The Forest Ranger's Child (7 page)

Yet! Lily released her breath in a slow exhale. “Do you think that could change?”

“Yes, it could. I’ll fly up here again in two weeks, just to make sure nothing develops in the meantime.”

What a relief. Knowing Nate was here to watch over the ranch gave Lily a sense of security she hadn’t felt in years. “But what will happen with the debris dam we saw above Bill Stokely’s place?”

Nate swiveled around to stare out the window again. “With all the pressure the water behind the dam is creating, the Stokelys better watch out if it ever breaks loose.”

Eddie shook his head. “I’d sure hate to find myself in the middle of its path.”

Lily agreed. “Can the dam be dissolved somehow, so it won’t be a danger to Bill and his family?”

Nate shook his head. “Nope. There’s no way to remove the dam without it giving way. But Bill can move until the flood waters have absorbed into the earth and dried out.”

That wasn’t what any rancher wanted to hear. No man wanted to lose his ranch. It was his home and livelihood. But Lily figured moving his livestock and family was better than losing their lives.

“We will have to go down and warn them.” Nate pointed toward the valley floor.

The chopper headed down the mountain, following the route the flood would take if it should break through the dam. Wide fields opened to their view, surrounding the barn and house of the Stokelys’ place. Even here, the irrigation ditches had overflowed, flooding the alfalfa so the brown Angus cattle huddled together in dry corners as they grazed. Emerald Ranch was in the same predicament, except they didn’t have any cattle to worry about.

Just world championship quarterhorses.

“Can you set the chopper down in that empty field over there?” Nate pointed to a dry area uninhabited by livestock.

“You bet.” Eddie did as told. Within minutes, the chopper bumped down, but Eddie didn’t kill the engine in case it wouldn’t start up again. Better to leave it running on idle.

“You want to go with me to speak with Bill Stokely?” Nate asked Lily.

“Would my presence help?”

“I think so.”

She nodded, not wanting to miss any piece of this operation. “I’ve known Bill and Myra Stokely all my life. Myra was my mom’s best friend. I hate that their ranch is in danger.”

“We won’t be very long,” Nate told Eddie as he slid open the door and hopped down. He helped Lily out and together they walked briskly toward the house. Even then, she could tell Nate had slowed his stride so she could keep up.

The barking of dogs heralded their arrival and Bill Stokely came out of the wide, log house. He stood on the front porch wearing blue coveralls and a red kerchief. A speck of bread stuck to the corner of his mouth, indicating he must have been inside having lunch.

When they were within hearing distance, Bill called out, “Well, hi there, Lily.”

“Hi, Bill!” She waved.

He stepped forward and hugged her, showing a welcoming smile. “I heard you were back in town. It’s sure good to see you, honey. Although you’ve grown a bit.”

His gray eyes twinkled as he indicated her pregnancy, but she saw no censure there. Did he know she wasn’t married?

“And you, too,” she replied.

“Myra! Lily Hansen’s here,” Bill called to the house.

“Oh, my goodness. It’s little Lily.” The screen door clapped closed behind Myra as she came outside.

Lily found herself engulfed in a bevy of hugs and kisses. Except for grayer hair and more wrinkles, Myra still had the same rosy cheeks and strong, lean body. In fact, Lily couldn’t remember ever seeing a fat rancher’s wife. They worked too hard.

Myra stood back and looked Lily up and down with approval. “And we’re gonna have a baby. How wonderful. I’ve got some new little quilts and booties I just knitted this past winter. Oh, won’t we have fun dressing this little one?”

“Thanks, Myra.” Tears misted Lily’s eyes. Except for the disappointment over her lack of marriage, Lily could almost imagine her own mother would have greeted her the same way. Maybe she did have some allies here in Jasper after all.

“I didn’t expect to see you today.” Bill’s smile faded and he spoke in a gruff voice as he eyed Nate.

From past disagreements over grazing permits and water rights, Lily knew Bill didn’t like the Forest Service much. It seemed that sentiment hadn’t changed. But Lily couldn’t blame Nate for doing his job. Right now, the ranchers needed the forest ranger. Very much.

“I thought I’d pay you a visit.” Nate’s voice sounded pleasant considering the news he was bringing with him.

Myra linked her arm with Lily’s and they waited, listening carefully to what was said.

Bill jerked a thumb toward the helicopter. “What’re you doing out here in that machine?”

Without mincing words, Nate quickly explained about the debris jam they’d just seen up in the mountains.

“One of the dams is right above your place.” Nate pointed toward a stand of tall aspen skirting the west side of the ranch and everyone turned to look. From this distance, the mountain looked harmless enough. “I just wanted to warn you, Bill. I suggest you move your livestock and family to higher ground. If that debris torrent gives way, it’ll sweep through your house like a broom on an insect. You won’t have much warning.”

Bill pursed his lips. “Nonsense. Nothing short of an earthquake could do that much damage to my ranch.”

“Believe me, it could.” Nate’s voice sounded serious. He meant what he said.

“Nothing like that’s ever happened here before,” Bill returned.

“It’s not frequent, but I’ve seen it,” Nate continued. “And you don’t want to be down here if it happens.”

From her peripheral vision, Lily saw Nate shift his weight. He didn’t show any emotion, but his shoulders tensed with urgency. He must really want the Stokelys to move.

“I think we’ll stay right here.”

“Look, Bill, I can’t legally haul you off your place, but I’ve got to document this warning as soon as I get back to my office. If I were a rancher, I’d rather have my family safe than sorry.”

Bill folded his arms and gave Nate a condescending smile. “I appreciate the warning. You do what you gotta do, Ranger. But I’m not worried. My dad was ranching here long before we had any forest rangers telling us what to do. Besides, I’m insured by an Agripak farm and ranch policy. I’ve seen lots of floods during my time and we’ll be okay.”

Bill’s voice dripped with disdain, but Nate didn’t react in anger. He merely nodded with respect. “I understand.”

Lily couldn’t deny a feeling of appreciation for what Nate was trying to do. If Bill decided not to heed the warnings, that was Bill’s problem. But Lily still didn’t like the thought of someone being killed because Bill was too foolish to listen to reason.

“I wonder if we have insurance,” Lily said.

“You should ask your dad,” Nate replied. “The last time I saw a debris torrent take out someone’s ranch, the insurance policy wouldn’t cover the damage. It had several exclusions and didn’t cover water or land movements. Be sure to check it out as soon as possible.”

She nodded, feeling troubled.

The low murmur of the helicopter engine reminded them that Eddie was waiting for them.

“We best be on our way,” Nate said.

“I’ll be over to visit you in a day or two,” Myra hugged Lily. “I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to. Maybe we’ll plan a shopping trip into Reno to buy some things for the baby. Oh, we’ll have such a great time.”

That would be so much fun under different circumstances. But until Lily decided to keep the baby, she didn’t want to buy a lot of cute clothes and toys that would make her want to hold on to her child even more than she already did. “You come over anytime.”

“Give my regards to your dad.” Bill nodded to Lily.

“I will, thanks.”

After she and Nate returned to the chopper and climbed inside, Eddie lifted the bird into the air. Lily stared down at Bill and Myra standing on the ground, growing smaller by the moment. The seat creaked as Lily sat back and breathed with relief. Emerald Ranch wasn’t in danger, but if that changed in the future, she’d convince Dad to leave. She hoped he wouldn’t be as mule-headed as Bill. Maybe Dad could convince the Stokelys to move for a while. These ranchers stuck together and were stubborn to the core. Probably because they had to be to survive.

“You doing okay?” Nate asked, his eyes creased with concern.

She nodded as heat flooded her face. Physically, yes, she was great. But fear of what might happen in the future made her stomach churn. She told herself there was no sense getting upset now. If a debris jam started above Emerald Ranch, they’d deal with it later.

As her gaze swept over Nate’s drab olive-green ranger’s shirt and gold shield, she admitted silently to herself that she was grateful he was here. Growing up, she’d never heard of any forest rangers going to such lengths to protect the ranchers. Other than Dad, Nate was the first man in her life to go out of his way to ensure she was safe, which confused her and made her suspicious of his motives.

She’d sure feel better come August, when this flooding stage had passed and she’d decided what to do about her sweet baby girl.

Chapter Six

T
wo busy weeks passed without Nate being able to find an excuse to visit Lily again. Two long weeks that left him feeling hollow inside.

He missed Lily. And he didn’t know why.

When it came time for him to drive through the valley ranches again, Nate couldn’t deny a feeling of excitement. If he asked, would Lily agree to a date with him this Friday night?

Yeah, that was wishful thinking on his part.

As usual, Nate found Hank and his daughter working out in the stable. Hank smiled and shook Nate’s hand while Lily turned away and seemed to ignore him.

“We were just getting ready to go into the house for lunch. I’d take it as a personal favor if you’d join us,” Hank said.

The insistent tone in his voice and subtle pressure on his arm told Nate the man wouldn’t take no for an answer. And truthfully, Nate didn’t want to leave yet. Even with Lily glaring at him like a vulture ready to pick out his eyes.

“You got something on your mind you want to discuss?” Nate asked, highly aware of Lily shifting impatiently. His gaze swept over her baby bump, which had noticeably grown. Without another word, she turned and headed back toward the house. He admired the jaunty swing of her hips. She wasn’t waddling yet, but he figured it was just a matter of time.

Hank pulled Nate with him as he followed his daughter. “As a matter of fact, I do have a couple of questions for you. First, I want to make sure the Bailey bridge you had installed over Cross Creek is gonna hold up under all this flooding.”

“Yeah, it’ll hold.” Nate’s boot heels crunched against the graveled driveway. “And I had one of my men put signage along the road to direct people away from the creek bed where Lily got hit by the flash flood.”

He enjoyed the bounce of her soft curls as she stepped up onto the front porch of the house. She wasn’t a big woman, but she had spunk, and he liked that. A lot.

She didn’t wait for them at the door but went inside, the screen door clapping closed behind her.

With Lily out of earshot, Nate paused and faced Hank. “I don’t think I should come in, Hank. You and your daughter need time alone. Don’t worry about the Bailey bridge. It’ll hold.”

Hank clasped Nate’s arm. “Don’t go. I don’t mean to cut into your work time, but I really wish you’d take a meal with us. I owe you big time for saving Lily, but I also have another favor to ask you… .” A deep, hard cough shook Hank’s chest and he almost doubled over with the force of it.

The back screen door flew open and Lily rushed down the steps to her father’s side. “Daddy, are you okay?”

She wrapped an arm around her father’s back, supporting him until the coughing spasm subsided. Gut-wrenching fear filled her eyes and that’s when Nate realized how much she loved her father. It couldn’t be easy having an irascible man like Hank Hansen for a dad and Nate’s heart warmed toward her.

“I…I’m fine.” Hank gasped for breath.

“I don’t like this cough you’ve got, Dad. I think we need to go back into town to see the doctor again.”

Hank drew away and brushed off her concern. “I told you I already saw Doc Kenner before you came home. I’ve got some medicine in the house. I’ll take it and be fine.”

Without a backward glance, the older man reached for the door. “Come on, you two. I’m frying bacon for BLT sandwiches. You can both help. I’m starved. Let’s eat.”

Nate stood where he was, gazing at Lily’s dubious expression. “I’m sorry, Lily. I know you don’t want me here.”

Okay, maybe he was being a bit blunt. But at the age of thirty-two, he was too old to play games with a pretty woman. And he still didn’t have a handle on his feelings for her. She obviously didn’t like him. But what he couldn’t understand was why he liked her so much.

She faced him squarely. “Let’s get one thing straight right now, cowboy. I’m not interested in you. Not now, not ever. Okay?”

He grit his teeth, wondering who had hurt her so badly that she seemed to dislike men so much. “What gives you the idea I’m interested in you?”

She pursed her lips. “It’s obvious.”

He arched one brow, trying not to laugh at the way her face crinkled with repugnance. “How so?”

She lifted a hand and jutted her chin. “Because you keep showing up here.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Lily. I’ve got a job to do. Part of that includes doing what I can to ensure no one else gets hurt. The Forest Service doesn’t need a bunch of lawsuits because I didn’t build enough Bailey bridges or warn the ranchers. I thought after our helicopter ride you understood that.”

“Oh.” She frowned as if the idea of suing the government hadn’t occurred to her. “I’d never sue you. It wasn’t anyone’s fault I got hit by that flash flood. I’m lucky to be alive.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, but I’m also glad you and your baby are okay.”

She shifted her weight, resting a hand against her hip. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, Nate. Really I don’t. You’ve been a big help and I appreciate what you’re doing to help the ranchers. It’s only that my life is complicated right now. I don’t have room in my life for another man. I can’t afford the heartache. Not with a baby on the way. As long as you understand and accept that, we’ll get along fine.”

Her candor made him furious at the jerk who had cankered her toward men. She’d obviously been hurt. Badly. And the way Nate was feeling right now, he’d be happy to knock the guy out with one punch.

“You’re talking about Tommy.” A statement, not a question.

Her eyes widened with shock. “How do you know his name?”

“When I drove you to the clinic, you were in and out of consciousness. You said his name.” He didn’t add that she’d cried Tommy’s name with fear and dread. At the time, Nate hadn’t fully understood who Tommy was or what the man had done, but he knew the type.

A worthless, no-good piece of rat bait. The kind of rubbish that gave honorable men a bad name.

“That doesn’t change anything between you and me. I’m not interested. Got it?” She paused, giving Nate time to absorb her words. Her eyes drilled into his like a high-powered tool.

“Okay, I got it. But you should know I’m not interested in you romantically, either.” At least he didn’t think he was. He figured if he said it out loud enough times, he might stop thinking about her all the time.

“Good. We understand each other, then.” She gave a sharp nod.

“We do. Now can we be friends?”

Her beautiful eyes narrowed. “I don’t think so.”

A derisive laugh slipped from his chest. “Yeah, you’re right. You probably have too many friends already and don’t need another one.”

She froze like stone. “Maybe we
could
be friends, but nothing more.”

He ignored that. “Have you seen the doctor recently?”

“I have another prenatal checkup in two weeks. Don’t worry. Except for a bad case of heartburn, I’m doing fine. And the baby is a little whirling dervish. She moves often.” She rubbed her stomach and showed a stiff smile.

He chuckled. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“Now come in for lunch.” She turned, as if she hadn’t just read him the riot act.

Shaking his head in confusion, Nate followed her into the kitchen, then sat at the table. He felt useless, watching her wash off the counters, then slice lettuce and tomatoes for the sandwiches. Hank stood in front of the stove layering long slices of bacon in a pan. The meat sizzled as it hit the heat. The air smelled like morning breakfast.

No one spoke. Hank and Lily worked side-by-side, like this was an everyday occurrence. Nate fidgeted with the salt and pepper shakers for several minutes, then decided if he was going to be friends with these people, he had a right to help out. Standing, he washed his hands first, then searched the cupboards for plates and glasses to set the table. Lily glanced at him, but said nothing.

“What are we drinking?” he asked.

“The milk’s in the fridge.” Hank didn’t look up as he used a pair of tongs to turn the bacon.

Nate retrieved a gallon of milk and poured each one of them a tall glass while Lily cored and sliced apples to lay on each of their plates.

“Can you reach the mayonnaise?” Lily asked him as she spread slices of white bread across the counter.

Nate found the jar inside the fridge door and handed it to her. Her fingers brushed against his and warmth tingled up his arm. Lily jerked back as if she’d been burned and dropped the jar. With fast reflexes, Nate caught the bottle in midair.

“That was a close one.” He smiled down at her.

Standing close to Lily, their gazes met, then locked. With her tummy bumping gently against his side, he felt the unmistakable kicks of the baby and he widened his eyes in surprise. Lily’s cheeks flooded a pretty pink color before she snapped the jar out of his hands and whirled around to the counter. He stood there like a mannequin for several moments, watching her slap mayonnaise on the bread with a butter knife.

Just friends. Yeah, right.

But he wondered how long she’d fight the obvious attraction between them. Confusion radiated through Nate’s brain. He’d just felt her baby moving. Something intimate and entirely personal. Obviously Lily had felt the electric current between them, too, but she didn’t like it.

She didn’t like him.

Maybe she still loved her child’s father. Maybe she hoped the man would come for her. And yet, deep down, Nate realized something more was going on here that he didn’t understand.

“Pretty ring.” He nodded at a large diamond ring hanging from a silver chain around her neck.

Lily looked down at the glittering bauble, then whisked the chain into hiding beneath her shirt. “It was my mother’s.”

“Ah, no wonder you wear it around your neck. It must mean a lot to you.” He admitted to himself that he was glad Tommy hadn’t given the ring to her.

She tossed him a glare. “It does.”

As they sat at the table, Lily folded her arms and paused until the two men followed suit. She closed her eyes and offered a quick blessing on the food. When she finished, she picked up a slice of apple with her dainty fingers, took a bite and ignored her father’s surprised look.

“When did you get religious?” he asked.

“You and Mom taught me, remember?” She chewed and looked away.

“But I didn’t think what we taught you ever took. Before you left home, you said you didn’t believe in God.”

“Things change. There’s a lot you don’t know about me anymore, Daddy. God is the only person I believe in anymore. The only one I fully trust.”

Her words sank deep into Nate’s mind. The conviction in her voice expressed her faith, but a lot of cynicism, too. Nate hadn’t exercised his faith in a long time. Maybe it was time to remember God and all the good things in his life.

A subtle smile curved Hank’s lips. “I’m glad to hear that, darlin’. It’ll be nice to take you to church Sunday. I’ve sat alone for many years now. I’m sure lots of your old friends will be pleased to see you again.”

Lily’s shoulders tensed. “That might not be a good idea, Dad. I don’t know if I want to see anyone yet.”

Her hand slid across her abdomen and Hank’s gaze dipped there before he blinked in understanding. Nate couldn’t blame her for wanting to hide out here at the ranch. She was obviously embarrassed to have people in town find out she was expecting a child out of wedlock. He waited, hoping Hank might say something encouraging to her. Something loving and forgiving.

“There’s no one in town who’d dare cast the first stone at my girl,” Hank said.

Not exactly what Nate would call encouraging, but probably the best a gruff man like Hank Hansen could manage.

Nate cleared his voice, hoping what he said didn’t offend anyone. “All it takes is some heavy trials to remind us that we each need the Lord in our lives. Maybe that’s why God tests us so often. To humble us so we’ll turn to Him for help.”

She looked at him like he’d just sprouted horns. Then her expression softened. “I never thought of it that way, but I’m afraid I brought this trial on myself.”

“It’s nothing you can’t fix. You can always start fresh,” Nate added. “Not everyone in town will be judgmental.”

Her brown eyes flashed with resentment. Nate realized he’d said too much. An outsider who had no right to give Lily advice or participate in this conversation at her kitchen table.

Ducking his head, Nate bit into a thick sandwich and chewed, trying to fight off the whirl of thoughts filling his mind. Thoughts that would bring him nothing but trouble if he let them take hold of him. He wanted to know this woman better. To find out what made her tick. Where she’d been the past years and who had hurt her. Where was the father of Lily’s baby and why wasn’t he here apologizing to her now? The guy could show up any day now to claim Lily and her child.

It’s what Nate would do if Lily were his. He’d never abandon her or their child.

Again, the urge to hightail it away from this ranch as soon as he could filled Nate’s mind. He’d leave for a time, but he knew he’d return. And he didn’t understand why. None of this made any sense. Not at all.

* * *

Why wouldn’t he leave?