Read Online The Forest Ranger's Child by Leigh Bale - Free Book Online
Authors: Leigh Bale
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didn’t kill the engine in case it wouldn’t start up again. Better to leave it running on idle.
“You want to go with me to speak with Bill Stokely?” Nate asked Lily.
“Would my presence help?”
“I think so.”
She nodded, not wanting to miss any piece of this operation. “I’ve known Bill and Myra Stokely all my life. Myra was my mom’s best friend. I hate that their ranch is in danger.”
“We won’t be very long,” Nate told Eddie as he slid open the door and hopped down. He helped Lily out and together they walked briskly toward the house. Even then, she could tell Nate had slowed his stride so she could keep up.
The barking of dogs heralded their arrival and Bill Stokely came out of the wide, log house. He stood on the front porch wearing blue coveralls and a red kerchief. A speck of bread stuck to the corner of his mouth, indicating he must have been inside having lunch.
When they were within hearing distance, Bill called out, “Well, hi there, Lily.”
“Hi, Bill!” She waved.
He stepped forward and hugged her, showing a welcoming smile. “I heard you were back in town. It’s sure good to see you, honey. Although you’ve grown a bit.”
His gray eyes twinkled as he indicated her pregnancy, but she saw no censure there. Did he know she wasn’t married?
“And you, too,” she replied.
“Myra! Lily Hansen’s here,” Bill called to the house.
“Oh, my goodness. It’s little Lily.” The screen door clapped closed behind Myra as she came outside.
Lily found herself engulfed in a bevy of hugs and kisses. Except for grayer hair and more wrinkles, Myra still had the same rosy cheeks and strong, lean body. In fact, Lily couldn’t remember ever seeing a fat rancher’s wife. They worked too hard.
Myra stood back and looked Lily up and down with approval. “And we’re gonna have a baby. How wonderful. I’ve got some new little quilts and booties I just knitted this past winter. Oh, won’t we have fun dressing this little one?”
“Thanks, Myra.” Tears misted Lily’s eyes. Except for the disappointment over her lack of marriage, Lily could almost imagine her own mother would have greeted her the same way. Maybe she did have some allies here in Jasper after all.
“I didn’t expect to see you today.” Bill’s smile faded and he spoke in a gruff voice as he eyed Nate.
From past disagreements over grazing permits and water rights, Lily knew Bill didn’t like the Forest Service much. It seemed that sentiment hadn’t changed. But Lily couldn’t blame Nate for doing his job. Right now, the ranchers needed the forest ranger. Very much.
“I thought I’d pay you a visit.” Nate’s voice sounded pleasant considering the news he was bringing with him.
Myra linked her arm with Lily’s and they waited, listening carefully to what was said.
Bill jerked a thumb toward the helicopter. “What’re you doing out here in that machine?”
Without mincing words, Nate quickly explained about the debris jam they’d just seen up in the mountains.
“One of the dams is right above your place.” Nate pointed toward a stand of tall aspen skirting the west side of the ranch and everyone turned to look. From this distance, the mountain looked harmless enough. “I just wanted to warn you, Bill. I suggest you move your livestock and family to higher ground. If that debris torrent gives way, it’ll sweep through your house like a broom on an insect. You won’t have much warning.”
Bill pursed his lips. “Nonsense. Nothing short of an earthquake could do that much damage to my ranch.”
“Believe me, it could.” Nate’s voice sounded serious. He meant what he said.
“Nothing like that’s ever happened here before,” Bill returned.
“It’s not frequent, but I’ve seen it,” Nate continued. “And you don’t want to be down here if it happens.”
From her peripheral vision, Lily saw Nate shift his weight. He didn’t show any emotion, but his shoulders tensed with
“You want to go with me to speak with Bill Stokely?” Nate asked Lily.
“Would my presence help?”
“I think so.”
She nodded, not wanting to miss any piece of this operation. “I’ve known Bill and Myra Stokely all my life. Myra was my mom’s best friend. I hate that their ranch is in danger.”
“We won’t be very long,” Nate told Eddie as he slid open the door and hopped down. He helped Lily out and together they walked briskly toward the house. Even then, she could tell Nate had slowed his stride so she could keep up.
The barking of dogs heralded their arrival and Bill Stokely came out of the wide, log house. He stood on the front porch wearing blue coveralls and a red kerchief. A speck of bread stuck to the corner of his mouth, indicating he must have been inside having lunch.
When they were within hearing distance, Bill called out, “Well, hi there, Lily.”
“Hi, Bill!” She waved.
He stepped forward and hugged her, showing a welcoming smile. “I heard you were back in town. It’s sure good to see you, honey. Although you’ve grown a bit.”
His gray eyes twinkled as he indicated her pregnancy, but she saw no censure there. Did he know she wasn’t married?
“And you, too,” she replied.
“Myra! Lily Hansen’s here,” Bill called to the house.
“Oh, my goodness. It’s little Lily.” The screen door clapped closed behind Myra as she came outside.
Lily found herself engulfed in a bevy of hugs and kisses. Except for grayer hair and more wrinkles, Myra still had the same rosy cheeks and strong, lean body. In fact, Lily couldn’t remember ever seeing a fat rancher’s wife. They worked too hard.
Myra stood back and looked Lily up and down with approval. “And we’re gonna have a baby. How wonderful. I’ve got some new little quilts and booties I just knitted this past winter. Oh, won’t we have fun dressing this little one?”
“Thanks, Myra.” Tears misted Lily’s eyes. Except for the disappointment over her lack of marriage, Lily could almost imagine her own mother would have greeted her the same way. Maybe she did have some allies here in Jasper after all.
“I didn’t expect to see you today.” Bill’s smile faded and he spoke in a gruff voice as he eyed Nate.
From past disagreements over grazing permits and water rights, Lily knew Bill didn’t like the Forest Service much. It seemed that sentiment hadn’t changed. But Lily couldn’t blame Nate for doing his job. Right now, the ranchers needed the forest ranger. Very much.
“I thought I’d pay you a visit.” Nate’s voice sounded pleasant considering the news he was bringing with him.
Myra linked her arm with Lily’s and they waited, listening carefully to what was said.
Bill jerked a thumb toward the helicopter. “What’re you doing out here in that machine?”
Without mincing words, Nate quickly explained about the debris jam they’d just seen up in the mountains.
“One of the dams is right above your place.” Nate pointed toward a stand of tall aspen skirting the west side of the ranch and everyone turned to look. From this distance, the mountain looked harmless enough. “I just wanted to warn you, Bill. I suggest you move your livestock and family to higher ground. If that debris torrent gives way, it’ll sweep through your house like a broom on an insect. You won’t have much warning.”
Bill pursed his lips. “Nonsense. Nothing short of an earthquake could do that much damage to my ranch.”
“Believe me, it could.” Nate’s voice sounded serious. He meant what he said.
“Nothing like that’s ever happened here before,” Bill returned.
“It’s not frequent, but I’ve seen it,” Nate continued. “And you don’t want to be down here if it happens.”
From her peripheral vision, Lily saw Nate shift his weight. He didn’t show any emotion, but his shoulders tensed with
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