The Bachelor Ranger Read online

  “I believe Lonan already took care of that, Alex. Before I leave, I wanted you to know I’d like to see you in my office next Friday. Let’s say noon. We’ll make it a working lunch while we talk.”

  He’d been looking at her while he spoke and hadn’t included Cal in the invitation. She didn’t know what to think, but she couldn’t ignore a summons from the superintendent. “I’ll be there. Good night, Bill.”

  Her glance included both men before she hurried inside the lodge, anxious to separate herself from Cal. After what he’d just told her back at his house, she had no desire to be alone with him again. His confession had dredged up all the pain of the past year in an agonizing new way. She was through with this kind of torture.

  “Wait up, Alex…” Jerked out of her troubled thoughts, she saw Ralph headed toward her. “Where were you? Don’t you know you missed all the excitement?”

  After her talk with Vance, she had to be careful not to let Ralph know she’d voiced her complaints about him. They had the rest of the summer to get through. Somehow she needed to remain friendly, but from now on she would be wary about depending on him unless it was absolutely necessary.

  Though he pretended a personal interest in her, she was positive it had nothing to do with his being attracted to her. He would have seen Lusio and Mika with Cal earlier. She had a feeling he’d noticed her return with Cal a few minutes ago and was fishing for information about him. Why, she couldn’t say. The man had an agenda and she guessed it had to do with Cal. If she played along with him, maybe she’d discover what it was.

  “Did you hear that Sergei cut his foot?”

  His lips tightened. “Someone mentioned it.”

  “That’s where I was, holding the dog while Ranger Hollis sutured his wound. During the operation we felt the tremor. I hurried back as soon as I could. Are your kids okay?”

  “A few got nervous, but they’re fine now.”

  “That’s good. I need to check on mine.”

  “Before you do that, I thought we should plan another outing for next Saturday. Most of the teens got along pretty well yesterday.”

  “But not all,” she reminded him.

  “I told Steve he had to apologize to the boys. He’s done that already, so we’ll hope for no more fireworks.”

  “I’m glad he did that. What do you have in mind?”

  “A trip to the Hetch Hetchy Valley. We could do the Lookout Point Loop.”

  Alex had been there many times. The place looked like a replica of the Yosemite Valley. Bears and rattlers were common. According to Chief Sam Dick, the Paiutes once dug for acorns that had fallen at the base of the valley’s black oaks.

  “That’s one of my favorite places. Sounds good. Let’s talk about it during the week.”

  “How about tomorrow evening over another game of cribbage?” His eyes looked hopeful. He was attractive in his own way, but it was too bad she couldn’t trust his motives.

  “You’re on. See you in the morning at breakfast.”

  Alex left him to find Lonan. He would want to go on that trip, too. She needed him there for backup in case anything went wrong. They could eat breakfast at the Evergreen Hotel first.

  She’d ask Vance if he could arrange for Chief Sam Dick to talk to the kids before they started their hike. Considering their Zuni background, he would enchant them with stories of his Paiute heritage. The blending of their two cultures would be an enriching experience.

  Lonan answered the knock on his door. “Welcome back.”

  “This has been quite a night. Are you okay?”

  “Sure. Everything’s fine.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

  “The boys agreed the dog was more important.”

  Alex nodded. “Sergei is very special to Ranger Hollis.”

  “And Ranger Hollis is very special to you.”

  That was true. She and Lonan had few secrets. They’d been friends since she was a little girl and pretty well knew each other inside and out. The two of them reminded her of Nicky and Roberta, who were also four years apart, but their bond was strong.

  “Did you phone Mankanita?” Alex planned to pay him a big enough salary that he’d be able to marry Mankanita in the fall, knowing he had a nest egg in the bank.

  “Yes.”

  “I bet she was happy to hear from you.”

  His dark eyes glinted with light. “She let everyone know about the quake.”

  “That’s a relief. I didn’t want anyone to worry. The next time you talk to her, why don’t you invite her to come up next weekend and be with you while we visit the Hetch Hetchy Valley. I’ll pay for her airline ticket and a rental car. She can room with me. I think she’s missing you too much.”

  A happy smile broke out on his face. “She might be able to come. I’ll ask her.”

  “Good.”

  “One more thing. Lusio and Mika phoned their parents and told them they want to become park rangers.”

  “What? They’ve only been here ten days! Yesterday they wanted to go home.”

  “Things change.”

  That was because of Cal, of course.

  “Get a good sleep, Lonan.”

  “You, too.”

  Chapter Eight

  By Friday Sergei’s bandage had come off and he barely favored his hind paw. When Cal spoke with Gretchen about the injury, she said another week and his dog would be good as new and able to do deep-forest bear tracking. For this week, she recommended short walks.

  Under the circumstances Cal didn’t mind. With Weed Warrior Week here, he decided he would drive Mika and Lusio to and from the Tuolumne Meadows, while he carried out his own duties at the same time.

  But he couldn’t lie to himself any longer. Today was Alex’s meeting with Telford and it was eating him alive. Cal had inside information from Jeff. Someone on the superintendent’s staff had told him Telford was interested in Senator Harcourt’s sexy daughter.

  After four days of not seeing her, the need to make contact was so strong, Cal found himself driving over to Sugar Pines at 6:30 a.m. The other night she’d refused to let him finish explaining what was on his mind. This morning nothing could keep him from her. Somehow he would make her listen, hopefully before she took off to deliver her teens to their work site.

  When he arrived, the kids were still eating breakfast. He waited in the truck until he saw her file out of the lodge with the other chaperones and head for her minibus. Alex had dressed in jeans that outlined her shapely hips and long legs. She wore a khaki blouse tucked in at the waist, giving her an hourglass figure.

  If she walked into Telford’s office looking like that, she’d give him a heart attack. Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad idea, Cal mused wryly.

  He climbed down from the cab to intercept her. She slowed down. “Cal…” Her green eyes scrutinized him in the early light. He couldn’t decipher what she was thinking.

  “Good morning. I’m glad I caught you in time.”

  “Is there a problem?”

  He put his hands on his hips. “Why do you always imagine the worst?”

  An almost smile hovered at the corners of her mouth. “Bad habit, I guess.”

  “Since I have to go to Wawona this morning, I’m here to take Mika and Lusio with me. They can catch their ride to the Meadows from there.” As if saying their names had conjured them up, the two boys came out the door of the lodge with the other kids.

  She looked surprised. “After what they told Lonan about you, they’ll be thrilled to drive with you.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes. They’ve decided they want to be rangers when they grow up. That’s your fault.”

  He was surprised at how happy that made him feel. “I’m glad someone around here appreciates me.”

  “They like the volunteers you assigned to work with them much better, too.”

  “And what about the job itself?”

  “It’s what they’ve done at home so they’re fine with it.”


  “Except it might be a different story by the end of today. The weather has turned warmer. By afternoon the sun will be hot.”

  “They’re used to heat. How’s Sergei?”

  “Recovering nicely. He’s in the back of the truck in his crate. By now he’s dying to bolt because he can hear your voice. Why don’t I pick you up this evening after the kids have had dinner. I’ll fix you something to eat at my house. Sergei has missed you and could use a visitor.”

  “I’d like to come, but one of the botanists has been scheduled to speak to the kids. I need to be here.”

  Cal wasn’t about to take no for an answer. One way or another, he intended to be with her tonight. “Then I’ll be by for you after it’s over.”

  Her hesitation before answering made him uneasy. If she was nervous around him because she really didn’t like him anymore but couldn’t show it while working at the park, that was one thing. But if it signified she was fighting an awareness of him after promising to leave him alone, that was something else. Before too much longer he was determined to learn the truth.

  “I’ll have to check with Lonan. I don’t know if he has plans or not.”

  Alex, Alex. How much damage have I caused?

  “Let me know later.” He flicked his gaze to Lusio and Mika. “Hey, guys? I’m your ride this morning. Hop in the truck.”

  Their faces broke into smiles. At least they seemed happy to see him.

  “MR. TELFORD? YOUR ASSISTANT told me to knock.”

  When the superintendent saw Alex in the doorway, he left his desk to walk over to her. “What happened to Bill? That is my name.”

  “I didn’t think you would want me to be informal in front of your staff.”

  “Well, I do. Come in.” His office had a coffee table with love seats facing each other. “Please…sit down.”

  “Thank you.”

  He sat opposite her and leaned forward with his hands clasped. “If you’re thinking I asked you here to talk about your project, you’d be wrong. Vance told me to give your volunteers some space and I thoroughly understand. Forgive me for getting too excited about it?”

  She warmed to him. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

  “Thank you, Alex.” His brown eyes studied her. “As you know, I don’t have a big staff here. The person I rely on most is my assistant, Melanie Sharp, whom I brought with me from D.C. when I accepted the park appointment. She’s been with me eight years. Now it seems I’m going to lose her because she’s getting married and moving back to Virginia.”

  “I’m sorry for you. When dad lost his D.C. assistant, it took a long time to find the right replacement.”

  “I knew you’d understand. Once you’ve learned to rely on someone, you get spoiled. Trying to find a new one is like going out on a first date.”

  Alex couldn’t help laughing. “I’ve had a few of those myself and know what you mean.”

  “I’ve done a bit of it since my wife died and it’s not pretty.”

  Alex was seeing him in a different light, one she liked. “I’m sorry you lost your wife. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for you to carry on.”

  “You don’t really have a choice. Lucky for me I have two children and a job I love. My only big problem at the moment is putting the right person behind the desk in the next room. What are your plans after your boys return to New Mexico?”

  “What I’ve been doing for years, which is working for Hearth and Home in my spare time.”

  “Is there a man you’re interested in at home?”

  “No.” Much as she cared for Lyle Richins, she knew it wasn’t love and that was never going to change.

  “The reason I ask is because I’m wondering if you would consider coming to work for me. You’re just the sort of woman I’m looking for, someone who lights her own fires.”

  So this was what he’d been leading up to. Until a year ago she would have leaped at such an offer, but there’d been a dramatic change in her life and the answer had to be no. The park wasn’t big enough to hold her and Cal.

  “I’m very flattered you would even consider me, Bill. It’s a real honor.”

  “But…” he responded with a sad smile. “I can hear it coming.”

  “I’m afraid the answer has to be no, and not because of a man at home. The truth is, I’m still trying to figure out my life. In order to work for you, I’d want to be a thousand percent committed.”

  He nodded. “I understand, but I have to tell you I’m disappointed. When I couldn’t get you to stay at dinner the other night at the Ahwanhee so I could ask you, I had to do something else.”

  “You mean you planned for our tables to be close together…to talk to me?”

  “Yes. And the picture taking was one way I could think of to detain you, but you left anyway.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “I’ve been so impressed with what you’ve done, I decided to try to nab you before you get some notion to become a ranger yourself.”

  She shook her head. “No. That would never happen. I’ve loved my freedom to play tourist here.” After this summer Alex doubted she’d ever come to the park again. It would be too painful.

  He sat back against the cushion. “You’d make a terrific one. Vance has said the same thing.”

  “You’re both very kind.”

  “We both know a good thing when we see it.” He smiled. “Thank you for being frank with me about the job. I had to ask. With that settled, let’s walk over to the Yosemite Lodge. Our lunch is waiting. I’m anxious to hear an off-the-record account of how your volunteers feel about their experience so far. If there’s anything they need, all you have to do is ask.”

  Touched by his concern, Alex willingly followed him out the door. As they rounded the corner she caught a glimpse of Cal striding down the hall. Sergei wasn’t with him. She couldn’t tell if he saw the two of them, but even from the distance separating them, his face looked hard as Yosemite granite before he disappeared inside his own office.

  SINCE GETTING BACK FROM Wawona, Cal had a ton of paperwork to wade through. But after an hour he couldn’t concentrate any longer and checked his watch. Alex and Telford ought to have finished their lunch by now.

  As far as Cal was concerned, the superintendent was poaching on his territory, and to be on the lookout for poachers was the job of every ranger. Unless Alex had a thing for him. Cal couldn’t imagine her being interested in a fifty-year-old man with children only a couple of years younger than her. The very thought chewed him up inside.

  He pushed himself away from the desk. “Come on, buddy. It’s time for an intervention, whether she likes it or not.” After attaching the leash to Sergei, they walked out to the truck. No longer needing to be in a crate, the dog climbed into the front of the cab with him.

  With a firm plan in mind, he drove to his house and exchanged the truck for his blue Xterra. He put Sergei in the backseat, then drove by the Yosemite Lodge parking lot. Her minibus was no longer there. Operating on the hunch she would go back to the ski lodge before she did anything else, he headed for Sugar Pines.

  His heart slammed into his ribs when he pulled into the campground and saw her getting out of the bus. The angle of the sun bathed her hair in silvery-gold fire. Cal had never seen anything like it.

  He got out of the car at the same moment Ralph Thorn bounded out of the lodge and hurried toward Alex. Evidently she couldn’t go anywhere without a man lying in wait for her. It was no accident that Brock whatever-his-name-was had shown up at the Tioga resort last weekend.

  Cal approached them, nodding to Thorn, who saw him first. In the other man’s eyes there was a veiled glint of hostility before he recovered. It was one thing for the chaperone to show impatience at being interrupted while he was talking to Alex, but hostility connoted something else. Thorn had come to the wrong place to work if he had issues with the rangers, or Cal in particular.

  “Good afternoon.”

  At the sound of his voice, Alex swung aro
und. In that instant he glimpsed surprise in her eyes and another emotion that might have been relief. That made him more curious than ever.

  “I need to speak to you, Ms. Harcourt. It won’t take long. When you have a moment, just step over to the car.”

  He walked back and made a call to one of his staff, leaning against the passenger door. Pleased when she broke off talking to Thorn and hurried toward him, he hung up.

  “Is there something wrong with the boys?”

  Cal wasn’t surprised that was the first question to come out of her mouth. She had a habit of worrying about them, but in this case it gave him an opening he would use to his advantage.

  “To my knowledge everyone’s fine. I’m off to do my afternoon rounds. This will be Sergei’s first outing without being in his crate. If you’d like to see Mika and Lusio in action before I bring them back to camp, come with us. I thought we’d go in comfort.”

  Though he felt her hesitation, the unmistakable light in those green orbs told him she’d love the opportunity to visit them.

  “They may not be demonstrative, but like any young guys, they’ll enjoy showing off in front of you.”

  He could hear her mind working. “I’ll take some pictures of them and Sergei to send home to their families. Give me a minute to run inside first.”

  She was still wearing the same outfit he’d seen her in that morning. It meant she hadn’t felt the need to dress up for Telford. That, plus her eagerness to join him—even if it was tied to her affection for the boys and Sergei—improved his mood. Before the day was out, he would finish the talk with her that should have happened years ago.

  In another few minutes she returned. No sign of Thorn. “Do you want me to sit in back with Sergei and hold him?”

  Cal had a feeling that was what she preferred to do, but he was ready for her and held the passenger door open. “He’s no longer an invalid, but I think he’d better have the whole seat to himself to rest his paw. To be honest, I’d like your company up front. It’ll be nice not to have to crank my neck every time I want to look at you.”

  “All right” came the quiet response.