The Forest Ranger's Promise

by Bale, Leigh

  “But he hasn’t kept his promises to us, either.”

  “He’ll need more time for that, but he’s out working in our fields right now. He’s kept that promise.”

  Anne sat up. “We’ll see. The proof is in the pudding.”

  Now the girl was repeating what Melanie often said. Kids were so easily influenced by what they saw and heard from their parents.

  “That’s fair enough. We all prove ourselves by our words and deeds. But in the meantime, you need to be polite to Scott.”

  Anne huffed out a breath. “If you say so…but I don’t have to be his friend, do I?”

  “If he asks you a question, you should politely respond, but no, you don’t have to be friends. Okay?” That concession wouldn’t hurt after all.

  “Okay.”

  Melanie hugged her daughter tight, overwhelmed by love and gratitude. God had taken so much from them, but He had given them so much, too. “I love you, sweetheart. You’re my whole world.”

  “I love you, too, Mom, but you’re squashing my eye.”

  Melanie laughed and let her daughter go. “Why don’t you go out and say goodbye to Shelley. I think she and her dad should be about ready to leave and you don’t want her to think you don’t like her anymore.”

  “Is he gonna be here on Saturday?” Her voice sounded hopeful to see Shelley, yet guarded at the same time.

  “Yes, we need to make a camp run in the afternoon to take supplies to Alfonso up on the mountain. Scott has agreed to help us do that.”

  “He just wants to spy on us.” Anne’s forehead crinkled in a scowl.

  “No. He wants to see how he can help us. In return for me watching Shelley, he’ll work here at the ranch. Remember, we just talked about this?” To make her point, Melanie allowed a twinge of sternness to enter her voice. As a loving mother, it was her responsibility to cultivate good manners in her daughter.

  “Yeah, yeah. I got it.” Anne didn’t look convinced.

  Okay, baby steps here. It would take time to change Anne’s mind. Melanie hoped and prayed that Scott didn’t let them down. She didn’t dare admit that her daughter had voiced some of her own concerns. What if Scott didn’t keep his promises to them? What if he was all talk and no show like the last ranger? They were in a vulnerable position right now and Scott had the power to push them out of business. Opal Ranch had been in Melanie’s family for four generations. She didn’t know where they would go or what she would do if they lost their home.

  Doubt speared Melanie’s heart. If bad weather, coyotes, grizzlies and noxious plants killed many more sheep, they’d be in big trouble.

  Please, Lord. Please help Scott keep his promises. Please help us keep the ranch.

  The next Saturday morning, Scott and Shelley arrived at Opal Ranch at precisely eight o’clock. Insisting that they’d already eaten, Scott left Shelley in the house with Anne while he strode outside to work on the dilapidated toolshed.

  As she stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes, Melanie watched him go, hardly able to take her eyes off him. Scott looked so different without his green Forest Service uniform. Today he’d dressed in faded blue jeans that accentuated his long legs, a navy blue T-shirt that molded his muscular arms and chest, and scuffed cowboy boots. The ranchers had called the last ranger Overbellie because his gut hung over his belt buckle, but that was not a word Melanie would have used to describe Scott. He looked real good. Too good.

  Shaking her head, she focused on the sudsy water, wondering about the odd fluttering in her abdomen. She was a full-grown woman with a child of her own. She didn’t have time to daydream about the handsome new ranger; a man her daughter could barely stand. He was Shelley’s father and a work hand, nothing more.

  An hour later, Melanie drove into town to pick up supplies for her sheep herder. Because she didn’t want the girls upset by the sign on Donaldson’s store, she left them home with Scott. He’d agreed to keep an eye on them, knowing the kids would spend every spare minute feeding the dogie lambs.

  The truck bounced along the dirt road and it felt good to have a few minutes to herself. Even when Aaron had been alive, she’d rarely left Anne alone with him. He might start drinking and Melanie didn’t want her little girl exposed to any possible abuse.

  She rubbed her left arm almost subconsciously, remembering the night Aaron died as if it was yesterday. They’d had a horrible disagreement over him going out alone to move their sheep during the thunderstorm and he’d grabbed her, bruising her arm. No matter how much she had tried to quiet him, his yells had awakened Anne. The girl had screamed, asking her daddy not to leave. Begging him to take her with him. And later, when they found that he had died, Anne had blamed Melanie for not being able to keep him home.

  Shaking off the horrible memory, Melanie blinked her eyes, realizing that she was crying. Even now that he was gone, Aaron’s memory still haunted her. The rank stench of alcohol, the fights, the doubt and guilt. To lighten her spirit, she sang a hymn about counting blessings. God had been good to them and she mustn’t forget it.

  In town, Melanie pulled up in front of Donaldson’s store. Sure enough, the flash of pink caught her gaze. The ranger sign was still taped to the front window.

  She couldn’t explain the chilling anger that swept through her as she got out of the truck, slung her purse over her shoulder and walked into the store. Taking a deep, calming breath, Melanie pulled a shopping cart free and wheeled it toward the canned goods aisle.

  It took forty-five minutes to get the dry goods and fresh produce Alfonso liked. Along with the box of homemade chocolate chip cookies she’d made to satisfy his sweet tooth, he should be happy. As she approached the checkout line, she saw Nina Donaldson working the cash register. What was the woman doing here? Nina never worked the weekend, choosing instead to go out on cattle drives with her husband and sons.

  Two other customers stood ahead of Melanie and she took the time to breathe deeply and gain her composure. She would bite her tongue, pay for her groceries and leave.

  Fifteen minutes later, it was Melanie’s turn. Several people stood behind her as she began to unload her cart. “You don’t usually work on Saturdays, Nina.”

  Nina leaned her hip against the counter and rested one hand against her thick waist. “We’re shorthanded today. I heard you’ve been tending the forest ranger’s kid.”

  Caught off guard, Melanie stood there and blinked, holding a box of saltine crackers in one hand, a can of peaches in the other. “I, uh… Who told you that?”

  “Is it true?”

  Melanie’s stomach cramped. Dealing with Aaron’s rage had made her hate confrontations. She normally didn’t pick fights, but she’d become strong enough not to let people push her around, either. “Why does it matter, Nina? What business is it of yours?”

  “We don’t provide service to forest rangers.”

  Melanie set the crackers down, forcing herself to meet Nina’s eyes. “Do I look like a ranger?”

  Nina’s lips thinned, her nostrils flaring. Melanie almost laughed, thinking the woman looked like a snorting pig rooting for garbage.

  “If you’re feeding the ranger’s kid, it’s my business,” Nina said.

  “Really? And why is that?”

  Nina sneered at her. “Because you’re buying food from my store.”

  “This food is for Alfonso. You’ve met my herder. A nice man from Peru. You don’t have any prejudice against Peruvians, do you?” She sighed impatiently. “Can we please finish our business? I have a busy day.”

  “Not until I know if you’re tending the ranger’s brat.”

  This was getting annoying. And childish. “She’s not a brat. She’s a sweet little girl, Nina. What harm can she possibly do to you?”

  “She’s the ranger’s kid and we don’t give service to rangers. I can understand your wanting a man around. A pretty widow like you, all alone out at your ranch, but you can do better than the ranger, Melanie. Why don’t you accept Frank’s offer and sell
your land to us? Then you and Anne can move into town and you wouldn’t have to work so hard.”

  Something toxic boiled up inside Melanie, much like a nuclear explosion. “How dare you? Just who do you think you are? You have no right to plan my life for me. To tell me what to do with my ranch. I’ll never sell Opal Ranch to you. Never.”

  Melanie stepped back from the counter, gripping the strap of her purse as it dropped off her shoulder and sagged to her elbow. “I’ll tell you what, Nina. Since you have enough business already, you can do without mine. You don’t own me or anyone else in this town.”

  And with that, Melanie turned and stormed out of the store. Without looking back, she jerked open the door to her truck, climbed inside, slammed it hard and drove away. She’d made the last stop sign on Main Street and headed out of town before she realized that hot tears of anger ran down her cheeks.

  The nerve of that woman! Insinuating that she wanted Scott around her place for anything other than business reasons. Suggesting that she sell her home and the land she dearly loved simply because Frank Donaldson wanted it.

  And on top of everything else, Melanie now had no supplies for Alfonso.

  When she got home, she burst into the house, glad the girls weren’t there to witness her fury. She dug into her freezer and pulled out two loaves of home-baked bread, then started raiding her pantry.

  The creak of the back screen door made her turn around, expecting to see Anne.

  “Scott! You startled me.”

  He smiled at her. “Hi there. I didn’t expect you back so soon. How’d it go at the grocery store?”

  Her bottom lip quivered and she turned away as more tears spilled down her cheeks. Oh, how she hated for this man to see her cry.

  “Mel, are you okay?”

  She heard the concern in his voice and felt his warm hands on her shoulders, squeezing gently. She fought the urge to turn in his arms and ask him to hold her. She’d been strong for so long and she wished she could hand some of her burdens over to this kind man. To let him be strong for her.

  Then she remembered who he was. And who she was. No, no, no.

  She moved away, opening the refrigerator, knowing she was also getting low on provisions for herself and Anne. She needed to buy food. “Nina all but refused to sell me groceries because she found out I’m tending Shelley.”

  A long, disgruntled breath of air eased past his lips. “I’m sorry, Melanie. This is my fault.”

  She slammed the fridge door and faced him, rubbing at her damp eyes. “It’s not your fault, but it is a problem.”

  He took a step closer, his hand lifting to tuck a strand of hair back behind her ear. “What can I do to help?”

  She looked up into his eyes, so close she could feel the whisper of his breath against her cheek. She opened her mouth to respond, but didn’t get the chance. The girls came rushing in, the screen door clapping closed behind them. Scott stepped away.

  “Where are the cookies?” Anne’s eyes crinkled with disappointment. Her mom had promised to buy chocolate cookies with cream centers.

  Melanie bit her bottom lip. She wasn’t about to tell her daughter that they could no longer shop at Donaldson’s because Shelley was staying with them. No sense in whining about their predicament. Melanie had a job to do and she was determined to do it.

  “I didn’t get any but I will soon…I promise.” She brushed a hand across her face. “It looks like it’s gonna be a long day. Three hours to drive to and from Evanston, an hour or so to buy supplies, another three hours to drive up and down the mountain to Alfonso…anyone want to ride with me? We can make a day of it.” She turned to her daughter. “We can even buy you that new pair of shoes you want to play soccer.”

  “Yay!” Anne grinned.

  “Can we go, too, Dad?” Shelley asked.

  Scott folded his arms and leaned against the wall, looking skeptical. Even though he had chores to do here at the ranch, Melanie prayed he said yes. She wanted his companionship today. His presence made her feel better. Stronger. She felt incredibly vulnerable right now and didn’t want to be alone with Anne on this long errand.

  “I want Shelley to come with me,” Anne said.

  Melanie chuckled. “It’s okay by me.”

  Melanie felt Scott’s eyes resting on her like burning brands. When he spoke, his voice sounded deep and calm. “I owe you for child care this week. I’ve almost finished repairing the shed and I’d feel better if you let me drive and lift the heavy boxes for you.”

  What a relief. Melanie released her held breath. Somehow the work of the day didn’t seem so burdensome with Scott by her side.

  Anne frowned at this, but she didn’t object. No doubt her desire to have Shelley along warred with her desire for Scott to remain behind.

  “You sure you’re up for such a long day?” She bit her tongue, thinking she was stupid to try to talk him out of what she wanted him to do. And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to be completely selfish.

  He smiled gently, his blue eyes twinkling. “Yeah, and I’ll even buy everyone lunch.”

  Lunch! What a nice treat. It was rare that Melanie didn’t have to prepare a meal, and this day might just turn out to be fun.

  “Did you get the lambs fed?” Melanie asked.

  Anne grinned. “Sure. It goes fast now that Shelley knows what to do and helps me.”

  “Great. Let’s go.”

  The girls raced ahead with Scott and Melanie following behind. Melanie locked the front door of the house, then bit her tongue when Scott suggested they take his truck.

  “We can drive mine,” she said. When he threw a dubious glance at her rusty old truck, she hurried on. “It doesn’t look like much, but it’s got a good engine and it’s reliable.”

  “I just filled my tank with gas.” He headed for his truck, ending their discussion. Funny how he seemed to get his way so easily just by calmly doing things. Aaron would have been screaming profanities at her by this point, making the issue into a big fight that usually ended with her in tears.

  As they piled into Scott’s truck, Melanie realized that letting him drive was a smarter option. He had a backseat for the girls and Melanie found the truck cab comfortable and roomy.

  Anne sat directly behind Melanie with Shelley sitting behind Scott. As they pulled onto the main road, Scott pointed at the corral and yelled, “Beaver.”

  Melanie and Anne stared at him like he’d gone daft.

  He chuckled. “What? You’ve never played Beaver before?”

  They shook their heads.

  He looked in the rearview mirror at his daughter. “Shelley, do you want to explain the rules of the game to them?”

  “Sure! If you see a colored horse, you call out ‘beaver.’ That’s worth one point. But if you see a white horse, that’s worth ten points and you call out ‘white horse.’ We keep score as we drive along and when we get to our destination, the one with the most points wins.”

  A laugh burst from Melanie’s throat. “The things people come up with to fight off travel boredom.”

  Scott glanced at her, his handsome mouth curved into a lopsided grin. “So are you in? Or are you afraid I might beat your socks off?”

  In response, she pointed at the pristine fields lined by tall, freshly painted white railings surrounding the Donaldsons’ ranch. “Beaver, beaver, beaver. That’s three points. I’m ahead.”

  She swiveled in her seat to look back at the girls, whose eyes gleamed with determination. They all stared out the windows, trying to spy a horse as they played the game.

  By the time they arrived in Evanston, they were all laughing and calling out the horses they saw before someone else could beat them to it. At the last minute, Anne lucked out with three white horses standing together under a lean-to, which pulled her ahead in points.

  “I win!” Anne crowed with delight.

  “Ah! No fair,” Shelley sulked.

  “Yes, my dear, it is fair,” Scott said. “You won, Anne. That means you
get to decide where we’re going to eat lunch today.”

  Anne looked at Scott and Melanie held her breath. Then the girl gave a half smile and Melanie realized they’d just garnered a very small victory. Anne hadn’t argued with him. In fact, the girl was enjoying herself. In spite of Scott being a ranger.

  “I’d like to eat at the Burrito Shack, please.” She pointed as they approached the restaurant ahead.

  And so polite! Maybe having to drive into Evanston was turning out to be worth the effort after all. It had been a long, long time since she and Anne had enjoyed a family outing that didn’t entail work.

  “Sounds good. I’m starved.” Scott pulled into the parking lot.

  They ate their lunch, their conversation animated and happy as they discussed how they could change the rules of the Beaver game for their return trip. The day passed most pleasurably as they bought their supplies and headed back to Snyderville.

  They stopped by Opal Ranch long enough to put away the perishable groceries and feed the baby lambs again. It was late afternoon by the time they headed up on the mountain.

  “Alfonso will be wondering where I am. He expected me by noon,” Melanie said.

  “He’ll understand after we arrive and explain it to him.” As they passed Gaylin Canyon, Scott quickly pulled the truck over and shut off the engine without explanation.

  “What’s the matter?” Melanie asked.

  He frowned and seemed distracted as he glanced at the backseat. “You girls can get out of the truck and watch from a distance if you promise to stay with Melanie at all times. Agreed?”

  Both girls nodded, not fully understanding what they were agreeing to, but not wanting to be excluded.

  Scott got out and they followed, standing beside the truck as he climbed up into the toolbox in the back and retrieved a pair of leather gloves and wire cutters.

  “Stay right here. I’ll be back.”

  He sauntered off the road into the sagebrush toward the barbed-wire fence that flowed over the low hills and disappeared into a stand of scrubby juniper. A movement caught Melanie’s eye and she couldn’t believe what she saw. A deer stood before the fence, its head slung low with its antlers tangled in the barbed wire. She pointed so the girls could see, then lifted them into the back of the truck so they had a better view. True to their promise, they stood beside Melanie, holding her hands.