Page 33 of Capture the Moment
“Mr. Schmidt, you’re leaving money on the table.”
Wade couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of that remark. “This is one hunt, Feldmann, that has nothing to do with money.”
Nine
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
—Frank Lloyd Wright, architect
Kate drove at a leisurely pace along Moose-Wilson Road, savoring the scenery, her heart full with the day’s wonders in the park. As she rounded a bend, her eyes caught sight of a small bear crossing the path up ahead. She eased her foot off the gas, slowing the car to a crawl, then to a stop. The bear seemed oblivious to the car’s presence, continuing its leisurely stroll across the road. Kate flashed her lights off and on, hoping to warn her off the road. Surprisingly, instead of darting away, the bear paused and glanced in her direction, standing up on its hind legs and sniffing the air. Kate remained still in her seat, feeling a mix of awe and caution. She was safe inside the car with the engine running, doors securely locked, but the proximity of the bear still sent a thrill through her.
As Kate watched the young bear, she wondered about its chances in the wild. She guessed it to be a juvenile black bear cub, probably just one to two years old. Most likely, it had recently been nudged away by its mother to fend for itself. Sheknew the first year on its own was a real test for an inexperienced young bear. Over half didn’t survive. Kate learned that fun fact from Maisie just tonight.
With a steady hand, Kate retrieved her camera from its case and slowly raised it, while cautiously, carefully leaning out of the open car window. Her amazing camera’s silent shooting feature made it possible to capture the bear’s calm yet curious expression without any clicking sound to alarm it. The bear’s nose stretched forward inquisitively. Then it dropped down on all fours to approach the car. Every few steps, it paused to sniff the air, as if to assess whether it should continue forward, and each time it did, it came closer and closer until it was only ten feet away from the hood of the car.
“Easy,” Kate said, wondering what to do next.
Too close, too close.It occurred to Kate that the bear, even if adorable, could eat her.
Slowly, she pressed on the gas pedal and steered the car away from the bear. The bear turned to watch Kate pass by, a surprised look on its face, as if to say, “Hey! Where ya going?”
I wish you well, little bear, she thought as she drove off.But I don’t want to be your supper.
Later that night, as a long summer evening settled over the valley, Tim and Coop sat in Adirondack chairs on the velvety lawn in front of the Jenny Lake Lodge. They turned their chairs to face the steep granite mountains. The fading light painted the Grand Tetons in warm hues, creating a breathtaking panorama. Without any foothills, the mountains soared in front of him. It was what Tim loved most about Grand Teton. “Another beautiful day in paradise,” he said, taking a sip from his mug of hot tea.
Coop nodded, his gaze fixed on the view. “Can’t argue with that.”
“How’s it going with Frankie?”
“Terrible. I don’t want him for an intern. I don’t want any intern, but I especially don’t want him.”
“Give him time.”
“For what? For his attitude to improve? His work ethic? That kid is in a world of his own. Can’t you assign him to someone else? Or put him in the Wildlife Brigade? He says that’s where he wants to be.”
“Nope. Not old enough.”
“I thought a parent could sign off and give a minor permission to be on it.”
“Not this boy’s parent. Apparently, he needs supervision.”
“I’ll say,” Coop scoffed. “Then send him back to the YCP.”
“Can’t.”
“Why not? What is the deal with that kid?”
“His father is an NPS bigwig. Sally wants to give the boy special treatment.”
Coop grunted. “And that means sticking him with me?”
“It does.” Tim leaned back in his chair. “Sally thinks highly of you. Says you understand teens better than the other rangers.”
“But I come here each summer wanting to get away from teenagers.”
“You did a fine job at the ranger talk. I bet you’re a popular teacher.”
“So-so.” Coop rocked his hand back and forth. “My last review suggested that there’s room for improvement.”
