The Chief Ranger Read online

  “No problem. Talk to you later.”

  The second they finished speaking, he phoned Bob, who informed him that fifty acres in the Laurel Lakes area had now burned.

  Vance said, “The number isn’t alarming yet, but if the wind picks up we’ll have to call in more firefighters. Keep me posted.”

  After dealing with a couple of scheduling problems, he came to the last message. It was from Chase. He phoned him back. “Sorry I couldn’t return your call at the time. This has been quite a day.” Without preamble he brought Chase up to date on everything. “Nicky finally calmed down enough to say goodbye without falling apart.”

  “I knew it wouldn’t be pretty. Earlier I talked to Perry. He said Nicky was a trooper up there, but it was all because of you.”

  “The boy is missing his father. He poured out his emotions on me, but he’ll be fine once he’s back with his grandparents.”

  “My guess is things won’t work out with Rachel and her ex. Nicky won’t stand for it.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping.” The mere idea of anyone else trying to father Nicky sent Vance’s blood pressure through the roof. As for Rachel’s ex-fiancé marrying her … He stifled a groan.

  “How far away are you?”

  “I passed through the entrance a few minutes ago.”

  “Then come straight to my house. We’ll catch the Angels-Mariners game from Seattle on the tube. I’ll put steaks on.”

  “No food for me tonight. I’ve lost my appetite, but the game sounds good. See you soon.” Anything to get his mind off Rachel.

  WHEN RACHEL WALKED into her boss’s office in Miami on Tuesday morning, she didn’t expect to find her sandy-haired ex-fiancé sitting behind the desk. The second he saw her he jumped to his feet. After spending time with the chief ranger, she found Steven’s six-foot height didn’t seem very tall.

  “Don’t be angry. I asked Harry if I could have a few minutes with you first,” he said. Nothing was sacred with Steven.

  Rachel sat down in front of the desk. He looked thinner, overworked, but no less attractive with those conventionally handsome looks. “I’m not angry, but if you’re here to try to talk me out of resigning, you’re too late.” So much had changed in a week’s time, she felt like an entirely different person.

  The guilty pain in his brown eyes seemed real enough. “Did your parents tell you I dropped by last week?”

  “Yes.”

  Lines of anxiety marred his features. “I’m here to tell you I love you and want us to start over, but I don’t know how to prove that what I did will never, ever happen again. I swear it, Rachel.”

  She took a deep breath. “I believe that you believe it. For your information, Nicky’s psychiatrist has urged me to explore my feelings for you. He’s convinced Ben and Michelle’s deaths came too close on the heels of our breakup for me to work through all my emotions. When I left for California with Nicky, I fully intended to come home and call you.”

  “Sweetheart …” The hope in that one endearment was revealing. He started around the desk. Another second and he would reach her, but she moved faster and stood behind her chair.

  Seeing him again didn’t stir up her desire. On the contrary, she shrank from any contact. What she saw was a weak man who’d made love to his former girlfriend on the eve of his wedding to Rachel. She didn’t care about the reason. All she knew was that Steven’s commitment to her hadn’t stood the test of their engagement, let alone a marriage meant to last a lifetime.

  Maybe it wasn’t fair to measure him against someone like Vance Rossiter, but she couldn’t imagine the chief ranger doing something that unforgivable to the woman who held his heart. He still loved his deceased wife enough to wear his wedding ring. If that wasn’t testimony of his regard for their marriage …

  In every way Rachel found him to be an honorable man. She’d seen him under attack. When she’d unleashed her pain and anger on him, there’d been no retaliation. Instead he’d done what needed doing by seeking out Nicky to comfort him. That response had shown Vance to be a breed apart from any male she’d ever known.

  Ask her nephew, who’d been inconsolable since the two of them had arrived home Sunday evening. There was only one man in his life, the supreme ruler of his universe. Steven would be invisible to Nicky now. No other man would satisfy, at least not in the foreseeable future. But the ramifications would have to be worried about another day.

  Steven stood there motionless. “You won’t even let me touch you?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t. When I gave you back the ring, I was in a tremendous amount of pain. Seeing you now proves to me my feelings have died. The truth is, I haven’t missed you, Steven. It really is over. I know in my heart that no amount of therapy is going to change that.”

  “Wait a minute—I thought you said you were going to call me when you got back from your trip!” he challenged. “What happened in Yosemite to change your mind?”

  “Nothing,” she said, her gaze unwavering. “I just didn’t expect to find you here in Harry’s office. The truth is, I feel nothing where you’re concerned. This has saved me trying to get in touch with you.”

  “You’re lying, Rachel. I know you too well. You’ve met another man.” His cheeks had turned a ruddy color.

  Yes, she’d met another man, but he wasn’t available. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’d leap to that conclusion, not after your history with Lynette.” Her salvo connected, causing him to stay where he was. “Isn’t it interesting you have yet to ask me about Nicky or how the trip affected him? The situation is always about you, because you inevitably twist things around so you’re the victim.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That was below the belt, wasn’t it?”

  “I’m sorry if the truth hurts.” Vance or no Vance, she’d moved on emotionally and couldn’t go back.

  He shook his head. “You’re different. Who’s the guy?”

  She folded her arms. “I can see you’d like there to be one. Otherwise I’ve come to my senses on my own.”

  “Rachel …!”

  Once upon a time he could have said her name in that intense way and she would have melted. “I wish you well, Steven, but if you don’t mind, Nicky’s waiting for me at home. Will you please send Harry back in so we can conclude business?”

  “I won’t accept this as final!” he blurted.

  Obviously not. His pride was having a hard time.

  She walked to the door. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Tell Harry I’ll call him.”

  Harry and Steven played golf together. Nothing was private between them. That explained why her boss had conveniently disappeared. In so doing, he’d removed any guilt she might have felt by not remaining to keep her appointment.

  It was cathartic to leave the company, knowing the pain of the past was well and truly behind her. But like entering a revolving door, she’d been thrust through the other side into a growing new crisis with Nicky. The trip to Yosemite might have succeeded in reducing his nightmares, but he had a new fixation in the form of the park’s chief ranger.

  Within five minutes of running into the house to hug his grandparents Sunday evening, Nicky had begged

  Rachel to get Vance on the phone. “He’s waiting for me to call him. Here’s his number.” When he produced the slip of paper Vance had given him, she had no choice but to acknowledge it.

  “I’ll let you call him when you’re in bed, not before.” They were home now. No more indulging him. For the past week he’d been running her life. It had to stop.

  Finally, at bedtime, she went into his room with the phone. Not wanting Vance to think the call was her idea, she pressed the digits, then handed Nicky the phone and left the bedroom. A few minutes later she and her mother peeked in, only to discover he was still on the line, giggling like the carefree child he’d been before his parents’ deaths.

  “I have to admit I’m grateful to that man for turning Nicky around,” her mom whispered.

  “
So am I, but I’m worried Nicky’s going to think he can talk to him all the time.”

  “Don’t be too concerned. You just got home. We’ll take him to the cemetery tomorrow and arrange for Blake to come over in the afternoon. In a day or two he’ll settle down. Knowing you’ve quit your job has made a big difference in his behavior. That look of anxiety on his face has disappeared.”

  Yes, Rachel had noticed, but she gave all the credit to Vance, who’d made Nicky feel cherished and safe, exactly the way a father would have done, the way Ben had done.

  After leaving the cruise line parking lot earlier today, she’d headed for the supermarket. Once she’d picked up some groceries and her dad’s refill at the pharmacy, she’d driven home, hoping Nicky was enjoying being over at Blake’s house. He needed the interaction with friends.

  “Rachel, honey?” her father called to her when he heard her enter the kitchen from the garage. She put the bags down and went into the dining room, where he was sitting at the table in front of the laptop.

  “Where’s Mom?”

  “She went to pick up Nicky.”

  “It’s only lunchtime. I was hoping he’d play longer.”

  “He wanted to come home in case Vance phoned.”

  No surprise there. “I was afraid of that, but Vance is too busy to be bothered.”

  “Nevertheless, Mr. Rossiter phoned the house a while ago to get our e-mail address.”

  Her pulse ran away with her. “You talked to him?”

  “I surely did. We had quite a conversation. Nicky told me he was a marine. He’s an impressive man dealing with heavy responsibilities. I’d planned to phone him and thank him for all his help with Nicky. His call saved me the trouble.

  “Take a look at these pictures he sent. There’s one of Nicky up on top of El Capi—” He was so choked up he couldn’t talk.

  She stepped behind him and looked over his shoulder. In the photo on-screen Nicky looked like Ben at that age. It was precious. Her father scrolled down and landed on one of Vance gazing at Nicky while they walked around on top of the flat rock. There was an expression on his rugged face that could only be described as love. Nicky was staring up at him in worship.

  Her dad made a sound in his throat. “Will you look at that.”

  Since last Wednesday Rachel had been a witness to that uncanny rapport between them. Was it just a week ago the chief ranger had entered the lodge dining room to talk to Nicky? What transpired during that conversation had righted his world and quieted his fears.

  “Rachel?” She turned to see Nicky run into the dining room with her mom at his heels. “Did Vance call? He said he was going to.”

  “As a matter of fact he did,” her father answered. “He wanted our e-mail address so he could send us some pictures. Look—there you are with him and Rachel.”

  Nicky nestled close to his papa to view everything. All kinds of excited noises came out of him.

  Her mother teared up. “I’m glad these were taken before you turned into a junior marine.”

  Rachel gave her a hug. They both mourned the loss of his curls.

  When they’d seen all the pictures, Nicky whipped his head around to look up at her. “I want to call him back.”

  “We can’t right now.” She could feel a tug-of-war coming on. Never again. “Did you have fun with Blake?”

  “I guess.” He pressed his grandpa’s arm. “Will you call him? I have his number.” He pulled it out of his pocket. The little monkey kept it on him at all times.

  Ted eyed Rachel and his wife before he said, “I’ll let you call him this time, to thank him for the pictures.”

  “Hooray! I love you.” The boy kissed his cheek.

  “I love you, too, but Rachel’s right. Vance is in charge of everything that happens in the park and doesn’t have a lot of free time to talk. We have to honor that.”

  Nicky sobered. “But last night he said I could ‘cause I’m his favorite person.”

  “Well, that’s a real compliment,” her father commented.

  “What does that word mean?”

  Rachel squeezed his shoulders. “It means you’re lucky that a wonderful man like him cares so much about you.”

  “He said he loves me.”

  “Who wouldn’t?”

  Stunned that Vance had used those exact words, she hugged him to cover her concern. Nicky took everything literally. In his mind if Vance loved him, then he had permission to be a part of his life. That meant instant access.

  This wasn’t good. No wonder he was so insistent on talking to Vance. What to do? Rachel needed some advice about now.

  Dr. Karsh had told her to call him after they got back. She’d planned to, but hadn’t expected to be forced to consult him this soon. Unfortunately, Vance’s declaration of affection for her innocent nephew had upped the timetable.

  She leaned down to whisper in her dad’s ear. “While you phone Vance, I’ll go to my room and give Dr. Karsh a call. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to reach him on his lunch hour.”

  He patted her arm, letting her know it was a good idea. The deaths of Ben and Michelle had been final, but the chief ranger was alive and as far away as a phone call.

  Chapter Seven

  Once the ambulance left the scene, Vance walked around the two buses that had collided on the road inside the Tioga Pass entrance. Though the Sierra Trails tour bus had been damaged, no one on board had been injured. Another bus was on the way to pick up the tourists, so they could continue their vacation through the park.

  Due to admitted driver error, a busful of high school students leaving the park had taken a bigger hit. Three of the teens had suffered minor injuries and been taken to the hospital to be checked out. The rest of the group had been shuttled back to Bishop, California, where their trip had originated.

  All in all, Vance could be thankful there’d been no fatalities or anything close to it this morning. He was talking with Ranger Baird, who was making out the official incident report, when his phone rang. He checked the caller ID. The sight of the area code made his day.

  Excusing himself for a moment, he walked a little distance off and clicked on. “Nicky? Is that you?”

  “Yup. Thanks for the pictures.”

  “You’re welcome. How about that one of us in front of the helicopter?”

  “I love it! Hey, Vance? What are you doing?”

  Vance’s gaze took in the mile-long stream of vehicles passing the damaged school bus. The drivers kept stopping to get a look and take pictures, creating a monster traffic jam. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Since it was an impressionable, sensitive six-year-old he was talking to, he omitted the details and said, “Work.”

  Just work …

  But even as he contemplated that thought, it shook him, because he’d never felt this way before. No matter what, he’d always experienced a certain joie de vivre in doing the kind of work he liked to do in the only place in the world he wanted to be. But something was missing since Nicky and his aunt had left.

  A new kind of emptiness had set in. There was no antidote for what was wrong except to get them back to Yosemite. But in order for that to happen, she had to let go emotionally of Steven.

  “I wish I could be there. Vance?” Nicky’s voice was laced with regret.

  Not immune to it, Vance gripped the phone tighter. “What is it, sport?” He asked the question, already knowing the answer.

  “I wish Rachel and I hadn’t had to leave. I want to be with you.” Vance heard a sniffle, then a sob. Before long the boy was convulsed with tears.

  In the background Rachel’s father was urging him to hang up. Where was she? Vance wondered. With her ex? Nicky needed her now. And Vance needed to hear her voice.

  “Come on, son,” his grandfather prodded.

  “Nooo! I don’t want to get off! Please let me talk to Vance some more …”

  “Nicky?” Vance called to him over the phone, anxious to try to smooth things over. But like the other day in Oakhu
rst, the child’s emotions were out of control and he couldn’t hear him. With every heartfelt cry, Vance’s gut twisted a little more.

  “Tell him goodbye,” his grandmother finally said in a firm tone.

  “O-kay. G-good-bye.”

  Vance heard another heaving sob, then a click.

  This was agony. If he called Nicky back, that would make things so much worse. Yet it seemed criminal to do nothing. Either way, he was damned.

  “Chief?” At the sound of Ranger Baird’s voice, he jerked around. “Is the fire worse near Miguel Meadow?”

  Fire? He shook his head to clear it. “No. It’s been contained.”

  “That’s good.” The ranger appeared hesitant. “Are you all right?”

  No, and I don’t think I ever will be all right again. “Yes. Is your report finished?”

  Baird nodded and handed it to him. Vance looked it over and signed it. “Excellent work.”

  “Thank you.”

  He handed it back. “I’m leaving for headquarters. Call me if you need me.” The helicopter pilot stood by, ready to fly him back to the village.

  Vance had interviews with two new rangers who’d transferred in from Zion National Park. After that he would be meeting the superintendent for lunch, on NPS business. Following that would be a four-hour seminar in the visitors’ auditorium to discuss alternatives to prevent the spread of invasive plants into uninfested areas.

  Vance wouldn’t have to stay for all of it. At some point he could slip out and phone Rachel, without Nicky being aware of it. They had to talk.

  But as fate would have it, at the end of the day the park’s chief biologist wanted a private conference with him. The night shift came on long before Vance’s work was done and he could go home. Finally, he was off duty until morning. Chase would deal with any emergencies.

  It had been a hot day. Vance was thirsty. Once inside the house he headed for the kitchen and bent down to drink cold water from the tap. But he needed something stronger.

  His fridge offered beer and root beer. The latter he’d kept on hand in the event Nicky might end up at his house one last time. That had been wishful thinking. Vance grabbed a beer and slammed the door shut.