The Ranger's Secret

by Rebecca Winters

  Annie’s body quivered. Her solemn eyes, almost a lavender-blue in the semidark, stared into his. “How could there be any more?” A haunted look had entered her eyes.

  “This has to do with my physical condition.”

  Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Do you have a disease or some such thing you picked up in the Middle East?”

  Close. “I still have the ability to make love to you but, according to the doctor, I’ll never be able to give you more children. In case you were hoping for more, I need to know how you feel about that before we talk to our daughter.”

  She stunned him by wrapping her arms around his neck. After pressing her mouth to his, she said, “You already gave me the most wonderful child in the world. If we decide we want more, we can always adopt. How do you feel about that?”

  He buried his face in her neck. “I think I can’t believe this is happening at last.”

  Unable to hold back any longer, he kissed her with a hunger that was growing out of control. “You’re beautiful beyond words, Annie. I need to love you so badly.”

  “I need you so much I’m in pain,” she whispered and proceeded to show him. With his passion ignited he forgot where he was. In the next breath she was covering his face with feverish kisses the way she’d done years ago.

  “Don’t you want to watch the movie?”

  Exulting in her love, he didn’t realize Roberta had returned to the living room. Chase lifted his head in time to see his daughter standing by the TV in pink pajamas. Her Hermione hairdo still bounced.

  “Put the DVD in, sweetheart, then come and sit down by me.”

  A slow smile broke the corners of Annie’s mouth, captivating him. Easing out of his arms, she got to her feet. “I’ll microwave the popcorn.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  He had a surprise plan of his own and would implement it during intermission. Annie knew it was coming, but she was letting him pick the moment. Chase checked his watch. It was ten-fifteen. He would announce the break in ten minutes. That was all the time he could stand to wait. Just thinking about it changed the rhythm of his heart, that violated, vulnerable organ he’d thought would have let him down by now.

  Roberta took over. All he had to do was sit back on the couch and get comfortable. He played with her ponytail while they began chuckling over the charming characters. Chase saw a little of Nicky’s and Roberta’s most endearing qualities in them.

  Annie came into the room with the popcorn and sat on the other side of their daughter. It was a good thing their offspring was around, considering his desire for her.

  This was heaven, the kind of scenario he’d dreamed of so many times in the past ten years.

  “I wish Snoopy were my dog, Mom.”

  “Every child who sees this film wishes the same thing.”

  Chase pressed the pause button. “Why don’t we get one?”

  Roberta leaped to her feet. “You mean and keep it here?”

  “If this is where we decide to live.”

  “But you live around the corner.”

  “True.” He could see he was confusing her. “I’ve decided I don’t like going from your house to mine. What if we decide which house we like the best and all live in the same one together? Would you like that?”

  Shock rendered her speechless for a moment. He saw fear creep into her eyes as her focus settled on Annie. “Would you, Mom?”

  The blood pounded in his ears while he waited for Annie’s answer.

  “It’s what I want more than anything in the world.”

  “You mean it?” she cried in joyous disbelief, throwing herself at Annie.

  “Your mom and I are going to get married as soon as possible.” He reached in his trouser pocket and pulled out a ring. “I’ve been wanting to give this to her since I first came to your condo in Santa Rosa.”

  He looked straight at Annie. “Before the explosion I asked the question and you said yes. Now I’m making it official in front of our daughter. Be very sure what you answer because this is forever.”

  “Say yes, Mom!”

  “Yes,” Annie answered in a tremulous voice.

  “I’m planning to get two weeks cleared from the duty roster for our wedding and a honeymoon. It’ll start Thanksgiving weekend.”

  “That’s in about three weeks!” Roberta squealed. Now he was the one being hugged to death.

  “By then your mother’s cast will come off.”

  “Where will you get married?”

  “Here in the park in a very small, quiet ceremony with only a few rangers to witness it. I wish it could be in a church and we could all go to some exotic place for our honeymoon, but that wouldn’t be wise.”

  “So what will you do?”

  He kissed her forehead. “We’ll get married here at the house and honeymoon here. I’m thinking your grandparents could come and stay in your house while your mom and I get to know each other again in mine. After I’m back on duty we’ll decide where we’re going to live permanently.”

  Annie caught his hidden message before she put her arms around Roberta. “I think we’re going to have to take a little shopping trip to San Francisco to find us something beautiful to wear for the wedding. Your grandmother will know the exact place.”

  Roberta cried with happiness against her. Annie’s eyes, almost a violet-blue in the light from the television, stared into his without fear or striving.

  This was the supreme moment of his life. He moved to Annie’s other side and slid the solitaire diamond home on her ring finger. Once Roberta went to bed, he would show this amazing woman what she meant to him. The sooner the movie was over, the sooner he could get her in his arms.

  “Darling,” she said, pressing an avid kiss to his mouth.

  “We’ll celebrate after she’s asleep,” he whispered.

  They all settled back on the couch. He had reached for the remote to release the pause button when a sound like the crack of thunder overhead went out like shock wave. It shook the ground. Roberta jumped and cried out at the same time.

  Annie stared at him. “Was that an earthquake?”

  Chase was already on his feet, putting on his parka. “No. A rockslide. It has a distinct sound. That one came from Curry Village.”

  “Wasn’t that where the other one happened?”

  He nodded. “I had a gut feeling it might happen again, but this was a much bigger one.” Hopefully the tent cabins still available to the tourists had escaped catastrophic damage. He knew Vance was praying for the same thing.

  “Don’t either of you go out. When moisture gets in the cracks and a slab falls and breaks up, it sends pulverized debris called granite flour into the air for several hours. I don’t want you breathing it.”

  “What about you?” Annie cried.

  “I keep a mask in the truck. We’ll do the rest of the movie tomorrow evening and invite the Rossiters. Be my good girls and mind me.”

  “Be careful, Daddy.”

  “That’s my middle name.” He gave her a hug, then caught Annie’s face between his hands and kissed her thoroughly before taking off out the door.

  The drive to Curry Village didn’t take long. Already some of the guys were on the scene. It looked like a war zone. As he drew closer he saw Vance helping a dazed tourist out of her damaged tent. He reached for the mask in his toolbox and raced toward the others, grateful Annie and Roberta weren’t anywhere near.

  By morning he and the others had helped evacuate the 400-plus tourists to other lodgings. Only two had needed medical assistance, and they weren’t seriously injured. As he was climbing back into the truck, Vance approached. “I guess you saw the damage to the tent cabins we closed off the other day.”

  He nodded. “If that first slide hadn’t happened, we would have been digging for bodies. We dodged another bullet tonight.”

  “Yup.” The chief wiped some of the powdery substance off his lips. “It’s time to go home, but I’m afraid Nicky will think I’m the abomi
nable snowman.”

  Chase let out a low laugh.

  His friend’s eyes flashed an electric blue. “I had the time of my life earlier tonight. How about you?”

  “You don’t know the half of it. Bring your family over to Annie’s tomorrow night. I guess that means tonight. I’ve lost track. We’ll watch The Great Pumpkin.”

  “That’ll be a hit with Nicky. I’ll tell Rachel.”

  Drained physically yet emotionally hyper where Annie was concerned, Chase drove home at a fast clip. She would be getting their daughter ready for school before she put in a day’s work. He couldn’t wait to be with her, but first he needed food followed by a shower and sleep. Their honeymoon couldn’t come fast enough.

  “MOM?” ROBERTA CALLED from the living room. “Nana wants to talk to you.”

  That was the second call today from her. Though her parents remained calm, she knew they were concerned about the rock slide. Annie on the other hand was coming to learn that something was always going on in the park, but she was so in love with Chase, nothing seemed to faze her.

  “Bring the phone to the kitchen, will you?” She had decided to make a big dinner for them. The potatoes and carrots had been cooking around the lamb roast. After school Roberta had peeled the vegetables while Annie had made rolls. They’d be able to eat soon.

  “Here.”

  “Thanks.” She grabbed hold with her free hand. “Hi, Mom.”

  “The news on TV is full of the story about the rock slide.”

  “I know. I drove over to see the damage on my way to the store. It’s pretty terrifying to think huge parts of boulders just fall away.”

  “What does Chase say about it?”

  The mention of his name set her pulse off and running. She stared at her diamond. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen or talked to him since last night, but the rangers worked till this morning so I’m sure he’s still asleep.”

  Bill Telford had called her earlier in the day, reminding her they were having dinner tomorrow night. If he tried to turn it into something more than business, she would tell him she was getting married, but it was still a secret. For Roberta’s sake she asked him if they could eat earlier than later. He was agreeable and they settled on six o’clock.

  She had no way of knowing if Chase would be available for Roberta tomorrow evening. In case he had to be on duty, Rachel said Roberta could go over to their house and play with Nicky.

  “You sound happy, darling.”

  “I am, Mom. He and Roberta are my life.”

  “That’s the way it should be. Well, keep us posted.”

  “I promise to call you after I’ve heard from Chase.”

  “Good.”

  “Mom?” Roberta said after she’d hung up. “Can I call Daddy and see how soon he’s coming over?”

  “Go ahead. Dinner’s ready.” After pulling out the roast, she put the raised rolls in the oven to bake.

  “I don’t think he’s there. It just keeps ringing.”

  “Then phone headquarters. They’ll know where to find him.”

  “Okay.” A minute later she said, “Daddy’s off duty until tomorrow.”

  “I’m sure he’s sleeping, so I have an idea. Let’s pack up the food and take it over to his house. We’ll drive over as soon as the rolls are done.”

  Roberta didn’t need any urging. “I’ll bring the key he gave me to get in.”

  “While we’re loading the car, bring The Great Pumpkin movie with you.”

  “Okay.”

  In a few minutes they backed out of the garage and drove over to his house. If both his vehicles were in the garage she couldn’t tell because the snow had melted on his driveway.

  They phoned again and rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. Roberta looked up at her. “I’ll let us in.”

  “Go ahead. If we have dinner waiting for him, he’ll be thrilled.” Together they carried the food to the kitchen. “Why don’t you set the table? I’m going to tiptoe down the hall and see if he’s asleep.”

  “Do you think he still is?”

  “Or maybe he’s in the shower. I’ll be right back.” The last thing she wanted was for Roberta to find him. If he were uncovered, the shock of his scars would be too much. When he decided to let her see them, he would have to talk to her about them first and prepare her.

  With her heart in her throat, she peeked inside his room. To her relief she found him sprawled on top of the bed on his stomach, the sheet twisted around his long, hard-muscled legs. Realizing his back was exposed to his hips, she closed the door and collapsed against it.

  “Chase?” she called out softly. At the sound of her voice, he flung out an arm of whipcord strength. “Darling?” she said a little louder.

  He stirred before sitting up in the bed, taking the sheet with him. “Annie?”

  “I’m sorry, but it’s six o’clock. We brought you dinner. If you’re not ready to eat, we’ll leave you alone so you can go on sleeping.”

  He raked two bronzed hands through his hair. It was dark and rich, like the color of coffee beans. “I actually slept eleven hours?” he muttered. “I don’t believe it.” That aura of vulnerability he rarely showed to anyone tugged hard on her emotions.

  “You needed it.”

  “Roberta’s here?”

  “Yes. She’s going to hold you to that movie. Right now she’s busy setting the table. I made sure she didn’t find you first.”

  Their eyes met in silent understanding. His gave off a clear silver-gray. It appeared his sleep had done him a world of good. He rubbed his jaw. “I’ll shave and join you in a few minutes.”

  Annie would have preferred to stay and feast her eyes on him. That summer in Kabul they’d gone without a lot of sleep in their desire to bring each other pleasure. Too many times she’d seen him in bed just like this, waiting for her to come back so they could love each other all over again. Stifling a moan, she slipped out the door to find Roberta.

  “Your dad was asleep.”

  The tension lines in her face relaxed. “He must have been really tired.”

  “He was up all night. Do you think you can find some butter for our rolls?”

  “I already have. Some jam too.”

  “Perfect.”

  A FEAST FIT FOR A KING.

  That was Chase’s first thought when he entered the kitchen wearing khakis and a sport shirt. His long sleep had made him feel like a new man.

  The aroma of lamb roast flavored with fresh mint filled the room. Annie remembered. How many times had they camped out and eaten lamb kabobs roasted over the fire? It was his favorite meat, though he’d rarely eaten it since he’d come to the park. That was because he liked sweet onions and carrots with it and those items took additional preparation.

  A few minutes later he caught hold of Roberta’s hand and squeezed it. “This is the best meal I’ve ever eaten.”

  Her guileless smile got to him every time. “I peeled the vegetables.”

  “Well, they’re perfect. So’s everything.” His gaze swerved to Annie. “So are you.”

  Their eyes held. “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “I brought the movie over, Dad.”

  “PPerfect,” he said, still looking at Annie. “Roberta?”

  “Yes?”

  “Will you do me a favor and call Nicky? My phone’s in the bedroom. Press two. I invited them to come over to your house tonight to watch Snoopy. Tell them to come here instead.”

  She let out another sound of happiness and ran to the other room to find the phone.

  “Annie, come here to me. We never have a second alone.”

  They reached for each other at the same time. Chase didn’t try to talk. All he could do was tell her with his lips and his body as he drew her into him, forgetting there was a cast between them.

  Eventually they ended up in his living room on the leather couch. She looked beautiful and sophisticated in a navy blouse and tailored gray wool pants. He couldn’t get enough of her.
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  Too soon for Chase his euphoria was broken by the sound of voices at the front door. He fought against relinquishing her mouth for any reason.

  “Hey—” Nicky’s bright voice filled the room. “How come they’re kissing?”

  Chase’s body started to shake with laughter. So did Annie’s. Slowly he raised his head. In that moment before he looked at the others, he saw the love light in her gorgeous eyes. If he could always have this effect on her, he wouldn’t ask for anything else.

  He turned to their friends, smiling at Nicky. “How come your dad kisses your mom?”

  “Cause he loves her!”

  “And how come she kisses him back?”

  “Cause she loves him.”

  Annie decided to help him out. “I love your uncle Chase very, very much, so we’re going to get married. He just gave me this diamond. Do you want to see it?”

  He ran over to look at it.

  “Would you like to be in our wedding?” Annie asked him.

  Nicky gave a little shriek of excitement and turned to his parents. “Can I?”

  Pandemonium broke out as Vance grabbed Chase and they gave each other a bear hug. She couldn’t hear all they were saying, but she’d never seen two men so happy.

  Annie shared a private glance with Rachel. In a short time they’d become good friends. Nicky’s mother moved closer. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she inspected the one-carat solitaire.

  “Thank heaven you’ve found each other again. Tonight Chase is such a different person from the man I met last June, I hardly recognize him. I can see that you’re changed, too.”

  She nodded. “We’ve had a lot to work out.” They still did. Annie wasn’t unaware Chase would always have certain demons to deal with from his past. But there was great satisfaction in knowing she would be there to love him through all of it.

  “I want to help with your wedding any way I can.”

  “We both do,” Vance declared, giving Annie a big hug. “Congratulations,” he whispered. “You’re about to be married to the greatest man I know.” She nodded. Coming from the chief, there was no greater praise.

  After putting his arm around his wife, Vance said, “Since your wedding has to be low-key, why don’t you get married at our house? The minister in Oakhurst would be happy to officiate.”