The Forest Ranger's Child. Leigh Bale

Nate could understand why. The man also seemed to be having some financial troubles of late. “Last I heard, Hank was ailing. Heart attack or something.”

       The doctor didn’t respond and Nate figured the man knew the details but was maintaining patient confidentiality.

       “It’s probably good that his daughter has come home to take care of him,” Nate said.

       “Yeah, she grew up here in Jasper, but she left right after high school. After her mom died, she and her dad didn’t get along too well. I’ve just called Hank to let him know she’s here. He’s driving into town as soon as he can.”

       Nate frowned, hoping the rancher didn’t try to pass the stream while it was still flooding. Hank should use the high Bailey bridge the Army Corp of Engineers had constructed across the river a couple of weeks ago.

       They chatted for several more minutes, mostly with Nate asking questions the doctor did his best not to answer.

       “She’s waking up. You can go in and see her for a few minutes if you like.”

       “Me?” Nate hesitated.

       Dr. Kenner clapped a hand on Nate’s back and smiled broadly. “You’re the man who saved her. Shelby will take you back.”

       Shelby stepped around the front counter to guide Nate down the hallway. A happy smile beamed on her face. “What a great day. Lily took up with a n’er-do-well from Reno and broke her daddy’s heart. He’ll be so happy to see her again. This story is sure to make the evening news. You’re a hero, Nate. You saved her life.”

       As Nate’s heels thudded against the tiled floor, he didn’t feel like a hero. He felt like a worried husband and father, which wasn’t right. This wasn’t his wife and child. He knew nothing about Lily Hansen or her life, yet he couldn’t stop worrying about her. Her pitiful cries for help still tore at his heart. They each could have died today and he realized how precious life was.

       For some odd reason, Nate hesitated at the door to Lily’s room, looking in at her still form lying on the narrow hospital bed. Wrapped in sterile blankets, she looked so helpless. So cold and vulnerable.

       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

      Lily 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.”