Page 1 of Longing for the Ranger (Shadow Mountain Forest Rangers #2)
Izzy
Giggles from my seven-year-old twins as they help me pack the car have my heart singing with happiness. Hearing them will always be the best part of my day, and I appreciate every second of them. Especially since they were absent for too long just a few short years ago.
This trip is about creating the memories we should’ve been having all along, but got waylaid by tragedy. I’m on a mission to remedy the situation now. My children will have the memories they would’ve if life hadn’t torn their world apart at such a young age.
I mentally shake my head, refusing to let my thoughts head in that direction. If I let myself go down that road right now, it will be impossible to make this trip into what I want it to be, memories that will help them feel closer to their dad.
“Mom, you packed everything to make s’mores, right?" Jake asks. "Tommy says that’s the best part of camping is making gooey s’mores.”
Luke chimes in, “and you got worms to use for bait for fishing right? I can’t wait to stick ‘em in the guts with the hook.”
“Yeah! I can’t wait!” Jake makes a gushing noise and mimics hooking a worm.
Stifling the urge to shudder at the thought of having to stick the worms on the hook, I swallow to keep from gagging. I am not looking forward to it. But it’s something their dad would’ve done with them, so I will make sure they get to experience it.
Sighing, I continue to shuffle totes and bags around in the quest to fit everything in the car. “Yes, I packed s’mores supplies and worms.”
“I can’t wait to go fishing. I’m going to catch the biggest fish ever. Then we can eat it for dinner.” Luke spreads his hands wide, showing just how big of a fish he thinks he is going to catch.
Hopefully, I can figure out how to make the fishing poles work. I watched several YouTube videos in preparation and it didn’t look too hard, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
“I’m going to get you, Matey!”
“No way! The treasure is mine!”
There’s a crack behind me. Speaking of fishing poles, I don’t have to look to know what is happening. “You two stop that this minute before you break those poles and then there will be no fishing.”
I knew when I found out we were having twins I would have my hands full, but at times it seems these two are hell bent on making sure I don’t get a moment’s rest. You never realize how many things can be used as swords until you’re around little boys for five minutes.
Grabbing the poles, I stow them safely in the car, out of reach. “Why don’t you two go back into the house and go to the bathroom? I’m almost done, and it will be time to go soon.”
A few minutes later I stand back, wiping the back of my hand across my forehead with a smile at finally having crammed in everything. What a relief. I head into the house to do a last check to ensure everything is off and locked up.
As soon as I open the door, I hear grunts. Rushing to the living room, I wince as Jake launches off the back of the couch.
“Pile drive!” He yells flying through the air, narrowly missing the edge of the coffee table before crashing into his brother.
“Guys, come on. No wrestling in the house and no jumping on the furniture. You know better.” Yet another thing I’ve learned from having boys, wrestling matches happen frequently.
“Did you both go to the bathroom?” They nod their heads.
“Okay, I’m going to make sure everything is off and locked up, then we’ll hit the road. ”
Jake frowns. “Why would we hit the road? Won’t that hurt?”
A chuckle falls from me at his confusion. “It’s just a saying. It means we will get going. Why don’t you two go load up in the car? You can watch an episode of Camp Cretaceous on your tablets while I lock up.” I don’t even get to finish my sentence before they are out the door.
Shaking my head, I walk through our two-story house, making sure windows are shut and locked and lights turned off. Of course, the light in the bathroom is still on and the water trickling because boys. I’ve almost completed my walk through when I stop in my tracks with a groan.
There, on the floor next to the refrigerator, is the blue cooler of food, packed and ready to go but not in the car with the rest of the supplies.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I lug the heavy blue plastic container out to the car before starting the game of Tetris in the back over again. Finally, after another twenty minutes and stashing a couple of duffel bags in the front passenger seat, I get it all to fit.
There is probably more stuff than we’ll ever need, but I would rather be over-prepared for this adventure than not. Hopefully, I have everything to make some lasting memories for the boys.
At last I climb into the car and get the show on the road. Backing out of the driveway onto our quiet street on the outskirts of Coyote Creek, I wave at our neighbor, Mrs. Janson, who is weeding her prized flower beds.
I let the boys continue to watch their tablets as we make the forty-five minute drive to Elk Grove Campground where we’re staying.
Probably not the mom of the year move, but I don’t plan on them using the devices much while we are there.
I just want to have them for backup when I need them to chill for a bit.
I don’t know what I would do without them when I need a few moments to myself and some quiet from all the noise those two make.
The drive flies by and we arrive at the campground before I know it. It’s quite pretty with sites situated around the oval drive circling the grove. You can just see the lake through the trees and a creek flows past one side. The pit toilets have me cringing, but they are better than nothing.
Following the ten mile per hour speed limit, I watch the site numbers for the one I booked online weeks ago in preparation for this trip. When the small wooden sign indicates we are at site twenty-three, I pull into the parking spot in front of it.
The boys bail out immediately, running to the creek flowing gently past the clearing with a picnic table and fire pit.
I scramble out, yelling after them. “Stay out of the water, you two. We need to unpack and set up.” Chuckling when I hear their groans from the car. “You can play in the water as soon as we get everything situated. Now get over here and help.”
Walking to the back of my little red SUV, I pop open the back and begin unloading the supplies I spent so much time fitting in.