The Forest Ranger's Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

worry about the woman he’d saved, but he did all the same.
    “I can’t believe you did this. What would your mother say? I’m disappointed in you, Lily. More than I can say.”
    Nate turned, startled to hear the angry words coming from Lily’s room. Hank’s voice boomed behind the closed door, rushing up the empty hallway.
    The door burst open and Hank came stomping out, his hat gripped in his fist, his face red as a charging bull. As the man stormed past, he coughed hard and didn’t even glance at Nate. Shelby looked up from her desk, the phone still pressed against her ear, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
    Nate stared after Hank as the man trudged through the automatic glass doors and out to the parking lot. Nate felt as though a tornado had just blown through the room. What had happened?
    A muffled sob came from Lily’s room and Nate swiveled around and walked to her door. Peering inside, he found her lying on her side facing the wall, her arms wrapped over her baby bump. Even though she made no sound, her thin shoulders trembled. She was obviously crying and his chest tightened with regret. How he hated to see a woman cry.
    He rapped his knuckles against the door, wondering what he should say. Wondering how saving her life had made him feel so protective of her.
    She glanced over her shoulder and looked startled and self-conscious. She rubbed her reddened eyes with the backs of her hands and sat up quickly, her nose dripping. When she rested her small hands protectively over her tummy, he couldn’t help staring. How fragile she looked.
    “What do you want?” Her voice sounded like a croak.
    He reached for a tissue on the bedside stand and handed it to her. She whisked it from his fingers and blew her nose.
    “I don’t mean to intrude, but I couldn’t help overhearing. I was wondering if I can do anything for you,” he said.
    “No, nothing. I’m fine.” Her voice cracked and so did his heart.
    “Are you hungry?”
    She laughed and shook her head. “All you men are alike. You just don’t get it, do you?”
    “Get what?”
    The velvety softness of her brown eyes pinned him with fury. “I don’t want anything from you. Not now. Not ever.”
    Okay…
    “I didn’t mean to intrude, ma’am. I’ll leave you alone.” He turned to go, but she called him back.
    “Wait!” Her features softened with regret. “Look, I…I don’t mean to be ungrateful. It’s just that I don’t want to become involved again.”
    She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, her hands clenched. He stood there dumbfounded.
    “Why can’t this ever get easier?” She opened her eyes and looked at him.
    “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.” Nate wondered what he’d walked into. He had no idea if this woman was mentally unstable or just overwrought from her ordeal. He’d heard pregnant women had lots of hormones running through their bodies that caused a roller coaster of emotions. And Lily had been through a traumatic event today. He decided keeping his silence might be the best thing for him to do.
    “I’m pregnant,” she said.
    He nodded, trying to comprehend. Wishing right now that he were anywhere but here. “Yes, I know.”
    “And I’ve never been married,” she blurted.
    He released a giant huff of air, finally understanding. Joyful and saddened by this news all at the same time. “And your father isn’t happy about that?”
    “No. Neither am I, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. I…I wanted to be married.” Her voice sounded small. “My father hates me.”
    “Ah, I’m sure he doesn’t hate you.”
    “Yes, he does.”
    She stared at her stomach and a strand of russet hair swept past her face. Nate’s fingers itched to tuck it back behind her ear, but he resisted the urge. He didn’t know how to comfort her. He’d been raised by a single mother in a small, traditional town, and knew how hard it could be. Lily must be frightened half to death.
    “Hank doesn’t hate you. He’s