Home > Stranger Ranger (Park Ranger #2)(11)

Stranger Ranger (Park Ranger #2)(11)
Author: Daisy Prescott

This is why I love this job: encouraging girls and young women to explore their passion for nature and conservation. My ultimate goal is to spark curiosity in the parks. If we can get people interested, especially kids, they may turn into lifelong visitors, or become junior rangers and work for the NPS themselves someday. I never believed I’d be a role model; it’s hard to have that kind of faith in myself after being told countless times I’m going to hell.

And by people, I mean girls and kids from diverse backgrounds. I’m tired of looking at staff pictures and seeing an ocean of white men smiling back at me.

We chat for a few more minutes before her brother whines he’s hungry. I recommend they get the brownies at the snack bar.

Right before they walk away, the girl comes over and hugs me.

“I want to be you when I grow up,” she whispers.

My heart melts.

 

 

Gaia asks me to join her in her office after I finish my last talk for the afternoon.

“Have a seat.” She gestures to the pair of chairs opposite her desk but doesn’t sit down. “I wanted to speak with you privately.”

“Is everything okay?” Nervous, I remain standing too.

“Everything’s great. I have good news—your promotion has been approved. You’re now a full-time NPS employee, Daphne.” Gaia shakes my hand, making the moment official. “How do you feel?”

After years of bouncing between parks and working seasonal gigs for low wages, I’m thrilled to have a permanent job. “If I say ecstatic, would you judge me?”

“Not at all. I remember when I got my first full-time position.” Her hazel eyes are warm, friendly. “These jobs aren’t easy to come by, and you’ve worked hard to prove yourself this summer. I’m thrilled you’re going to stay on with us.”

“Speaking of promotions, should I call you Ranger Abbott now that you’re chief ranger?”

She laughs. “You can if you want, but Gaia or Guy are still both fine.”

“How’d you start going by Guy?”

“It’s always been a family nickname. Back when we started, Jay liked calling me that because he thought it was funny because with me being the only full-time woman on staff here. Another one of the guys.”

“I know that feeling. Most of my ranger jobs have been three to one men to women.”

“Yep, we’re still outnumbered.” She glances out the window for a beat, but when her gaze settles on me, it’s happy. “At least there are two of us here now.”

“And now you’re in charge. The big boss.” I smile, proud of her.

Gaia is a big part of why I accepted this job.

First time I’ve had a woman as the chief ranger of the park where I’m working. If it can happen here, in the hills and valleys of Appalachia, progress can happen anywhere. Actually, women were instrumental in the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I guess it’s fitting there’s a woman in charge now.

“At least you didn’t call me a girl boss.” She makes an exaggerated scowl and then laughs. “I hate that expression. Nope, not a girl, just a woman in charge, thank you very much.”

“I agree.” I don’t tell her that the very concept of working, let alone being management, is outside the scope of possibility my childhood self could have imagined. None of the women I knew growing up worked outside the home. It simply wasn’t done. Going to college and getting a degree was an act of rebellion for me.

“Speaking of the guys, they’ll want to take you out to celebrate the promotion. It’s tradition around here. Are you up for that? If not, we can get a cake from Donner Bakery or something and have a party here. No pressure.” Gaia gives me a sympathetic look. “I know you’re not into big social events.”

Pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I decide to go with the first option. “I’m totally down for going out. What did they have in mind?”

“Let’s go ask them.” Gaia leads the way down the hall.

Friendly chatter among our colleagues fills the front office. It’s the end of the shift and the crew is gathered at the station. When we enter, Jay and Griffin are talking with a couple of the part-timers about the road project starting soon.

“If they wait for the leaf peepers and foliage creepers to all leave, winter weather could be an issue. Can’t pave if there’s snow or ice on the ground.” Jay tells one of the guys. “Remember last year? We had heavy snow in October.”

Gaia clears her throat. “Sorry to interrupt Jay’s climate report, but I wanted to make a plan for Daphne’s promotion party.”

After a round of congratulations, handshakes, and pats on my shoulders, they bring up the topic of what we should do and where.

“My mom owns Genie's. Good food, good drinks, and a dance floor. I practically grew up behind the bar.” Griffin's brow furrows. “Not as an underage bartender, nothing illegal or against child labor laws. Genie's abides by all ATF regulations.”

Gaia sighs from behind me. “Is there a point to this lecture about your family's business?”

He narrows his eyes at her. “You said you wanted to get together as a group to celebrate Daphne's new permanent status. I was merely making a suggestion on location.”

“It’s a bar.” Gaia’s voice reveals her lack of enthusiasm for his suggestion. Then again, she often has that tone around Griffin. “I was thinking more like dinner, or a group activity.”

“Like what? Bowling? Axe throwing?” Jay asks.

“Goat yoga?” suggests Amory, one of the civil engineers.

We all give him a funny look.

“Okay, that’s a no.” Gaia laughs. “No way am I letting animals climb on me.”

“Is Genie’s a dive bar?” I ask, hopeful. “Honky-tonk?”

Griffin's attention cuts to me. “It's just a bar.”

Gaia sighs. “Shouldn't Daphne decide where she wants to celebrate?”

“I don’t know a lot of other places to go out around here. Genie’s sounds fun.” I flash Griffin a cheesy smile.

“Don't get too excited. It ain’t fancy, just a bar,” Gaia reminds me.

Even though she’s echoing his words, Griffin's brows pinch together as he frowns before recovering. “Best wings and fried chicken in the area, and that's including the Pink Pony.”

Jay's head jerks back. “We are not going to the strip club for another work function. I’m putting my foot down this time.”

He and Gaia share a silent conversation with their eyes.

“Never again,” she declares with a quick nod.

Observing the two of them, I'm reminded again that I'm the newbie here. This is my plight: always the new girl, a side effect of moving around every few months as I accepted seasonal ranger jobs.

Only, now I'm here permanently, though that isn't as permanent as it sounds. I think we all have our dream park of where we want to work. The golden ticket. The final frontier. The happiest place on earth.

For some, it's the big names. Yellowstone, Zion, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, or a historical site that holds a personal connection. For others, it's the park close to where they grew up. Ranger Daniels falls into this group. So does Ranger Lee. Eastern Tennessee is nearest their family.

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