as a forest ranger. Though he was now in his early sixties, the man remained sturdy, agile, and in excellent health. It was all thanks to a life spent outdoors in the crisp, invigorating air. He lived in the family home he’d inherited from his mother—a solid brick house that stood strong against the harsh winters. Jacob had helped build it himself years ago, right next to the old, crumbling cabin that time had worn down beyond repair.
He’d pitched in with the money, hired a crew, and overseen every step of the construction. At the time, he was on extended leave, and his salary back then was quite generous. As a Navy veteran, he’d wanted nothing more than for his mother to enjoy her later years in a comfortable home with modern amenities. But fate had other plans; she didn’t even make it three years in the new place. So, when Jacob retired from service and collected his pension, he moved back to the small town. The only downside was that he had no family left at all.
He was facing the end of his days on his own. Jacob Richardson had served as a petty officer on one of the ships in the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet, patrolling the chilly waters of the Bering Sea. His wife had left him long ago. She couldn’t stand waiting for him for months on end along the unforgiving shores of that frigid northern ocean. A native of the sunny South, she never warmed to the stark, polar-like wilderness of Alaska. One day, she just couldn’t take it anymore and headed back to her parents in Florida, without so much as leaving a note for her husband. When the petty officer found out, he grieved for a while, then shipped out again on his next deployment.
They divorced in absentia, as it were. There was no shared property, no children to complicate things. From that point on, Jacob devoted himself entirely to his duty to his country, without holding back. Upon retiring, he felt an undeniable pull back to his roots in the Alaskan wilderness, to the forests and the untamed land, and he decided to settle in that very house he’d built for his mother. As it turned out, it was really for himself all along. Over his years of service, he’d never remarried, and he had no children—at least none that he knew of officially. If there were any others out there from fleeting encounters, he remained unaware of them. Jacob returned to his quiet hometown, but idleness wasn’t in his nature; he couldn’t just sit around doing nothing.
The family home, the petty officer quickly restored to its former glory, fixing up the weathered spots and making it feel lived-in again. Then, opportunity knocked: the previous ranger had passed away, and the position was offered to him. He dove into the job with enthusiasm, bolstered by his naval discipline and resilience. The locals soon grew accustomed to their new neighbor, affectionately calling him simply Rich. His health allowed him to cover vast distances on foot each day, and from childhood, he’d been trained in how to navigate the wilds properly. He was a crack shot, fearless in most situations, and above all, a man of unyielding principles.
Despite his age, Jacob carried out his duties in protecting the forest with unwavering diligence, and poachers learned to dread him. He’d caught many in the act of illegal hunting, issuing fines to some and even ensuring others faced jail time. He was exactly the kind of steadfast guardian the role demanded. His one and only loyal companion was a wolf named North. The man had stumbled upon the injured wolf pup deep in the woods one day, its leg mangled badly. Jacob nursed it back to health over weeks, and in the animal’s eyes, he could see a profound mix of longing and gratitude. The old sailor took pity and decided to keep him.
Now, North patrolled the Alaskan wilderness alongside Jacob, sharing in the guardianship of the land. Ah, life never gave me the chance to be a father—that was the regret that weighed heaviest on the elderly man—but in his twilight years, he’d found the most dependable and devoted friend imaginable. He treated the wolf like kin, bonded by spirit and an unspoken loyalty that felt as deep as blood. Every day, Jacob inspected the vast territories under his watch. On one such routine patrol, he ventured out again, making his way to the remotest marshlands. North, as usual, bounded ahead of his master, sniffing out trails with keen interest.
After a short while, the wolf suddenly reappeared on the forest trail, pausing expectantly for his owner. Those intelligent amber eyes gazed at Jacob with a silent plea.
— What’s wrong, buddy? Jacob asked, sensing the urgency. Has something happened? Poachers again?
North retreated a few steps, then returned, as if urging him onward. It was clear he wanted Jacob to follow. The man nodded in understanding and trailed after the animal. The wolf led him to a clearing, where Jacob spotted an SUV parked off to the side. Beyond the clearing stretched the treacherous swamp. Jacob slung his rifle off his shoulder and approached the unfamiliar vehicle with caution.
But instead of discovering damage to the wildlife or illegal activity against the forest, he witnessed a scene that would haunt his thoughts for years. Two thugs were dragging a pregnant young woman from the SUV. She begged them to spare her, pleading not to abandon her in this desolate spot. On her knees, she implored them for mercy, swearing she knew nothing about any money or some guy named Derek. She promised to keep silent, to tell no one anything, if only they’d let her live. But one of the brutes snarled at her to shut up.
Jacob couldn’t stand by any longer. He burst forward, rifle at the ready, positioning himself protectively in front of the woman.
The burly men sized him up with sneering glances and told him to back off quietly—they’d handle their business and be gone in no time.
But the veteran, who’d seen his share of dangers over the decades, wasn’t intimidated by their threats. Especially not when he knew he had a faithful ally at his side. He waved his hand sharply, and in that instant, North lunged from behind the assailants. The men panicked and scrambled toward their vehicle, but the wolf pounced, knocking them to the ground. A fierce struggle ensued between beast and men.
In the end, the thugs were subdued, bound securely, and loaded into the SUV’s trunk. Jacob drove the expensive vehicle straight back to town and turned the scoundrels over to the local sheriff.
— Well, what am I supposed to do with you now? he asked the sobbing woman.
— Please, don’t send me away—I have nowhere else to go, Olivia begged him.
She poured out her life story to the ranger. She’d been living in a dormitory after leaving the orphanage, having never known her parents. Her mother had abandoned her at the hospital right after birth. As a girl, Olivia had dreamed, like so many orphanage kids, that her mother would one day come back for her. But the years passed, and no one ever did.
Fine then, she’d thought bitterly; I’ll make it on my own without her. She grew up fast, realizing early on that nature had blessed her with striking beauty—a memorable face and a slender, graceful figure. She quickly learned she appealed to men and allowed herself to be drawn into their affections. But she’d made a grave mistake along the way, with no one around to guide her or offer advice. She’d figured everything out through trial and error. During her time at community college, she’d had plenty of admirers. She captivated them with her boundless energy and cheerful disposition. She’d mastered the art of laughing even when a lump formed in her throat and tears threatened, determined to infuse brightness into every single day.
One night, at a bustling club, she fell in with a group of rough-looking guys in tracksuits. She started a romance with one of them, Derek. He showered her with cash and indulged her every whim. She had an inkling of what he was into—extortion, gang rivalries, shady dealings. But it didn’t bother her much; she felt like life was finally going her way. They moved in together at his apartment. Soon after, Olivia discovered she was pregnant. Derek wasn’t thrilled by the news, but he didn’t say much against it. Then, not long ago, he vanished without a word or note, no hint of where he’d gone. It turned out he’d fled from his own crew, taking a huge stash of money with him.
They called it the crew’s shared pot. They threatened her life, demanding she reveal where Derek and the cash were. They refused to believe she was clueless. So, they’d hauled her out to this swamp to kill her. If not for Jacob Richardson and his wolf, she’d be gone by now.
— I can offer you a place here, daughter, Jacob said gently. This house has five rooms, and I only use one. There’ll be plenty of space for you and the little one.
A few months later, little Jake came into the world. Olivia vowed to herself that her son would never endure the kind of childhood she’d had. He’d have a mother, a grandfather, even his own wolf, and the happiest life possible.
