The Forest Ranger's Christmas. Leigh Bale

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СКАЧАТЬ gaze wavered over the policeman for a fraction of a second. Tim had come to the Forest Service office less than an hour earlier to tattle on Frank. Unfortunately, the officer didn’t have his facts straight. Or he’d possibly omitted a few things from his report. Right now, it didn’t matter. Clint was not having Frank arrested.

      “I realize now that was a mistake,” Clint said. “A complete misunderstanding. But I hope you can see why I had to check it out.”

      Frank peered at the ranger with doubt. “It’s not true. I give all the trees away, except for the one I set up in my own living room each year.”

      Clint reached inside his coat pocket and withdrew a slim pamphlet. Tree theft of any kind was a common occurrence that cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year. As the local forest ranger, Clint had to follow up and prevent theft whenever possible. “I’m afraid you need a permit. I’m surprised you didn’t notice all the signs we have posted along the main road leading up into the mountains. You didn’t see any of them?”

      Frank shrugged his sagging shoulders. “Uh, sure, I saw the signs, but I didn’t stop to read them.”

      “The lettering is quite large. We made the signs that way on purpose. You wouldn’t need to get out of your car to read what they say. This tells you all about the permits.” Clint handed him the pamphlet.

      Frank barely glanced at the glossy paper. “How much is a permit? How do I buy one?”

      Clint pointed at the brochure. “You can read all the information right there.”

      Frank stared at it blankly. “Uh, my glasses are in the house. I’ll have to read it later.”

      Clint considered the elderly man carefully. A sense of doubt assailed him, a nagging suspicion he’d been fighting off for some time now. But he didn’t want to embarrass Frank. Before he could act on his hunch, he’d have to get rid of the cop.

      Reaching up, he clapped the policeman on the back. “Officer Wilkins, I appreciate you coming over here. But I believe it was a false call and I can take care of the situation from here on out.”

      “Are you sure, Ranger?” Tim drawled, his chest puffing out with importance. “I can haul the suspect down to the jail for more questioning, if you like.”

      “Suspect!” The word burst from Josie’s mouth like a nuclear explosion. “Timmy Wilkins, this is my grandfather you’re talking about. And you know perfectly well that you used to steal candy from Milton’s Grocery Store when we were eleven years old. Who are you to accuse my grandfather of theft?”

      “I, um, don’t recall that.” Tim ducked his head, his face flushing red as a new fire engine.

      Clint shot Josie a quizzical look, wishing she wasn’t here right now. He felt out of sorts around her. Around any woman, for that matter. Ever since Karen had died. But Josie had made a good point. Officer Wilkins wasn’t without faults. None of them were.

      “We’re not arresting Frank.” Clint’s voice nailed the final verdict.

      “There’s no need to mollycoddle Frank just because we’re all friends and neighbors. The law is the law and it can’t be broken, even in a small town like Camlin,” Tim said.

      Josie shook her head, not accepting his sudden lapse in memory. “My grandfather has not knowingly broken any law. You’re not taking him anywhere.”

      “Of course he’s not.” Clint tried to show a tolerant smile. “Officer, I’m sorry to have dragged you away from your busy day. Merry Christmas.” He gave Tim’s shoulder a gentle nudge toward the squad car, then turned his back on the policeman and indicated the house. “Frank, can I speak with you inside for a few minutes? Alone.”

      Clint sure didn’t want Tim around for what he had to say next. Unfortunately, he had a feeling about Frank that would undoubtedly upset the elderly man and his fuming granddaughter even more. It’d be best to deal with the problem in private. Without anyone else present, including Josie.

      But Clint couldn’t back down. The issue was too important. He just hoped that, when he was finished with what he had to say, he and Frank Rushton were still good friends.

       Chapter Two

      “Sure we can talk, Ranger. Come on inside where it’s warm,” Frank said.

      Clint glanced at Josie. “I’d like to speak with your grandfather alone for a few minutes, if you don’t mind. It’ll only take a minute.”

      She shook her head. “Sorry, but I’d like to be included.”

      He hesitated, frowning with displeasure, but Josie didn’t give him the chance to argue. Frank lumbered toward the house and she followed, chugging through the snow like a bulldozer. Feeling as if the bottom of her world had just crashed through the floor. Dazzling smile or not, she wasn’t about to leave Clint Hamilton alone with her grandfather. Not when he could change his mind and have Gramps arrested.

      Gramps circled around to the side entrance into the kitchen. He opened the door, then stood back to admit Clint and Josie first. She wasn’t surprised. Her grandfather was the kindest, most decent man she knew. Always putting others first. Generous to a fault. It wasn’t odd that he cut and gave trees away to the local widows. And it didn’t sit well with Josie to have him accused of theft. At least the ranger was being reasonable about the situation.

      For now.

      As she stepped inside, the warmth of the kitchen enveloped her. Then a sour odor like stale, damp socks struck her in the face.

      Josie’s gaze swept the normally tidy room in astonishment. Dishes crusted with food sat piled high on the stove and in the sink. A brick of cheddar cheese sat drying on the countertop, greening with mold. Several cupboard doors hung open. Moving past Clint, she reached up and closed them. Something crackled beneath her feet and she crinkled her nose.

      Her mind churned, trying to make sense of the mess. Grandma had always kept a spotless house. Since her recent passing, Josie had come to visit Gramps twice. She’d cleaned his house each time, but it had never looked this bad. And she figured this was one more reason he needed her help.

      Gramps indicated the chairs at the scarred, wooden table. “Take off your coat and have a seat, Ranger. You can talk freely in front of Josie. What did you want to say?”

      Clint stood right where he was, his brow creased. He obviously didn’t want Josie here, but she wasn’t budging. As if realizing that, he indicated the rumpled pamphlet Gramps still clutched in his gnarled fist. “Frank, I don’t mean to embarrass you in any way, but can you read that brochure to me?”

      Frank’s eyes widened. “Of course I can read it.”

      Yes, of course he could. At Gramps’s age, his eyesight wasn’t the best, but Josie knew he could read. And she couldn’t prevent an annoyed frown from creasing her forehead as she looked at Clint Hamilton. Nor could she soften the demanding tone of her voice. “What exactly are you implying, Ranger?”

      Clint shifted his booted feet, his persistent gaze centered on Gramps. “Truly, I don’t mean to be rude, Frank, but would СКАЧАТЬ