The Challenge(53)

She mentioned it to Juliet the next time she thought of it.

“Wouldn’t it be funny if your dad ended up with, or at least dated, Marlene Wylie?”

Juliet made a face immediately. “Mom! Gross! That’s awful. Her husband just died about five minutes ago.” It had been a month and a half, but admittedly it wasn’t long. “Daddy wouldn’t go out with her now. He respects her more than that. He always says how much he admires her. That would be awful if she were dating so soon. Dad would never do that.”

“Well, maybe in a year, then. I thought she was nice when I met her.”

“She is nice. But she really loved her husband. They had a great marriage. The boys always say so. She probably won’t date for a long time. Maybe never.” Juliet was very close to Noel these days too. He helped her a lot with her homework. She was adjusting to her new school and liked it even more than she thought she would. And seeing Peter every day was terrific.

“You never know. Your father is a nice man. Stranger things have happened than a romance with a newly bereaved woman. That’s not a crime,” Beth reminded Juliet. Unusual things had happened in her life too.

A few days before she came back to town, Beth decided to be bold and brave, and sent Harvey Mack, the chief ranger, a text. He hadn’t answered, which was slightly embarrassing, and she decided that she had misread the signs. He obviously wasn’t interested. She forgot about it and had been in her new house for a week when he called her. Juliet was at her father’s, and Beth had just organized her closet and was pleased. She got everything in.

“Good evening, ma’am,” the distinctive deep voice greeted her. “Do you have a flock of deer in your front yard? Or a herd of bison?”

“Actually, no, I don’t.” She laughed at the question.

“A mountain lion? An elephant? Are your trees on fire?”

“None of the above.”

“I’m very sorry to hear it, because in that case, it appears you have no need of a forest ranger.” He sounded disappointed.

“Wait, I’ll go and get a bison immediately and put it in the front yard. Where do I find one?”

“I’ll bring one. Is ten minutes too soon?”

“Not if you bring me a bison. And by the way, you don’t know where I live.”

“Yes, I do. I have my spies. We’re a covert branch of the FBI. Why didn’t you tell me you were moving here?”

“Because it all happened very quickly, the day before I left. My daughter decided she wanted to go to school here. So, I’m going to be traveling back and forth to New York.”

“And does she like it?”

“Apparently not at first. It was a big change, but she likes it better now, and is getting used to it. Do you really know where I live?”

“Yes, but only because an old friend of mine was the realtor who rented you the house. This is a very small town.” They both laughed.

“Can I offer you a cup of coffee or a glass of wine?”

“Probably neither. I just thought I’d stop by to say hello, in case you’d forgotten who I am.”

“I’m not the one who forgot. I sent you a text and you didn’t answer.”

“Oh Christ, I forgot. I’m sorry. We had an emergency and it went right out of my head. I owe you dinner for that.”

“That sounds interesting. I’m still waiting for my bison.” As she said it, the doorbell rang, and she answered it with the phone in her hand. It was Harvey. In full uniform. “Where’s my bison?”

“I left it double parked and it got towed. I apologize for the costume. I just left the office.”

“You work late, Chief Mack,” she said, as she put her phone in her pocket. He looked happy to see her, and she was too.

“Welcome to Fishtail. You’ve just increased our population to four hundred and seventy-nine. I’ll have to get the signs corrected.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’m from New York. There are more people in a subway car in New York.”

“Fishtail is prettier.” He followed her into her living room. The house suddenly looked tiny with him in it. He was huge. “I like your house.” She had added some personal touches and spruced it up.

“Thank you. I do too. It’s a little small, but it’s cozy.” She offered him coffee again and he declined. He didn’t want wine either.

“So when will you have dinner with me? In exchange for the text I forgot to answer?”

“Whenever you like.” Her computer was sitting on a table in the living room, and he noticed it.

“Are you working on something right now?” He had read several of her interviews since he met her, and he was impressed. He mentioned the last one he had read and liked.

“You read The New Yorker?” It was her turn to be impressed.

“I do now. I like your work.” He had subscribed just so he could read her and wouldn’t miss an article.

“Thank you.” She smiled.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but won’t you get lonely here? Even the bison complain.”

“I can see why. But it’s peaceful. And my daughter is here, and she loves it. I can go to New York if I get antsy.” He nodded. He thought she was a good sport to be there, and a good mother. For a woman alone, Fishtail was not an exciting place. And it would be even lonelier in winter when they got snowed in.