The Bachelor Ranger

by Rebecca Winters

  How narcissistic was that when in reality she had been the farthest thing from his mind! To think he’d been over a thousand miles from the park attending his wife’s funeral…

  Alex had never met the transfer ranger named Leeann. She supposed that his having known her before coming to Yosemite was the reason they’d gotten married so fast. She must have been an exceptional woman. In his grief over losing her, his new dog, Sergei, would provide some solace and distraction.

  Another pain shot through Alex. What universe had she been living in all this time? It was beyond embarrassing. Anyone with brains knew that an infatuation was almost always unreciprocated. In most instances the person was oblivious.

  Alex had committed the cardinal sin by forcing her attention on Cal, who’d finally given in like any ordinary male. And he’d immediately forgotten their experience in the arms of the ranger he’d married.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, marveling that she’d had the nerve to seek him out and initiate the kiss that had ended up going on and on. Scarlet heat shot through her at the memory of his warm mouth on hers.

  If there was one moment in her life to make her thankful she’d been born a woman, that had been it. In that one kiss she’d felt a combination of chemistry and magic she would never know with anyone else. It was agonizing to realize that such a transcendent moment for her hadn’t affected him the same way. In a weak moment, Cal might have found Alex tempting, but Leeann had been the one who’d set him on fire.

  How strange that a kiss could have such a profound effect on a human being. There had to be much more to it than lips and mouths tasting each other. Billions of people had kissed since the beginning of time. But what ingredient was needed to set off a combustion that both participants felt at the same time.

  “Are you staying in the park tonight?”

  Brock’s question jolted her back to her surroundings. She shook her head. “No. I’m flying home, but I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

  “You can count on it.”

  She got up from the chair, grateful he didn’t try to detain her further. She planned to fly back to Albuquerque and get everything ready for Saturday, when she’d be accompanying the boys to the park.

  Alex had already made arrangements that when they arrived in Yosemite valley, they would stay overnight at the famous Ahwahnee Hotel where presidents and queens had slept and dined. On Sunday, she would drive the boys to the campground and help them get settled in before they started work on Monday.

  After speaking with Chief Rossiter yesterday morning, she’d contacted Halian and Lonan with the good news. Lonan said he would talk to each family to get the boys prepared.

  In the meantime she had a ton of things to do, including taking them shopping for clothes and toiletries safe to use in the park. They needed everything from coats and boots to sweats for sleeping. Their suitcases had already been ordered with the H & H logo.

  She’d also put in an order for twelve dozen white T-shirts with the words H & H Yosemite Youth Volunteer in a dark green color. Those shirts and jeans would be their uniform. When they weren’t at work, they could wear what they wanted.

  Before she reached Merced, she called the cell phone store in Albuquerque to make sure her order for three dozen phones with cameras was ready and that service had started. Tomorrow morning she’d deliver them to each family. The boys would be able to download pictures to their families’ computers as well as the one at the tribal office so everyone could enjoy them.

  The whole trick for Alex was to stay busier than she’d ever been in her life.

  Unfortunately her mind wouldn’t let go of a certain conversation she’d had with her father last May before she’d left for the park. They’d taken a horseback ride, and while they were out enjoying nature, he’d cautioned her not to go to Yosemite again.

  “Why? Mom gave you a hard time for five years before she agreed to marry you. Is this so different?”

  He pulled on the reins and turned in the saddle to study her with worried blue eyes. “I don’t know. You tell me.”

  “I’ve always felt Cal’s interest, but suspected there was a reason why he held back. At first I thought it was because he figured I was too young. There’s a seven-year difference in our ages. But after a while I began to wonder if he was the type who didn’t want to get involved with me because I’m your daughter and you worked too closely with his bosses. I’ve come up with several other reasons, too.”

  She looked out over the rocky formations ahead of them. “He only earns enough money to take care of himself. It’s possible he’s one of those men who would feel emasculated if his wife had more money than he could make in a lifetime.”

  “Honey, you’re not mentioning the one thing that appears the most obvious to me. He could be involved with another woman. You have no idea what he does in his spare time. Maybe he’s had a relationship that has gone on for years.”

  She shook her head. “No. He’s always let me hang around him, flirt with him. If he’d truly been in love with someone else, he wouldn’t have given me the time of day.”

  “Some men like to look no matter what.”

  “I’m aware of that, but Ranger Hollis isn’t a player.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  Headstrong as usual, Alex had gone to Yosemite to prove her father wrong. Today she’d found out John Harcourt had known exactly what he was talking about. Cal had been romantically involved with Leeann over a period of years. Alex’s punishment would be to see Cal around the park this summer and not be affected.

  Could a person learn to shut off emotion? Probably not, but it didn’t matter.

  What she needed to do was lose herself in this project she’d created from the ground up.

  Naturally she wanted it to be successful. Chief Rossiter was counting on her, but there was much more to it than that. For her it was vital that these wonderful boys who’d come from a totally different culture and circumstances than her own would have experiences in a place she’d always considered paradise. If the time they spent in the park shaped even one boy’s future for the good, it would be worth it.

  Because of the boys’ reverence for nature, Alex was convinced they’d return to their families at the end of the summer enlightened even further. She couldn’t ask for more than that despite her personal heartache over Cal. Time was supposed to bring forgetfulness. She’d pray for that.

  Chapter Five

  Cal had five minutes to shower and change into a clean uniform before dinner at the Ahwahnee. Since Alex had disappeared from his office on Wednesday, he’d put in the hours of ten men while she was back in New Mexico getting her group ready to fly up to the park.

  The shocker came last night when he’d awakened out of a dream with feelings of guilt because it was Alex’s ardent mouth he could taste and feel, not Leeann’s.

  Seeing Alex again had brought deeply buried memories to the surface. That surprised him. He’d thought his marriage to Leeann, no matter how short-lived, had made him forget Alex, but that wasn’t the case.

  He supposed it was natural, considering the fact that he had known Alex much longer than Leeann. There’d been other women he’d had brief relationships with over the years, but none had made a lasting impression—until Alex.

  Years ago a girl-woman had painted herself into the canvas of his life. Her hair and eyes added splashes of color more vivid than a silvery-gold Yellowstone Falls cascading through an autumn rainbow, more green than the moist, lush grass growing in the high meadows during late spring.

  The guys had teased him about being the object of hero worship. At first he’d laughed it off, not taking it seriously. But the girl-woman had grown up while he hadn’t been watching….

  By now she and the teens ought to have arrived at the park and were probably getting settled in at the ski lodge.

  “Come on, Sergei. We’ve got to hurry or I’ll be late for the dinner the Chief has planned in our honor.”

  B
efore long he and the dog entered the dining room with its imposing granite pillars and a thirty-five-foot-high beamed ceiling of sugar pine trestles. Light from the chandeliers reflected in the floor-to-ceiling windows, and linen cloths and china on the tables created an elegant atmosphere in an otherwise rustic setting.

  With one glance he noted the place was full of tourists. Seeing this crowd, you’d never know the economy was going through a recession. While he looked around for his colleagues, his eyes were drawn to a woman whose hair seemed to possess a metallic sheen. He’d only seen hair like it on one other person.

  She was seated at a table near one of the windows, yet even accounting for the distance separating them, she stood out from everyone else. When she turned to talk to a young man on her left, he caught a glimpse of her profile and the breath was suddenly trapped in his lungs. Alex. What was she doing here?

  As he stared, he realized she was surrounded by the lean, dark-haired teenagers she’d brought here for the summer. He counted sixteen. They all wore collared shirts and filled two round tables.

  Someone waved to him from a nearby table. It took a second before he realized it was Jeff. The guys, including the superintendent, were already gathered with their wives and children.

  Cal decided it was no accident Alex was here, or that her party had been placed near the head ranger’s. Bill Telford had probably seen to it because he wanted this experiment to succeed. What better way for the powers that be to get acquainted with the teens and make them feel welcome.

  He started for his table, but Sergei had other ideas and strained against the leash, almost tugging free before reaching Alex. His dog had licked her once and knew her flowery scent. So did Cal.

  “Hey—there’s Sergei!”

  Nicky’s voice sounded behind him. Cal looked around. Vance and his wife had just come into the dining room. Roberta and Brody scrambled out of their chairs to pet the dog, creating minor mayhem, and all the other children in the room were staring their way. He turned back to Alex.

  By now she’d seen him, but she was looking through him the way she’d done outside the Chief’s office, her eyes and features devoid of emotion. A strange shudder went through his body.

  “Guys?” Alex said to the teenage boys who were taking it all in without saying a word. “This is Ranger Hollis. He’s the chief biologist for the park.” She said something else in their native language and they nodded. Then she reverted back to English. “And this is his new dog, Sergei. He’s a Karelian Bear Dog who’s being trained to frighten the bears away from the campgrounds. You’ll be seeing him around all summer. He’s very friendly.”

  All the time she was speaking, Sergei kept rubbing his head against her skirt. She looked stunning in a dusky blue tailored suit, and Cal had trouble focusing anywhere else.

  Somehow in his bemused state he remembered to greet the teens. “Welcome to the park, gentlemen.” He started around the table, shaking each volunteer’s hand. Alex followed and introduced them by name. Sergei lifted a paw for them to shake, too. That made the boys laugh, and they relaxed and talked among themselves.

  When Cal came to the last person, he realized the guy was probably around thirty. “This is Lonan Kinard,” Alex explained. “He’s on the tribal council and volunteered to come and be in charge of the boys.”

  “Lonan, it’s an honor for us,” Cal said sincerely.

  “For us, too. It’s good to meet you.”

  “We’re glad these teens are here for the summer. If you ever need anything, call on me or ask any ranger for help. We always appreciate extra hands at the park and admire you for being willing to come. I hope it’ll be a satisfying experience for you.” Cal looked out over the group. “Maybe some of you feel the way I did when I first saw Yosemite, like I’d arrived in God’s front yard. It’s an awesome place to work and live.”

  The teens nodded with a smile.

  Alex lowered her eyes, but he’d glimpsed her suspiciously bright gaze before she sat down. Taking a deep breath, he gave his dog a stern command so he wouldn’t linger next to Alex, though he could hardly blame Sergei.

  They walked around the banquet table and Cal took a seat next to Jeff. Sergei sank down on the floor beside his chair. “Surprise,” Jeff muttered.

  “That’s putting it mildly,” Cal whispered back before starting in on his salad.

  “What you did went a long way to breaking the ice with those teens. I’d say your dog is working magic big-time.”

  Cal agreed Sergei had been picking up tricks fast, but where Alex was concerned, his buddy had a lot to learn about control. Gretchen had told Cal that he and Sergei were a good psychological match. Maybe too good. His dog had already bonded with Alex.

  “A couple of flashes went off while you and Sergei were making the rounds.”

  “I noticed.” Cal frowned. “No doubt someone on Telford’s staff.”

  “He insisted on being with me when Alex arrived at the hotel earlier with the boys. Once he heard she’d booked rooms for them here tonight, he took over.”

  That figured.

  “From his standpoint this is a dream photo op to advertise Yosemite, but the boys might not be comfortable with the attention yet. If you want to know what I think, from the way he acted around Alex this afternoon, he has a personal interest in her.”

  Cal wouldn’t put it past him. Telford had children in college, but the widower could still be infatuated by a gorgeous woman years younger than him. Alex had come to the park often enough for him to be more than aware of her.

  Unable to help himself, Cal cast a covert glance at her. Right now she reminded him of Wendy from Peter Pan, telling stories to the lost boys. She had a genuine connection with them.

  While she’d been introducing each one to Cal, she’d made little personal remarks that told of their long friendship. Some of his assumptions about her that he now knew had no basis in the truth came back to haunt him. To think she’d been a teacher to these boys over the years, performing a service without any thought of reward.

  Alex had done him a favor, too. She’d been right about Cal’s decision to get a dog. His subconscious need for a companion had driven him to act and he’d gone to Redding to investigate the possibility. Once he’d seen the new litter of pups, he’d approached his boss, Paul Thomas, for his permission, all thanks to her.

  Jeff nudged him in the ribs. “It’s speech time.”

  Cal had been so immersed in thought, he’d eaten his entrée without being aware of it. “I gave mine while I walked around the table talking to the teens.”

  Once dessert was served, the Chief said, “While we welcome the Hearth and Home volunteers to the park, we’re also here to honor two rangers whose promotions are well deserved and equally well underpaid, as we all know.”

  Laughter broke out.

  “If either of you would care to comment…”

  “Ranger Hollis already said it best,” Jeff spoke up. “Yosemite is one of the earth’s greatest treasures. I consider myself lucky to be a part of it.”

  “That makes three of us,” Vance said in a husky voice.

  While Cal was drinking the last of his punch, Alex and the boys had gotten to their feet. All of a sudden Telford stood up. “Don’t leave yet, Ms. Harcourt,” he urged. “In fact, don’t anyone move. We’re going to be taking some more pictures.”

  At the look of concern on Alex’s face, Cal put his goblet down so hard it almost broke the stem. This was the boys’ first experience in a new setting. Telford was pushing things too fast. No one understood better than Cal that she didn’t want the boys intimidated.

  Her idea had its naissance after years of helping her mother set up these orphaned children with families, giving them the stability all children were entitled to. While they were at the park, she needed to be given space to work with them without drawing unnecessary attention to them.

  Compelled to intercede, Cal stood up. “Sorry for the interruption, Bill, but I have to take Sergei outside.
Before I leave, it occurred to me I’ll be giving these volunteers a talk tomorrow evening. If you’d like, I’d be happy to take some pictures while they’re at their campground—in natural surroundings.”

  “That’s an excellent idea,” Vance interjected. “Besides, the boys are probably tired after their flight from New Mexico today.” The Chief’s words meant he wasn’t thrilled with Telford’s zeal, either.

  Without staying to hear Bill’s response, Cal left the dining room with Sergei. It was difficult to keep walking when he knew Alex was right behind him. If the boys weren’t with her, he would have asked her to leave the party and go to his house so they could talk.

  He forced himself to keep on going and strode through the foyer to the entrance, needing the cold night air to brace him. A half hour later his phone rang while he was bringing the dog back to the house from their jaunt. It was Jeff. Cal clicked on. “I’ve been waiting for you to get home. Was my leaving like that too obvious?”

  “Let’s just say it silenced Telford for the moment. I sensed he didn’t like being outmaneuvered, which leads me to believe he’s personally interested in Alex. Vance was quick to protect her.”

  Cal had been aware of that, too. “So you’ve already talked to the Chief?”

  “We just got off the phone. He’s going to tell Bill to cool it for a while until the boys get used to being here. Vance is phoning Alex tonight so she won’t worry.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Judging by the way she left the dining room so fast, his call should come as a big relief.”

  “Yup,” Cal muttered. “I’m glad the banquet’s over.”

  “I guess we can consider ourselves official now. Catch you later. I don’t know about you, but I’m bushed.”

  Cal hung up wishing he could say the same thing, but he felt wired. When he got back to the house, he’d phone his brother. Anything to get his mind off Alex, who was less than a mile away. All he had to do was get in his truck and he could be over there.