Take Me Higher by Pamela Clare

Chapter 24

Mitch slippedinto his parka and double-checked his pocket, ready for the walk to Knockers, butterflies in his stomach. Tonight was his big night, and he wasn’t sure he was ready. He had practiced what he wanted to say with his speech pathologist, but words still didn’t come easy. “Ready?”

At least he was rid of that damned cervical collar.

Megs seemed to have recovered from reading about Dean’s death, her sharp wit and sharper tongue back in action, a smile on her face. Kurt’s words seemed to have reached her, and Mitch hoped she would finally be able to find peace.

She grabbed her jacket. “By the way, consider that shot of whisky a pact, a kind of nondisclosure agreement. You never saw me cry. Got it?”

Gridwall snorted. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with us. Our Meggie is crispy on the outside and sweet and gooey on the inside.”

Accardo chuckled. “I didn’t realize that was a secret.”

“Are you kidding?” Cook grabbed his parka. “Our Megs would rather eat nails than let anyone see that she’s human.”

“Go ahead. Dig your graves deeper, guys.” Megs’ voice was stern, but there was a smile on her lips.

Not bothering to lock the door, Mitch followed Megs toward their SUV.

Gridwall stopped the two of them, motioning toward the Lamborghini. “Tonight, Ahearn, you and your lady ride in style.”

While the others rode down with Kurt and Jennifer, Megs got into the back seat while Mitch folded his legs into the front passenger seat.

“Not very roomy, is it?” Megs said.

Gridwall started the engine, revved it a few times, a big grin on his face. “Listen to those horses! We got it up to two hundred miles per hour on the interstate.”

Mitch glanced back at Megs, saw that she, too, was amused by this.

“I have to ask.” Megs leaned forward until her head was between them. “Does going fast in the fancy car work better than Viagra or…?”

Gridwall laughed. “She’s still a smartass, isn’t she?”

Mitch did his best deadpan voice. “You ha-have no… idea.”

Motor purring, they made their way down the mountain through town to Knockers, where the parking lot was already overflowing. Joe and Rain had set up a heated party tent on the side of the building just in case everyone in town showed up, light making it glow from the inside.

Gridwall cruised through the parking lot, heads turning as people stared at the car. “You must be popular, Ahearn. Go figure.”

Megs pointed. “They saved us a parking spot toward the front.”

“I see it. VIP, huh?” Gridwall teased. “And all you had to do was get bonked on the head by a big-ass rock.”

Mitch held the door for Megs, the place bursting into spontaneous cheers and applause when they stepped inside. The entire town had turned out, familiar faces everywhere, everyone smiling.

Megs took his hand, squeezed. “They love you.”

Rain hugged them both. “We’ve got your usual table ready.”

Joe always set aside a table for Team members back near the climbing wall. It was his way of thanking them for their service.

They walked toward the back, Mitch shaking hands with friends and neighbors along the way, managing to get out the words “Thank you” a few dozen times without too much struggle.

The Team table had been replaced by several tables with enough seats for the Team members, their spouses and kids, the dirtbags, and Kurt and Jennifer. Most of the Team was already there, though Nicole, Sasha, Creed Herrera, and Moretti were climbing and not in their seats.

“A climbing wall in a pub?” Gridwall’s face lit up, and he dropped his jacket over the back of his seat. “Booze and big jugs. Mama, I’m home.”

Rain set menus on the table. “We told our route-setter who was coming tonight, and she put extra effort into creating some tough routes for you. Oh, hey, it looks like the rest of your gang is here. Welcome to Knockers. I’m Rain Moffat.”

After they had given Cheyenne their drink orders, they hit the wall, Megs and Mitch only too happy to join them. Gridwall and Cook flashed the hardest route on the wall—a 5.14. Accardo slipped once, but otherwise nailed it. Then it was Megs’ turn, her first climb since the accident.

God, it felt good.

Soon, almost everyone in the restaurant had come to watch, the area around the climbing wall crowded.

“Do you know who these guys are?” Joe said to someone. “They’re climbing royalty. They basically invented this sport. Don’t let the gray hair fool you. They’re the best of the best.”

Sasha lowered Megs to the floor. “Do you want to go next, Mitch?”

Mitch’s pulse spiked. “I d-don’t know if…”

Megs didn’t want to push him. “I’ll belay if you want to try. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You can start out with the 5.9 route.”

“Okay.” With Megs’ help, he got into the harness and moved to the bottom of the easiest route on the wall. “On belay.”

“Belay on.”

“Cl…climbing.”

“Climb on, love.”

After a moment of sheer panic, Mitch began to climb, the room falling still. It was both more complicated and simpler than Mitch had imagined. Because of his neck injury, it was hard to look up, and the area near his healed clavicle hurt every time he used that arm. But his muscle memory was still there, the moves almost instinctive. Before he realized it, he was nearly there. When he topped out, the room exploded into cheers.

From below, he heard Megs’ voice. “That’s my man.”

Megs’heart was full. Kurt’s words about Dean’s death. Climbing with the dirtbags again. Seeing the town rally around the man she loved. Watching Mitch climb again. Tonight, life was good.

She sat beside Mitch, their fingers entwined as they watched Gridwall coach Kurt to the top of the 5.9 route. “If Dean could see Kurt, he’d be so proud of his boy.”

“How do you … kn-know … he doesn’t see?”

“I hope he does. I truly hope he does.”

Marcia brought another round of brews. “I’m so glad you’re doing better, Mitch. We were so worried about you.”

Mitch gave her that gorgeous smile of his. “Thanks, M-marcia.”

They cheered for Kurt when he topped out, Gridwall slapping Kurt on the back. “You’re a natural, just like your old man.”

Megs could tell from Kurt’s expression that those words meant something to him.

Then Joe got on the stage, tapped the mic. “Can you all hear me?”

“Yes!” the crowd shouted in near unison.

Megs leaned close to Mitch. “Here we go.”

“We are all here tonight to welcome back a favorite son. Mitch Ahearn grew up in Scarlet and learned to climb and ski here. Though his family moved to California, he came back when he had the chance, and he brought the love of his life with him, our own Megs Hill. Together, they founded the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team, putting Scarlet Springs on the map.”

Cheers.

“That’s sweet.” Megs wasn’t kidding. Joe’s words truly did touch her.

“It’s been almost two months since a falling rock almost killed Mitch, leaving him in a coma in ICU for eight days.” Joe paused as if gathering his thoughts. “I’ve never seen this town come together the way it did to help him and Megs. You all raised more than a hundred fifty-thousand dollars to help pay for his medical expenses and rehab.”

“Scarlet flipping rocks!” Sasha shouted.

Laughter.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Mitch home tonight.” Joe waited for the applause to die down. “We also want to welcome Jim Gridwall, Rick Accardo, and Ron Cook, who, along with Mitch and Megs, are climbing legends. Scarlet Springs is proud to welcome the legendary Lords of Stone—the original dirtbags of Yosemite.”

Cheers.

Mitch squeezed Megs’ hand, motioned her toward the stage with his head. She nodded, and the two of them stood. This was their chance to thank Joe and Rain and everyone else who’d been there for them over the past two months.

Joe went on. “In other business, Vicki would like me to remind you that there are a few copies of the Scarlet FD firefighter calendar left. You can buy them at the bar.”

Laughter and wolf whistles.

Then Joe saw them. “Please welcome Mitch and Megs. I think Mitch has a few things he’d like to say tonight.

Mitch walked with Megs across the dance floor to the stage.

Megs leaned close, whispered, “You don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I can thank everyone for both of us.”

Mitch smiled down at her. “You go… first. Then I w-will talk.”

“You got it.”

They climbed the stairs to the stage, where Joe stepped aside, the Timberline Mudbugs waiting off to the side for their set, everyone cheering for Mitch.

Megs accepted Joe’s help adjusting the mic for her height. “Mitch and I want to thank everyone for your prayers and your incredible generosity. Without your help, this might have turned out very differently.”

Cheers.

“We’re especially grateful to Joe and Rain for their help immediately after the accident. Without the helicopter you sent, Mitch probably wouldn’t be here. We also want to thank Eric Hawke, Harrison Conrad, Austin Taylor, Chaska Belcourt, and Jesse Moretti. They climbed into that chopper and flew out to rescue us. You saved Mitch’s life. Thank you.”

Not very eloquent, but at least she’d gotten through it without getting emotional.

Then it was Mitch’s turn.

He adjusted the microphone, and Megs couldn’t help but be nervous for him. “Th-thank you all for your …help. I can’t imag… imagine …living in any… other town. I am so… grate…ful.”

Applause.

“I want to th-thank Megs. She never … left my side. Her …voice w-was my light… in the dark of … c-coma.”

Megs could see that Rain had tears in her eyes. Well, fine, but no way was Megs going to cry in front of the whole damned town.

Then Mitch got down onto one knee, a little velvet box in his hand.

The crowd exploded—cheers, whistles, applause, people jumping to their feet.

It took Megs a moment. “What the hell are you doing?”

Laughter.

He opened the box to reveal a diamond solitaire engagement ring. “Megs, will you … please m-marry me?”

The blood rushed from Megs’ head, and for a moment, she stood there, open-mouthed, gaping at him. “We’ve been together for forty-eight years. We’re probably already married, according to Colorado common law. Why do this now?”

“Life is … short. I d-don’t want to be your part-ner … any longer. I want to spend wh-whatever … time we have left … as your … husband.”

His words and the look in his eyes made her heart melt.

“Oh!” Her vision blurred. “Yes! I’ll marry you.”

While the crowd cheered for them, he stood and slid the ring onto her finger, then drew her into his arms and kissed her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The Timberline Mudbugs took the stage—and the mic.

“Congratulations to our happy couple. Megs, Mitch requested this number especially for you tonight. Clear the floor, folks. This first dance is for them.”

Overcome with emotion, Megs let Mitch lead her off the stage and into the middle of the dance floor, just as the Mudbugs broke into a version of Baby, I Love Your Way.

With the whole town watching, she slipped into his arms, and they began to move around the floor, Mitch singing along, getting every sweet word right.

Mitch and Megsspent the rest of the weekend hanging with the dirtbags. It felt like old times—except for the ring on Megs’ finger. Mitch had seen her staring at it more than once, the diamond glittering in the light. He supposed it would take her a while to get used to it and what it represented.

After forty-eight years as his partner, she was now his fiancée.

On Saturday, they had a late breakfast and drove the dirtbags to Rocky Mountain National Park, then spent the evening looking at old photos and magazine articles and reminiscing about old times. They also watched the PSA they’d made together, which had begun running on major networks and online as of yesterday.

Mitch was touched. “Thanks for d-doing that.”

Accardo gave him a gentle slug in the shoulder. “For you, man? Anything.”

On Sunday morning, they went out with the Team, watching Conrad supervise the rescue of a climber who’d lost his nerve and gotten stuck high on a wall in Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Gridwall stared up at the rockface as they lowered the climber safely to the ground once more. “You two have done good. Uncle Jim is so proud of you.”

But then it was time for the dirtbags to head back to Las Vegas to turn in the car and catch their flights home.

Gridwall hugged Mitch tight, slapped his back. “I’m sorry I was such a dick in the early days. You’re the best of us. Megs was right to pick you. I’m so damned glad you got through this. My world wouldn’t be the same without you, brother.”

“Thank you… Jim. You are … family to us.”

While Gridwall said goodbye to Megs, Mitch helped Accardo and Cook load up the Lamborghini, which had a surprisingly small trunk. “Not... much room.”

Cook turned to Accardo, a grin on his face. “Speaking of no room, it’s your turn to sit in the back.”

“Great.” Accardo turned to Mitch. “You take care, man.”

“You, too.” Mitch hugged him and then Cook. “Good to … see you.”

Mitch stood with Megs on their front steps and watched their friends climb into the vehicle and drive away, engine roaring.

“And there go the crazy relatives.”

“Makes me … sad… to see them… go.”

Megs leaned into him, her fingers twined with his. “Me, too.”

Snow began to fall, a cold wind blowing from the northwest.

After such a busy weekend with so many guests, the house seemed quiet. While Mitch built a fire in the woodstove, Megs reheated their leftovers from Knockers. After supper, they snuggled on the sofa in front of the fire.

“This town, your friends, me—so many people love you.”

He chuckled. “You didn’t w-want to m-move here.”

“I didn’t, but, to be fair, Scarlet Springs isn’t what it was back in the early Nineties. There was a grocery store, a gas station, the inn, that awful pizza joint—and not much else. It was like a ghost town waiting for someone to shut off the lights.”

“Hold on.” Mitch got to his feet, walked to his office, and returned with the journal, which he had opened to a specific entry. “Read this. Then we can … p-put the … j-jour…journal away … for now.”

Megs took the journal from him, skimmed the page, and laughed. “I remember this. We had decided to create a rescue team, and you wanted us to settle here. As I recall, you had to work hard to sell it.”

A smile on her face, Megs began to read.

September 3, 1993

Mitch walkedhand-in-hand with Megs down Main Street, trying to remember Scarlet Springs as it had been when he was growing up. “The Seventies were hard on this town. High gas prices and a few bad ski seasons really hurt it economically. So many families, like mine, moved away.”

Megs spoke in a sarcastic voice. “I can’t imagine why they would do that.”

Mitch knew she wasn’t impressed, and he couldn’t blame her. There were empty houses with For Sale signs that had faded in the sun. The town’s only restaurant sold shitty pizza and featured extra protein in the form of dead flies on the unwashed tables. But the Forest Creek Inn was still standing, along with Rose’s New Age Emporium across the street. The schools were exactly the way he remembered them.

There were signs of new life, too. The town had recently built a new firehouse. A shop selling geodes and semi-precious stones had just opened on Main Street.

Mitch pointed this out. “It’s coming back to life.”

“Speaking of new life, there’s a place next to the pretty rock store where they cryogenically freeze your severed head after you die on the off chance that science will find a way to bring you back from the dead.”

Mitch laughed. “Okay, Scarlet Springs is strange, but that’s what I’ve always loved about it. It’s not a town of middle-class conformists and perfectly manicured lawns. It’s weird. I’m a Yosemite dirtbag, for God’s sake. Normal is overrated.”

“Okay, you have a point. I hate small towns. You know that.”

“Not all small towns are the same. There are good people here. This is nothing like the town where you grew up. I promise.”

“What’s his story?”

Mitch followed the direction of her gaze and smiled. “Bear! It’s good to see him.”

“Bear?”

“No one knows his real name. He started showing up in town a long time back. He’s a gentle giant with the mind of a child. Something happened to him, but no one knows what or where he came from. He lives somewhere in the mountains west of Scarlet. He’s got the Bible memorized, chapter and verse, and stands in the roundabout and preaches. Once he knows you, he never forgets your name.”

The curiosity on Megs’ face became compassion. “Poor guy.”

“I don’t think he believes he’s poor.” Mitch waved to him. “Hey, Bear! Good to see you again.”

Bear walked over, studied Mitch’s face—and stared. “Mitch Ahearn.”

“That’s right.” Mitch clapped Bear on the shoulder. “It’s been almost twenty-five years since I last saw you. How are you?”

“A joyful heart is good medicine.” Bear grinned, looked at Megs.

“This is my partner, Megs Hill. She’s a climber like I am.”

“Megs Hill,” Bear repeated.

Megs held out her hand. “It’s good to meet you, Bear.”

Bear carefully shook her hand then turned back to Mitch. “Are you home now?”

Mitch couldn’t help it. Those words tugged at his heart. “That’s what we’re trying to decide. I’m introducing Megs to the town.”

“Scarlet Springs is home,” Bear said.

Megs nodded. “I see that.”

They talked for a few minutes. Then Megs gave him money for a meal, and they moved on. They had an appointment with Caribou Joe, or Joe Moffat.

Joe owned some real estate they were considering for the headquarters of the rescue team they hoped to launch. They had already filed the papers for nonprofit status, but they needed a home base.

“Why do you call him Caribou Joe? Does he have antlers?”

Mitch explained the history. “This is an old mining town. Back in the day, his great-great-great grandfather operated the Caribou Silver Mine above town. Most of our ancestors worked for his ancestors—to their great regret. The Moffats didn’t care much for the town or the people who lived here. They were always just about the money.”

“So, you’re telling me that this guy will screw us over if we make an offer on the old firehouse?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never met him. They say he’s a bit of a hermit, but I don’t want to misjudge him just because his forbears were dicks.”

“Fair point.”

Joe was waiting for them outside the old firehouse, long hair pulled back in a ponytail, a neatly trimmed beard on his face. He held out his hand. “Mitch Ahearn and Megs Hill. I recognize you both.”

Mitch shook his hand. “My parents moved us away from Scarlet around the time you were born.”

“That’s what I hear. Now you’re thinking about moving back. That’s great. That’s what this town needs.”

Mitch caught the look on Megs’ face. “We’re thinking about it.”

“What do you want to do with the old firehouse?”

Mitch explained that a friend of theirs had recently died because there was no rescue team capable of bringing him to safety. He told Joe that he and Megs hoped to create a top-notch rock and alpine rescue unit so that nothing like that would happen again.

“We need a place big enough to house rescue vehicles and all of the technical gear necessary to run an operation like that.”

Joe listened, one hand thoughtfully stroking his beard. “What a great idea. Let’s look at the property and see if you think it meets your needs.”

He unlocked the door, and Mitch and Megs gave themselves a tour. The firehouse had two big bay doors that opened onto a cavernous space that had once held firetrucks.

Megs glanced around. “It’s certainly big enough for a couple of rescue vehicles. The quarters upstairs could be converted to storage.”

“There’s a kitchen and an operations center through here.” Joe led them out of the vehicle bay and into a vacant conference room with a small kitchen off to the side. “Everything works.”

He studied them for a moment. “If you like it, it’s yours for one dollar.”

They gaped at him, mouths hanging open.

“Onedollar?” Megs repeated.

“I acquired the property in a trade deal. The land where the new firehouse sits used to belong to me. I traded it for this, but I have no need for this property. If you can use it for the community’s benefit, then I’m ready to sell it on the cheap.”

Mitch and Megs walked a short distance away to discuss the offer.

“We’d be crazy not to accept. We could use the money we’ve raised so far to remodel the place and buy gear rather than spending it on real estate. We’d get up and running faster.”

Megs didn’t look convinced. “What’s in it for him?”

“Ask him.”

So Megs did.

Joe grinned. “Scarlet used to be a thriving town of more than three thousand, and my father and grandfathers bled it dry. I want to give back what was taken and bring the town back to life.”

Megs stared at him for a minute. “I think I like you.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “I know I like you. Let me show you what else I’m doing.”

Joe drove them toward the center of town to a construction site not far from Food Mart. “This is going to be a brewpub. I named it Knockers after the tommyknockers that the old Cornish miners believed lived in the mines.”

He gave them each a hard hat and led them through the site. “I want the place to be known for good food and excellent homebrews. Over there, we’ll have a stage and a dance floor. The kitchens will be toward the back. We’ll have pool tables, too. I want it to be a hub for the town, a place for locals and tourists alike. I don’t care if it ever makes a profit. If I break even in the first decade, I’ll be more than happy.”

Megs glanced around them. “If you want it to be a destination, you ought to put in a climbing wall.”

Joe stared at her, clearly confused. “A climbing wall?”

“Yes, a climbing wall. Make your place a destination for the outdoorsy crowd that passes through on the way to the mountains.”

Mitch nodded. “Not a bad idea.”

Joe seemed taken by the concept. “I like that.”

One of the construction workers motioned for him, so Joe left them to find out what the man needed.

Megs waited until he was gone. “I can tell you really want to move here, that it means a lot to you.”

“We can be a part of bringing Scarlet back to life. We’re up in the mountains, close to the busiest climbing areas where people will need our help. We already know some of the folks who live here.”

Megs drew a breath, kicked at a rock in the dirt. “Okay, love. We’ll settle in your crazy little hometown and give it a go.”

Mitch drew her into his arms. “Thanks, love. I’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”

Megs closed the journal,smiling at the memories. “I completely forgot that the climbing wall was my idea. It worked out well, if I do say so myself.”

“It did.” Mitch took the journal, set it on the coffee table, and drew her close. “Thank you … for trust… trusting me, for being w-will… willing to try.”

“I love you, Mitch. I wanted you to be happy. I still do.” But there was something she needed to say. “All these years, I’m the one who’s been in the spotlight. I’ve gotten most of the attention and acclaim.”

“That’s … okay with me.”

It wasn’t okay with Megs. “There isn’t a thing I’ve accomplished that didn’t involve you. You have belayed me through life.”

She knew he would get the metaphor, but she spelled it out anyway. “You’ve been the one who lifted me up, who believed in me, who gave me the confidence to keep going. You’ve been my confidant, my safe place. When I’ve fallen, you’ve caught me. Without you, there’s no Megs Hill, climbing legend. You’ve taken me higher than I would ever have gone without you.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, but she pressed her fingers to his lips.

“Just listen for a minute. When you were hurt, I was terrified that I was going to lose you. The hours went by so slowly. For days, I was afraid that every heartbeat would be your last. You want to know who got me through that?”

“Who?”

“You did.” Her vision blurred, the emotional toll of the past two months welling up inside her. She blinked the tears away. “Your journal did. I started reading entries because Dr. Schwartz said it might help you. But when I read your entries, you were there with me, beside me. Like everything else in my life, you got me through that.”

“I’m glad.” He drew her close, rested her head against his chest. “When I die… you will still… have the journ… journals.”

“What if I die first?” She’d thought about this. “I haven’t written anything down—nothing. I kept your notes and letters, but that’s it. You won’t have anything.”

Mitch laughed—not what she’d expected. “Oh, Megs, my …ang… angel. “There’s nothing… in my life th-that isn’t you—the Team… our home, every mem-memory since you … showed up in Yosemite. Those journ… journals… You are on … every page… in every word. You are the breath and the … l-light… between every line.”

Megs saw the love in his eyes, and her heart seemed to melt. She straddled his lap, cupped his face between her palms. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m going to marry you after all these years and make an honest man of you.”

He chuckled, flipped her onto her back in one smooth motion, his brown eyes going dark. “Let’s forn… fornicate … while we still can.”

Megs’ blood went hot. “I love the way you think.”