Page 60 of Need Me
Chapter 14
“Keep going. You’re doing great.”
Brooke had only climbed ten feet, but she was terrified of falling. She’d never climbed trees or ladders as a kid. She preferred a good book. She was only doing this because she wanted to further understand Robert and thought that maybe learning about climbing would help her dothat.
“Find your next hold,” he said from belowher.
Brooke searched the craggy rock face of what Robert had assured her was an easy climb. She tested a couple of places, but she didn’t think they’d hold her. “There aren’t any. How am I supposed to go anywhere? How do I get back down?” Her stomach soured withfear.
“Don’t panic. I got you. I won’t let you get hurt,” Robert said. “Close your eyes for a moment and take a deepbreath.”
Brooke clung tighter to her current holds, but her left calf threatened to cramp. “Close my eyes? Are you crazy? No way. I don’t want tofall.”
“Brooke, close youreyes.”
His firm tone made her roll her eyes. “Fine.” She shut them. “Now what? Picture my happyplace?”
She couldn’t resist smiling when she heard the warm chuckle she was coming to love. “No. Just let your mind settle and tell the mountain that it’s not going to beatyou.”
Brooke’s brow wrinkled. “You want me to talk to themountain?”
“Yeah. Believe it or not, rocks, trees, plants; all of them have energy and are capable of sensing ours,” Robert said. “There are forces at work against us, including nature sometimes. We can’t let these other forces defeat us. So, tell the mountain that it’s not going towin.”
“You said that you’re notreligious.”
“I’m not. I’m more spiritual, I’dsay.”
Brooke snorted. “You sound likeChase.”
“I guess so. Anyway, focus and do what I’m tellingyou.”
“Okay.”
Brooke took a breath, inhaling the cool morning air, redolent with jasmine andpine.
“Feelcalmer?”
Opening her eyes, Brooke said, “Yes, I do.Thanks.”
“Good. Now, look around for your next hold, but take yourtime.”
It took over a minute before Brooke spied a likely handhold, but she saw a good hold for her foot right away. Growing excited, she stepped up a couple offeet.
“Way to go. Find a crack for your nextnut.”
Brooke couldn’t help giggling. “Doesn’t that sound funny toyou?”
“Of course, it does. Kate and I make jokes the whole time we climb,” Robertreplied.
Brooke took a nut off the ring at her waist and tested out a couple of small fissures until she found one thatworked.
“Good girl. We’ll make a climber out of youyet.”
Brooke smiled and found her next hold. Foot by foot and sometimes inch by inch, she made it to the top of the low rock wall. Elation swept through her and she almost let go of one of her handholds to throw a triumphant fist in the air. She settled for letting out a rebelyell.
“Woohoo! I did it,Rob!”
“You sure did! I knew you could. Greatjob.”
