Anne Duquette - Her Own Ranger

“You’re not going to help. Are you?”

“You’ve got that right.”

“Mind telling me why?”

“Because my job is to document and publicize the effects of poaching.... I’m not a game warden, not a law-enforcement officer—I’m a filmmaker and photographer! I’ve learned the hard way to stay within the bounds of my expertise. Trapping poachers isn’t part of that.”

“Trapping poachers is my area of expertise,” he insisted. “I’d keep you safe.”

She rose. “Judging by the bullet hole in your shoulder, I seriously doubt it.”

Carson flinched, but not from the violence with which she threw her napkin on the table.

“Find yourself another sucker, Mr. Ward. This expedition is off.”

BACK IN HER HOTEL ROOM, Alisha removed her evening jacket. The black silk slithered down and onto the bathroom tile.

He lied to me! That handsome, winning bastard fed me dinner and a smooth line! She yanked open the skirt zipper and kicked it off as it slid to her ankles. Just what I need in my life! More poachers!

She glanced at her scarred chest and shoulders in the mirror, then reached for the hotel’s white terry robe. As she turned to leave, she nearly tripped over the balled black material. Ashamed, she bent down and picked up the outfit. No sense kicking these. Carson Ward—now that’s a different matter.

She neatly placed her clothes and shoes in the closet, removed her panty hose and reentered the bathroom. She was about to brush her teeth when she heard a knock.

“You can go straight to hell,” she yelled at the door. “Because you aren’t coming in here!”

“It’s Josh.”

Alisha belted her robe more securely and crossed to the door. She opened it, the chain still on. “What? I thought you weren’t coming back tonight.”

“Nice manners, Al. Let me in.”

“Sorry.” She slid off the chain and opened the door. “You wouldn’t believe the evening I’ve had.”

“Let me guess. Your dinner was a big bust?”

“That’s putting it mildly.” She closed the door behind him and sat down at the table. “What are you doing back so soon?”

Josh removed two ginger ales and a pack of peanuts from the minibar, then joined her. “My evening was no picnic, either. My brother and his kids all had the stomach flu. One or other of ’em was always locked in the bathroom. Plus my mom and sister-in-law were busy with the patients. I left, did our shopping, and decided to come back here. I was only in the way at home.”

“Oh, Josh, I’m so sorry! I know you were really looking forward to your visit.”

“Yeah, well, that can wait. A couple days and they’ll be fine.” He popped open the soda and took a swallow. “Now, what about your evening?”

By the time Alisha had finished relating her tale, she was shaking. “Josh, how could you set me up with a story like this? With active poachers? He was going to use me...” Her voice was anguished.

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