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Authors: Leigh Bale
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urgency. He must really want the Stokelys to move.
“I think we’ll stay right here.”
“Look, Bill, I can’t legally haul you off your place, but I’ve got to document this warning as soon as I get back to my office. If I were a rancher, I’d rather have my family safe than sorry.”
Bill folded his arms and gave Nate a condescending smile. “I appreciate the warning. You do what you gotta do, Ranger. But I’m not worried. My dad was ranching here long before we had any forest rangers telling us what to do. Besides, I’m insured by an Agripak farm and ranch policy. I’ve seen lots of floods during my time and we’ll be okay.”
Bill’s voice dripped with disdain, but Nate didn’t react in anger. He merely nodded with respect. “I understand.”
Lily couldn’t deny a feeling of appreciation for what Nate was trying to do. If Bill decided not to heed the warnings, that was Bill’s problem. But Lily still didn’t like the thought of someone being killed because Bill was too foolish to listen to reason.
“I wonder if we have insurance,” Lily said.
“You should ask your dad,” Nate replied. “The last time I saw a debris torrent take out someone’s ranch, the insurance policy wouldn’t cover the damage. It had several exclusions and didn’t cover water or land movements. Be sure to check it out as soon as possible.”
She nodded, feeling troubled.
The low murmur of the helicopter engine reminded them that Eddie was waiting for them.
“We best be on our way,” Nate said.
“I’ll be over to visit you in a day or two,” Myra hugged Lily. “I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to. Maybe we’ll plan a shopping trip into Reno to buy some things for the baby. Oh, we’ll have such a great time.”
That would be so much fun under different circumstances. But until Lily decided to keep the baby, she didn’t want to buy a lot of cute clothes and toys that would make her want to hold on to her child even more than she already did. “You come over anytime.”
“Give my regards to your dad.” Bill nodded to Lily.
“I will, thanks.”
After she and Nate returned to the chopper and climbed inside, Eddie lifted the bird into the air. Lily stared down at Bill and Myra standing on the ground, growing smaller by the moment. The seat creaked as Lily sat back and breathed with relief. Emerald Ranch wasn’t in danger, but if that changed in the future, she’d convince Dad to leave. She hoped he wouldn’t be as mule-headed as Bill. Maybe Dad could convince the Stokelys to move for a while. These ranchers stuck together and were stubborn to the core. Probably because they had to be to survive.
“You doing okay?” Nate asked, his eyes creased with concern.
She nodded as heat flooded her face. Physically, yes, she was great. But fear of what might happen in the future made her stomach churn. She told herself there was no sense getting upset now. If a debris jam started above Emerald Ranch, they’d deal with it later.
As her gaze swept over Nate’s drab olive-green ranger’s shirt and gold shield, she admitted silently to herself that she was grateful he was here. Growing up, she’d never heard of any forest rangers going to such lengths to protect the ranchers. Other than Dad, Nate was the first man in her life to go out of his way to ensure she was safe, which confused her and made her suspicious of his motives.
She’d sure feel better come August, when this flooding stage had passed and she’d decided what to do about her sweet baby girl.
Chapter Six
T wo busy weeks passed without Nate being able to find an excuse to visit Lily again. Two long weeks that left him feeling hollow inside.
He missed Lily. And he didn’t know why.
When it came time for him to drive through the valley ranches again, Nate couldn’t deny a feeling of excitement. If he asked, would Lily agree to a date with him this Friday night?
Yeah, that was wishful thinking on his part.
As usual, Nate found
“I think we’ll stay right here.”
“Look, Bill, I can’t legally haul you off your place, but I’ve got to document this warning as soon as I get back to my office. If I were a rancher, I’d rather have my family safe than sorry.”
Bill folded his arms and gave Nate a condescending smile. “I appreciate the warning. You do what you gotta do, Ranger. But I’m not worried. My dad was ranching here long before we had any forest rangers telling us what to do. Besides, I’m insured by an Agripak farm and ranch policy. I’ve seen lots of floods during my time and we’ll be okay.”
Bill’s voice dripped with disdain, but Nate didn’t react in anger. He merely nodded with respect. “I understand.”
Lily couldn’t deny a feeling of appreciation for what Nate was trying to do. If Bill decided not to heed the warnings, that was Bill’s problem. But Lily still didn’t like the thought of someone being killed because Bill was too foolish to listen to reason.
“I wonder if we have insurance,” Lily said.
“You should ask your dad,” Nate replied. “The last time I saw a debris torrent take out someone’s ranch, the insurance policy wouldn’t cover the damage. It had several exclusions and didn’t cover water or land movements. Be sure to check it out as soon as possible.”
She nodded, feeling troubled.
The low murmur of the helicopter engine reminded them that Eddie was waiting for them.
“We best be on our way,” Nate said.
“I’ll be over to visit you in a day or two,” Myra hugged Lily. “I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to. Maybe we’ll plan a shopping trip into Reno to buy some things for the baby. Oh, we’ll have such a great time.”
That would be so much fun under different circumstances. But until Lily decided to keep the baby, she didn’t want to buy a lot of cute clothes and toys that would make her want to hold on to her child even more than she already did. “You come over anytime.”
“Give my regards to your dad.” Bill nodded to Lily.
“I will, thanks.”
After she and Nate returned to the chopper and climbed inside, Eddie lifted the bird into the air. Lily stared down at Bill and Myra standing on the ground, growing smaller by the moment. The seat creaked as Lily sat back and breathed with relief. Emerald Ranch wasn’t in danger, but if that changed in the future, she’d convince Dad to leave. She hoped he wouldn’t be as mule-headed as Bill. Maybe Dad could convince the Stokelys to move for a while. These ranchers stuck together and were stubborn to the core. Probably because they had to be to survive.
“You doing okay?” Nate asked, his eyes creased with concern.
She nodded as heat flooded her face. Physically, yes, she was great. But fear of what might happen in the future made her stomach churn. She told herself there was no sense getting upset now. If a debris jam started above Emerald Ranch, they’d deal with it later.
As her gaze swept over Nate’s drab olive-green ranger’s shirt and gold shield, she admitted silently to herself that she was grateful he was here. Growing up, she’d never heard of any forest rangers going to such lengths to protect the ranchers. Other than Dad, Nate was the first man in her life to go out of his way to ensure she was safe, which confused her and made her suspicious of his motives.
She’d sure feel better come August, when this flooding stage had passed and she’d decided what to do about her sweet baby girl.
Chapter Six
T wo busy weeks passed without Nate being able to find an excuse to visit Lily again. Two long weeks that left him feeling hollow inside.
He missed Lily. And he didn’t know why.
When it came time for him to drive through the valley ranches again, Nate couldn’t deny a feeling of excitement. If he asked, would Lily agree to a date with him this Friday night?
Yeah, that was wishful thinking on his part.
As usual, Nate found
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