The Forest Ranger's Christmas (4 page)

Although Josie hadn’t had a Christmas tree in her lonely apartment for the past three years, she agreed.

Clint chuckled, the sound low and deep. “There’s definitely something to be said about having a real tree in your house on Christmas morning. But lots of people buy fake trees. Some are beautiful and look very real.”

Josie stared doubtfully at her choices. “Just not these two.”

“Yeah, these are pretty pathetic.” He lifted a small saw with a yellow price tag emblazoned on the wooden handle. “I propose a solution. Like Gracie said, we’re on our way up on the mountain to cut our own Christmas tree. I’ve got a chain saw and it’d be no trouble to cut one for you while we’re there.”

“Oh, I—”

“Hey!” Gracie cut in. “Why don’t you and Grandpa Frank come with us? We have room in Dad’s truck. Don’t we, Dad?”

The girl looked up at her father, an innocent expression on her face.

Josie froze. She didn’t know what to say. The deafening silence indicated that Clint was just as dumbstruck.

“Yeah.” He spoke the word in slow motion. “Why don’t you come with us? It’d do Frank some good, too.”

Josie agreed. An outing might be just the thing to drag Gramps out of his surly mood. But that would mean spending more time with the attractive forest ranger and his cute little daughter. “I’m not sure we can. I’ve got to buy groceries first.”

“Oh, please come with us, Josie. Please, please,” Gracie begged, hopping up and down with anticipation.

Josie hesitated. If only the child wasn’t so charming. And her father so handsome and brooding.

But Josie had to think. To discern if Clint’s offer was authentic, or obligatory. She sensed a reticence in him. Not because of Gramps. Oh, no. Josie was almost positive that Clint had a problem with her. And she couldn’t help wondering why.

* * *

This was a bad idea. Clint felt it deep in his bones. But Gracie had invited Josie and Frank, and Clint couldn’t back out now. Not without possibly hurting Frank’s feelings again. “Sure, why don’t you come along with us? It’ll put Frank back on an even keel with the Forest Service. And I’ll even provide the thermos of hot chocolate.”

Josie laughed, the melodic sound easing Clint’s discomfort just a bit. “I don’t know. I hate to impose.”

He shifted his feet, surprised by her pleasant mood. He’d expected her to hold a grudge. And he liked that she was able to let it go. Nor could he deny the outing sounded fun. What could it hurt? It was just a tree-cutting party, after all. No big deal. Each year, he took Gracie out to cut down their Christmas tree. But this would be the first time a woman accompanied them. And Frank, a grandfather figure Gracie loved. Clint had to put his little girl first. And as much as he hated to admit it, he didn’t seem to be enough for Gracie anymore. She was getting older and growing up so fast. Maybe being with other people during the holidays would be good for her.

Maybe it’d be good for him, too.

“It’s no imposition. Really. I even have several permits, so it’ll be perfectly legal.” Clint reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out three tree tags, dangling them before Josie’s eyes as proof.

She chuckled at his attempt at humor. And it felt so good to hear a woman’s laugh. Like coming in out of the cold after a freezing storm. Karen had been sullen, laughing so rarely. Always deeply depressed. He remembered making up jokes, and bringing her flowers every Saturday, just to see her smile. But laughter had evaded her. Which was probably why he craved it so much now.

“I’d have to check with Gramps first,” Josie said.

“Don’t worry, he’ll agree.” Clint spoke with conviction.

“Okay, but I’ll need an hour to take our groceries home and put our perishables away in the fridge. I’ve been cleaning the house for two days and we need to stock up on a lot of supplies.” She clamped her mouth closed, as if she’d confided too much information.

Clint didn’t mind. He’d seen the state of Frank’s house and had his own concerns. Since Viola’s passing, the man wasn’t taking care of himself. At his age, Clint could understand why. He was glad Josie was here to aid her grandfather. But maybe she needed help, too. Clint had noticed some shingles missing on Frank’s roof. Not something Josie could repair easily. In this small town, you couldn’t just call a roofing company to come over and fix it. And it could become a huge problem if they got many more storms. Clint should do something about it. He had the time and knew what to do.

“I’ve been worried about Frank, too,” he confessed.

Josie nodded. “He’s competent enough, but I don’t think he’ll admit how frail he’s become. He’s not steady on his feet anymore.”

“You’re right. I’ve got some leave coming over the next few weeks and would love to repair his roof.”

He wanted to serve Frank, but he didn’t want to be around Josie any more than necessary. Right now, that couldn’t be helped. She was here to visit and the work needed to be done. End of story. Besides, she’d be leaving right after the holidays.

She hesitated. “I don’t want you to feel obligated.”

“I don’t,” he said. “Serving Frank is my pleasure. I was assigned the task of looking in on him and Viola from time to time by our church leaders, but I’d do it even without that incentive. I’ve been checking on them for so long that they feel like family to Gracie and me.”

“Oh.”

And since the work was outside, Clint wouldn’t need to mingle with Josie much. He’d show up, get it done and leave. Maybe a couple men from their congregation could help. Then Frank’s house would be in good shape. And the service would give Clint a warm feeling inside.

Josie blinked her dazzling blue eyes. “That’s very kind of you. Actually, I’ve been wondering who to call to do the job. I can pay for the supplies if you’re sure you have the time.”

He nodded. “I’m sure. Give me a day to watch the evening news. We’re supposed to get another storm tonight. As soon as we have several warm days to melt off the snow, I’ll come over and do the work.”

“I hate for you to take a vacation day for this.”

“It’s no problem, really. As long as you don’t mind watching Gracie for me while I’m occupied up on the roof.”

“No, of course not. Gracie is welcome at our place anytime.” Josie smiled so sweetly at his little girl that it made his throat ache.

“Yay! I love doing jigsaw puzzles with Grandpa Frank.” Gracie clapped her gloved hands together.

“And I think we’d love to go with you to cut a Christmas tree, too,” Josie said.

Gracie hopped up and down with excitement again. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”

Clint rested a hand on his daughter’s shoulder, forcing a friendly smile to his lips. “Okay, it’s a date. Uh, not a date, but, well, you know what I mean. I need time to fill up my gas tank, so we’ll pick you up at your place in one hour.”

He blinked, feeling tongue-tied and foolish. What was the matter with him? After all, Josie was just Frank’s granddaughter.

She nodded, seeming not to notice his awkwardness. “Thanks for your generosity. I have no doubt Gramps will like this. He’s been in a real huff ever since he found out he’ll have to go to the library on Thursday nights. Truth be told, I think he’s kind of scared about learning to read.”

“That’s normal, but he’s got nothing to worry about. Reading is easy.” Clint waved a gloved hand in the air. “We’ll walk him through the basics, teach him the skills he needs, and have him reading simple sentences by Christmas, mark my words.”

“So soon?”

“Sure. Most people learn to read when they’re a child. It just takes a little time to learn and practice.”

“Good. I want him to at least be able to read the instructions on his medicine bottles.”

From what Clint had seen, Frank also needed balanced meals and someone to clean his house regularly. Once Josie returned to Las Vegas, Clint worried what might happen to Frank. Maybe not yet, but sooner or later he would need more intensive care. Clint took a deep breath, hoping Josie would do right by her grandpa and figure something out for the elderly gentleman.

“If we can just get Frank to try reading, he won’t regret it. It’s indescribable how it feels when you can suddenly read traffic signs and labels without help,” Clint continued in an animated voice. “The whole world opens up. Most of us take our ability to read for granted.”

“Is that how your wife felt?” Josie asked.

“Um, yeah, she did.” He pursed his lips and nodded, but he didn’t enlarge on the topic. He could see the questions in Josie’s expressive eyes. She didn’t understand. Neither did he, but he wasn’t about to try and explain it. Reading had made a difference for Karen. For a short time. But it had never been enough.

He hadn’t been enough.

As if sensing his reticence, Josie stepped back and waved. “I better get going. We’ll see you in an hour.”

“Bye.” Gracie waved back as she skipped after her dad.

“Goodbye, sweetie,” Josie returned.

Taking Gracie’s hand, Clint led her down the aisle. As he reached the corner, he glanced over his shoulder. Josie stood watching them, her dainty brows knitted together in a frown. Once again he got the impression she was troubled by something. But he wasn’t about to ask what.

A solid roof and a live tree for Christmas should definitely lift Frank’s spirits. And that made Clint happy, too. But until the attractive pharmacist left town, he decided not to volunteer for anything else.

Chapter Four

A
n hour and fifteen minutes later, Clint gripped the steering wheel, still convinced this was a bad idea. He never should have invited Josie and Frank on this tree-cutting excursion. Oh, Frank was just fine. No problem. But Josie was a different matter entirely. Mainly because of what she made him feel whenever she was around. An uneasy premonition he didn’t understand.

He parked his truck in the Rushtons’ driveway and got out. Frank came from the garage packing a skimpy hacksaw, a buoyant grin deepening the creases on his face. Josie walked beside him, wearing a pair of earmuffs and a black coat with a white fur collar. They framed her delicate face perfectly.

His gaze lowered to her canvas tennis shoes. Not very practical for slogging through snow. “I’m afraid those little shoes won’t provide much protection for you up in the mountains.”

She gave a tepid smile. “They’re all I brought with me. Don’t worry. I’ll be okay.”

She turned away and he let the subject drop.

Gracie scrambled out of the truck and ran to hug Frank.

“Hi, sweetheart.” He kissed her forehead.

“What’s that for, Frank?” Clint pointed at the saw. Anything to jerk his focus away from Josie.

“Cutting trees, of course,” he said.

Clint leaned against the right front fender of his truck and forced himself not to feast his eyes on Josie. Yes, he was physically attracted to her. He was a man, after all. But he knew his fascination with her was so much more. Whenever she was near, he felt a haunting familiarity. As though he knew her from some long-lost memory. A connecting of their souls. Irrefutable, and yet he couldn’t quite put his finger on why or how. Something about her touched him deep inside and he felt drawn to her in a strangely powerful way. Her clean, bouncing hair, her expressive blue eyes filled with intelligence and...

Barriers.

No doubt about it. He didn’t like this attraction he felt. Yet he couldn’t seem to help it. After Karen’s death, he’d made a promise to himself and his infant daughter that he’d never expose either of them to that kind of hurt again. Losing Karen was a heartbreak he just couldn’t let go of. And so there’d be no other woman in his life. No more romance for him.

No more heartbreak.

He gave a nervous chuckle, thinking Frank’s hacksaw wouldn’t be of much use, except for removing slender branches from the trees. “You mean to tell me you used that wimpy saw to cut down all those trees you had here at your place?”

Frank tossed him a teasing frown as he spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. “No, I used my chain saw for that, but I ain’t about to give you any more evidence to use against me, Ranger.”

Clint laughed, noticing their exchange brought a wry smile to Josie’s lips. It was good they could now find humor in the tree permit violation. But that didn’t ease his discomfort around her. Not one bit.

They piled into his truck and set off. The ride up to Crawford Mountain took fewer than forty minutes. The girls sat in the back, with Josie behind Clint. He focused on the road, trying not to look at her in the rearview mirror. When the black asphalt gave way to gravel and then muddy ruts, he shifted his truck into four-wheel drive and slowed down to negotiate the windblown drifts of snow.

Frank had a satisfied smile on his weathered face. He seemed relaxed. Content to be here. And Clint wished he felt the same.

He tried to tell himself he was just self-conscious because of the tree violation and asking Frank to learn to read. But he knew this jittery feeling went deeper than that, and he wished he could shake it off.

He didn’t have to insist they all wear their seat belts. They each strapped in, their heads bobbing gently as the vehicle bounced over deep potholes in the washboard road. Come spring, he’d send a Forest Service crew up here to even out the potholes.

The blast from the heater filled the cab with warmth and Clint switched it down a notch. The recent storms had blanketed the mountains in white. Though it was almost two in the afternoon, ice crystals clung to barren tree branches. Tall spruce and fir trees pierced the cerulean sky like elegant dancers. The river paralleling the road showed rocks and a shore that glistened like diamonds. He glanced at the crystal clear stream filled with frigid water. A beautiful winter scene. No prettier place on earth. Clint loved it here.

“Brrr, I’d hate to swim in that river.” Looking out the window, Gracie gave a little shiver.

“I would, too,” Josie agreed.

“But it’s sure beautiful up here,” Clint said.

Frank burst into a quick song, his bass voice vibrating through the air. It was a poignant verse about a young man stranded up on a mountain during a fierce winter storm. All the fellow wanted was to return to town and see his sweetheart one last time before he died. Instead, he froze to death and his shrieks of grief could still be heard on the mountain as the howling wind.

“You have a beautiful voice, Frank,” Clint said when he’d finished the chorus. He’d always enjoyed Frank’s singing in the church choir.

“But I don’t like that song. It’s so sad.” Gracie’s nose crinkled with repugnance.

“You’re right. The young man forgot the most important thing while he was trapped up on the mountain alone,” Frank said.

Clint felt both Gracie and Josie lean forward, eager to hear more.

“And what’s that?” Josie asked.

“He forgot to pray.”

She released a breath of cynicism and sat back. In his rearview mirror, Clint saw her tight expression. Hmm. She must not believe in the power of prayer. Her disbelief fitted his preconceived notions of her. A woman of the world, focused on her job and getting ahead. And certainly not what he would ever consider wife and mommy material for him and Gracie. But if what Frank had told him about her life was true, Clint figured she had a right to be cynical.

Gracie rested her miniature hands on the back of Frank’s seat. “You think God would have helped the man down off the mountain if he’d prayed?”

“I do,” Frank said.

Gracie touched Clint’s shoulder. “But, Daddy, why wouldn’t God help him off the mountain without him praying first?”

From Josie’s skeptical expression, Clint could tell she wondered the same thing. Her doubt caused an overwhelming conviction to rise within his chest. In spite of how Karen had died, he felt God’s presence in his life every day. The Lord had sustained him through a very dark time. Though he had his own failings, Clint couldn’t help wanting to share his belief with others.

“He would have, if it had met His plan,” he answered. “But I think our Heavenly Father is just like regular parents. Sometimes, He waits for us to ask for His help.”

Gracie angled her head closer, resting her cheek against the shoulder of Frank’s red flannel coat. “What do you mean, Daddy?”

Clint was aware of Josie waiting for his response with rapt attention. Her eyes deepened to a cobalt-blue and flashed with doubt.

“I sometimes stand back and let you figure things out on your own, right?” he said.

“Yes, sometimes. But you help me all the time, too.”

“That’s right. But I don’t want to interfere if you don’t want me to. I try to stand back and let you learn some things on your own, including how to ask for my help. And when you ask, I step right in, because I love you so much. Well, I think God sometimes does the same thing for us. He wants us to live by faith, so He stands back and waits for us to call on Him for help. We don’t always know His plan for each of us, but I do know when we call on Him in prayer, He answers us. Maybe not the way we want, and maybe not on our timetable, but He does answer. Every time. It’s our job to exhibit faith.”

Speaking the words aloud brought Clint a modicum of peace. And it renewed his conviction that God loved him and Gracie. Clint knew the Lord wanted nothing but the best for them. And it also reminded him that he must not forget to call on God in prayer. To never give up hope.

Gracie sat back, thinking this over. “But your parents are dead. Who helps you, Daddy?”

“The Lord does. With God, I’m never alone.” Clint peered in the rearview mirror at his daughter’s puzzled expression.

He also noticed Josie, who stared out the window, seeming absorbed in thought. He wished she’d say something. Because he didn’t know her well, he didn’t want to push. At least not yet. Karen had been silent and deadly, keeping her feelings bottled up inside until they’d boiled over in tearful rage. Frank had never mentioned if Josie had a temper, and Clint sensed that wasn’t her way.

Now, he was concerned. Gone was her cheerful smile; her forehead was creased with distrust. For some reason, Clint didn’t like seeing this woman unhappy. And he hoped he hadn’t said anything to drive her further away from God. He still had the impression that something was bothering her. Something big. But it wasn’t his business to question her. He couldn’t interfere. Not unless she asked him to.

Just like the Lord.

After finding a place to turn his truck around, Clint parked in the middle of the deserted road. He doubted anyone else would come along and need to get by them while they were up on the mountain. If they did, he’d move his truck.

He killed the engine, then opened his door and got out. “Okay, ladies, you get the chore of choosing the trees. Make sure it’s what you want before we start to cut, though. I only have three permits.”

Frank gave an exaggerated cough, as though he was swallowing a heavy chortle. “No, we don’t want any more extra trees to explain to the forest ranger.”

Josie’s chuckle sounded from behind him and Clint didn’t even try to hide his smile. Yes, it was definitely good they could laugh about the situation now, and he liked that Josie had a sense of humor.

The foot-deep snow crunched beneath his boots as he stepped back to let the girls out. Josie climbed down first, tugging on her gloves, her breath puffing on the air each time she exhaled.

Clint looked at her tennis shoes and shook his head. He made a mental note not to let her stay out in the snow too long. Her feet would soon become wet and then she’d get cold.

If necessary, he had several pairs of dry socks in his fire pack in the back of his truck. Serving others came naturally to Clint and he couldn’t help feeling responsible for Josie and Frank. It felt surprisingly good to have someone besides Gracie needing his attention. No matter what, Clint would ensure everyone here was taken care of while on this trip.

Sunlight sparkled off Josie’s dark blond curls. The color of her eyes deepened to a sapphire-blue as she looked about. Twin circles of pink stained her pale cheeks. With the snow-covered trees as a stunning backdrop, she looked absolutely gorgeous.

Realizing he was staring, Clint looked away, so fast that he almost lost his balance in the snow. Clearing his throat, he clutched the handle of his chain saw tightly and wondered what was wrong with him. Josie was just Frank’s granddaughter. Within a few weeks, she’d return to Las Vegas. Besides, he and Gracie had been on their own for years, and he liked it that way.

So why did he suddenly wish for more?

“I’m with Grandpa Frank.” Gracie clasped the old man’s hand.

“All right. Let’s find the prettiest tree,” Frank said.

Clint glanced at Josie. “I guess that means you’re with me?”

A question, not a statement.

“Um, okay.” She gave a noncommittal shrug.

He headed off, plowing through the snow with his boots to make a wide path for Josie to follow. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her lift her knees high as she navigated the trail in her shoes. As they tromped through the drifts, she didn’t utter a single complaint. Karen had grumbled about so many things. Now Josie’s silence won a notch of respect from Clint.

“That one!” Gracie’s shrill voice filled the air as she ran toward a bushy spruce standing along the roadside.

Frank followed, slogging through the snow in his black, knee-high boots. He brushed crusted ice off the tree’s pointed top and held up the hand saw. “You sure?”

“No, this one. Oh, it’s perfect.” Gracie raced farther into the forest and stood beside another tree. “Or what about that one? It’s so pretty.”

“You can only have one,” Frank called, as she darted from tree to tree.

Clint smiled, thinking perhaps it’d been a blessing that he was stuck with Josie. But poor Frank wasn’t a young man anymore. It’d be easy for Gracie to run him ragged. “You’re gonna have to choose one tree, so make up your mind before Grandpa Frank starts to cut.”

“Okay,” Gracie chimed.

“I like this one.” Josie waved to Clint.

He whirled around as she pointed at a small fir with thick clusters of dark green needles.

“That’s a good choice. Firs retain their needles longer and have a nice scent.” He took a step, then heard Gracie call again.

“What about this one, Grandpa Frank?”

Frank lumbered after the girl, grumbling something about women never being able to make up their minds.

The child bopped hither and yon to inspect what seemed to be every tree on the hillside. Frank finally stood still, letting her have her fun, while waiting for her to decide.

“Gracie, settle on one tree and stay where I can see you,” Clint called when she wandered too far off.

“She’s a female, son. She’ll never settle for just one tree. You should know that by now. But I’ve got a way to distract her.” Shaking his head, Frank laughed and hurried after her. When he came near, he tossed the hacksaw aside and fell backward into the soft snow.

“Gramps!” Josie cried.

* * *

A burst of panic blasted Josie’s chest. Gramps had fallen. He might be ill. He had a bad heart and she feared he’d left his medication at home. A nauseating lump settled in her stomach.

Paying no heed to the knee-deep snow, she lurched forward, and would have run to her grandfather if Clint hadn’t held out a hand to stop her.

“He’s okay. Trust me. Just watch a minute.”

At that moment, Gracie pounced on Gramps. He caught the child and rolled, tickling her and laughing. Gracie shrieked, her voice rising through the treetops.

Josie relaxed her stiff shoulders, her heart still thumping madly. She glanced at Clint. “How did you know he was okay?”