The Forest Ranger's Promise (12 page)

Anne passed the ball back to him. When he got close enough, he gave a short kick and popped the ball over to Melanie.

“I'm not playing.” She laughed, nudging the ball with her toe.

“You are now. I'll be a defender on Shelley's team. You can help Anne score a goal.” Scott moved over to help his daughter block the ball.

“Come on, Mom. Kick it.” Anne ran forward and Melanie had no choice but to join the game.

Scott watched Melanie's expression as she pressed her tongue against her top lip. She sidled the ball along with her foot before passing it to Anne. The girl caught him off guard with her speed and he barely blocked the ball as it shot toward him.

“Nice kick,” he told her before retrieving the ball from the driveway and bouncing it back to her. “Go again.”

She maneuvered the ball expertly, passing it to her mother, then back again. Scott panted as he chased after them, trying to steal the ball back.

He came up behind Melanie, who whipped her head around and shrieked. “Oh, no, you don't.”

The woman wasn't big, but she was agile and as fast as her daughter. She almost slipped past him, but her foot caught on his ankle and she tripped. He reached out to catch her, twisting his body to bear the brunt of the fall. They tumbled into the grass, laughing. He rolled, his arms around her as she lifted her head and smiled down into his eyes. The palms of her hands rested against his chest, her long hair spilling across his cheek, tickling his nose.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked.

He shook his head, unable to speak. He studied the oval slant of her beautiful green eyes, his heart pounding like a drum. She wore very little makeup, but she didn't
need it. Her natural beauty more than made up for the enhancements that other women sought in a bottle or jar.

She blinked, her soft breath fanning against his lips. Without warning, she hopped up, breaking the moment as she chased after the ball. Scott followed more slowly, his brain groggy. With a flick of her foot, Melanie arched the ball over to Anne who drew back her leg for a solid kick. Seeing it coming Shelley squealed with fear and scrunched her face, arms and legs together so she wouldn't get hit. The ball zipped past her and rolled into Melanie's pansies.

“Goal!” Anne lifted her arms in the air. “Shelley, you're supposed to block the ball, not hide from it.”

“But it almost hit me.”

“That's the idea, dummy. If it hits you, it won't score a goal.”

“I'm not dumb.”

Bravo! Scott liked Shelley to defend herself.

“Anne, no name-calling. Apologize right now,” Melanie said.

Anne pursed her lips. “I'm sorry. You're not dumb. You just don't know how to play the game right. If you knock it away like this—” she showed the maneuver with her arms “—it won't go into the goal and it won't hurt because you'll have padding on.”

Shelley nodded. “I'll try.”

While Anne drew back and kicked the ball again, Scott brushed at the grass stains on the elbow of his shirt. His gaze kept moving to rest on Melanie. He couldn't keep his eyes off her as she chased after the ball.

This time, Shelley flung out her arms and stopped the ball. It wasn't a very graceful movement, but she'd tried.

“I did it! I did it!”

“Great job! Well done, honey.” Scott opened up the
floodgates of praise, taking advantage of this opportunity to build his child's confidence. He hugged Shelley, whirling her around on the lawn until she squealed with delight.

“Much better,” Anne said.

Scott liked his daughter's willing attitude. He would never tell her that she was a bit of a wimp, but he was glad she tried so hard. The little girls were definitely good for each other.

They all gathered together at the front of the flower box, laughing and offering more suggestions to Shelley. Scott rested his hand on Anne's shoulder. “I didn't know you were such a good player. Shelley's got a good teacher.”

At first, the girl smiled at his compliment. Then, as if remembering who he was, the smile slid from her mouth, replaced by a frown. She stepped away, withdrawing into herself.

Shutting him out.

Melanie must have noticed. “Okay, enough play for one evening. You girls have chores to do.”

“Ahh, but I was just getting the hang of it.” Shelley picked up the ball.

“We can practice again tomorrow. Come on.” Anne took the ball and raced toward the lambing shed. Shelley followed close on her heels.

“That was fun.” Scott smiled at Melanie, enjoying the domestic feeling that settled over him. Except for Anne's animosity, he felt as though he belonged here. As if they were a real family.

But not quite.

“Look at that sunset.” She pointed toward the western mountains where the fading sun lit up the sky with red and orange clouds.

“Now that's a sunset.”

They stood close together, their arms touching. In those tranquil moments with her, Scott felt more content than ever before in his life. He turned to face her, his fingers twining with hers.

“Melanie, I wish we could—”

She moved her hand away. “Don't say it, Scott. It'd only make things more difficult…for both of us.” She brushed her fingers against her chin and took a step toward the door. “I'd better get back into the kitchen and check on my chicken. I don't want it to burn.”

The magic bubble burst.

He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. What had he been about to say? He wasn't sure, but he knew she felt it, too. The attraction between them. Like a current of high-voltage electricity. “I'd better get out into the hay field.”

“See you later.” She waved.

“Yeah. Later.”

Scott turned and headed toward the mower, wishing he could say something more intelligent. Wishing he dared ask Melanie out on a formal date. No doubt Anne wouldn't like that. And Melanie wouldn't feel comfortable with it, either. Too much censure stood between them. They were friends and nothing more. He had to keep reminding himself of that. But it was getting harder to remember.

 

Melanie stepped out on the back porch of her house and took a deep breath. The evening air smelled of freshly cut hay. Crickets chirped from the side of the house. Except for the drinks of water and lemonade she'd taken out to him, Scott hadn't stopped to take a break since he'd gone out to the fields. It was getting late and the girls should be in bed.

Scott must be worn out.

Taking a flashlight with her, she pushed her arms into the sleeves of her sweater and headed across the back lawn toward the south pasture. The sun had faded behind the western mountains, but she could see the headlight from the hay mower glistening at the end of the field. Scott had killed the motor ten minutes earlier and she hoped that meant he was finished with the mowing. She climbed over the fence and clicked on the flashlight as she walked the furrowed field.

Long windrows of freshly mowed hay led the way. With the use of her farm equipment, she was able to rake the drying hay and even bale and stack it, but mowing always gave her problems. If there was an equipment failure, it required pure muscle to fix it and she just wasn't strong enough. She owed Scott a lot for his help.

“Hi there,” he called as she approached.

Careful not to shine the light in his eyes, she panned the beam of the flashlight over him. He knelt on the ground, working to replace a blade on the mower.

“Is there a problem?” she asked.

He flashed a wide smile, his left cheek streaked with dirt. He'd removed his beat-up cowboy hat and she caught the gleam of his sweat-dampened hair. He'd worked hard tonight, winning her deep-seated gratitude.

“Nothing I can't handle. I just finished the mowing and thought I'd check the blades to make sure she's ready for tomorrow night.”

His consideration pleased her. Knowing he'd be here again tomorrow evening brought her more relief than she could express. Being so short on funds, she dreaded having to hire someone else to bring in her hay. She owed Scott. A lot. She had to pay him somehow.

“I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.” She stood
nearby, shining the flashlight on his hands to help him see better. Using the front weight support of the tractor as an anvil, he struck the back edge of a broken blade with a heavy rock, knocking the damaged rivet out of the bar.

He didn't look up as he spoke. “Likewise I appreciate your looking after Shelley for me. She's happy for the first time since her mother left us. Anne even has her playing soccer. She refused to play with me whenever I offered, so I'm grateful that she's found a friend to talk her into it.”

Her heart ached for him. How miserable both he and Shelley must have been to lose their wife and mother. Melanie still cried over losing Aaron, mourning what their life together might have been like if he hadn't started drinking.

If he hadn't gone up onto the mountain during a thunderstorm.

“I think I'm getting the better end of the bargain,” she said. “You're saving me a lot by working on my ranch. I'd like to pay you some as well as tend Shelley for you.”

He stood and dusted off his hands. In the shadows of the headlight, his gaze locked with hers. “That wasn't our agreement, Mrs. McAllister. I promised I'd work for you, and I meant it.”

His kindness amazed her. She couldn't help smiling, thankful that this good man had come into her life. She'd realized at the ranchers' meeting that she'd misjudged him. She'd never met a more intelligent, self-assured and hardworking man. Being so near him sent shivers racing up her spine. Before she could stop herself, she stepped close and kissed his cheek. He smelled of freshly cut hay.

He stiffened and she drew back a bit too fast. What was she thinking, being so forward with him? When they'd
shared the sunset together earlier, she'd stopped him from saying something they both might regret. She felt much too comfortable around this man. How she wished they could be more than friends. But the situation was impossible. And getting more difficult all the time.

“I…I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done.” She folded her arms against the cool air and jutted her chin toward the house. “At least let me give you supper. You must be starved.”

He chuckled. “That I am. I could eat a straw hat right now. Let me drive the mower back to the barn first.”

Again, his thoughtfulness impressed her. He always worked neatly, even when he was hungry and tired. He never left equipment out or empty of gasoline, but always put everything back in good order so it was ready for the next usage.

She walked back to the house, then washed her hands. Using a hot pad, she took a heaping plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy from the oven.

The girls sat at the table, scarfing down pieces of warm apple pie with ice cream.

“Is Daddy coming in now?” Shelley asked.

“Yep, he's just finished the mowing for tonight.” Melanie opened the fridge and retrieved the milk and butter along with a plate of homemade rolls.

Scott came in and doffed his boots. “Wow! Something smells good.”

“It's ready. Get washed up.”

He stepped into the laundry room. The spray of water sounded as he turned on the faucet. Melanie had put out a fresh towel for him. By the time he'd scrubbed the grime from his face and hands, she had his meal ready.

He sat down and smiled at Shelley and Anne. “How are my favorite girls tonight?”

“Fine,” Shelley said. “I was getting worried. You took a long time working tonight.”

“I'm fine, sweetheart. It had to be done.” He bit into a piece of chicken and released a sigh of relish. “This is delicious.”

“You're supposed to bless it first.” Anne frowned.

Scott froze, his gaze darting over to Melanie. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude.”

Melanie shook her head. “We've already blessed it. Go ahead and eat.”

She shot a warning look at her daughter. Anne's mouth quirked with disapproval before she concentrated on her apple pie. Melanie picked up the dish towel and dried a plate. How she wished Anne could be more accepting of Scott. The girl was young, but she should understand how much they needed Scott's help around the ranch. He'd made such a difference for them. He wasn't like the other rangers who had come to town. Scott was different, in every way.

Scott continued eating hungrily. “Tomorrow, I think I can finish mowing the other fields. We'll have your hay put up in no time.”

“In a few days, I can go out with the side rake and roll the hay so it'll dry better.” Melanie leaned her hip against the counter, feeling content with Scott and their kids in her kitchen. She couldn't help wondering if this comfortable companionship was how it should be for all families as they talked and planned their lives. She'd never experienced this contentment with Aaron and couldn't help wishing she could always feel this way.

“Don't knock yourself out,” he said. “I can turn the hay on Friday night, after I get off work.” He glanced at Anne. “Could you pass me the butter, sugar?”

Anne dropped her fork and pushed back from the table
so fast that her chair toppled over with a clatter. “Get it yourself. I'm not your sugar. And you're not my dad.”

The girl raced from the room. The stunned silence was followed by the slamming of her bedroom door.

Scott's jaw fell slack as he looked at Melanie. “I'm sorry, Melanie. I didn't mean to upset her.”

Shelley's eyes widened and her bottom lip quivered. “Why'd Anne talk to you like that, Dad? Is she okay?”

Melanie stepped over to the table and picked up the chair before pushing it under the table. “Anne's fine. I think I'd better go talk to her.”

“Let me.” Scott stood and rounded the table.

“I'm not so sure that's a good idea.”