The Forest Ranger's Child (19 page)

He paused. “Remember something. It’s always darkest before the dawn. So if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspaper, that’s the best time to do it.”

She cocked her head, looking confused. “They don’t deliver the paper out here in the valley. And why would I want to steal my neighbor’s newspaper anyway?”

“You wouldn’t. I’m just keeping my promise to make you laugh as often as possible. You’re not gonna let me down are you?”

She laughed, the sound low and sweet. “You’re crazy, did you know that?”

“I’m crazy about you, babe. And did you know you’re beautiful when you smile?”

She opened her mouth to say something, but he didn’t give her the chance. She might change her mind about going up on the mountain with him. Instead, he gestured to the fields. “I’m gonna go help your dad now. I think we can get some hay harvested tonight and I’ll still have time to work with two of the horses. If you need anything, just come to the edge of the fence and wave your arms. I’ll see you and come running.”

He turned and sauntered off, his heart bursting with joy. Tomorrow, he’d get to have her to himself. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t talk about romance. He’d get to spend time with Lily. Talk. Laugh. Learn more about her.

And maybe she’d start to care for him as much as he cared for her.

Chapter Eighteen

T
his was a big mistake. Lily knew it the moment she saw Nate walk to the stable with the horse he’d been riding that morning. She’d watched him working in the paddock, admiring his easy grace as his tall body rocked with the horse’s stride. Rather than a separate entity, Nate seemed like a part of the horse. So comfortable in the saddle. So self-assured.

Toots was no longer over-rotating her right side. She held her head nice and low for cattle work and responded to the merest touch of Nate’s heels. Under his gentle tutelage, she’d become a good cattle horse.

Now, Lily stood at the kitchen window peeling carrots for supper. Nate led the horse toward the stable. The filly pranced and waved her head before nudging Nate’s arm with her nose. No doubt looking for another molasses treat. Thankfully Nate used discretion and never overdid it. He seemed to have an uncanny knack for knowing how much was too much so he didn’t give the horses colic.

Nate disappeared into the stable. She knew he’d rub down the horse, making sure Toots was dry and had plenty of water. He babied each and every animal, soothing them. Teaching them that they could trust him.

Gentling them the way he was gentling her.

Lily shook her head, bolting the door on that thought. To save her life, she couldn’t deny her excitement at going with him up on the mountain. She tried to ignore the tingling in the pit of her stomach, but it did little good. Somehow, Nate had wormed his way into her heart. She really liked this man. And that scared her beyond belief.

“He’s sure good with the horses.” Dad spoke from behind her.

“Yep.” She couldn’t bring herself to say anything more as Dad stood beside her. Instead, she reached for a towel to dry her hands.

“I knew he was the right man for the job. I just wish he had more time to spend here at the ranch with us.”

It seemed they all had that sentiment, including Lily. She didn’t want Nate here, yet when he was gone, she missed him horribly. Against her better judgment, he was growing on her. She just could not make sense of her jumbled emotions.

“Nate says he’s taking you on a date this afternoon.”

Lily huffed. “It’s not a date. We’re just going to spend some time together.”

Dad reached for a chunk of carrot and popped it into his mouth to chew. “That’s a date, darlin’. And it’s okay by me. I figure it’s about time you found yourself a decent man you can depend on.”

She ignored that remark. “Have you thought anymore about the debris jam he saw building up above the ranch?”

“Yep.”

“And?”

“And I’m not going anywhere.”

She turned. “Dad, I saw the dam above the Stokelys’ ranch. It was small in comparison to what Nate says is sitting above us. He says it could take out our entire ranch.”

“Ah, don’t worry, darlin’. Nothing’s ever happened to the ranch before and it won’t happen now.”

“But it happened to the Stokelys! It could be worse for us.”

“The Stokelys’ ranch sits close to the mountain, but ours doesn’t. No flood can come down the mountain and reach our house.”

“Nate says it could. He said the force of the water and the width of the debris can be that strong.”

“Then leave if you want to,” he yelled.

Lily flinched and felt the blood drain from her face. “I want you to go with me, Daddy. We’ll take the horses and move them to higher ground, just for a few weeks until the danger has passed.”

His face reddened with anger. “I said I’m not leaving. Don’t ask me again. You do what you want.”

He reached for an old newspaper he’d read a zillion times and sat down in his recliner. With a whack of the paper, he opened it and scanned it with his gaze, ignoring her.

It didn’t help matters when Nate came from the barn packing a large basket. He must have made it himself and put it in the shade of the barn to protect it from the summer heat. She’d planned for a drive up the mountain, not a picnic lunch.

He opened the door to his truck and slid the basket onto the backseat. Then, he glanced at one of the side mirrors and smoothed his damp hair. He must have washed up in the stable.

Getting ready for their date—which wasn’t really a date.

Lily sighed. Why pretend? It was a date, any way she looked at it. There were so many facets to this man and she couldn’t help being intrigued by him.

He had no idea what he was getting himself into by being around her. He didn’t have children, so he couldn’t know all the work involved in raising a baby. Especially a baby he hadn’t fathered. Diapers, late-night feedings and lots of bills. Lily couldn’t dump all of that on Nate. Unless she was absolutely certain he could take it for keeps.

As he walked toward the house to get her, a swarm of butterflies settled in her stomach. Dressed in blue jeans that shaped his lean legs, he walked with a confident stride. Obviously he wasn’t nervous about their date…er, outing.

Going with Nate would just give him a false sense of hope. She’d warned him she didn’t want a romantic involvement. And she meant it. If he got hurt, it was his own fault.

Wasn’t it?

His knock sounded on the front door. As she walked through the living room, she decided she’d tell him she couldn’t go. She wasn’t feeling well. She’d use the baby as an excuse to stay home.

Opening the door, she found him smiling in anticipation. With all the time he’d spent working outside in the sunshine, his face and arms had turned a golden hue. His brown eyes crinkled as he looked at her from head to toe.

“You look beautiful, Lily.”

She could almost say the same about him. Her insides melted like butter smoothed over a hot piece of cornbread. “Thank you.”

She stepped back and he followed her inside. His slightly damp hair curled at the nape of his neck and she resisted the urge to reach up and thread her fingers through it.

“If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.”

“What?”

He repeated the question, smiling expectantly.

“Oh, no. Not another silly joke.” She laughed in spite of herself. Not because it was funny, but because he was trying so hard. He made her feel special. Like she meant something to him.

“No one’s ever tried to make me happy before,” she confided.

“You don’t like my jokes?”

She covered her mouth with one hand, trying hard not to giggle like a teenage girl. What was it about this man that made her feel so flighty and joyful? “Well, your jokes are kind of lame. Did you think them up yourself?”

“Nah, I got them off the internet.” He waved a hand in the air. “Guess I need a new source, huh?”

“Something like that.”

He stepped nearer. “You deserve to be happy, but I think you’re afraid. I can’t blame you, Lily. Not after what you’ve been through. But think about it. Is this really how you want to live the next fifty years of your life? Alone. No one to love, just so you won’t get hurt again?”

His candor left her breathless and exposed. How did he know so much about her? Her first reaction was to get angry. But as she gazed up into his eyes, all she saw there was an honest desire to help.

“Nate, please don’t.”

He stepped back. “If you ever change your mind, please let me know. I don’t want to wait any longer than necessary.”

But she wouldn’t. Loving this man would cost her too much.

“I…I’ll just get my jacket and be ready to go.” As she reached into the coat closet, her mind whirled with a dozen arguments why she shouldn’t love him. Why she couldn’t accept his marriage proposal and just fold herself into his arms.

Outside, he opened the truck door for her and helped her climb up. Sitting back in her seat, she decided to relax and enjoy the ride. But her body thrummed with excitement and she couldn’t explain the light, carefree feeling in her chest. The first she’d had in years.

* * *

“Does your dad need help moving the horses to higher ground?” Nate glanced at Lily as he drove them over the dirt road leading up the campground at Barton’s Peak. She looked beautiful with sunlight glinting off her russet hair, showing highlights of red and gold.

“No, he says he’s not going anywhere.”

“What?”

“He’s acting like an ostrich with its head in the sand. He doesn’t think we’ll end up like the Stokelys.”

Nate snorted. “Then you need to go into town without him. Would Clara let you stay at her house for a while?”

“Yes, but I won’t leave Dad.”

“Ah, come on. Be reasonable. Your dad’s a grown man, but you’re pregnant. You need to be where you and the baby will be safe.”

“I won’t leave him,” she said again.

Nate grit his teeth, showing an irritated tick along his lean jaw. For just a fraction of a moment, Lily expected him to explode at her. That’s what Tommy would have done. But she’d learned that wasn’t Nate’s way. He didn’t like what she’d said, but he’d never hurt her. She knew that now.

She trusted him.

True to his word, Nate didn’t discuss romance and he made Lily laugh at least a dozen times. She gave a shout of joy when he informed her that he had a buyer set up for six of their horses.

“You’re kidding. Who is it?”

“A rancher I know in Elko. He’s got four sons, all of who participate in rodeo. They saw the exhibition with Toots and Peg and he’s anxious to buy our horses.”

Nate told her the offered price and she laughed with relief. “That’s more than fair. Oh, Nate, I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“No need to thank me, Lily. We’re in this venture together, remember?”

Yes, together. She thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. After Nate inspected the new restrooms and surveyed the repairs to the campground, he spread out their lunch on a blanket beneath a tall aspen. Turkey and Swiss cheese sandwiches, grapes, potato chips and chocolate chip cookies. By the time he dropped her off back at home, Lily almost wished she hadn’t put him under promise not to talk about romance. The front porch light showed the way as he walked her to the door. He squeezed her hand and gazed down into her eyes. For just a moment, she thought he might kiss her again. And a part of her wished he would. She admitted only to herself that she no longer felt afraid.

“Thank you for a wonderful day. Good night.” He stepped away, waiting until she went inside.

Dad must have gone to bed already, leaving a lamp on in the living room for her. As she watched through the living room window while the headlights of Nate’s truck pulled away, she realized she’d almost forgotten the danger the ranch faced. She’d almost forgotten her vow to never get close to Nate.

Late that night, Lily tossed and turned, too worried to sleep. At almost eight months pregnant, she just could not get comfortable no matter what position she tried. The baby had wedged a foot in Lily’s rib cage and the powerful kicks made her gasp.

The thought of being stuck here inside the house during a debris torrent filled Lily with utter terror. What if she fell and injured the baby? She was too big to flee from a flood.

She tried to sleep, but an inner voice kept warning her to get up and act now. Before it was too late.

What should she do?

Sitting up in bed, she tossed the covers aside and swung her feet to the carpeted floor. Drawing back the lacy curtains at her window, she gazed out at the darkness. No stars or moon in sight. Heavy clouds must be blanketing the sky. Down the hall, she heard Dad’s deep snores coming from his bedroom.

And then she got a crazy idea. Crazy but practical. And necessary. If Dad wouldn’t take action, then she would.

If she moved the horses to higher ground herself, Dad would have no choice but to accept it. It’d be done. He might get angry, but the horses would be safe.

She dressed and slipped out of the house as quietly as possible. Down by the barn, she ensured one of the four-wheelers was filled with gas. Next to Misty’s stall, she paused for a moment and pressed the palm of her hand against her distended stomach.

“Okay, baby, we’ve got a lot of work to do. You just rest and be quiet and Mommy will take care of everything.”

It was one of the rare occasions when she spoke out loud to her child. Allowing herself this precious luxury gave her added strength to do what lay ahead. She’d move slow and careful, not overdoing or straining herself. But she’d be tired by morning.

Breathing deep the crisp night air, she caught the fragrant aroma of honeysuckle and sage. The scent of rain higher up in the mountains.

The breeze cooled her heated face and arms. She tossed a warm jacket onto the back of the four-wheeler just in case, but doubted she’d need it.

Moving with precision, Lily haltered each of their yearlings and the older horses, tying them in a long string. When possible, she placed a gate or barrel between herself and the horses, to protect her stomach in case one of the animals bumped against her.

The new colts and fillies would follow their mommas without coercion. Some of the younger animals hadn’t been trained to lead this way. It’d be a long night if she had to take them each individually to the higher pasture and she prayed they’d be too tired to resist.