Page 25 of Capture the Moment

Tim’s eyes went from Coop’s to Kate’s and back to Coop’s,before landing on Kate. “I’m Ranger Tim Rivers. I see from the camera around your neck that you’re a photographer. This is a great time to be at the park, before crowds come. Lots of wildlife in the area.”

Kate smiled. “Ranger Cooper has been helping me find the right places to be at the right time.”

“Has he, now?” Tim’s voice was full of delight. “So, then, you two have already met.”

Coop cringed. He avoided Tim’s eyes.

“Well, that sounds typical of our highly esteemed Ranger Cooper. Always willing to help out.” Tim slapped Coop on the back, a little too hard. He grinned at Kate, a little too happy. “So I’ll save you a seat right up front tonight.” He started to walk away but stopped and turned. “Sally wants a title for the talk. What do you want to call it?”

“A title?” Coop hated this kind of thing. “How about ... something like ... ‘information on bears so you don’t get mauled to death in your sleep.’”

Tim grimaced. “We’re not trying to scare visitors right out of the park.”

“Here’s one,” Kate said. “‘Be Bear Aware.’ Oh, wait ... here’s another idea. ‘Bear Necessities.’”

Tim wagged a finger at her. “Young lady, I like the way you think.” He lifted a hand in the air. “Almost forgot. It’s to be held at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. Seven o’clock.” He paused and looked around the river. “Where’s Frankie?”

“Probably still sleeping,” Coop said. “He said it’s his day off.”

Tim grinned. “Specially assigned interns don’t get a day off. I’ll go wake him up.”

“That’s another thing, Tim. Since when is there such a role as a specially assigned intern? And why is he assigned to me?”

But Tim was already walking away and lifted his hand in a parting wave.

Coop frowned at his retreating back.

“I can’t wait to hear your talk tonight.”

Coop turned to Kate, ready to say something clever, and got caught up in the blue whirlpool of her eyes. Seriously, what color were those eyes? Blue like a calm tropical sea. Blue like the sky on a perfect summer day. His brain, usually on point, just wentpoofin the face of those eyes. All he could muster was a nod, playing it off like a total bobblehead. An awkward silence followed.

“Well,” Kate said, “I’ll be off, then.”

She started off, and suddenly Coop’s mind erupted with words. “You weren’t there.”

She stopped and turned, a question on her face. “Where?”

“Pilgrim Creek. You weren’t there this morning.”

“I overslept. I didn’t get to bed until after midnight. I was photographing some elk in a meadow with a full moon behind them ... and it was just ... magical.” She gazed up at the sky. “This place. I can’t explain how I feel here. I am so overwhelmed with ... well, with gratitude to God for creating such a place. For giving me the gift of experiencing it.” Suddenly embarrassed, she dropped her head.

“I agree. Completely. I feel that same way when I drive through those gates in May.”

She took a few steps toward him. “You’re not a year-round ranger?”

He shook his head. “I’m a high school biology teacher from September to May.”

She smiled. “No kidding? Do you like being a ranger?”

“I do. I love it. Being out in nature is my passion. And being a ranger lets me protect nature. People give rangers a lot of respect.” He tipped his hat. “My theory is that it’s the uniform. There’s something about wearing the uniform that makes people stand up straighter. Sometimes I think teachers should wear one.”

She laughed. Pleased, he grinned. She was easy to talk to.

“But you like being a teacher too?”

“I do. I like being both. But if I had my druthers, I’d be a full-time Jenny Lake Ranger.”

“Is it much different from what you’re doing now?”

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