Free The Forest Ranger's Promise by Leigh Bale Page B

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    â€œYou okay, Mom?” Anne’s eyes crinkled with concern.
    Melanie patted the girl on the knee. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m fine. I guess I’m just not very tolerant of bigots.”
    â€œWhat’s a big idiot?” Shelley asked.
    Melanie laughed. “It’s pronounced bi-got. And it’s someone who is intolerant of other people simply because of their profession.”
    â€œIs that why the store doesn’t want to sell my dad groceries? Because they’re a bigot?”
    â€œI’m afraid so, and it means the same as a big idiot, so you can say it either way.”
    â€œBut why don’t they like Daddy? He’s an awfully nice man.”
    â€œYou and I know that, but they think he’s bad, just like the previous ranger who used to live here.”
    â€œOh.” Confusion replaced the hurt in Shelley’s eyes. She didn’t understand. Neither did Melanie. And she didn’t want to try and explain it, either.
    â€œI’ll tell you what. I’ll talk to your father about it when he comes to pick you up in a couple of hours and then you can ask him all the questions you want. But right now, let’s forget about it and go get our ice cream cones. Okay?”
    â€œOkay.” Shelley nodded, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
    They all ate their ice cream in silence as Melanie drove them home. By the time they returned to Opal Ranch and put the groceries away, their fun afternoon had dissipated into disappointment. Even the lambs couldn’t make Shelley smile. The girl watched the clock, biting her fingernails, waiting for Scott to pick her up.
    While she mucked out a corral, Melanie tried to forget the glare of that pink sign blazing across her memory. Tried to forget the deep hurt in Shelley’s eyes. After all, this wasn’t Melanie’s problem. Scott was a strong man and he’d deal with the Donaldsons. She didn’t care where he went to buy his groceries. It didn’t matter to her at all.
    Yeah, and sheep could fly.
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    â€œDaddy!” Shelley burst through the screen door and ran down the front porch as he walked past the hollyhocks to Melanie’s house.
    â€œOof!” Scott absorbed the tight hug from his daughter,caught off guard. What had gotten into her? He couldn’t remember the last time she had hugged him this often. Staying at the McAllisters’ house was definitely good for her. “Hey, munchkin. Did you have a good day?”
    â€œKinda, but then we went into town and there was a sign at the grocery store.”
    She told him all about it as he walked with her to the house. He listened intently, feeling a flush of anger prickle his skin. The Donaldsons refused to sell him any groceries. He couldn’t believe it.
    â€œWhy don’t they like us, Dad?”
    What could he say when he didn’t know the answer? “I don’t know, honey. I think they’re afraid of me.”
    â€œBut why? You wouldn’t hurt them.”
    Her faith in him touched his heart. “No, I wouldn’t do anything to purposefully hurt them.”
    Melanie greeted them at the door, concern filling her eyes. As she indicated a chair in the living room, he waved at Anne, who frowned and quickly slipped out the back door. He sat down, listening while Shelley poured out the story. Melanie didn’t say a word, just stood leaning against the bookcase, her gaze pinned on Shelley’s animated face.
    â€œWe’ll starve if they don’t let us buy groceries, Dad. What will we eat?” Shelley’s voice rose to a shrill tone. This had frightened her and he didn’t like it at all.
    Scott reached out and cupped her cheek, looking directly into her eyes. “Honey, I know I’m not much of a cook, but have I ever let you go hungry—even once?”
    She shook her head. A fat tear rolled down her cheek and he wiped it away with his thumb.
    â€œAnd will you trust me