by Meg Ripley
“Well, shall we get started?” I open the thermos and take a swig of coffee. “I’ve got all day, but the sooner we start…”
“The sooner we’ll have it done and over with,” Knox finishes for me. “Let me show you my favorite trail.”
We start off in that direction and I fall into step with the ranger, running the questions through my head and trying to figure out where to begin.
“So, I’m assuming that as the manager of the park, you’re pretty well-versed in its history,” I say. “Oh! I almost forgot. Do you mind if I record this?”
“Not at all, go right ahead,” Knox replies. I take the recorder out of my bag and rattle off my standard disclaimer, holding the machine a few inches from Knox’s face for him to confirm his agreement to being recorded.
“So, as I was saying, I assume you’re pretty knowledgeable about the park’s history,” I begin again.
“It comes with the territory,” Knox says. “Is there something specific you want to know?”
“While I was doing my research, I came up sort of...confused, I guess, about some of the founders,” I say. “Obviously, the main people involved were Christopher Ellsworth, his father Christopher B. Ellsworth, and Theodore Davis, but there were others too, right?”
“Of course,” Knox nods. “What about them?”
“A lot of them don’t seem to have much in the way of public records,” I say. “I mean, there are notations that they contributed or lobbied to the cause, but when I tried to find some of their birth certificates, for example, I came up empty.”
Knox shrugs. “It was nearly a century ago, so keep in mind, many of the records might be a little shoddy.”
I frown at that, but I can’t think of a way to press the point further. “So, Knox, you’ve probably heard the strange rumors about Acadia, and the National Park Service in general. What are your thoughts?” I hurry a bit to keep up with him as we head up a little incline. I have to admit it’s beautiful out, even if it’s a bit chilly.
“The conspiracy wackos?” Knox gives me a sardonic grin. “Don’t tell me you’re doing some hit piece about how the people who created the national parks were all warlocks and freemasons.”
“No, no; I’m trying to do as straightforward a piece as possible,” I say quickly. “But it does come up, you know.”
“I know,” Knox nods. “It’s just always seemed so ridiculous to me--doesn’t it seem that way to you?”
“Well, we know a lot of the founding fathers were masons, or members of other fraternities,” I counter; I’m not even sure why I’m pressing the point at all, because a day ago, I found the whole idea ridiculous. “But obviously, the idea of building a bunch of parks to make it easier to sacrifice goats in private is a bit much to believe.”
“Glad to hear you think so,” Knox says, his voice rippling with amusement.
We come to a stopping point and I mention I need to sit down for a bit; I offer Knox some coffee and he waves me off. “I’ve actually got a picnic basket with some snacks hidden for us down the trail a bit,” he tells me. “Did you bring water, too, or just coffee?”
“I have a water bottle, and it’s full,” I tell him, and he nods his approval.
“Do you do much hiking, Hannah?”
I shrug off the question. “Some, but my job doesn’t leave me much time to.”
“How did you end up in this line of work, anyway?”
“Kind of by accident,” I explain. “I always liked asking questions, and I enjoyed writing back in school, so when it came time to pick a major, journalism sounded like the perfect path. By the time I graduated, I had honed my skills...and well, here I am.” I take another sip of my still-warm coffee and look at Knox speculatively. “How about you? When did you decide to become a park ranger?”
“I’ve wanted to be one since I was a kid,” Knox says. “I’ve always loved the outdoors; hunting, camping, fishing. I even took foraging classes when I was young. My parents liked living off the land, and when I turned twelve, we did a tour of the different national parks; that’s when I decided.”
I try to picture Knox as a twelve-year-old boy, foraging in the woods for mushrooms, berries or whatever, but it’s impossible. He’s far too masculine and fully-grown for me to imagine him any other way.
“Ready to move on?” he asks, gesturing toward the next leg of the trail.
If you enjoyed this preview of Ranger Knox, you may download the entire story HERE. Available with Kindle Unlimited.
Also Available From Meg Ripley
Ranger Trent
Shifter Nation: Werebears Of Acadia, Book 2
There were three brutal murders at Acadia, so as the Law Enforcement Ranger of the park, I should be on the case. Because a crazed bear shifter is at fault, the possible exposure of our clan—and shifters everywhere—is on the line if this news goes public, but thanks to government politics, the head of the park was forced to call in an FBI agent to investigate the deaths.
Bianca Gianni is her name, and this fiesty little thing is all business—more importantly, all human. If she could get off her high horse and stop barking orders for a moment, maybe I could grow to like her, even if she is stepping on my toes. Hell, with curves like hers, we could have a lot of fun.
Getting on her good side isn’t going to be easy, but that’s exactly what I need to do to make sure our kind isn’t thrown into the limelight.
Will I be able to keep her from the truth, or will this firecracker figure it out on her own, leaving on the next helicopter to expose us to the feds?
With a little luck, maybe I can have my cake and eat it, too.
***This is the second installment of the Shifter Nation: Werebears Of Acadia series. Each story is a standalone and may be read in any order. Also available:
Book 1: Ranger Knox
Book 2: Ranger Trent
Book 3: Coming Winter 2017
Book 4: Coming Winter 2017
Grab Your Copy HERE
Available With Kindle Unlimited
Dragons Of Sin City: The Complete Series Box Set
Amidst the dazzling lights and excitement of Las Vegas, three powerful dragons find their mates…
Meg Ripley’s spellbinding Dragons Of Sin City series is now available as a complete box set, brimming with fiery romance, intrigue and surprising twists.
This captivating trilogy includes:
Book 1 – Stryker’s Desire
Book 2 – Hunter’s Desire
Book 3 – Xavier’s Desire
Grab Your Copy HERE
Available With Kindle Unlimited
LOVE AUDIOBOOKS?
Click HERE to check out a sample and download the audiobook version of Meg’s Marked By Werewolves: Packs Of The Pacific Northwest Series for FREE when you sign up for a FREE 30-day trial on Audible.com!
Already an Audible member? Purchase your copy HERE
Stay In Touch!
Click HERE to follow Meg Ripley on Facebook
Click below to follow Red Lily Publishing on
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
About The Author
Meg Ripley is an author of erotic science fiction and paranormal romance stories. As a child, she had recurring dreams about being abducted by aliens and has been obsessed with extraterrestrial life ever since. A Seattle native, Meg can often be found curled up in a local coffee house with her laptop.
To keep up to date with her latest releases, you may sign up for her steamy paranormal romance newsletter by clicking HERE.
-ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share