Of course nothing that involved Stephanie comes without some Drama and Distractions.

Ranger pulled into the parking lot of Arm & Hammer Park and angled his Cayenne into an empty parking spot. Before he had the vehicle in park, Steph let out a curse.

"What in the hell is he doing here?" She pointed toward Morelli's SUV. "He doesn't play on the TPD team."

Ranger shut off the engine and turned on his hip to look at her. "Do you really think he'd miss this game? I'm sure he's hoping to see TPD hand us our asses."

She gave a snort at his statement. "Like that's gonna happen."

He opened the driver's door to step out. "You never know. Stranger things have happened."

Santos already had the back of the Cayenne open and was pulling out the bags of gear. "It looks like we're going to have a decent number of fans here," he said.

"What makes you say that?" Ranger asked.

"So far, we've seen Steph's family, her friend Mary Lou with her husband and kids, and quite a few other people Steph knows, walk into the park."

"Harry the Hammer is here," Tank said, causing Ranger to cut his attention to Stephanie.

"Babe, what kind of deal did you have to make to get Harry here?"

Steph shook her head. "No deals were made. He's a huge baseball fan and when I told him about the game, he said he'd love to see Rangeman kick TPD's asses."

Tank snorted at her statement as they headed for the park entrance. "No pressure or anything."

They'd barely made it into the home team dugout when the grumbling began from various members of the TPD. "Four hundred feet?" Big Dog said as he looked from center outfield to Costanza. "That's one hundred feet farther than the fields we normally play on. No way are we going to be able to get homeruns in this park."

"The distance between the pitching mound and home plate is longer too." Gaspick said to Costanza. "Why in the hell did you agree to play here?"

"What's wrong, ladies?" Santos shouted from the dugout steps. "Afraid to play on a real field?"

"Fuck you, Santos," Big Dog yelled back.

Lester grinned. "Thanks, but you're not really my type."

"Enough, Santos," Ranger ordered even as Costanza shouted at Big Dog.

"Dude, watch your mouth, there are children in the stands."

Ranger climbed up the steps and looked above the dugout at the seats. Apparently, Stephanie's three-day campaign to get people to come support Rangeman really had paid off. Several of Steph's regular FTA's had shown up, including Mooner and his friend Dougie, Lula, Connie and amazingly Vinnie and his wife Lucille. Behind them sat Harry the Hammer with several members of his security.

Still in the one hundred level, but a bit further down toward the edge of the dugout was Steph's entire family, including her mother. Shit! Hopefully, she wouldn't cause problems for Stephanie after she learned that Steph was going to play.

A few rows behind them sat Ranger's sister Celia with her husband and kiddos, then his mom and Dad. Lester's mom was also here along with Ella and Louis. In addition, several members from his Boston, Atlanta and Miami offices were here.

Ranger glanced from them to Steph. "Uh, babe?"

"Yeah?"

"What are my men doing here?"

She climbed the steps and looked up at the stands. "Oh, since the guys knew about the game, some of the ones who were off decided to catch flights up or drive down for the game. I helped some of them with their travel and hotel arrangements."

His eyes widened as he looked at her. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

She shrugged. "I didn't use Rangeman money or resources to help them get here. They all paid their own way. Besides, they wanted to surprise you."

They had accomplished their goal. He grinned and shook his head as he pulled her in for a hug.

Vince climbed the steps to join them. "Ranger, you ready?"

Ranger gave a nod, then he and Vince headed to home plate to meet with Costanza and the umpires, while Steph remained on the steps.

Carl motioned to the umpires as they walked up. "Mark Wilson, Charlie Butler, Tim Castellano, and Noah Dervish, this is Carlos Manoso. He owns Rangeman Security Services."

Ranger shook hands with the umpires then motioned to Vince. "This is Vincent Triolo. He's our team manager."

"Nice to meet you," umpire Wilson said. "Do you have your roster and starting line-up?"

Vince gave him the paper with their information, and they waited while the umpire looked it over, then he handed the roster to Costanza. It only took a couple of seconds for him to spot Stephanie's name. "Whoa, wait a minute. Plum can't play."

His declaration was loud enough for Stephanie to hear, and she came racing out of the dugout toward them.

"What do you mean I can't play?" she shouted.

Ranger caught her by the waist before she could get in Carl's face. "Easy, Babe. Give us a chance to get this settled. Funny how a little over an hour ago he was convincing her that she could play. That was one of the great things about Stephanie. Once she believed she could do anything, she would fight tooth and nail for her right to try.

Of course, her appearance on the field brought Morelli and Big Dog out of the TPD's dugout.

"Why is she on the field?" Big Dog pointed to Steph as he walked up.

"Hang on a second," Carl said, then turned to look at the umpire before shifting his attention to Ranger. "This is a men's league, not a coed league."

"First," Ranger began. "We're not part of your league and this isn't a league sanctioned game. Second, nowhere in the rules you sent me, and we agreed to, did it say that women couldn't play."

Vince was reading Costanza's roster when he lifted a hand then pointed to Morelli. "Costanza, why is Morelli on your roster when we know for a fact that he doesn't play and isn't normally part of your team?"

"Not all the members of our team could make it today. Morelli agreed to help," Carl replied.

"Oh, so you're going to let him play, but not me?" Steph snapped.

"Come on, Cupcake," Morelli said. "Do you really think you can play with the big boys? Your place should be sitting in the stands watching, not playing on the field where you could get hurt."

Before Ranger could grab her arm, she swung out and a resounding smack echoed on the field, as her hand contacted with Morelli's face. "Don't you dare call me that anymore. I am not your cupcake you chauvinistic pig."

Vince stepped between them as Ranger fought to hold on to her without hurting her.

Morelli began to protest. "Yo, ump? Are you going to allow violence in your game? You need to throw her out now?"

Umpire, Wilson, who had been reading over the rules, looked up at Morelli, then over at Carl. "Do you think I'm stupid, Mr. Morelli?"

Ranger's brows went up at the umpire's question and Steph instantly calmed as her attention cut between umpire Wilson and Morelli. "This game hasn't started yet. Besides you goaded her with that arrogant and condescending comment. So, I'm not throwing anyone out." Then, he turned his attention to Costanza. "Mr. Manoso is correct. Nowhere does it specify in the rules you both agreed to, that women couldn't play."

"Damn it." Carl pulled off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. "But Stephanie doesn't work for Rangeman. The only reason she's here is because she's sleeping with Manoso." He pointed to Ranger.

Ranger smirked. "Once again, you're wrong. Stephanie has been a valued member of Rangeman for several years."

"But she works for Vinnie," Big Dog argued.

"She also works part-time for me," Ranger replied. "If you're going to be an ass about this, in about five minutes I can produce copies of her W-2 for the last three years."

Carl glanced back at his team's dugout, then let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, fine," he finally said as he turned back to look at them. "Plum can play." He replaced his hat. "The guys are going to kill me."

"Five minutes to game time, gentlemen," umpire Wilson called out as everyone began making their way back to their respective dugouts.

Ranger just stepped into the dugout with Stephanie when she turned to face him, her eyes wide and a smile on her face. "What are you up to, Babe?"

"Remember the conversation we had last weekend?" she asked.

He cocked his head to the side to look at her as he thought back to their talk. "Which part?"

"The part about getting married and you waiting to propose until I was ready."

Wondering where she was going with this line of thinking he slowly nodded. "I remember. What does that have to do with the game?"

"What if I told you that I was ready and if Rangeman wins today, I'll let you propose on the field in front of everyone?"

Her question had Lester and Vince both cutting their attention to him. Ranger grabbed Steph and pulled her into the tunnel leading into the locker room. "Babe, if you're just doing this to get under Morelli's skin-"

She held up a hand stopping him. "Actually, I was thinking that proposing in front of so many people would let everyone know that I belong to you, and that Morelli and I will never be together again. Getting under Morelli's skin would just be a bonus."

Ranger considered her words, then thought back to how she'd voiced her desire to have his name on her jersey not even two hours ago. "What if we lose?"

She smiled. "You won't let them lose."

He loved that she had so much faith in him and his men, and he returned her smile with one of his own. "It just so happens that I have your engagement ring with me."

Steph rolled her eyes. "Of course, you do, mister Always Be Prepared."

He chuckled. "I'm no boy scout, Steph."

Before she could reply Bobby stuck his head in the tunnel. "Steph, your mom is banging on the roof of the dugout yelling for you."

"Hell," Steph muttered and headed back to the dugout.

The last thing they needed right now was Helen causing problems. Ranger followed, but before he could climb the steps behind Steph, Lester grabbed him by the arm. "Primo, did I hear Beautiful correctly? Did she really say if we won, she'd let you propose?"

"She did," Ranger replied even as he strained to try and hear Steph.

"Well, I'll be damned." Lester grinned. "Can I tell the rest of the guys?"

Ranger waved a hand at him. "Go ahead, but make sure it stays inside the dugout." He then turned and raced up the steps. A quick glance to his right found Steph standing at the edge of the dugout arguing with her mother. He jogged over to where she stood and sidled up behind her.

"Proper ladies don't play sports like this," Helen lamented.

"Since when have I ever been a proper lady," Steph shot back.

"Therein lies the problem," Helen said. "If you actually acted like a lady maybe you'd be married already."

"Mom," Steph sighed. "I'm not having this conversation with you right now. I'm on the team, and depending on how things go, I may get to play. Deal with it or leave."

Helen put a hand to her chest and gasped. "Stephanie Michelle Plum, how dare you talk to me like that."

Knowing Helen would continue to pick at Steph until she conceded, Ranger decided it was time to put an end to this argument and get Stephanie re-focused. "Babe." He slid his arm around her waist and pulled Steph back against him. "We need to get ready to play."

Steph gave him a nod, then turned away and headed back into the dugout.

"This conversation isn't over, young lady," Helen said. "Don't you walk away from me."

"Actually," Ranger said as he motioned to Hal, who was working security in the stands. "It is over, so you can either sit down and enjoy the game, or if you want to leave, one of my men will be happy to escort you out to your vehicle."

Helen looked over her shoulder and her eyes widened at the sight of Hal standing a few steps up.

"Helen, I am not leaving," Frank said from his seat a few feet away. "Now stop bothering Stephanie and Ranger, get back over here and sit down."

Without another word, Helen turned and sulked back to her seat.

Hoping that all the drama and distractions were finally over, Ranger turned and walked toward the dugout. Rangeman had a game to win.

Next chapter they will 'Play Ball'.