A Beautiful Friendship-ARC (42 page)

“All right, Dr. Hobbard,” she sighed. “I won’t say I don’t have some reservations, and I don’t promise Lionheart and I may not decide there’s something we don’t want to tell even you. But we’ll
try
to cooperate.”

“Thank you,” Hobbard said simply.

“Well,” Shelton said brusquely into the short silence which followed, “this is all well and good I suppose, but there’s still that question of the
cooperation
you wanted, Dr. Hobbard. It’s obvious to me that you’ve already co-opted at least two of my officers”—he glowered at Lethbridge and Jedrusinski—“but it’s equally clear you’re going to expect me to cooperate with
that
young woman, as well.” He jabbed an index finger in Stephanie’s direction. “In fact, it sounds to me as if you’re about to start leaning on me to cave in on that ‘junior internship’ nonsense of hers, and I’m here to tell you it isn’t going to happen. No way, no how.”

Stephanie’s face fell, and Shelton folded his arms across his chest and sat back from the table, his own expression a model of mulishness.

“Don’t try that woebegone look on
me
, young woman,” he said firmly. “Unlike some people,
I
don’t go around changing my mind at the drop of a hat! I said I’m not having any ‘junior interns,’ and I’m not. Which is why the Sphinx Forestry Service has just instituted the rank of probationary ranger.”

“ ‘Probationary ranger?’ ” Stephanie repeated in a puzzled tone. “I’m not sure what that is, Chief Ranger.”

“What it is,” Shelton told her, “is the lowest of the low. The bottom rung on the Forestry Service ladder. The equivalent of junior assistant bottle-washer. However, it does have a few perks. For example, it has this.”

He reached into his breast pocket, extracted a small leather folder, and slid it across to Stephanie. She picked it up, her expression still puzzled, and opened it. For a moment or two, she just looked confused. Then her eyes widened suddenly.

“But this is—!” she began.

“
That
,” Shelton interrupted her, “is a badge. It is, in fact,
your
badge, and that and a nickel will get you a cup of coffee in Twin Forks. Of course,” he smiled suddenly, “it
may
get you a few other things, as well. Like assigned as the Forestry Service’s official treecat expert. I’ve got one around here somewhere for your buddy with the big grin, too,” he added, grimacing down the length of the table at Karl. “Hopefully he’ll be able to supply at least a
little
restraint to the equation. Not that I hold out much hope of
that
of course! Still, since I don’t seem able to keep you out of the bush no matter what I do, and since you and that little monster on the back of your chair seem determined to litter the forests with slain hexapumas wherever you go, it seems to me that the only way I can possibly hope to limit the carnage is to give you official status so you bloody well
have
to take orders. Is that
understood
, Ranger Harrington?”

“Yes, sir!” Stephanie said, grinning hugely. “I always take orders if they make sense!”

“Oh my God.” Shelton put one hand over his eyes. “I can see I’m going to have my work cut out for me.”

“Well, that’s only fair, sir,” Stephanie said. “I mean, it’s a big planet, and you
are
the Senior Chief Ranger. Why, I can’t even begin to imagine what Lionheart and I are going to find out there for you!”

“Are you
sure
this is a good idea, Chief Shelton?” Marjorie Harrington asked in a very serious voice, although it was obvious she was fighting hard not to smile herself.

“Of course I’m not sure it’s a
good
idea,” Shelton replied. “I’m just sure all the others that have occurred to me are even worse.” He shuddered delicately. “Your daughter and her friend are a menace, Dr. Harrington. This is simply the best way I could come up with to minimize the damage. I hope.”

“Don’t worry, sir,” Stephanie reassured him, grinning even more hugely and reaching out to catch a double armful of treecat as it leapt down from the back of her chair. “Lionheart and I’ll be good— promise! Won’t we, Lionheart?”

“
Bleek!
” Lionheart agreed joyfully, and the table dissolved into laughter.