Macy studied Monica’s face. There was not a bit of hesitation in her eyes. Monica believed what she was saying and honestly wanted Macy to have an opportunity to do more.
Then why couldn’t she shake the feeling that this was a test of some kind?
The way Leland Hall watched her had something to do with the uneasy feeling, no doubt. If she’d had to guess, his weighing stare was the outward sign of an inward measurement he was taking.
And if he was testing her, it was only fair that Macy do a little feeling out herself.
“Well, I know I could do this.” She leaned back and crossed her legs. “But tell me why I’d want to.” Then she braced herself and added, “Leland.” Monica’s shift in her seat at Macy’s use of the ranger’s first name confirmed one of Macy’s suspicions. Leland Hall took himself too seriously.
For her first week at Otter Lake, Macy had trotted out a “Ranger Kingfisher” now and then until Ash had put a stop to it. He’d said, We’re coworkers and that’s a mouthful. Stick with Ash, Macy. He’d always treated her like an equal.
The way Kayla delivered water bottles and Monica cleared her throat nervously in the sudden, tense silence convinced Macy that this district office operated on a much more formal level.
She’d never be happy with that. If she had to come into this office every day, she’d be a nervous mess by the end of the second month.
The chief ranger leaned slowly forward and braced his elbows on the desk. “Do you like working at the Reserve, Macy?” He might as well have been a lawyer in a courtroom. She was tempted to say “leading the witness,” but the atmosphere was already tense enough.
“I do.” Macy mirrored his body language. “But it’s important to me that I trust my boss and believe that he’s committed to the mission of the Reserve. Because why else do this?” She shrugged. That’s what it came down to.
Hall said, “Every review you’ve had here has been glowing, and then this...” He snapped. “What changed between you and Ranger Kingfisher? Something we ought to know here in Knoxville?”
Was he asking if there was something between them? Implying that it had gone wrong? That was more proof how little he understood Ash.
“You mean other than an honorable man being targeted as a scapegoat to satisfy the Callaways?” Macy asked. As she watched the chief ranger’s eyebrows rise, Macy understood that she’d stumbled around and hit a land mine. Ash had told them over dinner how Hall had encouraged him to get the study on The Aerie, how little he’d supported the lodge. Had he seen a chance to stop the project without taking any of the risk?
Hall’s eyes narrowed but he smiled. She didn’t trust that expression any more than she trusted him.
“I see Ash has been filling your ears.”
Macy blinked. “With what, Leland? What could he have told me?”
Monica cleared her throat. “We’ve gotten off track. We’re talking about a new job, not the news stories circulating. Those will go away, leaving us with the Reserve and the work still to be done.”
Macy nodded, certain Monica was trying to help her keep her job. She should let this go, but when it came right down to it, she didn’t want to work in the district office. The job might be all right, but this was no Otter Lake.
“The news stories will die down. Monica’s right.” The chief ranger pointed at Macy. “But there’s no guarantee that everyone will keep their jobs. You should think about it, Macy. I have enough respect for Ash to know his faith in you has been well-placed. He doesn’t exaggerate the truth. But to keep your career on track, you should step away from Ash now.”
The cold shiver that hit Macy was impossible to ignore. Hall might as well have said outright that Ash would be gone soon.
How could that be? The Callaways would never find another ranger as well equipped to run the Otter Lake Ranger Station as Ash Kingfisher.
The only reasonable explanation was discouraging.
“I understand that, but there’s no reason for me to leave Otter Lake. I enjoy running the visitor center. I appreciate your interest in me, but I’d like to stay where I am.” Macy shook her head. “I’m not sure I have a case, but if I’m terminated or forced to change positions, I’ll have my lawyer contact you.” Macy stood slowly, doing her best to hide the nervous shaking in her hands. Blowing up her easy escape was dumb, so dumb, but it was the only way to go.
Leland Hall studied his hands. “You’d follow Ash anywhere, I guess. And now I see that when he goes, you should, too.”
He stood up and motioned toward the door. “Be careful on your drive back to Sweetwater and get a copy of the letter Ash wrote for you to take with you on interviews.” His expressionless face meant she could see nothing of what he thought, but her own panic was going to escape pretty soon. “Wonder if the next anonymous tip that hits the news ought to be about a relationship between the head ranger and his secretary. Workplace romance is a tricky line, but between a manager and a subordinate, with the potential for harassment... It’s a bad look for Ash.” Leland propped his hands on his hips. “Ask Ash if he’d like to plan a press conference on that.”
Too angry to answer, Macy skirted around Monica’s chair and yanked the door open. She was in a full march by the time she made it to the exit, but Monica was able to stop her from sailing right through and out into the parking lot. “Macy, wait.”
Since Monica had always been fair to her, this morning’s debacle excepted, Macy paused. Her heart thumped hard and loud in her chest, but she was almost certain no actual steam was escaping from her ears.
That must be why it felt like her head was a second away from exploding.
“I’m sorry. I have no idea what’s going on here, but that wasn’t a job interview.” They moved outside where Monica paced up and down in front of her. The two of them had all the pavement covered.
“Your boss is not a nice guy. He threatened Ash and me, and he’s lucky I’m wearing the uniform that Ash holds in such high regard. Otherwise, I might have to soak out bloodstains.” Macy spit every word through clenched jaws and realized she was making fists with both hands. Should she tell Monica she didn’t mean anything she was saying? Surely she understood blowing off steam.
“Listen, you wouldn’t be the first person I’ve met who wanted to pop Leland Hall in the nose, but there are better ways to get even,” Monica said as she squeezed Macy’s shoulder. “And he’s not my boss.”
Macy tried to concentrate on what Monica was saying. “I don’t get it.”
“I report directly to the board of directors. So does the chief ranger. We have different areas of supervision, but in essentials, we are at the same level. The chief ranger is in charge of land management and security for the Reserve. All the other areas, including visitor experience, belong to me.” Monica sighed. “That means nobody is firing you unless I allow it and there’s no chance I’m going to lose your talent, experience and commitment to the goals of the Reserve. Plus, if it ever comes down to it, I wouldn’t mind having you go to bat for me.”
Macy bent her head as she tried to decipher what that meant. Was she going to have a paycheck to cover the rent or not?
“You should prepare yourself for Ash to go, Macy.” She held up a hand to stall Macy’s protest. “I’ve been here for a long time, almost two decades. And I believe you’d be wise to keep your distance from Ash. There is one other position open. The fire chief is looking for an office manager to take over the security documentation and accreditation procedures. When the Reserve business expands with the lodge the Callaways are planning—” she sighed “—and it’s only a matter of time now, the state requirements for fire safety and prevention will grow. The chief needs someone to organize extra crews, payroll and scheduling.”
Macy stared at the road ahead. It all sounded...intimidating. That was the first word that came to mind, but she refused to say it out loud. Her grandmother
had insisted that a person could do anything they set their minds to. The key was to act like she knew what she was doing.
Fake it until she made it.
She’d done the same thing to build her spot at the ranger station. She could do this with the fire team. She already knew the chief and respected him.
“What do you think?” Monica asked softly. “I understand if it’s too far from what you want to do. Too far from Ash.” She grimaced at Macy’s shock. “Oh, whatever. He’s a great guy. Kind of grim and in definite need of a laugh or two, but you gotta admire the man who’ll do the right thing even when it’s difficult.”
Macy wasn’t sure how to answer any of the questions she heard in Monica’s words.
“Meet with the chief. What could that hurt?” Monica said. “If you don’t think it’ll work, I’ll write you a recommendation myself and make some calls around Knoxville to see what kind of openings turn up. And if you’re set on staying in the visitor center, I’ll back you. We may lose, but I will stand with you.”
Struck by how kind Monica was being, Macy forced a smile. She was used to plotting and planning to force things to work out. Monica was ready to give her what she hadn’t quite asked for.
“Okay, I’ll do that.” Macy nodded slowly. “And I’ll take you up on your offer if this doesn’t work.”
“No reason to believe it won’t, Macy.” Monica’s reassuring voice lifted Macy’s spirits a bit. “The fire chief is a cuddly kitten compared to Leland Hall and you had that guy on the ropes. Ash never knew what hit him, did he?”
There was no way to answer that properly, but it was nice to smile.
“If there’s something between you and Ash—” Monica held up both hands “—not that I’m saying there is, but if there is, this could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Distance should make it easier to see what you two have.” She shrugged. “And that’s all I have to say about that.”
“No warnings about relationships with coworkers?” Macy asked as her pulse settled and it became easier to breathe. Ash had pushed her away on the ride home from his parents because of his position. If that relationship was gone, there would be nothing holding them back.
Not if he, too, wanted to see where it would lead.
“Go see the fire chief. Let me know where to send your paperwork when you make the move.” Monica motioned over her shoulder with her thumb. “Send me any extra strength you have as I go back in and deal with the chief ranger. The guy does not like losing and you handed him his hat.” Her lips were twitching as she stepped back inside.
Macy got behind the steering wheel and wondered exactly what she was going to do with herself next. Her need for a job weighed heavily with her urge to see Ash, to talk to Ash, to yell at Ash and to make him apologize for pushing her away.
Of the list of things she had to do, getting the fire chief to give her a job seemed the easiest. Her grandmother had taught her to knock the easiest things off the to-do list first. That gave her some momentum as she ran up against the more challenging tasks.
And getting Ash to understand his error and correct it was going to take some thinking.
She’d make sure the rent was covered. Then she’d tackle forcing Ash Kingfisher to fall in love with her.
Her trip back to Sweetwater was almost leisurely. What a difference having a plan made. She could almost believe her grandmother would have been pleased with the way she was working things out, not because her grandmother would have ever countenanced needing a man for anything, but at least Macy had her priorities straight.
“Cover the bills, then do what you want,” Macy muttered as she drove up to the fire station. Passing the campground diner, Macy was pleased and relieved to see a solid line of cars filling the front row of the parking lot. “Maybe what I said yesterday mattered.” The shot of confidence came at the right time.
She was not too far away from planting her flag at the ranger station and refusing to move. Sweetwater might not have been the home she was born to, but it was home.
And Ash Kingfisher better get his head in the game.
When she slowed to park in front of the large building that housed the fire engines and all the equipment the team used to fight fires and to set prescribed fire needed for the protection of the habitat in the Reserve, a line of guys wandered out from one of the open bays.
“An audience. Wonderful.” That hadn’t been a part of the equation when she’d been plotting how this would go. Not that it mattered. She could adjust. “Morning, boys.” Macy shut her car door.
Rodriguez bowed low. “Macy. My lovely. Have you come to give your backdrop an inspection?”
The thing about working with a lot of handsome, flirty men was that it never got old. Rodriguez was in love with Sheila, the comanager of the hardware store. He was just having fun, so Macy played along and waggled her eyebrows. “Show me what you got.”
He clapped his hands and then cupped his mouth to yell, “Cho! We need water!” In a well-organized scramble, the guys surrounded the backdrop she could see edged around the corner of the firehouse. When she turned the corner, her mouth dropped open. “You built me a mountain.” When she imagined how kids would love the display, Macy jumped up and down. “This is awesome.”
“You haven’t seen the half of it,” the fire chief said from the shady bay opening. Macy clasped her hands together, anxious for it all, and when water trickled down in a perfect miniature model of Yanu Falls, she gasped. “Who did this? I need to know because we are going to build wonderful things together.”
Every man in the crew pointed at a new guy, someone she hadn’t met yet, so Macy marched over, her hand extended. “You’re a genius.”
His grin was subdued but the guy shook her hand. “Ronald Cho. Call me RJ.”
Macy patted his shoulder. “RJ. You’re a good man to know.” The rest of the crew hustled to turn the water off and Macy clasped her hands together as she imagined how people would talk about her open house for... Who knows how long this impression would last but it would.
“You coming to talk to me?” McKesson drawled. “Monica Grey tells me I have my first interview for the administrator position at one.” He lifted his arm and studied his bare wrist. “I expect that’s about now.”
Glad she’d done enough role-playing that the detour didn’t knock her completely off guard, Macy nodded. “Chief, I’m going to need you to give me that job.” She pointed inside the firehouse. “Show me your office.”
McKesson blinked slowly before turning. “Follow me.”
That was a good sign. She’d butted heads with so many rangers. How nice would it be to work for a boss that didn’t need extensive training before she got to work. If Phil McKesson was prepared to listen to her right off the bat, they could go far and fast.
His office was cluttered enough that she felt right at home. A little trash pickup, some filing and a stern recycling policy would whip the place into shape.
“How do we do this, Gentry?” The chief’s voice was gruff, but if she wasn’t mistaken there was a slight sparkle in his blue eyes. “I already know you. If you want a job here, I’ll make one for you. I’d trust you to drive the fire truck if you wanted to.”
Macy snorted. “You don’t mean that, Chief. Wouldn’t be safe.” She wagged her finger. “And that’s what we’re going to do together, standardize safety procedures, meet and exceed requirements to improve the firehouse’s rating to keep pace with the lodge expansion, and generally have this place running like the fine machine it is.” Macy leaned back in her chair, satisfied with her opening argument.
McKesson sighed. “I can’t argue with that, but I’ve got one concern.”
“What?” Macy asked as she scooted to perch on the edge of her seat. Was there something she hadn’t anticipated?
“I like Ash Kingfisher. Losing you will not make him happy, and no one
will be able to run that visitor center the way you do or handle Ash as well. I don’t want to make an enemy of the head ranger.” He made a steeple with his fingers and tapped his lips. “I also don’t want Monica Grey mad at me. Not quite sure how to thread this needle.”
Relieved, Macy smiled. “Ash signed transfer paperwork. Monica gave me a choice, so if you don’t want me here...” Macy wrinkled her nose. “Well, we both know that’s not going to happen.”
The low rumble of his laugh was nice. It didn’t shake up her insides how Ash’s rare laugh did, but she could imagine fitting in well with Phil McKesson’s setup. “Gotta warn you. My relationship with Ash is about to change.”
“Oh?”
“Not sure to what, but we’re either going to fall in love or...” Macy shrugged a shoulder. “Why even open the door to another option. He’s going to love me.” She blinked innocently at him. “I’ve decided.”
McKesson cleared his throat. “I imagine you’re right. Kingfisher’s always struck me as a smart man.”
Macy nodded. “I’ll report tomorrow. Eight o’clock.” She waved vaguely around the office. “You have trash bags, right?”
When his lips shifted into a flat line, Macy knew it was time to go. He’d thank her for it later. “Much obliged, Chief. I’m looking forward to being here.”
“I’ll get plenty of rest tonight, so I can keep up.”
When she marched back to her car, Macy felt as if ten pounds had slid right off her shoulders. This was going to work. Next up: the ranger station and bringing Ash Kingfisher to his senses.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
WHEN ASH HUNG up the phone after Leland Hall told him to clean out his desk that afternoon and his cabin on the Reserve by the end of the next week, he knew he should feel worse about losing the job he’d loved for a decade.
Maybe because it was only the latest development, not the final word, but he was less upset than he’d expected. Before the chief ranger’s call, he’d talked to his sister. She’d been so excited he’d had to ask her to repeat herself twice, and he still wasn’t sure what she meant when she said she had a “secret weapon” in the battle with the Callaways to win over the board of directors. She was smart. She was happy. He was content to leave it in her hands.
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