“There’s no need. The town has got you covered. Some folks from Scarlet are paying for parts, and Frank and his crew are donating the labor.”
Naomi shook her head. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Why not?” Winona looked genuinely confused. “People want to help.”
Naomi tried to explain, her emotions at an edge. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but it’s not their problem.I’mnot their problem.”
A thoughtful frown came over Chaska’s face, and he dropped onto one knee so that he was eye-level with her. “What you told us today proves that no one can know what another person has lived through. We don’t know you well, and you don’t know us. But wedoknow what happened to you at the campground, and people want to make it better for you. No one expects anything from you. We all just want to help.”
Then his lips quirked in a grin. “This is Scarlet Springs. It’s how we roll.”
Could it really be that simple?
Winona took Naomi’s hand, her fingers warm. “If you really don’t want our help, no one will force you to accept it.”
“Except Frank.” Chaska stood, crossed his arms over his chest. “I doubt he’ll take your money.”
“Really?”
The warmth in his eyes made her breath catch. “Really.”
Something beeped—Chaska’s pager.
He drew it out of his pocket, scanned the display. “Megs is calling a meeting—a debriefing for last night’s rescue. She’s going to bite my head off.”
“What did you do?” Winona asked.
“Told off the victim.”
“Uh-oh.” Winona shook her head. “Megs is going to kick your butt.”
“You want to come along?” Chaska asked. “You can see The Cave—the Team’s headquarters—and meet some of the people who helped with your rescue.”
“I don’t know. If you’re really in trouble …” Naomi didn’t want to find herself in the middle of a shouting match.
Chaska chuckled. “She won’t really kick my butt. Megs is just … She’s Megs—climbing legend and hard-ass.”
Naomi told herself that this would be a great chance to thank the entire Team for saving her life, but some part of her knew the truth. She’d told Chaska and Winona about her roots—or lack thereof —and they still wanted to spend time with her.
How could she say no to that?
The Cave was onlya block away, but they drove for Naomi’s sake, taking Winona’s Subaru, which had more passenger room. Chaska steadied Naomi while she climbed down, then followed her inside the open bay doors.
Team members milled around, talking and joking with one another, their voices filling the cavernous space. Taylor and Hawke left the rope they’d been inspecting when they saw Naomi and came over to say hello.
Naomi remembered both of them. “Thanks for all you did for me.”
She held out her hand, but Hawke gave her a hug instead. “I’m glad to see you looking so well.”
Taylor did the same. “Lexi told me you were up and about. It’s good to see you.”
The two men went back to inspecting ropes.
Naomi glanced around her, her gaze moving over the gear that hung from racks on the walls—skis and snowshoes, litters, ice tools, rock climbing equipment, orange medical kits. “This place is huge.”
“It’s the old fire station.” Megs stepped out from behind Rescue Two, clipboard in hand, gray hair pulled back in a ponytail. “Belcourt, I see you brought backup. Good to see you, Win. Naomi, I’m Megs Hill.”
Naomi’s lips made a little “o,” her eyes going wide for a moment in a way that Megs couldn’t miss. “You’re the Team’s director.”