Page 73 of Capture the Moment
Without turning back, Frankie lifted his shoulders in a shrug.
What washisproblem? Why was he so upset?
Hold it.A thought came out of nowhere, like a sudden storm cloud, casting a shadow of doubt over her excitement. Could it be that Frankie had more than a schoolboy’s crush on Kate? Was he ... inlovewith her?
This was a tragic discovery! Maisie had set her own heart on Frankie, but now, after he practically made a declaration of his devotion to Kate, her hopes felt like fragile glass, ready to shatter at any moment.
She sighed, leaning back against the bench. Love was so complicated.
Wade hadtoldFeldmann to make sure the hotel staff did not enter his room, not for any purposes. But today, when he returned from archery practice, he found his room had been cleaned, vacuumed, sheets changed, and worst of all, his highly valuable papers—topographic maps, satellite imagery, bear anatomy charts, aerial photographs—had been tidied up and stacked, like they were today’s junk mail.
Topping that off, Feldmann was calling to tell him that he saw a bear near Mormon Row. “I thought you might want to try some target practice with the new bow.”
“Feldmann,” Wade said, his voice tight and sharp, “who else might be sighted near Mormon Row?”
There was a very long pause. “Oh. Right. Rangers.”
“Exactly.” Mormon Row was one of the most visited sights in Grand Teton National Park. Wade had driven by it nearly each day. He wasn’t all that surprised that a bear might be roaming the area, as there was vegetation and fast-flowing streams—all things bears sought.
Wade wasthisclose to firing Feldmann and calling off the hunt. If he weren’t so deeply invested in it, if he hadn’t promised his mother that this would be the last one, he’d do just that. Hiring Feldmann had been the worst decision he’d ever made.
Feldmann had been highly recommended by a big game hunter, Jack Miller, whom Wade had known for a couple of years. Jack and Wade shared a similar philosophy about hunting and were some of the few who didn’t use apps on their smartphones, like onX Hunt, to provide GPS, satellite imagery, or to track movement. Using technology was cheating. Wade scoffed at it. And so did Jack.
So when Wade put out word that he was looking for a seasoned scout (frontman) for an inside job (inside the park), he took Jack at his word when he vouched for Feldmann. Not just vouched. He sang the guy’s praises.
Something occurred to Wade. A hunch.
“Feldmann, by any chance ... are you related to Jack Miller?”
“Uh ... well, I, uh, I married his little sister.”
Bull’s-eye.
Seventeen
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
—Albert Einstein
Two hours later, after hiking what felt like a never-ending vertical ascent, Kate was struggling again to keep pace with Coop. Just as she was about to voice her exhaustion, he came to a sudden halt, his gaze fixed ahead. Peering through his binoculars, he scanned the landscape before dropping them.
He pointed to a hillside. “There is 399’s lair. At least, it was last year’s den. I saw her coming in and out last spring. Bears usually reuse their dens, or they den in the same area.”
Shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun, Kate strained to see. “I see nothing but trees and thick brush and granite.”
Coop handed her his binoculars. “About halfway up, there’s a big hole under a huge Douglas fir tree. It’s an earthen den.”
It took Kate a long moment before she spotted exactly what he had described. “Is this as close as we can get?”
“Yeah, I don’t want to risk getting any closer. She’d catch our scent in the wind. A hungry bear coming out of hibernation is not one you want to tangle with.” Coop scanned the surroundings. “Can you set up your camera from here?”
“I think so.” It was farther away than she had hoped to the cave’s opening, but it would have to do.
“While you set up, I’m going to explore a little and see if I can find any evidence that she’s been out of the den. I won’t be far. I’ll be in sight at all times. But if you need help, blow on your world’s loudest whistle.”
As he ventured off to explore the area below the den, Kate settled on the ground, getting her equipment ready, all the while sneaking glances at Coop. The way he looked at her! His gray eyes held such concern and steady reassurance, making her feel like she was nailing it—even though she was struggling to keep pace with him. Coop had this knack for making her believe she could conquer the world.
Here she was, perched atop a freezing mountain, setting up her beloved camera to capture that elusive bear. It was a task she never imagined, but Coop’s faith in her abilities made her feel brave. The sheer joy and excitement bubbling inside her were intoxicating. It was amazing what a difference having someone in your corner could make.
