Chapter 4
Four
In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer
It was already past seven o’clock. Ranger Tim Rivers knew he was late closing up the Jenny Lake Visitor Center for the evening, but he’d been chatting with folks who arrived with all sorts of questions about the park. He enjoyed these initial chats with excited visitors—knowing how much effort it took to get here. Grand Teton National Park was remote, far from most everywhere. It made him happy to think that these same people would leave feeling like they stumbled upon a beautiful piece of God’s creation that was even better than they expected.
The door swung open with an energetic jingle and Tim did a double take. In walked his stepdaughter Thea and her whirlwind of exuberance—Maisie. A beaming smile stretched across Maisie’s face as she darted toward him, her enthusiasm contagious.
“Pops!” Maisie exclaimed, enveloping him in a tight hug.
Returning the embrace, Tim gazed at Maisie, still beaming with excitement. “To what do I owe this surprise?”
“I’ve missed you so much ,” Maisie said, her eyes sparkling with genuine affection. She had a way of injecting boundless energy into any space.
Thea approached more reservedly, giving her stepfather a peck on the cheek. “Hi, Tim. Um, can we talk in private for a bit?”
Oh boy. Tim raised an eyebrow, noting the seriousness in Thea’s tone. “Sure, sure. Of course.” Through the window, he spotted Coop out on the patio in front of the visitor center. “Maisie, you remember Coop, don’t you? Why don’t you go out and surprise him? I know he’d like to see you.”
Maisie turned to look out the window, then did a double take. “Pops! Who’s that ?” Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Tim squinted to see who she meant. “That’s Frankie. He’s interning with Coop for the summer.” It occurred to him that he had yet to share that news with Coop. Soon.
“He’s a hottie,” Maisie said.
Tim’s head jerked around. “He’s a what ?” But Maisie had darted outside. “Since when did she start to notice boys?”
“This year,” Thea said. “She turned thirteen on her last birthday.”
“No. Thirteen? Really? I thought she was eleven.”
Thea laughed. “Last year, you thought she was eight. I think you just don’t want her to grow up.”
Tim sighed inwardly, his thoughts swirling with a mix of concern and curiosity about this Frankie character. How old was he, anyway? Fifteen or sixteen? Watching him through the window, Tim’s eyes narrowed. He was going to keep a close eye on that boy.
“So, Tim, there’s a retreat in Park City that sounds like it’s made for me.”
A retreat. “What about your job?”
“Well, you see, I’m between jobs right now. And then this came up. It all worked out, timing-wise.”
Tim was starting to put the pieces together. “So you thought you’d drop Maisie off with me and head off to this retreat.”
She stiffened. “Just for a little while.”
Tim’s eyebrows practically jumped off his face. “So, uh, how long exactly is this ‘little while’?” Last summer, what began as a “little while” turned into a three-week stay for Maisie. Thea just kept calling to extend her visit. Now, he adored his granddaughter and cherished every moment with her. But sometimes he wished Thea would check in with him first before making plans. Actually, come to think of it, there were quite a few things he wished Thea would do differently.
“Not long. Really. No matter what Maisie tries to talk you into.”
“How long is not long?” Tim said.
“Maybe a week, tops. A week-ish. I might stay on a few days and see what the art scene is like. I’ve heard good things about Park City.”
Tim quickly translated: Thea was leaving Denver behind to move to another city. Uprooting Maisie yet again. But that would have to be a conversation for another day. In as calm a voice as he could manage, Tim said, “You should’ve called and let me know. This isn’t a good time, Thea. The park is just opening.”
“Right! I know. That’s why I said yes to this retreat, because it was in May. You’ve always said that July and August are the busiest months.”
“True, but this is an especially difficult time.”
Thea’s brow furrowed with concern. “Why? What’s wrong?”
He hesitated, unsure where to start. The real reason for not wanting Maisie to stay with him right now had more to do with his off-kilter relationship with Sally than with park concerns, but there was no way he was going to bring that up with Thea. “Well, for one thing, the long winter’s been rough. All the melting snow is causing heavy runoffs, and the bears, who should have come out of hibernation by now, are late and hungry, just as the tourists are arriving. I’ve also heard rumors about potential poachers in the park.”
“Well, then,” she said, relieved. “Maisie won’t be in any danger.”
“No, of course not. I’d never let her be in any danger. But I am preoccupied. If you’d only called first...”
“Maisie can take care of herself. Just give her jobs to do. Or find someone who needs help. She’s a great helper.” Before Tim could respond, Thea put her hand on his arm, a somewhat apologetic expression on her face. “Maisie’s growing up so fast, and I thought she could use some time with you. You know how much she loves being with you.”
Tim sighed, a blend of frustration and understanding. “Thea, I love spending time with Maisie. You know I do. But you can’t drop her off without any advance warning.” He tipped his head. “School isn’t even out yet. What about that?”
Thea swept that worry away with a flick of her hand. “I’ve been homeschooling her. Didn’t I tell you that? I thought I did.”
“No. When did that start?”
“A month or so ago.”
“Why?”
“Well, when we moved, it just seemed easier to finish out the school year homeschooling, instead of Maisie having to make new friends.”
“You moved ?”
Thea looked down at her feet. “Yeah. I was sure I told you.”
He let out a deep sigh. “Where did you move to?”
“In with a friend. Just ... a temporary spot.”
He shook his head. “Everything’s temporary with you, Thea.”
“Don’t start. I’m figuring things out.” Thea’s gaze wandered toward the mountains outside.
Tim studied his stepdaughter, caught between paternal concern and exasperation. “You’ve been figuring things out for a long time, Thea. Maisie deserves some consistency.” He scratched his forehead. “I thought the art instructor gig was working out.”
“It was. It did. And then ... it didn’t.” She looked away. “The person who hired me, well, let’s just say we had conflicting views on art.”
“Ah. Got it.” Right. In other words, something had happened and she’d been fired, or not rehired. Thea’s art could be a little ... out there. Emotive, mostly dark themes. But it was clear she didn’t want to talk about it. “So what do you think you’ll get out of this retreat?”
“My friend Rebecca said that it would help me look deep within.”
Oh boy.
Thea narrowed her eyes. “What’s that look for?”
“I know what your mother would say about that. She’d say that what you’re looking for can’t be found within. Only outside ourselves. Only in God.”
She dropped her chin and started to dig through her purse, as if hunting for something.
Tim could sense that he’d said too much. Thea was shutting down. This was her general pattern. Whenever he brought God into the conversation, she checked out. Well, too bad. Who was going to talk straight to Thea if he didn’t? He’d gone this far. He might as well go all the way. “Do you know why your mother chose your name?”
“Calathea? She said it was her favorite plant.”
“Yes. It’s a plant that symbolizes a new beginning.”
Thea lifted her head and locked eyes with him. “And that’s exactly what I’m hoping this retreat will bring me. Rebecca said it is life-changing .”
“That’s a tall order for a retreat. In my book, only God can give a person a new beginning.”
Thea turned her attention back to digging through her purse, but Tim was pretty sure he caught an eye roll.
“So then,” she said, lifting her car keys out of her purse, “if it’s okay with you, I’ll go out to the car to get Maisie’s bag, then I’m heading to Park City.”
“Now? You’re not staying even one night?”
“Retreat starts early in the morning.” She gave him a thumbs-up and headed to the door.
Tim watched her go with a heavy heart. Her mother’s untimely death during Thea’s freshman year of college had left a wound that never quite healed. After dropping out of college, she navigated through short stints at various jobs, got pregnant with Maisie at the age of twenty-one (Tim was thankful she didn’t make a different decision regarding the pregnancy), and continued to drift between jobs and towns.
It seemed Thea’s path of self-discovery had become a long and winding road to nowhere.
Thank goodness Coop had seen Maisie come running out of the visitor center before she launched herself at him with a Maisie-style hug—full-force, all-encompassing—forcing him to bend at the knees to pick her up. Coop wasn’t exactly the hugging type, but Maisie’s exuberance was infectious, and he didn’t mind so much. He was fond of her.
Setting her down, Coop scrutinized her. She had shot up since the previous summer, her flaming red hair now cascading longer, and her cute round face adorned with even more freckles. Being around Maisie, Coop mused, was like someone cranked up the world’s dimmer switch. Colors glowed brighter, sounds reverberated louder, and even the sun seemed to shine warmer. She had that undeniable effect on her surroundings, on people.
Maisie’s attention had shifted to Frankie. “You’re Frankie, right?” she asked with an ear-to-ear grin that made Coop slightly uneasy. She was growing up too fast. “I’m Maisie. My grandfather is Ranger Tim Rivers.” She jabbed a thumb behind her to the visitor center.
Frankie responded with a smirk. “The drill sergeant? Lucky you.”
“Thanks!” Maisie said, not aware that Frankie was being sarcastic. “Pops is my favorite person in the entire world. I absolutely adore him. You will too, when you get to know him.”
“Doubt it.” Frankie smirked again. “I know that type.”
Coop jabbed Frankie with his elbow. That was no way to talk about a ranger, especially a man like Tim Rivers. There was no better ranger in the entire NPS than Tim. Selfless, caring, committed. Coop wasn’t sure how he could’ve weathered the Emma Dilemma without Tim’s help. He was like a good boss and a good dad, all rolled up in one person. If it weren’t for Maisie being here, Coop might’ve flicked Frankie on the back of his head.
She couldn’t take her eyes off this kid. “Pops said you’re Coop’s intern for the summer.”
Coop’s eyebrows shot up. “He said what ?”
He turned his gaze to Frankie, a mixture of disbelief and mild irritation. This was news to Coop, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about having an intern. Yes, he did. He didn’t like it. The last thing he wanted, besides getting pulled out of the backcountry, besides being stuck with a roommate, was having someone shadow him. Especially a teenager, especially Frankie, who seemed to carry a brooding air with him.
Frowning, Coop reconsidered every positive thought he’d just had about Tim Rivers. The man was a ruthless dictator. This summer, which had started as the highlight of his year, had plummeted to the lowlight. The lowest of lights.
The next morning, the predawn chill hung in the air at Pilgrim Creek, where a congregation of wildlife enthusiasts eagerly gathered, awaiting the emergence of Grizzly Bear 399 from her winter’s hibernation. Amidst the sea of lenses, Kate set up her tripod, anticipating a glimpse of the famous sow. This was the very spot where the bear had emerged in previous years, and Pilgrim Creek, nestled in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, offered a picturesque and serene landscape. The creek wound its way through a pristine wilderness surrounded by towering peaks, dense pine forests, and lush meadows. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth.
With her zoom lens attached, Kate adjusted the focus, surveying the silent photographers, all focused on the line of trees. A grim realization struck her—each one of them would capture the exact same image. Every single one. She straightened, distracted. Disheartened.
Then she recognized that ranger’s voice, the one from Oxbow Bend. Coop. He was cautioning a photographer nearby to maintain a safe distance if the bear appeared. “We’re here to observe, not disturb. Keep your dist—” His eyes met Kate’s and he paused mid-sentence. Clearing his throat, he greeted her. “Oh, hello there. I see you found the right place.”
Behind him, Frankie, the ranger’s shadow, popped up with a grin. Yesterday morning, at Oxbow Bend, he had hung around Kate until Coop scolded him to stay on task. Frankie joined Kate just as a rustling sound emanated from the trees. Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on the rim of trees behind the creek.
Suddenly, a loud ringing pierced the quiet. Kate gasped. Her phone! She fumbled to find it, the ring echoing in the silence. When she saw Oliver’s name on caller ID, she stepped away to turn it off. Why in the world would he call at this hour? Had he forgotten the time difference? Unbelievable.
As she returned her phone to the bag, she heard murmuring. “Thanks a lot.”
“What did I do?” She looked up to see the photographers glaring at her.
“You scared off the bear.”
Kate felt her cheeks grow warm. “I thought for sure I’d put it on silent.”
Coop took a few steps closer, until he stood between Kate and the other photographers, almost protective. “Bears have keen senses, including acute hearing. Unexpected noises can startle or unsettle them.”
That, Kate should’ve known. But in the zoo, bears were so conditioned to most sounds that they seemed oblivious to the presence of human activity.
Frankie had slipped away into the darkness and then reappeared. “It wasn’t a bear. It was a moose.”
“Are you absolutely certain?” a photographer said. “Did you actually see it?”
Frankie scoffed at the doubt. “I can definitely tell a moose from a bear.” He illustrated his point by placing his hands on his head and wiggling them to mimic moose antlers.
“Ranger,” another photographer said, “399 is overdue.”
“Don’t look at me.” Coop lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. “She’s on her own schedule.”
“Maybe you should go looking for her,” another said. “Maybe you should see if there’s any evidence that she died.”
“And why would I do that?”
That photographer scowled at him. “Because we’re all standing out here in the cold, morning after morning.”
Even in the dim light, Kate saw irritation in Coop’s eyes. “I think you are all well aware that Mother Nature bats last.” He moved along the line of photographers, yanking Frankie’s arm to keep him moving.
The same photographer who irritated Coop turned to scowl at Kate. “Wildlife doesn’t wait for phone calls.”
“It was a moose,” Kate said, eyes on the ground.
“This time. With any luck, next time it’ll be 399. And if your phone goes off, I’m smashing it to bits.”
This would be Wade’s final hunt. No more chasing, no more games. He had a collection of trophies, enough money to last a lifetime. Hunts were starting to lose their spark for him; when you’re the best of the best, what’s left to prove? And after bagging this last prized possession—the ultimate catch—what more did he really need?
Halting his activities now was crucial if Wade wanted to remain under the radar of law enforcement. He had been a marked man on the NPS’s watchlist for years. It all started in Denali, when he was covertly tracking an endangered wood bison that had strayed into the park. He thought he was being covert, anyway. While setting up camp one night, he caught a glimpse of a light, off in the distance, moving in his direction. Someone was following him. In his haste to pack and flee, his wallet must have slipped from his pants pocket. Such a careless mistake. The tracker, an overly diligent ranger, Donald Franklin, found it, including Wade’s driver’s license. Though the address was his mother’s, the NPS now had his name and his face. It felt like a ticking time bomb; sooner or later, they’d try to make a move on him.
Maybe it was time to settle down. Time to live the kind of life his mother always nagged him to get. A charming house in the suburbs with that classic white picket fence, a pretty wife, and a couple of kids to keep his mother happy with grandchildren.
His mother would heartily approve of the woman he was currently dating. Maybe this one would work for him. Maybe not.
She was attractive, easy to manipulate, and slightly more interesting than most of the women he pursued. Pursued ... until he caught them. He grew bored easily.
What would life be like without these games he’d been playing? Could he really walk away from the thrill of the chase? There was something addictive about being the predator, always a step ahead of his prey. Outpacing, outplaying, outguessing.
Outfoxing.