Page 60 of Heal Me
Chapter Sixteen
Kate knew as soon as Ric arrived that night, that he had heavy thoughts on his mind. She’d been making a snack of apple slices and peanut butter when the dogs started barking and she heard his car pull in the driveway.
She smiled as she heard him greet the pooches.
“Kate? Where are you?”
“Kitchen!”
When he walked into the room, his shoulders were tense and his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Hi, honey,” she said. “You look like you had a bad day.”
He gently embraced her and held her close for several moments. “I’ve had better. How are you feeling?”
Kate laid her cheek on his chest and breathed in his woodsy aftershave. He always smelled incredible and his muscular bulk was so nice to hold onto. “I’m fine. Almost all of the bruising is gone and I’m not very sore now. I’ll be ready to go back to work tomorrow. I have so much to catch up on.”
“I thought Dr. Zou said not until Monday?” Ric asked.
Kate drew away from him and went back to cutting apples. “He did, but I know my own body. I’m ready. You didn’t wear your walking boot as long as you were supposed to, but I didn’t bitch at you, did I?”
“I’m not bitching, Kate. I’m just concerned.” He snatched an apple slice and popped it in his mouth.
“Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
Kate finished making her snack. “There’s some leftover chicken salad in the fridge. You could make a sandwich.”
“Okay. Sounds great.”
He gathered the bread and chicken salad and then stopped, bracing his hands on the counter. “Kate, we need to talk.”
Kate sat the apple slice she’d been about to eat back on the plate. “What about?”
“I’m not happy with the level of danger being involved with the mountain rescue team puts you in,” Ric replied. “In fact, mountain climbing full stop sounds too dangerous. You were incredibly lucky this time, but you might not be so fortunate next time.”
Kate folded her arms over her chest. “Ric, I’m an experienced climber, that’s why I’m a valued member of the team. What happened wasn’t my fault. There was no way to know that the lead line was defective.”
Ric put his hands on his hips. “I know, but you almost died.”
“Almost being the operative word. Ric, I know that this was scary for you, but it was scary for me, too,” Kate told him. “Besides, look what happened to Phil. He was killed by a drunk driver. You can’t wrap yourself in cotton wool. Sometimes shitty things happen in life but that doesn’t mean you don’t live it.”
Ric pursed his lips for a moment. “So you’ll go back to climbing, you’ll stay part of the rescue team, won’t you?”
Kate nodded. “If everyone ran scared there would be no rescue team and it’s sorely needed. I need to get back and climb as soon as I can. It’s the old adage about getting back on a horse when you get thrown.”
“I don’t want you to.”
She remained quite for a moment, before saying, “I love climbing. I’m not going to change my life because you think I should. No man is going to tell me what I can and can’t do. Even one I love as much as you.”
The sadness in Ric’s eyes made Kate’s heart hurt. “I love you, too, Kate. More than I thought I’d ever love anyone. But I can’t be worried that when I’m not here, you’re doing reckless, dangerous things. One of these days, something terrible is going to happen and I just can’t stand by and watch it happen.”
Kate’s heart constricted. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that unless you’re willing to quit rock climbing and the mountain rescue team, I can’t keep seeing you.” His grim expression held regret and pain.
“But you ride bulls and broncs,” Kate said, trying to remain reasonable. “That’s just as dangerous as climbing mountains.”
