then I won’t have to drive all the way home from Wenatchee.” She backed up and pulled onto the road. Her palms sweated in her gloves. She used her teeth to pull off one, then the other.

  “It’s freezing in here. Why’d you take off your gloves?”

  She had the heater on full blast but still heard Pete’s teeth chattering.

  “I’m roasting. Now shush. I need to concentrate.” Did she dare tell him she was roasting because she was close to a panic attack? No, he’d probably insist on driving and then they’d both be doomed.

  Focusing her attention forward, she pressed the gas pedal harder. “Hang in there, Pete. You’ll be fixed up in no time.”

  Keira clamped her jaw tight, slowed and maneuvered around a bend, praying the tires would stay connected to the road. This was the turn Michael had lost control on, causing his pickup to flip. Her breathing became shallow and black spots danced before her eyes.

  “How you doing?” Nervousness tinged Pete’s voice.

  She shook her head and took a gulp of air. “You mind if I open a window?”

  “Go ahead. I’ll just turn the heater vents to face me. You’re doing a good job, Keira.”

  The only stoplight in Leavenworth finally came into view. “We’re almost there.”

  “I’m feeling a lot better now. I don’t think I need to see a doctor.”

  “Too bad. You were unconscious for at least a minute.” Although it felt like much longer, in truth it was probably less than a minute.

  “I wasn’t out that long, just in too much pain to talk. You didn’t have to drive me here.”

  “How else would you have gotten help? You’re in no shape to drive.” He wasn’t unconscious? Did that mean he’d heard what she’d said?

  “You could’ve called an ambulance.”

  “I tried 9-1-1 on my cell—no service.”

  “I have a landline in my house.”

  Keira pulled into the parking lot. “Now you tell me.”

  “I tried earlier, but you cut me off.”

  “Oh. I guess you’re right.” She opened the door and hustled around to the passenger side. “Okay. Take it nice and slow when you stand. No passing out allowed.”

  He chuckled. “No, that would not be a good. Once in a night is enough.”

  “Too much, if you ask me.” She wrapped an arm around his waist and helped him limp inside.

  They checked in and from there she was left alone while he was whisked away. At least the place wasn’t busy. She melted into the waiting room chair as the full impact of the night’s events hit her. She’d driven in snow and survived! And she’d told Pete she loved him. Had he heard? Her cheeks burned at the thought.

  * * *

  Pete relaxed against the bed and mulled over Keira’s words. Had he imagined her confession of love? Admittedly that tree limb had done a number on his head and he had the stitches to prove it.

  Tonight hadn’t gone the way he’d planned. He’d hoped for a romantic evening under the stars, followed by sipping hot chocolate in front of the fireplace. This was the night he was going to tell Keira how he felt about her and Cody. But thanks to a concussion, he’d earned a night in the hospital instead because he lived alone and the doctor insisted someone needed to keep an eye on him.

  The dogs! He bolted up and winced. Better take it a little slower. The door whooshed open.

  “Where are you going?” Keira stood in the doorway, a hand on her hip.

  “Max and Molly need to be let out or I’ll have a mess in my house.”

  “I’ll call Josh. I’m sure he’ll rescue them.” She gently pushed him back until his h
ead rested on the pillow.

  “I’m fine. If you’ll just give me a ride home...”

  She bit her bottom lip. Something he noticed she did when nervous or uncomfortable. “If the doctor thought you should stay the night, then—”

  “What does he know? There’s nothing wrong with me except a slight concussion and a sprained knee. He’s being overly cautious.”

  “Um, he’s a doctor.”

  “So am I. And I say I’m fine.”

  “You’re a veterinarian, and I distinctly remember you telling me once that you didn’t like to be addressed as Doctor because you’re not a real doctor.”

  “Using my words against me—not fair.”

  “Maybe not, but true.” She patted his shoulder. “Tell you what, I’ll give Josh a quick call and if he can’t get the puppies, then I’ll drive over there myself and pick them up.”

  “You’d do that?” He took her hand. “I know I’ve said it before, but who are you and what have you done with Keira Noble? The Keira I know would never choose to drive anywhere on a snow-covered road.”

  She chuckled softly. “I discovered tonight that with God’s help I can handle what comes my way.” She shrugged. “And if two little puppies that I adore need rescuing...”

  He saw a hint of fear in her eyes, but knew she’d do it for him. “How about you call Josh?”

  She nodded and left the room.

  His heart swelled with love for this woman who’d overcome her deepest fear to help him. The door opened a moment later and Keira came in. Her face was flushed and her hands shook. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. When I couldn’t reach Josh I called Susan. Apparently they went to his in-law’s house for Christmas. They left early this morning.”

  “That settles it.” He sat up, slower this time. “I’m going home. And I’m driving myself.” His firm tone left no room for argument. No matter how much Keira claimed she was okay to drive, he knew otherwise. “You look ready to faint with the thought of driving back to my place.”

  “But I said I would. Besides, you can’t drive. The doctor said—”

  “I know.” His shoulders slumped. “Any chance you could stay on the couch at my place tonight?”