A Bride Worth Waiting For (6 page)

“Okay and Thank you, Cole for coming after me. I thought for sure I was going to die out here.” After the way she had avoided him and turned down his invitations every since she’d met him, she was surprised he’d even bothered, but she was sure glad he had.

“Sure, Darlin. I’m just glad I found you. I was getting worried when I didn’t see you anywhere after more than an hour of searching.”

Bethany leaned close so she could hear Cole over the noise of the snowmobile. As he radioed the Ski lodge and her grandfather answered. Bethany heard him tell her grandfather that he wanted to let them know that he had found her and she appreciated his kindness. She knew Gram and Papa must be frantic by now and Carla, Melanie, and Michelle would be too. She listened as he explained that he didn’t feel she was seriously injured, but he was concerned about her knee and she had a concussion, so he felt she needed to be taken to the hospital to be checked.

“Your Grandfather said they’d be in the Escalade waiting to take you to the hospital as soon as we get there. They had gone about half way when they got stuck in a snow bank for the second time. Cole rocked the snowmobile back and forth until he finally broke it loose and they were on their way again, but they had lost precious time, it was totally dark and the snow was coming down so hard now they couldn’t see anything.

“We need to pray we’re going the right direction, Bethany I can’t see a thing.”

“You drive and I’ll pray. We’re going to make it, Cole.” Bethany knew he was concerned, they’d hit a tree. “
Please Lord, we can’t see, but You can and I ask You to send your guardian angels to go before us and guide us safely down the mountain, and Lord please help my knee not to be too badly injured. Thank you, Lord for sending Cole to find me and for protecting me that I wasn’t injured worse that I am. In Jesus name I pray, amen.”
Bethany prayed out loud against Cole’s ear and she heard him echo her, Amen.

Bethany’s knee was hurting so bad she couldn’t hold back the tears. She prayed it wouldn’t be much longer.

“Don’t cry, Darlin, we’re almost there. I’ll get you off this thing shortly and your knee in a more comfortable position,” Cole said gently.

Bethany didn’t like for anyone to see her cry, but she just couldn’t help it. The pain in her knee was almost unbearable. She prayed Cole was right and they were almost there she didn’t know how much more she could stand.

Chapter Seven

“Okay, Darlin here we are safe and sound. Cole parked the snowmobile next to Bethany’s Grandfather’s SUV.
“Thank you, Lord.”
He prayed out loud and heard Bethany echo
him
this time. He lifted her carefully from the back of the snowmobile and carried her to the Escalade.

“Easy now.” He placed her gently in the back so she could lay her leg on the seat and climbed in behind her. He covered her with the blanket Elizabeth had given him.

“Are we ever glad to see you. I love you, Sunshine your grandmother and I were so worried.” Mack turned the key in the engine and started down the mountain toward the hospital.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.” Bethany laid her head against the door facing.

“Cole brushed the hair out of her face that had come loose from her ponytail when she’d pulled her hat off. “Is your head hurting?”

“Yes, it’s throbbing, but not as much as my knee.”

“We’ll be there soon and the doc will give you something for pain after he examines you.”

“Thank you, for coming after me.”

“There’s no need for thanks, I’m just glad I was there to help you.” He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the tears as they spilled over and ran down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something more I could do to make it easier.”

Cole would be glad when they got to the hospital, he couldn’t stand to see her cry and not be able to do anything to make it better for her. He felt so helpless. All his training and there wasn’t anything he could do for her. He held her hand and talked to her softly all the way down the mountain to the hospital. Mack parked and Cole jumped out and ran inside, in a few minutes he was back with an orderly and a gurney. He opened the back door, gently lifted Bethany out and carefully laid her on the gurney. He held her hand all the way to the examining room in emergency.

“I’ll be right here when you come out. They’ll take good care of you.” Cole squeezed her hand gently before letting her go.

Elizabeth gave the young lady at the counter all of Bethany’s information and then went in with her while he and Mack sat in the waiting room, waiting anxiously. In what seemed forever, but in actuality was only an hour and a half, Bethany was brought to them in a wheel chair with her knee bound in a heavy ace bandage.

“What did the doc say?” Mack asked before Cole had the chance.

“After x-rays of my head and knee he said, I have a minor concussion, lots of bruises, and pulled ligaments in my knee. I was very fortunate I could have been killed. He gave me an injection for pain, something for nausea, and told me not to ever go up skiing by myself again. He told me to take it easy for a day or two, to use my crutches and stay off of my knee for the first week and then to gradually put weight on it. He wants to see me again in two weeks.”

Bethany closed her eyes and Cole knew she was exhausted on top of the meds the doc had given her. If they didn’t get her out to the car she was going to slide right out in the floor.

Cole took hold of the handles on her wheelchair. “Let’s get you home and into bed while the meds the doc gave you are still in effect. Hopefully you can get some rest tonight before they wear off and you need to take some more. He did give you something for pain to take home for tonight, right?” Cole glanced at Elizabeth when he realized that Bethany had fallen asleep. He saw Elizabeth take a bag of Peanut M&M’s from Bethany’s hand before she dropped them and then answered for her as Mack held the door open for him to push the wheel chair through and they followed him outside.

“Yes, he did and a prescription to fill for tomorrow for pain meds and muscle relaxers.”

Thank you so much, Cole I don’t know how we can ever repay you for bringing our baby back to us,” Mack said and choked up as they made their way out to the SUV. Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm and as she looked up at Cole he could see the tears in her eyes as she nodded her head.

“You don’t owe me anything. I’m so thankful she’s okay and that’s all that matters.” He lifted a nearly unconscious Bethany into the back of the Escalade, covered her with the blanket and once again climbed in behind her for the trip back to the ski lodge. “Okay, now I have to ask what’s with the Peanut M&M’s?”

“Elizabeth glanced back at Cole and smiled. “Annie, Bethany’s mother calls them Bethany’s crutch.”

“Her crutch?” Cole asked.

“Yes. Everyone has their way of dealing with uncomfortable situations. Well, every since Bethany was a little girl, her way is to eat Peanut M&M’s.”

After Elizabeth’s explanation they fell silent the rest of the way up the hill while Bethany slept. When they got back to the Ski Lodge Cole carried Bethany inside and followed Elizabeth and Mack up to her suite. Carla opened the door and Cole carried Bethany into her room and laid her on her bed. After reassuring the three young ladies that Bethany was going to be all right, he went into the living room and waited with Mack while they helped Elizabeth get Bethany ready for bed. They were there for about fifteen minutes when Elizabeth called them to come in and say goodnight.

Cole stooped down beside Bethany’s bed and took hold of her hand. “How are you doing, Darlin?”

“I wouldn’t have survived if you hadn’t found me, Cole.” She could hardly keep her eyes open he noticed.

“Try not to think about that anymore, it’s behind us now. You just need to concentrate on getting well. I’m going to go, Darlin so you can rest. I’ll check on you in the morning. Goodnight.” He gently squeezed her hand before he left the room.

Mack walked Cole to the door. “Thank you again, Cole, you’ll never know how much we appreciate all of your help.”

“No thanks are needed, Mack. Call if you need me in the night.”

“I will, son. Goodnight.”

Cole left and headed up to his room he was tired and his bed would look pretty good right about now. But first he had to pray. “
Thank you, Lord for helping me to find Bethany, for being with us tonight and for watching over her. Please heal her knee and her concussion. This could have been a whole lot worse if not for your watch care over us. I love you, Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The next morning Cole went down to talk to Elizabeth. He wanted to see how Bethany had fared through the night.

“Good morning.” Cole found Elizabeth in the kitchen baking cinnamon rolls. “Umm, those smell wonderful. I just came down to see how Bethany did through the night before we leave for church.”

“I talked to her a few minutes ago and she was sitting up on the sofa enjoying the fire. She said she slept pretty well, that Carla had brought her some crackers and milk along with a pain pill about two o’clock this morning.”

“It’s nice to have friends.” Cole accepted the warm cinnamon roll and cup of coffee Elizabeth handed to him. “Thank you. I figured they’d take good care of her.”

“Yes, I assure you they will or I wouldn’t have left her. Those girls have been friends since they were in grammar school. I told Bethany I’d send up some of these with Mack, but maybe you’d like to take them instead.” She smiled. “I’ll see you at Church; the girls are going to stay with Bethany.”

“Okay and thanks Elizabeth, for the rolls and coffee. I’ll take these up right now.” Cole took the plate of warm cinnamon rolls and headed up to Bethany’s room. He’d stay a few minutes and still be back downstairs in time to meet the guys to go to church. Afterwards Shane and Carl had to catch their flight back home. Cole would go with Chancelor, Scott and Hunter, to see them off and then they planned to go into Incline Village for awhile. Maybe he’d get Bethany some flowers and take them up to her when he got back later.

Cole knocked on Bethany’s door and Carla answered.

“Good morning, Cole. Come on in. Umm those cinnamon rolls smell wonderful.” Carla closed the door behind him “Sit down, how about a cup of coffee?”

“Cole sat the rolls on the table and took the chair across form Bethany. She had her knee propped up on a pillow that was sitting on the coffee table. “That’s sounds good, Carla thanks. How are you doing this morning, Darlin?” Cole wanted to take hold of Bethany’s hand, but he resisted. She’d held his hand last night, but he wasn’t sure if that only had to do with the circumstances and he didn’t want to do anything to make her uncomfortable. Obviously the number of times she’d brought out the Peanut M&M’s when she’d been around him, he hadn’t been successful in making her feel comfortable in the past. He hoped to be able to change that in the future. He spent just a few minutes visiting with Bethany and her friends and then walked over to the small kitchen and placed his cup into the sink. “Thank you for the coffee. I’d better go so I won’t be late for Church. I’m glad you feel like being up this morning, Bethany. Is there anything you want from town?”

“Not that I can think of, but thank you.”

I’ll come up and check on you when I get back. If you need anything before then please call my cell phone.” He handed her his business card. “Take it easy today, okay?”

“I will, and thank you for coming by, Cole. I’ll see you this evening.”

He nodded, opened the door and walked out closing it softly behind him.

Chapter Eight

Cole and his friends spent the afternoon at Incline Village. Just before they left to go back to the lodge, they stopped at the florist and picked up the bouquet of long stemmed pink roses with baby’s breath, Cole had, had made up for Bethany earlier in the day. He’d also purchased a vase at one of the stores as they’d wandered around for her to put them in.

“You’ve got it bad, Bud,” Chancelor said when Cole got back into the car.

“Long stem roses, huh?” Bet that set you back a pretty penny.’ Scott grinned.

Hunter whistled. “I sure hope she’s worth it.”

“She is, I assure you.” Cole smiled.

The guys took Cole back to the Lodge and picked up their luggage, they had to return the rental car and catch their plane back to Springfield. “Have a good flight and plan to come up again before I leave in the spring.” Cole gave them a three way hug.

“Take care, Buddy. I wish you the best with Bethany.” Chancelor laid his hand on Cole’s shoulder.

“Yeah, Keep in touch and let us know what’s happening.” Scott playfully slapped him on the back.

“We’ll expect an email frequently with updates.” Hunter grinned.

“Don’t worry you’ll hear from me. But all kidding aside, it means a lot that you guys came. You’re the best. Take care and have a safe trip back.”

Cole picked up the flowers from the table where he’d set them to say goodbye to his friends and headed up to Bethany’s room. He hoped she’d done okay today. He’d thought about calling he’d been anxious about how she was doing, but he needed to take it slow, so he decided maybe he should just wait and talk to her this evening.