A Ranger for the Twins

by Tanya Agler

  “I don’t think I’m the most qualified person to talk about trust.”

  Mitzi nudged Lucie’s ribs and sent her a glaring look.

  Lucie shrugged. “Except I can truthfully say Mitzi knows what she’s doing. She has great instincts.”

  “Honey, you do, too.” Mitzi palmed the ends of Georgie’s hair and rubbed several strands together. “That spa idea of yours for the center is right on the money. I’m yours two afternoons a week, and my niece will work for you the other three days a week. We’re going to exfoliate the dead skin off your clients and leave them refreshed. You’ll pay my investment back in no time.”

  At that moment, the blow dryer at the other station ceased and everyone else in the salon turned to Lucie.

  A weak smile and wave were all she could muster. “It’s never been a secret Mitzi is one of my partners. We have a contract and everything. I’m not taking advantage of her.”

  When Lucie had approached Mitzi with the idea for the wellness center, Lucie insisted everything be signed and notarized. Aunt Rosemary, her other partner, who lived in California, had paid for the attorney who’d formed the limited liability corporation and kept the deeds to the lodge and cabin as collateral.

  “And anyone who says different will have no choice but to visit Chantal’s Hair Emporium. Do I make myself clear?” Mitzi picked up a black comb and her thinning shears and waved them around.

  The other stylist and her customer nodded. It was no idle threat to send someone over to Chantal’s given how everyone, from toddlers to senior citizens, left Chantal’s with the same mullet hairstyle.

  Mitzi shrugged, her gray bob not moving an inch, while she combed out Georgie’s wet hair. “Georgie, you’re more tense than my ex-husband. Trust me.” Mitzi started clipping Georgie’s hair into sections. “Lucie, sweetie, you’ll pay me back. I have confidence in you.”

  Natalie glanced at her watch and gasped. “It’s nine already? I didn’t realize it was so late. My first personal day away from my kindergarten class since I’ve been back in Hollydale, and here I am gabbing the day away.” She closed the gap between her and Lucie. “You look like you’ve lost your best friend. Would a granola bar help?”

  Natalie rummaged through her purse, and Lucie held up her hand. Natalie’s purse was legendary in these parts as a bottomless receptacle.

  “I ate breakfast. I’m good.”

  “In case you’re hungry later, I have a surprise for you.” Natalie picked up a pink box with Night Owl Bakery in italicized script on the side. “My college roommate, Shelby, is moving next door to me today—you’re going to love her and her little boy, Danny. Anyway, I ran to the bakery when it opened for a Welcome to Hollydale present. I picked up a box of red velvet cupcakes for Georgie. Yes, you must share with Mike and Rachel. After all, he’s my brother, and she’s my adorable niece. I also grabbed a box of oatmeal cherry chocolate-chip cookies...”

  Her favorite. “For me?”

  “Well, they’re not for Fred and Ethel. By the way, what were you thinking when you accepted responsibility for those miniature pigs? You have enough going on in your life.” Natalie waved her hand while tucking the other box under her arm. “Don’t have time to stay and chat. Fingers and toes crossed, Georgie’s hair will look as marvelous as I believe it will. ’Bye!”

  Natalie was already halfway out the door when Mitzi turned toward Lucie. “You know I love your visits, but is there something you need?”

  “I dropped by to deliver these financial spreadsheets and to see if you have any questions.”

  “That’s my sweet Lucie, always one step ahead of me. My faith in you is as big as my hips, and that’s saying something.” Mitzi wiggled said hips, and some of Lucie’s ache eased. “Is this a good weekend for those inventory lists?”

  “Already done. I paid the bills and updated those lists yesterday.” The only good thing about last night was that she’d turned her dismay over Caleb’s accusation into several hours of productive paperwork, knocking out much of her to-do list in the wee hours of the morning.

  “Is that what’s causing those dark circles, sweetie? A new cucumber facial came in. Why don’t you take a load off, plant yourself in a chair and let me wait on you for a few minutes before you head over to the wellness center?” Mitzi snapped on her latex gloves and tapped Georgie’s shoulder. “Do you want me to perform a strand test to see if you like the color enough for me to continue?”

  Georgie glanced over her shoulder and sighed. “Never mind. Just do it all at once. Rachel will love that I did something new, and Max said to take my time this morning. We’re booked all afternoon.” She met Lucie’s gaze and reached out and touched her hand. “Mitzi’s right, Lucie. You look like a Mack truck ran you over. Everything okay with the twins?”

  “They’re fine. Ethan was disappointed our guest didn’t stay for dinner last night, though.”

  Ethan’s pouty lip had been on display throughout the meal and lingered until bedtime, while Mattie had forgotten Caleb’s visit within minutes of his leaving.

  Was she rubbing off the wrong way on her daughter? Her trying to put aside people who thought badly of her was one thing, but for her young daughter to mimic her behavior didn’t seem right. Lucie stifled her shiver.

  “Guest? What guest?” Mitzi halted her nimble fingers before she finished wrapping the last section of Georgie’s hair. “Someone who’ll appreciate you for you, I hope?”

  Georgie echoed the sentiment, and Lucie lost her chance to escape while the getting was good.

  Lucie grabbed one of the clips and snapped it. “Caleb Spindler is back in town.”

  “Caleb? The Hero of Hollydale?” Mitzi started applying the cream mixture to Georgie’s hair. “We should approach him about endorsing the center while the curling iron is still hot.”

  Mitzi laughed at her own joke while Lucie cracked a smile.

  “That might be difficult considering I kicked him out of my house last night.”

  “Oh, sweetie. I’m sure you had a good reason.” Sympathy laced Mitzi’s voice while she dabbed on more of the cream mixture without even pausing at the mention of Lucie’s guest. “We’ll get someone else. The endorsements will come through once we open and you and your staff build bridges. We’ll do fine without him.”

  Come to think of it, though, he was moving back to town, so she’d soon be running into him at the grocery store, the gas station and everywhere else. Maybe she’d better get past her defensiveness and tell him the whole story so she could hold her head high around him.

  For some reason, she’d unloaded on Caleb last night. It wasn’t his fault many Hollydale residents had accused her of biding her time and then usurping the money for herself. What was it about this new version of Caleb that made her react so strongly?

  “I’ll call you tonight and we can go over everything.” Lucie grabbed her laptop along with the cookies. “Wish me luck. I’m going to get the app for the wellness center up and running this morning. See you both later.”

  For now, though, she’d enjoy the treat of a box of her favorite cookies. Sometimes good surprises did turn up out of the blue.

  * * *

  CALEB HADN’T TAKEN three days off in a row since college. Keeping busy was the best antidote to the fear he’d experienced in his hospital bed. At Yellowstone, Caleb had always donated his vacation time to a fellow employee dealing with a difficult personal or family situation. Other rangers might have grumbled about it, but Caleb gave without regret. Vacations weren’t his cup of espresso. Steady work drove out the memory of his hospital stay and kept him strong.

  While his back held out, he intended to thrive on fresh air and mountain hikes. Every time he donned his ranger uniform, he did his best to make sure Jonathan’s daughters, Izzy and Vanessa, could appreciate the same beautiful world, now and in the future.

  When Owen Thompson, the new dep
uty director for the park, had called and asked him to report late this afternoon instead of this morning, Caleb had agreed. It gave him time to either head north ten miles to hike near Lake Pine Falls, the one with the aptly-named waterfall at the end of the trail, or to check out the improvements to downtown Hollydale that he’d glimpsed last night.

  In the end, getting familiar with his hometown again won out. Sitting outside Sal’s Pizzeria with a meat lover’s slice in hand, he breathed in the mountain air and knew he’d made the right choice. From here, the storefronts gleamed in the sunlight, the renovations and updates fresher and cleaner than he’d remembered.

  Everywhere he turned, change greeted him. Now he counted a whopping four traffic lights instead of a mere three.

  His waitress checked on him as he popped the last bite into his mouth. Laughing at the timing, he shook his head and asked for the bill.

  It was her turn to laugh. “Already paid. You missed the fight between two of our regulars about who’d get to treat you to lunch.”

  He’d only been doing his job. When would the attentiveness fade? Probably when another story caught everyone’s attention. He hoped that came soon. He offered his thanks anyway and finished his sweet tea. When she left, he tucked a ten under his plate and started walking.

  Since he’d been gone, Hollydale had boosted its efforts to become a tourist destination. Even on a Wednesday afternoon, he saw the fruits of those labors, more foot traffic than he’d expected, not that he could blame anyone who had the time to enjoy this balmy afternoon.

  With a little over an hour until his interview with a real-estate agent, since Owen had made it clear the station couldn’t offer him housing, he stopped at a new marker in front of the old courthouse. The structure had been built when Hollydale incorporated in the early twentieth century. He’d always assumed the town was named for a woman. Instead, it had been the abundance of hollyhocks in the area that had inspired the name.

  If he remembered correctly, there was a bookstore nearby. He might as well pick up some local history books and prepare himself more for the bevy of visitors’ questions he’d encounter on the job.

  After a trip inside The Book Nook—where Connie Witherspoon threw in one of the local history books on the discount table for free, while he paid for three others—he still had a good half hour before he was due at Cobb Realty.

  His wallet lightened a little more after a quick stop at the Corner Grocery where the new owners, Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen, introduced themselves when he purchased a box of Moon Pies to share with Izzy and Vanessa later.

  A flyer in the front window of Timber River Outfitters, next door to Cobb Realty, caught Caleb’s eye. He stopped and read the details of the second annual Timber River Sunset Soiree. Recognizing the name of the keynote speaker, the noted environmentalist Howard Otto, he nodded his appreciation for a small town snagging such a prestigious name. A little over a week away, the community function, with dinner, a silent auction and dancing, sounded right up Caleb’s alley. Once he learned his schedule from Owen, Caleb intended to track down a ticket.

  Would Lucie be attending on behalf of the new wellness center? Even though last night had been a disaster of the first magnitude, he’d like a chance to remedy the situation. During yesterday’s tour of the center, she’d been articulate, her face glowing as she’d pointed out different features. He wouldn’t mind seeing that side of her again.

  And not only to find out enough information so his father would know whether to hire an attorney. Lucie’s intelligence sparked something inside Caleb, something he would have loved to investigate if it weren’t for his parents.

  Shaking off his reverie, the window display of the outfitters made him eager to make his wallet even lighter. While he would have loved nothing more than to go inside and peruse the latest offerings, he’d best not take the chance he’d lose track of time and miss his appointment with the Realtor.

  Taking a step toward the Cobb Realty office, Caleb winced at the twinge in his lower spine. He went in and, while they couldn’t see him until his appointment time, he could leave his packages there. Waving, he returned outside. One time around the block ought to work out the remaining kinks from the drive, not to mention sleeping on the fifth different mattress in as many nights.

  The discomfort was worth it, though, since he’d had a chance to connect with Vanessa over breakfast. He’d cherish every moment with Jonathan’s family until he unpacked a new bed and mattress in his own place after the storage container company delivered his belongings. Once he moved, he’d invite them over often.

  Living in faraway Montana had made family bonds all the more precious. While the green mountains of the Smokies had called out for his return, being this close to Jonathan and his daughters ran a close second. The jury was still out on Lucie.

  The famous Hollydale gazebo came into sight, and he heard a muffled bark. Before he could head back to the Realtor’s office, Lucie came into view with Ladybug waddling toward him, Mattie on one side of Lucie with a dandelion in her hand, and Ethan on the other.

  Ethan’s pout turned into a full-fledged smile, and he ran forward. Caleb looked around, trying to find out who’d caused such a reaction, but no one else was there.

  “Mr. Caleb! Do you remember me? I’m Ethan.” The boy skidded and stopped short of colliding with Caleb by about two inches. “My mom still has a lot of macaroni and cheese left over from last night. She made extra on account of you, but you left in such a hurry. I know hers isn’t as good as the type you get in the box, the kind with the bright orange powder that tastes great when you lick it off your fingers, but it’s pretty good if you give it a chance.”

  “Ethan!” Lucie caught up, two bright pink circles blossoming on her cheeks. “I’m sure Mr. Spindler has better things to do with his time.”

  This interchange was the most fun he’d had in a long time. When you made national news for something positive, people treated you differently. All Caleb wanted was to retreat into the shadows and get back to doing his job. “Not for fifteen minutes.”

  “Since you couldn’t have dinner with us, why don’t you share our cookies? Ladybug can only walk for ten minutes at a time on account of she’s a bulldog, and she needs a break now, so Mommy made it a cookie break.” Ethan kept talking as he led Caleb over to the gazebo, making sure Caleb sat next to him.

  Caleb looked to Lucie for confirmation this was acceptable to her. She gripped Ladybug’s leash so firmly her knuckles turned white. Mattie stayed close to her side, almost as though she were protecting her mom instead of the other way around.

  Then Lucie sighed and lowered herself onto the opposite bench, Mattie clambering next to her. “The Night Owl Bakery opened after you moved away, and Paige, the owner, bakes a delicious cookie. I’d be a bad role model for my children if I didn’t share.”

  Her underlying meaning was clear. Lucie wasn’t welcoming him back into her fold. She was only being polite on account of Mattie and Ethan, her family. This might be his only chance to earn redemption in her eyes, so he’d best make the most of his opportunity.

  He shrugged. “And I’d be a worse friend if I didn’t make amends for last night.”

  Lucie reached into her tote bag and pulled out a portable dog water bottle with an attached bowl. With a flick of her wrist, she filled the bowl and held it down to Ladybug’s level. The bulldog slobbered at the water, her appreciative grunts breaking the silence. The sound had Caleb recalling last night. He was caught between guilt over Lucie and a sense of disloyalty to his parents, and he couldn’t seem to shake either.

  Moving back to Hollydale was supposed to fill that family-sized hole in him, the one he’d dug when he moved to Yellowstone, where he hadn’t known a soul. While the job was professionally fulfilling, there’d been something lacking. Something green like the pines dotting the Great Smokies. Something deep like the depths of Timber River. Something he yearn
ed to reconnect with.

  Or someone.

  “These oatmeal cherry chocolate-chip cookies were a gift.” Lucie’s calm voice broke through his thoughts. “And it’s wrong to keep a gift to yourself.”

  “Especially considering my lunch was a couple of hours ago. I walked around downtown, and I’m already starving.” Especially for one of those smiles he’d seen yesterday during the tour, the type that showed off the one crooked tooth that did nothing to distract from her pretty face.

  He found her far more attractive than he should.

  “Far be it for me to deny a starving man a cookie even if his questions were a little too direct...” With a glance at her twins, she stopped.

  “Forgiveness is a gift, too. Especially when a person is genuinely sorry for what he’s done.” Whether he was asking for silent forgiveness from his parents for associating with Lucie or from Lucie for confronting her last night before his suitcases were even unpacked, he wasn’t quite sure.

  “And there are times when one did nothing to ask forgiveness for.” Her low voice urged caution, as if he was treading onto a path she didn’t want to travel.

  “But you tell me all the time I have to say I’m sorry to Mattie, even when I didn’t do anything.” Ethan patted his stomach. “And, Mattie, can I ple-ease have my cookie now?”

  Mattie hugged Lucie before jumping off the bench and holding out the box to her mother. Lucie held up her finger and pulled something out of her tote bag. “I didn’t forget your favorite sweet potato treat, Ladybug.” After the bulldog snatched the treat, Lucie pulled two cookies from the box. “Thanks, Mattie. I’ll hold on to yours for you.”

  Mattie crossed the length of the gazebo and delivered a cookie to Ethan before stopping short of Caleb. Her eyes were still wary of him, not that he blamed her. He’d arrived for dinner and left suddenly. Although Ethan had accepted Caleb without a blink of the eye, Mattie seemed an old soul in a pair of rainbow leggings, much more cautious.