LITMIR.BIZ

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think she’s too tender to ride?”

      “Nah, she’ll be all right. Won’t you, girl?”

      Scott followed the voices, hearing several muted clapping sounds, as if someone were patting a horse.

      Conscious of Shelley hovering at his heels, he peered into a stall at the far end of the barn. An older man wearing a beat-up Stetson and a white, scruffy beard stood bent over a mare’s right front leg. The man held the animal’s hoof between his knees. Wearing baggy, faded blue jeans and old cowboy boots, he used a metal pick to clean dirt away from the sole of the horse’s hoof. He grunted as he fought to reach over his own rotund belly.

      Melanie stood leaning against the stall, one booted foot raised and braced against the wooden wall behind her. Her forehead crinkled and her delicate jaw tensed as she watched the farrier work. Strands of auburn hair came free of her long braid, resting against her flushed cheeks. Even wearing blue jeans, she looked too feminine for such work, but Scott knew better. Life couldn’t be easy with her husband gone, but this woman had spunk and was sure of what she was doing. Scott couldn’t help admiring her.

      “See here?” The farrier pointed at the hoof and Melanie lowered her foot as she leaned forward to see. “I’ll rasp the outside of the heel, but not the inside toe, which is much lower. I think once we get the heels lined up with the back of the frog, she’ll be in good shape for riding.”

      Scott took a step and Melanie turned, her green eyes widening. His senses went into overdrive the moment she looked at him. Since when had he had such a reaction to a woman? Even Allison never made him feel warm and gushy inside. He rubbed one hand over his face, regaining his composure.

      Her gaze lowered to his drab olive Forest Service shirt and the badge he wore on the flap of his left front shirt pocket. Her lips pursed together in annoyance. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder at the farrier, she pushed a curl of hair back behind her ear. “Mr. Ennison. This is a surprise.” She gestured nervously toward the bearded man. “Have you met Pete Longley? He’s a local rancher and the best farrier around Snyderville.”

      “I’ve heard your name. Glad to meet you.” Scott extended his right hand.

      Pete let go of the animal’s hoof and stood straight before clasping Scott’s hand. “Howdy.”

      Melanie fidgeted with a bridle hanging on a hook by the stall gate. “Umm, Mr. Ennison’s the new ranger in town.”

      “That so?” Pete let go of Scott’s hand a bit too abruptly and narrowed his gray eyes. He studied Scott for several moments before he turned and spat into the dirt. And just like that, Pete dismissed him.

      The shaggy man didn’t say another word as he went back to his work on the horse, but his actions spoke volumes. Scott knew the drill and had become inured to this attitude. Pete didn’t respect him simply because he was the forest ranger. He’d find another opportunity to chat with the man later, but right now, he wanted to talk to Melanie.

      “What did you want?” she asked.

      Shelley peered around his back and Scott pulled his daughter forward. “I never really got to say thank you last night, so Shelley and I made cookies for you.”

      Melanie crinkled her brow in confusion. Shelley held out the plate, a shy look on her face. Melanie flashed such a bright smile that Scott sucked back a startled breath and stared. Melanie bent slightly at the waist so she could look Shelley in the eye. “You made these cookies?”

      “Yeah, Dad and me.” Shelley tossed a sheepish smile at her father as Melanie took the plate. He hoped that this was a step in the right direction. If Shelley saw how their offering pleased Melanie, perhaps she might learn something about service to others. Normally Scott would have settled for store-bought cookies, but he was trying to be both a mother and father to his daughter. Though Melanie seemed to hold animosity toward him, Scott felt relieved that she treated his daughter with kindness.

      He noticed Pete casting speculative glances his way. In return, Melanie shifted her weight to block Pete’s view.

      Scott could take a hint. Neither Melanie nor Pete wanted him here, but Scott had been selected for this job for a good reason. It’d take time, but he was determined to work with these ranchers and clean up the problems his predecessor had left in his wake.

      “Thank you. I’m sure Anne will gobble them down. I’d better hide them until after dinner,” Melanie said.

      “Who’s Anne?” Shelley asked.

      “My daughter. She’s out in the sheds feeding the lambs. She’s just about your age.”

      “I’m almost eleven.”

      “Your dad told me. Anne just turned eleven last week.” Melanie pointed at the door. “You can go see the lambs if you like. They’re awfully sweet.”

      Shelley’s face lit up with eagerness. “Can I, Dad?”

      Thank goodness. He’d begun to wonder if she’d ever find anything pleasant about Snyderville.

      “Sure, honey. Just be careful.”

      Shelley trotted off, excited to play with the lambs. It’d be great if she made a new friend and took some interest in their new life here. Scott watched her go with mixed feelings. He hadn’t seen her this animated since they’d moved to Snyderville three weeks earlier. He’d never expected her to find such pleasure at the McAllister ranch. Considering how she could have reacted, Melanie had been surprisingly civil to his daughter and Scott appreciated it more than he could say.

      “So did you need anything else?” Melanie asked, urging him toward the barn door.

      Scott would have left, but he also had a job to do. He wasn’t about to let this woman rancher with a kind heart chase him off. Not until he won her over and found a way to help her with her grazing permits.

      “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”

      They stepped outside and he enjoyed a breeze that cooled the sweat on his brow and neck. He felt incredibly lucky to be alive. Because of Melanie, he had a second chance at happiness. His experience with the grizzly had changed him somehow, renewing his appreciation for life. He didn’t want to take anything for granted, especially Shelley.

      “What’s up?” Melanie asked, resting her hands on her slim hips. Sunlight glinted off her hair, showing deep highlights of brown, red and gold. Like fire on the mountain. He almost reached out to touch it.

      “I’d like to make a personal business arrangement with you.”

      Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What kind of business arrangement?”

      He indicated the picket fence with his chin. “I can see you need some help around this place and I need summer child care. How would you feel about watching Shelley for me during the weekdays and in return I’ll work for you on the weekends and some evenings?”

      As he expected, her mouth dropped open and she stared as if he’d gone daft. She cleared her throat and studied the barn, thinking things over.

      “Shelley’s a good girl,” he hurried on. “She wouldn’t be much trouble. In fact, she can help you with chores. And I’ve taught her to ride. She’d do fine, if you gave her a gentle horse.”

      He was talking fast now, hoping she’d agree. Hoping she’d look past his position as the forest ranger and see that they could help each other out.

      Melanie whirled around and looked him in the eye. “Why would you ask me to do this? I’m basically a stranger. You don’t really know me, yet you’re willing to leave your child with me?”

      He nodded. “Karen told me you’re a good, hardworking woman. She said you’d take care of Shelley, but keep her busy so she didn’t have time to whine about how much she hates leaving her old friends.” He smiled. “Besides, any woman who would help me the way you did last night couldn’t be bad. I already feel as if I’ve known you for years.”

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