The Forest Ranger's Husband. Leigh Bale

did you hurt your leg?” she asked.

      “Just an accident. I’ll be fine.” He wasn’t about to tell her the story of the wildfire and the death of his crewman. Not when the guilt still ripped him apart every time he thought about it.

      Davie retrieved the packages Matt had dropped in the flower bed and set them on the coffee table. “Is one of these for me?”

      Matt smiled. “Yep. The blue one. The pink one is for your mom.”

      “Why don’t you two chat while I get dinner on?” Andie ignored the gifts as she opened the drapes wide. Then she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him and Davie alone. Easily within earshot. Now and then she peered around the corner, making Matt self-conscious. Obviously she didn’t like leaving him alone with the boy. Matt was determined to win her trust.

      Davie tore open his gift like a rabid wolf. Matt laughed, pleased by the child’s enthusiasm.

      “What’s this for?” Davie asked as he shredded the delicate paper.

      “Your birthday.”

      “But my birthday isn’t for weeks. Mom said I can have a party and invite friends over for cake. You can come if you want to.”

      Matt would love to be here, but he’d wait for an invitation from Andie first. “This gift is for your last birthday I missed.”

      “A baseball glove. Thanks!” Davie dug the glove out of the box and put it on his right hand.

      “You wear it like this, hotshot.” Matt pulled the glove off and put it on the boy’s left hand. “Now you can catch with your left hand and throw with your right. You are right-handed, aren’t you?”

      Matt used his own hands to show the motions in the air.

      “Yep. I’m a righty.” Davie sat on the sofa and scooted back, smacking his right fist against the palm of his new glove. He watched Matt with intense, wide eyes.

      As Matt eased himself into the recliner, he couldn’t help wondering if Andie had told Davie who he really was. He eyed the wrapped gift he’d brought for her, wishing she’d open it now. He’d leave it here, and hopefully she’d open it after he left.

      “My dad’s name is Matt. He’s a hotshot,” Davie said.

      “Is that so?” A lump formed in Matt’s throat, and he tried to swallow.

      “Yep. He plays baseball like me.”

      “I love baseball.”

      The child heaved a satisfied sigh, his big blue eyes unblinking. “You’re my daddy.”

      Matt coughed, his throat dry as sandpaper.

       Chapter Four

      Matt spoke around the hard lump in his throat. “How do you know I’m your daddy? Did your mother tell you that?”

      Davie shook his head. “Mom has a picture of you in her bottom drawer. Sometimes I sneak in and peek at it.”

      Before Matt could respond, the boy hopped off the couch and padded out of the room. Matt sat there in confusion. Had he said something wrong?

      The child returned and handed Matt a picture of him with his arm around Andie, smiling and snuggled together on a large boulder at the Grand Canyon. Their honeymoon. Matt remembered it like yesterday. The best time of his life. They’d been so in love. So happy.

      And he’d destroyed it all.

      Davie sat on the ottoman. “Mom said you’d come meet me one day. Why’d you leave us?”

      Us. Fascinating how Davie assumed he’d always been in his parents’ lives.

      “I didn’t know about you when I left. Your mom had you after I was gone.”

      “So why didn’t you come back?” The boy’s eyes filled with awe and dejection at the same time.

      Matt’s mind scrambled for a legitimate excuse that wouldn’t lose him any respect in his son’s eyes. “The truth is, I was selfish. I wanted to fight wildfires in Oregon, which meant I had to transfer up there.”

      “Why didn’t you take us with you?”

      “Your mom didn’t want to move. She wanted to stay in one place and raise a family. I wanted to build my career.”

      “Can’t you stay with us and build your career, too?”

      Boy, this kid wasn’t making things easy. “It’s not quite that simple, son.”

      His son. A bright boy who was confronting him with the truth while trying hard to understand why his father had left him.

      “Mom said you don’t want her. You just want to see me.”

      “That’s not true. I want both of you. Very much.” Matt spoke around the emotion in his voice, hoping to dispel any misunderstandings right now.

      “Really? You mean it?”

      “Yes, I mean it.”

      “Pinkie promise?” The child held out his hand, his pinkie finger hooked slightly.

      As Matt looped his pinkie finger around Davie’s and they shook, he fought the urge to smile. “Pinkie promise.”

      Davie tilted his head in confusion. “Mom must not know you still want her. You should tell her.”

      Or rather, she no longer wanted Matt. He couldn’t believe it was too late to win her back. He couldn’t give up hope.

      “Hey! You want to come to my T-ball game in two weeks? It’s the first of the season,” Davie said.

      Matt flinched, having trouble keeping up with the change in topics. It appeared his son had forgiven him so easily. If only Andie could do the same. “I’d love to.”

      Davie scooted off the ottoman, his face alight with excitement. “All the other dads come. Brian Phelps says I don’t have a dad. Won’t he be surprised when you show up? You want to see my uniform?”

      Matt’s heart wrenched. Thinking about his son growing up without a father almost unmanned him. Matt had so much apologizing to do. So much lost time to make up for. “I’d like that.”

      Davie ran across the room and disappeared down the hallway. Matt looked up and found Andie standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with annoyance.

      “I didn’t invite you to dinner, you know.” She crossed her arms.

      “I know that now. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I’m not used to how little boys work.”

      “Oh, sure you are.” She leaned against the wall. “They’re just smaller versions of grown men.”

      Matt sighed with resignation. This wasn’t going to be easy. For any of them. In the old days, he would have snapped back at Andie, but he just didn’t want to anymore. She must be so hurt and angry. Nothing but remorse and love for her filled his heart. “I suppose you’re right. But eventually even grown men grow up.”

      She stepped away from the wall, her mouth tight with disapproval. “I hope so.”

      Realizing Matt was watching her, Andie blinked and began picking up toys around the living room. She’d overheard Davie’s conversation with Matt and didn’t like it one bit. How she wished Davie could get to know his father without becoming emotionally attached. But Davie loving Matt was inevitable. The boy wanted his father. So much. For that reason alone, Andie had let Matt into her house.

      Against her better judgment.

      “You put him into baseball?” Matt asked.

      She shrugged. “He started last year. It’s what he chose.”

      “I guess it’s in his blood.”