The Forest Ranger's Christmas. Leigh Bale

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СКАЧАТЬ killed the engine, then opened his door and got out. “Okay, ladies, you get the chore of choosing the trees. Make sure it’s what you want before we start to cut, though. I only have three permits.”

      Frank gave an exaggerated cough, as though he was swallowing a heavy chortle. “No, we don’t want any more extra trees to explain to the forest ranger.”

      Josie’s chuckle sounded from behind him and Clint didn’t even try to hide his smile. Yes, it was definitely good they could laugh about the situation now, and he liked that Josie had a sense of humor.

      The foot-deep snow crunched beneath his boots as he stepped back to let the girls out. Josie climbed down first, tugging on her gloves, her breath puffing on the air each time she exhaled.

      Clint looked at her tennis shoes and shook his head. He made a mental note not to let her stay out in the snow too long. Her feet would soon become wet and then she’d get cold.

      If necessary, he had several pairs of dry socks in his fire pack in the back of his truck. Serving others came naturally to Clint and he couldn’t help feeling responsible for Josie and Frank. It felt surprisingly good to have someone besides Gracie needing his attention. No matter what, Clint would ensure everyone here was taken care of while on this trip.

      Sunlight sparkled off Josie’s dark blond curls. The color of her eyes deepened to a sapphire-blue as she looked about. Twin circles of pink stained her pale cheeks. With the snow-covered trees as a stunning backdrop, she looked absolutely gorgeous.

      Realizing he was staring, Clint looked away, so fast that he almost lost his balance in the snow. Clearing his throat, he clutched the handle of his chain saw tightly and wondered what was wrong with him. Josie was just Frank’s granddaughter. Within a few weeks, she’d return to Las Vegas. Besides, he and Gracie had been on their own for years, and he liked it that way.

      So why did he suddenly wish for more?

      “I’m with Grandpa Frank.” Gracie clasped the old man’s hand.

      “All right. Let’s find the prettiest tree,” Frank said.

      Clint glanced at Josie. “I guess that means you’re with me?”

      A question, not a statement.

      “Um, okay.” She gave a noncommittal shrug.

      He headed off, plowing through the snow with his boots to make a wide path for Josie to follow. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her lift her knees high as she navigated the trail in her shoes. As they tromped through the drifts, she didn’t utter a single complaint. Karen had grumbled about so many things. Now Josie’s silence won a notch of respect from Clint.

      “That one!” Gracie’s shrill voice filled the air as she ran toward a bushy spruce standing along the roadside.

      Frank followed, slogging through the snow in his black, knee-high boots. He brushed crusted ice off the tree’s pointed top and held up the hand saw. “You sure?”

      “No, this one. Oh, it’s perfect.” Gracie raced farther into the forest and stood beside another tree. “Or what about that one? It’s so pretty.”

      “You can only have one,” Frank called, as she darted from tree to tree.

      Clint smiled, thinking perhaps it’d been a blessing that he was stuck with Josie. But poor Frank wasn’t a young man anymore. It’d be easy for Gracie to run him ragged. “You’re gonna have to choose one tree, so make up your mind before Grandpa Frank starts to cut.”

      “Okay,” Gracie chimed.

      “I like this one.” Josie waved to Clint.

      He whirled around as she pointed at a small fir with thick clusters of dark green needles.

      “That’s a good choice. Firs retain their needles longer and have a nice scent.” He took a step, then heard Gracie call again.

      “What about this one, Grandpa Frank?”

      Frank lumbered after the girl, grumbling something about women never being able to make up their minds.

      The child bopped hither and yon to inspect what seemed to be every tree on the hillside. Frank finally stood still, letting her have her fun, while waiting for her to decide.

      “Gracie, settle on one tree and stay where I can see you,” Clint called when she wandered too far off.

      “She’s a female, son. She’ll never settle for just one tree. You should know that by now. But I’ve got a way to distract her.” Shaking his head, Frank laughed and hurried after her. When he came near, he tossed the hacksaw aside and fell backward into the soft snow.

      “Gramps!” Josie cried.

      * * *

      A burst of panic blasted Josie’s chest. Gramps had fallen. He might be ill. He had a bad heart and she feared he’d left his medication at home. A nauseating lump settled in her stomach.

      Paying no heed to the knee-deep snow, she lurched forward, and would have run to her grandfather if Clint hadn’t held out a hand to stop her.

      “He’s okay. Trust me. Just watch a minute.”

      At that moment, Gracie pounced on Gramps. He caught the child and rolled, tickling her and laughing. Gracie shrieked, her voice rising through the treetops.

      Josie relaxed her stiff shoulders, her heart still thumping madly. She glanced at Clint. “How did you know he was okay?”

      Clint shrugged. “It’s a game they’ve played before.”

      Understanding filled her mind. Memories washed over her as she listened to her grandfather’s deep chuckles. When she’d been young, he’d played with her in much the same way. Making her feel loved and wanted. Helping her forget her sad childhood back at home.

      “I guess I’ve missed a lot of fun times with my grandparents over the past few years. I’ve been too busy with work.” Though she didn’t want Gramps to get overly tired on this excursion, she was glad to see him having fun.

      “You’re making up for it now.” Clint’s words sounded a bit reluctant.

      She turned, her gaze resting on him as he lifted his chain saw from its case. He used an Allen wrench to move the bar out and tighten up the chain. With a knit cap pulled low across his ears and his blunt chin sporting a hint of stubble, he looked completely masculine and content to be up on this mountain cutting trees.

      “Better late than never, huh?” she asked.

      “It’s never too late with family.” He spoke without looking up.

      His words brought her a bit of comfort. And standing there in the forest, her feet cold in the snow, Josie realized her family meant everything to her now. Once Gramps was gone, she’d have no one left. No husband or children to call her own. And maybe that was for the best. Remembering her parent’s ugly divorce, she decided being alone was preferable to being miserable in a bad marriage. Wasn’t it?

      She contemplated Gramps as he pushed himself up, brushed the СКАЧАТЬ