The Forest Ranger's Promise by Leigh Bale Page A

the girls were happy. They work and play well together and get along just fine, except for—” She bit her bottom lip.
    â€œExcept for me.”
    She nodded. “Shelley’s a sweet girl, Scott. I agreed to watch her as long as the two girls got along well and I meant it. I see no need for Shelley to leave. And you can rest assured that I’ll treat her well while she’s in my care.”
    â€œI’m very aware that Anne doesn’t like me. Why doesn’t she dislike Shelley, too?”
    She scrunched one shoulder up to her ear. “I can’t explain it, but Anne seems to have taken Shelley under her wing. Last night she told me they are kindred spirits because they’re both half dogies.”
    His mouth twitched. “Shelley mentioned something about that.”
    â€œYeah…because both girls are missing one of their parents, they’ve decided that makes them half dogies.”
    He smiled; he couldn’t help it. “Doesn’t that beat all? It’d be funny if it weren’t so sad.”
    â€œI know. I wish more than anything that I could give Anne a loving father.”
    â€œI feel the same way about Shelley. I tried everything I could think of to make my marriage with Allison work,but she came to hate me for the very same reason Anne doesn’t like me. Because I’m a ranger.”
    And then he asked the question that had been haunting him since he met this woman up on the lonely mountain. “Do you hate me, too?”
    â€œOf course not. Don’t be silly.” She didn’t hesitate, which he took for honesty.
    Relief flooded Scott’s heart and he couldn’t explain why it meant so much to him that Melanie liked him. He knew he liked her, but that was as far as he was prepared to take their relationship. He had to put Shelley’s needs first and already they were in a difficult predicament.
    â€œI don’t hate anyone, although I do hate certain things,” she said.
    â€œSuch as?”
    â€œAlcohol.”
    He held her gaze. “We have that in common.”
    â€œI won’t tolerate the stuff in my house ever again. I loved my husband, but I don’t miss his drinking. Not after all the pain he caused us in the past with—”
    She didn’t finish her statement, as if realizing she had confided too much. Scott understood the passionate tone of her voice. He remembered feeling much the same way; he’d missed his father after he’d died and yet Scott had been relieved that Dad was gone, too. Life had been difficult after Dad’s death, but at least they didn’t have to fear being woken up in the middle of the night to a harsh beating. It didn’t make sense, loving and hating someone simultaneously. He figured anyone who’d lived with an alcoholic would understand.
    â€œI know what you mean,” he said. “My father was an alcoholic when he died. It caused enough sadness in my life when I was young that it cured me of drinking, even socially.”
    Her eyes widened with surprise. “I didn’t know. Our girls do have a lot in common. If not for the Lord, I don’t know how I’d still be hanging on.”
    He found it difficult not to snort with disgust. Instead, he looked away, hoping to hide his skeptical expression. She caught his cynicism anyway.
    â€œYou don’t believe in God?” she asked.
    â€œYeah, but the Lord and I don’t have much time for each other.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œLet’s just say we leave each other alone.”
    A tolerant smile softened her face. “You sound rather cynical. God never abandons any of us. He’s just a prayer away. It’s usually us who pull away from Him.”
    What could Scott say to that without offending her? He decided to play it safe and bit his tongue, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn’t push the issue.
    â€œOur girls have become fast friends. I don’t