2. THE RANGER

�Sweetheart!�

Garrett�s impatient voice echoed down the stairway. No answer came to his desperation, and he strode out onto the landing, one hand upon his tie, calling even louder, �Sweetheart!�

This time she heard.

His wife hurried up the stairs, sweeping her medium-length honey blonde hair back into place and hurriedly pinning the one stray curl which simply refused to cooperate.

�Darling, what in the world is the matter?�

He huffed loudly, and as she moved around the banister, she got her first good look at him. The black suit was elegant and suited his sturdy frame, but that�s where the similarities to a dignified gentleman ended. His dark blonde hair, cropped and spiked on top with a longer touch in the back, stood even more on end than usual. The torque to his slender mouth would have been a clear indicator of trouble, if not for the hands struggling valiantly to force his tie into cooperation.

She laughed, resting one hand along the banister railing, and the other up to touch one particular strand of Garret�s hair which stood straight up in absolute rebellion. �Well now, if it isn�t Tarzan!�

His eyes rolled, taking the laughter in stride. �I know full well that I look ridiculous, but let�s not rub it in shall we. Just do something!�

�Come on then, I�ll see if the damage can be repaired.�

She pushed against the solid muscles of his back, guiding him back toward the bathroom. He arched his neck as she began pulling apart the dreadful knot he�d been attempting to create. She raised one eyebrow at the bizarre twists he had added to the tormented piece of fabric, then placed it round his neck to begin again.

Garrett peered over her shoulder at his reflection, his soft chocolatey eyes closing in agony at what he beheld there. �I really don�t see why this is absolutely necessary. I�ve managed to survive five years without being subjected to meeting a man with whom I have absolutely nothing in common. Why on earth should I break a perfect record?�

�Because I�m asking you. Please, dearest.�

Her delicate lashes batted up at him and he sighed, knowing she would win this battle. He never could say no to these types of requests. �You do realize I am doing this for your sake, and only your sake.� The tiniest smile touched the corners of her lips.

With a final pat she adjusted the now properly situated tie and set about correcting his hair. �He is my best friend�s husband after all, Garrett. It�s very important to me that you at least meet the man. Whether you become friends or not is up to you in the end.�

Garrett kept his eyes determinedly averted from the bathroom mirror, responding, �Sweetheart, I spend the majority of my days in the great outdoors, living in shorts, ball cap, and sunglasses. He spends his entire time in an office, for heaven�s sake. I have about as much in common with Richard as an antelope does with a lion.�

At the last sentence, she glanced up at him.

He paused, wincing.

�All right, bad example.�

She chuckled.

�Try horrible example, dearest. I can tell you one thing, Garrett Hudson. You will try this evening. Just be polite, and not quite sooooooo....�

She hesitated, and he watched her, folding his arms across his broad chest. �Yes, not quite sooooo?� She exhaled a breath, stepped back from her work of art upon his hair which only improved it�s previous appearance by a tiny margin, then said lovingly, �Just be agreeable. I adore you just the way you are, with that sarcasm which comes so naturally, but remember, he may not understand your sense of humor.�

He sighed, finally glancing in the mirror, a glimpse of his usual twinkle returning to his gentle eyes. �I�ll try to curb my natural instinct for irritation.� She shook her head in mild amusement, then ushered him down the stairs, snatching at her handbag lying just within reach of the bedroom door. The grandfather clock in the entryway emitted a loud gong, giving them just three hours to make the long drive to the pre-determined restaurant.

Within moments he had placed a coat over his wife�s shoulders, and swept open the door leading to the chilled garage. Winter had decidedly settled over the land in a blanket of white, and Carissa could sense it even before she relaxed into the passenger seat of the comfortable Hyundai Elantra. Garrett scrambled in beside her, mumbling to himself, then backed the car out onto the snow encrusted street. One occupant viewed the evening with gleeful anticipation, and the other experienced an unnamed dread.