The Chief Ranger

by Rebecca Winters

Her insides fluttered. “Not a thing.”

  She jumped in next to them, creating enough havoc to delight her nephew and bring a devilish smile to the chief’s lips. While she treaded water, he turned Nicky on his back to float, encouraging him to kick hard. Rachel had taught her nephew the fundamentals of swimming. Under his hero’s watchful eye now, Nicky showed amazing progress. That was because he was having the time of his life.

  At one point the chief reached for his snorkel lying on the deck. It provided more entertainment for Nicky. Time flew by. In the process of having fun, her nephew ignored the hot sun shining down. Though Rachel had put sunscreen on him, those tender shoulders were being exposed too long.

  “I hate to break this up, but it’s time to go in, darling. Otherwise you’ll turn into a lobster.”

  “But I don’t want to get out!” He sounded so upset she felt like the wicked witch for ruining his fun.

  “Okay. That’s it!” She grabbed his hand with the intention of going up to the room, but was forestalled by their companion putting Nicky on his shoulders, distracting him. Vance’s gaze found Rachel’s. Whenever he looked at her in that direct manner, her senses quickened.

  “Your aunt’s right, Nicky. Dive off one more time, then we’ll get changed and go over to headquarters. I think a root beer is waiting for you.”

  Nicky shot her a pleading glance. “Can I?”

  She didn’t like rewarding him for bad behavior, but since it was the chief ranger’s suggestion, she relented. “Maybe for a little while.”

  “Hooray!” Nicky complied at once and got up carefully, standing on Vance’s broad, sun-bronzed shoulders. Slowly he let go of his hands. “Okay. I’m ready. Watch me, Rachel!”

  He executed a perfect little dive. When he emerged, she smiled and clapped. “You two make quite a team.”

  “You think?” The chief sounded pleased. He swung Nicky onto the deck and then levered himself from the water with effortless male grace. Rachel swam over to the ladder and climbed out. He studied her as she walked toward them. Delight filled her, a reaction she couldn’t control.

  “Will ten minutes give you and Nicky time to shower and change?”

  Rachel nodded. “I’ll bring him down to the lobby.”

  “Good.” Glancing at Nicky, he said, “See you later, Terminator.” After giving him a high five, he gathered his things.

  “See you later, operator!” Nicky called back unexpectedly. The clever boy was determined to keep up with him.

  That brought a happy bark of laughter from the chief before he headed for the men’s changing room. His hard-muscled body turned female heads left and right, including Rachel’s.

  She grasped Nicky’s hand and they left the pool area for their room. He chatted the whole way about his favorite person, and continued nonstop throughout his bath. She showered quickly, then they both dressed before she accompanied him to the lobby.

  Nicky ran up to the head ranger, who was now wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. As she’d discovered at the pool, the man didn’t need a uniform to make him stand out. On the contrary …

  “Wait, Nicky!” She held him back because the chief was talking on his cell phone, but he didn’t keep them waiting long.

  “What’s in your pocket, sport?”

  “Timberwolf.”

  “When we get to my office, you’ll have to show him to me.”

  Rachel bent down and kissed his forehead. “Chief Rossiter still has work to do, so I’ll come and get you in a little while.”

  He nodded, but he really wasn’t listening.

  “I’ll bring him back, Rachel.” The way he said her name in that deep voice reached to every atom of her body. “Mind if I call you that?”

  She lifted her head. “Of course not. Thank you for being so wonderful to Nicky.”

  “Your nephew calls me Vance. Why don’t you?”

  The odd tension between them left her a little breathless. “I didn’t know I had permission.” Because he wore his wedding ring, she hadn’t dared think of him as Vance.

  “Our rocky beginning was my fault.”

  “No, I take full responsibility!” She rushed to settle the record.

  “So let’s start over, shall we?” With that, he gave his full attention to Nicky and hustled him out of the lodge.

  Rachel watched them walk away. Nicky was so happy, he was half skipping and jumping. She found herself wishing she’d been included. However, when she realized it wasn’t just because she was already missing Nicky, she groaned and hurried back to the room. It was a good thing they were leaving Yosemite.

  In fact, thinking about tomorrow reminded her she needed to make a hotel reservation for them in Merced.

  Walking over to the house phone, she called the front desk and asked them to take care of the arrangements. Once that was accomplished, she phoned her parents.

  “Mom? Put Dad on the other extension. I want to tell you our plans for tomorrow.”

  “All right. Just a minute.”

  This was going to be hard for them to hear, but without Nicky in the room she could talk freely.

  “Hi, honey,” her dad said. “Go ahead.”

  “Tomorrow morning at seven, Nicky and I will be going up on top of El Capitan.”

  “Have you seen it yet?” Her mother’s voice sounded pained.

  “We passed it as we drove in.”

  “What’s it like?”

  “Tell you what. I’ll read what’s in the brochure.” She picked it out of a pile left by the hotel. “‘El Capitan is a three-thousand-foot monolith of coarse-grained granite. The Native Americans call it Totokanoola….’ And the early Spaniards loosely translated that to mean ‘Chief,’“ she explained to her parents. How appropriate! Wait till she told Nicky.

  “‘Once considered impossible to climb, it is now the standard for Big Wall climbing the world over and has two main faces, the most famous being The Nose. You can get to the top by hiking out of Yosemite Valley on the trail next to Yosemite Falls.’“

  Her mother sounded aghast. “You’re not really thinking of taking Nicky up there—”

  “Not hiking, Mom. The chief ranger, Vance Rossiter, has arranged for us to go in a helicopter with him and the pilot who was involved in the recovery mission.”

  “Was he the one in charge last year?” The sharpness in her tone reminded Rachel of herself before she flew out to Yosemite with Nicky.

  “Yes.” She took a fortifying breath. “Since meeting him, my whole view of what happened to Ben and Michelle has changed. I have testimony that the rangers did everything in their power to warn him and Michelle off El Capitan before the storm hit, but you know how stubborn Ben can be when he’s having fun.” She bit her lip. “Nicky’s just like him.”

  “I’m glad to hear you’re not blaming them anymore, honey.” This from her dad.

  Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. What a fool I was not to have taken Dr. Karsh’s advice a lot sooner. We’ve only been here a few days and already Vance has turned Nicky’s world around. H-he’s a very sensitive man who’s been suffering over the accident, too,” she stammered. “I have total confidence in his instincts to help Nicky understand what happened up there without frightening him.”

  Her mother moaned. “I don’t know.”

  “I do, Mom. You’re going to have to trust me on this. Nicky wants answers. This is an unprecedented opportunity to be with the two people who brought Ben and Michelle down. If Vance can’t satisfy Nicky and calm his fears, then no one can.”

  “I’m all for it,” her dad interjected. After clearing his throat he said, “Sounds like the headman has gone out of his way for you with his time and resources.”

  “He’s been amazing. The other day he and Nicky flew in a helicopter to the other end of the park to go owl watching.”

  “You’re kidding!” her mother cried.

  “I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want you worrying.”

  �
��Where’s Nicky right now?”

  “With Vance. We all went swimming this afternoon. Now he’s over at headquarters having a root beer in his office.”

  Her father chuckled. “Sounds like he’s having fun.”

  The word fun didn’t cover it. She bowed her head. “He’s having the time of his life.”

  “What about you, honey?”

  Me? That’s a good question. I’ve met a man who’s bigger than life.

  “This has been the therapy I’ve needed, too,” she admitted. “One thing has become clear to me. I’ve done the right thing by giving up my job. Time is too short to keep making mistakes. Nicky needs me. I want to be his mother, and plan to find work close by the house so he won’t ever feel abandoned again.”

  She could hear her parents weeping for joy. After Rachel composed herself she said, “I’ll call you tomorrow from the Merced Inn.”

  “We’ll be waiting, honey,” her dad said.

  Her mother sniffed. “What about Steven?”

  Since she’d begun planning this trip, her ex-fiancé had been the furthest thing from her mind. “Dr. Karsh says I need to face him and work through my feelings. Maybe I will.” After a pause she admitted, “Karsh was right about Nicky. No doubt he’s right about this, too.”

  “We’re behind you whatever you decide, honey.”

  “I know. I love you. Talk to you later.”

  The minute Rachel got off the phone, she sorted through the brochures to look for a good place to eat dinner. They’d spent enough time at the lodge. One

  pamphlet on Curry Village caught her eye. There were informal pizza and Mexican food eateries there, perfect for Nicky while they enjoyed different views of the Yosemite Valley. Then it would be early to bed.

  Nicky was right about the national park being huge. They’d seen only a minute portion of it, but it was the part where her brother and sister-in-law had met with tragedy. After tomorrow, she and Nicky would leave the past behind them and—please, God—his nightmares would come to an end.

  Feeling restless, she phoned hotel information for the headquarters number, then asked for the chief ranger’s extension. They put her through.

  “Chief Rossiter’s office. Beth Henderson speaking.”

  “Hello. This is Rachel Darrow. I wonder if you can tell me if my nephew is still there?”

  “He sure is. Do you want to talk to him?”

  “No. Will you let him know I’m driving over there now to pick him up for dinner? Ask him to meet me out in front.”

  “Will do. He’s so cute I’d like to take him home with me, but I think the chief would beat me to it.”

  Rachel smiled. If the truth be told, Nicky would go home with him willingly. “I hope that means he’s been on his best behavior.”

  “Does he have any other kind?”

  Unfortunately, Ranger Jarvis could give Vance’s receptionist an earful. “You’re very nice. Thank you. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  After running a brush through her hair, she replenished her coral frost lipstick and left the hotel. As she got in the rental car, she could tell her heart was pounding. Not until she drove up in front of headquarters and saw the chief ranger in animated conversation with Nicky and one of the cute female rangers did she admit to the reason why.

  “Rachel!” Nicky ran over to the driver’s side of the car. She put the window down. “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “Ranger Davis is in charge of the Junior Park Rangers. They’re going to have a big party with a movie and food in the auditorium right now. Can I go?”

  “Hi,” the ranger said, darting Rachel a friendly smile. “They’re all teenagers and will get a kick out of him. I’ll bring him back to the chief’s office when it’s over.”

  “Well, thank you for the invitation. That sounds fun, Nicky. Be sure and mind her.”

  “I will. See ya later.”

  He ran after her and they disappeared inside the building. In a way Rachel felt relief that Nicky wanted to be with someone else other than Vance. She was sure he was relieved, too.

  “May I have a lift to my house?”

  Vance’s question stunned her. A quiver of excitement shot through her body. “Yes, of course. Please get in. You’ll have to point the way.”

  He directed her along the road past a copse of pines until they came to a cluster of houses. She drove down a couple of streets until he told her to pull into the driveway of his fifties-looking, ranch-style house.

  She glanced over, waiting for him to get out, but he did the unexpected. “I’d like to talk to you in private and this may be our only opportunity. Come inside and I’ll fix some enchiladas for us.”

  The invitation for Nicky to attend the junior rangers party suddenly made sense. It provided the perfect babysitting service, but her nephew wouldn’t have realized it.

  While Rachel sat there, bemused by Vance’s actions, he climbed from the car with enviable male grace and came around the other side to help her out. Their arms brushed, sending more currents of electricity through her nervous system.

  Once he’d ushered her inside the front door, she took in the L-shaped living and dining room. The house had been decorated in a green-and-yellow-plaid motif with dark brown leather furniture. A man’s home if there ever was one.

  “The bathroom is down the hall if you want to freshen up later.”

  “Thank you.”

  She followed him through to the kitchen. It was large enough to accommodate a Swedish-designed pecan wood breakfast table and chairs. He kept his house more spotless than most women.

  His gaze swept over her. “What can I get you to drink?”

  “Nothing right now, thank you.”

  “Then have a seat.” He washed his hands before pulling ingredients from the fridge.

  “Let me help.” She washed her hands, too.

  A faint smile hovered on his lips. “I’ll brown the meat if you’ll make the salad.”

  For the next few minutes they both got busy. After their fiery start several days ago, it was hard to believe she was in the chief ranger’s house, helping to prepare a meal with him in absolute harmony.

  Their eyes met as he handed her an avocado. “Who would have thought we’d end up like this after you flew out of my office with justifiable rage the other morning?”

  He could read minds, too. What else had he picked up on? “It was not my finest hour.”

  “Nor mine,” he confessed in a husky tone. He fried the tortillas and filled them with ground beef and cheese. After he put them in the oven, he set the table. “I’m glad we’re past that stage, because I have a proposition for you.”

  Rachel laughed gently. “Now what am I to deduce from that?” She discovered her legs had gone weak from proximity to him, and sought out the nearest chair. It was impossible not to watch the play of muscle across his back and shoulders as he moved about. His tall, powerful body dominated the room.

  He lounged against the edge of the counter for a minute, turning on her the full force of his blue eyes. Because they were fringed by black lashes, the color stood out, almost making her own eyes water when she looked into them. “That all depends on what you’d like to deduce from it,” he teased, revealing a sense of humor she wouldn’t have attributed to him when they’d first met.

  Again she was struck by the change in tension between them. This time there was no rancor, only an energy that was beginning to build.

  Leaving her hanging, he served their meal, then sat down opposite her. They tucked into their food. She was hungry. “This tastes delicious.”

  “Thank you. Let’s hope you approve enough to consider my job offer.”

  She blinked. A job?

  “Compared to what you were making at the cruise line it’s probably a pittance, but a truck and a vacant, furnished house for you and Nicky go with it.”

  Rachel stopped chewing. He just kept surprising her.

  For some odd reason it disturbed her to realize he was
thinking on a practical level rather than …

  What a fool she was to forget for a second he was still married to his wife’s memory. “I’m sorry Nicky ever brought up the subject.”

  He’d just devoured his fourth enchilada. “I’m glad he did. Ask any ranger and they’ll tell you I’ve been looking for a liaison person to do a multitude of tasks. Beth had the job until I made her my private secretary. It has to be the right person, but she spoiled me for anyone else.”

  I can tell you right now I’m not the person you want.

  “This isn’t a desk job. I need someone not employed by the government or the Federal Park Service to be my eyes and ears around here. When you came to Yosemite, you had every right to want to bring me up on charges. I’ve been thinking about it ever since.”

  Her temper flared. “Vance—I’ve already apologized for that.”

  “I know, but what you brought up that day was and is important. A woman has special instincts and might foresee problems before they happen, especially where children are concerned. I’d welcome any safety recommendations from you. This summer Nicky could do it with you.”

  She put down her napkin. “Look—it’s not that I’m not appreciative of what you’re offering, but your strong sense of guilt over what happened to my brother and his wife has prompted you to come up with this idea.”

  “This has nothing to do with guilt,” he declared.

  Rachel averted her eyes, not knowing quite what to believe. “Well, thank you for considering me, but as I told you before, Nicky and I have a life back in Miami with my parents.”

  “And your ex-fiancé?”

  Her eyes flicked to his in exasperation. “Nicky has done too much talking out of school.”

  Vance sat there looking insolently at ease, while she was trembling. “Only because he loves you and knows you were hurt. He’s afraid you might go back to Steven. Is that why you’re not willing to consider working here?”

  She might have known Nicky would tell all to his favorite person in the world. “I don’t honestly know what I’m going to do yet.”

  “Fair enough, but at least consider what I’m offering. If it’s a possibility that could work out for you, in the future it could become a permanent position.”