The Chief Ranger

by Rebecca Winters

  Rachel wished she did. Yesterday the chief ranger had shown Nicky a wonderful time, but it shouldn’t have caused him to spurn Chase’s attention. She was really cross with him right now.

  Chase climbed on his horse and sidled next to Nicky. After showing him how to hold the reins, he flashed Rachel a glance. “Let’s go.”

  The pony walked next to his horse as he led the way out of the corral. They followed a well-worn trail that passed through a lush meadow bordered by dark forest. It was a glorious morning. Rachel wanted to enjoy it if Nicky would let them.

  Their companion was a special man to put himself out for a child who was being obnoxious. She’d never seen her nephew act in such a rude manner. Since he’d spent the day with the headman, a whole new side of Nicky had come out, one she didn’t like.

  Deciding not to feed into his little tantrum, she caught up to Chase on the other side. For the next half hour they rode at a leisurely pace. Chase pointed out the famous granite landmarks for which Yosemite was noted.

  Moved by the beauty of it, Rachel let out a sigh. “The landscape is spectacular.”

  “Vance climbed all those cliffs with his grandpa!” Nicky announced.

  By now she was positively embarrassed. “Really?”

  “Hundreds of times!”

  “Hundreds?” Chase asked with a poker face.

  “Yup. He’s done everything! Rachel, can we go back and swim now? I’m tired and thirsty.”

  Even Chase knew when to quit. He pulled to a stop and handed the boy a bottle of water from his saddlebag. “Drink it all. It’s yours.”

  Nicky took it from him. “Thanks.”

  To Rachel’s relief her nephew had remembered his manners.

  “You’re welcome.” Chase handed Rachel a bottle and produced another one for himself, which he drained.

  She drank most of her water. “That tastes good in this heat. Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Okay. Let’s head back.”

  “Hooray! Maybe Vance can swim with me after he gets through talking to the super something.”

  “Superintendent?” Chase suggested.

  “Yeah. Who’s that?”

  “The head of the whole park.”

  “I thought Vance was the head.”

  “They both are, but the superintendent’s not a ranger. He works for the government.”

  “Does that make him mad?”

  Chase eyed Rachel in puzzlement before they both chuckled. “I don’t know,” he said.

  “I bet it does,” Nicky declared.

  “Why do you think that?” Rachel was curious to understand what was going on in his mind.

  “‘Cause he’s not tough like Vance. Vance was a marine!”

  Rachel hadn’t known that. No wonder the chief ranger was such a paragon in Nicky’s eyes. Her father’s bad health throughout his adult life wouldn’t allow him to join up, but he thought marines walked on water, and his grandson knew it.

  “Vance is the toughest man I know,” Chase stated.

  “See, Rachel? Ranger Jarvis thinks so, too.”

  Yes, she saw a lot of things. So did Chase. Chief Rossiter was an impossible act to follow.

  When they got back to the lodge, Chase said he’d wait out by the pool for them while they went up to the room. Since he had to go on duty soon, Rachel stayed in her top and jeans. As soon as Nicky put on his suit, they hurried out to the pool, where a lifeguard was on duty.

  Chase found them a table by the edge, where Rachel could keep a close eye on Nicky. Lots of kids were in the water. One boy about his age stayed in the shallow end with him, and they started talking. Before coming to the park, Nicky would have hung back. Though alarmed by the way he treated Chase, as if he were expendable, she was pleased to see her nephew coming out of his shell.

  “I’m sorry for the way he’s been acting, Chase.”

  He studied her for a moment. “Don’t apologize. There’s a reason for it and we both know what it is.”

  She did know. Chase’s boss was Nicky’s closest connection to the father he’d lost, aside from his grandpa, of course. “I can see that Steven would never get through Nicky’s shell, even if we ended up getting married.”

  “Then you have been thinking about your ex-fiancé?”

  “Honestly?” She darted him a glance.

  “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”

  “Not until my mother phoned night before last and told me Steven had been to the house to see me. She said he’s really broken up over what he did. Maybe he is. I know there are some couples who manage to work through infidelity issues.”

  “That’s true, but I couldn’t.”

  “Was your ex-wife unfaithful?”

  “No. We had other issues that couldn’t be resolved.” Whatever they were, he wouldn’t talk about them, and she wouldn’t press.

  “Steven had been seeing a woman who played with the ship’s band before he started dating me. I fell hard for him. When he proposed, I was thrilled. He works in administration for the cruise line. A month before we were to be married, he went on one of the cruises I didn’t, ostensibly to oversee the ship’s operation.

  “I learned later that he and his former girlfriend got together. He swore it was only to comfort her because they were in a storm one night near Bermuda and thought they might not make it back to shore. He claimed he never meant for things to get out of control, that it would never happen again.

  “As one of my colleagues has pointed out, we aren’t married yet. Maybe I should give him a second chance. That’s easy enough for her to say, but I’m afraid my feelings can’t be resurrected.”

  Chase studied her for a long moment. “But you don’t know for sure.”

  “Nicky’s doctor says I need to explore my feelings, because Ben and Michelle’s deaths didn’t allow me to resolve anything. I’m sure he’s right, but now there’s another problem.”

  “Nicky.”

  She nodded. “When Steven asked me to marry him, neither of us could have imagined a scenario where I would be adopting Nicky. I’m sure instant fatherhood wasn’t what he had in mind, unless it was his own child. Even if I decide to try seeing him again, nothing could happen until Nicky really gets to know him and is comfortable with him.”

  A long silence ensued. “When are you going back?”

  “Saturday. I plan to drive us to Merced and stay overnight. Our flight leaves early Sunday morning. I have to be back to see my old boss on Tuesday. If there’s a chance that Steven and I can still work things out after a year’s separation, then I need to listen to him. At least that’s what the doctor advises, otherwise I could have years of regrets and what ifs. I don’t want that.”

  “He’s a wise man.”

  “After Chief Rossiter takes us up on El Capitan, we’ll find out if the doctor’s counsel worked and Nicky’s nightmares end.”

  “We’ll all hope for that,” the ranger declared.

  “Chase? Thank you for everything you’ve done. For listening. I won’t forget.”

  His eyes searched hers. “I’m glad you came to the park. It helped all of us, too.”

  Rachel smiled.

  “Good luck in sorting everything out.” He rose to his feet. “No. Don’t get up. Nicky’s still having fun in the pool. Have a safe flight home.”

  “Good luck to you, too, Chase.”

  VANCE WAS FINISHING off the last of his tuna sandwich when his cell phone rang. He reached across the kitchen counter for it, squinting to see who was calling. He clicked on.

  “What are you doing, phoning me? Here I’ve been imagining you on that horseback ride enjoying yourself.” Vance had never been jealous of another man and he wasn’t going to start now. This was Chase he was talking to. His best friend!

  Chase chuckled. “Not with Nicky along.”

  “What’s wrong? He didn’t get thrown, did he?”

  “On Daisy?”

  “Then he’s all right?”

  “Take it easy, Vance. You�
�re beginning to sound like a parent.”

  Maybe because for the first time in his life he felt like one. Vance took a stabilizing breath. “Let’s start this conversation over. What happened today?”

  “Let’s just say you are Nicky’s new hero and let it go at that.”

  Though the words were gratifying to hear, a scoffing sound escaped his lips. “You know how kids are. It’ll pass once he’s back in Miami.”

  “Want to bet? You would have to have lived through this morning to know what I’m talking about. Take it from me. You’ve got a fan for life.”

  Though Vance didn’t want to ask the next question for fear of the answer, he had to. “How did it go with Rachel?”

  “What do you mean?”

  He held his breath. “You know exactly what I meant. Do I have to spell it out?”

  “If you’re saying what I think you’re saying, you’ve got things all wrong. I admit Rachel’s a good-looking woman. When I found out who she was and walked her and Nicky over to your office that first morning, I decided I’d like to get to know her better. But when she emerged from your office, I could tell something earth-shaking had gone on in there. She acted like she didn’t know what had hit her. I made a few attempts but was never able to get to first base with her.

  “When you walked into the dining room that evening, you acted the same way, like you’d been struck by an unknown force. What saddens me is that you’ve been reeling ever since, without doing anything about it, because you figured I found her first and it was finders, keepers. Right?”

  Chase was too smart for his own good.

  “Vance, that might have worked when we were little kids, but we’re grown men. Today I was just trying to be her friend. Right now she could use one, because she’s been in hell for over a year.”

  For the next few minutes Vance listened to Chase’s explanation. “It appears her ex-fiancé wants a second chance. On her psychiatrist’s advice, she’s going back to Florida with the intention of discovering her true feelings.”

  That unexpected piece of news knocked Vance sideways, but he refused to examine all the reasons why. “Did she actually tell you she wants to get back with him? That’s strange, because that wasn’t the message I got from Nicky. In fact I can assure you right now he doesn’t like Steven and never will.”

  “Agreed. There’s just one man who lights up his world.”

  “That’s only natural,” Vance growled. “It all comes down to my not finding his father on El Capitan before it was too late.”

  “I think we’re talking at cross purposes here.”

  He rubbed his temple, where he could feel a tension headache coming on. “What do you mean?”

  “I wasn’t referring to his father. It’s you Nicky’s crazy about. I realize his feelings are over the top right now because of his loss, but he has definitely bonded with you.”

  It worked both ways, but by now Vance’s thoughts were churning. Rachel’s need to see her ex-fiancé again would explain why she didn’t want to stay at the park any longer. Hell. “Where are you now?”

  “Back on duty. In case you’ve finished your business with the superintendent, whose credentials don’t include being a marine, tough or otherwise, there’s a little guy who’s waiting for the chief ranger to show up at the lodge swimming pool and make his day. Talk to you later.”

  Chase rang off, leaving Vance standing there in shock. The temptation to do as his friend suggested prompted him to phone Beth.

  “What’s on the docket for this afternoon?”

  “You asked me that question an hour ago and I told you there’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow. That’s why you went home for lunch, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Barring an earthquake or another forest fire that I don’t know about yet, I presume there’s still nothing.”

  He smiled. “Just making sure.”

  “Chief? Are you okay? You’ve been acting different since Chief Dick showed up the other day. What did he do? See your future in a ghost dance?”

  Vance shivered. She was too close to the mark. “Were you eavesdropping?”

  “Who? Moi?”

  “Come clean now.”

  “Sorry. That’s not part of my job description.”

  “Beth? Don’t ever change.” Still chuckling, he said, “Chief Dick will be in next week. Since I never know when he’s coming, I might not be in the office, so make a note to tell him I’ve fixed things at the library. The photograph now says Paiute Lodge. He’ll know what I mean. The brown envelope he left me is in my Out basket, marked ‘Chief Dick.’ Give that to him, too. It should make him happy.”

  “Will do.”

  “Now I think I’m going swimming.”

  “In the middle of your workday? Since when?”

  Since Rachel Darrow burst into my world a few days ago. Of course he didn’t tell Beth that. “Keep it under wraps, if you can.”

  Hanging up on her protest, he went in search of his plaid swim trunks. After stripping off his uniform, he put them on, then stepped into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Once he’d pocketed his phone, he made a detour to the bedroom closet for his snorkel. Now he was ready, and took off for Yosemite Lodge on foot.

  A few minutes later he surveyed the crowded pool, looking for Nicky and Rachel, but to his disappointment didn’t see them. Maybe they’d gone inside to eat lunch. He’d wait fifteen or twenty minutes before he gave it up and went back to work.

  In a quick movement he took off his jeans and shirt and dived into the deep end. With so many bodies in the water, the idea of doing lengthwise laps was out of the question. He would have to be satisfied swimming to the bottom of the pool to stay occupied and anonymous.

  Ten minutes passed. More people had entered the pool, including a bunch of college-age guys who began playing water polo, and gave the lifeguard grief by ignoring him. During family hour, games weren’t allowed. If they didn’t stop in about one minute, Vance was prepared to step in.

  The next time he came up for air, he heard wolf whistles. His breath caught when he saw what had produced them. A golden-blond woman with an eyecatching figure and great legs came walking toward the shallow end of the pool. Her modest two-piece turquoise suit matched the trunks of the curly-headed blond boy holding her hand.

  “Hey, babe, come and play with us!” one of the guys called to her. He held up the ball, ignoring the lifeguard’s whistle.

  Primordial instinct took over as Vance shot through the water like a torpedo and snatched the ball away. Quick as lightning he levered himself onto the deck. After tossing the ball to the lifeguard, he turned to the guys, who’d started swearing at him.

  “This is family hour, gentlemen. You want to play polo, then come back at eight tonight when no children can be hurt. I’m giving you thirty seconds to disappear.”

  “Make us,” challenged the brashest one.

  Vance dived in and put a hammerlock on him. “You can go quietly and I won’t press charges, or you can resist arrest and all four of you can tell the federal court judge why you’re out of control. It’s your call if you’re ever allowed to step foot in Yosemite Park again. What’s it going to be?”

  He tried in vain to break Vance’s hold. “Who in the hell do you think you are?”

  “Do you really want to find out?”

  “Come on, Derek,” one of his friends muttered. The three of them climbed over the side and headed for the men’s changing room.

  When Derek finally stopped struggling, Vance loosened his hold. “Better go with your friends, who had the good sense to leave.”

  The guy finally got out, but his eyes were glittering with rage. “Better watch your back, tough guy,” he threatened before walking away.

  While everyone in the pool broke into spontaneous applause and cheers that the menace was gone, Vance swam to the other side. He vaulted to the tile and reached for the phone in his jeans.

  “Mark? It’s Vance. Send extra security to Yose
mite Lodge stat and pick up four college-age guys I’ve just ejected from the pool. They’ve been drinking.” He gave their descriptions.

  “We’re on it.”

  As he hung up, the lifeguard approached him. “Thanks for helping me out, Chief Rossiter. When you took over I thought I was watching a combination of Steven Segal, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger all rolled into one.”

  The exaggeration amused him. “No problem.”

  Behind them he heard a female voice cry, “Wait, Nicky, you’re not supposed to run!”

  “Vance!”

  The next thing he knew, a warm, sturdy little body launched into him and grabbed on for dear life. Laughing with pleasure, Vance picked him up. Over Nicky’s curls his gaze fused with a pair of eyes the color of new spring grass at the highest elevation in the park.

  Vance was exultant to note he saw nothing unfriendly in their depths right now, a far cry from Wednesday morning in his office.

  Chapter Five

  “Nicky was right about you.”

  The chief ranger’s eyes glowed an intense blue. “In what way?”

  “You can take care of yourself and anyone else around. It makes a little boy feel secure.”

  Rachel would have added that it made her feel safe, too, but he might think such a personal comment meant she was flirting with him, the last thing she intended to convey.

  A man who wore his deceased wife’s wedding band did it because he never planned to marry again. The wise woman seeing it on his ring finger knew better than to make a fool of herself by assuming she could get him to remove it.

  “Come on, Nicky,” she urged. “Let’s have our swim.”

  “Why don’t we all jump in?” the chief suggested. “Hold your nose, Nicky.”

  “Okay.”

  “Ready?”

  “Yup!”

  All of a sudden the two of them landed in the deep end. It made a huge splash, getting her soaked. Nicky shrieked

  with laughter. The man holding him tilted his dark head back. “What are you waiting for, Ms. Darrow?”