The Ranger's Secret

by Rebecca Winters

  His dark hair and tanned complexion provided the perfect foil for his pewter eyes. Ten years ago she’d thought him incredibly handsome in the guise of archaeologist and, how, more recently as a park ranger. But tonight he gave off an air of urbane sophistication that did away with labels and distinguished him from the other men in the room.

  Though her parents had seen pictures, she could see in their eyes that they hadn’t been prepared for the attractive, compelling reality of him. Roberta gazed up at her daddy in hero worship. To Annie’s dismay she was caught staring, too.

  “Annie,” he said in a deep, husky voice before walking around the table to shake her parents’ hands.

  “Mom and dad? This is Chase Jarvis.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Bower? Meeting the two of you is a great honor and pleasure. Once upon a time I’d hoped to marry your daughter and become your son-in-law.”

  The use of the words I’d hoped put in the past tense caused Annie’s heart to fall into the pit of her stomach.

  “After the explosion, I never could have anticipated this moment. Though I’d go undercover again to protect her, my sorrow for all the pain I’ve caused will never leave me.”

  Despite her renewed pain, his soul-felt delivery shook her to her foundation. Judging by her parents’ silence, the words had made an indelible impression on them as well.

  Her father recovered first. “I’d say the smile you’ve put on our granddaughter’s face has gone a long way to dry up the tears. Tonight should be a celebration of life.”

  Annie’s misty-eyed mother nodded. “My husband just took the words out of my mouth. Please sit down. Roberta has been living for tonight.”

  “She’s not the only one.” The smile he flashed their daughter lightened Annie’s mood.

  “I can’t get over how much you two look alike,” her mother commented.

  Chase winked at Roberta. “I don’t know about you, but I’ll never complain.”

  Roberta’s gentle laugh coincided with the waiter’s arrival to take orders. From that point the dinner conversation centered on Roberta’s new world with her daddy. Aching with the pain of Chase’s first remarks to her parents, Annie mostly listened, only here and there offering a comment as they ate.

  While she battled with her emotions, she heard Chase’s cell phone go off. After he answered, lines darkened his face. Before he’d hung up, he’d already gotten to his feet.

  “What’s wrong, Daddy?”

  “I have to go, but I’ll tell you about it later, sweetheart. Sorry everyone. I hope to see all of you again soon.” His sober gaze met Annie’s for a brief moment before he strode swiftly from the room.

  “I wish he didn’t have to go.”

  Contrary to her daughter’s desire, Annie was relieved he’d been called away. To be all together at last like they were a real family hurt too much.

  Her mother patted Roberta’s hand. “It’s nice that you live here now and can see him whenever you want.”

  “No I can’t,” she corrected her grandmother.

  “What do you mean?”

  A tear trickled down her cheek. “We don’t live with Daddy. Can we go home now?”

  Annie’s parents didn’t try to respond to Roberta or ask her if she wanted dessert. “I’ll take care of the check,” her father murmured.

  “We’ll see you back at the house. Come on, Roberta.” Annie reached for her daughter’s hand and they hurried out of the lodge to the car. The old adage that hope sprang eternal was still alive in her broken heart.

  “Do you think Daddy’s going to be okay?”

  “Of course. He’s just doing the job he’s been doing for the last three years.”

  “I wish I knew where he went.”

  Roberta wasn’t the only one. Chase’s reaction revealed more concern than usual. It would take time for her and their daughter to acclimatize to his world of emergencies. A ranger never knew what situation he was going to face.

  Annie pulled into the garage and shut off the engine. “Have you forgotten your daddy was in the military?” She asked the question to reassure both of them. “He can take care of himself better than anyone.”

  “Except he couldn’t save my other grandma and grandpa.”

  “Honey—” Devastated by Roberta’s fears, she reached across the seat and pulled her against her chest. “I thought you weren’t worried about that anymore.” She pressed kisses on her head. “The rangers protect each other and everyone in the park, remember?”

  Roberta’s slight body trembled as she sobbed. Annie had no idea all this had been going on inside of her daughter. It was too late to wish they hadn’t moved here. Whatever they did now, they were caught in an emotional trap.

  Roberta eventually eased away from her. “Why can’t we live together? Daddy wants to.”

  “No he doesn’t.”

  “Yes he does!” she argued in a louder voice than Annie had ever heard before. “He told me today!”

  Her daughter was overwrought. How to get through to her? “Okay.” Annie wiped the moisture off Roberta’s cheeks. She didn’t want to get into a battle with her. “Tell me what he said. Take your time.”

  “After we came back from riding, Daddy and I were in the kitchen and I told him I wished we all lived together and he said ‘I do too.”

  A frustrated cry escaped Annie’s throat. “Don’t you think he was just saying that because he loves you?”

  “He loves you too, Mom!”

  How many more nightmares were in store before any normalcy dominated their lives? “Why do you think that?”

  “Because he called us his two beautiful women. He said he loved you before he loved me and he wants us to be a family.”

  Annie started to tremble. Did he really mean it? It was evident that Roberta believed he did. Before any more time passed Annie needed to have a private talk with him. Tonight, if it was possible.

  “Your grandparents have driven up. Will you let them in the house? We’ll talk about this later, all right?”

  Roberta’s glum expression was her only answer before she got out and hurried into the kitchen. Annie remained in the car and phoned Rachel. Please be home.

  After four rings the other woman picked up. “Hello, Annie?”

  “Hi. I’m so glad you’re there,” she said in a shaky voice.

  “You sound upset. What’s wrong?”

  “I—it’s a long story,” she stammered. “First I need to ask you if Vance is there.”

  “No. He’s on duty tonight.”

  “Could you do me a favor and find out what emergency caused Chase to leave dinner tonight? Roberta has some deep-seated fears and it upset her terribly. If he isn’t gone too long, I need to talk to him when she’s not around. Since my parents are staying overnight, this would be a good time to have a much needed conversation with him.”

  “I’ll call Vance right now and phone you back.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  She clicked off and waited, not wanting to go inside the house until she was armed with some information that would reassure Roberta. One minute passed, then two. She was about to get out of the car when Rachel rang her back.

  “Hi! Did you find out anything?”

  “Yes. Vance said there was a very small rockslide at Curry Village a little while ago. Nothing serious. No one hurt, but he wanted Chase with him while they took a look around and made recommendations. He said it wouldn’t take more than an hour or two at the most.”

  Annie let out a sigh. Under the circumstances she’d probably be able to talk to him before he went to bed. “I’m relieved everything’s all right.”

  “So am I. Vance said you should explain to Roberta that slides happen quite often because the granite walls are so sheer. In fact it’s amazing there aren’t a lot more of them.”

  “Thanks, Rachel. I’ll tell her. I’m indebted to both of you.”

  “Nonsense. Call me anytime.”

  “You know I will. The same goes for you. Good
night.”

  She rang off and hurried in the house. Though her parents liked to stay at a hotel, Roberta had talked them into sleeping at their house tonight. Annie had given up her bed for them and would sleep with Roberta.

  When she walked in the dining room, they were already seated around the table. Roberta had the Monopoly game set up ready to play. Annie took an empty chair next to her.

  “I just talked to Rachel. Everything’s fine with your dad. There was a small rock slide they needed to investigate.” After she told her what she knew, Roberta seemed to relax, but she still wouldn’t look at her. Annie exchanged silent glances with her parents, who were aware Roberta wasn’t acting like herself.

  The game took a long time. Annie’s mother turned out to be the winner. When her father declared he was ready for bed, Annie suggested Roberta get into her pajamas. “You’ve had a big day considering you started out with a long horseback ride.”

  That brought her head up. She stared at Annie. “Daddy says I’m a natural rider.”

  “I’m not surprised. He did a great deal of riding years ago and is an expert horseman himself. You’re a lot like him.”

  Her eyes filled. “I’m glad he didn’t die.” She put the top on the Monopoly box and hugged it to her chest. “Good night.”

  “Don’t I get a kiss?”

  She gave her a peck.

  “Good night, honey. Sweet dreams.”

  Annie’s father followed Roberta out of the room. That left her mother who gazed at her with troubled eyes. “What can I do to help?”

  “Keep being there for me.”

  “Always that.”

  “I know. I don’t deserve you.”

  “What in heaven’s name are you talking about?”

  A noise sounded in her throat. “I adore my daughter, but I made a serious mistake when I slept with Chase. You raised me differently than that. I was so in love that in my weakness, I let my emotions rule my good sense. Who would have thought that ten years later there’d be a price to pay…”

  “Because?” her mother prodded.

  “You already know the answer to that question.”

  “You mean that you’re still in love with him?”

  She smarted. “Is it that obvious?”

  “Yes, but that’s because I’m your mother. If it makes you feel any better, I almost had a heart attack myself when he walked into the dining room tonight. You wouldn’t have been human if you hadn’t been attracted to him. He’s everything you claimed him to be, and maybe more.”

  Annie sat up straighter. “More?”

  “He’s been through hell, darling. You can see it in his eyes. There’s a desperation in the way he clings to Roberta. When he looked at you before he left the table tonight, I saw a flash of fear.”

  She lowered her head because she’d seen it too, but she didn’t know what it meant. Was he afraid she would change her mind and leave the park, taking Roberta with her? She sensed he walked on eggshells around her. In that regard he was so unlike the decisive, take-charge male she’d once known and loved. That man laughed in the face of danger. His highly adventurous nature had drawn her to him.

  Maybe he was afraid that he really wouldn’t be able to protect Roberta if his cover at the park were ever compromised. What if he was living with a new nightmare that the unspeakable would happen and she’d disappear?

  Annie needed answers to so many questions she didn’t know where to start.

  “Mom? Roberta confided some things to me earlier. For her sake I’ve got to talk to him tonight if I can. Do you mind if I slip over to his house? It’s just around the corner. He may not be there, but if he is you’ll understand why I might not be back for a while.”

  “Go ahead. If Roberta asks where you are, I’ll tell her the truth. That will comfort her more than anything.” Annie’s mother understood a lot.

  After getting up to hug her, she went to the hall closet for her parka. The temperature outside had to be in the upper thirties and was still falling. She put one arm in the sleeve and pulled the other over her shoulder. Once she left the house, she jogged around the corner to Chase’s.

  When she reached it, there was no light on. Maybe he’d already come home and was in bed. After a slight hesitation she knocked on the door several times. No answer. She tried the bell. Nothing. Disappointment washed over her.

  She could wait on the porch, but the cold would get to her before long. On a whim she tried opening the front door. It was locked. Annie would give it ten minutes before she went back to her house.

  THE CLEANUP PHASE HAD STARTED. Vance walked over to Chase. “All things considered, what do you think?”

  “As long as even one tent cabin was damaged, I think we were wise to evacuate everyone in the perimeter. I say we keep these dozen or so cabins in the vicinity closed until next summer.”

  “Agreed.” Vance looked at the sky. “Our first snowfall in the valley is forecast for tomorrow night. From then on, the cliffs will be at their most vulnerable.”

  “Yup. If there’s going to be another slide, it’ll happen now that the weather’s starting to turn cold. It’s good the people in that cabin were out to dinner when it occurred.”

  “You can say that again. As it is, it’ll be all over the news. I’ll phone Bill Telford when I get home.”

  Chase nodded. Right now he wasn’t in the mood to talk to the superintendent. He didn’t want Bill anywhere near Annie and Vance knew it. “Are we all set for Halloween?”

  “I’ve arranged the watch in two shifts so the rangers with children can do the trick-or-treating with the kids. That means you and me.” Vance flashed him a grin. “Last year you and I volunteered to cover for everybody because we didn’t have any little Rossiter or Jarvis goblins of our own. Remember? My how things have changed.”

  “It’s so incredible I still don’t believe it,” Chase whispered.

  His friend studied his taut features. “How did it go with Annie’s parents?”

  “Now I know why she’s so remarkable. Unfortunately, the slide happened before I had much of a chance for an in-depth conversation.”

  “Sorry about that. Can’t run this place without you.”

  “That’s good to hear. I like my job.”

  “But—”

  He sucked in his breath. “But my life’s not going to turn out like yours. I feel it in my bones. Don’t get me wrong. Roberta’s the blessing I never expected. Annie…is a different matter. She’d just as soon I faded from existence.”

  Vance cocked his head. “If that’s true, then how come Rachel got a frantic call from her a few hours ago wanting to know where you went in such an all-fired hurry?”

  Chase blinked. “Say that again?”

  “You heard me.”

  He shook his head. “If she did that, it was because she was calling for Roberta’s sake.”

  “I don’t think so, otherwise Roberta would have called Nicky herself. As you well know, my wife’s pretty intuitive. She asked me not to tell you this, but I’m going to anyway. The other day she had a talk with Annie and got the impression you’re the one keeping a distance.”

  “That’s because I am! Hell, Vance. One misstep with her could spell disaster.”

  Those brilliant blue eyes stared him down. “Maybe in the beginning you had to be careful, but the shock has worn off. Rachel could be wrong of course, but I say it wouldn’t hurt to turn the tables on Annie and see what happens. It couldn’t be any worse than the way things are going now. In any case she’ll never take Roberta away from you. She needs to be reminded that once upon a time you two were lovers.”

  “That’s right, until I stayed away from her for ten years!”

  “And she knows why. Maybe you should show her some pictures of families of other CIA operatives who were butchered because they didn’t enter the witness protection program.”

  “I’ve thought about it,” Chase said.

  “Good. Now go on home and think about it some more.”
/>
  “I’m going.”

  Vance eyed him narrowly. “You’re brooding again. What else is bothering you? If you think Annie will be turned off by your scars, then she’s not the woman you thought she was.”

  Chase couldn’t hide much from his friend. “As the doctors told me, I’m not a pretty sight.”

  “Let her be the judge.”

  Terror filled him whenever he thought what her reaction would be.

  “See you tomorrow, Vance.” He wheeled around and headed for his truck. If there was any truth to what Rachel had told Vance—if Annie did worry about him a little—he needed to explore it. Having his darling daughter restored to him wasn’t enough. Not nearly. He wanted the woman who bore his child.

  Chase rounded the corner of the housing complex in time to see a feminine figure leaving his property. As he drew closer and noticed the cast, he slowed down and lowered the window.

  “Annie?” She looked up. “Turn around. I’ll meet you at the house.”

  “It’s late and you’re probably tired.”

  “I’ve never been more wide awake.” He drove past her and pulled in his driveway. Shutting off the motor, he jumped out of the cab. “Come on. I’ll let us in the front door.”

  She followed him inside. He turned on the light and shut the door. “Excuse me for a minute while I shower. If you’re hungry or thirsty, help yourself to anything in the fridge.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll hurry.”

  AFTER HE DISAPPEARED, Annie eased off her parka and put it over one of the leather chairs. She’d been wearing the same tan pleated pants and white cotton sweater since morning and could use a shower herself.

  Another time and she’d pore over the titles on his bookshelves, but tonight she was too restless to concentrate. Maybe she’d take him up on his offer and get herself a soda if he had one. Anything to keep busy while she waited.

  One lone can of cola among several root beers beckoned to her. She didn’t recall that he drank root beer. They had to be for Roberta. He wasn’t a big soda drinker. The only kind she liked was cola.