Romancing the Ranger
Forest ranger Brent Knowles has almost given up hope that his daughter, Evie, will recover from the tragedy of her mother’s death. Then he meets caring special ed teacher Jill Russell. Jill adores working with Evie and helping her heal. She’s less sure about the undeniable attraction she feels for Brent. Because Brent is investigating a timber theft, and Jill’s own brother is a suspect! Can she reconcile her feelings when Brent has the power to destroy her family? Brent sure hopes so. Because Jill holds the key to his daughter’s recovery…and to his heart.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this, Brent.”
“Then I’ll give you as much time as you need. I’ll wait forever if I have to. I told you once, you’re the one I’ve been searching for.”
“Don’t say that.” She backed away, shaking her head.
“It’s true. You’re the most generous, kind woman I’ve ever met. What you’ve done for Evie is amazing.”
“We can’t base our relationship on my work with Evie. I’m her teacher. I love that little girl. But loving you is a different matter entirely.”
His heart gave a painful jerk. “You don’t love me?”
She hesitated, not meeting his eyes. “I…I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. Tonight has been very difficult for me. Right now, I just want to go home and think.”
He slipped his hands into his pants pockets and looked down at the dull gray carpet. “I understand completely.”
He lifted a hand toward the door. “Come on. I’ll walk you out to your car.”
He didn’t touch her as she turned and headed in that direction.
But he wanted to.
LEIGH BALE is an award-winning author of the prestigious Golden Heart Award and a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Booksellers’ Best Award. The daughter of a retired US forest ranger, she holds a BA in history. Married in 1981 to the love of her life, Leigh and her professor husband have two children and two grandkids. You can reach her at leighbale.com.
The Forest Ranger’s Rescue
Leigh Bale
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.
—Psalms 130:5
This book is dedicated to the personnel of our US Forest Service, for their tireless work in conserving our national resources for the future.
And many thanks to Jill Jackson for her expertise on dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder in children. You’re a good friend and I appreciate the great work you perform.
Please forgive any inaccuracies in this story. They are mine alone.
Table of Contents
Jillian Russell stared at the meter on the gas pump in stunned disbelief. Holding the nozzle, she listened as the liquid gold rushed into her car’s fuel tank. Having just arrived in town, her empty gas tank sucked it in. She figured she should fill up before going home. After Mom’s frantic phone call late last night, there was no telling when she might get another chance.
Home. A white-frame house with blue trim in Bartlett, Idaho. The small logging town where Jill had been raised. So small, it didn’t even warrant a single traffic light. Population eight hundred and thirty-nine.
Almost everyone here earned their livelihood off of the lush ponderosa pine that blanketed the broad-shouldered mountains surrounding the town. Jill’s family included.
“Hi, Jill!”
Lifting her gaze, she looked past the blue pickup truck parked behind her car. Harvey Garson stood outside his grocery store across the deserted street, watering a clay pot filled with purple pansies. The bright flowers did little to hide the peeling paint of his shabby two-story building. Several empty offices lined Main Street, their vacant windows filled with dust and cobwebs. The poor economy hadn’t been easy on this community. The bank and county courthouse down the road were new, complete with tan stucco and wide garden boxes planted with yellow tulips. The only modern buildings in town.
Jill waved and forced herself to sound cheerful. “Hello, there.”
“You in town long?” Harvey yelled as water cascaded from the spout of his watering can.
She hoped not. But that