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Spring’s
in the air. While the sun shines in Timber Springs, snow falls on the
Snowy Range, and trouble’s brewing in the meadows. The area’s new game
warden, Steve Mitchell launches his first wildlife investigation of the
season but the trouble follows him—straight to town.
Rachel Fitzgerald’s on Spring Break. Or at least she’s trying. Between paperwork, and harassing phone calls, she may as well have stayed in her classroom. So much for relaxation. A ‘chance’ meeting with her brother’s old roommate offers her weary soul a shred of hope, but she discovers love, like life, isn’t easy.
He talks with the wisdom of the Lord but rejects the future. She wants to soar with the eagles but walks alone. And trusting God proves to be more of a challenge than ever before…
Rachel Fitzgerald’s on Spring Break. Or at least she’s trying. Between paperwork, and harassing phone calls, she may as well have stayed in her classroom. So much for relaxation. A ‘chance’ meeting with her brother’s old roommate offers her weary soul a shred of hope, but she discovers love, like life, isn’t easy.
He talks with the wisdom of the Lord but rejects the future. She wants to soar with the eagles but walks alone. And trusting God proves to be more of a challenge than ever before…
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EXCERPT
Copyright 2015 © Renee Blare
Uneasiness
stirred within her. Since this trail wasn’t used often except on
weekends, she was usually alone. A game warden this far in the high
country was a surprise. Game and Fish tended to keep to the more beaten
paths. After all, not many people fished this early, and the hunting
seasons weren’t until much later.
He
removed his helmet, a lock of tousled brown hair landing on his wide
forehead. With his elbow propped on the handlebars, a gloved hand
brushed across his jaw. Familiar brown eyes studied her over the small
windshield.
“Oh.”
Her heart skipped a couple of beats, and she stumbled over her tongue.
He turned around before she could form a coherent thought. Taking a deep
breath, she tried again. “Steve?”
A
smashed brown baseball cap materialized in his hand. After a brief
squeeze of the bill, he pulled it low on his forehead. “Hey there,
angel.”
The
strong baritone snapped her attention to his face. Another lurch caught
in the deep recesses of her heart. She struggled for composure, finally
piecing together a sentence. “What are you doing here?”
His
smile grew, and a soft chuckle caressed her ears. Tiny shivers coursed
through her, and Rachel rubbed the arms of her coat, the sound
scratching at the air.
“Checking things out. You doing okay?” His gaze scanned her gear before latching onto her face.
“Yeah,
I’m fine. Getting ready to leave, actually.” A sudden gust blew through
the valley, and Rachel breathed in relief when it buffeted her hot
cheeks. The quicker, the better.She reached for the ignition switch.
Pausing, she followed his hand as he slid his cap back and forth. “Can I
help you with anything?”
Rachel
admired the man through her lashes as the sun flashed off his dark
complexion. With his Italian heritage, Steve appeared the ultimate beach
boy. And the way his wide forehead and high cheekbones tapered down
into a square jaw, he took her breath away. He always had.
The
winter coat accented his broad shoulders and stocky chest. Rachel
forced her eyes back up, realizing his gaze had never left her. The
beginnings of another blush crept up her cheeks. She diverted her
attention, only to catch the hair curling at his neck and squeezed her
hand into a fist. She had to leave—fast—before she did something she’d
regret.
“Well, I do have one question for you.” He squinted at the sky. “If you don’t mind my asking, how long have you been here?”
She followed his gaze. “About an hour, maybe not even that long. I’m getting ready to head back to town now.”
Rachel
studied the changing conditions for the first time since spotting the
moose. The blue sky now had a gray hue, and a cold wind whipped through
the valley. Clouds hung low, below the peaks, the rocky crags shrouded
in a veil of white.
“All
I need is to get caught in an early spring dump up here. Dad will have
my hide.” Rachel mumbled the last under her breath, kicking the
snowmobile in disgust.
“What’s that?” Steve’s brow lifted high.
Her face on fire, she nodded at the clouds. “Oh, nothing. The weather isn’t cooperating, that’s all.”
“Well,
you may want to head back while you can.” He shrugged. “I don’t have to
tell you how fast things change this time of year, especially at this
elevation. Not to mention the avalanche danger right now.”
Rachel
stiffened. Yes, she knew it could be unpredictable up here. She knew
all about avalanches as well. She narrowed her gaze at Steve. Great, another person ordering me around. What is it with everyone? Why can’t people leave me alone?
“By chance, have you seen his mama around?” Steve interrupted her thoughts, gesturing to the calf digging in the deep snow.
Rachel
stared at the moose. His bleats drifted along the gusty wind while he
pawed at the ice. Her heart broke at the pathetic little creature.
“No,
I did wonder about her though. I know they’re temperamental when they
have a calf around, and I didn’t want to be between them. One time, I
saw this car. You should’ve seen it, Steve. It was ripped apart.” She
stopped abruptly, glancing at him. Her left eye twitched, and she rubbed
her lid. Calm down, Rachel.
Steve nodded, his expression neutral. He didn’t say a word but continued to study the animal at the lake’s edge.
Rachel
sucked in a breath and focused on the clouds. When her trembling eased,
she forced a smile to her face. “Well, I need to head back. Nice to see
you again. Make sure you stop by before you go home to Cody.”
Rachel
flipped the switch, and the machine started with a rumble. After
securing her goggles over her eyes, she lifted her hand in salute.
Making a wide circle, she avoided the boulders peeking through the snow.
A
sharp stab pierced her chest when she thought of him leaving. Rachel
knew she would miss him. She always did and had for a long time.
“Who are you trying to fool, Rachel?”
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