Page 80 of Capture the Moment
“Two to three hours?” Frankie sounded horrified. “I’m coming with you.”
Coop zipped up the top of his backpack, shaking his head. “No. You stay here with the girls.”
“Coop,” Kate said, “maybe you should reconsider. Buddy system, you know?”
“I can’t afford to be slowed down,” Coop said. “Or distracted.”
“Me?” Frankie scoffed, obviously itching to join the trek. “You think I would slow you down, old man?”
Coop looked him up and down. “No backpack, no water bottle, no bear spray, no whistle, no mosquito repellant.”
Frankie held up a foot. “Got my boots on. That’s all a real man needs in the wilderness.”
Kate could see Coop’s patience waning. As annoying as Frankie could be, she wanted him to go along with Coop for safety’s sake. “Frankie, take this.” She tossed her bottle of water to him.
He caught it with a look of gratitude as if she had handed him a treasure. “Kate, if that slick Oliver dude is out of your life for good, will you marry me?”
Frankie’s cheekiness earned him a playful smack on the back of his head from Coop. “Let’s go, Romeo.” He pointed to Kate. “You two stay in the truck.”
Kate settled back into the truck, watching the two disappear up the trail until they were out of sight.
Maisie leaned over the front seat, her chin resting on her folded hands. “Three men are in love with you, and I can’t attract even one.”
Kate shifted in her seat, meeting Maisie’s gaze. Her little friend looked dejected. She felt a pang of sympathy. “When I was thirteen, I wore big thick glasses and my hair was in pigtails.”
Maisie squinted, trying to picture it. “Oh, that’s bad.”
Kate chuckled. “Don’t be in a rush to grow up. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened with Oliver?” Maisie asked.
“I’m not,” Kate said firmly. “And I’m not sure what your role was in his arrival to the park last night, but I’ve decided I don’t want to know anything more.”
Maisie sighed.
Kate reached for her spare camera, intending to use the time to review the morning’s pictures and delete any that weren’t worth keeping.
Five minutes later, Maisie popped her head over the seat again. “Kate?”
“What?” Kate looked up, meeting Maisie’s slightly panicked eyes.
“I have to go to the bathroom. Really, really bad. Pops was gone this morning so I had a giant Coke for breakfast.”
Kate rummaged in her backpack, pulling out some tissues. “Here you go.”
Maisie’s eyes widened. “You mean ... out there? Where someone might see me?”
Kate nearly laughed out loud. “Well, I’m the only one around here ... and we’re miles from any kind of convenience. You don’t have much of a choice. Go behind the truck. I won’t look.”
“No way! I need privacy.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Haven’t you gone outside before?”
“Never.” She peered out the window. “I’ll just go over to those trees.” She squeezed her face. “Please, Kate. I really need to go bad.”
“Fine. But I’m coming with you.” Kate shut off her camera and slung her backpack over her shoulder, ready to accompany Maisie. She didn’t think there was much harm in the two of them getting out of the truck and walking around a little, stretching their legs while they waited. After all, with Maisie’s constant chatter, there was no chance of surprising any bear.
Maisie had never, ever, in all her life, gone to the bathroom outside. It was mortifying. She needed to find the perfect spot—totally private—and it took a while. Following the sign for the Middle Pilgrim Creek Trail, they went up a hill and quickly reached a flat, widened area of the rushing creek.
