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and some evenings?”
    As he expected, her mouth dropped open and she stared as if he’d gone daft. She cleared her throat and studied the barn, thinking things over.
    â€œShelley’s a good girl,” he hurried on. “She wouldn’t be much trouble. In fact, she can help you with chores. And I’ve taught her to ride. She’d do fine, if you gave her a gentle horse.”
    He was talking fast now, hoping she’d agree. Hoping she’d look past his position as the forest ranger and see that they could help each other out.
    Melanie whirled around and looked him in the eye. “Why would you ask me to do this? I’m basically a stranger. You don’t really know me, yet you’re willing to leave your child with me?”
    He nodded. “Karen told me you’re a good, hardworking woman. She said you’d take care of Shelley, but keep her busy so she didn’t have time to whine about how much she hates leaving her old friends.” He smiled. “Besides, any woman who would help me the way you did last night couldn’t be bad. I already feel as if I’ve known you for years.”
    Maybe he shouldn’t have said that, but it was true. He felt more comfortable around Mel McAllister than around any woman he’d ever met. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and she didn’t worry about mussing her long hair.
    Karen had also told him that Melanie’s husband had been an alcoholic, which was one reason Opal Ranch wasn’t doing so well. When Scott heard this, he understood why Melanie didn’t mingle with the townsfolkmuch. When your husband was a drunk, you didn’t have many friends. Having grown up with an alcoholic father, Scott would never forget the drunken rages, financial destitution, teasing from other kids and feelings of fear and abandonment. Melanie had a good reason not to trust others.
    Melanie chuckled, a low, raspy sound. “I take it Shelley’s not too pleased that her dad dragged her here to Snyderville?”
    â€œNope. Not pleased at all.” He smiled, feeling oddly happy to be talking to this woman. Being near her was the highlight of his day.
    â€œWell, a friend might do my Anne some good, and I could sure use your help around this place.” She hesitated, wrapping her arms around her waist. The action made her seem vulnerable and he was struck by a sudden desire to protect her.
    â€œSo it’s a deal?” he urged.
    â€œOkay, we’ll try it for one week. If the girls don’t get along or it’s not working out, you’ll have to take Shelley somewhere else. Agreed?”
    â€œAgreed.”
    She gave him a smile so bright he had to blink. It lit up her face and softened her eyes and he thought he’d never seen anything so beautiful in all his life.
    What was wrong with him?
    He coughed and looked away. “Now that’s settled, I’ve got one more question for you.”
    â€œOkay.” Her green eyes looked guarded.
    â€œAnne said something yesterday that’s been bothering me.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Melanie prodded.
    â€œShe blamed me for her father’s death.”
    Melanie rubbed her ear before taking a deep breath and exhaling. “Please don’t hold that against her. She’s still hurting over her dad’s death and doesn’t trust men very much.”
    â€œBut why would she blame me?” Scott spoke gently, trying to be sensitive to their loss. Trying to understand.
    â€œIt was an accident. Ben Stimpson warned Aaron to move our sheep, but Aaron wouldn’t listen.”
    â€œBen Stimpson, the previous ranger?”
    Melanie nodded. “I didn’t know until after the accident that Aaron was grazing illegally on the forest. He moved one of our bands of sheep onto the grazing allotment twenty days early and Stimpson told him to move them or he’d have them moved for us. Stimpson said he’d sell them to