Page 10 of Longing for the Ranger (Shadow Mountain Forest Rangers #2)

Shawn

“Hey you two, french toast is ready.” I holler up the stairs to Luke and Jake. I can’t help but grin at their cheers as they thunder down the stairs.

Izzy’s out for breakfast with friends, a luxury she hasn’t had for quite some time. I’m happy to give that to her and get to spend some one on one time with the boys.

I never realized how lonely my life was until it was filled with chaos in the best of ways.

Izzy and the boys have brought light and laughter to my life.

Now I can’t wait to finish work each day to see them, whereas before I lived to work.

I still love my job, but getting to spend time with them is now the best part of my day.

The boys don’t realize it, but I’m practically living at their house. I hate having to sneak out before they get up, but agree with Izzy it’s probably best to ease them into things. On my days off, we pretend I have arrived early for breakfast, so I get to spend the mornings with them.

It means no sleeping in, but getting to wake up with Izzy snuggled into my side more than makes up for it. Especially when we have enough time for me to ravage her before I leave or the boys get up. Thankfully, they are not super early risers.

School is going to be starting soon so our schedules will not match up for a while. It's depressing to think about not having my off days with them. When Izzy gets back, we’re going to head out for a few nights of camping before all that changes.

After breakfast, we pack up all the supplies gathered so we are ready to go when Izzy gets home.

A grin splits my face when I realize I just referred to this place as home.

It couldn’t be more true, feeling more like home than anywhere else I have ever been.

But it’s not the structure that makes it feel that way, it’s the people who live here. Anywhere they are is home for me now.

Izzy’s eyes light up when she sees we are all ready to leave when she gets back. “This is a nice surprise. Much nicer than last time. It took me forever to get everything packed in the car.”

“No worries, I’ve got you.” I reply with a wink.

“You certainly do,” she murmurs, nibbling on her bottom lip.

“Hey now, don’t be starting anything we can’t be finishing right now.” My glare and frown hold no heat.

The little minx giggles, smirking. “Sorry, not sorry.”

“Boys, time to go.” I yell, needing to remove myself from temptation.

We make it to Pine Creek campground and get everything set up just before lunch. I’m disappointed to be sleeping in my own tent but am bolstered by the fact it won’t be long before the separation is no longer necessary.

The boys scarf down their lunch of sandwiches and chips Izzy made while they helped me set up the tents. I promised to take them fishing after and they can’t wait.

We actually have success and catch a couple of keepers we can have for dinner. The hike back is filled with exploration and questions, as every outing with the boys usually is. It’s fun to teach them about the things that interest them and impart wisdom of safely recreating in the outdoors.

“Shawn, what kind of berries are these? Are these good ones to eat?” Jake points to a bush with small, bluish purple berries just off the trail.

I’m happy he asked if they are good to eat. We had an incident last time when they almost ate baneberries which are toxic and had to talk about asking for permission and knowing which are okay to eat.

“Those are huckleberries. They are good to eat and super yummy, especially in muffins and pancakes. Go ahead and try some. It’s too bad we don’t have anything to put some in or we could pick them and have them in our pancakes in the morning. Maybe tomorrow we can come back and pick some.”

“Oooh, these are soo good.” Luke announces, lips and fingers turning purple as he eats his fill.

“Alright that’s probably enough. You want to save room to eat this fish you guys caught.” Izzy warns them after letting them graze for several minutes.

“Oh yeah, I can’t wait to eat our fish. I bet it’s going to be so yummy.” Jake says as we continue the hike back to the campground, berries quickly forgotten.

The next morning I’m woken up not by the sounds of the boys as I expect, but Izzy’s frantic voice.

“Luke! Jake! Where are you guys?”

I quickly climb out of my sleeping bag and tent, Missy on my heels. “What’s going on?”

“I just woke up and the boys aren’t in our tent.”

Scanning the area, I don’t see any sign of either of them.

My pulse picks up at the thought of something happening to them, but I take a deep breath, knowing Izzy needs me to keep calm right now.

“Maybe they just went to the bathroom. Let’s check there and around the campground. I’m sure they couldn’t have gone far.”

My attempt to keep positive quickly wanes as we come up empty with each place we check. After walking the entire campground, calling their names, and checking with other campers who are up, we still have not found them.

“Shawn, they’re not here!” The agony in Izzy’s voice is almost more than I can take.

“We will find them.” I strive to reassure her with more conviction than I feel at the moment. “I’m going to call the ranger station and get more people out here to help look for them. I promise it’s going to be okay.”

“You don’t know that.” Her voice cracks, eyes welling with tears.

Pulling her to me, I rub her back. “We have to stay positive. Spiraling isn’t going to help right now.”

I’ve never been more thankful to have cell service than I am at this moment. Every available ranger is on their way now to help with the search.

“I really don’t want to leave you like this, but I want to go check the trail to the fishing hole. Maybe they went there.”

“I’ll go with you.” She pleads.

“Someone needs to meet the other rangers when they get here and you should stay here just in case they come back on their own.” When she finally nods, I squeeze her tight with relief. It kills me to leave her, but I can’t wait around when I could be looking for them.

“Bring back my boys.” She whispers.

“Promise. Missy come.” I grab my pack and hustle to the trail.

I holler the boy’s names periodically but don’t hear any response.

Each passing minute has fear lodging itself deeper.

This is a terror unlike anything I have been through before.

My chest aches with all the what ifs, but in reality, there’s only one acceptable outcome for this situation.

If I can’t keep my promise to Izzy, there will be no coming back from this for her, because there is no doubt at all this will kill her.

She will not survive another loss, especially one of this magnitude.

Shoving down the devastating thoughts and worst-case scenario, I focus on the here and now. When Missy whines as we pass a fork in the trail, I pause. The left trail takes us to the fishing hole we were at yesterday. The right heads further into the back country.

I’m torn with indecision. I don’t see any signs the boys went to the right, but it’s a well-traveled trail.

“Jake! Luke!” I yell, hoping to hear something but get nothing in response.

When Missy takes off down the right trail, the decision is taken out of my hands. I run after her, attempting to keep her in sight. A half mile later she leaves the trail tunneling her way through underbrush I can’t make it through.

“Jake! Luke!” I yell, frustrated as I look for a way through the brush.

I see an animal trail a couple of yards up and work my way through the worst of it. I hear Missy’s bark and veer to the right, following the sound. As I get closer, I almost collapse with relief when I hear the boys.

“Missy, you found us. Good girl.”

“Jake! Luke! Are you guys okay?”

“Shawn! We’re over here.”

I plow through the brush to get to them, not even noticing branches slapping my face and tearing at my clothes.

When they finally come into sight and I see they’re okay, I can finally fully breathe again.

They run to me as I drop to my knees, squeezing them tight.

The dread I may lose everything when I just found it finally lifts.

“Are you guys okay?” Leaning back, I look closer at each of them to assure myself there are no injuries to either one.

Luke nods. “We’re okay. We wanted to pick huckleberries so mom could put them in our pancakes this morning, but we went the wrong way and got turned around.”

“We remembered you said to stay where you are when you get lost, so that’s what we did. Are we in trouble?” Jake’s lip quivers.

I huff out a breath. “Well, I’m happy you guys remembered what to do, but you should never go anywhere without telling us first. Your mom and I were very worried. In fact, we need to get back so she can see you're okay.”

We pick our way back to the trail and hustle back to the campground. I call Izzy as soon as there is service, letting her know I found them and will be back soon. Her cry of relief about doing me in.

She meets us part way up the trail, tears streaming as she hugs the boys. Her eyes meet mine. “Thank you for keeping your promise.”

“And I always will.” I vow to them all, knowing I’ll do everything in my power to never let them down. There is no question they are now mine to keep and protect forever more.