Sarah gave her a long look. “They’re all trained for it, but yeah—could be anything from retrieval of an injured hiker to an unrestricted burn somewhere or a multijurisdictional operation to apprehend poachers.”

“I never had any idea the rangers got involved in things like that.”

Sarah shrugged. “They’re police officers. They just have a different kind of district than most.”

“I see,” Lily said quietly.

“Chase is—” Sarah blew out a breath. “Chase is happiest when she’s out there somewhere. She never was one to want to stay in one place, even home, for very long.”

“Then she has the perfect job,” Lily said quietly, watching Sarah, who was sending some kind of message here, but she wasn’t sure exactly why Sarah thought it was important for her to know that.

“She’s not likely to settle down, Lily.”

Lily couldn’t help but laugh just a little. “Sarah, if you’re worried that I have any intentions toward your sister, you don’t need to be.”

“I wasn’t thinking about your intentions,” Sarah said. “I was more thinking about Chase’s. She…enjoys women…briefly.”

“I see,” Lily said, tamping down on her irritation. Really, she didn’t need a lecture from Chase’s sister about who she should or shouldn’t date—even if she wasn’t planning to date anyone, and even if Sarah was her very good friend. But Sarah had practically raised Chase after their mother died, and that probably made her overly protective. Creating an issue over something that didn’t even exist was foolish. “If you’re worried about my tender feelings, you needn’t be. I’m not twenty, Sare.”

Sarah pursed her lips. “Right. I’m being an ass, aren’t I.”

Lily shook her head, fondness erasing her pique. That was her friend Sarah, always willing to call BS on herself if she deserved it. Maybe sometimes when she didn’t. “No, you’re just being a big sister and a good friend, and the two of them in this instance are probably giving you fits. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“Not even after the moonlight midnight walk last night?” A bit of teasing had crept into Sarah’s tone.

But still.

“Not even after that,” Lily said, refusing the bait. She wasn’t about to talk about her personal time with Chase, or any other woman for that matter. Good friend or not. She glanced at her watch. “And since I’m on duty in half an hour, I’m going to go enjoy my coffee and this delicious-looking scone. Coming with?”

“I’ve got a few minutes before I need to make some phone calls. And I promise not to nag anymore.”

Lily looped an arm through Sarah’s. “Fair enough.”

If Sarah’s gentle warning was intended to prevent her from thinking about Chase, it hadn’t worked. As she sat with Alisha and Sarah, half listening to their casual chatter about camp business, she thought about Chase. About a hand guiding her down the trail in the dark, a kiss so tender she’d felt precious, and desire so strong she ached. Even knowing she was probably the farthest thing from Chase’s thoughts, she couldn’t stop wondering when she would see Chase again.