Page 101 of Rough and Rugged

Wanting to do a fun, year-long project with my second-graders, I contact Forest Ranger Draven Michaels inviting him to become our class penpal. The kids love it, I love it. Then I get the bright idea to invite Ranger Michaels to visit our class. To my surprise, he accepts. Little does he know I have had a crush on him since his first letter.

Draven Michaels:

I'm not comfortable in front of a lot of people, preferring to keep to myself, which makes my job as a Forest Ranger ideal. I love corresponding with Miss Danning's class, that is until she invites me to visit. If only I hadn't told my boss about it. Now he wants me to do it. Not only do I need to present in front of a class of brutally honest kids, but I have to actually talk to Miss Danning. Little does she realize how much I've thought about her, especially after seeing her class photo.

DEAR DRAVEN

Copyright © 2024 by Euryia Larsen

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locals is entirely coincidental. The use of actors, artists, movies, TV shows, song titles and lyrics throughout this book are done so for storytelling purposes and should in no way be seen as an advertisement. Trademark names are used editorially with no intention of infringement of the respective owner's trademark.

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Contains explicit love scenes and adult language. 18+

Chapter One

Draven

“Fuck!”Thiswasjustsupposed to be a fun little project. I would write a couple of letters answering questions from a class of second graders, maybe even sending a photo or two. Everything was going great until I received the latest letter from Miss Danning’s Second Grade Class.

Sweet Miss Danning. She was pretty as a peach in her class photo, with petite curves and kind eyes. ‘Dammit! Why did she invite me to come to visit her class anyway? It was all nice and easy without the complications of face-to-face interactions.’

I was trying to figure out how to say no nicely when stupid me had to mention it to the boss jokingly. Now, this was going to be a big publicity thing. “Double fuck! I never wanted to go to town to meet the little monsters. I just had to open my big mouth.”

“Yup, you’re screwed. Time to clean up and look like a normal human,” my best friend, Kaleb laughs.

I look at him on my laptop monitor and groan. “You know how crappy I am with people and social events. Kids are going to be so much worse. It’s why I love being a Ranger here. Just me and nature. This is going to be bad, I know it.”

“Look, you’re going to be fine. You aren’t nearly as bad with people as you think. You’re having a completely normal conversation with me right now.”

“Dude, I’ve known you since we were like three. You don’t count. Besides, nothing about you has ever been normal,” I smirk.

“Says the man who talks to a maximum of ten people in an average month. Let’s just hope you don’t turn purple again.”

I groan as my head drops into my hands.

“In all seriousness, you’ll be just fine. The mountains are your favorite topic of discussion. That makes it easy. Wear jeans and one of yourcleanranger shirts, trim your beard, and shower. It’s twenty-five kids and their teacher. Talk about forest fires and all that shit, then simply shake a few hands, pose for a photo or two, and you’re done. You can do this.”

“I can do this. You really think so?”

“Yeah, I do. Hey, you never know, you might find a girl,” Kaleb teases with a wicked smile and his eyebrows wiggling. “You know, like that teacher. I wonder if she’s single. Wait, is that why you’re so nervous? You have a crush on the teacher?”

I roll my eyes at him. “Do you ever think of anything besides women?”

“Can’t say that I do.”

“That explains so much.”

Cassidy

I’m so very nervous. Today is the day that we finally meet our favorite pen pal in person. Ranger Draven Michaels. I may have a bit of a crush on him, but I would never say that out loud.

I’m a shy teacher who loves making learning fun for my kids. I don’t date by choice but also because I live in a small mountain town with limited options. I’m okay with that, though. This town and these mountains are a part of who I am.

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