The Ranger's Secret

by Rebecca Winters

  “Roberta? Time to get up.”

  “I don’t want to,” came the smothered response.

  Annie moved over to her and sank down on the bed. With her free hand she pulled the covers back so she could see her. “Do you know last night was the first time we ever went to bed without kissing each other good night?”

  When she encountered only silence, Annie leaned over and kissed her brow. “In a little while your grandparents will be coming to take us to Yosemite for the day. We both need to get up and eat breakfast so we’ll be ready.”

  Movement at last. Roberta shot up in the bed, her eyes shining from a puffy face. “Does Daddy know?”

  “Not yet. I have no idea if he’s on duty or not. We’ll call him after we get there. If I’m going to take the job, I thought we’d better look at the house we’d be living in.”

  Roberta threw herself into Annie’s arms. Tears of joy spilled everywhere, wetting them both.

  Courage, Annie. You’re about to go onstage in a new role. It will have to be so convincing, even you will be blessed in time with the gift of forgetfulness.

  BETH SLIPPED inside Mark’s office. She put coffee and a paper plate filled with breakfast fare on the desk for Chase. He’d just answered the phone and mouthed her a thank-you before she left.

  “What were you saying about the abandoned car?”

  “A tourist ran out of gas and hitched a ride back to Wawona. Problem solved.”

  “Good. How’s the smog from the burn in that section?”

  “Average.”

  “We can be thankful for light wind today. Keep in touch.”

  Chase clicked off and reached for a slice of toast. His gaze flicked to the clock. Ten to ten. Four more hours before he went off duty. After working all night he ought to be exhausted, but his inner turmoil over Annie had sent out hot, wirelike tentacles to every atom of his body, preventing him from relaxing.

  A call from the hospital indicated no more new patients had been admitted because of the virus outbreak in the park. Chase sent a fax to the superintendent with the latest update, then settled down to eat his breakfast.

  While he was swallowing the last of it, Jeff Thompson phoned in. Curious to know what was up when he’d just talked to him a half hour ago, he clicked on.

  “Ranger Jarvis here.”

  “I thought you should know the park’s most famous female just passed through the entrance.”

  He frowned. “Whom are you talking about?”

  “Margaret Bower.”

  The disposable cup slipped from Chase’s fingers. Fortunately he’d drunk the contents.

  “Her daughter and parents were with her. Because of her cast, her father’s driving. She said they were visiting for the day. For somebody who was in a crash just a week ago she looks fantastic, you know what I mean?”

  Chase shot the cup in the direction of the wastebasket and missed. He couldn’t answer. Too many emotions had seized him at once.

  “Thought you should be informed in case they show up at the Visitor’s Center. The Chief will want to meet her.”

  “He’s off today. Got another call coming in,” he lied, and ended the conversation before he had to listen to anything more that idiot had to say about Annie.

  Last night Chase had been so negatively charged, he’d told Mark not to report for duty until two today. He groaned to realize Annie and Roberta would in all probability be arriving shortly and he couldn’t leave his post.

  He didn’t know what was behind Annie’s agenda. Chase would be a fool to assume she’d done a 360-degree turnaround. In all likelihood she wanted Roberta to get a feel for the park before she allowed visitation. To ask for more than that would only result in dashing his dreams. For the moment he had to squelch the desire to phone her. Until she made contact with him, he had no choice but to wait.

  Everything seemed to be working against him. For once things were slow around the office despite the fact that this was one of the biggest traffic weekends for the park would have until spring.

  At eleven-thirty he sent out the latest weather report to each ranger station. In the process, Cindy rang him from the information desk in the visitor’s center.

  “What’s happening, Cindy?”

  “There’s a cute young lady out here named Roberta Bower who’s asking for Ranger Jarvis.” Elation brought him to his feet. “She says you’re one of the rangers who helped rescue her mom from the helicopter crash and she wants to thank you.” Clever girl. “What should I tell her?”

  “Bring her back to Mark’s office.”

  “Will do.”

  He walked around the counter to the door and opened it. A few seconds later he saw them coming down the hall. His first reaction was to run out and sweep her into his arms, but he restrained himself.

  Cindy smiled at Chase. “Ranger Jarvis? Meet Roberta Bower.”

  He tried to dislodge the lump in his throat, but it was no use. “We met once before didn’t we, Roberta.”

  “Yes.”

  They were both playing a game in front of Cindy. Behind Roberta’s reserve, her blue eyes glowed like hot stars. As she surveyed him in his ranger outfit, he saw her heels go up and down, as if she were barely holding on to her excitement. Join the club.

  “Where’s your mother?”

  “Outside in the car with my grandparents. She said I could visit you for a minute if you were free.”

  “You picked the perfect time. Come in.” He flicked his gaze to Cindy. “Thanks for bringing her back.”

  “You bet. See you later, Roberta.”

  “Thank you for helping me.”

  His daughter’s excellent manners delighted him all over again. He shut the door so they could be alone. Smiling down at her, he said, “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes!”

  She looked so cute in her long-sleeved pullover and jeans, he couldn’t resist picking her up to hug her. Roberta was right there hugging him back with all her might. She smelled fragrant, just the way her mother always did.

  Naturally the phone rang while they clung to each other. “I’ve got to answer it.” He carried her around the counter with him and set her on one of the stools before he picked up. “Ranger Jarvis here.”

  “It’s Ranger Hawkins reporting from Tamarack Flat. I found five dead skunks in the latrines. This is a new one on me.”

  It surprised Chase, too. The park’s chief biologist would need to investigate. “I’ll get right on it. In the meantime, seal them off to the public.”

  He hung up, then called Paul Thomas’s office and explained the situation. “Give me your best theory after you’ve investigated. Mark will need to know if they wound up in there because of a malicious prank.”

  “That was my first thought. I’m leaving now.”

  “Thanks, Paul.”

  Finally he could give Roberta his attention. “Is your mom still out in front?” She nodded. “Maybe I’d better talk to her.”

  “She wants to know if you have to work all day.”

  “I’ll be off at two, then I’ll show you where I live.”

  Roberta slid off the stool. “I’ll run out and tell her, then I’ll come right back.’

  “Okay.”

  She darted around the counter and out the door. A couple of staff came and went from the room. He answered another call. The next time the door opened he thought it would be Roberta. Instead, Nicky popped in carrying a long, thin, gift-wrapped package.

  “Hi, Uncle Chase!”

  “Hi, yourself! Did you come over with your dad?”

  “Nope. He’s home with Mom. We wanted you to come for dinner so I could give you my present, but Daddy found out you had to work. He said I could come over and give it to you, but first I have to call him and tell him I’m here.”

  Chase handed him his cell phone. “Press two.”

  While Nicky was making the call, Roberta came running inside. She swept right past their visitor and hurried around the counter. “Grandma and Grandpa have to ge
t back to San Francisco so Mom says we have to leave the park by three.”

  Stifling his disappointment, he said, “Then we’ll have an hour to talk. What does she plan to do in the meantime?”

  “We’re going to look at the falls and walk around, but I’d rather stay here with you.”

  “Then run back out and tell her I’ll keep you with me.”

  “Can I?” she cried with excitement.

  “I want you to. At three we’ll meet in my office with your mom and talk.”

  By now Nicky was off the phone. He stared from her to Chase. “Who’s that?”

  This was going to be fun. “Nicky Rossiter? I want you to meet my daughter, Roberta Bower. Roberta? Nicky’s father is Vance Rossiter, the chief ranger and my best friend.”

  Nicky giggled. “You don’t have a daughter, Uncle Chase.”

  Chase put an arm around her shoulders. “Are you sure? Take a close look.” He lowered his face next to hers. “What do you think?”

  At least a half minute passed while Nicky scrutinized them. “You kind of look like each other. Is he really your daddy?”

  Roberta nodded. “He had amnesia for ten years and didn’t know I was born until a few days ago.”

  “What’s amnesia?”

  Chase straightened. “Tell you what, Nicky—I’ll explain all about it in a minute. First though, why don’t you go with Roberta while she runs outside to talk to her mother. On your way back, show her where my office is and then stop in at your dad’s office and get both of you a soda from his mini fridge.”

  “Okay.” Nicky put the unopened present on the counter. “What kind of soda do you like?” he asked as they started to leave the office together.

  “Root beer.”

  “So do I! It’s my favorite! Have you ever been to the park?”

  “No.”

  “What grade are you in?”

  “Fourth.”

  “You’re old. I’m only in first. Are you scared of bears?”

  “I’m scared of grizzlies.”

  “Don’t worry. We only have black bears. Yosemite doesn’t have any wolves.”

  As their voices faded, Chase broke into a broad grin because Nicky would be pure entertainment for his daughter from now on. That is, if Annie allowed him liberal visitation rights.

  His hands tightened into fists. To think she was right outside the building behaving as if they’d never known each other. How ironic when in reality their precious go-between was no one less than the child they’d created together.

  Annie couldn’t have forgotten those early mornings of passion years ago before they left for work. They took turns fixing each other breakfast, then went back to bed, unable to leave each other’s arms. Once at the site they had to be careful not to give in to their desires around the others. Knowing this, they made the most of every moment alone.

  Annie’s open, loving nature had been a revelation to him on a spiritual as well as a physical level. No woman since had the depth of character to tug so powerfully at his emotions. Having seen her again, her magic was stronger than ever. She’d given birth to their beautiful daughter. This new dimension of motherhood left him in awe that she’d had sole responsibility of their daughter from the moment she’d conceived.

  Chase knew it was late in the day, but everything in him yearned to be a part of their lives. He ached for what he’d been missing. No matter how hard Annie fought him, he intended to live the life with them that had been denied him.

  As he was making that vow to himself, the young lady who was going to help him achieve that joy came into the office with Nicky, both of them drinking root beer. From the way he was still chattering, it sounded like he’d been giving Roberta the guided tour.

  “Hi, sweetheart. Did your mom say it was all right to stay with me?”

  Roberta darted him a glance. “Yes. She says she’ll be in your office at two.”

  Good. He wondered if her parents would come in with her. It was long past time they all met.

  “Here.” Nicky picked up the present. “This is for you. I hope you like it.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Chase removed the wrapping paper and opened the long box. Inside the lining lay a silver, batonlike object, smooth and slim. “What is it?”

  “It’s your wizard wand. The man put your name on the handle. See?”

  Chase lifted it from the box and examined it. Sure enough the words Uncle Chase had been engraved. “I love it! How did you know this is exactly what I wanted?”

  Roberta looked fascinated. “Where did you get it?”

  “In London at the Harry Potter shop. We all bought one.”

  “You went to England?”

  Nicky nodded.

  Pretending he was a wizard, Chase wove it around in the air. Making his voice scary he said, “Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble—cool it with a baboon’s blood, then the charm is firm and good.”

  While the children laughed, someone started clapping. Chase looked up to see Vance in the doorway. “Well, well, well. Shakespeare at Hogwarts. I believe you’ve missed your calling.”

  Chase chuckled. “Something my English tutor in Pakistan had me memorize, but I only remember the last four lines.” He rubbed the top of Nicky’s head. “Thank you for the terrific gift. I’m going to keep it on the desk in my office. When the rangers get out of line, I’ll put a spell on them.”

  “You can’t really do that.” But he looked at Vance before he said, “Can he, Daddy?”

  “I guess we’ll have to wait and see,” he teased. His gaze fell on Roberta. He studied her before sending Chase his nod of approval. “I’m already crazy about your little acorn,” he murmured quietly. Then he turned to Nicky. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friend?”

  He took another sip of his soda. “This is Roberta. Uncle Chase is her daddy.”

  Vance hunkered down in front of her. “I can see the resemblance, but you’re the pretty one.” Roberta blushed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Thanks. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  “You’ve made your dad very happy by coming to visit him.”

  Nicky put his arm across Vance’s shoulder. “Daddy? What does amnesia mean?”

  The two men exchanged meaningful glances. “In Uncle Chase’s case it means he had an accident ten years ago and it took away his memory. When he woke up in a hospital, he didn’t know where he was or who he was.”

  By now Nicky was mesmerized. He eyed Chase with a worried glance. “Were you scared?”

  “Very.” In fact you’ll never know, Nicky. For years I had petrifying dreams that Annie had been found and tortured. “Roberta’s mother thought he died and she moved back to California,” Vance continued. “Then just the other day she was in that helicopter crash and Uncle Chase found her. Suddenly he remembered who he was, and to his joy he found out Roberta was his daughter.”

  After the explanation sank in, Nicky stared at Roberta. “Are you glad your daddy found you?”

  She nodded.

  “Next to Daddy and my grandparents, I love Uncle Chase best.”

  Chase’s eyes smarted. “Ditto, sport.” Just then Roberta slid her hand into Chase’s.

  She looked up at him. “I love you, too.”

  He squeezed her fingers. Those words had just melted his heart.

  “Are you going to live with him?” Nicky asked.

  Vance got to his feet. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen yet. That’s why Roberta’s mother has come to the park today.” He picked him up. “Now that you’ve delivered your present, we’re going back to your mom and let Roberta and her father spend some time together alone.”

  “Okay. See ya, Roberta.”

  “See ya.”

  When the door closed Chase looked down at his daughter, who was drinking the rest of her root beer. “Now where were we?”

  Chapter Six

  “Hi. My name’s Cindy. What can I do for you?” The cute, blond f
emale ranger taking in the sling holding Annie’s broken arm, had a charming Southern accent.

  “I have an appointment with Ranger Jarvis at two.”

  “You have to be Roberta’s mother. She’s a darling girl.”

  Annie warmed to her. Anyone who liked Roberta was an automatic friend. “Thank you. I think she is, too.”

  “We’re all so sorry you had to be in that crash. I’m sure it was horrible for you, but everyone’s thankful you survived. I must say you look wonderful.”

  “Thank you, but the credit goes to the pilot. He told me what to do and it saved both of us.”

  “Tom was a crack naval pilot.”

  “So I’ve heard. I’m just glad he was at the controls.”

  “You were doubly lucky that day. Ranger Jarvis is a natural-born hunter. He’s the one everyone wants on a rescue like yours. Chief Rossiter says he has superhuman instincts. Coming from the Chief, that’s real praise.”

  A shiver ran down Annie’s spine. Now that she knew Robert had trained with the Special Forces in Afghanistan, nothing surprised her. The look in the female ranger’s eyes as she spoke about Robert told Annie a lot. So did the fact that there was no engagement ring or wedding band on her finger.

  Annie probably had that same look in her eyes when she’d first met him. It seemed a century ago. “I realize I was very lucky. Do you think he’s free now?”

  The other woman checked her watch. “He’s just going off duty. Why don’t you walk back to his office? Go down that hall on your left and you’ll come to another hall. His is two doors down on your right.”

  “Thank you. I’ll find it.”

  She looked around the visitor’s center filled with tourists checking out the exhibits and getting information. Slowly she threaded her way through the crowd to the hallway in question. It was almost impossible to believe this had been Robert’s world for the past three years. His life here was far removed from the work he’d done as the brilliant archaeologist with whom she’d fallen in love.

  Only now was she starting to recognize the sacrifices he’d made to prevent disaster from striking again. For him to live and work in this environment when it was so foreign to him helped her to see what she couldn’t see or accept before now.