A Welcome Surprise

After quickly cleaning the den, Bridget saw the box next to the desk. Well aware of its contents, the blonde found herself drawn to the bankers box. Opening it, she pulled out a stack of photographs. Finn found the pictures at his grandparents’ house and thought his mom’s friends might want to scan their own copy.

With a heavy heart, Bridget began going through the stack. She’d briefly seen what it held while Kimberly and Rachel browsed through them several days ago. Almost immediately, she found herself staring at one photo in particular. The moment it had been taken instantly came back to Bridget.

A frustrated Cassie had attempted four times to take the picture. However, the camera’s timer seemed broken. Finally, the bookish redhead grabbed a passing sophomore and ordered him to take their picture. Bridget recalled with a grin that the sophomore had been Jack Hewitt, JoJo's future uncle. It had been one of the few times that Bridget and Tinsley could recall Cassie losing her composure. They still liked to retell the story to JoJo and Jillian whenever Tinny visited.

The photo featured seven girls lined up in a row with their arms around the people next to them. Six were seniors on the varsity cheer squad, with their unofficial manager in the center. Bridget and Tinny flanked their co-best friend. Miranda and Annette stood beside their captain, and Kimberly and Rain stood on the side of their co-captain. All the girls wore big grins and plenty of mud after the Fighting Bees' shocking upset victory in the playoffs.

Bridget reached out to touch Cassie’s image with her index finger as her eyes began to glisten.

BANG

”You are in so much trouble, buster!” Whitney vowed, stomping out of the master bedroom.

“Oh, you’re going to run off and tattle, tattletale,” Sean yelled.

Swinging around, Whitney prepared to issue another threat before she saw Bridget out of the corner of her eye. Changing course, the current cheer captain rushed over toward the former captain.

“Bridget, you need to go all doctor on Sean!”

“All doctor?” the older woman asked, still staring at the photograph.

“Yes, like you did to me yesterday morning,” Whitney whined, recalling how she’d been treated after delaying her mandated nap.

“Don’t listen to her, Mom!” Sean ordered, still in the master suite, as he hobbled over to the door.

“And why do I need to yell at Sean?” Bridget inquired.

“He called me a blonde bimbo!” Whitney shrieked.

“She deserved it, Mom!”

Sighing, Bridget bit her lip to stop from laughing while she finally turned to face Whitney. However, the younger blonde misread what she saw.

“Great. Now you went and made your mom cry. You happy, shithead?”

“I didn’t make…Mom?” Sean questioned once he reached the doorway and saw the tears on her cheeks.

Attempting to enter the den, Sean staggered, only for Whitney to catch him. The annoyed teen practically manhandled her hero by yanking him over to the wall to use as support. Treating him like a disobedient pet, the queen bee ordered him to stay with a finger point.

“Mom, are you alright?’ Sean asked.

“Dammit, what’s a guy got to do to get a nap around here?” Harvey bellowed from the hallway. They could hear his heavy footsteps as he came toward the den. “Can’t you stop freaking out long enough for me to take a nap, pumpkin?”

“You really were planning to take a nap?” Whitney questioned upon her father appearing in the doorway. “I just assumed take a nap was the code for Harvey and Bridget want to try out fucking in another room.”

“Planning? I was sleeping, and your screams woke me up. What is it now?”

“Sean called me a blonde bimbo!” Whitney screeched, happy for somebody to listen. “And he made Bridget cry!”

“Sean did not make me cry,” Bridget clarified before Harvey could reply. Then, she wiped her cheeks. “As for these, I was looking through some old pictures.”

“Hey, you’re all muddy. Wait, is that—” Sean began to ask.

“Yes, it’s the big playoff win our senior year,” Bridget confirmed, knowing her son had heard the story many times.

“Wow, you all look so happy. Even Kimberly doesn’t look like a raging bitch,” Whitney remarked, peering over Bridget’s shoulder. “Hey, whatever happened to her?”

“Rain?” Bridget double-checked, following Whitney’s finger. “We don’t see her very often. It sucks, but she’s working overseas. Wait, Tinny actually sees her probably once a year when Rain visits Hawaii. I know she hated missing last night, but she called briefly on Christmas. I heard Rain had a long call with Cecelia. That girl is practically a genius, and Cass probably understood her the best.”

“Does she work in Japan?” Whitney inquired, thinking it was the obvious location if she regularly visited Hawaii.

“Wasn’t it Australia?” Sean questioned.

“Yes, it–”

“Singapore. Rain’s currently in Singapore,” Harvey revealed, interrupting Bridget.

“No, I don’t think–”

“Graham ran into her several months ago while in Taiwan,” Harvey explained.

Sensing more to the story, Bridget wondered what it might be. Rain never seemed like Harvey’s type or a girl to have a fling. Perhaps something happened with Graham. He’s closer to her kind of guy.

BANG BANG BANG

Any thoughts of pressing the matter for Bridget ended with the loud bangs. Sean and Whitney looked at each other while Harvey appeared momentarily puzzled before nodding.

“Did somebody come back?” Whitney speculated with a hopeful expression.

“I think I have an idea,” Harvey said, already leaving the room.

DING DONG

“I guess the doorbell works when the generator is on,” Sean remarked. Suddenly, his head swung around as Whitney clapped, bounced on her toes, and dashed out of the den.

“Maybe Whitney is expecting somebody,” Bridget remarked, standing up.

“I bet she’s imagining one of her admirers skied his way to see his dreamgirl,” Sean responded sarcastically.

“Be nice,” Bridget ordered, slapping Sean’s butt. “And do I want to know why you called her that?”

“Nope,” her son replied with a huge grin.

Suddenly, squealing came from the foyer. Sean threw up his hands, concerned that his joke had become a reality. Offering her arm for support, the two reached the foyer in time to hear Harvey direct his daughter to calm down.

Sean and Bridget recognized the woman Whitney clung to. They each met her briefly at separate times. She was a young woman in her twenties, with golden-brown hair, gray eyes, and an athletic figure with large breasts that no bulky winter coat could hide. Her freckled cheeks appeared slightly pinkish from the cold air outside.

A minor argument played out as Whitney insisted the brunette take off her coat to come inside. As per her usual, the teen queen bee wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“But ours is the last cabin on this road!” Whitney pointed out with a whine.

“I also checked on the Gilroys, Prichards, Horvaths, and Jinkersons earlier. Only the Horvaths are up here right now,” Harvey added.

“Alight. I can stay for a few minutes. Just a few,” the young woman added, her words directed at Whitney.

And as the woman adored the young teenager, she readily gave in when Harvey suggested a quick warm-up and something to eat or drink. Sean’s eyes widened as the coat unzipped, revealing a uniform blouse straining to hold her bosom.

“Hello, Ranger Young,” Bridget greeted.

“You’ve met?” Harvey queried, having been ready to introduce Torrance Young to her.

“I stopped by the other night to check on Whitney, but she hadn’t yet checked out of the hospital. Your friends invited me and Vanoy inside,” Tori explained, unable to stop Whitney from tugging her down the hallway.

“You already met Sean,” Whitney said dismissively as they passed him. Clearly, she hadn’t forgotten the bimbo comment.

The teen led her favorite ranger over to one of the great room’s sofas. Even before she sat down, Whitney launched into the tale about her near ****. Used to his daughter’s behavior, Harvey started to follow before stopping to give Sean a hand. Bridget had a different idea and headed into the kitchen.

“Dad, put more logs in the fire. Tori’s freezing,” Whitney ordered, causing Harvey to stop inches from sitting down on the sofa cushion.

“No, no, I’m fine,” Ranger Young assured her host, but Whitney snapped her fingers at her father.

Although Tori had read the official report about Whitney’s accident, she still listened to the teen’s account with rapt attention. Harvey began to feel uncomfortable as he heard his daughter’s fears and emotions again during the ordeal. For Sean, he started to feel awkward every time the hot ranger turned to study him for his actions that day. Not to mention, Whitney took forever to recount the events.

“I’m so thankful you’re okay,” Tori stated after Whitney finished. A firm hug followed. “I was so worried when I heard your name over the radio. Nelly constantly gave me updates. I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you in time. The chief had us on the other side of the park.”

“I wish you had been there too,” Whitney replied.

“But we understand why you weren’t,” Harvey added, not wanting Tori to feel guilty about doing her job.

“Boone might drive me nuts, but I hugged him for finding you so quickly,” Tori admitted. “I don’t want to think about…”

“Having Ranger Slover close by did make a big difference. However, we’re lucky that Bridget was with us,” Harvey pointed out.

“She’s a doctor!” Whitney chimed in proudly, sounding like a five-year-old to Sean.

“And you,” Tori began, standing up.

Sean immediately sat up straighter as the beautiful brunette approached him. He held in the groan as best as he could when Ranger Young’s bountiful breasts pushed into his chest. Then, after a long hug, Tori kissed each of Sean’s blushing cheeks.

“Scaling down Deadman Drop AND diving into the icy lake are true signs of a brave hero,” Tori declared, staring at Sean’s face. “I think this one is a keeper, Whitney. You better take him off the market.”

“Oh, I have other ideas for Seanie,” Whitney snickered.

“I thought some hot chocolate might warm you up, Ranger Young,” Bridget announced, returning from the kitchen.

She stopped at the back of the sofa while Torrance stood up from thanking Sean. Bridget passed a mug over to her.

“Tori’s fine,” the ranger politely responded.

“Did you say hot chocolate?” Whitney queried, leaning over to peer around the brown-haired ranger.

“Don’t worry. I knew you’d want one,” Bridget reassured, walking around the couch. In her hand, she held a tray with two additional mugs. One went to each teen.

Harvey looked over with expectant eyes.

“I didn’t want to carry all of them at once,” his new lover responded, rolling her eyes.

“Dad! Get your ass up and get your own. Bridget is our guest. She shouldn’t have to…also, get over there and make Tori something to eat!” Whitney ordered, outraged over her dad’s manners.

“No, no, I don’t need anything,” the ranger insisted.

“Nonsense. You must be tired and hungry. Did you like the sandwich from the other night? I’ll make you another one,” Bridget offered. She waved off Harvey as he stood up to follow his daughter’s order. “I got this. I can tell you’re chomping at the bit to talk to Rang—Tori.”

Whitney, Sean, and Torrance all turned to face Harvey with expectant expressions. He shook his head at how Bridget picked up on his intentions. It’s impossible to get anything past that woman.

"Hold on," Harvey said. He rushed out of the great room and back in a flash. Once back, he sat down and asked his question. "Did you find the person who attacked Roger?"

“How did…” Tori trailed off as Harvey placed an object on the coffee table.

“Is that a whistle?” Sean asked, feeling confused.

“I’d recognize Roger’s whistle anywhere. He let me use it as a teen when I tagged along,” Harvey explained. “I found it next door at the Jinkersons in the snow. I also found signs of a struggle.”

Harvey launched into a fuller explanation of what he found. Sean and Whitney immediately hushed, as they hadn't heard any of this. Even Bridget leaned out of the kitchen to listen. The two teens briefly shared a horrified look when Harvey mentioned following the tracks to his cabin, specifically several of its windows.

“Damn, Harvey, you’re doing our job for us now, checking on cabins and investigating Roger’s ****. Well, the last part is technically the sheriff’s department’s jurisdiction,” Tori clarified.

“Which I assume Zeb isn’t happy about,” Harvey guessed correctly.

“As for any details, we don’t know. Borstad is keeping a tight lid on whatever they have or haven’t learned. That’s why everyone has been told Roger had an accident rather than the truth,” Toris explained, referring to Frog County Sheriff Ragnor Borstad. “Whoever attacked Roger left him **** with a severe concussion. All the chief told us was that Roger doesn’t remember much. Some fragments at best.”

“I might…make that Bridget and I might have a potential lead,” Harvey hinted.

He launched into his own retelling, one that Sean found far more concise than his daughter’s. Harvey explained about the mysterious man watching the Vandermeers’ lakehouse and how he had found more tracks around the property. Harvey also explained how he and Bridget each noticed the man in the blue and green plaid shirt in the hospital ER. Additionally, he mentioned how they felt the man must have been a source for The Stinging Truth articles.

“Hmm, that’s all intriguing. The chief might want to stop by tomorrow to hear what you saw and found. It slightly backs up a call we had several nights ago. That did deal with a possible peeping tom, but it was near the–”

“Let me guess,” Harvey interrupted with a sigh. “The Cheltons called about a peeping tom.”

“Yeah, how did you–”

“They saw me. Well, me and the woman I was with,” Harvey admitted, causing the two teens to stare at him in shock. “We followed the tracks until they ended around the Chelton and Talbot cabins. I saw the lights on and just wanted to double-check. We didn’t expect to find an orgy happening.”

“What?!” Tori exclaimed.

“I prefer not to have our names out there, but we did run into Ranger Dempsey after running away,” Harvey admitted.

“I assume you were the woman?” Tori asked when Bridget returned with a plate of food for her.

“Me?!”

“No, no, it wasn’t Bridget,” Harvey corrected before sighing. “I was with Cordelia Tissle.”

“I'm still unhappy about this, Father," Whitney stated.

“It wasn’t like that. Cordy found me investigating the tracks and tagged along. She does know the woods over there,” Harvey pointed out. "I already explained about it this morning."

“Cordy?” Whitney repeated, crossing her arms as she found the nickname suspicious. She wasn't happy that her dad screwed Cheyenne and her mother the other night. Fortunately, Bridget became available, and Whitney planned to ensure her dad stayed focused on the blonde doctor.

“I’ll pass on this new information to Chief Colburn. We’re swamped from the storm last night. We barely finished the cleanup from the storm several days ago. At least the county is helping by sending a crew. But if this helps find the person responsible for Roger’s injuries, the chief will make time,” Tori stated.

“In hindsight, I probably should’ve just admitted the truth to Ranger Dempsy. But after my run-in with Ranger Netland and his accusations…” Harvey trailed off as Tori nodded.

“Shane’s a bit lazy and too focused on flirting, but I don’t think his attention span has room for conspiracy theories like Kyle,” Tori chuckled.

“Yes, Ranger Netland seems to imagine the worst in me. Has there been any progress with the illegal logging and vandalism?”

“Oh! Actually, you might catch a break that ends Kyle’s theories. Cooter might know something,” Tori revealed.

“Cooter? Is he a reliable witness?” Harvey questioned, raising his eyebrows.

“Who or what is a Cooter?” Bridget asked, causing Whitney to giggle.

“He’s an old fisherman around these parts. Hell, he was old when I was a kid,” Harvey chuckled. “Usually spends his days fishing over near The Ponds while downing a case of beer daily.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Tori said, holding up a hand. “Cooter’s not the eyewitness but a source. Several ice fishermen told him they saw something odd in the far northwestern part of the park. Somebody appeared to be using one or two of those old shacks.”

“Those shacks are barely even standing,” Harvey countered. Having explored the park extensively while growing up, he knew every nook and cranny.

“Yet, they said somebody had made repairs,” Tori revealed. “We hardly go past them these days. It’s usually too far, and the trail isn’t used as it’s less interesting to hikers than other park sections.”

“Last time I went that way a few years back, the trail seemed more overgrown.”

“Yeah, I’m not going back up there until the next time I’m punished,” Whitney proclaimed, revealing the reason for Harvey’s last trip.

“So, this spring?” Sean teased.

“Honestly, this whole logging doesn’t make any sense. Roger and the chief say it doesn’t fit with past issues. Whoever is doing it targets small areas, almost like clearing…well, it’s odd. Plus, they’ve been awfully good at choosing locations we aren’t patrolling or working in those days,” Tori explained.

“An inside man?” Harvey questioned.

“More like we think they’re listening to our radios. Nelly also swears somebody has been in the main office overnight on several occasions. Items seemed to be in slightly different positions in the morning.”

“Hopefully, Cooter’s tip leads to a resolution,” Harvey stated to end the conversation. He could sense the brunette getting restless after she checked her watch for the third time. “We expect to head back to Honey Hollow in the early afternoon tomorrow. If Zeb can’t stop by before then, tell him I can stop at the office on the way out.”

“I’ll be sure to do that,” Tori said, standing up. Sore from several days of hard work, she stretched her body. A movement that didn’t go unnoticed by Sean and Harvey. Nor did Bridget fail to notice their eyes roam the brunette’s figure.

Whitney hopped up to hug her favorite ranger goodbye. Promises were made to hang out more and catch up the next time the Diamonds visited their cabin. Sean blushed again from another firm, thankful hug from the beautiful brunette.

“Nice to see you again, Tori. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon,” Bridget said as her goodbye while glancing over at Harvey.

Bridget stopped Whitney from following the ranger to the door. The teen rolled her eyes about staying away from the cold outside but followed her doctor’s orders this time.

“Are you sure you’re leaving tomorrow in that?” Tori said, stopping on the porch to shake her head at Harvey’s SUV’s damaged passenger door.

“Don’t get me started. I was sitting in that spot,” Bridget added with a final wave.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Harvey protested before shutting the front door.

“I suspected you slept with her when she stopped by the other night. This all confirms my suspicions. Couldn’t resist, could you?” Bridget asked, giving him a knowing look.

“Why do you think the worst of me?” Harvey challenged before shrugging his shoulders. “Okay, I did. But she’s the only ranger.”

“I assume you mean the only current ranger around here these days,” Bridget noted. “She any good?”

“Got a lot of pent-up needs.”

“She into women?”

Harvey’s jaw dropped down.

“Have fun dreaming about that during your nap,” Bridget said sassily before adding a sway to her ass as she walked down the hall.

“Uh, maybe I don’t need a nap,” Harvey called after her.

“You can barely stand up. Take a nap,” Bridget ordered, looking over her shoulder. “Imagine what you might wake up to.”

“I’ll try if people can be quiet around here,” Harvey said, watching the older blonde return to the den.

“Try using a bedroom rather than the couch, Dad,” Whitney suggested, heading toward the kitchen.

“Since you claimed my bedroom, I prefer the sofa,” Harvey declared. “Maybe you should take a nap.”

“Not tired, Pops.”

“Then tire yourself out,” Harvey said automatically. Then, he glanced at Sean, who sat on the couch. “Go thank Sean again for saving your life.”

Whitney’s head popped out of the kitchen.

“Are you telling me to go have sex, Father?”

“If it allows me to get some sleep, then yes!”

Whatever Whitney went to the kitchen to do got dropped as she returned to the great room.

"Come on, Seanie. We've been ordered to have some nookie."

“Ugh, do I have to?” Sean groaned from his comfortable spot on the sofa. “Maybe I need a nap too.”

“You can nap when I’m done with you! Don’t give me that look. You owe me after that bimbo comment,” Whitney reminded with a stern glare. “Stop dawdling, dingleberry!”