The Ranger's Passionate Love

by Nicole Jordan

  Of the three women, two short, brunette women, one skinny, one heavy, were holding back some of those branches while a tall, statuesque blond sawed away at the base of one bush with a hack saw. All three straightened up when she came into view.

  "Um, hey. I'm looking for Jason?" said Kyara uncertainly.

  The pudgy brunette paused for a moment, then gestured through the brambles. The skinny one smirked a little and gave a quick nod, also in the direction of the tiny path. The blond just stared at her, hands on hips.

  Wow. What's her problem? Kyara wondered as she made her way tentatively towards the break in the brambles. She went to push her way through, all three women still watching her. The branches were just as rough as they looked. Almost immediately, Kyara's arms became a mass of tiny, cross-crossed scratches.

  Great, because the bug bites weren't bad enough.

  Picking her way forward, trying to preserve her abused skin as much as possible, Kyara worked her way forward. Coming out the other side, she finally saw Jason.

  He was lounging against a huge, lightning-struck tree, talking to another guy. Jason was wearing a rich green jacket and rough, thick khakis, the loops on them actually hung with the tools they were intended for. The other man was heavier, wearing a bark brown jacket and jeans. The gray at his temples marked him as older. He was shaking his head at Jason like a disappointed teacher.

  Kyara stopped, listening and picking bits of leaves out of her hair.

  "We can't just leave it here, Rich. It's dead. Someday it's gonna fall, and when it does it might hurt someone on the trail" said Jason.

  The man spat, a thick wad of dark spit hitting the ground.

  "Do you know how unlikely that is?" asked the older man. "You're making a ton of work for us over nothing."

  "It's not for nothing, it's for ..." just then, Jason saw her and cut off his words, smiling.

  Kyara came forward, the older man turning to see what had caught Jason's attention. Up close, Jason's eyes caught the color of his jacket and held it, shading them a rich emerald. He looked even better than he had when they'd met before.

  I wonder what he'd look like in morning light? Kyara wondered.

  "You came," said Jason, surprise and delight filling his voice. "When you weren't there at 6:30, I figured you weren't coming out tonight."

  Kyara shrugged. "I wasn't sure either, I guess. But I thought I'd see what it was all about."

  Jason nodded, still smiling. He turned to the other man.

  "Officer Marsh, this is Kyara Bell. She owns the place that used to be Mrs. Tylden's."

  The older man nodded brusquely, not holding out his hand.

  "I know who she is," was all he said. "And it don't look like she's ready to help, even if she had come on time."

  Jason blinked and looked at her again, this time taking in the many, tiny cuts and bug bites on her bare arms.

  "Oh, wow, Kyara. I' so sorry, I forgot to warn you. Everyone else got the reminder on the first day, but we deal with a lot of underbrush. You kinda need long sleeves for this," said Jason.

  "Oh, well, I was just coming out to see what it was all about anyway. I'm sure it's fine. I can head back, maybe try some other time." Kyara tried to play it off.

  Am I blushing? Can he tell? Oh, God, I knew this was a mistake.

  Jason shook his head.

  "Don't be silly. I'm not doing much other than trying to figure out how to take care of this thing." He slapped the old, dead tree he'd been leaning against. "You can borrow mine and go work with the girls."

  Without giving her time to think, Jason had his jacket unzipped and settled around her shoulders. Underneath he wore a simple t-shirt. It clung to his body, emphasizing his well-muscled chest and solid, narrow midsection.

  Wow. Does he have actual abs? Kyara tried not to stare.

  "No, I really am fine, I can just..." Kyara tried to protest.

  "Please?" Jason cut her off, looking deep into her eyes.

  This jacket kind of smells like him. I didn't know a man could smell so nice.

  Kyara swallowed and nodded once.

  "Great," said Jason. "Let me go introduce you to the girls and get you started. Rich, I'll be back in a second."

  Kyara tried to smile and resist the urge to stay near him. After all, it's not like the 'girls' seemed that friendly. Still, you came out to make friends, not to stare at some guy you don't have time for anyway. In the end, she just nodded. The older man, Officer 'Rich' Marsh, just stared at her as she followed Jason back to the tangle of branches.

  Kyara prepared to push back through the underbrush, but she felt Jason's hand, large and warm, catch her shoulder.

  "If you don't mind," he said, "Can I give you some tips on how to move through here?"

  He's ... really strong.

  "No, not at all," said Kyara. "I mean, I don't mind. I guess it's pretty obvious that I'm really a city girl."

  Jason favored her with another one of those secret smiles, then moved up, placing his hands high on her waist. Blood rushed downward at his touch, and Kyara jumped a little.

  "Sorry," said Jason. "It's just easier this way. Now look, if you twist sideways as you enter, you can sort of ease between the branches. When one starts to catch on you, you can pivot, like this, and move past it. Make sense so far?"

  Kyara was having a little trouble concentrating. It had been a long time since a man manipulated her hips. The ease and confidence with which he did it didn't help.

  "Alright," said Jason, drawing his hands away. "I'll go first. Just watch me."

  With that he bent, slowly sliding himself into the thicket, somehow sliding around and past the worst of the tangles. Kyara bent and followed, her eyes locked onto his tight, firm backside.

  She knew they were getting close when she heard the sound of the hacksaw stop. Still following Jason, Kyara stepped back out into the cleared section of the path. The three ladies were still there. The two brunettes nodded to them both. The blonde's eyes were only for Jason. She only glanced at Kyara, but then her eyes snapped back, locking onto Jason's jacket wrapped firmly around her shoulders.

  Oh, so that's how it is, is it? Well, don't worry, lady. I'm not here boyfriend hunting, even if he is kind, polite, generous, gorgeous.... Kyara made herself pay attention when she realized Jason was talking.

  "Kyara, this is Kaitlyn, and Caitlin, and Ashley. Ladies, this is Kyara. She's here to help out."

  Kyara blinked. The heavy-set Caitlin rolled her eyes and stepped forward, offering her hand to Kyara.

  "He loves to do that. I'm Caitlin with a C. People call me Cat, but I wish they wouldn't. That's Kaitlyn with a K, and people call her K. Nice to meet you."

  That makes skinny girl K, and the grumpy blond Ashley. Got it.

  Kyara extended her hand and took the woman's offered handshake.

  "Nice to meet you, Caitlin." Kyara nodded at the other two in turn. "K, Ashley."

  Jason looked far too pleased with himself, considering all he'd done was introduce them.

  "Alright, I'll leave you four to it. We're headed back in half an hour or so. Good luck." With that, he slid once again into the forest, moving his body gracefully around each branch.

  Kyara looked up just as Caitlin did. The other two were still watching Jason leave. Caitlin giggled.

  "He really is way too much fun to watch leave," said Caitlin with an impish smile. "You sure you can handle that much man, Ash?"

  Kyara had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Ashley favored Caitlin with a wry look, but K broke in.

  "From the look of it, it's not Ashley who'd got her eyes on him," said K, her tone light. Kyara felt all three sets of eyes lock onto the jacket currently protecting her sensitive skin. Ashley's eyes practically burned.

  "What?" said Kyara. "Oh, no. I'm not ... I don't want ... I'm way too busy with the restaurant right now. I just didn't dress right. He was trying to save me from myself, is all." Kyara felt herself getting warm.

  Ashley sniffed.
"Not that busy from what I hear." The blond turned back to the bush, acting casual.

  Bitch. Kyara felt her fists clench.

  Caitlin, her eyes wide, stepped between them.

  "So, uh, Kyara, let me show you what we were doing. With four of us, we can have two groups of two," said Caitlin desperately.

  K crossed to Ashley and bent, whispering something in her ear with a stern expression. Kyara saw Ashley flush, and she had the grace to look embarrassed.

  OK, at least Caitlin's trying to make nice, and I could use a friend old enough to drink. I'll play nice, for now.

  Kyara turned her attention fully to Caitlin, asking "Alright. How can I help?"

  As the two settled in to work, Kyara pulling back branches, Caitlin sawing at their bases, the two women chatted. Well, really Caitlin chatted, chattering along to fill the now frosty silence.

  "So," said the rotund little woman. "You're probably wondering how you get two women in the same tiny town with the same name."

  "I hadn't really thought about it," admitted Kyara.

  "It's a funny story, really," said Caitlin. "Both our mothers have lived here basically forever. They were pregnant at the same time. Well, both of them wanted to name their daughter Caitlin. It turned into a big thing, with rumors flying about who had stolen the name from whom, and so on. It was pretty much the talk of the town for months, from what I hear.

  "Anyway, I was born first, and, of course, my mom named my Caitlin. C-a-i-t-l-i-n. Not to be outdone, K's mom also kept the name, but she named her daughter K-a-i-t-l-y-n, insisting that it was totally different. Our moms basically haven't spoken since. But, obviously we wound up going to the same school in the same grade, and we became basically inseparable. It still drives our mom's crazy to this day."

  Kyara let out a little laugh, both of the other women now working on the patch across from them looking up. Kyara gave them a shy smile, and admitted,

  "Something like that happened in my father's church. Except the two women both wanted to call their daughters 'Yazmeen.' I'm guessing that name doesn't get as much competition up here."

  There was a beat, followed by laughter all around.

  This could be okay, thought Kyara, tugging at the branches in front of her, the girls still laughing at the names. I think this could really be okay.

  "Kyara, someone wants you in the dining area?" called Crystal.

  Oh, no. Did I screw up the food for my only customer? wondered Kyara, quailing inside.

  "Tell them I'll be right out," said Kyara taking off her work apron.

  Kyara hustled into the dining room, the door swinging behind her.

  Mrs. Waite sat alone at a table in the dead center of the dining area. The woman was tiny and hunched. She sat, looking like nothing so much as a little bird, her beady little eyes darting around the room. A plain chicken breast, rice, and some peas sat virtually untouched on her plate.

  "What seems to be the trouble, Mrs. Waite?" asked Kyara as she approached the table.

  Mrs. Waite looked up at her, wisps of snow white hair bouncing as she did. The old woman's eyes stayed on Kyara's lips, watching them carefully when Kyara spoke.

  Her hearing must be going Kyara realized.

  "You are," announced the old woman, he quavering voice managing to sound definitive despite its age. "Now have a seat."

  "Excuse me?" asked Kyara, taken aback.

  I am about to get cussed out by a walking mummy in my own restaurant.

  "Have a seat," said Mrs. Waite. "I want to talk to you, but looking up at you strains my neck and voice."

  "I really should get back to the kitchen," said Kyara, but Mrs. Waite just snorted.

  "To do what? Focus on your other customers? I'm here and I already have more food than I could eat in three days. Also, I'm old and cranky and pretty much get what I want, so have a seat."

  Well, points for honesty thought Kyara, starting to be a little amused by the tiny woman's audacity. Kyara sat down across from her. Mrs. Waite nodded once sharply, as if a decision had just been made.

  "Good. Now, Crystal tells me that you don't think people around here are very friendly." Mrs. Waite's eyes glared at her accusingly.

  I'm really going to have to talk to that girl about the difference between private and public conversations.

  "Oh, well, I wouldn't say that exactly," said Kyara.

  "I would," interrupted Mrs. Waite. "Most people aren't. A good number of them aren't very bright, either. I should know, I watched most of them grow up."

  Kyara stared at her. This woman is completely insane, isn't she?

  "Don't look at me that way, dear. It makes you look like a fish," said Mrs. Waite, her eyes sparkling. "In any event, I managed to walk myself all the way over here, which at my age is no mean feat, just to talk to you, so you should at least ask me how my day was."

  I give up. I officially have no idea what's happening right now.

  "How was your day?" asked Kyara, bewildered.

  "Terrible," said Mrs. Waite. The old woman seemed thoroughly in her element now, rapping her fork against the table like a gavel to punctuate her points. "My grandson only stopped by for a few minutes, we've got a summer storm coming in which is making my joints ache like crazy, and I walked all the way across the road to talk to my new friend and she didn't even want to sit down with me." Mrs. Waite finished her list of complaints. She looked more satisfied than upset as looked at Kyara, clearly waiting for a response.

  Did she just decree that we're friends?

  "I'm ... sorry to hear that, Mrs. Waite?" Kyara ventured. The tiny woman nodded, her eyes twinkling.

  "As you should be," agreed Mrs. Waite. "It's terrible what happens to you as you get older. But It's Jan, dear, not Mrs. Waite. Call me Jan."

  She's super weird, but I think I might like her. She's clearly lonely. I can relate to that.

  "You should call me Kyara," said Kyara, smiling at this odd new-found friend.

  "I already do," announced Jan. "Now, if you could order men from a catalog, who would you order? I'd order George Clooney.”

  Her voice lowered even further in a conspiratorial way, as she finished.

  “I'd order two.”

  Jan rattled on, dragging Kyara with her into laughter.

  Three Tuesdays, four new friends, Kyara thought to herself. Well, five, if you can include him.

  The 'him' in question was, of course, Jason.

  At the moment he was standing next to a huge, growling pickup truck, guiding the driver with sweeping movements of his hands.

  Everyone near the truck was splattered with mud, but it looked like he’d gotten particularly hit. His hair looked like it might have escaped, but his chest and arms were plastered with it. It made his shirt cling to him, emphasizing the hard lines of his body and well developed arms.

  Damn. No one should look like that outside of a commercial.

  Just then, Jason gave the signal, and the truck roared. Its tires spun wildly as it strained against the chains coming out its back end. Mud again filled the air, and everyone around turned either to watch, or to scramble out of the way, depending on how close they were.

  After a minute, Jason made a “cut-it” motion to the driver. The noise and flying mud subsided.

  Kyara made her way over to Jason.

  Up close, he looked even better. What might have been flannel at some point now hugged him so closely Kyara could make out the individual curves of the muscles on his arms.

  “Give it up, Rich. That thing’s not moving anywhere. We’re gonna have to dig it out the hard way,” Jason was saying.

  "Jason?" Kyara called tentatively.

  He looked up at her, surprised. A single smudge of black mud ran adorably across his cheek.

  "Yes, Kyara?" he responded.

  "I don't know if it would help, but I have a lot of gravel back at the restaurant." Kyara hunched her shoulders. "I was thinking I'd put in a parking lot out back, but it hasn't really been necessary. Anyway, i
t's just sitting there."

  With a whoop, Jason scooped her up and spun them both around. Kyara settled back dizzily, acutely aware of just how low his hands had been.

  "That would be perfect," he exclaimed, then stopped. "Are you sure you can spare it? I mean, things might pick up for you come tourist season or something."