“That’s terrific. I wish more kids were interested in wildlife and conservation.” Ben took off his hat, his long fingers toying with the brim. “Where are you folks from?”
“Huh?” Jason jerked his gaze up from Ben’s hands. “Oh, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia area.”
“I’ve never been. What’s it like?” Beneath long lashes, Ben’s sea-blue eyes were focused on him, and Jason went hot to the tips of his ears.
He stammered, “It—uh, well it, you know, it has its pros and cons.” So eloquent. “Great museums and stuff.” He winced internally. He sounded like a dumb kid, and turned the conversation back to Ben. “Philly feels like another universe compared to how wild it is Montana. Are you from around here?”
“I am. Born and raised in Kalispell.”
“Population twenty-two thousand, right? First established at the end of the nineteenth century after the railway was built. There’s a dragon boat festival in September.”
Head tilting, Ben smiled quizzically. “Sounds about right.”
Why am I being such a spaz? “Maggie did her term project on Montana last year and couldn’t stop talking about it. Guess some of the info sunk in.” He jammed his hands into his jeans pockets.
“Nice to have visitors who’ve done their research. Is Maggie’s mom here too?”
Jason kept his tone even. He despised talking about this. Hated the pity and questions that followed, and the incredulity that he could possibly be raising a child alone. “No, her mother died when Maggie was a baby. It’s just the two of us.”
Ben blanched. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have…”
“No, no, it’s okay. You didn’t know. Obviously.”
Ben scratched at his head, mussing his thick brown hair, and Jason had the insane urge to reach up and straighten it. Fortunately he kept his hands in his pockets as an awkward silence stretched out. He waited for Ben to ask the usual questions, but Ben only fiddled with his hat, those long fingers smoothing over the band of leather.
Finally, Jason blurted, “I like your hat.”
“Thanks.” Ben’s low chuckle sent a shiver down Jason’s spine. “Want to try it on?”
Maggie called, “Dad! Come see this!”
Feeling oddly guilty, Jason whipped around and squinted at where the kids were gathered over something in the dirt. “Apparently there’s something I’ve got to see. I should let you get back to work anyway. I’m sure you have plenty of other…rangery things to do.” He hesitated. “It uh, well… It was really cool to meet you.” Oh my God, I am so lame. “We’ll be sure to lock our food up tight. Thanks for the tour.”
“Anytime. Which site did you pick?”
“Bear Creek. Not very reassuringly named, by the way.”
Ben grinned. “That’s one of the sites on my route. At night, I make sure everyone’s food is locked and confiscate it if it’s not. Maybe I’ll see you around. And I’m doing another hike tomorrow morning on a different trail. I can change the focus and give Maggie some new info.”
“Really? That would be great.” Jason’s voice rose excitedly, and he cleared his throat. “As long as it’s not any trouble.”
“No trouble at all. I like to mix things up anyway. So I’ll catch you tomorrow? Nine o’clock. If I don’t see you tonight first.”
“Uh-huh. See ya.” Jason waved and came alarmingly close to tripping over his own feet as he hurried off to make sure Maggie wasn’t getting up to any trouble. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the circle.
“Look, it’s a fossil!”
Jason examined the strange-looking rock the kids had found. He was pretty sure it wasn’t a fossil, but didn’t want to burst their bubble. “That’s awesome!”
Maggie looked back to where Ben was heading toward the ranger station. “He’s nice. I like him.”
Jason followed her gaze. “Yeah.” Ben had stopped to talk to a young couple, smiling at them and pointing toward a trailhead. Obviously he was kind and helpful with everyone, and there was no reason whatsoever Jason should be feeling a ripple of…disappointment? Jason was just another camper Ben was being friendly to. It was the man’s job, after all.
“Can we have lunch soon?”
He refocused on Maggie’s hopeful face. “Lunch? It’s barely ten o’clock! I don’t know where you put it all.”
She shrugged and skipped off toward the parking lot. Jason glanced over his shoulder and watched Ben disappear inside the ranger station. Ben was only being nice, but it would be cool to hang with him again. Jason didn’t get the chance to have many grown-up conversations, and Ben was great with Maggie. Why shouldn’t Jason want to see more of him?
As he followed Maggie to the car, Ben’s baritone rumbled in a loop in Jason’s mind.
“If I don’t see you tonight first.”
For some reason, it sounded like a promise.
CHAPTER TWO
Ben watched Maggie and Jason Kellerman through the window in the ranger station as they walked to their car. “Hey, Dee. Who’s working the Bear Creek clean-up?”