Breaking Free: A Colorado High Country Crossover Novel, Pamela Clare [i can read book club .TXT] 📗

“You didn’t think we’d let you deal with this by yourself, did you?”

Winona gave them a wobbly smile, tears on her cheeks. “Thank you.”

And Jason knew he could never ask Winona to leave this community where so many people loved her.

Chaska stood, motioned to Jason. “I heard you wanted to try climbing. Let’s put you in a harness and get vertical.”

Winona watched as her brother gave Jason an introductory lesson, showing him how to tie a figure-eight retrace, teaching him the etiquette, explaining how to read the routes on the climbing wall. Then she watched with everyone else as he climbed to the top of the wall on the first try.

Cheers rose from the table.

“Way to go, Chiago!”

Megs sat in Jason’s vacant chair. “He moves well.”

Megs had no idea.

“He reminds me of my brother. Chaska took a few lessons—and that was it.”

Megs placed her hand over Winona’s. “He’ll be back, Win.”

Her words cut through Winona’s façade to the ache in her heart, left her fighting not to cry. “How can you be sure?”

“I’ve spent my entire damned life in the testosterone-soaked world of men. I can tell a good one from an asshole in a minute flat. He’s a good one—and he’s hopelessly in love with you.”

Winona hoped Megs was right.

If Winona could have held her breath to stop time from passing, she would have. She and Jason spent much of their time over the next few days in bed together. When they weren’t making love, they were sharing meals, talking and laughing together, and going for drives in the mountains. It would have been the best staycation ever—if it weren’t about to end.

Winona did her best to memorize every detail of his body, his scent, the timbre of his voice, the velvet feel of his skin, his taste. She also took lots of photos of him and selfies of the two of them together. Jason learning to belay. Jason shirtless at the breakfast table. Jason stretched out and asleep on the sofa. The two of them watching the sunset from the parking lot at Moose Lake.

On Monday morning, he got a tour of The Cave. Megs and Ahearn explained how the Team had started with the death of a climbing buddy. They told him where the organization got its funding, how it bought and maintained its specialized equipment, how it operated.

Jason seemed especially impressed by the gear that Chaska had engineered for Team use—and the fact that he’d refused to file patents on any of it. “Chaska is a good man. I doubt many others would make that same choice.”

“We’re lucky.”

Then Jason told them how his only experience with climbers before coming to Scarlet was with people who violated tribal sovereignty to climb on sacred land. “I’m glad there’s more to the world of rock climbing than that.”

Megs nodded. “I know the type. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with them. Sadly, every group has its assholes.”

That was the truth.

That afternoon, Jason drove to the wolf sanctuary, Winona giving directions from the passenger seat. She wanted to see how the rescued wolf, wolfdog, and pups were doing, and she wanted Jason to meet Shota.

The animals they had rescued were doing well. The pups had grown. The wolf had just been neutered, and the wolfdog and her pups would also soon be sterilized. Animals that couldn’t survive in the wild couldn’t be allowed to reproduce.

Winona petted the pups through the fence, while the mother sulked several feet away. “Aren’t you all sweet? They look healthy. Hey, Mama, it’s okay.”

Jason knelt beside Win. “Hey, guys. Good to see you again.”

“I think the mother was abused,” Heather said. “She’s shy and afraid, but we’ll get her through it. She’s already putting on weight and being more physically active.”

Winona couldn’t abide people who abused animals.

Then Heather led them to Shota’s enclosure.

The moment Shota saw Winona, he ran to greet her.

Heather unlocked the enclosure and let Winona and Jason enter. “I wouldn’t let anyone else do this.”

Jason hesitated. “Are we sure this is a good idea?”

“I’ll be with you.”

“Right. The wolf whisperer.”

Shota ran to Winona, so excited to see her that he almost knocked her over.

She spoke to him in Lakota at first, scratching behind his ears and keeping an eye out for Aput, who might feel threatened. “Shota, I want you to meet someone.”

Her arm around Shota’s neck, she motioned Jason to come forward. “Just walk slowly but confidently. Now, hold out your hand.”

Jason did as she asked, and Shota sniffed his hand. When it was clear Shota didn’t consider Jason a danger, Winona told Jason he could pet the wolf.

Jason ran his hand over Shota’s back, wonder on his face. “My God, I never thought I’d do this. Hey, buddy. You have a little boy named after you now.”

They visited for almost a half-hour, and then Aput made an appearance.

“Time to go,” Heather said.

“I’ll see you again, my friend.” But there was an ache in Winona’s chest that wouldn’t go away.

She had given up Shota, and now she had to give up the man she loved.

On Tuesday afternoon, Naomi felt strong enough to show Jason her shop, Win and Chaska coming along with the baby. “This case is all my work, but everything else in the store comes from Native artists and artisans around the country. My website gives them national exposure. Most of them have seen a big increase in income.”

Jason picked up a sterling silver bracelet with an inlaid image of a monarch butterfly. “The detail here is incredible. You made this?”

Naomi smiled, but it was Chaska who answered, pride in his voice. “She did. My wife is a true artist.”

Jason set the piece back in the case. “So, this is your day job and not the camp.”

“The camp is just my way of trying to give back to the Lakota community.”

It was then Jason spotted it—the silver pendant of a wolf track. When Win was distracted by the baby, he let Naomi know he wanted