Rock and A Hard Place (Cascade Brides Series) by Bonnie Blythe

said in
a lowering tone.
    He laughed without much humor.
    “I didn't know you were sexist,” Faith said sweetly.
    “Hey, I'm not the one bragging about knowing a lot of rangers.”
    “What's that supposed to mean?”
    “Faith, I know you're not as ignorant as you'd like me to think.”
    Her eyes widened in hurt. “Trust me,” she said, “I wouldn't
want to let anyone in on my ignorance .”
    Shane looked over at her, apparently taken aback by her reaction.
“Whoa. I just took a wrong turn with you. Again.”
    Faith didn't trust herself to speak. She turned her head to look out
the window. This excursion was a stupid idea.
    “Faith,” he said, his voice gentle. “Look at me.”
    Not wanting to appear as grouchy as she felt, she turned to him,
sending him a limpid look.
    “I just meant that you don't give yourself enough credit.”
    She held his gaze for a long moment while they sat at a red light.
Not wanting to go down this road with him conversationally, she
attempted a weak smile. “Oh.”
    But it seemed he wasn't ready to give it up.
    “Why did you bring up my portfolio to Merle like that?”
    Faith cleared her throat. “Sorry, I didn't know it was a
surprise.”
    He headed across the intersection and took the highway that led to
the mountains. “That's not it and you know it. You purposefully
elevated my photos over yours. Why would do that?”
    She looked at him with wide eyes. “Just being honest.”
    “I doubt it was that simple,” he said, his smile now absent.
    “I'm not that complicated, Shane.”
    “Believe me,” he said quietly, “ you are .”
    She stuck her tongue out at him. His shocked expression turned to a
reluctant smile. “Exactly.”
    The remainder of the drive passed with an unspoken agreement of
civility. They talked of soil erosion issues in Oregon compared to
the other states where he'd worked. Faith sensed a lot of his
information came from reports and official documentation. She
wondered how many farmers and ranchers he'd actually talked to about
the issue. Some of the families who'd worked the land for
generations took a while to warm up to the new rangers. Some never
warmed up at all.
    “I'm sure you've heard about how gold mining was responsible for
much of the past erosion in Wheeler County,” she said.
    “Yes, I read about that. But in the last few decades it's
primarily been due to farms and ranches that share the creek.”
    “So, are you going to tell the farmers and ranchers to stop
farming and ranching?”
    Shane sent her a pointed look. “I can tell you're trying to set me
up.” He sighed. “I actually wanted to use today to just
introduce myself to them and open up a dialogue.”
    “They've already been talked to endlessly by the feds.”
    “So, what, I'm a G-Man now?”
    “I'm serious, Shane, they're just trying to survive out here like
anyone else.”
    “Then this will be a continuing conversation. It's part of my job
to maintain both economic stability as well as environmental.”
    “Sounds like that came out of a book.”
    “Faith,” he said exasperated, “this isn't something new to me.
In Arizona and Idaho I talked to farmers and ranchers without
offending anyone. As I said, today will primarily be an introduction
so I can get to know the people around here.”
    “I thought you were going to get me access to restricted land.”
    His shoulders relaxed slightly. “That was the carrot. Business
first, then pleasure.”
    “Restricted pleasure, Shane? Are you sure about that?”
    He sent her a look that said he wanted to give her at the very least
a noogey.
    They arrived at the first ranch, Harrison Acres. Shane had called
ahead, so he was met at the gate while she remained in the Jeep.
Shane introduced himself and mentioned a quick overview of issues to
be aware of, then gave out his card with his personal cell number on
it. Despite assuming the meeting would be strained, Shane's demeanor
apparently won over the rancher, his wife and adult sons,