Page 82 of Capture the Moment

Just as Tim turned onto the main road, a silver Camry whizzed by, driven by none other than that tall Yellowstone ranger. Without a moment’s hesitation, Tim grabbed the microphone to radio in to law enforcement. “This is Ranger Tim Rivers,” he said. “There’s a silver Camry heading out of the east end of the park within the next few minutes. Stop him. The driver is a white male, in his thirties, tall. Extremely tall. Possibly wearing a Yellowstone ranger uniform.”

“Copy that.” The LE ranger on the other end took down the information. “So he’s a ranger?”

“No. He’s an imposter. Detain him. Don’t let him go.”

“Understood, we’ll intercept the vehicle. What’s the charge?”

Tim’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Um ... speeding. Just hold him ’til I get there. Got that? Donotrelease him.”

“Copy that. We’ll take care of it,” the ranger said before signing off.

His phone buzzed with Sally’s name on the screen. He’d barely answered when she snapped at him. “Tim, I heard you over the radio. Stay out of this. That’s an order.” She hung up.

Ignoring her, Tim accelerated. He had never disobeyed a direct order in his life, but today was different.

Arriving at the parking area off Pilgrim Creek Road, he saw Sally’s car, as well as an official game warden car. Panic surged through him. He parked and sprinted up the trail, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios, praying he wasn’t too late.

Kate continued to blow on the world’s loudest whistle, as Maisie, shaking like a leaf, cowered behind the boulder. “Are you okay?”

“No! I’m terrified.” Maisie’s voice quivered with raw emotion.

Kate’s own fear mirrored Maisie’s. An eerie silence filled the forest, even louder than the rushing creek. Huddled together behind the safety of the boulder, Kate prayed for help.

Maisie’s breathing had grown erratic and her face was flushed. “I think I’m having an asthma attack. I forgot my inhaler.”

Oh man. Kate had no idea what to do next. Except ... to pray.Oh God, please, please, please.The words ran through her head, a silent plea repeated over and over.

“Kate,” Maisie said, wheezing, “I need help.” She was breathing with difficulty, and her face, now pale, had drained of the flushed color. It even had a bluish tinge. Her eyes filled with tears. “I want my mom.”

Kate’s mind swirled—what options did they have? The mother bear and her cub had gone in one direction, the hunter in another. But which direction had they gone? She had noidea. Danger from the bear, she understood. Danger from this hunter, she was unsure of.

Oh-God-help-me. Please-please-please.I don’t know what to do.

Help came sooner than Kate expected. She’d barely finished her desperate prayer when she heard Coop shout her name.

Kate poked her head around the boulder to see Coop and Frankie cresting the hill on the narrow trail that led to the creek. She waved to them. “Coop, over here! We need help!”

Coop rushed over to them, scrambling down to the creek, splashing through the water to reach them, concern etched on his face. “What’s going on? What’s happened?” Frankie followed right behind him.

Kate couldn’t believe they’d come back down the mountain so soon. “Maisie’s having an asthma attack.”

Frankie’s attention homed in on Maisie. “No, she’s hyperventilating. Maisie, take a seat.” He gently guided her to sit on the ground, surprising Kate with a tenderness she hadn’t expected from him. Placing a comforting hand on Maisie’s back, he began rubbing it in soothing circles. “Keep your back straight. Breathe in slowly and steadily. Breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold.” He said it over and over.

Following his instructions, Maisie complied, and gradually, her breathing started to improve. A normal color started to return to her face.

Relief trickled through Kate. “Thank God you came when you did.” She looked up at Coop. “How did you know to come?”

“Frankie forgot his phone and insisted we return to the truck so he could listen to music. We weren’t far from here when we heard the whistle.” His gaze kept returning to Maisie. “What brought this on? Why’d you leave the truck?”

“Bear!” Maisie wheezed. “Hunter!”

Coop’s head swiveled. “What bear? What do you mean ... a hunter?”

“Look.” Kate pointed across the creek to a tree with an arrow sticking out of its trunk. “Someone out there is trying to kill a bear.”

Listening, even Frankie appeared shaken, his usual bravado replaced by genuine concern. “How close were you to the bear?”

Kate cleared her throat. “Not exactly a football field.” More like, fifty heart-stopping feet.

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