The Bachelor Ranger

by Rebecca Winters

  And then do what, Hollis?

  In answer, all kinds of impossible images flashed through his mind.

  FROM THE SUBLIME TO the ridiculous. Well, maybe not ridiculous, Alex amended on Sunday morning. But after a night at the Ahwahnee with its stained-glass windows and tapestries, the two-story ski retreat at Sugar Pines with its camp cots and simple bathroom and shower facilities would give the guys a new experience in semi roughing it. Girls on the top floor, boys on the main. Seventy in all.

  The forest service staff had designated two big rooms for the H & H volunteers. Eight male teens to a room. The other large rooms were taken up by the male volunteers of the LTSY group. The smaller rooms housed the five chaperones and the director of the facility, Sheila Lopez, who’d been at the job close to a decade. Alex estimated she was in her forties.

  A fireplace dominated the furnished common room. Alex was glad to discover the lodge didn’t include television. The kids were expected to get out in nature and take advantage of all the talks and programs offered.

  A cook and several assistants had been hired to live in and fix the meals in the spacious kitchen and dining area. With a staff that came in to do laundry and clean, the teens would be well taken care of.

  After the boys had eaten a big breakfast that morning, Alex checked them out of the Ahwahnee and drove them in the bus to Sugar Pines only two and half miles away. Besides the lodge tucked up in the pines, there was a clearing with an amphitheater where you could view Half Dome.

  The pueblo had its own earthy beauty, but she watched the guys’ dark eyes light up as they explored their fabulous new environment. The videos she’d shown them could never compare to seeing the real thing. God’s front yard summed it up to perfection.

  If only Cal knew, he was her idea of perfection in male form. Perfect and unattainable, but he’d done her a favor last night. The teens appreciated the personal interaction when he’d shaken hands with them and tried to learn their names. They’d especially enjoyed Sergei.

  The one thing they didn’t like was having their pictures taken because it made them feel like they were something of a sideshow. Alex hated it, too. While they were at Yosemite, she wanted them to integrate with the other volunteers and discover shared interests, not stand out for being different.

  Bill Telford was a dynamic, attractive man who meant well, but his appointment from Washington, D.C., made him an eager beaver. She wondered how he’d handle it if he were suddenly thrust into a different culture, the object of curiosity. Without the tempering of understanding that Cal had shown it would be an isolating experience. Last night when he’d broken up the photo shoot in an offhand way, her admiration for his sensitivity had grown.

  At the thought of seeing him in a few minutes, her cheeks grew hot. Cal, along with Ranger Sims, head of security, was coming to talk to the kids. They’d be followed by Bert Rodino from the California department of road and trail reparations, who’d be explaining their specific job for the park.

  After dinner, Sheila had told them to put on their parkas and assemble outside. It was still light when Alex and Lonan gathered their group and found places to sit with the other chaperones, Del Reeves and Marshall Phelps.

  So far none of the teens, who’d come from all over the country, had started mingling yet, but she was confident it would happen after they’d been working on the trails for a few days.

  In the distance she saw some trucks pull up in the parking lot. Soon three men approached. Even without Sergei at his side, Cal would have stood out. His height and rugged male physique seemed part of the magnificent surroundings themselves.

  Once Ranger Sims had explained the rules of conduct while the youth lived within the park’s confines, he turned the presentation over to Cal, who introduced himself and Sergei. After giving the same information on the bears that he had at the volunteer leaders’ orientation, he switched to another subject.

  “We have mountain lions here, not wolves, but you might go all summer and never see one. They stay away. Contrary to what you might think, there are more attacks on humans by deer than by bears. All the deer in Yosemite have mulelike ears so they’re called mule deer.”

  The audience laughed.

  “While you’re repairing the trails, you’ll see them in or near the meadows, browsing or grazing. Though they’re naturally timid, they’ve grown accustomed to seeing people, but don’t be deceived by them.

  “Even if they appear tame and approach you, they’re a wild animal and will charge if cornered or threatened. Their hooves and antlers are sharp. Always leave them a wide area to walk away and, like all the other wildlife, especially the coyotes, never tempt them with food.”

  As always, Alex noticed that Cal held the attention of his audience.

  “At night you’ll hear the coyotes singing in a chorus of howls, barks and yodels. They’re natural predators of field mice and squirrels, but have learned to beg from people. Don’t feed them. We have over two thousand food storage lockers to help with the problem. Human food is harmful to them. If they get conditioned to seeking food from people, it makes them vulnerable to being hit by passing cars.

  “Keep in mind the park is the home to golden eagles, bighorn sheep and several endangered species, namely the great gray owl and the peregrine falcon. All wildlife is precious down to the shrinking toad population. Treat everything in the park as sacred. Watch where you walk so you don’t crush a tiny forest creature by accident.

  “On a final note, Yosemite is home to two hundred and fifty documented species of birds. There are nine hundred species in the entire U.S., so you can imagine how vital it is that the park remains a safe sanctuary for so many. If you see any animal or bird in trouble, report it immediately to your supervisors. The staff here has two-way phones to alert my office. I predict that if you’ll treat this amazing world you’ve come to with respect, you’re going to have the greatest time of your life here.”

  His smile as he wound up his talk upended Alex’s heart. While Bert Rodino took his turn to speak, she watched Cal and Sergei circle the group. If she didn’t miss her guess, he was taking a few pictures, but the kids weren’t aware. By the time he reached her side of the amphitheater, he’d put the camera away.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sergei try to walk over to her, but the leash prevented him from reaching her. Alex was touched by the dog’s affection, yet knowing his master wouldn’t appreciate it, she pretended she didn’t notice the two of them in order not to encourage Sergei. No doubt Cal wished she and his dog had never met outside the Chief’s office.

  Once Bert Rodino ended his presentation, Sheila took over. “Before you kids go back to the lodge for the night, let’s give a round of applause to the experts who’ve taken time out of their busy schedules to talk to you.”

  Alex joined in the clapping, then got to her feet. Cal and the other two men stood conversing a little way off. Forcing herself to stay focused, she turned her attention to the boys starting to walk with her in the darkness. “What do you think so far?” she asked in English, but Lusio responded in Shiwi.

  “The other kids don’t like us.”

  His comment didn’t surprise her. “Maybe they think you don’t like them. Give them a chance. The fact that you’ve all volunteered to come means you’re willing to do something different with your lives.”

  It was critical that the boys’ time here got off to a positive start.

  “You heard Ranger Hollis,” she continued. “You’re going to end up having the greatest experience of your life here, but it won’t just happen without some effort on your part. For one thing, if you want to converse in Shiwi, do it when you’re alone in your rooms. Otherwise speak English.”

  Lonan and the others had caught up with her. “Alex is right. You guys heard Mr. Rodino. Tomorrow you’ll each be assigned someone outside your group to work with throughout the day. If you’re friendly, they will be, too.”

  “The trick is to get them talking about thems
elves,” she added. “Everyone likes the chance to brag.” That brought smiles to their faces.

  “Can we use our cell phones tonight?”

  She looked at Lokita. Like the other boys, he was anxious to call home. “Sure, but you know the rules. At eleven, Lonan will gather them and it’ll be lights out. You’ll have to fit in your showers, too. I’ll be knocking on your doors at seven in the morning to get you up for breakfast.”

  They nodded and hurried inside the lodge ahead of her. As she was about to climb the steps, she heard a deep, familiar male voice behind her say her name. Pulse racing, she turned around. The only light came from inside, making a silhouette of Cal’s tall, imposing figure.

  Sergei didn’t waste any time greeting her. “Hi ya, boy.” She leaned over to scratch his head.

  “I’d like to speak to you for a minute. If you need to do something more with the boys, I’ll wait.” Since she knew he’d didn’t want anything to do with her on a personal basis, it meant he must be here on park business.

  “Getting the guys to bed is Lonan’s department. I take charge in the morning.” She stiffened slightly. “What’s on your mind?”

  It was too dark to read the expression in his eyes, especially beneath his hat, but she had the feeling he held his body taut, as if he were on alert. If he was on edge because he had to deal with her, he would soon discover she was no threat. They’d already had that talk to get the past out of the way, but he was probably wondering if or when the old Alex would resurface.

  “Chief Rossiter wasn’t happy about last night.”

  “You’re talking about the picture taking. I know. He assured me it won’t happen again without my permission.”

  “The superintendent sometimes gets ahead of himself.”

  “It’s all right. At least he’s forward thinking and anxious to show off the park’s social diversity.”

  “Except that it’s not going to happen overnight at your expense, no matter how much he’d like things to be otherwise.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  Cal shifted his weight. “I took a few pictures tonight because I promised Bill, but they caught a cross section of the volunteers and none of them were of you.”

  No. They wouldn’t be…. Alex was so unforgettable, Cal had gotten married almost as soon as she’d left the park. “Thank you.”

  “The Chief doesn’t want you or the teens being concerned about that while you’re here.”

  Taking a fortifying breath, she said, “I appreciate that.” She couldn’t understand why Cal continued to linger. It was making her more and more uncomfortable. “Please tell Vance that’s a big relief and I’m very grateful.”

  In fact she’d tell him in person the next time she saw him. As for this polite conversation with Cal, it felt so stilted, she couldn’t stand it another second. End it now, Alex.

  “The kids enjoyed your talk. I’m hoping they take it to heart. Good night.” She patted the dog’s neck one more time. “See you around, Sergei.”

  A low doggie moan followed her up the steps and inside the lodge. She never looked back.

  “Alex?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at Ralph Thorn, one of the male chaperones for the LTSY groups. According to Sheila, the sandy-haired public school psychologist from Torrance, California, had worked here last year, too. He stood by one of the tables in the lounge near the fireplace. A single guy of twenty-nine, he was kind of cute, like a young Dennis Quaid from The Parent Trap film.

  “Hi, Ralph.”

  “I’ve been waiting for you to come in. Have you ever played cribbage?”

  “No.”

  “Would you care to join me and learn?”

  Yes actually, she would. Anything to get her mind off Cal. “Let me check on the kids, then I’ll be back. But I’m afraid you’re going to find out I’m not good at card games. Someone once tried to teach me how to play bridge. It turned out to be a disaster.”

  He answered with a slight smile. “I don’t mind. We’ve got all summer.”

  She had a mental image of Cal eagerly driving away from the ski lodge now that he’d accomplished his mission. The summer was going to be endless unless she filled it with other distractions.

  “Don’t cry later that you weren’t warned,” she told him.

  Once she’d talked with the boys and freshened up, she walked back to the lounge and sat across the small table from Ralph.

  For the next half hour he took pains to teach her the fundamentals. “I told you I’m bad at this.”

  His eyes teased her. “It doesn’t matter. I’m having fun.”

  “That’s because you know what you’re doing.” Ralph was nice. She wished she felt a little spark. Anything to tear Cal out of her heart, but as soon as she compared other men to him, he seemed more implanted than ever.

  “I noticed you outside talking to the new chief biologist. Introducing a bear dog to the park makes him different from the man he replaced.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because the ranger before him said it wasn’t the park’s policy.”

  “You know about bear dogs?”

  He shrugged. “I heard about some being used for an experiment up in Washington, so I asked Ranger Thomas.”

  Alex thought it a little strange he was that interested, but didn’t pursue it. She could have told Ralph he was way off course. The former superintendent’s objection to the program was the sole reason bear dogs hadn’t been introduced. There were too many other needs at Yosemite labeled top priority, but now that Cal was the head, Alex guessed he’d probably bought Sergei with his own money.

  “Is he someone important to you?”

  “Who?”

  “Ranger Hollis.”

  That was none of his business. He was the second guy to ask about Cal. Talk about insecurity.

  “I would think he’s important to everyone considering he’s in charge of watching over the wildlife.” That was how she needed to think about Cal if she were ever going to be cured.

  “You know what I mean. His dog seemed very friendly with you. I wouldn’t want to tread on any toes, if you catch my drift.”

  She supposed his response made sense if he was simply flirting with her. “The dog could smell the tacos we had for dinner. As for Ranger Hollis, he was conveying Chief Rossiter’s promise to help my volunteers feel welcome here. It’s not going to be easy when none of them has ever been away from the pueblo before. They’re a long way from home among strangers.”

  He started putting the little pegs away. “I’ll do my best to get the kids I’m in charge of to befriend your group.”

  “That would be wonderful.”

  “Saturday I’m taking my bunch on their first outing. Want to come?”

  “I’d planned to do the same thing with mine, maybe to Tuolumne Meadows. It’s my favorite place.”

  “Mine, too. I was just up there the other day, but I’m thinking Tenaya Lake might be a better choice for their first hike since it’s an easy one. Why don’t you bring your volunteers and join us? It’ll give both groups a chance to break the ice away from work.”

  Break the ice was right. Alex had been up there before. At an elevation over eight thousand feet, the lake probably still had frozen spots in early June. But the scenery was magnificent. Afterward they could continue on the Tioga road to the Tioga Pass Resort to spend the night.

  “That’s a good suggestion. I’ll plan on it. Thanks for the invite and the game, Ralph. Good night.”

  “See you in the morning.”

  After she got to her room, she phoned the Tioga Pass Resort at the eastern end of the park. The management told her their cabins would be open to the public by Saturday. Given that news, she made reservations for her group. It was perfect.

  Once she parted company with Ralph’s teens on Saturday evening, she would drive her boys to the resort for an overnighter. The café served excellent dinners. After a week of hard physical work, they’d want to sleep
in Sunday morning, then enjoy a big breakfast before driving back through the park to the Yosemite Valley. The teens would have the rest of the day to visit the museum and visitor center and do whatever they felt like.

  Bert Rodino indicated the boys would be working on the Four Mile Trail. It wasn’t that far from Sugar Pines campground. She thought it was the best trail for seeing the Valley. No matter how tired the boys might get, the great views down into the meadows toward Sentinel Rock, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls would be well worth it.

  She wanted them to love it here. She wanted them to make friends and catch a vision for their lives that would impact them through the years. She wanted so many things. But it was clear there was one thing she couldn’t have…one person…

  Ralph would never know what the mention of Cal had done to her. After she got ready for bed, she buried her face in the pillow until it was so wet she had to turn it over.

  Chapter Six

  It felt like six years instead of six days since Cal had watched Alex go inside the ski lodge at Sugar Pines after saying good-night to him.

  What she did out of his sight shouldn’t be bothering him, but it was a troubling new experience to know she was somewhere in the park. And face it, Hollis, She’s leaving you alone just as she promised.

  His mood restless, he staggered out of bed after another night of tossing and turning, and headed for the shower. Once he’d shaved and dressed, he made coffee before going into the den to check the rangers’ reports. The one from the park’s resident botanist was more urgent than the others.

  The El Portal Administrative Site and Yosemite Valley in the Merced River Canyon are showing signs of yellow star thistle. I haven’t checked the Tuolumne Meadows yet, but I imagine it has sprung up there again and along the Tioga Pass Road.

  Cal had this Saturday off. Since he’d made plans to take Sergei up to the Meadows to practice tracking bear scat, he would look for evidence of the pervasive weed at the same time.

  A few minutes later he loaded Sergei in the crate in the back of the truck and took off under a partly sunny sky. The great wet seemed to be over and warmer temperatures were on the rise.