“I’m in no hurry.” He stood there with his hands on his hips in a totally male stance. She eyed him frankly.
“On the advice of his psychiatrist, I brought Nicky out here in the hope he’d get answers to the questions filling his mind, thus stopping the nightmares. After Ben and Michelle died, he fell apart.” For the next few minutes she described the difficult year Nicky had been through.
With each revelation, the ranger’s grimace deepened. “The poor tyke.”
“I can tell your explanation has already helped him start to heal. Knowing his parents weren’t in pain has made a huge difference to him. However, before we go back to Florida, the doctor feels he needs to see the actual place where his parents died. He believes visualizing it will put an end to all the other imaginary fears in Nicky’s head.”
Rossiter’s broad chest rose and fell visibly. “His doctor makes amazing sense. Unfortunately, El Capitan isn’t a place for children.”
“I know. We saw it while we were driving in.” The three-thousand-foot vertical rock formation acclaimed by climbers the world over had terrified her just looking at it. “He doesn’t know that was the place where the accident happened. My parents and I kept the details from him, but according to Dr. Karsh, it was the wrong thing to do.”
She felt the chief’s eyes studying her features. “Let me think about it and I’ll get in touch with you tomorrow on your cell phone.”
“I’d appreciate that.” Her mouth had gone dry from inexplicable nervousness. “I know you’ve been through a lot today. Thank you.”
“He was a pure delight the whole time, but don’t think he wasn’t missing you. Every other word was Rachel this and Rachel that. If I didn’t know better, I would think you were his mother. Every orphaned child should be so lucky.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m in the process of adopting him. It should be going through soon.”
“Then he’s doubly blessed. When are you returning to Miami?”
“Sunday morning. We’ll spend Saturday night in Merced. Nicky doesn’t know that yet. He thinks he’s going camping with you. Was that your idea?”
“I told him I’d discuss the rest of your trip with you. If it fit in with your plans, I’d take the three of us camping.”
At the thought of being alone with the chief, heat swarmed into her cheeks. “I’m afraid time constraints make it impossible.”
“That’s a tough lesson we all have to learn at some point.”
She nodded. “As you heard in there, he thinks you’re even greater than Mr. Plot. You have no idea what a compliment that is.”
Vance rubbed the side of his jaw. “Why are you leaving so soon? There are dozens of things to see in the park.”
His question thrilled her. “Believe me, I’d love us to spend a summer here. It’s paradise, but I have to earn a living.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “My father’s not well. I don’t like leaving him or my mother too long. Nicky’s the bright spot in their lives.”
The rangers gaze traveled over her features. “You’ve forgotten to include yourself.”
His comment sent more warmth through her body. “I agree we all need each other.”
“Rachel?”
She rolled her eyes at Nicky’s command.
A faint smile hovered around Rossiter’s compelling male mouth. “Good night, Ms. Darrow.”
“Good night.”
Chapter Four
Vance stepped into the night air, having lived through a day like no other. He’d never spent an entire day with anyone’s child, let alone been given the total responsibility for his care. In twelve hours plus, the orphaned boy, who’d been lurking faceless and phantomlike in the recesses of his mind for the past year, now had features and form.
Nicky Darrow, the sweetest child Vance could ever imagine, had found his way into his heart. The knowledge that the boy had been suffering so severely only fired Vance’s determination to do whatever he could to help Nicky find peace while he was here.
His aunt Rachel had just presented Vance with a problem that needed to be solved while she and Nicky were still in the park. Several options came to mind. By the time he’d arrived at his house, he’d thought of a plan. He would arrange it for Saturday morning before they left for Merced.
While Rachel’s appealing image lingered in his thoughts, he took off his uniform to shower. Once he’d pulled on the bottom half of a pair of sweats, he listened to his phone messages. With no problems to deal with until tomorrow, he called the pilot who’d flown Vance in the helicopter during the search and rescue mission atop El Capitan last year.
“Perry?”
“What’s up, Chief?”
“Sorry to bother you this time of night, but somewhat of an emergency has come up. I’d like to run this by you and get your opinion.”
“Go ahead.”
In the next few minutes Vance went into detail about the Darrows’ situation and his plan. “The boy’s psychiatrist feels he needs to see the place where his parents died, and talk to the people who dealt with them, whatever their capacity. Since you were at the controls when we found their bodies, Nicky can get answers only you would be able to provide. Their deaths have crippled him emotionally.”
The other man whistled. “The poor kid. Sure, I’ll do it. If he were my child, I’d hope he would get every bit of help possible to recover.”
“You’re a good man,” Vance said in a gruff tone. “What’s your Saturday morning like?”
“I’m available.” Even if he wasn’t, Vance knew the former navy pilot had made Nicky his first priority without hesitation. Every park employee felt the same sadness. The Darrows’ death would never be forgotten. “If we go up at seven, there’ll be less wind.”
“We’ll be there on the dot. I owe you, Perry.”
“You’ve got that wrong. After what happened to them, I like the idea of doing something for the boy if it’ll help me sleep better nights.”
Vance’s eyes closed tightly. “Amen to that. See you Saturday.” They clicked off.
He sat on the side of the bed with his head down, his hands clasped between his legs. Except for emergencies that required him getting around in the helicopter because of the vast distances, Vance didn’t allow air traffic of any kind over the park, not even a glider. The noise disturbed natural habitat.
Today he’d broken his own rule by asking one of the guys to fly him and Nicky to the Tuolomne Meadows. He’d do it again to see the way the boy’s eyes had lit up at the sight of that eagle.
If the truth were known, he felt a keen disappointment that Nicky’s visit to Yosemite with his beautiful aunt was going to be short-lived. It had been years since Vance had known real joy in his life. Today had been one of those rare times. Nicky was a miracle. The boy’s prayer still rang in his ears.
And please bless Vance. He’s my best friend. Amen.
Too restless to sleep yet, he got up from the bed and wandered into the kitchen for a glass of ice water. He leaned over the sink to look out the window at the sky. It was a beautiful night, but the stars would be even more spectacular seen from the meadow at an elevation of nine thousand feet. Rachel would be enthralled. He’d love to stare into those gorgeous green eyes while she stared into the heavens.
Nicky would love it, too. He absorbed knowledge like a sponge. Vance would have the time of his life showing him the constellations. You never knew what question the kid was going to ask next.
He’d entertained Vance all day, wanting to know things like what made the wind move? Had Vance ever seen a pine tree grow? Why is the eagle bald? How come we have to get old? Why can’t I live in the park, too?
The last question gave Vance pause. Nicky had a reverence, as well as an affinity, for the outdoors. He’d learned a lot on his trip into the Everglades and demonstrated it in a number of ways. Most children seeing a nest of eggs in one of the sapling pines would want to reach in and take one, or at least examine it. Not Nicky. Without bein
g told, he hunkered down at a discreet distance and simply waited for the mother chipping sparrow to return.
Vance saw so much of himself in the boy’s wonder of nature, it hurt. When Vance had gone into the military, he’d done so because his own father had been a marine and had taught him the importance of serving his country. But Vance had a lot of his grandfather in him, too. The older man’s love of the outdoors had rubbed off on him at an early age. With the park right next door, it beat every other destination.
This was home. No matter the outcome of Chief Dick’s prophecy, Vance would never leave. On some level he felt an irrational pride in Nicky’s love of Yosemite. Considering that the boy’s parents had died here, it was pretty astounding.
His aunt’s courage was even more astounding. She was older, and learning the facts surrounding her brother and sister-in-law’s deaths hurt more, but she’d persevered because of her love for Nicky. Whoever said a mother would walk through fire for her child would have to include Rachel Darrow.
The idea of her leaving so soon filled him with a sense of loss he couldn’t fathom. Rachel was an exceptional woman. Knowing how precious her nephew was to her—even to giving up a career to be close to him—she’d still entrusted Nicky’s life to Vance for a whole day. It showed a degree of forgiveness and faith that humbled him.
After draining his glass, he headed for bed. He had a big day tomorrow. So did Chase, apparently….
When his friend had escorted her to headquarters, Vance hadn’t given it a thought. He hadn’t questioned Chase’s desire to look after the boy for a little while so Vance could interview her in private. He hadn’t been concerned that Chase ate dinner with her and Nicky, because he knew Mark had asked him to keep an eye on her. It was all perfectly understandable.
Until now …
That his best friend was going to enjoy time with her horseback riding in the morning had come as a surprise. For some inexplicable reason the knowledge not only irritated Vance, it disturbed him.
He knew his reaction was as irrational as his behavior had been with her in his office. Trying to get comfortable, he pounded the pillow. It was a free country. Chase had every right to pursue any attractive woman he wanted. In fact, Vance encouraged it. The former navy meteorologist turned ranger was too fine a man to go through life embittered by his divorce, unable to move on with someone else.
Like Vance, was Chase inordinately attracted to Rachel? What man wouldn’t be? Or was he trying in his own way to assuage his guilt over what had happened to Nicky’s parents?
No matter the answer, it was a moot point, since she’d be leaving in another two days. Hardly enough time for anything to happen.
Except that wasn’t true if she felt an attraction to Chase.
Tonight when Vance had said good-night to her in the hall, he hadn’t gotten the feeling Chase was on her mind. He’d seen her eyes darken with emotion when
Nicky told him Katy had died in the war. What had been going on in her psyche just then?
He’d give a lot to know. And then what, Rossiter?
Depending on the answer, absolutely nothing. He’d lost Katy. No way did Vance want to love someone that deeply again, when he couldn’t be guaranteed a happy ending. If Chase was fool enough to get burned a second time, he did so at his own risk.
NICKY HAD BEEN PERFECT until this morning. Rachel looked at the plate of food he hadn’t touched since they’d come to the dining room for breakfast.
“Ranger Jarvis will be here in a few minutes. If you don’t eat, you won’t feel good during our horseback ride.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I don’t want to go. Maybe Vance will let me sit in his office until you get back. I won’t bother him.”
“Do you know what, young man? Ranger Jarvis has gone to a lot of trouble for us. He’s had to find horses and get everything ready. I don’t want to disappoint him. Do you?” she asked pointedly.
His pout was back. “No,” he admitted, “but I don’t want to go.” Here came the tears.
She straightened in the chair. “Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do.”
“How come?”
Rachel couldn’t take much more. “Nicholas Darrow, you know why. If you’re going to behave this way, we’ll stay in the room today and won’t see anybody. I mean it.”
While she waited for him to decide, her cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse, but didn’t recognize the caller ID. Maybe it was Chase. If he had to cancel
their outing because of an emergency, it would solve this morning’s crisis. Perhaps that would be for the best.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Darrow? It’s Chief Rossiter.”
Her pulse raced for no good reason. “Oh, hello!”
“Is it Ranger Jarvis?” Nicky asked. “I hope he can’t come.”
She frowned at him.
“I hoped to catch you before you left with Ranger Jarvis.”
Rachel glanced at the entrance to the dining room. “He hasn’t arrived yet. Nicky and I are still eating breakfast.”
“Nevertheless, I’ll make this quick.”
“Is it Vance?” Nicky sat up, looking eager.
“Hush!” At her wit’s end, she turned her back on him. “Excuse me. Please, go on.”
“I’ve arranged for a helicopter to fly us to the top of El Capitan tomorrow at seven in the morning. Nicky will be able to see everything firsthand and ask questions of the pilot who was part of the rescue team last year. It won’t take more than an hour. Why don’t you discuss this with Nicky? If he has a problem with it, call me tonight.”
Rachel got to her feet. “There’s no problem. He needs all the truth you can supply. We’ll be ready.”
“Then I’ll be by for you at ten to seven.”
“Thank you so much.”
Nicky had run around in front of her. “Can I talk to him? Please?”
The chief chuckled. “I can hear Nicky. Tell him I want to say hello, too. Go ahead and put him on.”
“You have more patience than I do. Just a minute.” She handed him the phone. “Say hi, but don’t talk long.”
“I won’t.” He put it to his ear. “Hello, Vance? It’s me!” The smiley face was back in full force. Whatever they started talking about made Nicky laugh. He’d forgotten all about Rachel.
“Hi,” a male voice said beside her. Startled, she turned to discover Chase standing there in his uniform.
“How are you?”
“Good. Is Nicky talking to his grandparents?” he asked in a quiet voice.
She shook her head and moved a few feet away from her nephew. “Chief Rossiter phoned. When Nicky heard who it was, he begged to talk to him.” Maybe the exchange would supply the magic needed to put her nephew in a more affable mood.
Chase’s expression sobered. “Is everything all right?”
While Nicky was occupied, she took advantage of the time to tell him what the chief had arranged and why. “I’m very grateful and just hope it helps Nicky.”
“We all want that.”
“I know. Everyone’s been terrific.”
Afraid Nicky was staying on the phone too long, she tapped him on the shoulder. “You have to hang up now. Chase has come for us.”
He frowned. “Okay. Hey, Vance? Rachel says we have to go horseback riding now. See you later, alligator. What? Refrigerator?” He burst into laughter. “See you later, elevator.” He handed Rachel the phone with noticeable reluctance.
Chase smiled down at him. “Hi, Nicky. Sounds like you and the chief were having a fun conversation.”
“Yup.”
“Did you know Daisy’s waiting for you?”
He cocked his head. “Who’s that?”
“Follow me and you’ll find out.”
Nicky looked puzzled. “I didn’t know a girl was coming with us.”
“That’s my surprise.” He winked at Rachel as he said it. Ranger Jarvis really was a terrific person.
She grasped Nicky�
�s hand. “This is exciting. I want to meet her, too. Let’s go.”
Rachel had already asked that the tab be put on their room bill. They left the lodge and found his Pathfinder parked close by. Chase helped her into the front seat and opened the back door for Nicky. Soon they were off.
“The stable is a couple of miles from here. Have you ever been horseback riding, Nicky?”
“I’ve ridden a pony at Blake’s birthday party.”
“Did you like it?” Chase asked.
“I guess.”
“You know you did,” Rachel said as she swiveled in her seat.
“Is Blake your best friend?”
“No. Vance is.”
The ranger’s brows lifted. “You have a friend with the same name as our chief ranger?”
Rachel held her breath, knowing what was coming. “No. The chief’s my best friend!” He said it in a way that suggested Chase should have known and understood.
“Then you’re a lucky boy.”
“I know.”
Nicky’s behavior was an embarrassment. Rachel was relieved when they drew up to the stable. There were several groups of tourists standing around to get outfitted, but Chase walked right past them to a corral where two horses and a pony were waiting.
He grabbed the reins. “Nicky? Meet Daisy.”
Her nephew blinked. “You said she was a girl.”
“She is. A little filly just the right size for you.”
“Vance says I’m a big boy.”
“And so you are.” He lifted Nicky into the saddle. While he adjusted the stirrups, Rachel climbed on the mare one of the stable hands was holding for her. She was horrified by Nicky’s behavior and shot him a warning look.
“Can you thank Chase for helping you? He’s gone to a lot of trouble for us.”
Nicky lowered his eyes. “Thanks.”
“Thank you, Chase,” she admonished.
Chase gave a shake of his head, as if to say, Don’t worry about it. I’m a big boy and understand what’s going on here.
The Chief Ranger Page 6
