Disclaimer: I don't own High Mountain Rangers.

Reborn

Chapter 1 – Old Friends

Robin scrubbed furiously at the linoleum floor around the commode in the tiny bathroom attached to what used to be Matt's office. Now, as head of the riding facility with her brother, she would use this office. The thought was rather strange to her. She supposed in some way it would always be Matt's office to her.

With a grunt, Robin pushed to her feet and wiped her blonde hair back from her sweat-streaked face with her arm. Her hands were so grimy that she didn't want them anywhere near her face. The past week had been busy and physically challenging, but she and Bryce were really making progress on the old station. The carpeting had been pulled out and replaced along with the appliances in the kitchen. The bathrooms were being remodeled so that they all had handicap access. Right now she and her brother were sleeping in sleeping bags in front of the fireplace and as of this morning, this tiny bathroom was the only one still useable.

Still, Robin was very glad to be back in Tahoe. The last few years of her life had been difficult to say the least. Losing Cutler and Hart had shaken her to her very core, and Matt's injury had left a gnawing worry in her gut that grew worse each day he didn't return from San Francisco. Then the day came when Cody had called and said that Matt wouldn't be returning. The commander of the High Mountain Rangers didn't even call himself, but let his little brother do the hard work for him.

Robin sneezed at the dust she stirred up when she wiped down the back of the toilet and then sprayed the toilet bowl with a heavy layer of bathroom cleaner. She made a face at the dirty toilet and then attacked it vivaciously with her scrub brush. As she scrubbed, she allowed her mind to wander into the past.

Once the rangers had known Matt was not returning, a pall had settled over the station. Losing Cutler and Hart had been horrible, and although Frank had hired rangers to replace them, things had never been the same. Sure, they had all gone through the motions, but the camaraderie just wasn't there. Robin had gone through a gamut of emotions ranging from grief to anger. Then she had just felt hollow inside.

When the decision had been made to close down the High Mountain Ranger station, Robin and the others had dutifully packed things up and attempted to move on with their lives. Frank and Robin spoke nearly every week. He was now a park ranger in Utah. Izzy had gone back to Idaho for a while where he had met up with his childhood sweetheart. They had married last year. Frank had been Izzy's best man. Just a few weeks ago, Nora, Izzy's wife, had given birth to their first son. They had named him Adam. He was hale and healthy. Robin had mailed the new addition a big package of clothes and storybooks.

Robin herself had procured a job as a paramedic in a nearby city, but felt deeply unsatisfied with her life. She was lonely. She missed Frank and Izzy; she missed being surrounded by the mountains; she missed the excitement of not knowing what was going to happen next; she missed Cutler and Hart; but most of all, she missed Matthew Hawkes.

When the ranger station had gone up for sale, her brother had called her and was bubbling with excitement. He had always loved horses and knew that the property was perfect for the camp he wanted to open for handicapped and troubled children. He offered Robin the chance to be his business partner, and she had eagerly accepted. Although it would never be the same, the ranger station was her home, the one place in her life where she'd always felt like she belonged. Growing up with busy parents that sent her to boarding schools and summer camps so they wouldn't have to deal with her, the rangers had become her true family.

"Hey, Robin!"

"Back here," she called to Bryce, flushing the toilet and watching as the soap suds circled and went down the drain.

"Did you hear the phone ringing?" he asked, pushing he sweaty blonde bangs back from his eyes.

"No, I was lost in my thoughts I guess," she admitted.

"It was your friend, Izzy."

"Is everything okay?" Robin asked with a frown. Usually she didn't hear from Izzy Flowers until the weekend and it was only Wednesday afternoon.

"Well, he was calling to tell you that he lost his job," Bryce told her, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Lost his job?" Robin echoed. Izzy loved his job as head of a security firm. He needed it to support his family. "Why are you smiling, Bryce?" She planted her hands on her hips and scowled.

"Because, Birdie, I offered him one here. He and his family can live in the station with us until we can build him a place here on the property. It will be perfect and he's experienced here in the mountains." Bryce grinned as a light snuck into his sister's blue eyes.

"Bryce!" she squealed before throwing her arms around his neck. "Izzy will be perfect here. He has the patience of a saint. When is he coming?"

"Just as soon as he and Nora can get everything packed up. He said the baby is old enough to travel. I'd say a few weeks at the most."

Robin hugged her brother again. "That's the best news I've heard in a long time. I can't wait for him to get here."

The older Kelly sibling grinned. "I had a feeling you'd be excited. I'm just glad to see you smile again."

Robin suddenly felt as if she couldn't stop smiling. Her mind began to whirl with thoughts of what would have to be done before a family with a baby could live here at the station. "Bryce, we need to make sure we have a working bathroom with a tub and that we're able to cook in the kitchen."

"We will be ready, Birdie; I promise." Bryce slung an arm over his sister's shoulders and pulled her close. "Come on; let's go get lunch." He was relieved to see a spark of life back in Robin's eyes. He had been worried about her since the loss of her friends and the demise of the rangers. Perhaps the arrival of Izzy and his family would bring some happiness back into her life.

The days passed by quickly. Robin fell asleep every night as soon as her head hit the pillow, and she ached in places she didn't even know she had. The plumbing in the station was once again in working order; new carpet had been placed in the main room; repairs to the fireplace had been completed; and Robin and Bryce were working on painting the upstairs.

Robin was perched at the top of a ladder, hair in a pony tail, and was splattered with off-white paint as she worked in one of the bedrooms upstairs when she heard car doors slam outside followed by the rumble of voices. She nearly toppled off the ladder when she realized Izzy had arrived. Putting down the paint brush before she made a big mess and knocked the whole can of paint to the floor she scurried off the ladder and practically flew down the stairs. "Izzy!"

She skidded to a stop at the bottom of the steps and watched as the former ranger took in the changes that had been made to the station. Robin knew he was envisioning it as it had looked a few years ago. "Different, huh?" she asked as she covered the last few feet between them and caught her tall friend in a big hug.

Izzy tightened his arms around her. "Yeah, it is," he admitted. "Just took me back when I stepped in here."

Robin suddenly realized that Nora was standing beside her husband with a blue bundle in her arms. "Hi, Nora," she smiled as she wrapped the petite brunette with the astonishing blue eyes in a one-armed hug. "Look at Adam. Izzy, Nora, he's amazing!"

Eyes the color of Izzy's stared up at her from a round little face with rosebud lips. Dark hair like his mother's covered his head. "Can I hold him?" she asked eagerly.

"Sure," Nora smiled, carefully passing the baby to the former ranger.

Robin held the tiny baby close, her heart suddenly in her throat. Adam was perfect, absolutely perfect. He smelled of baby powder and formula and a smell that was just "new baby." "Hi there, sweet boy," she cooed. "I am so happy to finally meet you." Snuggling him against her, she kissed his round little cheek before she began to hum a lullaby her nanny had sung to her as a child. Adam's dark eyes studied her carefully.

"Look at that," Izzy grinned. "He already loves his Auntie Robin."

"She's going to have him spoiled rotten," Bryce piped up as he descended the stairs and offered Izzy his hand. "It's great to have you here. I know we will be ready for our targeted opening date with an extra set of hands here."

"Thank you for the opportunity," Izzy replied as he shook Bryce Kelly's hand. "It's good to be back. It has always felt like home here; I told Nora that she's going to love Tahoe."

Izzy's wife nodded. "It's certainly different than what I'm used to, but I think I'll like it. I love snow."

"We get plenty of that," Robin assured her. "You will be fed up with it by the time spring arrives." Adam began to fuss and she quickly handed him back to his mother. "Let me show you to the room we have ready for you. We gave you the biggest one since there are three of you."

Izzy and Bryce watched the women ascend the stairs. "I'm really glad you're here," Bryce told the former ranger. "I've been worried about my sister. She's been sad for too long. Seeing you and your family has made her smile again."

Izzy Flowers nodded. "I think we all felt adrift after the Rangers, but I've been worried about her, too. I'm glad to be here."

"We have a lot to do, Izzy. I'll help you unpack the car and let you get settled. Then I'll share my plans for the place with you and Nora."

"Sounds great!" Izzy enthused as he followed Bryce up the stairs.

To Be Continued…