The Forest Ranger's Promise (5 page)

Tears glistened in Shelley's eyes. “My dad loves me, too. I'm sorry we're both half dogies.”

“Me, too.”

And right then, Anne knew it wasn't Shelley's fault that her father was the forest ranger. They had a lot in common. It got so lonely here at the ranch with no one but Mom and an occasional work hand to talk to. The herders were always nice to her, but Mom never left her alone with them and they really didn't have anything in
common with her. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to be a little bit nice to Shelley Ennison.

“Come on. I'll show you how to feed the lambs. But next time you visit, you should wear blue jeans and boots.”

“I don't have any boots.”

Anne shrugged. “Then just wear tennis shoes.”

She led Shelley into the next pen. Shelley held the bucket of milk while Anne used a funnel to fill seven bottles. Shelley seemed eager to help and Anne appreciated the company and the help with her chores. But she sure wished Shelley's dad was a rancher instead of a ranger.

“W
hat happened?” Melanie ran across the gravel driveway toward the barn.

Anne and Shelley hobbled toward her. Shelley howled in pain, her bare legs streaming blood.

“Shelley! Are you okay?” Scott raced ahead, his face creased with concern.

“Shelley tripped and fell on a bale of barbed wire. It cut her legs up real bad.” Anne had one of Shelley's arms draped across her shoulders as she helped the other girl limp to the house.

Without a word, Scott scooped Shelley into his strong arms, murmuring soothing words of comfort. Blood smeared his Forest Service shirt and name badge, but he couldn't care less.

Melanie moved into action, scurrying to the back door of the house. “I've got a first aid kit. Bring her inside.”

Scott followed quickly and Anne held the door open while he stepped into the utility room.

“Sit there on one of the kitchen chairs,” Melanie called over her shoulder.

Scott stepped into the kitchen and sat cradling Shelley on his lap. The girl continued to sob while Melanie
hurried into the bathroom, retrieved the hydrogen peroxide, salve and bandages, then returned and knelt beside the girl's injured legs.

Shelley buried her tear-streaked face against her father's chest. He rubbed her back, soothing her in low tones. Anne stood beside the door in her blue jeans and work boots, looking helpless.

Melanie smiled at the injured girl. “You'll be okay, sweetheart. We'll get this taken care of and you'll be good as new. Did you like the dogie lambs?”

Shelley gave an almost inaudible nod. “Y-yes.”

“Did Anne show you how to feed them?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Did they almost knock you off your feet with their exuberance?” Melanie kept up a steady stream of questions, trying to take Shelley's mind off her injuries. It helped some as the girl's tears faded to breathless hiccups.

While she cleansed the wounds, Melanie couldn't help glancing up at Scott. She wasn't used to tender displays of affection from a man. She'd grown up at Opal Ranch with a kind but gruff father whom she'd only seen cry the day they buried her mother five years earlier. Dad had died shortly afterward, leaving her and Aaron to run the ranch alone.

Although he'd worked hard when he was sober, Aaron never offered her any comfort, not even when she went into labor with Anne. He hadn't cared for much except buying more booze. She sorely missed her mother's compassion and gentle faith.

The compassion on Scott's face surprised her. She never expected the new ranger to love a child the way Scott Ennison seemed to love his daughter. She'd been raised to think of rangers as less than human. Monsters that hated ranchers and ate little children for lunch.

Melanie almost laughed out loud at her wayward thoughts. This ranger seemed completely human, but Shelley might not want to stay here at Opal Ranch after having her legs torn up by barbed wire. “There, I think we've cleansed all the scratches and I put a pain-relieving salve and bandages on the bigger cuts. Do they still hurt?”

Shelley nodded while Scott wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Melanie stood and squeezed Shelley's hand. “It'll feel better soon. I'm sorry you fell down, sweetie. Would some cookies and ice cream help you feel better?”

Shelley gave a wan smile as she slid off her father's lap. Without a word, Anne raced to the freezer and pulled out a container of vanilla ice cream, which she set on the counter.

While Melanie reached for the bowls and a scoop, Scott stepped near and whispered for her ears alone, “Thank you. It seems you're always there to save us.”

Melanie pretended not to hear as she reached for the plate of cookies he'd brought her. She didn't want to be there for this man and his lovable daughter. For so long, she'd been strong on her own, fretting over her sheep, her child and the mortgage. Carrying the burdens of the ranch while Aaron slept off another night of drinking.

For several years, Melanie had longed to hand her burdens over to someone else and had come to rely on the Lord. She liked being single and making her own decisions without repercussions, but she wished she had the strength of a man to carry her through.

Now this handsome stranger had thrust his way into her life. Within a few years, he'd be transferred someplace else. That's how it worked in the Forest Service. Rangers always moved on after a short time. Besides, she didn't want another man in her life. Ever. It hurt too much. And
she had Anne to think about. She could have no future with Scott Ennison. No lasting ties. It'd be best not to let him get too close.

She inwardly groaned. Maybe she shouldn't have agreed to watch Shelley. But Scott's lonely little girl struck a chord in her, and she really did need his help around the ranch. For her own peace of mind, she resolved to keep this arrangement strictly business. She was Shelley's child care provider and Scott was her work hand. It had to stay that way. Period.

 

“I like Anne.” Shelley leaned against Scott's side as he drove them home. She sat in the middle section of the seat, her seat belt across her stomach as she leaned on her left side to take the weight off the scratches and cuts on her right leg.

Holding tight to the steering wheel with his left hand, he snuggled her closer with his right. It'd been a long time since she'd let him hug her. He missed the days when she'd been little and climbed up into his lap for a hug just because. Now, he knew she felt vulnerable after being hurt by the barbed wire. Otherwise, she'd be sitting firmly on the other side of the truck. “I'm glad you like Anne. You'll be staying with the McAllisters during the day while I'm at work. You think you'll like that, too?”

“Yeah, me and Anne are both half dogies.”

He lifted one brow. “Half dogies?”

He listened with amusement while she explained about the orphan lambs. “You know you're not an orphan. Your mom's still alive.”

“But she doesn't want us. She cheated with Malcolm Henley.” She spoke with disgust.

Her words hit him like a slap to the face and he inhaled sharply. She knew Allison had had an affair. He'd
never said a word to her about it. He thought about all the months of trying to speak kindly about her mother, trying to keep the ugly truth from Shelley. His daughter had known all along. Allison didn't want her. Didn't want either one of them. Now that he realized she knew the truth, he couldn't bring himself to cover it with a lie. “I'm sorry, sweetheart. I have no control over your mother, but I'll make a promise to you.”

She looked up at him and waited, her wide blue eyes shining with tears. How he wished he could ease her pain and loneliness.

“I'll never leave you. Not ever.” And he meant it. Only death could force him to leave his beautiful child.

“Thanks, Daddy.” She wrapped one thin arm across his abdomen, her small head nestled against his chest. He blinked to clear his eyes as he stared out the windshield. A feeling of love overwhelmed him and he patted her arm. How he loved her. All he wanted to do was protect her. To make her happy.

He hoped his agreement with Melanie wasn't a giant mistake. He hoped it would be good. For all of them.

 

The next morning, Scott pulled his blue truck into Melanie's front yard at exactly seven-thirty. He'd have just enough time to get Shelley settled and drive back into town to work. He'd made sure he drove his own truck to Opal Ranch. If he used a government truck for personal errands and someone complained, he could be fired. He didn't want to do anything to cause more trouble.

In spite of her sore legs, Shelley unsnapped her seat belt and hopped out. She beat Scott to the front porch where she stood on tiptoe to reach the horseshoe knocker on the front door. She tapped it twice.

At this cooler elevation, Scott wore long-sleeved shirts.
Today, he felt exceptionally warm in his ranger uniform. As he sauntered past the front gate, he caught the cooling mist of water from the sprinkler on the lawn.

“You're not excited to be staying here, are you?” He couldn't help teasing Shelley, relieved to see her so happy for a change.

“Of course I am, silly! Anne says I can help her feed the lambs again. I like it here.”

Good!
He chuckled, not wanting to remind her that after the repetition of feeding lambs several times each day, she might not like the chore so much in a week. Ultimately, he knew this experience would be good for her. She'd have chores and a new friend to keep her busy. Finally, something was going right for them.

The door jerked open and Anne stood before them in blue jeans and bare feet.

“Hi.” Shelley stepped inside without an invitation.

“Hi.” Anne ignored Scott and moved back as he stood in the doorway.

Anne eyed Shelley's red-and-white tennis shoes and blue jeans before nodding her head in approval. “That's much better. Your pants will protect your legs from now on.”

Shelley's smile widened.

As Scott stepped into the living room, he caught the scent of fresh-baked bread. He breathed in deeply, relishing the tantalizing aroma. It reminded him of home when he'd been a kid. Mom had baked bread almost every day when he was growing up. He couldn't remember a single time Allison made something from scratch. She preferred takeout.

He wiped his feet on the rag rug by the door. The tan carpets looked worn, but clean. A sofa and two recliners surrounded a large, glass-topped coffee table with a
vase of field flowers in the center. Family pictures in gold frames lined the mantel of the fireplace. The large console TV set looked like it could serve as a boat anchor. It sat next to a bookcase filled with a variety of history books and old encyclopedias. In one corner of the room sat a small desk with a computer and a user's manual open on top of the keyboard. Everything looked tidy except for a stack of scrapbooks and photo albums piled on a card table. It looked like Melanie was working on some family projects.

“Hi there! Have you had breakfast?” Melanie bustled into the room, her cheeks flushed as she whipped her thick hair behind her head and tied it into a long ponytail with a blue scrunchie.

The aroma of her homemade bread called to him, but he nodded his head and wished he didn't have to get to work so soon. He'd love to linger and chat, but he didn't have time. “Yeah, we've eaten.” He inclined his chin toward the computer. “You learning how to use that machine?”

She grimaced, her button nose scrunching. “Yes, I'm sorry to say. It's a nightmare. I thought I should come in out of the dark ages and have a computer in the house for Anne. I thought it might make my payroll easier, but the growing pains are causing me some angst. I've enrolled in a computer basics class at the civic center in town and I'm determined to figure it out.”

He chuckled, enjoying the fact that she was so determined to learn something new. The more he discovered about this woman, the more he liked her. “Maybe I can help. I'm pretty good with computers.”

Her eyes widened and he saw a glimmer of desperation there before a barrier dropped over her face, as if she remembered who he was. “Maybe. Don't worry about
Shelley. We've got lots of chores to do today and I'm looking forward to the girls helping.” Melanie rested her hand on Shelley's shoulder and gave the girl a warm smile.

“That sounds great. I know Shelley's excited to be with Anne. Do you like to go riding?” He smiled at Anne, but the girl quirked her mouth in disgust and turned away.

Scott took the snub hard. He didn't know why this girl's approval mattered so much to him, but he wished she'd give him a chance.

“Come on, I'll get my boots on and we can get to work.” Anne tugged on Shelley's arm, pulling her toward the kitchen.

Shelley paused, wrapping her arms around Scott for a quick hug. “See you later, Daddy.”

“Okay, munchkin. Have a good day.” He gave her a peck on the forehead before the girl hurried after Anne. Though he could no longer see them, he heard their happy chatter as they discussed the baby lambs. Relief flood him. He hadn't felt settled and confident about his daughter's well-being for almost six months. It felt good to know she was happy and safe, and he had Melanie to thank for that.

“We'll see you later this afternoon.” Melanie hovered beside the door, a veiled invitation for him to leave.

“Before I go, I wanted to give you this.” He handed her a yellow flyer.

“What's this?” Her gaze scanned the page.

“I'm planning to post these around town. I'm holding a special meeting in two weeks with the local ranchers to discuss grievances and possible solutions. I thought you'd like to attend.”

“Yes, I have a few grievances of my own.”

He quirked a brow. “Such as?”

“The coyote problem has been exceptionally bad this
year. A number of us ranchers complained about it to the previous ranger, but nothing ever got done.”

He nodded. “Okay, I'll see what I can do. Anything else?”

“I'd sure feel better if we could do something about the larkspur covering part of the mountain pastures over by Gaylin Canyon. The noxious plants are killing my sheep.”

“I have a crew of workers that can go in and spray and dig it out. I can have it done by end of the week.”

She didn't say anything, but her forehead crinkled with skepticism. He could tell that she didn't believe he'd do anything; it delighted him to prove her wrong.

He turned to leave, but she stopped him, her lips pursed together. “Scott, it's wonderful that you're making an effort to talk to the ranchers and I don't want to discourage you, but don't be surprised if your meeting doesn't go too well.”

What did she mean? “You don't think many ranchers will attend?”

“Oh, yes. You'll have a packed house…filled with very angry people.”

“That bad, huh?”