The Forest Ranger's Child (3 page)

He’d saved this woman and her unborn child. He couldn’t help remembering what his mom had taught him about being his brother’s keeper. Some cultures believed if you saved someone’s life, you were then responsible for them until the day you died. A heavy thought indeed. Being responsible for Lily Hansen and her baby the rest of his life made his insides jittery.

Protecting Lily Hansen was her husband’s job.

As he stepped into the room, Nate felt as though he were walking off the precipice of a cliff, prepared to hit the jagged rocks below. And somehow he knew his life had just irrevocably changed. He’d never be the same again.

Chapter Two

L
ily slowly opened her eyes, moving her head on a lumpy pillow. Thin blankets covered her and someone had dressed her in a hospital gown. From the dim spray of sunlight streaming through the window, she could tell it was late afternoon.

Her head hurt and she lifted a hand, finding a small bandage covering the right side of her forehead. She flinched as the memory of the flood rushed into her mind. And her rescue.

Scanning the small hospital room, she swiveled toward the door…and froze.
He
stood there. The man who had saved her life.

Correction:
their
lives. Hers and her baby girl’s.

She pressed a hand to her abdomen and breathed with relief when the baby wiggled against her palm. Thank the Lord her child was okay.

The man had his hands slung low in his pants pockets. A long-sleeved, yellow shirt covered his powerfully built arms and shoulders. His dark, damp hair had been slicked back, freshly combed. Green pants clung to his long, muscled legs. He looked ready to fight a forest fire.

Who was he?

“Hi, there.” He spoke softly, his deep voice sending a shiver over her body.

“You…you saved our lives.” In spite of her ordeal, she remembered every bit of what had happened with perfect clarity. The terror and pain in her head. The bursting hope when this man had tied a lifeline around her and dragged her to shore. The way he’d pulled her to his truck when she was too weak to move. And then tucked a coarse blanket around her before driving like a madman into town. After that, she couldn’t remember anything. At first, she thought it had been a nightmare, that she’d just imagined it all. Now she knew it was real.

He removed his hands from his pockets and stepped toward her. Her gaze lowered to his belt buckle. She immediately recognized it. Decorated with silver belt plate and gold overlay, it showed a cowboy astride a bucking horse. A national rodeo circuit all-around cowboy belt buckle. Tommy had always wanted one but wasn’t good enough to earn it.

Her rescuer was a rodeo man, just like Tommy. In an instant, she wanted nothing more to do with Nate.

She tensed, her throat convulsing as she swallowed. She’d prayed for help and the Lord had performed a miracle for her. And now that miracle stood in front of her. A tall, strong man with a lean, athletic body.

In one glance, Lily sized him up. His determined, graceful movements, a firm mouth, stubborn chin and piercing brown eyes. She’d seen his kind before. Always in control. Forceful and unyielding.

The kind of man she wanted to avoid at all costs.

“How are you feeling?” He stood beside her bed, too close for comfort.

She stared up at him, trying to form the words to thank him. But her tongue felt like a leaden weight inside her mouth. Her gaze locked with his and her face burned with embarrassment. And then a wave of recognition hit her. As if she knew this man from somewhere but she couldn’t quite place him. A feeling of trust and safety washed over her. Like she’d been reunited with her best friend after a long absence.

Calm as a summer’s morning.

What an odd notion! She shook her head, thinking she must have hit her head very hard indeed to be thinking such things. She would never trust another man as long as she lived. The price was too high.

She blinked and looked away. “I’m fine. Thanks to you. I owe you a lot.”

Okay, she didn’t want to lay her gratitude on too thick, but she did feel thankful, didn’t she?

Yes! In spite of everything, she wanted to make things right again. Mom had told her she could do anything with the Lord’s help. And that’s what she planned to do.

“You don’t owe me anything. I did what anyone would have done.” His voice sounded low and husky.

Again her gaze lifted to his. Again, a sweet feeling of contentment rested over her. A sentiment she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. She decided to ignore it. “But it wasn’t just anyone. It was you. And I’m appreciative. More than I can say.”

“It was my pleasure. I’m just glad you’re both okay.” His gaze flickered briefly to her stomach and he smiled.

The expression crinkled his brown eyes at the corners and deepened a dimple in his right cheek. So familiar. So comfortable. Yet she knew she’d never met this man before today. So why did she feel like she knew him?

He knew about her baby. And she was too far along to pretend. Anyone could see that she was expecting. But she didn’t want to discuss her disgrace with him. No doubt the news would be all over town by supper. The nurse and orderly had been in her room when the doctor visited her. The technician who had taken her blood. They all knew. In this small community, word spread fast. The prodigal daughter had returned. Pregnant with no husband.

A tremor of shame swept her and she inhaled an unsteady breath.

He jerked a thumb toward the door. “The doctor’s contacted your father.”

She almost groaned out loud. She’d wanted her reunion with Dad to be in private, out at the ranch. Not here in the hospital where so many people might overhear their conversation. Hopefully Dad wouldn’t cause a scene. She had no idea if the doctor had told him about the baby, or if that would be her job. Either way, Dad would have to be told that she wasn’t married.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Nathan Coates. Most people just call me Nate. I’m the forest ranger here in Jasper. I just happened to be out checking for signs of flooding when I found you.”

“Lucky for me.” She spoke the words half-heartedly, still unable to dredge up much joy over her situation.

He must have heard the unshed tears in her voice, or seen some forlorn emotion on her face because he reached out and took her hand in his. The warmth of his calloused palm seeped through her skin and sent tingles spiraling up her arm.

“You sure you’re okay?”

Genuine concern gleamed in his expressive eyes. For several moments, she couldn’t look away from his handsome face, wishing she dared confide in him. Wishing she had one single friend in this world she could tell her troubles to that wouldn’t hurt or betray her, or try to use her in some way.

Someone who would never lie to her.

His firm, lean fingers tightened around hers, no wedding ring on his left hand. Tommy hadn’t worn a ring either, but he’d lied so many times. She’d been such a fool.

She pulled away from Nate and forced a smile. “I’m just tired. It’s been a difficult day.”

“That it has. But you’re safe now, and your baby’s gonna be fine.”

He knew about her father, which meant the doctor or staff had blabbed her identity. So much for her quiet return home. But the friendly way Nate spoke to her brought another whoosh of familiarity. Why did she like this man in spite of her desire not to?

“Did they say when I can go home?” She glanced at the door, trying to ignore his engaging grin.

“I overheard the doctor telling the nurse you can leave the day after tomorrow. He wants to make sure your baby is okay first. But I should let him talk to you about that.”

“Yes.” She definitely didn’t want to discuss her unborn child with this enigmatic man.

“I know your father well. He’s a good man,” he said.

“Yes, he is.” And she realized she meant it. Somehow, being away from home so long had given her a lot of insight into what really mattered. Even though she’d thought she hated Dad when she left, she now realized she loved him very much. He’d been a good father in his own gruff way. Never once had he raised a hand to her. But he’d never told her he loved her, either. But he and Mom had taught her all about horses, something they each dearly loved. And he’d taught her about the Lord, although she’d ignored it at the time.

“Have you been away from home long?” Nate asked.

Yep, just as predicted. Here came the battery of questions. Next would come the fake smiles and soft gestures that soon turned rough when she wouldn’t do what he wanted. Over her dead body would she allow a man to use force against her again.

“For a while.” She didn’t want to get close to this or any man.

“Where have you—”

“Ahem! Lily?”

Someone cleared their throat behind Nate and he turned as Lily looked past him at the door. “Daddy!”

Hank Hansen stepped forward, dressed in faded blue jeans and scuffed cowboy boots. He looked leaner than she remembered, with barely a rounded stomach hanging over his belt buckle. He held his shabby cowboy hat in his hands, his gray eyes narrowed with concern.

Nate stepped away and smiled respectfully as Hank came to stand beside Lily’s bed. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t cry when she saw her father again, but the baby and nearly losing her life today blew that vow right out the window. Tears burned her eyes, but she wouldn’t let them fall.

As she looked at her father’s weathered face, she felt surprised by the silver streaks in his hair and more wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. A burst of joy coiled through her chest. How glad she was to see him again. To be home, if only until her child was born.

“Daddy,” she whispered, not knowing what else to say.

His chin quivered, his mouth tight. “Lily, I didn’t believe it when they called to say you were here. But my little darlin’ has really come home.”

Dad leaned over and hugged her, squashing his hat between them. The brush of his whiskers scratched her cheek. She breathed him in, the scent of horses and peppermint. Never wanting to let go. Maybe he’d changed in the past seven years. Maybe he’d softened just a bit.

He held her several moments, something he’d done only once before, the day her mother died. Finally. Finally a show of loving emotion from him. How she needed this hug and she clung to him tightly.

Finally he pulled away and she brushed at her eyes. Dad coughed, a wrenching sound deep down in his lungs. He must be more overcome by emotion than she first thought.

Dad glanced at the forest ranger before clasping Nate’s hand and pounding him hard on the back. “Thank you, Nate. Thank you so much. I’m grateful you were there to save my little girl.”

Nate’s face flushed with awkwardness, as if he didn’t know quite how to react. “You’re welcome, Hank. I’m glad to have helped.”

Dad stood smiling between them and the silence ticked by. Lily couldn’t help wondering how much Dad knew about her circumstance. Did he know about the baby? That she’d disgraced herself and their family name?

“Well, I better get going. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hansen.” Nate nodded respectfully to her, then took a step.

“Thanks again,” Dad called.

“Yes, thank you,” she agreed.

Nate waved and smiled before closing the door. And with his departure, Lily felt even more alone.

* * *

Nate couldn’t explain the elation filling his chest. This day could have ended in tragedy, but it hadn’t. He’d remember these events as long as he lived. And yet, he sensed something wrong here. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.

As he stood at the receptionist’s desk in the small clinic and waited for Shelby to get off the phone, troubling thoughts tugged at his brain. Obviously Hank Hansen was happy to see his daughter, but she seemed so reserved. Frightened even. Her short, almost curt answers when Nate had tried to find out about her. Her tensed posture and wary glances at the door, as if she longed to escape. And then, when Nate had turned to leave her alone with her father, an expression of pure panic had filled her eyes. As if she didn’t want him to go.

Boy, was Nate getting mixed signals from her. He leaned his forearms against the high counter, fighting the confusion in his mind. The doctor had said Lily and her dad hadn’t gotten along after her mother’s death. Even with their happy reunion, it appeared that she and her father had a lot of past history that needed to be sorted out. Nate had no right to worry about the woman he’d saved, but he did all the same.

“I can’t believe you did this. What would your mother say? I’m disappointed in you, Lily. More than I can say.”

Nate turned, startled to hear the angry words coming from Lily’s room. Hank’s voice boomed behind the closed door, rushing up the empty hallway.

The door burst open and Hank came stomping out, his hat gripped in his fist, his face red as a charging bull. As the man stormed past, he coughed hard and didn’t even glance at Nate. Shelby looked up from her desk, the phone still pressed against her ear, her mouth dropping open in surprise.

Nate stared after Hank as the man trudged through the automatic glass doors and out to the parking lot. Nate felt as though a tornado had just blown through the room. What had happened?

A muffled sob came from Lily’s room and Nate swiveled around and walked to her door. Peering inside, he found her lying on her side facing the wall, her arms wrapped over her baby bump. Even though she made no sound, her thin shoulders trembled. She was obviously crying and his chest tightened with regret. How he hated to see a woman cry.

He rapped his knuckles against the door, wondering what he should say. Wondering how saving her life had made him feel so protective of her.

She glanced over her shoulder and looked startled and self-conscious. She rubbed her reddened eyes with the backs of her hands and sat up quickly, her nose dripping. When she rested her small hands protectively over her tummy, he couldn’t help staring. How fragile she looked.