Ranger

The crackling fire cast flickering shadows against the trees as James settled into his camp chair, sipping the last of his coffee. The night air was cool but pleasant, the sky above a vast expanse of stars stretching endlessly beyond Mount Rainier. It had been a long week of hiking, fishing, and enjoying the solitude that the wilderness offered. This was exactly the kind of peace he’d been seeking.

Then, he heard it—a rustling just beyond the firelight. At first, he dismissed it as the wind through the underbrush or maybe a deer passing through. But then came a faint whimper, barely audible over the sounds of the forest.

James tensed, setting his cup down. “Hello?” he called out, his voice steady but quiet enough not to startle whatever was there.

From the darkness, a black-and-white shape emerged cautiously. A dog, lean and dusty, its coat thick and matted in places, ears perked forward in curiosity and hesitance. A border collie, if James wasn’t mistaken.

The dog stood at the edge of the light, watching him with intelligent, wary eyes. His ribs were visible beneath his fur, and James felt an immediate pang of sympathy.

“Hey there, buddy,” he murmured, extending a hand but making no move to approach. “Where’d you come from?”

The dog hesitated before taking a step closer, nose twitching as he sniffed the air. James reached into his pack, slowly pulling out a strip of beef jerky. He held it out, waiting patiently.

The collie took another tentative step before snatching the jerky and retreating a few feet to chew. James let him have his space, watching as the dog wolfed down the food as if he hadn’t eaten in days.

“No collar,” James noted aloud. “You got a name, fella?”

The dog merely looked at him, ears twitching.

James finished his coffee and settled deeper into his chair. He had no idea where this dog had come from—maybe lost from a hiking group, maybe abandoned. Either way, he wasn’t about to chase him off.

“Alright,” he sighed, tossing another log onto the fire. “Guess we’ll figure it out in the morning.”

James woke to the feeling of something warm and solid pressed against his side. Blinking groggily, he turned his head to find the border collie curled up beside his sleeping bag, nose tucked beneath his bushy tail.

“Well, look at that,” he murmured, stretching carefully so as not to disturb the dog.

The collie lifted his head, watching James with bright, alert eyes, but didn’t move away. It was as if some silent understanding had been reached overnight.

After breakfast—James sharing a bit of his oatmeal with his unexpected guest—he checked the dog for any signs of ownership. No collar. No tags. He even ran his fingers gently through the thick fur around his neck, hoping for an imprint where a collar might’ve been. Nothing.

“Alright, buddy,” James said as he packed up his camp. “Looks like we’re heading back to town to see if anyone’s looking for you.”

The dog, as if sensing the shift, stood and shook himself, tail wagging slightly. When James started down the trail, he followed without hesitation.

By the time they reached the ranger station, James had already run through multiple possibilities. If no one claimed the dog, he’d take him to a vet, check for a chip—though he had a sinking feeling there wouldn’t be one.

“Hey there, James,” a familiar voice called as he stepped inside the station. “How was your trip?”

Ranger Ellen Carter greeted him with a smile that faded slightly as she noticed his companion. “And who’s this?”

“Found him wandering near my campsite,” James explained. “No collar, no tags.”

Ellen crouched, holding out a hand as the collie sniffed her fingers. “He looks underfed, but not feral. Could be lost.”

“Any missing dog reports?”

She frowned, standing to check the station’s log. After a few minutes, she shook her head. “Nothing. No one’s come in looking for a lost dog in the past few weeks.”

James exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Guess I’ll take him to a vet, just in case.”

Ellen nodded. “Good idea. If no one claims him, what’s your plan?”

James glanced down at the collie, who sat at his feet now, watching him. He hadn’t really thought that far ahead, but as he looked into those trusting eyes, something in him settled.

“I guess… I’ll take him home,” he said slowly. “At least until we figure something out.”

The dog’s tail thumped against the floor, and James chuckled. “Looks like he agrees.”

A trip to the vet confirmed what James suspected—no microchip. The dog, whom he’d taken to calling Ranger in honor of where he found him, was malnourished but otherwise healthy.

“I’d say he’s been on his own for a while,” the vet remarked, scratching Ranger behind the ears. “But he’s young and resilient. Should bounce back just fine.”

As the days turned into weeks, James found himself growing more attached to the collie. Ranger followed him everywhere—on morning jogs, to the store, even curling up at his feet when he worked from home. The thought of someone claiming him now twisted something in his gut.

Then, one evening, James sat on his porch, Ranger beside him, watching the sunset. He ran a hand through the dog’s thick coat, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath.

“You picked me, huh?” James mused. “Guess that means I’m keeping you.”

Ranger licked his hand, tail wagging lazily.

James smiled. “Welcome home, buddy.”

A few months later, James found himself at the local animal shelter, unable to shake the feeling that Ranger needed a companion. As he walked past the kennels, a young border collie with striking black-and-white markings caught his eye.

“Looks like an Oreo cookie,” James muttered, chuckling.

The shelter worker smiled. “He’s a sweet one. A little shy, but he warms up fast.”

James knelt down, letting the dog sniff his hand. Almost instantly, Oreos leaned into his touch, tail wagging tentatively.

“Looks like we’ve got another keeper,” James said.

When he brought Oreos home, Ranger greeted him with excitement, sniffing and circling his new brother. Within days, the two were inseparable, chasing each other around the yard and curling up together at James’s feet.

As James watched them play, he felt a sense of completeness settle over him. His little family had grown, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.