Page 74 of Capture the Moment
Unzipping her backpack, she retrieved her camera bag and carefully attached her 200–600 mm lens. Peering through the viewfinder, she aimed at the den’s entrance. Not ideal, but it was her best chance for a shot.
Setting the motion detection functionality for still photography, Kate hoped her battery would hold up. Tonight’s cold temperatures might deplete it. She didn’t let on to Coop, but it did worry her to leave her precious camera unattended overnight. Any wild animal could easily destroy it, even if just out of curiosity. If a rainstorm hit tonight, it would ruin it. If a gust of wind knocked it over, it could shatter.
She’d spent months saving to buy this specialized equipment. This was a significant risk, both financially and professionally.
She placed the front leg of the tripod firmly into a deepcrevice in a boulder, thinking that might keep it from toppling in the wind. Wiping down every inch of her camera and tripod with unscented wet wipes, once, then twice, Kate ensured it was as inconspicuous as possible, just as Coop returned to her. “All set?”
“Did you find any sign of her?”
“I’ll tell you on the way down. We should get going before the weather changes and the wind picks up.” He pointed to the low and overcast sky. “Are you ready to head back?”
Inhaling, she felt a burst of energy. “I’m ready.” She hoisted her backpack on and glanced one more time at her camera, saying a prayer that she knew was the right one to pray.Lord, thy will be done here.
This might not even work.
But it might.
And if it did, this could be the one-in-a-million shot Kate came to the park to get.
Maisie’s anticipation bubbled as she waited outside the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, her phone clutched tightly in one hand, a dozen red roses in the other. It was actuallyhappening! Oliver decided to take Maisie’s advice and propose to Kate at Oxbow Bend at sunset. Maisie planned to film the whole event on her iPhone. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Kate’s face when Oliver popped the question.
The only glitch in the plan was that Maisie had no idea where Kate had gone all day. Or when she’d be back. It was a sizable glitch.
As Maisie paced in front of the visitor center, she spotted Frankie and ran over to him. “Hey, Frankie! Do you know where Kate is?”
“No.”
“Do you know where Coop went?”
“No. Why should I? No one tells me anything.”
“But Coop is your roommate. You’re his intern. You must have some idea where he went. He’s been gone all afternoon.”
“All I know is that Coop said he’s doing ranger work and I should butt out.”
“Oh.”
“What’s the big deal? Why are you looking for Coop and Kate?”
Maisie felt as if she might burst with excitement. “It’s happening! Tonight! Oliver’s coming to the park to propose to Kate tonight!”
Frankie raised an eyebrow. “No way.”
“Yes! I’ve been helping him plan the whole thing.” She held up a bouquet of roses that were wilting. She should’ve put them in water hours ago. “The proposal is going to take place at Oxbow Bend, if, y’know, you want to come.”
“Ha! You couldn’t drag me there.”
Frankie’s lackluster response was a disappointment. “Why not?”
“I told you. Because it’s a terrible idea to meddle in people’s lives.”
Before Maisie could respond, she caught sight of a drop-dead gorgeous man heading toward her. This manhadto be Oliver. He looked like a tall Tom Cruise inMission Impossible. Of course it was him! He was as handsome as Kate was beautiful. They were a perfect couple.
So odd that Kate had never mentioned him. If Maisie had a boyfriend who looked like Oliver, she would tell the whole world.
“You must be Miranda,” Oliver said, grinning, as he drew close.
Maisie returned his greeting with a beaming smile of her own, her heart fluttering with excitement. “Maisie, not Miranda,” she said. “So, Oliver, you made it!”
