Page 15 of Capture the Moment

“That’s a tall order for a retreat. In my book, only God can give a person a new beginning.”

Thea turned her attention back to digging through her purse, but Tim was pretty sure he caught an eye roll.

“So then,” she said, lifting her car keys out of her purse, “if it’s okay with you, I’ll go out to the car to get Maisie’s bag, then I’m heading to Park City.”

“Now? You’re not staying even one night?”

“Retreat starts early in the morning.” She gave him a thumbs-up and headed to the door.

Tim watched her go with a heavy heart. Her mother’s untimely death during Thea’s freshman year of college had left a wound that never quite healed. After dropping out of college, she navigated through short stints at various jobs, got pregnant with Maisie at the age of twenty-one (Tim was thankful she didn’t make a different decision regarding the pregnancy), and continued to drift between jobs and towns.

It seemed Thea’s path of self-discovery had become a long and winding road to nowhere.

Thank goodness Coop had seen Maisie come running out of the visitor center before she launched herself at him with a Maisie-style hug—full-force, all-encompassing—forcing him to bend at the knees to pick her up. Coop wasn’t exactly the hugging type, but Maisie’s exuberance was infectious, and he didn’t mind so much. He was fond of her.

Setting her down, Coop scrutinized her. She had shot up since the previous summer, her flaming red hair now cascading longer, and her cute round face adorned with even more freckles. Being around Maisie, Coop mused, was like someonecranked up the world’s dimmer switch. Colors glowed brighter, sounds reverberated louder, and even the sun seemed to shine warmer. She had that undeniable effect on her surroundings, on people.

Maisie’s attention had shifted to Frankie. “You’re Frankie, right?” she asked with an ear-to-ear grin that made Coop slightly uneasy. She was growing up too fast. “I’m Maisie. My grandfather is Ranger Tim Rivers.” She jabbed a thumb behind her to the visitor center.

Frankie responded with a smirk. “The drill sergeant? Lucky you.”

“Thanks!” Maisie said, not aware that Frankie was being sarcastic. “Pops is my favorite person in the entire world. I absolutelyadorehim. You will too, when you get to know him.”

“Doubt it.” Frankie smirked again. “I know that type.”

Coop jabbed Frankie with his elbow. That was no way to talk about a ranger, especially a man like Tim Rivers. There was no better ranger in the entire NPS than Tim. Selfless, caring, committed. Coop wasn’t sure how he could’ve weathered the Emma Dilemma without Tim’s help. He was like a good boss and a good dad, all rolled up in one person. If it weren’t for Maisie being here, Coop might’ve flicked Frankie on the back of his head.

She couldn’t take her eyes off this kid. “Pops said you’re Coop’s intern for the summer.”

Coop’s eyebrows shot up. “He saidwhat?”

He turned his gaze to Frankie, a mixture of disbelief and mild irritation. This was news to Coop, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about having an intern. Yes, he did. He didn’t like it. The last thing he wanted, besides getting pulled out of the backcountry, besides being stuck with a roommate, was having someone shadow him. Especially a teenager, especially Frankie, who seemed to carry a brooding air with him.

Frowning, Coop reconsidered every positive thought he’d just had about Tim Rivers. The man was a ruthless dictator. This summer, which had started as the highlight of his year, had plummeted to the lowlight. The lowest of lights.

The next morning, the predawn chill hung in the air at Pilgrim Creek, where a congregation of wildlife enthusiasts eagerly gathered, awaiting the emergence of Grizzly Bear 399 from her winter’s hibernation. Amidst the sea of lenses, Kate set up her tripod, anticipating a glimpse of the famous sow. This was the very spot where the bear had emerged in previous years, and Pilgrim Creek, nestled in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, offered a picturesque and serene landscape. The creek wound its way through a pristine wilderness surrounded by towering peaks, dense pine forests, and lush meadows. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth.

With her zoom lens attached, Kate adjusted the focus, surveying the silent photographers, all focused on the line of trees. A grim realization struck her—each one of them would capture the exact same image. Every single one. She straightened, distracted. Disheartened.

Then she recognized that ranger’s voice, the one from Oxbow Bend. Coop. He was cautioning a photographer nearby to maintain a safe distance if the bear appeared. “We’re here to observe, not disturb. Keep your dist—” His eyes met Kate’s and he paused mid-sentence. Clearing his throat, he greeted her. “Oh, hello there. I see you found the right place.”

Behind him, Frankie, the ranger’s shadow, popped up with a grin. Yesterday morning, at Oxbow Bend, he had hung around Kate until Coop scolded him to stay on task. Frankie joined Kate just as a rustling sound emanated from the trees. Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on the rim of trees behind the creek.

Suddenly, a loud ringing pierced the quiet. Kate gasped. Herphone! She fumbled to find it, the ring echoing in the silence. When she saw Oliver’s name on caller ID, she stepped away to turn it off. Why in the world would he call at this hour? Had he forgotten the time difference? Unbelievable.

As she returned her phone to the bag, she heard murmuring. “Thanks a lot.”

“What did I do?” She looked up to see the photographers glaring at her.

“You scared off the bear.”

Kate felt her cheeks grow warm. “I thought for sure I’d put it on silent.”

Coop took a few steps closer, until he stood between Kate and the other photographers, almost protective. “Bears have keen senses, including acute hearing. Unexpected noises can startle or unsettle them.”

That, Kate should’ve known. But in the zoo, bears were so conditioned to most sounds that they seemed oblivious to the presence of human activity.

Frankie had slipped away into the darkness and then reappeared. “It wasn’t a bear. It was a moose.”

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