The Forest Ranger's Promise by Leigh Bale Page A

much except buying more booze. She sorely missed her mother’s compassion and gentle faith.
    The compassion on Scott’s face surprised her. She never expected the new ranger to love a child the way Scott Ennison seemed to love his daughter. She’d been raised to think of rangers as less than human. Monsters that hated ranchers and ate little children for lunch.
    Melanie almost laughed out loud at her wayward thoughts. This ranger seemed completely human, but Shelley might not want to stay here at Opal Ranch after having her legs torn up by barbed wire. “There, I think we’ve cleansed all the scratches and I put a pain-relieving salve and bandages on the bigger cuts. Do they still hurt?”
    Shelley nodded while Scott wiped the tears from her cheeks.
    Melanie stood and squeezed Shelley’s hand. “It’ll feel better soon. I’m sorry you fell down, sweetie. Would some cookies and ice cream help you feel better?”
    Shelley gave a wan smile as she slid off her father’s lap. Without a word, Anne raced to the freezer and pulled out a container of vanilla ice cream, which she set on the counter.
    While Melanie reached for the bowls and a scoop, Scott stepped near and whispered for her ears alone, “Thank you. It seems you’re always there to save us.”
    Melanie pretended not to hear as she reached for the plate of cookies he’d brought her. She didn’t want to be there for this man and his lovable daughter. For so long, she’d been strong on her own, fretting over her sheep, her child and the mortgage. Carrying the burdens of the ranch while Aaron slept off another night of drinking.
    For several years, Melanie had longed to hand her burdens over to someone else and had come to rely on the Lord. She liked being single and making her own decisions without repercussions, but she wished she had the strength of a man to carry her through.
    Now this handsome stranger had thrust his way into her life. Within a few years, he’d be transferred someplace else. That’s how it worked in the Forest Service. Rangers always moved on after a short time. Besides, she didn’t want another man in her life. Ever. It hurt too much. Andshe had Anne to think about. She could have no future with Scott Ennison. No lasting ties. It’d be best not to let him get too close.
    She inwardly groaned. Maybe she shouldn’t have agreed to watch Shelley. But Scott’s lonely little girl struck a chord in her, and she really did need his help around the ranch. For her own peace of mind, she resolved to keep this arrangement strictly business. She was Shelley’s child care provider and Scott was her work hand. It had to stay that way. Period.
    Â 
    â€œI like Anne.” Shelley leaned against Scott’s side as he drove them home. She sat in the middle section of the seat, her seat belt across her stomach as she leaned on her left side to take the weight off the scratches and cuts on her right leg.
    Holding tight to the steering wheel with his left hand, he snuggled her closer with his right. It’d been a long time since she’d let him hug her. He missed the days when she’d been little and climbed up into his lap for a hug just because. Now, he knew she felt vulnerable after being hurt by the barbed wire. Otherwise, she’d be sitting firmly on the other side of the truck. “I’m glad you like Anne. You’ll be staying with the McAllisters during the day while I’m at work. You think you’ll like that, too?”
    â€œYeah, me and Anne are both half dogies.”
    He lifted one brow. “Half dogies?”
    He listened with amusement while she explained about the orphan lambs. “You know you’re not an orphan. Your mom’s still alive.”
    â€œBut she doesn’t want us. She cheated with Malcolm Henley.” She spoke with disgust.
    Her words hit him like a slap to the face and he inhaled sharply. She knew