The Forest Ranger's Christmas Read Online Free Page A

read. Not because he couldn’t see well enough without his spectacles, but because he didn’t know how to put the letters together to form the words.
    “Please, Frank. Get your glasses and read for me,” Clint insisted.
    Frank’s shoulders tensed, but Clint couldn’t back down. As a ranger, he had an obligation to protect the national forest. It was his job. His first priority after Gracie. If Frank was going up on the mountain to cut trees, he needed to be able to read the posted signs. Clint also wanted to help Frank, if he could.
    With a labored breath, the elderly man nodded, and his head drooped in resignation. “All right.”
    He disappeared into the living room. Josie stood beside the doorway, arms folded, her mouth set tight in outrage. Clint decided to be patient. He couldn’t help feeling surprised to see her here. Christmas was still weeks away and he knew from talking to Josie’s grandparents that she’d never spent this much time with them in the past. Not since she was a little kid. So why was she here?
    “How’s your work at the pharmacy going?” he asked, trying to make small talk. Trying to keep from becoming her enemy.
    “Fine.” Her clipped reply didn’t encourage further banter.
    “It must have required a lot of schooling to become a pharmacist.”
    “It did.”
    He thought about his own master’s degree in geology. Even with his advanced education, he still felt like a fool in this woman’s presence. All jittery and nervous. He could take or leave most women. But with Josie, something was different. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. It was as though he knew her from some far-off memory. As if there was a magnetic attraction he didn’t understand, yet couldn’t deny.
    “You’re in early for a holiday visit this year,” he said.
    “That’s right.”
    “Any special reason?”
    “It’s not your concern.”
    He rubbed his hand against his bristly chin. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
    She was a blunt little thing, he’d give her that. So blunt that she bordered on rude. But Clint got the impression it was all an act. A form of self-preservation. He could read it in her wary eyes. A mist of fear seemed to hover over her. And that brought out the protective instincts in him like never before. Safeguarding women was a weakness he’d never seemed able to overcome. His own mother had been widowed after Clint had graduated from college, so he came by the trait naturally. Mom had needed his help and he’d gladly stepped up to the task. But Josie was different. Caring for another woman would only bring him and his daughter more heartache. Something he must avoid like the plague.
    Yes, he knew something was up. He could feel it in his bones. Even so, Josie was right. Her presence here wasn’t his business. He tried to tell himself he didn’t care, but he knew that wasn’t true. She obviously didn’t want to tell him about it, so he shut up.
    A horrible silence followed.
    Frank returned, wire-rimmed spectacles in hand. It took another two laborious minutes for him to clean them, then plant the glasses firmly on the bridge of his nose before he held up the pamphlet and stared at the words. His hand trembled, betraying his anxiety. But he didn’t read. Not a single word.
    Possibly because he was holding the pamphlet upside down.
    Clint stepped forward and gently turned the leaflet right side up. With eagle-eyed focus, Josie watched every move.
    She laid a hand on his arm. “Gramps? Read it out loud.”
    The tender gesture didn’t go unnoticed by Clint. Maybe it was good she was here to offer moral support to her grandfather.
    Frank whipped the glasses off his face and tossed them on the table. They clattered against the porcelain cookie jar shaped like a yellow pineapple. Josie gasped and stepped back.
    Frank stared at the floor, obviously embarrassed. And Clint hated every minute of it, knowing he was the cause. Knowing he’d hurt this good man to the