Chapter 21 #2
“You should expect that,” Franklin said, his voice cracking. “You’re my son.” He rose from his chair and opened his arms. “You’ve helped to nail Wade Schmidt. That’s a pretty big deal to me.” For a long awkward moment, Frankie seemed puzzled, like he didn’t know quite what to do. Then it clicked and he took a step forward, just enough encouragement for his dad to reach out and pull him into his arms. Awkward, but a start.
Coop motioned to Sally that they should leave the room. On the walk down the hallway, Sally said, “I had no idea you were a child psychologist.”
Coop laughed. “That situation didn’t exactly take rocket science.”
“Neither did the photograph at Willow Flats.” Sally stopped to look at him. “I wish you had come to me with your suspicions.”
Coop turned to face her. “I’m sorry, Sally. I just didn’t know what to do. So I went to Tim.”
“That was the right thing to do. Even though you both had it all wrong.” She waved it off, like it was ancient history. “The deputy director has some announcements he wants to make. The off-duty rangers are meeting out in front of the visitor center. The Zoo Girl is coming, right?”
“Kate. Her name is Kate Cunningham. And yes, she’s on her way.”
Sally turned and went briskly down the hall, leaving Coop with an uncomfortable feeling in his gut.
Tim Rivers and Maisie stood in front of headquarters, along with a few off-duty rangers, after receiving a cryptic message from Sally: There’s going to be special announcements, so get on over here. He watched as Sally emerged from the front door, followed by Coop, and then a man strolled out with his arm around Frankie—just enough familial resemblance for Tim to know who this man was. He grinned at the sight of a father and son acting like fathers and sons should.
Without waiting for introductions, the man addressed the small gathering of rangers. “Good afternoon,” he began, his voice exuding authority. “My name is Donald Franklin, deputy director of the NPS.”
Tim fought back a smile as he noticed how every ranger straightened up at Franklin’s words, a subtle sign of respect.
“I want to personally thank each one of you for your dedication to preserving the integrity of our national parks. It’s a job that demands the utmost vigilance, and I’m proud to see such commitment.” He clasped his hands together. “But that’s not the reason I’ve come. There’s been an impressive collaboration here between rangers, law enforcement, and even a wildlife photographer. Caught the poacher, saved the bear.”
Give Sally credit , Tim thought. She deserves full credit .
“We’ve got a lot to celebrate today. Is Kate Cunningham here?”
Kate, standing next to Coop, raised her hand.
“My son told me about your quick thinking. Impressive stuff. In fact, I’ve been talking with Sally here about your photography skills. She shared some of your work with me, and I must say, your photos are impressive. However, what really caught my attention were your captions. Nowadays, many parks are utilizing social media to connect with younger audiences, active on platforms like Intergram—”
“Aww, Dad,” Frankie said, groaning. “Instagram.” Under his breath he muttered, “He’s gotta get his cool on.”
“Right. Instagram.” Franklin cleared his throat. “Ranger Janus thinks you’re the ideal candidate for this new social media role for the park.”
Nice , Tim thought. Really nice . He had to smile at the stunned look on Kate’s face. Her eyes widened in astonishment, then she sputtered, “I’m ... speechless! Thank you so much.”
Smiling, Franklin said, “Just keep coming up with those captions.” He turned to Coop, standing next to Kate. “And we’ve got a seasonal ranger who deserves some recognition.”
Sally , Tim thought. Talk about Sally.
“Ranger Grant Cooper, I understand that you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep 399 safe during this poacher threat.”
Coop shook his head. “I didn’t do anything that other rangers wouldn’t have done.”
“Not according to Sally Janus. She mentioned how you never hesitated to follow her lead, even when you had doubts. She credited you as a crucial player in nabbing Wade Schmidt. The NPS would like to offer you a full-time position as a Jenny Lake Ranger.”
Stunned, Coop exchanged a look with Kate that spoke volumes to Tim. His young friend had finally healed from the Emma Dilemma. At last.
But there’s still Sally , Tim thought. Don’t forget her.
“And Frankie,” Don said. “I will give parental consent for you to be part of the Wildlife Brigade.”
“Aww, cool,” Frankie said, trying to keep his cool on. Not too successfully, either. He broke out with a big grin.
And now for Sally , Tim thought. Give her the credit she deserves .
Finally, Don addressed Sally. “Ranger Janus, you’ve done an outstanding job managing this park, especially during this recent challenge. You’re to be commended for your role in aiding federal agents to apprehend a notorious poacher. The National Park Service would like to reward you with a promotion from acting chief ranger to chief ranger. Effective immediately. Congratulations.”
Everyone erupted into cheers. Good, Tim thought, clapping loudly. She deserved that promotion. She had a mildly pleased look on her face. Not quite as pleased as Tim would’ve thought.
Tim hung around after the meeting dispersed. He peeked into Sally’s office, noticing the flurry of activity as boxes were stacked against the wall. “Hey,” he said, stepping inside. “I was happy to hear about your promotion. You deserve it.” He looked around. “Are they making you move offices?”
“I’ll say,” Sally said, motioning for Tim to take a seat amidst the chaos of packing. She moved a box to make room for him. Leaning against her desk, she exhaled deeply. “The deputy director didn’t announce it, but my assignment is not Grand Teton. It’s Isle Royale in Michigan.”
Tim needed a minute to absorb this bombshell. Sally’s expression remained composed, but his mind raced with what he knew of Isle Royale. Situated in the middle of Lake Superior, it was hard to get to, hard to get out of. “Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “I guess I can see why Don didn’t make that piece of information public.”
“You know how things roll with the NPS. To move forward, you have to go sideways.”
“I’ve never been to Isle Royale.”
“No. Not many have. Less than twenty-five thousand visitors each summer.”
“Hardy souls, I would imagine.”
Sally snorted. “I’ll say.”
“I’m a hardy soul. I’ll visit. If you’d like me to, that is.”
Sally’s arms crossed, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “I don’t think so, Tim.”
No, he didn’t think so, either. This last week had shown him something he hadn’t wanted to see. He’d always focused on what they had in common—a shared passion to protect and preserve the national parks. But in doing that, he’d missed the deeper differences between them. “I wish you well, Sally.”
“As do I you.”
The weight of their words hung between them, final and heavy. It was really over between them. Tim noticed the shimmer in Sally’s eyes and was just about to say something, when she shifted the focus away from their personal turmoil. “So, Don asked me to recommend someone to replace me as acting chief ranger, just until they make their final choice,” she said, her gaze unwavering. “I told him you’d be the best one for the job.”
Tim dropped his chin, overcome.
The deputy director worked some magic and snagged a special preseason dinner at Jenny Lake Lodge for Coop, Kate, Sally, Frankie, Tim, Maisie, and even Maisie’s mother, who had just arrived. Kate had been inside the lodge a couple of times, but dining there seemed like a dream. According to Maisie’s fun facts, the lodge was a product of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps, starting as simple cabins and growing into a luxury wilderness destination.
Kate had read the hype about Jenny Lake Lodge’s dining experience from guidebooks. People booked tables months ahead, the gourmet menu boasted locally sourced ingredients, and the food was rumored to be exquisite—and it lived up to the hype. The meal was beyond anything she could have imagined—leisurely, elegant, and absolutely delicious.
But the real showstopper was the view. As the only patrons, they were seated at a table by the massive windows showcasing the breathtaking Grand Tetons. It was a sight that left everyone at the table in awe.
Everyone hung around, staying way longer than they probably should have. It was getting late by the time they finally left the lodge. They all ambled to their cars, dragging out their goodbyes. Finally, only Kate and Coop remained.
“Was it just me,” she said, “or did it seem like there might’ve been sparks between Frankie’s dad and Maisie’s mom?”
“I had the exact same thought. They never stopped talking.” Coop leaned his back against Kate’s car, as if he was in no hurry to leave. “I think Frankie had a very uncool ear-to-ear grin on his face tonight.”
Kate burst out with a laugh. “Seems like there’s been a turning point for Frankie and his dad.”
“Yeah,” Coop said. “A turning point for Tim and Sally too, but not in a good way. He told me her promotion is in Isle Royale in Michigan.” Coop tipped his head. “I guess this was a pivotal week for you too.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “You mean because of Oliver? I would call it more than a pivot.” She let out a puff of air. “I feel foolish. So naive.”
“Innocent,” Coop said. “Trusting.”
“I can see now how I basically dangled 399 right in front of him.”
“So he didn’t know of her until you brought her up?”
“Yes. No. I’m not sure.” Kate let out a huff. “I keep thinking about this. I thought I was the one who told him about 399—but now I’m not sure who brought her up first. Honestly, I’m not sure about a lot of our conversations. But I do know that she’s all I talked about these last few months. A man like that—how could he not see it as a dare? Because of me, he tried to kill that wonderful bear.”
“Because of you, she was protected. Because of you, one of the most elusive, notorious poachers has been caught and will face justice.”
Kate looked at him. How kind. “Thank you for not blaming me.”
“You did nothing wrong, Kate. In fact, you did a lot of things right.” His eyes met hers. Met and stayed.
She tried to keep her cool on, but she felt a sizzle of attraction run through her entire body. He was beautiful to her, inside and out. His looks—those even features, the seawater-gray eyes with crinkles at the corners. But also his heart—calm strength under fire, protective and caring.
Tenderness was written on his face. “What would you say about heading over to Oxbow Bend? Full moon tonight.”
What would Kate say? Yes, yes, yes! But, to quote Frankie, she kept her cool on. “Sounds like a plan.”
They left Kate’s car in the Jenny Lake Lodge parking lot and drove over in Coop’s truck. A small detail but significant for Kate, because her camera was in her car’s trunk. No photograph-taking tonight. No distractions.
The full moon came out from behind a cloud, casting a bright glow over Oxbow Bend. Kate and Coop walked along the riverbank. Everything felt serene, almost magical. The Tetons stood tall in the distance, their snowy tops glistening in the moonlight and doubling themselves in the calm Snake River below. “I can’t get over how different this area seems in the moonlight compared to the day. It’s always changing.” Across the water, something darted out from a bush and dove into the water.
“Nocturnal wildlife is different too.”
“God is so interesting,” she whispered softly.
He smiled. “That, and God is so ... vast.”
“These last few days ... God was in all of it. I’ve never felt his presence quite like I did. Or maybe a better way to say it, I’ve never seen God’s presence quite like I can see him now. All those just-in-the-knick-of-time moments. Like, Frankie forgetting his phone and making you return for it.”
Coop nodded. “Or Tim passing by Feldmann’s car and recognizing him.”
“So what do you think?”
“About ... all that went on in the last few days?”
“Do you think God was in it?” It was important for Kate to know what he thought.
“I’ll be honest that if you’d asked me a week ago about those coincidences, I might’ve chalked them up to just that—coincidences. But now ... I have no doubt there’s more to them.” He gazed over the river. “The same God who made this incredible park in the first place, who takes care of all the wild creatures in it, is more than capable of delivering hunches at just the right time.”
She smiled, appreciating his candor, his openness. She believed he was telling her the truth, sharing genuine conviction. “It’s the listening to the hunches part I need to get good at. There’s a verse in the Old Testament about how God speaks not in a fire, not in an earthquake, but in a whisper.”
Coop scoffed a laugh. “No wonder we miss it so much.”
They walked a while longer until Coop pointed up the bank to where someone had left a plastic bench. He brushed the dirt off with his hand and they sat, soaking in the tranquil scenery together.
“I wish this day wouldn’t come to an end,” Kate said softly. “I think it’ll always be the best day of my life.”
“Me too. It’s been quite a day.” Coop’s gaze was warm as he turned to her. “What do you think? Are you considering accepting the social-media-slash-photographer-in-residence position?”
“I’d like to. I really, really would. It combines everything I love. There’s just one thing that I wish would happen first.”
Coop shifted on the bench to face her directly. “What’s that?”
“I wish ... ”
He waited, but she couldn’t voice the words aloud.
“What do you wish?”
I wish I could be fearless , she thought. Bold and brave. What’s the worst that can happen if I put myself out there? She took in a deep breath and blurted out, “I wish you would accept the full-time Jenny Lake Ranger job and stay here.” There, she said it.
And in return, he said nothing.
This didn’t seem promising.
He just looked at her with those steady seawater-gray eyes of his, like they could see right through to her very core. And what would he see? Someone who wished she could rewind the last thirty seconds. Take back her bold and brave declaration. Slide back into her safe turtle shell.
And then, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Full disclosure.” A full smile emerged. “Before dinner tonight, I sent in my resignation to the principal.”
He did ... what ? Any more happiness and Kate felt as if she might fly away like a helium balloon. She smiled, big and wide. So much for keeping her cool on.
“This week, well, it’s been an eye-opener for me. I think I’ve been needing a change for a while now. Meeting you has pretty much sealed the deal for me.”
In her head, she heard a sound very similar to the triumphant crescendo of a symphony’s grand finale. “So then ... it looks like we’ll both be here at Grand Teton National Park for the foreseeable future.”
“Kate,” he said, his tone softening as he reached one arm around her, “this might be the best day of your life so far...”
She turned to face him. In his gaze, she saw everything. Respect. Caring. Love.
“...but I think there are more best days to come.”
And with that promise hanging in the air, Coop leaned over to seal it with a kiss. And what a kiss . The kind of kiss that swept a girl away from the here and now, making time and space fade into the background. The kind of kiss that made tomorrow seem like a blank canvas, full of hope and endless opportunities.
A perfect note , Kate thought, to end on .