Picture Perfect (River's End Ranch Book 45)

by Cindy Caldwell

  Was he really just interested in the shots she’d taken? Hadn’t he been moved at the sight of the bear cubs and their mother, as she was?

  She thought that’s why he’d kissed her—that they’d shared a special moment together that few humans ever had—but maybe she was wrong. He hadn’t even answered the phone when his own mother had called.

  She lifted her coffee cup toward Kelsi, signaling for a refill, and sighed.

  Chapter 14

  Opal and Bernard hurried through breakfast, having told Belinda that they could meet her at the side of the lake in an hour and lead her to where they’d taken the pictures of the bears.

  They grabbed their backpacks and cameras, and headed down toward the lake.

  “What do you think she’ll do?” Opal asked, her voice tight.

  Bernard glanced over at her. “I’m not sure. She did mention that it was imperative that they were further away from the ranch, in a less populated area. But I don’t know what they do about that.”

  He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Ever since he’d kissed her, he didn’t seem to know quite what to say. Should he talk about it? Should he pretend it never happened?

  He’d had girlfriends before, but he’d never felt this way about any of them, and he really had had no role model to show him what to do when you really cared about someone.

  Wait. That wasn’t true. He remembered his grandparents, and his summers spent with them in France. He’d been much younger then, and his memory was hazy. As he took in a deep breath and looked at Opal’s determination as she trudged toward the lake, remembering the tears in her eyes as she watched the mama bear with her cubs, he had an instant image of his grandparents sitting on their porch in rocking chairs, holding hands while they watched him climb a tree.

  “Come, now, Bernard, you can do it.”

  It was really the last time he’d remembered feeling safe, or loved, or...at peace. He’d certainly never felt it since they’d passed away, and his summers in high school were spent at his boarding school rather than in the French countryside.

  He’d tried to spend a summer with his mother once, and it had been disastrous. He’d basically been left alone to swim, take walks with his camera...but several times, when she’d been around with her new husband, it was the same. He was just something to be set aside, and he knew it would always be the same. And he gave up trying.

  But meeting Opal had kindled some feelings inside that he’d worked hard to bury, and they were very uncomfortable, completely foreign. Each time his mother had called after Opal knew her ring tone, he almost felt guilty for not answering. Almost. She’d sent him a letter not long ago after many, many years saying she wanted to talk to him, get to know him, but he just couldn’t. He hadn’t responded so far and had no plans to. Some things couldn’t be undone.

  Opal had an entirely different kind of family than he did, and she couldn’t begin to understand what it had been like for him. In fact, if she knew that he had no experience with family, none at all, she’d likely toss him overboard. Family was everything to her, and he just didn’t fit in.

  He pulled his thoughts back to the present as Belinda pulled up and parked her Fish and Game truck by the docks of the lake.

  “Thanks for meeting me,” she said as she shook both their hands. “It might not seem an emergency, but if we don’t get to the mama and her cubs before they decide to stay, it’s much tougher then.”

  “What...what happens?” Opal asked, her voice barely a squeak.

  Bernard wasn’t sure why, but he reached for her hand and squeezed it, not letting go afterward.

  Belinda looked up toward the mountains on the far side of the lake. “We haven’t had any bear families stay for quite a few years. They usually deliver their cubs, wait until they’re a few weeks old and can travel, and head out for higher country. They don’t want to be around us any more than we want to be around them.”

  “And if they don’t?”

  Belinda shifted her feet as she looked down at her boots. She looked back up and glanced from Opal to Bernard.

  “It depends on how angry the mama gets. Sometimes we have to physically relocate all three of them...or sometimes just the cubs if it doesn’t go well.”

  “Oh,” Opal said as she gasped and her hand flew to her chest. “They’re separated, then?”

  Belinda smiled and patted Opal’s shoulder, then reached in the back of her truck for her backpack.

  “That rarely happens. The bears around here usually give birth and move on, and I’m sure that’s what’ll happen this time.”

  “You’re not taking a gun, are you?” Opal asked, and Bernard would have bet his last dollar that Opal was considering not taking Belinda to the knoll to show her where the bears were. He squeezed her hand again and she looked at him, fear in her eyes.

  “No, of course not. Nobody’s at risk at the moment. This is just a reconnaissance trip,” Belinda said as she pulled her backpack over her shoulders. “Lead the way.”

  Bernard knew that Belinda was married to one of the Westons, and they cared about the ranch, its guests and its wildlife more than any ranch owners he’d met—although he realized he hadn’t met any but them. But he trusted that they had everyone’s best interests at heart.

  He squeezed Opal’s hand again anyway and nodded at her, hoping that she could trust Belinda to do what was best for everyone—including the bears.

  Opal took a deep breath and nodded back at Bernard, closed her eyes for a moment, then began to lead the way.

  Chapter 15

  Branches snapped and snow crunched as Opal led Belinda up to the knoll that had become such a big part of her daily life. She’d been coming every morning for weeks now, and on this particular day, everything had changed.

  Her heart raced as she wondered what they’d find. Belinda had tried to set aside her fears—and she was grateful for that—but she also realized that bears were wild animals, with habits of their own that didn’t always mesh with humans.

  But still, she hoped that they would be gone, even in these few short hours. That they’d gone on to a more suitable hunting ground, that they wouldn’t be captured or separated. She hoped harder and harder with every step she took toward the knoll, knowing she was doing the right thing.

  As they entered the clearing, she took a deep breath and set her backpack down on the flat boulder where she and Bernard had spent so much time. She glanced at him—he already had his binoculars out and was looking for the bears.

  “That way?” Belinda asked as she unzipped her backpack, set it on the boulder and got out her own, high-powered binoculars.

  Opal felt a little silly, but as Belinda focused on the mountain across the lake, she took a brief glance into her backpack to make sure there wasn’t a gun.

  Assured there wasn’t, she reached for her own camera. As she took off the lens cap, she noticed Belinda’s sidearm and took in a sharp breath. Surely a handgun couldn’t shoot across a lake, several miles away.

  She shook her head. She was being ridiculous. Belinda had explained the process and assured her that everything would be all right, and she had to trust her. But the thought of breaking up a family or having any bears injured had her knees wobbly.

  They watched in silence for a while, and Opal squeaked when the bears finally came into view. Her heart swelled as they frolicked out of the glen, rolling around in the dirt. They seemed to be soaking up the sun. It had been warmer the last few days, and the bear cubs seemed to be enjoying it as much as she was.

  Suddenly, the mama bear appeared in her camera lens, coming up from the opposite side of the lake with a fish in her mouth. She headed back into the shadows, the cubs on her heels.

  “Uh-oh,” Belinda said as she lowered her binoculars.

  Opal held her breath and looked over to Bernard, but he didn’t seem to be concerned. He was snapping pictures in rapid succession.

  “What? Uh-oh what?” Opal asked Belinda.

  “Wel
l, she’s feeding the cubs from the lake. It’s a good sign and a bad sign. If she’s doing that, it means they’re ready to travel.”

  “But you’re not sure if they will?” Bernard asked, lowering his camera.

  “No, not yet. We should know in a couple of days,” Belinda said as she slipped her binoculars back into their case. “Meantime, I’ll make sure Wyatt knows to make sure everyone steers clear of this area until we know what’s going to happen. All guests need to be kept far away. He can quarantine her until she decides what to do.”

  “And then what happens?” Opal asked as she sat slowly on the boulder.

  “Then we’ll know what we need to do,” Belinda said as she sat down beside Opal and covered her hand with her own. “Opal, I know it’s scary, not knowing how this will turn out. But I promise you, we’ll do everything we can to make sure they’re safe.”

  “And together?” Opal said, her eyes brimming with tears.

  “And together,” Belinda said as she patted Opal’s hand and stood. “Thank you for sharing this with me. You did the right thing, for them and for us.”

  Belinda turned back and looked out across the lake, shading her eyes with her hand. “And you got to see something not very many people do, and to help before it was maybe too late.”

  She slipped her binoculars in her backpack and zipped it, pulling it onto her shoulders.

  “You guys ready to head back? I have some arrangements I need to make,” Belinda said.

  Opal and Bernard exchanged glances, and she shook her head.

  “No, thanks, we’re going to stay here for a little bit,” Bernard said as he looked from Opal to Belinda. “Thanks for coming out with us, and we really appreciate you taking care of them. They’re kind of special.”

  Belinda held out her hand and shook Bernard’s as she nodded at Opal.

  “Yeah, they are. Thanks, you guys. I’ll let you know as soon as we decide anything at all,” she said as she headed back down the trail toward her truck.

  Opal felt like a wet noodle by the time Belinda left. She was worried about the bears, and the uncertainty of what might happen.

  Bernard had come to sit beside her. She rested her head on his shoulder as the fear of what might become of the bear family washed over her.

  “What do you think is going to happen?” she finally asked.

  He kissed her forehead and reached for his camera, standing and looking back out over the lake.

  “I don’t know, honestly. I’m hoping that the mama bear is feeding them so they can take off for higher ground. That would be the best.”

  “Yes, it would,” Opal said slowly. “I just can’t stand the thought of them being separated. No mother should be separated from her children, or they from her.”

  She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, and it took a moment for her to notice that Bernard was shifting from foot to foot and tugging at his sleeve.

  “What is it, Bernard?” she asked, standing and crossing over to where he was.

  “I was just thinking that not all families are what they’re cracked up to be. Sometimes, it’s better not to have a family at all.”

  This wasn’t the first time he’d gotten uncomfortable when she’d talked about family, and she was certain he was thinking of his own.

  She’d grown to care for him very much, and looked forward to spending as much time with him as she could on this exciting bear adventure—but she also felt joy any time he was near, even when they were just watching the Olympics. When he was there, it was more fun, more bright, and she could even muster up enough interest in curling to sit through it—as long as he was there.

  But the fact that he hadn’t shared much about himself niggled at her. His mother had called at least ten times when they’d been together, and each time, he’d declined the call. Up until now, she’d assumed that he’d called her back when he was alone, but suddenly she wasn’t so sure.

  Her emotions were already raw, so she figured she had nothing to lose.

  “Bernard, why don’t you talk about your family? I mean, the picture of your grandparents was lovely, and I appreciate you sharing that you spent summers in France with them. But what about your mother? Your father? I know you’re an only child, but that’s about all I know.”

  She looped her arm through his, and was taken aback when he stepped away.

  “There’s nothing to know, Opal. My grandparents passed away. I’m not part of any family.”

  “Oh, that’s so sad,” she couldn’t help saying, and she felt a bigger pang of sadness when he flinched.

  “Don’t feel sorry for me. Please, don’t. It’s always been this way, and I’m fine with it. Like I said, I’m not part of any family, and I aim to keep it that way.”

  Opal stepped back and almost tripped over the boulder. She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach, and her breath wouldn’t come.

  Did he really not want to be a part of any family? Not even with her?

  Her head reeled, and she zipped up her backpack and headed back down the trail.

  Chapter 16

  Bernard had wandered aimlessly all afternoon, his camera in hand, but took no pictures. Every time he looked through the viewfinder, all he saw was Opal’s sad eyes, and her back as she’d walked away from him.

  He’d called after her, but she hadn’t turned around once on her way down the trail, and when they got to the bottom, she walked straight past his cabin and on toward her own. He’d tried once again to get her to stop, but she hadn’t even looked back at him once.

  He’d eventually ended back up on the knoll, sitting on the boulder as he ran the event though his mind again. His ears rang with the words he’d said—and his heart ached at the look on her face when he’d said them. Like he’d run her heart through with a knife, and he wondered if maybe she was right to leave him and head back to the ranch.

  He could have explained why he sounded so cold—he’d never had anyone teach him otherwise. No mom, like she had. Heck, his mother didn’t even care about him as much as the mama bear cared about her cubs. So how would he know how to be nurturing, part of a family?

  But he didn’t want to make excuses. He’d said what he said, and he’d really meant it at the time.

  Now, though, he wasn’t quite sure what to do. The previous night at trivia, they’d all agreed to meet at Allen and Opal’s cabin to watch the Olympics, but she was so upset with him earlier that she might not want to see him.

  He stopped by his cabin, surprised to see his roommate Brandon sprawled out on the couch, exhausted. He hadn’t been around much, and he’d barely been able to tell him about Opal and the bears.

  “Hey, Brandon,” Bernard said as he set his backpack on the kitchen counter. “How’s Lin?”

  Brandon rubbed his hands over his face before he sat up from the couch, his elbows resting on his knees.

  “Great, thanks. We’re just exhausted. This running a restaurant isn’t for lightweights.”

  Bernard nodded, but couldn’t think of anything to say.

  “Why the long face?” Brandon asked as he stood and crossed over to the kitchen island. “Is it Opal?”

  “Yeah. It is.”

  He quickly filled his roommate in about the bears, and told him they’d had a disagreement.

  Brandon raised his eyebrows but didn’t ask for any more details, and Bernard was grateful. He mentioned that the wasn’t sure if he should go over to her and Allen’s house for their Olympic date, that there was every chance she’d refuse to talk to him.

  “I don’t know, man,” Brandon said. “But I do know that you’ll never know if you don’t try. I think you should go. And go now.”

  Brandon yawned as he rubbed the back of his neck and headed toward the bathroom.

  “I’ve gotta hit the shower for the dinner rush. Let me know how it goes,” he said as he closed the door to the bathroom and started the shower.

  “By the way, there’s tons of leftover Chinese food in the fridge.
Help yourself. Take some over there,” Brandon called from the shower.

  Bernard glanced at the clock—it was about ten minutes until the time he was supposed to be at Opal’s. He had no idea if she’d talk to him, but he knew that he’d be miserable at home alone. He also knew he’d really blown it with her, and there might not even be a way to fix it.

  He sat on the couch for a minute and looked around. Brandon would be leaving shortly and he’d be alone. He’d always thought that was what he wanted, but maybe it wasn’t. Suddenly it felt like a huge weight on his shoulders, with nobody to talk to.

  He stood and crossed over to the mantle, picking up one of the pictures of his grandparents.

  “I wish I knew what you two did,” he said softly as he rubbed his thumb over the glass.

  He closed his eyes, and in his mind’s eye he saw them together again, on the porch, looking into each other’s eyes with such love that he could almost feel it wash over his body.

  He set the picture down, knowing that whatever Opal said or did, he had to try. He had to do better. He had to screw up his courage and tell her how he felt, be honest with her about his fears. Tell her he was afraid to be in love, be part of a family—that he didn’t know how.

  But could he even say all of that? Would she listen? Could he get it out?

  Well, he couldn’t just sit all alone and stew in it. He reached for his hat and gloves and shrugged on his coat. He pulled the food from the fridge.

  “Later, Brandon,” he called before he headed out the door toward Opal’s cabin.

  Chapter 17

  What’s the matter, Opal?” Allen said as Opal came out of her room and reached for her coat.

  She glanced at the clock and realized she needed to hurry. She wasn’t positive that Bernard would show up to watch the Olympics like they’d planned, but she was positive that she didn’t want to be there if he did.

  She stood under the hot shower, hoping that it would wash away the words she’d heard him say up on the knoll. She’d thought he was just as excited as she was about the bears, and just as concerned that they be a family. How had she missed the fact that it had meant nothing to him?