“I really appreciate the offer, but there are lots of people in this world who are worse off than I am. None of you owe me anything.”
He gave a nod. “True enough. It’s your decision, of course, but it would mean a lot to us to help set this right.”
Chaska walked backto the table, drew out the chair Nicole had vacated and sat next to Joe. “What’s up, Joe?”
“Naomi and I were just talking about the idea of a fundraiser.” Joe turned back to Naomi. “I’m betting you’re a pretty self-reliant person. You had to be to escape those guys the way you did. But sometimes it’s okay to accept help from people, especially when it comes with only the best wishes and no strings attached.”
Chaska chimed in. “I think the fundraiser is a great idea.”
Naomi would have the money she needed to get safely home again—and she would see that people could be kind without expecting something in return.
Naomi considered what they’d said, then nodded. “Okay—though I feel guilty asking anyone to help me.”
Chaska reached over, took her hand. “You’re not asking. We are.”
They spent the next ten minutes working out the details—how staff would put up posters around town to get out the word, how Joe would contact the paper, how he’d try to book the Timberline Mudbugs that night. Naomi’s eyes went wide when Joe estimated her portion of the receipts to be at least fifteen thousand dollars.
“If there’s money left over after your bills are paid, you can always donate it to the Team,” Joe said. “I’m sure they’d be grateful.”
“I love that idea.”
“That’s a great idea!” Megs shouted.
That made Naomi laugh.
Somewhere behind his beard, Joe was grinning. “Thanks for letting us pitch in, Naomi. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here in Scarlet. Let Rain know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Joe.” Chaska got to his feet when Joe stood and shook the man’s hand.
Ellie came and sat down where Joe had been sitting, Jesse following her. “You’ve just met Caribou Joe. What do you think?”
“He seems like a really good guy. Why do you call him Caribou Joe?”
Eric got to his feet and moved down the table to be closer. “He owns the defunct Caribou silver mine in the mountains west of here. A hundred and fifty years ago, his ancestors more or less owned this town and all the people in it. My great-great-granddaddy worked for his great-great-granddaddy. Hey, Belcourt, want to get some vertical time?”
Hell, yes, he did.
He glanced down at Naomi. He hadn’t spent much time talking with her tonight, first because of Nicole and then because of Joe. “Mind if I—”
“I would love to see you climb.”
As he walked away, he heard Win whisper, “You’re going to love this. My brother is anamazingclimber.”
Yeah, that was probably meddling, but he was okay with it.
Naomi watched, awestruck, while Chaska climbed the wall, moving with a kind of grace and power she’d never seen before. Some of the holds were tiny, with just enough room for his fingertips or the tips of his toes. Others forced him to hang by two fingers or his closed fist. It looked like some kind of vertical dance or a poem made of motion and muscle, and yet she knew his moves weren’t rehearsed or part of a routine.
It was sexy as hell.
And to think he’d kissed her today, kissed her like he’d meant it.
“Here comes the crux move.” Megs sat beside her, explaining things Naomi didn’t understand, answering her questions. “He has to dyno to finish the route.”
“What’s a dyno?”
“You’re about to see.”
Chaska hung for a moment, both hands on a large hold, feet dangling in mid-air. Then he launched himself upward using only the power of his arms, his entire body airborne for a second before he caught another hold with his right hand. For a moment, Naomi was sure he would fall, his feet searching for purchase. The toes of one foot caught a tiny hold—and the table exploded with cheers.