Page 56 of Capture the Moment

“A what?”

The restaurant host came to greet them. “Table for two?”

“Oh, no,” Kate said. “We were just looking at the mural.”

“Come in,” he said. “It’s quiet right now. I’ll give you a tour.” He took them to the start of the mural. “This is known as the mural of the mountain man rendezvous. The beaver fur trade lured trappers, hunters, and traders to this area in the mid-1800s. The mountain men would gather once a year to exchange furs for supplies, tobacco, liquor, and news. Davey Jackson trapped in the hole and left his legacy. Hence the name Jackson Hole.”

Kate’s gaze was on a wagon in the mural. “It looks so dangerous.”

“It was,” he said. “And lonely. Most of the men lived a solitary life.” He sighed. “The cost of greed. They were competing for the same product. Pelts.”

“So why,” Kate said, “did it end?”

“I bet I know,” Maisie said. “They killed all the beavers.”

“Actually, the Homestead Act of 1862 put an end to trapping,” the host said. “It granted land to those who promised to build on it and live there for five years. In came farmers, ranchers with big herds. That only lasted four or five years.”

“Why?” Kate spun around. “What happened?”

“A devastating winter. Nearly all of the ranchers’ herds perished, and they just gave up. And then Yellowstone became the first national park.”

“Fun fact,” Maisie said. “It was the first national park in the entire world.”

The host bobbed his head in a nod. “That’s true. The first national park in the entire world. Attracting visitors proved to be a more profitable venture than farming and ranching.” He noticed a couple at the door, waiting to be seated. “Take your time looking at the mural.” He pointed to his forehead and then to Maisie. “You are one smart kid.”

“Thanks,” she said, frowning. “But I’m not a kid!” He was already off, hurrying back to the host desk.

Kate hoisted her camera bag over her shoulder. “Maisie, I really need to get to my room. You stay. Just stay down here. I’ll change and come back down.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll come with you.” She wasn’t going to miss a chance to see a room.

Kate’s room at Jackson Lake Lodge was better than Maisie had imagined. The only hotel rooms she’d ever stayed in with her mom were bare-bone types. Like, check to see if the sheets had been changed. Kate excused herself to hop in the shower and Maisie walked all around the room, touching the curtains, noticing the mirror frames. What a life Kate lived!

Instead of being a ranger like Pops, Maisie decided she was going to be a wildlife photographer, just like Kate. Maybe she’d even get her initial experience at a zoo, like Kate did. She wouldn’t tell anybody about it, though. She’d heard those photographers make fun of Kate.

Kate’s phone buzzed a text, then another, and another. Then a phone call. She was just about to knock on the bathroom door to get Kate when the shower turned on. So, being the assistant she was to Kate, she answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Katie-Kat? Is that you?”

“Nope.”

“Who are you?”

“It depends. Who areyou?”

“I’m Oliver. Kate’s boyfriend.”

“SHUT UP! I didn’t know Kate had a boyfriend.” How could she not have told Maisie? That was front-page news!

“And just who,” Oliver said, “are you?”

“I’m Kate’s assistant. Maisie.”

There was a pause. Then, “I didn’t know Kate had an assistant.”

“See? We’re even.”

“She’s only been in Wyoming for a week.”

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