The Forest Ranger's Child Read online

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “Nathan Coates. Most people just call me Nate. I’m the forest ranger here in Jasper. I just happened to be out checking for signs of flooding when I found you.”

  “Lucky for me.” She spoke the words half-heartedly, still unable to dredge up much joy over her situation.

  He must have heard the unshed tears in her voice, or seen some forlorn emotion on her face because he reached out and took her hand in his. The warmth of his calloused palm seeped through her skin and sent tingles spiraling up her arm.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  Genuine concern gleamed in his expressive eyes. For several moments, she couldn’t look away from his handsome face, wishing she dared confide in him. Wishing she had one single friend in this world she could tell her troubles to that wouldn’t hurt or betray her, or try to use her in some way.

  Someone who would never lie to her.

  His firm, lean fingers tightened around hers, no wedding ring on his left hand. Tommy hadn’t worn a ring either, but he’d lied so many times. She’d been such a fool.

  She pulled away from Nate and forced a smile. “I’m just tired. It’s been a difficult day.”

  “That it has. But you’re safe now, and your baby’s gonna be fine.”

  He knew about her father, which meant the doctor or staff had blabbed her identity. So much for her quiet return home. But the friendly way Nate spoke to her brought another whoosh of familiarity. Why did she like this man in spite of her desire not to?

  “Did they say when I can go home?” She glanced at the door, trying to ignore his engaging grin.

  “I overheard the doctor telling the nurse you can leave the day after tomorrow. He wants to make sure your baby is okay first. But I should let him talk to you about that.”

  “Yes.” She definitely didn’t want to discuss her unborn child with this enigmatic man.

  “I know your father well. He’s a good man,” he said.

  “Yes, he is.” And she realized she meant it. Somehow, being away from home so long had given her a lot of insight into what really mattered. Even though she’d thought she hated Dad when she left, she now realized she loved him very much. He’d been a good father in his own gruff way. Never once had he raised a hand to her. But he’d never told her he loved her, either. But he and Mom had taught her all about horses, something they each dearly loved. And he’d taught her about the Lord, although she’d ignored it at the time.

  “Have you been away from home long?” Nate asked.

  Yep, just as predicted. Here came the battery of questions. Next would come the fake smiles and soft gestures that soon turned rough when she wouldn’t do what he wanted. Over her dead body would she allow a man to use force against her again.

  “For a while.” She didn’t want to get close to this or any man.

  “Where have you—”

  “Ahem! Lily?”

  Someone cleared their throat behind Nate and he turned as Lily looked past him at the door. “Daddy!”

  Hank Hansen stepped forward, dressed in faded blue jeans and scuffed cowboy boots. He looked leaner than she remembered, with barely a rounded stomach hanging over his belt buckle. He held his shabby cowboy hat in his hands, his gray eyes narrowed with concern.

  Nate stepped away and smiled respectfully as Hank came to stand beside Lily’s bed. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t cry when she saw her father again, but the baby and nearly losing her life today blew that vow right out the window. Tears burned her eyes, but she wouldn’t let them fall.

  As she looked at her father’s weathered face, she felt surprised by the silver streaks in his hair and more wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. A burst of joy coiled through her chest. How glad she was to see him again. To be home, if only until her child was born.

  “Daddy,” she whispered, not knowing what else to say.

  His chin quivered, his mouth tight. “Lily, I didn’t believe it when they called to say you were here. But my little darlin’ has really come home.”

  Dad leaned over and hugged her, squashing his hat between them. The brush of his whiskers scratched her cheek. She breathed him in, the scent of horses and peppermint. Never wanting to let go. Maybe he’d changed in the past seven years. Maybe he’d softened just a bit.

  He held her several moments, something he’d done only once before, the day her mother died. Finally. Finally a show of loving emotion from him. How she needed this hug and she clung to him tightly.

  Finally he pulled away and she brushed at her eyes. Dad coughed, a wrenching sound deep down in his lungs. He must be more overcome by emotion than she first thought.

  Dad glanced at the forest ranger before clasping Nate’s hand and pounding him hard on the back. “Thank you, Nate. Thank you so much. I’m grateful you were there to save my little girl.”

  Nate’s face flushed with awkwardness, as if he didn’t know quite how to react. “You’re welcome, Hank. I’m glad to have helped.”

  Dad stood smiling between them and the silence ticked by. Lily couldn’t help wondering how much Dad knew about her circumstance. Did he know about the baby? That she’d disgraced herself and their family name?

  “Well, I better get going. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hansen.” Nate nodded respectfully to her, then took a step.

  “Thanks again,” Dad called.

  “Yes, thank you,” she agreed.

  Nate waved and smiled before closing the door. And with his departure, Lily felt even more alone.

  * * *

  Nate couldn’t explain the elation filling his chest. This day could have ended in tragedy, but it hadn’t. He’d remember these events as long as he lived. And yet, he sensed something wrong here. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.

  As he stood at the receptionist’s desk in the small clinic and waited for Shelby to get off the phone, troubling thoughts tugged at his brain. Obviously Hank Hansen was happy to see his daughter, but she seemed so reserved. Frightened even. Her short, almost curt answers when Nate had tried to find out about her. Her tensed posture and wary glances at the door, as if she longed to escape. And then, when Nate had turned to leave her alone with her father, an expression of pure panic had filled her eyes. As if she didn’t want him to go.

  Boy, was Nate getting mixed signals from her. He leaned his forearms against the high counter, fighting the confusion in his mind. The doctor had said Lily and her dad hadn’t gotten along after her mother’s death. Even with their happy reunion, it appeared that she and her father had a lot of past history that needed to be sorted out. Nate had no right to worry about the woman he’d saved, but he did all the same.

  “I can’t believe you did this. What would your mother say? I’m disappointed in you, Lily. More than I can say.”

  Nate turned, startled to hear the angry words coming from Lily’s room. Hank’s voice boomed behind the closed door, rushing up the empty hallway.

  The door burst open and Hank came stomping out, his hat gripped in his fist, his face red as a charging bull. As the man stormed past, he coughed hard and didn’t even glance at Nate. Shelby looked up from her desk, the phone still pressed against her ear, her mouth dropping open in surprise.

  Nate stared after Hank as the man trudged through the automatic glass doors and out to the parking lot. Nate felt as though a tornado had just blown through the room. What had happened?

  A muffled sob came from Lily’s room and Nate swiveled around and walked to her door. Peering inside, he found her lying on her side facing the wall, her arms wrapped over her baby bump. Even though she made no sound, her thin shoulders trembled. She was obviously crying and his chest tightened with regret. How he hated to see a woman cry.

  He rapped his knuckles against the door, wondering what he should say. Wondering how saving her life had made him feel so protective of her.

  She glanced over her shoulder and looked startled and self-conscious. She rubbed her reddened eyes with the backs of her h
ands and sat up quickly, her nose dripping. When she rested her small hands protectively over her tummy, he couldn’t help staring. How fragile she looked.

  “What do you want?” Her voice sounded like a croak.

  He reached for a tissue on the bedside stand and handed it to her. She whisked it from his fingers and blew her nose.

  “I don’t mean to intrude, but I couldn’t help overhearing. I was wondering if I can do anything for you,” he said.

  “No, nothing. I’m fine.” Her voice cracked and so did his heart.

  “Are you hungry?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “All you men are alike. You just don’t get it, do you?”

  “Get what?”

  The velvety softness of her brown eyes pinned him with fury. “I don’t want anything from you. Not now. Not ever.”

  Okay…

  “I didn’t mean to intrude, ma’am. I’ll leave you alone.” He turned to go, but she called him back.

  “Wait!” Her features softened with regret. “Look, I…I don’t mean to be ungrateful. It’s just that I don’t want to become involved again.”

  She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, her hands clenched. He stood there dumbfounded.

  “Why can’t this ever get easier?” She opened her eyes and looked at him.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.” Nate wondered what he’d walked into. He had no idea if this woman was mentally unstable or just overwrought from her ordeal. He’d heard pregnant women had lots of hormones running through their bodies that caused a roller coaster of emotions. And Lily had been through a traumatic event today. He decided keeping his silence might be the best thing for him to do.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said.

  He nodded, trying to comprehend. Wishing right now that he were anywhere but here. “Yes, I know.”

  “And I’ve never been married,” she blurted.

  He released a giant huff of air, finally understanding. Joyful and saddened by this news all at the same time. “And your father isn’t happy about that?”

  “No. Neither am I, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. I…I wanted to be married.” Her voice sounded small. “My father hates me.”

  “Ah, I’m sure he doesn’t hate you.”

  “Yes, he does.”

  She stared at her stomach and a strand of russet hair swept past her face. Nate’s fingers itched to tuck it back behind her ear, but he resisted the urge. He didn’t know how to comfort her. He’d been raised by a single mother in a small, traditional town, and knew how hard it could be. Lily must be frightened half to death.

  “Hank doesn’t hate you. He’s just hurting right now, but he’ll get over it. He was sure happy to see you. He’ll remember that once the shock of your pregnancy wears off.” Nate didn’t know why he was comforting her. When he’d been old enough to understand, his mother had explained that she’d conceived him out of wedlock and become the pariah of the town. Nate’s father had deserted her. Her father disowned her. She’d had no friends and no support. To earn a living, she’d worked as a waitress until she’d died shortly after Nate graduated from high school. The hard life had taken its toll, breaking her body and spirit. Now, Nate hated the thought of Lily Hansen and her innocent child going through the same thing simply because she’d made a mistake.

  “I don’t know if he’ll come back to get me or not.” A plump tear rolled down her cheek and she dashed it away.

  “Don’t worry, he’ll be here.”

  “How do you know?” She frowned at him. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you all of this. I’m really thankful for what you did today, but please leave now, before I make a bigger spectacle of myself than I already have.”

  There was no anger in her words, just resignation. Someone had done a pretty good job of alienating this woman to make her so distrustful. Nate was smart enough to realize she wasn’t herself right now, but her words wounded him just the same.

  He nodded, wondering why he’d allowed himself to get sucked into her troubles with her father. She was right. He didn’t belong here. “I’m sorry to have disturbed you.”

  Turning on his heel, he headed for the door, brushing past Shelby as she came in carrying a pitcher of water.

  “You okay, honey?” Shelby asked.

  “I’ll be fine,” came Lily’s throaty reply.

  Nate left the clinic, planning to return to work. Planning to forget the exchange he’d overheard between Hank and his daughter. Or that he’d ever saved the life of a beautiful woman named Lily Hansen.

  Chapter Three

  Two days later, Nate gripped the steering wheel of his truck and wondered what he was doing here at the clinic parking lot so early in the morning. He’d called the clinic each day to check up on Lily Hansen and find out when the doctor would release her. So much for forgetting their discussion when she’d asked him to leave.

  He must be crazy, but he couldn’t get her off his mind. Couldn’t forget her desperate situation or the fact that she was about to become a mother.

  After pacing the floor of his Forest Service house most of the night, he’d decided worrying about the small woman he’d rescued had become a full-time job. What would become of her if her father didn’t return and take her home? That question alone had pushed Nate to drive to the clinic instead of in to work.

  He’d been sitting here for almost two hours, watching and waiting. He didn’t have a clue what he’d do if Hank didn’t come for her.

  Rolling down the window, Nate inhaled a deep breath of fresh, spring air. Morning sunshine glinted off the hood of his truck and he lifted an arm to shield his eyes. Yellow daffodils filled the flower bed edging the sidewalk. What a beautiful day. Now if Hank would show up, Nate could clear his conscience and be on his way to the office.

  A rusty green pickup truck pulled into the parking lot. Nate leaned forward and squinted his eyes. Was that Hank Hansen?

  Yes! The truck stopped in front of the automatic double doors of the clinic.

  Nate sat back and released a satisfied sigh. Hank had come for his daughter, which meant everything was okay. Otherwise, the doctor wouldn’t let Lily go home today. And for some reason, that pleased Nate enormously.

  As predicted, the older man went inside, carrying a small brown bag. Within twenty-five minutes, he reappeared with Shelby pushing Lily in a wheelchair. Lily’s delicate hands were folded over her stomach. Glimmers of sunshine glinted off her long russet hair, showing highlighted streaks of auburn. Even from this distance, Nate remembered the velvet softness of her brown eyes. The smattering of freckles sprinkled across her pert nose. He sure wished he could see her smile just once.

  With her feet propped up on the footrest of the chair, she wore a red sweater, a pair of blue jeans and tennis shoes. Hank must have brought the clothing to her. Nate had no idea where Hank had gotten the clothes because Lily had just returned home and all her possessions were still buried in her mud-coated car. At least Hank was taking care of her.

  They didn’t notice him as Shelby helped Lily stand. Hank didn’t smile as he opened the door and stood back while Lily climbed inside the old truck. She brushed past her father, staring straight ahead, her spine stiff.

  Hostile.

  Shelby closed the door and waved goodbye. And then Hank got into the truck and drove away. Not one word passed between them.

  Nate wished he dared speak to Lily. At least she had a place to stay, but her relationship with her father didn’t look like it’d improved much. The thought of Hank upsetting Lily in her condition bothered Nate. No matter what was going on between them, Lily’s unborn child needed protection.

  So did she.

  Starting the ignition, Nate put his vehicle into gear and pressed the accelerator. He tried to tell himself to think about the timber study sitting on his desk at work. Tried not to care.

  Maybe he should pay a visit to Emerald Ranch later on. Then again, maybe he should mind his own business and stay far away from L
ily Hansen and her father.

  * * *

  The sound of the rumbling engine filled Lily’s ears as she sat tense in her seat. The silence between her and Dad grew louder by the minute.

  She’d clicked on her seat belt before loosening the strap across the swell of her lower abdomen. A blanket of contentment rested over her. Her baby was okay. The little girl’s heartbeat was strong and Lily had felt several hard thumps earlier that morning, the stirrings of life inside of her.

  “You hungry?” Dad asked without looking at her.

  “No, thank you.”

  They drove down Main Street and headed outside of town with several more minutes passing in silence.

  “You’re lucky Nate Coates found you when he did. He’s a good man. He rode the professional rodeo circuit before he got injured like me. He won all-around cowboy fifteen years ago. Then he went to college to become a forest ranger.”

  Lily bit her tongue to keep from uttering a derogative statement. Tommy had traveled often so he could compete in rodeos. She’d waited at home for his return, wondering why he never seemed to win anything. And then his wife had called. Tommy had been cheating on both of them with one-night stands in every town. Buckle babes who followed the rodeo circuit looking for nothing but a good time. When Lily had confronted Tommy with the truth, he’d…

  No! She wouldn’t think about that now. Never again would Lily subject herself to that kind of treatment. Maybe she deserved it, but her child didn’t.

  In her younger years, Dad had been gone all the time, competing on the professional circuit. Until a bull had gored his shoulder and ended his career. Lily had no desire to be friends with a rodeo-going forest ranger. No sirree.

  “I suppose you’ll need some new clothes,” Dad said. “Your bedroom’s just as you left it, but I doubt there’re many clothes in the closet that’ll fit you now.”