The Ranger's Secret

by Rebecca Winters

  Annie nodded. “She’ll be there.”

  Rachel turned to her. “If you want, Nicky and I will come by for you at eight-thirty and we’ll all walk over.”

  “Terrific. We’ll be ready. Thanks again for all the help and the fabulous lunch.”

  “It was really good,” Roberta called to her. “See ya tomorrow, Nicky.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  After they drove away in their car, Chase turned to Annie. “Roberta wants to come to my house. Why don’t you come in the truck with us so you can see where she’ll be spending some of her time.”

  Annie wanted to see where he lived, how he lived. “I’ll be right with you. Let me get my purse and lock the door.”

  A minute later she joined them. Always the gentleman, he helped her into the cab. When his arm accidentally brushed against her thigh before shutting the door, she hoped he hadn’t felt her quiver in response. Roberta sat between them with a smile of contentment on her face.

  Chase backed the truck out of the driveway and they headed for his house around the corner. On the way they passed a ranger who stared at them and waved. He waved back.

  “Who’s that, Daddy?”

  “Mark Sims, the head of security. He’s Carly’s father. You’ll be meeting her at school tomorrow. She only lives a half a block from you. Kind of like you and your friend Penny.”

  They headed for the house on the next corner. He pulled into the driveway and pressed the remote above the visor to open the garage door. From the outside at least, all of the houses looked pretty much the same.

  Annie jumped down before Chase could come around. She didn’t want any more contact with him. Twice today was enough. She could still feel his touch. It would stay with her and conjured up intimate memories. Within five minutes she’d walk back to the house and Roberta could come home later.

  She waited till he’d opened the door to the kitchen, then followed Roberta inside. Right away she noticed differences. His kitchen could accommodate a breakfast table and the attractive sage and wood décor throughout the main rooms came as a surprise. She assumed the contemporary dark brown leather furniture facing the fireplace was his own.

  “Look at all the books!” Roberta cried. Annie was looking. Walls of them from floor to ceiling in the living room. It took her back to his apartment in Kabul, which had been more library than living quarters. They spent most of their alone time in hers. “Have you read every one?”

  Chase laughed. “That’s the idea, sweetheart. Most of them are historical journals of the explorers and early frontiersmen who came to Yosemite. The rest are reference materials for a series of books I’m writing on the park for people who enjoy hiking in the wilderness.”

  “Mom said you’re the smartest man she ever knew.”

  Yes. Annie had told her daughter that and couldn’t take it back. He scoffed. In that regard he hadn’t changed. Chase had always been a modest man.

  “It’s true, Chase. To be honest, I’m not surprised you’ve immersed yourself in another field besides archaeology. Are you published yet?”

  He stood in the middle of the room with his hard-muscled legs slightly apart. “I haven’t even picked an agent yet.”

  “With your credentials you don’t nee—” She suddenly broke off talking. Heat crept into her face. “I forgot you’ve had to give up that whole life.”

  A grimace marred his rugged features. “I wish I could.”

  In that moment Annie heard a bleakness in his tone that haunted her. Once again it hit her that the explosion had not only robbed him of his parents, he could no longer continue to pursue archaeology, his life’s work and passion.

  A lesser man might have given up, but not Chase. The dining room was the proof. He’d turned it into an office with file cabinets and state-of-the-art electronic equipment. On two walls hung several giant U.S. geological survey maps of Yosemite with all kinds of colored pins he’d placed to set off various coordinates. Fascinated, Annie walked over to study one of them.

  “I love your house, Daddy!”

  “That’s good, because it’s your house too when you want to come over. Would you like to see your bedroom?”

  “You made a bedroom for me?” She squealed for joy. That didn’t sound like the more sober minded daughter Annie had raised. Chase’s advent in her life was transforming her.

  “Who else? I used it for a storeroom, but as soon as I found out you’d be coming for visits, I cleaned it out and got it ready for you. Come on and take a look.”

  Roberta walked off with him, leaving Annie drowning in a flood of new feelings and sensations. Since Rachel had confided in her, jealousy had reared its ugly head again. She needed to get out of there before her natural curiosity took over and she gave herself away.

  “Hey, you two—” she called after them. “I’ve got a lot to do back at the house so I’ll see you later. Okay?”

  “Okay!” Roberta shouted back.

  She heard nothing from Chase, but then why would she? Upset with herself for even questioning it, Annie left his house via the front door and hurried home. Except that once she was safe inside, her house didn’t feel like home. Though she’d brought their most important possessions from Santa Rosa, she realized inanimate objects didn’t mean anything without her daughter here.

  From now on Roberta would want to spend equal time with Chase. Annie couldn’t blame her. He’d embraced her so completely, you would never have known they’d been apart since her birth. Moreover, he was a striking man any child would be thrilled to claim as her father.

  Realizing she was spending too much time focusing on Chase rather than her new job, she got busy arranging her bedroom the way she wanted. By the time she was ready for bed, darkness had fallen over the park. She was about to phone Chase when she heard the front door open and close.

  “Mom?”

  “In the bedroom!”

  She ran down the hall to Annie’s room. “Daddy’s outside. He wants me to call him and tell him you’re here before he leaves.”

  Annie handed her the phone. She appreciated Chase being so careful, but again it didn’t surprise her. He’d always been protective of Annie. Naturally he’d be even more so with their daughter

  “I will,” she heard Roberta say. “I love you, too. Good night, Daddy. See you tomorrow.” After she hung up, she grabbed Annie. Her eyes were dancing.

  “Daddy’s going to take me and Nicky horseback riding on Saturday! Is that okay?”

  If it weren’t, Annie wouldn’t have the heart to tell her. “Of course!”

  “He loves horses just like me! I can’t wait!”

  While Annie locked up and turned out lights, her daughter bubbled over with excitement. “I wish I could call Debbie tonight.”

  “It’s too late. You can phone her after school tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  Later, after they’d both gone to bed, Annie turned on her good side, wishing she weren’t tormented by memories of one glorious horseback ride with Chase in the Khyber Pass. They’d camped out several nights in a row, eating food they’d packed and making love while their handpicked guides kept guard over them. She’d never known rapture like that. On one of those two nights she’d gotten pregnant.

  Had his horseback ride with Rachel this past summer become a standout memory for him? In the dark hours of the night did he envy Vance?

  Salty tears trickled from the corners of her eyes. “Chase—” she half sobbed, “Is it too late for us?” She could hardly stand it. After everything they’d shared, how was she going to live this close to him? Every time he hugged or kissed Roberta, she remembered how his arms had felt around her, how his mouth had devoured her, sending them both into euphoric oblivion.

  To think he now lived around the corner from her and Roberta! For the past three years he’d been hibernating here in relative contentment, obviously dating other women. He’d wanted a relationship with Rachel. She could hardly bear it, but she had to.

  What was i
t Sid Manning had said? Because your life was in danger, Dr. Myers had no choice but to stay away from you.

  Since that was true, it meant Chase had loved her more than his own life. Did it mean now that they were together again and his secret had come out, he would end up fighting for her in this presumably safe haven? Or was it too late. Love had to be fed and he’d gone hungry too many years. So had she…

  Pain ripped through her body. Annie flung around in bed, forgetting the cast on her arm. It cost her as she cried out in discomfort. Another night like this and she’d have to have it reset.

  Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. Her parents were going to stay with them through the weekend. However, before she’d left Santa Rosa this morning her dad had said, “Don’t you think it’s time we met Roberta’s father?” She’d put it off as long as possible while she’d sorted out her feelings, but there was an inevitability about anything having to do with Chase.

  THE CHILDREN RODE on either side of Chase as they left the beaver pond and headed back to the stable. They’d been discussing their Halloween costumes. Halloween was only three days away. Nicky had decided to be Harry Potter and Annie was going as Hermione. Chase couldn’t wait to take them trick-or-treating with Vance and Rachel. This was the kind of fatherhood experience that had passed him by, but no longer.

  Today he was especially proud of how well Roberta handled her horse. She was a little camera buff, too. She’d taken pictures of everything.

  “Can we come again next Saturday, Uncle Chase? That Methuselah’s funny. He got me wet when he slapped his tail.”

  Chase smiled. The beaver wasn’t half as funny as Nicky. “I’ll check my schedule.”

  “Maybe my friend Debbie could come with us?”

  “Since that’s the only day your friend’s mom can bring her, I’ll trade with one of the guys for some time off.” He glanced at his daughter, who’d started school yesterday. “What did you think of Carly?”

  “She’s okay.”

  That didn’t sound very enthusiastic. When they were alone Chase would find out what was wrong.

  “Do you guys like Mrs. Farrell?” They both nodded. That was a plus. “Is it strange only having a few kids at school?”

  “Kind of.”

  “I like it,” Nicky exclaimed.

  “What did you think of Brody?”

  “He’s mean.” Again this from Nicky.

  “What does he do?”

  “He’s eleven. And when we have recess out in back he always gets to choose what we’re going to do, huh Roberta.”

  “He tells everybody what to do, Dad.”

  “Yup. He said his dad was more important than my dad. I said he wasn’t and he almost hit me.”

  That didn’t sound good. “Brody has two older brothers, sport. They probably boss him around. Did you tell Mrs. Farrell?”

  “If he’s mean again, I’ll tell her,” Roberta said.

  Good for her. “Looks like you two will have to stick up for each other.”

  “Yeah. Can I play at your house when we get back, Roberta?”

  “I’m staying at my dad’s today.” She looked over at Chase. “Do you think Nicky could come over for a while?” She obviously liked him a lot. Nicky won everyone over.

  “Sure.”

  “Hooray! Where’s your mom?”

  “In Wawona.” Chase didn’t know that. “What’s she doing there?” Nicky asked.

  “To have lunch with the other archaeologist. He just got back from a trip to Mexico.”

  Nicky sidled closer to Chase. “In class I heard Brody tell Carly he got a divorce. What does that mean?”

  Gossip always abounded among the park employees, but that was news to Chase. He’d assumed Ron Saddler and his wife had a solid marriage. Annie would be working with him all the time. He took a shuddering breath. “It means his wife and children aren’t going to live with him anymore.”

  “Oh.”

  On the trip back Roberta remained unusually quiet, causing him concern. When they reached the stable, he helped Nicky down. Roberta got off the horse on her own. She was already independent, just like her mother. Chase needed to find a way to get to Annie.

  They piled into the truck and headed back to the house. When they walked in the kitchen, Chase told Nicky to go in the bedroom and call his parents to let them know where he was.

  While Roberta washed her hands in the kitchen sink, Chase took advantage of being alone with his daughter for a moment. “I know something’s wrong,” he murmured. “Did Carly ignore you yesterday?”

  She shook her head.

  “Well, she did something.”

  Without looking at him, Roberta said, “She asked how come my parents didn’t live together.”

  His heart thudded. “What did you tell her?”

  “That they didn’t want to.” She finally lifted her head. Those pure blue eyes were swimming in tears. “She asked me if you two got a divorce.”

  “How did you answer her?”

  “I told her no.”

  Chase had known there’d be talk, but he hadn’t counted on it reaching Roberta’s ears through Carly. He’d hoped the two girls would become friends. In time they probably would, but it didn’t make Roberta’s first days happy ones.

  He hugged her before letting her go. “I’m sorry she made you uncomfortable.”

  She wiped her eyes. “Dad? Do you like Mom?”

  Roberta, Roberta. “I never stopped, but I hurt her without intending to. I don’t think she’ll ever be able to forgive me.” He waited for the protest from her telling him he was wrong in his assessment, but one never came, because Roberta knew exactly how her mother felt.

  “I wish we all lived together.”

  “So do I,” he whispered.

  She looked stunned. “You do?”

  “What do you think?” He tugged on her ponytail. “You’re my daughter. All these years I’d given up hope of ever having a child. There’s nothing I’d love more, than to be surrounded by my family in my house.”

  “Mom, too?”

  “I loved her before I loved you, sweetheart. To have my own beautiful women living with me would be my heart’s desire.”

  They heard feet running through the house. “Mommy said I can stay until she picks me up in an hour. We’re going shopping.”

  “Terrific. What do you guys want for lunch?”

  “Can I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”

  “Sure.” He got busy fixing it. “What about you, sweetheart?”

  “I just want a glass of milk. I’ll get it.”

  Chase didn’t press Roberta to eat. After telling her how he felt, he’d lost his appetite, too. Once the news reached Annie’s ears—and it would—he feared she’d keep putting emotional distance between them because she couldn’t love him the same way anymore.

  His admission might spell the coup de grâce for Chase, because he knew he shouldn’t have revealed his deepest feelings this soon. He’d promised himself to go slowly and give it time, but he hadn’t been able to hold back any longer, not in front of Roberta.

  While Nicky finished off half a sandwich, Roberta poured them each a glass of milk. Chase eyed the two of them. “When you’re finished, do you guys want to go out in back and play a game of horseshoes with me?”

  His daughter nodded. “I’ve never done that before.”

  “It’s fun!” Nicky cried, “but it’s kind of hard.”

  “There’s a knack to it, but anyone can learn. I’ll teach you.” Chase needed to keep busy so he wouldn’t think about Annie spending time with every damn man in the park except him.

  Chapter Eight

  After the drive from Wawona, Annie drove straight to Chase’s and honked the horn for Roberta. It was after five o’clock. There’d been so much to talk about with Ron, time had gotten away from her.

  What a difference it made to live here. If she happened to be late for Roberta, which she didn’t intend to happen again unless it was unavoida
ble, she knew Chase would always be available to their daughter.

  A few minutes later Roberta came running out to the car. “Honey,” she called to her from the open window. “Your grandparents are waiting for us at the Yosemite Lodge for dinner. Do you want to ask your father if he’d like to join us? I don’t know if he’s free or not.”

  “He doesn’t go on duty until tomorrow.”

  “In that case, your grandparents would like to meet him.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  Annie only had to wait a minute before her daughter got into the front seat. “Dad said he’ll shower and be right over.”

  “Good.” She backed out of the driveway. “Did you have fun horseback riding?”

  “I loved it!” In the next breath she gave Annie a rundown of everything she’d done all day. She was still talking when they reached the village and parked near the lodge. Chase was responsible for the light in her eyes. Only the father who loved her could have put it there.

  No matter what, Annie had to concede that the move to the park was already good for her daughter in the most fundamental of ways. There was no substitute for one’s own daddy, especially not Chase, who was an exceptional man. Nicky adored him, too. You couldn’t fool a child. As for Annie’s parents, they’d see through to Chase’s core right away and be impressed.

  Roberta got out of the car ahead of her. Together they entered the hotel and made their way to the dining court. Through the crowd Annie saw her parents waving them over to their table. After hugs, they sat down and a waiter brought menus.

  “I thought your father would be with you.”

  “He’ll be here in a minute, Nana.”

  Annie’s father studied her. “How’s everything going?”

  “Good. Ron Saddler and I outlined a work schedule. Until my cast comes off in another month, I’ll be recording data while he’s out in the field. Most of the time I’ll be home for—”

  “There’s Dad!” Roberta slid from her chair, all conversation forgotten. She hurried toward the tall, fit man who’d drawn every eye in the room. He walked toward them wearing a stunning pearl-gray suit paired with a white shirt and striped gray-and-silver tie. Annie’s breath caught because it had been so many years since she’d seen him formally dressed.